The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK 

Tribune Freeport Reporter 

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

RESIDENTS of Sweeting’s Cay are demanding the restoration of their government dock, rebuilding their school, and improvements to unreliable telecommunication services on the island.

Community members have signed a petition calling for the reconstruction of the dock, school, and government complex.

Basil Tate, a local government councillor, stressed that the state of the dock and school is unacceptable and must be addressed urgently.

“The dock has been out of service since Hurricane Dorian. We don’t have a dock,” he said, noting that temporary repairs had failed. “They started to rebuild it, but it broke down again because it wasn’t properly fixed. We need that repaired—this is a matter of urgency, especially with tourists visiting right now. CORE funded a fix last year, but the government really needs to step up and get this done.”

Tate also highlighted the school’s challenges, point- ing out that children aged five to seven are being bused to Freeport for education.

Kimberley Tate, a Sweeting’s Cay native,recognised the community’s ongoing struggles. She emphasised the dock as a major issue and noted that some residents want the school and government complex reopened.

“I’m not sure if the school would reopen because most of us with children live in Freeport for work. Some people want the school fixed, but they also need to fix the government complex—that would be a step in the right direction. The first thing you see when you get to Sweeting’s Cay is a yellow building covered by a big blue tarp. It’s not appealing, and it needs a lot of work.”

She also pointed out the challenges in accessing education, explaining that the school only goes up to grade nine, with students needing to go to Freeport for grades 10 to 12. She added that job opportunities on the island are scarce. “There are no jobs here. You have to take a boat to work, which is why we live in Freeport.”

Basil Tate confirmed that there are 78 residents on the island and reiterated the issue of poor telecommunication. “The

telecommunication service is unacceptable. We don’t have reliable service here—it’s terrible. Sometimes you can’t even make a call. After the storm, they put up a tower, but it hasn’t been connected, and it has no power.”

“We have no communication and no dock—it’s as though we’re paying for services we can’t use. What’s the point of putting credit on your phone if you can’t make a call? You talk to someone, and within 30 seconds, the call cuts off. Batelco is here, but when the service goes down, it’s out for four or five days. It’s frustrating.”

Kwasi Thompson, Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama, has called on the government to address the issues affecting Sweeting’s Cay. He recently presented a petition in Parliament on behalf of the residents.

“There are ongoing problems with the government dock in Sweeting’s Cay, which urgently needs repairs,” Thompson said. “The school and the government building must also be rebuilt to provide safe, adequate facilities for residents, particularly our children.”

Thompson added that local fishermen have voiced their frustration with the deteriorating condition of the dock, a vital resource for their livelihoods. “The state of the dock is negatively impacting the daily operations of our fishermen. Immediate repairs are needed to support the local economy and ensure safety.”

He also criticised the government’s neglect of the school on the island, underscoring the importance of education. “Education is the foundation of our future, and we cannot allow our children to be deprived of proper learning environments due to inaction,” he said.