The Airport Gateway Project has fallen slightly behind following the passage of Hurricane Sandy, which dumped up to several inches of rain across the island, however Director of Works John Canton yesterday expressed optimism that the project will be finished on budget and on time by the contractor. The category two storm impacted the country last month, damaging several Family Island roads. But Canton said current road works were spared major damage. "There we some delays but they were fairly minimal," Canton said during a telephone interview with The Guardian. "The contractor was able to minimize any damage to the site and got work to resume pretty quickly. I think we're pretty optimistic.

The good news is we're now in a period of fair weather and the project is expected to progress without any further interruptions. So we're optimistic that we'll continue to make good progress." The government signed a $67 million contract with China Construction America Incorporated for the construction of the project. In fact, Canton said, in the last several weeks the contractor has made significant headway. "Most recently, beginning at Gladstone Road through to the six-legged roundabout, traffic has been moved to the new carriageway, so that the old carriageway can be demolished and another new carriageway built.

So we're on that aspect of the works. This week we're hoping that we're gong to be able to open roundabout six, which is on the junction of Gladstone Road, JFK ( John F. Kennedy Drive) and the new corridor for Baha Mar. Corridor seven will be able to link into JFK," he said. That will be one of nine roundabouts included in the project. The project also includes the construction of a dual carriageway along John F. Kennedy Drive; the rehabilitation of the existing carriageway for east-bound travel; the underground installation of a 24-inch water main that will take water from the west to the east of New Providence; the underground installation of all electrical services and low voltage cables; the relocation of telecommunications and cable infrastructure; dense landscaping and the completion of ancillary work, including drainage, signage, street lights and accesses.

And with only seven months remaining before the expected completion date, Canton added that the contractor is more than halfway through. "In terms of progress, the contractual completion date is June 2013 so we're well in to the contract period now. The contractual period was 18 months, so we're into it," he said. The project will encompass approximately 6.2 miles of road, running from Windsor Field Road to the new six-legged roundabout on John F. Kennedy Drive. As for surprises, Canton said there have been a few.

Most recently, he said the contractor discovered a sinkhole on one of the roads associated with the project and now has the task of filling it in. However, Canton said the cost associated with those challenges have not exceeded the contingency amount in the contract. In total, the project cost the government $72 million. Canton said he doesn't expected the cost of the work to go over that amount.

The project is expected to improve the capacity of the entrance road system to the airport, as there is limited traffic capacity going into the downtown area. It will also strengthen inter-island communication, access and improve the layout of road network design; will enhance the landscaping along the gateway of Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA), and will provide safe driving conditions where the alignment of the existing road is irregular. Approximately $20 million will be spent on infrastructure provided by the utility companies. Another $14 million will be spent to import construction materials.

Nassau, Bahamas - The Physical Education Centre, the newest building on the Lyford Cay International School (LCIS) campus, is officially complete.

The Physical Education (PE) team happily moved into the new 1,086 sq ft facility which includes a large office, brand new changing rooms and bathrooms with showers, as well as an outside shower, and lots of additional storage space.

This project was completely funded by donations...

This Christmas, Baha Mar is inviting its Bahamian neighbours - school children, residents and local artists - to help turn its original wood-sculpture Tree of Trees even more green this holiday season by crafting special ornaments from recycled water bottles and donating found items that can be repurposed as unique and meaningful decorations.

Starting November 12, junior and high school students on New Providence will participate in the ornament drive by decorating plastic water bottles collected from the Baha Mar properties. Students will be asked to include a piece of paper in their ornament sharing their wish for a better Bahamas. The general public also will have the chance to participate in the drive by donating items found on Bahamian beaches – including items washed in by Hurricane Sandy or collected during storm clean-up – that can be reused as ornaments for this special tree.

“We want people to use their imaginations to design their ornaments and to make them special,” said Bahamian artist Antonius Roberts, who was commissioned by Baha Mar to create the 40-foot Tree of Trees sculpture. “Our beaches become landing spots for many otherwise unwanted items and my vision is that, with the community’s help, we can transform those items from debris to meaningful decorations through this unique ornament drive. “We are very excited to join forces with Antonius Roberts to create a one-of-a-kind sustainable sculpture for our neighbours and to have them participate in its decoration through this unique ornament creation programme,” said Robert Sands, senior vice-president of administration and external affairs for Baha Mar. “The holidays are a time of giving and renewal and we feel that the Tree of Trees and its unique decorations will truly embody the spirit of the season while creating a one-of-a- kind community work-of-art to be enjoyed by everyone.” Items to be donated for the Tree of Trees decoration should be clean, weatherproof and lightweight. Donations can be made at Antonius Robert’s studio, Hillside House, from November 9–28.

Hillside House is located at 25 Cumberland Street and its hours of operation are 10am – 4pm every day except Thursdays and Sundays. The 40-foot-high Baha Mar Tree of Trees is currently being created on-site at Hobby Horse Lake Park – across the street from what will be the main entrance into Baha Mar. The trunk of a massive dead Casuarina tree – found at Goodman’s Bay during Hurricane Sandy clean-up efforts – anchors the Tree of Trees sculpture and the branches will be crafted from trees felled by Hurricane Sandy, invasive trees culled from the Baha Mar construction site and recycled driftwood from throughout the Bahamas. The Tree of Trees is scheduled to be completed in late November with a community tree-lighting to take place shortly thereafter. The sculpture will remain year-round in Hobby Horse Lake Park, located on West Bay Street. The park, its surrounding public walkways and restored native flora and fauna will serve as the gateway to the planned 70-acre Baha Mar Wildlife Preserve.

Nassau, Bahamas -  On Tuesday November 6, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. stakeholders at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) will participate in a full-scale emergency exercise. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations require all airports to establish an emergency plan commensurate with the aircraft operations and other activities conducted at the airport.

It is further required that this plan be tested by conducting a full-scale emergency exercise every two years. This year, approximately 200 persons will simulate an aircraft crash scene, playing the roles of passengers, airline crew, emergency response agencies, airport employees and family members of crash victims. Participants include the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bahamas Defense Force, Civil Aviation...