By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

DEPUTY Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday admitted that the landscaping along the Airport Gateway Project has “left much to be desired” but until the project is officially turned over to the government, he said the maintenance is the responsibly of the contractor.

However, Mr Davis said the government has agreed that it is in the country’s best interest to clean up the area.

His comments came a day after Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins cited the state of the Airport Gateway Project as an example of bad governance. Dr Rollins said the grass is overgrown and littered with trash. He questioned why the government is not taking care of the highway, which was built by China Construction America under an agreement signed by the former Ingraham administration.

“This administration met that contract in place when we came to office in May 2012,” Mr Davis said. “I would not have recommended that our government enter into that contact and would have approached it differently, but that is just my opinion.

“I accept that the Airport Gateway landscaping is less than desirable and the maintenance is less than desirable, but it is the contract we met in place. We have been stressed and continue to be stressed over the aesthetic of the landscaping and despite our efforts we still have not managed to correct it all.

“We have been in negotiations for about six to nine months to ensure that the contractor lives up to its obligations and, yes, it has got out of hand, but as of last week all of the garbage along the median was picked up for the purpose of mowing to begin. It would have been easy enough for the member for Fort Charlotte to get this information and to properly decode it before spewing such wild allegations.”

Mr Davis’ comments came during debate on the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority Bill.

During his contribution East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest said it is irresponsible for Mr Davis, Minister of Works, to blame the road contractors for the nasty, unkempt appearance of the road.

“What a pathetic performance for a leader in this county,” he said. “The people of the Bahamas did not elect China to run its affairs, they elected you. No excuses accepted. You have the responsibility to our citizens and ought to get about it instead of seeking cover. You have been negligent – accept the criticism and fix it. Do better.”

The Airport Gateway cost $72 million and encompasses nearly 6.2 miles of road stretching from Windsor Field Road to the six-legged roundabout on JFK Drive. Last year, the project was sabotaged by a frustrated road worker, Thomas Rigby, who pleaded guilty to causing more than $1.2m in damage to the project because he was angry that the contractor had not paid him.

Rigby admitted that he dug up 1.7 miles of the road. The highway was officially opened last October.