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January 15, 2013 The Abaconian Section A Page 1 VOLUME 22 NUMBER 02 January 15th, 2014 Two perish in New Year’s Eve fire What’s Inside •Green Turtle Cay woke up New Year’s Day to the sound of cow bells. A15 •Part 2 of the hit series: “Is the Airport Open Yet?” A22 •Find the most recent things you can’t live with- out. Classifieds start on B14 •Visitors Guide. A19 •An uplifting story about a young boy’s survival in the face of all odds, and a family’s will to hold on to Above: over 70 houses burned in the shanty village known as the Pigeon Pea on New Year’s Eve. The fire resulted in hundreds homeless hope. B7 and two dead. Firefighters from Marsh Harbour, Treasure Cay and Bahama Palm Shores responded to extinguish the flame. However, the congested nature of the shanty town made it impossible for the fire engines to reach the interior, resulting in a prolonged night of fire-fighting. Photo by David Rees. See page 2. •A community helps it- self heal. A5 Four Abaco students selected as Youth Airport opening Ambassadors in Leadership Program delayed again •Crime Report. A7 By Timothy Roberts •Crossword B13 The Deputy Prime Minister and Min- ister of Works and Urban Renewal, Philip Brave Davis said that “certain delays” are •Questions about VAT? causing the government to put off again the opening of the Marsh Harbour Interna- The Min. of Finance opens tional Airport Terminal until “some other a hotline. A21 issues” are addressed. The new Marsh Harbour interna- tional airport terminal will not open this What’s Happening month as expected and Mr. Davis noted that a technical team from the Ministry of Works came to Abaco to assess the air- •Jan 16-18: Abaco Sci- port’s deficiencies and expects a report ence Alliance within a week. “They thought they had everything •Jan 17: Abaco Cham- under control when I first announced that ber’s FACTA Seminar Above: The U.S. Embassy’s Youth Ambassadors Kandise Kelly and Catalina Albury, of it would be done in January, but I’m now Forest Heights Academy, Berthony McDermott from S.C. Bootle High School, Conrad advised because of certain delays that Cornish of Abaco Central High School and Ministry of Education representative Kimberly they have to put it off again because there •Jan 24-26: Art for the Rahming, meet with U.S. Chargé d’Affaires John Dinkelman, Public Affairs Officer Neda are some other issues that have to be ad- Parks Brown and Education and Cultural Specialist, Myra McPhee at the U.S. Embassy. For dressed,” Mr. Davis said. “They have not the full story about these students’ honour see Section B Page 2. specifically said design flaws, but some re- •Jan 25: BASRA’s Eve- designs have to be done to meet what I call ning of Elegance airport requirements.” He said he would be able to give a definitive date for the airport’s opening af- •Jan 30-Feb 1: 18th An- ter the technical team briefs him. nual Family Conference Mr. Davis could not say how much Requested the delay would cost government but noted Service Service •Fec 6-7: ECC’s Music Change Change Permit NO 4595 NO Permit that the project’s contingency fund is near- WEST PALM BCH FL BCH PALM WEST Doing Good Concerts Stuart, FL 34997 FL Stuart, PAID 5675 SE Grouper Ave Grouper SE 5675 US POSTAGE US Stuart Web Inc. Web Stuart PRSRT STD PRSRT The Abaconian The Please see Airport Page 6 •Full Calendar A8 Renew your subscription before the expiration date shown in the label below. label the in shown date expiration the before subscription your Renew Page 2 Section A The Abaconian January 15, 2014 Central & All Abaco and a mother and child dead as the New Fire Dept. Year rolled in. “pushed to its Volunteer firefighters from Marsh Harbour Volunteer Fire and Rescue (MH- limits” battling VFR), Treasure Cay’s Abaco Crash Fire and Rescue and Bahama Palm Shores’ Fire Pigeon Pea blaze Department took part in a six hour fight against an enormous blaze which destroyed By Timothy Roberts the southern portion of the extremely con- With mere hours left in 2013, trag- gested community. edy struck the migrant village known as the Danny Sawyer, fire chief of MHVFR, Pigeon Pea destroying a large number of said the fire fighters were challenged with shanty homes, leaving hundreds homeless Above: people view the fire in the Pigeon Pea from atop their roofs. During the fire about 70 houses burned leaving more than 250 homeless overnight. During a visit the next day from the Deputy Prime Minister, Philip Davis, he said a Minister of Works