Nearly six months after a portion of West Bay Street near the caves was badly damaged in Hurricane Sandy, the road has still not been repaired. However, Director of Public Works John Canton said yesterday repairs will begin today. "Well we had to go to competitive tender because of the value of the contract and to my recollection that even had to go before Cabinet, and the Ministry of Finance had to give approval," said Canton, explaining the process. "It was really due process." The government awarded a $200,000 contract to Stephen Knowles Construction, a New Providence-based construction company, for the repairs, Senior Structural Engineer in the Ministry of Works, Robert Mouzas said yesterday. Work is expected to be completed within the next four weeks, officials said. A 300-foot concrete sea wall will be erected, making the area less susceptible to storms and ocean damage in the future, according to Mouzas. "You'll begin to see removal of the old wall and then a mass concrete sea wall will be going in," he said. "...The mass concrete wall is being cast into the rock bed. It won't get washed out."Mouzas said the existing wall around that portion of West Bay Street was laid on top of the rock bed, making it deficient.It is not the only section on that road the government is seeking to either reinforce or reconstruct, Mouzas noted. "We are looking to renew other areas in the vicinity of the caves where the walls are deficient," he said. "We might try to use the same company to do the works. It would be cheaper as they won't have to remobilize etc. "We are just looking into that now, but with the recent storm events the length to the east -- the failed section -- is getting worse as well [due to] some quite substantial storm events in the last month or so."Mouzas said the government has already clearly indicated its budgetary constraints, which means repairs will only commence on the more critical areas identified by the ministry. However, he said the government needs to review its entire sea defenses as a whole, particularly on West Bay Street, which he said is "very vulnerable to storm events".Other necessary improvements could be delayed until the next fiscal year as part of an ongoing overhaul of that portion of the island's coastal defense management system, Mouzas added.

Nearly six months after a portion of West Bay Street near the caves was badly damaged in Hurricane Sandy, the road has still not been repaired. However, Director of Public Works John Canton said yesterday repairs will begin today. "Well we had to go to competitive tender because of the value of the contract and to my recollection that even had to go before Cabinet, and the Ministry of Finance had to give approval," said Canton, explaining the process. "It was really due process."

The government awarded a $200,000 contract to Stephen Knowles Construction, a New Providence-based construction company, for the repairs, Senior Structural Engineer in the Ministry of Works, Robert Mouzas said yesterday. Work is expected to be completed within the next four weeks, officials said. A 300-foot concrete sea wall will be erected, making the area less susceptible to storms and ocean damage in the future, according to Mouzas. "You'll begin to see removal of the old wall and then a mass concrete sea wall will be going in," he said.

"...The mass concrete wall is being cast into the rock bed. It won't get washed out."Mouzas said the existing wall around that portion of West Bay Street was laid on top of the rock bed, making it deficient.It is not the only section on that road the government is seeking to either reinforce or reconstruct, Mouzas noted. "We are looking to renew other areas in the vicinity of the caves where the walls are deficient," he said. "We might try to use the same company to do the works. It would be cheaper as they won't have to remobilize etc.

"We are just looking into that now, but with the recent storm events the length to the east -- the failed section -- is getting worse as well [due to] some quite substantial storm events in the last month or so."Mouzas said the government has already clearly indicated its budgetary constraints, which means repairs will only commence on the more critical areas identified by the ministry.

However, he said the government needs to review its entire sea defenses as a whole, particularly on West Bay Street, which he said is "very vulnerable to storm events".Other necessary improvements could be delayed until the next fiscal year as part of an ongoing overhaul of that portion of the island's coastal defense management system, Mouzas added.

 

The value of public space in Nassau is acutely underestimated in our most urban areas. Urban Renewal 2.0 demolished dilapidated buildings under the premise of eradicating areas that harbor and facilitate criminal activity. Such government intervention is needed but it should not come at the cost of maintenance on public parks and spaces within those affected communities. Undeniably, crime negatively affects communities across New Providence. Its presence and persistence has led many Bahamians to retreat to the confines of their homes for safety behind bars and security alarms.

