The Eleutheran Newspaper - Jan/Feb Issue 2019

Volume 12, Issue 01 /12, 2019 web: WWW.ELEUTHERANEWS.COM

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Eleuthera, Harbour Island & Spanish Wells, The Bahamas

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Significant increase in demand for homes in Family Islands...

2018 a strong sales year

Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty Reports Robust 2018 Residential Real Estate Market According to Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty, 2018 was another healthy year for luxury residential real estate sales with the company’s list price averaging $1.55 million and sales prices averaging $1.4 million.

“Overall, 2018 was a strong year for sales with a slight increase over the 2017 performance,” said Lana Rademaker, Chief Brokerage Officer for the company, noting that there has been a significant increase in demand for homes in the Family Islands. “Markets like Hope Town, Harbour Island, Kamalame Cay, Treasure Cay and Spanish Wells are ideal entry markets into The Bahamas. People come down for holidays and end up returning as buyers.”

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Mr. Tony Crean continues to honour memory of educator Alvin Adderley with another successful annual memorial race. The event between schools comes ahead of the upcoming main inter-school meet. Page :32/33

HIV prevention response inadequate

An Eleutheran Profile: A Savan-

in the region says PANCAP

Cancer society memorialises its founding President.

‘Of concern is that the annual number of new HIV infections among adults in the Caribbean declined by only 18% from 2010 to 2017’, The PANCAP Priority Areas Coordinating Committee (PACC), the technical group of the PANCAP Executive Board commissioned an evaluation of the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS (CRSF) 2014 – 2018. The PACC is responsible for the coordination and overseeing the implementation of operational plans for the CRSF. The overall goal of the CRSF 2014-2018 was to halt the spread and reduce the impact of HIV in the Caribbean, while promoting a sustainable response within Member States. The indicators developed to determine the overall achievement of the

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nah Sound stalwart, with a rich life of memories.

SGPAA Student raises funds for worthy cause.

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Lenny Kravitz’s Let Love Rule and GLO Good FREE DENTAL CLINIC returns to Eleuthera for 4th year.

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RBPF Eleuthera Branch Annual Church service and community parade.

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Nat’ls next for local Spelling Champs

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pg: 07 Charlotte to NE -AA ups its flights to Eleuthera

Spanish Wells, Harbour Island,

Eleuthera

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

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real estate sales Continued from Page. 1 Rademaker added that the uptick in visitors and buyers in both Nassau and the Family Island markets can be partially credited to the increased number of direct flights into these markets from the U.S. and Canada. Major carriers such as American Airlines, Air Canada, JetBlue and Delta offer daily flights to The Bahamas and recently announced direct flights from Chicago and Houston to Nassau will offer even more opportunities for easy access to The Bahamas.

“The enviable lifestyle of The Bahamas has always been a major attractor to buyers in addition to the fact that we’re an Englishspeaking country with a stable economy,” Rademaker said. “And now with even more direct flights to our islands, people are able to get here more conveniently and frequently, making our country a strong choice for those who want to own a vacation home just one flight away.”

Another factor is the growing demand for unique resort-style residential properties such as those found on Kamalame Cay, which is about a 20-minute flight from Nassau.

“We are constantly striving to stay ahead of market trends and seek out distinctive opportunities for our clients,” Rademaker said. “I am proud to announce that one of our top agents, Vanessa Ansell, participated in seven transactions on Kamalame Cay this past year, making it one of the most active periods in the history of the luxury resort. Through her strategic marketing and carefully cultivated relationships, Vanessa has positioned herself as the go-to real estate advisor for Kamalame Cay.” To further accommodate and more fully service this ever-increasing market activity,

Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty expanded their sales team with the addition of two new agents in 2018. In December, the company also opened a new office location on Harbour Island next to the popular Piggly Wiggly food store on King Street, the island’s main thoroughfare.

“Nurturing ongoing client relationships is our number one priority as a company,” Rademaker said. “The more visible we are in the markets we serve, and the more knowledgeable our agents are, the more value we can provide to people whether they are current, past or future clients.”

The company’s ongoing mission to continually seek out ways to better serve their clients was further augmented when the firm hosted a four-day NINJA Selling Conference for their entire company at the Grand Hyatt Convention Center at the Baha Mar Resort in October 2018.

“The conference was an incredible experience,” Rademaker said. “Our entire company gathered together for four days to focus on expanding our knowledge and skills as real estate professionals. Designed to help agents capitalize on their strengths, conquer their goals and transform their business, the content of the NINJA Selling Conference aligned perfectly with our company’s culture.”

