Typical of too many programmes in The Bahamas, over 50 percent of the claims for damage to homes from hurricane Irene in Central Eleuthera turned out to be false. The claims were submitted by Bahamians looking to cash in on the generosity of the government in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
Captain Stephen Russell, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Director, said he had to suspended the relief programme after discovering that so many of the claims were bogus.
Upon suspecting that there were many false claims, Captain Russell said he asked officers from the Defence Force to take over conducting the damage assessments in central Eleuthera.
The officers found discrepancies in over 50% of the cases.
Adjustments have been made and relief efforts are now back on schedule.
However, Captain Russell plans to make a request to the government for an additional $140,000 for the purchase of relief supplies for several islands, including Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Central and South Eleuthera and Long Island.
Last month, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham announced that nealry $300,000 will be spent on repairing homes in the MICAL constituency.
Captain Russell acknowledged that there have been complaints regarding the reportedly slow pace of relief on some of the islands. But he said that NEMA is doing the best it can.
