NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Exumas and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper yesterday urged the government to address claims the proposed Family Relief Centre in Abaco poses a risk to the island’s water table.
Several Abaconians have claimed the site where the facility is being erected, near Spring City, is a water reserve.
Residents told Eyewitness News Online the main concern is that waste from the dwellings could possibly seep into the island’s water table.
The government has announced that it will spend $6.4 million for temporary housing accommodations for displaced Hurricane Dorian victims.
Cooper, who was contributing to the debate on the government’s disaster relief amendment bill, said: “As I drove in I received a frantic call from a resident in Abaco, indicating to me that the igloo tent city is being erected on land reserved as well fields.
“If this is true, if it is being erected on well fields or in close proximity to well fields this would be most egregious and reckless so to do.
“And this is the question that this government must put to rest in the minds of the people of Abaco, who are very concerned about the potential compromise to the water table.”
The temporary facility will span across 12 acres of land and will have 250 dome structures which will include plumbing, drainage, a sewer system, and electricity.
Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Recovery and Restoration Iram Lewis has said the area will be occupied by Bahamians and legal residents.
Yesterday, Cooper said the opposition could not support the Disaster Preparedness and Response (Amendment) Bill, 2019, because it goes against Article 29 of the constitution.
Cooper slammed the government over its relief and restoration efforts in the aftermath of the storm, and asked, “Where is the plan for the way forward?”
The tent city is very close if not on the well field. This upsets me more than the destruction of our houses that we can rebuild but the government destroying our water system cannot be repaired. Please find another place to put the tents we have lots of land in Abaco. Don’t be to big to admit now this is a mistake, and one that can’t be fixed. There are a lot of countries out there that wish they had water as good as Abaco.