Prime Minister Perry Christie accompanied by National Security Minister Dr. Bernard Nottage officially reopened the Eight Mile Rock Fire Sub-Station on Tuesday.

The opening took place just prior to the historic Cabinet meeting in Grand Bahama.

Addressing the gathering attending the opening Mr. Christie said, “Grand Bahama and the people of this area who would have their life’s earnings challenged by fire — being able to have effective fire equipment more readily available to address emergencies is a significant step forward for this community.”

He then congratulated the minister of national security, the commissioner of police and other officers for their efforts in making the project a reality.

Mr. Christie also took note of the need to construct a proper facility to house the new and costly fire truck and other upgrades as it relates to fire equipment for the area.

Also, the prime minister said the government had great promise for West Grand Bahama with the Ginn development.

“We have begun the process of extending benefits that some people in Freeport or some people in Grand Bahama enjoyed to the rest of Grand Bahama. But we have done something extra. We have actually in the last Budget Communication, made it possible for the people outside of Freeport to have access to being able to build and purchase materials for building/improving their homes, their businesses — duty free.

“So you have that and we want you to take advantage of that and I hope that the minister for Grand Bahama would do his very best to ensure that we communicate that to the people of this part of Grand Bahama and East Grand Bahama as well,” Mr. Christie said.

With respect to the young people of West Grand Bahama, the prime minister said there is a proposal to build shortly “a state-of-the-art education facility, a brand new school and state-of-the-art sporting facilities associated with it, so that we are able to continue to take advantage of the sporting prowess that we find here in Grand Bahama.”

The prime minister saw the creation of the modern complex as a major step in the strong approach to provision of facilities in that part of Grand Bahama.

With respect to the newly reopened fire station the Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage said its reopening is a clear indication of their support for the people of West Grand Bahama and it is also in keeping the government’s mandate to put our people first.

He recalled during their previous administration when one of the first things they did was open a Fire Station in Eight Mile Rock.
According to Dr. Nottage, the station served the community well until it was damaged by the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005, which caused it to be abandoned and the officers and fire truck returned to Freeport.

“Recognizing the importance of maintaining a presence in this highly populated settlement of Eight Mile Rock, coupled with repeated requests from your minister and community leaders here in the west, we took a firm position to make this reopening a reality,” Minister Nottage said.

He also pointed out that what is most significant is the fact that they are also commissioning a brand new 1,000 gallon capacity Rosenbauer Fire Truck valued at about $260,000.

Dr. Nottage touched on the further strengthening of fire services in West Grand Bahama, with the positioning of a fire truck in West End, Grand Bahama.