FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – The Hon. Alfred Sears, Minister of Works and Utilities revealed on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 that a national plan for unregulated communities will be unveiled shortly.  The Minister briefly met with members of the media before the Cabinet Meeting held at the Ministry for Grand Bahama.

He explained that there is a comprehensive plan for, not just New Providence and Abaco, but throughout the country where several unregulated communities are.

“Because of the implications, in terms of the international obligations of the country, we also are communicating with some of the multilateral agencies because it will involve a major undertaking of expences; and we’re also trying to see how we can get the maximum support from the multilateral partners so that we can address this situation in a comprehensive way.”

The Minister added that while there is a budget that his Ministry has worked out, they are currently seeking Cabinet approval.

As to when this may happen, Minister Sears added that wherever there are structures not compliant with the building code and squatting on both government and private property, “we have designed and are now seeking the funding for a comprehensive national programme.”

When questioned about road conditions in Abaco, the Minister said there is a national plan for road patching and paving which involves Abaco.

“Currently, we are working on the dock area in Marsh Harbour – the Crossing Dock. It is a major transit point for people going to the Cays and coming from the Cays. We have also rehabilitated the Crown Haven Dock and we have a major undertaking in Moore’s Island where the fisherman’s dock as well as the mailboat dock is being rehabilitated along with road works.

“We have been in touch with the Member of Parliament for South Abaco, and we have works being scoped and currently being quantified for some of the Cays with respect to roads and docks,” he said.

As for current challenges facing Water Cay off Grand Bahama, Minister Sears noted that there are challenges with flooding at the dock and with the road. There is a scope of work that has been prepared and quantified. It is now in the procurement process. It is hoped it will begin shortly.

He said, “The former Minister of Youth has been very persistent in advocating for that project, and we have given that project priority and I hope that the contractor will be on the scene shortly.”

 
Minister Sears took the opportunity to address the issue of the lack of electricity in Acklins since Sunday morning. “I’ve been speaking directly with BPL and BPL has had teams go down Sunday and Monday and I understand a team from the M&E section of BPL will be travelling this morning. We also will be taking some extraordinary measures: in addition to trying to repair the three engines which are in Spring Point, we also will be transporting a new generator as an immediate effort, and we are currently working right now to get that generator transported from Nassau to Acklins.”

To achieve this as quickly as possible, he added, they have requested the assistance of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.