The Eleutheran Newspaper - March/April 2018 Issue by The Eleutheran

Eleuthera, Harbour Island & Spanish Wells

Harbour Island Spanish Wells Eleuthera

Volume 11, Issue 3, April 2018

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BACK COVER: Damianos Sotheby’s International PAGE 3: Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty PAGE 5: HG Christie

A Special Welcome Home for National Spelling Bee Champion

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Johnathan Randall, an eighth grader at the Central Eleuthera High School (CEHS), on Sunday, March 18th, 2018, competing in the National Spelling Bee, representing the island of Eleuthera, won the national championship, becoming the first young Eleutheran in recent times to earn the National Spelling Bee Champion title. His accomplishment is an example of true determination and perseverance, having competed in spelling bees on island since grade 3. The 2018 National Spelling Bee Championship was his third and final showing at that level. In grade 6, he placed 13th. In 2017, while in grade 7, he made it to 7th at the nationals, and as his School Principal, Mr. Marie Galanis stated, “The third time was the charm - the winner! A Continued On Page 17

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Grieving American Family Expresses Gratitude to Locals After Tragic Loss of

Their Son during Eleuthera’s Atlantic Rage BY THE ELEUTHERAN NEWS TEAM

Brad and Carolyn Brussow, the parents of 19 year old Jonathan Brussow, who lost his life near the Glass Window Bridge on March 5th, expressed their deep appreciation to the people of Eleuthera for the outpouring of concern and care shown to them, during a personal interview on Tuesday, March 13th, before leaving the island to return home to Belmont, Michigan in the U.S.A. Jonathan, who was on island traveling with his soon to be fiancé, Athena Williams and her family, went missing from the area of the Queen’s Baths, near the Glass Window Bridge, while sightseeing, around 7am on Monday morning, March 5th, 2018. Accompanied by his friend, Eric Alward, the two young men were on a cliff at the Queen’s Baths, when a large wave washed over them, Above: Tourism Officials spend time in taking Jonathan over the cliff into the Atlan- prayer with grieving family members. tic, while Eric, also with the family during the going search and rescue effort, arriving in the interview, said he was able to cling on. area at about 4:30pm on Monday. Eric, after seeing his friend in the raging Athena Williams, Jonathan’s girlfriend, waters, said he made his way back to the main who was described as inseparable from him, road, to look for help. Police reported that he sitting near his parents during the interview, was treated at the nearby clinic and reunited shared, “He was a beautiful person, and I was with his family group visiting the island. Loblown away by the true gentleman he was. It cal authorities engaged in a foot search for Jonathan, scouring the coast during the day Continued On Page 6 on Monday, assisted by civilian drone equipment. The U.S. Coast Guard joined the on-

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Grieving Family’s Gratitude Continued from pg. 4

hurts to have him gone, but I know that I have his parents and the whole community and everybody here, to stand behind me and keep pushing me forward. “We want to give back to the place that has given us so much. When all of this happened, the truth is - I hated this island, and never wanted to come back, or even think about it - because of what happened. But, as we went through the days following, and met more people, we now can’t stay away from this island. It’s a beautiful place. Everybody should be able to experience it. So many people here have reached out to us.” Jonathan was described by his parents as an ‘amazing kid’. “He was a swimmer and diver in school, as well as a life guard an adventurous boy who liked driving motorcycles, also an avid outdoorsman - just an amazing kid. He was close to getting his electrical license. He could build, and everyone called him a ‘MacGyver’, because he could look at something and just create

Above: 19 year old Jonathan Brussow

Above: (L-R) Eric Alward (survivor), Glenda Johnson (Tourism), Jacqueline Gibson (Tourism), Carolyn Brussow (Mom), Brad Brussow (Dad), Athena Williams (Fiance).

it,” smiled his dad. Dubbed as the ‘fiesty’ one by his parents, Jonathan was the baby of the family with an older brother and sister, Alex and Allison. With sad smiles, his parents shared, “It was a tragic thing that happened”, and reminisced on how Jonathan had also come into the world during nature’s fury, “Jonathan was born during a wind storm in 1998, one of the worst in Grand Rapids, Michigan, like a tornado. We rushed to the hospital, and trees were down, and we were going through people’s yards and backyards, dodging electrical wires - and when we got to the hospital, Jonathan was born roughly ten minutes later.

We just barely made it.” His mom, Carolyn, added, “He was always full of life, always with a smile on his face and he was just a genuine person. He really was interested in people and so respectful to everybody.” Having faced such unspeakable loss, Jonathan’s parents expressed that they had been greatly affected by how they were treated once they arrived in Eleuthera, saying, “One of the things that is very important, that we want to say to your entire island is that we have never been more graciously welcomed, and appreciated. We are so thankful for every single one of you. We are ever indebted for

everything that you’ve done for us, from the rescue efforts to the people reaching out, bringing our family food and goods, and we are just eternally grateful. “Superintendent Adderley kept us so informed, in an unbelievable way. Others have called every day, seeing how we were doing, and asking what can we do for you. Tiffany from Daddy Joes has been here every day offering her help. We’ve been to several restaurants, and they wouldn’t even accept our money when they found out who we were. We walked into some gift shops, recommended to us, and they would say take this, just giving us stuff.

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Art In the Park To Return After Successful Showing BY THE ELEUTHERAN NEWS TEAM

Above: Fine artist, Levarrick King (left) looks on as attendees admire his work at the Art in the Park event, held at the Levy Preserve.

Art in the Park, a first time event recently hosted at the Levy Preserve in Governor’s Harbour on Saturday, March 24th, 2018, brought together a cross-section of artists and artisans from throughout Eleuthera together, displaying a wide variety of art forms. The unique exhibit attracted a sizeable crowd of art lovers, who were able to enjoy displays of jewelry, fine art, ceramics, straw-work, sculptures, carvings, photography, handbags, accessories, hand-crafted gifts, as well as bush teas, and Bahamian desserts. Some of the artists displaying their works included; talented fine art painter, Kevin Cooper; based in Gregory Town, fine artist - Theoron Johnson; craftsman specializing in wood, Jamaal Bethel of James’ Cistern; creative artists behind The

Blue Seahorse collections, Holly Burrows and Katiana Evans; Visual fine artist, Jerreth Albury based in Lower Bogue; Lavarrick King, fine artist based in Hatchet Bay; ceramics fine artist, Imogene Walkine; artist and author, Eula Bourne; underwater photography enthusiast, Rea Bethel; and many others, who made the event well worth the visit. A number of the artists expressed how pleased they were to have participated, having benefited from sales, networking and securing future clientele. Heidi Johnson, Levy Preserve Manager, commented following the successful showing, that the event would likely become an annual affair at the beautifully tranquil location. Proceeds from the small $5 entrance fee were earmarked to benefit the School for Exceptional Learners in

Grieving Family’s Gratitude Continued from pg. 6

“At Rainbow Inn’s pizza night, we didn’t have reservations, and despite being jammed packed along with having a wedding party there, the owners found out we were in line and walked to us and found us a table, and treated us like family. So we were able to walk away from this room and stop crying for a couple of hours. “A diver at the lunch place by Unca Gene’s, came up and offered to help with the search for Jonathan, and refused any monetary compensation and we are so grateful to him. That is all we kept hearing from everybody, no money. I wish America could be anywhere close to how generous your country has been. So that’s why our family wants to thank every single one. It has helped us to get through this, and made it as bearable as possible.” Discovery: According to Police, shortly after 11am on Friday morning, March 9th, 2018, a local fisherman while in the area of the ‘Sand pit’ near the Atlantic coastline behind Daddy Joe’s Restaurant, discovered partial human remains, believed to belong to the missing 19 year old. Police

confirmed that DNA testing would be done to verify the identity of the remains. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) sent out a warning on Sunday, March 4th, for all residents and visitors to stay away from The Glass Window Bridge, which connects Central and North Eleuthera, while the dangerous swells continued to impact the area and it was officially closed at 3pm on the same day. Wave swells cresting the Glass Window Bridge, known locally as ‘the rage’, during the week of Sunday, March 4th wreaked havoc at that location, and all along the rugged Atlantic coastline of the island. A number of people approaching areas surrounding the bridge during the weather phenomenon, sustained serious injuries from being washed off of the bridge or tossed around over the area’s rocky terrain.

The Eleutheran | 03/04 2018

Governor’s Harbour. Event organizers also used the first time exhibit to unveil a few examples of special metal lizard sculptures, part of a collaborative initiative which was put in motion to raise money for participating high school art classes, and the School for Exceptional Learners while inviting public engagement in art and highlighting local businesses. Seventeen lizard sculptures are set to be placed in communities throughout Eleuthera, creating a playful lizard trail. The lizards, 5 foot high metal silhouettes crafted from recycled oil drums, were commissioned and then skillfully created by local Eleutheran ornamentalist, Derek Jolly. Bahamian artists and several high school art classes volunteered to name and create their own artistic version of a lizard. Local businesses, and individual

donors also came forward to adopt the lizards. By purchasing and agreeing to display them in a public space, the sponsors were tremendously supportive of the trail, said organizer, Loretta Bonet. All of the lizard sculptures will be exhibited at the Fish Fry in Governors Harbour during the Eleuthera… All That Jazz, on April 13th, after which they will be released to their “adoptive” homes, and displayed in settlements throughout the island. One final lizard remains available, which will be sold by silent auction the night of the Fish Fry (bids can also be emailed to bonetloretta@gmail.com starting bid was $200), and bids close at 10pm on April 13th, 2018. Participating high school classes, said Bonet, would Continued On Page 22

F EAT U R E

Mar/Apr 2018

An Eleutheran Profile:

Kingdon Algernon Higgs (85 yrs.) BY Godfrey kelly

tion. A Canadian teacher, shared Kingdon, had originally come out with his family, to run the school, but had to retreat because he could not take the Bahamian temperatures. Miss Johnson, he recalled, was assisted by monitors who taught the lower grades.

Career and Adventure: In 1951, at the age of eighteen, Kingdon, went into Nassau to work for Symonette’s Shipyard. This establishment was located on East Bay Street. However, yearning to see some of the Bahamas and the world, he later signed onto a Bahamian freighter called JDV, which was about a hundred and twenty feet long. It just so happened that the captain, Percy Sweeting, was also a fellow Brilander. The main task of this boat was to take equipment to the United States Navy bases in the Bahamas. He recalled a trip he made to Cuba on the JDV. The destination was Guantanamo Bay on the northern coast. Most memorable was when they were drawMr. Kingdon Algernon Higgs. Photos provided ing near to the Bay dark fell, so they decided by Donna Whitfield Decosta. to anchor, rather than proceed. He remembered that this was in the early days of the new regime of Fidel Castro and the Cuban Early Life and School: Kingdon Algernon Higgs, now 85 years authorities might have been suspicious of any of age, was born on February 16th, 1933 in boat entering harbour at night - and send their Dunmore Town, Harbour Island, to Edward motor gun boats to investigate. However, and Alice Higgs. He had three siblings, two they entered safely the next day and stayed brothers and a sister, who were Edward Jr., two days, unloading. Still wishing to see more of the world, Winifred, and Gordon. His father, Edward Sr., was a seaman who served on three master Kingdon joined a larger freighter called schooners which plied between Harbour Is- ‘Winding Bay’. This ship, which was over land and New York City with pineapples and two hundred feet long, and had a three boom returned with lumber and other building sup- mast, was part of a fleet of three freighters; plies. These pineapples were to a large extent Winding Bay, Jack’s Bay, and Cotton Bay, from farms in the neighbouring settlement of which were owned by Three Bays Limited. Said company held extensive holdings in Gregory Town. Young Kingdon’s formal schooling was South Eleuthera. Winding Bay’s home port at the primary school in Harbour Island. At was Miami, and it made trips once a month that time the school was located on the pres- to ports in South America, Panama, Colument site of ‘Chacara Lumber’. It had been bia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Jamaica. In situated on its present location at Gaol Lane, Panama they collected fresh tuna and took it but was damaged in The Great Bahamas hur- to the processing plant in Ponce, Puerto Rico. ricane of 1929, and had consequently been Kingdon recalls whilst with this boat, that relocated to the site of ‘Chacara Lumber’ on they were in Pensacola, Florida when a hurriKing Street. The school then was under the cane was approaching. Instead of remaining headship of Miss Marion Johnson. She had in port, Captain Estenbach decided to plow gone into retirement, but came back to work through the weather to get to Miami. The at the request of the Department of Educa- ship and crew, he said, both took a beating on

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that trip. All of Kingdon’s time on this ship was spent in the engine room. There were three engineers - first, second and third. In command were the Captain, assisted by the First and Second Mates. He stayed with this ship for two years and then decided to finally return home to Harbour Island. With the knowledge that he had gained about diesel engines on the freighters, he secured a job working at the Power Plant in Harbour Island. It was owned at that time by the Symonettes - Father and Son team of R.T. Symonette and his son, Robert Harcourt (Bobbie) Symonette. Kingdon was assisting his friend Fred Ross, who had been hired as chief engineer, having been trained in the Royal Air Force and having served on a motor gun boat, ‘Sub Chaser’, which was stationed at Harbour island. They both moved on after the Plant was sold to William Johnson (Willie) of Spanish Wells. At that time Mr. Johnson decided to put new engines in the Plant, however this Plant had a sad ending when one night in 1978, it burned down. After an interval of ten weeks, electricity was restored under the auspices of Eleuthera Power and Light, which gave way in time to the Bahamas Electricity Corporation. Mr. Ross got hired by Pink Sands Hotel to look after the maintenance of the vehicles and generators at the property and asked Kingdon to go along as his assistant. During the winter season, they were both involved in these duties, but in the summer when the hotel was closed, Kingdon, Fred and others helped out with the ongoing project of construction of additional cottages. The hotel tackled a new cottage every off season. Kingdon participated by using the hotel’s jeep and collecting the building materials from the dock. During his tenure at Pink Sands, Mr. Ross decided to go into business for himself, so Kingdon took over the maintenance program and engaged his cousin, Bradley Sweeting to assist him. In 1988, Pink Sands Hotel was sold to a company in New York. It was during this time that the new manager, recalled Kingdon, a Mr. Burns, went away during the first summer and neglected to leave any money in the bank for the maintenance staff to be paid. When Kingdon found out about this, he instructed all those employed in the maintenance department to put the tools away. When Mr. Burns returned, Kingdon went to him and handed over all the keys pertaining to the maintenance department, and informed Mr. Burns that he was quitting. Asked what this was about, Kingdon explained the circumstances that had caused he and his crew to cease work. Mr. Burns, he remembered, asked if he was interested in more money, and Kingdon stated that he was not, but that he was incensed about the crass lack of consideration displayed toward him and the other employees affected. Before leaving he said to Burns, “Let me tell you something about Bahamian people. They may be poor, but they’re also biggety and high minded.” With that, he left the employ of Pink Sands and his maintenance staff followed him. After this, he spent the remainder of his working days in partnership with his cousin, Bradley Sweeting, doing freelance work on household appliances and electrical work. Family and Community: Kingdon married Kathleen Victoria WellsHiggs, formerly of Gray’s, Long Island. The couple met when, in 1964, Kingdon was do-

ing some work for Lynn Rogers in Deadman’s Cay, who had a Lumber Yard there. During his travels with the delivery truck, the couple met and were married six months later at St. Teresa’s Anglican Church in Gray’s. Father Gilbert Thompson, who is now a Bishop, performed the ceremony, shared Kingdon. Kathleen and Kingdon were blessed with four children - one son and three daughters Brian, Greta Higgs Thompson, Sandra Higgs Knowles, and Melinda Higgs Cartwright. Kingdon is a long-serving member of St. Stephen’s Lodge #1721 of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, where he ascended to the highest office. He is also currently the serving Catechist at St. John’s Anglican Church. During its ten year tenure, Kingdon was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Harbour Island and served two non-consecutive terms as treasurer. He was also very active in the operation of a fire engine that the Club secured, and maintained and operated it during a time when there was none in the Harbour Island community.

Above: Mr. Kingdon Higgs is a longserving member of St. Stephen’s Lodge #1721 of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows.

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Minister of Works outlines upcoming projects planned by his Ministry BY THE ELEUTHERAN NEWS TEAM New bridges, new schools, roadworks, and repair and construction of seawalls are among the “critical” projects that the Government will focus on in the upcoming year, stated The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. Desmond Bannister as he announced the plans in his contribution to the Mid-Term Budget Debate in Parliament on Monday, March 19th, 2018. Minister Bannister said there is “much” to be done in the Family Islands and his Ministry “eagerly” embraces the challenge. He said plans are afoot to visit Exuma, Grand Bahama and MICAL during April to continue the fact-finding exercise in order to plan for the “heavy lifting” required to maintain the beautiful Bahamaland. During a visit to the island of Eleuthera by the Minister on February 22nd, 2018, with a full team from the Ministry of Works in New Providence, Minister Bannister commented, “We want to look at all the infrastructural issues in Eleuthera.

