By IANTHIA SMITH, Guardian Staff Reporter

ianthia@nasguard.com

GOVERNOR'S HARBOUR, Eleuthera- A multi-million dollar project has been launched in Eleuthera, to urgently repair the island's worn out roads and seawalls.

Minister of Works and Utilities Bradley Roberts awarded a $3,704,477.40 contract to an Eleuthera-based company, Austin Knowles Construction Company Limited and almost $500,000, to Engineering Technical Services (ETS) who has partnered with a Canadian-based company, Delcan International.

Minister Roberts said for years, the island's infrastructure has been battered repeatedly by hurricanes, that unleashed their fury on the island. But he vowed that his ministry is making headway in having them restored.

"My ministry has completed the evaluation of the damage to the entire infrastructure network here in Eleuthera and is now set on course to systematically repair your roads and sea defences," Minister Roberts said. "The Ministry of Works continues its strategy of shoring up the country's most vulnerable seawalls and roadways, that were affected by the storm surges that accompany hurricanes."

The works and utilities minister noted that since the 1992 Hurricane Andrew and Hurricane Floyd of 1999, the sea walls and roads have been restored but the unforgettable twin hurricanes, Frances and Jeanne, tore through the structures, knocking the walls down and eating away at the roads, leaving only a tiny slot for two-way traffic to drive upon. But once this restoration programme is complete, he added, the island will get back its beauty.

He added that the government has entered a loan agreement with the InterAmerican Development Bank for the reconstruction of seawalls at 10 different sites in the James Cistern, Tarpum Bay, Sunset Bay and Governor's Harbour areas, where 8,500 feet of seawall will be erected, 6,000 cubic yards of concrete will be poured and other miscellaneous works to the roads will be done.

Similar works have already started in Cat Island, whose roads and seawalls were also broken up by the hurricanes. Minister Roberts said works on that island should be completed in five months.

Driving along the roads in Eleuthera, cars were swerving to and fro, trying to avoid sections where tar had been pulled up by the surges, leaving what turned into narrow, rugged pathways. The salt water badly eroded the seawalls and it was obvious that houses and stores that stood nearby, would be washed away if strong surges hit.

ETS Principal Lambert Knowles said, the critical work will begin next Wednesday and is expected to be complete by December. He added that his company is committed to "getting the job done on time."

Garnett Thompson, a James Cistern resident, said he is happy that the government has stepped in to help restore the island's framework. "We needed this a long time ago," he said. "This is a positive thing because people have to move when hurricanes hit because of this problem. But ya have to come back home. We appreciate this and I think this is the best thing that can happen now."