RADIO ABACO

February 1999 Table of Contents - Current Issue of The Abaco Journal - Abaco Bahamas' Home Page

RADIO ABACO NEWS
A Chronological Presentation

Mud Fire: As reported briefly in January's Journal, a fire in the mainly Haitian Mud district of Marsh Harbour broke out in the early hours of 19th December when a kerosene lamp ignited a pile of clothing and then spread to at least 15 other dwellings. Nobody was seriously injured in the blaze - probably the biggest property fire ever on Abaco - but the residents involved lost all of their belongings. Of the 65 or so victims, 30 were children, and the immediate need was for children's clothing and the basic utensils of life. The old Marsh Harbour Primary School buildings were opened as temporary living quarters for the families and government departments and churches rallied round to solicit aid from the central Abaco community. A Fire Relief Fund was set up at CIBC, Marsh Harbour, to receive donations. According to Central Abaco Chief Councillor Mike Malone, several donations had been received in early January including one anonymous contribution of $10,000. It was hoped that rental properties could be employed to house the victim families, the fund covering the usual three-month initial down payment and the recipients of the fund being able to cater for themselves thereafter.

Oil Refineries at Coopers Town Postponed: The discovery of traces of oil at a depth of 100 feet in Coopers Town by Joseph Russell on 10th November has been investigated by experts and found to be of no commercial value. Oil consultant William Kenda noted that the carbonate rocks of The Bahamas have no gas retentive properties. Any oil deposits worth developing would be found at thousands of feet rather than hundreds. What had been discovered by Joseph Russell was a small pocket of biogenic gas accumulation enclosed by impermeable crystalline carbonates and the drilling had caused a release of gas and oil.

'Twas the Day After Christmas... : On 26th December, Treasure Cay police, acting on information from an anonymous caller, discovered 14 kilos of cocaine on the shoreline of Treasure Cay beach. The value of the haul was estimated at about $250,000.

GTC Junkanoo a Blast: "The best yet!" was the unanimous verdict on Green Turtle Cay's New Year Junkanoo celebration. Thousands poured onto the island for the celebrations which started with music and food at 10 am and Junkanoo in mid afternoon. The ferry boats were so busy that passengers had to wait for up to half an hour to get a seat.

Eugene Schneider: Abaco lost a dear friend and concerned citizen when Eugene 'Gene' Schneider died from a heart attack on 2nd January at the age of 74. Gene arrived on Abaco in the early 1950s and fell in love with both the island and Effie Key, who became his wife for almost 50 years. Gene set his efforts to providing plumbing and sanitation services to the area, learning as he went along. According to his family, he suffered his first attack 34 years ago. His second, at 1 pm on the first Saturday of the year, stilled a generous, bluff and loving heart. Funeral services were held at St Francis de Sales Church and burial was in Marsh Harbour Public Cemetery. Left to grieve were his wife, Effie; sons Louis, Carl and Eugene; daughters Kittie, Lucille, Constance and Renée; and just about everybody on Abaco who knew him.

Groupers in Danger: The special speaker at the 11th January Rotary Club of Abaco meeting held at the Jib Room, Marsh Harbour, was Sir Nicholas Nuttall, Chairman of the Bahamas Reef Environmental Education Foundation (BREEF). Sir Nicholas spoke on surveys undertaken by the Foundation concerning fisheries in The Bahamas. Many Family Islanders, he said, possessed as much knowledge about fisheries as do scientists, and their views are to be taken seriously. Many people in the industry are calling for a national closed season for grouper. "A lot of them said we should close all grouper fishing from 1st December through to Valentine's Day. This could be a good idea. These kinds of decisions will go over better with people if based on some sound foundation in which the fishermen have had a part in collecting relevant data." Sir Nicholas mentioned the closure of Highbourne Cays to grouper fishing and said the grouper stock was being depleted at a fair rate. BREEF has worked with teachers and has given the opportunity for them to attend BREEF's field station on San Salvador. Crawfish, Sir Nicholas pointed out, continue to bear eggs into August and after March, when the season is open. The small tail count is rising and that is probably because if you kill a gravid female, you kill the future. Over 60 Rotarians and members of the public were in attendance.

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