The Eleutheran Newspaper March/April 2022 Issue

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Volume 15, 3/12, March/April Issue

Eleuthera, Harbour Island & Spanish Wells, The Bahamas

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` and Information. We Deliver!’’ Monthly In Print & Daily Online.

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Giving: Hands For Hunger Expands to Eleuthera, in move to branch beyond The Capital

Harbour Island, Spanish Wells & Eleuthera

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

JOIN IN Join the ongoing combined efforts to tackle litter across the island!

- Page 6 MOE Hanna-Martin Tours Eleuthera Schools Fourteen of the seventeen public schools within the Eleuthera District were visited personally by the Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training, the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin during the month of March 2022. During a two-day tour of the island to assess the state of education in the district, Minister Hanna-Martin met face-toface with administration teams for the first time, and spoke P4 individually with the District Superintendent of Education

ADVICE - 13

OPINION - 12

Selling A Home To Family ADVICE - 14 Intentional Parenting

Legal International Order Ask The Doctor - 15 Silent Killer?

- Page 26 -

Our People, Life, Moments, Celebrations, Efforts, Strides...

Governor General of the Bahamas’ Tour of Eleuthera, ends abruptly near the end of a mid-morning visit at the Primary school in Hatchet Bay.

HIGHLIGHTED: COVID numbers dip to zero in Page 11 March.

Quotables - 13 Upcoming - 6/23

- Page 29 -

Embrace Digitization Says PM Page 35 Page 17

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MOE Hanna-Martin Tours Eleuthera Schools Page. 1 (DSE) Mr. Michael Culmer about expectations and goals of education in Eleuthera.

Stopping in at each of the schools, the minister was able to see them with her own eyes, and in real-time, view what principals are working with, said the DSE, following her visit. “She was able to see what needs exist and walk the campuses, also to interact with the students and go into the classrooms,” he added. Minister Hanna-Martin also held a meet-

ing with the island’s principals at the end of her first day of touring, where they had exclusive access to her as well as other accompanying Ministry of Education officials - to express the successes they’ve had and to make the minister aware of the different challenges they were facing and to appeal for assistance with those.

Accompanying Minister Hanna-Martin was Minister of State for Education and Technical and Vocational Training, Zane Lightbourne, Director of Education Marcellus Taylor, Deputy Permanent Secretary Donavon Turnquest, Undersecretary Sonia

Above: Minister Hanna Martin and State Minister Lightbourne Visit Emily G. Petty Primary School. Also pictured (left) is Clay Sweeting, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs (MP Central & South Eleuthera).

Culmer along with other Ministry officials.

On Thursday morning, March 17th, after arriving on island through the Rock Sound airport, Minister Hanna-Martin and her team began the school tour in Governor’s Harbour at the Emily G. Petty primary school, before moving on to P.A. Gibson in Hatchet Bay, Gregory Town primary, then on to the North Eleuthera High School, finishing up on Thursday at Laura L. Ander-

son Primary, before heading to her meeting with all principals and teachers from both public and private schools on Eleuthera.

On Friday morning, for the team from the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training, the day began at Central Eleuthera High School, See MOE VIsit

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Eleuthera Calendar of Events 2022

The local Eleuthera Tourist Office noted in April 2022 that since the pandemic began in 2020 most public events had been cancelled, however, with recent government removal of some of those restrictions, many local event committees and organizations were now in the process of planning their first meetings, bringing in new members and leaders and making plans for the upcoming months of 2022 and 2023. The Eleuthera Tourist Office stated, “As we receive the updated information the Eleuthera Events calendar 2022/2023 will be edited to reflect.”

Prepared by: (Mrs. Samantha Fox, Senior Officer, Eleuthera Tourist Office)

UPCOMING EVENTS: •

James Cistern Heritage Homecoming (April 14th - 18th)

This event is held to raise revenue for the residents and bring together locals and visitors for a time of enjoyment.

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Hands for Hunger (HFH) Initiates Pilot Expansion Program in Eleuthera Hands for Hunger (HFH), a major food bank in the Bahamas, which currently operates in New Providence piloted their first Family Island program expansion in Eleuthera with an initial distribution effort that took place during the weekend of March 26th, 2022.

Executive Director, Keisha Ellis in an interview about the visit explained, “We’ve just now grown to the place where we can begin to steadily expand into the Family Islands, and so we’ve started with Eleuthera... This is still a pilot program, so we are working out the logistics and figuring out the best way to operate - and we hope to be able to have a steady presence in Eleuthera very soon.”

Before deciding on Eleuthera, the organization first gathered information about the existing need and possible point people they could partner with to reach residents. “At the beginning of the year we took an initial trip to Eleuthera, where we actually walked around settlements in the north and the south and spoke to people. We knocked on doors, we were sitting in the parks - asking people (do you feel that in your life you could benefit from food assistance?), and we found that there was a resounding yes from a number of people. A number of people said that there were times where they felt they could really benefit from someone helping them with a little bit of food. So what we have heard from people is that in many cases it’s not

(Contact: Mr. Denario Evans, denario_ evans@yahoo.com, (242) 425-6136)

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Rock Sound Homecoming Festival (April 15th 18th)

This event welcomes both locals and visitors to the Rock Sound area to enjoy great food, live entertainment, and good fellowship among one another.

(Contact: Mr. Brian Major, rocksoundbeverages@gmail.com, (242) 376-1454)

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We Farmer’s Market 10th Anniversary Edition (April 23rd, 8am - 4pm)

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that they feel they need constant assistance.

But many people said they have experienced times - like when they are in between jobs, or they are waiting for a check to clear or something like that - where they can really benefit from having food assistance, like the kind that Hands for Hunger provides,” said Ms. Ellis.

She continued, “We’ve put together food parcels that we hope can feed a family of four for about a month. Now we wish that we could supply all of the food needs that people have. Of course that’s difficult, but we think that the food items we are providing will definitely make a difference to people - especially those that are feeling an acute and immediate need right now.” The basic makeup of the food boxes distributed by Hands for Hunger included: cereal, oats, Healthy Choice soups, tuna, sardines, mackerel, corn, fruit mix, oranges, apples, bread, eggs, tea, cream, cooking oil, rice, flour, grits, sugar, tomato paste, and Kraft macaroni.

Further explaining the organization’s overall goal on the island, Ms. Ellis said, “The way that Hands for Hunger operates is that we test out and refine models before we set up anything permanent. So, right now that’s the phase we are in - the pilot phase. We want to spend the next few months really refining the system, esP7 tablishing solid partners on the island, and patching out a really

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HFH in Eleuthera

good logistics plan. Once we have all of that we are hoping to be able to steadily increase the number of times we are able to distribute to Eleuthera. The culmination will be with us actually having a food pantry set up in different areas in Eleuthera - so that we are no longer sending food every few months on the mailboat, but we have a regular and permanent presence on the island... This weekend was our initial distribution and we hope to be able to do one by the next quarter, and then we will increase in frequency as we fine tune the details.”

To realize their goals on the ground HFH reached out to members of local government, church pastors and other leaders already within the communities. “So, in the north we are working with Vernon Neilly, in the south we are working with Kennord Mackey, and in central we are working with pastor Orlando Thompson - whose church does a lot of this kind of work already...,” said Ms. Ellis. Ahead of their weekend arrival HFH also established contact with individual point people or liaisons in each township throughout the island. “These are the point persons who already know their communities really well and can help us, especially for this initial trip, to target the people who can benefit most from the food that we are providing immediately.

During the March 26th weekend distribution HFH had two refrigerated trucks on the island, with one going north and the other south to be able to cover both directions. The aim was to cover at least 250 families in each area of south, central and north, with about 1000 food boxes delivered across the island.

At the end of day on the Saturday, after dropping off boxes at their final location in central Eleuthera, Ms. Ellis described, “Today has been a great experience for the Hands for Hunger team. With our two trucks, I think we can safely say that we’ve covered the island of Eleuthera as well as Current Island and Spanish Wells. We are excited to have been able to connect with the people of Eleuthera, and to be able to give a small token of a promise to work even more with the island and continue our outreach here... It has been an adventure. We arrived on Friday via the Island Link with our two trucks, as well as an additional five pallets of food. With the help of amazing Eleutherans, we were able to get all the pallets off, and one truck headed north, while the other headed to Rock Sound. On Saturday, our groups hit the road at 7:30 am to begin distributions in the north and south, and the two trucks both regrouped in James Cistern during the midday, where they were restocked with the additional five pallets and then continued distribution in the Central Eleuthera area. In each settlement the Hands for Hunger group connected with community point persons who collected food boxes to redistribute to families in need in the townships.”

In Palmetto Point 50 food boxes were delivered to the Cancer Society, Eleuthera Branch Wellness Center in the charge of Mrs. Sonia Moss-Sands. “I was elated when Hands for Hunger reached out to me, as I had worked with some of the organizers in other capacities... One P47 thing I know that Covid taught us is that we cannot judge people, as the need for help comes in many faces. I did not want to

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Fundraising Group/ Healthcare Donor ‘CJC’ Celebrates 10 years Catch Jerry Chile (CJC) Run/Walk Celebrates Tenth Year The ‘Catch Jerry Chile’ (CJC) Run/Walk event held in James’ Cistern annually, under the cork tree in the center of the coastal township, celebrates its tenth year this coming May 7th, 2022.

The brainchild of businessman and running aficionado, chairman Mr. Miska Clarke, along with CJC partners, Nurse Bernadette Colebrook (co-chairman), Mr. Angelo Rolle and Mr. Romeo Rolle - all from James’ Cistern, the Catch Jerry Chile event was seen ten years ago as a way to fund raise and help upgrade health services in the Central Eleuthera area, as well as to encourage healthy lifestyles of activity and exercise.

Beneficiaries of the fund raiser during the past ten years, said Mr. Clarke, include the Cancer Society, the James’ Cistern clinic, Hatchet Bay clinic, Police and Emergency services with jaws of life equipment, life-saving equipment (defibrillators and more) for clinics in Hatchet Bay and Governor’s Harbour/Palmetto Point, as well as hurricane assistance and assistance to local residents in need during the height of the pan-

demic. This year all proceeds, he shared, will be given to the Health Association of Central Eleuthera (HACE), which operates volunteer emergency ambulance services for local residents in the area. “What is significant is our goal is to raise $10,000 this year. We are already on track to do that and even more. We are 65% there already. Most of the money is raised from the t-shirts, with sponsors paying to be included on the back, as well as the sale of the t-shirts,” Mr. Clarke added.

On the day of the Run/Walk, slated for Saturday, May 7th, 2022 set to begin at 6:30am, the CJC committee expressed that the public is welcomed to take part in the early morning event, which spans about five and a half miles, beginning at the cork tree in James’ Cistern, along the highway, to the end of the Governor’s Harbour airport runway and back. Mr. Clarke shared that he would love to see more local residents come out and take part, including those with medical issues or who are overweight - to begin to make walking a part of their lifestyle, and to take care of themselves.

First, second and third place trophies will be awarded, he said, to the top three runners, walkers and children.

“What we do with CJC, we do it for our community. We try to make a difference - a direct difference in the community, and we cannot do it unless everybody lends a hand. Let us help us, and we will have a stron-

ger community,” emphasized chairman Clarke.

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Health Services COVID-19 Rules Relaxed,

Eleuthera Cases Almost At Zero During the month of March 2022, Eleuthera saw some of its lowest numbers since the beginning of the pandemic, as just one active case of COVID-19 was reported within all five districts of The Eleutheras, including North, Central and South Eleuthera, Harbour Island and Spanish Wells.

Up to April 6th, 2022, according to Ministry of Health officials, Eleuthera had no active cases, no one in quarantine, and no one was under investigation for COVID-19.

On March 12th, 2022, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, released a statement announcing a relaxation of several of the Health Services COVID-19 Rules, saying it remains cautiously optimistic about the country’s progress in the fight against COVID-19.

In the case of social gatherings, the release read: “A person may host or attend a social gathering indoors

at a private residence or a facility, provided that attendance is limited to seventy-five per cent of the occupancy of the private residence or facility. All attendees must either be fully vaccinated or present a valid negative COVID-19 test result and adhere to COVID-19 protocols.

“A person may host or attend a social gathering held outdoors with not more than three hundred persons provided that all attendees must either be fully vaccinated or present a negative COVID-19 test and adhere to COVID-19 protocols.

“The public is further advised that concerts, fetes, carnivals, or fairs, Junkanoo or carnival parades (inclusive of practice rallies) require the approval of the Emergency Operations Committee at the Ministry of Health & Wellness.”

In relation to mask requirements, the statement continued, “A person

is not required to wear a face mask while in a lobby, corridor, or casino of a hotel or while in an outdoor setting where there is at least three feet of space between persons who are not of the same household.

“Disabled persons or persons with specified medical conditions are not required to wear a mask provided such persons have in their possession a medical certificate or letter signed by a medical practitioner proving the existence of such disability or medical condition.

“The public is reminded that every person is encouraged to wear a face mask while away from his/ her residence and in the company of persons who are not members of his/her household. A face mask must fit securely to the face of the wearer, ensuring that both his/her nose and mouth are covered at all times.

“Business establishments are

required to deny entry to any person not wearing a face mask or not wearing a face mask in the manner described in the paragraph above.

They should also ensure that their employees are fitted with face masks and wear them in like manner at all times when in the presence of other employees or customers.”

About social distancing requirements, the statement further read, “Persons shall practice physical distancing of not less than three feet between himself/herself and others who are not of the same household whenever he/she is away from his/ her residence.

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Those who damage legal international order must be held to account

By Sir Ronald Sanders

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States of America and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto) Opinions expressed are his own.

Over the last few weeks since the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, the world has witnessed the greatest weakness in the machinery entrusted with maintaining international peace and security.

That machinery is the UN Security Council in which 5 permanent members each have a power of veto over all decisions.

The weakness is the inability of the Council to function in the global interest when one of

the five exercises a veto.

The five permanent members are: Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States of America. During the last seven decades, each of the 5 has exercised the veto with Russia casting more than any of the other four. Altogether, Russia accounted for 49 per cent of the vetoes; the US, 29 per cent; Britain 10 per cent; and China and France 6 per cent each. In every case, the country that cast the veto did so to protect its own interest and not that of the global community.

In most cases, the threat to use the veto is enough to paralyze the UN Security Council from taking any action, however grave may be the circumstances that demand such action. Recently, Russia has used that threat in relation to its invasion of Ukraine and its violation of international law and the principles set forth in the UN Charter.

This immobilization of the Security Council caused the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to ask its members at a meeting on April 5, “Where is the security that the Security Council must guarantee?”.

In an emotional address in the aftermath of evidence of atrocities in Ukraine by the Russian military, including the slaughter of civilians who were shot in their heads while their hands were tied behind their backs; the rape

and murder of women; and the cutting off of limbs and tongues, Zelenskyy told the members of the Council “to dissolve yourselves altogether” if they could not stop Russia from “blocking decisions about its own aggression”.

The Ukrainian President’s anger and frustration is understandable, especially by militarily powerless countries that could also be the victim of aggression and who depend on the Security Council to safeguard their sovereignty and territorial integrity. Without action by the Security Council, no country is safe from a determined predator nation with the military power to enforce its ambitions.

It is important to note that Russia has not only severely damaged the international legal order, it has also undermined confidence in it. Worryingly, it has also violated the established rules of war. And, yes, even for war, there are internationally agreed rules that are set out in the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the First Additional Protocol to the Conventions and customary international law.