Both Members of Parliament have for some time expressed concerns about any number of issues. It was important for me to come firsthand and see for myself, to listen to them and to also speak with people on the ground, so we can realize how those issues impact the lives of people in Eleuthera. And as our budget exercise is coming up, how to budget so we can make a difference in Eleuthera this coming year. That’s important.” When asked about major issues on the island that may take first priority, Bannister answered, “We have a full team here so that they can analyze and look at the issues themselves. We have the Director of Works, Chief Architect, several Engineers, so we are looking at every single thing that comes under the purview of the Ministry of Works, like government buildings, government construction, there’s a bridge we have to look at, and any number of other issues that raise concern. I want to see them, and see how we can help and how we can make a difference. It’s not any one

Pictured: Minister of Public Works, the Hon. Desmond Bannister (right) walks along the Bay Front in Governor’s Harbour with Administrator Gilbert Kemp

single issue.” The following were included in the shortlist of projects announced by Minister Bannister in the House of Assembly on March 19th, 2018 - which included several in Eleuthera: - Construction of bridges in Fresh Creek, Staniard Creek and Stafford Creek. New bridges will be built where required to replace the dangerous structures. - Roadworks to create culverts on the Highway in North Abaco. - Corrective works to the Dune Road in Hope Town, and for the bridge in Spanish Wells. - Engineering studies on the Glass

Window Bridge in order to commence plans for the building of a new bridge in Eleuthera. - Construction of an airport in Long Island and in North Eleuthera. - Phased seawall construction and repair in West End, Hunters and Hepburn Town, Grand Bahama, in the upcoming budget year; and Bartlett Hill, Hanna Town, Martin Town and High Rock in 2020; and Pinder’s Point, Lewis Yard, Mack Town, Williams Town, Jones Town and Mcleans Town. - Begin the process for building schools on Carmichael Road in New Providence, Inagua, and Gregory Town, Eleuthera.

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Freedom to Paradise A Business Profile BY THE ELEUTHERAN NEWS TEAM

Freedom to Paradise opened as the first resident locally owned funeral home on Eleuthera, in January 2017. After his first year in operation, owner, Quinton Carey, sat with The Eleutheran, and shared his experience having pioneered this new resident service within The Eleutheras.

Above: Quinton Carey with his wife and children.

What inspired you to begin this service in Eleuthera?

“Just realizing that we needed a better level of service on the island, that did not exist - or was lacking. The additional cost that families had to endure by having to bring in someone, or fly their loved one out to Nassau, then fly them back, and bring in the funeral home, put them up in a hotel - it just wasn’t fair. People in New Providence don’t have to endure that or pay for that. It was very inconvenient, and added an additional financial burden to families that didn’t need the extra stress at that time. So I thought we, as Eleutherans, deserved a better option. “I’ve had to bury a few of my siblings and we had to endure that additional burden, but what really sparked it for me was when talking with a friend one day, whose dad had passed the night before, and as I gave my condolences he expressed that it was not so much losing his dad, but how and where he had to leave him. I’ve been there, and it’s not always someplace where you want to leave your loved one. So I committed that we would offer someplace that was truly decent, where people can come and feel comfortable and be at peace with.” How does Freedom to Paradise make a difference for families?

“When an outside funeral home arrives here, they arrive just several hours before the funeral. Any intimate time the family has, they have to share with the community at large. There is no privacy… We’ve changed that, and the main thing is the financial difference - that extra set of money, that extra several thousand dollars you have to come up with, that the outside funeral home passes on to the family.” What are some of the challenges you’ve faced?

“Getting a business license on Eleuthera has not been an easy task at all. Besides the construction part of the operation, just the paper work, and the back and forth with all of the necessary government agencies, and all of the red tape - it was not at all easy. At times I thought it wasn’t reasonable what we had to go through, especially some of the environmental regulations. However, I’m happy that I went through it, because I think I’ve set the bar high in the industry, in terms of our modern facilities that we have here. Everything is done in house, under the most sanitary conditions, and a clean environment.” What services do you currently offer?

“We offer full burials, and we also facilitate cremations, as well as the handling of shipping loved ones in or out of the country. We offer the full range of services. We try to offer a level of service that families would be happy with - the way they would want to be served in this particular manner. So they are coming not only for the price or the convenience, but because they love the way we treat them.” Since opening in January 2017 what has the business experience been like for you?

“It has been humbling, but also very promising. Humbling, due to the fact that you are dealing with people at a very crucial time in their lives, and also it shows promise because a lot of families realize the benefits of having a resident local funeral home, on island, that alleviates a lot of stress. People now have a real, decent option here that can rival anywhere else.” Freedom to Paradise Memorial Center - Reach them at: 1 (242) 334-3762

The Eleutheran | 03/04 2018

Local UNESCO Survey Mission in Eleuthera for Revision of National Education Act

Mar/Apr 2018

BY THE ELEUTHERAN NEWS TEAM

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The Island School

hosts a two-day workshop for South Eleuthera primary school teachers BY cei

Above: Community members took part in a town meeting hosted by the UNESCO Survey Mission team.

A team from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and a Ministry of Education liaison visited Eleuthera from Sunday, March 18th, through Monday, March 19th, and met with administrators, teachers, and townspeople at several schools across the island. The team from UNESCO described their activities as a fact-finding mission, to assist the government in their review of the current Education Policy of the Bahamas, with the goal of revising the Education ACT to improve the education system. The four focus areas of UNESCO’s Education Policy Review of the Bahamas, as explained by the visiting team members, were; 1) An overall assessment of the education system - including teacher policies and capacity building of teachers and school principals; 2) School leadership; 3) Policies for evaluation and the assessment of learning outcomes; and 4) Curriculum development. The review, they said would consist of an analysis of the available evidence in these four areas as well as the views of the main Pictured: Principal Marie Galanis (CEHS Principal), Dr. Karen St. stakeholders in education. The UNESCO Cyr (Ministry of Education Liaison), Sara Bin Mahfooz (UNESCO team’s resulting report, would provide, they team leader), Myrtle McPhee (Education District Superintensaid, from an international perspective, an dent), and Tanya Pinder (Governor’s Harbour Primary Principal) independent analysis of the major issues facing the education system in the Bahamas, current policy technical assistance to formulate and craft policy to guide initiatives and possible future avenues for reform. the revision of the Education Act, which was last revised in Two visits were planned to the Bahamas in this ‘fact- 1996. From 2016 to now, much feedback has been sought finding’ stage of the Education Policy Review. This and gotten from Bahamian stakeholders with reference to first visit during March 2018 (from March 16th to 23rd, going forward and out of those consultations emerged the to four islands - New Providence, Grand Bahama, Eleu- four focus themes (outlined above) or pillars to guide the thera and Cat Island) focused on the first two policy revision of the Education Act.” areas of school leadership and teacher policies and ca“Key to the consultations,” said Dr. St. Cyr, “was frank pacity. A second visit to the Bahamas is scheduled to discussions. We cannot guide the process, if we do not take place in May 2018 to cover the two remaining ar- have the realities on the ground. It is critical for us to capeas - learning outcomes and curriculum development. ture the voices of everyone and what they need done and The UNESCO team included; Sara Bin Mahfooz reflected in the Education Act. I encouraged participants to (UNESCO team leader), Maurice Smith (School Lead- be honest about what they considered to be the problems, ership Specialist), Carol Gentles (Teacher Capacity and concerns and challenges, as well as possible solutions. Policy Specialist), Rolla Moumne (Legal Framework of “At the end we would like to capture what the Bahamas Education Act), and Claude Akpabie (Technology Spe- wants… This is just the policy part of the process. Recomcialist). Dr. Karen St. Cyr, liaison from the Ministry of mendations and revisions will go back and forth at all levEducation who accompanied the UNESCO team, com- els. Then we go to the public for further discourse before mented on the reasons for the visit, saying, “The genesis having a revised Education Act drafted.” of this project was in 2016 when the Ministry of Edu“The general feeling after consulting with hundreds of cation made an official request to UNESCO to provide stakeholders,” shared Dr. St. Cyr, “is that the Education Act

In February, The Island School hosted a two-day, Teacher Training Workshop for 45 teachers, principals, and administrators in South Eleuthera. Educators from schools including Deep Creek Primary, Green Castle Primary, Rock Sound Primary, Tarpum Bay Primary, and Wemyss Bight Primary were in attendance. Ms. Jenny Rae, Principal of The Island School’s Early Learning Center and Dan Prater from Drury University led the workshop with a focus on creative teaching strategies, classroom communication, cultural communication, managing a mixed ability classroom, place-based learning, and classroom management. The workshop received positive feedback, one teacher reporting, “the workshop was informative, interesting, exciting, and refreshing”. The workshop integrated group discussions with interactive activities that challenged educators to think beyond their own perspectives, with their students at the focus. Dan Prater highlighted the impact of verbal and nonverbal communication within the context of the classroom, “even when you say nothing, you are still saying something”. Tone of voice and body language are as important as what is being said to a student. He discussed the relationship between teacher and student, and how a positive relationship in a safe environment can dramatically increase participation and success in the classroom. Getting to know each student individually, in addition to implementing a wide variety of activities and exercises to meet different learning styles helps to build trust and create a foundation where students feel supported, said Mr. Prater. Ms. Jenny Rae spoke about reinforcing student effort through encouragement, explaining, “Students sometimes get stuck in an “I can’t” attitude which limits their effort to what they think they are capable of. If they think they can’t, they can’t. By shifting how students view what they think they can go from “I can’t” to “I can do that”. Students adopt a more positive attitude of perseverance and allow themselves to grow through trial and error, until finally achieving that task or goal. A growth mindset, leads to a desire to learn and therefore a tendency to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, learn from criticism, Continued On Page 13

is so outdated - ‘tantamount to building a skyscraper on a clapboard house’ - and there are so many programs and innovations some of which have been implemented that are not reflected in the Act, one of which is homeschooling, for example. The Act has not been responsive to national needs or educational priorities.”

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Island School Teacher Workshop Continued from pg. 12

and find lessons and inspiration in the success of others, placing the student in the driver’s seat of their individual academic success. Responsibility falls on the educators to foster this mindset.” Ms. Rae also introduced the idea of multilevel lesson planning in which a single activity can engage students of mixed abilities within the same classroom. One such example is requiring students

to ask three of their peers a question before addressing the teacher. The aim is that students will answer their own questions with help from their peers. In doing so, students explain and understand the material in terms used by their peers. This then allows the teacher to give more attention to students who need additional support. Teachers described the workshop as dynamic and engaging,

Above: 45 teachers, principals and administrators in South Eleuthera took part in the 2-day workshop hosted at the Island School.

they left the presentations feeling re-energized for classes to commence after midterm break. One teacher stated, “This is by far the most informative and engaging workshop I have ever attended,” with another writing, “This is the most comprehensive workshop that I have ever attended. Everything presented can be immediately implemented. I especially appreciate learning how my verbal and nonverbal communication affects my desired outcome”. This workshop provided a foun-

dation for teachers and Island School educators alike to collaborate and share resources in order to best serve the students of South Eleuthera. The Island School looks forward to hosting similar workshops in the future.

Holidays and Observance Days:

Fri., Mar. 30th, - GOOD FRIDAY public holiday Sun., April 1st, - EASTER Sunday observed Mon., April 2nd, - EASTER MONDAY public holiday

highlights in aPRIL 2018 Eleuthera… ALL THAT JAZZ Festival The festival opens on Wednesday, April 11 with An Afternoon of Jazz on The Other Side, Whale Point from 4:30-7:30pm. All-inclusive tickets are $75. Thursday, April 12 is Jazz Vesper’s at St. Patrick’s Church, Governor’s Harbour at 5:15pm. Thursday, evening at 7:30pm at 1648 Restaurant with a $25 cover charge. Friday, April 13 Jammin’ at Fish Fry, in Governor’s Harbour from 7:15-9:15pm – no charge. On Saturday, April 14 the Levy Concert will be held at the Leon Levy Preserve Banks Rd. with a reception at 6:15pm and concert start at 7:15pm. Tickets are $75 in advance and $100 at the door. Sunday, April 15 is the Jack’s Bay Club Lunchtime Concert, Rock Sound. 11:30am-3:15pm. $150 advance purchase $175 on the door. Tickets include lunch prepared by Celebrity chef and wines sponsored by Young’s Fine Wines. Tickets are available for Levy and Jack’s Bay Club at Haynes Library in Governor’s Harbour and on eventbrite. For more information about Eleuthera All That Jazz, please visit www.eleutheraallthatjazz.com.

EARTH DAY Festival - One Eleuthera Saturday, April 21st, 11:30 am - Until, at the Centre For Training & Innovation, Rock Sound, South Eleuthera. Hosted under the theme: ‘Plastic Free Paradise”. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force Pop band will be featured, along with many other activities.

School Events VISIT THE LEON LEVY NATIVE PLANT PRESERVE: The Levy Preserve protects 25 acres of coppice and mangrove forest, conserving indigenous species and researching Bahamian bush medicine. Guests can explore Medicinal and Endemic plant beds, tour the Mangrove Wetlands, walk through the Edible History garden and enjoy the Coppice Trails, home to an abundance of birds and other fauna that call the Preserve home. Guided tours by appointment. For information call 332-3831

Tennis Doubles Tournament The 12th annual Tim’s Refrigeration and Coco Plum Resort Eleuthera Doubles Tennis Tournament will be held on April 14th at Knowles tennis courts in Palmetto Point, Eleuthera. For more information, please contact Artie Johnson at 636-6787/ 802-1958, or e- mail chefajohnson@yahoo

5th ANNUAL CANCER SOCIETY HOPE BALL Saturday April 7th at the Eleuthera Cancer Society’s Wellness Center, Palmetto Point. Begins at 7pm, Cocktails at 6pm. Theme: “Making A Difference, Together!”. For more information, please phone 332-1804/or 225-6480. Email: cancersocietyeleuthera@live.com.

other Notices: OPEN HOUSE at the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve, Governor’s Harbour: Saturday, March 31st, All-day. Join us on the last Saturday of the month for our Open House. Free admission all day. Our staff will also be leading a Bird Walk from 7:30am – 10am! For more information, please call: 242-332-3831 or 225-7832.

School Closes for EASTER BREAK: March 29th, 2018

Reopens for students and teachers MAD HATTER’S Tea Party The Temple Wellness Studio will host the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at the Cancer Society Wellness Center in Palmetto Point on Saturday, April 28th, 2018 from 10am to 3pm. There will be sweet treats and Mother’s Day gifts, also group table decorating competition, hat competition and runway, food and goody booths, scavenger hunts for kids, also Release, Reset, Reclaim session. Part proceeds donated to the Cancer Society of Eleuthera. For more information, call 813-2131 or 436-0949 or email sugarspuneleuthera@gmail.com. EASTER WEEKEND HOMECOMINGS: Beginning on March 28th, 2018 ROCK SOUND, JAMES’ CISTERN & LOWER BOGUE Contact Information: Eleuthera Tourist Office (242) 332-2142

on April 9th, 2018

CONTACT The Eleutheran Newspaper at 422-9350 or send email to services@theeleutheran.com, to have your community notices and events listed.

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Mar/Apr 2018

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Helen Simmons-Johnson, former Eleuthera Education District Superintendent, Celebrated across island at retirement.

BY THE ELEUTHERAN NEWS TEAM

Above: Mrs. Simmons-Johnson escorted to inspect the Maritime Cadets at CEHS, a program she facilitated while on island.

Schools throughout Eleuthera celebrated the contributions of former District Superintendent (DS) of Education in Eleuthera, Mrs. Helen Simmons-Johnson on Tuesday, March 20th, 2018, with a full day of celebrations across the district. Ceremonies began in Rock Sound at Preston Albury at 9am, where schools in South Eleuthera gathered to honour Mrs. Simmons Johnson. Accolades and tributes continued in Central Eleuthera at the

Central Eleuthera High School, beginning at 11am, where students from CEHS, Emma Cooper Primary, P.A. Gibson Primary and James’ Cistern Primary gathered for the special assembly. Along with performances, Mrs. Simmons-Johnson was plied with gifts and well wishes for the next journey in her life. From Central Eleuthera, it was then on to the North Eleuthera High School grounds, where schools from all over the North Eleuthera district gathered to celebrate the former DS. “I’ve now transitioned into

another aspect of my life, and I’m thoroughly enjoying it,” shared Mrs. Simmons-Johnson, following the Central Eleuthera ceremony, adding, “I will bask in that for a while, enjoying my gardening, and being fussed by my family about there being no more space in the yard.” In response to the warmth and appreciation expressed during the celebrations, she said, “At first I was very surprised, because I love the job Continued On Page 15

THE CLOSURE OF THE 2017-2018 CRAWFISH SEASON AND THE USE OF AIR COMPRESSOR TO ASSIST WITH THE HARVESTING OF MARINE RESOURCES The Department of Marine Resources would like to advise the general public that the closed season for the harvesting of crawfish is from April 1, 2018 to July 31, 2018. During this period, it is an offense for an individual to capture, have in one’s possession, kill or offer for sale or market any fresh or live crawfish. Individuals possessing crawfish trapping permits, crawfish exporter’s licenses and permit holders authorizing the use of air compressors are reminded that these all expire on the March 31, 2018. During closed season, all crawfish traps must be stored on land and, all crawfish processors, restaurant and food stores must file a report to the Department of Marine Resources stating the exact quantity of crawfish in one’s possession as of April 1st, 2018. Processors with intentions to export craw-

FOR RENT:

fish during its closed seasons are reminded that they must first obtain a special permit from the Department of Marine Resources. The utilization of an air compressor during the period of April 1, 2018 to July 31, 2018 to aid in any fishing in The Bahamas is prohibited. Persons are to further note that during this time it is an offence to have both marine resources and air compressors onboard vessel at the same time. Fisheries Inspectors will be vigilant to ensure compliance with the regulations. Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The Department of Marine Resources requests the full co-operation of all fishers towards its mandate of ensuring the sustainability of all marine resources for the future generations of Bahamians.

