Iram Lewis Hits Back at DRA Chairman

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Former State Minister for Disaster Preparedness Management and Reconstruction Iram Lewis on the defense, after Disaster Reconstruction Authority Chairman Alex Storr, called the Hurricane Dorian Pledge Conference a political exercise. Lewis called his comments reckless and insulting.

Berthony McDermott reports.

Former State Minister for Disaster Preparedness Management and Reconstruction Iram Lewis defended the Dorian Pledge Conference, calling DRA Chairman Alex Storr’s comments insulting to those who offered to assist the storm-ravaged islands.

Last week, Storr said the former government’s pledge conference in the aftermath of hurricane Dorian was nothing more than a political exercise to fool the public.

Storr added some people used the conference to get their foot in the door to benefit their businesses.

Lewis called those comments unfortunate.

The Minnis administration and the UNDP held the conference to assist with recovery and restoration efforts on Abaco and Grand Bahama after Dorian ravaged both islands.

The then government said it received roughly $1.7 billion in pledges. These included technical assistance, intellectual assistance, concessionary loans, equity, grants, and guarantee financing.

However, Storr said the actual amount received was nowhere near that figure.

Former Managing Director Katherine Forbes-Smith previously said $364,000 in cash was received from pledges.

The lion’s share of the pledges was a $975 million loan offer from the P3 group, a U.S company. The money would be repaid with interest if accepted.

Lewis reiterated that a pledge is nothing more than a promise.