The Eleutheran Newspaper New Year's 2024 Issue

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Volume 16, 12/12, NEW YEAR’S 2024 Issue

Eleuthera, Harbour Island & Spanish Wells, The Commonwealth of The Bahamas

Harbour Island, Spanish Wells & Eleuthera

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Since 2008 - ‘‘Eleuthera’s most reliable Source of News and Information. We Deliver!’’ Monthly In Print & Daily Online.

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

LLNPP cuts the ribbon on the third phase of the Preserve’s Expansion

6 ADVICE (11)

• Inheriting A Home

OPINION (12)

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conservation •

PM Davis on spate of murders in new providence

Upcoming 32 Events

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Smallness and Separateness Will Not Do CEI Bahamas Crawfish Nursery Project (26)

Local RBPF Promotions

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Sailing Introduced into Schools 13

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

CTI’s Retreat Hotel Crowned Most Sustainable 14

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Caution and Slower Speeds Urged Following Two Traffic Fatalities 37

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Six Years On: Minister reviews plans on site and

says “We are now set to go...and start construction” Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Michael Darville, was in Eleuthera on Thursday, January 11th, 2024, along with member of parliament for Central and South Eleuthera, and Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs, Mr. Clay Sweeting, conducting a final site visit to the locations of the government’s proposed public medical facilities in Rock Sound and Palmetto Point.

The team traveling with Minister Darville, first stopped in at the proposed site in Rock Sound, before heading to Palmetto Point, where works are expected to begin first.

Commenting to townspeople gathered at the Palmetto Point site as the team took a look at the overall area, Minister Darville supplied, “We plan to start [works] before the end of February... This land has been sitting poised, for the last six years, for the development that is about to come... We are now set to go and getting to move very soon. I am so pleased to report that finally we are at a stage now where we are going to be able to go out on BONFIRE for tender [the government’s online platform for project tendering], and start the construction of this facility.”

Darville outlined a number of clinics and health facility projects

across the Family Islands, which the government are actively working towards, and acknowledged the long road it has been for the promised facilities in Eleuthera, saying, “There are a wide cross section of facilities that we are building. These clinics will all be tied into our plan for interconnectivity to launch tele-medicine, and a digital platform with e-clinical records, and begin now to expand the services that we can provide in the Family Islands.

We will bring in diagnostics, and lab facilities... In our last administration in 2016 - we promised the residents here in Central Eleuthera that we would build this facility. We cleared this land, and the former administration said they would not go ahead

(Front Row L-R) Minister Clay Sweeting, MP CSE Eleuthera and Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs; Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Michael Darville; and Administrator for Central Eleuthera, Rochelle Anderson. with it. But we are here now to deliver on our promise to construct this facility. So, we plan to break ground for this facility in short order. Mangrove Cay is the first on my list, then Palmetto Point, then

Rock Sound. All of the other clinics are smaller clinics, because they are smaller communities, but P15 we are here to live up to a promise

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Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve Opens the 3rd phase of their ongoing growth On January 5th, 2024, The Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve. now in its thirteenth year of operation, hosted a grand phase three opening and ribbon cutting event - along with a book launch, which heralded the completion of its science and administration buildings, staff lounge and office areas, expanded workshop/storage facilities, as well as a new indoor multi-purpose space - suitable for a variety of events, classes, exhibitions, conferences and the like.

Mrs. Shelby White, visionary behind Eleuthera’s first national park - in memory of her late husband, Mr. Leon Levy, and their shared love of conservation, expressed her thankfulness for the process, and her passion to contin-

ue growing at The Preserve, saying, “I have been so grateful for every phase, and this has been beyond my dreams.

So, this is just another great moment for something that started with just a little idea, and has just kept going and going and going - and we are not stopping.”

Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle, Executive Director with the Bahamas National Trust, which partnered with Mrs. White to make The Preserve a reality, commenting on the importance of and the impact of the phase three developments at the park, said, “This particular phase, phase three, really helped to shape what we will be looking at to improve and upgrade our science and educational programs. We wanted to make sure that there was

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2024, New Year’s a dedicated space to engage more students, more researchers, especially as it relates to research looking into the science behind the native plants here that we have on display.”

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She continued, “We also have a workshop, where we do all of the wood work - all of the wood furniture was actually constructed on property by the staff. The expanded facilities would help us to improve how we connect with the communities, and with visitors.

We want to make sure that there is a place here in Eleuthera for special events, so this property provides that as an opportunity. We are so thankful that phase three is what it is and we are looking forward to opportunities to possibly expand into a phase four.

We plan to continue our educational outreach, and to now expand beyond Central Eleuthera, because we want every student here on this island to be able to have access, and to have an appreciation for what is here. At the end of the day, it is for them. The BNT are the caretakers of the national parks, but we are doing this on behalf of the Bahamian public.

So, we want to be able to attract as many people as possible to this beautiful facility.”

Revealing some of the plans by the BNT nationwide in the continued development and enhancement of key national parks, with much of the insight, she said, coming from a listening tour, taking in thoughts, ideas, and feedback from experienced staff as well as people from the communities surrounding the parks, Mrs. Anderson-Rolle, shared, “We have strategically identified twelve of the thirty-three national parks that we are going to put focus and attention on during the next five years - investing in the facilities, infrastructure, and programming. Both the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve, as well as the newly designated Seahorse National Park are included in that list of twelve. We want to be able to ensure that we have across The Bahamas, areas where we can improve on the visitor experience.

So, we are really excited... Now it is time to fundraise to make sure we can bring those plans into fruition.”

Following a formal ceremony, where speakers, including Eric Carey with One Consultants and former Executive Director with BNT; Mrs. Shelby White; P29 Lakeshia Ander-

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500+ Acres in Central Eleuthera Designated as “Seahorse National Park” in ceremony On Saturday, January 6th, 2024, a dedication ceremony was hosted by the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) to locally recognize the recent designation of Eleuthera’s second national park, called Seahorse National Park, which encompasses a 548-acre area in Central Eleuthera, surrounding both Sweeting’s Pond, now renown for its high concentration of seahorses, and the famed Hatchet Bay Caves - one of the longest dry cave systems in The Bahamas.

BNT President Geoff Andrews, in remarks opening the morning ceremony, thanked the government of The Bahamas for their partnership, the Leon Levy Foundation for their support in getting the park to its current point, as well as the local Eleuthera community, whose support and involvement, he stressed, had been crucial in solidifying the area’s designation as the island’s second national park. “Our vision for Seahorse National Park is ambitious and inspiring. We believe we can create a world-class national park which conserves this area’s unique biodiversity while helping to boost Eleuthera’s economy. We are excited to work alongside the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC), the Eleuthera community and all our partners to realize this vision.”

Oscar Tang, owner of The Enchantment Group and The Cove Eleuthera, located in Gregory Town,

was also invited to give remarks. He spoke about his first encounter with the island about seven years ago, and how he and his wife. Agnes, fell in love with its natural beauty. Experiencing Sweeting’s pond personally and being able to actually see seahorses for the first time in 2023, Mr. Tang offered, “Dedicating this area to a national park is so much in the spirit of what Eleuthera offers, which is its natural beauty and all that nature brings... It is just wonderful that we have this natural gift. So, the challenge will be to make it accessible and yet to preserve the natural characteristics which have made this possible... So, we have to be very careful in the planning, to make sure we don’t destroy the very beauty which has been given to us.

The Cove Eleuthera, being very nearby, we want to play a role in this effort. So, we are looking forward to the master plan by BNT for this place, and to playing a role in terms of helping to preserve it.”

In September of 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, and BAIC, signed a lease-agreement with the Bahamas National

Shown above: Aerial view of Sweeting’s Pond in Hatchet Bay, Central Eleuthera.

Trust to develop a science-based eco-tourism plan that would support local businesses while ensuring the protection of Sweeting’s Pond’s resources. BAIC partnered in the Seahorse National Park venture by providing more than 500 acres of land for the development of the national park at Sweeting’s Pond, and the Hatchet Bay Caves, according to BAIC ChairP46 man, Mr. Leroy Major.

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Advice

Inheriting a Home

Inheriting a home can be…. Awesome, Complicated, or an Answer to a Prayer. It depends on the circumstances.

For those who inherit the family home, what a wonderful gift. Things can get a bit complicated if you inherit along with one or more family members. What if your sister wants to sell, but you want to keep the property? You grew up there and it’s special.

By Mike Lightbourn

What can you do? This is a common problem and there are various options worth exploring. Before you get ahead of yourself, establish the facts.

Assuming there is a will, who are

the other beneficiaries? Has it gone through probate? Is there any guidance contained in it? Is there a mortgage on the property that must be paid? If there’s a mortgage, how much equity is in the property?

To find out, subtract the remaining mortgage payments from the value of the property. The amount that’s left is the equity in the property. Use a BREA-licensed appraiser to determine the value of the property. If the equity’s small, is it worth trying to keep the property?

Maybe your mother or father owned the property outright. That’s great news! It means that if, say, two of you inherited, each will get 50 percent of the proceeds of a sale, after closing costs. Let’s say the property is valued at $400,000. Even if it sold for $400,000, the cost of selling the home or other property will be deducted from the amount paid. Closing costs include taxes, legal fees and real estate commission (if any), along with anything owing on utility

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bills and so on.

Now, if you want to own the home and the other family member(s) don’t, there are a couple of options open to you.

First, you can buy out their share in the property. Negotiate a sales price for their portion. If you don’t have the funds, you may be able to secure financing on the property since you already have equity in it.

Another possibility involves owner financing if the other owner(s) will provide it. In this case, a lawyer would draw up a legally binding agreement. You will then be obligated to make payments under the terms of the agreement. Hopefully, the payments will be made as agreed.

Make sure you employ a reputable lawyer. I can’t underscore this point enough.

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

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Commentary

New Year’s, 2024

Smallness and separateness will not do

By Sir Ronald Sanders The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS. He is also the current President of the OAS Permanent Council. The views expressed are entirely his own. For comments and previous commentaries, see: www.sirronaldsanders.com As we stand at the beginning of 2024, gazing upon the dawn of a new year with uncertainty, the time has come for a profound reflection on the trajectory of the 15 Caribbean nations constituting the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

This juncture prompts the nations of the region to take stock of the strides made, recognize the opportunities

neglected in the pursuit of individual sovereignty, and confront the dual challenge of advancing domestic wellbeing while strengthening their global standing.

In this pivotal moment, it is evident that the more pressing threats to CARICOM’s progress emanate not solely from climate change, but primarily from the lack of social cohesion and political consensus both within CARICOM nations and between them.

The choice before CARICOM countries now is the same one that has always confronted them: either pursue a closer union that would make them stronger together or a march alone, knowing they would assuredly be weaker, but hoping gambling on good fortune to muddle through.

So far, CARICOM countries, or at least, their political leadership, have gambled on their ingenuity to maintain the trappings of sovereignty while conceding autonomy to external forces, which, for one reason or another, prop them up, but maintain their dependence.

Since the 1960s, when Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Barbados embarked on separate path-

ways of independence, they and the other CARICOM countries that followed them, have had fluctuating periods of economic and social development, but none of them has become independent.

