The Tribune

THE DNA has hit out at continuing delays over the opening of the Marsh Harbour International Airport, saying it highlighted government incompetence.

The leader of the DNA, Branville McCartney, said that the airport - which is likely to have an opening event in coming weeks - is still far from the facility that Abaco deserves.

He said: “The new terminal, while a significant upgrade to the present facilities at Marsh Harbour, is far from what Abaco deserves and has yet again been an exercise in incompetence and wastage by both administrations. Abaconians don’t settle for yet another sub-par effort by the government to deliver the necessary infrastructure for your development and growth.

“Government placed before you beautiful, yet unpractical, plans for an airport terminal and begrudgingly listened to your critique of the first plans.

“They brought to you a month later plans that were modified to your suggestions yet still fell short of standard practices of airport design.

“When the contract went out to tender the government did not even entertain qualifying bids from local contractors; a slap in the face of some of the nation’s best construction companies.

“The government, as the airport terminal neared completion at the end of 2012, put the brakes on the project citing numerous design flaws that needed to be addressed.

“A new work order was to be released to the contractor and works continue; however, this process took well over a year to deal with despite the minor issues that were detailed.”

Mr McCartney said that the government gave four deadlines that they did not keep and “strung Abaconians on for months” despite visitor numbers dropping due to the inconvenience of travelling through the old, run-down airport terminal.

He said: “This in turn dampened the economy for many retailers and resorts.

“Due to lack of effort from the government this recovery to Abaco’s economy, which would have benefited the public purse as well, was inordinately delayed for over a year and they are still waiting.

“And even as Abaconians wait as the day the airport opens for use draws closer there is still much frustration and anxiety as the ability to trust anything that either the former or present government has done for them has worn incredible thin.

“It’s beyond time that Abaconians and Bahamians stop settling for sub-par developments and sub-par governance. An airport terminal building that is almost right is not good enough. Roads that are just better than what we had is simply not good enough.

“The Democratic National Alliance believes in doing things the right way first and not wasting money over and over on incomplete and incompetent work. The DNA also believes that locals should be the one determining the development and growth of their islands and that Central Government should support and not simply overrule the wishes of any community, town or island.”