Julita Turnquest former school principal and resident of Current Island. (BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson).

Eleuthera, Bahamas – The new Current Island Dock is nearing completion. Julita Turnquest former principal and the other 49 residents of this settlement look forward to the day when it is finished.

“We need the dock,” she said. “It is timely. Since the hurricane it has been rough.”

The Hon. Neko Grant, Minister of Public Works and Transport, stands in front of Three Island Dock presently under construction in North Eleuthera. (BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson)

Known as the main dock, Current Island Dock was destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The Government signed a $214,959.30 contract with Robert Roberts of Complete Marine Services Co. Ltd. to reconstruct the dock in March of 2011. The contract also includes repairs to the nearby wooden ferry dock.

North Eleuthera chief councillor Theo Neely said the new dock is “great” for Current Island and the people of North Eleuthera.

The Hon. Neko Grant, Minister of Public Works and Transport (first from right), is pictured inspecting a pond in the parking lot at Three Island Dock. Shown at Minister Grant’s right is administrator Don Cornish. (BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson)

MP for North Eleuthera the Hon. Alvin Smith said, “I am quite impressed with what we have here. This dock is a dock of convenience for the people because it is in the heart of the community.”

Minister of Public Works and Transport the Hon. Neko Grant said he is happy to bring relief to people of Current Island.

The Hon. Neko C. Grant, Minister of Public Works and Transport, chats with Colin Higgs permanent secretary and a representative of Emile Knowles Construction during a tour of Three Island Dock. (BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson)

“The dock was merely a rock before,” he said. “What we now have is a concrete dock which can withstand hurricanes. The wood pilings are bumpers for boats that will be tied up along with it.

“The dock is ready for use with only cosmetic work left to be done. Trimming of poles and a few other things are left to be completed,” he said.

Three Island Dock

Minister Grant is very pleased with the quality of work underway on Three Island Dock.

“Harbour Island boasts of one of the highest return visitor rates in the country,” said Mr. Grant. “We feel it is most inappropriate that returning and first time visitors had to endure the inconveniences of what was here in the past.

“For many years this has been left in a state of disrepair. We hope to have the project completed by July 2012.”

The Government awarded a $2,688,340 contract to Emile Knowles Construction in October 2011 to reconstruct the dock.

The project is a part of a loan agreement signed in 2010 between the Bahamas Government and Caribbean Development Bank for $10.1 million to enable the Government to execute the Family Island Transport Sector Enhancement Project.

In addition to reconstruction of the dock, the work includes a step down ferry loading dock, construction of a dock master’s office, passenger pavilion, and parking area.

“The parking lot is ready for paving,” he said. “We have been able to preserve a pond in the parking lot for which we will do some cosmetic work. However, for the most part it will be left in its natural state.”

Minister Grant along with a team from the Ministry of Works including permanent secretary Colin Higgs and director John Canton along with Local Government representatives inspected the projects during a recent visit to Eleuthera.