Marsh Harbour, Abaco -- After a "historic" Cabinet meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Perry Christie and his ministers announced proposed improvements for Abaco, including more than $1.6 million in promised road repair and infrastructure. They also pledged to increase police manpower on the island and build three new preschools before the end of their five-year term. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works Philip Brave Davis promised to fix pothole-filled roads and infrastructure in Marsh Harbour, Dundas Town, Murphy Town, Great Abaco and Green Turtle Cay.

Davis said the decision to improve the roads was made after a site inspection in September. The projected works include remedial and improvement roadworks at Dundas Town at a cost of $150,000 and $100,000 for work in Murphy Town. Davis said the government expects to spend $1 million for improvements in Marsh Harbour, Dundas Town and Murphy Town. Work in Green Turtle Cay is expected to cost $250,000. He added the government plans to complete work on the Forrest Drive Sidewalk Project which will cost an additional $150,000 because a contract awarded by the former administration was not finished by the contractor.

"This government shares your concerns and feels your frustration and can report the necessary materials for the projects have been ordered with a view of commencing work immediately," Davis said. Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage said he is concerned about the security of a number of government buildings, including the structure that houses the Treasury Department.

He said many residents have complained about the need for more police on the island and he will discuss the matter with the commissioner of police to see how manpower can be boosted. "We are concerned that perhaps the time has come for us to review the provision of policemen for the entire island of Abaco," Nottage said. "In recent times the criminal profile has changed and on the weekend, for example, we had two armed robberies which have created a tremendous amount of concern for us."

He said Cabinet authorized him yesterday morning to review the security needs on Abaco. Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald said three preschools will be built on Abaco. "There are three areas where we identified where there is a need for attention," Fitzgerald said. "The first is in the area of preschools. When I came into Abaco in June I realized that there were no preschools in North Abaco at all."

He said he told officials in the Ministry of Education to draw plans for the schools. "We identified the three locations and over the next four years we have committed that we will build three preschools in North Abaco. The first one should start as early as next year." He said his ministry will also allocate more scholarships to the island and has started to expand the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute in Abaco.

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