Public-private partnership helps the Bahamas respond to COVID-19

Commander Sonia Miller of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (left) greets U.S. Embassy Senior Defense Official, Commander Kevin Self (right), upon receiving $20,000 in equipment to aid in the fight against coronavirus in The Bahamas. Photo by Daniel Durazo
Commander Sonia Miller of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (left) greets U.S. Embassy Senior Defense Official, Commander Kevin Self (right), upon receiving $20,000 in equipment to aid in the fight against coronavirus in The Bahamas. Photo by Daniel Durazo

By Ramona Layne Mueller and Daniel Durazo 

In late 2020, Embassy Nassau showed what’s possible when government agencies and private companies work together. Working with U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), Regulus Global—a Virginia-based small business—built, integrated, and delivered a $3.3 million modular shelter and hygienic solution system to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and The Bahamas. The modular units provided immediate shelter, kitchen, and sanitary facilities for displaced citizens and/or disaster response personnel in the wake of a hurricane or natural disaster.

“In 60 days, Regulus Global designed, developed, and delivered a hurricane response system to The Bahamas,” said Brad Stewart, director of innovation and design solutions at Regulus Global. “The real asset of the mobile shelter solution sets is their multi-purpose utilization—in this case, not only for disaster preparedness but also for The Bahamas’ pandemic medical response as mobile COVID[-19] screening centers.” 

The Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction and NEMA received the modular shelters late last year as part of the United States’ support for disaster response in The Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian. Manufactured in Virginia Beach, Va., these modular shelters can accommodate up to 400 people, including two kitchens and six shower/latrine sanitary units. The shelters can be deployed together or separately, making them ideal for an archipelago with more than 400 islands. The custom-made shelters support natural disaster and pandemic response and supplemental emergency mitigation needs for the Bahamian community. 

“It’s important to be prepared for natural disasters, even in the midst of a pandemic,” said Stewart. “We’re committed to supporting the U.S. and international community with scalable modular humanitarian, expeditionary, and medical solutions for quick response times.”

Ramona Layne Mueller is the director of communications for Regulus Global. Daniel Durazo is the public affairs officer at Embassy Nassau.

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