The laws of war prohibit willful killing, rape and other sexual violence, torture, and inhumane treatment of captured combatants and civilians in custody, pillage and looting. Yet, from the evidence gathered by authoritative international agencies, including the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and revealed on global television images, all these laws have been broken by Russian forces in Ukraine.

Russia’s claim that the images from Ukraine are fake caused UN Human Rights Offices to explain that its investigators “followed painstaking forensic procedures to ensure the veracity of any video or photographing emerging from scenes of possible war crimes”.

Paralysis of the Security Council forced the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to act twice concerning the devastating situation in Ukraine. On March 1, the Assembly adopted a resolution deploring Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and demanding the withdrawal of its military forces. Russia ignored the General Assembly’s resolution and escalated the violence, and its attendant atrocities. Then, on April 7, the UNGA, expressing “grave concern at the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and reports of human rights and violations of humanitarian law”, decided to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council – a huge step against a powerful nation.

The suspension of Russia showed a clear determination by the majority of the world’s nations to rebuke the Russia government for its disregard of international humanitarian law and the rule of international law. Ninety-three coun-

tries voted in favour of the decision and 58 abstained, even though the Russian government had publicly threatened that it would regard abstentions as “unfriendly”.

Russia’s response to the suspension was to announce that it was leaving the Human Rights Council altogether. However, despite its disdainful public reaction, the Russian government can hardly be comfortable with its increasing isolation in the global community. It is significant that, for the most part, the 23 countries that supported Russia in rejecting its suspension are ruled by like-minded tyrannical regimes. These include North Korea, Iran, Syria, Belarus, and the Central African Republic.

For the rest of the world, particularly small developing states in the Caribbean, the words of UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, echo with significance.

He says, “the full-fledged invasion of Ukraine is one of the greatest challenges ever to the international order and the global peace architecture”. Small states need global peace in which to develop and grow. They also need secure global economic conditions.

In a policy document to be discussed in a month’s time, the IMF and World Bank have identified the adverse effects of the war in Ukraine on Caribbean economies. These effects include higher prices for oil and food; significantly increased costs for transportation by sea, air and road; a negative impact on tourism; and importation of inflation from trading partners where costs have rapidly risen.

These conditions will lead to demands for fiscal strategies that could include demands for increased government revenues by more taxes and for reduced expenditure at a time when more spending is required on infrastructural investment, rebuilding crucial productive industries, and education and health. To avoid this, the developing world needs global peace and stability.

For all that to be achieved, the war on Ukraine must end, respect for the international legal order must be restored and growth of the global economy must resume – and all who disregard the international legal order must be held to account.

Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com

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SELLING A HOME TO FAMILY Selling a home to a friend or relative can be an easy process, but then again, things can become a bit messy.

In an arm’s length transaction where the buyer is separated from the seller, each party will try to get a price advantage.

When a friend or relative is the buyer, there may be the expectation that the seller will lower the price because of the relationship.

The seller, on the other hand, expects to receive what the home is worth.

What’s the solution?

That’s easy. The price should reflect the fair market value of the home.

A BREA appraiser will be able to cut to the chase.

You may be tempted to buy or sell a home without professional representation, thinking you’ll save money. After all, you know the other party so it will work out to everyone’s advantage, right? Not necessarily.

A BREA appraiser can help deter-

mine the fair market value of a home under current market conditions, based on his or her opinion.

The Buyer If you are buying from a friend or family member, you need to protect your own interests. Don’t rush or feel pressured into deciding.

Most sellers think their homes are worth more than they are because they are emotionally attached to them.

They don’t see that the roof is old or the windows don’t close properly they’re used to these types of defects.

Therefore, it’s important to ask an impartial professional to value the home. The professional will look at comparable homes that have sold in the area and in similar condition and will make the necessary adjustments.

The Seller If you are selling to a friend or family member, you may be more casual about the process and feel pressured to sell the home for less than it’s worth.

If you can afford to be generous, that’s great. Just don’t make decisions you will regret later. Base your decision on logic as opposed to emotion.

Buy

and Sell with Confidence When buying or selling to a family member, avoid straining a relationship by using the services of professionals who are impartial.

By Mike Lightbourn Questions or comments?

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

Quotables Corner QUOTE: “We must look south and north... We are grateful to our friends and allies for all that they do, but the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic brought into sharp and humbling focus that our self-interest may well be more fully aligned with those who live like us: Small Island Developing States; small economies with narrow economic bases; and small populations whose voices already resound loudly on the world stage, but not loudly enough to carry the argument. We intend to push an agenda that includes a strong focus on solutions hoping that our common interests will help us narrow our ties and strengthen our bonds. We are already exploring several paths forward which we believe offer opportunities for regional and international co-operation. If we can come together to address the biggest, most existential threat facing humanity, then surely we can overcome some of the other obstacles which have historically prevented the region from working together more closely and more productively. This is a tomorrow worth fighting for.”

(Bahamas PM Philip Davis, at the Fourth CARICOM-SICA Summit, March 3rd, 2022)

QUOTE: “I want to be clear that though I seek the way forward to be one of mutually beneficial partnership, the thrust of this administration is first and foremost progress. And we are not willing to sacrifice progress pursuing partnerships that will not bear fruit. There is no chance that we allow the status quo to remain. Always, we will try to work together to move our nation forward. But governments have a responsibility to act in the national interest, even if that is not to the liking of a few.”

(Bahamas Deputy PM, I. Chester Cooper, addressing a meeting with Nassau downtown property owners ahead of a roll out of a sustained redevelopment plan for the area, March 22nd, 2022)

QUOTE: “We’ve seen an uptick in violence throughout our country... The incidences in violence amongst children, and increased aggression. We have also seen an increase in aggression [in Eleuthera], and one of the things we are trying to do from our schools’ point of view is to help our parents develop some skills, and to help our young people develop skills, as well as teachers and administration - so we can find a way to nip this in the bud... We need to be intentional and proactive in addressing some of the instances and issues that are perpetuated by our children in social media. We have cyberbullying being done in these Whatsapp groups - where adults are excluded. A group is designed for people to quickly disseminate and receive information, and the group now becomes corrupted when created to push an agenda to exert power and control and those who refuse to conform to this group think, they are attacked - verbally, and with threats - cyberbullying. We want to encourage parents everywhere to know what their children are doing in cyberspace. Be fully aware of your children’s digital social footprint. I have seen it where there has been a proliferation of profanity and pornography and all these negative things... We need to encourage our students to use these tools of our smart phones to actually do some smart things.”

(Eleuthera District Superintendent of Education, Mr. Michael Culmer, Interview - March 25th, 2022)

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Intentional Parenting: Disciplining to Help, Not to Hurt

Teri M. Bethel Are we intentional about how we raise our children, or is it a case of no planning and no goals—whatever bucks up happens? Have we taken the time to assess the situation, or are we content with fussing or beating them? Let’s face it, most of us raised in the Bahamas during my generation, at least, are keenly aware of “get the switch, or get me my belt!” That didn’t mean there were no time-outs though we did not have such a fancy name for kneeling in the corner. Growing up, our punishment went beyond the usual chores. It more often came in the form of exercise. More particularly, laps in the pool, something some child counselors consider taboo, as it may turn kids away from the desire to exercise or become involved in sporting activities. It did neither to us. We were all athletic, and our dad wanted to make the punishment count, so he opted for the laps. Although it was a pretty tiresome workout, daddy’s discipline rarely took the form of a belt, even when we loaded the pool with his massive exercise mat and an assortment of wrought iron lounge chairs, hoping to float across the pool.

Sadly they all converged in a pile of debris, cushions too, 12 feet deep.

The laps for that transgression were sidelined while the pool was drained to retrieve the patio furniture. The lecture, tone of voice, and visible irritation of our father equaled a thrashing as we kneeled in the corner with our siblings.

Our mom, on the other hand, was Johnny on the spot with their six boisterous kids, running her ragged.

Engaging in rock wars with the neighbor’s kids or hiding frogs in the housekeeper’s bag and other personal items was deserving of more than just another tearful warning with promises to tell our father. Mom believed in the power of the switch, which she had us retrieve for our spankings. In our naivete, we opted for the fresh green

narrow ones, which stung like a wasp on the backs of our legs, causing us to spin like tops as mom’s able swatting came down with the rhythmic beat of her words. Whether good or bad, we survived. For the most part, except for the laps, their’s was a punishment style handed down from their parents.

When our children came along, it was modified. We knew nothing about parenting styles, although we did have in-depth marriage classes. We heard, “spare the rod, and you spoil the child,” from our elders. When our boys started showing up with their fleece warm-ups on with the interior lined with towels letting us know that they were ready for their spanking, we realized perhaps it was time to find another method of disciplining them. Hence, the removal of privileges, which often hurt more than a spanking. One of America’s founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, was the 15th of 17 children born to his mother. Franklin was said to have coined the wise phrase regarding child-rearing, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

Should I spank my kids?

But how do you know what parenting style is suitable for your family? Some children are responsive to verbal correction and do not need physical intervention. There are some who get the message when their punishment fits their misbehavior. Others need a more decisive point of reference to remind them that their wrongdoings have substantial consequences. Claire’s daughter Emma got nothing. Emma rebelled from she was a toddler. Instead of setting guidelines on how Emma was to behave, she was allowed to have her way; if she didn’t, she would scream her head off until Claire gave in. This happened through Emma’s teenage years until she had a nervous breakdown before her twentieth birthday. Emma later confided that she believed her problem was her parents did not love her enough to discipline her—she needed their guidance.

Claire said it was because she loved Emma she did not discipline her.

Emma resented her parents and broke off all communication with them.

Experts agree that children take their cue from their parents. If you are loud and don’t listen, or are always preoccupied, then chances are your children will respond in the same way.

How about shouting at your child?

Are you surprised when they raise their voices at you? If you randomly hit them with whatever your hands

can find in sensitive parts of their body, are you surprised when they hit back or begin to fight others? For some, the only parenting skills they have is what they have picked up in their homes. For the most part, it was not effective then; still, it is continued without doing any research on the best way forward for the children in their care. For those still battling with child-rearing issues, tellisandteri.com offers free resources for parents and family enrichment.

Is there a difference between spanking and beating a child?

The Bible says in Proverbs 22:15 that “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction will drive it out.” Many take this to mean you beat the daylights out of a child. That is not discipline—it’s child abuse. Whatever happened to loving your child, being kind and merciful by disciplining them for their wellbeing and the safety of society as a whole?

If you are spanking a child, your instrument should be consistent, like a ruler, and should never be a shoe, a tool, a pot, a hose, etc. If you feel that you have to spank a grown child, you may have faltered in your communication with them in their formative years. Beating a child until they bleed or are bruised, or in random areas of their body, including their face, is not a spanking; again, it’s child abuse.

Parenting experts agree that children should be informed, warned, and then given a decisive punishment that fits their wrongdoing. If tempers are running high, take a moment to calm down before speaking to a child.

Raising your voice, using expletives, and hurling unkind words at them has never improved a bad situation. Instead, you end up causing irreparable damage when calmer heads could have prevailed for a more positive outcome.

Some passive parents go to the extreme of not disciplining their children because they feel their parents were too heavy-handed. Author and speaker Joyce Meyers says, “Discipline is your friend, not your enemy.”

This statement applies to children and adults. When Candice told her daugh-

A bout

the

ter to remain inside while speaking to the neighbor, the 7-year-old defied her by going outside. She was embarrassed that the child blatantly disobeyed her but offered no firm instructions for the child to go inside. Minutes later, the little girl moved to the front lawn, then through the gate about to walk onto a busy road, looking back to see if her mother would respond. Had the car horns not alerted the mother to her child’s whereabouts, the end could have been tragic. Candice could have raised her child to listen and obey her instructions, not for control but to preserve her life. As usual, there were no consequences to the child’s disobedience which emboldened her to continue to defy her mother.

Live by example There are so many new-fangled parenting styles available today that can put you in a tailspin. The old adage, “children should be seen and not heard” has stalled out along with the typical beat the child unmercifully until their will is broken—as though they were wild stallions. The more commonly known styles are authoritative, authoritarian, attachment, permissive, free-range, helicopter, and uninvolved/neglectful.

The best way to teach a child is to live your life the way you want them to. To be intentional by example. One of the most significant challenges parents face is expecting children to become who they are not, without giving them the time to be groomed into who they could become. Thomas A. Kempis’ said it this way, “Be not angry that you cannot make others become who you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself who you wish to be. So should we aim for perfection in raising our children with an unbalanced sense of discipline, or should we make it our business to develop a relationship where they can be influenced to love and respect others by the great example they see at home?

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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Do you know more than 70% of Bahamians suffer from this Silent Killer?

Most Bahamians know multiple other Bahamians who have died from a heart attack, stroke, or cancer. It’s because these diseases are the leading causes of illness and death in our country and the entire western world.

Why are we so sick? The answer is due to a silent killer, Diabesity. Diabesity describes a continuum of disease from optimal blood sugar balance, to insulin sensitivity, to fullblown diabetes. It is the leading cause of most chronic disease in The Bahamas including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, dementia, cancer, weight gain, and obesity.

Each of these disorders is essentially different manifestations of the same underlying problem, rather than separate diseases, therefore, treatment requires that we address the underlying cause. Diabesity is a lifestyle problem⸺what we eat, how we think, sleep and move. The good news is a cure is possible. No one has to develop these diseases or live with them forever. You can choose to live free of preventable illnesses today!

By Dr. Arlington Lightbourne, Bahamas Wellness Eleuthera Medical Center

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Disney Begins Work at Lighthouse Point,

Mar/April, 2022

Support This: Author of the Year Gospel Nomination

Public Road Relocated Disney Cruise Line (DCL) announced early in March 2022 that it had received a Certificate of Environmental Clearance, Site Plan approval, as well as other required permits from the Government of The Bahamas to begin work on its Lighthouse Point project, and that construction was set to start.

Local hiring began by DCL, with a job fair held in Rock Sound on March 5th, and in a release DCL stated that contracting of local businesses would accelerate.

The public access road leading to Lighthouse Point was closed by DCL on March 2nd, 2022, for safety reasons they cited, as equipment

was brought on to the site. They informed that a new temporary road would be constructed, to be opened once again for public access use on April 15th, 2022 (Good Friday).

For more information on the Lighthouse Point project the public was invited in the DCL release to visit https://lighthousepointbahamas.com/ OR to email dcl.bahamas@disney.com.

In the Photo Above: Work ongoing for the DCL man camp in early March 2022 (location: Wemyss Bight, South Eleuthera

North Eleuthera District’s chief councillor, Pastor David Armbrister was nominated recently by the S&M Gospel Indie Awards in the United States as ‘Author of the Year’ for his first book - ‘Surviving my storms, and how I overcame them’. The Awards Show is slated for August 2022 in North Carolina.

One local supporter commented, “We need everyone to vote for him and to support our very own.” (https://www.smgospelawards.com/voting)

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Open Letter by CIWiL Expressing ‘Grave Concern’ over Sentences Handed Down for Rapes of Minors “Caribbean Women in Leadership, Bahamas National Chapter (‘CIWiL’) has observed with grave concern some of the recently disclosed judicial sentences handed down for Rapes against minors. These sentences have moved us to ask: What is the Value that We place on Children? What is the Purpose of Parents and Guardians? What is the Purpose of our Prosecution and Judicial Processes and those who are key Principles in it? When a society begins to justify rape and unlawful sexual acts against minors by adults, it gives permission and continuing license to the depraved to prey upon children.

