Radio Abaco News

October 1999 Table of Contents

RADIO ABACO NEWS

Local Council Helps Schools: Since the new Central District Council took over, Councillors David Williams and Faron Newbold have overseen the physical needs of the district schools. After a visit to Abaco Central High School, Chief Councillor Silbert Mills said, "It does not look like human beings attend that school. It is in such a state it blows your mind, it is disheartening in every sense of your imagination. Windows are not just taken out, they are broken out. Ceilings are dropping. The bathrooms don't look as though they are used by human beings but look like they are used by animals." $27,500 in funds were apportioned to look after schools in the district: $15,000 from Council, Minstry of Education $8,000 and District Supervisor $4,500. "Should we have to spend this money so early in our tenure?" Mr Mills mused aloud over Radio Abaco. "Other projects are now going to have to wait." Classrooms were painted as well as repaired, matching the quality of the inside of the school with the exterior painting done by PTA President Leonard Edgecombe and volunteers during the summer months. Plumbers, carpenters, electricians and yardsmen were supervised by Richard Gibbs in the Council's refurbishment drive.

US Ambassador Tours Abaco: On Saturday 21st August, His Excellency Arthur Schechter, US Ambassador to The Bahamas, led a delegation of embassy officials on a tour of north and central Abaco. It was mostly a social and familiarisation trip. The trip started with a tour of Abaco Big Bird chicken farm where the ambassador reminisced about his boyhood days. A reception followed at Mangoes restaurant. The second half of the trip was spent in Treasure Cay, followed by a visit to the Bahamas Star citrus farm. Anabssador Shechter is a retired attorney and a native of Houston, Texas. He said Abaco far exceeded his expectations even though he was told ahead of time that Abaco was very special. Like General MacArthur, he promised to be back.

Captain Leonard M Thompson International Airport? If the Central Abaco District Council has its way, that will be the name for the new Marsh Harbour facility. At a council meeting on 2nd September, the name of Capt Thompson was put to the council by Chief Councillor Silbert Mills. "I was pleased to put the name of Capt Leonard Thompson before the committee. I put the matter before the Prime Minister the week before and he said he thought it would very little problem going though Cabinet." Mr Mills broke the news to Capt Thompson over the following weekend and he was, said Mills, very humble. "He didn't really think there were young people that thought that much about him to want to do this. he thought his peers would have been more likely to give such an honour. He was taken aback that young people should appreciate him in this manner." Over the course of the next few year many other public buildings and institutions would be named after prominent Abaconians, said Chief Councillor Mills.

Teachers' Prayer Breakfast: Teachers of both government and private schools were told to have vision at a Prayer Breakfast held at the Pavilion, Abaco Beach Hotel and Resort in Marsh Harbour on 3rd September. Over 200 teachers attended the first Annual Ministry of Education Prayer Breakfast. Abaco's future will be determined by teachers, said Education Supervisor Jackson McIntosh. "Teachers must have vision," said guest speaker Rev Carla Culmer, Ministerial Moderator of the Eastern Abaco Region, a former teacher herself. "Teaching without a vision is like a flashlight without batteries, like a car without gasoline. A vision helps shape your role for the future." Special prayers were offered by Bishop Clifford Henfield, Pastor David Cartwright and Fr Hugh Chapman.

6th Annual Great Abaco Triathlon: The 4th September saw the running (and swimming and cycling) of the 6th Great Abaco Triathlon. It was much the same as its predecessors, even having the same overall winners: Dave Picciano for the men and Linda Neary for the women. Bahamian Otto Bell took third place overall in the men's division after leading for a while, and Abaco's Dave Hill won his age category. Over 100 athletes took part in this event which is sponsored by Burns House and the Ministry of Tourism. Executives from Coca Cola and Dannon Yoghurt were on hand as possible sponsors in the future. The co-ordinator was Brenda Mitchell.

Police Gunfire Hits Private Car: A chase began shortly after 3 pm on 8th September in Marsh Harbour when police accosted two men using a red Dodge rental car #203 in the vicinity of the Royal Bank of Canada. The suspects left on foot and several shots were fired, one hitting the rear window of a private car in front of Victor's clothing store belonging to Keva Dean, who had her daughter Khadijah with her whom she had just collected from school. Mrs Dean was in considerable shock and was taken to the local clinic by Trauma One. The two men were taken into custody. One is believed to be from north Abaco and the other from Nassau. Unconfurmed reports say a small quantity of marijuana was found and that the two men were suspects in a robbery in Nassau.

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