May 1st, 2002 The Abaconian Page 1 VOLUME 10, NUMBER 9, MAY 1st, 2002 May 2 Is Election Day Voters Decide Our Leaders for the Next Five Years The general election is set for May 2. The political leaders are crisscrossing the country wooing voters and outlining their objectives. At stake are 40 seats in the House of Representatives and the leadership of the country. The two prominent national leaders are Mr. Tommy Turnquest, leader of the Free National Movement, and Mr. Perry Christie, leader of the Progressive Liberal Party. Locally five candidates are campaign- ing. In the North Abaco Constituency the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham is willing to rep- resent his home area once again. He first went to the House from North Abaco in 1977. Mr. Fritz Bootle is contesting the seat that Mr. Ingraham has held for 25 years. Ms. Ali McIntosh is campaigning in North Abaco also as the only candidate of her Bahamas Constitution Party. In the South Abaco Constituency Mr. Robert Sweeting, who has served for the past two terms, is offering himself as a can- didate once again. Opposing him is Mr. Edison Key, who has held the seat for two terms in the past, 1982 and 1992. In other parts of the Bahamas two new Free National Movement leaders are shown above as they prepare for a day of campaigning in the South Abaco Constituency. On parties have candidates. The Coalition for the left is the Hon. Tommy Turnquest, new leader of the FNM party. Mr. Sweeting, center and holding a grandchild, is campaign- Democratic Reform (CDR) party is led by ing to hold his seat representing South Abaco in Parliament. He has held that position for the past ten years. On the right is the Rt. Dr. Bernard Nottage and the Bahamas Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham, who has been the Prime Minister of The Bahamas for the past ten years. He will step down as Prime Minister after the election. But he is willing to continue representing the people of North Abaco as he has for the past 25 years. Please see Election Page 32 SCUBA Students Show New Dog Show Attracts Many Breeds Fins A dog show held in Marsh Harbour on April 13 brought out a great variety of dogs. Students participating in the SCUBA Scholarship Program show off their new Force Shown above is Mrs. Maureen Koepp with her dog. Please see story on page 16. Fins which give them greater speed in the water. Shown above are, l. to r., Scott Albury, Terence Scavella, Sarina Green (snorkeler), Keith Green (teacher at St. Francis) and Sherell Corey. Other students participating in the program are Brad Renew your subscription before the expiration date shown in the label below. Curry, Lakendria (Peaches) Lightbourne, Brian Symonette, Brent Symonette, Nykail The Abaconian PRST STD Murray and Warren Archer. Please see story on page 23. 7571 N.W. 78th St. US POSTAGE Medley, FL 33166-7530 PAID Forward and Address Correction Permit #5050 Remember to Vote on May 2 MIAMI FL 331 Page 2 The Abaconian May 1st, 2002 What Do the Candidates Say? FNM Outlook sold to Bahamians of Haitian descent. We PLP Outline Mr. Key had no comment on the park pro- support integration rather than segregation posals for the Snake Cay area, the Fowl Cay By Alice Bain of these people in another slum area. They Their Agenda preserve and the Drinkwater area of Little The Free National Movement incumbent should integrate with the local community Abaco. When questioned about the Haitian for South Abaco, Mr. Robert Sweeting, ad- By Alice Bain whenver they can afford to.” Randy Key of the Progressive Liberal situation, he replied, “We need to establish dressed a few of the issues he believes are According to Mr. Sweeting, “The Mud an orderly relocation of the residents of the relevant during this election season. Party outlined his party’s stance on some of and Pigeon Pea will eventually have to be the issues he believes are relevant to voters Mud and Pigeon Pea.” “The FNM is dedicated to continuing eco- evacuated. The communities were created PLP leadership has assured Edison Key of nomic development on Abaco. In addition to going into this May’s general election when over a period of 35 years, however, and we Edison Key will be running again for MP for financing for the expansion of Marsh Harbour this, we are concerned with the health of the cannot resolve this issue overnight. My ad- International Airport. “This is a priority!” local fishing stock. We need to create no- the South Abaco district. vice to those residents of these areas is that Mr. Key commented, “I think people says Randy Key. “This should be the number take