BIMINI, Bahamas, November 17, 2023 – A $2.8 million contract for road works in Bimini was signed today by Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting with Knowles Construction and Development Company.
During the signing of the contract with Emile Knowles, President of Knowles Construction, at the Police Training Center in North Bimini, Mr. Sweeting dismissed the notion that the contract signing, which comes days ahead of the bye-election in West Grand Bahama and Bimini, is an election ploy.
“In December of 2022, Knowles Construction completed the runway at South Bimini Airport, and upon completion, the Honorable Prime Minister implored Mr. Knowles to leave his asphalt plant in Bimini in anticipation of the execution of these road works,” Mr. Sweeting said.
He added, “No one knew at the time that our dear colleague would not be here to witness this advancement in his constituency today. But to further dispel a thought that this is an election ploy, as the minister with responsibility for works and family island affairs, know that I am committed to rolling out several capital works initiatives throughout the family islands.”
The bye-election is necessitated by the September 25 death of the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, who was Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting .
Noting that Mr. Wilchcombe requested the road repairs in Bimini three days before he died, Mr. Sweeting said, “In his honor, and as my exceptional colleague, mentor and friend, it is my personal mission to see this completed. Today, we are ticking off this item as he requested.”
Mr. Sweeting said the government is focused on building and rebuilding roads, airports and bridges across the family islands, adding: “I am committed to you Bimini, just as strongly as your former member of Parliament was and your new member of Parliament will be.”
Mr. Kingsley Smith, PLP candidate in the bye-election, was on hand for the contract signing.
Senior Engineer in the Ministry of Works David Cox said the works will include patching, edge repairs, reconstruction of 37,958 square yards of road and paving. Additionally, he said, the drains will be cleared and new signage will be erected.
The roadworks marks the third major undertaking in Bimini for the Davis Administration, following on the heels of the opening of the Government Complex just months after taking office and the commissioning of a Marine Patrol Craft in November, 2022.
Declaring that the roadworks and previous undertakings are part of the Davis Administration’s considered focus on the development of the Family Islands, Mr. Sweeting said the Administration understands the importance of undergoing infrastructural upgrades, as in New Providence.
He added that he will place considerable focus in this area to the best of his ability and the Ministry’s resources during his tenure.
