The Tribune

By PACO NUNEZ

Tribune News Editor

APPALLED witnesses of yesterday’s tragedy in Mayaguana say political leaders have never cared enough about remote Family Islanders like them.

They said the poor state of the island’s airport is just one symptom among many of the lesser regard Nassau legislators have for their southern neighbours. Others include unusable roads, crumbling infrastructure and a lack of basic services.

Iris Charlton, a teacher who returned to live there last August, said she found the island of her birth largely the same as she left it a decade ago.

“You would think our lives should be considered important,” she said of the dangerous situation at the airport, where there are no lights and only a portion of the runway is usable.

“Just because we live far away from the centre doesn’t mean we should be treated like animals. But that’s exactly what happens.

“I just hope the government reacts to this tragedy and does something to change things.”

The victims, along with other Mayaguanans who own cars, had come out to illuminate the runway for an emergency flight to pick up Rev Robert Black, a patient at the local clinic who had taken a turn for the worst.

Ms Charlton was also on hand to help, but said she was afraid because of near disasters in the past.

“We were concerned because the last time this was tried, there was nearly a tragedy. The plane almost hit a car.

“So I was not near a vehicle. I stepped out; I told the driver we have to move away from here, just in case.

“Its just a shame. We were out there with our cars trying to help somebody, and three people had to lose their lives.

“But its not just the runway – the roads here are terrible too.

“On the way to the airport I felt so bad for Rev Black. We couldn’t even drive on the road, we had to drive alongside it.

“For a sick person to have to experience those conditions – at 20-25 minute ride like that – it’s inhumane, that’s what it is,” Ms Charlton said.

Her cousin, Audrey Charlton, said Mayaguanans have been volunteering their cars to illuminate the runway for as long as she can remember.

With little support from the central government, the locals often take matters into their own hands.

For example, she said, they often spray weed killer along the runway or use private tractors to clear the larger vegetation that regularly springs up.

Technically, the island has the biggest airport in the Bahamas, local say. It was originally built as part of a US Naval base.

But it has been allowed to deteriorate to the point that Bahamasair is no longer willing to fly there, as the usable part of the airstrip is too small for the airline’s planes.

“Thank goodness charter flights have taken over the route, but even they said they will soon stop coming because its getting worse.

“Its a total mess, and it ought not to be in such a state. It was an accident waiting to happen,” she said.

“This airport has to close down. The government needs to do something to help us.”