June 15th, 2003 The Abaconian Page 1 VOLUME 11, NUMBER 12, JUNE 15th, 2003 Pigeon Peas Fire Leaves 200 Homeless Prime Minister Commits to Bring About Changes On May 28 fire swept through an area of Pigeon Peas destroying about 70 homes, leaving an estimated 200 to 215 persons homeless. Despite the valiant efforts of the Marsh Harbour Volunteer Fire Department, all the houses in that 0.9 acre area were completely burned. The Fire Department was phoned at 5:31 p.m. by a Haitian and Assistant Fire Chief Claude Sawyer was on the scene with the first fire engine within four minutes to quickly analyze strategies to battle the fire. The fire began in the middle of a very densely packed area where houses were so close that the firemen were unable to lay out their fire hoses. Chain link fences pre- vented normal access. Three trucks from the Fire Department responded and later that evening the truck at the airport responded. Two water lines were connected directly to a fire hydrant but pressure was low because of a break in a three-inch line close to the Anglican Church. The firemen were assisted by many town people. A forklift was used to get a hose over one fence beside the lumber yard while another fence behind Sawyer’s Market was lifted by a forklift to allow access to the area. Several containers behind Sawyer’s Market were moved away from the fence. Residents on the rooftops were passed hoses A disastrous fire swept through an area of the Pigeon Pea community in Marsh Harbour on May 28, destroying about 70 homes. to access the fire. However, the amount of The Marsh Harbour Volunteer Fire Department was not able to save any of the houses in the confined area but kept the fire from water available was insufficient. Those on spreading to other parts of the community. This photo shows the fire consuming a house built along the fence delineating Abaco the roofs had to abandon their effort. Hardware property. The metel wall of the warehouse got red hot, igniting the stock within the warehouse. The fire left about 200 persons homeless. Thanks to Mr. Harold Davies for this spectacular photo. Please see Fire Page 4 Hope Town Celebrates Earth Day Prime Minister Tours Pigeon Peas The Prime Minister, the Hon. Perry Christie toured Pigeon Peas on May 31 to view the The Hope Town School hosted about 250 school students for their annual Earth Day burned out area and to begin a study of the area problems. He is in the center accompa- celebration. Environmental groups, government officials and many interested persons nied on the left by the Haitian Ambassador to The Bahamas, Mr. Louis Harold Joseph, enjoyed the program and the displays which highlighted some of the environmental and on the right ASP Clarence Russell, Abaco’s Police Chief, and Insp. Cleophas Coo- problems Abaco faces. The guest speaker was the Ambassador for the Environment, per, Abaco’s CID Chief. In the background is a house under construction. His Excellency Keod “Code” Smith. Shown above are the judges of the school dis- plays with Hope Town School Principal, Mrs. Candace Key. They are, left to right, Mrs. Key, Mr. Keon Smith, Mr. Everette Archer from Murphy Town, accompanying Renew your subscription before the expiration date shown in the label below. Mr. Smith, Mr. David Knowles, Abaco’s local officer with the Department of Agricul- The Abaconian PRST STD ture, and behind, Mr. Wayne Cornish, an Abaco officer with the Department of Fish- 9945 NW 88th Ave US POSTAGE eries. Medley, FL 33178 PAID Forward and Address Correction Permit #2438 By Candace Key and then continued with a light ocean MIAMI FL 331 What a day to celebrate our island’s breeze on the gathered crowd at Jarrett unique diverse environment! May 23 Park in Hope Town. dawned bright pink in the east, showered rain just enough to brighten the leaves Please see Earth Day Page 10 Page 2 The Abaconian June 15th, 2003 Christie Visits Haitian Communities The Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the mation was needed before he can develop a ter for holding the illegals until they can be He stressed that the government is there Hon. Perry Christie, visited Abaco on May long range program to change the situation repatriated. for the benefit of the people. He feels that 31 to personally view the site of the disas- which exists. He assured the Haitians that Mr. Christie was adamant, “Construc- Abaco will see unprecedented development trous fire in the Pigeon Peas which de- his government would process the immi- tion (of new houses) must stop right now. within the next year or two and that devel- stroyed 70 houses. He walked around the grants who qualified for status. Any Hai- The Prime Minister said so!” He told the opment on Abaco will continue because of entire Haitian community and the adjoin- tian who was in The Bahamas ten years prior Haitians that he had come with government the beauty of the island and because of the ing Mud area talking with residents and to January 12, 1995, can apply for status ministers to assess the problem first hand. people, their culture and heritage. He chal- seeing for himself the burned out area and according to a treaty between The Baha- “I will not allow a community of this na- lenged Abaco to demonstrate to the rest of the living conditions which exist in those mas and Haiti. Each application will be dealt ture to exist in the middle of Marsh The Bahamas and the world that it can solve two areas. with individually. Those who arrived here Harbour,” he said. It was his duty to en- problems. He closed the meeting stating his Mr. Christie brought with him the Hai- after the January 12, 1985, date may be sure that the Bahamas evolves in its own belief that the Bahamas greatest asset is its tian Ambassador to The Bahamas, Mr. repatriated. peculiar way and must not allow outside people. Louis Harold Joseph, the Hon. Obie “Not everyone will like the outcome,” events to dominate our culture. Ministers Discuss Wilchcombe, Minister of Tourism, Sen. said Mr. Christie, “But progress must A recent agreement between The Baha- Traver R. Whylly, and the Hon. Fred come.” The Bahamas is working with the mas and Haiti has not yet been ratified by Haitian Problems Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Haitian government to stop the flow. He the Cabinet yet. However, Mr. Christie is The Prime Minister’s trip was followed Public Service. appealed to the Haitians here to cooperate committed to finding solutions and asked by a visit on June 3 by the Hon. Shane After an extensive tour, Mr. Christie held with the government and not to be angry. for the cooperation of the Haitian commu- Gibson, Minister of Housing and National a meeting with Haitians and local officials One of the goals of the Bahamian De- nity. He noted that he was visiting Marsh Insurance, and the Hon. Melanie Griffin, in the Marsh Harbour courtroom to assess fence Force will be to intercept Haitian ves- Harbour with the Haitian Ambassador the current situation and discuss the larger sels in the Southern Bahamas. The Defence which signified his commitment. Please see Christie Page 17 problems which these communities present. Force will have an expanded presence on He emphasized that much more infor- Inagua which will include a detention cen- The Hon. Dr. Marcus Bethel, Minister of Health and Environmental Services, and the Hon. Alfred Gray, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Local Government, were on Abaco on June 4 to see about the fire in Pigeon Pea. They went through that community On June 3 the Prime Minister sent a delegation to tour the Pigeon Peas and Mud commu- and the Mud talking with the residents and assessing the living conditions. Government nities on a fact finding trip. They talked with fire victims and other residents about their has said they will put into place policies which will clean up these slum areas. Dr. Bethel living conditions. They held a meeting with Bahamian leaders, pastors and Haitians to is on the left and Mr. Gray on the right in the photo. Behind them is Mr. Carl Smith of the gather facts as background for making policies concernting the illegal immigrants which National Disaster Preparation Committee. inhabit the communities. They were accompanied by several other government officials. Shown above are, left to right in the front, ASP Clarence Russell, Abaco’s Chief of Police, Commissioner of Police Paul Farquharson, the Hon. Shane Gibson, Minister of Housing and National Insurance, the Hon. 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