HTML Copyright © 2001-2003, awsltd.netTHE BRIDGE
A proposal for the building of a bridge between Grand Bahama and Abaco fell into the hands of the Abaco Journal during January. The proposal was from Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc, dated 2002, to an unnamed source which we presume to be the Grand Bahama Port Authority and /or the government.
The Abaco Journal feels that the proposal we scrutinised gave insights that were disturbing to Abaco residents.
On 11th February 1994 a meeting was held at the ballpark at Murphy Town with over 700 people in attendance. Jack Haywood of the Grand Bahama Port Authority was the main speaker and he referred to a bridge link from Grand Bahama to Abaco as “Grabaco”. That may have sounded to many people as “Grab Abaco”.
The audience, however, was almost equally divided between bridge and no bridge, close to an Abaco general election result. Passions ran high on both sides and the issue, obviously, is not dead.
The presentation in question was 11” x 17” in full colour, 18 pages altogether. It was titled “Bridging Grand Bahama Island and Abaco Island”. The frontispiece was perfect but inside the presentation there was reference to “Grand Bahama and the Abaco”. Not “Abaco”, not “the Abacos”. Just “the Abaco”. The same misnomer applied to the other side of the water with: “..the entire island of Grand Bahamas”. We always thought the island was called Grand Bahama.
Errors aside, what appalled us was the presentation depicting the two islands. On the left hand of the page was the imposing edifice of the Grand Bahama Port Authority in beautiful government pink with impressive white columns; plus the container port; plus a busy Freeport International Airport; plus the cruise ships docked at Lucaya. On the other side of the page was Abaco: two boys on a mangrove swamp beach; a boat engine with an unattractive background that looks like an outhouse on rocks; an old car outside a derelict house; and another boat engine with a bewhiskered man passing a rocky promontory. Not a palm tree in sight. No beauty at all. An impoverished area. This is Abaco?
The Bahamas flag and national emblem were prominently featured in the presentation, though there was no comment from anyone in government. Particularly disturbing was a page that included two letters of mutual scratchback: one from Barry J Malcolm of the Grand Bahama Port Authority Ltd to Paul Cherry of Kimley-Horn and Associates; the other from Raymond Jones, commercial director of Freeport Container Port Ltd to Leonard Knowles. The employment of Leonard Knowles is not stated, but Treasure Cay residents of long standing will recognise the name. Interesting was the photograph of Prime Minister Perry Christie to the lower right hand side. Why was this picture here? Neither letter referred to him or the government. He was texted as the Hon Perry Gladstone Christie. As prime minister he should be referred to as the Rt Hon Perry Gladstone Christie. Every textual page has a depiction of the Bahamas national emblem and flag, giving a suggested governmental credence to the venture.
The overall tone was that Grand Bahama would be able to improve the dubious lifestyle of Abaconians and bring them into the present century.
“Why Cross?” is towards the end of the presentation and lists the benefits to both islands thus:
Grand Bahama to Abaco
Trucking of supplies
Development opportunities
Resort
Housing
Relaxation
Bringing communities together
Strengthening our nation
Abaco to Grand Bahama
Medical
Government
Goods and services
Employment
“Big City” activities
Visit friends and relatives
Providing aid in disastrous times
We will make no comment on the above and allow Journal readers to draw their own conclusions.
The overall plan is to start with concept development over a period of six months. Detailed design concerning survey/aerials/geotechnical will be followed by roadway/ causeway/bridge design; construction of bridge/roadway and causeway; and the construction observation and inspection of the project. The anticipated time is 54 months and the total project cost is estimated at $64 million. Toll fees are expected to cover this cost.
What the Abaco Journal found objectionable were several references to Abaco as being a junior and predated party in the exercise. After delineating the growth of Grand Bahamas (sic) a paragraph boldly states: “In contrast... (to the growth in Grand Bahama)... over the last 50 years the island of Abaco has not shared in this development and growth. Discussion with residents, business owners, and elected officials for both islands (ie Grand Bahamas and Abaco) have clearly indicated that the lack of vehicular transit link between these two islands is needed to improve the quality of life for the Abaconians and a way to improve business opportunities for both islands.”
So, as we see it from the propaganda we have in our hands, Grand Bahama will improve the quality of life of the “the Abaconians”. We don’t know about you, but we’ve been to Grand Bahama. God, it was good to get back to Abaco. We also believe that the quality of life here on Abaco should be up to Abaconians and those who have invested in the island, not Grand Bahamians.