October 15, 2012 The Abaconian Section A Page 1 VOLUME 20 NUMBER 20 OCTOBER 15TH, 2012 Historic Cabinet meeting outlines plans for Abaco By Timothy Roberts After holding a historic Cabinet Meeting in Abaco on October 2, Prime Minister Perry Christie and his ministers announced a number of decisions made for Abaco, including more than $1.6 million in promised road repair and infrastructure and a pledge to increase police manpower on the island. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works Philip Brave Davis noted that his ministry made a decision to improve the roads after a site inspection in September and are now making “final decisions” to fix pothole-filled roads and infrastructure in Marsh Harbour, Dundas Town, Murphy Town, Great Abaco and Green Turtle Cay. The projected works include reme- dial and improvement road works at Marsh Harbour, Dundas Town and Murphy Town with the expected expenditure of about $1 million for the work. Work in Green Tur- tle Cay is expected to cost $250,000. Mr. Davis said that a contract award- ed by the former administration was not finished by the contractor and that the government plans to complete work on Forrest Drive’s Sidewalk at an additional $150,000. “This government shares your con- cerns and feels your frustration and can Cabinet was held on Abaco on October 2, 2012. This marks the first time it has been held outside of Nassau. Ministers of the govern- ment along with the Prime Minister were present for the closed meeting. After the government ministers emerged they laid out some Please see Cabinet Page 2 decisions which had been made for Abaco. Town meeting run amok Business community attends Abaco Outlook A live-televised town hall meeting was held on October 4 to discuss issues relevant to Abaconians. Tempers flared as the line between politics and problems became increas- ingly blurred. Police had to be called as cameras cut to commercial during a particularly heated segment. Above: a heated crowd, seated divisively along party lines, drown out the responses of the panelists. For the full story see page 5. Above: Geoff Houston at the 9th Annual Business Outlook. During his presentation he noted the 800% increase in data consumption since the unveiling of BTC’s 4G network. Requested Service Service By Canishka Alexander of the Abaco Chamber of Commerce, giv- Change Change Permit NO 4595 NO Permit A Stronger Abaco: A Stronger Baha- ing the welcome address along with an up- WEST PALM BCH FL BCH PALM WEST Stuart, FL 34997 FL Stuart, mas was the focal theme of the 9th An- date on behalf of the Chamber before the PAID 5675 SE Grouper Ave Grouper SE 5675 US POSTAGE US nual Abaco Business Outlook held at New Honourable Obie Wilchcombe, Minister Stuart Web Inc. Web Stuart PRSRT STD PRSRT The Abaconian The Vision Ministries on September 26. The of Tourism, gave his remarks on "A 21st agenda included a diverse line up of speak- Renew your subscription before the expiration date shown in the label below. label the in shown date expiration the before subscription your Renew ers with Dennis Lightbourn, vice president Please see ABO Page 16 Page 2 Section A The Abaconian October 15, 2012 that the government is in the final stages of Cabinet From Page 2 approving a multi-million dollar fish farm to be created north of Green Turtle Cay, report the necessary materials for the proj- Abaco. ects have been ordered with a view of com- According to Minister of Agriculture, mencing work immediately,” Davis said. Marine Resources and Local Government Minister of National Security Dr. V. Alfred Gray, “We are nearing the end Bernard Nottage said many residents have of those discussions and I hope the govern- complained about the need for more po- ment will soon be able to announce a $15 lice on the island. He said that the Cabinet million investment by a Bahamian com- has authorized him to look into this and he pany called Aqua Abaco,” Min. Gray said. will discuss the matter with the commis- Minister of Health Dr. Perry Gomez sioner of police to see how manpower can said two mammogram machines ordered be boosted. for the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) He added that he is concerned about in Nassau and the Rand Memorial Hospi- the security of a number of government tal in Grand Bahama have arrived in the buildings, including the structure that country. houses the Treasury Department. Gomez said the machine for PMH “We are concerned that perhaps the was scheduled for installation on October time has come for us to review the provi- 1 and staff will be trained to use it. The sion of policemen for the entire island of machine for the Rand in Grand Bahama Abaco,” Nottage said. “In recent times the will be installed this month as well, Gomez