The Eleutheran Newspaper September/October 2021 Issue

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Volume 14, 09/12, Sept./October Issue

Eleuthera, Harbour Island & Spanish Wells, The Bahamas

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New Top Chief

BACK COVER: Damianos Sotheby’s Int’l P 3: Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty P 5: HG Christie

OIC BRIAN ROLLE HANDS OVER to oic shanta knowles On September 10th, 2021, Chief Superintendent Shanta Knowles arrived on island to take up her new post as Officer-In-Charge of the RBPF Eleuthera Division.

$2.8 mil Launch

- Page 4 ADVICE - 14

ADVICE - 13

Is Your Mouth A Weapon...

The votes in Eleuthera

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Clean Beaches Eleuthera!

OPINION - 12

Are You Ready?

The Numbers

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Pictured: Chief Superintendent Shanta Knowles receiving handover documentation, formally taking up her new post.

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Fear at home, No hope abroad...

Inside

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MP C&SE and Minister in the newly elected Government, Hon. Clay Sweeting Shares His Path, Goals and Vision The Hon. Clay Glennford Sweeting, a native of Spanish Wells, with shared roots in Rock Sound Eleuthera was elected as the Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera (PLP) in resounding fashion in the September 16th, 2021 General Elections, which saw the PLP brush aside the incumbent FNM. Mr. Sweeting was sworn in on Monday, 20th September, 2021 as the Minister with responsibility for Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs and assumed his duties the following day, on September 21st, receiving briefs on matters related to his portfolio, including ongoing and new projects, challenges and his operating financial framework.

In an interview with The Eleutheran on Wednesday, September 29th, just over a week into his new role, the new minister, shared a bit about his inspiration to serve in politics, the path that led him to his current responsibilities, and the vision as representative and as a minister, for the island of Eleuthera.

“I was always involved in community affairs since I was a young chap, and got involved with local government at a young age. I was 21 at the time when I was

first elected - the youngest councillor elected nationwide at that time. So, that’s when I first got involved in the political scene. I had a passion for the fishing industry at the time - with poaching and wanting to really make a difference. I had the opportunity to speak at ‘Youth in Parliament’ in 2010 and was able to speak with representatives of the administration. They mentioned to me then that they were looking for a candidate for North Eleuthera, and I took the opportunity and applied. I was 24 years old at the time. With a lot of things in politics, I seem to be the youngest at the time,” smiled Minister Sweeting as he recalled his early foray into political leadership.

“That passion continued from then ‘til now, for community, and for Eleuthera. When you’ve been involved in business and community, you just get frustrated with the status quo, and there’s a passion to make a difference.”

In 2012, Minister Sweeting ran for the North Eleuthera seat and lost his bid by 92 votes, which he described as a close margin. In 2017, he again ran in North Eleuthera, but still without success. He moved his bid to Central and South Eleuthera in the 2021 General Elections, where his paternal grandmother, Marjorie Knowles, was born and raised, in Rock Sound - and won by a historic margin of nearly 600 votes. The

The Hon. Clay Glennford Sweeting eight years prior to his current win were spent gaining critical experience in preparation for the responsibility that now rests on his shoulders. Although he lost the P42 election for the North Eleuthera

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Chief Supt Shanta Knowles, takes over at the helm on the Eleuthera Division of the RBPF

L-R: Chief Supt. Shanta Knowles receiving formal handover documents from Chief Supt. Brian Rolle on September 10th, as she took up her new OIC post.

Eleuthera welcomed a new commander of the Eleuthera Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) in September 2021, when Chief Superintendent and Officer-In-Charge,

Brian Rolle, who arrived on island earlier this year during February 2021, was recalled to the island of Grand Bahama. On September 10th, 2021 a formal handover took place, with the

reins of the RBPF’s Eleuthera Division handed over to Chief Superintendent of Police, Shanta Knowles.

The new Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of the Eleuthera Division is a daughter of the soil, born in Wemyss Bight, South Eleuthera. She grew up between the two settlements of Rock Sound and Wemyss Bight, attending the Rock Sound primary school, and the Preston H. Albury high school, before joining the Police Force in 1990.

In an interview with The Eleutheran several weeks into her new posting, OIC Ch/Supt. Knowles spoke about her experience on the Force, and goals as she sets out to make a positive mark on her home island.

After graduating from the Police College, OIC Knowles’ first posting was at the Southern Police Station for two years, where she got her first

taste of policing, and in 1993 was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where she would rack up nearly a decade of investigative experience, working in every area of CID. “Most of my work has been in sexual offences and serious crimes (armed robbery, major crimes). I’ve also had experience in the homicide section, and I’ve had a short time dealing with commercial crime matters. In 2002, I transferred to Exuma, still attached to CID in the Exuma Detective Unit.

I was in Exuma for five years and returned to New Providence in 2008, where again I supervised the sexual offences unit at CID,” she shared.

Commenting briefly on her only Family Island posting during her tenure on the Force, OIC Knowles described, “The five year Family Island experience in Exuma was quite a different experience for me. Family Is-

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Illegal Migrant Surge in the Southern Bahamas Newly appointed Minister of Labour and Immigration, the Hon. Keith Bell hosted a news conference on Monday morning, September 27th, 2021, to update the Bahamian public on the burgeoning illegal migrant situation in the Southern Bahamas.

The onslaught of illegal migration began earlier in September when two groups were taken into custody by authorities. On Thursday, September 9th, a group of forty-one (41) Haitian migrants, was apprehended off Little Inagua, and another forty-five (45) Haitian nationals were apprehended on Saturday, September 18th.

Eighty-six (86) Haitian migrants were detained in Matthew Town, Inagua, after they were apprehended in the southern Bahamas on Wednesday afternoon, September 22nd, shortly after 1:00 pm, on a Haitian wooden sloop 52 nautical miles northwest of Great Inagua. The following day, on Thursday afternoon, September 23rd, seventy (70) Haitian migrants were taken into custody, and shortly after 8pm on the same day, another one hundred and fifty one (151) migrants were apprehended off of a sloop spotted five miles west of Inagua.

The Hon. Keith Bell, Min. of Labour & Immigration.

On Saturday morning, September 25th, a Haitian sloop was intercepted one and a half miles northwest of Inagua with fifty (50) migrants on board. Another Haitian sloop, later that same morning, was spotted in the Ragged Island chain. The one hundred and forty-five (145) illegal migrants onboard were apprehended and trasported into Matthew Town, Inagua.

On Saturday, more than five hundred (500) illegal migrants were being held in Inagua, having been apprehended within the preceding 72 hours.

The very next day, on Sunday, September 26th, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force reported that a mass exercise was underway by multiple law enforcement agencies to extract approximately four hundred (400) Haitian migrants from Flamingo and Water Cays, uninhabited cays in the Ragged Island chain. The

vessel this group is believed to have arrived in was found by a local fisherman partially submerged off Flamingo Cay. As of Monday, September 27th, 501 migrants were in Inagua and 415 migrants still off of Flamingo Cay (a total of 916 Haitian migrants in custody), according to Minister Bell, as he addressed media on Monday morning.

“These are unprecedented numbers. It is something that we are dealing with as quickly as we possibly can. Again, I will assure the Bahamian public - it is important that we all understand that while we strike a balance between protecting our borders and ensuring that all our Bahamian citizens are kept safe - we also have an obligation to ensure that people who enter our country are treated with basic human See Illegal Migrants

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One Eleuthera and CTI Make Plans For Major $2.8 Mil Cravo Launch The One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) and the Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) has announced the launch of its revolutionary $2.8 million Cravo Cooling House at the Rock Sound campus.

The implementation of this state-of-the-art “grow house” is one of the major capital projects outlined in OEF/CTI’s 5-year strategic plan and aims to help address The Bahamas’ food security challenges.

In 2019, The Bahamas imported nearly $790 million in goods, most of which were food, or food related. Additionally, according to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB,) The Bahamas’ food import dependency ratio is the second highest in the Caribbean.

Since the onset of COVID-19, The Bahamas’ food security challenges have been exacerbated.

The pandemic’s adverse impact on global food production and food distribution networks has resulted in periodic and sometimes drastic food and crop shortages here at home and around the world.

In this regard, the new Cravo Cooling House has the potential to be a real game changer for both Eleuthera’s and The Bahamas’ farming industries and residents. The Cravo will significantly increase harvest yields and the availability of fresh, nutritious, healthy, and affordable homegrown produce.

Local communities, food stores, hotels and restaurants can look forward to having access to a wide range of fresh, abundant vegetables and herbs without the previously experienced interruptions due to growing season limitations and the Covid-19 fall out.

Measuring in at 1-acre, roughly the size of a football field, the Cravo provides the ideal environment and growing conditions for many different types of plants and crops to flourish. The structure itself integrates state-of-the-art technology and advanced, automated mechanical features into its footprint. The Cravo’s ceiling and outer walls are

Aerial view of the acre-sized Cravo Cooling House.

“.Our aim is to provide our

residents and communities with sustainable, affordable access to nutritious healing foods grown without compromise, while making major strides towards achieving national food security” fully retractable and work in tandem constantly controlling the exposure of crops to sunlight, rain, and wind. The result is a viable live lab environment where even the most delicate and heat sensitive crops can be nurtured, grown and harvested all year-round.

As an added benefit, the Cravo also protects crops from extreme weather conditions including hurricanes up to a category 3 in strength and wind velocity. Once wind speeds are detected to be above this threshold, the Cravo’s “smart structure” will automatically retract eliminating the wind force impact and preserving the Cravo’s edifice.

The Cravo project has been in development for over a year and a half and is funded by the generous support of the T.K Foundation. The project’s construction at the CTI campus in Rock Sound is currently 95% completed with plans underway to wrap up the final phase this fall and launch into the first growing season.

To ensure the project’s success, OEF/CTI has enlisted the expert services of local farmers and

devoted food scientists, Tim and Dr. Selima Hauber. This dynamic husband-and-wife team will head up the launch and manage the Cravo’s daily operations. The couple recently relocated their family to Eleuthera to accelerate the on-the-ground planning and prepare for the upcoming planting season.

Tim holds a Bachelor of Science in Food Sci-

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ence from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada and Selima holds a Ph.D. in Horticulture from the University of Georgia. The Hauber’s have managed several leading farms in the country, including ‘Lucayan Tropical Produce,’ ‘Goodfellow Farms’ and ‘Field to Fork Community Farm Ltd.,’ the couple’s own farming enterprise.

They are both long time contributors to The Bahamas’ farming industry and share a passion for community farming, education, and promoting healthy living.

As Tim, Cravo Agricultural Operations Officer explains, “In this day and age where there are so many global factors and powers that are out of our control, it is a powerful position to be able to produce our own food. We have a long and rich history of producing food in this country that has mostly been lost and any steps we can take towards growing our own food again are terribly important. By growing our own food, we can make sure that it’s

Tim & Selima. safe and has been produced in such a way that isn’t damaging to our beautiful country.

Our ancestors grew their own food and even exported to other countries,

we can too!” vo Cooling House can begin to rePhase 2 of the Cravo project is store Eleuthera’s proud legacy as the equally exciting. The operation will ex‘breadbasket capital’ of food producpand to include a new Packing House, tion in The Bahamas. The associated and Food Processing facility to prehealth and economic benefits can be pare, process, pack, and store proboth immediate and far reaching, induce for wider distribution. The facility cluding the potential of reducing our will also generate added-value prodcountry’s high non-communicable ucts from the Cravo’s harvest, such disease and childhood obesity rates, as fermented, dehydrated, bottled, through increased healthy eating,” exand packaged food items. In addition, plains Yolanda Pawar, Chief Commuthere will be a plant-tissue culture lab nications Office at OEF. for research and advanced seedling “Our aim is to provide our resigermination and a designated classdents and communities with sustainroom space for conducting teaching able, affordable access to nutritious and workshops. healing foods grown without comproLocal farmers will have access to mise, while making major strides tothe Packing House and Food Processwards achieving national food secuing Facility to create new products to rity.” drive revenue and reduce wastage on their respective farms. This facility will also support food processing courses for farmers and students interested in learning how to create these addedvalue products and start successful food production businesses.

The Farm at CTI will continue to be an “outdoor classroom” and live laboratory open to all interested in learning more about hydroponics, crop rotation, syntropic farming, soil replenishment, apiology, food processing and preparation and other important agricultural techniques and best practices.

“In the coming months and years, it’s anticipated Tim pruning field tomatoes. that our first-of-its-kind Cra-

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COVID-19 Eleuthera : Cases and related Deaths rise throughout past month

On Saturday, October 2nd, 2021 one hundred and twenty-seven (127) people were reported as being hospitalized with COVID-19 in the country (down by 48 people, since September 4th, 2021). Two (2) coronavirus deaths were reported on the day. The total number of COVID-19 deaths in The Bahamas stood at five hundred and fifty-seven (557) - which represented an additional 118 deaths reported in country during September 2021. A total of sixty-six (66) deaths were also reported as being under investigation.

The overall status of active cases, people under investigation, and people in quarantine, showed an increasing trend in The Eleutheras during the month of September 2021. Ministry of Health officials, on Wednesday, September 29th, 2021, confirmed that Eleuthera had a total of 61 active cases of COVID-19 on island -

nearly double what they were at the beginning of September (1 in Spanish Wells, 11 in North Eleuthera, 9 in Harbour Island, 13 in Central Eleuthera, and 27 in South Eleuthera).

174 people in Eleuthera were said to be in quarantine (3 in Spanish Wells, 52 in North Eleuthera, 29 in Harbour Island, 40 in Central Eleuthera, and 50 in South Eleuthera).

25 people were said to be under investigation (PUI’s) - (1 in Spanish Wells, 6 in North Eleuthera, 2 in Harbour Island, 6 in Central Eleuthera, and 10 in South Eleuthera).

During September 2021, another eight people in Eleuthera were reported by Ministry of Health officials to have passed away from COVID-19, with the death toll of twelve (12) people on Sept 1st, jumping to twenty (20) deaths in Eleuthera as of September 29th, 2021, since the beginning of the

pandemic (By district, they were - 0 in Spanish Wells, 7 in North Eleuthera, 3 in Harbour Island, 4 in Central Eleuthera, and 6 in South Eleuthera).

Vaccination teams returned to Eleuthera during the final week in September, on September 25th and 26th, 2021. 1st and 2nd doses of the three available coronavirus vaccines (Astrazeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer) were administered at centers located in The Bluff, Harbour Island, Spanish Wells, Palmetto Point, Hatchet Bay, and Rock Sound.

Before the most recent vaccine rollout on Eleuthera - 4,058 1st doses of the Astrazeneca vaccine had been distributed on the island, and 1,921 2nd doses had been given. After the late September campaign, as of October 2nd, 2021, 8,404 vaccine doses had been distributed across The Eleutheras, and 3,853 people had been fully vaccinated.

Officials at the Ministry of Health continue to remind, “We encourage all to remain disciplined, continue to apply the COVID-19 health precautions and to get vaccinated at the first opportunity. Appointments are available at vax.gov.bs.”

“We will get through this together if we remember to: 1. keep private social gatherings restricted to 5 or fewer persons, provided they are vaccinated; 2. stay home if you don’t feel well; 3. wear a mask outside of your home; 4. regularly wash your hands; 5. remain socially distant; and 6. avoid large gatherings at restaurants, workplaces, churches, celebrations and family reunions.”

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Haitians: fear at home, no hope abroad

By Sir Ronald Sanders (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States.

He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own)

The abrupt resignation of the US Special Envoy to Haiti, Daniel Foote, came like a bolt of lightning from a clear blue sky. It was as unexpected as it was unprecedented.

The public resignation and sharp responses from officials of the State Department, including, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman who, only two days before, met CARICOM Foreign

Ministers virtually, indicated a deep division in the principal foreign relations agency of the US. Foote had himself served as Deputy Secretary of State and those, like me, who have interacted with him know him to be a suave and likeable man and a persuasive diplomat. He had assumed the post of Special Envoy to Haiti only two months ago amid a constitutional, political, and humanitarian crisis in Haiti, From all accounts that I heard from groups within Haiti, Foote had quickly connected with the various factions and was apparently well-liked. These groups also knew that Foote and the US Ambassador to Haiti, Michele Sison, had differences of opinion on the strategy the US should employ in Haiti to achieve its objectives. From statements reported in both the New York Times and Miami Herald, it appears that Sison’s point of view commanded more support than Foote’s. Deputy Secretary Sherman told Miami Herald reporters that Sison is “an excellent ambassador”, adding “We have tremendous faith in her and in her leadership”.

Whether or not it is the lack of establishment support for his opinion on US strategy in Haiti that caused Foote to resign, the reason he gave for doing so, in his letter to US Secretary of State,

Antony Blinken, is one that has resonated throughout the Caribbean and the black community in the US. “I will not be associated with the United States inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees and illegal immigrants to Haiti, a country where American officials are confined to secure compounds because of the danger posed by armed gangs in control of daily life”.