Where is the outrage of our Men or is this practice fully embraced by Men and silent Women? The culture of older men preying on younger children is legitimized via the silence and the all-too-common jokes and comments about sexual acts with young girls; comments and jokes and silence which go unchallenged along with the ‘pimping out’ of young bodies for ‘things.’

The physical and psychological damage caused by acts of rape is unending- ‘infecting’ generation after generation. CIWiL says “No More!” and condemns these heinous criminal acts.

CIWiL’s members are outraged at the apparent shifting of blame from the perpetrator to the victim and her family. We believe that our entire population and those entrusted with a duty of care for protection and to dispense Justice must understand the gravitas of these heinous acts on

children and by extension the larger community and generations yet unborn.

CIWiL is disappointed regarding the obvious insensitivity of those in the prosecution and judicial services and the casual ‘throw away’ treatment given to too many victims as signaled via the appallingly light sentences of late. Being a member of a gang in The Bahamas attracts a more severe penalty than the perpetrator who has raped a 10-year-old!

We fully expect those encharged with protecting, prosecuting and sentencing those individuals who are convicted of sexual offences, especially against children, to do their jobs and fully perform their roles. The penalties under the Sexual Offences Act exist and should be closely adhered to.

We expect the utilization of all sentencing options to be creatively employed including, in addition to custodial sentences and probation, the imposition of e.g. a ban of the convicted person for a significant period from the driving of a school bus or any vehicle transporting children with whom the convicted person is not related or the cancelling of a Public Service Driver’s license.

We look forward to the urgent opening and full functioning of the Sexual Offences Court so that matters can be addressed in a timely manner.

Regarding the much-vaunted Sexual Offenders’ Registry - What is the status of its implementation? The Public needs to be aware of the Reg-

istered Convicted Predators. If not, there is the possibility that such Convicted Persons can remain in positions of trust or roles which provide easy access to vulnerable children and re-offend.

Parents/Guardians have a Sacred Duty to Protect minors and, upon occurrence of a sexual crime, Report all crimes and any abuse against minors. Those engaged in the Judicial System and the Police Force- have a Sacred Duty to Secure Justice especially on behalf of these ‘Little ones’. ‘The Least of these’ We expect to see, by actions implemented, the National Regard and Assessment of the Value of Our Children and our Future.

Should you have any questions please contact our Chairman; Mrs. Charlene Paul at crpfree@live.com or 422-3766.”

Respectfully yours, Charlene Paul Chairman (Pictured Above)

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Stakeholders assess food control systems in the country with aim of ensuring food safety readiness (Food safety readiness is to ensure food security and public health.)

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to new businesses in food services and trade while at the same time raising concerns about food safety and our heavy reliance on agri-food imports.

Having effective, efficient and sustainable controls in place to ensure the safety of food, the health of con-

sumers and fair practices in trade has therefore become even more important.

To this end, over 30 stakeholders were recently trained during an Inception Workshop on Assessing Food Control Systems in the Bahamas, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and The Bahamas Agricultural Health and food Safety Authority

(BAHFSA). Various stakeholders including representatives from BAHFSA, the Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation (BAIC), and The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) attended the four-day workshop that culminated on March 24th, 2022.

Geared towards assessing current food control and surveillance systems in the country, the workshop gathered stakeholders focused on helping the country to improve its food security and trade, whilst improving control of food safety and consumer protection. The participants gained a better understanding of the design and functioning of a modern food control system and of the importance of collaboration among Competent Authorities for the system to work effectively. Technical assistance in conducting the assessment was provided by FAO experts in food safety and control systems, with support from the BAHFSA team.

Dr Crispim Moreira, FAO Representative for the Bahamas remarked that “the Food Control System Assessment was pivotal in enhancing the nation’s preparedness in food safety and public health, while strengthening trade practices and the resilience of food systems and livelhoods”.

The Bahamas is the first country in the Caribbean region to be undertaking this pilot assessment that uses the FAO/ World Health Organization (WHO) Food Control System Assessment Tool, which is based on the Codex Alimentarius principles and guidelines.

Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs, Hon. Clay Sweeting expressed his delight that the Bahamas was one of the two countries embarking on the use of this tool. He highlighted that the assessment was necessary to “improve cooperation and coordination between the various agencies with responsibility for the agricultural health and food safety system, and to identify key priorities and activities necessary to improve food safety along the entire food chain”.

He added that there was a need to “continue to empower individuals to fully embrace a culture of food production and equip the relevant competent authorities to take on the responsibility of ensuring that food, whether imported or produced locally, is safe and wholesome for consumers”.

The pilot assessment will also be taking place in Guyana with a regional follow

up meeting to share the experiences, lessons learnt, benefits and challenges of the assessments with other Caribbean countries.

Going forward the participants will begin the actual assessment of the food control system of the Bahamas by gathering information from all relevant food and agriculture authorities in the Bahamas in the coming months, the participants will gather again to endorse recommendations for improvements towards a robust food control system and develop a framework for action and engagement of key decisionmakers to ensure commitment and political support.

Dr. Moreira concluded in his remarks that “Food control is not a country issue but a regional and global issue that requires collective and coordination action.

The assessment process is a necessary and vital step in strengthening the country’s and the region’s sustainable agricultural and food value as well as support to food export markets”.

Source: FAO Communications, The Bahamas

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Social Services Minister notes young people are facing tremendous challenges protected such as in the home, churches and online. And in most cases, at the hand of those who are there to protect them.

It is, therefore, important for communities to work together to prevent these atrocities against our children.” She urged people to be alert and report any thing suspicious to the proper authorities.

She also charged attendees to join her in a pledge to prevent all forms of child abuse, be they physical, emotional, verbal, educational, mental or spiritual.

It was noted that chief among child abuse cases in the country were cases of general neglect, abandonment, failure to provide, physical, sexual (chiefly incest) and verbal abuse.

The Bahamas is a signatory to the United Nations Rights of the Child Declaration, which defines children’s rights to protection, education, health care, shelter and good nutrition.

Source: Bahamas Information Services By: Betty Vedrine

The Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development officially launched the month of April as ‘Child Protection Month,’ under the theme, “No Excuse for Abuse, Stop the Violence.” A press conference was held in the Hearing Room of the Department of Physical Planning, April 1st, 2022. (BIS Photos/Raymond Bethel)

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10am to 5pm Mon. to Fri.

The Ministry of Social Services & Urban Development on April 4th officially launched the month of April as ‘Child Protection Month.’ The month-long event is being observed under the theme, “No Excuse for Abuse, Stop the Violence.” A press conference was held in the Hearing Room of the Department of Physical Planning, J. F. Kennedy Drive, on Friday, April 1st, 2022.

Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Obadiah Wilchcombe delivered remarks, noting that attention must be given to the young people of the nation. He said: “Young people are facing tremendous challenges in this country. In fact, many are losing their lives at a very young age… stories of children being abandoned is especially heartbreaking.”

Mrs. Ann Marie Davis, of the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister, is Patron for Child Protection Month 2022. She said it is a great honor to serve as patron for this worthy cause.

“Child Protection is a movement that is dear to my heart,” said Mrs. Davis. “It is an inherent need for us to protect our children from abuse, neglect and various forms of violence. We must note that child abuse is not only physical, though. It is also emotional and can leave people permanently scarred. Children are frequently abused in places where they should be

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f e at u r e

An Eleutheran Profile: BY elizabEth bryan

Introduction: Sitting on the front porch of her home, soon to be dubbed ‘Savannah’ in Governor’s Harbour, atop a breezy hillside, with fresh breezes fanning our faces, The Eleutheran had the opportunity to sit and chat, over a bowl of fresh conch salad, with an icon of tourism in the island for nearly 35 years, and avid community activist, Ms. Jacqueline Gibson, about her life and times.

Early days: Born to her young mother, Helen, on September 17th, in 1957, Jacqueline would spend the first eleven years of her life in the tranquil community of Savannah Sound. “An early memory for me was the way the environment was. No air-conditioning, you sleep in the upstairs with the windows open and it was like air-conditioning, so that was nice. You walked everywhere, there were no cars or anything. You had to walk to the farm - I didn’t like that too much, because my Grammy used to put a whole bunch of stuff on your head. And on Sunday’s everyone after Sunday school just walking around the settlement holding hands - that was nice. A good memory too was going to school - where the school is now, the building is still the original outer structure, and having outdoor classes under the tree - I really liked that, as the school was just one big classroom,” Jacquie began as she tugged out early childhood memories.

“You had respect for everyone, and everyone was ‘cousin this’, especially older people, you never called anyone by their first name. And then there was a sense of sharing among neighbours. And one thing that really still stands out is Savannah Sound celebrating emancipation. Every August both the Methodist church and the AME church, we had these big festivals - and you would go to what was called the Temperance Hall, and you would have a feast! Not macaroni and cheese and all that, but we had cakes - the ladies got together and made different cakes. The highlight was if you got a piece of pound cake from Kelly’s in Nassau that had come on the boat. We also made lemonade - there were no sodas, and we called it ‘ja-bim’. Our old Sunday school teacher, Mr. Bertram Bullard, used to call it ‘ja-bim’. So, that’s what I knew it as. The amazing thing was the ice - you would get these big blocks of ice, that they used to break with an ice pick - it came from Nassau on the boat - the Anna Patricia (mailboat). The old adage of it takes a village to raise a child, that’s the way it was while I grew up. This was probably the case with most settlements on the island, because if you did anything that was out of character or wrong, any older person could chastise you, and my prayer was that it didn’t get home to my Grammy - because my Grammy had a way of using her special switch that she sent you for,” smiled Jacquie - as memories flooded their way into clear view in snippets.

Family and Favour: “Actually, I grew up with my grandmother (Elvira Gibson). My mother had me at a very early age, and she left the island, so I was my ‘grandmother’s child’. Everywhere she went she took me, and it was just me and her. She was at the time the only Church of God of Prophecy person in the town. Although I was Methodist, she was a ‘jumper’ so every March when the Church of God of Prophecy had their conventions, we would go on the ‘Air Swift’ to go to convention. There were two popular persons in the Church of God of Prophecy that we used to live with - sister Lily and brother Fred Ferguson - in New Providence - and we would go every year. Then the conventions in Tarpum Bay and Hatchet Bay, we went to them, because I remember Samuel Johnson quite well, we stayed with him, and Mrs. Meadows, we would go and stay with them. So, all of those places she took me with her. So, for me, I grew up around a lot of older people, and I think it helped me to really have a good appreciation for manners and behaviour,” shared Jacquie.

Jacqueline’s mother Helen, married her stepdad Charles Evans from Andros, and they had two sons - Jacquie’s brother Keith (now deceased), and her brother Evan. “There were not a whole lot of siblings for me, but you know you had your cousins - like my cousin Sheila who was like a sister, and many other cousins who I was friendly with, who I grew up with, but as

Mar/April, 2022

Ms. Jacqueline Gibson for me, I was like an only child. My grandmother only had three children, and she had them spaced out. My mom’s children, there are three of us, with four years in between each of us,” she explained.

At home: As a young girl growing up, Jacquie learned how to do many things - and like all children, some things were fun, and some were not - but all were woven into the fabric of her life to come. “I learned how to cook and how to make bread. I really enjoyed eating, but I hated the process of... you know holidays in the town, like Easter, August holiday weekend - we are talking about excursions now, but as a child, there were real boat excursions where the entire town got ready for people from out of town to come, who would come back for August holiday and Christmas - We had to clean up and get everything in order. I remember, let’s say they killed a pig, going to the water and cleaning the intestines for souse. I didn’t like having to grate the potatoes and the cassava on the homemade grater. This gentleman by the name of Oscar Sands - he was the father of Henry Sands of the famed ‘Prince Loaf’. He used to make the homemade graters, so it was attached to a board and you had to grate all these things. And they had the oven on the outside, you cleaned the yard, and you actually swept the rocks. When you hung up your clothes you wiped the line down. The street in front of the house was well kept. There were so many things. When you had to wash you used the tub, and you washed all the whites together - and there was this thing called ‘Blue’ for the whites that made the clothes so white it hurt your eyes. Then you had this starch that you had to soak the clothes in, and then hang them out, which made them really stiff. So that’s another thing too, there was ironing day, including the bedsheets and pillowcases - you had to iron, and this was not with electricity. When I was growing up we didn’t have electricity.

You had to put the iron on the stove and you would heat up your irons you would have three stacked (the cooler one you’d use for jersey material, and the real hot one was for linen, so I had to learn how to iron).

You were prepared for life doing all these chores. Everyone did their part, also scrubbed wooden floors on your knees, using a wire scrubber or sometimes turbot skin. You felt in a

Above; Ms. Jacqueline Gibson.

way that it was too much sometimes, but it prepared you for life,” said Jacquie.

Church life: Jacqueline enjoyed her young experience with church, saying, “I grew up in the Methodist church in Savannah Sound, and the joy of the Methodist church was Sunday school. The superintendent of Sunday school, Mr. Bertram Bullard, had an oversized hymnal, with many of our favorite old hymns. We also had productions, and I didn’t act or sing so well, and forgot half of my recitations, but I fully enjoyed it. My early upbringing was in the Methodist church and later on I ended up in the Baptist church.

However, I believe that where ever God is, it’s okay - it doesn’t have to be a particular denomination, if you are serving Him in spirit and in truth, that’s the place where you need to be.”

Moving on: Jacqueline was a standout during her final year of primary school.

“In 1969, the last year the common entrance was offered, I got a scholarship to Queen’s College (QC). I was turning 11 that September. My grandmother was so proud, because at that particular time, I was the only young person in Savannah Sound who had passed the

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common entrance, and they were so elated, because you know my godmother, Rosetta Gibson used to teach me, and she used to tutor me, so that was a proud moment, when I got to go to QC.” She continued, “There were so many young people from Savannah Sound who were in QC and who were in the hostel, so was my cousin Sheila, who was four years older than me. So, it was like, I had mentors when I first went. The hostel was still a controlled environment. My cousin was there, and you only got to go out on weekends. So, I didn’t experience a culture shock with Nassau, and my great grandmother (Felicita Wallace) also lived in Nassau. So, I got to go out on weekends and spend weekends with her. I can remember the address (Father Callen Road, the second house on the left, at the back of St. Barnabas church) I think some of the family still owns that home. I would go and spend time with her, and she used to make homemade bread and ensure that I had a loaf to take back. So, I still had the island feel, and Nassau was not as different from the island as it is now, because you could walk around back then. When I was in the hostel we would walk from the hostel in Village Road to the Shirley St. theatre on a Saturday, because we were allowed to sign out and go to the movies - with a chaperone. This was before Independence. We saw films like (Hercules), and you had your allowance to get your popcorn, and I could remember before every movie, I remember they played the British anthem (God save the queen).”

There was comradery and a sense of community with other family island students while at QC described Jacquie, “It was a great experience going to QC and living in the hostel with 50 boys and 50 girls. The girls were on the top floor, all from different family islands. So, we got to marry the cultures of other islands. Even when our families sent us stuff, we got to taste different things that different islands prepared. Like Lorraine Rolle’s mom from the movie theatre would send hamburgers, someone’s mom from Long Island would send them boiled crab and dough, and all these different things we used to have so it was like family. What the QC hostel did for all of us, is it taught us etiquette, we had to learn to properly set a table, and had to eat and dine with six of your peers each day. We would take turns setting the table,

f e at u r e serving each other, cleaning up, and washing the dishes.”