criminal profile has changed and on the added. weekend, for example, we had two armed “This will enable women and men robberies which have created a tremendous throughout the Commonwealth to obtain amount of concern for us.” state-of-the-art testing and follow up care Minister of Education Jerome for an illness that is so very common in Fitzgerald said three preschools will be our country; it’s time that we address that built on Abaco while his ministry seeks to properly,” Gomez said. allocate more scholarships to the island and He added that the mini-hospital cur- has started to expand the Bahamas Techni- rently under construction in Abaco is set cal and Vocational Institute in Abaco. for completion in June 2013. “There are three areas where we This Cabinet meeting marked the first identified where there is a need for at- time it has ever been held outside Nassau. tention,” Fitzgerald said. “The first is in The Opposition has charged that the entire the area of preschools. When I came into exercise was a waste of public funds and Abaco in June I realized that there were no a political ploy considering the upcoming preschools in North Abaco at all.” North Abaco by-election. The Prime Min- “We identified the three locations and ister defended his decision to hold Cabinet over the next four years we have commit- outside of Nassau and announced tentative ted that we will build three preschools in plans to hold Cabinet on Grand Bahama North Abaco. The first one should start as and other Family Islands in the future. early as next year.” Another significant development is The Bahamian Flag being raised, for the first time on Abaco, to indicate that Cabinet is in session. [email protected] October 15, 2012 The Abaconian Section A Page 3 Page 4 Section A The Abaconian October 15, 2012 October 15, 2012 The Abaconian Section A Page 5 All Abaco Court of Appeal orders Commission. Considering this, the Court Yellow-clad Progressive Liberal Party seat in North Abaco. of Appeals agreed that the public legiti- supporters filled the right side of the room Regarding Mr. Gomez’s now famous BEC to publicly consult mately had an expectation of consultation. while their red-dressed Free National Nassau Guardian Radio interview, where on operations The Court of Appeals dismissed Movement counterparts occupied the left. the candidate was unable at the time to an- RDA’s application of constitutional relief Throughout most of the evening if a state- swer questions regarding his employment, In a recent order by the Court of Ap- because it was “based on essentially the ment was made by a political representa- the Hon. Laing came to his defense. He peal, the Bahamas Electricity company same facts as [the] judicial review applica- tive, either the Hon. Zhivargo Laing or said that since the interview it had been (BEC) was made aware that it must engage tion hence there was duplicity in launching the Hon. Kenred Dorsett, audible boos or confirmed that Mr. Gomez had in fact in public consultation regarding the opera- both claims rendering the constitutional re- cheers were made. This behavior required been employed by several schools in the tion of its Abaco power plant. According lief claim an abuse of the process of court.” the moderators to make special mention state of Florida and that, during the in- to the Responsible Development of Abaco The RDA expressed the case was a for the crowd to settle down and to re- terview, there had been “no lapses in his (RDA) the court decision makes Abaco “huge win” and that they felt “public au- spect the panel members. honesty.” Responding to murmurs in the residents privy to any decision regarding thorities will not want to go through the The panel included Minister of En- crowd Mr. Laing said, “I am not here ly- the power plant. Permits are now required same court process and loss” again. They vironment and Housing- Kenred Dorsett, ing to anyone, neither did Greg Gomez.” for construction and “full and timely” pub- are confident that going forward proper Abaco Chamber of Commerce spokes- The Cabinet meeting was met with lic consultation must be held regarding op- consultation with Abaconians will occur. man- Dave Ralph, Senator and former a more tempered response by both the erational decisions. Minister of State for Finance- Zhivargo crowd and the panelists. Mr. Cornish said The $105 million project has had Laing, Central Abaco District Council the event was a “good opportunity for the struggles since its inception regarding lo- Police called at town Chief Councilor- George Cornish, and Ministers to see what their Ministries are cation, fuel type, abandoned pipeline plans hall meeting Abaco member of the Bahamas Christian doing on Abaco.” Pastor Knowles com- and public scrutiny.