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Bahamian Politics Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM


DNA: Airport Highlights Government’s Incompetence
Apr 17, 2014 - 2:54:19 PM

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Within weeks the government is likely to have a soft-opening of the long overdue Leonard M Thompson International Airport in Marsh Harbour, Abaco and Abaconians may at long last finally begin enjoying the use of the facilities.

As is customary, and possibly by the middle of the year or later, there may even be a grand opening as governments like to do, complete with demonization of the former administration for incompetence and applauding themselves as the heroes who finally delivered the goods!

The new terminal, while a significant upgrade to the present facilities at Marsh Harbour, is far from what Abaco deserves and has yet again been an exercise in incompetence and wastage by both administrations. Abaconians don’t settle for yet another sub-par effort by the government to deliver the necessary infrastructure for your development and growth.

Government placed before you beautiful, yet unpractical, plans for an airport terminal and begrudgingly listened to your critique of the first plans. They brought to you a month later plans that were modified to your suggestions yet still fell short of standard practices of airport design.

When the contract went out to tender the government did not even entertain qualifying bids from local contractors; a slap in the face of some of the nation’s best construction companies.

The government, as the airport terminal neared completion at the end of 2012, put the brakes on the project citing numerous design flaws that needed to be addressed. A new work order was to be released to the contractor and works continue; however, this process took well over a year to deal with despite the minor issues that were detailed.

This government gave four deadlines that they did not keep and strung Abaconians on for months despite the fact that more and more visitors were not returning, citing the inconvenience of travelling through the old, run-down airport terminal as the determining factor. This in turn dampened the economy for many retailers and resorts.

Meanwhile the promise from numerous airlines to increase airline seats along with the addition of a few new airlines and a connection to the Georgia airport hub would have had a tremendous effect in boosting the stagnating economy in Abaco. Due to lack of effort from the government this recovery to Abaco’s economy, which would have benefited the public purse as well, was inordinately delayed for over a year and they are still waiting.

And even as Abaconians wait as the day the airport opens for use draws closer there is still much frustration and anxiety as the ability to trust anything that either the former or present government has done for them has worn incredible thin.

The airport terminal highlights common problems across the islands of this nation with almost every government project which rarely fits the community or town that it is built for almost always ends up completed over budget and never on time.

It’s beyond time that Abaconians and Bahamians stop settling for sub-par developments and sub-par governance. An airport terminal building that is almost right is not good enough. Roads that are just better than what we had is simply not good enough.

Our parents told us if a job was worth doing, it was worth doing well. Wise parents would have told their children to spend their money wisely and get value for what they spend. However, the FNM and the PLP it seems were never taught these basic principles.

The Democratic National Alliance believes in doing things the right way first and not wasting money over and over on incomplete and incompetent work. The DNA also believes that locals should be the one determining the development and growth of their islands and that Central Government should support and not simply overrule the wishes of any community, town or island.

Branville McCartney

DNA Leader



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