Seagrape House Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera. Spacious, 2 bedroom apartment. Now available. Ph.# 332- 2206. $1,200.00

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| 03/04 2018

Mrs. Simmons-Johnson Continued from pg. 14 that I do, and I signed up for it. So they’ve done what they didn’t have to do, and I really appreciate it.” Mrs. Simmons-Johnson, who formally retired at the end of 2017, served as Eleuthera District Superintendent of Education for five years, from 2012 until August of 2017. One of her standout contributions as DS while in Eleuthera, was initiating the expansion of the Spelling Bee program on the island, introducing an annual competition at every grade level in the primary schools. “The children demonstrated the excellence for which we worked during my time here, and that made me feel good. The first word I heard as I got on the plane yesterday morning was that Johnathan had won!” Johnathan Randall, an eighth grader at Central Eleuthera High School, who was part of the first expanded Spelling Bee program in 2012, when he was in grade three, and each year onward, won the National Spelling Bee title on Sunday, March 18th, 2018.

Above: Mrs. Simmons-Johnson was presented with a number of gifts from district schools in celebration of her retirement. Top Left: Mrs. Simmons-Johnson stands with Central Eleuthera Schools principals, during a special assembly at the Central Eleuthera High School. Right: Emma Cooper Primary students perform for Mrs. Simmons-Johnson.

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Mar/Apr 2018

Preston Albury’s 11th Grader, Oriana Carey, wins new Jr. Minister of Tourism Eleuthera title

www. EleutheraNews . com

Pictured: Winners in the Jr. Minister of Tourism competition stand with Ministry of Tourism Officials from the Governor’s Harbour and Harbour Island Offices.

BY THE ELEUTHERAN NEWS TEAM

On Wednesday morning, March 14th, 2018, after a very competitive round of well-presented speeches, Oriana Carey of Preston H. Albury High School, won the 2018 title of Jr. Minister of Tourism for the island of Eleuthera. She takes up the baton from last year’s winner, Tillia Leary of Windermere High School. She was one of a sizeable group of competitors, seven young people in total, who battled it out with well researched and prepared speeches on the topic, “The Bahamas: A Paradise for Health and Wellness Tourism.” Coming in a very close second and third, were Johnnecia Pinder, also of Preston H. Albury High School, and Tyreike Higgs of Harbour Island All Age School, respectively. This year’s Jr. Minister of Tourism Speech Competition in Eleuthera, was held at the Wesley Methodist Church Hall in Palmetto Point, beginning at 11am on the Wednesday morning. The seven competi-

tors included; Oriana Carey of Preston H. Albury High School (Winner - 558 points); Johnnecia Pinder of Preston H. Albury High School (Second Place - 541 points); Tyreike Higgs of Harbour Island All Age School (Third Place - 540 points); Anna Pinder of Samuel Guy Pinder All Age School; Dayonna Brown of Harbour Island All Age School; Kiara Roberts of Central Eleuthera High School; and Hadassa Lockhart of Central Eleuthera High School. Mrs. Deborah Young-Fox with the Ministry of Tourism team in Governor’s Harbour, was the key organizer of the event, and was supported by her colleagues in both the Governor’s Habour and Harbour Island Offices. Judges for the event included Nickal Fernander, Colin Moss, Sherrin Cooper, Delores Stubbs, and J.J. Percentie.

Teams: Participants in the Jr. Minister of Tourism competition stand with their dedicated and hard working coaches.

Participants: (L-R) Tyreike Higgs (3rd place winner), Dayonna Brown, Hadassa Lockhart, Kjara Roberts, Oriana Carey (Overall Winner - New Eleuthera Jr. Minister of Tourism), Anna Pinder, Johnnecia Pinder (2nd Place winner).

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| 03/04 2018

National Spelling Bee Champion Continued from pg. 1

true Sentinel.” On his return to Eleuthera on Monday afternoon, March 19th, a large delegation of his student peers from CEHS, with Principal Mrs. Galanis, along with the school’s band, met Johnathan and his mom, Mrs. Stella Randall at the Governor’s Harbour airport, with great fanfare and music and cheers all around, to celebrate his stellar achievement. “I was on pins and needles the whole time,” said Johnathan’s mom, adding, “however, when the little boy in third got out, then the

young girl left misspelled ‘chrysanthemum’, I said Johnathan’s going to Washington!” Principal Galanis also expressed her delight in Johnathan’s achievement, “We are more than proud, and its emotional, because we know he was capable, and his mom was there with him all the way. Also to see the perseverance, and the endurance for him over the years - and he really wanted to win. So for us, that is a true ‘Sentinel’. We are trying to teach the children to be determined and whatever stumbling blocks may come - to get

Above: Johnathan Randall’s peers and classmates from Central Eleuthera High School, along with Principal Marie Galanis (far right) celebrated his victory at the National Spelling Bee Championships with a contingent who met him at the Governor’s Harbour Airport as he returned home. Left: Johnathan Randall (center) and his mom, Stella Randall (second from right), was greeted by MP for Central and South Eleuthera, Mr. Hank Johnson (center), along with CEHS teachers and Principal, Marie Galanis.

up, dust off and do what you have to do. So it makes us really proud that he exemplifies what we are trying to get all of the children to do as true Sentinels of Central Eleuthera High School.” The young champion, as he looked on, while his fellow students cheered and congratulated him, said, “It feels good that I can finally bring the trophy home to Eleuthera for the first time…To actually be able to beat out every school in the Bahamas it feels really good, and I still can’t believe this is actually happening - I’m overwhelmed, and I hope

that I can do well in Washington D.C.” The 91st Scripps National Spelling Bee 2018 will be held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland from May 29–31, 2018, with the Finals occurring at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 31. “Bee Week”, including additional speller events, will run from May 27 to June 1.

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Mar/Apr 2018

Eleuthera walks away with top awards in 2018 National Young Chef Culinary Competition Emotions ran high with streaming tears, broad smiles and unreadable expressions during the award ceremony of the 26th Bahamas Young Culinary Competitions, on Friday, March 16th, 2018. Alyssa Neely and Avery Hall both from the island of Eleuthera are the 2018 winners of the National Junior Young Chef Competition and the National Senior Young Chef

Competition respectively. Hall, a student of Preston Albury High School, received a gold medal and $1,750 prize and Neely, a student of Samuel Guy Pinder All-Age School, received a gold medal and $650 prize. The ceremony was held at Marriott Courtyard Hotel. In addition to Eleuthera, schools

www. EleutheraNews . com • • • •

4th- Antrinique Winston (Huntley Christie High- Andros Island) 3rd – Australia Hanna (Queen’s College – New Providence Island) 2nd – Azavier Cox (Inagua All Age School) 1st – Avery Hall (Preston Albury High – Eleuthera)

Junior High Young Chef Culinary winners: Pictured: Eleuthera National Young Chef Culi• 4th – Ceanna Fox (N.G.M. Manary Winners accept awards from Keyshan Basjor – Long Island) tian, Assistant Director of Education. • 3rd – Melony Thelus (Patrick J. Bethell High School — Abaco) • 2nd – Tevin Wright (H. O. Nash fielded students from other islands — New Providence) including Acklins, Andros, Cat Island, • 1st – Alyssa Neely (Samuel Guy Bimini, the Berry Islands, Exuma, Grand Pinder All Age School — SpanBahama, Long Island, San Salvador. ish Wells, Eleuthera) New Providence schools were also represented. The students put their skills Winners of Bahamas Young Chef Speinto practice and concocted dishes to cialty Competitions: the theme “Infusing the Flavours of My (Teams included 2-persons) Island: Dis We Bahamas.” Young Chef Junior Cupcake ChalStudents were required to participate lengeat the school, district, then national lev• 3rd – Micquel Cartwright/Krisels. Competitions included the National ten Ingraham (Preston Albury Junior Young Chef, National Senior High – Eluethera) Young Chef, Young Chef Cupcake Chal• 2nd- Mckell Saunders /Glen lenge, Young Chef Signature Pastry and Rolle (Old Bight High – Cat Young Chef Mystery Basket Hot Food. Island) Keyshan Bastian, Assistant Direc• 1st – Camaule Coakley /Noelle tor of Education with responsibility for Symonette (Anatol Rodgers Career and Technical Education, told the High – New Providence) students that they are “gifted” and “educated” beyond measure. She urged them Young Chef Senior High Cupcake to take the knowledge and skills they Challenge have acquired to the next level. • 3rd – Antonesha Thompson / “Cause the chefs you have touched Ativa Collie (C. R. Walker Sebases with to remember you. Whatever nior – New Providence) you do in life autograph it with excel• 2nd – Shaelyn Sands/Ranad lence,” she said. Davis (Samuel Guy Pinder All Mrs. Bastian thanked parents for Age) investing in their children and acknowl• 1st – Broneka Williams / Konedged the Ministry of Tourism, judges donae Brown (C. C. Sweeting from the Bahamas Culinary Association, Senior High — New Provicoaches and sponsors for their contribudence) tions. In reflection, Chef Rolle, who Bahamas Young Chef Mystery Basket served as a judge, recalled that 26 years (Hot Food) ago he represented Freeport in the same • 3rd – Andrea Greene / Shandera competition. Dawkins (Arthur’s Town High Chef Rolle credited the competition — Cat Island) to his ability to climb the ranks to his • 2nd – Shealyn Sands / Ranad present position of Senior Head Chef at Davis (Samuel Guy Pinder — Atlantis. Spanish Wells, Eluethera) “This is one of the greatest ‘starts’ • 1st – Denae Clarke / Gabriel for students,” he said. “Take it by the Williams (L.N. Coakley High – hand and run with it.” Exuma) He urged the students to listen to their coaches and nag their parents not Bahamas Young Chef Signature Pastry for the latest electronic gadgets but for a Competition Winners chef knife or a small kitchen appliance. • 3rd – Harvey Pratt/Jasmine BurTasmaine Coleman, International rows (Old Bight High — Cat Admissions officer at Johnson and Wales Island) University confirmed that the first, • 2nd – Deltinique Greene/Kajah second and third winners in the Senior Pinder (Patrick J. Bethell High Culinary Competition will participate in — Abaco) a culinary bootcamp during the sum• 1st – Avery Hall/Joshua Clarmer. She also announced that 4 to 5 idge (Preston Albury High – senior participants in the competition are Eleuthera) eligible to apply for 4-year scholarships worth up to $15,000 in tuition at Johnson and Wales University. The competition is sponsored by the Ministry of Education. Participating sponsors include Mahatma Rice and Robin Hood Flour. The following are the winners in the 2018 competitions. Senior High Young Chef Culinary competition winners:

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North Eleuthera Shopping Center The Bluff, Eleuthera, Tel: (242) - 335-1880; ; Email: neshoppingctr@yahoo.com

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ART in the PARK Continued from pg. 7 receive a gift certificate for classroom supplies. With a unique name and identity all their own, the public is invited to travel the lizard trail and uncover the locations of all seventeen lizards, and enjoy the playful nature of the installations.

Pictured: Underwater photography enthusiast, Rea Bethel.

Pictured: Specialist wood craftsman, Jamaal Bethel.

Pictured: Fine artist, Jerreth Albury showcasing his paintings.

Pictured: Fine artist, Lavarrick King with Mrs. Theresa Burrows

Pictured: Mrs. Rahming showcases her straw-work. Pictured: Fine artist, Thearon Johnson.

Pictured: Ceramic artist, Imogene Walkine showcasing a few of her colourful pieces.

Pictured: Art Teacher, Mr. Mullin exhibits a number of personal pieces.

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| 03/04 2018

Emergency First Responders

trained by SEEP in South Eleuthera Eleuthera, Bahamas-- From February 28 through March 3, South Eleuthera Emergency Partners (SEEP) hosted training for ambulance volunteers and fire truck drivers and operators at its Tarpum Bay location. This training was largely funded by a grant from the Cotton Bay Fund for South Eleuthera.

During the four day training, participants acquired knowledge and skills administered through lectures and hands on activity delivered by instructors Cedrick Cash and Frederick Johnson of the Public Hospitals Authority Emergency Medical Service in New Providence and Terrance Outten of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force Fire Services.

Emergency First Responders (EMR) and Fire Truck operations were among the courses delivered. EMR consisted of training in Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), First Aid and management of various injuries. During the Fire Truck operations training participants learned how to identify various parts of the Fire Truck and how to properly drive and maintain the vehicle. Multiple departments on the island worked together to make this training happen. These included government officials, police officers, doctors and nurses. Nurse Bernadette Colebrook, also assisted with training and coordinating trainers from New Providence. The last day of training was one of the most critical and interesting part of training. On Saturday March 3rd, a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) was staged at Tarpum Bay Park. The scenario consisted of a stadium where an explosion occurred. Volunteers reimagined the basketball court into that stadium and they were called on to respond. The MCI was made successful by young people in the community who eagerly played victims. At the end of it all, 12 volunteers successfully completed training. “We were very excited to be back on Eleuthera training eager volunteers. The training was a success and volunteers had the opportunity to heighten their EMS knowledge”, said trainer Cedrick Cash. “Training was a very informative and engaging experience. I begin training with only an interest in assisting and now I’m a trained Emergency Medical Responder! The trainers were amazing, they gave us a great foundation to have a positive influence in our communities.” said Ronique Carey, Board Member of SEEP. South Eleuthera Emergency Partners (SEEP) is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization created to provide fire and medical emergency transportation services, as well as outreach programs to the communities of South Eleuthera. For more information on this and other SEEP activities call 242-3344630 or 242-470-5785 or visit us on Facebook.

Island “Buzz”

Mar/Apr 2018

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ICONZ Eleuthera Fete Crew: Costumes Launched in Briland BY THE ELEUTHERAN NEWS TEAM The Eleuthera Fete Crew “ICONZ” (EFC), coming May, during Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, taka new Carnival group, hosted a lush ‘Costume ing place from May 4th through 7th, and the road march Launch’ party on Saturday evening, March 10th, happens on Saturday, May 5th.” 2018 at the Romora Bay Resort and Marina in Harbour Island, themed, “Jewels of Desire”. The EFC, was created and established by Mr. Pedro Grant (President) and Jocelyn Felix (Vice President) in June of 2017, shortly after the annual Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival event. Grant, was involved in the Carnival Band as a Road March DJ with the EFC’s parent group “Bahamas MasAbove: Bahamian soca artist, Benje, performs for the audience at the queraders” for 2 out of the 3 parades held to date. Eleuthera Fete Crew ICONZ Costume Launch Party in Harbour Island.. After the 2017 parade, he met up with the CEO of the Bahamas Masqueraders, Tonz Dean, where the idea of forming a Carnival group for Eleuthera was proposed. As of then, the Eleuthera Fete Crew, partnered with the Bahamas Masqueraders, and are now involved in the Carnival world with plans of representing Eleuthera in the 2018 Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival under the theme “Jewels of Desire.” Four designers from the parent Bahamas Masqueraders group were on island to help showcase their colourful designer costume line creations, in Diamond, Ruby, Topaz and Sapphire; including Anthony Knowles, Ashad Bowe, Jamaal Clarke and Tavio Gaitor. Anthony Knowles, designer of the Topaz line showcased during the launch, commented, “I’ve been doing Junkanoo for a long time, pretty much my whole life and when the opportunity came up for us to take a different medium of design, I was very excited. We have a big group of people who came together, and we created the premier carnival band in the country, Bahamas Masqueraders. It’s been a lot of fun so far. “We decided to make some little changes to the Eleuthera section of the Bahamas Masqueraders, which this year is the Sapphire line that includes hints of yellow. We added different colours to their designs, so that they would stand out from ev- Costumes: Eleuthera models showcase the Diamond, Topaz, Sapphire, and eryone else in Nassau, and would have their own Ruby lines being worn by members of the Eleuthera Fete Crew ICONZ at Bahavibe. We are hoping that the Eleuthera Fete Crew mas Junkanoo Carnival 2018 with the BAHAMAS MASQUERADERS group. ICONZ grows to be one of the main sections of the Masqueraders.” Bahamian soca artist, Benje, also made an appearance, performing his ‘La Bam Bam’, for the appreciative audience of both locals and visitors at the resort venue. Following the launch, EFC President Grant stated, “Tonight to me is a milestone, because this is the very first time an event such as this has ever taken place on any family island. It was organized by the Eleuthera Fete Crew ICONZ, and we also showcased our Eleuthera inspired pieces. The models were all Eleutheran, so I am very proud of tonight. It was overwhelming, and I feel really positive about going forward from here. “Eleuthera is going to be well represented this

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| 03/04 2018

Canadian Winter Resident Couple recounts harrowing experience at the Baths during Rage BY THE ELEUTHERAN NEWS TEAM

Above: Winter resident couple, Scott and Barb McKellar

The beauty of Eleuthera’s rugged Atlantic coastline is a draw for many a local and visitor. However, during rough weather, the appreciation for this pristine splendour, should always be tempered with caution.

