09/13/2019
The following came to me from the "Bahamas Chatter," a publication for those using Explorer Charts. My head is still spinning after reading this account from Marsh Harbour.
Personal Report from Bahamas
sara
September 11, 2019
5:58 pm
No Comments
From Fr. Keith Cartwright, Anglican Arch Deacon, Nassau
In order to dispel rumours and untruths, My Priest, who just got back from Marsh Habour 6 am this morning and has been on the ground every day since from the day after storm departed gave our Church a full report on the situation in Marsh Harbour and Grand Bahama. In Marsh Harbour he said that with the exception of a few souls who are still refusing to leave what little they have, the entire affected areas have been completely evacuated. There is nothing left, he said. The stench is unbearable. There are countless medical personnel there doing an excellent job. There is a clean up team on the way from the Netherlands whose function is uncovering, containment & sanitizing of dead bodies and should be there now on the ground. There are plenty dead and unaccounted for still under debris and swept out to sea. The bodies they have recovered so far are stored in large constructed coolers run by generators. The clinic and one of the government buildings left standing have been cleaned and sanitized. They are in the process of doing the same to the building that was taken over by the Haitians. He said that the clinic and the two government buildings were the only structures not damaged, which was a testament to the builder who passed away last year. Also, the uproar about the Bahamasair charging $75 was partly true. He was present at the airport when the flight came in. It was the very first flight and was a regular scheduled flight for Bahamasair. Persons had previously purchase tickets prior to the storm and before consulting with the powers that be, made the decision to charge that fee. My Priest intervened immediately and told them that will not be happening. He got on the phone with the Prime Minister himself and explained what was going on. The Prime Minister then got in contact with the man in charge and was instructed to let that be the first & last flight they charged those people as Bahamasair was the People”s airline etc. etc. Every flight after was completely free and they went above and beyond getting the people out. There was looting and unrest, and order has now been restored. As for Freeport, there is still a lot of flooding and damage although not to the degree of Abaco. He said there are plenty dead and unaccounted for there as well. He told us stories of survivors who watched loved ones die and got swept away right before them. My head is still spinning from the horrors and grief that I can’t begin to tell you all everything, but this is what I recalled.