On any objective grounds, the large-scale deportation of Haitians from Texas by the plane loads that are continuing, is inhumane. The Haitians have genuine fear for their lives but they are being round-up like cattle and deported without a hearing. Were these events taking place in any other country in the hemisphere, a complaint against US authorities would already have been lodged at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), and demands would have been made for a special session of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) to make a declaration against it.

But nothing has been said in the OAS and nothing brought before the IACHR, and the likelihood of anything being done is remote. Even if a few CARICOM countries were minded to do so, garnering wider support from a sufficient number of other OAS member states would be near impossible.

Silence and inaction do not change the distressing situation which has been exacerbated by photographs of the Haitian refugees being hunted including by a border guard on horseback wielding what looks like either a whip or a lasso as he pursues an unarmed and clearly terrified man. The photograph elicited statements of lamentation from both President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, but the deportations continue, in the full display of their harshness.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has also been silent, so far, about this affair. In part, the reason for this is the archaic way in which CARICOM makes decisions and authorises public statements.

The organization waits for a member state, meaning the government, to draw a matter to its attention, and to discuss it with the head of government or a designee present, before it will say anything. The last time CARICOM made an immediate statement concerning Haiti, apart from condemning the assassination of Jovenel Moïse, was well after the event had occurred.

In all this, the government of Haiti has not brought the matter to

the attention of CARICOM, nor has it sought any support for a statement, calling on the US authorities to adopt a more tolerant or humane approach to the problem. Indeed, every approach initiated by CARICOM to be helpful to Haiti in its continuing crises has either been ignored or rebuffed.

So, when the question is asked: where is CARICOM in all this? The answer is that CARICOM’s decisionmaking process is archaic and centred on the presumed necessity to involve the government of the country concerned, and, in this situation, there is unlikely to be any CARICOM response any time soon.

This does not stop individual governments and organizations from stating their own positions. And they should. Right now, the Haitians, who are being herded in Texas and deported to fearsome conditions, need a champion not to justify their illegal entry to the US or to demand that they be allowed to remain, but to treat them compassionately, give them a right to a hearing, and provide them basic humane conditions until they can be accepted or deported in an orderly fashion.

Foote’s public resignation gave a rare insight into the workings of the US government when he said: “Our policy approach to Haiti remains deeply flawed, and my recommendations have been ignored and dismissed, when not edited to project a narrative different from my own”. The last observation deserves a sharp intake of breath.

In the meantime, little or nothing is being done about the conditions in Haiti that are creating refugees and illegal immigrants. The notion that Presidential and other elections can be held any time soon in a country run by gangs with people living in fear, and that such elections will be free and fair, is “deeply flawed”. So too is the idea that once elections are held, those who have dictated to Haiti for years, even by deciding their leaders, can simply walk away – Foote’s resignation notwithstanding.

Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com

A DVI cE

ARE YOU READY? Eleuthera is no stranger to hurricanes.

If you went through it, Hurricane Andrew is probably seared in your memory. Andrew was one for the history books. Making landfall in 1992 as a borderline Cat five, it rampaged through the mainland of North Eleuthera, Harbour Island and Spanish Wells, damaging and destroying hundreds of homes before heading to the Berry islands and Cat Cay. Spawning tornadoes and with a wicked storm surge, Andrew killed four people in the Bahamas, destroyed 800 homes and left 1,700 homeless before heading to South Florida.

We have learned a lot from weathering major hurricanes and storms over the years. However, there are still some misconceptions out there. Here are some Facts and Myths to chew on while you review your home protection plans.

MYTH: - It’s “only” a category one hurricane so I don’t need to worry about securing my home.

FACT: Any hurricane or even tropical storm can be devastating and deadly.

Hurricane Sandy was “only” a category one hurricane when it made landfall in New Jersey in 2012. It caused many billions of dollars of damage in that state and in some areas of New York City.

More than 600,000 housing units were destroyed in New Jersey and New York.

MYTH: Hurricane winds deliver the worst punch.

FACT: While hurricane winds can be devastating, especially if your home wasn’t built to code, the force of water is even worse. I don’t need to tell you what Dorian’s storm surge did to Abaco and Grand Bahama in 2019.

You may remember the storm surge in Eleuthera from Andrew, reported at a massive 25 feet. Earlier this year, Hurricane Alice, again not a major hurricane, caused catastrophic flooding in southern Texas and northern Mexico with up to 11 inches of rainfall in some areas.

The U.S. Northeast is currently counting the cost from the dangerous flash floods and tornadoes caused by just the REMNANTS of Hurricane Ida earlier this month.

MYTH: The more named storms a season, the deadlier the season.

FACT - Not necessarily. For instance, the 1983 season saw only four named storms. One of them, Hurricane Alicia, a small but powerful Cat 3 hurricane, pounded the Houston-Galveston area.

It caused $3 billion in damage, making it the costliest Atlantic hurricane at the time. It only takes one landfall to create a catastrophe.

MYTH: Use tape to make windows stronger and safer during a hurricane.

FACT: Tape does not protect regular windows from hard impact. Use proven methods such as hurricane shutters, properly installed impact-resistant windows, or plywood.

MYTH: It’s ok to run a generator inside your home if a window or door is open.

FACT: No, it’s not! Portable generators need to be well ventilated. Do not operate a generator in wet conditions or in the rain. Do not refuel while it’s running.

MYTH: It’s ok to connect a portable generator to my main switch myself.

FACT: Never attempt to connect a portable generator to your home’s main switch. If the power company is on at the same time you connect, you risk serious injury or even death. Generators should only be connected to a home

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by a qualified electrician using a properly rated transfer switch.

Bottom Line Whether wind or water, any element can cause terrible property damage and loss of life and should be taken seriously.

Now that scientists fear their worst predictions about climate change have come true, it is more important than ever to protect your loved ones and home against severe weather.

This includes having an evacuation plan.

We are now in what is considered the peak of the season. Are you ready, should a hurricane threaten us? The Atlantic season officially ends November 30.

By Mike Lightbourn Questions or comments?

Contact me at info@cbbahamas.com Mike Lightbourn is president of Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty.

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A DVICE

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Is Your Mouth A Weapon of Mass Destruction or Positive Construction?

Teri M. Bethel Is your mouth a destructive weapon? The question is worth pondering, especially for those bent on speaking their mind. You see, if your mouth is not positively constructing, you should ask yourself if it is engaged in destruction. In his book, The Purpose and Power of Love & Marriage, the late Dr. Myles Munroe stated, “Communication is the ability to ensure that people understand not only what you say but also what you mean. It is also the ability to listen to and understand others. Developing both of these aspects of communication takes a lot of time, patience, and hard work.” It is no secret that communication, sex, and money are the top three concerns in marriages that often cause problematic offshoots in other areas of the relationship. Though painful to admit, some couples communicate by wielding their words as a skilled field laborer a cutlass. Some blades are sharp enough to slice and dice your heart, while others are dull yet leave life-long blunt trauma on the core of their mate’s soul—both are destructive. Although this act may be unintentional, those using their mouths in this way usually speak in frustration or ignorance (lacking knowledge), hoping to release the undeniable emotional pain they are feeling.

Is there a better way to communicate?

What if there was a better way to use your mouth? Would you consider using it to construct (build and restore) rather than breaking down your spouse and

destroying your relationship? No right-thinking person goes into a marriage with the notion of being miserable when you think about it.

Sadly, not everyone who ties the knot is right-thinking. In such cases, because they have not mastered the art of positive communication, they do what they know or have lived for most of their lives. Society has coined moody or grumpy people as melancholic. There are sometimes legitimate reasons for this, but one of the ways it can be adjusted is by having a good old-fashioned cleanse. This would require you to exchange your thoughts and think about positive things instead of negative. In a way, it’s brainwashing—that is, washing your brain or mind of toxic thoughts and replacing them with positive ones that would uplift, rebuild and encourage.

Whatever is in the heart pushes itself through the mouth.

You might wonder how this would help when you are directly in the line of fire. Sometimes you have to sidestep the bullets by finding a peaceful place to gather your thoughts, pray to the God of Heaven, and come up with a workable strategy. The movie War Room with Karen Abercrombie and Priscilla C. Shirer is an excellent example of how you strategize to fight the enemy for your marriage. You can choose to justify your position and response, or you can move towards a workable solution. The truth of the matter is you can’t change your spouse or anyone else. But you can change yourself and how you respond to the apparent problem. This doesn’t mean you are in agreement with how you are being spoken to. It means you choose to take the high road to de-escalate a potentially explosive situation. If the only thing that comes out of it is your peace

A bout

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of mind and stress levels waning, you’re doing pretty good. However, the other person often realizes that they are punching the air and not disrupting your peace. Pretty soon, they’ll want the contentment you have.

Life isn’t easy, but you can overcome obstacles Some people look at a glass as half empty, while another person looks at it as half full—then again, you have others who have experienced even more severity calling it a blessing or more than enough. Our perspective or how we choose to look at our circumstances can affect how we respond to them.

Habits are easy to form and difficult to break, but they are not impossible to overcome. With the correct information for your situation, you can develop new habits that can cause your relationship to soar.

Before you master this art, however, you may want to zip that lip. You see, if you speak without getting the correct information in your head for it to ultimately drop to your heart, you will continue to be chained to a merry-go-round. Doing the same thing, day after day, yet expecting a different result. Instead of resolving the problem, your words will act as oil does when poured on a fire. Not only will it be difficult to extinguish, but it will also emit a dark smoke and a pungent smell to further delay your ability to get to the root of the problem. It is at this time most people get busy pouring water on the smoke instead of the fire.

You might have heard it said, but it is worth repeating for those who have not. That is, your words are expressed from your thoughts; what you allow to come in through your eyes or ears will affect how you think, speak and ultimately act.

What does that mean to you? Check what is forming your thoughts and opinions. What are you reading?

Putting a watch over your ears and eyes will ultimately influence what is P15

A uthor :

Teri M. Bethel is a publisher and author of relationship enrichment books, Bahamian-inspired romance, and adventure novels for children that share our island’s history and culture. Her books are available where good books are sold in Eleuthera, New Providence, and Amazon.com.

Teri and her husband have two adult sons. Website: www.inspirepublishing.com

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coming from your mouth. Is the music you listen to full of negativity and filthy language? What kind of television programs are you watching? Is your desire to watch X-rated movies affecting how you view and treat your spouse? Have you noticed the negative effects your behavior is having on the rest of your family?

It’s the truth you act upon that will set you free Now that you are armed with the truth, you can begin to affect change in your relationship. You can speak positively to each other. Practice using your mouth to encourage and inspire even when correcting. The way you do that is to always find the positive to say before you bring the correction.

For instance, your busy spouse is constantly burning the food—what do you do about it? If they’re multi-tasking, you may offer to help in some way.

You can also thank them for making an effort to cook especially knowing they too had a busy day. Rather than blowing up and saying, “You burn the food again? We can’t afford for you to keep burning the food, you know!” Another solution is to buy a simmer ring to diffuse the heat so that the food would not burn. If your spouse is making an effort to change, commend them on it. Don’t sit on the sidelines waiting for them to fall. Encourage them, be kind and considerate. Love is selfless, and it is more of a decision than feelings, although you can experience an explosion of both positive and negative emotions in a relationship.

Focus on the positive Rather than constantly rehashing the negative, try focusing on the positive. What are some of the things you like about your spouse? Make a list of

Elite

them and begin complimenting them on it. You may like the way he spends time helping the kids with their homework or his new haircut. So, tell him.

Don’t have any negative add-ons to it. You’ll say, “Hey, I see you got a new haircut. I really like it. It makes you look so handsome.” You won’t say, “You cut your hair eh, it’s about time; you were looking too nasty with that peasy hair crawlin’ down your neck!”

Ladies, men need their space.

They don’t always want to talk, so choose the appropriate time and don’t overwhelm them with questions. Allow them to unwind after work. If you hit them with too much talk and problems the minute they walk through the door, they will delay coming home. Allow them to catch themselves. Gentlemen, ladies want the details and adult companionship.

Especially if they spent their entire day with children. They need time to chat to find out how you are, how your day went, and share how theirs went.

This is not because they are just chatty or nosey; it’s because they care and want to show how much they love you. Try not to just give the headlines or monosyllabic answers like, “yep, no, uh-huh, okay.”

Good marriages are not automatic, but they are attainable. Relationships need to be developed as two histories have come together as one.

My last word on this is—don’t be afraid to laugh. Laughter is great medicine.

In my book, My Marriage Matters, although couples learn how to communicate to create a stronger bond, you will find a good reason to laugh and love life. At the end of each chapter, there is a prayer to help you overcome the obstacles you face. There is no shame in having challenges in your marriage. However, there is a problem when your home is ablaze, and you’re not willing to pick up the hose streaming with water, to put out those flames. Get the help you need today to restore your relationship.

Customs Brokers *DHL Courier *Brokerage *Trucking; Tel: 332-3066

Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera

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The Numbers: Eleuthera

Votes Way of Country in PLP Victory with voter turnout <70%

The undercurrent of political dissatisfaction rose to the surface on Thursday, September 16th, 2021 during the general election, where the majority of the less than 70 percent voter turnout on the island, voted out the incumbent members of parliament, like much of the country.

For Eleuthera that meant that North Eleuthera constituency Free National Movement (FNM) incumbent, Howard Rickey Mackey, lost his seat to first time Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate, Sylvanus Petty. In Central and South Eleuthera, incumbent FNM Member of Parliament, Stephen Hank Johnson was defeated by PLP candidate, Clay Sweeting. Mr. Sweeting, previously a candidate in North Eleuthera, in this general election was successful in his switch to the Central and South Eleuthera constituency.

Official results in North Eleuthera revealed a fairly close race, with Sylvanus Petty garnering 51.1% of votes cast – a total of 1,234, to Howard Rickey Mackey’s 1,140 votes (47.2%). In the Central and South Eleuthera constituency, Clay Sweeting was the clear winner with 58.5% of reported votes cast – a total of 1,638,

to Stephen Hank Johnson’s 1,062 votes (37.9%). In North Eleuthera, just 69% of the 3,515 registered voters turned up at the polls to cast their vote, with an even smaller number turning out in Central and South Eleuthera at 66% of the 3,904 voters registered.

Grand Commonwealth Party (GCM) candidates, Alphonso Albury for Central and South Eleuthera, and Dwight Cambridge in North Eleuthera, along with United Coalition Party (UCP) candidate McClain Pinder in North Eleuthera, all captured less than 1% of votes in their areas. UCP candidate for Central and South Eleuthera, Cassius Stuart received 3.1% of votes in his area.

At the airport in Cat Island earlier in the evening, new Prime Minister, Philip Brave Davis, gave his victory speech after an earlier concession made by the former Prime Minister, Dr. Hubert Minnis. Mr. Davis was on his way to New Providence, where he was expected to be sworn-in the following day and to put together his new government. In his speech, PM Davis thanked a plethora of people, beginning with those who had made him the person he is today.

Notably, he also commented that his new

government would serve the entire Bahamian populace, regardless of political affiliation.

According to Official results, the Progressive Liberal Party gained an overwhelming majority of seats in Parliament with 32 constituencies taken. The Free National Movement moved into the position of Official Opposition with 7 seats won.

In a message of thank you following the September 16th election, new Member of Parliament for North Eleuthera, Sylvanus Petty said, “My first job is to say Thank You to the remarkable constituents of North Eleuthera.

I am honoured and grateful for the confidence you had in electing me to be the voice of North Eleuthera. A Team is like an electrician’s toolbox, one tool can’t do all job, but collectively, we can get the job done? North Eleuthera, let us move forward, upward, onward, together!

Member Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera, and new Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs, Clay Sweeting, also expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’m humbled by the overwhelming support that P17

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The Votes

Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) supporters celebrate in Governor’s Harbour on Thursday evening, September 16th, 2021, shortly after former Prime Minister Hubert Minnis released a concession statement, and congratulated Prime Minister Elect Philip Davis on his party’s win in the Bahamas General Election 2021.

I received throughout Central and South Eleuthera. My team and I worked tirelessly for almost two years visiting homes, engaging with leaders in every community, presenting our vision for a new day. It is evident that our vision and goals for the entire constituency resonated and were approved in an unprecedented majority... I’m

here to serve the people of Central and South Eleuthera. I commit to offering good governance, collaborative partnerships throughout these communities and representation for all. I especially thank my wife Delia and our son Davin for their unwavering love and support.

There is much work to be done.

We are ready on day one!”

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An Eleutheran Profile: Elmena Agatha Bethell BY elizabEth bryan

Deacon, Mrs. Elmena Agatha Bethell.

Introduction: “I love people. My passion is to serve God and His people”, is how Mrs. Elmena Agatha Bethell, sums up the bubbling over, generosity of spirit and continuous sacrifice of her time and energy in service to others, throughout her rich life. Rich in family, love, community, and the fulfillment that comes with giving of yourself, and the overwhelmingly abundant returns. She would forge a fearless path of growth and giving, from South Caicos to Eleuthera, breaking barriers in her career, building families, and serving in myriad spiritual ministries. On Friday, October 1st, Mrs. Bethell sat down with The Eleutheran and shared some of her continuing journey.