The Eleuthera students, during her time in high school, shared Jacquie, loved the fact that they got to travel home on a jet plane, “When we came home on summer breaks and holiday times, we used to come on Pan Am, the jet, from Nassau to Rock Sound, and we always wanted to be the first ones to get off the plane. You know they had the high steps going up to the jet, and so the first heads off would be our QC people.” Jacquie smiled as she reminisced.

After spending five years completing her high school education, at the age of 16, Jacqueline graduated in 1974 with her high school diploma with honours.

Career and Community: After returning home to Eleuthera, Jacquie lived with her stepdad and mom, who had also moved to the island. However, very sadly, her mom would pass away at the very young age of 37.

Jacquie’s first job after returning home was at Rogue’s Cove in Palmetto Point, and she was like a sponge, taking in much more than her job description called for. “Although I had been hired to work in the front desk and in the office, you had persons like Verna Cooper who was the chef, and a very good one, so I learned how to cook some stuff from her and improve my skills in table etiquette. Then there was a gentleman by the name of Lionel Thompson, and I saw him mixing up all these drinks, so I wanted to learn how to mix drinks as well - so I tended not to just stay in the office, but tried to get out and see what else I could learn. Now the only thing I did not push to get into was going to clean the floating villas, because I didn’t like maid work - I think the memories of scrubbing floors on my knees. Even at QC we were given chores, and the chores I didn’t like were domestic chores - although you had to do them and you knew how to do them,” said Jacquie smiling.

From Rogue’s Cove, she then joined British Fidelity, selling insurance across the island, “I liked that because of the drive, and it paid well. So, I used to go on the road to Harbour Island and Spanish Wells, and I had some good friends there.”

Jacqueline then got a call with an

offer to work as a clerk in the Commissioner’s Office, and again, took the opportunity to learn as much as possible. “I had the opportunity to roam the island with the Administrator and the joy of working with the older people, like the farmers that treated you so well. Back in the day they went all out - I had a signature then with the government accounts, and although I was a clerk, I was one who didn’t have a problem with going out when he had to go to local Board of Works meetings, taking minutes, and the fact that I went out I got to learn stuff, so the only thing I didn’t know how to do at the Commissioner’s Office at that time was to sit on the bench - albeit, I still went through all of the books as they had to manually take notes and I read the different cases to be familiar with them - but I never sat on the bench.”

In 1987, at the age of 29, Jacquie heard about an opportunity in Tourism. “I really like being with people, meeting people and I just felt that because of my start, with my first job being in the hotel industry and being in a position, because of limited staff - to do so much... and in terms of being able to administer or understand the overall run of a Commissioner’s Office, and having had the signature, and having learned how to balance the books, and doing all of the things that you had to do for government - I thought I was well positioned to head a department.” So, she vied for the position with the Ministry of Tourism. “I was delighted that they hired me. So, I was seconded from the Department of Local Government to the Ministry of Tourism in 1987. I was in Nassau first, then in Andros for a little bit as part of my orientation. In Andros, I had this little office in the Administrator’s office, where it was so small, when using the typewriter, I sometimes had to type with it in my lap, and when visitors came, I would have to go outside because all could not come in,” smiled Jacquie at the memory.

After a short time, she returned to Tourism in New Providence for several months to complete her orientation, going through all of the departments. “When I came back home, I had all these ideas in my head... I really wanted to make a difference, so I started coming up with action plans... That’s the joy that came, because I already knew what the needs of the community were, so I started to think of what I could do... What was interesting was that back in the day, during holiday times, the place to go was Miami, because you wanted to go and shop. So, people were going

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by ‘dray loads’ to the States during holiday time and I thought about how we could get people to come to the islands,” said Jacquie about her desire to make a mark as she took on the responsibility of officially opening the Ministry of Tourism office, covering the entire island of Eleuthera (inclusive of Harbour Island and Spanish Wells).

In her first year representing Tourism, Jacqueline would go on to become a founding member of the famous Pineapple Festival. She was also a Past executive for the All Eleuthera Regatta committee, and was also involved in the establishment of a Sister City relationship with Jensen Beach, Florida.

“One thing that I believe really made a difference was the Pineapple Festival, because you know we had the Regatta, but we didn’t have any festivals like that. I grew up in a settlement where you had a church festival in August, so getting ideas from my friends and Cordell Thompson who was a good boss at the time, who encouraged me and said this is something that we can do. I put the ideas together in consultation with him - he is a brilliant man, and one of the best bosses I ever had, because I was able to tap into his brain and learn so much from him...

When we came up with the Pineapple Festival, which was supposed to be my brainchild, the first year was so successful - with the whole idea of getting people to think, ‘Why not go to the islands’, and then I was delighted to see other people take our example and idea and make it their own for their islands - that was a great feeling for me. People now wanted to go back to the islands in droves,” shared Jacquie about the Pineapple Fest brand, of which she is very proud.

During the second year of the Pineapple Festival, Jacquie found out that she had not been alone in 1987 with the idea of celebrating the culture of the pineapple. A Tourism colleague during a sales meeting introduced Jacquie to Jensen Beach in Florida that also held a Pineapple Festival. Amazingly, Ronald Rose, of the Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce revealed that they had started the Fest in Jensen Beach during the same year as the Fest in Eleuthera.

Through communication and research, it was found that Bahamian pineapple farmers had assisted in the development of the Jensen Beach P23 pineapple industry, so Eleuthera Member

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CONS ERVAT I ON CORNER

Mar/April, 2022

Fast Fashion and Climate Change What is Fast Fashion?

Every year, we as a global society produce 92 million tons of clothing-related waste. This is enough discarded clothing to fill one garbage truck every second. This wasteful practice is a result of the modern ‘fast-fashion industry’ which mass-produces inexpensive clothing in response to the latest trends. It’s cheap, it’s trendy and it’s disposable. However, this mindset towards fashion comes at a cost to both people and the planet.

Fast Fashion & The Environment:

The fast fashion industry is the second-largest generator of pollution on Earth, after the oil industry, and the industry is responsible for 10% of all global carbon emissions. This is more carbon emissions than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. This concerns small island developing nations like The Bahamas who will bear the brunt of climate change if CO2 emissions continue to increase globally.

These emissions primarily come from the production of synthetic materials like polyester.

While cheaper to manufacture, these synthetic materials produce nearly 3x the amount of emissions when compared to natural materials, like cotton. Furthermore, synthetic textiles release plastic micro fibres into the environment when they are washed, making up approximately 35% of all marine micro plastic pollution.

Fast fashion is also responsible for up to one-fifth of industrial water pollution. Wastewater, containing chemicals, dyes, salts, and heavy metals used in clothing manufacturing processes, is commonly dumped directly into rivers and streams of producing countries, posing a threat to both environmental and human health.

Fast Fashion & Social Justice:

Fast fashion is primarily produced in lowincome countries for consumption in high-income countries. Fast fashion companies often exploit the lack of labor laws and regulations

in these countries to increase their clothing production, leading to unfair wages, long work hours, and unsafe working conditions for garment workers.

Water pollution caused by the fast fashion industry not only hurts the environment, but also pollutes essential drinking water sources and damages natural resources (healthy soil, fishing grounds etc.) that local people rely on.

What can we do to mitigate the impact of fast fashion on our climate, environment and local community?

Wear, appreciate, and take care of the clothes you already own. Learn to mend and repair clothing instead of throwing it away, and if it can’t be fixed, find a way to repurpose it into something else. If you need new clothes, consider thrifting and buying second-hand, purchasing from sustainable brands, and or organizing a clothing swap with your family and friends.

November 2021 was an exciting month for climate action for the world. With the COP26 (United Nations 26th Climate Change Summit) happening, The Island School staff and faculty were inspired to do some work in climate resilience here in South Eleuthera. As the climate continues to change drastically every year, we must ask ourselves, what can we do as a collective rather than as individuals to make a difference?

On December 4th, 2021 and March 5th, 2022, The Island School held Eco-Swap Meets as one way to answer this question. The goal of this was to introduce community care as a form of climate action. At the Eco-Swap Meet, people brought in clothes, shoes, hats, household items, plants, seeds and electronics to exchange with others for free, and also safely dispose of and recycle aluminum cans and dead batteries.

In encouraging exchange of items from different households, we were able to upcycle and recycle, and give items a second life, discourage fast fashion consumerism and divert waste from local dump sites.

This event was part of The Island School’s mission to align with COP26 climate change goals and U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. Finally, Community care is a simple way to combat climate change. This is just the act of taking care of all members of our community. In making sure that everyone has needs taken care of, such as being clothed and having food to eat, we help to create a more equitable society. This is a goal set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Having more equitable societies where everyone’s basic needs are met is a direct way to fight climate change.

Source: The Island School By: Zoe Brown, Marjahn Finlayson & Dorlan Curtis Jr.

Photos on page; Residents take advantage of Eco-Swap Meet events at The Island School.

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Profile - Jacqueline Gibson

of Parliament, Philip Bethel got involved, and as a result, Prime Minister Pindling actually signed a proclamation of exchange, declaring Jensen Beach and Gregory Town as Sister Cities.

CALENDAR 2022

This event is in celebration of CTI’s anniversary. There will be a junkanoo rush-out, local farmers and artisans with their products and produce on display, delicious food, fun and games for everyone.

Jacqueline would go on to serve in the Ministry of Tourism in Eleuthera for 35 years, and is the longest serving Ministry of Tourism official in the Family Islands. She was promoted through the ranks to General Manager in 2011, and recognized throughout her career in Tourism for her outstanding performance, which culminated in her receiving the Ministry of Tourism Woman of the Year Gold Award in 2018. Ms. Gibson also received a nomination for the prestigious Icon Awards in 2018 in the area of Humanitarianism. During Jacqueline’s career, she also obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Professional Management from Nova University, and is also a certified massage therapist after completing a course of study at Florida College for Natural Health (formerly Florida Institute).

(Contact: CTIFARM@ONEELEUTHERA.ORG, (242) 825-4053)

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International Food Fair -

World of Flavours (April 22nd - 12 noon)

This event takes place on the Parish Hall Grounds, Gregory Town, Eleuthera. Locals and visitors come out to enjoy dishes prepared from around the world. Persons can also take part in free screenings such as blood pressure checks, glucose, HIV, health talks, and rapid covid testing.

“It’s been just amazing, we’ve evolved and done so much here in Eleuthera, and I’ve moved up the ranks in the Ministry of Tourism. I feel I’m at that sweet spot now where I have to focus a little more on making a difference in giving back.”

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Ms. Gibson is set to retire on her birthday this year, on September 17th, 2022. However, she says she has no plans on giving up her community activism. “My callings, like Rotary and Cancer Society, those things - as long as I live, I perhaps won’t give that up, because it’s a way of giving back and making a difference both within my community as well as globally - that is special,” explained Jacqueline.

Hatchet Bay Clinic Fun Run/Walk/Ride (April 23rd, 7am - Breakfast souse also on sale)

Join the folks at the Hatchet Bay Clinic as they enjoy a day of fun walking, running, and riding to encourage people within the community to practice healthy living. Registration: Adults-$20 Kids-$15 (12 and under)

Over the years she gave herself tirelessly to volunteering and giving back within her community. This led to Jacquie becoming involved with both the Eleuthera Branch of the Cancer Society as well as the Rotary Club of Eleuthera. She became the vice president of the Cancer Society of Eleuthera in 2009, until 2015 when she took over the presidency up until 2018. She still remains actively committed to the cause, serving as an advisor to the board.

Jacquie is also one of the charter members for the Rotary Club of Eleuthera, and served as the first female Club President from 2012 to 2013. Under her presidency, the club received numerous awards and touched many facets of the community. “I am just thankful to God,” said Jacquie, “He has purpose for me. He has blessed me well and sometimes

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(Contact: Hatchet Bay Clinic, (242) 335-0091)

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things may not be the way I want them to be, but when I step back and think of his goodness, I refocus my thinking.”

As she heads into retirement, Ms. Gibson shared some words of wisdom for those coming up in the Tourism industry, saying, “There is that old saying that manners and behaviour will carry you around the world - treat everyone with kindness and respect. Whatever you do has to be done so well, that you are being the very best that you can be. I think sometimes we settle and we forget. We don’t have respect. We are not kind enough; we are not giving enough. Learn to give, learn to not watch the clock. There are days when you may not have much to do, but on days when you have to do something - don’t stop until you are finished. Don’t say I won’t do this because I don’t get paid for this... In terms of a visitor - what if you are in a foreign land and need assistance, wouldn’t you want someone to look out for you.

I just believe in giving kindness and respect, and being the best that you can be. As you give, the Lord will continue to replenish you.”

Island-wide Cleanup Campaign (April 23rd)

This activity needs all handson deck to assist with cleaning up areas such as Three Island Dock, Palmetto Point Dump, and Central Eleuthera. Persons are also encouraged to donate to assist with vehicles for dumping trash etc.

(Contact: Mr. Eric Wallace, cleanbeacheseleuthera@gmail.com, (242) 818-4914)

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Catch Jerry Chile 10th Annual Road Race (May 7th, 6:30am)

This event is held in James Cistern, Eleuthera annually.

Funds raised are donated to the Health Association of Central Eleuthera (H.A.C.E).

(Contact: Mr. Miska Clarke, (242) 359-7995)

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Harbour Island Backyard Festival (May 21st)

The Ministry of Tourism’s Signature Harbour Island Event Showcasing the Island’s culture. It’s a visitor’s WOW experience!

(Contact: Ministry of Tourism, Harbour Island, (242) 333-2621)

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Governor General’s Official Visit to Eleuthera Curtailed

His Excellency, Cornelius A. Smith and Lady Smith in Hatchet Bay. Governor General of The Bahamas, HE the Most Hon. Sir Cornelius A. Smith was airlifted from Eleuthera to New Providence on Thursday afternoon, April 7th, 2022 after experiencing, what an initial assessment by doctors indicated was ‘heat exhaustion’. Later in the afternoon that Thursday, the Governor General was reported to be under observation at Doctors Hospital in the capital, and was expected to be okay.

Sir Smith had arrived in Eleuthera on Thursday morning to begin an official four-day visit to the island, with his itinerary on both Thursday and Friday including stops into schools in the north, central and south Eleuthera to speak with students across the island. Two senior citizen luncheons were planned as well for Thursday and Friday in north and south Eleuthera with the Governor General. He was celebrating his 85th birthday on the day he arrived in Eleuthera and was accompanied by his wife, Lady Smith.

The Governor General, before the incident, did have the opportunity to engage with students of three primary schools on the island, from James’ Cistern, Gregory Town and Hatchet Bay at his first scheduled stop in at the P.A. Gibson primary school, where he was entertained with the quadrille dance, a medley of Bahamian cultural songs, and presented with gifts.

He spoke to students from the three schools about aiming to make their mark in the story of The Bahamas, highlighting historical greats from Eleuthera, like P.A. Gibson and Timothy Gibson, emphasizing that if they

could make a difference, every one present could also achieve. He reminded them to listen to their parents and teachers, to not get distracted while in school, and that God made each of them as unique individuals who could accomplish anything they wished to accomplish.

