The Free National Movement stands with the people of Nicholls Town and all of Andros as they come to terms with the devastating fire that destroyed the Fish Fry, a place that sustained families, supported local entrepreneurs, and formed part of the cultural and economic life of the community. Our thoughts are with every vendor and family now facing loss, uncertainty, and hardship.
This tragedy did not have to unfold the way it did. For years, the Free National Movement has warned about the consequences of failing to invest in a comprehensive national emergency response strategy. What happened in Nicholls Town is a painful reminder of why those warnings matter. When basic firefighting equipment is unavailable, lives, livelihoods, and entire communities are put at risk.
The FNM believes this country must do better, and we have been clear about how. We support the establishment of a stand-alone National Fire Department with modern equipment stationed across all major islands. We support the development of a trained, structured, and properly supported national volunteer fire brigade, with clear standards, ongoing training, and fair compensation. We support stronger coordination with the private sector and international partners to ensure rapid response and technical support when disasters strike. And we support integrating emergency response under a single, clear chain of command, with direct ministerial oversight, so that responsibility is never unclear and delays are never excused.
As recovery begins in Nicholls Town, our immediate focus must be on supporting the vendors and families who have lost everything, many for the second or even third time. Rebuilding will require a coordinated effort from government, the private sector, and the wider Bahamian public, but rebuilding alone is not enough if the underlying failures remain unaddressed.
The people of Andros deserve more than sympathy after disaster strikes; they deserve protection before it does. The Free National Movement will continue to press for the national preparedness our Family Islands urgently need, because no community should ever again be left to face catastrophe without the tools to defend itself.