They have paid a steep price for cherishing individual sovereignty, manifested in their smallness and in their lack of capacity to exercise influence in the world.

The reality is stark: despite commendable strides on the domestic front, CARICOM nations remain on the fringes of global significance. Economic growth, for the majority, is stunted, shackled by burdensome levels of unsustainable debt. External shocks, such as the reverberations of the COVID-19 pandemic and the volatility of commodity prices, further strain their fiscal capacities The opportunity missed lies in the aftermath of the dissolution of the West Indian Federation, as each nation opted for the allure of self-reliance. They made the mistake that the United States of America did not. As US historian Carol Berkin put it, the 13 former British colonies formed a union “on the firm conviction that a strong government representing all the peoples of a Federal State was the surest path to economic growth

and prosperity, to civil law and order, and to winning the respect and recognition from foreign nations necessary to insure America’s continued independence”. And so, it turned out to be.

While over the years, in recognition of their weakness, CARICOM countries have established joint institutions and collective machinery, they have fallen short of creating a legally binding, political umbrella that would be an effective instrument for dealing with critical domestic and foreign challenges.

Importantly, CARICOM leaders failed to do what the founding fathers of the US knew to be essential. They failed to do the hard work of governance which is to create a nationalism built on shared identity as citizens of a united Caribbean. Thus, the pursuit of separate sovereignties still hampers the strength of CARICOM countries in economic, financial, and diplomatic arenas.

None should believe that periods of economic good fortune that reflects itself in episodes of economic growth are sufficient when underlying structures of weakness remain. Eventually, it is the fundamental P33 weaknesses not the occasional successes that

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The Integration of Sailing in Schools is a Significant Leap Forward for Jr. Sailing says Minister The Hon. Clay Sweeting, Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs on Monday, January 15th, 2024 underscored the government’s commitment to youth empowerment as his ministry strengthened its partnership with the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training (MOETVT) through its recently launched Co-Curricular Activities Programme.

Said Minister Sweeting, “The government’s commitment to youth empowerment remains crucial as it is a national goal for our administration. As such, this new initiative for integration of sailing into our education system makes a significant leap forward for junior sailing in The Bahamas. Our vision is to establish a comprehensive programme encompassing primary to senior high schools, forming a feeder system that fosters a love for sailing from an early age.”

Along with creating opportunities for young people, he said the initiative makes a “significant” stride towards nurturing a new generation of sailors fostering national pride and solidifying The Bahamas’ reputation as a sailing destination.

The Junior Sailing Programme is one of several

co-curricular activities created by the Student Development Section of the MOETVT and offered for students to participate in addition to their regular studies.

Minister Sweeting announced the initial list of schools in New Providence which comprise the first phase of the Junior Pilot Sailing Programme. They are: Uriah Mcphee Primary School, Stephen Dillet Primary School, Gerald Cash Primary School, C. W. Sawyer Primary School, L.W. Young Junior High School, A. F. Adderley Junior High School, T. A. Thompson Junior High School, Anatol Rodgers Junior High School, C. V. Bethel Junior High School and Government High School.

He pledged his ministry’s commitment to assisting the MOETVT with the development of infrastructure including swimming pools, construction of ‘E’ class boats through boat building programmes, and the provision of skilled constructionists to facilitate training.

“Boat building is an initiative that we really need in our schools. Currently we may have 2-3 boat builders throughout this country that build sailing sloops. It’s

important that we don’t lose our heritage.”

Minister Sweeting noted that his ministry is actively pursuing acquisition of land for establishing a national sailing academy. “This institution will serve as a hub for learning both Olympic and sloop sailing, attracting not only local enthusiasts but also international athletes. We foresee this facility becoming a key player not only in education, but also sports tourism, capitalizing The Bahamas’ premium year round favorable weather conditions.

“Our commitment extends beyond New Providence. We aim to expand this to the Family Islands.

To enrich the experience, we plan to engage boat builders from across the Family Islands to impact their knowledge and skills, while showcasing the excellent talent and traditional craftsmanship of Bahamian sloop builders. We view this venture as an opportunity to deepen our engagement with the rich cultural tapestry of the national sport of sailing,” he said.

Source: By KATHRYN CAMPBELL, BIS

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CTI’s Retreat Hotel Crowned “Most Sustainable Hotel in the Caribbean” and nominated for The Bahamas Travel and Sustainability Awards Eleuthera, Bahamas – In recognition of its commitment to sustainability, The Retreat Hotel, managed by the Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, has earned the title of “The Most Sustainable Hotel in the Caribbean” from the Caribbean Journal (CJ).

Pictured (L to R): Yolanda Pawar CCO, OEF; Guy Britton, Managing Editor, Caribbean Journal; Keyron Smith, CEO, OEF; Alex Brittel, Editor-inChief / Founder, Caribbean Journal, tour the farm’s 1.1-acre smart technology Grow House.

The Caribbean Journal, a website and newsletter covering Caribbean travel, tourism, and trade, which has over 200,000 daily newsletter subscribers and close to half a million Facebook followers, recently heralded The Retreat Hotel’s “real and transformative impact on the local Eleuthera community.”

Guy Britton and Alex Brittel, the Managing Editor and Editorin-Chief of The Caribbean Journal, visited CTI’s unique agritourism hotel and operation in December 2023. In a headline story published online, they acknowledged The Retreat Hotel as The Bahamas’ only training hotel, showcasing its authentic farm-to-table restaurant and sustainable farm and Grow House, which is actively contributing to Eleuthera’s food security. These facilities offer practical training opportunities for local students and, as described by the duo, serve as a model for the entire region.

“The Retreat isn’t like any hotel you’ve ever been to in the Caribbean, and what’s happening here in Rock Sound, Eleuthera is a model for the entire region,” read the CJ feature. “In other words, the hotel is as sustainable as it gets – not just providing lip service to sustainability with things like LED lighting or expensive green

certification programs — but real sustainability — training, teaching, developing and ensuring a lasting, residual, transformational impact in lives and communities.”

“The tourism industry is increasingly promoting sustainability for good reasons,” said CTI’s CCO, Yolanda Pawar. “There is a growing awareness of the environmental impact of tourism activities, including issues such as carbon emissions, waste generation, and damage to natural habitats, particularly for the Caribbean region and sea islands. As global concern rises about climate change and environmental degradation, travelers are also becoming more conscious of their ecological footprint.”

In celebration of The Bahamas’ success in tourism and in support of promoting ongoing sustainable tourism, the Caribbean Journal’s newly minted “Bahamas Travel and Sustainability Awards” will have, it said, an intentional focus on sustainability in 2024. Held in February in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, it aims to celebrate individuals, hotels, and organizations country-wide contributing to sustainable practices and community impact through tourism.

derscores the importance of our collective efforts to support sustainable development in many different sectors. At OEF and CTI, we remain committed to building local capacity, increasing environmental stewardship, and driving innovation while investing in a sustainable future for our people, local communities, and economy.”

Smith noted that this honor follows on the heels of Eleuthera’s reception of the prestigious Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s “Destination Resilience Award” in May 2023.

“The collective efforts of CTI, OEF, The Retreat Hotel, The Island School, The Eleuthera Sustainability Council, and other critical partners have helped to propel Eleuthera onto the global stage, emphasizing our strides in sustainable development, food security, and overall resilience,” stated Smith. “This recognition highlights Eleuthera’s role as a champion for environmental stewardship and communitydriven sustainability initiatives in the Bahamas and the broader Caribbean region, and we are proud of this achievement.”

The Retreat Hotel and the CTI Farm are contending for the Sustainable Hotel of the Year Award and the Sustainable Energy Award, respectively. Keyron Smith, President and CEO of One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) and CTI, is nominated for the Sustainable Tourism Leadership Award. Additionally, OEF and CTI are in the runnings for the Community Tourism Award.

Eleuthera’s standing as a sustainable tourism leader is further evidenced by the nomination of dozens of Eleuthera-based, tourism-related businesses in fifteen different award categories.

From the best hotels and hospitality on every island to sustainable leadership to celebrated chefs, bartenders, and people-topeople experiences, the Bahamas Travel and Sustainability Awards salute the industry’s best.

The public is invited to participate by visiting caribjournal.com to vote for their favorites on or before February 29th, 2024, at midnight (EST).

Latia Duncombe, Director General of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation, expressed excitement about the awards, stating, “The Caribbean Journal’s Bahamas Travel and Sustainability Awards will celebrate the best in Bahamian hospitality and tourism. As our vibrant tourism industry continues to surge, we are proud to be honoring the remarkable people and places that are contributing to The Bahamas’ travel renaissance.”

Reflecting on the recent nominations, Mr. Smith remarked, “We are honored to be recognized as regional leaders for our ongoing work in the sector. This acknowledgment un-

Promoting Sustainability: Fresh farm produce is infused into meals and sold at affordable prices on-site at Farmer’s Table restaurant.

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Health Minister/Health Facility He continued, “This facility will not only have the capability to provide lab diagnostics, but also to do surgical procedures here in this area. We have a plan for urgent care facilities, including here in Palmetto Point. So, the days will be gone where we are just doing primary healthcare services. We are going to do alot more. With our improved telemedicine network - if we have emergencies, we are able to handle them. We also have ground ambulance services scheduled to come here in Eleuthera, and we have an EMS building in these plans... Five EMT specialists have already been trained in Eleuthera... It has a morgue as well.”

Pictured are (Front row L-R): Mr. Addison Cooper, Mrs. Monique Pinder, Minister Clay Sweeting, Mr. Sais Cooper, Administrator Rochelle Anderson, and Mrs. Sonia Sands. we made to the residents in this community.”

Darville added, “This land is ready.

This has been ready for years. We have the drawings that are complete now. We have the capability, once we bring in temporary power into the site, we will be ready to go. So this is no more talk... I want the residents to see it coming out of the ground... We are serious about this.

The money is in my budget to start this

project. It had to go through the Ministry of Works, and we did come here to local government, and presented our plan [in November 2023]. Now these [plans] have gone through all the approvals...

HVAC, structural, and all the different components at the Ministry of Works.

So, with Eleuthera this [Palmetto Point] will be the first one that we start. Rock Sound will come after this one. But, this is the first one that we are going to start.”

“I don’t want to say much more. What we want to do is to finish the procurement process and go into BONFIRE to award the contract, come to break the ground, and then watch the site go up. I don’t want to talk much about it anymore. I want to build it,” said Minister Darville.

Minister Clay Sweeting, while scouring the Health Centre plans next to Darville, commented on what the fruition of the project would mean to his constituency, saying, “This project is one that has been promised to the people of this constituency and the people of Eleuthera for decades, and for it to finally be coming into fruition, is something that we are all excited about. Healthcare, even during the COVID pandemic, we realized even more then, how important it is to

have proper healthcare within these communities and across the country. This is something that is necessary not only for Governor’s Harbour and Palmetto Point, but the island as a whole. We will have minor surgical wards, and other healthcare services - to serve the people in this constituency.”

