June 1, 2013
The Abaconian
Damianos
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The Abaconian June 1, 2013
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June 1, 2013
The Abaconian
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Central & All Abaco AMMC to oversee the restoration and maintenance of lighthouses
Above left to right: Annie Potts, Dr. Tinker, Dr. M Pateman, Commander McNeil, David Gale, Silbert Mills and Dir. of Parks David Knowles. By Mirella Santillo During a two day meeting held in Hope Town between key people involved in the maintenance of Abaco lighthouses it was decided that the lighthouses of The Bahamas would be placed under the jurisdiction of the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation (AMMC). Representatives of government agencies, such as the Port Authority, The Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation and The Bahamas National Trust, were joined by local stakeholders for the meeting. On May16, Dr. Keith Tinker and Dr. Michael Pateman, representatives of AMMC met with members of The Bahamas Lighthouse Preservation Society, (BL PS) among them the founders of the Society, David Gale and Annie Potts, and members of the Hope Town Historic Society represented by Vernon Malone, Susan Bethel and Lori Kenyan. Also present was David Knowles - Park Director for the Bahamas National Trust. Two Hope Town residents, Thomas Hazel and Paul Thompson, were present. Both were involved in the Hope Town lighthouse restoration. The goal of the meeting was to come to an agreement on which entity or entities would be best qualified to oversee the restoration and the maintenance of the Bahamas Imperial Lighthouses (built under the British Colonial period) and other lighthouses of the archipelago. The meeting was held at the Hope Town Harbor Lodge and was opened with a prayer by Vernon Malone who identified the lighthouses as guardians bringing comfort to sailors. Mr. Gale, next, stressed the importance of lighthouses by the fact they were still operating around the world. One of his wishes was to see the San Salvador lighthouse restored as a manually operated lighthouse, one of three lighthouses that have not been automated. Annie Potts, an arduous volunteer from Florida who helped with the restoration of the Hope Town lighthouse, acted as a coordinator between Abaco and the United States to find parts and people qualified to repair damaged parts. She gave an overview of the lighthouses of The Bahamas. She said that the goal of the meeting was to find a way to save them. Dr. Pateman went over the conditions of the lighthouses in the country and spoke of a committee meeting on a national level that took place last October in Nassau. The meeting was aimed at establishing the responsibility of lighthouse maintenance. He gave a brief account of what legal authority
was in charge of the lighthouses. The Antiquity Act concerns sites older than fifty years. It designates such sites as historic monuments. The Port Authority Act gave the Port Authority the responsibility of taking care of maritime light structures, but not of the Imperial Lighthouses. The Transport Act placed the land on which they stood under the Ministry of Transport, but there are no committees responsible to coordinate the three acts and oversee their maintenance. He mentioned the desire of the Minister of Transport and Aviation, the Hon. Glenys Hanna- Martin, whose grandfather was a lighthouse keeper, to see all the lighthouses restored and properly maintained. Dr. Tinker then put forward the motion that since most lighthouses were older than fifty years and most of them over than a hundred years, they were historic monuments that should be placed under the jurisdiction of the AMMC. He stated, however, that a partnership between the various entities that had been involved in their maintenance or restoration should be established. It would involve the restructuring of BLPS as a foundation which would allow the society to be legally recognized by the government and be granted funds for repairs. The other partners would be the Port Authority and the Bahamas National Trust. The decision of the Port Authority becoming associated with AMMC regarding the maintenance of the lighthouses rested with Commander Patrick McNeil. A subsequent meeting attended by Commander McNeil took place the following day at the Methodist Church. As a former seaman, the Commander said that he had a lot of respect for the lighthouses which were beacons of hope and reassurance for sailors. He recognized that it had been challenging for the Port Authority to maintain all the lighthouses and was all in favor of the proposed partnership. He mentioned that the automation of the Great Inagua Lighthouse had been cancelled and that the Minister of Transport and Aviation was agreeable to have it restored as a manually operated lighthouse. During further discussions, BLPS representatives were asked to restructure the society as soon as possible and to send copies of the reports that had been made concerning the repairs to Hope Town and San Salvador lighthouses. Mr. Knowles, who said that the BNT will be interested in leasing the lighthouses adjacent to the Please see AMMC
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FURNITURE PLUS
June 1, 2013
The Abaconian
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Central & All Abaco Contracts
From Page 1
He said that the construction works on the 51,000 square foot airport terminal, which includes twenty two counter positions; stateof-the-art luggage scanning system; pilot briefing room; two restaurants; one lounge; one VIP lounge; eight retail shop spaces; two kiosks; long and short term public parking areas along with taxi and employee parking areas, commenced in August 2011 and was originally scheduled for completion in early October 2012. “However, there have been numerous design and additional works changes, resulting in a revised completion in August this year,” Mr. Davis said. “The final project cost inclusive of contingency works is projected to be $30.8 million.” Mr. Davis said the additional external works to bring the airport up to international standards – the land clearing, hydroseeding, fencing and security booth for the Control Tower and fire/crash facilities – were tendered to Abaco based contractors so as to create job opportunities for the local labour force.
