FRIDAY 27 JANUARY, 2006 AT 4PM

SALUTATIONS:
         Horatio Alger was an American writer who lived over a hundred years ago and who wrote about poor boys becoming rich through earnest attitudes and hard work.

          His stories inspired many young Americans to lead exemplary lives, struggling valiantly against poverty and adversity.  These young men sought their fortune and fame, sometimes by leaving home and heading to the West of that country where boundless opportunities existed.  Many of them made fortunes and inspired others to do the same.

         I believe that in Roy Bowe, a son of Rolleville, Exuma we have a true to life model of a modern Horatio Alger type. The only difference is that this story is not fictional but is coming to us in “real time”.   Roy Bowe’s story is a story of hope, of dreams, and the inspiration to triumph over adversity of the most difficult sort.

          Indeed, no one could have dreamt or dare imagine that a little boy born in a small but isolated village some seven miles west of this spot would one day come to make a single investment of some $8.5m in a spot in Exuma which only a few years ago was nothing more than sand and shrubs.  But it has happened.

         And it is therefore left to me to congratulate Mr. Bowe, his family and his associates for having the confidence and the foresight to proceed with an investment of this magnitude here in Exuma.  This is a Bahamian investment and it should signal to Bahamians everywhere that it can be done.  All we need is the will and the desire to do so.  Yes, there will be obstacles to overcome but if we apply ourselves sufficiently enough then all things will fall into place.

          It is important for all here to recognize that Mr. Bowe did not leapfrog to this place.  Perhaps, he might have failed in his first attempt at serious investments.  Perhaps he began small and then grew to this point.  But the point is to start.  From a starting point of minimum assets, you can grow to this stage and even something bigger.  This is a lesson to all of you in the sound of my voice. The important thing is not to hold envy or grudge for Mr. Bowe; but instead, you should emulate him.  It has been said that imitation is the highest form of flattery.

         Many of you would remember some three years ago that I came to Exuma to officially open the Four Seasons Hotel and Resort now one of our country’s premier resort facilities.  I stressed at that time the need for Bahamians and indeed for Local Exumians to become fully involved in the economic development of this Island.

          Today this is living proof of what I was speaking about.   I am confident as more and more direct investment flow into this Island that others of you will find ways and means of forming direct linkages so that you may benefit from the economic process which is all around us.

 For its part my Government is living up to its commitment to provide the environment and to prime the pump to ensure that this investment and other investments planned for Exuma will be able to benefit from improvements to the local infrastructure.  We will and we are in fact providing the level of support to make Exuma a major centre of economic activity in The Bahamas.

        In order for this to happen several things are necessary.

Firstly, Exuma needs a Master Plan around which its future development will proceed.  This is the twenty-first century and we cannot allow ourselves to fall victims to disorganization and a helter skelter approach to planning.  For these reasons I have engaged in my office the services of a veteran professional planner, Mr. Malcolm Martini, who has already done a preliminary plan for the entire Island of Exuma.  This plan will be reviewed by EDAW, one of the major international planning firms beginning March 1st of this year.  Among the major issues to be reviewed and examined in the Master Plan will be the following:

• Protection of beaches and the fragile coast line of Exuma

• The rejuvenation and perhaps the resiting of the major commercial areas of George Town to a new town centre in the immediate vicinity south of the old Navy Base.

• The re-routing of heavy traffic around George Town by a loop road which will bring the traffic out nearer to the Queen’s Highway in the vicinity of Hooper’s Bay.

• The Relocation of the George Town Harbour:-  In this connection there are several options on the table.   One option calls for the complete redevelopment of a new harbour at another site and it is my understanding that the community is very much in favour of a new location at Pudding Point to the west of Barraterre.  The other calls for the improvement of the facilities at the Navy Base.  But according to many views this is not a viable option as it will again bring heavy traffic and pollution associated with a Port back into the centre of the community and will conflict with existing and proposed resort developments in the immediate area.

•  Mindful of long term needs and the views of the community we will ask out consultants – EDAW -to develop in consultation with the community an appropriate scheme for the Naval Base area.  Such consideration would involve how best to utilize this prime real estate for tourism and recreational purposes, including a park.    The third option is that it may be necessary to look at immediate upgrades to the existing Port at George Town/Elizabeth Harbour in order to give it the temporary capacity to deal with the extremely heavy amount of shipping that is anticipated for this Island.  Whatever the decision we will engage a marine consultant to work along side EDAW to identify the best location in Exuma for a long- term location for a Container Port.