Relating what the project meant to him personally and its impact for the Eleuthera community, Minister Sweeting shared, “I think all of us who have families, who have children, who have challenged individuals - whether it’s your grandparents, whether it’s your parents - my father has throat cancer, and I have challenged persons in my family who need proper healthcare. Two months ago, my son had a concussion, and we had to wait for the MedEvac, which took five to six hours to fly him into New Providence...

It took a long time. So, for people on the ground that need immediate healthcare, whether it is emergency response, whether it’s critical care needs, or whether it is something as simple as medical check ups - this is important. This affects people in the different communities - families, older people, youth, infants - all of them.

Even as a young person looking to build a family - most people in the Family Islands travel to New Providence to have their children. All of that now would be able to be done right here in Eleuthera.”

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New Year’s, 2024

Minister Sweeting (MP CSE) Looking

Forward to Action in 2024

After a very busy year, working on a variety of initiatives and projects, in Eleuthera and throughout The Bahamas in 2023, including a ministerial portfolio change, Minister Clay Sweeting, during an intervew in early January, spoke on several of those initiatives, and the prospect of a number of them finally moving from the planning and approval stages of the past two years, to construction, implementation, and in some cases, operation.

Asked about which initiatives he foresaw coming together in 2024, Minister Sweeting first commented on the recently dedicated national park, saying, “First of all, January 6th was historic for the groundbreaking and the official announcement of the Seahorse National Park at Sweeting’s Pond and the Hatchet Bay Caves. I am happy it has now come to fruition, where people in Hatchet Bay and Gregory Town and Eleuthera as a whole, will be a part

of a market, where they can have access to economic development - and where they will also have a say in the preservation of the area that surrounds Sweeting’s Pond and the Caves.”

Pivoting to road works, Mr. Sweeting described, “When we speak to what we will see in the upcoming year - over the past few years we have worked on a lot, and we’ve made some announcements. So, this year, you should see a lot of this coming to fruition. You will see the road works should commence this month, as was committed last year.

You will see people on the ground getting the site ready. And then hopefully we will see the road works start, from Bannerman Town moving north - 163 miles of road. That was announced last October. You will also see some clean up of the towns, and we will continue with the patching once the mill gets up and running here in Rock Sound. That will be done by Bahamas Striping, part-

nering with the Kemps as well as the Symonettes. So, it will be a partnership with Eleuthera companies as well.

In aviation infrastructure in the center of the island, Sweeting spoke on the works taking place in Governor’s Harbour, saying, “The Governor’s Harbour Airport, will be a more than $5 million project when it’s completed. A full renovation, including the parking area. Many people have been asking about the parking area.

So, it is not just the facility itself, but it is the parking area and all the road works around the airport will be completed as well. This would allow for direct flights with American Airlines, and we anticipate that other airlines will follow suit. More than likely Delta, and other companies - once they see the viability of flying into Governor’s Harbour and sharing the passenger load with North Eleuthera. So, we will see that.”

Although no longer responsible for the Ministry of Agriculture, he updated on that area, and briefly described a number of smaller works to be taken on throughout communities on island, saying, “We will also see the Cultivation Center that we spoke about last year. The trenches have started, so we hope to see that erected this year. It will be a hub for everything agriculture... You will also see other works improvements that we are assessing in different areas. Last year we completed the administrator’s residence in Governor’s Harbour, on Cupid’s Cay. So, we are assessing other government complexes and areas in need of attention, and the Ministry of Works will ensure that that’s done.”

Minister Sweeting added, “We will continue to see the homecomings grow. You would have seen Governor’s Harbour Homecoming and Rock Sound Homecom-

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ing. Both of those have grown tremendously over the past year. We will continue our support for that. My current portfolio includes the Ministry of Works, and Family Island Affairs, which includes Local Government, Regattas, Homecomings and Festivals. You will also see this year we should have the amendments to the Local Government Act, that would allow for the councils in these communities to raise funding. So, the draft is completed. Once we get that to Cabinet, and Cabinet approves, then we will move forward. So, we have done the work on that.

“All of these projects, that have taken the leg work to get done; you will see the completion of a lot of these over the next year to year and a half. As we continue, there is still a lot of work to be done in the constituency - and quite frankly, I don’t think we will complete all that we want to do. But I can say I am happy with the support of the Ministry and the Prime Minister - to see that Central and South Eleuthera are essentially getting the focus that they have not seen in a long time.

“I think that people on the ground can see it. Because even the road works, are not just going to be paving. It’s going to include cat eyes, striping, water, refurbishment of parks, and all of that. So, it is not

Local only road works, you will see a transformation in these communities, and in the way we touch people’s lives.

We are also looking at Rock Sound airport. That needs some work, so we are assessing that as well. We will continue with different areas, such as the administrative complex in Governor’s Harbour - we will do some work there as well.”

Briefly mentioning some intentions for projects in the pipeline for further north, Minister Sweeting shared, “In regards to North Eleuthera, we hope to continue the road works - to not only do south and central, but to complete all the way north.

In Harbour Island we are also looking at a commercial docking facility. The idea is to do a design/build - where we bring in a contractor, where they design and build it, which would take a lot of the work load and pressure off of the Ministry of Works. Because, we do facilitate all Ministries’ construction, not just what we do in-house.

So, that is something we will look at, and we will continue with other works throughout the communities.”

Touching on the topic of health, he added, “The healthcare facility plans for Palmetto Point have been completed, and finally approved by the Ministry of Works. So, we hope you will see it breaking ground in the next P19 month or two. We

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Education Beat

New Year’s, 2024

50 Years! Preston H. Albury High School

unveils a new Plaque of its Patron During the 9 a.m. morning assembly at the Preston H. Albury High School on Thursday, January 11th, 2024, as part of the school’s ongoing 50th Anniversary activities during the 2023/2024 school year - in recognition of its opening as the first high school facility on Eleuthera in 1973 - a new Patron’s Plaque was unveiled at the entrance of the school’s campus, showcasing the institution’s patron and namesake, Mr. Preston H. Albury.

The previous plaque, over the years, had become time worn, so administrators in cooperation with the school board as well as the parent-teachers association took the decision, and actioned the commissioning of a new plaque, which replaced the older version

Above: The unveiling of the new patron’s plaque,

by Senior High students.

Pictured: A select group of students wave balloons following the unveiling of the new patron’s plaque on the front grounds of the Preston H. Albury High School.

adjacent to the school’s flagpole.

As part of the brief morning ceremony, winning entry poems, entered into a competition held during the former semester, on the 50th anniversary theme, were read aloud for the edification of the school body, then a select group of fifty students surrounded the monument where the new plaque had been erected, holding balloons of celebration, as the plaque was ceremoniously unveiled.

Principal at Preston H. Albury High, Mr. Jerome Roberts, in remarks during the special assembly, commenting on the life and times of the school’s patron, described, “...A man whose indomitable spirit and dogged determination has left a lasting impression in the hallowed halls of parliament, and by extension, the hearts and the minds of the people of the great island of Eleuthera. Today we pay homage to this giant of Eleuthera, after fifty years.

It is only fitting that we upgrade our patron’s plaque. With the passage of time and the elements, they had left their indelible impression on the old plaque. Today, is a proud moment for all of us here, to witness this ocassion. We are all a testament of his legacy, and to all of us here, let us continue that legacy that Mr. Preston Albury left behind with us.”

In a brief interview following the service, Principal Roberts commented that the school’s administration would look to do more to educate both the current school body, along with alumni about the school’s patron, Mr. Preston H. Albury. “When you ask the average student who is here currently, as well as those who have graduated from Preston Albury High School, they actually know very little about the school’s patron. We will endeavour to do a better job, and encourage our students to

learn more about him and his life story.”

The following text accompanies the patron’s photo on the plaque newly erected at the high school in South Eleuthera:

“A native of Governors Harbour, Eleuthera, Preston H. Albury was born on May 23,1924.

“He received his formal education, in Eleuthera and in 1944 studied diesel and auto engineering at the Central Mediterranean Training Centre in Benevento, Italy. He was Inter transferred to the Royal Engineers in Egypt where he was responsible for the transportation of supplies.

“From 1948 to 1953, he was Ground Engineer at Oakes Field for the British South American Airways. He later managed Consolidation Construction Company until 1960.

“When industrialist, Huntington Hartford, bought Paradise Island, Mr. Albury became chief personnel and security officer for the island. In 1964 he went to Freeport where he helped construct the Bahamas Cement Plant. While there, he was instrumental in organising the Grand Bahama Bus and Taxi Company. In 1966, he became service and credit manager for Tropical Motors.

“Mr. Albury joined the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) in the latter 1950’s and in November 1962, was one of two candidates who took the party’s banner to Eleuthera in an unsuccessful try in the General Election. He was elected to Parliament for the first time on January 10, 1967 - the day the Progressive Liberal Party wrested power from the “Old Guard”, the United

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Education Beat

Minister Optimistic for Eleuthera in ‘24

made sure and got them done since I’ve been there... The healthcare facility is one that we committed, and what is exciting for me is that all these things we have done in the constituency in two and a half years - most of them had been talked about for the past several decades - over successive administrations. And we are able to bring these to fruition, and not just talk. We will continue to do that.”

Giving a brief update on the temporary stall in Ministry of Housing initiatives on island, Minister Sweeting explained, “In Rock Sound, we have built seven homes there, and plan to turn over the keys in the next few

P18

Shown: Vice Principal at Preston H. Albury High School, Mrs Yoshan Gibson-Charlton (on right), stand with students celebrating the unveiling of a new patron’s plaque on the school grounds.

Bahamian Party, in an upset victory.

“A trade unionist and one time president of the Amalgamated Building, Construction and Allied Workers Union, Mr. Albury became chairman of the New Providence Port Authority in 1967.

“In January, 1971, he became chairman of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation and served in that capacity until February 1, 1974. He then took up an important posting in the private sector as president and chief operating officer of GAC Eleuthera Limited, developers of Cape Eleuthera. In January, 1978, Mr. Albury became chairman of the Bahamas Racing Commission.

“Mr. Albury died suddenly on Sunday, March 9, 1980. He was fifty-six (56) years of age.

“The Preston Albury Senior High School in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, the constituency which Mr. Albury once represented, was named in his honour on October 29, 1983.”

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months. We had a transition in Ministers, with the Cabinet shuffle. In this new year, we hope to see that done. And they will start to build several houses in Hatchet Bay as well, where there are approximately ten lots with infrastructure, already designated to the Ministry of Housing. People want to see and feel, so we will try to get these off of the ground as quickly as possible.”

Commenting on the utility services - easily described as a consistent inconvenience, affecting the quality of life on the island in a number of ways - Mr. Sweeting said, “In terms of utilities, the government has put out the Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) for the privatization of generation of electricity. They did site visits just before Christmas with different persons who were interested. I anticipate that once that process is complete, that we will have reliable electricity, the same as you do in St. George’s Cay, and in Grand Bahama. It will take out the generation aspect, so, the person working for BPL can just deal with maintenance of the distribution lines and all of that. Once that is completed - one feeds off of the other.