zones and ban the take of grouper dur- if they are living in the Bahamas, they need one capital expenditure on our budget. It sim- ing the spawning season. We definitely sup- should understand that the former PLP is nine to comply with Bahamian rules and regula- and a half years ago now. We’re not looking ply has to take place.” port the creation of a national park at the tions, for example, with getting building per- Mr. Key would like to see old and young Fowl Cay preserve and would like to see the at the past, we’re looking towards the fu- mits before they build. I think the govern- ture. I would like to see the local business voters alike vote on the issues presented, not Pelican Cays go into a sea park as well.” ment needs to pay more attention to moni- vote based on things that happened thirty years Mr. Sweeting continued, “I personally owners working together regardless of party toring this.” affiliation to get people-oriented feedback on ago. “I hope that we as an island have ma- support the idea of a park for the Abaco wild “I apologize for the situation with the traf- tured to a point that we can vote on an issue- horses and plan to bring up the subject in a what we need on this island. I know that fic light. I have done my best to try and re- Abaconians are tired of being dictated to by oriented campaign,” adds Mr. Key. “We have meeting with the Prime Minister before the solve the matter. I personally secured four a right to vote and we should be thankful that election.” Mr. Sweeting spoke about the Nassau. The PLP is committed to bringing stop signs and saw that they were installed together a coalition to improve tourism and we are presented with a choice between can- issue of the Haitian communities of the Mud at that intersection, so now there is at least didates. So many countries don’t have that and Pigeon Pea. He said, “The problem with agriculture in Abaco and to preserve our fish- an official four way stop.” Mr. Sweeting ing grounds which are suffering. privilege.” making another community is that we don’t agrees that Abaco needs an effective driver’s want to just create another slum. Those who education program. are illegal immigrants can’t buy land here “If re-elected, I am basically looking for- Profiles of PLP Candidates anyway, so we need to deal with the ones ward to playing a bigger role in Central Gov- who have status. Many are now purchasing Fritz Bootle Edison M. Key ernment… a bigger role in making national PLP Candidate for North Abaco Candidate for South Abaco lots in the new Central Pines Estates Subdi- decisions.” vision. Fifty percent of lots there have been By Anita Rolle Mr. Key was the middle son of Bunyan Mr. Fritz Bootle, Progressive Liberal and Lillian Key of Marsh Harbour. He has Party (PLP) candidate for the North Abaco three children and five grandchildren. He lives Profiles of FNM Candidates Constituency, hopes to bring North Abaco in Marsh Harbour with his family. back to the prosperous community it once Mr. Key worked in road construction en- for Abaco was. gineering and heavy equipment for Sea Eldest child of the late Mr. Sherlin C. Breezes Ltd in the 1960s. In the 1970s he Rt. Hon. Hubert Alexander Ingraham, Robert Percival Sweeting, Jr. Bootle and Verleta Davis, he was born in along with his brother-in-law established a Prime Minister of The Bahamas, FNM Candidate for South Abaco Nassau and grew up in Dundas Town. He very successful farm, the Key and Sawyer FNM Member of Parliament By Anita Rolle was raised by his grandmother, Mrs. Ruth Farms in the Treasure Cay area. It grew to for North Abaco Mr. Robert P. Sweeting, Jr. is the incum- Bodie, who instilled in him strong Christian be the largest winter vegetable and citrus By Anita Rolle bent Member of Parliament for the South values. He received his formal education at farming operation in the Bahamas during that Mr. Hubert Alexander Ingraham is the Mem- Abaco Constituency. He was first elected in the Dundas Town Public School and at St. time. ber of Parliament for the North Abaco Con- 1992 and successfully retained his seat in the Francis de Sales evening school. Mr. Bootle Mr. Key is no new comer to the political stituency and Prime Minister of the Com- general elections of March 1997. is married to the former Audrey Poitier and scene. He has served as Senator for two terms monwealth of The Bahamas, having retained Born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sweeting, is a dedicated husband and father. and a Member of Parliament for two terms the seat in the general elections of March he was born in Nassau on February 4th, 1945.