National

Abaconians: Hurricane Shelter Long Overdue

ABACO, BAHAMAS – Abaco residents are raising concerns about the island’s new $4.5 million hurricane shelter, questioning its durability and the years-long delay in its completion following Hurricane Dorian.

Published

1 month ago

October 27, 2025

Berthony McDermott

ABACO, BAHAMAS – Years after it was first promised, Abaco residents have finally received their long-awaited hurricane shelter and community center.

But while the handover marks progress, not everyone is satisfied, with some residents questioning the building’s strength and the time it took to complete.

The $4.5 million facility, announced under the former Minnis administration following Hurricane Dorian in 2019, is designed to accommodate between 400 and 800 people during natural disasters, about three percent of Abaco’s population.

However, local leaders and residents say the project, which faced multiple construction delays and cost increases, still leaves much to be desired.

“If a Category Five hurricane is coming and they ask us to use the shelter, I’ll go to Central Abaco Primary before I go in that building,” said Roscoe Thompson, Chairman of the Marsh Harbour and Spring City Local Government Township.

Others expressed frustration over the time it took for the shelter to be completed.

“That’s overdue long time. We get treated like outside people over here,” one resident said. “It took too long. It should have been done a long time ago,” added another, Roy Roberts.
“A building only supposed to take long to build if the finances ain’t there. If the money is there, it ain’t supposed to be no procrastination,” said Jamal Chipman.

While the shelter’s first phase, including construction, ventilation, electricity, and running water, is complete, some community members are questioning whether the structure is built to withstand the kind of storm it’s meant to protect them from.

Stephen Lleida, a member of the Marsh Harbour Town Planning Board, says the building’s design appears more suitable for community gatherings than emergency sheltering.

“It’s a pretty building. It looks to be somewhat structural, but for the purpose it was intended, to me it’s totally inadequate,” Lleida said.

Residents also raised concerns about being left out of the opening ceremony.

“I think residents had the feeling that they were shunned from that opening,” Thompson said. “They should’ve had a little more participation from locals here.”

Lleida echoed those sentiments, saying,

“It was quite a surprise to us because we were not kept abreast. As far as I’m aware, no locals knew of the opening, locals were not asked to participate in the ceremony.”

The new shelter’s unveiling may mark the completion of a long-awaited project, but for many in Abaco, the question remains, is it strong enough to stand when the next storm comes?