MANAGERS and staff of the Milk River Hotel and Spa returned to the facility yesterday to clean up after flood waters on Monday forced the evacuation of 13 guests as well as workers.

"We are thankful that nobody was physically hurt," Minister of Tourism Ed Bartlett said yesterday in a statement. "We are most grateful to members of the nearby fishing community who used their boats to transport guests to dry ground," the minister was quoted in a press release sent by his ministry.

In the meantime, the ministry said baths were being thoroughly disinfected and sanitised, and advised that the facility should be reopened today.

Bartlett disclosed that the persons who were affected by the floods would be offered complimentary accommodation at Milk River at a future date.In the meantime, he said discussions were being held with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and the Clarendon Parish Council to develop a strategy for handling any similar occurrence in the future. This, he said, will complement a comprehensive redevelopment programme, estimated at $150 million, which was being finalised.