Early Days: Elmena, was born on February 22nd, 1953, to her parents Elmena “Ella” Lightbourne (nee Hamilton), and Claudius Lightbourne, in South Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands. Her mother, shared Mrs. Bethell, came from the ‘famous’ Hamilton family in the Turks & Caicos, and her dad Claudius also came from a large family, so, she grew up amongst an expansive family circle.

“My dad was a policeman who served in the government for some 60 years. He began his tenure at the age of fourteen, as a messenger boy with the Public Service, and later joined the Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police Force in 1947, until his retirement in 1982 as a Sergeant, after serving forty-three (43) years in various capacities and positions on the Force... My mom was a seamstress and a homemaker - she didn’t work outside of the house,” shared Elmena. Her parents gave her an early example of dedication to spiritual ministry, as both were community and church builders, involved as lay preacher, prayer leaders, choir, and men and women’s ministry leaders. Long life was also a blessing in her family. “My grandmother lived to be 96, and my dad lived to be 94, and he had siblings who lived into their 90’s. My mom’s family also had longevity of lifespan,” smiled Mrs. Bethell.

She grew up in a large household with seventeen siblings, ten brothers and seven sisters. Hers was a blended family, as her dad’s first wife passed, with five children, and he then remarried with her mom. “Mom took in all the children and everyone grew up together, and lived as one household.” An early lesson she learned from her parents, said Elmena, which would serve her well later in life, was that there is no half-brother or sister, and no step-sister or brother, but all brothers and sisters.

Growing up in South Caicos, Elmena described, “We had one all age school at the time, with one open room for six different classes and a chalkboard. Somehow, we maintained our focus being in one building, and sometimes lessons would be given outside under a tree. You had to put things to memory quickly, because the schoolwork would be erased from the board, and we would have to wipe our slates for the next subject. So, I grew up in that era, where we used chalkboard and slates. But it was good because parents and grandparents in those days ensured that education was the focus and the key... Church, spiritual life and education were big values in the Turks and Caicos... Turks and Caicos Islanders were not in teaching at that time, though. I grew up with Barbadian, British, and Jamaican teachers. So, our formation in education and the religious arena was from the expatriates of mainly those three nationalities.”

Direct trade with countries like Bermuda, Bahamas, Jamaica and Haiti were common as she grew up reminisced, Elmena. Boats would ply back and forth between the islands bringing foodstuffs, clothing, household items, fresh produce...”The boat from Haiti would come and bring all the fruit - mangoes, oranges... all the fruits and vegetables. Some materials as well, because Haiti had factories going.

We would have boats and boats coming.

The boats were not owned by Haitians, but

by Turks Islanders, who traversed back and

forth to Haiti. They would go to Haiti, pick up the stuff, come back, stay home maybe for a month, then take another trip - back and forth, making sure families on the islands were provided for. The boat that would go to Jamaica would bring materials, like clothing, utensils, pots and pans, and the like. The boat that came to The Bahamas would bring back more of the food items, like rice, sugar and flour. In that way the island maintained itself.”

She continued looking back, sharing, “The Turks and Caicos Islands were well known for their fishing - crawfish, conch, snails, crabs, and bone fishing - there wasn’t much farming or manufacturing... Salt raking was also done in those days.

As a little girl, said Elmena, she remembered that after school, they did their chores and their homework. Daylight hours after school was done were precious, as there was no electricity, so all children were expected to be in the home by 6pm or before darkness fell.

Chores for the girls, she said, included cleaning house, washing, cooking, baking and ironing, as well as caring for their grandparents and great-grands, and Aunts who didn’t have any children; like running errands, plaiting their grandmother’s hair or cleaning their houses and yards.

Fun times after school, she recalled were all about games like hop-scotch, jacks (with rocks), skip rope, as well as climbing fruit trees, like the guinep, sapodilla and tamarind.

They didn’t have bicycles, so her brothers would make box carts, and fashion kites for flying. More organized past-times in the community included skit events, recitations, plays, and Calypso music performances. Group community walks were also done.

Spiritual life, explained Elmena, was paramount within her family and community as she grew. There was order and fear of God. Even as children passed a church, she said, they would show reverence and respect. Playing on the outside was also not allowed on a Sunday, which was regarded as holy. So, families went to morning and evening church services and children returned home with their parents at 6pm - and were in for the night.

Weekends were a special time, she smiled, as on a Saturday, meat for their special dinner on Sunday’s, at the island’s slaughterhouse was shared communally with the families in the community. Homegrown chickens, pig, cow, lobster and the like were given in proportion to the number of people in a household.

School Days: Travel to and migration between the Turks and Caicos Islands and The Bahamas was common practice, said Elmena, who spent some time with her grandmother in New Providence after completing the all-age school in South Caicos.

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away from New Providence to caretake a property on a private island, so she returned home, and was enrolled in the Grand Turk High School on the main island, from 1964 to 1967, and moved to Pierson High School in South Caicos for one year, from 1967 to ‘68. It was about this time, she said, that she spent another short stint with family in the Bahamas, before heading off to Kingston College in Jamaica, for a year of General Studies from 1968 to 1969. She then took up Secretarial, Stenography and Commerce studies at Kingston Commercial College for another three years, from 1969 to 1971.

Jamaica was quite the experience said Mrs. Bethel, who was accompanied by one of her sisters who attended Teacher’s College, “We saw each other every weekend and spent the weekends together... Studying in Jamaica was great. It was known in those days for producing the best in education, whether it was nursing, medicine, education, religious studies - they were known as the best.

Many of the smaller Caribbean islands sent their children to Jamaica. During my time there, I was in school with girls from Haiti, Costa Rica, the Virgin Islands, Barbados - they all came to Jamaica to UWI. That was the place for education, and Jamaica Colleges were well renown.”

At age nineteen, Elmena graduated with honours, and once again turned her eyes toward The Bahamas - Grand Bahama to be specific, as a number of her older siblings had settled into working there.

Career: In 1972, Elmena, who had applied for a secretarial position at the Holiday Inn Hotel Franchise in Freeport, Grand Bahama, began her career in the hospitality industry, which would span twenty-eight years. She would go on to elevate herself from Secretary to Assistant Manager of Operations - the first black young lady to accomplish such a status there. Notably, Mrs. Bethell attributed her career opportunities in a then, totally foreign dominated industry to the former Prime Minister, the late Right Hon. Lynden Pindling, who, she said, visited Grand Bahama, and mandated that all hotels begin to hire qualified Bahamians in the hospitality industry.

“At that time, the office jobs were filled by foreign nationals including, Jamaicans, Americans, British, Canadians and French staff.”

After sixteen years with Holiday Inn, Elmena in 1988, moved to begin working at the Atlantic Beach Hotel. She would spend ten years there, and in 1998, witnessed the implosion of the old Atlantic Beach by Hutchinson Whampoa, and it’s replacement with the current ‘Our Lucaya’ Golf Course and Country Club facility, where she would work for another two years, until 2000. Working as a manager in the hospitality industry, she said, allowed her the opportunity to travel throughout the United States attending Trade Shows and Factory Tours, as well as Personal Development and Leadership Seminars.

Marriage and Family Life: Soon after arriving and beginning to work in

Lo c a l Grand Bahama, Elmena met her first husband, Leroy Saunders of Abaco who was also a hotelier.

They were married in 1973 and blessed with three children - Idi, Elry and Anneathera Saunders (who all still reside in Grand Bahama today with families of their own). Sadly, Leroy passed away in 1987, at the age of 39.

A short time later, Elmena met Godfrey Bethell at a civic organization Jaycees International meeting, and after a short courtship they were married in 1988. Both Godfrey and Elmena had children from previous unions, so their marriage brought together her three children, and his five (Melicianna, Jermaine, Godfrey Jr., Geanna and Euneaka Bethell), one more young one was added, with Godfey and Elmena’s son, Keith Bethell, to round out their blended family of nine children (and an additional twelve grandchildren in later years).

Elmena’s young life experience of growing up in a close-knit blended family, would serve her well. She shared that as a couple, she and Godfrey made it clear from day-one, as her parents did, that there would be no “halfs” nor “steps” but they were all “our children” - setting the expectations for all of the siblings, Saunders or Bethells to get along; live together and support each other. “This has survived some thirty-two years now, with no major challenges but when we differed, we found ways to work it out.”

Spiritual Ministry: Elmena’s relationship with God was forged at a very young age, she shared, from about the age five, and she grew up attending the Methodist Church. “We loved going to church, whether it was our outing or a commitment to God, but we enjoyed it. I participated in every area of church life. When I left the Islands to go to high school or college, I found myself involved and engaged in church.” She formed strong bonds with leaders in the churches she attended during her formative years and still today cherishes the mentorship and spiritual guidance received. “I was confirmed into full Methodist membership at Coke Memorial in Jamaica by Rev. Charles Sweeting, one of the highlights of my spiritual life. We seemed to have followed each other over a span of some thirty years at various Methodist churches whether it was MCCA (Methodist Church of The Caribbean & The Americas) or BCMC (Bahamas Conference of The Methodist Church).”

Her husband, Godfrey, whose professional career was as an Engineer with the Ministry of Works in Grand Bahama at the time of their marriage, was asked to move to Eleuthera as a Hurricane/Building Inspector after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and again in 1999. It was after the completion of this project that he was asked by The Bahamas Conference of The Methodist Church to remain in Eleuthera as a Minister under the mentorship of Rev. Charles Sweeting. This tenure was two years and in 2000 he was ordained as a Minister of the BCMC at Wesley Methodist Church, Cupid’s Cay, Governor’s Harbour.

Mrs. Bethell, shared that she feels blessed to have worked with her husband Godfrey as a true partner and companion for the last thirty-three years of their lives, and feels that they were both called to a life of service by God; whether it was in the

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church or the community. While in Grand Bahama and later in Eleuthera, they served as officers of The Jaycees International; The Grand Bahama and Eleuthera Red Cross Branches; The Grand Bahama and Eleuthera Christian Council; The Children’s Home in Grand Bahama and various schools PTA as officers.

After moving to Eleuthera, Elmena would gradually move to taking up leadership roles in the Methodist church as well, as the couple transitioned to being ‘empty nesters’, but shared that there was no competition in ministry between her and Godfrey, as they both supported each other’s ministries in every area and every assignment given. “When he studied to receive his BA in Theology in Nassau, his Masters in Theology in Florida, and took time to study and mailed his paper-work to Camden University in Delaware, I took over the family in an effort to allow him time to do his studies and to travel back and forth.”

After moving to Eleuthera with Rev. Godfrey Bethell in 2000, and retiring from her professional career, Mrs. Bethel shared that she felt called to minister in the area of social outreach in both the church and the community and often volunteered her services in these areas. Working closely with Godfrey, their motto, she said, was “Service to Humanity”. The couple were the founders of The Celebrate Recovery Centre - an entity under the Bahamas Conference of The Methodist Church leadership. This program assisted young men and women; alcohol and drug abuse individuals; teen mothers; as well as seniors of the community with weekly and monthly gatherings.

As she continued to serve in the church in Eleuthera, Elmena felt the need to sharpen her pastoral and theological skills in an effort to meet the everchanging times. She, enrolled in the C-LET (Centre for Leadership & Training) inaugural Class of Diaconal Training on September 26th, 2008 under the leadership of Dr. Reginald Eldon, Former Secretary of the BCMC. Mrs. Bethell, in the same year was elected to the position of Vice President of the BCMC, a position she served in from September 2008 to August 2011, so her studies would serve her well. Her inaugural C-LET Class was completed in September 2010.

In 2009, a year into her C-LET studies, her husband was transferred to Ebenezer Methodist Church on Shirley Street, in New Providence where she joined him as a support to the prayer ministry, the soup kitchen held every Thursday, and often as a preacher as well; ministering to the youth, Sunday school and women’s ministry. During this time in New Providence, she was asked to Pastor the congregation of Coke Memorial Methodist Church on Bernard Road, a church that Rev. Bethell had attended during his childhood days with his father, Mr. Milton Bethel.

In September 2011 Elmena would again be asked to serve in the BCMC leadership, serving as General Secretary until August 2015. She was also officially ordained as a Deacon with the BCMC on March 21st, 2014 at Trinity Methodist Church in Nassau. While serving in these positions she assisted the BCMC in its social outreach ministry with the Bilney Lane Childrens’ Home, The Naomi Christie Home for Older P20 Persons, and often visited the Eliza-

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Edible Eleuthera

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Pigeon Plum

Coccoloba diversifolia (Common Names: Pigeon Plum, Dove Plum; Scientific Name: Coccoloba diversifolia; Family: Polygonaceae) grows as a medium shrub to large tree up to 40 feet. The trunk is grey and brown (sometimes slight orange) with pieces of bark flaking off in jigsaw puzzlelike pieces. It grows in a variety of habitats including shrublands (coppice) in both limestone and sand. It is found on all island groups within the Lucayan Archipelago, southern Florida, the Caribbean region and Central and South America.

It flowers in summer or early fall and

By: The Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve (LLNPP)

bears fruit in wintertime. The fruit is a drupe*, turning dark red to purple-black at maturity, and grow in grape-like bunches.

While the fruit is edible, you would have to consume a lot of pigeon plums to be satiated. They have a slightly sharp, sweet taste.

No surprise here – the pigeon plum, like other Bahamian fruits, can be enjoyed directly from the tree! The fruits are also used to make jellies and wine, but traditionally for home consumption.

Coccoloba diversifolia is thought to have medicinal benefits as well. It is used to treat gastrointestinal problems and is

Pigeon Plum mature fruits.

Pigeon Plum tree bark.

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Pigeon Plum flowers.

a component of soothing and aphrodisiac teas.

If you aren’t a fan of the fruits, they are a favourite of both local birds and iguanas!

*a fleshy fruit with thin skin and a central stone containing the seed

could find “a Home away from Home” and live out the Ministry of Tourism’s famous “People to People” program, as a graduate of the first “People to People” program in Grand Bahama back in 1971.” That dream, she said, has beth Children’s Home and Ranfurly Home to give assistance when needed. been accomplished as guests are welcomed with all of the native, homegrown In 2015, with thoughts of retiring, Godfrey and Elmena moved back to Eleu- fruits. She has also setup an area for time of fellowship where guests can play thera to their ‘Bahama Breeze Retreat Center’, which they had built in Palmetto board games or just sit around under the cabana enjoying home-prepared Point over several years in preparation to return to their chosen ‘forever’ home conchy conch fritters. “Because of our hospitality, we can boast of 80% reisland. peat customers, whom we call our family members.”

However, full retirement from ministry was short-lived for the couple. GodCommenting on life after her sudden loss of Godfrey, earlier in 2021, frey was called back to ministry later in 2015 to pastor part-time at Ascension Elmena shared, “Life is not perfect and there are many challenges in church Methodist in New Providence, and continued to travel back and forth, until and community ministries, but as for me, it is fulfilling and I am living out God’s travel was curtailed during the pandemic in 2020. Mrs. Bethell also went back plan and purpose, which brings me real joy... I often wonder why God would into full time ministry in 2017, pastoring two churches, in Palmetto Point and take a little girl from The Turks & Caicos Islands to Jamaica and then to The James’ Cistern.

Bahamas, away from my birth place; parents and siblings but yet use me. I After thirty-three years together, Rev. Godfrey Bethell suddenly passed think of the biblical story of Esther that reminds me that ‘I have been called... away after a short illness on February 6th, 2021 in Nassau. Mrs. Bethell shared for such a time as this’ and I certainly will fulfill that purpose as long as God that she felt his work has been completed as he had done a great work. “As grants me health and strength.” for me, I believe God is not finished with me yet, and in spite of some of the challenges, I feel I still have much more to give, with God’s help and strength.”

She added, “It’s all in an effort to motivate others to do ‘good work’ throughout their community and to allow people to see that it does not matter if you The Journey Continues: were not born in that country, as long as you live there and take on citizenship, Today, along with her full-time commitment to pastoring in Palmetto Point you have an obligation to be a part of the building of that country... I am called and James’ Cistern, Mrs. Bethell, pulling from her decades of experience in to social outreach and missions, prayer and evangelism and my other spiritual hospitality, is also immersed as an entrepreneur and manageress of the eight gift is: ‘hospitality’, which God was preparing me for every step of the way of room Hotel, Bahama Breeze Retreat Center, which she and her late husband, my life... I love people, my passion is to serve God and His people.”

Godfrey built as their retirement business.

“We wanted to provide a setting so that locals as well as foreign tourists

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DEEP CREEK PRIMARY SCHOOL SUPER STARS! 2020-2021 Deep Creek Primary School wishes to Congratulate the following students for receiving a cumulative G.P.A of 3.00 and above during the school year 2020 – 2021: Grade One : Deangelo Pratt-3.60; Keyanna Simon- 3.40 Grade Two: Marvin Gibson – 3.60; Quinstacia Charlton-3.30 Grade Three: Tayshawn Brown- 4.00 Grade Four: Caithlyn Pinder- 3.93; Alfrenique Bethel- 3.86; Makayla Bethel -3.36 Grade Five: Neil Thompson- 3.20 Deshante Cooper-3.00 Grade Six: Deondra Smith -3.20

------WAY TO GO STUDENTS!-----

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Sept/Oct, 2021

Cleaning Up Eleuthera: One Beach At A Time

Wemyss Bight Beach Clean up on August 7th, 2021.

