RADIO ABACO NEWS

January 2000 Table of Contents

RADIO ABACO NEWS

New Manager for Tourist Office: Don Cornish has been appointed Manager of the Abaco Tourist Office and assumed duties on 1st December 1999. Mr Cornish said he was looking forward to working with industry partners and particularly wanted to promote the culture and history of Abaco. Mr Cornish was previously Clerk to the Central Abaco Council.

Meals on Wheels by Pilot Club: Over 30 housebound residents of Central Abaco were treated to lunch on Saturday 4th December, delivered to them by the Pilot Club of Abaco. The meals consisted of chicken, stuffing, mashed potatoes and dessert.

Health Minister Visits: Minister of Health Senator the Honourable Ronald Knowles visited Abaco and met with chief councillors on 8th December. Among the topics discussed was the need for a suitable residence for the local doctor. He also announced that a new clinic would be provided for Guana Cay. "We wish to improve the health services to the island and local government must be involved," he said. He pointed out that clinics on the island can only be as good as the local people want them to be. The Minister also attended a motivational seminar for Abaco's health officials in the evening.

Abaco Teachers to WPB: Assistant Superintendent Felamease Sawyer announced she was very pleased with the response by local teachers to attend a seminar in West Palm Beach held 9th-11th December which dealt with the teaching of students of low reading ability. Nine teachers from Mores Island, Treasure Cay, Coopers Town and Central Abaco primary schools attended the seminar which focused on children from Grades 3-7.

New(er) Fire Truck for Abaco: The Marsh Harbour Volunteer Fire Department have acquired a 1977 fire truck. Fire Chief Claude Sawyer said the new unit ran on diesel and cost $40,000. The government granted duty-free import status and the members of the fire-fighting force were grateful to Ann B Shirley for her generous donation that made the purchase possible. While being interviewed, Fire Chief Sawyer noted that electricity would have to be cut off the The Mud and Pigeon Pea area when a fire occurred because of random electrical wires.

Disgraceful Concert: A reggae concert at Treasure Cay Ball Park on 10th December featuring YET and Glenn Washington produced scenes of unruly behaviour and violence within the over 2,000 strong crowd. Entertainer Washington said he had sung in the US, Caribbean and other places in The Bahamas, but what he experienced on Abaco was the worst he has ever seen. He vows never to return. In contrast, several first class gospel concerts were held over the same weekend with no disturbances whatsoever.

Not Enough Supplies: Dundas Town Township chairman Silbert Mills said hurricane supplies for Dundas Town received to date were only about one-third of the assessment made by the Township Committee. He believed that Casuarina Point was in much the same situation.

Close Call off Man-O-War Cay: Dundas Town resident Terrance Davis went fishing with his father, Hiram Davis, off Man-O War Cay on 8th December. While his father tended the small boat, Terrance dived up several groupers. He then noticed equipment from the boat sinking around him. He surfaced to find that the boat had capsized and his father was clinging to the side of the boat. After reassuring his father, Terrance dived to recover a life vest and got his father into it. The boat finally sunk and Terrance and his father swam in tandem towards Man-O-War and climbed to shore after four perilous hours. Terrance Davis said he thought heavy swells from a nearby rainstorm had caused the boat to capsize.

We Want Trees Too! South Abaco MP Robert Sweeting called in the House of Assembly for Abaco to have new tree plantings for beautification purposes. This follows the purchase of 10,000 trees and palms for Nassau. During discussion on a new Aviation Bill, MP Sweeting also requested a preventative maintenance programme for government equipment and facilities on the basis that a penny spent now would mean dollars saved later. He also pointed out the need for lights at Marsh Harbour International Airport for nighttime take-offs and landings. At the same time back in Abaco, the Department of Civil Aviation's Hilliard Walker inspected the airport and said that lights would, indeed, be installed. He also noted that a satellite system for communications would be provided, along with air traffic controllers.

Bahamas Out Islands Promotion Board: At a luncheon held 16th December at Below Decks, Abaco Beach Hotel, President Nettica Symonette thanked her US staff (..there are only three of them but they do the work of twenty...) and also praised Wynsome Ferguson of BTO in Marsh Harbour for her stellar service during and after Hurricane Floyd. It was the BOIPB, Ms Symonette noted, that brought in the first satellite telephone to allow trapped tourists and others to communicate with the outside world.
Craig Roberts noted that hoteliers on Abaco needed 'heads in beds'. "Bookings for the next few months are down 50% from last year caused by the lack of telephone service for prospective visitors." Island Administrator Everette Hart assured Mr Roberts that he would give the matter top priority. Barbara Koch told the 30 hoteliers present that the move of the BOIPB offices to Aventura was a considerable improvement and would facilitate the Board's endeavours. She also outlined the strategies employed in the present Marketing and Education drive. Island Scene magazine would be re-launched in March 2000 and there would be a new Out Island Hotel & Resort guide featuring all BOIPB members that would come out in January 2000. Ms Koch reviewed and updated the Board's major marketing objectives which were to broaden consumer awareness of the Out Islands, leverage brand awareness, broaden vertical market awareness, focus messages on key feeder markets, and to provide a global presence via the Internet. "Just a few years ago our total advertising costs were $50,000. Now, thanks to funds from the Ministry of Tourism, they stand at 5.2 million," Ms Koch said.

Scurvy Few Ride Again: On the afternoon of Sunday 19th December the Scurvy Few - a band of mostly elderly motor cycle aficionados - paraded through Marsh Harbour, Dundas Town and Murphy Town and the throaty noise had people looking in the air for a helicopter. Also part of the parade was the Volunteer Fire Department's new fire engine and Trauma One. Santa Claus travelled in style on top of the fire engine and there was also a police escort. The object of the exercise was to gather toys to be distributed to the needy children of south and central Abaco.

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