“However, there have been numerous ...changes, resulting in a revised completion in August this year [for the airport],”
“These contracts mark another step towards completing the upgrade of the Marsh International Airport to meet the needs of Abaco for both domestic and international travelers,” he said. The contracts for 24,190 linear feet perimeter fence with a continuous concrete curb was tendered to local contractors in two equal packages of 12,095 linear feet each and was awarded to C&J Fencing and Landscaping for $385,661.78 and Abaco Fencing Company for $374,876.00. The contract for land clearing and hydro-seeding which covers over one million square feet of land clearing and over two million square feet of hydro-seeding was awarded to Big Cat Equipment for $362,117.13. The security booth for the Control Tower and fire/crash facilities was awarded to L V Construction for $59,084.70 Construction of a preschool with classroom and restroom facilities with covered concrete walkway on the Fox Town Primary School campus was awarded to Mills Construction for $237,854.51 and the construction of a single story building to include a primary school student restroom facility and an extended covered walkway, also on the Fox Town Primary School campus was awarded to Odell Cox Construction $182,500.00. A building repair contract for much needed building repairs to the Marsh Harbour Container Port Building International Warehouse at a base sum of $45,100.00 was awarded to Bill Swain & Sons Construction.
Duchess of Topsail sails away
After many faithful years serving Abaco through United Abaco Shipping Company and some time out of service more recently, the Duchess of Topsail was towed away by tug to Panama to be refurbished and put back in service elsewhere.
Two boaters rescued south of Abaco By Timothy Roberts Two people stranded at sea just southwest of Abaco were rescued by a United States Coast Guard air crew aboard an MH-60 helicopter from Air Station Clearwater on May 20. Nick Carullo and Calvin Koch were stranded at sea on the Dupleta, a 34-foot boat that had engine trouble southwest of Abaco. The Seventh Coast Guard District command center received the report of the disabled vessel and launched an aircrew, which already was deployed as part of Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT).
The helicopter retrieved the men from their boat and transported them to Nassau. The vessel was marked and arrangements were made with commercial salvage to recover it. Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos is a combined Coast Guard, DEA and Government of Bahamas partnership to combat drug smuggling to and from the Bahamas. The OPBAT Operations Center is responsible for initiating and prosecuting law enforcement cases in the Bahamian area of responsibility and regularly assists with prosecuting human smuggling and search and rescue cases.
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The Abaconian June 1, 2013
From the Editor's Desk
Our Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Philip Davis, was on island May 27. He was joined by the Honourable Glenys Hanna-Martin as well. It so happens that it is these two leaders that Abaconians so desperately want answers from. Mr. Davis, aside from being our country’s Deputy Prime Minister, also holds the title of Minister of Works. Right now, to my ears and yours, that translates to “Roads.” The Hon. Ms. Hanna-Martin is Minister of Transport and Aviation was here as well. Go ahead and say it: Airport. Two incredibly vexing issues, shameful roads and an almost-comically delayed airport, we on Abaco deal with. And the people ultimately in charge came and gave us a visit. But we’ll get to those in a minute. Mr. Davis and the government had a $1.6 million dollar bone to throw to Abaco and they weren’t going to spend it all in one place. I do want to commend the government for investing in Fox Town. Some people forget how big Abaco actually is and how diverse her needs. And the islands made even longer when you can hardly drive the roads for fear of breaking an axle. But Fox Town, Abaco should be receiving proper educational facilities if local construction companies Mills Construction and Odell Cox Construction carry out a good job. I believe any Abaco business given the chance to shine can produce quality work.
