Government Signs Contract to Pave Current Island Roads

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The Bahamas Government on Thursday (August 14, 2008) signed a $1.4 million dollar contract for the paving of 3.1 miles of road in Current Island, Eleuthera. The contract was signed by The Minister of Public Works and Transport the Hon. Neko C. Grant and Eardley Hepburn of Hepburn Pavers. It covers the paving of the main, back and cemetery roads along with the dock’s access road.

ELEUTHERA, The Bahamas - The Current Island has been home for Myrtis Brown for some 77 years. She knows about life there where, before 1992, there was no electricity or telephones and, today, there are no paved roads. In fact, Brown admitted that she and the 40-50 residents of the fishing community often felt they were ‘forgotten’.
 
However, being able to witness the official signing of a contract for paving of roads at the Zion Methodist Church in Current Island has changed Ms. Brown’s outlook.
 
“I was expecting to see a day like this before I die,” said Brown. “My children, grand children and great grand children live in Nassau and want to come home, but there’s nothing to do. When we get the roads it’s going to be different.”
 

Ms. Shenique Miller from ZNS interviewing emotional CI resident, 77-year-old  Myrtis Brown.

“The 40-50 persons that live there deserve to have the basic necessities of life. To be able to move from point A to point B is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” Minister Grant said. “While the community is small, we wish to not just say, but to demonstrate that we’re concerned about all Bahamians irrespective of where they live.
 
“The people of Current have endured much. I’m here today in keeping with the commitment we made in Manifesto 07 to improve your lives. We look forward to returning within about 12 months to celebrate with you an improved standard of life.” 

Google Satellite Image of North Eleuthera

Speaker of the House of Assembly and Member of Parliament for North Eleuthera the Hon. Alvin Smith described the contract signing as an historical, momentous and significant event.
 
He said: “The island is large and the community is small in numbers, but their strength, fortitude and resilience cannot be matched in any community anywhere in The Bahamas.
 
“It is a community of various industrious people, committed people; very strong people. It is a community that only got electricity after the 1992 elections and only received telephones after the 1992 elections. It’s a community that has suffered much. But, these people have remained here and they have remained committed to building this island. This is there home.” 
 
Also in attendance at the contract signing ceremony were officials from The Ministry of Public Works and Transport including Anita Bernard, Permanent Secretary; Gordon Major, Acting Director; and various representatives from Eleuthera government agencies including Local Government and The Ministry of Tourism.
 

By Kathryn Campbell

Copyright, Spice Media Group, Eleuthera, Bahamas.

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