The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I am very disappointed with the standard of landscaping installed along the new four-lane JFK highway leading from the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) to the six-way round about.

This compounds the eyesore of the still standing derelict old domestic and international terminals at the LPIA.

These dilapidated, boarded up structures blemish the entrance to the beautiful new domestic and international terminals.

The first phase of landscape of the new JFK Drive, between the two entrances to the airport (domestic and international) was completed to a very high standard but this has not been duplicated as the highway continues into town.

I have also noted that in recent weeks, swales created along the new roadway to catch rainwater overflow during the rainy season, are being filled in with quarry. The mess that is likely to result when our summertime rain begins seems easily predictable to me if not to road engineers at the Department of Works.

When the four-lane highway project was first launched, its Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) was placed on the website of The Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology (BEST). The EIA may still be viewed on the website today. The EIA includes instruction on how the highway is to be landscaped using plants removed from the verges of the old JFK Drive and supplemented only by native/indigenous trees, plants and shrubs, and taking carefully into account the surrounding lands, including wetland and pine fields.

There was a specific dollar allocation for landscape in the contract concluded by the previous Government for the construction and landscape of the new highway.

It seems that the landscape component of the design for the highway is being seriously undermined and in some cases ignored by the Chinese road contractor and its Bahamian subcontractors. I have to assume that this is being done with the agreement, if not at the instruction of the Government as weeks pass with no sign of remediation. Indeed, the new four-lane highway was turned over to the Government by the Chinese Contractors at a special ceremony addressed by the Prime Minister.

While the Government might be satisfied that the road project is complete, they have an obligation to explain to the Bahamian people how they spent borrowed dollars earmarked for landscape of the new roadway. Information should include advice on the landscape companies engaged by the contractors and the quantities and cost for trees, plants, scrubs and grasses sourced and installed.

What is especially egregious has been the slip-shod installation of plants and grass prior to the clearing of debris, rocks and weeds from the median, roundabouts or roadsides. In many cases, grass is being spayed and seeded on top of rocks and weeds!

The Government should also advise what became of the trees saved from the verges of the old JFK Drive, including royal palms and yellow and pink pouis (Tabebuia), which do not appear to have been used up till now in the landscape of the new road.

The new JFK highway was meant to create a world class entryway to our island complementing our new world class international airport. Happily, the operation of our new airport is already being recognized internationally by the travel industry. Unhappily, the disregard of the landscape of the new four-lane highway is not living up to our expectations. And, this is being compounded by debris allowed to gather in the medians and along the roadsides of the new highway.

Sadly, the impact and benefit of both the new airport and the new four-lane highway projects to The Bahamas is being seriously undermined by the careless disregard for finishing details and regular maintenance that could show both projects off to their and our best advantage.

I urge all those concerned but very particularly the Deputy Prime Minister Brave Davis who holds responsibility for Public Works, and the Minister of Transport Glynnis Hanna, who holds responsibility for airports to bring urgent attention to these matters.

CECILE EVANS

March 30, 2014

Nassau.