RADIO ABACO NEWS

February 2001 Table of Contents

RADIO ABACO NEWS

Marsh Harbour Murder: The whole of Abaco was stunned by the news that Lucien Stratton had been murdered at his home a week before Christmas. See the article elsewhere in this issue.

Traffic Fatality: Michael Rolle of Crown Haven left Blackwood on 21st December and headed towards Treasure Cay. Reports are that Rolle apparently lost control of his maroon Corsica after turning a curve several miles north of the Treasure Cay Airport. The vehicle rammed into a pair of pine trees before bursting into flam helpless because of the intensity of the blaze. The fire was eventually put out using several fire extinguishers. They were not in time as Rolle, who had been trapped in the vehicle, had perished and burned. It was believed that Rolle was dead on impact. Rolle was in his late thirties, a husband and father.

Michael Jordan to Treasure Cay: Taxi drivers and other people at Treasure Cay Airport were pleasantly surprised at 7.15 on New Year's Eve when basketball hall of famer Michael Jordan arrived with an entourage of ten. The object of the exercise? To play on Treasure Cay's famed golf course, of course. A keen player with a 5 handicap, Jordan played 54 holes (that's three times around the course) with time off for a lunch of cracked conch. Playing with him was Treasure Cay golf pro Steve Pedican. "Jordan was very friendly and talkative," Pedican reported. Jordan returned to Nassau that evening where he watched Junkanoo on Bay Street with his friend Tiger Woods, who sported a blond haircut. About Treasure Cay Jordan said: "I will return!"

Abaconians Celebrate New Year: Most Abaconians celebrated the coming in of the New Year at traditional watch night church services. Others took a more secular outlook, Hope Town playing host to hundreds for seasonal celebrations. Over 250 guests enjoyed a gourmet meal and festivities at Abaco Beach Resort. On New Year's Day thousands braved the weather to attend Green Turtle Cay's Junkanoo celebrations which lasted from 2 pm until well after dark. That same evening the residents of Dundas enjoyed a firework show which was set off in Ocean View Park. No serious accidents or incidents were recorded over the New Year holiday.

The Hills are Alive... Michael Major, Director for Physical Planning, visited Marsh Harbour in early January to review the hills in Central Abaco. The government has made clear over the past three years their views on environmental issues and land conservation in the Land Conservation Act. Natural topography, wherever possible, is to remain intact. Covered under the act are the hills to the east of Don Mackay Boulevard in Marsh Harbour between the airport and St Francis de Sales School. The act has brought an end to the indiscriminate cutting down of those hills for la as Snake Cay as well as the site to the south-east of the airport where several applications for land fill excavation are pending. Mr Major also met with the Central Abaco Council and discussed aspects of town planning a
Church Scholarship: Pastor Earlin Baillou of the Church of God, Dundas Town, announced that the church's first $5,000 scholarship award would go to Etosha Rahming. Etosha will be assisted in staying on at Northern Caribbean University, Jamaica, where she is studying Secondary Education and Computers. Etosha encour books and trust in God. She was particularly pleased that the award had been made on an ecumenical basis as she herself was a Seventh Day Adventist.

Abaco Judged Great! The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of The Bahamas, Her Ladyship Justice Joan Sawyer, the Chief Justice of the Bahamas Court of Appeals and five other judges visited Abaco on 9th January with Lord and Lady Millet. Lord Millet is a judge of the Appelate Committee of the House of Lords in England and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Coucil. The trip included a trip to Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana Cay and Marsh Harbour. Chief Justice Sawyer called the trip memorable. "Today's trip was exhilarating, pleasurable and memorable. We will always remem cays were very beautiful. Also travelling with the party was Chief Passport Officer Jack Thompson.

February 2001 Table of Contents