“Once you have better electricity, you should have better water supply. The new one million gallon water storage tank in Governor’s Harbour should be completed within the next several months. Once that is done, that should help to alleviate some of the burden if power goes off. It is about a four-day supply, besides the current capacity, so, in total about a six-day supply. The one million gallon tank in North Eleuthera is already completed, and the one in Governor’s Harbour at the Naval Base, has started to be erected - Knowles Construction (SJK) is doing the work. So, that should be completed in short-order.

The new Minister responsible for Water and Sewerage has a team coming to the island, to look at the disparity between the private entity that produces water, saying that the voltage varies, and that that’s why the issue is there. So, they will get that sorted.”

Speaking on how garbage is currently being handled and planned for on the island, Minister Sweeting said, “I met with the Minister of the Environment a few times about this, because the reality is that the current contract, only allows for the pushing of the dump, twice. We would also like to get to more environmentally friendly dumpsites. If we can look at putting in proper facilities, and where you push the dump three or four times - because the more people, the more garbage. The Minister did send up a team last November, and hopefully in the new budget, we will be able to facilitate that. Now the contractors are paid ‘per push’, and the contractor in Palmetto Point, for example, is paid to push the dump twice per week.”

Commenting further, on the need for more community partnership in waste management on the island, Sweeting shared, “I think that governance isn’t always about central government. I think it’s a partnership. If we care about our communities, we wouldn’t throw garbage on to the sides of the road, and hope that somebody gets a contractor to pick it up. There are areas that I am sure with growth, that we will have to assess, because currently garbage collection is done by the local government council. And the idea is that, because they are local, they will ensure that their communities are kept clean. We increased the budget of each council last year by 10% - so that would make some additional provision - now we cannot direct the council on how to spend that money. But, if their communities are dirty, you would anticipate that they would utilize some of that funding. I think that each township - when you get assessments - especially on Eleuthera, there are more and more people building homes in remote areas that would not be included in current contracts, and there are different things like that. There is a possibility of that being assessed, but it is a partnership too. You want to keep your own community clean. Governments can’t do everything. We do want to facilitate as much as possible, but you do also want that partnership. If there is something that people see that may be able to be done differently, I am sure that the councils will address. Currently, the local government councils collect garbage, and the Ministry of Environment deals with dumpsites. That is how it is done.”

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Local

New Year’s, 2024

‘ONE Consultants’, Eric Carey, Talks

Eco-Tourism and issues with island’s Garbage While on island for the twin events of a phase opening at The Levy Preserve, and a dedication ceremony of the new Seahorse National Park in January 2024 - both projects managed by the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) The Eleutheran spoke with former BNT Executive Director, Mr. Eric Carey, now key principal with ONE Consultants which has conservation at its core, on several of the initiatives he is working on.

“Shelby has always had a vision for The Preserve to have an impact beyond the boundaries of The Preserve, so I am looking at things like getting more nature-based tourism on to the island. I am looking to get nature tour guides trained and certified, and [for them] to be given support to establish businesses through the Small Business Development Centre, and in so doing, creating jobs around nature-based tourism.”

Mr. Carey, who provides consultation for the Leon Levy Foundation, liaising between the BNT and the Foundation - continued the longstanding relationship with founding trustee, Shelby White, when he transitioned from the BNT, and has continued to tap into his years of experience - now working directly with Mrs. White and the Foundation in relation to The Preserve and the BNT.

He shared, “I am working closely with the Ministry of Tourism on helping to identify really what is the nature-based tourism product on this island. We know Eleuthera has incredible beaches, and snorkeling etc... But, what is there beyond the beach that we can explore.

There is The Preserve, and there is the Seahorse National Park, but there is also Cathedral Caves etc... So, I am looking to put together - working with the Ministry of Tourism - to put together a concept we call the Eleuthera Heritage and Nature

Describing one of his current projects, tied into his consultancy with the Levy Foundation, Mr. Carey outlined,

Pictured: Mr. Eric Carey, key principal with ONE Consultants.

Trail - where we will identify all of these spots.

“We know that there are two types of visitors that come to Eleuthera - those that want to self-explore, but we know a lot of people who come to The Preserve, and who talk to the Ministry of Tourism, who ask, “Are there trained guides who can take us out?” So, we are not forcing people to use guides, but we do want to provide the opportunity for those who do want to use a guide. And, we want to make sure that those guides are properly trained, have the right information, that understand safety, that have proper liability insurance, and the like.”

A concept tied into the health of ongoing nature-based tourism, and more importantly, the island’s environmental future, is a more personal issue for Mr. Carey - one that he hopes to be able to act as a fa-

cilitator between parties who can craft and implement a solution to and that is the issue of the burning dumps and garbage management in Eleuthera.

He explained, “I am tired of driving through Tarpum Bay, Palmetto Point, Hatchet Bay and being inundated with smoke. Yes, I can roll my window up, drive through and it’s fine, but there are people inhaling that stuff every time it happens. So, there has got to be a solution that we can find in 2024. I have been in discussion with the people from the New Providence Landfill - and the Nassau Ecology Park. I’ve also been in touch with people like Bob Colman and Paul Johanneson, who are residents on the island, and we are brainstorming to try and find a solution. I’ve also spoken with Minister Clay Sweeting, and he has referred me to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Vaughn Miller - who

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National School Attendance Hotline launched person as they go forward with their lives,” she said.

“There is an historic issue with attendance; the pandemic exacerbated it and now we are trying to recover.

We’ve made almost a miraculous recovery in two years when we got children back face-to-face; the hotline is yet another strategy. We need the community to assist us because it is your business,” she said.

Pictured: Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr. Chaswell Hanna (Nassau, Bahamas) The Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training (MOETVT) has launched a Hotline to support its efforts to boost school attendance.

The National School Attendance Hotline -– 422-2253 or 42-CHILD – toll free was introduced during a briefing at the Ivy Dumont Building, Friday, January 12th, 2024.

The Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin,

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is from Eleuthera - so, hopefully we can find a solution.”

Elaborating further on necessary steps, Mr. Carey outlined, “We would have to all agree on a methodology that would make sense. The garbage still would have to be collected. So, the guys who have the garbage contracts, they are still going to have their job. The question is, where do they take it? Do they take it to a transfer station in Tarpum Bay and Rock Sound that would then come to a more central location - one central location, where then whatever methodology we come up with - whether it’s high end incineration, whether it is a properly managed landfill, whether it is shredding, packing it and taking it off the island - whatever the solution is - get it centralized in one or two locations.”

Highlighting one area of concern he added, “Harbour Islanders are generating tons of waste, and where does their waste go? Off of the island, and into a landfill not even two miles from the Three Island Dock, where thousands of people are impacted.

And it is already impacting the water table, and the wetlands etc... And I know people in Harbour Island who are not happy that they are part of a

Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training said the approach to get students back into the classroom is “focused and strategic.”

She said the hotline will allow the Ministry of Education to go into the community and seek out children [who have been absent from school].

“We are focused on getting the children in the classroom. We can help mold, shape, support, guide a young

problem of creating an environmental disaster.”

He continued, “I have spoken to the cruise lines. They are going to take care of their waste. They have sophisticated systems, I understand. They manage their waste, but their staff go home to areas where they are still being impacted by burning dumps etc...

So, how do we find a solution, that benefits their staff, because if their staff are not healthy and not able to come to work, it doesn’t matter what they are doing there. Their experience is going to be impacted.”

Mr. Carey concluded, “It is going to end up as a public-private partnership, and I see my role as bringing everybody together. I am not a garbage expert.” He smiled and quipped, “I talk a lot of trash, but I don’t know the business of garbage.” Then he added, more seriously, “I am seeing myself as a facilitator to bring together a public-private partnership that then executes a solution. It is going to be a funding requirement by government, but I think there is also an investment opportunity for those in the private sector that also want to see this problem go away... This is something that I am actively working on and pushing.”

Acting Education Director Dominique McCartney encouraged the public to support the initiative. She outlined strategies that the Ministry has implemented to assist with increasing school attendance – among them Find Every Child task force initiative (survey), walkabouts, and the introduction of attendance officers.

“Today, we are adding another strategy to improve attendance because 90 percent will not do. We are striving for 100%,” said Mrs. Russell.

“We are excited to note that to date attendance figures have levelled out to 90 percent. We are not satisfied with 90 percent. Every child in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas of school age must attend school.

“Chronic absenteeism is the pri-

mary cause of poor academic attainment. It is a proven early warning sign of academic risks and school dropout.

Therefore, 100 percent of our children must attend school.

“We have increased the personnel, we have engaged monitors in New Providence and Grand Bahama and they assist our attendance officers to find every child.

“We have strengthened our partnerships with Social Services, Urban Renewal, churches, civic organizations and the Royal Bahamas Police Force to mitigate the barriers to education attainment,” she said.

Other strategies include more experiential learning, additional bus routes, the re-established parent unit, expanded mental health initiative to support the healthy socialization of students, strengthening partnerships with corporate and community stakeholders, and the introduction of a breakfast programme in key schools.

Other speakers included Dr. Chaswell Hanna, Assistant Commissioner of Police, and Sharmaine Sinclair, Deputy Director, Department of Education, (Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit).

22 www. EleutheraNews . com

Local +Plus

New Year’s, 2024

Rewind: All Eleuthera Junkanoo Parade 2023 in

photos ... Aiming to Rebuild in 2024 goodies.

The All-Eleuthera Junkanoo parade, hosted annually by the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture in conjunction with the National Junkanoo Committee during the Christmas season, saw a significant date change, from its customary schedule on the evening of Christmas Day to two days earlier this year, held on the evening of Saturday, December 23rd, 2023.

The parade, hosted along the main Queen’s Highway road, flanking the homecoming site in Hatchet Bay, drew a large crowd of local resident families, along with scores of visitors to the island, who lined both sides of the closed off roadway, and spilled into the homecoming site during the evening - patronizing local vendors providing food, drinks, games and other Christmas themed

The Junkanoo spectacle this year, which kicked off at 9 p.m. on the Saturday, was smaller than normal, with just two A division groups performing - the “Johnson Superstars” group out of Tarpum Bay, touting a ‘Candy Land’ theme, and “The Village Boys” of Hatchet Bay, with a colourful display of creative offthe-shoulder, dance line, free dancers, and brass and drum sections in a presentation themed - ‘Culture and Festivals’. Two smaller B division groups, including “The Invaders”, from Tarpum Bay - with a lead piece showcasing ‘Sustainability of Feeding Ourselves’ and “Grandma’s Goodies”, out of Rock Sound, highlighting the ‘Sound of Junkanoo’ rounded out the evening’s offerings.

P38 “The Village

Above: Dance line participant with ‘The Village Boys” - 1st Place Winners in the All Eleuthera Junkanoo - A Division.

See More Photos on Pages 34-35 and 38-45.

The Bahamas and Kenya formalize diplomatic relations

Above: Bahamas Minister of Immigration and National Insurance, the Hon. Alfred Sears and Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, Dr. Musalia Mudavadi.

The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Saturday, January 20th, 2024, in a release, that it had formalized diplomatic relations with The Republic of Kenya.

