News - Hurricane watch, price gouging

A press release from the Bahamas Government:

Local News Briefs Sept 16, 2004 [Bahamas Information Service]

Tribune Headlines

Hurricane watch - A hurricane watch was Wednesday put in effect for the southeast Bahamas as Jeanne bore down on the country. A hurricane warning has also been placed on the central Bahamas. Like its recent predecessor Hurricane Frances, forecasters expect Jeanne to affect the entire chain of islands in The Bahamas. The country is still reeling from the devastation caused by Hurricane Frances and another hurricane passing through the country would cause untold chaos. As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jeanne was 395 miles south east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and 840 miles south east of Nassau.

Committee for Disaster Relief fund set up by PM - To better prepare The Bahamas for future natural disasters and in order to solicit more financial contributions, Prime Minister Perry Christie and Minister of State for Finance James Smith Wednesday introduced the newly structured Committee for the disaster Relief Fund. In response to the destruction and devastation left by Hurricane Frances, the government has invited resident bankers of the domestic and offshore sectors to assist in raising funds for disaster relief.

Leslie Miller gets tough over price gouging - Trade and Industry Minister Leslie Miller warned those Grand Bahama merchants who are price gouging that when they are found out their licences will be revoked, indefinitely. He said some merchants are turning areas of the Family Islands into "the Wild, Wild West" by their exploitation of the destruction caused by Hurricane Frances.

Recommended Reading:

"Price Gouging" in Florida
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=3918


Mitchell: Frances is the ultimate test for CARICOM - CARICOM must act promptly to deal with the crisis left in the wake of the two major hurricanes that devastated countries in the region, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell said Wednesday. CARICOM, said Mr. Mitchell, has never been more challenged to respond to the needs of the region. Mr. Mitchell made the statement Wednesday at an emergency CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Trinidad and Tobago where he charged ministers of the region to put their "bicycles to market" as there is need for some immediate concentrated aid for the region and for Grenada in particular, that faces collapse if there is not a strenuous effort to get help.


The Nassau Guardian (September 16, 2004)

Proceed with Caution -Traffic lights "a necessity to keep the streets of New Providence from becoming even more grid-locked" were whipped and lashed by the forceful winds of Hurricane Frances, leaving many still in a state of disrepair. As the companies responsible for the upkeep of the signals begin their damage assessment and repair; they estimate costs could run as high as $50,000.

CFG lends a helping hand - The Colina Financial Group (CFG) has stepped forward to support persons devastated by Hurricane Frances with the presentation of a $50,000 cheque to the Bahamas Disaster Relief Fund. CFG's Chairman Emanuel Alexiou, President, James Campbell, and Director Anthony Ferguson delivered the first of two $50,000 cheques earmarked to assist the massive restoration efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Frances. Chairman of CFG Emanuel Alexiou noted that times like these emphasize the need for a cohesive community effort.

Promises, Promises - Although the Bahamas Red Cross has been receiving donations from various organisations and private citizens since the passing of Hurricane Frances, it is still not "pleased." "A lot of persons are making promises and we have not seen it come forward," claimed President of the Red Cross Society Gerald Sawyer on Tuesday during an exclusive interview with the Guardian. Days before Hurricane Frances hit The Bahamas on September 2, the Red Cross publicly announced that the organisation had limited supplies in stock and did not have the funds to purchase additional ones. The organisation also highlighted that it was presently in need of cash to pay for light, water, telephone, wages, and dry food supplies.

Bahamas gets boost to ship registry - Royal Caribbean has transferred six of its ships previously registered in Norway to The Bahamas. As a result of this move, all 19 Royal Caribbean International ships and the nine ships of the sister brand, Celebrity Cruise Lines now sail under the Bahamian flag. According to the company, the decision was made after a year of discussion with union representatives, the Norwegian government and the cruise line's employees. The company explained that having the company's ships registered in two countries required it to adhere to differing marine, hiring, compensation, benefits and medical certification standards. It is hoped that moving the ship's operation to one flag would streamline the company's management processes and increase its level of competitiveness.

[Bahamas Information Service 09/29/2004] NASSAU, The Bahamas---The Customs Department has announced the implementation of measures to allow for the speedy delivery of urgently needed goods to victims of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne and to safeguard the revenue by ensuring that persons seeking relief from Customs Stamp Duties are indeed hurricane victims.

The measures are to prevent greater hardship or any undue delay in the delivery of hurricane relief items to victims during the exigency period declared by the Government, and while the assessment of the damage caused by the hurricanes continues. The following measures have been put in place by the Customs Department to monitor the movement of goods for hurricane victims under the Government"s grant of exemption:

Persons who choose to import their supplies shall be required to complete a specially designed application form, which will include particulars pertaining to their identification, residency, particular loss and estimated cost. Upon importation and completion of the application, the importer will be required to make a declaration certifying that the goods being imported are replacement for their loss suffered as a result of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, and that the declaration will be subject to certification, including, where possible, evidence of purchase or acquisition prior to Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.

The declarant would also be required to accept any penalties for making a false declaration to Customs as provided under section 116 of the Customs Management Act. Merchants who express an interest in importing hardware and other items to supply to victims of Hurricane Frances and Jeanne, will be required to separate all goods intended for resale to the victims of the hurricanes.

Proper records of importation and disposal must be kept and such records must be made available to the Customs Officer or any individual assigned by the Minister of Finance to look into the disposal of items imported for hurricane relief. The merchant would also be required to request evidence of loss from the various persons purchasing hurricane relief items and ensure that such persons are entitled to such considerations. The merchant would also be required to pay the duty applicable on any residue or any inventory which remains after the exigency period expires. The Customs Department will designate persons at the various islands to be dedicated to processing all hurricane relief items.

The Customs Department would also maintain a record of all transactions related to hurricane relief items and, on a monthly basis, submit to the Minister of Finance a report detailing the amount of items and the ports through which they were imported, along with information regarding the value of such items and the revenue and taxes foregone. Customs will also liaise with the Disaster Committee and like body, which will have assessments or information concerning the individual losses as a result of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.

All applications in respect to vehicles will also be processed in a similar manner, including verification that the vehicles being replaced were operational prior to the arrival of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. Effective September 22, 2004, Assistant Comptroller William Poitier has been assigned to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Disaster Committee, to represents the Customs Department and to provide information regarding its requirements and/or to verify reports of losses which have been brought to the attention of that body.

The Customs Department will also utilize its computer system to help maintain a database of all transactions related to Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.The Customs Department has encouraged victims to report their losses to the Disaster committee to speed up the process of their application for duty free goods.