Winter resident couple, Scott and Barb McKellar experienced this harsh lesson firsthand during the recent ‘rage’ activity at the Queen’s Baths in early March. They were quite possibly, the first to receive serious injuries as a result of battering waves in that area. Coming from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the couple expressed that they are no strangers to the Atlantic and how dangerous it can be, with areas at home, like Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia, which they say have claimed countless lives over the years. So they were taken fully by surprise on Sunday, March 4th, 2018 around noon, after admiring the wave action in the area of the Queen’s Baths for almost an hour, from where they thought, with their life experience, was a safe distance away - far from where any spray was being carried from waves cresting the cliffs - when they were suddenly overtaken by what they described as monstrous rogue wave. They said they were camped out in the sandy area, near the signposted entrance to the Baths, where they could still see the cliffs and the waves. Barb recounted vividly, “Just before we got ready to turn around and leave, a few bigger waves started coming in and we said ooooh it’s a big one. Then as I watched, and saw the next wave coming, I was thinking - ‘That wave is not hitting the cliff, that wave I can still see it and its already at the cliff, and it’s huge and just when it started dawning on you, oh my goodness, that wave is coming over the cliffs, I turned to run, and it felt like slow motion, because I was thinking - this is too high, it was huge - to describe it - it looked

to me like a tsunami.” The couple was overtaken by the huge wave and thrown around the rocky terrain, back towards the entrance area. Barb recalled thinking to herself as she was caught up that if it didn’t stop soon, she would drown. However, Scott’s memory of the scary experience was a shorter few seconds of being encompassed by the water and pummeled. Scott received multiple scrapes and bruises about his body, and Barb, along with scrapes and bruises received a large gash along her scalp, which had to have numerous stitches. The couple shared that as winter residents on the island, their confidence in the emergency medical care system was highly boosted after their harrowing experience. Being a Sunday afternoon, the resident nurse in Hatchet Bay they said, came out of church and met them at the clinic there, and gave them initial treatment, before referring them to the resident doctor in Governor’s Harbour, who also left church to meet and give them medical care, before flying into Nassau to the hospital, where final scans and tests were done. “We don’t know how we didn’t break our necks, it’s a miracle,” said Barb, “that we only have superficial injuries to show for this,” expressing how thankful she was that they were not more seriously impacted by the experience. “Next time there is a storm…we will not ever go anywhere near again… You just don’t know when that rogue wave will come in. Even if you think you are smart around the ocean, no. Just don’t. We felt we were being responsible,

but clearly we’ve learned there’s a whole other level of responsibility. If it’s coming, don’t go, even if you think it hasn’t started.” The bridge and surrounding areas were officially closed at 3pm on Sunday, March 4th, several hours after the McKellar’s experience at the Queen’s Bath.

Above: Stitched gash suffered by Barb McKellar.

Above: Water at the Queen’s Bath was churning a day after the massive waves had subsided.

Local “Plus”

Mar/Apr 2018

www. EleutheraNews . com

Picture This: TB Primary Rocked Crazy Socks in support of World Down

Syndrome Day.

Tarpum Bay Primary School had all hands on deck, with full participation throughout the school, including teachers, and students on Thursday, March 22nd, when almost everyone rocked mismatched, colourful socks to classes. The ‘crazy socks’ initiative was in support of World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD). Event coordinator, Mrs. Munnings, shared that it was all about, making the children aware of how they may be different in their lives and situations, but that others should still be respected. “We do not currently have any students with down syndrome at the school, but we have had students with special needs in the past - so the message is that we should treat them the same and accept and respect how they are different.” Teachers who took part in the initiative along with their students from every grade level, included; Jaiovanhia Munnings, Melinda Pelecanos, Diane Carey, Janice Hall, Lakiesha McPhee, Leahnora Knowles, Gabrielle Dorsette and Christine Symonette.

tions and the private sector, to observe World Down Syndrome Day in an appropriate manner, in order to raise public awareness of Down syndrome”.

Mayoclinic.org: “Down syndrome is a

genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21. This extra genetic material causes the developmental changes and physical features of Down syndrome”

Right: Teachers at Tarpum Bay Primary show full support for the Crazy Socks day observed at the school. Below: Students of all grade levels show off their Crazy Socks on March 22nd, as they observed World Down Syndrome Day.

History of WDSD https://worlddownsyndromeday.org

WDSD was first observed in 2006 in many countries around the world and Down Syndrome Association Singapore launched and hosted the WDSD website from 2006-2010, on behalf of DSi, for global activities to be recorded. On 19 December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day. The General Assembly decided to “designate 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day, to be observed every year beginning in 2012” and “invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organiza-

Generous visiting US Church Group of volunteers, repair Eleuthera Cancer Society’s roof BY THE ELEUTHERAN NEWS TEAM

The Eleuthera Cancer Society head quarters recently got a total refurbishment of their roofing structure, with old materials stripped, and replaced. An experienced group of men and women from St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Seneca, South Carolina who have been visiting the island and liaising with local organizations since 2010, worked with the Eleuthera Cancer Society to effect the makeover at the Wellness Center in Palmetto Point. They arrived on island on Saturday, March 10th to visit and work during the week, until Saturday, March 17th, when they returned home to Seneca. “We love coming here every year, being a part of the community and trying to help as best we can,” shared Bob Dobson and Peter Salis, on behalf of the group. This year, the contingent consisted of 14 people, 7 men and 7 women, all contributing in different ways while on island. The 7 men, included; Mike

Seef, Paul Herren, Bill Heid, Eddie Perry, Bob Graves, Bob Dobson, and Peter Salis - who worked on the roof project during the week. All brought a wealth of knowledge with a wide variety of lifetime career experiences in chemical engineering, business management, electrical engineering, hospital administration, sales, military, as well as teaching. The ladies in the group were spread across the island assisting in other ways. Three of them - Cathy Graves, Linda Chapman, and Lilly Blue, assisted with organizing the school library at Deep Creek Primary - with 200 pounds of books brought in. One lady, Abby Heid, spent the week working with CTI - lending assistance with her experience in technical training and curriculum. The other three ladies in the group; Lynn Dobson, Caroline Keese, and Marla Fuller, spent time visiting cancer survivors across the island. Lynn’s husband, Bob, shared that she was a three-time cancer survivor.

Local “Plus”

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

Haitian Nationals From Vessel Intercepted Off Eleuthera Charged BY THE ELEUTHERAN NEWS TEAM

One day after they were apprehended by HMBS Cascarilla under the command of Lieutenant Commander Clinton Johnson, 89 Haitian Nationals were charged before the courts in Eleuthera on Thursday, March 29th for violation of the Immigration Act. The 89 migrants (11children, 14 females, and 64 males) who were apprehended in their vessel on Wednesday off Governor’s Harbour, were all charged with illegal landing. They all pled guilty and were sentenced to conditional deportation. They were all deported directly to Haiti the same day. An additional 2 Haitian nationals were also charged before the courts in Eleuthera after they were found in a 30-ft cabin cruiser off Half Moon Cay, located off San Salvador by the crew members of HMBS Cascarilla. One of them, Kevin Lafrance, did not have the proper document and was charged with Illegal landing. He was sentenced to 15 months in jail and will be deferred to Immigration Department for deportation after serving his time. According to authorities he had spent three years living in the Bahamas illegally, with Abaco as the last known address. The other Haitian national, Emilien Haly, confirmed as the owner of the vessel, who possessed a spousal permit, was charged with harbouring an illegal person. He was given a 1-year imprisonment term and a $3,000.00 fine. His vessel was also seized and confiscated. He was also a resident of Abaco. Another Haitian national, Joseph Abram, who had been taken into custody in the Gregory Town area in Central Eleuthera on Tuesday morning, March 27th, was also charged before the courts in Eleuthera with illegal landing. He had resided illegally in the Bahamas for 6 months. He was sentenced to 9 months in jail. Chief Magistrate Joy Ann Ferguson Pratt presided over the court proceedings in Eleuthera. The Interception: Local authorities in Eleuthera reported that around 3:20 pm on Tuesday afternoon, March 27, 2018, an anonymous man contacted the Governor’s Harbour Police Station by telephone. The man said that he was presently on a vessel off of the southern coast of Eleuthera, and that it was taking on water. He also told Police that the vessel had a number of Haitian immigrants on board. As a result of the information, Chief Superintendent Stephen Adderley and a team of Police Officers, along with Chief Immigration Officer, Mrs. Shema Darling, traveled to South Eleuthera, where they conducted surveillance with negative results. Chief Superintendent Adderley contacted Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and requested their assistance in conducting aerial and sea searches. Sometime after 9pm on Tuesday evening, the U.S. Coast Guard fixed wing spotter aircraft was able to locate the vessel. As a result the Royal Bahamas Defence Force vessel, HMBS Cascarilla under the command of Lieutenant Commander Clinton Johnson proceeded to the area. The HMBS Cascarilla intercepted the craft, which was an American sailing vessel during the

early morning hours on Wednesday, March 28th, 2018, approximately 16 nautical miles southwest of Governor’s Harbour. Eighty nine (89) undocumented Haitian immigrants were reported to have been on board the vessel. Chief Superintendent Adderley, shortly after 9am on Wednesday morning, confirmed that the immigrants taken into custody were being transferred to Rock Sound, South Eleuthera, where they would be processed by Immigration authorities, and charged before the magistrate in Eleuthera before their repatriation to Haiti. The Defence Force said that they have increased their monitoring and patrolling efforts in the Southern Bahamas, which is considered a gateway for much of the illegal activity that takes place within the Bahamas’ borders. Migrants, they said, are using a variety of means to transit Bahamian waters, including traditional sailing sloops, smaller conventional sailing yachts, and motorized go fasts with collapsible sails. For the year to date, 281 migrants have been apprehended, with two arrests made consecutively near Inagua on March 11th, another 69 apprehended off Long Island in January and the over 20 that were arrested after they came ashore in Marshall Road. Immigration authorities in Eleuthera further reported on Wednesday morning that another smaller vessel in distress near Half Moon Cay with two people of Haitian nationality on board had been taken into custody. Also, during regular patrols on island on Tuesday morning, one additional undocumented Haitian immigrant had been arrested in Gregory Town. Immigration authorities reported a total of 92 people in custody on Wednesday morning.

The Eleutheran | 03/04 2018

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Weighing Feasibility of Passport Kiosks/Desks in Family Islands The Honourable Darren A. Henfield, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for North Abaco, during his Mid-Year Budget Performance Debate presentation in the House of Assembly on March 19th, 2018, commented on alternatives to the current Mobile Passport Teams which visit and service specific Family Islands intermittently during the year, including Eleuthera, as his Ministry proposes to launch online services for the renewal of E-Passports. An excerpt of his presentation reads as follows: “As I prepare to address our Government’s policy initiatives, allow me to report on the proposed launch of online services for the renewal of E-Passports. “In January 2017, the new Electronic Passport Issuing and Control System (E-PICS), was successfully launched, introducing the polycarbonate Bahamian travel documents, which feature not only an increased number of pages with depictions of cultural symbols throughout, but multiple levels of security, placing The Bahamas only second in this regard to Switzerland in providing such quality travel documents. “The online facility, when instituted, hopefully within the next few months, will allow Bahamians anywhere in the world to Google-access the services on a 24-hours–a-day, seven-days-a-week basis and make online applications and payments for the renewal of their e-travel documents. “As we continue to create a paperless environment during the procurement of passports, all current e-passport files are presently being prepared for proper storage and management. “Finally, for now, in keeping with the necessary security requirements in a world filled with cyber-thieves and other associated risks, Bahamians will be able to collect their passports from the Passport Office in New Providence, Grand Bahama, or one of the three locations in Abaco. “Whilst on passports, let me say that we are also doing a cost-benefit analysis of establishing passport kiosks or desks in several Family Island Administration Offices in islands like Andros, Eleuthera, Exuma and Long Island, as opposed to sporadically sending Mobile Teams to deal with passport matters.”

Perspective

Mar/Apr 2018

OP-ED By Sir Ronald Sanders www.sirronaldsanders.com

By Sir Ronald Sanders (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are his own) Small states, including those in the Caribbean, are justifiably troubled by the continuous efforts by the memberstates of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to cripple every initiative they take in the financial services sector. Indeed, it is true to say that the OECD has become as intimidating and odious an acronym as the IMF was in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Under the guise of stopping financing of terrorism and money laundering, the OECD has extended its reach in to sovereign states that strangle their rights and stifles their efforts in almost every area of finance and banking. Picking-off these small states, one after the other, the OECD has effectively imposed its will on all of them, so much so that when governments acquiesce to the demands of the OECD or the Commission of the European Union (whose members constitute most of the membership of the OECD), their representatives claim it as a victory. More than one Caribbean government has trumpeted their signing-up to the OECD or EU Commission demands as some sort of virtue while, indeed, they agree to remove all incentives from international business corporations, causing them to shut down, and, thus, depriving their countries of desperately needed revenues. There has been – and sadly remains – a lack of solidarity among all the affected countries. So, there is no effort to

The OECD: pool their intellectual knowledge and experience to create a solid negotiating position which they could jointly adopt with the OECD. Even in the OECD Global Forum, which is dominated by the OECD countries with the nominal participation of small states, there is no effort by the small jurisdictions to develop a single position and to adopt a joint negotiating strategy. Now, the OECD is going after “residency” programmes and “Citizenship by Investment Programmes (CIPs)” in the Caribbean and elsewhere. This new assault will affect half the member-states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia operate CIPs, and The Bahamas and Barbados have residency-by-investment (RBI) programs. On February 19, the OECD issued a “consultation document” on preventing the abuse of residence by investment schemes to circumvent reporting on the financial assets of their nationals. Despite the fact that thousands of people subscribe to these programmes for legitimate reasons, the OECD argument is that the programmes could create opportunities for tax evaders. The OECD is now soliciting public information to get evidence on the misuse of the CBI/RBI schemes and on effective ways for preventing such abuse. They will get organized testimony from organizations that are dedicated to high taxation. The stage is already set for a conclusion that the CBI/RBI programmes are porous for tax evasion and other forms of financial crime, and, therefore, the OECD should require jurisdictions to discontinue them or face “counter measures”. The paper can be read in full at https://www.oecd.org/tax/exchange-oftax-information/consultation-documentpreventing-abuse-of-residence-byinvestment-schemes.pdf Consultation document - Preventing abuse of residence by ... www.oecd.org 2 │ PREVENTING ABUSE OF RESIDENCE BY INVESTMENT SCHEMES TO CIRCUMVENT THE CRS 1. More and more jurisdictions are offering “residence by investment” (RBI) or It is written in OECD-speak; usually, the terms mean the opposite of common usage. In effect, it argues that RBI/ CBI programmes are high risk where, among other things, the following applies: the scheme imposes no or limited requirements to be physically present in the jurisdiction or no checks are done as to the physical presence in the jurisdiction; the scheme is offered by either: low/no tax jurisdictions, jurisdictions exempting foreign source income; ju-

Policy Statement: The Perspective, Conservation Corner,’ Op-ED and Letters section of The Eleutheran newspaper is a medium we provide for writers to express their views and opinions on issues that directly or indirectly affect any part of our society. These views do not in anyway reflect the views of this newspaper. While we aim to publish all letters sent to us, please note The Letter to the Editor section is not a vehicle for people to air personal gri pes against another person and letters may be refused on the basis of ethics, which includes, but is not limited to, personal vendettas or attacks.

www. EleutheraNews . com

a robust response required

risdictions with a special tax regime for foreign individuals that have obtained residence through such schemes; The OECD is presently collecting a list of high risk schemes as it regards them. At the end of the exercise, Caribbean jurisdictions are bound to be included in the list. So, what is to be done. It should be recalled that the majority of CARICOM countries (and certainly those that have CBI/RBI programmes) have tax information exchange agreements with many if not all OECD countries; they also have mutual legal assistance treaties and many of them subscribe to the OECD’s common reporting standards (CRS) which obliges them to report on the financial assets of foreigners. The OECD now believes that, notwithstanding all these arrangements, the CBI/RBI programmes can be used to evade paying tax due to its memberstates. Caribbean jurisdictions, which would also include Cayman Islands, should seek to engage jointly countries such as Portugal, Italy, Malta, the United Kingdom, Cyprus and Malta (all of which are EU countries) that also operate CBI/ RBI programmes to try to forge common cause in bargaining with the OECD (of which the UK is also a member). The Caribbean countries should also prepare a joint and robust response to the OECD and engage the organization at the highest possible political and technical level.