New developments like BahaMar, GoldWynn, the Pointe and the soon-to-be redeveloped Hurricane Hole on Paradise Island are also providing exciting new opportunities for buyers in the country’s capital.

“The great thing about The Bahamas is that we’re constantly growing and progressing as a country,” Rademaker said. “There is always new and fresh inventory to explore, which makes it a very exciting market to live in, work in and invest in.”

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Local EleutheraNews Issues & Opportunities in 2019

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MP, North Eleuthera, Rickey Mackey discusses items of note.

BY The eleutheran news team

During a recent interview, Member of Parliament for North Eleuthera, Mr. Rickey Mackey commented in detail on a number of issues as well as opportunities within his constituency, beginning with the challenge posed by the usage of the current dock in Harbour Island having outgrown its size. “We are thankful for a lot of the progress we are having in North Eleuthera now, particularly in Harbour Island. We’ve

had discussions with BPL (Bahamas Power & Light) for the purpose of having them transfer their plant from Harbour Island to the mainland to accommodate the construction of a commercial dock - which will alleviate a lot of the cargo traffic that is incurred at the current dock. That will be a tremendous change from what we are now experiencing.

“Too often during the arrival of cargo ships, we have cargo containers and cargo laden along Bay Street. With the con-

struction of a new commercial dock, at the location I just spoke of, that would alleviate all of that. You can just imagine the visitors staying on Bay Street that pay, $12 to $20 thousand per week rental for a vacation home, and in the evening time, when they want to look at a sunset, they’ve got to look at a 20 foot container, or look at some large truck. We are very happy that this is about to take place.”

He continued with an update on the schedule for the new airport in North Eleuthera, saying, “We are also very excited about the fact that we are supposed to be getting a new airport, much of the preliminary work has been done. We think we would have been much further ahead, but the government is establishing a new entity called FIADA (Family Island Airport Development Authority), and that has slowed up somewhat the process of us being able to execute the construction of the airport. But, nonetheless, we are still moving rapidly forward.

“We anticipate no later than June/July, or August at the very latest that actual construction should start on the North Eleuthera Airport. We are looking at a $30 million investment. It is something that is badly needed. We are inundated with requests for counter space for new airlines that want to come into North Eleuthera, but the current physical limitations of the building does not allow it.”

Mr. Mackey continued, focusing in on the longstanding water challenge, “We are also happy that the Reverse Osmosis Plant, which started construction in November 2018 is on schedule to be completed by March 2019. So the vexing problem of dirty, smelly, salty water would be a thing of the past, and that is for the entire North Eleuthera - encompassing all of the townships north of the Glass Window bridge. It is a much needed development.

The unfortunate thing, other than it’s dirty and smelly, it poses an added expense to everyone, but particularly the hotels.

Some of them have reported to me that they spend as much as $15 thousand every quarter, just buying new linens, because you can’t give guests gray or beige towels

MP for North Eleuthera, Mr. Rickey Mackey

or sheets. So we are happy to see that that happens.”

“We’ve been working diligently to have the old Administrator’s Residence on Harbour Island restored. What has been hindering that was a vetting process by the Attorney General’s Office, because the restoration of that facility is going to be done with a PPP (Private Public Partnership), with the University of Miami, the University of the Bahamas, and the Lindroff Group Foundation,” shared Mr. Mackey. “We are excited about that because, what is going to happen with that building once it has been restored, is it will serve as a Civic Center. We will also be able to utilize it for conferences, and we will be able to utilize it for continuing education - with the University of Miami, and the University of the Bahamas, where individuals through skype, and videoconferencing, will be able to do advanced degrees and so on.

“This former Governor Dunmore’s residence building is currently an eyesore, and we apologize for that. Nonetheless, we are now anticipating commencement on that in very short order. I’ve been in conversation with the Attorney General, hoping that they can make haste doing their due diligence, so that the Prime Minister can sign off on it.

There is not a week that passes where I’m not questioned about it, and it should never have happened, but we are going to fix it, and go forward.”

“North Eleuthera is a tremendous constituency”, said Mackey, “and we are extremely blessed. There are a lot of positive commercial investments. 4M, which are the principals at the Harbour Island Marina, are supposed to commence shortly. We have other properties that are developing, and other persons that are coming home. Then we have the foreign component who are coming and building high end luxury homes, so we are blessed. We are now in fact being inundated with requests from persons on the Continued On Page 31

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American adds new FLIGHT to NE via CHARLOTTE on Saturdays Flight offers additional airlift through the peak months up to August

BY The eleutheran news team American Airlines has launched a new seasonal service from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to North Eleuthera International Airport (ELH) which is expected to operate through most of the year.

