The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport

Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Ragged Island Heritage and Cultural Association is having a boat cruise tomorrow to raise funds for a construction of a community centre.

Elkenny Lockhart, the Association’s president, said it is the organisation’s final fundraising event for the year and is urging the community, especially descendants of Ragged Island in Grand Bahama, to support the event. The cruise will leave the dock at Taino Beach at 7pm.

Mr Lockhart said that some $250,000 is needed to build the community centre, which will be constructed at the Anglican Church in Duncan Town.

“That cost is just for materials because some persons have pledged to provide the labour free of charge,” he said.

The association’s aim is to assist the community of Duncan Town.

“We want to encourage people who are from Ragged Island and descendants to come together and share pleasantries, greetings and get to know each other because we are all family,” he said.

He said there are many young adults, descendants of Ragged Island, who do not know about their heritage.

“Some of them have never been to Ragged Island. We want them to become involved in the association, which is committed to assisting in the development of the community.”

Mr Lockhart said the association was able to assist islanders last week by sending bags of cement on the mailboat for the erection of street signs.

One of their goals, he said, is to build a monument to commemorate the Cuban attack on the HMBS Flamingo at Ragged Island, when four sailors were killed.

“It was a painful time for Ragged Islanders and the country,” he said.

“At the homecoming we placed a flag there, but we want to build a proper monument there,” he said.

Mr Lockhart also said that the association has started a process to petition the government to improve the water system on the island, which pumps 1,000 gallons a day but is not sufficient to accommodate the 200 people that travelled there for homecoming.

“The water system was overwhelmed and we experienced a shortage.

“We will be petitioning the government to install pumps that are capable of pumping about 2,500 gallons to accommodate homecoming visits,” Mr Lockhart said.