The organization is now looking for people who may be interested in donating or joining the team of volunteers.

(Clean Beaches Eleuthera) Eric Wallace, a South Eleuthera native, who made his way back home from New Providence during the height of the pandemic in July of 2020, began to make ‘clean up’ waves across Eleuthera early in 2021, coining a new civil organization called, ‘Clean Beaches Eleuthera’. “I had been wanting for a while to come back to Eleuthera, so once the opportunity opened it just made sense to come home,” he shared.

Eric, who now works with an FBO operation on the island says he’s always been an avid beach-goer, “I love beach hunting. I would pick a road that I think leads to a beach, and find out at the end if it does or not. I’m that

adventurous. Being back home and going to a lot of beaches, I realized that the same problem existed at just about every beach I went to - where there was just a ton of trash. Either marine debris that was washed up on shore or illegal dumping.”

Eric explained that when he realized how prevalent it was he made a decision. “When you see a problem, you can make an excuse and complain about it or you can do something about it. So, I decided I wanted to do something about it.”

In April 2021, he put together a quick video, and shared it on social media, saying that he wanted to do a beach clean up - to see if there would

Double Bay Beach Clean up on June 26th, 2021.

be any other people who were interested. “The support has been really overwhelming over the last five months,” said the 35-year-old.

Eric’s first organized beach clean-up event took place on Earth Day at Winding Bay beach in Tarpum Bay with 18 volunteers taking part, during the third week in April 2021. This location

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Lo c a l The movement continues, as Clean Beaches Eleuthera has scheduled beach clean up locations and dates throughout the month of October, and plans to gain momentum going forward.

Clean Beaches Eleuthera, said Eric, has a four-phased plan to sustainably impact the issue of both beach trash and trash in other locations throughout the island.

Assessing the haul at Wemyss Bight Beach. was so challenged with trash, said Eric, it had to be done twice, and the movement has just grown from there.

In June, he partnered with The Children’s Place in Spanish Wells, which saw 56 student and teacher volunteers cleaning up the beach on the island, with 200 pounds of trash collected. “That one was special one for me. Now bear in mind these were primary school students, so they weren’t able to do as much, but it was still a good learning experience for them to be a part of. So, I was happy to do that,” smiled Eric.

Beach forays in June, July, August and September, saw Eric, along with groups of volunteers, tackle beaches in Rock Sound, Palmetto Point, Governor’s Harbour, Wemyss Bight, and The Bluff (Tay Bay, Preacher’s Cave). The largest one-day haul saw 780 pounds of trash removed from one beach by a group of 14 volunteers. “One person in particular who has been really instrumental in helping to galvanize volunteers has been, Suzy Siel (with Freedom to Read). She has done a lot to help organize and get people to be a part of the clean ups,” he shared. New partnerships with the Cape Eleuthera Institute and The Island School to do clean ups in the south are also on tap, said Eric.

1. To engage the public in ongoing Beach Clean Ups; 2. Develop partnerships with organizations on the island to create awareness and help to facilitate clean ups; 3. Set up proper trash and recycle bins at popular locations, with local government/private contractors facilitating regular maintenance; and 4. Set up a recycling center on the island that processes plastics efficiently (to reduce what ends up on our dumps).

The organization is now looking for people who may be interested in donating or joining the team of volunteers. To learn more, Clean Beaches Eleuthera can be reached by email (cleanbeacheseleuthera@gmail.com or eric.alex. wallace@gmail.com) or on Facebook (Clean Beaches Eleuthera), or at any of the following numbers: (242) 818-4914 / 825-3209.

Upcoming clean up dates in October: Saturday, October 16th Paw Paw Bay, Green Castle 10:00am - 1:00pm Saturday, October 30th Poponi Beach, Palmetto Point 3:00pm - 5:30pm

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CONS ERVATION CORNER

Sept/Oct, 2021

Improving Hurricane Predictions: Cape Eleuthera Institute and NOAA Collaborate in Seaglider Launch The water was choppy as the team of scientists from the Cape Eleuthera Institute at The Island School travelled from one end of South Eleuthera to the other and then over the underwater ridge between Cat Island and Eleuthera. Their mission was to launch a seaglider, a torpedo-shaped autonomous vehicle that measures upper ocean characteristics (e.g. temperature, salinity and conductivity levels), into the open Atlantic Ocean. This glider deployment was the very first one done in The Bahamas in collaboration with the Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Atlantic Oceanic and Meteorological Laboratory (NOAA AOML). The ultimate goal of this project is to take observational data of the upper ocean to improve hurricane forecasting in the North Atlantic Ocean. Deployments previous to this one have been done in The Caribbean Sea.

Why launch a sea glider in The Bahamas?

The Bahamas is one of the most hurricane-prone countries in the North Atlantic due to its geographical location in The Atlantic Ocean.

According to Wayne Neely’s The Greatest and Deadliest Hurricanes to Impact The Bahamas, this country is the one country to have recorded being hit by four types of hurricanes, which develop in different parts of the Atlantic Ocean - those that form off the African coast, those that form in the Gulf of Mexico, those that form in the Southern Caribbean Sea and “Bahamas Busters” that form near The Bahamas.

The glider was launched to observe changes in sea surface temperature and salinity. It dives into the upper ocean to monitor the movement of different ocean masses that have unique temperatures and salinity levels over time. These two ocean characteristics have proven to be influencing factors that affect hurricane development, formation and intensification. The glider then sends this information to the glider piloting team in Miami and these observations are added to hurricane prediction models. In past studies, the glider observations have improved the models’ ability to predict changes in tropical cyclone intensity and predicting the landfall of major storms in The Caribbean. For Bahamians, this information is essential to hurricane preparation and safety as we learned with the rapid intensification of Hurricane Dorian in 2019.

Dr Nick Higgs dives momentarily with the sea glider as it is launched.

Research Staff collaborate to launch sea glider off Eastern Coast of Eleuthera.

Where is the glider and why does it have to be in the ocean?

The glider was deployed just off the east coast of Eleuthera at a depth of 3000 m. The glider performed a few test dives with instructions sent over satellite from the NOAA pilot team in Miami before heading out on its mission. It will now remain in the ocean for the rest of the hurricane season. As hurricanes and other tropical disturbances move over the area that the sea glider is in, the glider can take measurements of the changes in the ocean masses. It will remain in the ocean until late October or early November.

This project is one that we hope to continue every hurricane season in the foreseeable future. It is our ultimate goal to assist in hurricane prediction forecasts, while introducing Bahamian students to the world of oceanography and atmospheric science. For more information, please visit our website: www.ceibahamas.org.

Sea glider ready for launch.

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CSE Marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month With PINK FRIDAYS The Cancer Society of the Bahamas, Eleuthera Branch is marking the month of October 2021, which is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness month, with PINK FRIDAY events.

The Society invites members of the public to join them by participating in PINK FRIDAY, every Friday in October, to support cancer survivors and their families. Specialty items are also on sale highlighting breast cancer awareness (Bags - $5, Socks - $5 or 3 for $12, Slippers - $10, Baseball Caps - $25. See poster for more items and prices). For further information, call the Cancer Society, Eleuthera Office at Tel: 332-1804.

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‘Celebrating Excellence’ - Colby Mullin -

Co-Valedictorian - Samuel Guy Pinder All Age School This month in our series, ‘Celebrating Our Valedictorians’, we highlight Samuel Guy Pinder All Age School’s, Co-Valedictorian, Colby Mullin. As part of Eleuthera’s Class of 2021 high school graduates, who rose to the challenge of completing their 12th grade year during the challenges of the pandemic, he was one who was able to keep his eye on his goals and not only celebrate the successful completion of his high school career, but to also do so as a standout amongst his peers, achieving top academic results and awards.

Colby, who graduated as CoValedictorian, having achieved the top BJC results on Eleuthera at the end of junior high, and national top results in BJC Math and Social Studies, also racked up an impressive eleven (11) BGCSE’s with all A’s during his 11th and 12th grade years (3 A’s - Gr.11, 8 A’s - Gr.12).

As a young leader he was also selected as Head Boy at Samuel Guy Pinder All Age during his 20202021 12th grade school year, and was the recipient of numerous subject and special awards. He was also chosen as a Sub Lieutenant in RBDF Rangers during his high school career.

Describing some of his experience during his final year, Colby shared, “Our school did virtual learning in the winter term but we were face-to-face from January to graduation, thankfully. When we did have virtual learning I did not enjoy it, it didn’t feel real and it was much easier for me to be distracted; however I still got my assignments done to the best of my abilities. Even face-to-face learning was different than a normal school year: testing at the school entrance, wearing masks, not having any assemblies (especially Christmas Tree Lighting, where twelfth grade students are known to give the best performance). It was a bit odd. I managed to stay focused on my goals throughout this school year by being encouraged by my parents and friends, looking to God to give me self control and by not giving myself time to think about procrastinating on assignments (I just had to get them done).”

Reflecting on his education journey at Samuel Guy Pinder All Age, Colby shared that all he experienced and learned would be treasured, “Being that our school was an all age school, every mo-

ment from grade one I cherish.

I’ve certainly learned many lessons throughout school, between the many different characters and personalities at school precious moments were bound to occur.

We must’ve had the best selection of primary school teachers, Ms. Ricks, Ms. Graham and Ms. Papadopoulo. I’ll never forget heading into grade 7 and finally going into both my parent’s classes, having to call mommy Mrs. Mullin and daddy, Mr. Mullin was certainly new to me. I remember some of the jokes, disagreements, and just straight up good and bad times I had with my class. Those who left, those who joined and the thirteen I graduated with I’ll remember them. They’ll make it in life. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force Rangers Youth Program definitely helped expand my horizons and gave me a bridge to meet other amazing people in different schools. After reflecting on my high school journey, every teacher, student and other personnel have taught me many things that I hope to never forget.”

The next step in Colby’s journey is the transition into tertiary education. With a top-notch high school career neatly tucked under his belt, he has moved on in his path towards becoming a mechanical engineer. “Right now I am working in construction, due to the fact that I had caught covid a couple days before my student visa appointment. I’m enjoying it. I definitely have a deeper appreciation for buildings and walls. There’s a lot of work that goes into them. In January of 2022 I am planning to go to Florida Polytechnic University. I intend to take up mechanical engineering. I didn’t put much thought into why I wanted to study it, which I don’t recommend, however I do want to design and understand how machines work; so that played a big role into why I am going to study mechanical engineering,” shared Colby, about his career choice.

Asked about where he hoped to be after his undergraduate program was completed, Colby described, “In four years I hope to find a stable job whether in the USA or in The Bahamas. I want to get more experience in the STEM fields and bring that back to the Bahamas.

I’d like to create gadgets that can help people and just make life better. The Bahamas can definitely do with capitalizing on its resources

Above: Colby Mullin, SGPAA Co-Valedictorian. rather than importing so much. I believe expanding on our knowledge in technology and resource management can help this country in a big way.”

He also shared some valuable advice for Eleuthera students now in high school, hoping to be successful graduates when their time comes. “My advice to students still in high school is to appreciate each person in your journey.

Try your best to finish school without any regrets and make sure you’re clear where you stand with others. Especially to twelfth graders, be the best classmate you can be and enjoy your last moments with your class. Try to leave on good terms. Avoid procrastination. It may be a funny thing to joke to friends about but it will never serve you, even if you’re passing with good grades.

Procrastination is not a good habit to pick up in life. Take whatever measures you need to cancel out addictions and distractions that you notice are con-

stantly getting in your way of achieving your goals. Avoid entertaining negative thoughts and beliefs such as nihilism and cynicism (they are just other perspectives). Stop adding to an already negative environment. Be self aware of your shortcomings but understand that is the easiest step to solving problems.

You will have to put in plenty of work if you wish to fix your problems. Be open to any wisdom you can get from others. Everyone has something important to teach you. Lastly, take your mental health seriously. I’ve seen many days where me and my classmates seemed unhappy with life. Young people do have a lot on their shoulders especially in their heads. My solution, do the things that make you happy as long as it hurts no one else, and if nothing makes you happy, start learning someSee Colby Mullin

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Upcycling: Cardboard into Mushrooms Within the Caribbean region, cardboard accounts for about 20-30% of our municipal solid waste, and puts a strain on our landfill and dumpsite management due to its volume and lack of local recycling and processing facilities. As an organic waste stream, cardboard and paper provide a potential model for Integrated Waste Management, as this organic material can grow mushrooms that in turn food establishments can incorporate back into their business as a sellable product.

In nature, the kingdom of fungi are considered primary decomposers and produce enzymes which degrade and recycle organic waste such as paper or cardboard into nutrients to sustain natural food webs. The most recognizable feature of fungi are mushrooms which are merely its fruiting body, and can be categorized as edible, medicinal or poisonous. Of the 20,000 mushroom-forming fungi, there are about 20 species reaching large-scale cultivation, namely Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus). Edible mushrooms have been cultivated for centuries for food and medicines as they are a good source of vitamin D, magnesium, protein and certain polysaccharides known to boost the immune system.

In urbanized areas and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like The Bahamas, our communities are vulnerable to low or declining agriculture due to soil fertility and management practices, access to capital, and climate change. These factors contribute to local food insecurity and systems of food deserts. Nevertheless, mushroom cultivation provides a direct solution as they can be cultivated on readily available organic waste substrates such as cardboard and paper, spent coffee grounds, and wood chips. Mushrooms require no arable land or synthetic fertilizers, and can be produced indoors in low-tech climate controlled conditions.

At the Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) at The Island School, researcher Dorlan Curtis Jr., is utilizing oyster mushrooms for cultivation on cardboard and paper waste generated on campus (130

Oyster mushrooms growing (fruiting) from shredded cardboard material.

lbs/month). In the preliminary stages of this research, the team produced 5 pounds/week of Oyster mushrooms which were served in The Island School dining hall as part of communal meals. With ‘farm-to-table’ cooking demonstrations. In the first quarter of 2019, only 29% of food served in the school’s dining hall was sourced locally, whereas 40% of all non-meat protein was sourced from imported soy-based products.

CEI Research Scientist, Dorlan Curtis Jr., preparing shredded cardboard waste as a growth substrate for mushrooms.

Why is mushroom production important?

Climate change resilience and lower carbon footprint - Scientists have predicted that due to climate change, there will be an increase in Sea Surface Temperature (SST), global average temperatures and sea-level as well as decrease in annual rainfall will impact our agricultural and food systems.

Oyster mushrooms can produce rapid harvest within 30 days which rival many of the agricultural crops traditionally produced in The Bahamas with harvest times of approximately 90 days, and livestock of 6-12 months. On a per pound basis, when comparing mushrooms only produce approximately 0.7 lbs CO2, while chicken meat manifests 3.1 lbs CO2. Additionally, as access to freshwater usage becomes a global concern, mushrooms require 1.8 gallons of water/pound while tofu requirements net at 219 gallons water/pound. Relative to all its agricultural counterparts, oyster mushrooms do not require significant natural resource inputs such as freshwater, synthetic fertilizers, soil and the need to induce deforestation.

In this growing model at CEI, mushroom production features low-tech principles of cold sterilization of organic waste materials for substrates and mushroom fruiting in clean indoor shelters to conserve energy, space and water demands of production.

These elements qualify mushrooms as a potential ‘climate-change resilient’ crop which proves beneficial as a model crop for innovative agriculture in The Bahamas.

Oyster mushroom cultivation will contribute to achieving a 50% food security goal (sourcing foods from within The Bahamas) at The Island School and upcycling organic waste to food. This research will work toward both the carbon footprint mitigation of a primary vegan option (soybased food products) and commercially farmed meat proteins. At a national level, provision of sustainable non-meat based protein promotes food sovereignty and community access to healthy food options to meet the mandate of U.N. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Written By Dorlan Curtis Jr. Assistant Director of Research and Innovation, Cape Eleuthera Island School

lo c al +plu s

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Sept/Oct, 2021

Local Stars Shine During Goombay Kids Red Carpet Season 3 Preview The cast and crew of Goombay Kids, a toprated children’s show being hailed as the Caribbean’s Gullah Gullah Island entered it’s third season with a private screening and red carpet premiere at Fusion Superplex in Nassau, Bahamas.

Joining lead cast members Javien Rankine (from Savannah Sound, Eleuthera), Ravyn White, Keara Jones, Shad Ferguson and Zhane’o ‘Sarge’ Newbold was newcomer to the show Bahamian actress Leah Eneas (Beneath The Blue and Miracle at St. Anna) and creator Stephanie Nihon.

Nihon revealed she had wanted to do something to celebrate the show’s success for some time but with COVID restrictions in The Bahamas, they had to wait. “To see so many come out and celebrate something that started off as an idea and is now the first show of it’s kind with an all Bahamian cast and crew on national television is tremendous,” she said. “I am so grateful to everyone who has worked to make this happen especially Movi Group as well as Bahamas Artist Movement.”