Ministry of Tourism, airport and local government officials were on hand for the arrival of the inaugural flight, on Saturday, December 22, 2018, which touched down from the overcast sky shortly after 2pm.

Passengers as they disembarked were greeted by a welcoming line of officials, with some family groups stopping for photo ops, soaking in the celebrity treatment, along with a serenade of live Bahamian music as they entered the Customs and Immigration section, before heading out to waiting taxis and rental agents, to take them to their final vacation destination within The Eleutheras.

Donnell Cooper, local American Airlines Manager, commented following the flight’s arrival, saying, “This is our inaugural flight, coming here from Charlotte, and it will come in every Saturday, during the peak season, which runs until August. It’s a 76 seater aircraft, with 12 business class, and 64 main cabin seating.

We currently have two American Airlines flights arriving in North Eleuthera from Miami daily, so this new flight coming in from Charlotte will bring the total number of flights on Saturdays to three.”

American Airlines also added an additional flight from Charlotte to Marsh Harbour, and two

additional flights into Nassau - from Chicago, and New York. American Airlines now operates more than 153 weekly flights to five destinations in the Bahamas: Nassau, North Eleuthera, Marsh Harbour, Freeport, and George Town.

A Ministry of Tourism statement welcomed American Airlines’ continued growth to The islands of the Bahamas, saying the additional flights opened up a greater market access to North Eleuthera and its surrounding islands of Harbour Island and Spanish Wells, by attracting customers from markets in the northeast which have greater connections on American via Charlotte.

Warm Welcome: The Peterson family from Ashville and Charleston, arriving on the inaugural flight were all smiles with the officials who welcomed the AA inaugural flight.

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Local EleutheraNews PHASED MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS 10

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Amidst Busy Season at the airport in GOVERNOR’S HARBOUR

Above: Peter Davis, new Airport Manager at the Governor’s Harbour Airport.

The Governor’s Harbour airport welcomed new manager, Mr. Peter Davis of Hatchet Bay, Central Eleuthera, during June of 2018.

Mr. Davis who took up his new position on the 11th of the month, shared during a recent interview that a key focus at the airport currently was continued maintenance and upgrade of the two existing main buildings. “They are in a bit of a dilapidated state, so there are many repairs that we are focusing on. With the Airport Authority having 28 airports to contend with, funds are limited, so we do have to do the repairs in phases as we

receive the funds,” said Davis.

“Since I came we’ve had a number of complaints about the look and the condition of the airport, so, we are trying our best to change that. As a first point of entry, we are trying to make it look like you are entering a destination, a tier one airport,” he added. “So, we will be working on tiling, painting, changing furniture, porch upgrades, as well as plants to spruce up the place.” Local Government was also partnering said Mr. Davis, “They have agreed to do one or two things for us, including getting some palms for the inside and outside of

the terminals.”

The terminal changes at the Governor’s Harbour Airport during late 2017, were also working well, said manager Davis.

Major changes encompassed the former domestic terminal being converted to international arrivals only, and the former international terminal being converted to host all departures (taking advantage of the security equipment already installed for all flights), as well as domestic arrivals. Separating international arrivals and departures was a requirement for a tier one airport’s security purposes, he explained.

When asked about the traffic levels at the airport, Mr. Davis, shared that Governor’s Harbour had seen its share of business during 2018 in terms of arrivals and departures. “This was probably one of the best years it’s had in recent time.

We’ve even seen Silver Airways having to put on additional flights just after Christmas, to accommodate demand.

Based on what I saw, the taxi drivers were happy, and the self-drive operators were also happy with the level of business during the holiday season. Both November and December were pretty busy,”

he described. Local operators like Pineappleair and Southernair offering flights between Eleuthera and Nassau also saw a brisk travel season during the final two months of the year, having to add multiple flights to their regular daily schedules to accommodate demand. January arrivals, said Mr. Davis, although they had dropped off a bit compared to December, the level of traffic was still very good into the new year.

Regularly scheduled international and domestic flights currently arriving into Governor’s Harbour include: Pineappleair - operating three or more domestic flights between Governor’s Harbour and Nassau daily.

Southernair - operating three or more domestic flights between Governor’s Harbour and Nassau daily (the airline also recently tested for several days an additional late flight, departing after 5pm).