That response should include all the safeguards that could reasonably be expected, including thorough and vigorous vetting of all persons who are approved for the CBI/RBI programmes; mechanisms for ensuring that such persons are not evading taxes due in OECD countries; resisting the wrongful notion that tax avoidance is a crime commensurate with tax evasion; and insisting that OECD countries that have not signed-up to the CRS to do so as a pre-condition for any further Caribbean action. If there is not such a robust, joint response that halts the OECD juggernaut, the Caribbean’s CBI/RBI programmes will be wiped-out within the next three years, sinking yet another initiative by small countries to survive economically. And, if it is that these programmes cause such alarm among the OECD countries, they should put on the table tangible and meaningful machinery by which they will help small jurisdictions to overcome the loss of revenues, jobs and economic growth that will result from the crushing of their CBI/RBI programmes. Turning the other cheek is not an option for Caribbean economies, nor is deferring the problem to a later date when they will already be consumed. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com

Perspective

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

STATEMENT Dr. the Hon. Hubert Minnis Prime Minister Commonwealth of The Bahamas 20 March 2018

The passing of the Hon. Theresa Moxey-Ingraham Former Senator, Minister and Member of Parliament Along with my colleagues in government and in the Free National Movement I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Senator, Cabinet Minister, and Member of Parliament, Theresa Moxey-Ingraham. During her lifetime she contributed to the political, educational, professional and civic life of The Bahamas. A dynamic personality, Theresa displayed a great love and zest for life, and passion for her country. She was involved in public school education and private tertiary education. Teaching was among her great passions. She taught English, literature and drama. She was also a lecturer at the Business College, the Hotel Training College, and the Institute, Accounting and Finance. Before entering politics Theresa worked in the hospitality industry for a number of years in the areas of marketing, food and beverage, and training. Over the course of 15 years she served in politics and government. She was a member of the Senate from 19871991 as Opposition Leader, and served as the Member of Parliament for Golden Gates from 1992-2002. Her cabinet portfolios included: Transport and Communications, Social Development and National Insurance Board, Health & the Environment, Labour Immigration & Training, Agriculture, Commerce and Industry and Public Service & Cultural Affairs. She served in many capacities in the FNM including in the Women’s As-

sociation and as an Executive Council member. After leaving government she served as Executive Director of the Bahamas Campus of Sojourner-Douglass College and as President of the Association of Tertiary Institutions in The Bahamas (ATIB). Another of her great passions was the dramatic arts. She was a former member of the Dundas Repertory Company, and served as Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Dundas Centre for The Performing Arts. She hosted a weekly live radio talk show, “Theresa’s Saturday Salon” and hosted a weekly television show, “Round Table”. She also wrote “At the Half”, a weekly newspaper column. On behalf of a grateful nation, and on my own behalf and that of my wife, Patricia, I offer condolences to her husband, Kirk, her mother Ms. Sally Hutcherson, her daughter Odia, siblings, other relatives and her many friends.

NOTICE

The Cabinet Office announced on March 28th that an Official Funeral will be held for the late Hon. Theresa Moxey-Ingraham, former Cabinet Minister, Senator and Parliamentarian, on Friday, 6th April, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Agnes Anglican Church, Baillou Hill Road. Interment will follow at Lakeview Memorial Gardens & Mausoleums, J. F. Kennedy Drive. Further, the body will lie-in-state in the foyer of the House of Assembly, Parliament Square, from 9:00am on Thursday 5th April until the body departs for the church on Friday, 6th April, 2018. Viewing for the general public will be from 1:00p.m - 7:00pm on Thursday, 5th April, 2018. The general public is invited to attend.

The Eleutheran | 03/04 2018

Beyond the Surface

(By Mike Lightbourn)

that we live in a hurricane belt. When was the roof last shingled and with what type of shingles? There are various grades of shingle and the life varies depending on the grade. Some homes are now covered with membranes as opposed to shingles. Get a professional opinion and ask for any documentation the owner may have concerning roof work if you have any concerns.

When a home goes on the market, a seller may pull out all the stops to make the property as attractive as possible. There’s nothing wrong with that. On the flip side, a buyer who is interested in a property should look beyond what is visually pleasing. Here are some examples. Is it structurally sound? Most homes have hairline cracks. However, any big cracks, especially where extensions join, in the area of steel supports, and around doors and windows, should be examined. A trusted and experienced building inspector or contractor will be able to determine if cracks are serious or superficial. Signs of damp Look for peeling paint and discoloured walls and ceilings. Moisture can be the result of humidity, condensation and rain penetration and may be particularly prevalent where exterior walls are porous. Damp may be indicative of a plumbing problem. Window Woes Do the windows open and close properly? Do they fit snugly to the frame to prevent cool air from escaping? Are they hurricane impact rated and installed by a certified technician? If not, do proper storm shutters come with the home? The age of the roof This is very important, given the fact

The attic Is the attic properly insulated? It may be out of sight, but the attic shouldn’t be out of mind. Insulation helps keep a home cool and is essential for energy efficiency when you crank up the cool air. Which direction does the house face? Sun paths can impact the comfort and energy efficiency of a home. For instance, a living room positioned to face the summer sun will cost more to cool. A living room facing the trade winds will capture the summer breezes. The sun shifts as it rises and sets in the summer and winter months. Think about the sun’s paths in relation to the way a home is positioned. Enough room? Are the rooms large enough to suit your needs? This is especially important if you plan to stay put for a while and the family is growing. A seller may remove some furniture to create a perception that the room is actually bigger than it is. Use a measuring tape to see if standard sized furniture will work in the various rooms. If you plan to take furniture and appliances to the new home, measure them up and see how they will fit. Don’t underestimate storage Storage space is very important, but is sometimes overlooked. Stop and think about everything that needs storing - five gallon water bottles, hurricane supplies, Christmas decorations, the vacuum cleaner, suitcases, toys, towels and linens, books, junk and a hundred other things. There is no such thing as too much storage! Questions or comments? Contact me at info@cbbahamas.com<mailto:info@cbbahamas.com>. (Mike Lightbourn is president of Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty)

A SPICE MEDIA GROUP (SMG) PUBLICATION Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, The Bahamas.

MAN. DIR. / CO-Pub

Dr. V. J. Bryan, PhD, (Research/Write)

CONSULTING EDITOR

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vbryan@smgbusiness.com Columnists Man. Editor / Co-Pub

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In-house Writers - articles written and edited by The Eleutheran Team. These may be investigative, informational, Sports, Education, Business etc.

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We appreciate members of the community reaching out to us daily and invite you to contact us at 422-9350. We are Proud Supporters of: Community Initiatives, Business Community, Young Entrepreneurs, Builders, Bahamas Public Schools, Community Organizations..Eleuthera

Crime News

Mar/Apr 2018

www. EleutheraNews . com

Reports are printed to keep the public informed of the incidents of crime that are reported within our communities. All reports are to be treated as allegations only. Reports issued by the RBPF locally.

Eleuthera REPORTS Stealing Report At about 1:30pm on Saturday 24th March 2018 an adult female visitor reported to the Governors Harbour Police Station that sometime between 11:00am and 11:40am on Saturday 24th March 2018 while at the French Leave Beach some unknown person/s stole a black backpack with EMS on it in red which contained her and her husband’s American passports, a rose gold I-Phone 8 valued at $849.00, a Samsung S7 Edge valued at $600.00, about 6-8 hundred dollars in US currency, two metal water containers, (3) Chase credit cards, (2) AMX credit cards, (2) debit cards, (1) black leather men’s wallet, (1) pink ladies wallet along with other personal effects. Police action requested. The complainants deployed the tracking application on the phone which indicated that the phone was in the area of the residence of an adult male in Governor’s Harbour. Suspect Arrested For Stealing At about 4:11pm on Saturday 24th March 2018 Officers from the Governor’s Harbour Police Station came in at the Governors Harbour Police Station with the Adult male suspect of Governors Harbour under arrest and reported that he was arrested at about 4:10pm while in the area of 700 Wines Governor’s Harbour reference to stealing. Escape Report-At about 5:07pm Officers came in at the Governors Harbour Police Station and reported that while conducting a search warrant at the property of a suspect Officers while searching a 5gal bucket hidden in a tree at the rear of the suspect’s residence found A rose gold I phone 8, A Samsung S7 Edge. At this point the suspect who was present and handcuffed became anxious, he pulled away from one of the officers and and ran into bushes, the Officer pursued the suspect however, he fell attempting to run over rocky terrain. The suspect was then able to make good his escape from lawful custody. Officers made additional checks of the area but were unsuccessful in locating the suspect. Suspect Re Arrested - At about 9:40pm on Saturday 24th March 2018 two concerned residents came in at the Governors Harbour Police Station with the suspect they reported that they saw him walking in the area of their residence and picked him up because they heard the police were looking for him. He was further cautioned and re- arrested reference to stealing and escape. Stolen Property Recovered- At about 4:50pm on Sunday 25th March 2018 Officers came in at the Governors Harbour Police Station and reported that at about 4:20pm on same date acting on information received from the suspect they went to a bushy area at the rear of BPL Compound Governors Harbour where they made a search of the area and recovered a black backpack with the letters EMS imprinted in red in the rusted remains of an old vehicle same was searched and the officers recovered (1) Citizens Bank Checkbook in the name of the complainant (2) metal water containers (1) red and (1) pink, (1) spray can of Cutter insect repellent, (1) Samsung S7 cellphone cover, (1)

Bill Blass glasses case with pair reading glasses and a Men’s Journal magazine all reported stolen on 24/03/18. All items was recovered and taken to the Governors Harbour Police Station for further investigations. Stolen Property Recovered - At about 5:47pm on Sunday 25th March 2018 Officers came in at the Governors Harbour Police Station with the suspect off enquires and reported that sometime at about 5:31pm the suspect took the mention officers to an area on the northern side of the BPL Compound in Governors Harbour where he showed them first a piece of aluminum sheet metal where officers recovered a black men’s leather wallet containing credit cards, driver’s license and other personal cards bearing the name of the complainant and a pink ladies wallet with credit cards, driver’s license and other personal cards bearing the name of the other complainant. The suspect also pointed out a small dirt patch in bushes where officers recovered a clear plastic bag containing (2) American passports bearing the names of the complainants. All property was reported stolen on 24/03/18. The property was taken to the Governors Harbour Police Station for further investigations. Prisoner’s update: On Sunday 25th March 2018 at 9:25pm while at the Governor’s Harbour Police station Officers charged the suspect with Stealing contrary to section 345, Receiving contrary to section 358 and Escape contrary to section 444 all of the Penal code chapter 84. ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT REPORTED On Saturday 24th March, 2018 at about 11:43 a.m. The Police received information of a traffic accident on Chris Fireman Brown Boulevard, Wemyss Bight, Eleuthera. Officers visited the scene and found that the accident involved an incident where one vehicle reversed into another. Statements were recorded from both adult male drivers and measurements were recorded at the scene. Investigations are ongoing. Road Accident Report -At about 12:00pm on Friday 23rd March 2018 an anonymous caller contacted the Governors Harbour Police Station via telephone and reported that there is a traffic accident on Queens Highway in the area just south of the Road Traffic Department. Police assistance requested. Officers visited the scene and discovered that the accident involved four (4) vehicles, three (3) of which received damages. Officers while on the scene he saw and spoke with the driver of a dark brown 2015 Hyundai van an Adult male who reported that while travelling north along Queens Highway Governors Harbour behind two other vehicles the lead vehicle suddenly slowed down which caused the vehicle directly in front of him a grey 2001 Toyota Opa driven by a relative of his an adult female to brake suddenly causing him to crash into the rear of the Toyota Opa causing damage to the front of his vehicle and damage to the rear of the Toyota Opa also causing the car to veer out of control colliding into a light green 2007 Nissan Tiida which was travelling south driven by an adult female causing extensive damage to the front and side also causing front end damage to the Toyota Opa. The fourth vehicle a black 2011 Dodge Nitro driven north along the mention road by a male visitor didn’t sustain any damages as it was the lead vehicle and didn’t get hit during the accident. The drivers were transported to the Levy Medical Clinic in Governors Harbour for medical treatment. Measurements was take and N.O.I.P forms served of all drivers. Investigations and ongoing. Assault/ Assault with a Dangerous Instrument, Damage, Threats of Death - On 22nd /3/18, at 9:36am, an

Police Contact Numbers

HeadQuarters (GH) Governor’s Harbour OR O/C Governor’s Harbour Gov.Harb. Airport Station Deep Creek Station Tarpum Bay Station Rock Sound Station

332-3500 332-2111 332-2117 332-2723 332-2323 334-8207 334-4033 334-2244

adult male reported to the Police , that sometime around, 8:00am same date, While in his living quarters , a male employee pulled open his room door without knocking and as a result he spoke to him about it. Sometime around 8:25am the same date while walking to work, this same male approached him again, grabbed him by his throat and pulled a silver, black and grey handle knife on him caused, damage to his silver and gold Gucci chain and threatened to kill him saying he didn’t like how he spoke to him earlier. He reported that he is in fear for his life and the value of the chain is $80.00. Police action was requested. On 22nd March, 2018, at 2:59pm, Officers came in at the Rock Sound Police Station with the suspect under arrest and reported he was arrested and cautioned at 11:00am, same date, for Assault, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Damage and Threats of Death. A silver blade, brown and black handle pocket knife was handed over as Exhibit, The suspect was processed and charged with those offences. TRAFFIC OFFENSE REPORT - On Saturday, March 24th, 2018, sometime around 12:20am, Officers while conducting mobile patrol at Queen’s Highway, Green Castle, observed a driver operating a 2007 Red Toyota Passo while same was not licensed or inspected for the current year. He was warned of prosecution. Traffic Offence Report- On Wednesday 20th March, 2018, sometime around 11:15 am Officers came in at G.H.P.S. and reported that about 9:55am on today’s date while on patrols they reported an adult male for driving a white 1998 Nissan Sunny west along Haynes Avenue Governor’s Harbour whilst the same was unlicensed, uninspected and uninsured since 2018. He was warned of prosecution for those offences. Traffic Offence Report -On Tuesday 20th March, 2018, sometime around 11:15 am Officers while conducted road checks in the area of Workers House, Queens Highway, Governors Harbour, reported an adult male for driving a brown Honda CRV Jeep south on Queens Highway, Governors Harbour, while not secured by a seatbelt. The driver was informed of the offence. He produced his driver license and was warned of prosecution. Stealing Reported: On Tuesday 20th March, 2018, sometime around 2:05pm, an adult male came into the G.H.P.S. and reported that sometime on Wednesday 14th March, 2018, some unknown person/s had removed $820.00 from off of Royal Bank of Canada account without him or his wife’s permission. Police action requested. This matter is under active investigation. Cultivation/Arrest Reference to Cultivation- On Monday 19th March 2018 sometime around 2:00pm A team of Officers including came in at the Rock Sound Police Station along with an adult male suspect under arrest for Cultivation. They reported that sometime around 5:00am today’s date along with the mentioned Officers acting on information received went to a dirt road off Fish Street North, Officer walked approximately one mile into bushed to the western side of the first dirt road . Officers discovered a suspected

Rock Sound Sgt. Office Rock Sound Airport Station Lower Bogue Station (Airport) Harbour Island Station O/C Harbour Island Spanish Wells Station Gregory Town Station Hatchet Bay Station

334-2212 334-2052 335-1208 333-2111 333-2327 333-4030 335-5322 335-0086

marijuana farm with approximately fifty suspected marijuana plants ranging up to two feet in height also a number of small white pots with baby plants were discovered. The said Officers positioned themselves to take up Surveillance duties sometime around 8:30am same date. An adult male entered the farm and started watering and dusting a white powder around the suspected marijuana plants. He also started to uproot some of the trees Officers confronted him and placed him under arrest. He stated under caution “this farm is for my own use”. He was transported to the Police station along with the uprooted trees for processing. At 11:40am same date the Officers conducted a search of the residence of the suspect for Dangerous Drugs and found a brown Plastic bottle B12 Vitamin bottle with a number of suspected marijuana seeds inside a wooden cabin located to the eastern side of a single one bedroom efficiency. Nothing else was found. The suspect was processed and charged with Cultivation. House breaking Report:-On Sunday March 18, 2018 sometime around 3:25pm an adult male came into the Rock Sound Police Station and reported that sometime between Friday 16th March 18, 2018 at 11:00am some unknown person broke into her restaurant by means of the Northern front door stealing two cases of Kalik beer, case of member mark water, case of bush beer and ten single sodas all valued at $140.00 same reported for police information. Road Accident Report - At about 1:28pm on Sunday 18th March, 2018, an adult male visitor came into the G.H.P.S. and reported that sometime around 8:30pm on Saturday 17th March, 2018, while travelling north in on Queens Highway, James Cistern, in a silver 2003 Nissan Primera , he collided with a grey 2001 Honda Odyssey, which was travelling north also and being driven by an adult female causing minor damage to both vehicles. Police assistance was requested. Officers viewed the damages to both vehicles and served both with N.O.I.P. forms. Investigations are ongoing. Arrest Ref House Breaking Stealing Report- On 17/03/18, sometime around 7:02 am, Officers came in at Rock Sound Police Station with an adult male under arrest reference to housebreaking and stealing . He was arrested and cautioned at his residence. Traffic Offence Report - On 17/0318, at 8:16am, Officers reported an adult male for driving a red 2002 Chevy s-10 south along Queens Highway, Tarpum Bay, while the same was un-Licensed, un-inspected for the current year, as well as no License disc affixed. He was instructed to produce his driver’s license and insurance to the nearest police station within 48 hours. Road Accident Report - On Friday 16 March 2018, sometime around 11:04am, an anonymous caller contacted the Rock Sound Police Station via phone and reported that a traffic accident occurred in the area of the Rock Sound Int’l Airport. Police assistance requested. Officers responded to the scene and spoke with an adult female who reported that she was traveling north