The Abaconian Bradley M. Albury Editor-in-Chief AB 20213 Marsh Harbour Abaco, The Bahamas
Like the roads in Central Abaco. Local companies could have done a much better job than the current circus that’s taking place. I’m sorry. I said I’d get to the roads later. My apologies, I digress. But in all honesty the Fox Town improvements (classrooms, bathrooms and buildings for preschool and primary school) are good news for the youth of Little Abaco. Also on the docket was our port. Marsh Harbour’s Container Port Building and International Warehouse is a mess. Luckily for folks who enjoy knowing their international shipping facility is sound, Mr. Davis signed a little over $45K to Bill Swain & Sons Construction. They are to carry out repairs so that our dock workers don’t feel they work at a dilapidated shed. One last thing I would like to commend the government for. You may have noticed, especially if you read the front page article, that all work was awarded to Abaco contractors. Again, I wish they had the foresight to have done the same thing with the road work in Central Abaco. Especially if all they planned to do was sand seal. The pipeline from the Marsh Harbour Airport to the ferry docks is what feeds all of us in one way or another. And that stretch of road is, perhaps, the worst on the island. Of course if you make a bad impression on our tourists right off the bat, the roads don’t matter. How many times have you seen visitors huddled under the cramped airport overhangs as it pours rain turning the ground around them to mud? How often can you hardly see at that old terminal see for sake of dust? It’s loud, messy and shameful. This is a dead horse. So I will only say this: Mr. Davis, Ms. Hanna-Martin, you have pegged the opening of the new terminal for August 2013 (funny how we have to clarify the year). I implore you and your government to do all in your power to keep to this date. The recent work you have signed to bring the airport up to international standards is a step we at once commend you for but also make no extra praise for. This has been a long time coming. We deserve this. And I, for one, sincerely look forward to not having to drag this dead horse of a topic out for each paper.
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Calendar of Events
•May 31: Rotaract Meet & Greet at Mangoes •May 31-June 2: Sandy Point Youth Festival •May 31: Perry Cooke Swim Meet •May 31: Women’s / Men’s Softball - Murphy Town Ballfield 7:30pm •June 1: Agape Christian High School Graduation •June 1: Marsh Harbour Volunteer Fire & Rescue Fun Day •June 1: Women’s / Men’s Softball - Murphy Town Ballfield 7:30pm •June 3: Public Town Meeting 6:30 at the New Government Complex •June 4-5: Sandcastle Art, Treasure Cay •June 6: 4th Annual Goombay Festival at Sea Spray, Hope Town - Funk Creation Band •June 6: St. Francis High School Graduation •June 6: Long Bay High School Graduation •June 6: Community Meeting (Ministry of Works & Transport) at CAPS 7pm •June 7-8: Tuna Classic •June 7-9: Sandy Point Home Coming •June 8: Women’s / Men’s Softball - Murphy Town Ballfield 7:30pm •June 8: Cherokee Fund Raising Fair •June 10: Every Child Counts Graduation •June 12: Forest Heights Graduation •June 13: Community Meeting: (Social Services, Immigration, Environmental Health) CAPS 7pm •June 14: SC Bootle High School Graduation, Coopers Town •June 14: Mary E. Albury High School Graduation, Man-O-War •June 15: Lion Fish Derby, Marsh Harbour •June 18: Abaco Central High Graduation •June 20: Goombay Festival at Sea Spray - D-Mack •June 20-Aug 15: Friends of Environment Field Courses •June 24-July 12: Campbell’s Shipping Summer Maritime Camp •June 27: Community Meeting (Administrators Office, Christian Council, Traffic Police) CAPS 7pm •June 29: Rocking with Friends, Abaco Inn, Hope Town •July 3: Fiddle Cay Cheesburger Party (Stranded Naked) •July 4: Goombay Festival at Sea Spray - Spank Band •July 4: Regatta Race 1 - Green Turtle •July 5: Regatta Lay Day Party at Coco Beach Bar •July 6: Regatta Race 2 - Treasure Cay to Guana •July 8: Regatta Race 3 - Guana to Marsh •July 9: Regatta Race 4 - Marsh to Hope Town •July 10: 40 Years of Bahamian Independence •July 10: Regatta Lay Day Party at Lubbers Landing •July 11: Regatta Race 5 - Hope Town (Awards at Sea Spray)
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JUNE 2012
June 1, 2013
The Abaconian
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Letters to the Editor A Few Questions Dear Editor; As a resident of the Town of Marsh Harbour and cognizant of the fact that tourism is, and is likely to remain for the foreseeable future, the major source of income for Bahamians (approximately seventy cents out of every dollar), I direct the following questions and comments to the former (FNM) and present (PLP) Governments:1. Why is the busiest stretch of road which goes from the airport to and through the Town of Marsh Harbour to the ferry docks also one of the worst roads in Abaco? I believe it is correct to say that more than 50% of all of the tourist who visit Abaco have to travel on this unsightly and pot holed stretch of road (mostly by taxi) in order to get to their destinations either in the Town of Marsh Harbour or in the Cays (Guana Cay, Man-O-War Cay, Scotland Cay and Elbow Cay). Yet this stretch of road and, indeed, all of the roads in Marsh Harbour, Dundas Town and Murphy Town were last resurfaced (sand seal only) almost 20 years ago. As a result of the heavy rainfall which Abaco experiences and the fact that during the last 20 years there have been three major hurricanes, it is not surprising that these roads are in such a deplorable condition. 2. Given the poor condition of the roads in Marsh Harbour, Dundas Town,