Silver Airways - arriving from Fort Lauderdale with one flight on Tuesdays, Continued On Page 35

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An Eleutheran Profile: Introduction: Annis, born in the township of Savannah Sound on February 29th, 1940, to her mother, Mrs. Margaret Brazilia Sands Bullard, and father, James Nathaniel Bullard, would see and experience much tragedy in her young life, however, her positive spirit, and quiet strength rose above and endured and triumphed. Mrs. Antrobus dressed ever so proudly in colors effusing the deep-rooted meaning within the Bahamian flag, sat comfortably in her modest home, rebuilt she said after a fire had destroyed an earlier abode, during a younger era of her life. She chatted with The Eleutheran about her early trials and treasures, her growth into her garnered skills of cooking and baking as part of her career, and time spent among young ones for most of her existence, keeping her youthful in both her de-

F EAT U R E EleutheraNews Annis Louise Antrobus (78)

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meanour, outlook and enjoyment of her simple life in what is now the quiet township of Savannah Sound.

Early days: Loss was learned early by young Annis. As she recalled her earliest memories, there was a bit of lingering sadness in the recounting. “As years went by, my mother and father died very early. Daddy died in 1944 and he was 44 years old.

I was only four years old when he died. He drowned in a fishing accident. ‘Momma’, my mother died five years after him, on June 9th, in 1949. I was only nine years old.

She had a tumor on the brain, and you know it wasn’t like how it is today. The doctors were not prevalent like they are now. My mother was a very tall, six foot four. My sister Sally, affectionately called, ‘Big Sally’ looked just like her. When

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she died, a Governor Ranfurly came to Savannah Sound, and when he came, he heard about mother passing. I had three sisters and three brothers. They said that they should make some provision for the seven orphans. But it wasn’t easy, no, it wasn’t easy,” said Annis, shaking her head as she reflected on this very painful part of her early past life.

“After both of my parents died, we eventually ended up living with my grandmother. (She was 84 years old when she died in 1968, fifty years ago).

Life was a little rough, but we made whatever came our way - we made ourselves satisfied. When Momma died in 1949, it was a very terrible time for me, because where I was young, I went first to live with a cousin. Her mother and my mother were sisters, and I was molested by her husband; I was nine years old.” Annis, as she shared this visibly paused, and her pain stretched across the years could still be felt. “Things happen and you hate to talk about it, but you have to talk about it, to ease your mind about it, said Annis, as she shook her head, slowly, wryly. Following that dark time in her young life, she moved in with her grandmother.

School days: School was a respite for Annis, she enjoyed it, and described herself as one of the smarter students in her class. “I started school at four years old. The lady who took me to school was Esther Gibson Armbrister, because her father, Egbert Gibson, was a teacher then at the school in Savannah Sound. It was nice going to school. We had the ‘gallery’, something like the stands at a baseball game, at the school, and that’s where we would sit on. Ellen Culmer, was one of my teachers, as well as Mercier Poitier, Bradfield Sands, and Harcourt Gibson (Rosie Gibson’s brother - that’s when I was young).

Some of my principals were a Mr. Poitier, and R. N. Sawyer, and the last one when I was coming out of school at 13 years old was Mr. Charles Wellington Saunders. I was one of the top students they had in my class, and there are just five of us left now out of the forty students.

“We used to have Christmas concerts and other activities like that. We had a concert one time, and they were giving out these presents like that, and I always laugh when I think back on it. I had a classmate who was a lighter complexion than I. She sang the song she had to sing, along with her part, and I sang the song “Brightest and best”. So, both of us got presents. The presents were these Raggedy Ann dolls. So, they gave her the doll that was ‘bright’, and they gave me the doll that was dark. In my mind, I was saying to myself after receiving it, ‘All because I’m dark you gave me the dark baby’, but it didn’t matter - when I see my old classmate now, I always tease her about that. But of course, that didn’t stop me from learning. I was about 13 at the time, just about to come out of school. The only thing they had then was the leaving certificate, and we had to go into Governor’s Harbour to sit for this leaving certificate exam. There were ten subjects, and I passed nine of them. One person who was older than me, took it five times before they got it.

“I remember shortly after leaving school, I helped out at Windermere High School. Mama Nica, Frank Allen, George Bullard and myself - we were the persons there gathering the stones together, before the school was started (but it’s just like we were never in the area, because they don’t mention how they got there). We took up all the stones and fixed them up, so when they were ready to start construc-

tion they were there.”

Life: “I came back home, and Ms. Carmita Culmer used to work, and I used to go and help her. She taught me so many different things, cooking and baking. She was a cook, and she had me helping her do maid work and helping her in the kitchen. She worked at private homes in Double Bay, and also cooked at the Windermere Island Club, and Iwould go with her. I helped her for quite a while. While helping Mrs. Culmer, then into my early twenties, I also started to work to the Savannah Sound primary school, as a janitress/custodian. I worked there at the primary school for 39 years. I started there before they put the additional piece onto the school.