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Online at www.EleutheraNews.com on Queen’s Highway, Rock Sound between 25 to 30 MPH in her silver 2004 Nissan Teana along with her son and a . As she was driving around the curve, there was a lot of sand in the road and her vehicle began to skid. She held brakes suddenly causing the vehicle to spin and collide into the fence surrounding the airport. She came out of the vehicle and noticed that part of the fence was knocked in and a pole was down. Her vehicle received damages of scrapes and dents to the front bumper, right front and rear fender, right rear and front doors, right rear bumper, and also the right front light was broken. No one was injured. Operating Without A Business License Reported - On Thursday 15th March 2018, sometime around 12:04pm Officers made checks at a local restaurant and bar. Officers spoke with an adult male and female who identified themselves as the owners. They were asked to produce their business license which was not in plain view. They informed that the same was in the process of being established. They were informed that they were operating a business without a valid business license and were warned of prosecution. The area was left quiet. Assault Reported - On Wednesday 14 March 2018, sometime around 11:05am, an adult female came into Rock Sound Police Station and reported that sometime around 8:00am, while sitting on with her dog, her ex-boyfriend, whom she broke up with two years ago, approached her and held her down. He then began to choke her dog. She started to hit him with her phone to get him off the dog. He then began to choke her putting her in fear of her life. She also sustained a sprained left arm and bruise to her left nostril in the area of her nose piercing. Police action requested. The suspect was later arrested, processed and charged with Assault. House Breaking Reported- On Wednesday 14 March 2018, sometime around 1:25pm, an adult female contacted Rock Sound Police Station via phone and reported that sometime between 19 February 2018 and 14 March 2018, some person/s unknown broke and entered her residence through a back door and stole $575.00 cash, 14k gold Geneva watch, rose gold color Fossil watch, a gold necklace set and an assortment of jewelry, value unknown for any of the items. She has no suspects and requested police action in the matter. This matter is under active investigation. Operating Without A Business License Reported -On Wednesday 14 March 2018, sometime around 7:40pm Officers while on Queen’s Highway, Tarpum Bay acting on information received, made checks at a local restaurant and bar. Officers spoke with the proprietor. She was asked to produce her business license which was not in plain view. She informed that the same was in the process of being established. She was informed that she was operating a business without a valid business license and was warned of prosecution. The area was left quiet. Stolen Government Documents. On Tuesday 13th March, 2018, sometime around 11:30am, an adult female of Queens Highway, Green Castle, Eleuthera, came in at the Rock Sound Police Station and reported that on Thursday 8th March, 2018, sometime around 10:00pm while on Arawak Cay located West Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas, a group of young boys stole her black hand bag from off her shoulders which contained her Bahamian voters card, Bahamian National insurance card and her Bahamian Passport, numbers unknown at this time. She requested Police assistance in having same replaced. Traffic Offence Report -On Tuesday, 13.03.18, sometime around 4:55pm Officers while on mobile patrols on Queens Highway, Green Castle, reported an adult male for driving a 2003 Honda Accord north along the mentioned road whilst the same was un-licensed, un-insured,

un-inspected for the current year and failed to transfer ownership. The driver was informed of the offences and was warned of prosecution. He was instructed to produce his documents to the nearest Police Station within 48 hours. Road Traffic Accident Report (minor injuries) - On Monday 12th March, 2018, sometime around 10:09am one an adult male came in the Rock Sound Police station and reported that sometime around 9:00am on today date, while traveling north along Queens Highway, Bannerman Town, Eleuthera driving a silver colored Honda 1999 CRV , he ran off the road and into a tree causing damage to the vehicle and also injuries to both passengers an adult female and infant child . Officers while at the Rock Sound Police Station recorded a written statement under caution from the driver and served him with a Notice of Intended Prosecution form. i both passengers were issued with a Police Hospital Forms. Police investigations are being continued. Arrest reference to Willful damage report On Monday 12/3/18 at about 2:45am Officers came in at Harbour Island Police Station with an adult male suspect and reported that he was arrested and cautioned while on Dunmore Street in the area of Daddy D’s Night club reference to damage after Officers observed the suspect break a Glass window to a shop on Bay Street Harbour Island namely “Percentease” Clothing store. Value of damage is unknown at this time the suspect was charged with that offence. Damage - On Monday 9th March 2018 sometime around 2:35pm an adult male reported that that while at Lighthouse Beach located Bannerman Town, some unknown person(s) broke the back windshield of his vehicle which was parked at the beach. Police assistance was requested. This matter is under active investigation. Stealing from a vehicle/Police Assistance Requested - On Thursday 8th March, 2018, sometime around 6:00pm an adult male came into the G.H.P.S. and reported that on Thursday 8th March, 2018, sometime between 2:00pm and 4:00pm, some person/s unknown to him broke the left rear window of his rented black Mazda Tribute and stole a black leather Perry Ellis wallet which contained his Master and Visa credit cards and also $1042.00 U.S. currency and $3.00 Bahamian currency. Same reported for police assistance. Arrest for Immigration Purpose On Friday 2nd March 2018, sometime around 6:30am Officers came in at North Eleuthera Police Station with Three adult males all under arrested for immigration purposes. They were arrested at Blackwood on the same date. They were later handed over to the Department of Immigration North Eleuthera. Stealing Report -At about 10:30am on Monday 26th February 2018an adult male came in at the Governors Harbour Police Station and reported that sometime between Tuesday 13th February 2018 and Monday 19th February 2018 some unknown person/s stole from his garage a reddish orange and white Home lite weed wacker Mod# 26CSUT32600 valued at $279.00. Police action requested. Arrest Ref. House Breaking At about 3:30pm on Monday 26/02/18 Officers came in at the Governors Harbour Police Station with an adult male suspect under arrest and reported that he was arrested and cautioned at about 3:00pm while at his residence reference to a complaint of house breaking made in Freeport Grand Bahama. He appeared to be in good health. The West End Police Station was contacted and informed of the arrest. The suspect was later transported to Grand Bahama where he was processed and charged with House breaking. Attempted House Breaking - At 9:25am on Sunday 25th February 2018 an adult male contacted the Governors Harbour Police

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Station via telephone and reported that sometime between 1:00pm on Saturday 24/02/2018 and 8:30am on Sunday 25/02/2018 some person/s unknown attempted to broke and entered his parents’ home. The culprit while in the process of attempting entry cut himself leaving blood on scene, Police action requested. Road Traffic Accident with no Injuries Report - Sunday February 25th 2018 at 6:40pm, an anonymous female caller contacted the Governors Harbour Police Station via telephone and reported that a traffic accident had occurred along North Shore Drive near Russell Corner in North Palmetto Point involving a single vehicle that had ran off the road into nearby bushes. Police assistance requested. Officers responded and reported that at 7:00pm they investigated a traffic accident involving a black 2008 Dodge Durango which was being driven by an adult male visitor who reported that whilst traveling west on Banks road Palmetto Point coming around the curve he lost control of the rental vehicle running off the road on the northern side into the bushes. The vehicle received major damages however no injuries were reported . ANOIP form was served on the driver. Measurements were taken along with a statement under caution. Investigations continue. Traffic Accident - At about 11:15am on Saturday 24th February 2018 an anonymous caller contacted the Governors Harbour Police Station via telephone and reported that there is a traffic accident on Queens Highway, Governors Harbour between Knowles Drive and Banana Beach Estates. Police assistance requested. At about 1:53pm on Saturday 24th February 2018 Officers came in at the Governors Harbour Police Station and reported visiting the scene of the traffic accident just south of Knowles Drive on Queens Highway, Governors Harbour involving a gold 2005 Nissan Primera registered to and driven south along the mention road by an adult female who under caution stated that sometime shortly after 11:00am on the mention date 24/02/18 she was travelling south along the mention road at a moderate speed when she attempted to overtake another vehicle at which time the vehicle veered into her path, as a result she swerved right to avoid hitting the vehicle therefore losing control of her vehicle running into bushes causing extensive damages to the rear and rear bumper. No one was injured and the driver was served with an N.O.I.P form and measurements taken. Investigations are ongoing. POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS REPORT- On Wednesday 21st February, 2018 at about 8:05 a.m. Officers while in the area of Leo Pinder Road & 17th Street, Spanish Wells observed a male known to them acting in a suspicious manner while riding a motor bike. The subject was stopped and searched reference to dangerous drugs. As a result a small quantity of suspected marijuana was found. As a result the subject was arrested cautioned and take to S.W.P.S. for further enquiries. The suspect was interviewed under caution and he admitted to the offence as a result he was charged with Possession of Dangerous Drugs contrary to section 29(6) & 29(2)b of the Dangerous Drugs Act Chapter 228.

Harbour Island Reports Stealing Report -On Wednesday 28th February 2018 at 10:30am an adult female of Montreal Quebec, Canada came into H.I.P.S and reported that sometime between 10pm on 27.02.18 and 7am on 28.02.18 some unknown person(s) entered the yard of a rental home and stole $1,000.00 in US currency and $200.00 in Canadian currency from her black zip up wallet that was on the back patio. The person left the wallet and a clear plastic cup with a straw on the patio table. Police action is requested. Police

recorded a written statement from the complainant and visited the scene. They were informed that a nearby establishment has a surveillance camera pointed in the direction of the incident scene. The owner agreed to review the footage and update police. House Breaking, Stealing and Receiving -On Sunday 4th March 2018 at about 1:30pm an adult male of Rainbow Bay contacted the Governors Harbour Police Station and reported that while walking up the rear stairs of his residence he noticed that the lock on the back door appeared to be tampered with. He believe that some unknown person broke into his residence. Police action requested. At about 3:30pm police came to the Governors Harbour Police Station and reported that sometime around 2:40pm while in the area of Rainbow Bay they arrested and cautioned a male of Cat Island in reference to house breaking, stealing and receiving. Lost Property Report Police assistance requested - On Wednesday 7th March 2018 at 1043hrs an adult male of South Florida Fort Lauderdale currently staying at Valentines Resort Marina came into H.I.P.S and reported that sometime around 3pm on Tuesday 6th March 2018 whiles sitting on Pink Sands beach, a wave came and his camouflage wallet with $150.00 US cash and his Samsung S7 valued at $600.00 got washed away. Police assistance requested. Stolen Property Report Police assistance requested - On Wednesday 7th March 2018 at 11am an adult female of Coconut Grove Ave Harbour Island came to H.I.P.S and reported that on Monday 5th March 2018 shortly after 9am while at her place of employment some unknown person(s) stole her silver Samsung phone value unknown which was in a red case along with her Drivers License and RBC bank card that was inside the case off of her desk inside the office. Assault Report - On Thursday 8th March 2018 at about 6:08am an adult female of Barrack Street Harbour Island came in at S3 and reported that at about 5am while on Barrack Street in the area of a Nightclub a man whom she knows approached her, picked her up and body slammed her on her back to the ground. Police Action requested. On Thursday 8th March 2018 at about 10:30am the adult male suspect of Bay Street Harbour Island came in at Harbour Island Police Station and was arrested and cautioned by Sgt 234 Taylor at 10:35am same date reference to Assault. He stated he was well. Police interviewed the suspect under cautioned where he denied the allegations. He was released from Police custody pending further investigation. Fighting Report: Police information - On Thursday 8th March 2018 at 3:20pm Insp K. Farquharson came into H.I.P.S with a two juvenile males in reference to fighting. Police contacted parents who came into H.I.P.S where they were spoken to in the presence of their children where the matter was resolved, no further action requested. Found Property Report - On Thursday 8th March, 2018 at around 5:10 pm an adult female of South and Dunmore Street, HBI came to the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that while in the South Street area, several kids gave her a brown purse/bag which contained an IPhone, cash and other miscellaneous items. They reported finding same along the street. At about 5:56 pm an adult female c/o “Fort Pointe” came into S3 where she positively identified her bag and the items within. She reported all her belongings were accounted for. Found Body Parts Report - On Saturday 10th March, 2018 at about 6:33 pm

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Mar/Apr 2018

Police Reports

ant because he said something that he didn’t like, as result he was warned of prosecution and released pending further investigation. Lost Property Report - On Tuesday 13th March, 2018, at around 4:15pm an adult female of New York C/O The Landing came to HIPS and reported that on Monday 12/3/18 sometime around 4pm she lost her Iphone SE valued at about $450.00 which was in a white otter box case. She suspects that she lost the phone while on the beach in the area of Sip-Sip Court Street. Same reported for police information. Threats of Arson - On Tuesday 13th March, 2018 at about 7:00 pm an adult female of Duke Street reported to the Harbour Island Police Station that she received information that her step-daughter threatened to burn her out of her home. Police proceded to the New Dunmore Subdivision where an officer saw and spoke to the accused and informed her of the complaint made against her. She denied the allegation. The Officer warned her of her behavior and advised her to keep the peace. Police Assistance Requested Police Information On Wednesday 14th march 2018 at 2:45am an officer contacted S-3 via phone reporting while at the Vic-hum Nightclub a male tourist who appeared highly intoxicated fell down while playing basketball receiving injuries to the face. Police assistance requested. The teen male from the USA was taken to the clinic. He had lacerations to his bottom lip and a cracked upper tooth. Traffic Accident with injuries Sometime around 4.00am on Saturday 11th March, 2018. The R/N at Harbour Island Community Clinic contacted Harbour Island Police Station via phone and reported that there were two teenage female patients at that facility suffering from facial injuries as result of a traffic accident. Police assistance requested. An Officer responded and reported upon arrival at the clinic around 4.10am same date that he saw and spoke with a victim (juvenile female of New York USA) in the presence of her father and another younger victim also of New York USA in the presence of her guardian, who both reported that sometime around 3.30am on Saturday 10th March, 2018.while travelling as passengers on the back of a golf cart on Dunmore Street Harbour Island which was driven at the time by an unnamed friend, they both fell from the golf cart resulting in one sustaining injuries to her face and losing two front teeth and the other sustaining injuries to her face. Both victims were treated for their injuries and later discharged. Matter reported for police information. Road Accident Report Sometime around 12.10am on Sunday 11th march, 2018 an anonymous caller contacted the Harbour Island Police Station via telephone and reported that there was a traffic accident on Barrack Street in the area of Hibiscus Plant Nursery. Police assistance requested. An Officer responded and reported upon arrival at Barrack Street that he saw and spoke with several local persons in the area who informed that the victim had left the scene prior to arrival of police and is believed to have gone to the Harbour Island Community Clinic for medical attention. The officer attended the Harbour Island Community Clinic where he saw and spoke with a victim (an adult male of Mississippi USA) who reported that sometime around 12.00am he was traveling as a passenger on back of a golf cart driven by a friend he identified who turned south bound onto Barrack Street from Nesbitt Street resulting in him falling from the golf cart and sustaining injuries to his face and mouth. He was treated by medical personal and later discharged. Cpl 1995 Dean also saw and spoke with driver (an adult female) of Mississippi, USA. who reported that she was

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Able Seaman J. Rahming c/o the Coral Harbour Defense Force Base contacted the Harbour Island Police Station via phone and reported receiving information from Capt. Neko Johnson via VHF radio ch.16 that he saw what appeared to be human remains afloat about three(3)miles off of Harbour Island. Police assistance requested. Assault with a deadly Instrument - On Sunday 11th March, 2018 at about 12:52pm, an adult female of Love Lane Harbour contacted the HIPS and reported that a group of young men ran through her house trying to ‘chap’ her son with a Cutlass, police action requested. While in the area of Barrack Street sometime around 3:45pm police cautioned and arrested an adult male of Coconut Grove Ave in reference to Assault with a Deadly Weapon. He was later brought in at Harbour Island Police Station booked in and was held in custody for further investigations into the matter. Officers reported that sometime around 5:45pm they cautioned and arrested a juvenile of Barrack Street in reference to Unlawful Entry while at his residence. His Father was informed of the reason for his arrest. The suspect was later transported to H.I.P.S in reference to further investigation and safe keeping. Obstruction & Assaulting a Police Officer report - On Monday 12/3/18 at about 2:23am an officer reported that while in the area of Harry O’S Night Club he observed a large group of persons fighting in the street and as a result assisted by another officer, attempts was made to bring control to the fight when one of the females assaulted one of the officers by pushing the mentioned officer. After the other officer attempted to place one of the females under arrest a female of Harbour Island assaulted that officer by throwing an unknown object hitting the mentioned officer in the chest whilst three unknown females obstructed the officer’s execution of his duties. Due to the large crowd the females were able to leave the scene and are still being sought in reference to obstruction and assaulting a Police officer. The Officer was issued with a Police Hospital form to seek medical attention at Harbour Island Community Clinic. Investigations continue. Suspects arrested At about 1000hrs on Monday March 12, 2018, police arrested and cautioned two adult females of Moss Town, Exuma and an adult female of Colebrook Street, Harbour Island for Assaulting a Police Officer, Threats of Death and Obstruction. Missing Property Report - On Monday 12th March 2018 at about 5:50pm an adult male of Connecticut came to H.I.P.S and reported that at around 4:30pm while in his hotel room he discovered that his black pouch which contained his American passport s/n unknown and other miscellaneous items was missing. He suspected that the pouch was lost or stolen sometime during his transit from North Eleuthera Airport to Harbour Island. Police assistance requested. Assault - On Tuesday March 13, 2018, at about 9:15am, an adult male of Pitt Street, Harbour Island came to the HIPS and reported that while on the Government dock a man he knows walked up to him and slapped him on the left side of his face. Police action requested. Police interviewed the accused under cautioned where he admit to slapping the complain-

