Radio Abaco News

August 2000 Table of Contents

RADIO ABACO NEWS

North Abaco Council Fêtes Scholarship Donors: North Abaco Council held a luncheon at the Spinnaker Restaurant, Treasure Cay, on 16th June for Bob and Judy Yanover of Jupiter FL in appreciation of the Prime Time Foundation Scholarship they have established for students in Abaco and Eleuthera. Judy Yanover is the president of the scholarship and last year Shaqueria Adderley of Dundas Town, a student of Abaco Central High School, attended Louisiana State University to study Biochemistry for Pediatrics on a full four year scholarship. It is estimated that each scholarship is worth in the region of $100,000. Bob and Judy said that the Prime Time Foundation Scholarship was set up so they could best show their appreciation for all the friendliness and kindness they have been shown by Bahamians on both Abaco and Eleuthera. Shaqueria Adderley, who was accompanied by her family, thanked the Yanovers for giving her such a wonderful chance in life. Appreciation was also expressed by District Superintendent of Education, Jackson McIntosh; Chief Councillor for North Abaco, Joseph Norris; and several other dignitaries.

Man Injured in Fall: Forty-three year old Arnold Culmer of Coopers Town fell from a 10-foot ladder while working at Bonefish Cay. He was taken to Coopers Town Clinic where lacerations to his forehead were treated. He later indicated stress and was airlifted to Nassau for treatment. It is speculated that Mr Culmer fell because of sunstroke and might have fractured his skull.

Graduates Admonished: On 27th June the graduating Grade 6 class of Central Abaco Primary School said farewell to their school and prepared to enter secondary high school in the fall. Speaker at the graduation was noted lawyer and poet Michael Pintard and his theme was Choose Your Friends Wisely. The evening ended with a rendition by the students of Take These Shackles From My Feet And Let Me Dance. Next evening it was the turn of Abaco Central High School. The address to the 49 graduates and their proud parents was given by The Bahamas High Commissioner to Jamaica Basil Smith. His theme was Expanding Our Horizons and he delineated the tremendous strides that have occurred in communications in recent years. Valedictorian was Deputy Head Girl Clara Alcime.

Rotary Club of Abaco: St George Riviere ended his term as President of the Rotary Club of Abaco on 30th June. He stated that Hurricane Floyd had prevented most of the planned programmes for the year from being fulfilled but in turn provided many more opportunities for service to the community. The Kids Meals for Haiti programme provided 140,000 meals to children in Haiti and was particularly well supported by Abaco Central High School and Forest Heights Academy. A scholarship in the name of deceased educator Sivdas Arangil had already raised $3,000 of the proposed $5,000. Rotarians had been very busy during the year aiding those who suffered damage from Hurricane Floyd. Ten roofs in the Dundas Town and Marsh Harbour had been replaced and much other assistance had been given. Sandra Albury took over as president on 1st July.

Yes, We Have Viagra: A new pharmacy, The Hair Depot, has been opened in the National Insurance Building in Coopers Town to provide service to northern Abaco. Beauty aids and pharmaceuticals are available and replenishment of supplies from Freeport is on a daily basis. The pharmacy is operated by Leonard Sturrup.

Visitor Dies While Snorkeling: On 1st July at about 3.45 pm, George and Katherine Ann Beck were snorkeling off Fowl Cay when Mrs Beck showed signs of distress. CPR was administered and the patient was taken to the office of Dr Boyce in Marsh Harbour where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Mrs Beck was 60 years old and she and her husband were on their honeymoon having married three days prior to the incident.

Expensive Tails: Fisheries officers Carol Laing and Wayne Cornish, assisted by police officers, swooped on a fishing boat near Man-O-War Cay and searched the vessel. Three crawfish tails were discovered, one of them a spawning female. The captain of the vessel, Hugh Carrigan, was fined $4,000. The crawfish season does not start until 1st August and catches taken before that time are subject to stiff penalties. Officers Laing and Cornish also apprehended visitors Kenneth White and Clay Cordray while fishing without a permit and having undersized Nassau groupers.

No More Money: Central Abaco Council requested a budget of $1.2 million for the fiscal year 2000-2001 but was granted only $1 million by central government. The only council to be granted an increase was South Abaco which will receive $270,000, an increase of $20,000.

Eviction Notices Served: Eviction notices were served to some 180 Haitians in the Pigeon Pea area of Marsh Harbour. The notices were served by land owner Ricky Albury and requested that the buildings there be vacated by 31st August of this year or legal action would be taken. Another notice will be served two weeks before the eviction date. Preliminary eviction notices had aslo been served on 4th April. Marsh Harbour Township Committee member Yvonne Key said that at 7 am on the morning of 1st September a bulldozer will begin to remove the derelict buildings on the property. "If a bulldozer is not available, I have many Marsh Harbour people committed to go in and knock them (the dwellings) down." Mrs Key said. She emphasised that she was not against the Haitians, "just the standards they choose to live in."

Safe Mystery Solved? Five men were charged before Circuit Magistrate Johnson on 20th July in connection with the theft of a number of safes. Between March 1999 and May 2000 some 17 safes had disappeared from homes and businesses in Hope Town, Man-O-War and Marsh Harbour. A few weeks ago police discovered the whereabouts of six of the safes and made arrests. Four men were charged before Magistrate Everette Hart on 13th July and $20,000 bail was set for three of the men and $10,000 to the other. "Cash - no land deeds!" Magistrate Hart stressed. It is believed that the safes contained over $190,000 in cash and jewellery.

Methodists Present Keys: Sunday 23rd July was a very special day for 83 year old Loletia Sawyer of Dundas Town. Following a special service at St Andrews Methodist Church she was presented with the keys to her new two bedroom house. During the services, Guest Preacher Dr Reginald Eldon spoke on the theme Working Without the Materials on Site and told the congregation they should be determined in the face of adversity. "If you wait for perfect conditions you will never get anything done," he said. He also noted that Bahamians had the tendency to sit back and wait for someone else to do the work instead of digging in and helping themselves. A happy Loletia Sawyer, a Methodist all her life, had watched the progress of the house and thanked all those who had assisted. "I give the glory to God. I can't bless them like He can." She particularly singled out Delgano Newbold. "Delgano was like my son, not my son in law."

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