official had been appointed to prevent unsafe rebuilding in the area. The improper construction, he said, acted like a “trap.” Fire engines were not able to make it through the roads to extinguish some fires. accessing the area due to narrow entrances department’s help, they certainly made a lined with cars and residents moving in and difference. We are also thankful for those out seeking to save their possessions from who brought us water and helped in other the fire. He added that the capabilities of ways.” the fire department was pushed to its limits While the cause of the fire is still with personnel and equipment as this fire being investigated it is believed to have represented a worst-case scenario. started in the home where mother and son, Mr. Sawyer said that assistance was believed to be Darlene Jacobs and one- called in from Treasure Cay and Bahama year-old Dornel Jacobs Jr., both perished. Above: Minister of Works and Deputy Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis visited the Palm Shores’ fire departments and their as- Preliminary numbers suggest as many scene of the fire the morning after. DPM Davis (white shirt, foreground)said the govern- sistance was what helped turn the tide in as 70 homes, possibly more, were de- ment will assist, and will also ensure residents “help themselves” by preventing rebuilding finally bringing the fire under control. “We are grateful today for those in such unsafe conditions. Please see Fire Page 6 January 15, 2013 The Abaconian Section A Page 3 DAMIANOS Page 4 Section A The Abaconian January 15, 2014 Coldwell Banker January 15, 2013 The Abaconian Section A Page 5 Central & All Abaco ished in the fire were his cousins. Former resident He said on January 1 he was able to find a house in Central Pines for his parents leads drive to and helped them get some of basic ameni- ties that they needed, “but I felt a need to assist fire victims not only do for my immediate family but also do something to help the kids and oth- By Timothy Roberts ers in my community who were also af- After a New Years’ fire in the shanty fected.” town known as the Pigeon Peas destroyed He sought help from friends in the over 70 homes a former resident comes community and formed the Pigeon Peas to their aid bringing relief to victims with Disaster Relief Committee which is now the assistance of community members and the Abaco Humanitarian Association. churches. “We went out and bought basic ne- On January 5, 2014, Mack Altidor cessities and food items for the people and brought to the victims of the Pigeon Peas sought the help of others in the community fire numerous items to bring relief, includ- and the help and feedback that we received ing food, clothing, school items and more. from the people here in Abaco and The Ba- Mr. Altidor said when he thought hamas at large was nothing short of what I about all the families affected, including was expecting,” Mr. Altidor said. some of his own, and after hearing the “The people showed me that this was statement from the Deputy Prime Minister, not a Haitian issue, it was not a Bahamian Philip ‘Brave’ Davis who said “We want issue; it was simply a humanitarian issue.” to help them but they must first help them- He said he was overwhelmed by the selves” he felt compelled to help. support and added that he is proud to be an and are working continuously around the He said that everyone who were dis- “I honestly agreed with him. So I Abaconian, as not only did the churches clock, and “I think that we as Abaconians placed and knew of the aid being provided decided to in Abaco, but the people of Abaco showed should be very proud of the way we came came out to get some assistance and were donate my up and are still showing up at designated together.” “very grateful and encouraging.” He said this was not a salary for the drop-off locations and asking "How can we They distributed food items, school “the people whose homes were not affect- Haitian month of De- help". uniforms, school shoes and supplies, cloth- ed have also been helpful in allowing other cember,” he issue, it was He said Pastor Samuel Cornish “sim- ing, and boy’s haircuts and much more. friends and strangers to stay in their homes said. ply showed me what it means to be a leader “We were able to feed more than 200 per- for the short time.” not a His fam- and has been the spiritual father that I've sons, bought school uniforms, shoes, boy’s Mr. Altidor said that going forward ily lost their Bahamian always known him to be.