Turks and Caicos Islands
GOVERNMENT

Mercifully, we came through the hurricane with no casualties. The immediate post-hurricane situation was not easy, given the breakdown in communications and the consequent difficulty in establishing contact between the islands of the territory. 

This complicated the task of coordination and the important job of communicating with the public. I see this as an essential task from now on, not only at the headline/policy level, but also at the nitty-gritty one of detailed information on such key issues as water availability and supply or the distribution of tarpaulins.

Overall, however, I think we can look back over the past week with considerable satisfaction. The situation is stabilising and becoming more organised and essentials such as water, food and shelter are being met. 

Here, in Grand Turk for example, the city water plant is operational and water is available at the main distribution point on Hospital Road between 8.00 am and 1.00 pm. Tropical Shipping is expected today with a shipment of water and 5000 additional tarpaulins for distribution tomorrow. 

The health service is functional and health care is available. Food distribution continues (through the Red Cross and the Churches); but food is increasingly also available in the stores. This is particularly important as a sign that the economy is getting back to normal in the most affected islands; and the reopening of the banks is playing a key role in this respect.

Progress is being made with the restoration of electricity with TCI work crews reinforced by teams from the region. Inevitably, full restoration of the network will take some time and priority has had to be given to critical facilities such as hospitals and airports. Every effort is being made to open schools (even if not every class in some islands) from Monday. This is particularly important for those students preparing for examinations. The public service will be back at work on Monday, providing a service to the public.

Many people and organisations have played their part in bringing us to this position; the Disaster Management teams in Grand Turk and Provo under the tireless leadership of Horatio Tuitt; the DCs in other islands; key agencies such as the police, the EMS, the Health Services, Fire and Rescue, the OPSM, GIS and Finance; and I should like to pay tribute to the dedication and hard work of their staff, given selflessly in the most trying circumstances in which their own homes and families have been affected in the same way as the rest of the population. 

I should also like to pay tribute to those in the Churches and in the voluntary, non-profit and private sectors who have made an immense contribution with the provision and distribution of supplies and, generally with helping get the entire territory on its feet again.

The resilience shown by the people of the TCI themselves and their spirit of community has been heart-warming. I encourage them to continue in this spirit, for example by clearing debris from their properties and placing it by the side of the road for collection  so that their localities can look tidier and closer to normality.

The overwhelming majority of people in the islands have responded magnificently, with patience and fortitude when necessary, with self-help and contributing to the relief of the community when possible. Unfortunately a tiny minority have sought to take advantage of the situation with acts of burglary and theft. I strongly advise them to desist and would like to reassure the law-abiding public that the police are giving priority to tackling any such activity.

Finally let me pay tribute to the work of external partners. The 2 Royal Navy ships, Iron Duke and Wave Ruler, have completed their deployment. They were on the scene within hours of the hurricane passing and over a 4 day period gave invaluable support, with shore parties repairing key facilities such as hospitals and schools, delivering supplies of water, food and tarpaulins, repairing water facilities, assisting with aerial surveys and helping deploy assessment teams. 

The US Coast Guard have generously positioned 3 helicopters in the TCI. CDERA have conducted a rapid needs analysis. PAHO and the RED Cross (national and international) have made significant contributions; and Jamaica, Bahamas and Cayman Islands have been generous in their support. A reconnaissance party of the Bermuda Regiment is now with us and we look forward to a full deployment soon

With the emergency phase stabilised, the focus will increasingly shift to sourcing materials to repair and rebuild houses and other buildings damaged or destroyed by Ike and to getting on with the reconstruction and rehabilitation process."

END