If there is any magic today in Freeport and in Grand Bahama on the whole, it is the miracle that the island is still standing after the devastation of Hurricane Frances on Friday and Saturday. Many people there, however, are still in shock and don't realise how fortunate they are to be alive.
On the other hand, what many do know is that they are hungry, they are thirsty, they are dirty and tired because food and water are in short supply, and there is no electricity. What they also know is that the existing conditions in that island poses an imminent health problem that has to be addressed directly and immediately.
This kind of catastrophe was never envisioned by the residents of western Grand Bahama and certainly not by the people of Freeport — The Magic City – who before now only saw this kind of demolition on their television screens. But the fact that they now have a better appreciation for the havoc that can be wrought by the forces of nature will not help them in their present circumstance.
The United States Embassy and others have come forward with help, sending a giant C130 cargo aircraft of supplies to Grand Bahama on Wednesday. Over the next several weeks The Red Cross Society, The Salvation Army and many civic and fraternal organisations will mount drives and will do what they can to help.
This is good and it is needed but there will be much more to be done. All of us have relatives in Grand Bahama be it grandparents, mother, father, sister, brother, uncle, auntie or cousin. It is incumbent upon all of us as individuals, as family members or otherwise to do everything that we can to bring relief and sustenance to our people in Grand Bahama, and everywhere else as necessary.
If there is any magic today in Freeport and in Grand Bahama on the whole, it is the miracle that the island is still standing after the devastation of Hurricane Frances on Friday and Saturday. Many people there, however, are still in shock and don't realise how fortunate they are to be alive.
On the other hand, what many do know is that they are hungry, they are thirsty, they are dirty and tired because food and water are in short supply, and there is no electricity. What they also know is that the existing conditions in that island poses an imminent health problem that has to be addressed directly and immediately.
This kind of catastrophe was never envisioned by the residents of western Grand Bahama and certainly not by the people of Freeport — The Magic City – who before now only saw this kind of demolition on their television screens. But the fact that they now have a better appreciation for the havoc that can be wrought by the forces of nature will not help them in their present circumstance.
The United States Embassy and others have come forward with help, sending a giant C130 cargo aircraft of supplies to Grand Bahama on Wednesday. Over the next several weeks The Red Cross Society, The Salvation Army and many civic and fraternal organisations will mount drives and will do what they can to help.
This is good and it is needed but there will be much more to be done. All of us have relatives in Grand Bahama be it grandparents, mother, father, sister, brother, uncle, auntie or cousin. It is incumbent upon all of us as individuals, as family members or otherwise to do everything that we can to bring relief and sustenance to our people in Grand Bahama, and everywhere else as necessary.
