Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin at the contract signing.

The government of The Bahamas yesterday signed a $20 million contract for the manufacturing and installation of four Doppler radars to cover all of the islands of The Bahamas with Vaisala, a Finnish company.

During a press conference, Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin called the agreement "historic" and "much needed".

"This is a part of a thrust to place the meteorology department in the place of importance it has in our national light," Hanna-Martin said.

"It is important. This is something we are learning every year, more and more as we see how we are impacted by horrible storms.

"This technological injection provides the meteorology department with the capacity to analyze and forewarn and advise our people in the event of weather systems that could prejudice the well being of our people.

"... Today's signing is very important. You will now have a network of coverage. So unlike in previous years, no island will be out of the range of the radar.

"We are an archipelago and this sort of specific protection must be throughout the length and breath of The Bahamas.

"This was a major decision by the government in terms of priorities but it was made because we understand that we are a small island developing state. We are vulnerable.

"We are seeing weather patterns changing and more ferocious hurricanes and storms that we are being impacted by directly.

"As a consequence, this investment was absolutely essential so that in terms of weather and the ravages of weather, we can ensure our people are not made vulnerable because of lack of information or lack of analyses as to what is happening."

The radars will be placed in New Providence, Abaco, Long Island and Mayaguana.

Aleksis Kajava, regional director of Vaisala, said it will take two years for all four radars to be in place and fully functional.

But provisions have already been made for the first radar which will be placed in New Providence.

"The first radar will be ready at the factory in December but it will take time to ship it," Kajava said.

"It will arrive in January, but will take approximately a month to have it installed because we have to build new infrastructure and a new tower for it.

"All of that takes time. We expect that in February, the radar will be fully operational in New Providence.

"... The network will give high precision coverage throughout The Bahamas."

Along with the radars, Vaisala will install new airport weather observation systems, according to the minister.

"These will provide weather observations information which complies with international civil aviation organization standards for aviation. These are critical for aviation in The Bahamas.

"They can automatically deliver information to air traffic controllers and pilots.

"As a result of this, aviation safety will be significantly improved, the risk of interrupted flight connections will be reduced and The Bahamas could look toward seeing how we can position ourselves more commercially in the aviation industry."

Jayme C. Pinder, Guardian Staff Reporter

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