NASSAU — Ragged Islanders are desperately awaiting a return to a sense of normalcy after the island was devastated by Hurricane Irma last September, Exumas and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper said in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.
In an article by Travis Cartwright-Carroll published on May 10, The Nassau Guardian reported that this was not the first time Cooper raised concerns 9 about the tiny island chain that is some 200 miles south of New Providence.
“Mr. Speaker, I know you may tire of hearing it, but I will never tire of advocating for Ragged Island,” Cooper said during debate on the Access to Affordable Homes Bill 2018.
Cooper noted that there is no government infrastructure on the island and took Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis to task for promising to make Ragged Island a green island.
“Had the (Free National Movement) FNM simply went to Ragged Island and said it would rebuild the administrative building and restore the school and the nurse and doctor and clinic and police station, with maybe just a few improvements, and committed to fixing the salt pond, getting fishermen back to work, then we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” he said.
Fewer than 60 people live on Ragged Island.
Minister of Works Desmond Bannister said a team of engineers and technical professionals visited Ragged Island on Monday and will present a plan to the Ministry of Public Works on the way forward for the island.
