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During his visit to Abaco, Minister of Transport and Local Government, Frankie Campbell toured the almost complete North Abaco Port to view the facility and hear possible concerns.
Mr. Campbell said “What I see is fascinating and exciting. It holds great promise.”
He said that “I have had the opportunity to visit the port in New Providence at Arawak Cay and I see the potential for what happens there happening here.”
The North Abaco Port, Mr. Campbell said is at least 95 percent completed, according to Ministry of Works and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).
“I know that the government has not yet had the port handed over but my conversations with the Chinese Embassy show there is a willingness and a preparedness to do that,” he said.
Mr. Campbell said he is satisfied that “once we take over and put in place the proper management structure, success is imminent.”
Mr. Campbell also noted that there is an independent group that has presented and is ready to come aboard for management of the port and in short order some announcements will be made.
He said that presently there is “one challenge that I am aware which is the dredging of the channel.”
“That was not initially a part of the contract so we have to look into our budget to find the most practical but speedy means by which to address it, because a port can’t function without ships coming in,” he said.
China Harbour Engineering Company was awarded a contract worth $40 million to build the North Abaco Port, and that also included a culvert at the Little Abaco land bridge.
The North Abaco Port Project was announced to have started in May of 2014 but faced a number of delays as well as starts and stops while waiting for permits and addressing a few environmental concerns.
