By Yasmin Popescu

yasmin@nasguard.com

Following two devastating fires in Grand Bahama last month, there has been a renewed call for a fire station in Freeport and more working fire hydrants.

A phone call to the Building Department of the Grand?Bahama Port Authority revealed that they are aware of the situation at present, but they are only responsible for the fire hydrants within the Freeport area.

Arthur Jones, vice president of Building and Development Services for GBPA, said that they do have fire hydrants in Freeport; however, he acknowledged that they do have to put more in some of the areas that were previously uninhabited or had very limited habitation.

On the fire that took place in the area over the bridge he noted that it was not simply a matter of not having a fire hydrant, but the fire truck coming without water.

The other fire took place outside the Port area and that situation was a matter for the government of The Bahamas.

Days following the fires there was a call from Opposition politicians for the reconstruction of the fire station in Grand Bahama.

Some 20 years ago there was an outcry for more fire hydrants to be placed throughout the island; and following the hurricanes of 2004/2005 the fire station was completely destroyed.

Last year, Minister of Works Hon. Neko Grant announced that during this fiscal year the Government will move ahead with three capital work projects on Grand Bahama Island which were repairs to the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre, construction of the Grand Bahama Fire Station, and the construction of the Eight Mile Rock Fish Fry (Sunset Village).

Both the fish fry and the fire station were destroyed by recent hurricanes.

So far there was minimal repair work done to the Garnet Levarity Justice Center, and there has been talks of the property for the fire station being established, but the people of Eight Mile Rock are complaining about the rebuilding of the Fish Fry.