An unknown person or persons stole a machine used on the Airport Gateway Project and dug up nearly two miles of newly paved road on Friday night, officials said over the weekend.

Police reported that the estimated cost of the damage is $1 million. They said it appears the incident happened between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday.

The damaged area lies between the Gladstone Road roundabout and the entrance to the Westridge subdivision.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works Colin Higgs said yesterday he did not know what motivated the incident. The culprit used a machine called a Caterpillar D8, which was left on the road's median when workers finished their shift on Friday.

"Someone obviously jumped on there and went on the war path," Higgs said.

"I think it's about 1.7 miles that was damaged. Why it happened, it appears to have been deliberate.

I have no knowledge of who did it or why." Higgs said it is normal for the workers to leave the equipment parked on site to minimize the cost and time needed to move it.

He said he did not know if keys were needed to start the machine or if a code was needed to get it running.

Higgs said it would be premature to say if a disgruntled employee or former employee was responsible for the incident.

He said police will look at every angle.

"I'm sure they'll be interviewing the workers as well as the contractor to determine whether there were any persons that threatened to take any such action," Higgs said.

"But I don't wish to prejudice any investigation by giving any indication of who did it and why."

Head of the Central Detective Unit Superintendent Paul Rolle said police had no suspects in custody yesterday and had not yet interviewed people on the matter.

"We are still in the early stages of the investigation and trying to see if we can figure out who the suspect is," Rolle said.

"We are going to find out who it is. We have not eliminated anything or anybody. It's just that we don't have a suspect named as yet. As the week progresses we should be in a better position to talk about it."

Higgs said the contractor's insurance might cover the cost of the repairs depending on the outcome of a police investigation.

He also said he did not know if it will delay the project any further. Back in May, contractors on the project were forced to change their plans after they found several challenges underground.

At the time, Chief Engineer in the Ministry of Works David Bullock said this would delay the work by another few weeks. The project is expected to wrap up in September.

It encompasses approximately 6.2 miles of road, running from Windsor Field Road to the six-legged roundabout on J.F.K. Drive. The project costs $72 million.

Mayaguana Island Administrator Charles Moss said residents on the island are anxiously waiting on the government to deliver on its pledge to finish the ongoing repairs to the runway of that island's airport.

His comments come two months after three people were killed in a runway accident on that island.

Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin subsequently promised that the government would install runway lights "within six weeks" and repair the runway.

Although the solar lights have been purchased, they will not be installed until runway work is complete, which should wrap up in the next three months.

 Yesterday Moss said the lighting equipment is portable and can be set up in a few minutes in the case of an emergency.

"You can't predict what would happen but we are much better prepared," he said.

 According to him, while residents are happy with the progress at the airport they hope the government will fulfill its promise to complete the runway work.

 "Residents are still cautious, they are like 'okay the lights came, but we are really more concerned about the runway'.

 "If it all were to bear out and the runway is completed within the three-month time period, you would certainly hear us celebrating from Nassau. Hanna-Martin came down, and she made a promise. Certainly the people of Mayaguana are holding her to it. In six weeks' time, the lights were here, so if that's any indication, we are now being told that in three months the runway will be completed barring any inclement weather.

"That is certainly something we are looking forward to with the promise of Bahamasair starting flights to fly back here again."

Edith Collie, her daughter Enamae Polowick and son-in-law Tim Polowick were killed when a LeAir plane crashed into their truck on the Mayaguana airport runway around 1 a.m. on April 4.

 They were using the truck to provide lighting for the charter plane, which was making an emergency medical flight to the island for the uncle of former Cabinet Minister Sidney Collie.

 The accident exposed longstanding safety concerns at the Mayaguana airport.

JACK NICKLAUS RETURNS TO REVIEW PROGRESS OF SIGNATURE GOLF COURSE AT BAHA MAR

Golf legend and course designer adds strategy and personal touch to design of 18-hole course

Golf legend and course designer Jack Nicklaus returned to the site of the future Jack Nicklaus Signature Design Golf Course at Baha Mar to review the development of the course since his last visit in February 2013. During the current visit, Nicklaus carefully inspected the 18-hole, par-72 course, providing a strategy for the holes according to his vision of how golfers will play each hole.



