The site in Abaco that will house the government’s Family Centre has already been cleared, according to Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis, and the infrastructure will remain in place for approximately two years before becoming a permanent dwelling spot for Abaconians.

The site is near the Spring City Subdivision.

Dr. Minnis conducted further assessment of Abaco on the weekend and while updating the media yesterday, he said cleanup and rebuilding will take time on both Abaco and Grand Bahama.

“Infrastructure materials are already arriving. Trailers for the workers to build the domes are at the site. The infrastructure from the Family Relief Centre will remain in place to accommodate permanent housing on the same site,” Dr. Minnis said.

“The temporary domes will be removed as individuals and families move to their permanent location.

“The Family Relief Centre will be located on government land and will be enclosed.” 

With Marsh Harbour being larger with more public infrastructure than the cays, it will take considerably more reconstruction. The prime minister said the government is working to rebuild the cays as quickly as possible, which would help considerably with economic recovery in general.

“For example, Elbow Cay employed approximately 400 people from Marsh Harbour. The quicker communities like Hope Town and Elbow Cay are rebuilt, the more employment there is for the residents of the mainland,” Dr. Minnis said.

“In addition to general reconstruction efforts, we must get as much regular economic activity as possible going throughout Abaco, including in areas not destroyed by Hurricane Dorian.” 

Dr. Minnis also noted that “the central government is deploying hundreds of government personnel from every ministry and major agencies on the ground to coordinate and to help with recovery and reconstruction,” beginning this week.
 
“We are boosting security and ensuring proper security on the ground. Those who break the law will be dealt with and prosecuted. Law and order are essential for rebuilding” he added.

“We have had to reestablish the workings and the instruments of government on the ground. This is the largest deployment of government personnel in the history of our country in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
“And, beginning this week the residents of Abaco will be able to utilize in their rebuilding efforts the government’s One Stop Shop facility.”

The One Stop Shop will include the Ministry of Works, the Department of Environmental Health, Customs, Local Government, National Insurance Board, Department of Inland Revenue and the Small Business Development Centre.

As for government operated schools on the island of Abaco, Dr. Minnis said the target is to reopen them in January.

Dr. Minnis assessed the works on Grand Bahama and will give an update of the same today.