RADIO ABACO NEWS
Traffic Fatality: Abaco recorded its first traffic death of the
year when an accident on Forest Drive, Dundas Town, claimed the life of Godfrey
Fox, 34. The accident occurred at 1 am on 20th March near Tamarind Drive and
the entrance to Central Pines Subdivision. It appeared that Fox failed to
negotiate the dogleg bend there and his Nissan Altima hit a utility pole and
then a chain link fence before ending upside down about 200 feet from the
highway. The car’s air bag deployed but it is not known whether Fox was wearing
a seat belt. It appears that Fox was able to exit the vehicle before succumbing
to head injuries.
First Accident: The newly opened road between Crockett Drive and
the Marsh Harbour Port claimed its first accident when a 1981 Plymouth driven
by Salathiel Dames was in collision with a motorcycle ridden by Roneil Elly.
Elly received extensive injuries and was airlifted to Nassau where he was
hospitalised.
Drug Arrests: Police arrested five people at the Conch Inn, Marsh
Harbour, on 24th March and found them in possession of cash and marijuana.
They were led to a nearby 21’ sports fisherman where a bag containing 2 lbs
of a grass-like substance was discovered. Arrested were an 18 year old female
of Dundas Town, two males from Green Turtle Cay, a 24 year old male from Nassau
and a 30 year old male from Freeport. They were charged next day and all
but one were granted bail. One of those arrested had a record of previous
arrests and was remanded to Fox Hill Prison, Nassau.
Clinic Opens: Dr Marcus Bethel, Minister of Health, officially opened
the Fox Town Community Health Centre at a ceremony held on 27th March. In
his address Dr Bethel noted that the clinic had been built in 1998 but before
it could be opened it was destroyed by Hurricane Floyd. Mrs Helena Russell,
the oldest resident of Fox Town, cut the ribbon and Dr Bethel officially declared
the facility open to the public.
Illegal Immigrants: An early morning sweep by immigration and police
officers found 12 men on the Guana Cay ferry without work permits or residency
papers. A few days later on 27th March three more men were arrested. One of
the 15 arrested claimed to have been born in The Bahamas and three others
said they had Bahamian wives. No papers were presented to validate these claims
and all 15 men were sent to Nassau to be processed.
Chief Councillor Resigns: The Chief Councillor for Central Abaco,
Mike Malone, has resigned due to the position taking up too much of his time.
Mr Malone was Central Abaco’s first Chief Councillor but since then the workload
has increased. The meeting and entertainment of officials from Nassau takes
up a great deal of time. Deputy Chief Councillor Cubell Davis will act as
Chief Councillor pro tem.
Illegal Worker? Radio Abaco received a letter on 7th April from
Treasure Cay residents who were complaining about the activities of a North
American who was doing jobs without a work permit and was taking employment
away from Bahamians. The man has been in Treasure Cay for over five years
and is associated with Mariners Cove. Chief Councillor for North Abaco Steve
Pedican was contacted and he said he knew about the situation. Immigration
had been contacted while the man was working but they had not responded in
time.
Lightning Strike: In an undated story Lionel Mills, a resident of
North Abaco, was resting during a thunderstorm when he noticed his teenage
daughter Taron slump to the floor. Taron had been on the telephone during
the storm, even though her father had warned her to get off the phone, and
lightning passed through the phone burning Taron on her ears and left side.
According to her father, her eyes rolled back and she was as stiff as a board.
Mr Mills kept beating her on her chest until she took one deep breath and
her eyes came into focus. “Daddy, am I going to die?” she asked. Taron was
airlifted to Nassau where she stayed in hospital for four days. Taron is expected
to make a full recovery, and because of that we venture to say there are
two morals to this story: daughters should listen to their fathers, and teenage
girls should stay off the phone.
Serious Offence: A Hope Town man was found in possession of a firearm
and ammunition on 7th April and was remanded without bail to Fox Hill Prison
by magistrate Crawford McKee due to the seriousness of the offence. Visitors
to The Bahamas should note that guns of all categories are severely regulated
and usually only hunting rifles and shotguns are licensed.
Hot Dispute: What apparently started off as a heated argument between
two brothers in Coopers Town led to a 1 am fire on 8th April. Reports say
gasoline was used to set one house ablaze, causing damage to another house
and several vehicles in the yard. Arson carries a 20 year visit to gaol.
FNM Redux: On 2nd May 2002 the Free National Movement lost the general
election to the Progressive Liberal Party by a landslide. On 11th April party
leader Tommy Turnquest, accompanied by party leader in the House Alvin Smith,
and Brent Symonette, the only FNM Nassau parliamentarian, to address party
delegates to the upcoming convention. The group was welcomed by South Abaco
MP Robert Sweeting and it was noted that the FNM had been knocked down in
the election but not knocked out. It was announced that Tommy Turnquest would
run to keep his position in the party leadership convention during May and
had an opponent, but it was not Brent Symonette, who is the son of the first
premier of The Bahamas, Sir Roland ‘Pop’ Symonette.