and Murphy Town, why did the former government spend thousands of dollars paving a stretch of road that goes from the Earnest Dean Highway (also now riddled with pot holes) to the newly constructed Control Tower at Marsh Harbour airport with expensive hot mix when it is unlikely that more than ten vehicles per day will ever use this road (if and when the Control Tower becomes operational)? 3. Why did the former government deem it appropriate to have the roads in Cooper’s Town surfaced with expensive hot mix but deemed it unnecessary to even resurface the bad roads throughout Marsh Harbour, Dundas Town and Murphy Town with sand seal? I am delighted that, in addition to the new roads, the former government also had proper sidewalks built in Cooper’s Town but question why the residents of Marsh Harbour had to pay for the construction of the sidewalks that now exist (used by Bahamians and tourists alike) by having to raise the money themselves? 4. Why did the former government contract to have a road constructed with expensive hot mix (recently completed) from the Marsh Harbour airport to the Sherlin Bootle Highway which by passes the Town of Marsh Harbour and is unlikely, for the foreseeable future, to have one tenth of the volume of traffic as the said road which goes from the airport through the Town of Marsh Harbour to the ferry docks? 5. Why have there been virtually no infrastructure improvements in the Town
io Marsh Harbour for the past 10 years and, in particular, the five years during which the former government (which did enjoy the support of the majority of Bahamains in Marsh Harbour) was last in power, notwithstanding that Marsh Harbour is a major centre of commerce and producer of revenue for the Country? 6. Why is the present government allowing such a shoddy job to be done for the few small sections of the road in Marsh Harbour (including the road that goes from the airport to the ferry dock) that are now being repaved? One section of the road in the Town of Marsh Harbour was recently so poorly resurfaced that after the first heavy rainfall it has to be resurfaced again and now after further rainfall it will have to be redone yet again! 7. When will the new airport terminal be opened by the present government?
Fred Gottlieb Marsh Harbour, Abaco
A Thank You Dear Editor, Please allow me a spot in your paper. I would like to publicly thank Abaco Cancer Society for all of their hard work at raising funds to help Cancer Patients here in Abaco. They continue to give selflessly of themselves, every Saturday the volunteers open the shop and there are countless
fundraisers during the year. If not for the hard working Volunteers, Abaco Cancer Society would not exist here in Abaco, to help cancer patients. I was diagnosed in August of 2011, if not for their financial help I wouldn't have been able to travel back and forth to Florida for my chemo and radiation treatments. They have been a blessing to me and many other Cancer Patients. I am very grateful to each and every one that are a part of the Society. I encourage everyone to donate anything to the shop next door to Abaco Groceries, they are open every Saturday. In the case Saturday is not good for you, you can always leave your donations with Ian at Abaco Groceries. Go through your closets, your cupboards, your garage and your storage areas and clean it out and anything that is usable, donate it to this very valuable cause. During the last hurricane the building had substantial damage and they lost most of their stock, so please if you can help ,please do!!! You can also contact Marjolein Scottvan Der Hek @1-242-475-8842 CELL if you have any questions. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!!!!! You have been a blessing from above and God will continue to bless you all for what you do!!!!!!!! Dorothy Malone ( Cookie )
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The Abaconian June 1, 2013
DAMIANOS
June 1, 2013
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June 1, 2013
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The Abaconian June 1, 2013
Central & All Abaco
Road works addressed by Minister
Public outcry grows
By Timothy Roberts During a contract signing at the Government Complex on May 27, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works, Philip Brave took “Engineers are Davis time to adworking ... so dress the n u m e r o us that the complaints quality of concerning work is what road works in is deserving of Marsh Harbour. Abaconians,” M r . Davis said that “complaints have reached me but our engineers are satisfied with the quality of work.” He added that what is being observed that has contributed to a number of the complaints “is basically that the roads, when repaired, haven’t be allowed to cure and because people are driving over it [as well as] the inordinate rain in recent times.” He noted that the original contract called for sand seal which he said has now been corrected to asphalt. “We did get the complaints. They
were addressed and now engineers are working assiduously so that the quality of work is what is deserving of Abaconians,” he said. When asked if “black top” is being considered for the main road through Marsh Harbour to the Crossing he said it is being considered in the future but no timeline of when was given.