I use to call it the first University of the Bahamas.

That’s where it all started,” quipped Mrs. Annis with a smile. “A few years later I got an evening job as a pastry chef at the Windermere Island Club, and I also baked breads as well.”

Annis recalled dinner events at the Club, when members of the British Royal family visited the island, saying, “Just like I’m sitting down here talking to you, I sat down talking with Prince Charles - when we had the buffets, he used to come there.

I remember one time, he said - ‘Good evening.

Where do the tomatoes grow?’, and I told him they grew right here on the island. So, I met both he and Lady Diana. She was going to have Prince William then. I worked there at the Windermere Island Club for 25 years.”

“It ain’t been easy, because while working at those two places (at the primary school during the day, and at the Windermere Island Club during the evening), my first house that I built was further down there and that burned down, back in 1974.

Then I managed to get this little piece here now, so it has not been easy. I used to do private maid work as well. I was working for the Burnett’s along the three-mile stretch. They treated me very well.

Even after they left for the U.S., if I was traveling there, I would visit, and they treated me well. Both of them have passed on now.

Church Life: “I grew up in the AME (African Methodist Episcopal) church. Momma always had us in church.

With the AME church here in Savannah Sound, I was the first Lay Organization president. This was the first AME church in the Bahamas. December 2018, we celebrated the church’s 110th year. I’ve also traveled to many conferences with the church, to the U.S. and all over. My first trip was to Los Angeles, then Washington, Dallas, Philadelphia, all over. This year I’ll travel to Columbus, Ohio for the AME church conference. So I’ve also been YPD director, a second life member, and I was the secretary for the annual conference here in the Bahamas for more than 39 years, taking all the minutes. I had no typewriter, and no phone, but I wrote and the minutes would end up in Tallahasee. I got ordained in 1985 as a deaconess in the AME church. I’ve also been a part of the women’s missionary society,” shared Annis.

Family: ‘My husband passed away 12 years ago,” shared Mrs. Antrobus. “We met first in 1963. His family was from Savannah Sound as well, but his father was from Barbados. That was when they were

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The Eleutheran | Jan/Feb 2019

An Eleutheran Profile Continued from pg. 12 importing Police in Nassau, and that’s how his father got here, and he married a nurse from Savannah Sound. When we met, he saw me, but I was on the shy side, but from then something happened, I don’t know what, but it did, and we got together.

He came here to his aunt’s funeral, as he was living in the U.S. by then. He was in the Navy. His younger days were in Savannah Sound, before he went to Nassau, and then on to the States. It has been a rough go, because he has been passed away for a number of years now, but I’ve never received any of the spousal benefits from the U.S. Navy.

They’ve sent me paper after paper to sign, and questions, but it’s been since 2007 now, and not one single penny.

“After we met, he returned to the Navy.

He was an electrical and refrigeration guy.

We had a very long, long distance, back and forth courtship. I was in the church over the years, and then in comes Mrs. Culmer, who commented on me being in the church, going to the States all the time, and not married she said I needed to get myself together. So, we got married in 1989. We didn’t have any children together, but I have eight children all together - five boys and three girls (Arthur, Chet, Philip, Richard, Terrance, Sonya, Esther, and Brazilia).”

Times: Mrs. Antrobus, quite stylish herself, said she loved creating. “We had some people

come up to do organized craftwork classes through the years, and I’ve done all the classes. I have like ten or twelve craft class participation certificates over the years.

I’ve done the tie die, the sisal classes, coconut jewelry, shell work and many more. The only thing I really didn’t get to, that I regret I didn’t get to is getting on the machine (sewing machine) like I should have. We had to make our bags, and I finally made one. We also had to get special tools and materials.

We also went on the beach getting shells and conch for a craft project as well, and that year I made conch plaques for my sons for Father’s Day.” Annis shared one of her most fun memories that she had with her sister ‘Big Sally’ during their older years, before Sally passes away. It was the beginning of the Peopleto-People program on the island, during the eighties. “Some visitors were coming in from Connecticut, and people from Ministry of Tourism said they needed some local people to show them around, so me and my sister, Sally, we got together, and cooked a meal for them. Then we went down to Club Med, got the lady and brought her to the house, ate, then went to church together. After the visit, the lady sent back a photo clipping to me.

