VOLUME 13, NUMBER 23, DECEMBER 1st, 2005 Fire Destroyed 60+ Houses in the Mud One Fatality While Hundreds Were Left Homeless A major fire began in the Mud by a woman with a kerosene lamp who perished in the Volunteer firemen from four fire departments responded and took better than four hours fire. The fire spread quickly through the area where houses are built in close proximity. to get the fire under control. A lack of a water supply in the vicinity hampered the Without adequate roads, fire trucks could not access the area. firemen. By Richard E. Fawkes blackened cinder and grey ash as a fire, ap- In a sometimes volatile situation requir- quickly moving conflagration. Some yelled Yet another disaster waiting to happen in parently started when she accidentally ing police intervention, dozens of panicky accusations at the firefighters that they were one of the illegal immigrant shanty towns toppled a kerosene lamp in her house, raged and outraged fire victims behaved menac- deliberately allowing their homes to burn of densely constructed tinder-box houses in pitilessly through acres of The Mud in Marsh ingly toward volunteer fire-fighters, some- because they were Haitians and the fire-fight- Abaco happened on November 17. Sev- Harbour between 6 and 10 p.m., leaving times attempting to seize hoses in their des- enty-four-year-old Celianese Dorisca burnt about 800 men, women and children home- peration to save their own homes which were Please see Fire Page 2 to death and 130 homes were reduced to less. mostly beyond saving in the crackling, Two Ministers Look at Fire Ruins Plaza Hosts Shop Hold Open House The Hon. Shane Gibson, Minister of Housing, and the Hon. Melanie Griffin, Minister of Social Services, arrived on Abaco early on the day following the disastrous fire in the Mud. They walked through the area before they had a meeting with local leaders. Young shoppers Amelia and Nico admire the beautiful sparkly ornanments and other Shown here are, left to right, Abaco Police Chief, Abaco’s Police Chief ASP Wayne goodies at Buds and Blooms during its annual Christmas Open House on the evening Miller; Ms. Griffin; Mr. Gibson and Assistant Commissioner of Police Ellison of November 26th. Shoppers were also put in a holiday spirit by the displays at Greenslade. Simcoe Jewellers. Baker’s Bay Work Is on Hold Renew your subscription before the expiration date shown in the label below. The Abaconian PRST STD Pending January Court Decision 9945 NW 88th Ave US POSTAGE A court decision on November 22, 2005, lows the Save Guana Cay to appeal the deci- Medley, FL 33178 PAID reinstated the right of the Save Guana Cay sion of the government which allows Discov- Forward and Address Correction Permit #2438 MIAMI FL 331 Reef Association to present their case to be ery Land Development to construct the heard. The Court of Appeal reversed the ear- Baker’s Bay Golf and Ocean Club on the north lier decision of the court in Freeport which previously had dismissed the association’s Please see Baker’s Bay Page 10 request for a hearing. The decision now al- Page 2 The Abaconian December 1, 2005 Fire Spread Rapidly Through Immigrant Area many citizen volunteers from throughout the Fire From Page 1 community assisting. ers did not care about them; that the Hundreds of fire victims stood or sat in firefighters were more concerned with sav- shock and disbelief along the roadside lead- ing “white” businesses in adjacent down- ing to the port among possessions like so- town Marsh Harbour. One volunteer emer- fas, beds and chests they were able to drag gency rescue worker said someone hit him from their homes before the ferociously lick- on the leg with a piece of two by four. One ing flames could engulf and consume them. firefighter was bruised when she was at- At least two fire-fighters were overcome tached with a knife that cut her turn-out by heat and smoke and had to be taken by gear. No arrests were made. ambulance to a private clinic. Firefighters encountered tremendous dif- Rev. Stephen Knowles, immediate past ficulties maneuvering their equipment president of the Abaco Christian Council, through the labyrinth of narrow, twisting happened on the scene when only two homes lanes and cul-de-sacs. Accessing water was were ablaze. A visibly shaken Rev. Knowles a major challenge with no running water or said he did his best to help rescue persons fire hydrants in the illegal settlement. Sea- from the structures, including Ms. Dorisca. In her case, Rev. Knowles said with deep water had to be pumped a thousand feet Volunteer firemen fought the fire for four hours before getting it under control. Many chagrin, it was too late. The heat was too from the port. The Marsh Harbour and Ca- factors kept them from being effective including interference by the residents. No fire intense and he could already see her bones suarina/Bahamas Palm volunteer fire depart- hydrants are anywhere near the area so the fire trucks had to leave the area to refill each ments’ vehicles were used with personnel time their truck ran dry. Lack of access roads and roads blocked by residents’ furnniture Please see Fire Page 4 from Hope Town and Guana Cay along with and other belongings hampered the firemen’s efforts. DO YOU WANT TO SELL YOUR PROPERTY? Let H.G. Christie be your Managing Broker! Why appoint a Managing Broker? SECURITY - a managing broker or brokerage company will keep the keys to the property in a locked office. The Broker can also accompany on all showings which allows the owner to have complete confidence in who views their house. PRE-QUALIFY PROSPECTS – The managing broker will pre-qualify all prospective purchasers to ensure that all showings will be to quality prospects. Our purchasers will be ready, willing, and able to buy. FLEXIBILITY - A managing Broker gives the owner flexibility to be in or out of the country. The owner can come and go as they please with no worry about their house being shown. This can also allow for the owners to be out of the country for closing. ADVERTISING - The managing broker or brokerage assumes all costs of advertising. The owner does not have to put out their own money. HASSLE FREE – The managing broker is there to arrange all of the details. They will handle everything from the showing, other agents' or purchasers' questions, negotiations, the deposit, writing contracts, and seeing it through to the closing. Why select H.G. Christie? Personnel - The largest and most widely distributed network of trained professional agents in Abaco. Our agents have a fifty years of experience collectively. Hours - 24/7/365. Agents are ready, willing and able to assist at anytime, day, night, weekends, holidays. 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Christie agents are committed and dedicated to continuing education and are willing to better themselves for the benefit of their clients and customers. Abaco Knowledge - The wide range of our agents' background and interests allows them to accurately answer most questions. If we don't know, we will research and find an answer. 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Bahamas Address: U.S. Delivery Address: When Shipping to Abaco - Remember P.O. Box AB20737 - Gulfstream Lines/Heavy Lift Services Marsh Harbour Abaco, Bahamas ABACO SHIPPING 801 Avenue E - Riviera Beach, Fl 33404 Tel: 242-367-2091 - 242-367-3341 RELIABLE, DEPENDABLE AND PERSONALIZED SERVICE Tel: 561-840-9393 - Fax: 561-863-3451 Fax: 242-367-2235 - 242-367-4885 General Cargo, 20' & 40' Dry and Refrigerated Containers, Contact: John Gilson [email protected] Drive on Ramps, Special Charters to the Cays.