August 1st 2008 – NEW AIRPORT RUNWAY NEARING COMPLETION

On July 19th the process of paving the new 6,000 ft runway began. The Marsh Harbour International Airport will have the distinction of being the first in a family island with a blacktop surface. The only other airport in the Bahamas with a blacktop surface is the Sir Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau.

“Once the paving has been completed then striping and lighting of the runway will finalize the job. We are aiming to have everything completed around September,” stated Mr. Harlin Johnson.

Source – The Abaconian

June 1st 2008 – SCHOONER BAY VILLAGE HAS BEGUN CONSTRUCTING ROADS

Mr. Michael Albury, President of the Abaco Chamber of Commerce, welcomed Mr. Keith Bishop and Mr. Kevin Main to a luncheon meeting to present their concept and plans for a new development at Schooner Bay. The Schooner Bay development will be located on the Atlantic side of Great Abaco, 26 miles south of Marsh Harbour.

Mr. Bishop gave Chamber members an overview of the planned development. The entire project will span 120 acres. This will be an open community that will be primarily cottages with low walls around to create streetscapes. The plan is to develop a village around a harbor. 565 homes are planned in total and will be constructed in a phased project. The village will be designed for year round living. The development will contain a five-star beach club, a hardware and retail store, and up to seven restaurants. If the permit to begin is received in the next sixty days, we expect the first occupant to be in by the end of next summer. The developer is Lindroth Development Company.

Source – The Abaconian

May 15, 2008 - 14 DEVELOPMENTS TOTALLING $2.5 BILLION ARE APPROVED FOR ABACO

The Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham, Prime Minister of the Bahamas announced to the Abaco Chamber of Commerce that 14 developments have been approved for Abaco. The investment in these proposed projects will total $2.5 billion. The Prime Minister explained that getting approval does not mean that the project materializes. It allows the developers to make plans, have an environmental impact assessment made and give government pertinent information about their funding. The government then reviews the project and must give further approvals. The Prime Minister has confirmed the construction of a new power station at a cost of $80 million, in the south of Abaco. He further stated that the Marsh Harbour International Airport is reconstructing the existing runway from 5,000 feet to 6,100 feet. The new airport terminal and extended runway will facilitate jet landings with a related increased capacity to process tourist arrivals.

Source – The Abaconian

May 7, 2008 – ABACO TOURIST ARRIVALS UP 20%

The Prime Minister stated that Abaco has experienced a 20% increase in tourist arrivals during the first two months of 2008.

Source – The Tribune