After that me and Big Sally did the BahamaHost program together. It was a very good experience” An Eleutheran Profile: ANNIS LOUISE ANTROBUS

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Perspective

Jan/Feb 2019

The OAS dangerously in disarray

By Sir Ronald Sanders (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organisation of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own) Over the last few days there has been a serious overreach by Luis Almagro of the authority he has as Secretary-General of the Organisation of American States (OAS).

If Mr. Almagro continues to exceed his authority, plainly set out in the Charter of the OAS, the already fragmented organisation will be headed for grave fracture.

The job of the Secretary-General of any multi-national or international organisation is to represent the positions of the collective membership of the organisation either after direction by the appropriate governing bodies or after discussion with them that establishes a consensus. Almost from the day of his installation, Mr. Almagro has steadfastly ignored any such requirements.

In his latest overreach, Mr. Almagro has taken upon himself to unilaterally and publicly anoint an “Interim President” of Venezuela. Almagro’s selection is Juan Guaidó who was elected by the National Assembly - made up of only Opposition party representatives - as its President “for a year”.

He made this spontaneous statement at a meeting on January 15 at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a U.S. think-tank based in Washington, D.C. No official organ of the OAS has made any such decision or even discussed it, and none has authorised Mr. Almagro to make it.

This latest unauthorised statement on Venezuelan matters is the most recent in a series by Almagro, directed at the Venezuelan government, that ruled-out both he, as Secretary-General, and the OAS as honest brokers in trying to reach a settlement to the political divisions that have plagued Venezuela over the past five years.

The Secretary-General has also taken to tweeting his personal views which he incorrectly represents as speaking for the OAS, a grouping of 34 countries. In a tweet on January 11, Luis Almagro stated: “We support the agreement in Venezuela’s national assembly declaring the usurpation by Nicolás Maduro and the need to apply constitutional article 233 on a transitional government and the call for an election”.

Exactly who is the “we” to whom Almagro referred is unknown, since he did not identify them. But what is known is that it is not any official organ of the OAS, including the Permanent Council, which is the highest decision-making body, representing all member states at Ambassadorial level.

It may be that Mr. Almagro is working with a handful of countries which, from their own governments’ declarations, oppose the government of

Nicolas Maduro to the point where they are using every means to topple it, but in doing so, he is not representing the OAS or the collective will of the member-states. Governments are free to pursue their own national policies on Venezuela, but they have no entitlement to impose those policies on the OAS. The reality is that the membership of the OAS is deeply divided, not over the troubling humanitarian, political and financial crisis in Venezuela, but over the response to it.

There is no member state that condones the political impasse created by both ruling and opposition parties; the shortage of food and medicines; the hardship being endured by a large number of Venezuelans; and now the flow of refugees into neighbouring countries. The disagreement arises from the manner in which 14 countries, calling themselves “The Lima Group” has held private meetings to fashion decisions which they then try to push through the Permanent CounContinued On Page 35

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GHDA/Fish Fry releases contribution financials; and encourages community organizations to partner with them GHDA’s (Governor’s Harbour Development Association/Fish Fry Committee) president Mr. Teddy Petty, and treasurer, Mr. Arthur Turnquest spoke recently about the role of the GHDA, and the ongoing partnerships with community organizations, highlighting the organizations ongoing contributions throughout each year.

“Oftentimes people may say they don’t know what we are doing within the community, or see how the funds raised by the GHDA/Fish Fry Committee are being spent.

So as an organization we’ve released our contribution figures for the past six years, and a more detailed account for contributions made during 2018,” shared Mr. Arthur Turnquest.

“The public has an opportunity to see the extent of the contributions this organization makes within this and in the wider community. Wherever there is a need, and we feel we can meet that need, we try to. Bearing in mind, Fish Fry operates on one night of each week, and while some people think that we should do the world, every week is not always profitable, and we try to manage the funds so we can help as many as we could.

“The organizations we have partnered with this year are listed, however individuals assisted are not named, just generally classified (education/welfare/funeral etc…). In addition to the donations and contributions, the Fish Fry organization also contributes to the engine of the local economy, purchasing from local vendors, stores, fishermen and the like,” highlighted Mr. Turnquest. “We would like to get this message out. We want people to know that this is an organization that seeks to help. You may not see buildings, but many lives have been touched.

“We have had our share of challenges as an organization, but we continue to stay the

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course. It is not easy. Every Friday night without fail, our motto is ,’Rain blow, wind or sunshine, we are here’. We step aside for other events happening in the community, like this weekend with the Eleuthera Junkanoo Festival, but other than that it’s every Friday night - and that takes a lot of commitment, with just the same few people you see here every Friday.

