GEORGE TOWN, Exuma, The Bahamas – Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham led a delegation to the island of Exuma with the primary purpose of beginning the feasibility study for the construction of a new port on the island, as well as the construction of a bypass road, as Exuma, he said, has outgrown its main road, in terms of its increasing development.
“There have been many discussions about a port for Exuma, over many, many years,” Prime Minister Ingraham said, on February 27, 2011.
“We have finally settled on it.” Prime Minister Ingraham and the delegation visited sites for infrastructural development, such as the old naval base site and the dock in George Town, the Ferry Bridge and Williams Town, Little Exuma.
The old naval base site will be the location for the port. Also in the delegation were Minister of State for the Environment the Hon. Phenton Neymour, Minister of State for Land and Local Government the Hon. Byran Woodside, senior government officials, outgoing Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China His Excellency Hu Dingxian and representatives of the China Harbour Company.
“The China Harbour Company will do a feasibility study, we will do an environmental study and a feasibility study,” Prime Minister Ingraham said.
“It is our intention for them to proceed to construction drawings and to produce for us a design / build project.”
“We are seeking the input of the local community of Exuma to take account of any views they might have,” Prime Minister Ingraham added.
“We will definitely hold a town meeting with the public before final decisions are made, to take into account any suggestions the public may have about what we plan to do.”
“Exuma is becoming an important economic centre in The Bahamas,” Prime Minister Ingraham said.
“In revenue terms, it is about fourth in The Bahamas and a lot of activity is taking place.” Minister Neymour said that several factors, including marine and water current considerations, make the old naval base site the better site for the port.
“Exuma has significantly increased in population over the last 10 years and so the Government recognises the need for improving the port facilities here,” he said.
Minister Neymour added that a new sewerage facility would be instituted to meet the growing needs of having such a port facility on the island, especially in terms of the collection of waste from watercraft.
“This is a new facility, where we will have a boat collecting sewerage from these vessels, delivering it to the mainland and the sewerage is treated,” he said.
“It is one of the first of its kind in the region and we are indeed pretty proud to begin to treat sewerage that is produced by marine vessels.
“It is a step forward for The Bahamas.”
“I am most assured that Local Government practitioners, from the Chief Counsellor down, will support this effort and will work closely to ensure that everything is put in order for the betterment of Exuma,” Minister Woodside said.
“I am happy and pleased that it will finally come to fruition,” Member of Parliament for Exuma Mr. Anthony Moss said.
“The harbour is where we need for persons to access the island via sea vessels, as well as the majority of our food that comes to the island; so I am pleased to be here today to see this taking place.”
Prime Minister Ingraham said that the China Harbour Company will also create a port and a bypass road in North Abaco and work on the bridge in North Eleuthera. Prime Minister Ingraham added that the financing for the projects are expected to come from the China Export-Import Bank and it will be a design / build contract, with the work expected to start this year in North Abaco, then the Exuma project is expected to commence next.
“We are planning for the long-term development of Exuma,” Prime Minister Ingraham said.
“The development will take a number of years. We will commence with the port here and also with the construction of the mini hospital. We will commence those two projects hopefully during the course of this year, 2011.”
By ERIC ROSE
Bahamas Information Services
