Caribbean News

Bridge Concepts for Andros Reflect Resilience, Sustainability and Improved Utility Infrastructure says Works and Utilities Minister

Published

1 year ago

April 17, 2023

By KATHRYN CAMPBELLBahamas Information Services

#ANDROS, The Bahamas, April 17, 2023 – Andros residents viewed new design concepts and voiced their concerns about the two 50-year-old bridges in Fresh Creek and Stafford Creek during a Town Hall Meeting hosted by the Ministry of Works and Utilities.

“The reason why we’re here is not to engage in an academic exercise, but the people of Andros should inform this

process. You live here, you own the creeks, you fish on the creeks, and you’re the ones who will have to protect the creeks,” the Hon. Alfred Sears, Minister of Works and Utilities said, stating that work must be done in these times of challenging climate change to improve resilience and protect life, safety, and property of the people of Andros.

The minister said: “In fact, Andros will be the symbol of what a small island nation state can do in terms of resilience, sustainability; and the infrastructure that we will present to you this afternoon reflects those concepts — we are asking for your wisdom to guide the designers with your contributions, recommendations and observations.”

Minister Sears led a delegation Thursday, April 13, 2023 to the island to present options for the bridges. Among the delegation: Bacchus Rolle, Parliamentary Secretary; Leon Lundy, Parliamentary Secretary and MP for Mangrove Cay and South Andros; Luther Smith, Permanent Secretary; Basil Longley, chairman, The Bridge Authority; Robert Mouzas, deputy director; David Cox, senior civil engineer; Jumanne Paul, senior engineer; Kevin Sweeting, project lead; and representatives of BRON Ltd.

Also in attendance at the meeting held at Central Andros High School was Beverly Larrimore, administrator for North Andros; and heads of Government departments.

Said Mr. Sears, “As you will see in the presentation, the bridge represents a road and it is a vital road because in Central Andros we have three critical creeks and if there were no bridge over those creeks, there would be no road and thus separation. Andros is mighty because it is connected — north, central and south — it is what we call the Big

Yard. It’s not one piece of Andros; it’s all of Andros. What keeps Andros unified are those roads and over the water — the bridges.”

Mr. Mouzas informed that BRON was engaged in 2020 to undertake a feasibility study of both bridge sites and offer the “best” solution for residents and visitors. A meeting was held with residents on August 14, 2020 to solicit feedback on the study.

“We have listened to your requests,” said Mr. Mouzas. “Today, BRON team will be presenting preferred solutions.”

Mr. Sweeting outlined requirements, concerns, options, concepts and solution developments for the bridges.

He said results of a survey revealed concerns of residents including the need for dual lanes, wider bridges to allow traffic access and increase of height and clearance.

Over 80 percent of concern was for safety.

Concern was also expressed for traffic accessing the Stafford Creek Bridge as it is on a curve.

Residents expressed a “strong” desire for a higher bridge for Fresh Creek – higher than the 12 feet proposed in the Ministry’s requirements — to allow vessels with a higher height to get under the bridge to travel to the western area of the creek and possibly spur economic development there.

The survey also indicated several environmental concerns, and that residents have no desire to pay a toll.

He explained that the single lane, 53-year-old bridge in Fresh Creek is in poor condition, allows one lane of traffic at

a time and currently designed for a weight of 10 tons which means that nothing heavier than 10 tons should cross the bridge. It has a 9ft. clearance, no sidewalks, utilities are vulnerable to impact and many of them are exposed.

He said the conditions of the bridge in Stafford Creek Bridge are similar to Fresh Creek Bridge with the exception of the alignment of the road to the entrance which has two curves on either side that makes access unsafe for vehicles.

