RADIO ABACO NEWS

December 1998 Table of Contents - Current Issue of The Abaco Journal - Abaco Bahamas' Home Page

RADIO ABACO NEWS

Beloved Midwife Passes On: Retired midwife Miriam Cornish, 72, passed away at the home of her daughter, Geleta Thurston, 58 years after relocating from Cornish Town to Dundas Town. A woman of God, Mrs Cornish turned to midwifery early and delivered hundreds of children at a time when qualified doctors and nurses were rarely available. One of the children she delivered was Radio Abaco General Manager Silbert Mills. Funeral services were held at the Church of God Cathedral and interment was in Dundas Town Public Cemetery.

Constituency Office: The Honourable Robert Sweeting, Member of Parliament for South Abaco, has announced that his constituency office will soon be open to the public adjacent to KFC in the Marsh Harbour Shopping Centre. "The office is for all constituents," Mr Sweeting said. "It is not a political party office." He plans to be available by appointment to both constituents from the south when they come to Marsh Harbour and to local workers who must see him after working hours. He also intends to make his facilities available to the Prime Minister, whose Dundas Town and Murphy Town constituents live far from the Coopers Town centre. A secretary will be on hand at 367-3729 between the hours of 10am to 3pm and 4pm to 5pm to make appointments.

Science Equipment for High School: Abaco Central High School received seven boxes of science equipment, compliments of John M Bee, President of Macalaster Bicknel Co of New Haven, CT. About one year ago Mr Bee toured Abaco with taxi driver Cay Russell. He wanted to visit a secondary school and Cay, an alumnus, suggested Abaco Central. While at the school, Mr Bee offered to help the school with some supplies. The equipment arrived in October and was welcomed by Principal Royann Swain and Science Department Head Huel Moss Jr. Most of the equipment will be put to immediate use in the Physics and Chemistry programmes. The school wishes to thank Mr Bee and assure him his gift will have a life-long impact on the students' education.

Mores Island Airport Fixed: The airport at Mores Island has been closed by the Ministry of Aviation since July of this year. Waugh Construction out of Freeport were contracted to repair the strip and moved in very quickly in October with heavy equipment to effect repairs. The strip will be graded because, according to MP Robert Sweeting, the funds were not at hand to do paving. The work was estimated to take from 2 to 3 weeks so, by the time you read this, Mores Island will be back on the aeronautical map.

Pilot Club of Abaco: On Saturday 24th October, the Pilot Club of Abaco hosted a chicken souse and johnny cake brunch for senior citizens of the Marsh Harbour District, including residents of Sybil's House, Dundas Town. During October the club also ran a road safety campaign in local schools and announced that Anchor Clubs (school versions of the Pilot Club) would be established on Abaco.

First Responder Programme: The very first Family Island course in emergency accident procedures was held in Marsh Harbour from 29th - 31st October. Called the First Responder Programme, it was attended by 27 Abaconians who received certificates from Minister of Health Senator Ronald Knowles that are valid for two years. The course, according to Paul Newbold of the Ministry of Health, was primarily aimed at those who would come across motor traffic accidents and be able to assist the afflicted without causing further injury. Bandaging, splinting, spinal support and CPR were among the skills practised. Future courses, said Mr Newbold, would include assistance to drowning victims.

An Ordeal at Sea: Dundas Town's Keith Albury and his nephew, Luther Albury of Grand Bahama, were both in a small boat that capsized after their fishing vessel experienced troubles off West End, Grand Bahama, on 4th November. The two clung to the boat until BASRA rescued them. They were taken to Rand Memorial Hospital where they spent the night.

Treasure Cay Tornado: Radio Abaco was early on the scene of the devastation caused by a tornado in Treasure Cay in the early hours of 5th November. Interviewees included Lionel Evans who said the damage left him in awe, and Chief Councillor for North Abaco, Joe Norris, who said he lives only a hundred yards away from the path of the tornado but knew nothing about it until about 7.30, some four hours after the storm. He said it was an awesome demonstration of the power of nature. Chris Russell, proprietor of the Sandbar Grill, inspected the damage early on and then thought to himself: "Let me check the beach." There he found his establishment totally destroyed with the roof at the low tide mark. It was a very, very low tide.

What Goes Out Must Come In: Following the damage caused by a tornado, the Treasure Cay area suffered another disaster later in the day. At around 2.45 pm, flood water arose in the area between Full Gospel Chapel and Unity Baptist Church, pushed in by an extra high tide caused by tropical storm Mitch. Gary Hudson of Hudson's Delight had taken his wife into Treasure Cay. When they returned less than half an hour later, their property was under water to a depth of three feet. Touch of Class Disco, Macey's Cafe, the Grocery Store and the Treasure Cay Primary School were all flooded. School principal Myrtis Russell was sitting in her office when she noticed the water enter the school yard and start rising. The children had the day off because of tropical storm Mitch. Ms Russell had to leave the school but wondered whether her office with its computer and records would be safe from the water. The whole school was surrounded and the basketball court was under three feet of tidal surge. The property of Clint Laroda and Pratt's Tile were both affected and water extended over the highway for a considerable distance. Also flooded was the Haitian community at Sand Bank. Chief Councillor Joe Norris said arrangements would be made for the residents to be sheltered safely for the night.

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