Throughout the northwest Bahamas including New Providence, Andros, Berry Islands and Grand Bahama, Bahamian residents spent at least five days in misery.

Hurricane Matthew, which pulled down utility poles causing a disruption of services from electricity, telephone, cable television and even a supply of water made many persons depressed.

Compounding this, a vast number of Bahamians dumped a considerable amount of food that spoiled due to a lack of refrigeration.

One elderly resident told the Journal, “This has been the worst week that I have had in the last 60 years.”

She complained of not having any utility.

Although many persons felt miserable, the majority of persons were grateful that there were not any deaths caused by the hurricane.

The misery of motorists was exacerbated after it was reported on social media that service stations in New Providence would run out of gasoline.

This caused long lines at every service station that was opened to the public.

Although Franklyn Wilson, chairman of Sun Oil – the operators of Shell Stations – had denied the report, those persons who were unaware of his statement took containers including jugs and plastic bottles to these stations to purchase gasoline.

Mr. Wilson said that the country had enough supply to last for a long time.

He said that the panic was caused by someone who reported that the jetty at Clifton Pier where tankers dock were destroyed by the hurricane.

While he confirmed the destruction of the jetty, he said that the oil company had long stopped using that facility and was able to obtain gasoline directly from vessels which transport fuel to The Bahamas.

Up to press time, up to 50 per cent of New Providence were restored with electricity and there were no telling when supply would be restored to Andros and Grand Bahama.

In most areas cable television was still not restored.