Regarding the concept drawing of the preferred option for Fresh Creek Bridge Mr. Sweeting said, “We designed this option with a 36-ft. clearance from main high water considering sea level rise estimated at 1 metre. It is a reinforced concrete structure, very resilient, it’s meant for this type of environment that is highly corrosive, more than 7 feet between piers, there is little obstruction in the creek. With this option there will be a need for dredging. Because we are now raising the bridge we need to actually lengthen the bridge. We are now increasing the length of Fresh Creek Bridge in order to get a higher height we will have to do some dredging on the southern side of the bridge. We’re looking at about 7 feet of dredging at its maximum depth.”

Mr. Sweeting informed that the option for demolition of the existing bridge and construction of a new replacement 2-lane bridge has been selected for Stafford Creek Bridge.

“Government would have gone ahead with option 3 based on recommendations of locals who said a new bridge was desired. We would have looked at a bridge at a relocated location. Moving it further west allows it now to have a safer alignment approaching the bridge – will allow it to have a wider curve approaching the bridge that is safer than the curve that’s currently there. The existing bridge would remain and we would build a new bridge to the west of it — new bridge with 2 lanes and 2 private sidewalks on each side.”

Mr. Sweeting assured residents that the concepts for both new bridges would allow improved access and provide safety for users.

“The cost of recommended options is high but does provide additional safety and improved access to vehicles and boats. Even though the cost is high there is a high return value for the long term so the initial high cost can be justified because long term will provide safety and greater access to the bridges.

“We will improve infrastructure along Queen’s Highway. We will look at making improvements to utility infrastructure that crosses the bridge, and the roads that approach the bridge will be improved. They create more opportunities and economic activity west of the bridge as we open them up.”

A question and answer period followed the presentation. Concerns raised by residents included improvements to the creek near to Fresh Creek Bridge, opportunities for transferring knowledge, compensation to persons affected by work on the project and more.

Caribbean News

C&W Communications announces broadcast of English Premier League (EPL) for Caribbean

Published

3 days ago

September 7, 2024

Deandrea Hamilton

MIAMI, Florida (September 2^nd, 2024) – C&W Communications, the operators of Flow, Flow Business, C&W Business and BTC, is pleased to announce the broadcast of the 2024/25 season of the English Premier League (EPL) across the Caribbean via ESPN and ESPN 2.

This year, football fans will be treated to even more action with the launch of a dedicated channel, ESPN Extra, which will feature approximately six live ‘prime’ matches per round, pre- and post-match studio shows, rebroadcasts of games, press conferences, fantasy football segments, archive matches, and other magazine-style programming.

In addition to ESPN Extra, live Premier League matches will also be aired on the existing ESPN Caribbean and ESPN 2 channels. Depending on the scheduling, matches may air simultaneously across these platforms.

As a special bonus, all television customers will enjoy a ‘freeview’ of the ESPN Extra channel until September 15. Following the freeview period, customers will have the opportunity to subscribe directly to the ESPN Extra channel and more information is available at www.discoverflow.co.

“We are thrilled to offer football fans across the Caribbean unprecedented access to one of the world’s most popular sports leagues. With ESPN Extra and the enhanced coverage across ESPN and ESPN 2, our customers will have front-row seats to experience the absolute best of the Premier League, right from their homes,” said Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer, C&W Communications.

“This is more than just sports; as we did this summer with the World Relays in The Bahamas and the recent Men’s ICC T20 World Cup, it’s about delivering an unparalleled entertainment experience and ensuring that fans across the Caribbean never miss a moment of the action.”

ESPN Extra is available to television subscribers in Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, BVI, Cayman, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, and Turks & Caicos.

Caribbean News

APPROXIMATELY 100 FAMILIES IN ST.THOMAS RECEIVE HURRICANE BERYL RELIEF FUNDS

Published

4 days ago

September 5, 2024

Deandrea Hamilton

MORANT BAY, September 5, 2024 – Approximately 100 families in St. Thomas are now better able to rebuild or repair their homes, following the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 3.

This, after the Ministry of Labour and Social Security distributed cash grants to affected residents in the parish under the ‘Rebuild Jamaica’ initiative on Tuesday (September 3).