The release stated, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pleased to announce the signing of a communique formalising diplomatic relations between the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the Republic of Kenya on the margins of the 19th Non Aligned Summit hosted by the Government of the Republic of Uganda.“The communique was signed by the Minister of Immigration and National Insurance, the Hon. Alfred Sears and Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, Dr. Musalia Mudavadi. This event marks a significant step towards fostering deeper mutual understanding, cooperation, and collaboration between the two nations as part of The Bahamas government’s turn to Sub-Saharan and South-South cooperation.”

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Gov’t resolved to tackle Nat’l Crisis Announces Five Pillar Plan to Fight Crime - (In light of the number of violent incidents in 2024 so far) On Tuesday, January 16th, 2024, in response to the alarming number of violent criminal incidents recorded in the first weeks of the new year, the government released a document outlining their strategy to combat crime, stating its resolve to face the national crisis head-on. The strategy built on what it called a ‘Whole of Government and Whole of Society Approach,’ is said to be encapsulated in the Five Pillars: Prevention, Policing/ Detection, Prosecution, Pun-

ishment, and Rehabilitation.

The strategy, briefly outlined in a statement to the public, described, “Each pillar is designed to tackle the different aspects of the crime issue: •

Prevention: Initiatives include expanding youth programs, investing in community centers, and enhancing educational opportunities, particularly targeting at-risk populations.

Shown: Commissioner of Police, Clayton Fernander, with Prime Minister Philip Davis (center), and Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe followed by other RBPF officials.

•

Policing/Detection: Strengthening the relationship between law enforcement and communities, modernizing policing methods, and incorporating advanced technology for efficient crime prevention and detection.

•

Prosecution: Improving the judicial process to secure swift justice, establishing special courts for specific types of matters, and enhancing support systems for victims and witnesses.

•

Punishment: Implementing fair and proportionate punishments, including sentencing reforms and improving prison conditions.

•

Rehabilitation: Preparing offenders for successful reintegration with vo-

cational training, educational programs, and mental health support.”

The statement continued, “This strategy, highlighting the government’s commitment to a comprehensive, nononsense approach to public safety, involves cross-government collaboration and the active participation of the community, NGOs, and the private sector.

It’s a direct call to action for every sector of society to play a role in this critical mission.”

The complete document can be accessed by visiting the following link online: ( https://opm.gov.bs/wp-content/ uploads/2024/01/Final-OPM_5Pillars_ Strategy_2.pdf )

Pictured: PM Davis, with Police Commissioner Fernander.

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Conservation Corner

New Year’s, 2024

CEI Bahamas Crawfish Nursery Project [Eleuthera, The Bahamas] — The Island School’s Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) is thrilled to introduce a crawfish aquaculture program designed to restock wild populations and pioneer the rearing of crawfish to marketable size.

This breakthrough initiative undertaken by Bahamian PhD student Michael Bowleg and researcher Denee Rankine aspires to revolutionize the industry and make it accessible to more Bahamians through its innovative use of sustainable fibres locally harvested and handcrafted by Bahamians.

“Our project is not just about sustainable lobster farming; it’s about creating a new way of doing aquaculture that benefits the environment, empowers local communities, and fosters innovation,” said Dr Nicholas Higgs, Direc-

tor at Cape Eleuthera Institute.

“A key component of the project involves collaborating with local artisans who utilize locally sourced materials to build equipment for collecting earlystage crawfish. Local fishers will use this equipment to collect and harvest the seed stock, which CEI will purchase for grow-out in our nursery before returning them to the wild.

Higgs said: “This multi-stage aquaculture model not only enhances capacity and job opportunities but also ensures the sustainability of one of The Bahamas’ most profitable fisheries, fostering equitable blue growth across local communities.”

As the research and innovation hub of The Island School, CEI stands at the forefront of global efforts to create a

Above: Michael Bowleg at CEI showing local middle schoolers lobster condos.

Above: Denee Rankine (Left) with Semester students.

Above: Robert Ellis (Left) and Michael Bowleg (Right).

Above: Michael Bowleg, Nick Higgs, and Robert Ellis pictured with local fishermen.

sustainable future for the planet. The project is led by Dr Robert Ellis, an aquaculture researcher from the University of Exeter, and collaborates with experts from The National Lobster Hatchery in the UK. It won support from the United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) Ocean Innovation Challenge, as one of nine projects fostering sustainable fisheries and the Blue Economy that were selected to undergo UNDP’s global incubator and receive financial support.

It’s also a part of a broader program that has received generous support from the Disney Conservation Fund and the Builders Initiative.

Bahamian PhD student Michael Bowleg said: “The development of crawfish aquaculture plays a crucial role in supporting the fishery’s long-term management and longevity. With documented stock-related declines being experienced across the region, aquaculture feasibility and research initiatives, core components of this project, provide an opportunity for conservation, community empowerment, and alternative livelihood development to go hand in hand.

Bowleg added: “Projects such as this present a compelling solution for Small Island Developing States like The Bahamas to navigate the challenges of climate change, food security, and overfishing, countering commercial development.”

CEI is also thrilled to formalize its partnership with the Bahamas Agriculture Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) with the signing of a memorandum of understanding that will see the project replicated in Andros and other satellite locations throughout The Bahamas.

BAMSI Executive Chairman and Senator Tyrel Young said: “We live off the ocean here in The Bahamas, and it’s critical Bahamians are aware now and understand the importance of us being resilient, and being more careful of how we treat our ocean and the species in our ocean. “Yes, we do like conch, we do like grouper, we do like crawfish. But we have to preserve it, we have to do it in a manner where it is sustainable. And this is a project that definitely is about sustainability.

Young said: “BAMSI is opening up a Marine Research Division in Long Island in the very near future and this project definitely will be a part of that research center. It’s a perfect center for this project.

So I feel as though this is the most timely project, to

kickstart that institution. They are in Long Island, and we will also be doing the project simultaneously in North Andros at our BAMSI campus. So moving forward, this project I think will definitely grow and it will be a catalyst for many entrepreneurs.”

With many fisheries around the world facing overfishing or operating at their maximum sustainable yield, it is crucial to develop innovative strategies for sustainable management of wild populations to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of these vital resources for generations to come. This initiative is especially significant as the Caribbean Spiny Lobster fishery has earned MSC certification for its sustainable management practices.

Peter Bryant, Program Director for Builders Initiative which is funding aspects of the project, said: “This is perfect for us because our foundation focuses on sustainable fisheries and restorative aquaculture, and restorative aquaculture. It takes many forms, but one of the forms it can take is helping to supplement or replenish through grow out when they’re most vulnerable, early stages of life in aquaculture tanks on land, and then, help put them back in the wild. So, it’s like a perfect match.”

The significant expertise from international partners on this project will also create new genetic tools for stock assessment as well as trial innovative growout techniques developed and utilized by other lobster growing facilities worldwide.

Higgs said: “The promise of this initiative is that it can spur allied, relevant industries as well, not just across spiny lobster farming but in other sectors. It’s all about creating an economic ecosystem that allows for wider participation and innovation.”

“We want to share this knowledge with people, other people who are doing this, whether privately funded or proprietary. We want to share with everybody what works, what doesn’t work, and whoever wants to do it could take this up,” he added.

Source: The Island School

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New Year Promotions within RBPF Eleuthera Albury - both promoted from Inspector to Assistant Superintendent; Maurice Arthur - moved from Sergeant to Inspector; Michael Lockhart - was promoted from Corporal to Sergeant; and Wayne Munroe - was promoted from Constable to Corporal.

Chief Superintendent and OfficerIn-Charge (OIC) of the Eleuthera Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Jeremy Henfield, expressed congratulations to the deserving officers within his team.

Superintendent Nigel Rolle

ASP Julian Newbold

Inspector Maurice Arthur

Sergeant Michael Lockhart

ASP Alexandria Albury

During the 2024 New Year’s round of promotions within the rank and file of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), Eleuthera officers were not left out of the mix, with several being advanced to a new stage of their careers within the force.

Police promotions within the Eleuthera ranks included Nigel Rolle - promoted from Assistant Superintendent to Superintendent; Julian Newbold and Alexandria

Farmer’s Market Resumes at CTI

One Eleuthera Foundation’s CTI resumed its monthly Farmer’s Market event on the grounds of The Retreat Hotel and the Farmer’s Table Restaurant in Rock Sound on Saturday, January 20th, 2024.

The event which hosts vendors and artisans from throughout the Eleuthera community, selling fresh produce, specialty foods and drinks, as well as local arts, gifts, jewelry, handmade crafts and more, will be hosted every third Saturday of the month.

Corporal Wayne Munroe

National

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New Year’s, 2024

New Year Cabinet Appointments On December 28th, 2023, the Office of the Prime Minister released a statement regarding cabinet changes as advised by Prime Minister Hon. Philip Davis to the Secretary to the Cabinet.

The statement said, “The Hon. Philip E. Davis, KC, MP, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, proposes to advise the Governor-General to effect the following appointments: (1) The Hon. Myles Laroda, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, to be appointed Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting; (2) Mr. Leon Lundy, Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, to be appointed Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister; and (3) Mr. Kingsley Smith, Member of Parliament for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, to be appointed Parliamentary Secretary in The Ministry for Grand Bahama.

The appointments were effective from 2 January 2024.”

Hon Kingsley Smith - Sworn in on January 2nd, 2024.

Hon. Leon Lundy.

Hon. Myles LaRoda.

Picture this!

Malikah Pinder Clinches Award Eleuthera’s budding actress and performing artist, Ms. Malikah Pinder, who graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2023, won the “Best Supporting Actress” award at the 2023 Hollywood Blood Horror Film Festival, for the role she played in the thriller, called “He Knocks”. The film, written

by Mont Lee, and directed by Ronald Evans, overall also won “Best Fantasy” at the Fall festival, which took place in September. Malikah, in the film, worked along with co-actors, Sean Alan Mazur, Mont Lee and Zack Allsbrook. On December 9th, 2023, Malikah also represented her graduation class from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts at an alumni function, as the recipient of the highest honour at graduation for the year 2022-2023 - the Charles Jehlinger Award.

Pictured Left: Malikah Pinder (center right) with co-actors, Sean Alan Mazur, Mont Lee and Zack Allsbrook.

2024, New Year’s Page. 7

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Levy Ribbon Cutting Phase 3

son-Rolle; and Minister Clay Sweeting, spoke to the creation, impact, growth of, and future prospects of The Preserve, a brief ribbon-cutting took place at the entrance of the new science and administration buildings.

Guests then had the opportunity to take part in a tour of the new facilities, led by Botanist, Ethan Freid, who showcased the interior administration offices, conference room and laboratory, as well as the storage and staff areas, and indoor multi-purpose/classroom space.

A book launch reception rounded out the morning event, hosted at the welcome centre, where signed copies of the “A Jewel of Tropical Botany - Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve” publication were available to purchase. More than ten years in the making, according to Preserve Manager, Ms. Lakeisha Wallace, the text talks about the history of Eleuthera’s first national park - how it got started, what has been going on during the course of its growth over the years, and continued conservation efforts.

Above: Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve Manager, Ms. Lakeisha Wallace addressing the audience during the opening ceremony.

Above: The cutting of the ceremonial phase three opening cake done by Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle, as other BNT officials, Levy Foundation founding trustee Shelby White, and her grandchildren look on.