What residents are saying about the road works We are so not getting value for our money – D. The bypass road is beautiful, unlike this other shabby work on the main roads through the town. – C. No value for our money!! Going from the BEC corner to the new round about feels like riding on a wash board. Driving on the road by Charlie Boo corner you cannot drive with your windows open as you would choke to death and pray that no one is in front as there is nothing but a dust cloud. It is disgraceful that Simmons was
Above and below: locals have complained about the quality of road repairs being carried out in Central Abaco. Simmons Construction has previously stated that weather conditions and traffic have resulted in delays and are responsible for the poor results. Locals charge that, regardless of those reasons, the quality of work is inferior. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works, Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, stated that “complaints have reached me but our engineers are satisfied with the quality of work.”
given the contract to do this work and they do not seem to have any experience with road works! - L. The government and Simmons should be totally embarrassed at the condition they have put Abaco in....Tourist walking the streets is either choking to death or being splashed from mud… and I won't even talk for the local people who have waited long enough for good roads to end up with this garbage... shame, shame, shame. – L. Mr. Simmons needs to be let go and pay back the money he got from the Government. Why does the government give all the contracts to people other than our Abaco locals? If a local company would have done it they would have done it with pride. – K. It is truly sad that Abaco is getting short changed again! SHAME! – Jeremy When people compare the new highway to the airport with the other resur-
faced roads it will soon be clear that we've been demoted. – C. I drove this area today and it is worse than I remember it being, might as well have left it alone it they knew they wasn't going to do it with common sense. – C. There should be no taxation without representation... Where is the minister responsible? (Nassau) Tell this company to stop! Just take the money and run…It would be better to have taken we money and not do anything, at least we would not have this mess to clean up.... Anybody notice all the oil seeping into the ground? Somebody needs to be held accountable, if not locked up...Again ,where is the minister responsible? Who is the minister responsible? I vote that he should forfeit his salary for mismanaging we money....This is so unfair and downright thievery...Done cause my vexation to be yuck-up. - J.
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Central & All Abaco EMS Week observed
Bypass Road nears completion
The bypass road that runs from the Marsh Harbour International Airport’s roundabout to the newly built roundabout on SC Bootle Hwy is nearing completion and is open to traffic. The road works started in 2011 by Knowles Construction & Development Company Ltd. faced some delays but is now on its way to being completed with hot mix asphalt. Above: EMS personnel attending a Sunday worship at New Vision Ministries. The theme for this National EMS Week is “One Mission. One Team.” Left to right: Stephen Rolle; Althia Simms; Peter Pratt; and Lonnie Cornish. Not shown are: John Pintard and Shadell Munnings-Smith the assistant manager. By Canishka Alexander National EMS Week was observed from May 19-25 under the theme "EMS: One Mission. One Team." EMS personnel on Abaco were engaged in a number of activities, which included the dissemination of reading material on topics like First Aid and CPR, according to Althia Simms.
The shared information can be used throughout the year for public education and safety programs. On May 26, Simms and her colleagues attended a Sunday worship service at New Vision Ministries, where the EMS staff was recognized for their invaluable service to the community of Abaco.
Iva Duncombe honoured at Retirement Luncheon By Canishka Alexander The Department of Local Government held a Retirement Luncheon on May 21 in honour of Iva Duncombe at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Government Complex. Mrs. Duncombe dedicated more than 30 years of service, and was employed by the government since the Board of Works was in existence. Moderator Starlene Prenelus of the
Department of Education led in opening remarks calling on Gregory Knowles, senior deputy administrator, to give the invocation. Next, Senior Island Administrator Preston Cunningham addressed Mrs. Duncombe and her supporters. He commended her on her many years of service, and
Please see
Retirement
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Abaco Cays