-from hurricane-ravaged Bahamas

A SECOND Guyanese family on Sunday landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) from the hurricane-ravaged Abaco Islands in the Bahamas.

The family of five is inclusive of two adults and three children. Guyanese-born Vanessa Taite; her Bahamian husband, Stevie Cooper snr, and their three Bahamian-born children Stevie Jr, Steve and Stephanie Cooper arrived at the CJIA at around 22:00hrs. The family was welcomed by Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix.

When asked about her experience during the hurricane that devastated the island, Taite related that it was an experience she wishes she never had to face.
“Our house, the entire roof came off. It was horrible; it’s nothing that anyone wants to go through. Speaking about it, you would get an impression, but actually going through it, you would have a whole different understanding. It’s scary. It was like living in a scary movie,” Taite said.

She went on to say that she is happy that she and her family were able to make it out of the storm safely. “Good is good,” she said, adding: “Because I know entire families that literally nobody is alive now; the entire household got swept up by a wave.”
Minister Felix spoke on the government’s commitment to help as many Guyanese citizens as possible who have been affected by the hurricane on their return to Guyana and the process of reintegration into the Guyanese society.

“We are willing and ready to accept Guyanese citizens and their families back to Guyana,” Minister Felix said, adding: “Initially, we had a list of about 102 persons showing interest, then it broke down to 28. Five came last week, and five have arrived tonight. And two are to come next week, so far. We don’t know if others would join that list, but so far, we know about the two others that will return to Guyana on a similar flight next Sunday.”

He said that the government will be standing by the Cooper family, and provide them with the necessary guidance to ensure a smooth transition back into the Guyanese society where citizenship is concerned.

“The question about what plans we have for them would be determined after their interview, once we know of their expectations and so on,” Minister Felix said, adding: “In the meantime, we would like them to feel welcome in Guyana, having been taken to their homes. And the other issues with respect to citizenship issues would be sorted out, as the husband is a Bahamian, as well as the children were born to a Guyanese mother outside of Guyana, so these are issues which we would have to walk them through the process to regularization.”

HERE TO HELP

On September 1, 2019 Hurricane Dorian struck The Bahamas, decimating Abaco Islands and severely devastating Grand Bahama, the northernmost island of the Bahamas, as well.
Since then, the Guyana Consulate in The Bahamas has been working feverishly to ensure that all Guyanese on the islands are accounted for and provided with the best possible care.

While the record shows that approximately 80 Guyanese families had registered as residents in Grand Bahama, the Guyana Consulate believes that it is likely that the number is greater.

Through a WhatsApp contact, more than 100 Guyanese living in The Bahamas have directly and indirectly reached out to the CDC for assistance.

As such, the CDC has joined its Regional partners through the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to provide relief and support.
Minister Felix told the media that plans are in place to assist other Guyanese interested in returning to their country.