BY DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport reporters
REPAIRS are underway at about 20 homes in Grand Bahama and work should begin soon at Abaco, according to Disaster Reconstruction Authority Executive Chairman Alex Storr.
He reported that the DRA had completed an assessment and scope of work for each individual home on the islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco.
“Repairs are currently underway in Grand Bahama. I’m not sure of the exact number (of houses) but it’s around 20,” he said when contacted by The Tribune yesterday.
In January, Mr. Storr indicated that the next phase of the small home repair program would begin with 200 homes: 100 in Grand Bahama and 100 in Abaco at a cost of $1.6 million.
“We are also preparing to start in Abaco and as soon as we start doing some things there we will start reviewing both islands and even stepping up what we are doing now,” he explained.
“We have completed through our records all individuals who have applied for assistance from the DRA. We saw them and did an assessment of their homes, and we prepared the scope of work for each and every home on both islands that needed repairs.”
The DRA executive said there may be a handful of people who have reached out to them for repairs they haven’t gotten to yet.
“We are actively trying to get these people (screened out). But we are ready to do some internal things that we need to finalize with Treasury. Once everything is in order, there will be an even broader rollout of the program,” Mr Storr said.
Mr Storr said fewer than 2,000 homes in total have been identified for repairs under the scheme.
He noted that due to two partnerships with NGOs, many people who initially applied had received NGO support.
The goal now, he stressed, is to have all homes completed before the next hurricane season.
“If things are going the way we envision, we want to have every home repaired and properly secured by hurricane season,” he said.
The DRA Chair points out that the budget has increased and some changes have been made to the program.
“It may be more than ($1.6 million) because we’re going to change some things in the program. We will buy all building materials and use contractors. And building materials have risen sharply, as have shipping costs.”
Mr. Storr also provided information on other matters handled by the DRA.
He noted that hurricane protection work is now underway and moving forward at Central Pines, Abaco.
The debris management site at Treasure Cay, he said, is also now being secured.
“We had received reports that people might have used some of the debris from there to feed some of the shanty towns. So that site is now secure and we hope that has put an end to that,” said Mr Storr.
At Sweeting’s Cay, he said there have been some delays in installing the septic tank due to logistical challenges.
“We hope to be able to start there shortly. There were some logistical challenges, but all the septic tanks have been purchased and just need to be transported there. The contractor transports them and will start work immediately,” said Mr. Storr.
As for Elbow Cay, he has received reports that the contractor has cleared this debris site “ahead of schedule.”
“It is free of debris and hopefully the investor will be able to start their project shortly,” Mr Storr said.
He explained that a private investor starting a project there had allowed the then DRA, under the previous administration, to store all the debris on that island on the site.
He claimed that the investor wanted to start his project there, but there were some delays.
“We fulfilled an ongoing contract and had to terminate it. We have a new deal and this site is now being vacated a month ahead of schedule,” he said.
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