Jack Nicklaus and course designers from Nicklaus Design discuss design strategy at the site of the Signature Golf Course at Baha Mar. Pictured from L to R: Designer/Shaper Jerame Miller, Senior Design Associate Chris Cochran and golf legend and course designer Jack Nicklaus.

The Golden Bear’s input on the strategy of the course includes features such as bunker placement and green design which incorporate the contours of the local landscape while creating a scenic golf course that is suitable for a broad variety of players. The hands-on, customized design strategy for the holes is a key feature of the Signature Design Golf Courses, the highest tier of Nicklaus Design golf courses. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Baha Mar will be the only one of its caliber in The Bahamas and one of only a handful in the Caribbean.

The course is on schedule to open in spring 2014. Baha Mar, the 1,000-acre resort enclave currently under development on The Bahamian Riviera, is scheduled to open in December 2014.

About Baha Mar

Scheduled for opening in late 2014, Baha Mar will boast a total of 2,200 hotel rooms, spread across four major hotel brands including Rosewood Hotels & Resorts®, Mondrian, a Morgans Hotel Group property, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, as well as the new, dazzling centerpiece of Baha Mar, The Baha Mar Casino & Hotel. Baha Mar’s stunning, new 100,000 square-foot casino will be one of the most compelling and exciting gaming experiences in North America, comparable only to the best in Las Vegas.

A total of 307 private, freehold residences are available for sale and located within each of the hotels, offering a lifestyle choice to suit all buyers. Baha Mar will also feature some of the most advanced and versatile convention facilities in The Bahamas, with a combined 200,000 square feet of space, portions of which also can double as an entertainment and sports venue. Other amenities will include 200,000 square feet of retail and entertainment experiences, combining upscale shopping boutiques with authentic Bahamian arts and crafts galleries, chef-branded restaurants and exciting nightclub and entertainment offerings.

More than 20 acres of beachfront experiences will transport guests to the natural habitat of The Bahamas. Pristine beaches with crystal clear waters are set along exciting pools, groves and coves where docile sea animals abound. Two unique spas, including one of the most complete spa experiences in the Caribbean, will be set along 3,000 feet of one of the most pristine beaches in the world. The planned 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course will be one of a select few top-tier Nicklaus courses in the world, bringing a new, true championship course to The Bahamas.

Freeport – Six local government workers in the West Grand Bahama District signed letters of appointment with the Public Service yesterday, officially becoming public servants. The group of women – five janitresses and one security officer – have worked in the public school system for between six to 16 years in West Grand Bahama.

#The signing and turn over was held at the Administrator’s Office in Eight Mile Rock. Receiving letters of appointment were: Bethsheba Rigby-Edwards of Eight Mile Rock High; Jackiely Jack and Gloria Missick of Bartlett Hill Primary; Tamara Parker of Holmes Rock Primary; Amy Roberts of Martin Town Primary; and Patricia Russell of Lewis Yard Primary.

#Bethsheba Rigby-Edwards, a janitress employed for 16 years at the Eight Mile Rock High, has waited for this moment for a long time.  “It has been a long time, but to God be the Glory,” she said. Amy Roberts, a security officer of 15 years at the Martin Town Primary School, said: “This day means a lot to me. It shows that what I have been working for has finally paid off. We will have to work harder and continue to display our best,” she said.

#Chief Councillor Rosney Cooper expects to travel to Nassau to conclude negotiations with the government regarding the tenure of service of the six former local government workers.  “I believe this is the proudest day for me in local government,” he said. “(But) I am still somewhat disappointed because we have persons who started with us at age 50 and 45 years, and because the process took so long they are not able to be a part of this today. They are some of most vibrant and productive persons in the school system.”