Pining Away: Some concern has been expressed about the culling of damaged pines in Abaco's pine forests by Island Pines Ltd, operated by Carlisle Cross, a Canadian. During Hurricane Floyd there were many pines damaged and brought down by both the hurricane and the tornadoes it spawned. Senior Forestry Officer Christopher Russell from Nassau said Island Pines had been given permission to salvage distressed pines with the Bahamian government receiving royalties from exports. The local concern was that healthy trees might be included in the exercise. Mr Russell assured Abaconians that the operation would be monitored and that at least 15 Bahamians would be employed.
Employment of Ilegals: Although Abaco has close to full employment, some of the jobs are taken up by illegal immigrants. Chief Immigration Officer Ferguson has noted that some people are employing illegal aliens, particularly in the cays and particularly in the construction industry. His department will be making arrests and the accused will face court hearings. If convicted, both employer and employee will face fines of $3,000.
Prime Minister Visits: Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham toured most of his North Abaco constituency on 24th March, starting at Blackwood and visiting houses in Fire Road, Coopers Town, Cedar Harbour, Wood Cay, Mount Hope, Fox Town and Crown Haven. At Cedar Harbour he observed progress of the new dock which will have more depth than the old one and a channel. Prime Minister Ingraham was accompanied by Barbara Burrows and Jack Thompson of the National Disaster Committee.
Count Your Tails: The Fisheries Department announced on 28th March that all restaurants, processing plants and other institutions that store frozen crawfish through the closed season should declare the number of tails they have. Violation of rules will lead to prosecution, the department added.
Abaco Pathfinders: The Abaco Pathfinders Scholarship Fund has undertaken a raffle with a 150 foot seafront lot valued at $600,000 as the prize. Got a dollar? Not good enough. Tickets are $1,000 and the raffle has a limit of 600 subscribers. The Bahamas Gaming Board has set a minimum of 450 tickets to be sold within a proscribed period before the drawing on 1st May. Proceeds will benefit young Abaconians seeking to attend college.
Gas for Water: The Central Abaco District Council has come up with an idea to assist the Marsh Harbour Volunteer Fire Service in obtaining a Fire Station. Crown land near the Dr Ejnar Gottlieb Library bordering Power Line Road has been set aside and it proposed that a 3 tax on gasoline should be in effect for six months. The proposition would have to have the agreement of the Price Control Commission and the general public of Abaco, as well as the service stations.
Goodnight, Irene: The notice came from Bahamas Electricity Corporation on 3rd March that electricity would be discontinued to the Haitian community of Pigeon Pea, Marsh Harbour, on 4th April. The request for the discontinuance of service came from Rick Albury, the putative owner of the five acre property. Next day another communique from BEC postponed the cut-off but warned that an investigation of suppliers of current from their own legal source would take place. It is reported that several residents of Pigeon Pea pay BEC for service and then sub-let power through drop cords which transgresses BEC policies.
Garbage Truck Sabotaged? The Dundas Town garbage truck was unable to pick up along its accustomed routes because of strange happenings. Pastor Alex Archer, owner of the service, said that pressure lines had been cut and what should have been the base pan plug had been removed. (It was the wrong plug.) The truck had been parked over the weekend but it was believed the damage occurred during church hours Sunday night. Pastor Archer was troubled that someone would do this and said that this was the second time the truck had been damaged in this way.
Controversial Liquor Store: A liquor store situated on the Airport Drive, Marsh Harbour, ideal for Sunday leaving tourists to pick up a few bottles of local rum before leaving, has come under protest from school and church. The store is between St Francis de Sales church and St Francis de Sales school on the road leading from Marsh Harbour to the airport. Owner Veronica Archer said that on Sunday 1st April someone put a concrete block through the window of the store and took some money, but no liquor. Ms Archer considered the incident "a message for a black lady on the strip", an area where white businesses are the norm. Fingerprints were lifted from the scene of the crime. The store licence was later revoked by the local Licensing Board and Mrs Archer was given ten days in which to sell her stock.
Spay & Neuter Clinic: AARK and SNIP held their 5th spay and neuter clinic in Sandy Point and Coopers Town. According to Kathleen Hargreaves the exercise went extremely well. One of the aims is to maintain a female population of potcakes, the local mongrel breed, while drastically reducing the breeding power of the males. Ms Hargreaves noted that potcakes were docile, even in packs, and attacks by potcake dogs were rare. She was, however, concerned that cross-breeding with such breeds as Dobermans, Pit Bulls and German Shepherds could prove dangerous.
Minister of Tourism Visits: Minister of Tourism Tommy Turnquest attended a meeting at Mangoes restaurant, Marsh Harbour, to hear a presentation from Abaco business people. Spokesman Jimmy Vaughan of Mangoes posited that Abaco should have independent promotions separate from the other Out Islands. He pointed out that Abaco attracted 100,000 visitors each year and they spent $77 million - $6,000 for everybody on Abaco. He noted that 69% were repeat visitors. The problem was the slow tourism months, August to November each year. The minister said his government endorsed the idea of independent promotions.
More Lights! More Lights! The request for more traffic lights in Marsh Harbour was addressed by Traffic Engineer Richard Bruno in mid April. He recommended that no new lights be installed at this time. Instead he proposed the following measures: A roundabout at the junction of Forest Drive and Crockett Drive; an alignment of Key Club Road and Crockett Drive on Don MacKay Boulevard with a roundabout; a four-way stop system at the junction of S C Bootle Highway and Don MacKay Boulevard; a roundabout by Dr Sandy Corner; and flashing lights on South Side Road and S C Bootle Highway showing red on South Side Road and caution on S C Bootle Highway.
Bahamas Billfish Championship: The 2001 Bahamas Billfish Championship kicked off on 17th April at Abaco Beach Resort & Marina. 61 yachts took part with over 200 anglers and crew. Rolex promises a $700,000 prize to anyone breaking the tournament record of 1,066 lbs. On the first day Prime Time , skippered by Treasure Cay's Simpson McKinney, landed a 716 lb blue marlin.
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