Sam Duncombe
06-11-08, - 09:16 AM
Cat Islanders want many issues addressed
By JASMIN BONIMY, Guardian Staff Reporter, jasmin@nasguard.com
NEW BIGHT, Cat Island: Slowly drive along the seemingly never-ending road that stretches from north to south Cat Island and you'll get the real island experience. Miles of tree-covered hills outline the horizon and shrubbery encases the two-lane street. After each mile, a glimpse of the sparkling turquoise waters of the Atlantic is seen splashing upon the sandy shoreline. But as dawn fades to dusk and dusk to the dark of night, Cat Island roadways are shrouded in a cloak of darkness.
Lighting on public streets is just one of many issues plaguing the scenic southern island, according to residents. Lack of employment, environmental concerns, much-needed infrastructure and inconsistent water resources complete the laundry list of complaints recently launched by Cat Islanders at a town meeting held at the New Bight Primary School, which introduced locals to a proposed multi-purpose golf resort and casino for the island.
But hidden behind the smiling faces and unwavering hospitality is an undercurrent of frustration that eats away at a concerned community.
"Cat Island needs a lot of things," insisted Patricia Scott, resident of the Bluff, Cat Island. "We need fresh running water in Cat Island. It's not here 100 percent. It's been off and on and we need proper road lighting because only sections of the road actually have street lights."
Sammy Thurston of Sammy T's Beach Resort in Bennett's Harbour also expressed similar views.
The impassioned businessman said: "We have educational problems here. We have medical problems here. We have water, garbage and sewer issues. We have so many issues that we really need to deal with before we could even talk about brining in a $200 million resort and casino."
But top among residents' concerns is the disappearance of Cat Island's younger generation as they spread out across the country in search of work.
Sophia Seymour-Russell, a resident of Old Bight, said the island is being reduced to a community of senior citizens.
"I was here all these years struggling," she explained. "I have children and I have to send them off to Nassau. The people who live here have children too and they have to send them off looking for things to do."
Jason Russell, a self-described young Cat Island entrepreneur, admitted that his hometown holds no interest for his generation.
"We have our children leaving Cat Island and never returning," said Russell. "We find that our children go to Nassau and don't want to come home because the lights are on there and they don't want to come home. I have a daughter that's on her way back to Cat Island and when she comes back I want her to make some money, but the jobs just aren't here."
Cat Island educator, Myoshee Curtis, also gave her first-hand experience on the matter.
"I came to Cat Island with lots of hopes and expectations to serve and I find a lot of obstacles," said the teacher who has lived on the island for the past nine months. "We have activities that go on in the summer and the students say to me they're gone and school hasn't even closed properly yet. Last year when I came here the island was practically empty."
But government officials say the islanders' concerns will be addressed according to the demand on the island.
In an interview with The Nassau Guardian, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said the infrastructure concerns were being looked at.
"Garbage disposal is being worked on," said Prime Minister Ingraham. "The other essential things are the new airport terminal and the resurfacing of the runway. Water, the expansion of the electricity capacity and distribution system will all move in tandem with the demand in Cat Island.
"At the moment, from the point of view of electricity, the generation capacity for Cat Island meets current demands so there is no need to spend tons of money there. The main road in Cat Island is in good shape, you can drive one end to the other. Cat Island has adequate supply of fresh waster, in terms of capacity to produce fresh water."
But islanders believe help is on the way, and not only the government. The proposal for the $200 million resort by the Cat Island Partners Limited has planted a seed of hope in the minds of many Cat Islanders, as the resort will supply the island with more than 900 jobs after construction, according to developers.
The proposed project will sit on 1,906 acres of land — adjacent to Fine Bay — that will be purchased from a private owner once the government gives its stamp of approval as expected in the upcoming weeks.
Developers say the first phase of the project will include two miles of beach-front property, a 223-lot single and multi-family residential community, a 100-unit condominium hotel, a PGA Golf Club and Village, along with a low-rise 200-room J.W. Marriott Hotel. A boutique casino is also planned for the resort.