Such insulation from the outdoors only perpetuates anxiety and restlessness, stealing from us and our youth the joys of being outside. Public spaces like parks are needed most in urban areas where safety concerns collide with limited access to the outdoors. The psychological recourse of being a prisoner in one's home very likely contributes to the plaguing crimes affecting our youth and young adults. The rapid urbanization of New Providence continues to erode easy access to the coast and other recreational areas. Though the northern coastline offers Saunders Beach, the Montagu foreshore and numerous pull-off areas, these areas are only readily accessible by automobile or bus.

The southern coastline of New Providence begs for redevelopment, particularly South Beach, where an adjacent empty tract only promotes illegal dumping and criminal activities. Places like Big Pond and Harrold Pond, located within walking distance of fringing Bahamian communities, are vital as natural recreational areas. Establishing and maintaining safe outdoor spaces is just as crucial to the battle against crime as razing nuisance buildings. But a community park cannot suffer neglect at the mercy of government funds distributed elsewhere.

Our public spaces, including basketball courts, playgrounds, open fields and the like require consistent maintenance to encourage their use. A public space overrun by weeds and trash is no different than an abandoned or run-down parcel. Aesthetics very much contribute to a sense of place and drive the use of a public space by a community. Therefore, it is disheartening to find garbage overflowing from waste bins next to basketball courts. How can The Bahamas expect to instill a sense of responsibility when the government neglects its own?

With Urban Renewal 2.0 wrapping up its first phase of removal of abandoned or derelict buildings, we are surprised to find that rather than taking a community approach, it will shift focus to individual homes. Persons struggling to maintain a property should certainly be afforded the opportunity for some assistance from the government, but it is not the place for Urban Renewal 2.0 - especially when there is already a Ministry of Housing. Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis has impressed communities that were recipients of urban renewal that they "must be a part of protecting the gains made and keeping clean the communities in which they live."

He was right. Davis also added: "They must be sure to tell the police of things that bother them and their safety. We are all part of the effort, and our combined energy will be the impetus guiding us to success." The government is not our keeper on private property and success for urban renewal requires community participation and personal responsibility. We urge the government to maintain its commitment to public spaces so that all Bahamians have access to safe outdoor and recreational areas.

The government has not yet taken over all corridors of the controversial New Providence Road Improvement Project (NPRIP), weeks after remedial work on the 16 corridors was expected to be completed. The project, which has dragged on for nearly four years, was expected to be fully turned over to the government by January 31.

Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said yesterday in the House of Assembly that the review process of at least four corridors is ongoing. Road contractor Jose Cartellone Construcciones Civiles (JCCC) has recommended the government take over all corridors, according to Davis.

Davis said, to date, Baillou Hill Road, Market Street, Robinson Road, Marathon Road and sections of Prince Charles Drive remain under the direction of the contractor. The deputy prime minister's comments came during his contribution to debate on the 2012/2013 mid-year budget. "These remaining corridors have been put forward for taking over and are currently being considered by my ministry," Davis said. "The contractor's staff is now working along the various road corridors addressing defects as well as damaged works.

"In addition, following the completion of walkthroughs for final inspection, the contractor has commenced to undertake accommodation works." Davis said that work includes landscaping and repairing damaged walls, driveways and car parks. He added that the minor works plus any defects to completed works will be undertaken during the defect liability period. The road project is nearly $100 million over its original budget. Last month, Davis said the total price of the project was still within the $206 million that was forecasted following the inclusion of cost overruns.

Addressing a meeting of the Bahamas Society of Engineers, State Minister for Investment Khaalis Rolle said the government is aggressively seeking new capital to jump-start the economy.  Mr Rolle urged engineers to prepare to take advantage of new opportunities when these efforts bear fruit.

#“The government has conducted major investment missions to Europe, Latin America, and Canada. The primary purpose of those trips was to restore the reputation of the Bahamas in those markets.  “Despite the challenging market conditions, to date, investor confidence in the Bahamas remains positive,” he said.

#Noting that the traditional focus for the lion’s share of foreign direct investment has been tourism and resort developments, Mr Rolle assured the gathering that the government is determined to diversify the economy moving forward, positioning it for sustained economic growth that will provide expanded opportunities for local skilled professionals.