Also joining the Governor General on his school tour in Eleuthera were, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs the Hon. Clay Sweeting and the Hon. Sylvanus Petty (MP North Eleuthera) and Mrs. Petty. While at P.A. Gibson Primary, the Governor General and Lady P27 Smith, along with the

Above (L-R); Minister Clay Sweeting, His Excellency Cornelius A. Smith and Lady Smith, NE MP Sylvanus Petty and Mrs. Petty, plant a yellow elder.

Above: Cultural song ‘Naughty Johnny’ performed for the Governor General during his visit.

Above: Quadrille dance performance by P. A. Gibson students during the Governor General’s visit to their school.

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MP’s also planted a yellow elder tree in the school’s garden. An outside photo session with students, faculty and the Governor General followed the program, and during this photo session, Sir Smith indicated that he was not feeling well.

According to the secretary to the Governor General, Jack Thompson, the Governor General was then taken to the local clinic and seen by a doctor, who advised that he seek further medical attention. His Excellency was then airlifted to New Providence and taken by ambulance to Doctors Hospital. It was said that he was awake and aware during the entire incident. The office of the Governor General issued a statement on the evening of April 7th, saying that Sir Smith remained at Doctors Hospital under observation by his medical team, and continued to rest comfortably.

Unaware that the Governor General had left the island, another fully planned program was waiting to get started at the North Eleuthera High School, for Thursday afternoon on April 7th. Teachers and students from schools in Harbour Island, Spanish Wells and North Eleuthera, were seated and awaiting his arrival when news came of the abrupt change in circumstances. It was decided however to continue with the program, which also included cultural performances, tree planting and a bevy of gifts, along with an 85th birthday cake presentation for HE Sir Smith, which was recorded for his later enjoyment.

A statement released on Sunday, April 10th informed that GG Smith remained under observation at Doctors Hospital. No further updates were released before press time. Cynthia Alexandra Pratt, CD, JP was sworn in as Deputy to the Governor General on Monday, April 11th, 2022.

Above: Educators from across North Eleuthera together for the anticipated visit by the Governor General.

Below: Students from schools in North Eleuthera sing songs and perform dances in honour of HE Sir Smith.

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Commonwealth Day Celebrations at

The Children’s Place Commonwealth Day, observed each year on the second Monday in March, was recognized in some form or another at schools throughout Eleuthera. For the 54 member countries (almost all of which are former colonies and territories of the British Empire), of which The Bahamas is one, the day is an opportunity to promote the group’s shared values of unity and diversity and is celebrated by people across the world - in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific - through a wide range of activities and events including flag-raising ceremonies, church services, school activities, and more.

Students and teachers at The Children’s Place and Wellington Prep in Spanish Wells, recognized the day with their 3rd Annual Commonwealth Day celebration held on Fri-

day, March 18th 2022. Colourful projects were prepared with researched information about different Commonwealth countries, and on the day, students set up presentation tables, which also included a sample dish from their chosen international locale.

Alexis Knowles, a teacher at The Children’s Place shared that the event was an opportunity to expose their students to places that they may have never heard about before, to introduce them to or to review research skills, to be able to find information and put it into their own words, as well as the elements of creating a project for presentation.

In addition to table-top presentations, the day included a brief official ceremony, with a message read from the Bahamas’ Governor General, and children from the different

grade levels read out poems and other written works about The Bahamas. Students from the Island Dance Academy also performed a flag dance, and were joined by students who had brought flags representing their displayed country.

Photos on page: Students at The Children’s Place in SW showcase their Commonwealth Day projects as well as poetry and dance. Photos By Alexander Symonette.

Teacher Ashley Knowles & student displaying the Canadian flag.

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Clean Beaches Eleuthera Plans Island-Wide Cleanup In a recent release, ‘Clean Beaches Eleuthera’ (CBE), a local organization focused on inspiring volunteers to take part in scheduled clean up efforts on beaches, road sides and parks across Eleuthera, announced an island-wide clean up event, set for April’s upcoming ‘Earth Day’.

Executive Director with Clean Beaches Eleuthera, Eric Wallace stated, “We are planning an “Island Wide” Clean Up on April 23rd (Earth Day Weekend) that will target roadsides, parks or beaches that are problem areas on the island. For now, we are looking at doing three key sites (North, Central and South) so as to galvanize as many people to one area as possible. We have identified Three Island Dock (North Eleuthera), the roadside at Palmetto Point Dump (Central Eleuthera) and the roadside between Waterford and Deep Creek (South Eleuthera) as key target sites.”

Mr. Wallace, updating the public on CBE’s efforts during the past year, and plans for the months ahead shared, “We started this journey around Earth Day 2021, and to-date we have successfully cleaned and properly disposed of over 7,600 pounds of trash from our

shores... Based on our data, approximately 45% of our total was from illegal dumping and 55% was from marine debris. Either way, we (humans) are the cause, but we are also the solution. As a part of our mandate over the next year, we are looking to strengthen our community partnerships and engagement, as well as increase our visibility and education around this important mission.” He also thanked the Eleuthera public for the support shown to their mission to-date and expressed that continued public help was critical to future efforts.

Wallace encouraged residents to join in upcoming clean up events, to spread the word with friends and neighbours, and to reach out to Clean Beaches Eleuthera through their Facebook page. He also highlighted the organization’s need for volunteer assistance with trucks, as the cost was as high as $80 per truckload of garbage. He added, “If you would like to be a part of the cleanup, or join our planning group, please advise!

Thank you for partnering with us to make Eleuthera litter free, One Beach, Park or Roadside At A Time!”

Above and Below: Clean Beaches Eleuthera volunteers conducted cleanups at beaches in Double Bay, Cotton Bay and Islandia in recent months.

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Songbird, Actress, Teacher of the Arts - AADA Sr.

Dreaming Big in Hollywood

Songbird and aspiring actress, 28-year-old Malikah Pinder, of Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera - as she readies to graduate from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. in May of this year, shared a bit about her recent journey towards her dream of performing.

Several nights before her interview, Malikah had played the lead role (Dorothy in ‘Wizard of Oz’) in a stage play at the Academy. She said performing began for her at an early age, “I’ve been singing since I was five, when my Mom put me on the stage.

I would get on the stage and cry, and my Dad would have to come and rescue me on the stage. I grew much bolder, and my parents never let me give up, and kept putting me out there.

They knew I would do something with those talents.”

A love of sharing knowledge with others also began young for Malikah, “Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher.” After graduating high school in 2010, she went on to study childhood education at the University of the Bahamas (formerly College of the Bahamas). While studying, she continued to be active, “I was involved in a lot of singing and acting activities outside of school, and saw that this was what I really enjoyed and wanted to do. I didn’t want to be boxed in.”

This realization led Malikah to begin ‘Spring Arts’, a company offering vo-

cal coaching, plays, performing arts camps as well as other programs. Her summer performing arts camps, held in Governor’s Harbour, she said was a meshing of her love for children and her love for the arts, and it evolved into a mentorship program as well. “I was once introduced to the message of ‘purpose’, so I share that message with young people who want to walk this path.”

A summer trip to Los Angeles in 2019, while she was working as a teacher at Queen’s College in New Providence, opened Malikah’s eyes to the possibility of furthering her studies in the area of performing arts, “I decided that I really wanted to get more training in the field of acting and get a degree in that, so that I would become more credible, and have more to offer to casters.”

Malikah planned and worked towards her goal, and although temporarily hindered with the onset of the pandemic in 2020, with the help of many, 2021 brought new beginnings.

“I started online classes with the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in January 2021, after not being able to go in September 2020 because of COVID-19. I was finally able to attend in person in September of 2021.”

She’s now set to complete an associate’s degree in Occupational Studies in May 2022.

When asked about what it has been like for her during her time at the Academy in Los Angeles, Malikah shared, “I really love it here! I feel a deep sense of belonging, as if I am in the right place at the right time and purpose is being fulfilled. It is a feeling I’ve never experienced before. This program is so well-rounded and I feel I have been getting the best training!

Each day I am filled with gratitude that I get to do this. I am thriving here.”

The opportunity given to her she said, because so many people supported her dream and helped to make it a reality, means the world to her. “I am a representative of my family, of my island, Eleuthera, and of my country as a whole. I am only a glimpse of what the Bahamas has to offer. I get to blaze a trail for others to follow. I get to come back home and give other young people a platform to perform and express their talents through plays and performing arts events (something that is really lacking). This opportunity shows other people it can be done.

For so many people growing up on an island, it can seem impossible

to fulfil what may seem like a “BIG” dream. But I am evidence that through hard work, persistence, consistency, and faith in God, anything is possible.

I am the proof.”

And Malikah is thinking big, with plans after graduation to ‘get out there’ and begin the process of auditioning and working in the industry. “I know that success won’t happen overnight, but I am optimistic that my talent, my favour, and my persistence will land me in the right rooms with the right people. I know that all things are working together for my good.”

With those in mind who have contributed to where she is today, she expressed how thankful she was to everyone who donated toward her journey, as well as to those who are continuing to assist. “I am so grateful for my village,” she shared.

About her journey going forward, Malikah added, “I am excited to see where this will take me, what doors will open, and what opportunities will arise. I am enjoying every step of the journey... I like to say “I’m not special”; not in a way that portrays a lack of confidence, but in a way that lets people know that they, too, can pursue their dreams! It takes a determined mindset, persistence, and a belief in purpose!

We were all born to fulfill an important purpose in the Earth and seeking our Creator for our path is so important.

The things you are passionate about are not a coincidence. I believe this moment was destined to happen for me since the day I was born. I just had to get into position.”

Photos on page: 28-year-old Eleutheran, Malikah Pinder in Los Angeles, California, living her dream.

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MOE exploring help for children impacted by prolonged use of virtual learning

Above: Minister of Education & Technical and Vocational Training, Glenys Hanna-Martin.

The Ministry of Education & Technical and Vocational Training is seeking to develop effective remediating responses to children impacted by prolonged reliance on virtual learning and no formal instruction for some two years.

The Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin Minister, in a 2021-2022 Mid-term Budget Presentation to the House of Assembly, Wednesday, March 16, said with the assistance of University of The Bahamas and the Ministry of Finance, a Request for Proposal has been developed and will be published within the next few days.

She said proposals will be submitted for a platform for a remediation programme and diagnostics.

“Just from the anecdotal reports I am receiving, the impact is severe in many instances affecting even hand-eye coordination of young children and their ability to hold a pencil properly,” said Minister Hanna-Martin.

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“The main objective of this consultancy is the implementation of the assignment, which is necessary due to the very large number of students in the public sector who have been disadvantaged by not participating in the virtual lessons due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the suspension of in person lessons in The Bahamas and across the world community.”

Minister Hanna-Martin told Parliamentarians that the Ministry will be addressing the loss experienced by students who have participated in virtual lessons, but cannot function well on a virtual platform and require in-person lessons. “In both instances all indications are that these students have suffered tremendous learning loss, a loss which requires urgent remediation to bring about learning recovery,” she added.

Moreover, Minister Hanna-Martin informed the House that the Ministry intends to close the learning gaps and recover learning loss by students at-

tending public schools throughout the nation through the following: assessment of students, training of teachers and implementation of intervention/acceleration plans.

“For those young people who over the last two years have been absent from school or who struggled on the virtual platform the reality we must face is that many will not be returning to high school.

“We must therefore purposefully and deliberately coordinate across intergovernmental agencies and various ministries and in collaboration with NGO’s, to develop focused responses to avoid duplications and unaddressed gaps, to bolster literacy and numeracy skills, and other skills to allow these young people to build esteem and confidence, pursue employment opportunities or create paths to higher learning.”

Source:, BIS March 16, 2022 By: Kathryn Campbell

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RBPF (Eleuthera) Conducts Intervention with School Boys and their Parents

Superintendent Franklyn Neely.

As the school day came to a close on Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022, at 3pm a number of boys - students at the Preston H. Albury High School were reportedly involved in an altercation, which it is believed, later continued within the community of Tarpum Bay. Police in South Eleuthera, after receiving information about the incident, went through the process of identifying the young men who had been involved and went on to make direct contact with their parents. Corporal Demeritte of the south Eleuthera police division invited both the parents and the boys involved to a sit-down meeting at the courthouse in Rock Sound, set for 4:30pm on Thursday, March 24th, 2022, with the goal of engaging the parents and children.

Corporal Demeritte displayed various weapons in the meeting and spoke with the young men about the seriousness of their actions and the consequences that may have occurred. Police Inspector Clarke also addressed the boys and their parents, reiterating that schools were institutions of learning and that fights and disruptions would not be tolerated. Superintendent Neely also addressed the parents-children forum and told everyone there that he had a zero tolerance approach to gang culture and criminal behavior.

Corporal Demeritte was said to have spoken firmly and directly to the young men, reminding them that they were all family and should live as such. He also pledged to work with the young men in the south with the program, ‘Men of Standards’.

A number of the parents present addressed the room and voiced how unhappy they were with their childrens’ behavior. They

Above: RBPF Corporal Demeritte presenting to students involved in a March 23rd altercation.

Above: Representation of the young men involved in the intervention meeting hugging in a show of respect to each other. also thanked the officers of the Rock Sound Police Station for taking the time out to speak to their boys, and making efforts to stop them from destroying their lives. Vice Principal of the Preston H. Albury High School was also in attendance and told the young men that she was disappointed in their behavior and reminded them that all of the families in South Eleu-

thera are connected.

At the end of the meeting all of the young men hugged in a show of respect to each other, and it was agreed with the parents that everyone would also attend a church service together on the upcoming Sunday, March 27th at ‘First Ministry’ in Tarpum Bay.

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Princess Cays Port in South Eleuthera Participates in an International Ship & Port Safety, National Test Exercise

Pictured: Emergency resource personnel from South Eleuthera including, police, medical professionals, and volunteer firemen shown with Princess Cays team members during the International Ship & Port Safety national test exercise on March 10th, 2022.

An International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) national exercise was staged at various ports across the Bahamas on March 10th, 2022, with different sites under mock attack. The exercise was held to test port security at different points in the country, including Eleuthera, Inagua, Abaco, Bimini, Grand Bahama and New Providence, targeting information on manpower, emergency preparation and recovery skills of personnel such as police officers, emergency medical services personnel, defence force personnel and other people involved - to find any deficiencies in the security of the ports and correct them.

The port at Princess Cays, Bannerman Town was the chosen site for the exercise in Eleuthera. Mrs. Janet Strachan, Port Manager at Princess Cays explained the morning’s activity, saying, “The ISPS Compliance Unit conducted a national exercise today. They simulated incidents taking place on multiple islands within a two-hour time span. It was basically to test the response time of the port facilities within the country. Each of the port facilities staging an incident were asked to call in all the local emergency response resources, like police, fire services and ambulance services to assist during the staged emergency, and to assess the response-time dealing with the incident.

Once the mock incident was stabilised we reported back to the ISPS Compliance Unit. So it was testing the response readiness at the ports during emergency incidents taking place at the same time on several different islands.”

Detailing the type of incident that was staged at the Princess Cays facility,

operations manager, Mr. Charlberto Darling said, “We staged a scenario where there was an explosion at the warehouse near a diesel tank, recycling plant, and backhouse generator area. The incident involved the mock injury of one staff member as a result of the explosion. Our on-property fire brigade and in-house ambulance were called, and they made the initial response and transported the injured member to the first-aid area, where we continued to stabilize him until the local community fire truck and health services ambulance arrived.”

As local ambulances and fire truck arrived at the scene in South Eleuthera, Mrs. Strachan could be seen liaising with local medical personnel as they filed out of the ambulances. After determining the health status of the mock injured patient, he was deftly moved from the first-aid area onto a stretcher and into one of the waiting ambulances before it pulled away.

