RADIO ABACO NEWS

November 1998 Table of Contents - Current Issue of The Abaco Journal - Abaco Bahamas' Home Page

RADIO ABACO NEWS

Department of Local Government Workshop: The Department of Local Government of the Ministry of Public Works & Local Government held its second annual workshop on 11th and 12th September at Abaco Beach Resort. A community meeting was also held at St John the Baptist Anglican Church hall. Among those involved were Minister Tommy Turnquest, Permanent Secretary Ronald Thompson, Under Secretary Harrison Thompson, Senior Deputy Administrator Alexander Flowers, Senator Michael Bethel, MP Robert Sweeting, Senior Island Administrator Everette Hart and Senior Deputy Administrator Chrisfiels Johnson. The sessions encompassed topics ranging from the role of statutory boards to the revenue collection system and sought to empower the entire local government system to a greater degree. The two days were well attended by civil servants as well as members of the wider community.

Four Children Remembered: The four children burned to death in a Snake Cay fire on 12th September were laid to rest at Grand Bahama Memorial Park after a 'going home' service at Freeport Bible Church on 26th September overseen by Pastor Outten. The children - Alfred Cooper,12; Aleethia Cooper, 9; Dwmarr McDonald, 5; and Dwenka McDonald, 4 - were also remembered on Abaco at a special memorial service for friends, relatives and schoolmates held at Central Abaco Primary School on the morning of 25th September. Over 600 students were present, including Grade 7 students from Abaco Central High School. Four candles burned during the ceremony and 8"x10" photographs of the departed children were on display. Special speaker was Oliver Ferguson, an Abaco High School teacher as well as the children's pastor. Central Abaco Primary teacher Leroy Thompson spoke for everyone when he said, "They were part of our school family; they will be missed."

Well Done, Trauma One: Trauma One ambulance personnel ended three years of service to the Abaco community with a celebratory dinner at which 11 members received presentations. Over the past three years, Trauma One has provided free ambulance service to everyone through voluntary donations and responded to over 300 emergencies. Trauma One's Dan Wiltfang said that funding has always been touch and go for them but several restaurant and bar facilities on the cays and the mainland donate $1 from their drink specialities which helps enormously. There have also been several much appreciated private donations. "We soon expect to add three more units to the three already on hand," said Mr Wiltfang. "These will be stationed at the government clinics in Sandy Point and Coopers Town, plus a third in the Casuarina Point/Cherokee Sound/Bahama Palm Shores and Crossing Rocks area. This will also free up a unit for the Treasure Cay area which will be stationed at the Community Clinic there." Timothy McDonald received Service and Ambulance pins plus a pair of Gerber stainless steel emergency scissors in recognition of his responding to 183 calls over the past three years. Other presentations were made, especially of the Gerber scissors which, Dan Wiltfang said, can cut through almost anything and are a valuable tool for emergency response personnel.

Mud Stabbing: A man believed to be a Haitian national was stabbed in the eye, chest and stomach by another man believed to be a Bahamian mechanic. The incident took place on 26th September and both men live in the Mud/Pigeon Pea area. The victim was taken to Nassau and was later said to be making a good recovery.

Classrooms Ready Next Year: Following a meeting at the Central Abaco Primary School between Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, site engineers and architects, and local construction companies, it was announced that a further $3 million would be spent so the school would be in full operation by September 1999. "The school will be," the Prime Minister said, "one of the finest, most modern schools in the islands." Accompanying the Prime Minister were Minister of Works Tommy Turnquest, Minister of State for Education Deon Foulkes, and Minister of Health Ronald Knowles. Local contractors present at the meeting were Percy Archer, Godfrey Ferguson and Bert Williams.

New Standard of Service for Bahamasair: Bahamasair has announced a new standard of service, effective immediately. The whole operation would be run far more professionally with greater concern given to its customers. One of the new measures will ensure that telephones are manned from 7am to 8pm every day for travel enquiries. Bahamasair Northern Abaco Manager Fred Cooper said there had been many complaints in the past. His staff had attended motivational seminars in customer relationships and there would be upgrades in the infrastructure, phones and offices. "We've been doing it the wrong way - Now we're doing it the right way," said Mr Cooper.

Coroner's Inquest: The most attended coroner's inquest in Abaco history started on 5th October in Marsh Harbour courtroom with jury selection. The inquest sought to examine the death on 15th September 1997 of Jeannie Ruth Sands-Pinder at the home of she and her husband, Andrew Pinder. Chief Coroner Winston Saunders presided. It was testified that after entertaining Jeannie's parents for supper, the couple had watched television and fallen asleep. They were awoken by intruders who demanded the keys to the family business, the Sand Dollar Shop and Abaco Gold, and bound them both with tape. Andrew Pinder was able to call his parents and his mother climbed in the window to free them. Jeannie was found dead from a blow to the back of her head. Thomas Evans QC, representing the Sands family, suggested to the jury on 14th October that the whole story was a fabrication. The true story, he said, was that Andrew Pinder had visited his girlfriend Tina Lowe that evening and on his return home there had been an altercation between Jeannie and her husband. She had been struck on the back of the head with a blue flashlight and Andrew Pinder's mother had been called and assisted with the taping up of the couple. The inquest was adjourned to 16th November.

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