By JASMIN BONIMY, Guardian Staff Reporter, jasmin@nasguard.com
NEW BIGHT, Cat Island: Slowly drive along the seemingly never-ending road that stretches from north to south Cat Island and you'll get the real island experience. Miles of tree-covered hills outline the horizon and shrubbery encases the two-lane street. After each mile, a glimpse of the sparkling turquoise waters of the Atlantic is seen splashing upon the sandy shoreline. But as dawn fades to dusk and dusk to the dark of night, Cat Island roadways are shrouded in a cloak of darkness.
Lighting on public streets is just one of many issues plaguing the scenic southern island, according to residents. Lack of employment, environmental concerns, much-needed infrastructure and inconsistent water resources complete the laundry list of complaints recently launched by Cat Islanders at a town meeting held at the New Bight Primary School, which introduced locals to a proposed multi-purpose golf resort and casino for the island.
But hidden behind the smiling faces and unwavering hospitality is an undercurrent of frustration that eats away at a concerned community.
"Cat Island needs a lot of things," insisted Patricia Scott, resident of the Bluff, Cat Island. "We need fresh running water in Cat Island. It's not here 100 percent. It's been off and on and we need proper road lighting because only sections of the road actually have street lights."
Sammy Thurston of Sammy T's Beach Resort in Bennett's Harbour also expressed similar views.
The impassioned businessman said: "We have educational problems here. We have medical problems here. We have water, garbage and sewer issues. We have so many issues that we really need to deal with before we could even talk about brining in a $200 million resort and casino."
But top among residents' concerns is the disappearance of Cat Island's younger generation as they spread out across the country in search of work.
Sophia Seymour-Russell, a resident of Old Bight, said the island is being reduced to a community of senior citizens.
"I was here all these years struggling," she explained. "I have children and I have to send them off to Nassau. The people who live here have children too and they have to send them off looking for things to do."
Jason Russell, a self-described young Cat Island entrepreneur, admitted that his hometown holds no interest for his generation.
"We have our children leaving Cat Island and never returning," said Russell. "We find that our children go to Nassau and don't want to come home because the lights are on there and they don't want to come home. I have a daughter that's on her way back to Cat Island and when she comes back I want her to make some money, but the jobs just aren't here."
Cat Island educator, Myoshee Curtis, also gave her first-hand experience on the matter.
"I came to Cat Island with lots of hopes and expectations to serve and I find a lot of obstacles," said the teacher who has lived on the island for the past nine months. "We have activities that go on in the summer and the students say to me they're gone and school hasn't even closed properly yet. Last year when I came here the island was practically empty."
But government officials say the islanders' concerns will be addressed according to the demand on the island.
In an interview with The Nassau Guardian, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said the infrastructure concerns were being looked at.
"Garbage disposal is being worked on," said Prime Minister Ingraham. "The other essential things are the new airport terminal and the resurfacing of the runway. Water, the expansion of the electricity capacity and distribution system will all move in tandem with the demand in Cat Island.
"At the moment, from the point of view of electricity, the generation capacity for Cat Island meets current demands so there is no need to spend tons of money there. The main road in Cat Island is in good shape, you can drive one end to the other. Cat Island has adequate supply of fresh waster, in terms of capacity to produce fresh water."
But islanders believe help is on the way, and not only the government. The proposal for the $200 million resort by the Cat Island Partners Limited has planted a seed of hope in the minds of many Cat Islanders, as the resort will supply the island with more than 900 jobs after construction, according to developers.
The proposed project will sit on 1,906 acres of land — adjacent to Fine Bay — that will be purchased from a private owner once the government gives its stamp of approval as expected in the upcoming weeks.
Developers say the first phase of the project will include two miles of beach-front property, a 223-lot single and multi-family residential community, a 100-unit condominium hotel, a PGA Golf Club and Village, along with a low-rise 200-room J.W. Marriott Hotel. A boutique casino is also planned for the resort.