By IANTHIA SMITH, Guardian Staff Reporter, ianthia@nasguard.com

GOVERNOR'S HARBOUR, Eleuthera- A multi-million dollar project has been launched in Eleuthera, to urgently repair the island's worn out roads and seawalls.

Minister of Works and Utilities Bradley Roberts awarded a $3,704,477.40 contract to an Eleuthera-based company, Austin Knowles Construction Company Limited and almost $500,000, to Engineering Technical Services (ETS) who has partnered with a Canadian-based company, Delcan International.

Minister Roberts said for years, the island's infrastructure has been battered repeatedly by hurricanes, that unleashed their fury on the island. But he vowed that his ministry is making headway in having them restored.

"My ministry has completed the evaluation of the damage to the entire infrastructure network here in Eleuthera and is now set on course to systematically repair your roads and sea defences," Minister Roberts said. "The Ministry of Works continues its strategy of shoring up the country's most vulnerable seawalls and roadways, that were affected by the storm surges that accompany hurricanes."

The works and utilities minister noted that since the 1992 Hurricane Andrew and Hurricane Floyd of 1999, the sea walls and roads have been restored but the unforgettable twin hurricanes, Frances and Jeanne, tore through the structures, knocking the walls down and eating away at the roads, leaving only a tiny slot for two-way traffic to drive upon. But once this restoration programme is complete, he added, the island will get back its beauty.

He added that the government has entered a loan agreement with the InterAmerican Development Bank for the reconstruction of seawalls at 10 different sites in the James Cistern, Tarpum Bay, Sunset Bay and Governor's Harbour areas, where 8,500 feet of seawall will be erected, 6,000 cubic yards of concrete will be poured and other miscellaneous works to the roads will be done.

Similar works have already started in Cat Island, whose roads and seawalls were also broken up by the hurricanes. Minister Roberts said works on that island should be completed in five months.

Driving along the roads in Eleuthera, cars were swerving to and fro, trying to avoid sections where tar had been pulled up by the surges, leaving what turned into narrow, rugged pathways. The salt water badly eroded the seawalls and it was obvious that houses and stores that stood nearby, would be washed away if strong surges hit.

ETS Principal Lambert Knowles said, the critical work will begin next Wednesday and is expected to be complete by December. He added that his company is committed to "getting the job done on time."

Garnett Thompson, a James Cistern resident, said he is happy that the government has stepped in to help restore the island's framework. "We needed this a long time ago," he said. "This is a positive thing because people have to move when hurricanes hit because of this problem. But ya have to come back home. We appreciate this and I think this is the best thing that can happen now."

Cave to Become Park Site

By JASMIN BONIMY, Guardian Staff ReporterJasmin@nasguard.com

Government officials hope to transform Eleuthera's world-renowned Preacher's Cave into a national preservation park, just days after two ancient skeletal remains were unearthed.

Speaking at a press conference to announce an American-based archaeological team's historic findings, Tourism official in Eleuthera, Raymond Harrison, said the park would benefit locals as well as visitors.

"We are looking to make this a national park because we want Bahamians to come and enjoy the cave as well," said Mr Harrison.

"What we have here is well beyond our imagination," he continued. "It lends itself not only to Bahamians and regular visitors, but we are looking at historians, archaeologists, and university students who study here. So, it is important that we look at what we have here."

Mr Harrison's comments came just four days after archaeologists discovered what is believed to be the 500-year-old skeletal remains of a Lucayan Indian, lying inches away from the remains of a 350-year-old Eleutheran Adventurer, just 150 meters beneath the cave's floor.

This latest discovery has prompted a pro-park lobby by the Preachers Cave site's Chief Archaeologist Bob Carr. "I think it is very important that this area becomes a park because my sense of The Bahamas–in terms of its richness–is the history, as much as its natural beauty," said Mr Carr. "I think The Bahamas needs the opportunity to get beyond the beach and the fun because tourism in the future, really is going to be involving more environmental tourism and heritage tourism. When they start opening these places up to that level of visitation, it is going to help make a big difference."

Meanwhile, Mr Harrison revealed that the new park would entail a caretaker's house and 12 Cabanas along the ridge area. He added that the government was also looking into developing nearby land that is owned by the island's Commonage Committee.

But newly appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism John Carey, admitted that the government has not set a definite time line to begin work on the proposed park.

Eleuthera's Preachers Cave gained its name and notoriety after 1648, with the arrival of Captain William Sayle and 75 settlers from Bermuda.