Exuma’s main airport will be upgraded by March of next year, an advanced medical facility will be constructed and the post office is expected to be improved to facilitate the boom, according to a team of Ministers that visited that island Thursday.
Taking full advantage of a town meeting held by the Ministers, Exumians crammed the community centre in George Town to learn about 16 projects that are expected to spark an economic renaissance on the island.
Hours before the town meeting, the cabinet entourage spoke with other residents in Farmer’s Hill, a neighbourhood close to Ocean Bight where the $200 million Emerald Bay development in underway.
Some residents complained that their beaches are unsafe, the quality of their indoor water supply is poor and claimed that there is inadequate communication from the developers of the Emerald Bay project.
“I think our main concern as residents in the Farmers Hill community is that certain senior members of the Emerald Bay project fail to (have) dialogue with members of the community in the way that they should,” said Dudley Marshall, a resident of Farmers Hill.
Taking a leading role in the Exuma consultations, the Minister of Financial Services and Investments Allyson Maynard Gibson reaffirmed the principles of open governance.
Minister Gibson said the projects for Exuma and its cays have either been completed, are in the process of completion or are in the “pipeline.”
She told the residents that she felt strongly that the community needs to know all the details of the projects as they occur.
Mrs. Gibson said the government recognized “The need for transparency and openness in all matters involving you the residents of this community. This is one of the hallmarks of the Christie administration.”
Minister Gibson announced that approximately 10 acres of land will be handed over to the residents of Farmers Hill for a community park.
Giving details about enhanced health care for the island, Health Minister Bethel disclosed that the advanced medical facility is expected to be constructed within the next 24 months.
And Transport Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin gave the residents a March 2003 deadline for the completion of the airport upgrade plans. She also inspected the docking facility.
Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe appealed to the locals to take advantage of the benefits before others do. He said the Ministry of Tourism will increase its presence in Exuma.
The President and Chief Executive Officer of EBR Holding, the developer of Emerald Bay Kevin Clemente assured the residents that the company would make efforts to addres their concerns at all times.
Mr. Clemente declared that the Four Seasons hotel will “put Exuma on the map.”
Exumians, however, are charging that the world-class resort complex on Great Exuma is responsible for a number of problems that have taken place since the hotel began its construction.
