The death of three people in Mayaguana last week was a tragedy. The residents were attempting to illuminate a runway for a medical charter. The plane struck the vehicles and two women and man were killed. The victims were identified as former Cabinet Minister Sidney Collie's mother, Edith Collie, his sister, Enamae Polowick, and her husband, Tim Polowick, a Canadian. The pilots came to pick up Collie's ill uncle, Rev. Robert Black, who was scheduled to travel to Nassau for emergency medical treatment. Black was later flown to the capital on another flight.
The airport did not have lights to facilitate night landings. Therefore, Black's relatives had to do the next best thing to assist him. This practice was once quite common in many Family Islands. The basic lighting needed just was not there. At the end of the last Christie administration solar lights were placed in numerous islands. Lights were not placed in Mayaguana and tragedy resulted. There was some commentary by PLPs after the accident about whether or not the U.S. company the I-Group was supposed to place lights at the Mayaguana airport.
The PLP claimed the last Free National Movement (FNM) administration frustrated that deal, leading to the infrastructure not being installed. No independent country should look to foreign developers to install basic safety infrastructure for its people. Bahamians pay taxes to the government and those taxes are supposed to pay for airport lights, roads, public schools, police patrols, etc. Successive administrations have failed regarding what happened in Mayaguana. Both sides should accept that.
The key now, when it comes to this issue of aviation safety, is to fix the problem in Mayaguana and to examine the situations in other islands in an effort to upgrade lighting deficiencies that may exist. Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin said the installation of runway lights at the Mayaguana airport will be delayed for about six weeks, as the lights needed have to be built. At least the lights are on the way.
MICAL MP V. Alfred Gray said there is also a need for emergency equipment at the Mayaguana airport, as the island has no fire truck. Such an issue should be a part of a wider review of safety issues at our Family Island airports. Sadly, for the Collie family there is nothing we can do to bring back the three people killed last week. However, if the government is committed and serious about ensuring basic safety infrastructure exists at airports across The Bahamas future tragedies can be prevented.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