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driving a rental golf cart south bound on Barrack Street when the victim who was a passenger on her back seat fell from the vehicle resulting in injuries to face. The matter is under investigation. Road Accident Report - Sometime around 12.30am on Sunday 11th march, 2018 an officer came to the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that sometime around 12.30am on Sunday 11/3/18.While on mobile patrol on Dunmore Street Harbour Island, he discovered a traffic accident on Dunmore Street involving injuries. A white (6) six seater Yamaha Golf Cart L/P 312 registered to Sunshine Rentals Harbour Island was found on the eastern side of Dunmore Street which runs north to south. The driver, an adult male of Connecticut USA, reported that he was travelling south bound on Dunmore Street at a high rate of speed when he came over a hill and lost control of his vehicle resulting in it turning and ejecting him and his two female passengers on to the street. Both passengers received injuries and were taken to Harbour Island Community Clinic for medical attention prior to arrival of police. The vehicle received minor damages to the roof and was removed by the rental Company’s owner. He sustained no injuries; he was advised to seek medical attention. Police recorded a written statement under caution from the driver and served him with a NOIP form. Sometime around 1.30am on 11/3/18 police attended the Harbour Island Community Clinic where two teen female victims of Connecticut USA both reported the incident. They were issued with a police hospital form. The matter is under investigation Missing Property - Police Assistance: An adult male of New York-New York Came in at the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that on Wednesday 14th March 2018 sometime around 11:30pm while at Daddy D’s Night Club he was in a fight and suspects that persons stole his cell phone and wallet that contained cash and credit cards. He added that the phone has a tracker that showed it was in the area of Dunmore St and Coconut Grove Ave. Police assistance requested. Police left the Harbour Island Police Station on enquires tracking the phone that led the unit in the area of Coconut Grove Ave where a female stated that she has a phone that was left on her golf cart that were parked at Daddy D’s Night Club. Police recorded a written statement from the female along with the Complainant. Investigations are ongoing into the matter. Threats of Harm Report: Police Warning - An adult male of Dunmore St Harbour Island came in at the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that sometime around 12:00Am on 15th Wednesday March 2018 a young male whom he knows threatened to shoot him this put him in fear for his safety. He added that the accused made this comment because he threatened to have him bound over to keep the peace towards him. Police Warning requested. Assault/threat of harm report - Police action requested On Thursday 15/3/18 at about 11:41pm an adult male of Dunmore Street Harbour Island came in at Harbour Island Police Station and reported that at about 11:30pm while walking outside his residence a male whom he knows approached him and asked him if he is having relations with his wife. He then threw him to the ground, choked him and told him answer or die he further reported that he left after he saw people coming. Police action requested. On same date at about 12pm police came in at Harbour Island Police Station with the suspect, an adult male of Colebrooke Alley Harbour .Island and reported that at about 12:02am he arrested and cautioned the suspect while on Bay Street Harbour Island in reference to Assault and Threat of harm. He was taken into

police custody. Harassment Report: Police Warning - An adult female of Lower Bogue Queens Highway Eleuthera came in at the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that on Monday 12th March 2018 her ex-boyfriend and her baby’s father approached her 16 year old sister on the Harbour Island Dock accusing her of Keeping his child away from him. She added that he is constantly harassing her and other relatives about seeing his daughter. She requests that he be warned to leave her and her relatives alone and to cease from sending disturbing messages to her phone via whatsapp messenger. On same date sometime around 11:25am the complainant contacted the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that her baby’s father was at her work establishment passing Threats towards her and creating a disturbance. Police reported that a check was made for the suspect while in the area with negative results. Attempted Housebreaking report - Police information On Saturday 17/3/18 at about 12:10am an adult female of Barrack Street Harbour Island came in at Harbour Island Police Station and reported that at about 12:05am while at her residence she was alerted by a loud sound coming from her western room window. As a result she raised her head to observe an unknown bald headed male whose face she didn’t see had pulled down the plywood that she had battened up to the room window she further stated that upon observing her in the room through the window he ran and made good his escape same - reported as Police information only. Police Assistance - Sometime around 6.00pm on Sunday 18th March, 2018an adult female of Harbour Island came to Harbour Island Police Station and reported that over the past months, her 19yr old son has been abusive and disrespectful towards her and has threatened that if she puts him out of the residence that he would burn down her house. She is in fear that he would carry out his threats and now wishes police assistance in having him collect his personal belongings and leave her residence and not return. Sometime around 6.15pm, police responded and attended the scene along with the complainant. The suspect was seen and informed of the complaint made against him and instructed to collect his personal property and leave the residence. He became verbally abusive towards the officer and his mother but collected his personal belongings and placed them on the outside of the complainant’s residence and left on foot stating that he was going to get a truck and return to collect his property. The complainant was advised to lock and secure her premises until he collects his belongings and leave; she was also advised civil action. Area was left quiet. Causing Harm Report An adult male of Coconut Grove Ave came to the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that at around 1:00am on Monday 19th March 2018 while at his residence situated Coconut Grove Ave his brother hit him in his head with a Cutlass Causing pain and (swelling) Injuries. Police action requested. Found Property - An adult female of Colebrooke Street came in at the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that a light brown wallet which contained $54.00 and an assortment of cards bearing the name Homer J. Gere D.O.B 2/6/00.The wallet was found in the area of Colebrooke and Chapter Street area. Same was reported for Police Information. Police Assistance - On Tuesday 20th March 2018, at about 3:50am an adult female of

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Ravaging March Atlantic Rage Powerful wave swells at the Glass Window Bridge and along the Atlantic coast of Eleuthera during early March (also called the ‘rage’ by locals) wreaked havoc around the national

Police Reports Continued from pg. 32 Clarence Street contacted the HIPS and reported that her husband of same address came home and began cursing her out and started threatening her saying that he was going to broke her neck because she move his video games while she was cleaning. Police warning requested. The male was warned of his behavior, he also stated that he would spend the night at his Father’s house, same was done all left in order Lost Property report - An adult female came to the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that sometime around 12.00pm on Thursday 22/3/18 while at her hotel property at Romora Bay she lost her red Iphone cell phone valued at $400.00.Matter reported for police information. Stealing from a vessel report - Sometime around 10.30Am on Friday 23/3/18 an adult male of Pitt Street Harbour Island came to Harbour Island Police Station and reported that sometime between 9.30pm on Thursday 22/3/18 and 9.00am Friday 23/3/18, person/s unknown boarded his white 19ft Albury Brothers fishing boat which was left tied in the area of the PLP dock located at Bay Street Harbour Island and stole a gray Garmin V70 Plus GPS System valued at $800.00 long with a gray Garmin 50V Plus GPS system valued at $500.00.He suspects a young man that worked for him that he let go a week earlier. Police action requested. An officer reported that while in the area of Harbour Island public Dock he cautioned and arrested the suspect, an adult male of Colebrooke Street Harbour Island, sometime around 3:45pm in reference to Stealing. He was later transported to the Harbour Island Police Station in good health for safe keeping and further investigations. Harassment report Sometime around 10.40Am on Friday 23/3/18 an adult male of Coconut Grove Ave Harbour Island came to Harbour Island Police Station and reported that sometime around 7.00am on Friday 23/3/18 while walking across Harbour Island Ball Field on his way to work, he was approached by a man he knows of Harbour Island who was riding a bike and accused him of having a relationship with his wife. He denies this and request that the accused be warned. Stealing Report: An elderly adult male of Florida contacted the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that person(s) unknown stole $2,800.00 from his residence situated Chapel Street Harbour Island. Police action was requested. Disturbance Report - Police Assistance Particulars: An officer at the Governors Harbour Police Station reported that there is a disturbance at Peter Pan Take Away situated Princess Street Harbour Island. Police assistance requested. At about 3:52am on 22/3/2018 an officer reported arriving at the Peter Pan Take Away saw and spoke an adult male of Alice Street. He stated that at about 3:00am a white female tourist and her husband were fighting in the area of his establishment. He and others were able to stop the fight. He added that the female had injuries to her face and he told persons to take her to the community clinic. He was unaware of her name or address of where she resided on the Island. The officer reported that at about 4:03Am she went to the Community Clinic and there were no one there. In addition the on call nurse M. Saunders was contacted in regards to the incident where she reported not receiving any complaints of person needing medical assistance.

landmark, resulting in the loss of one life and major injuries to a number of other people, as well as significant beach erosion and the destruction of a portion of roadway south of the bridge. The National Emergency Management Agency sent out a warning on Sunday, March 4th, for all residents and visitors to stay away from the bridge while the dangerous swells continued to impact the area. The Glass Window Bridge, which connects Central and North Eleuthera was officially closed at 3pm on Sunday afternoon, as a result of dangerous 40ft waves cresting the bridge, and all along the rugged coastline, including the Queen’s Baths. The bridge closure continued for the remainder of the week, as the dangerous wave swells persisted, which had a serious impact on economic activity, tourist travel, residents moving to and from jobs, airport access, students access to school, and the like, disrupting the vital flow of residents and visitors between North and South Eleuthera. Overnight on the Sunday, a strong current of water from the Atlantic Ocean which streamed across Queen’s Highway, just south of Daddy Joe’s Restaurant, cutting a deep trench into the main road, further obstructing vehicular traffic traveling north towards the bridge. This current formed an outflow channel all the way through to Gaulding Cay beach, causing seas on both sides to meet. There were also reports of stranded vehicles in the area of Queen’s Highway, near The Cliffs, between James’ Cistern and Rainbow Bay, where the main road for several days was completely submerged and impassable. Motorists were forced to detour through back roads of Rainbow Bay to move past the area on Monday and Tuesday. A 19 year old man, later identified as Jonathan Brussow, visiting from Belmont, Michigan, went missing from the area of the Queen’s Baths, near the Glass Window Bridge, while sightseeing around 7am on Monday morning, March 5th, 2018. Authorities reported that two men, were on a cliff at the Queen’s Baths, when a large wave washed over them, taking the 19 year old over the cliff into the Atlantic, while the other was able to cling on. The young man who was able to hang on made his way back to the main road, where he found help. Police reported that he was treated at the nearby clinic and reunited with other members of his traveling group. Local Authorities then engaged in a foot search for the missing man, scouring the coast during the day on Monday, assisted by civilian drone equipment. The U.S. Coast Guard joined the ongoing search and rescue effort, arriving in the area at about 4:30pm on Monday. Tragically, partial remains, believed to belong to Jonathan were discovered along the Atlantic coast, in the area of the ‘Sand pit’ behind Daddy Joe’s Restaurant on Friday morning, March 9th, 2018, by a local fisherman. Although the towering waves had subsided somewhat on Wednesday afternoon, the waters of the Atlantic were still extremely rough. After an impromptu ferry service had been organized on Tuesday, as well as a temporary docking facility erected at the northern end of the Glass Window Bridge, a turn in the weather overnight on Tuesday saw the relatively calm waters of the Bight of Eleuthera, become rough and choppy as well. This resulted in the ferry service being halted on Wednesday morning. A group of eight local Eleutherans, early on Wednesday morning, as the ferry service was no longer available, decided to risk the crossing on foot, travelling from the northern end of the bridge to the south, and while crossing were swept of off the bridge. Police reported that seven people were injured, with two having to be transported to New Providence for further medical treatment. Police were on the ground at both ends of the bridge later on Wednesday morning and throughout the day to further enforce the closure, and strongly urged both residents and visitors to stay away from the area. The areas surrounding the Glass Window Bridge showed evidence of major damage as a result of the watery assault. Gaulding Cay Beach which had boasted a more than 30ft wide strand of soft, powdery sand, experienced serious erosion during the ‘rage’, with just a small strip of beach remaining afterward, and large areas of exposed rock where sand used to be. The endpoint of the channel from the Atlantic cutting across Queen’s Highway also cut a swath through this beach into the Bight of Eleuthera. Management from the Water and Sewerage Corporation were in the bridge area on Wednesday inspecting the extent of the damage to the water mains, near and on the bridge, which were visibly destroyed in several sections - both along the bridge, and in the area near the entrance of the Queen’s Baths. Engineers from the Ministry of Works in New Providence were on island on Tuesday to begin their assessments of the status of the bridge, but because of the continued wave action were unable to carry out the assessments. They returned on Friday morning, March 9th, and were able to assess the extent of the damage to the bridge and roadways. Mr. Robert Moses Deputy Director and Chief Engineer with

The Eleutheran | 03/04 2018

Above: Ministry of Works Engineers with MP for North Eleuthera, Mr. Ricky Mackey, discussing the status of the bridge on Friday morning, March 9th, 2018.

Above & Below: Views of the river of water that ripped through the road sending Atlantic Cliff overflow into Gaulding Cay Beach.

the Ministry of Works stated after their morning investigation that the bridge was found to be structurally sound. As a result of their findings, the Glass Window bridge was officially re-opened at 5pm on Friday evening, March 9th, 2018, after being inaccessible for an entire week. A very narrow, temporary quarry road crossing, was quickly built over the deep trench, which was cut across Queen’s Highway, just south of Daddy Joe’s Restaurant by Atlantic ocean currents during the ‘rage’, to allow northbound traffic access to the bridge. The temporary fix was still in place, up to print time, but had been significantly widened, adding a little more safety to what was a risky crossing, especially at night.

To see our comprehensive ‘no-hype’ coverage of this news item as it happened visit: http://eleutheranews.com/?s=glass+window

Perspective

Mar/Apr 2018

Quality-Quantity

By: Andrew L. Burrows andrewburrows1@gmail.com After observing the horrific destruction that this region experienced as a result of three very strong hurricanes in 2017, I came to this conclusion – something has to change. There are an abundance of things being seen as wealth and improvement, but is that really true? When you see destroyed buildings, roads, utilities, and boats it is a must that you examine what is being done wrong. Having worked around buildings and construction for much of my life, I have

reached the conclusion that this generation is simply out of touch with what true value is! When Eleuthera was hit by hurricane Betsy in the 60’s my parents’ house and many of the older buildings in Governor’s Harbour received minimal damages, but newer homes were seriously damaged or destroyed, which forces you to ask “what made them different”? Many of the buildings that were constructed in the Nineteenth Century are still standing, not because they are just strong, but because they were constructed with expert quality and are worth repairing. Newer buildings that went through fewer storms needed to be demolished and replaced because the basic structures were not worth preserving. When you live near the ocean and are subject to constant salt spray, it is negligent and foolish to place in your structure large quantities of raw and unprotected steel, (an unqualified building code requirement) and you will notice that many people are returning to constructing buildings of wood, instead of concrete blocks that require the use of already rusting steel. It is true that everything has its day, but we must admit that the reason why we cannot keep our streets and communities free of trash is because there are so many things around us that look almost new, but in fact are only fit for the trash heap. We are like everyone else throughout the world having to contend with having a lot of things that do not serve any useful purpose, but, take up a lot of space. Just like broken down and abandoned homes, cars

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and boats; we need to make better use of the proper dump sites. I was so glad that those who provided funding for the reconstruction of the sea walls in Governor’s Harbour and James Cistern also saw to it that the work was done to a standard that ensured that those walls would withstand many future storms. We must adjust our focus and ensure that we aim for quality in all that we invest our efforts, and not waste our time, effort and funds on soonto- be rubbish. It is like designing, cutting and pasting a junkanoo costume throughout the year for display for a few hours, and then to the trash dump. There are also many properties on Eleuthera that are being offered for sale that are far in excess of true value. There is not a scarcity of land here, there is just too much abandoned land. There needs to be a year of jubilee declared and all inactive lands reverted back to the “Government” for redistribution. It is like dying of thirst in the

Public asked to make complaints to Ministry of Works’ Whatsapp line By Kathryn Campbell

NASSAU, The Bahamas – During his Mid-Term Budget address, the Hon. Desmond Bannister, Minister of Public Works appealed to the public for its assistance in sending a “strong” message to utility companies through the use of its newly introduced Whatsapp line. “The Ministry of Public Works now has a Whatsapp line. The number is 3760936. I’m begging members of the public to save that number,” he said. “If you see a pothole, take a photo and whatsapp it to us. If you see anyone cutting into the road and they cannot produce a permit, take a photo of them and the work that they are doing and whatsapp it to us. If the road is not being restored in a timely or proper manner, take a photo and whatsapp it to us. In each case be sure to tell us the location, and the burden will be on the Ministry to respond quickly. We have a job to do, and we have to take it seriously and get it done to the satisfaction of the Bahamian people.” Minister Bannister said utility companies routinely excavate roads every day without permission, and do not reinstate them to an acceptable standard. He has advised utility companies that it is the Ministry’s intention to amend the law under the Roads Act for unauthorized excavations and

middle of the salty ocean. It was good to see the Bay Front coastal road being repaired a year ago, but the traffic walls were not fully extended to make the entire coastal road safe. We seem to thrive on inefficiencies and poor quality work ethics, from the top down! It is good sometimes to have quantity, but in the long run it is best to have quality! My heart bleeds every time I see our administration building, crumbling and falling apart, in the middle of town, located next to two former police cottages, abandoned for the last thirty years, wasting away! And, through it all we by our silence give consent to it all. It is time for us Bahamians to wake up to our responsibility, and take a deeper interest in the well being of our country, it is the only home we know! What do you wish for, quantity or quality? Choose quality and there will be less trash lining our streets.

negligent reinstatements to $10,000. The fine is presently $75. “Quite often, utilities are set on one side of the road. In order to provide service to homes on the other side, the utilities excavate, or in layman’s terms, cut into the road. The law requires them to reinstate the road at their own expense. Very often they are not responsible enough to reinstate the road, or do not do it in a timely manner, or do it poorly. In all of these cases the roads are weakened, and can be easily damaged further by ordinary traffic,” he said. The Minister told Parliamentarians that a major challenge is that fact that New Providence has so many old roads and no tax base for raising money for road preservation and repair. Hence, ten million dollars annually goes to paving roads, although not enough to scratch the surface of what is required for road paving and maintenance. “The Ministry has three pothole patching crews. We ought to be able to respond quickly to do the job that the Bahamian people want us to do; and we have to appreciate that we will be judged by our efficiency in getting each job completed professionally. I, therefore, implore members of the public at large to take those photos of potholes and to send them in. We are going to have to improve our standards so that we may no longer be criticized for mediocre service. Whilst we are short on vehicles, our staff have the requisite skills and the leadership to set a higher standard, and we shall do just that. “Potholes can be caused by any number of factors. Sometimes there is caving below the road, which may cause the road

to sink. Sometimes we have heavy vehicles that cause damage from overuse. Sometimes water damage can cause them; but all too often utilities excavate the roads and do not reinstate them properly, leading to progressive weakening of the roads and the inevitable potholes,” he said. Minister Bannister said nine companies under contract to repair potholes throughout New Providence, four of which are now on the job. They are: 1. 2. 3.

