STATE MINISTER C. V. HOPE STRACHAN CALLS FOR GREATER ROAD SAFETY AWARENESS FROM THE MOTORING PUBLIC

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND AVIATION

Yesterday we experienced another tragic incident for a Bahamian family, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation and the wider Bahamian public; the death of a toddler on the streets of Eleuthera. This marks the 12th fatality this year for our country.

It is another traffic accident with the most significant and dire consequences. The Ministry of Transport and Aviation and the Road Traffic Department send heartfelt condolences and support to the families of all those who have died on the streets recently and in the past. We urge the travelling public to ensure that safety protocols are adhered to at all times. Road Traffic Laws and Regulations are not only punitive but are instituted to secure the preservation of life and the personal wellbeing of road users.

It is therefore important that drivers and road users continually familiarize themselves with the regulations and pay attention to safety regulations which save lives. Some simple safety tips are as follows:

1) Always pay attention to the road when driving. If there is a need to carry out any other activity while on the road, safely guide your vehicle off the road.

2) The use of all phones and other hand held devices while driving should be avoided.

3) Buckle up and have passengers do so. Children in particular should always be secured in safety seats tailor made for their safety and security. This is not an option. This is the Law.

4) Obey Road Safety signs, speed limits, and always drive with consideration for the safety of other road users.

5) Ensure that at all times your vehicle is in proper working condition with all lights and signals fully functional.

6) Pedestrians should always be cognizant of their particular vulnerabilities when up against motorized vehicles. Likewise, motorized vehicles should always show deference to pedestrians.

The National Road Safety Committee is presently active and engaged. All stakeholders are represented and we will be launching our safety initiatives in a matter of days.

There are many more simple driving initiatives which help to save lives. Let us all commit ourselves to being vigilant while driving and walking the streets of our Islands.

It is important that we forge a partnership to keep our streets and all road users safe and secure as we move forward.

Nassau, Bahamas - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development the Hon. Philip Davis signed a contract worth $1.3 million to repair roads in Central Abaco at his office, Thursday, January 3, 2013.

During the contract signing, Deputy Prime Minister Davis explained that in 2012, it was observed that the roads in Central Abaco (in the vicinity of Marsh Harbour, Murphy Town and Dundas Town) had significantly deteriorated over an extended period of time.

Eight of the 16 thoroughfares associated with the New Providence Road Improvement Project (NPRIP) have been turned over to the government, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis announced yesterday. The roads that have been turned over are corridors 1A (Baillou Hill Road); 4 and 5 (Bethel Avenue between Tonique Williams Darling Highway, John F. Kennedy Drive and West Bay Street); 12 (East Street); 17 (Abundant Life Road); 18 (West Bay Street); 23 (Robinson Road) and 24 (Thompson Boulevard).

"You will see the contractor's staff working along the various road corridors, replacing damaged works and cleaning out the drainage system and the like," Davis said yesterday shortly before the media was taken on a tour of the new roads. "Under the contract we have a one-year defects notification/liability period. The contractor will maintain a presence on New Providence during this period to address the defects list identified to date and any other defects that may arise during the defects period." Already the ministry has identified Baillou Hill Road to be a problematic area.

Davis said the design of that road is not feasible for emergency or public transportation. He added that the contractors Jose Cartellone Construcciones Civiles did not create the design. "The contractors built in accordance with the specifications, according to the plan. And it's not just the emergency vehicles, there is no leeway for jitneys. "There are a lot of challenges on the Baillou Hill Road design in and of itself, which again we will be revisiting. Once the handover is complete, we will revisit those and find ways to correct them." Several motorists interviewed by The Nassau Guardian expressed mixed views over the announcement.

An eastern New Providence resident praised the improvements but said there is still a lot of congestion and confusion on several roads and navigation is problematic. "It's been a very good improvement and people are supposed to be a little patient anyway," said Marco Bravetti as he drove along the Solider Round roundabout. Motorist Peter Lockhart and motorcyclist Wesley Neely shared similar views that while traffic congestion is frustrating the roads have improved.  Davis added that the Ministry of Works and Urban Development will continue the required assessment of accommodation works on all corridors necessary to tie in the newly-completed roads to adjacent properties.

These minor works will be undertaken between February 2013 and January 2014. Additionally, Davis said the ministry's review will also include all financial matters. Asked whether a commission of inquiry will still be launched to investigate management of the project under the former adminstration, Davis said that will be up to the Cabinet, however, he added "you will see a happy ending to this process". Davis also noted that the government has allocated $15 million to lend assistance to businesses negatively impacted by the road improvement project. The funds will be added to the overall cost of the project.

As previously reported, the road project is nearly $100 million over the original budget. "When I took responsibility for the project, I made it very clear that the government was upset wit the cost, the design and the implementation of the project," Davis said. "We did not oppose the improvement of infrastructure but felt that major infrastructural projects should always be carried out with the contract of protecting the interest of citizens first. We did not feel that this was at all the focus before."  He confirmed that the total price of the project is still within the $206 million that was forecasted following the inclusion of the cost overruns. The project, which has dragged on for nearly four years, is expected to be fully turned over to the government by January 31, 2013.

The government will have to foot the financial cost of having corrective work done on the new Thomas A Robinson Stadium, according to Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday. Mr Christie said the repairs were imperative as the stadium, which was a gift to the country from the People’s Republic of China, would host the 2013 Carifta games. “The government will fix the stadium,” he said, “we have to do it because the Carifta games are being held there in March of next year over the Easter holidays.

Hopefully the work will be started earlier in the new year and be completed in time for the Carifta games. “We have progressed significantly in the area of sports tourism that there is a major commitment. As you know our predecessors appointed a sports authority to have a more effective way of managing the stadia throughout the country. I have had discussions with investors and asking them to contribute to the sporting facilities because we expect to have a significant impact on how the sports centre is managing their facilities.”

Since the keys to the stadium were handed over to the government in June, there was speculation that several key elements of the stadium would not pass international inspections. Those included questions of the track and field meeting standards. Others questioned if the lanes on the track were wide enough or if two of the curves had fallen short and needed correction. It was also said that the inner field needed minor work.

However, Track Masters International’s Matthew Cohen told The Tribune in May that the stadium would have no trouble meeting the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) standards. Cohen suggested that the new stadium should pass the inspection with flying colours. “I’ve been checking all the markings and I’ve noticed that there is nothing wrong. I’m impressed with what I’ve seen.” The national stadium reportedly cost around $50 million.