RADIO ABACO NEWS

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

RADIO ABACO NEWS

National Crime Commission Visits. Three members of the National Crime Commission, including the chairman Chief Justice Burton Hall and commission secretary Idris Reid, held town meetings at Marsh Harbour, Sandy Point and Coopers Town from 26th to 28th August. The commission heard from members of the public on what they felt to be the underlying factors concerning criminal activities in their areas. The breakdown of family values was a recurrent theme.

Show It's Yours First: Chief Councillor for Central Abaco Mike Malone informed the public that in future no applications for building permits would be accepted by Town Planning unless proof of ownership was provided at the same time. In addition to three copies of floor plans with electrical and plumbing schemes, those intending to build would also have to produce proof of owership of the land to be developed - such as a copy of the lease - or permission from the owner of the property. Three notarised copies would be required even for the erection of walls, fences and docks.

Tourist Dies: Abaco visitor Paul Victor Roddy aged 56 of Tennessee was found dead on the beach on Great Guana Cay at about 2 pm on 5th September. Mr Roddy, who was said to be a considerably overweight man, had been left sunbathing on the beach while his companions went swimming. They returned to find him dead, possibly from drowning.

Director of Immigration Interview: In an interview with Radio Abaco, Director of Immigration Melvin Seymour said that foreign spouses married to Bahamians are now under new procedures granting permanent residence with the right to work. The right to work, Mr Seymour said, is not restricted. There is a one time payment of $250 for a resident spouse permit. The repatriation of Cuban nationals was in accord with a 1996 agreement between the governments of The Bahamas and Cuba and a 1998 protocol. As far as Haitian illegal immigration was concerned, Mr Seymour confessed that the government did not have any accurate figures on the true number of illegal Haitian immigrants in The Bahamas. A 1995 accord between The Bahamas and Haiti provided for the early repatriation of Haitian illegals but it was also agreed that those Haitian nationals who had been in The Bahamas for more than ten years with some form of work permit or status would be able to stay and apply for permanent residence. Since then, over 700 Haitians have applied for permanent residence. Raids and roundups still take place, however, in areas where Haitians live in order to detain illegal immigrants.

Dr Bernard Nottage Makes Observations: Dr Bernard Nottage, Shadow Minister for Local Government and Family Island Affairs, visited Abaco to observe for himself and meet local people and hear their opinions. "I spent a lot of time in North Abaco," Dr Nottage said, "and I talked to many people. They talk about the absence of any significant new economic activity... There is a stark contrast between Marsh Harbour on the one hand and Coopers Town or Crown Haven on the other." He said government should ensure that people in the north should have access to capital to further their economic progress. "There is a need for successful Bahamian entrepreneurs." He saw the future of tourism as lying "not in the massive structures on Paradise Island but in small, Bahamian-owned entities throughout the islands."

Department of Local Government Workshop: The Department of Local Government hosted a two day workshop in the Marsh Harbour area for elected and appointed local governent officials and their staff. Sessions began at Below Decks, Abaco Beach Hotel, on 11th September, with the focus on standardisation of the accounting system and revenue collection procedures. Officials of the Department of Local Government and Ministry of Finance were on hand and the master of ceremonies was Island Administrator Everette Hart. Senior Deputy Administrator Chrisfield Johnson chaired the 12th September session which discussed the roles of the statutory boards. The workshop ended with a community meeting at the Anglican Church Hall.

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