The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE residents of the Hawksbill Subdivision are living on edge and say they can feel their homes shaking beneath their feet because of the ongoing blasting in the nearby area of Grand Bahama.

They believe that the tremors and vibrations from the blasting by Bahama Rock have damaged their homes, causing cracks in their foundations and walls. But most of all, they feel they are being robbed of their peace and quiet, and of the safety and comfort of their homes.

Bahama Rock, a rock mining plant, is carrying out a major excavation project at Hawksbill Creek for the further expansion of the harbour. The company conducts blasting during certain times of the day.

At times, the vibrations were so severe that families and children would run out into the road, fearing their homes would crumble on them.

Yvonne Grant, a resident of Abaco Drive, Hawksbill, recalled experiencing very strong vibrations on January 29 around midday and thought that her house was going to collapse.  

“It was so bad that day, and the following Monday (January 31), that I had to make note of the date and time because they must also keep a record of the blasting,” she said. 

Ms Grant, a single mother, believes that the blasting has damaged her home’s foundation and said every time it rains water seeps up into her home.  

“Every time there is a storm my kids are afraid.  I have lived in Hawksbill more than 30 years; I can’t afford a new home or to move. I don’t know who to turn to for help,” she said.

Renaldo Parker, president of the Concerned Citizens of the Hawksbill Subdivision, said the group was formed about nine months ago. He said the houses in Hawksbill were built many years ago and are not able to withstand ground vibrations.

“The blasting is affecting our homes because they were not built to take vibrations. In places where there are earthquakes, they build homes with stabilisers to withstand vibrations and tremors under the ground.

“The continuous blasting has caused the foundation to weaken, resulting in cracking at the top of the walls,” said Mr Parker, a carpenter. 

“I have been back home for the past three to four years. I was out of The Bahamas for 11 years and when I left our home was fine. Since blasting started, we started seeking cracks and have made multiple repairs to the house, and we are still having cracks,” he claimed. 

Mr Parker said some residents cannot afford to make repairs to their homes.

Environmental activist Joseph Darville, of Save the Bays, said residents are being “grossly disrespected” and inconvenienced as a result of the ongoing blasting and lack of sensitivity by the company, and the disregard of complaints by government officials. 

He became involved when concerned residents contacted him about their plight nine months ago after complaints to government officials  at the Ministry of Grand Bahama fell on deaf ears.

“They (the residents) got together and were trying to appeal to some officials in the environment department of MOGB but they got no response to their pleas,” he said.

Since Mr Darville’s involvement, company officials have met residents to explain their operations and have installed a seismograph in Hawksbill to monitor the vibrations. They have also sent persons in to assess the damaged homes.

Although they were told by officials that the blasting would not cause any significant impact to their homes, residents claim that that is not the case.  

The Tribune attempted to contact Bahama Rock officials yesterday, but was told that to leave a message because no one was available for comment. 

Mr Darville said that residents are afraid and aggravated with officials. 

“We met at the entrance of Hawksbill two months ago when a new operations manager (at Bahama Rock) took over and we expressed our horror at the fact that so little attention was being paid to the residents of that area,” he said.

“They promised to monitor the situation and said they would make an attempt to lessen the intensity of vibration and blasting. They varied the blasting and when residents became accustomed to it, the schedule changed.”

Mr Darville said that the Minister for Grand Bahama, Dr Michael Darville, was made aware of what residents were experiencing in Hawksbill, and had promised to speak with officials at Bahama Rock about it.

“He indicated to me that he would be in contact with management at Bahama Rock to alert them that residents in Hawksbill were extremely agitated and inconvenienced by the blasting,” he said. 

The activists noted that to date, the harbour company, Bahama Rock and the Ministry for Grand Bahama, have not had a town meeting with residents to hear their concerns and to speak to them about what they are doing at Hawksbill Creek.

Mr Darville said that Bahama Rock notifies the shipyard, the power company, and other industrial companies in the area of the times they will be conducting blasting, but did not inform the residents.

“One thing we indicated is that they should accommodate the people there by putting up a schedule of whenever they are going to blast like they do with the industrial companies.

“ It is a gross disrespect that has gone on now since they began to excavate and blast the extension of the Hawksbill Creek. They have not had one single meeting called to advise the people in Hawksbill and to inform people what was happening.”