By Bahamas

Information Services

HIGH ROCK, G.B. – Minister for Works and Utilities Bradley Roberts on Wednesday announced plans for improving the sea passage into Sweeting's Cay, Grand Bahama.

Mr. Roberts delivered the good news while participating in a contract signing for some $5.26 million worth of road work in east Grand Bahama. The contract signing, with Basil Neymour of Neymour Construction, took place at the aministrator's office in High Rock.

Mr. Roberts also revealed the Government's intention to resolve the problem of good potable water for Sweeting's Cay.

"I have often said, and I don't mind repeating it again this afternoon, that man has lived for thousands of years without electricity and without telephone, but man has not been able to live without water," Mr. Roberts said. "So therefore, water the people of Sweeting's Cay will have and it will be delivered as quickly as possible."

The Minister for Works also appraised residents of the Government's intention to repair both the roads and docks at Water Cay, Grand Bahama.

Mr. Roberts told residents and others attending the signing that he was pleased to bring "additional good news, in particular to the good people of Sweeting's Cay and McLean's Town."

He informed that the need for improved access by boat, at all stages of the tide, for the good people of Sweeting's Cay has been a burning issue for many years.

"Limited dredging to improve the problem was commenced in early 2002, but was halted when it was clear that the channel alignment chosen at that time was incorrect," he explained.

Continuining, Minister Roberts said that "in order to provide good 24-hour access, it is proposed to construct a cutting through the adjacent Cay to the west, which will provide a sheltered canal passage between the waterways at each end."

He noted that it is proposed that the project be carried out in two stages.

Stage one, which was described as a short-term measure to bring immediate relief, will call for the commencement of dredging at the McLean's Town Dock, and the excavation of a channel through the two shallow areas on the Sweeting's Cay approaches, this time along the line of the tidal flow.

The dock at McLean's Town, will also be refurbished and expanded to approximately double the size of the existing facility.

In stage two, which is a long term measure, Minister Roberts explained that the nature of the sandbank to the southern side of the Cay is such that any amount of dredging, even along the optimum alignment now selected, could only provide a temporary solution that would need an inordinate and frequent amount of maintenance dredging to keep the channel open.

"I am advised that the final design for this project will be undertaken so that the works can begin in early 2007," he informed.

According to Minister Roberts, preliminary estimates for this substantial investment in the long term welfare and development of Sweeting's Cay and its inhabitants indicate that the cost of the project will be in the region pf approximately $2 million.

Commenting further on the planned improvements for the Sweeting's Cay passage, and the signing of a multi-million dollar contract for road work in east Grand Bahama, Mr. Roberts said that from his observation, the good people of the High Rock Constituency have the good fortune of having two representatives in the governance of our land.

He drew attention to the Member of Parliament for High Rock, Mr. Kenneth Russell and Government Senator and Minister of Health the Honourable Dr. Marcus Bethel, both of whom have been agitating over the past months to get the projects started.

Minister Roberts further told the gathering that the Perry Christie led Progres-sive Liberal Party Govern-ment has demonstrated since coming to office that it will govern on behalf of all the Bahamian people.

"The signing of this important road improvement contract is a reaffirmation of that pledge. A Progressive Liberal Party Government will not only provide for all Bahamians, but it will give proper and total consideration to all projects to ensure that public funds are expended in a manner so as to enhance the welfare and well-being of Bahamians and residents throughout the Common-wealth of The Bahamas," he stated.

INITIATIVES — Minister of Works and Utilities Bradley Roberts speaking at a contract signing for road works in East Grand Bahama on Wednesday, during which he also announced several other initiatives planned for that region of the island.(Photo by BARBARA WALKIN)