The show had initially been shared on Cable Bahamas and YouTube. Now, there is interest from international entities to have it placed on their platforms. Nihon said the opportunity to go international will give Bahamian talents the opportunity to realize their film industry dreams.

“We recently held auditions for our next batch of actors for the show and it was incredible to see how many people showed up,” said Nihon who also manages a talent agency. “The Caribbean is a hotbed for undiscovered talent and we are excited to give them a platform to help nurture that talent so that they can take the leap internationally.”

She gave an example of Javien Rankine, one of the lead child actors from Goombay Kids scoring a principal role in Mighty Express Season 2 on Netflix.

The event was a star-studded affair attended

by Bahamas Film Commissioner Clarence Rolle, models, beauty queens, comedians, members of corporate Bahamas, as well as international industry professionals.

“So many who attended reiterated that this felt like a celebration of Bahamian youth and culture, not just a screening,” Nihon added. “This new season, which officially premieres October 18th, will be our biggest and most exciting yet, with an all Bahamian film crew of 45, cast of 86, 22 locations, 5 screenwriters, 12 sponsors, a remastered theme song and an incredible collaborative effort of costume and set design on a series that continues to make history. Never before has Bahamian talent been showcased onscreen to this magnitude. And the opportunities it is providing our kids as well as teaching education through entertainment has been so inspiring and powerful.”

Among the directors for season three is LanP31

Bahamas Film Commissioner Clarence Rolle with model Jessica Frances, Goombay Kids producers Rowena Sutherland and Leslie Ellis Tynes, plus actress Leah Eneas.

Javien Rankine, Ravyn White, Keara Jones, the child stars of Goombay Kids on their first red carpet.

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Colby Mullin

thing. You have no idea how happy you can become when you believe you’re doing something that feels meaningful. Also find someone you trust whom you can share those feelings with.”

Colby shared that he wouldn’t be the accomplished and motivated young man that he is today without God’s strength and guidance. He also lauded and thanked his parents, teachers and many others, saying, “I’d like to thank God. I know our world is getting more secular by the day so belief and trust in God is something that is slowly but surely becoming less and less popular.

But I have good reasons for my belief in God. He’s gotten me through many things.

I’d like to thank my parents, Austin and Gail Mullin. Mom for making our house a loving home where good meals are always eaten and dad for teaching me how to approach the tough aspects of life. Much more you too have shown me. My sister Erin, for experiencing things first so that we her younger brothers would not have to go through such trials. And also for living and being herself. I have to thank my wombmate, Chandler William Mullin. My brother and I have made it far, yeah we have our ups and downs but we get through them. Thank you to Ms. Higgs, my math teacher and favourite teacher. I’ll miss registration times in the morning and right after lunch. Thanks to Coach, Ms. McAndrew, Ms. Woodside, Ms. Rolle, Ms. Blenman, Ms. Sawyer, Ms. Gib-

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son, Ms. Culmer, and Senor Rivera. You all have taught me things in your own unique ways. I know there are things that I know because of you people. Thank you Travis Newbold, my youth pastor. Sometimes you gave me the encouragement to stay faithful to God and not forsake the faith. Thanks to my good friend Denicha for listening when I needed someone to talk to. Delano and Cody for giving me a good laugh or two.

Amanda for inspiring me because of her get up and go mentality. Even Gabby for being her crazy silly self. Also Kyle Collins, for our interesting conversations. I value all the moments I have with you people. I cannot list all who have made an impact in my life, but I thank those who I’ll come to recognize have too.”

With endless possibilities ahead of him, Colby has much to experience before knowing how Eleuthera may fit into it, however, he shared, “I definitely want to pay respects to my homeland Eleuthera. It’s my island after all. I plan on having a home here on my parent’s commonage. Whether permanent or for when I visit I am not sure. I want to work in The USA or Nassau after my four years in college mainly because there are not many opportunities on Eleuthera where I can use a mechanical engineering degree.

I do hope in the future that in time I would be able to afford those who are interested in my field these opportunities back home.”

Colby Mullin, Co-Valedictorian at Samuel Guy Pinder All Age - Class of 2021.

Goombay kids

thro Munroe, a Bahamian-American known for his work with several major studios in the Atlanta area. In this new season, viewers can expect to explore with three Bahamian children as they go on epic adventures throughout the islands of The Bahamas, learning the legend of Junkanoo, encountering pirates in the 1700s, attending cultural camp Goombay and discovering the lost city of Atlantis.

By Arthia Nixon, The Ambassador Agency

Bahamian comedian and recurring Goombay Kids guest star Zhane’o ‘Sarge’ Newbold with models Jessica Francis and Alex Pinder.

Leslie Ellis Tynes, Stephanie Nihon and Rowena Sutherland, producers of Goombay Kids on the red carpet.

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Dominican Poachers Arrested in the Great Bahama Bank The Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs expressed thanks to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the Royal Bahamas Police force in a statement on Thursday, September 30th, 2021, for their assistance in the interdiction and arrest of five Dominican poachers aboard the Dominican vessel “Amanda”.

women in uniform as they guard our heritage and I particularly applaud the deep cooperation between the RBDF and Bahamian fishermen who very often are the ones to spot these illegal boats in our waters” the Minister said. “I wish to encourage our fishermen to maintain the open dialogue between our law enforcement agencies as well as the Department of

Marine Resources as we work hand in hand to guard our heritage” he added.

The illegal fishers were expected to be arraigned in court on October 1st, 2021.

“The vessel,” the statement read, “was apprehended at approximately 11PM on Saturday, 25th September 2021 by the Bahamian patrol vessel HMBS Bahamas in waters near Diamond Point, Southern Great Bahama Bank.

“The fishermen were caught with 5,420 lbs of Hog Fish, 2,213 lbs of Nassau Grouper, 11,267 lbs of whole lobster, 276 lbs of lobster tails and 1,685 lbs of assorted fish. Additionally, the poachers were also operating in Bahamian waters illegally while using a compressor and spear guns. They are expected to be charged with six violations of The Fisheries Act 2020. They are also alleged to have been in possession of a quantity of drugs on board the Dominican flagged “Amanda” and are also alleged to have attempted to ram the HMBS Bahamas while attempting to escape.

Charges are expected to be brought for these offences as well.”

Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs, Hon. Clay Sweeting expressed deep gratitude to the officers onboard the HMBS Bahamas for their bravery in protecting Bahamian waters from illegal fishermen intent on causing harm. “I appreciate the hard work and bravery of these men and

Photo of illegal catch by Dominican poachers in 2020.

Erupting!

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has pledged more than $238 million (206 million euros) in aid to the Spanish island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, where the actively erupting Cumbre Vieja volcano has so far destroyed more than 1000 homes, according to Spain’s Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN).

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Covid -19 : Minister of Health and Wellness says the plan is to move swiftly

“We are now in negotiations with companies, we are also speaking directly with the COVID task force.

There are a few challenges as well as policing information as well as legislation to control the way it’s done.

But I am telling you now, as one of our 10-point plan, we are definitely going to move into free testing and we are going to look at the Antigen test as a screening test as we begin now to get this virus and pandemic under control.”

Dr. Darville, today, met with union representatives and staff of the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama to address similar concerns. He is also expected to visit the mini hospital in Abaco.

By Lindsay Thompson BIS

Above: Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville is pictured being interviewed by the media at Princess Margaret Hospital, and (Lower Right) touring the facility with the Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip Davis, and Hospital Administrator Mary Walker. (BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)

Newly-appointed Minister of Health and Wellness the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville says the plan is to move swiftly to bring the COVID-19 situation under control, specifically at the country’s main medical facilities.

He made the statement following a tour of the Princess Margaret Hospital, the country’s tertiary medical care facility on New Providence, on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, the day after he was officially appointed to that post.

Dr. Darville’s first order of business was to meet with union representatives of healthcare workers, and tour public medical facilities.

He met with union executives of the Consultant Physicians Staff Association, Bahamas Doctors Union, and the Nurses Union at the Ministry of Health and Wellness headquarters on Meeting Street on Tuesday. Also present was the Hon. Philip Davis, Prime Minister.

Regarding the talks with the union, Dr. Darville said that back pay, and others issues and concerns will be addressed.

Following the meeting with union executives, both Dr. Darville and the Prime Minister were taken on a tour of Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) and adjoin-

ing facilities, led by Mary Walker, Hospital Administrator. Also present were Catherine Weech, Managing Director, Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), and other officials from the Ministry of Health.

After the tour of PMH, Dr. Darville said, “As a health care professional, I had the opportunity to tour this facility, see the needs and to realize that because of the COVID situation, many of the other services that must be, provided at the tertiary facility are lacking: we need to move swiftly to get the COVID situation under control and be able to handle our cases in this third wave to prepare ourselves for any additional mutations or variants of COVID-19 that may come our way.”

Darville said he has made inquiries into whether there are sufficient beds at PMH. “I still am not convinced and so we need to look for additional space for additional improvements to the tertiary facility to ensure that we are able to handle our COVID cases in an effective way, while not compromising the state of our tertiary healthcare facility,” he said.

As for free testing for the COVID-19 virus, Dr. Darville pointed out that it has been one of the mandates of this new administration.

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Observations: Commonwealth Observer Group

Shares Preliminary Findings; Some Shortcomings Identified Bahamas General Election Overall Deemed Credible, Inclusive and Transparent Our key findings are as follows: The Electoral Framework and Election Administration

(L-R): The Hon. Bruce Golding, Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group, with Team Leader, Linford Andrews.

The Commonwealth Observer group, invited by the Bahamian government to observe the September 16th, 2021 General Election in the country, chaired by former Prime Minister of Jamaica the Hon. Bruce Golding, released a statement on September 18th, 2021 with the group’s preliminary findings.

The statement read, “The Commonwealth is honoured to have been invited by the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to observe this significant election. Our Group, which was constituted by the Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, comprises experts drawn from the political, electoral, legal and civil society fields across various Commonwealth regions. Our observers began arriving in Nassau on 9 September, to be present for the advance poll, and will depart by 23 September after we have finalised our report.

Our preliminary findings will be shared in the following manner: We will first provide our key findings on the pre-election environment, after which we will focus on our observations on Election Day. Finally, we will share our reflections on the post-election environment. This approach is in line with our mandate as underscored in the arrival statement we issued on 11 September 2021.

In accordance with this mandate, we are assessing this election according to the national, regional, Commonwealth and international values and standards to which The Bahamas has committed itself. Our final report will be submitted to

the Commonwealth Secretary-General, and will afterwards be made available to the Government of The Bahamas, political parties, civil society organisations and the public.

Noting the electoral history of The Bahamas, the people have once again demonstrated their commitment to our shared democratic values by exercising their right to vote in a peaceful manner.

This is to be highly commended.

We have met with the Parliamentary Commissioner, senior officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, political parties, civil society organizations, media representatives, private sector leaders, as well as other international observers.

On 9 September our Group observed the advance polls in New Providence, and on 16 September, we observed Election Day proceedings at several polling stations in Abaco, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama and New Providence. Our observations included the opening of polls, voting procedures, closing procedures, the preliminary count and the official recount on 17 September.

Before turning to our initial assessment of the critical aspects of the election process and the electoral environment, we note that this was a snap election, and that this may have impacted the readiness of all electoral stakeholders. Further, in our assessment of the conduct of this election, we have considered the deleterious impact of both Hurricane Dorian in 2019, and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Our final report will be issued at a later date.

It is noted that the Parliamentary Registration Department, which exists and operates as a Department under the aegis of the Central Government, was responsible for the registration of eligible voters and the conduct of elections, and that an Acting Parliamentary Commissioner oversaw the conduct of the General Election. As pertained during the 2017 General Election, a number of concerns were brought to the attention of the 2021 Commonwealth Observer Group on the operational capacity and the extent of functional independence of the Parliamentary Registration Department.

It is a standard feature of any election that the manner in which the electoral process is managed can impact the overall quality of the entire process. Citizens should have confidence in all aspects of the management of the process.

The Group therefore wishes to reiterate the recommendation of the 2017 Observer Group that the Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas considers reviewing the existing legal framework for the conduct of elections and takes appropriate steps to further consolidate its democratic credentials by establishing an independent election management body.

We would urge further dialogue among relevant stakeholders to ensure that an appropriate model for such a body is agreed. If requested, the Commonwealth Secretariat would be ready to provide any necessary support to stakeholders in the establishment of such a body.

We note that laudable attempts were made by the Parliamentary Registration Department to implement a number of adjustments to electoral preparations, given the impact of Hurricane Dorian and the coronavirus pandemic. However, we received feedback from most stakeholders that there was insufficient communication on the part of the Parliamentary Registration Department to key electoral functionaries and the public at large on some of these necessary adjustments.

The Group recommends that the Parliamentary Registration Department develop a robust communication strategy and mechanism to inform the public on critical issues. Such a strategy should also seek to counter any instances of misinformation in both traditional and social media that can arise in the absence of clear official information.

Voter register

We note that, in December 2020, the Government passed the Parliamentary Election (Amendment) Act, which converted the voters’ register from the 2017 General P35

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Commonwealth Observers

Election to a continuous or permanent register.

It was further noted that those citizens not on the 2017 register, or who have since changed physical addresses, would have needed to register or transfer their registration to a new polling division and constituency. It was brought to the Group’s attention by several stakeholders that there was some uncertainty surrounding the status of those persons who were displaced by the impact of Hurricane Dorian in 2019, and whether they could vote in their new locations. This affected those voters who were originally located in Abaco and Grand Bahama, in particular.

The new law also entitles registered voters with disabilities or those aged 65 and above to apply for early voting. Previously, the option was only made available to select categories of individuals, including students studying abroad, diplomats and their spouses, security personnel and polling staff. This new provision is a positive development.

In light of the move to a permanent register, the expansion of the eligibility for early voting, and uncertainties regarding voter registration for displaced persons, there was a need for a strong voter education programme ahead of this General Election. Whilst noting that the snap election presented a tight timeframe for such voter education, a number of stakeholders nonetheless regarded the efforts of the PRD to be inadequate in this regard. The Group recommends that electoral authorities prepare robust voter education programmes well in advance of any election, and update these to reflect any changes such that they can be readily deployed in advance of future elections.

Political parties reported to us that they had no opportunity to review the list of polling officials, the sub-division of polling divisions into more than one polling station, or the location of polling stations.

We consider that the transparent conduct of elections would be enhanced if there was consultation with political parties and candidates before these important decisions are made.

The registration card that is issued to each voter is deficient in many respects. For instance, the information contained on the card is handwritten, the voter’s photograph is affixed via adhesive tape, and the card is not laminated and has no modern security features, leaving it vulnerable. Technology is readily available to enable the authorities to produce a more secure and durable means of identification. We will address this issue in more detail in our final report.

The Campaign

Given the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, campaign rallies were not allowed to be conducted in the usual manner. The Government imposed a nationwide curfew. However, the Group noted reports that political party motorcades may not have fully complied with COVID-19 social distancing regulations. Notwithstanding this, the campaign environment was observed to be orderly, and conducted in a generally positive spirit.

We further encourage the Parliamentary Registration Department to consider the development of a Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates.

Campaign Financing

There are no statutory provisions regulating financial contributions to or campaign expenditure by political parties and candidates. This leads to a lack of accountability and uncertainty and suspicion as to the extent to which financial contributions influence the outcome of elections and the decisions and actions of the Government that emerges from those elections.

The Commonwealth Observer Group for the 2017 election strongly recommended the enactment of legislation to provide for the registration of political parties and the regulation of campaign financing and expenditure. We endorse and reiterate that call.

These reforms will raise the level of accountability and transparency in the electoral process, and thus deepen the commitment of The Bahamas to international good practice in these areas.

The Media

The Group notes that press freedom is generally respected, as provided by the constitution, and that the press seemed to be free to cover the campaigns and election without intimidation. However, the Group is concerned that the Government-owned national broadcaster, Zephyr Nassau Sunshine (ZNS), did not provide equitable access and/or balanced coverage of the activities of the contending political parties and candidates. This resulted in citizens being deprived of their right to receive balanced information about the election and candidates.

The main opposition political party (PLP) alleged that the Government broadcaster refused to take its adverts due to an alleged disputed debt from the last election, even though it offered to pay upfront and clear the debt. We were not able to determine the veracity of this allegation, but we found it troubling.

The Group recommends that private media give consideration to the development of a media Code of Conduct that would foster greater accountability and fair coverage of election campaigns.

We also received general complaints concerning the lack of voter education by the media, as compared to previous elections. This is an important aspect of the electoral process, and as a key sector of society, the media should be strongly encouraged to bear greater responsibility in their role in educating and informing citizens on the electoral process.

Media stakeholders also reported a lack of access to the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner. The media plays a vital role in communicating information to the public in a timely manner and, as highlighted earlier, we recommend that the Parliamentary Commissioner puts in place a robust communications system that engages the media.

There was extensive use of social media by political parties, candidates and voters throughout the campaign.

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Advance poll

A Commonwealth advance team was in Nassau to observe the Advance Poll on 9 September.