Above: insect specimens being held in The Preserve’s collection in special storage receptacles.

Above: Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle, Executive Director with the Bahamas National Trust.

On Left: Botanist Dr. Ethan Freid, giving a tour of the new science and administration building facilities.

Pictured: ‘A Jewel of Tropical Botany’ launched during the phase three opening.

30 www. EleutheraNews . com

National

PM Davis says ‘greatly saddened and deeply shocked’ by recent spate of murders

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis attends the Royal Bahamas Police Force Annual Church Service, held at New Destiny Baptist Cathedral, on Gladstone Road, on January 7th, 2024. Among those present were Governor-General Her Excellency the Most Hon. Cynthia Pratt; Acting Minister of National Security and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Mario Bowleg; Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander; Heads of Uniformed Branches; and representatives of the Judiciary and the clergy. (BIS Photos/Eric Rose)

During the Royal Bahamas Police Force Annual Church Service, on January 7th, 2024, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis stated that he was “greatly saddened and deeply shocked” by the recent spate of murders in The Bahamas.

“Only seven days into the New Year, and already the country has recorded eight murders (In New Providence), each victim appearing to have been specifically targeted for one reason or another,” he said, at the service held at New Destiny Baptist Cathedral, on Gladstone Road.

“This is not the gift of peace which yesterday (the 12th Day of Christmas) was meant to symbolize.”

“Yes, crime has been a long-standing issue in our country, but recently, the crime of murder especially, has taken on a horrifyingly new level of brutality and barbarity,” he added.

“Something, has indeed gone wrong, very wrong, in our society.”

Among those present were GovernorGeneral Her Excellency the Most Hon.

New Year’s, 2024 Cynthia Pratt; Acting Minister of National Security and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Mario Bowleg; Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander; Heads of Uniformed Branches; and representatives of the Judiciary and the clergy.

Prime Minister Davis noted that it was to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, that The Bahamas turned to most “in these trying times.”

“We ask you to attend the scenes of the crimes, to witness the physical horrors inflicted on human beings, to do so amidst the shock and grief of families and communities, and then to find the perpetrators and potentially put your own lives at risk in apprehending them,” he said.

“For this, along with all other aspects of policing, we thank you,” Prime Minister Davis added.

“For maintaining public order and safety, and for enforcing the law, we thank you.”

He pointed out that, in the public mind, citizens associated the police most with its efforts to find and catch those responsible for crimes, and bring them before the courts, “hopefully to then have them locked away from society.”

Prime Minister Davis noted that that was just one component of a much broader objective.

“As a society, it is not our goal to fill our prisons with criminals; and it ought not to be,” he said.

He added: “Instead, our real goal must be to deter or prevent crimes being committed in the first place. This is especially true in cases of murder. The primary goal must be to prevent loss of life, rather than to fill our prisons after those lives have been violently ended. We know that this is much more easily ‘said’ than ‘done’.”

Prime Minister Davis pointed out that the prevention of any crime was a “vexing issue” as there needed to be some indication that a crime was about to be committed before any intervention could be made.

“But if someone is being specifically targeted to be killed, if there is a conscious, deliberate, prepared effort, especially by someone acting alone, it is extremely difficult to intervene ahead of time,” he noted.

“Our focus, therefore, must be to intervene early enough in the lives of young people, especially young men – because it is almost always young men – we must intervene in their lives sufficiently early so that they do not form an intention to kill in the

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2024, New Year’s

The Eleutheran

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first place.”

Prime Minister Davis said that, as was true with the overwhelming majority of people in The Bahamas, the idea of killing must be put outside their moral compass.

“So what can we do?” he asked. “And more specifically, what are we asking of you?”

“Well, we know that here in The Bahamas, most murders and other crimes that cause significant harm, are linked to gang-related activities,” Prime Minister Davis said. “We see in the crime statistics the tit-for-tat killings, the targeting of people out on bail for murder, and the cycles of revenge whereby those associated with one victim seek revenge on the presumed perpetrators.”

He added that he “profoundly” disagreed with those who said, “just let them shoot each other.”

“That is not the kind of country I want to live in, and the instruction from our Christian faith could not be clearer: ‘Thou shalt not kill’, Prime Minister Davis said.

Traditional policing still had a “critical and vital” role to play in those crime-fighting efforts, he said.

Prime Minister Davis stated: “And so, during the past two years, we have significantly increased the resources to help you to be more effec-

tive. More officers recruited, more vehicles brought onto the streets, more technological support, more firearms and so on. We have strengthened control of our borders, along with our partnership with the United States and others in the region, to reduce the flow of illegal trafficking of people and firearms.

“Additionally, in recent months, we have begun a strategic initiative to implement a ‘Whole Government Response’ to tackling Gang Crime,” he

added.

“You will hear more about this in the coming weeks.”

Prime Minister Davis told the officers and staff in attendance that what the Government needed from them was for them to become more engaged with its plans to prevent gang recruitment and youth involvement in crime.

“As it is also vitally important that you build trust with the communities you work in, we want you to be mindful to provide a positive policing re-

sponse to those communities, in order to protect them from crime,” he said.

“With a higher degree of trust in place, people are more likely to confide in you information which can help to prevent crime,” he added. “Our initiative also includes the Government’s commitment to bring offenders to justice swiftly, to demonstrate that convicted offenders will be punished, and that committing a crime carries real consequences.

“Because we want offenders to be successfully reintegrated into communities after serving their sentence, we are also providing opportunities and pathways to rehabilitation.”

Prime Minister noted that, for him, the issue was not merely a matter of good governance - it was deeply personal.

He said: “I have grown up as a young man in The Bahamas. My sons and now my grandsons, are also growing up as young men in our Bahamas. When I was in in my early teens, had the gangs been as pernicious as they are now, would I have been able to resist them?

“Will my grandsons be able to complete their school years without being harassed and terrorised into getting involved with some gang-related activity?”

Prime Minister Davis said to the officers present that they needed to do “all that we can to support our young men”.

He pointed out that research conducted around the world and in The Bahamas, indicated that there were many factors that led a young generation to become attracted to a gang lifestyle.

“These include lack of opportunity, truancy, parent-child separation, neglect, poverty, community dis-organisation and so on,” Prime Minister Davis said.

He added: “But what is so heart-breaking, is to learn that so many of these young people, so many of these young men, are just searching for the basics in life. They’re not looking for great riches.

They’re looking for food and water and shelter. They’re looking for a feeling P33 of security, a feeling of connected-

32 www. EleutheraNews . com

Local

Calendar Event Markers!

February 3rd - Disney Lookout

Cay at Lighthouse Point JOB FAIR - We’re hosting a job fair for in-

terested applicants. Venue: Preston H. Albury High School, Rock Sound, South Eleuthera. Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Interviews will be conducted at the event, so bring your resume or CV and be prepared to speak with Disney leaders.) SEE PAGE 10 for further details.

February 10th - 5th Annual Food & Craft Festival - This event is being hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, along with CTI/One Eleuthera Foundation. Venue: The Grounds of CTI/One Eleuthera, Rock Sound, South Eleuthera. Time: 4:00 p.m. 12:00 Midnight. Entertainment By: DJ Snow, Veronica Bishop, New Vision Band, Rake & Scrape, Royal Diamond Dancers, Fire Dancing, and Junkanoo.

(Contact: The Eleuthera Tourist Office - (242) 332-3029, (242) 332-1804, gjingraham@bahamas.com) February 14th is Valentine’s Day Save The Date

February 24th - 25th - 2nd Annual

EYE OF THE TIGER DOUBLES TOURNAMENT - Hosted by the

Eleuthera Tennis Association. Venue: Knowles Tennis Courts, Palmetto Point, Central Eleuthera.

(Contact: Coach Hartie ‘Artie’ Johnson - (242) 636-6787, chefajohnson@ yahoo.com) March 7th - Annual Second Homeowners/Winter Residents Reception - This is an appreciation

event for all visitors who have chosen Eleuthera as their home away from home. Hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation. Venue: The Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve.

(Contact: Ms. Glenda Johnson-Ingraham - (242) 302-2000 ext. 4456, gjingraham@bahamas.com)

March 9th - Annual Hope Ball - This red-carpet event will feature exciting live entertainment, all proceeds go toward the Cancer Society Eleuthera Branch.

(Contact: Ms. Susan Culmer - (242) 359-7969)

New Year’s, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICE - For Pension Verification The Acting Treasurer of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas advises all Bahamas Government Pensioners, Parliamentary, Judicial, Official, World War 1 Veterans & Widows, Bahamas Widows’ & Orphans’ and Re-employed pensioners, whose pension payments are paid directly into their bank accounts that verification for the January 2024 Verification Exercise commences January 2nd, 2024.

Pensioners’ are further advised to visit the Pension Section, ground floor of the Public Treasury Department Building, situated on the corner of East & North streets, Nassau, Bahamas, during the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. weekdays, bringing with them a valid form of identification such as a Passport, National Insurance card or Drivers’ license.

The following Life and Payment Verification certificates are available at the Treasury Departments, Nassau, Freeport and Abaco, at the Family Island Administrators Offices or via the Bahamas Government website, www.bahamas.gov.bs, for Pensioners with a disability and or residing outside of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas: • Parliamentary Pension Life & Payment Certificate - for retired Parliamentarians.

• Official Pension (Judicial) Life & Payment Certificate – for retired Judges.

• Official Pension Life & Payment Certificate – for retired Public Officers.

• World War 1 Veterans and Widows Life & Payment Certificate - for

Veterans & Widows of World War 1.

• Bahamas Widows’ & Orphans’ Pension Fund Certificate – for Widows’ & Orphans’.

All Pensioners are required to verify during January and July of each year to avoid disruption of payments into their bank accounts. Pensioners may contact the Pension Section, Treasury Department, Nassau, at telephone numbers (242) 302-0519, 302-0566, 3020521 or 302-0539 with any questions or concerns that they may have.

2024, New Year’s Page. 31

National

PM says ‘Saddened’ by alarming crime figures

ness, looking for a sense of belonging and friendship.”

Prime Minster Davis noted that that was what he asked of them that day.

“The Government can continue to recruit more officers, buy more cars, and deploy the fanciest technology, but we cannot personally and individually engage with the hearts and minds of the young men at risk.

“We need each of you – all of you – to play your part,” he added. “We can bring a ‘whole government’ approach, but we also need a ‘whole society’ response. Do what you can, do all that you can, to provide mentorship and friendship to these young people.

“Show them that there is another way, a better way.”

Prime Minister Davis said to members present from the police force that, although they must not neglect their policing duties, they should find time and space within those to express more of their humanity.

He stated: “When you see or engage with a vulnerable child or young person, pause to think how you might help. We know that gangs are actively recruiting as early as primary school.

What can you to do offer support?

What can you do to intervene?”

“The mere fact that you are an officer of the law means that you have already achieved enough in life to be able to offer them your life example,” Prime Minister Davis added. “Please also encourage the family and friends of young people at risk, to join you in your efforts.”

He pointed out that, oftentimes, even if they don’t know the details, they know that something bad or dangerous was taking place in their home.