• The Exuma International Airport will continue to be upgraded.   The Government is in negotiations with Edward and Kelsey an international airport planning firm based in New England to prepare the development of an airport master plan to include a land use plan as well.  This work should begin momentarily.  In the mean time on-going improvements to the Airport have included the following:

• Aviation Security Officers:
? 15 additional officers were hired during the last exercise;
? hold baggage, passenger carry-on screening, X-Ray machine, walk through metal detection systems are in place and operational;
? in the not to distant future an explosive detection system (EDS) machine will be installed, replacing the physical search of baggage;
? the airport continues be monitored by closed circuit television (CCTV).

• Facilities
? new arrivals terminal has been constructed;
? Customs and Immigration are now operational;
? Tourism and Nassau Flight Services are accommodated;
? plans are afoot to construct a new terminal.  This will include the construction of a parallel taxiway;
?     the existing sterile lounge can accommodate a sterile lounge suited for 130 persons;
? 2 gift shop providing Bahamian products

• Crash Fire Rescue
? 2 Appliances are in place
? 9 firefighter are assigned
? as many as 6 fire hydrants have been installed;
? plans are to repair the roof of the station;
? along with a new terminal building a new fire station will be constructed.

• Air Traffic Services
? plans are to increase the AFIS compliment and construct a new control tower.

• Housing
My Government, conscious as we are with the expanding population of Exuma, began in early 2003 to provide affordable homes for persons from this community in need of housing and to meet also the need of young families who would have moved to Exuma and who would be in need of proper housing.

In Moss Town Sub-division I all infrastructure works are completed.  However, there remains an outstanding ten homes to be completed by April 2006.  In Moss Town Subdivision II the layout has been approved and it is anticipated that the infrastructure work will begin in February and completed by July 2006.  These two subdivision combined will provide some 37 new homes for the people of Exuma.   Infrastructure work has begun on ninety-four lots at a site on the Old Navy Base at George Town and is expected to be completed by May 2006.  Construction of homes will commence immediately thereafter.   It can therefore be said that new housing will be available to all persons who may which to avail themselves of these opportunities.

• Public Infrastructure
A few weeks ago at a rally here in Exuma the leader of the opposition talked about the supply of water to Rolleville and Little Exuma.  But, let me say today that the Water and Sewerage Corporation has already represented to Cabinet a proposal that the existing system at Steventon be extended to Rolleville, Stuart Manor and Curtis at a total cost of $2.6m this involves laying approximately 10 miles of water main and the installation of storage tanks at Rolleville and Stuart Manor totaling 80,000 gallons.  This will provide the desalinated water purchase from the Emerald Bay Resort to be distributed to residents in and around these settlements.   Eventually, this system must be extended to Barraterre an estimated $1.7m involving approximately 6 miles of water mane and a 60,000 gallon storage tank.

With respect to Little Exuma the Government has before it and under active consideration a proposal for a development to be known as Hermitage Estates.  As a result of this, the Government feels that the residents will benefit from this development through the installation of a distribution system and a reverse osmosis plant to serve the development and the settlement.    One way or another, water will be supplied to Little Exuma.

• Telecommunications and Cable
The Bahamas Telecommunication Company (BTC) completed the fibre optic link on 31 December 2005, thus giving Exuma an improved  telecommunication  link as of that date.  It is now expected that Cable Bahamas could utilize this technology to provide cable to the remaining settlements of Exuma.

• Mini Hospital and Primary School
A site has been found for the location of the Mini Hospital.   A road is soon to be constructed to this site and the firm of Alvin K. Rolle and Associates has been engaged to complete the design.   This new facility will be built at a cost of approximately $6.8m and construction is expected to begin in the third quarter of this year 2006.  We have promised you this facility and we will deliver on our promise.
In like manner the Primary School which has long been promised going back to 1992 will be built in the vicinity of the Mini Hospital.  And here we see the importance of planning by locating these two facilities in close proximity we are maximizing the use of land.   We are taking advantage of common infrastructure and we are creating a location that will give life to the community.  It makes no sense from a planning or a community perspective to have the hospital in one location and the school in another isolated area.  This represents the true beginning of the new Exuma town centre.  I have seen the schematic drawings which as also been done by Alvin K. Rolle and Associates and I have every assurance that this project will go out to bid in a few months time and that construction should begin by June of this year.  For those of you who doubt me, what and see.
 
 Conclusion
And so this is a great day for Exuma.   What we are seeing is local investment complementing foreign investment.   What we are also seeing is a partnership between the private sector and the Government.  The Government must lead by way of planning and by the provision of infrastructure so as to prime the economic and social pumps of the community.  This we are doing and when I return to Exuma over the next few weeks and months I shall continue to update you and unveil more and projects.   This Government is not about talk but about action more help and hope is on the way.