Police were also on site, busy gleaning information from witnesses to the incident. Superintendent Franklyn Neilly of the South Eleuthera police division commented that he and his team received the emergency call shortly after 10am that morning, and arrived on scene from the Rock Sound station within twenty-seven minutes.

A command centre in New Providence collected information coming in from sites under mock attack during the staged national exercise. Minister of Transport and Housing the Hon. Jobeth Coleby-Davis also visited the command centre during the test and was updated on the morning’s happenings during the simulated exercise.

Minister of Transport and Housing the Hon. Jobeth Coleby-Davis (blue dress) visited the command centre in New Providence during the test and is shown being updated by Lieutenant Cleare (left) on the happenings during the simulated exercise. (BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)

Pictured: Police Inspector Joseph Oldham questioning medical personnel during the ISPS national test exercise at the Princess Cays port location.

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Kiwanis Community Breakfast

On Saturday morning, March 19th, 2022 the Kiwanis Club of South Eleuthera (KCSE) conducted a drive-thru free community breakfast at the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Deep Creek. The event was initially geared toward feeding the children of the surrounding communities by providing a hot meal, fruit and water, but no adults were turned away either. In sum more than 150 persons were fed from the event. The KCSE expressed, “We continue to work to make a positive difference in the lives of others and assist in the building of our children and communities one child and one community at a time!”

Savannah Sound Park Cleanup The Savannah Sound Local Government Town Council partnered in a park and beach cleanup initiative for the Longley Newberry Park on Saturday, March 19th, 2022. Members of the Rotary Club of Eleuthera, as well as members of the South Eleuthera District Council assisted. Philippa Kelly, chairwoman for the Savannah Sound Local Government Town Council commented following the event, saying, “I believe that this is the beginning of more partnerships in the development and growth within our community. Yes, we’re starting with a “cleanup”, but we know it will not end there.”

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PM Davis Encourages Public Service to Embrace Digitization at Inaugural Digital Transformation Symposium

Above: PM Philip Davis addresses Digital Transformation Symposium.

Coming on the heels of the one-year anniversary of the launch of MyGateway, the digital platform used by over 70,000 Bahamians and residents to access and pay for government services online, Prime Minister Philip Davis addressed Cabinet Ministers and other public services leaders at the government’s inaugural Digital Transformation Symposium held at Margaritaville Resort at the end of March.

“Ambitions about e-Governance can no longer be merely an option. In order to meet the expectations of our citizens, all public services need to take full advantage of the transformative potential of technology,” said Prime Minister Davis.

“We need all stakeholders to buy into our digital agenda. But cursory buy-in alone is not sufficient,” charged Davis.

“Just as the software across multiple ministries, departments and agencies will be digitally programmed to communicate with one another, our people need to do the same: to talk to each other, plan, work and troubleshoot with each other, so that we can achieve our common goal.”

Over the next five years, the government’s Digital Transformation Programme aims to streamline government procedures, make 200 services available online, increase the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the public sector, establish the necessary legal framework for the implementation of digital government and increase the transparency of government activities, strengthening auditing and control mechanisms.

Plans are also underway for the development of the National Cybersecurity Strategy to improve the security of national digital infrastructure as well as the establishment of the national Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT).

The CIRT will be responsible for providing cybersecurity support services to both public and private sectors by identifying, defending, responding to and managing cyber threats. Additional programme components will focus on a Digital Identification System, Civil Registry and Freedom of Information projects.

The 2022 Digital Transformation Symposium comes just after the one-year anniversary of launch of MyGateway, which provides a centralized way for over 70,000 Baha-

mians and residents to access and pay for government services online. The platform was built by and is maintained by young Bahamian software developers.

For the first time in history, Bahamians have been able to conveniently access multiple government services in one location with a reduced need to provide multiple pieces of information each time a service is requested.

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This monumental progress within The Bahamas’ digital transformation journey is creating an environment where citizens can thrive and find opportunities in a growing, sustainable economy.

Source: Bahamas Office of the Prime Minister 31st March 2022

COVID / Eleuthera

less than three feet while inside or awaiting entry outside the business.

“Businesses shall determine the number of persons permitted entry into the business at any one time based on one person for every thirty square feet of floor space which is unoccupied by furnishings, fixtures or machinery and is accessible to the public.

“Businesses must have distance markers three feet apart, indicating where each customer is to stand on a line awaiting entry or check out.

“All educational institutions shall adhere to guidelines issued or approved by the Ministry of Health & Wellness for the physical distancing of persons in a classroom setting and otherwise on the campus.

“All restaurants shall ensure that seating is arranged so that there is the spacing of at least three feet between each dining party.

The release also highlighted offences and penalties for not following the

current Health Services COVID-19 Rule: “Any person who is found not wearing a face mask in accordance with this rule commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding one month or to both such fine and imprisonment.

“A person who hosts or attends a social gathering contrary to this rule commits an offence and is liable upon summary conviction - in the case of a host, to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars and in the case of an attendee, to a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars.”

The Ministry added that it will continue to monitor developments regarding the country’s ongoing efforts in the fight against COVID-19.

Source: The Bahamas Ministry of Health & Wellness

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Crime News

Select police reports, shared by the RBPF locally silver foil package containArrest reference to Possession of ing a quantity of suspected Dangerous Drugs marijuana was found in his Police on the Island of Eleufront right pants pocket. The thera have taken into custody a suspect was subsequently number of persons in separate processed and charged incidents for possession of danwith that offence. gerous drugs, during the month 3. Drug Arrest Report Case of March, 2022.

Number: Reports are that on Friday 11th March 1. Possession of Dangerous 2022 sometime around Drugs, Unlawfully Carry5:05pm Officers came into ing Arms, Resisting Arrest the Harbour Island Police &,Assault. Reports are that Station with an adult male on Friday 18th March 2022, under arrest reference to sometime around 11:15pm, Possession of Dangerous.

Officers, while conducting They reportedly arrested mobile patrol in the area of and cautioned him while in Barracks Street, observed a the area of Duncan Lane dark male suspect, leaving Harbour Island after a an area which is known for search was conducted of an illicit drug activities. As a Adidas cross body pouch result the officers became he was wearing at the time suspicious and quickly apand the same was found to proached the suspect and contain two (2) large transidentified themselves as Poparent bags with plant-like lice officers. On doing so, material suspected of being the suspect ran. The officers marijuana. The suspect was gave chase. The suspect subsequently charged with was caught a short distance that offence. away, and while attempting 4. Found Drugs Report: Reto detain him, the suspect ports are that on Saturday resisted violently. The of12th March 2022, sometime ficers were eventually able around 12:15am, Officers to subdue the suspect and while conducting mobile placed him in handcuffs. patrols along Bay Street, A search was then conobserved a group of men ducted of the suspect, and assembled in the area of while searching his waist Beyond the Reef Restauarea, the officers found a rant and Bar, one of whom black handled knife with a appeared to be rolling a chrome blade. As a result marijuana cigarette. As a the suspect was arrested result the officers exited and cautioned reference to their vehicle and proceeded unlawfully carrying arms, retowards the group, however, sisting arrest and assaulting they disbursed prior to the a Police Officer. A further officers’ arrival. The officers search was conducted reconducted a search of the sulting in the discovery of a area, and while searching small quantity of suspected inside a wooden structure, marijuana. The suspect which contained a number was later processed and of plant pots, the officers charged for all of those offound (1) clear plastic fences. zip lock bag, containing 2. Arrest reference to Dangera quantity of suspected ous Drugs and Firearms: marijuana. The same was Reports are that on Thurscollected and secured for day 17th March, 2022, evidential purposes. A at 6:15pm Officers while search of the area was conconducting Road Trafducted for the young men, fic Checks in the area of however, due to the large the Glass Window Bridge, crowd that was gathered Gregory Town, Eleuthera, at the establishment the arrested and cautioned an officers were unsuccessful. adult male reference to posInvestigations are continusession of Dangerous Drugs ing in this matter. after a search was con5. Found Drugs Report: Reports are that on Saturday ducted of his person and a

6.

7.

8.

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12th March 2022, sometime around 12:50am, Officers while on foot patrol in an area adjacent to Sammy’s Bar, conducted a search of an unfinished concrete structure, and while searching inside of a white PVC pipe, the officers found (1) clear plastic baggie containing a quantity of suspected marijuana and (1) clear plastic baggie containing (2) brown pieces of paper, each containing a quantity of suspected rock cocaine and (1) clear piece of plastic containing a quantity of suspected cocaine powder. There were no persons present within the immediate area. As a result the exhibits were collected and secured for evidential purposes. Investigations are continuing into this matter.

Drug Arrest: Reports are that on Saturday 5th March, 2022 at about 4:00pm Officers while on mobile patrol on Vivian Pinder Road Russell Island, Spanish Wells in the area known as Apay Village. They observed a female acting suspiciously while hiding her hand after recognizing the Police. The Officers informed her that she was suspected of being in Possession of Dangerous drugs and instructed that suspect to open her hand. Immediately she stated that she can’t go to jail and violently resisted the search which lasted about 5 minutes. Subsequently (2) suspected packages of suspected powder cocaine were recovered. The suspect was placed under arrest and cautioned. She was subsequently processed and charged with that offence.

Drug Arrest: Reports are that on Thursday 3rd March 2022 at about 12:12pm the Officers while conducting a road check in the Colebrook Street. Officers stopped an adult male.

He was informed that he was suspected of being in possession of dangerous drugs and firearms. A search was conducted of his person at which time Officers found a white wrapped homemade suspected Marijuana cigarette was found lodged in the middle of his pants. He was shown the exhibit, but had nothing to say.

He was arrested and cautioned for possession of marijuana and transported to the Harbour Island Police Station for booking where he was processed and charged.

Drug Arrest: Reports are that on Thursday 3rd March 2022 at about 12:34pm Officers while on mobile patrol in the Alice Street area observed four males and one female sitting under a tree playing domino. Upon approaching the males, officer’s smelled the aroma of suspected marijuana coming from the area of the said males.

They were informed that they were suspected of being in possession of dangerous drugs and firearms. While searching one of the males officers found a clear plastic bag with a green grassy substance believed to be suspected marijuana. He was shown the exhibit, but had nothing to say. However, he was arrested and cautioned for possession of marijuana and transported to the Harbour Island Police Station where he was processed and charged.

Drug Arrest.: Reports are that on Thursday 3rd March 2022 at about 1:15pm Officers executed a search warrant on the residence of an adult male suspect. While conducting a search of a white backpack bag that was found in his bedroom, they found a small silver foil wrap containing a green grassy substance believed to be suspected marijuana. He was further cautioned for the same and transported back to

Mar/April, 2022

Police Contact Numbers

HeadQuarters (GH) 332-3500

Governor’s Harbour 332-2111 OR 332-2117 O/C Governor’s Harbour 332-2723 Gov.Harb. Airport Station 332-2323 Deep Creek Station 334-8207 Tarpum Bay Station 334-4033 Rock Sound Station 334-2244 Rock Sound Sgt. Office 334-2212 Rock Sound Airport Stn 334-2052 L. Bogue Station (Airport) 335-1208 Harbour Island Station 333-2111 O/C Harbour Island 333-2327 Spanish Wells Station 333-4030 Gregory Town Station 335-5322 Hatchet Bay Station 335-0086

Harbour Island Police Station where he was processed and charged.

10. Possession of Unlicensed Firearm & Possession of Dangerous Drugs: Reports are that on Wednesday 2nd March,2022 sometime around 12:50am as a result of intelligence Officers executed a search Warrant on the residence of an adult male of Gregory Town. During the search a Ruger SemiAutomatic .22 Rifle with a banana clip which contained 25 unfired rounds of .22 ammunition along with a box containing 76 unfired rounds of .22 ammunition was found.

In addition a quantity of suspected Marijuana (4) small clear wraps and a quantity of suspected cocaine (4) small wraps were found. The suspect stated under caution that he had been granted a license for the weapon but had misplaced the book in 2016 when the weapon was last licensed in Nassau and thought that he could not renew the license without it.

He subsequently located the book which officers collected along with the weapon and ammunition. The suspect

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Gov’t annouces steps aimed at addressing Crime During the Weekly Press Briefing at his office, on April 7th, 2022, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis announced a number of steps his government is taking immediately to reduce the proliferation of illegal weapons on streets in The Bahamas.

“We will increase police presence in hot spots with saturation patrols for as long as they are necessary,” Prime Minister Davis said.

“Our communities need more manpower and more resources.”

“The Royal Bahamas Police Force is creating a specialized Task Force focused on decreasing gangrelated crimes and apprehending those involved in firearms trafficking,” he added.

Prime Minister Davis noted that his government was expanding Urban Renewal to strengthen both community policing and the programmes that reach at-risk young people and provide pathways to opportunities and training.

“We will increase access to mental health services and mental health education through our public health system and community-based initiatives,” he said.

“In recent weeks, we have reintroduced School-Based Policing, so that our schools are safer for all of our children, teachers and staff,” he added. “We need to work harder

and earlier to identify at-risk students and then provide education, support, conflict resolution skills and redirection.”

Prime Minister Davis revealed that, in the upcoming few days, he intended to constitute the National Security Council, which will support increased sharing of intelligence across agencies, allowing The Bahamas to confront its security challenges jointly and with the best information possible.

“And, because criminal activities are not contained by borders, we intend to strengthen our collaboration with international partners as well,” he pointed out.

Prime Minister Davis noted that the Royal Bahamas Police Force was continuing to recruit new officers to the frontlines.

“We are looking for young people who want to serve their country by protecting our communities,” he said.

“Technology is an important part of policing in the 21st century,” he added. “We are going to expand and improve the use of drones, CCTV, and ShotSpotter sensors so that our police have the tools they need to be effective.”

“More robust intelligence-sharing, increasing the capacity of the police, and enhanced technology are all critical -- but in the end, reduc-

ing violence in our communities also requires strengthening our families and the ties within our communities.”

Prime Minister Davis shared how “profoundly disturbed” he was about the many cases of violence that target women and children.

He said: “We should all agree on this one thing: grown men should stay away from children and should be punished to the fullest extent of our laws when they do not. The sentences should punish the wrongdoing and be lengthy enough to deter others from committing the same crimes. Where existing penalties may not be severe enough, I have asked my Attorney General to lead a comprehensive overview and to advise my Cabinet of the steps we can take to make those stronger.”

Prime Minister Davis noted that Bahamians deserved safer streets, schools, and communities; and that all have a role to play.

“For those of you who despair but who believe the problem is someone else’s to solve – I urge you to get involved,” he said. “Volunteer in your neighborhood. Look out for each other’s children.

Pray together, and then outside the church’s walls, work together, to help those who are in crisis,” Prime Minister Davis added. “Mentor and support our young people.

“It has been such a difficult few

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis announced a number of steps that his Government is taking immediately to reduce the proliferation of illegal weapons on streets in The Bahamas, and to disrupt the violence, during the Weekly Press Briefing at his office, on April 7, 2022. (BIS Photos/Eric Rose)

years. We can all work together to lift each other up.”