Through the $1-billion programme, persons whose homes suffered minor damage from the hurricane will receive grants of $50,000, while those experiencing severe damage will receive $150,000. Persons whose homes were completely destroyed will receive grants of $400,000.

Speaking during Tuesday’s (September 3) handover ceremony at Morant Villas Hotel, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., said although St. Thomas was not as badly hit as Clarendon and St. Elizabeth, there are still persons in the parish who were significantly affected by the Category Four weather system.

In this regard, he said Rebuild Jamaica is indicative of the Government’s lasting commitment to Jamaicans, while urging the recipients to activate the funds quickly and use them to “build back stronger” and more resilient.

Mr. Charles also encouraged the beneficiaries to use the grants for the intended purpose, pointing out that, “if you know that you are getting a cheque to help with your house, use your money to rehabilitate your house”.

“I expect… everyone to demonstrate integrity… to show honesty… [and] I expect that it is not going to just be about you but it’s going to be about your community,” he added.

In his remarks, Mayor of Morant Bay, Councillor Louis Chin, said the ceremony was “a reminder that, in the face of hardships, we all must unite to recover and rebuild”.

“To the receivers, I offer my deepest empathies and support. We recognise the challenges you face and we are committed to helping you to overcome them,” Councillor Chin stated.

Greetings were also brought by Member of Parliament (MP) for St. Thomas Eastern, Dr. Michelle Charles.

Councillor for the Trinityville Division, Dean Jones, who also attended the ceremony, represented St. Thomas Western MP, James Robertson.

The Rebuild Jamaica tour, which began in Kingston on August 5, has, to date, made stops in St. Catherine, Manchester, Clarendon, St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland. The tour continues in Portland on Wednesday (September 4).

Partners on the initiative include the World Food Programme (WFP), Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Jamaica Red Cross, Food For the Poor, Social Development Commission (SDC), and the Adventist Disaster Relief Agency (ADRA).

CONTACT: MICKELLA ANDERSON-GORDON

JIS REGIONAL OFFICE

MORANT BAY

Caribbean News

Salute to a CARICOM Stalwart, Sir Shridath “Sonny” Ramphal

Published

4 days ago

September 5, 2024

Deandrea Hamilton

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

September 5, 2024 – The CARICOM Secretariat says it is “profoundly saddened” at the passing of a stalwart of our Community, Sir Shridath “Sonny” Ramphal, on 30 August 2024.

In an illustrious career devoted to public service, Sir Shridath blazed a trail of excellence in diplomacy, law, academia and politics, earning respect and admiration in his homeland Guyana, elsewhere in the Caribbean Region, and across the Commonwealth of Nations.

He was a leading advocate of regionalism, and contributed practically to its advancement, notably in high-level service to the legal fraternity, institutions of higher learning, and as Chairman of the West Indian Commission which produced the 1992 seminal report, “Time for Action”. An astute negotiator, he was appointed by Heads of Government to lead the CARICOM Regional Negotiating Machinery in negotiations in the external trade arena.

Included among his well-deserved accolades is the Region’s highest honour, the Order of the Caribbean Community, which he received in 1992 in the first conferral of the award, for his sterling contributions to the Region.

The Secretary General and staff of the CARICOM Secretariat join the Region and the international community in mourning his loss, and in lauding his life marked by committed service and excellence.

Meanwhile, Chairman of CARICOM, Hon. Dickon Mitchell said the “pivotal contributions” to regional integration and development, by Sir Shridath who was as an eminent jurist, Minister of Government and Attorney-General in his native Guyana; Chancellor of the University of Guyana and The University of the West Indies; and Chief Negotiator for CARICOM on External Trade Relations, must be celebrated

“His influence extended beyond our shores to the international arena, where his decisive leadership as Commonwealth Secretary-General impacted outcomes on global matters including the ending of apartheid in southern Africa. Further, his deep intellectual interest in regional development issues led to significant publications, which are an invaluable legacy for the young people of our Region,” the Chairman said.