“As an organization, because of the work involved in putting this on every week, the role we see ourselves playing is as the fundraiser,” explained Mr. Turnquest. “So other civic organizations within the community are welcomed to reach out to us for assistance, and to present their proposal for specific projects and needs. We see ourselves in that role going forward, as most of our physical energy is directed at putting on the Fish Fry event.”

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Jan/Feb 2019

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Bryland ‘True Island Luxury’ menswear

New collection showing hosted at Calico Trading, at Valentines Resort just ahead of the new year

Briland Shoppers were invited to sip, sample and meet the designers of the Bryland ‘True Island Luxury’ line of menswear on Sunday, December 30th, 2018 at Calico Trading Co. located at Valentines Marina in Harbour Island. Showcasing their current collection of linens, polos, shorts, tees and more, designers and founding partners, Nic Chatfield, and Jay-Jay Percentie were on hand to highlight what makes their Bryland line truly special.

“Every time we do these shows, every time we get together, we get so much feedback, and so much support and love from every one coming in. We are super happy to have something that represents Harbour Island, but it’s still a Bahamian brand, and a Bahamian company. There is Bryland USA, and Bryland Bahamas, but the core company is Bahamian, and it’s a quality set of items,” described Jay-Jay, also known as, ‘The Prince of Dunmore’ and currently serving as Deputy Chief Councilor for the Harbour Island District.

“The line depicts function and form, with the seamless pockets, the coaming pants with the water resistance, the t-shirts which are so easy to wear around the boat - that sort of setting, and the linens which are such a big seller. The fact that they are all tapered, and the polos - the core of our line - make you look slimmer, taller, fitter…

That’s a part of authentic island living,” smiled Jay-Jay. The sip and sample event at Calico was highly

trafficked during the evening show, with notables like Amanda Brooks, India Hicks, Alessandra Branca, and the Crown Prince Pavlov and Princess Marie-Chantal Miller of Greece popping in.

The Bryland line of clothing, said Jay-Jay, can currently be found in Harbour Island at Valentines, Calico; also, in New Providence at Bahamar, Tropic of Luxury; Atlantis Marina Village, Blue Moon; as well as at Albany, The Emporium.

Founding partners, Nic Chatfield, Jay-Jay Percentie and Wynn Laffey launched the brand in 2013, and it’s been quite the experience since then, quipped Percentie, “It took us a long time to reach where we are now, but now that we are here it was well worth it. Although there are still challenges every day, and we are constantly looking at new production and research and development - and everyone has all these great ideas. I think we have been lucky enough to have had a following that gives us quality feedback - so, we are making decisions that sell to the demographics that we are targeting…

“We’ve weeded out some of the products that weren’t quite right, and now we have the full collection… We have the long chinos, the linen pants, the short pants, the t-shirts, the linen shirts, chambrays, the oxfords, the polos, sunglasses, and the belts…

Hopefully, we are able to keep going, and will continue to grow… We are very ambi-

Continued On Page 17 Sip & Sample: Founding partner and designer, Jay-Jay Percentie showcasing unique elements of the Bryland line.

Form & Function: The Bryland brand oozing true island luxury with founding partner and designer, Nic Chatfield seen mingling in the background.

Local

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

bryland Continued from Page. 16 tious, and we would love if as soon as you hear Bryland, you would think of the cloth-

ing line and not just Harbour Island.�

L-R: Thomas Burt, Bryland CEO; Jay-Jay Percentie, Bryland Partner/Designer; and Nic Chatfield, Bryland Partner/Designer.

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Local

Jan/Feb 2019

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Samuel Guy Pinder 6th Grader Raises Funds For

Special Olympics in Eleuthera & The Children’s Hostel in Nassau

Eleuthera with the cash donation. “It feels really good,” smiled Angelina, “because I know I get to help the children, so that they will have a better life.”

In response to the special gift, Mr. Crean commented, “It’s just so nice, and I guess it means to a larger extent that the word is getting out that we have a Special Olympics program. This came out of the blue, and it’s so nice that a primary school child would think to give us a donation, of a fair bit of money. I’m so grateful.”

Elite

Customs Brokers Above: (left) SO - Coach Tony Crean, Angelina Mckenzie, SO Treasurer - Kathy Colman, and Angelina’s Dad, Delaeno Cartwright (above right) Angelina smiles with her supportive Mom.

BY The eleutheran news team Angelina Mckenzie, a ten year old sixth grade student at Samuel Guy Pinder All Age school, organized a charity drive during the first semester of the 2018/2019 school year, and with the funds raised, chose to donate them to the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel and to the Friends of Special Olympics Eleuthera.