It was noted by the Group that, although this phase of the election concluded in an orderly manner, the management of some aspects of the process, especially the close and count, raised some concerns about the preparedness of election officials. We noted, in particular, the inconsistent application of procedures, or what appeared to be a lack of understanding of certain aspects of the process by the polling officials.

As was the case in the previous election in 2017, however, it became evident that the Parliamentary Registration Department used the experience and lessons learnt from the advance polling day to ensure that errors did not recur or were minimised on 16 September. We commend the Acting Parliamentary Commissioner, polling staff and the security agencies in this regard.

The voting process and environment: Pre-poll procedures and opening of polls Pre-poll procedures were generally well conducted in accordance with prescribed procedures, witnessed by political party agents. The process was very transparent, although in some cases the Group observed some delays which impacted the timely opening of polls.

Conduct of voting

Polling staff generally adhered to prescribed procedures for the conduct of voting and were professional, diligent, and courteous in the conduct of their duties. The process was calm and methodical, even if this slowed proceedings in some instances.

We commend polling staff for their commitment to their duties and their integrity. We noted, however, that in many instances polling staff were not easily identifiable, nor had signs at their tables indicating their specific role. We urge that this be addressed for future elections. Refer to Section 56(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act. It was noted that voters were allowed to use alternative forms of photo identification in the absence of their voter identification cards, especially passports and driver’s licences, as prescribed by law.

The prescribed layout within polling stations was adhered to and was conducive for orderly voting and followed COVID-19 mitigation measures to the extent possible. The secrecy of the ballot was largely respected. However, in some cases we observed that the layout of polling booths faced windows where such secrecy could have been compromised.

We also experienced some inconsistency in the communication to polling staff about the presence of international observers. While Returning Officers were generally aware of their accreditation, this apparently had not been communicated to some Presiding Officers.

Our team observed that voting was extended by a commensurate amount of time to compensate for any delays that occurred with the opening of polls in P36 some cases. In addition, polling was

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extended to ensure that all those who were in the queue at 1800 hours were able to do so in accordance with the provisions of the law.

to assist with compliance to COVID-19 mitigation measures. It was observed that there was at least one police officer assigned to each polling station, whose role included not only preserving the security of the station, but also recording any significant occurrence.

The Group wishes to commend all security services for their professional conduct and diligence, and for undertaking their duties in a non-intrusive manner.

Closing procedures and count

Presence of Party Agents

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Commonwealth Observers

The closing procedures, including the count and reconciliation processes, were generally transparent, inclusive and conducted in line with the prescribed law. Party agents and all observers were allowed to witness the process. However, the process of sealing of the ballot boxes was not always uniform. The use of stickers, zip ties and wax to seal envelopes and ballot boxes was not always efficiently or consistently applied across the stations observed by the Group. The Group will consider recommendations on such security features in its final report.

The Group commends the decision to adjust the curfew hour to 11:59pm on Election Day in order to facilitate the conclusion of all polling activities.

COVID-19 mitigation measures

In terms of adherence to social distancing and other COVID-19 mitigation measures, for example the use of face masks and hand sanitisers, we noted that these were generally adhered to quite strictly inside polling stations, with polling staff diligently sanitising polling booths and indelible pencils at regular intervals. It was also noted that, due to the diligence in ensuring safety and proper sanitation, in most cases voters were processed with sufficient time gaps so that no more than one voter was casting their ballot at any one time.

It was, however, noted that there were often crowds of party agents outside polling stations, and occasionally voters, who were not always adhering to the COVID-19 mitigation measures.

Role of Police

Adequate security was provided, and it was noted that, due to the impact of COVID-19, the Parliamentary Registration Department had also deployed the Royal Bahamas Defence Force

The Group observed several party agents, especially from the two largest parties, at all polling stations, including at various colourful tents outside the polling stations. They were well prepared and diligent in the conduct of their roles, and it was noteworthy that there was great camaraderie and close cooperation among the agents of different parties. They not only assisted polling officials to find names in the register, but also sought to engage constructively when any issues emerged.

The level of maturity and positive engagement by party agents is to be commended.

The Group noted that many political party supporters were gathered beyond the one hundred yards limit as outlined in Section 98 of the Parliamentary Elections Act. However, some did not always adhere to this provision.

It was brought to our attention that, while parties are entitled by law to have three agents inside the polling station, the Parliamentary Registration Department had issued instructions that each party was to be allowed only one party agent in each polling station. This was attributed by the Parliamentary Registration Department to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, whereby a reduction in the number of people inside polling stations was necessary to ensure adequate social distancing.

Some political parties were unhappy with this, and one opposition party wrote to the Attorney-General to highlight their concern about this. The Group was advised that the two major parties (FNM and PLP) had agreed that, notwithstanding their legal entitlement to three agents, they would assign only two. The Group observed that in many instances the FNM and the PLP had two agents present.

Inclusion

The Group commends the inclusivity of the electoral process, having witnessed large numbers of women and youth among polling staff,

Sept/Oct, 2021 party agents and voters. We further noted that differently abled people as well as the elderly, mothers with young children, and pregnant women were given assistance at polling stations.

The Group recommends, however, that these voters be fast-tracked to the front of the queue rather than just being given a seat to wait.

Overall Conclusion

Our overall conclusion is that the voting, closing and counting processes at polling stations were credible, inclusive and transparent. The commitment of all Bahamians to the exercise of their democratic franchise is to be commended, bearing in mind the considerable challenges confronting The Bahamas in the face of a snap election, as well as the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

We note that the previous incumbent Prime Minister conceded defeat on the evening of Election Day itself, before the results process had concluded formally, but when the emerging result was already clear. The graciousness which he displayed, and equally the magnanimity and spirit of inclusivity evident in the speech of the incoming Prime Minister, are to be lauded. These are defining features of a healthy democracy.

We are of the view that any shortcomings identified can and should be addressed through open, transparent and inclusive dialogue with relevant stakeholders.

The Group would like to reiterate the key recommendation of the 2017 Commonwealth Observer Group that The Bahamas considers the establishment of an independent election management body, in order to strengthen adherence to international good practice. We urge all stakeholders and citizens of The Bahamas to reflect on this recommendation.

We reaffirm the Commonwealth’s commitment to remain engaged with The Bahamas and to support national efforts to enhance and deepen democracy.

We wish the Government, opposition parties and people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas well, and urge the Commonwealth and other international partners to remain firmly engaged to support constructive efforts to enhance and deepen democracy in The Bahamas.

We wish to thank all Bahamians for their hospitality and the support they provided during our time here.”

China:

Space Tidbits World’s big nations: recent steps in Outer Space

On Friday, September 17th, 2021, three Chinese astronauts returned from a record-breaking visit to China’s new space station. The three astronauts, or taikonauts, landed in Mongolia after three months on the space station. The Shenzhou-12 crew has now completed the longest spaceflight in Chinese history.

USA:

First Space tourism mission completed. Four people returned to Earth from a three-day extraterrestrial excursion aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on Saturday evening, September 18th, 2021 marking the end of the first-ever flight to Earth’s orbit flown entirely by tourists or otherwise non-astronauts.

Russia:

A Russian crew headed to space to film a movie aboard the International Space Station (ISS) - Veteran Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, actor Yulia Peresild and film producer Klim Shipenko traveled to the International Space Station on Tuesday, October 5th, 2021. Peresild and Shipenko will be filming segments for the movie “Challenge” -- the first feature film shot in space.

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Health ministers agree to tackle urgent health issues in the Americas at PAHO Directing Council Below: Dr. Carissa Etienne, PAHO Director.

Resolutions adopted at the meeting address regional production of essential medicines and health technologies, reversing the decline in routine immunization, advancing digitalization of the health sector, strengthening health systems to better cope with emergencies, and other vital health matters.

Washington, D.C., 24 September 2021 (PAHO) – The 59th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization [PAHO]), which was convened virtually over the period, 20th-24th September 2021, and attended by health ministers and authorities from throughout the Americas, concluded on the morning of September 24th. During this meeting, the health ministers adopted resolutions to strengthen health policies in the Americas and tackle urgent challenges, such as the erosion of routine immunization coverage and responding to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Directing Council, which meets annually during the intervening years between the Pan American Sanitary Conference, is responsible for setting PAHO’s policies and priorities for technical cooperation and to consider matters of public health significance.

“You once again emphasized the need to strengthen health systems to be more resilient and responsive to public health emergencies such as this COVID-19 pandemic,” PAHO Director Carissa F. Etienne told ministers at the closure of the meeting. “I was particularly heartened that you explicitly acknowledged the need for greater investment in health systems including the essential public health functions.”

Dr. Etienne acknowledged the many challenges that have impacted national pandemic responses, including “global supply chain failures, inequities in availability and distribution of essential supplies, limited or no regional production capacity, inadequate regulatory and support

systems,” all of which together deepened regional vulnerability.

She appealed for support to strengthen a policy of self-sufficiency for the region, “which would enable increased national and regional production and increased access to vaccines, essential medicines, and health technology.”

Dr Etienne also called for urgent efforts to boost immunization, saying this week “we lamented the general decline in vaccination coverage in the Americas with increasing levels of vaccine hesitancy, all of which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.” She urged “genuine attention to expanding coverage, improving vaccine outreach programs, investing in the first level of care, and addressing the issue of vaccine hesitancy.”

She welcomed commitments made by major stakeholders at the US-led Global COVID-19 Summit this week, to meet the goal of vaccinating at least 70% of all people in every country by the end of 2022.

The Council also discussed global health issues, particularly World Health Organization’s (WHO) preparedness for future health emergencies, including legal and financial aspects. Dr. Etienne stressed that much can be learned from PAHO’s decades of experience in responding to and managing emergencies.

“I am very confident that together, unified in the spirit of Pan American solidarity, we will vanquish this SARS-CoV-2 and be much better prepared in real terms for the next, having taken on board and to heart the lessons learned in this chapter of public health,” Dr. Etienne said, “Our people as well as history will demand that we learn from this experience.”

The resolutions of the 59th Directing Council include: Increasing Production Capacity for Essential Medicines and Health Technologies: It focuses on regional production to increase access to essential medicines and other health technologies.

Specifically, the resolution calls for creating government mechanisms that strengthen national capacity in research, development, innovation, and production.

Reinvigorating Immunization as a Public Good for Universal Health: It calls for reinvigorating immunization programs through diverse lines of action, among them, strengthening governance, leadership, and financing of vaccination programs; bolstering integration of immunization programs into primary health care systems; and developing communication strategies to build trust in vaccines.

Strategy for Building Resilient Health Systems and Post COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery to Sustain and Protect Public Health Gains: The resolution aims to repair structural deficiencies in health systems exposed by the pandemic and build “resilient” health systems that expand coverage, address social determinants of health, and are prepared to cope with health emergencies. Specific actions include increasing public health financing and transforming health systems, based on a primary health care approach, to accelerate pandemic recovery, recuperate and sustain public health gains, and progress toward universal health.

One Health: A Comprehensive Approach for Addressing Health Threats at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface: It calls for fostering collaboration to prevent and prepare for health challenges at the human-animal-environment interface. Specific actions include promoting strategic planning, emergency preparedness and response, integrated disease and health surveillance and reporting, and laboratory testing and networks.

Roadmap for the Digital Transformation of the Health Sector in the Region of the Americas: It calls for developing human capital and infrastructure that allow digital technologies to be used inclusively, ethically, and securely in public health. The resolution includes actions aligned with UN goals such as universal connectivity in health by 2030 and “inclusive” digital health that emphasizes the most vulnerable populations.

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Recognising Women’s Role in Politics Robyn Dawn Lynes, Acting Chair with Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWiL) - Bahamas National Chapter, released a statement on Friday, September 24th, 2021, congratulating the seven (7) newly elected women candidates who won seats in the 2021 General Election. She commended the government on their position on women in the political sphere, with the historical appointment of five (5) women to serve in the Bahamas Cabinet. Lynes also called on both the Government and Opposition to create space for advancing women in substantive political leadership, and expressed CIWiL’s hopes to see good governance in The Bahamas.

The full statement began, “A record number of seven (7) women candidates won House of Assembly seats in the 2021 General Election held in the Bahamas on Thursday 16th September.

Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWiL) congratulates these newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs): Glenys Hanna-Martin, Leslia Miller-Brice, Lisa Rahming, Jobeth Coleby-Davis, Pia Glover-Rolle, Patricia Deveaux, and Ginger Moxey. We applaud their campaign success, their dedication to service and we trust in their capacities to move the country “Forward Upward Onward Together.”

The breakthrough of these seven women is momentous especially considering that previously only five (5) of the thirty-nine (39) elected members of The Bahamas’ Parliament were women (however, notably, the Opposition Party had also nominated seven women to run in this year’s elections). It is now well-established how critical women’s political participation is to fulfilling the potential of democracy, to achieving and maintaining peaceful and secure communities, the full realization of human rights, the eradication of disease, hunger and poverty, and the promotion

Following Consultations!

Financial Burdens of Travel Restrictions Eased By New Health Minister Darville

On Friday, September 24th, 2021, new Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Michael Darville, following tours of multiple medical facilities during the week, including the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) and Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, announced a

of sustainable development. Thus, albeit a small increase, and granted, it still puts the country’s proportion of women in parliament below the global average of 23.8%, the elected seven signals a shift in the right direction for the Bahamas.

Speaking in relation to CIWiL’s Women in Leadership Parliamentary and Public Office training for Bahamian women in politics in March 2021, CIWiL’s Bahamas National Chapter ViceChairperson, Robyn Dawn Lynes, expressed that “women in The Bahamas have contributed and played integral roles in nation-building throughout our history. However, nearly fifty years post-Independence, our contributions to society are still not reflected in our halls of Parliament where it can be most effective.” Months later, in August 2021, when asked if he was satisfied with the number of female candidates ratified, then PLP Leader and now Prime Minister of the Bahamas, the Hon. Philip Davis, said: “We are satisfied, but we will continually press to have women involved in the governance of this country,” The Prime Minister’s representations were not mere words as he made history with the appointment of five (5) women to serve in his Cabinet and he further guaranteed that women will also be well-represented in the Senate. CIWiL thus commends the Prime Minister for his commitment to women in parliament and we take this opportunity to highlight and congratulate The Honourables Glenys Hanna-Martin, M. P., Min. of Education, Jobeth Coleby-Davis, M. P. - Min. of Housing & Transport, Ginger Moxey, M. P. - Min. of Grand Bahama, Pia T. Glover-Rolle, M. P. - Min. of State for Public Service and Lisa Rahming, M. P. - Min. of State for Social Services & Urban Development.

We call on both this newly-elected Government and the Opposition to continue to disrupt the leadership landscape to create space for

range of eased travel measures, to lift the financial burden from Bahamian travellers, while assuring that the changes would still ensure public health safety.

The announcement began, “Since March 2020, many residents of The Bahamas have been affected by the travel regime established under various Emergency Powers Orders.

“Following discussions with the health care professionals and with Cabinet approval, the Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip E. Davis, Q.C. M.P. has signed the following Order made under the Emergency Powers (COVID-19 Pandemic) (Management and Recovery) (No.2) (Amendment) (No. 14).

“The amended Order makes the following changes to the existing Emergency Powers Order as

advancing women in political leadership in ways that are always more substantive than symbolic, and reflective of women’s actual contributions in Bahamian society.

CIWiL hopes to see good governance in The Bahamas, including the prioritisation of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, gender-responsive laws and policies and a gender sensitive parliament. We call on those in power to honour the country’s commitments to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to the implementation and monitoring of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing DPfA).

This can include building on the achievements and priorities of the Beijing DPfA in each or the twelve (12) areas of concern as well as addressing the country’s challenges (such as the high rate of GBV) and setbacks, all of which are outlined in the Bahamas’ National Review on the 25th Anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing DPfA.” -----About CIWiL: CIWiL promotes and strengthens gender equality in the Caribbean by advocating for transformative politics and policymaking, supporting women in leadership and decision-making, and providing training and research. If you are interested in learning more about CIWiL, please email us at ciwilbahnationalchapter@gmail.com, or visit our Facebook page @Ciwil-Bahamas National Chapter.

Source: Robyn Dawn Lynes Chair (Acting) Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWiL) - Bahamas National Chapter

follows: 1.

The Order removes the requirement for a travel health visa for inter-island travel within The Bahamas.

2.

Vaccinated persons travelling inter-island from New Providence and Grand Bahama, will now only be required to produce a negative result of a rapid antigen test of the type approved by the Ministry of Health, and if non-vaccinated, travellers are required to produce a negative result of the RT-PCR test at the point of embarkation to the operator of the airline or vessel on which they are travelling.

3.

For persons travelling inter-island from any other islands of The Bahamas, only a negative result of an antigen test of the type approved by the Ministry of Health is required.

4.

The requirement for secondary testing for inter-island travellers is now removed.

5.

The travel health visa is still required for Bahamian citizens, residents and visitors entering The Bahamas.

6.

The payment of the travel health visa fee is no longer required for Bahamian citizens and residents returning to The Bahamas.