Source: Bahamas Information Services April 7th, 2022

was arrested and cautioned for Possession of and Receiving. on Wednesday 2nd February, 2022. Upon her Unlicensed Firearm and Possession of Danger- 2. Shop Breaking: Reports are that on Wednesday, return to her home around 12:00pm on Wednesous Drugs. The suspect was later transported to 23rd March 2022 sometime around 9:05am, an day 2nd March, 2022, she discovered that this New Providence for processing. adult female reported that sometime between male had broken into her house, where she 5:00pm on Tuesday, 22nd March 2022 and found him lying in a bedroom. She told him to Housebreaking & Shop breaking complaints 9:00am on Wednesday, 23rd March 2022, some leave and reports that upon further inspecting person/s unknown broke and entered the Post her home found that $200.00 worth of alcoholic During the Month of March, Officers responded to Office in Wemyss Bight through the only entry beverages was stolen and her floor was damthree matters involving house and shop breaking. door and ransacked inside. Officers responded aged. Entry was gained thru a northeastern 1. House Breaking: Reports are that sometime to the scene and commenced investigations. window, Police action was requested. around 10:07pm on Wednesday 23rd March Officers subsequently arrested and charged an 2022 an adult male reported that sometime beadult male for this offence.

Officers later arrested and cautioned the suspect, tween 9:00pm and 10:00pm on that date some 3. Housebreaking, Stealing and Damage: Reports he was processed and charged with Housebreakperson/s broke and entered a room at his place are that on Wednesday 2nd March, 2022, at ing and Stealing. of employment. He further reported that a safe about 1:10pm, an adult female reported to the among other items were missing. Police action Hatchet Bay Police Station that sometime in requested. Officers responded to the scene November 2021 she hired a male known to her where they were able to recover a number of as a handyman. She stated that he was relitems. As a result of enquiries, an adult female egated to working on the exterior of her home and three adult males were arrested and suband only had access to the tool shed in her yard sequently charged for Housebreaking, Stealing and never to her home. She travelled to the U.S.

38 www. EleutheraNews . com

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Police Month Celebrated with Outreach Initiatives across the island

Above: Chief Supt. Shanta Knowles.

Police throughout The Bahamas celebrated 182 years of service during the month of March 2022, designated as 'Police Month', and on March 23rd took part in a nation-wide "Give Back" initiative spearheaded

by Commissioner of Police, Paul Rolle. The Eleuthera Division of the Bahamas Police Force, led by Officer-In-Charge Chief Superintendent Shanta Knowles, "took pride in contributing where they not only work but live," said OIC Knowles.

In Eleuthera, the 'Give Back' initiative saw officers in communities and townships throughout the island present mainly elderly and less-fortunate residents with bags of groceries. Eighty (80) bags were prepared by the Eleuthera Division team, and local officers in each township visited beneficiary residents presenting them with the gifts from the police Ten bags were delivered around in Rock Sound, and recipients expressed their gratitude, shared OIC Knowles for the kind gesture. One resident was quoted as saying, "I was down to my last meal. I thank God for the police." Chief Knowles said she was delighted to see the smiles on their faces.

In Governor's Harbour, officers visited with the School for Exceptional Learners, and while there presented the children with gifts and shared a fun time with them.

In North Eleuthera, along with elderly residents, a family whose residence was destroyed by fire, were also recipients of care packages.

Officers within the Spanish Wells community created a 'Blessing Boxes' initiative, where specially made pantry-like boxes were erected at local business establishments, including Island Mart, Food Fair, and New2U, to serve as food donation points to assist the communities of Eleuthera in their time of need. The 'Blessing Boxes' were

officially opened with the arrival of Chief Knowles and her executive team on the island. Four less-fortunate families were also presented with grocery packs to assist with meals. A number of Harbour Island residents were also visited and presented with bags of grocery by local officers and the Eleuthera Division chief.

Also on the Police' day of 'Giving Back' Corporal Brown in Deep Creek, visited with the primary school and interacted with the students, playing games of basketball and kickball. This was followed by a special treat by officer Brown of ice-pops on the warm day, and he spoke with the students about having manners and respect at all times, about not bullying others. Principal, teachers and staff were pleased, said officer Brown, about the interaction with the students and thanked him for the visit.

The following day, March 24th, Police Corporal Brown partnered with members of the Deep Creek Neighborhood Watch Council and Cape Eleuthera in a joint exercise to clean down bushes at the rear of the Deep Creek Primary School. This initiative was intended to prevent the area behind the school from being used for dumping and other negative purposes and ultimately for the safety of students, staff and administration of the school, said officer Brown. The newly cleared space is now to be developed as a community garden for the benefit of all. Members of the community who were appreciative of the effort of the team of workers provided them with refreshments.

Police celebrations culminated at Bayfront park in Governor's Harbour on April 2nd, 2022, when mixed police and civilian teams came together to battle it out in a number of friendly softball match ups.

Four teams, from north, south and central Eleuthera, as well as the 'Flying squad unit' played five games in all. The central Eleuthera team was declared the winner on the day.

Police, Neighbourhood Watch Council and Cape Eleuthera work together to cleanup Deep Creek Primary school’s yard.

Eleuthera Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force pack care bags for the elderly and less fortunate.

Mixed police and civilian community softball teams came together for friendly competition on April 2nd, 2022.

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HBr Green School in Colourful Splash

Above: HIGS hosted its 2nd Annual Easter play on March 26th and 27th in Harbour Island.

The Harbour Island Green School (HIGS) hosted their much anticipated 2nd Annual Easter play on Saturday, March 26th, with an encore performance on Sunday, March 27th, 2022 on the grounds of the school. This year’s splash titled, “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, was a musical, following the Bible story of Joseph, and was adapted from the Broadway version with the same name. 16 song performances and 3 spoken word pieces wove together the well-known story in a performance that lasted about one hour long.

Anne Salt, a costume designer, direct from Broadway, once again teamed up with the school, bringing the vibrancy of the professional stage. Principal, William Simmons coordinated the production with teacher Kamilah Ellis directing, assisted by musical directors Johnathan Kelly and Ithalia Johnson, while Benjamin Simmons designed the set.

The cast of students, saw the characters of Joseph, his Brothers, Jacob, Pharoah, Potipher, the Baker, and the Butler come to life. Other teams of students were narrators, as well as Ishmaelites and Egyptian guards, along with others portraying sheaves of corn, the sun, the moon and the stars, as well as the colours of the coat.

Production director, teacher Kamilah Ellis, explained that the theater programme was one of two avenues for experiential learn-

ing at the school, as well as community enhancement - with the first avenue being the school’s weekly environmental education programme dubbed ‘Green Friday’ and the theater programme the second.

“Both Programs seek to develop youth as leaders and connect them to our heritage but one focuses on environment and the other on culture. The community theater programme at HIGS began in 2007 with the founding of “Space to create” - the school’s community center which bears the same name and over the past 15 years has developed 18 community theatre productions, the last three being completed in partnership with the school.”

She added that early in 2021 Mr. Simmons, principal of HIGS, and Mr. Kelly, programme coordinator, combined musical theater and junkanoo and coined the term ‘junkatheatre’. “The two productions the school has hosted, the 2021 production of ‘The Lion King’ and this year’s ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ were both a smashing success and reaffirmed the power of Junkanoo and theater as a tool for youth development. This has led to a new paradigm of theatre production for the community centre and school and the plan is to P40

High School students at HIGS in costume for “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”.

40 www. EleutheraNews . com Page. 39

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GREEN SPLASH

develop the concept further.”

Detailing some of the preparation that went into the colourful production, Ms. Ellis explained, “For 10 weeks, each class had performing arts scheduled into their timetables to allow for preparation for the play, and the week leading up to the performance was dedicated towards pulling everything together... We prepared students by once again exposing them to the story of Joseph, and going through all the Broadway songs associated with the play. The costumes team lead by Ms. Anne Salt, started to conceptualize and put together our costumes using whatever materials they could find. The concept behind costumes came from Junkanoo inspired versions of the Broadway costume design. We put our cultural spin on all costumes. Our coat was made of old kites stitched together strategically. Mr. Simmons and myself both choreographed the play, as students learned the music and the process all came together beautifully in the end.”

The production, said Ms. Ellis was a school-wide effort that included staff, volunteers, parents, as well as support from members of the community. The school was appreciative of Ms. Anne Salt, who flew in from New York to lead in the costume designing. She added, “Parents often came into the “shack” to help with sewing, assembling, glueing and pasting costumes. Our parents organized and ran the concession stand and helped with makeup. Stage design was led by Mr. Ben Simmons, the backdrops were painted

by Mr. Kevin Ti Paul and stage props were built by different members of the school community.”

Staff at HIGS, were very proud of all the effort their students put in, shared Ms. Ellis, and were pleased to have been able to contribute to the experience for their students. “As a team we think it is important to facilitate these types of experiences as children learn to be more bold, confident and step more into themselves as individuals,” she added.

Several of the teachers commented on the impact of the theater programme at the school.

English and Special Education teacher, Ms. Kaitlin Lederer, shared, “Over the last few weeks, I’ve observed my students step out of their comfort zones and watched their confidence soar. For many of them, it was their first experience with a performance like this, and they

Photos on page: HIGS students of all ages bring to life the story of Joseph during their 2nd Annual Easter play.

Mar/April, 2022

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Agriculture Ministry To Launch Agri-Island Food Link Programme; Seeks Assistance from FAO The Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs will launch an Agri-Island Food Link programme geared at boosting Agritourism in The Bahamas.

Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Hon. Clay Sweeting made the announcement during the 37th Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Latin American and Caribbean Regional Conference held in Quito, Ecuador from March 28 – April 1.

During his address, the minister explained that the programme would seek to implement an Agritourism policy to delineate the priorities, regulations and standards of the sector -- identifying sustainable agricultural and hospitality practices.

The programme also provides governance for market entry, operations and incentivized development through ministerial support.

Additionally, the programme seeks to build capacities of produc-

er groups to enter the agritourism market -- provide training on agritourism business management so that farmers will be able to assess their current agribusiness, determine the gaps and develop solutions in accordance with agritourism policy and standards.

“This initiative highlights the special offerings of each island that has not only attracted tourists but fed and provided economic stability to rural communities over the years.

For instance, the island of Eleuthera is known for pineapples, where the sugar loaf variety can be branded as a Geographic Indicator (GI). The island of Long Island has a rich history of herding small ruminants; and the island of Acklins is known for its Cascarilla trees. These islands have the potential to also become designated as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems to boost agritourism,” Minister Sweeting said.

He added that benefits of the programme are training opportunities for small agribusinesses; inclu-

sion of women and youth in new decent rural employment; avenues for global branding of local farming and produce; preservation of community culture through agrifood systems which in turns allows for sustainability; increased incentives for

persevered. I believe that they have gained lifelong skills that will carry them far.”

Kindergarten teacher Ms. Laura Lowe also weighed in, “Being a part of the play was such a fun and exciting experience for kindergarten.

They loved learning the songs and rehearsing parts. They were able to experience the excitement of theatre; and the beauty of Bahamian androsia prints and Junkanoo all wrapped into one.”

When asked about whether any thoughts had gone into next year’s production, Ms. Ellis noted, “As of right now we are still buzzing from excitement having just completed the Joseph play!

We have not yet chosen what next year’s production would be, but we are sure it’s going to be great.”

rural development and reduced youth migration to urban areas; strengthening of the linkages between the Family Islands and encouragement of domestic travel.

Minister Sweeting said that there is a grave need for human resources and technical support to scale up the initiative and urged the FAO to assist through technical assistance and financing for resource mobilization, as it has done in previous years.

“The Bahamas calls on an urgent increase of FAO presence in the country and on the ground to experience these various islands, their potential offerings and needs. The Bahamas has been pacified over the years with short missions to the rural islands for assessments and reports but little impact with farmers and fisherfolk, unless it is in response to a disaster. We trust that through the upcoming FAO Work Programme, The Bahamas can benefit from a greater involvement of FAO at the territorial level,” Minister Sweeting said.

“We know that Tourism is the main driver of our economy, but we also understand that Agriculture is pivotal.

So, what countries around the world are doing [is] fighting food insecurity.

But what’s so great about The Bahamas is that we can do this and also create another part of our sector which is Agritourism. We are so excited to do this. Family Islanders will be involved”: Tourists will be able to visit niche farms in various parts of the country, he said.

42 www. EleutheraNews . com

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From crisis to recovery: Bahamian project wins prestigious award from National Geographic to study the effects of COVID-19 on local fishing (Scientists partner with families across the country who rely on small-scale fisheries to survive pandemic economy)

Stationed on Eleuthera, Ms. Zoe Brown is one of the Bahamian undergraduate researchers poised to work on the subsistence fisheries research project funded by the prestigious National Geographic.

Bringing new funding and notoriety to The Bahamas from the National Geographic Society, the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) and the Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) at The Island School hope to investigate COVID-19’s effects on local subsistence fishing habits. Prominent PIMS scientist Dr. Karlisa Callwood and her team won one of only 11 awards among the 1200 competitors considered by National Geographic as part of their global investigation into understanding challenges and changes to the natural world created by COVID-19.

Following two years marked by cascading climate and coral catastrophes, social instability, and harsh economic times, Bahamians of all stripes have turned more fully to the sea for food security. This, for some families, could be a silver bullet to make it through the day to day grind and keep food on the table. But in light of recurrent hurricanes and the ongoing pandemic, it is important that

community use of near-shore fisheries is studied to ensure sustainability.

The National Geographic-PIMS-CEI project’s ultimate goal is to inform local disaster resilience planning, economic development, and responsible fisheries management by providing useful information to both the public and to policymakers.

Ms. Zoe Brown, a spokeswoman for the project and Grand Bahamian, started the discussion with some stark facts: “Unfortunately, before we can talk about this project, we must first talk about Government research permits. I am an early career Bahamian scientist and I aspire towards research that helps to secure a resilient future for my country. Right now, because of simple Government permitting, that future is looking bleak” Brown stated, who is a research technician with the Perry Institute and CEI. “For months and months, an impenetrable Government process has made it illegal for myself and other scientists to conduct research that could have significant positive impacts for the country. The Bahamian science community is calling on Government to release permits, even if temporary, and to please allow academic scientists to get back to work today - not tomorrow, not next week,

not another nine months from now today.”

On the good news subject of the study itself, Dr. Karlisa Callwood, director of the Perry Institute’s community conservation and education program explained, “We’ve seen a surge in the number of fishers engaged in small-scale fishing since COVID hit The Bahamas and now it’s time to dive deeper. Unfortunately, world events are not becoming kinder, so we need to identify the food security challenges our communities are facing. From there we can determine how people are changing their fishing habits to cope and make recommendations to maximize both nutrition and economics when stressors arise.”

Ultimately, little is known scientifically about the impact of subsistence fishing in The Bahamas and there is presently no routine data collection or monitoring taking place. This knowledge gap, Dr. Callwood said, can severely hinder effective resource management and sustainable use if not addressed right away. On family islands where resources and social services can be limited, subsistence fishing – which refers to small-scale fishing with the goal of putting food on the table rather than for sale – provides a much-needed safety net for families and communities during troubling times.

Working alongside Dr. Calwood, Dr. Nick Higgs of Cape Eleuthera Institute pointed out that “in one well-monitored small-scale fishery offshore of the Cape Eleuthera peninsula, Queen conch catches increased by a threefold throughout the pandemic.” Indeed, with the onset of The Bahamas’ early COVID lockdowns, small-scale fishing was among the few activities the Government allowed. Paired with a dramatic rise in unemployment, scientists suspect small-scale fishing has been on the rise which kicked off this research.

To drive at answers for community good, Callwood and Higgs will consult with local fishers and seafood consumers in rural Eleuthera and the bustling districts around Nassau.