“They know that their loved ones are not living as they should,” Prime Minister Davis said. “Help these parents and family members to understand that they are not being a snitch to confide their worries or fears in an officer, a teacher, a pastor or some other trusted official.

“Instead, they are more likely to be saving that young person’s life,” he added. “They are even more likely to be helping to save that young person’s future, or a long term in jail.”

Prime Minister Davis stated that, after all the losses, all the waste of life, all the misery and fear and pain that was part of the criminal life in gangs, those who still choose to pursue the

The Eleutheran

path of crime “understand that we are at maximum resolve.”

“While our arms are open for those who seek a better path, our stance against crime is resolute,” he said. “We are coming for you.

“You cannot win.”

Prime Minister Davis stated that The Bahamas will “reclaim our streets, our neighbourhoods and our homes.”

He said: “I feel the weight of every crime. I hear the cries of every tear shed. I hear the echoes of every plea for a safer nation. I am deeply moved, not just as your Prime Minister but as a Bahamian, a parent, a neighbour, and a friend.

“Safeguarding our nation’s peace remains at the forefront of my mind.”

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Prime Minister Davis stated during his remarks that he formally invited the Christian Council to consider holding a National Day of Prayer to help bring healing and comfort.

He continued: “Officers, your theme is perfect for this moment: ‘Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me’. I invite you to take it seriously.”

“We are bringing the ‘whole of government’ to disrupt and root out the gangs in our society,” Prime Minister Davis added. “And we need you to play your part.”

--

Smallness and Separateness

will not do

determine national viability.

CARICOM needs to reignite the flame of genuine independence. To do so CARICOM countries must reevaluate the concept of a Caribbean Single Market and Economy, fostering regional cooperation that transcends national borders.

In addition to external challenges, CARICOM countries face a significant hurdle in the form of internal political rivalries both within individual states and among the member nations. The relentless pursuit of political power and influence often takes precedence over the crucial need for social cohesion and national consensus—foundational elements for achieving fair and balanced regional development.

While diverse opinions on policy matters are essential in democratic societies, the detrimental practice of dismissing opposing views solely for narrow political gains undermines the very essence of progress. It becomes imperative to recognize that prioritizing regionalism over nationalism is the key to fostering growth, fortifying economies, and building the necessary capacity for true independence.

A looming concern threatening Caribbean stability is the alarming surge in gang-related violence, prominently evident in Haiti. The cultivation of gangs is not merely a local predicament but a symptom of organized crime seeking to destabilize the Caribbean as hubs for illicit activities. Addressing this menace necessitates a united front, built upon social cohesion and national consensus, lest it becomes an insurmountable impediment to economic and political integration.

The time is opportune for leaders across CARICOM, spanning government, opposition parties, the private sector, unions, and academia, to reignite the vision of deeper integration. The emphasis should unequivocally be to pursue regional development and national interests on parallel tracks, recognising that each can contribute to the other. Pursuing national concerns to the exclusion of regional development is self-defeating.

Except for Haiti, the lessons ingrained in CARICOM’s shared history since the 1930s, underscore the significance of interdependence, preserving a distinctive Caribbean identity, and collectively acquiring the capital and capacity requisite for the region to stand as a robust, respected, and influential area globally.

The road ahead demands a paradigm shift in our political culture — one that places social cohesion and national interest at the forefront. By transcending political rivalries and fostering a spirit of collaboration, CARICOM nations can harness their collective strength to navigate the complexities of 2024 and beyond.

The vision of independence within interdependence remains an attainable beacon, promising a future of prosperity for the diverse and dynamic nations that constitute the Caribbean Community.

It is not beyond the creativity of the region to create a constitutional mechanism in which CARICOM countries can assign to a central agency, composed of representatives of their states, to sustain unity that benefits all.

Separateness and smallness will not do.

34 www. EleutheraNews . com

Local

New Year’s, 2024 Photo credits: Harbour Island Junkanoo - Photography

By Braxton Neilly / Near The Beach Studios, Tel: (242553-5001), Email: 570dxphotography@gmail.com

Harbour Island 2024 New Year’s JUNKANOO

2024, New Year’s

Local

The Eleutheran

35

36 www. EleutheraNews . com Select police reports, shared by the RBPF locally Police on the Island of Eleuthera continue to enforce our laws in an effort to curtail the use of dangerous drugs and offences related thereto and to reinforce the message of safe driving. During the month of December, Officers conducted four (4) traffic checks during which officers inspected approximately Three hundred (300) Vehicles.

This resulted in motorists being cited for approximately Eighteen (18) traffic offences. In addition, a number of special operations were conducted; as a result, Officers have taken into custody Sixty Five (65) persons in separate incidents for various criminal offences.

• Drug Arrest On Saturday December 9th 2023, between the hours of 10:00 pm and 2:00 am, Officers conducted special operations and patrols throughout the Harbour Island District. At about 10:46 pm, while executing a search warrant on the premises of a 27 yr old male of Barracks Street officers discovered a quantity of dangerous drugs namely marijuana and confiscated $4,113.00 cash suspected of being proceeds of crime. As a result, the suspect and his mother, a 48 yr old female of the same address was arrested and cautioned for Possession of Dangerous Drugs with Intent to Supply. They were subsequently processed and charged for that offence.

• Drug Arrest On Friday 29/12/2023 at 12:00pm Officers while in the area of Green Castle cautioned and arrested a 23yr old male for Possession of Dangerous Drugs with Intent to Supply after he was found in possession of a quantity of suspected Marijuana. The suspect was processed and charged with that offence.

• Drug Arrest On Friday 29th December 2023 at 12:55pm while in the area of Green Castle Officers cautioned and arrested a 36 yr old male for Possession of Dangerous Drugs with Intent to Supply after he was found in possession of a quantity of suspected marijuana. The

suspect was processed and charged with that offence.

• Attempted Murder Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm/Ammunition; Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life On Sunday 10th December 2023 at 1:12pm Officers received a complaint from a 51 yr old male who reported that a male known to him attempted to shoot him while in the area of Hatchet Bay Dock. Officers subsequently arrested a 35 yr old male of Hatchet Bay and recovered a revolver along with ammunition. This suspect has been charged and arraigned before the Magistrate Court in New Providence.

Officers also received reports of several incidents of theft which are actively being investigated.

• Stealing On Saturday 2nd December, 2023 the 42 year old female proprietor of a local business establishment reported to the Police that on Friday 1st December, 2023 at about 10:18am a female customer came into her Business Establishment and stole a number of items with a total value of $100.00. As a result of investigations, Officers subsequently arrested a 75 yr old female of Bristor’s Road, Rock Sound.

She was processed and charged with Stealing.

• Stealing On Friday 8th December, 2023 at about 2:30pm, a 42 yr old female front desk manager of a local resort contacted Harbour Island Police Station and reported that the guest of one of their villas reported the theft of cash after leaving the doors to their villa open.

Officers visited the scene and have commenced investigations.

• Shop Breaking On Monday 11th December, 2023 at about 8:45am a 56yr old male (Director of Engineering) at a local resort contacted the Governors Harbour Police Station and reported that sometime between 8:00pm on Sunday 10th December, 2023 and 8:30am Monday 11th December 2023, he discovered that some

RBPF Reports National

unknown person(s) had broken into the Office at the resort and stolen a large sum of money from that establishment. Officers visited this scene and have commenced investigations into this incident. .

• Shop Breaking On Wednesday 13th December, 2023, sometime around 6:42am, the 43 yr old male proprietor of a local convenience store contacted the Rock Sound Police Station and reported that sometime around 6:30pm, he arrived at his business establishment. While making checks, he discovered that some unknown person(s) had broken and entered his store through the exhaust fan located on the northern wall of the store. The unknown suspect(s) stole about three thousand dollars ($3000.00) from the store’s cash register, damaged four (4) laptop computers valued at five hundred dollars ($500.00) each and stole about fifteen hundred dollars ($1500.00) in value of tobacco products. As a result of investigations, a 42 yr old male former employee and a 47 yr old male were arrested, processed and charged with this offence.

The Eleuthera Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force continues to make its presence felt throughout the community as we seek to execute the Commissioner’s Policing Plan. These operations as well as community policing initiatives will continue throughout the Island as Officers seek to heighten police visibility, reduce the fear of crime, reduce the number of serious traffic accidents and discourage criminal behavior in our communities.

NP Police Reports about Eleuthera ** POLICE & IMMIGRATION EXECUTE OPERATION PERSISTENT PRESSURE** Police on the island of Eleuthera, in collaboration with the Bahamas Department of Immigration, conducted a joint operation titled “Persistent Pressure” on Wednesday 17th January, 2024, between 6:00 a.m. and noon. During the operation, Police Officers inspected a total of two hundred and fifty (250) vehicles, issued twenty-nine (29) citations to motorists for various traffic infractions, and arrested four (4) individuals for possession of dangerous drugs. Additionally, officers from the Department of Immigration stopped eighty-four (84) individuals for immigration purposes, leading to the detention of fourteen (14) persons for further

checks. However, immigration officers transported four (4) suspects lacking legal status in the Bahamas to Nassau. Police wish to remind the public that these operations will be ongoing throughout the islands of the Bahamas; hence, the public is encouraged to adhere to all laws governing the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, as ANY violations will lead to individuals being placed before the Magistrate’s Court. **POLICE INVESTIGATE TRAFFIC FATALITY** Police on the island of Eleuthera are investigating a traffic accident that has claimed the life of an adult male. The incident reportedly occurred shortly before 11:00 p.m. on Friday 12th January, 2024 north of the Glass Window Bridge, and involved a white Honda Accord.

Initial reports indicate that the 35 year old driver, was traveling south along Queens Highway, with a 23 year old male passenger, when he reportedly lost control of his vehicle, which resulted in the vehicle overturning and both males being seriously injured. The driver was extricated from the vehicle utilizing the Jaws of Life and succumbed to his injuries on scene. The 23 year old passenger was taken to the local clinic for medical assistance, and later airlifted to New Providence for further medical attention.

A team of officers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Traffic Division traveled to Eleuthera to assist with the investigation. Investigations continue into this matter.

**ELEUTHERA: POLICE INVESTIGATE TRAFFIC FATALITY** On Thursday 11th January, 2024, a traffic accident occurred in Eleuthera, that claimed the life of a 49-year-old male motorist. Initial reports indicate that around 6:30 p.m., the accident took place on Queens Highway in Rainbow Bay, involving two vehicles, a gray Nissan Serena, driven by a 60-year-old male, and a Nissan Sentra which was driven by the deceased. At present, the circumstances surrounding the accident is unknown; however, the driver of the Nissan Sentra received serious injuries, and had to be extricated from his vehicle utilizing the Jaws of Life.

Both drivers were taken to the local clinic, where the 49- yearold succumbed to his injuries a short while later. Investigations continue into this matter.

