We decided to share this article with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among the Bahamian diaspora across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as well as in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean. The Nassau Guardian published this article by Taneka Thompson on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
TANEKA THOMPSON
Guardian Senior Reporter
taneka@nasguard.com
Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said whatever the outcome of Hurricane Melissa, The Bahamas would “rebuild” and “rise again”.
Davis’ comments in the House of Assembly yesterday morning came as Melissa, a Category 2 storm, churned away from Cuba as it headed towards the southeast and portions of the central Bahamas.
On Tuesday, Melissa slammed into Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, wreaking havoc across parts of the island, leaving flooding and infrastructure damage in its wake.
“This powerful superstorm has brought hardship to many of our Caribbean brothers and sisters, particularly the people of Jamaica and now Cuba,” Davis said yesterday.
“We extend our solidarity to them in their time of need, just as they stood with us in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. The Caribbean is a family, and in moments like these, that truth becomes clear. When one of us hurts, we all feel the pain.
“To the people of the southeastern Bahamas, who are now enduring the initial impacts from this storm, I want to assure you that your government stands with you.
“The relevant agencies have been mobilized to provide relief and support, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.
“As Bahamians, we know the toll these storms can take. Yet we also know the resilience of our people. We have prepared for this moment. And one thing is certain: whatever happens, we will rebuild, recover, and rise again.”
Nearly 1,500 were evacuated from vulnerable areas before flights were suspended ahead of Melissa’s landfall, Minister of State with Responsibility for Disaster Risk Management Leon Lundy told Parliament yesterday.
“Every resident who expressed the desire to leave, and who was in position to do so, was safely moved,” Lundy said. “No one who sought assistance was left behind. Preliminary figures indicate that 1,485 residents were evacuated before the suspension of air operations.”
Residents from Acklins and Inagua arrived in New Providence on Tuesday morning while people from Crooked Island, Mayaguana and Ragged Island arrived that evening.
The Nassau Guardian reported yesterday that some disgruntled Crooked Islanders were vocal about a lapse in communication from officials and an unclear flight schedule, claiming that they were at the airport waiting as early as 6 a.m. on Tuesday although flights did not leave until several hours later.
However, Lundy defended the process, calling the exercise “one of the largest and most complex pre-landfall evacuation efforts” in recent history.
“The Disaster Risk Management Authority, working through the National Disaster Emergency Operations Centre and alongside its emergency support function partners, managed these operations with outstanding precision,” Lundy said.
“From the first activation, the authority maintained constant coordination with Family Island administrators and local response teams. Their leadership, professionalism, and foresight have kept this response steady and effective,” Lundy said, while also thanking teams at Bahamasair and Blessings Air for being the “backbone” of the evacuation flights.
Although Melissa had weakened since leaving Jamaica, Lundy also urged Bahamians who remained in the southeast Bahamas not to take the storm lightly, telling them to stay indoors until the all-clear was given.
As Melissa headed towards the country with maximum sustained winds near 105 miles per hour, heavy rainfall, wind gusts and power outages were reported in parts of Inagua, Acklins, Crooked Island, and Mayaguana yesterday morning.
The storm brought violent wind, rain and flooding.
Ragged Island, Long Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, Samana Cay, Rum Cay and San Salvador were expected to experience the strongest impact from Melissa, according to the Bahamas Department of Meteorology.