Dr. Karlisa Callwood (left) and PIMS program coordinator Lahanti Jupp (right) regularly run experiential ocean education programs for K-12 students and youth throughout the country.

With this new funding from National Geographic, and once the project receives long-awaited Government permits, a second Bahamian undergraduate student will be hired to support the research. Together the team will use surveys, interviews, focus groups, and community meetings to unveil how families shift their fishing habits during times of crisis. Once analyzed and published, this information will be crucial for Government policy and community planning in the event of future disease outbreaks or other potential social disturbances, like hurricanes.

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MOE visit

where Minister Clay Sweeting in his capacity as Minister of Agriculture, also facilitated a brief turnover ceremony of a greenhouse to the AgriScience program at the school. The group then made a short stop at the Eleuthera District Office in Savannah Sound before heading further south to the Tarpum Bay Primary school, followed by a visit to the Center for Training and Innovation in Rock Sound, where Minister Hanna-Martin and her team toured the facilities as well as the acre-sized green house under development. At Preston Albury High School, along with the tour, another greenhouse turnover took place, further equipping the active Agri-Science program at the school. The team then went on to the Rock Sound Primary school, Wemyss Bight Primary, and Deep Creek Primary, finishing up at the Green Castle Primary school.

DSE Culmer, who described the two-day tour as a ‘brief intense immersion into the culture of education in the Eleuthera district’, added that the face-to-face interaction with Minister HannaMartin during her official visit to the island was invaluable, and that a number of the questions and issues raised while she was in Eleuthera were being addressed.

Minister Hanna-Martin at Rock Sound Primary school during her visit to Eleuthera on March 17th-18th.

On the right: Minister Hanna-Martin and her team with Minister Sweeting at Green Castle Primary during her tour of Eleuthera schools.

-Marine scientists suspect subsistence fishing has skyrocketed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Paired with rising levels of unemployment, many Bahamians are turning to the sea for food.

“Our goal here is to help Bahamian communities become more resilient and food secure,” said Dr. Callwood, the lead researcher on the project. “If the pandemic causes Bahamian families and their relatives to turn to subsistence fishing in order to eat and stay healthy, then we need to ensure this resource remains intact for future periods of instability.” Healthy ocean ecosystems can act as a ‘natural insurance’ in times of socioeconomic shocks and climate catastrophe, especially

with The Bahamas situated in the centre of the Caribbean hurricane belt. Notably, The Bahamas ranks second in the Caribbean for dependency on food exports and one in every three people face some level of food insecurity.

Dr. Higgs offered a closing word on both the COVID fisheries study and ongoing Government permit stalemate, saying, “Small-scale fishing could be a turnkey to creating more resilient communities in times of crisis. Government has a re-

sponsibility to ensure the long-term sustainability of key ecosystems and species that underscore this resource. Science has a responsibility to provide good information so policymakers can make good decisions.” Higgs concluded on a hopeful note, “We’re a food insecure nation. But, if we allow science to happen, and listen to what that science is telling us, we can change that. By working together, we can create policy that benefits both our people and our environment.”

-Pictured above, Dr. Nick Higgs teaches Deep Creek Middle School students about the subsistence lobster fishery on Eleuthera.

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Mar/April, 2022

BDB Announces Orange Economy Micro Technology Grant Awardees

Above: Orange Economy Micro Technology Grant Awardees receive their MacBook Pro. Recently, The Bahamas Development Bank (“The Bank” or “BDB”) launched the Orange Economy Micro Technology Grant Program aimed at increasing the creative capacity of Bahamians as part of their renewed focus on progressing the country’s National Development Plan with a particular focus on the expansion of the colored economies. Successful applicants were awarded a MacBook Pro to improve the quality of their productions and aid in increasing their productivity.

“After hosting our Conversations with the Orange Economy Series in 2021, The Bank realized that access to equipment is one of the biggest needs within the creative community,” noted Sumayyah Cargill, Unit Head of Strategic Development and Initiatives at The Bank.

“Bahamians are creative, innovative people,” said Senator The Hon. Quinton Lightbourne, BDB

Chairman, “and The Bank is committed to investing in the Orange Economy to help develop various sectors and offer opportunities for creative entrepreneurs doing unique work. Through this grant program, we were able to get a glimpse of all of the amazing creative work happening in our country and The Bank is proud to support these works and help them grow both locally and internationally.”

Upon launch of the grant program in January 2022, over 250 applications were received across all areas of the creative community, out of which, 26 of the highest-scoring applicants were selected.

As Family Island inclusion is valued at BDB, winning applicants spanned 4 islands: Andros, Exuma, Grand Bahama, and New Providence. Furthermore, gender equity is another area of great importance for BDB, resulting in an even selection of 13 women and 13 men as winners.

The grant awardees are as follows: Alexis Clarke, Ashleigh Rolle, Ashley Whitney, Brandon Kemp, Brittney Ambrister, Christopher Smith, Colette Parker, Denise Poitier, Denzel Lightbourne, Dion Cunningham, Durelle Williams, Farreno Ferguson, Felicia Woodside, Ilka Rodgers, Johnny Gray, Kache Knowles, Kenrick Wells, Kevin Fox, Ky’Shaun Miller, Lisa Davis, Miquelle Swann, Neville Smith, Reagan Kemp, Reuno Smith Pratt, Shanaye Smith, and Travis Miller.

Winners were selected based on specific predetermined criteria including their levels of experience and their ability to express the potential expansion of their innovative projects. The awardees spanned a myriad of sectors in the creative community including visual arts, content creation, graphic design, music, cultural heritage, performing arts and shows, software development, and more.

Gold and Silver Medal Wins at World Athletics Indoor Championships The 2022 IAAF 18th World Athletics Indoor Championships, held on March 18th to 20th in Belgrade, Serbia, saw the five-member team representing the Bahamas place sixth out of 29 countries, on the medal chart, with one gold and a silver. New national and personal best records were also set during the Indoor Championships.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo, in a brilliant showing, claimed the indoor title in the women’s 400 meters(m). The two-time Olympic champion, Miller-Uibo’s time, 50.31 seconds, was also a season’s best, and her first gold medal at the senior level, for the indoors. She won a bronze medal in 2014, at the Sopot Championships. Also running in the women’s 400m was Meghan Moss who clocked 54.03 seconds.

Setting a new national record in the women’s 60m hurdles was Devynne Charlton. The Olympian ran her way onto the medal podium in silver position with a 7.81 clocking.

Advancing to the semifinals and running a personal best time, in the women’s 60m was Anthonique Strachan. She placed fourth in

her heat, in 7.17 seconds. High jumper Donald Thomas bowed out of the competition at 2.20m.

Following the performance by the Bahamas’ team, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Hon. Mario Bowleg, congratulated all the athletes on the stellar job done, and wished them continued success throughout the season.

400-metre gold medalist Shaunae Miller-Uibo and 60-metre hurdles silver medalist Devynne Charlton on March 23rd, 2022, returned home to the Bahamas and visited with Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip Davis at the House of Assembly, along with Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Mario Bowleg who met the athletes at the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) upon arrival from the World Athletics Indoor Championships. The visit with the prime minister was followed by a Junkanoo rush-out and special ceremony held in honour of the medal athletes at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.

Above: 2022 Indoor World Championships 60-metre hurdles silver medalist Devynne Charlton, and 400-metre gold medalist Shaunae Miller-Uibo, welcomed and celebrated on their return home.

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Census Day Officially Launched, Workers Sworn In The Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI) has officially kick started the country’s population census exercise with a swearing-in ceremony of 1600 workers. It was held at the Thomas. A. Robinson National Stadium on University Drive on Monday, April 4th, 2022. A ceremony was also held simultaneously on Grand Bahama.

Acting Managing Director, BNSI, Nerissa Gibson served as Moderator. Delivering the keynote address was Minister of Economic Affairs, Senator the Hon. Michael Halkitis.

He thanked the workers and said that the population and housing census is one of the most important tools that government, policy makers and other stakeholders use in order to make decisions.

The Craft Center at Princess Cays Now Open On Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022, vendors at The Craft Center at Princess Cays were able to once again offer their goods for sale, and the center is now open to the public on ‘ship days’, said Eleuthera Tourist Manager, Mrs. Jacqueline Gibson,” adding, “The shopping down there is so good, from vacation/relaxed wear to native straw and craft work.” There are at least seventeen ships expected in during the months of April and May, according to the port’s schedule. Twentyfive local vendors from Rock Sound to Bannerman are represented amongst the entrepreneurs located at The Craft Center.

Minister Bowleg Announces Launch of 2023 Bahamas Games Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Mario Bowleg joins organizers and stakeholders at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, on April 4th, 2022, at the announcement of the launch of the 6th Bahamas Games, set for July 6th-14th, 2023.

The Games will also be referred to as the 50th Golden Jubilee Games, as it will coincide with The Bahamas’ 50th Anniversary, or its Golden Jubilee, of National Independence. More than 2,000 athletes from 10 island teams are slated to take part in 15 fields of competition and one provisional field, inclusive of sports such as sailing, basketball, field and beach soccer, track and field and golf. Among those present from the Ministry included Permanent Secretary Eugene Poitier; Under Secretary Montez Williams; and officers from the Department of Sports. (BIS Photos/Eric Rose)

“This is an absolute necessity for policy making for various stakeholders including the government, civic organizations, planners and insurance companies because it tracks pertinent data such as age distribution, household composition, elderly data, locational shifts and other important data,” he said. He also explained that this information is especially important given the shifts in population on the heels of Hurricane Dorian, which caused a significant move of residents from Abaco and Grand Bahama to other islands, namely New Providence.

“We know that in 2010, Grand Bahama accounted for approximately 15% of the country’s population, but what is it now a decade later? The data collected is also essential for insurance companies, which use it to adjust mortality tables and for civic organizations that use it to determine where to focus charitable undertakings.”

Chairperson of BNSI, Gabrielle Fraser welcomed the workers and said that despite challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, they were still able to manage to put a team together to conduct the census.

“After facing many challenges, Census Day (April 4) is here. With the commitment and hard work of our dedicated team, we were able to gather a team of professionals from throughout The Bahamas,” said Ms. Fraser. “So we are, indeed, grateful to be able to execute this critical exercise and we look forward to a meaningful and productive exercise.”

Chief Census Officer, Kim Saunders delivered the ‘charge’ and advised workers that the data collected should be guarded with the strictest of confidence and that workers must always maintain the highest level of professionalism as the nature of the exercise was a very sensitive one.

President of The Justice of the Peace Association, Philip Archer, Esq., JP, conducted the swearing in portion with the administration of the Oath of Secrecy.

The country’s census officially began on Tuesday, 5th April, 2022 and will be completely digital via face-to-face platforms and also by phone interviews.

Source: Bahamas Information Services Written By: Betty Vedrine April 5th, 2022

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Mar/April, 2022

Cable Bahamas Group Takes Home Two Speedtest Awards (ALIV REV and

recognized internationally for fixed and mobile networks)

Nassau, The Bahamas (March 31, 2022) – Ookla® awarded ALIV and REV the Speedtest AwardsTM for Fastest Mobile Network and Fastest Fixed Network respectively based on Q3-Q4 2021 performance. Ookla is recognized as the global leader in network intelligence and connectivity insights. Ookla’s Speedtest is internationally respected as the “definitive” way to test the speed and performance of internet connection, and the company receives more than ten million unique user tests performed daily.

“We feel confident as The Bahamas’ newest mobile network receiving the prestigious Fastest Mobile Network award from Ookla,” said ALIV CEO

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John Gomez. “Our network has proven its reliability and speed consistently over the years, now we have independent research and testing that confirms that we are providing the best for our customers. We’re looking forward to continuing to provide a world-class network as we implement exciting improvements in the near future.”

ALIV strengthened its network throughout The Bahamas during Hurricane Dorian and expanded its network and retail locations throughout the Family Islands in the past few years.

The Speedtest results confirmed ALIV as the Fastest Mobile Network in The Bahamas with an outstanding Speed Score of 33.58. Connectivity remains the cornerstone of REV’s service offering, with the company retaining a two-thirds share of the Broadband market. While the REV network experienced the most significant sustained surge in residential Internet traffic due to the in-home demands of the pandemic, continued investments in the network safeguarded REV’s position as the Fastest Fixed Network in The Bahamas.

“REV is focused on providing the fastest and best network for our customers and receiving the Fastest Fixed Network award for The Bahamas reassures us that we’re moving in the right direction,” said Cable Bahamas Group CEO Franklyn Butler. “We have won this award many times since opening in 1995 and receiving it again this year continues to encourage our team as we move forward with exciting endeavors in 2022.”

For fixed networks, Ookla assesses the fastest speeds attained across a given network, regardless of the performance tier. Ookla considers tests that are taken on various Speedtest applications that connect to a fixed network and analyzes them based on Speed Score. For mobile network winners, Ookla assesses the average of test results taken using Modern Chipsets. Modern Chipsets include all mobile tests, regardless of connection technology used, as long as they are taken on devices that are identified as being capable of achieving the fastest speeds available in a market.

Each top carrier for mobile and fixed accounts for at least 3% of the sample size in the geographic area.

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Photo caption: (at Cancer Society, Eleuthera Branch - Wellness Center in Palmetto Point) (L-R): (HFH team) Ormanic Bien-Amie - Administration & Logistics Manager, StacyAnn Walkine - Pantry Coordinator, Sonia Moss-Sands - Palmetto Point area Rep., Keisha Ellis - Executive Director, JJ Turnquest - Communications, Multi Media & Events Manager, and Mario Tynes - Logistics Coordinator.

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HFH in Eleuthera

tell them that it is not needed here. I told them that we would not refuse help, as there are people who would be really appreciative of it. We are working through the Cancer Society as an unbiased organization, which has already done tremendous work throughout the island of Eleuthera, and has a cover list of families in need within the community. So, I have every confidence that the food boxes will reach the hands of many of those in need. This is a pilot program with Hands for Hunger, and it’s their first time distributing on the island, so I am very happy that they chose to assist here in Eleuthera... When you go to the grocery store today and see the prices, you know the need is there, so on behalf of my area, which is Palmetto Point, I’m extremely grateful.”

Hands for Hunger, was

started in 2008 by a group of college students who while sitting at a Starbucks in New Providence noticed the large amounts of food being thrown out. When they asked the company about it, they were told that as a business, the effort it would take to donate the food was not feasible.

They put forward the idea of collecting surplus fresh food, and the proposal was well received by a number of companies and organizations. This was the genesis of Hands for Hunger.

The organization currently has two refrigerated trucks, which cover New Providence, collecting surplus fresh food from various partner restaurants and hotels, and share the food with other community organizations that are feeding the public. Following hurricane Dorian in 2019, when New Providence saw an

influx of displaced residents who were then food insecure, Hands for Hunger expanded their operations, helping the displaced with food vouchers, redeemable at major grocery stores. The pandemic in 2020 saw the need for even further expansion, so Hands for Hunger, which had serviced the public mainly through their local partner outreach agencies, like the children’s homes, feeding kitchen ministries, the Red Cross, Salvation Army and the like - then expanded their reach to thousands of people across New Providence directly through food boxes and vouchers.

“We are still doing this now in Nassau, and hope to do the same in Eleuthera and continue as well into other family islands as we grow,” stated director Ellis.

Above: Volunteers assist HFH to unload food boxes earmarked for families in need in Eleuthera.