A THIRD Guyanese family from the hurricane-ravaged island of Abaco in the Bahamas arrived in Guyana on Sunday evening welcomed by Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix and a representative from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

Arriving at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport were Cecil and Olive Simon who commended the Government of Guyana for doing its part in looking out for its citizens no matter where they are.

“I think what is commendable is that the Guyana Government did really play its part irrespective of the criticisms and all of that, government played its part. You have the Guyana-Bahamas Association, everybody came together…it’s good to see Minister Felix and a member of the CDC. I think they played a very good role in making this possible. Without them, it would not have been possible,” Olive Simon said in a release from the Ministry.

The Simons are the third batch of persons to return home, bringing the total to 12 persons, after the island was ravaged by a Category Five hurricane. They were overjoyed to be back, and told the media that the entire experience has taught them valuable lessons.
Olive Simon said: “It is an experience whereby it teaches us that material things don’t matter at all. We come into this world with nothing. We leave with nothing, so irrespective of what we had; the loss is nothing compared to the fact that we have life…I always use to tell myself that Bahamas, as far as the building codes are concerned, they are second to none …that Category Five hurricane is something totally unprecedented. We didn’t bargain for that, but it happened.”

On Sunday, September 22, Guyanese Ms. Vanessa Tate, her Bahamian husband, Mr. Stevie Cooper and their three children; Stevie Jr. age 5, Steven, age 3 and 3-month-old Steve arrived on a Caribbean Airlines flight. Mr. Orin and Mrs. Sholme Grimmond and their children; Seraphine age 7, Angeline, age 2 and two-month-old Kemuel arrived on Sunday, September 15.

Minister Felix said initially, 28 persons had indicated an interest in returning, however, the majority have since decided to remain on the island.

“By the time we started to make arrangements, we were able to confirm that 12 really wanted to return…Others who are interested in coming may have to do so on their own steam because this marks the culminating point of Government’s intervention to return Guyanese home. It cannot be an open-ended arrangement,” he said.

He stressed that the Guyanese survivors were given every opportunity to decide if they wanted to return.

“We … took time to ensure that the word got around to all the persons in distress and they were given an opportunity to decide whether or not they’re willing to return. Those who have returned are the ones [whom] we were sure were willing to be removed…The others apparently, have found some way to make out while the situation in The Bahamas is being normalised,” he stated.