Although The Grand Bahama International Airport took a pounding by Hurricane Frances over the weekend, emergency and domestic flights resumed Tuesday, reported David Johnson, Deputy Director General of Tourism in Grand Bahama, on Tuesday.
It is anticipated that international commercial flights will resume no later than Friday said Mr. Johnson.
“Having just arrived from Grand Bahama, and looking at the island of New Providence, I thought that there was never a storm in New Providence,” he said.
The airport’s domestic section, which looked like an indoor equatorial rain forest, was completely destroyed. Flights will be managed through the airport’s new international terminal, although the power has been lost through that section Mr. Johnson said. However, the international section is being powered by a generator, and it received no damage as a result of the hurricane he added.
Bahamasair operated its first domestic flight on Tuesday, with schedules slated to increase today. The airport was open for emergency flights on Monday he said.
“The domestic terminal is completely destroyed, and we are relocating. With effect from today, all passengers for domestic travel will be using the new international terminal.
When The Guardian’s news team saw the domestic section on Monday, it was described as a ghastly sight.
“Hundreds of trees draped with seaweed and debris lined the interior of the old and new domestic sections of the airport. A water mark of some six to eight inches bore evidence of the level of flooding by a surge estimated at some six feet,” a reporter said.
Turning his attention to the sea, Mr. Johnson said the harbour is now open, as boat operators primarily have used their vessels to assist in bringing supplies to the island for the past several days. By weekend, this mode of transportation will also be used to bring visitors to the islands he said.
Mr. Johnson added that many hotels in Grand Bahama were affected by Hurricane Frances. Royal Oasis tower, the most severely damaged hotel, lost the roof of its lobby. Its glass structures near the entrance of the lobby and 12 to 20 windows which shielded the rooms on the top floors have to be replaced.
There was also damage to the tower and country club’s landscaping, which Mr Johnson said is two years old.
“The hotel is, as expected, closed today for repairs, but they will be open very shortly,” he said.
The Xanadu Hotel also received significant damage to the roof, balconies, windows, and landscaping. Its beach area was the least affected by the storm.
Our Lucaya, he said, was “almost untouched. There was not structural damage.” However, he still awaits a written report from the hotel.
Some 20-30 percent of the roof of The Pelican Bay Suites, located next to Our Lucaya, has to be repaired Mr. Johnson said. The hotel itself suffered no structural damage he said.
The Viva Fortuna Beach received minor damage, but there is no evidence of significant beach erosion. The water has receded from that area he said Mr Johnson.
Saying that some 85 percent of West End has been destroyed, Mr Johnson added that much water is still on the street.
“West End is probably the most hard hit community in the nation as a result of this hurricane,” Mr Johnson said. “Throughout the island, our biggest challenge is the rate of which we can restore power.”
West End’s Old Bahama Bay Resort stood firm during the hurricane’s trek.
Vanessa Rolle, The Nassau Guardian