“We are satisfied that these amendments to the Order will lift a considerable financial burden from travellers while at the same time ensuring health safety for the general public.”

--Source: Bahamas Information Services

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BCB RESPONDS TO INT’L ELECTION OBSERVATION GROUP ON ELECTION COVERAGE The outgoing Board of Directors of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (BCB) takes exception to the recent report presented by the Commonwealth Observer Group as articulated by the Hon. Bruce Golding.

The BCB categorically denies and refutes the allegation that it deliberately and unfairly adopted a policy of refusing to accept advertisements from the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) during the period of the recent General Election thereby ‘resulting in citizens being deprived of their right to receive balanced information about the election and candidates’.

The Corporation has throughout the recent election period pursued a policy of fairness and balance.

In order to ensure its continued financial sustainability, the Corporation had implemented, amongst other measures, a vigorous and concerted effort to collect substantial outstanding receivables.

Both the PLP and the Free National Movement (FNM) owed the Corporation substantial sums of money going back to the General Election of 2017.

The decision was made by the Board several months ago, and long before the General Election was called, that no new advertisements (whether paid in advance or not) would be aired for any political party until they first settled their outstanding debts. It was felt that this would be the only way in which to get such debts settled.

This decision was communicated to the political

parties, and both the PLP and the FNM expressed their displeasure with it, but, ultimately, and prior to the General Election being called, the FNM paid off its debt, while the PLP made only one small payment towards reducing its debt of well over $100,000.00.

On the election being called, the PLP offered to make a payment of $75,000.00 towards repayment of its outstanding debt which would have left almost the same amount owing and which it offered to pay over-time. The PLP was informed that, in view of the fact that the FNM had paid off its debt as a pre-condition to new advertisements being accepted, the Corporation could not, in fairness, accept the offer being made.

In order to try to assist and accommodate the PLP, it was agreed that a portion of the debt, which it disputed, would be put aside to be dealt with at a future date thereby reducing the amount of debt to be paid off as a pre-condition to accepting new advertisements. The reduced debt still amounted to over $100,000.00.

The PLP then again offered to pay $75,000.00 with the balance to be repaid over time which, again, the Corporation was unable, in the interest of fairness, to accept.

It should be pointed out that, notwithstanding that the FNM had indicated its desire to take most, if not all, of the advertising slots during the election period, the Corporation ensured that at least onethird of the slots were reserved for the PLP on the basis that it would settle its indebtedness.

The Corporation made an offer to the PLP that it would accept the sum of $75,000.00 with the balance (approximately $37,000.00) being divided by the number of slots it wished to take, and the resulting amount to be paid at the same time as payment for each advertisement – so that, on payment of the last slot, the entire debt would end up being repaid.

The Corporation was subsequently, informed that the PLP would not be advertising with ZNS during the remaining election period.

At no time was the Corporation politically motivated in dealing with the repayment of debts owed to it by the political parties. The decisions made by the Corporation were based entirely on financial considerations and pursued on the basis of fairness.

The Corporation finds it to be disturbing and unacceptable that the Observers should have, without first reaching out to the Corporation, utter such disparaging and damaging allegations, and then, astonishingly, to state ‘that it was not possible to determine the veracity of such allegations’ this cannot be regarded as being balanced or fair.

PRESS RELEASE: UPDATE SEPTEMBER 21st, 2021

CARPHA Introduces Online Reporting Form for Reporting Adverse Events Following Immunization The CARPHA Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS) has introduced an online reporting form to assist immunization programmes within Ministries of Health to collect case reports of adverse events following immunization with COVID-19 vaccines.

According to the World Health Organization, an adverse event following immunization (AEFI) is “any untoward medical occurrence which follows immunization and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the usage of the vaccine. The adverse event may be any unfavourable or unintended sign, abnormal laboratory finding, symptom or disease.”

“The reporting of an AEFI does not mean the event has been caused by the vaccine, or that the person who gave the vaccine made an error, but it is an important part of helping the national authorities to identify events that may need to be investigated further. The information from investigations and data analyses will assist Member

States in identifying the types of reactions that persons are experiencing, and any additional monitoring or regulatory actions that may be needed,” stated Dr. Joy St. John, CARPHA Executive Director.

The online reporting form is designed to provide an additional avenue to assist with reporting, particularly by busy health professionals or the public who are unable to visit the vaccination centres in person.

CARPHA anticipates that this endeavour will also minimise the need for a physical presence at health facilities. Each report will be received

by CARPHA-CRS, and each will be forwarded to the respective Ministry of Health for local follow up by the immunization programme personnel.

This form may be used for any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines.

Persons who experience an AEFI are encouraged to speak with a health professional who can advise on the medical aspects, and/

or assist to complete the online form which can be accessed here: VigiCarib Vaccine AEFI Form (https://form.jotform.com/210037487099865).

Questions about use of the form may be sent via email to: vigicarib@carpha.org ------The CRS is an initiative of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) and is managed as a regulatory unit within CARICOM’s regional public health body, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), with support from the Pan American Health Organization and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. About the CRS https://www.carpha.org/What-We-Do/CRS/Caribbean-Regulatory-System

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CHTA Warns That Travel Advisories Don’t Present Full Picture

Vanessa Ledesma, Acting CEO and Director General, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.

(COVID-19 travel protocols are protecting visitors and tourism employees. Winter season looks bright for Caribbean tourism) While travel advisories have been placed on several Caribbean destinations due to the increase in COVID-19 cases, attributed to the highly contagious delta variant, a leading tourism executive has countered that travel to the region is safe because of effective health safety measures and a continued commitment to protect employees and visitors.

Vanessa Ledesma, Acting CEO and Director General of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), said that there has been no indication that the increase in travel to the region over the past several months has contributed to any significant spread of the virus.

“According to contact tracing analysis provided by several of the region’s destinations which are monitoring this, the level of COVID-19 transmission between residents and visitors has been negligible,” said Ledesma, who added that testing of departing travelers returning to major source markets has shown insignificant positivity rates.

The travel trade association veteran believes that travel warnings based on COVID-19 positivity levels can be misleading. “We have gone to great lengths to produce the safest possible corridors in our tourism-related communities,” she assured, adding that “Caribbean travel is safe and continues to get safer.”

Ledesma shared that the Caribbean’s commitment to health safety

started long before the beginning of the pandemic, and its multi-agency collaborative approach helped to jumpstart the training of nearly 8,000 of the region’s tourism industry supervisors, managers and owners.

Early in 2020, CHTA locked arms with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Global Tourism Resiliency and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) to form the COVID-19 Caribbean Tourism Task Force. Recognizing that the Caribbean is the world’s most tourism-dependent region, a priority was placed on establishing protocols to ensure that interpersonal interactions within tourism communities and between members of the tourism community and visitors were as safe as possible.

Next on the agenda for the regional organizations is to continue managing the pandemic’s risks and rebuild the region’s economic mainstay by protecting lives and livelihoods. Speeding the momentum of vaccinations throughout the Caribbean in the upcoming weeks is part and parcel of the process, said Ledesma, who congratulated governments for prioritizing vaccines for travel- and tourism-related employees. She warned, however, that “the pace of recovery still rests in the hands of the public and we encourage all employees who are able to be vaccinated to do so, to help fast-track the region’s recovery.”

“The people of the Caribbean can control their own destiny, accelerate our recovery, and help to get our people back to work faster, while generating the revenue our governments desperately need to provide basic services,” stated Nicola Madden-Greig, CHTA’s First Vice President, Chair of its Advocacy Committee and a Jamaican hotelier.

“There is no question that the rate of vaccination within the tourism and related communities is higher than the national averages, and we know that vaccination provides that extra level of protection for our team members and their families,” Madden-Greig stated, while pointing to efforts by many Caribbean hotels to assist health authorities with administering vaccines to tourism employees, who along with essential workers, were given priority.

She applauded the work of CARPHA, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), CARICOM (Caribbean Community) and Caribbean governments which have placed high priority on securing vaccines: “We’ve been advised that vaccines are now readily available throughout the Caribbean, so there is little excuse for those who are able to receive one not to do so.”

“A number of destinations in our region rely on tourism for more than 70 percent of their GDP and over 50 percent of employment. That is what makes it deserving of special consideration for vaccines,” she added.

Despite the challenges which the delta variant has presented to global travel, the Caribbean’s industry performance numbers have been among the best in the world. CHTA’s Data Partner ForwardKeys, which tracks air travel globally, indicates that through August 31, 2021, the Caribbean and Mexico have been reliable destinations for international visitors, with seven of the world’s top airlift performers coming from the region. Hotel occupancy rates for the Caribbean, while still below 2019’s strong performance, increased to 53.6 percent in July 2021 from 19.5 percent the year before according to CHTA Strategic Partner STR, which gathers global hotel performance data.

While advance bookings have slowed globally, demand for travel to the Caribbean this upcoming winter is strong as indicated by advance bookings, buoyed by flexible cancellation policies and travel insurance as added assurances to give travelers confidence.

While most of the region’s 30-plus destination offerings have similar travel and health safety protocols, variations can be reviewed at https://bit.ly/3lEOnOS. -Source: Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)

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Poverty: Minister Wilchcombe outlines government’s plans to address poverty and culture, I want to see them being more occupied. Let’s keep their minds occupied so that they can move away from negativity. My colleague (State Minister Rahming) is going to head that particular aspect of the ministry.”

Minister Wilchcombe said the visit to the Fox Hill Community Support Centre allowed officials to get a “first-hand view” of the process at the community support centres. He said he came away “deeply concerned.”

“One of the things I am deeply concerned about is to see the Bahamian people, mainly the elderly, sitting on the outside waiting for services.

That is not appropriate. That is unacceptable as far as I am concerned, and I wanted to know why because we introduced the credit card system and that system had much success. We want to know why it is taking so long now for the needy to get the credit card on the one hand, and on the other hand, why it has been stopped in some areas.

Minister Obie Wilchcombe and Minister of State Lisa Rahming.

Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Obadiah H. Wilchcombe, said the Davis Administration will move swiftly to reduce the hurt and suffering in-country by declaring war on poverty. The Department of Social Services and the Urban Renewal Commission, he explained, will play key roles in that effort. “Our job is to reduce the suffering and the hurt in our country by declaring war on poverty,” Minister Wilchcombe said Wednesday, September 29th, 2021. “We are serious about that.

I don’t like to see people hurting; that bothers me tremendously and so actions speak louder than words.

“The bottom line here is that we have to change some things and we have to do it quickly. We don’t have three months to play with this. We have to start changing things within one month.”

Minister Wilchcombe’s comments came following a tour of the Department of Social Services’ Main Offices located on Baillou Hill Road. The Social Services Minister was accompanied by Minister of State for Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Lisa Rahming. The pair began the morning with a visit to the Urban Renewal Commission, Centreville, that was followed by a tour of the Fox Hill Community Support Services Centre, Department of Social Services, and then the DOSS Head Offices.

Minister Wilchcombe said that in addition to the war on poverty, the Administration’s thrust – through the Ministry and its various Departments -will also focus on addressing areas such as homelessness, housing, food security, and improving the urban environment by making the Urban Renewal Programme “more expansive.”

“If you take a look globally at what Urban Renewal has done; If you take a look at New York, it transformed Harlem; Atlanta, Atlanta City; Houston, downtown Houston, Shanghai, all urban renewal -- that’s what urban renewal is supposed to do and when you look at what is wrong with the inner city, what is wrong with our urban areas, then we have some work to do.”

Minister Wilchcombe said that work includes establishing more green spaces, removing buildings that ought to have been removed, and getting rid of all derelict vehicles. “We are going to make the areas much cleaner, make the environment better.”

The Social Services Minister said the plan also calls for the introduction of additional programmes targeting more young people.

“Yes, we have the bands, but I want to see young children going to dance lessons after school, I want to see them going to sporting events, I want to see young children participating in arts

“To see the lines, it is disheartening, and it brings tears to your eyes just to see some of these people who are simply, for the most part, looking for a meal. People believe that we are the ones who are supposed to be providing a service. They are not here looking for a favour.

There is a commitment by the state. We have to take better care of our people and that’s what I wanted to see for myself.”

Minister Wilchcombe said he has mandated social services officials to begin compiling statistics on the level of homelessness and poverty in-country as a part of the process towards addressing both matters.

“We don’t have any stats and that’s disturbing. We can’t tell you the level of poverty in the country and there is something wrong with that picture and so I have asked for us to begin to find out the stats, to determine exactly the reality because how do you make programmes if you have no information? Information is power, information gives you what is required to make the decisions that must be made. We don’t have that information, but in spite of that, you have the evidence that we do have problems. And because of that we must move with haste,” Minister Wilchcombe added.

Source: BIS Written By Matt Maura September 29, 2021

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Interview

Hon. Clay Sweeting seat in 2012, Clay, who at 26 was too young to be made a senator, was entrusted with the post of Deputy Chairman of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (where he was involved with the creation of BAMSI, and modernization of a number of facilities and infrastructure in agriculture during his tenure). In 2017, several days after his second loss, then Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Philip Davis, reached out to him and offered him a seat as Senator in the Upper Chamber of Parliament.

It was here, said Minister Sweeting, where he was mentored and guided in parliamentary procedure and policy, and honed his analytical skills, while serving as the shadow minister for Agriculture and Marine Resources. “It was a good part of my progress and process of maturing to be at the point I am today,” he said.

Now, at the age of 35, Minister Sweeting is the youngest member of the Cabinet in the Davis Administration.

When asked what it meant for him to be able to serve Eleuthera in an elected capacity over the next five years, Sweeting shared, “It’s amazing, and in retrospect I think about the people who helped me get to this point and guided me along the way... I think that once you are put into the position that I am, you have to stay connected to the people, and you do the people’s business... So, it’s important that I be a Member of Parliament that they are proud of in Central and South, and a minister that contributes to Eleuthera... This is bigger than myself. It’s about community development, and the constituency, because if I don’t change the lives of the people on Eleuthera, then I would have failed them.”

Some of the responsibilities now under Minister Sweeting’s purview include; BAMSI, BAIC, Potter’s Cay, Fish Fry, Veterinary Services, Public Markets, Food Security, Slaughterhouses, Agricultural Lands, Crab Markets, Department of Marine Resources, Regattas, Homecoming Festivals, Department of Local Government, as well as Local Improvement Associations, and more - an expansive set of responsibilities. “I thank the Prime

Minister for giving me the opportunity, and I think that demonstrates his belief that I will provide results,” expressed Sweeting.

In balancing his representative and ministerial duties, Minister Sweeting, said that he intends to open a constituency office, that will be staffed, and where people would be able to have access to him and his staff. “Also, I will not be in Nassau full-time, but will travel back and forth, to ensure that people are able to see me and have access, with office hours. With today’s technology, taking advantage of it will allow me to be even more inclusive, so those people that I cannot see, can still have access. Community initiatives, where people can see a difference being made will also be important, so even if they don’t see me physically, they can see and understand that work is being done to make their communities better.”

Commenting on some of the infrastructure contracts that were ongoing before the September 16th General Elections, with road works in a number of settlements, including Hatchet Bay, Tarpum Bay and

island growing, moving and changing over the next five years, Minister Sweeting responded, “During my campaign I spoke about and circulated a five-point plan. The first item in that plan is healthcare. Healthcare is paramount, especially now, and I will be adamant that we build a hospital in Central and South, not just to serve Central and South, but the north as well. My family has been affected by various health issues, and the cost to fly someone out of the island, plus when you get the air ambulance, to be told that there is no room in the Princess Margaret Hospital - so, healthcare is number one on my platform. The next issue is job creation and empowerment for young people - ensuring that they are provided with opportunities with further education, and like BTVI and others, where you can get your hands into jobs like construction and others. Foreign direct investment will also play a pivotal role. There are a lot of projects that couldn’t seem to get the approvals they needed, and already met with various stakeholders with investments in Central and South, and they are eager to provide jobs and create opportunities. My goal is to get 100% employment in

for healthcare in Eleuthera, Minister Sweeting highlighted the governments historical support for national health insurance, and explained that as a part of strengthening that service, local clinics in need of repair, and refurbishment would have to be brought up to standard. “We also need a mini-Hospital in Central and South, and a hospital speaks to more than just healthcare alone, but also to local, touristic and capital developments in the constituency, by having a proper healthcare system.

You see other places internationally, where towns and cities have been built around hospitals and universities. So, when we build the mini-hospital, and strengthen the healthcare system on the island, I’m sure we will see even more developments arise...

It’s paramount, it’s a passion and I think when things are more personal to you - where you’ve experienced having to fly your mother out, and having to deal with other health issues - you are more focused. Because you don’t want someone else to experience the same thing,” he explained.

Speaking directly to his new constituents as he begins his five-year

“This is bigger than myself. It’s about community development, and the constituency, because if I don’t change the lives of the people on Eleuthera, then I would have failed them.”

Governor’s Harbour, as well as others, like the clinic repairs in Governor’s Harbour. Minister Sweeting, deferring to the Minister of Works, still said, “My belief is that if it is something that is ongoing and is up to par, and the contract is what it should be, and it benefits the community - I don’t believe in canceling contracts, just to cancel a contract...