Arrows Urban Development in St. Annes and Fox Hill Ground Crew in Marathon, Nassau Village and SeaBreeze Evans Paving in Carmichael, Southern Shores, Tall Pines and Garden Hills Southern Trucking & Paving in Golden Gates, Bamboo Town, Pinewood and South Beach.

He said he expects the other five contractors will mobilize soon to serve the other areas of New Providence. “If that does not happen quickly they may expect to be replaced. My Ministry expects the highest level of professionalism and efficiency from them in filling potholes promptly. We will not compromise that standard,” said Minister Bannister. Weekly meetings by the Ministry focus on road repairs and are conducted by Melanie Roach, director. Representatives from the utility companies along with the Minister and director coordinate road paving initiatives.

Local ROTARY Club of Eleuthera leads tree planting exercise as part of Sustainable Environment initiative Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

Rotary Club of Eleuthera (RCE) President, Mrs. Sherrin Cooper, recently led a tree planting exercise with the Early Act Club at Emma Cooper Primary, continuing with an ongoing initiative by the RCE to promote a sustainable environment through planting of trees and keeping communities clean. Members of the Rotary Club of Eleuthera have been planting trees in strategic places and as well as planting trees in their own yards, said President Cooper. To date, trees were planted at the Cancer Society Wellness Centre, Central Eleuthera High School, Emma E. Cooper Primary School, Governor’s Harbour Primary School and the Centre For Training and Innovation in Rock Sound. “Trees that bear edible fruits were the first choice for planting. These included coconut, guava, cherry, mango, avocado, lime and mulberry,” explained President Cooper. Rotarians who worked with the Interact and Early Act Clubs on the tree planting project also used the op-

portunities to discuss with the students, the importance of and the benefits to the environment of having trees in our communities, she added. A few of the benefits of trees pointed out to the students were: being able to feed ourselves and create economic opportunities by having fruit bearing trees; trees providing food for wild life; trees providing oxygen in the environment, keeping the soil together and preventing erosion; trees keeping communities cooler - by providing shade and protection from sun; trees providing shade for the earth - slowing down water evaporation, and many more. The students, who she said were very excited about the tree planting, were divided into teams, and each team was given responsibility for a tree which was planted in their school yard. “We lose so much of our forest for various reasons so, if people reflect more on the benefits of having trees, they may plant more and uproot less,” shared President Cooper.

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The Early Act Clubs at Emma E. Cooper Primary and Governor’s Harbour Primary schools, she said, also have plans to carry out a community clean-up project, and the Rotary Club of Eleuthera was committed to working with them and contributing to their clean-up initiatives as well.

Above: Rotary President, Sherrin Cooper with students and teachers at CEHS and Emma Cooper Primary leading the tree planting initiative.

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Mar/Apr 2018

Compass Group and Ministry of Education team up on National School Tour BY THE ELEUTHERAN NEWS TEAM

The Compass Group in partnership with the Ministry of Education brought a team of Bahamian entertainers and motivational speakers to schools throughout Eleuthera for two days, on Monday, March 5th and Tuesday, March 6th as part of a national tour of schools across the country, with a message of encouragement. Lincoln Deal, co-founder of the Compass Group, hosts of the national tour, said that the Compass Group was a set of upstanding young men in the community, who had come together and pooled resources to make a difference, with community and national initiatives to enhance Bahamian society. The national tour, he explained, was a way of the group being able to give back to the next gen-

eration. “A program was tailored that encompassed entertainment, arts, culture and motivational speaking that could be taken into as many schools as possible across the country, to spread the message of believing in yourself, having confidence and letting nothing stop you. You’re never too young to pursue a goal, dream or ambition. We use real life examples to emulate this and present this in our message. We are honoured, humbled and inspired to be a part of this tour,” said Deal. Bahamian entertainer, Julien Believe was the featured artist during the Eleuthera visit, with many of his colleagues in the local music industry joining him on the tour. Following a presentation at the Central Eleuthera High School (CEHS) on Tuesday, March 6th, 2018, Julien commented, “Over the last few years I’ve had a

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lot of amazing opportunities come my way, and I found that as I am blessed, I have to pay it forward and bless others, so I wanted to be an inspiration to others. “I feel it’s important to inspire the next generation of creative Bahamians and I’m here to showcase to kids that you can be whatever it is that you want to be. That’s the message that we want every child across the Bahamas to re-

member. You can be great, no matter your circumstances, once you are willing to put in the work and do what it takes. You can be successful.” District Superintendent of Education for Central and North Eleuthera, Mrs. Myrtle McPhee, also attended the presentation at CEHS, and pointed out her personal experience with Julien, as a teacher at C.C. Sweeting Senior High School. She highlighted his academic

Above: Entertainer, Julien Believe, performing for CEHS, WHS, and Emma Cooper Primary students during a two-day motivational tour in Eleuthera.

struggles then, and his determination to overcome them and to continue on to be successful. Julien was joined by a variety of Bahamian talent during the Eleuthera schools tour, including: Lincoln Deal, Miles Munroe Jr., Jamaal Rolle, Gil Cassar, Angelique Sabrina, D.J. Fines, Super Mario, Nahji Dunn, and King Cloud.

Above: A diverse team of Bahamian entertainers and motivational speakers, pictured with students from Emma Cooper Primary (left) and Windermere High School (right), were on island as part of a national tour of schools across the country, spearheaded by the Compass Group in partnership with the Ministry of Education.

Island “Buzz”

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

Picture This::

Police Month Bridging the Gap The Eleuthera Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force hosted a month of special activities geared towards bridging the gap between the community and the police during March 2018. Activities kicked off with a church service, hosted at Global Outreach Ministries in James’ Cistern on Sunday, March 4th, followed by a speech competition on Monday, March 12th, and a t-

shirt day on Friday, March 16th. Bayfront park came alive on Saturday, March 17th, where Police hosted a number of sporting competitions, including softball and basketball, and a mouth-watering cookout accompanied the day’s events. Early on Saturday, March 24th, community members and police came together once again for a fun/run/walk, which began at the Cancer Society’s Wellness

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Center in Palmetto Point, and ended at Bayfront park in Governor’s Harbour, with a souse-out. Intending to finish the month of activities with a bang, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Franklyn Neilly commented, while enjoying the souse-out, that the RBPF Eleuthera Division would host Easter Egg Hunts at both the Rock Sound and Governor’s Harbour police stations on Saturday, March 31st from 2pm until 5pm, with Easter basket giveaways, and fun activities for the children.

PMH Eleuthera Blood Drive Yields 78 Pints Over 3 Days The first of two annual blood drive events hosted by the Health Association of Central Eleuthera (HACE) each March, was held this year on Thursday, March 15th and Friday, March 16th at the Governor’s Harbour Clinic in partnership with the Blood Bank staff from the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) in New Providence. HACE Chairman, Chris Gosling, commented on this year’s response to the appeal for blood, saying, “The response was encouraging to say the least with most of our regular volunteers attending. With the avid enthusiasm of Mrs. Marsha McCardy, a teacher at Central Eleuthera High School, we had 20 volunteers from the student body. Of those, 17 were able to donate. “We always hear about the negative aspects of today’s youth but if the enthusiastic response from these students is any indication of their courage, willingness to overcome their fear and helping others less fortunate, then we have some solid citizens in the making. What is even more impressive is that after involving the high school for many years, before and after every blood drive we have students upset at not being able to give because they are not old enough. I wish that many of the adults in the community would put aside their fears and join this worthwhile cause.” A total of 61 pints was collected over the two days in Governor’s Harbour, 17 of which came from students.

According to Mr. Miller, chief phlebotomist, Central Eleuthera shines compared to all other family islands in blood donations and collects more blood in three days than a week in Nassau. The PMH staff also made a stop in South Eleuthera once again this year before coming to Governor’s Harbour. They conducted a one day blood drive event at the Island School in Cape Eleuthera on Wednesday, March 14th, which resulted in 19 pints of blood being collected. Mr. Gosling expressed thanks to Mrs. McCardy, Principal Galanis, Mrs. Freda Cooper and the nursing staff, and to Mr. David Barlyn at Pineapple Fields, for all of their assistance, saying that, without it, the event could not have been organized. This donated blood, he emphasized, is used in the PMH to assist all patients, whether they are from Nassau or the Family Islands, and no charge is made for the blood itself. As a result of the 3 day Blood Drive event in Eleuthera, a total of 78 units were sent to Nassau. “One pint can save three lives and none of us know when we will be sitting in a hospital bed waiting and waiting for sufficient blood for our surgery to begin. Remember genuine donors are people who give their blood for use in any needy hospital patient not just a relative,” stated Mr. Gosling. The next blood donor drive is slated to be held in November 2018. Blood Donation Tips:

(Courtesy of HACE Chairman, Christopher Gosling) • Anyone 16 and older can give blood (16 year olds need parental consent). • Tattoos, ear piercings, colds, or being on antibiotics prevent you from donating. • Body weight must be over 110 pounds and you must eat before donating. • Only 1 pint of blood is taken and the human body contains between 8-10 pints. • This donated pint is replaced by the body within 24 hours. • Blood can be donated every 8 weeks. • Blood donors are healthier, and donating encourages the body to make fresh blood, rather like changing the oil in a car. • One unit of blood can be made into three different products, and in effect can save three lives.

Island “Buzz”

Mar/Apr 2018

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Picture This: Ministry of Tourism

Annual Winter Residents Party The Ministry of Tourism each year, hosts an Annual Winter Residents Party, which began almost 30 years ago in a number of islands throughout the Bahamas as a way to show appreciation to Winter Residents for the confidence shown in their choice to invest and live in The Bahamas, with all the other choices available worldwide. This year’s party in Central Eleuthera was hosted at the Buccaneer Restaurant venue in Governor’s Harbour. Scores of home owners came together to enjoy the delicious eats, prize treats as well as authentic Eleutheran crafts, bush teas and natural salt body scrubs on display.

Above: Local songbird, Malikah Pinder serenading a lucky couple.

Scenes: Winter residents out at the annual party hosted by the Ministry of Tourism.

Above: Winter resident, with artisan Emily Munnings, whose Originals were all on offer at the 2018 Winter Resident’s party.

Above: Island Flavour Band, entertaining all present at the event.

Pictured: Ministry of Tourism (MOT) officials with local vendors including representatives of NUA Insurance and Octis Organics at the Party hosted at

Buccaneer Restaurant.

Island “Buzz”

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| 03/04 2018

Featured on Eleuthera: National Art Gallery of The Bahamas’ Travelling Art Exhibition at The South Eleuthera Mission.

Winners: Junior

Parade 2018 Large crowds gathered in Rock Sound, South Eleuthera on Saturday, March 3rd, 2018, to watch the colourful spectacle of Eleuthera’s Junior Junkanoo Parade, which got underway at about 5pm during the late afternoon, near the township’s homecoming site, along the main thoroughfare. Nine schools from across the island participated in three divisions. In the junior high division, which was non-competitive, the Deep Creek Middle School (DCMS), and the School for Exceptional Learners took part. DCMS students depicted under water sea life and coral reefs, while the Exceptional Learners with the theme of ‘Where magic happens’, showed off students dressed as princesses, kings and fairies. Tarpum Bay Primary, the recent National Junior Junkanoo Primary School champions also put on an exhibition performance, which showcased the winning theme, ‘Our trip to Walt Disney World’. Two schools, Deep Creek Primary and Green Castle Primary, competed in the Primary B division. Green Castle’s lead banner depicted a colourful garden of flowers and butterflies, and Deep Creek Primary showcased, ‘Under the Sea, with The Little Mermaid’. After being scored on originality, general impression, lead banner, music, costume and performance, Deep Creek Primary finished first in the Primary B division with 675 points, followed by Green Castle in second with 491 points overall.

Junkanoo

Four schools competed in the Primary A division, including Wemyss Bight, Governor’s Harbour, Emma Cooper, and Rock Sound. Emma Cooper Primary, which kicked off the Junior Junkanoo parade, presented a fun display of ‘Bahamian Tings’. Wemyss Bight Primary’s showcased a celebration of 45 years of Independence, with costumes themed with flags, blue marlin, flamingoes, yellow elders and other national symbols. Governor’s Harbour Primary gave spectators a ‘Taste of the Rainbow’, and Rock Sound Primary’s presentation highlighted the characters of Peter Pan’s Neverland. In first place in the Primary A division after the parade was Rock Sound Primary with 838 overall points, followed by Governor’s Harbour Primary in second with 711 points. Wemyss Bight Primary was a close third with 704 points, and Emma Cooper came in fourth with 608 points. The costumes displayed for most of the participating schools were not elaborate, however, the creativity displayed in the banner creations, the energy of the performances, and vibrancy of the music were all enjoyed by the spectators lining the highway. The expression of Junior Junkanoo continues to be an important avenue of keeping this unique part of the island’s culture alive and thriving. On island for the event, was Acting Director of Culture, Mr. Eddison Dames, accompanied by Co-Chair of the National Junkanoo Committee, Kishlane O’Brien.

The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) in partnership with One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF), The South Eleuthera Mission (SEM), and the Eleuthera Arts & Cultural Center (EACC) has brought its travelling exhibition “TRANS: A Migration of Identity” to the island of Eleuthera! A week of activities launched the exhibition, the first being an opening reception at SEM in Rock Sound on March 5th, where attendees were introduced to the show’s curators from the NAGB, Abby Smith and Richardo Barrett, along with Jackson Petit, a dynamic artist and NAGB Digital Media Administrator. “I felt that the people of Eleuthera, more specifically those of the Rock Sound community really embraced the opportunity,” said Smith. “Eleuthera seemed to really have grasped the importance of what it is that we’re all about, the whole purpose of the National Collection and what it is that we’re doing for the community.” During a Curator’s Talk on March 6th, Smith and Barrett took attendees on a guided tour while discussing the stories behind the pieces on show, both individually and collectively. Junkanoo, slavery, emancipation, religion, and Bahamian everyday life are just a few of the themes presented in this exhibition, with featured works from eighteen (18) different artists. Attendees were treated to an in-depth conversation regarding the arts practices of Antonius Roberts, Amos Ferguson, husband and wife duo Jolyon Smith and Dionne Benjamin-Smith, Brent Malone, John Beadle and others. The Curator’s Essays, which offer even deeper insights into the exhibition and the process to bring the show to life, will be available to read at SEM. On March 7th, participants in the Community Printmaking Workshop got a taste of the process that Bahamian master artist Maxwell Taylor uses to create ink block prints – similar to those featured in the exhibition – on a smaller scale. The experience gave attendees a new appreciation for Taylor’s work, especially after realizing that the images are drawn in reverse to the desired finished product and the actual carving determines what remains uncolored once the work is pressed. In preparation for the launch of “TRANS: A Migration of Identity”, local art teachers and students participated in the painting of a mobile mural opposite SEM. Will Simmons, art teacher at Preston Albury, describes the mobile mural as “a collaborative effort of four (4) schools - Harbour Island AllAge, Preston Albury, Central Eleuthera, and North Eleuthera High schools - depicting the folklore and natural heritage of Eleuthera.” It is currently stationed for viewing in Freedom Park with plans to transport it to various heritage sites around the island. “TRANS: A Migration of Identity” remains open to the public until April 13th, 2018 where it can be viewed at any time between the hours of 9am and 4pm, weekdays, at The South Eleuthera Mission in Rock Sound. During the Easter Holiday weekend, the exhibition will be open Saturday, March 31st from 10:00am to 3:00pm and Sunday April 1st from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. For more information, contact the South Eleuthera Mission at 334-2948.