The government plans to move on the construction of a fire station for Grand Bahama and a sea wall to stop the land erosion at Smith’s Point.

Minister of Grand Bahama and Pineridge MP, Dr. Michael Darville made the announcement while leading a team of government officials from New Providence on a tour of the Smith’s Point area and the Fishing Hole Road on Thursday.

A day later, the group was taken to North Water Cay to assess capital works needed in that small community.

Dr. Darville also took the opportunity Thursday to meet residents of Smith’s Point to discuss their plans for the area.

“Smith’s Point is very important to our tourism business. Wednesday night is the legendary Smith’s Point Fish Fry, and a lot of our tourists flock to this area. For years, there has been coastal erosion and we are committed in this particular term in office to give the residents of Smith’s Point the sea wall,” he said

Dr. Darville said a team from New Providence, inclusive of two engineers was brought in to let the people know the government is serious about the project.

He anticipates that within six weeks to two months they will have the initial drawings and will return to the residents for them to look at the drawings and get some further input.

“From there, the engineers at the Ministry of Works will go ahead and do what they have to do and we will get this particular sea wall out for tender,” he said.

Dr. Darville, who is also a highly trained engineer, also spoke about access to beach, a potential boat ramp and more.

“All of these things we will take into consideration in our preliminary drawings, but of course I have already warned the residents of Smith’s Point that there is a budget for this project and we would have to stay within the budgetary constraints.

“If we can accommodate them with these additional requests, we will definitely take it into consideration. But the engineers will try to incorporate some of the requests they have made here today,” he said.

The minister confirmed that the engineers will be looking at a variety of different projects while on Grand Bahama, inclusive of the longstanding problems at the Fishing Hole Road. He also indicated that they were looking at the new fire station.

“All these projects are very active. The government is fully committed to them in the 2013/2014 Budget, and I am eager, as minister for Grand Bahama, to get the shovel into the ground.

“Of course, I realise that there is a process and the process must be done correctly. But the residents of Grand Bahama must be fully aware that this administration is working to meet the commitments that we have outlined in our Charter of Governance,” he said.

Commenting further on the construction of a new fire station to replace the old Settlers Way facility that was destroyed several years ago, Minister Darville assured residents that the fire station is right around the corner.

“I do not want to give an exact date…If I can say, the drawings are here in Grand Bahama. They are now being assessed by the Grand Bahama Port Authority and this is the final stop.

“We had problems with the drawings. The drawings had some deficiencies. They have been worked out with the engineers, and I have been informed from the Ministry of Works and Urban Development that in very short order that particular project would go out to tender,” he explained.