Some Grand Bahamians, who have been staying at the Royal Oasis Resort in Freeport since Hurricane Wilma devastated parts of the island in October, say they are not in a festive mood as they may not be out of the resort in time for Christmas.
One resident, who only wanted to be identified as Ms. F, was displaced after Hurricane Wilma destroyed her home in Hanna Hill, Eight Mile Rock.
She said at first “things were fine” when she moved into the resort, but certain challenges have made her all the more eager to be out on her own.
“[The situation] is very depressing because it’s starting all over again. You know I don’t have a [Christmas] tree and I really want to move so I can prepare, do a nice little dinner for me and my kids – I’m a single mother of three – and get them couple of gifts because if they’re happy, I’m happy,” she said.
Ms. F. pointed to the lack of hot water at the resort, a problem that many residents have been complaining about since they moved in. She said she is also frustrated about the cooking arrangements as the residents have to share one stove, and the microwave does not always work well.
But others are just thankful to have a roof over their heads.
One resident, who lost everything in the storm, said her husband has been trying to make the family feel the Christmas spirit despite their unfortunate circumstances.
“My husband went and made us feel good by buying a lot of nice gifts to make us feel like Christmas is coming,” said the mother of eight.
“We didn’t get back the majority of the things, but I am thankful for the little we have and for the situation and God has been really good to us because he spared us.”
However, the mother accused the resident managers of not giving them supplies which had been donated for residents of the resort.
She claimed, “[The resident managers] turn like a beast toward us in this place and it is so hurting.”
It is a statement that another resident, who only wanted to be known as Ms. T., reiterated.
“When people bring things for us, they don’t give them to us. For us to go to the resident manager for water, you know what he told me? ‘You people need to buy your own water.’ The people bring it to us; why they can’t give it to us?
“I’m not being ungrateful. I’m grateful for having shelter. It’s better than sleeping out there in the Eight Mile Rock High School gym. The point is-we’re human beings. We’re not scavengers. We didn’t ask for this hurricane to come here.”
Some of the storm victims also claimed that they are having a hard time trying to find landlords who would agree to the rental assistance initiative government officials have set up.
The Department of Social Services agreed to assist residents with rental assistance, where residents or the landlords would pay for the first and last month rent, and Social Services would pay three months rent, up to a maximum of $500.
According to the storm victims, landlords want nothing to do with them because they feel there would be a delay in receiving payment from Social Services.
Assistant Director of Social Services Lillian Quant-Forbes said she understands the landlords’ concerns, and knows they have bills to pay, but the Department is doing the best it can to speed up the payment process.
She expressed thanks to the landlords who are willing to participate in the initiative.
Mrs. Quant-Forbes also told The Bahama Journal that donations or supplies that are specifically earmarked for the residents of the Royal Oasis Resort are sent to the Royal Oasis.
“People either make donations to the residents or they address it to the resident manager and if it goes for a particular resident, we send it to them, or if it is to the resident manager, it goes to them,” Ms. Forbes said.
“And they do distribute [the supplies] to the people. Now, there is occasion when things appear to be flourishing, but it has to be distributed from time to time-so w
She added that there is nothing the Department can do about the lack of hot water, although officials have brought the situation to the attention of the operators of the resort.
Although she could not say when residents would leave the resort, Mrs. Quant-Forbes did say Social Services is doing the best it can to assist residents and wants to bring them to an “independent state” where they can “do for themselves.”
It’s something everyone involved apparently wants.
To date, 10 families have moved out of the resort into apartments the Grand Bahama Port Authority donated rent free for 12 months.
As of this week, there were 267 persons, 140 adults and 127 children, still living at the resort, which was closed to guests in September 2004 after it was damaged during Hurricane Frances.
By: Courtnee Romer, The Bahama Journal