I do know that the government is reviewing some contracts that might have been awarded in the week prior to elections that seem to have been politically, but contracts related to roadworks - as far as I am aware, they are still ongoing, and I would not advise the government to cancel those contracts, because the community really needs those roadworks.

So, for me, I am an Eleutheran first, and things that would benefit the community that’s done in a proper manner - should move forward.”

Asked about how he saw the

Central and South, with full-circle economies, where everyone benefits. Being the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, we intend to create a Department of AgriBusiness, that will help the farmers in Central and South to get their product to market, and provide avenues to sell their product - not just for minimal prices, but to maximize their profit potential... I expect the full weight of my ministry to be felt in the constituency and they are able to access opportunities that my ministry can offer... We have to ensure that what we say we will do, we actually do, because five years will pass quickly, and I don’t want anyone in Central and South to say - ‘You said you would make this happen, and you didn’t.’ I may not accomplish everything, but if I can accomplish most of what our plans are, we would be off to a good start.”

Delving a little deeper into goals

journey, Clay shared, “I would like to thank them for their support and their dedication, not just to myself, but to a new Eleuthera. We must now move past politics. As a Member of Parliament, I now represent everyone in the constituency, and I will work very hard to ensure that we become successful - that Central and South Eleuthera becomes a constituency that everyone is envious of.

As Minister I will remain focused on proper representation, modernization, investments and healthcare to ensure that the constituency is much better five years from now, than what it is today.”

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OIC Eleuthera land policing is totally different from that of New Providence. I find that on the Family Island there is a slower pace, so you build relationships within the community, and that is one of the goals of the RBPF - to build relationships with people in the community. That’s the only way we can solve some matters and keep the peace. I had a wonderful five years in Exuma and met many wonderful people, and the policing experience is one that I believe has enhanced me. The decision making process is a little slower on the islands, as supposed to Nassau where you have to make decisions rather quickly, but it was an enjoyable experience.”

Her work in the CID in New Providence continued in 2008, with a bit of a career twist five years later. OIC Knowles shared, “In 2013 we had our first human-trafficking case, so I did a little work in human-trafficking and was the lead investigator with that first case, so that section was formed in CID with three of us, three officers. As I climbed the ranks, my responsiblities grew for sexual offences and human trafficking. A few years later, in 2017, I was made Press Officer for the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Then in 2018, I was transferred to the National Crime Prevention Office, as the Officer-In-Charge of that section, and also Media Relations.”

OIC Knowles was again promoted in 2020, and returned to the Criminal Investigation Department as the first female to head CID. She led the department for fifteen months.

As of September 10th, 2021, Knowles settled into her post as the new Officer-In-Charge of the Eleuthera Division.

Arriving on island just ahead of the general elections was a little disconcerting she said, in response to what her experience had been like so far on island. “I was a little skeptical being here just three days before the general elections in the country, and I thought that I didn’t have sufficient time to properly traverse the island, visit each settlement to get a feel

Lo c a l of what it is I am expected to do, but it all turned out to be a good thing, because the elections on the island were peaceful. I was able to visit every polling station in Eleuthera, in both constituencies, all 27 of them. One of the highlights of my visits to those polling stations was, for the very first time in my life I got to visit Current Island. I had no idea what to expect, but I met most of the just about twenty residents on the island, and they seemed to love it.”

As she hit the ground running shortly after arrival, OIC Knowles also set about meeting with her officers in the junior ranks to hear and understand what their concerns were, and to see what plans or goals they had set. “I’m continuing to meet with the different rank structures - one set of officers, then another set - to get a true idea of Eleuthera and police operations in Eleuthera - making everyone comfortable in speaking with me. So far that seems to be working,” she shared.

When asked about some of her goals on island, Knowles emphasized, “I believe that first I must carry out the mandate which the whole organization is about, and that is preserving the peace, maintaining law and order on the island, and enforcing the laws.

I would like to see the programs that have started before I came - I know they are on hold now - but I would like to see them continue. I would like to see more involvement with the young people in our community... I would like to build on what the other OIC’s have started - that foundation. I don’t believe that you break down the foundation because you are new on the island. You find the good work that they have been doing and you build on it. If I can lay a block on the foundation, it means we are moving in the right direction. Definitely I would like to see stronger community relations between the police and the local community, the Christian councils, the business community and all of that - and to build on those relationships. To continue to call on the people within the communities to assist in policing their own communities.”

In reference to challenges ahead, OIC Knowles reflected, “I’m not expecting any, but I am reminded that - ‘A prophet is not welcome in his or her own hometown’. I know that it will not always be as quiet as it has been during the past weeks, and that there will be times that I have to make tough decisions that

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may not be pleasing to one party or another. At those times the ‘prophet’ may not be welcome, but I am here to do a job. I remind myself that Chief Superintendent Shanta Knowles is on the island of Eleuthera to carry out the mandate of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Priorities are not rekindling with family and that sort of stuff. While I cannot separate family, I believe family and friends should know that if they are proud of me being on this island, they too would work to build peace in the community. So, I believe the challenges will come when I begin to make tough decisions, and I am prepared for it. I’m here to do a job - to be firm but fair - to everyone, and to be professional and respectful at all times. That is what I stand on. I am human, so I may make mistakes, but I think that I am approachable. So if there is an error that I am making, or there are toes that I am mashing - I believe that people would be able to come and talk with me. My door is open - and we will work it out.”

Highlighting her new and capable management team across Eleuthera, Chief Superintendent Knowles said, “I have Superintendent Franklyn Neely, he is my second Officer-In-Charge, and he is based at the Rock Sound Police Station. Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Manzell Dorsett is in Central Eleuthera, Governor’s Harbour. ASP Anthony McCartney is in North Eleuthera, and ASP Nigel Rolle is on Harbour Island. I also have Sgt. Pornell Brown on Spanish Wells. That’s my management team for Eleuthera. All of the different districts also have an Inspector on the ground.”

“I would like the people of Eleuthera to know a woman who is a daughter of the soil is home, and I would wish that they would partner with me, so that we could enforce the laws here on the island, but more importantly so that we can build relationships and better our communities here on Eleuthera. That is what I would like to see happen. Let us work together to make Eleuthera even better than it is today. I would like to leave here knowing that I’ve left a positive mark here in Eleuthera,” encouraged OIC Knowles.

RELATED Chief Supt. Shanta Knowles along with Assistant Superintendent M. Dorsette, Inspector J. Newbold and a team of officers, walked the roadways and visited numerous businesses establishments in the settlement of Governor’s Harbour. Ch/Supt. Knowles was introduced to the business proprietors as the new commanding officer of the Eleuthera Division.

The team also visited with a variety of persons involved in various endeavours of commerce in the Central Eleuthera District. This was said to be done in an effort to strengthen relations between the Police and local business persons. Chief Supt. Shanta Knowles was also said to have thanked the accompanying team officers for being a part of the walk-about. She deemed the walk-about a success, commenting, “A true community is not just about being geographically close to someone or a part of the same social web network. The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”

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Illegal Migrants dignity and respect. That is what we want to ensure happens.” These numbers, pointed out Minister Bell, adds to the numbers of migrants already being held in the dentention center, which held more than one hundred people [from the Sept 9th and 18th apprehensions], before the latest arrivals.

He stated that those already in detention had to be dealt with in the ongoing process of repatriation - which he emphasized ‘has not stopped’.

With the numbers now coming into the country, Minister Bell, commented that they were working to ensure that migrants would be repatriated as quickly as possible.

“We also intend to reach out to our US counterparts, to ask about one of their carriers to take all of the people directly back from Inagua to Haiti in one trip... As I indicated, I cannot speak definitively on that as yet, but we are pursuing...”

When asked about migrants being tested for Covid-19, he replied that the main concerns seen to date had been incidents of dehydration. “We have not come across any cases to date that warrant extreme concern that there is Covid-19 among them...” he said.

Seeing the numbers of Haitian migrants attempting to enter the US in recent weeks, Minister Bell was asked about how The Bahamas looked to ramp up security within its southern borders. He responded that security was very high on the agenda, and spoke about vessels purchased in the ‘Sandy Bottom’ project when the current government was last in office during 2012 to 2017, from ocean ferries to vessels for coastal and shallow patrols. “Minister Wayne Munroe is in direct communication with the Commodore of the Defence Force to ensure that we block the channel between Inagua and Haiti - that is critical. So, we are deploying our assets in those areas... Given the numbers, there is information that there may be more coming. We have a number of fishermen in the area, and we’ve asked them to be on the look out for these persons. I was made aware recently of a Dominican Republic vessel captured as well...

There are some fundamental issues that have been ongoing that we will have to address authoritatively and decisively - inclusive of constructing a proper multi-purpose facility in Inagua that can not only house the numbers

Haitian migrants onboard HMBS LAWRENCE MAJOR on the way to Inagua. of immigrants, but to also act as a hurricane shelter - the time has come.”

Taking the current financial constraints as a result of the pandemic and recent hurricanes into consideration, Minister Bell commented that such a project must still be seen as a priority, given the current situation in Inagua, and possible continued future migrant challenges in that area.

He commented that a sitting mag-

istrate position may also have to be considered for Inagua, given the due process necessary for repatriations, adding that Chief Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt and her team traveled to Inagua on Sunday, September 26th, 2021, and began court proceedings on Monday morning. “We have to ensure that we strike a balance in protecting human rights, while at the same time protecting our borders and our Bahamian citizens, keeping the country safe.”

When asked about reports of pastors in Inagua being asked to house migrants within their facilities, Minister Bell replied, “When we arrived [in Inagua] there were in excess of 350 migrants being held under tents at the Police Station. We had to ensure that we didn’t spark an international incident, and even apart from that, as a Christian nation, we had an obligation to ensure that these people are properly housed, fed and

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have proper facilities. So, we were under an obligation to find a place immediately, and we had to go within the community. We had to ask the Anglican church, and the non-denominational church, and we had to look at the school. At the end of the day, the Universal church came to our aid, and I thank them publicly and can’t thank them enough. We have to now get them out of that facility as quickly as we can, having regard to due process.”

In answer to a question on expected timing for repatriations after the completion of court proceedings on island, Minister Bell stated, “We anticipate repatriating 916 Haitians back to Haiti by the end of this week, “adding, “... that is very very aggressive, and that depends on whether we get the cooperation of the US in terms of providing us with a carrier, also on the availability of one or two Bahamasair flights, along with getting the cooperation of the Haitian government in the repatriation process - who’ve historically been very cooperative with a quick turn-around in terms of accepting their residents back.”

Minister Bell, emphasized the need to keep open lines of communication with Haiti going forward and indicated that Prime Minister Davis, along with Foreign Minister Mitchell began that process while at the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, September 25th, 2021.

In answer to a direct question about allowing this latest wave of illegal migrants the opportunity to stay in the country, Bell was firm in the government’s current policy stance of having zero-tolerance of illegal migration, and encouraged people seeking to enter the country, to do so by legal means.

He also stated that multiple government agencies were now communicating, coordinating efforts and working together. “I want to assure the Bahamian public that your government is on top of it, and we will keep you informed with proper information, and we will ensure repatriation takes place as quickly as possible.”

To encourage the assistance of local donor agencies and volunteers, Minister Bell added before concluding the session, “The Haitian people are facing multiple crises in their country, with natural disasters like earthquakes, and political instability - heightened by the recent assassination of their President, so those agencies, like the Red

n at i o n al Cross, who have contacted us already, thank you, and those who can donate supplies and volunteer assistance as Christians, let us know.”

Illegal migrant arrivals in the country continued during last week of September. On Wednesday, September 29th, 2021, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force reported the apprehension of yet another Haitian vessel off Ragged Island, with one hundred and thirty-seven (137) migrants on board.

Coordinated repatriations conducted by a joint Defence Force and Immigration security team, began on Friday, October 1st, according to Immigration Officials, with three Bahamasair charter flights departing Matthew Town, Inagua bound for Cap Haitien, Haiti with three hundred and eighty-four (384) Haitian nationals on board. A fourth Bahamasair chartered flight departed New Providence as well on Friday with ninety-three (93) Haitian nationals, picking up an additional thirty-nine (39) migrant passengers in Inagua, before continuing on to Cap-Haitien, Haiti.

Ministers Wayne Munroe (National Security) and Keith Bell (Labour and Immigration) issued a joint statement on Friday, October 1st, 2021, expressing the government’s resolution in addressing the current influx of Haitian migrants attempting to enter the Bahamas, by defending the country’s territorial sovereignty and protecting the Bahamian people - adding that no resources would be spared, with all involved agencies working to address the situation.

The Eleutheran

boat, RBDF air support, and their respective crews.

The officers of the Department of Immigration have contributed their efforts to the safe detainment of migrants and the Royal Bahamas Police Force has provided a safe boat, as well as the support of its officers. The United States Coast Guard has provided the support of five USCG Cutters, three helicopters, and fixed wing support.”

Ministers Munroe and Bell, thanked the men and women of the participating government agencies for their hard work and time sacrificed away from loved ones to fulfill their duty to the country, adding that although they did not know how long this spike in illegal migrants would continue, they would continue to empower those on the frontlines with resources, and ensure that migrants are treated humanely and quickly repatriated.

The two concluded, “We will continue to prioritize the allocation of resources and improvements of systems to develop capacity for the short and long term. As stated, our number one priority is the protection of our borders and the citizens of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”

Detailing some of the actions taken, the statement outlined, “...the government has taken decisive action to scale up operations. These measures have resulted in the interception of migrant vessels in the southern waters of The Bahamas, preventing passage into the Central Bahamas near New Providence where they were typically intercepted in past years. The routes to New Providence and other islands have effectively been cordoned off.

We have also expedited the repatriation process so that the migrants who are currently here can be processed and returned to their country in record time.

“Resources deployed for the benefit of this operation include the HMBS Rolly Gray, HMBS Lignum Vitae, HMBS Lawrence Major, an RBDF safe

Haitian migrants intercepted on Thursday evening, September 23rd, 2021.

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Haitian migrants apprehended on Saturday, September 25th, 2021

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New Bahamas Government Cabinet

Six ministers and five ministers of state were sworn in on Wednesday, September 22nd, by the Governor-General as part of the new Cabinet of The Bahamas led by Prime Minister Hon. Philip Davis.

The new ministries announced comprise Social Services and Urban Development; Labour and Immigration; Environment and Natural Resources; Transport and Housing; and Grand Bahama.

During the swearing-in ceremonies held on Wednesday at the Baha Mar Convention Centre, Prime Minister Davis said all hands on deck are needed to address the pressing challenges now faced by the country.

“I am proud that some of the best of those hands are part of our parliamentary team who can bring expertise, experience and industry to the task at hand,” said the Prime Minister.

Ministers appointed include: • Hon. Obediah Wilchcombe, Minister of Social Services and Urban Development and Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly; • Hon. Keith Bell, Minister of Labour and Immi-

gration; • Hon. Vaughn Miller, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources; • Hon. Mario Bowleg, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture; • Hon. Jobeth ColebyDavis, Minister of Transport and Housing; and • Hon. Ginger Moxey, Minister for Grand Bahama.

Ministers of State include: • Hon. Basil McIntosh, Minister of State for the Environment; • Hon. Myles Laroda, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister; • Hon. Pia Glover-Rolle, Minister of State for the Public Service; • Hon. Lisa Rahming, Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development; and • Hon. Zane Lightbourne, Minister of State for Education.

The new ministers of state, said the Prime Minister, will support the urgent and important work to be carried out by the new administration.

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cabinet

Prime Minister Davis said that while each title and role carry specific responsibilities, government agencies must work together to achieve the best results.

“Because government is organized by ministerial portfolios it is easy to forget the jobs that we do are intertwined,” said the Prime Minister.

“The many arms of government must work together.”

n at i o n al The first ten ministerial postings were announced on Saturday, Sept 18th and Monday, September 20th, 2021.

They included: • Deputy Prime Minister, I. Chester Cooper, Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation; • Sen. Ryan Pinder, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs • Hon. Frederick Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Public Service; • Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minis-

The Eleutheran ter of Education, Technical & Vocational Training; • Hon. Alfred Sears, Minister of Works and Utilities; • Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, Ministry of Health and Wellness; • Sen. Michael Halkitis, Minister of Economic Affairs, and Leader of Government Business in the Senate; • Hon. Clay Sweeting, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs; • Hon. Wayne Munroe, Minister of National Security; and • Hon. Jomo Campbell, Minister of State for Legal Affairs Following the first set of appoinments earlier in the

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week, Prime Minister Philip Davis in remarks during the swearing-in segment of the ceremony, commented that his Bahamas Cabinet member appointments reflected the breadth and depth of the competencies and characteristics of his team - and descibed the group as having, “experience combined with innovation, expertise combined with a willingness to see things anew, integrity and a strong sense of purpose.” He added, “They are receiving these appointments because of their determination to get things done.”

On September 24th, Prime Minister Philip Davis was sworn-in as Minister of Finance, rounding out the ministerial postings in the new Bahamas Cabinet.

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