June 2000 Table
of Contents
AIRPORT ROUNDABOUT, MARSH HARBOUR
The first cultural glimpse of Marsh Harbour - the main international entry to Abaco
- is a line of local tropical shrubs and a rather drab roundabout which directs traffic
to points south and north.
Every arrival by air to central and south Abaco has to pass the Airport Roundabout.
What an opportunity to show what Abaco has to offer!
A specially-formed committee decided that billfishing was such an important part of
Abaco's present cultural and economic status that a monument to billfishing should
be erected at the Roundabout.
American artist Don Woods undertook the creative task and offered a triangular symphony
of Blue Marlin, White Marlin and Sailfish, each 12 feet long and made of fiberglass.
He has already completed the Blue Marlin, which is on display directly east of Memorial Plaza.
Don envisions a reinforced cement circular base a few feet high that would act as
a water-catcher for re-cycling. The base would have to accommodate enough water to
compensate for water pumped as a fountain that would be lost to wind effect. Electricity
would be necessary to operate pumps and lights. The actual billfish would be painted
with iridescent automotive paint by local bodyworker Neil Albury. Paint life was
estimated at between 5-10 years.
A local businessman has undertaken a pledge to prepare the roundabout for the Billfish
Monument, which will be 24 feet high and need building up from base level. He has
offered the services of his nursery staff to maintain the Roundabout once established.
Before that happens, however, he must fulfil obligations to his present clientele
suffering from the effects of Hurricane Floyd and is unable to undertake work on
the Roundabout until these commitments are satisfied. At that time he would be able
to assist the Central Abaco Local Government Department in the following ways by purchasing
at cost price and providing at the Department's expense:
20 loads of topsoil to provide the contours and island effects for the plantings.
Locally delivered sifted topsoil is about $350 a load. Estimated cost of topsoil:
$7,000.
Flagpoles which are 40' white fiberglass and telescoping - $1,500 before shipping,
duty, stamp taxes or brokerage. Flagpoles plus flags: $7,500.
Maintenance of the Roundabout, once establshed, at a very reasonable rate.
The billfish statuary will be the responsibility of the Local Council. Some $25,000
will also fall to Central Abaco Local Government to establish the monument in addition
to paying for the billfish. Once the base payments of $65,000 have been made to the
parties involved, the local businessman has promised that the Roundabout will be maintained
at the level of his nursery grass and plant display, which is the finest in The Bahamas.
The committee is faced with the raising of $90,000 during the year 2000 in order to
bring to reality what will become a true Bahamian landmark.
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