The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville has highlighted nearly $50m in government capital projects and upgrades underway throughout the island of Grand Bahama.

Dr Darville and his team took the media on a tour of the various projects on Friday in Freeport and in East Grand Bahama.

The tour to East End also included a boat-trip to the Deep Water Cay fishing resort, which has signed a heads of agreement with government for major expansion. There was also a quick stop at the proposed site for a new $200 million cruise port which has been approved by government. In March, Prime Minister Perry Christie said that a heads of agreement with Carnival Cruise Lines is almost concluded.

Dr Darville said that the projects are “tangible proof” of the government’s commitment to Grand Bahama.

The tour started in Freeport, stopping first at the C A Smith Government Complex, where a contract was awarded for $1.2m storage facility. Dr Darville said the 12,000sq ft storage facility was built by Michael Edwards, of Pinnacle Construction, and will reduce storage fees for each government ministry and/or department.

The next stop was at the Rand Memorial Hospital (RMH), where upgrades and expansions are underway. Two contracts, totalling $5m, were awarded for upgrades to the hospital: one with Landstar Construction Company Limited for relocation, as well as kitchen and cafeteria and construction of the same at the adjacent Freeport Inn property.

The other contract with Pinnacle Investment Construction Company Ltd is for construction of a secure, covered corridor between the existing RMH campus and the new cafeteria in the adjacent Royal Palm Resort structure, formerly known as the Freeport Inn. Work is estimated to take some 30 weeks, Dr Darville said.

“Under the leadership of this government, in particular the Ministry for Grand Bahama along with our public and private sector partners each and every single public healthcare facility on the island of Grand Bahama has undergone extensive upgrades to its infrastructure and technology, all in preparation for the introduction of National Health Insurance, a commitment this government made to the Bahamian people and one that will be kept this term,” he said.

“This project, like other health improvement projects on the island, falls under the umbrella of our National Health Systems Strengthening initiative. This initiative has vastly improved health facilities, services, equipment, recruitment and management across our nation, including right here on Grand Bahama.”

He took the media next to Farmer Market in downtown, Freeport. A $390,000 contract for the refurbishment work was awarded to SRA Construction Company Ltd. There are 28 brightly coloured stalls and a gazebo, which were refurbished and completed.

He also visited the new $6.2m fire station on Settler’s Way. Work on the facility began shortly after the government entered into a contract with Patrick McDonald Construction Company on July 28, 2015. The two-storey 16,000 sq ft building is located on three acres, finished on schedule in Spring 2017.

Dr Darville said that a $1.2m contract has been awarded and work is presently being done to upgrade The Grand Bahama Sports Complex.

Heading east, the minister stopped at the proposed site of new $28 million Freeport Community Clinic. The property has been cleared for a 62,000sq ft facility.

“As part of the master planning for Grand Bahama, the government is currently in the advanced planning stage of the establishment and construction of the first ever Freeport Community Clinic in the City of Freeport as phase one of the new Rand Memorial Hospital,” the minister said.

He said that the architectural renderings for the facility are being completed by The Beck Group, from Houston, Texas, and the local firm Bruce Lafleur Architects.

The group also visited the Smith’s Point Seawall Project, where preliminary work is underway for extensive seawall and road construction. Dr Darville said that Smith’s Point serves as an important cultural and economic centre on the island of Grand Bahama, hosting the popular weekly Fish Fry for locals and guests.

He said that a $4.2m contract has been awarded to Smith’s Construction Company for a reinforced 1,730 foot concrete seawall with piled foundations, including a five-foot wide concrete sidewalk that will line the carriageway side of the seawall, boat ramp and steps to the beach, street lighting and reinstated road.

The group stopped next at the University of the Bahamas campus, where new dormitories are being built.

Using “modular technology” construction, work is underway on 14 dormitories that will house 88 students, a cafeteria, offices and a health clinic on the existing property at the campus in East Grand Bahama.

Dr Darville explained that as part of the 1993 agreement with the government, the Grand Bahama Port Authority initially committed to investing $3m for a new school in the Heritage Subdivision. However, he said it was agreed by the GBPA, along with the government, to invest it in the dormitories for the University of The Bahamas’ northern campus.

In addition to the 50 acres donated by the Port Authority, the minister said the government will request additional land to further develop the campus in Grand Bahama.

Other projects visited in East End were the potable water project that will provide residents access to improved water. The first phase of the project was completed at a cost of $500,000, and the second phase is underway at a cost of $1.35m.

Additionally, the government has made provisions for two new well fields in High Rock. A total of 168 acres is being allocated for the well fields and have been cleared at a cost of $5,000.

“These well fields are located on Crown Land and these Crown grants are given to protect ground water as well as the quality of water being distributed to the local community of East Grand Bahama,” Dr Darville said.

The Grand Bahama minister said the government is establishing a new cemetery for High Rock on 7.5 aces of Crown Land. Waugh Construction has been awarded a $61,000 contract for building an access road for work to begin.

At McLean’s Town, Dr Darville said the government has responded to calls for more housing and is establishing a Crown housing subdivision in that settlement at a cost of $1.07m. He said the preparation stage is almost completed.