New Year’s, 2024 ** THREE PERSONS ARRESTED DURING OPERATION SAFER COMMUNITIES** Officers from the Eleuthera Division apprehended three adult males in separate incidents for possession of dangerous drugs following an operation titled “Safer Communities”. The operation, which was conducted on Friday 29th December, 2023, in the settlement of Green Castle, led to the arrest of the three men after officers conducted aggressive stops and searches and found the men to be in possession of a quantity of suspected marijuana. Additionally, officers also confiscated sums of cash suspected of being criminal proceeds. The total estimated weight and street value of the dangerous drugs are currently unknown at this time. The public is urged to fully comply with all laws governing the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, as ANY violations will result in individuals being placed before the Magistrate’s Court. **ROAD CHECKS YIELDED POSITIVE RESULTS** Officers from Harbour Island performed road checks at Three Island Dock on Monday, 01st January, 2024 between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. in an effort to enforce road traffic rules and regulations.

As a result of this effort, a total of forty (40) vehicles underwent inspection. In addition, law enforcement officers issued nineteen (19) citations to several drivers for a range of traffic violations, and arrested two individuals for possession of dangerous drugs.

Police Contact Numbers •

HeadQuarters (GH)

332-3500

•

Governor’s Harbour OR 332-2117

332-2111

•

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 (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

2024, New Year’s

Local

Chief Superintendent, urges caution and slower speeds on the roads, after two die tragically in Sequential Crashes Two men in Eleuthera lost their lives in two separate, but deadly traffic accidents during the second week of January - the first taking place early on Thursday evening, January 11th, and a later night incident on the following evening, on Friday, January 12th, 2024.

In the first accident, 49-year-old Harland Bodie of Rock Sound, South Eleuthera, was reported to have been in the Rainbow Bay area as a lone driver in a Nissan Sentra, when around 6:30 p.m. he had a collision with another lone driver, a 60-year-old man, in a gray Nissan Serena. Authorities reported being unaware of the circumstances surrounding the accident. However, Mr. Bodie, the driver of the Nissan Sentra received serious injuries, and had to be extricated from his vehicle using the ‘Jaws of Life’.

Both drivers were taken to the local clinic, where 49-year-old Bodie was said to have succumbed to his injuries a short while later. No further information was provided on the 60-year-old, but police informed that investigations were continuing into that fatal incident.

The following evening, on Friday, January 12th, shortly before 11:00 p.m. it was reported that 35-year-old driver of a white Honda Accord, Mr. Jeremy Bain, a resident of The Bluff, North Eleuthera, and originally from New Providence, was traveling south along Queens Highway, north of the Glass Window bridge, accompanied by a 23-yearold male passenger, when Mr. Bain reportedly lost control of his vehicle, resulting in the vehicle overturning, and both of the men being seriously injured.

The driver had to once again be extricated from the vehicle utilizing the ‘Jaws of Life’, however, it was said that he succumbed to his injuries at the accident scene.

The 23-year-old passenger was taken to the local clinic for medical assistance and later airlifted in to New Providence for further medical attention.

A team of officers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Traffic Division traveled to the island to assist with the investigations of the back-to-back traffic fatalities on Saturday, January 13th.

Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings, Press Liaison Officer, and Director of the Public Affairs and Communications Department of the Royal Bahamas Police

Force, was part of the investigative team on island Saturday morning. Commenting on the visit, she shared, “The Commissioner is very concerned about deaths in the country as it relates to traffic, and homicides - so, having two traffic fatalities on the island back-to-back was of great concern. We had to come there to see and to examine what preventative measures can be put in place to prevent further loss of life to traffic accidents... Because of the open roads, coupled with the limited traffic, we saw persons not adhering to the speed limit, and I think that is a major contributing factor to some of the fatalities that we see occuring on the islands. As we investigated the second accident, we could literally hear the cars coming before you could see them coming.

“So, my comments following this were that I encourage those who live, work there, visit there, to ensure that they adhere to the speed limit, which is 45 miles per hour on Queens Highway, and within the settlements - 15 miles per hour. I also admonish residents who are involved or who would be attending parties or having functions - that before the party or family function you would be having, to at least identify a designated driver, so that we don’t have these sorts of mishaps occuring. That designated driver also has a responsibility once they have been identified, to ensure that he or she does not consume any alcohol. Because, the persons who are at the function are depending on that individual to get them home safely. We admonish again all persons who operate a motor vehicle, to drive within the confines of the speed limits, and to adhere to all laws under the Road Traffic Act.”

Elite

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

Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera

The Eleutheran

37

38 www. EleutheraNews . com Page. 22

Junkanoo

Boys” from Hatchet Bay took the first place title in the A Division, followed by the “Johnson Superstars”. While “The Invaders” topped the B Division against “Grandma’s Goodies”, after the judges had tallied the scores.

Kishlane Smith, Deputy CoChair of the National Junkanoo Committee (NJC), commenting on the overall event on behalf of the NJC Chair, Warren Pinder, and NJC Deputy Co-Chair, Dr. Dwight Marshall, said, “We were extremely pleased and impressed with the talent that we saw on Eleuthera - and more importantly, we are encouraged by what we anticipate will be an excellent parade for the Junior Junkanoo, that is scheduled for March 2nd, 2024 on Eleuthera.”

She continued, “We saw on Eleuthera, the families that were there to attend, to visit, to see the parade... We were ecstatic to see the number of second homeowners and visitors alike who traveled to visit and watch the parade and even more happy to see the domestic tourism level had increased because of the new date of the parade [Eleuthera’s Christmas Senior Junkanoo parade, which has been held on the evening of Christmas Day for many years was changed to Saturday, December 23rd, 2023].

Acknowledging the key role several other agencies had played behind the scenes, in addition to the participating groups, who had put in the time and the creative effort to see the culture of junkanoo continue on the island in 2023, Smith added, “We are extremely appreciative to the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) who were there to ensure that we receive the safety necessary to facilitate such a parade.

Also, to our affiliates, Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) - for their assistance with the lighting and the Ministry of Works for their assistance with barricading of the roads in conjunction with the RBPF.” Commenting on the goal for the senior Junkanoo Parade on the island going forward, as public cultural events continue to rebuild, following the ‘stalled engine’ effect of pandemic shut downs and restrictions, Deputy Co-Chair Smith said, “I would like to see all the settlements,

inclusive of the island of Harbour Island and Spanish Wells participating in an All-Eleuthera parade... So, that is our task for this year - 2024 and beyond - to ensure that all settlements understand the importance of preserving our culture, and to make certain that they all participate in the parade collectively, so that we can truly say who the best on Eleuthera is.

“We look forward to another successful year and beyond, because we know that there is a vibrancy, there is a pulsating beat, there is a drum - thrilling, fashionable and most importantly, unique strength to ‘our love’, Junkanoo.”

Harbour Island also hosted their customary twin Junkanoo Festivals on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, organized by a group of community members, albeit a smaller affair this year as well (SEE page 34 and 35). Local photographer, Braxton Neilly, who captured some of the sights and colours of the holiday celebrations, commenting on his experience this season, shared, that he had a great time at both the Boxing Day and New Year’s Junkanoo, and was happy to be able to capture the performances. There was disappointment in the lack of costumes this year, he said, but the energy of the atmosphere, along with the dancing and the music, still allowed for an amazing experience. “I was so honoured that I got to be a part of capturing history here in Harbour Island.”

(Photo credits: Hatchet Bay Junkanoo - Elizabeth Bryan/The Eleutheran Newspaper) All Eleuthera Christmas Senior Division Junkanoo Parade - Official Results (Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture; National Junkanoo Committee) A Division 1st Place - The Village Boys Hatchet Bay “Culture and Festivals” 2nd Place - Johnsons Superstars - Tarpum Bay “Candy Land” B Division 1st Place - The Invaders - Tarpum Bay “Sustainability - Feed Ourselves” 2nd Place - Grandma’s Goodies - Rock Sound - “Sound of Junkanoo”

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INVADERS 2023 All Eleuthera JUNKANOO

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SUPERSTARS 2023 All Eleuthera JUNKANOO

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GRANDMA’s 2023 All Eleuthera JUNKANOO

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VILLAGE BOYS 2023 All Eleuthera JUNKANOO

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VILLAGE BOYS 2023 All Eleuthera JUNKANOO

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Seahorse National Park

Seahorse National Park brings the number of national parks nationwide, under the management of the Bahamas National Trust, to thirty-three.

Wanda Scavella, a local resident of the Hatchet Bay township commented on the dedication, saying, “I think the new national park has potential. It is now just up to the BNT to live up to all the expectations.” Joining Ms. Scavella at the ceremony was Ms. Daphne Cambridge, also a local resident, who weighed in on the occassion, saying, “I am happy to see that we are treasuring our natural habitat, and I will do my part to help preserve it. At the same time, I will have to work with keeping the government on task to make sure that it is also protected from that standpoint.”

This Page: Guests at the Seahorse National Park dedication ceremony take the winding trek down to the edge of Sweeting’s Pond.

BNT Executive Director, Mrs. Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle, during the dedication ceremony, said that BNT had been in the local communities advocating for the Seahorse National Park for the past ten years, and expressed pleasure at being able to finally dedicate Seahorse National Park at Sweeting’s Pond and Hatchet Bay Caves - describing it as the newest natural jewel in the park system and the second national park on the island of Eleuthera. “The journey to this day has been long, but very rewarding. Our efforts to protect Sweeting’s Pond began in earnest in 2014 when we recognized the uniqueness of this area namely, its incredible seahorse population, believed to be the

Along with one of the densest known populations of seahorses globally, the Sweeting’s Pond is filled with unique underwater plant and animal life.

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The Cove Eleuthera executives, Carlton Russell (left end) and Liz Russell (right end) with members of The Connery Family Foundation (Donors to the BNT and Seahorse National Park)

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Above: Shelby White, Levy Foundation (center) stands with Agnes and Oscar Tang (Owners of The Cove Eleuthera and donors to Seahorse National Park).

densest population in the world. Years of community outreach, stakeholder consultations, educational presentations in the local schools, scientific research, and persistent engagement with government, led us to this point today,” shared Mrs. Anderson-Rolle.

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She highlighted that it had been a collective effort, and pointed out several of the key individuals and organizations, who played key roles in the achievement, including Minister Clay Sweeting; Attorney General Ryan Pinder; BNT Past President Pericles Maillis; BAIC’s Chairman Leroy Major; and BAIC General Manager Troy Sampson; former BNT Executive Director Mr. Eric Carey; Dr. Heather Mason; Botanist Dr. Ethan Freid; Local Eleuthera Community Members - especially Gregory Town and Hatchet Bay; and the dedicated staff of the BNT. “This park is a shared achievement, a source of pride and a symbol of what we can all accomplish when we work together.”

Pictured L-R: Eric Carey, ONE Consultants; Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle, BNT Exec. Dir.; Minister Clay Sweeting; Agnes and Oscar Tang, Enchantment Group; Alex Kim, Enchantment Group, Geoff Andrews, BNT President.

Above: BAIC Officials stand for photos next to the new Seahorse National Park signage. BAIC General Manager, Troy Sampson (stands left end). BAIC Exec. Chairman, Leroy Major, and BAIC Director, Sonia Sands, stand center.

The Cove Eleuthera resort, following the park dedication, hosted attending guests to a reception on its property overlooking the twin coves nestled along its Bight of Eleuthera coast.

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