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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development the Hon. Philip Davis speaks in the House of Assembly during his contributions to the 2012-2013 Budget Debate, on June 13, 2012. (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)
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NASSAU, The Bahamas – A
number of Family Islands will receive new infrastructural works and
refurbishment, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban
Development the Hon. Philip Davis said, on June 13, 2012, during his
Contribution to the 2012-2013 Budget Debate, at the House of Assembly.
“The Water and Sewerage Corporation has identified that Cat Island
might be best served by three reverse osmosis systems, though a single
plant might be feasible as well,” Deputy Prime Minister Davis said.
“They would wish to be able to link their efforts to development
projects.
“The
bottom line is that the provision of safe, potable water to the
communities of Cat Island will finally begin in earnest in the short
term.”
Deputy
Prime Minister Davis added that the roads in Cat Island will be rebuilt
and restored and the “long talked about” centre road will be considered
as an alternative means of traversing from north to south.
“This will require engineering study; but may be the best solution for the long term,” Deputy Prime Minister Davis said.
Also
in Cat Island, he said that the Smith’s Bay dock will be repaired; the
New Bight airport will be provided with a suitable terminal building; a
primary clinic providing “a higher level of services and facilities”
will be created, along with the renovation of the Smith’s Bay Clinic and
the repairs to the morgue.
In
Rum Cay, residents will be provided with a medical clinic and a new
high school and primary school will be built in San Salvador.
“The
former primary school building in United Estates (San Salvador) will be
assessed to determine its suitability to house government services for
the community to include a sub-clinic, a police station, a Social
Services office and a bill payment location,” he said.
Deputy
Prime Minister Davis added that San Salvador’s roads will be “properly”
rebuilt where necessary, the Government’s affordable housing project in
Cockburn Town, San Salvador will be re-started and expanded; and, the
necessary transmission lines will be put in to provide safe, potable
water to Long Bay and Sugar Loaf from the Cockburn Town desalination
plant.
He
said that the Bahamas Electricity Corporation will review the
opportunities for further inter-connection of stand alone sites, so as
to reduce the number of power stations throughout the Family Islands.
At present, a number of Cays are connected via submarine cables, Deputy
Prime Minister Davis said.
“An
example of this is the recent construction of an overhead line
connecting North Andros to South Andros,” he said. “This would
eventually result in just one power station supplying both North and
Central Andros, as compared to two.
“There
is also the issue of addressing the stability concerns at the Wilson
City Power Station in Abaco, so that Marsh Harbour can be used as a
standby or back up facility as compared to full time operation. This
would result in lower operational costs.”
Deputy
Prime Minister Davis said that a review of smaller operations, such as
Long Cay, where the load/demand is very low, will be carried out to
determine whether or not renewable energy such as solar or wind is more
suitable as compared to traditional power generation.
When
speaking of other projects by the Water and Sewerage Corporation,
Deputy Prime Minister Davis said that consideration is being given to
projects for Salt Pond, Long Island and William’s Town, Exuma.
“As
I had mentioned earlier, the Corporation has crafted a Development Plan
for the Family Islands, which is presently being reviewed as part of
the Government’s commitment to provide as the earliest opportunity safe
potable water to every community,” he said.
© Copyright 2012 by thebahamasweekly.com
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