By MATT MAURA
FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, October 16, 2020 (BIS) – Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell, led a delegation of officials from the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development and the Department of Social Services that re-united 30 children from the Grand Bahama Children’s Home with administrators and staff members of the Home and the Grand Bahama community following their return Friday, October 16, onboard Bahamasair Flight 315.
The children were relocated to New Providence in September of 2019 in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, the monster storm that ravaged parts of Grand Bahama and Abaco the first week of September, resulting in extensive damages to the Grand Bahama Children’s Home.
Minister Campbell applauded the Administrators and staff of the New Providence-based Ranfurly Home for Children, the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel and the Nazareth Centre “for taking such good care of the children during their stay in New Providence.”
“The partnership between us has always been strong, but your collective caring gesture in accommodating the Grand Bahama residents has solidified our bond and made it even stronger,” Minister Campbell said.
Minister Campbell was accompanied to Grand Bahama by Ms. Lilian Quant-Forbes, Acting Director, the Department of Social Services; Mr. Kellen Russell, Acting Director, Urban Renewal Commission; and Mrs. Lorraine Duvalier, Assistant Director, the Department of Social Services; in addition to Social Worker Keisha McPhee, Case Aides Paula Mackey and Donna Rolle, and Nurse Kenrea Gray, who supervised the children with special needs.
The Social Services Minister applauded officials at the National Flag Carrier, Bahamasair, for its role in the children’s return to Grand Bahama. The airline provided free air transportation for the 30 children.
“That was a huge help to us and so I want to thank Bahamasair for their generosity,” Minister Campbell said. “We need more corporate citizens to provide these kinds of sponsorships. I also want to thank the Board of Directors of the Grand Bahama Children’s Home and all of the donors who would have assisted in getting the Home ready for the children’s return.”
Minister Campbell said he “relished” the opportunity to return the 30 children to Grand Bahama “safe and sound.” He reported that all of the children returned to Grand Bahama “COVID-19 Free”
“God has kept us and I am happy that He has allowed us to bring the children back safely. For us to be able to bring them back here safely to a new and refurbished environment; an environment that they are familiar with as far as accommodations, staffing, etcetera, this is a happy moment for us,” Minister Campbell said.
He added, “Although they were taken great care of while in New Providence, the children missed their familiar surroundings. However, they made the best of their circumstances and settled in with the rest of the residents. They made new friends, attended new schools, and engaged in as many activities as they could — COVID-19 forced all of us to do things differently.”