Angelina staged several bake sales, a t-shirt sale, as well as a ‘clean-a-thon’ on Russell Island, raising one thousand dollars

to divide between the Hostel and Special Olympics Eleuthera. During the Christmas break she traveled with her family to New Providence and presented the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel with their portion of the funds raised. The children were about to have a pizza party during Angelina’s visit, and while the Hostel was very nice, Angelina’s Dad noted that she was touched when she saw the kids. She noticed that one young girl was playing with a car, and enquired about it with a lady supervising the party.

Angelina was told that the children there did

4th Year of Free Dental Clinic Hosted by Lenny Kravitz and GLO Good Foundation in Gregory Town - Hundreds treated Lenny Kravitz’s Let Love Rule Foundation and the GLO Good Foundation teamed up again for the 4th year, returning to Eleuthera offering free oral health care, to adults and children on the island for four days, from Friday, January 25th through Monday, January 28th, 2019 at the Parish Hall in Gregory Town.

Key principals of the GLO Good Foundation, Dr. Jonathan Levine, and his wife Stacey Levine were on island with a full team of people from their New York based Dental Practice, to continue the work started in 2015. Mrs. Stacey Levine shared that in addition to special education times for children during the Saturday and Sunday, including essential tools like brushes, floss, and educational booklets, fun activities like yoga had also been added. “More than 100 people were seen on the first day,” she said on Friday evening, adding that the team had arrived on Thursday to set up the temporary dental clinic facility at the Hall. By end of day on Monday, the team had treated more than 500 people, and had screened over 100 children.

During an interview in 2016, Lenny Kravitz, a twenty year resident of Gregory Town, Eleuthera, who calls the township home, shared that he had a goal to have a medical and dental center here in Eleuthera that he wanted to build for the people. At that time, he said, “Sometimes you have to just open your eyes and see what’s going on around you. A lot

not have many toy options there. So as she left, she was determined when she returned to school to organize a toy, as well as a clothing drive for the kids.

With a physical education teacher as a Dad, it was a no-brainer, that Angelina who has been surrounded by sports chose to help children participating in Special Olympics as well. During the Majority Rule Holiday, on January 10th, Angelina, accompanied by her Mom and Dad, traveled to Governor’s Harbour to present Mr. Tony Crean, coach and secretary of Friends of Special Olympics

of times when people think of charities they think of these things where you have to go abroad, and these big ideas, which are wonderful, but there are things going on right in your own backyard. Something that my mother taught me from a very young age is that charity begins at home, and this is my home.”

So, what originally began as just friends visiting Lenny Kravitz for the weekend, has blossomed into an annual free oral health care event for Eleutherans, which they plan to

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continue. The Levine’s New York City Esthetic Dental Practice offers prosthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, as well as periodontics.

Above: Dr. Jonathan Levine observes as his team treats a dental patient.

Above: Stacey Levine with adorable baby girl as Mom is treated.

Local Big Ideas from CTI’s Learn and Earn 2018 Innovation Competition Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

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Idea, Innovation, Problem Solving all key parts of presentations Eleuthera, Bahamas-- On January 14, 2019, students of the Centre for Training and Innovation Learn and Earn program participated in ‘The Next Boss’, an in-house innovation competition. They were given the opportunity to come up with a business idea and present it before their peers and a pair of judges during their Entrepreneurship class. The top three innovations won prize money in the amounts of $500, $300, and $200, and the opportunity for further funding to develop their business ideas.

Lecturer for the Entrepreneurship course and the brains behind the project, Denise Hinds-Jordan, moderated the event and provided feedback alongside the judges to the students on their various innovations and how they could make them more feasible and make them a reality. She reminded the students that “an investment in your business is really an investment in you.”

The key points of the competition were for students to demon-

Pictured: 1st place winner, Randall Tynes receiving his prize check from OEF CEO Shaun Ingraham.

strate what their idea was, how it was innovative and what problem it would solve for themselves or the community. Students were tasked with showing the judges how the business idea could potentially generate income.

Serving as judges were Errol McPhee, who has tremendous experience in the area of entrepreneurship including revising business plans and teaching business courses for many years, and Kenwood Cartwright, a member of local government for South Eleuthera.

“The students have some very good ideas that I really liked,” said Mr. Cartwright. “Excellent ideas!” Mr. McPhee concurred with a smile. Both agreed that this was an invaluable experience for the students to see how they needed to present themselves when seeking investors in their business. The judges expressed their hope that the students would continue to develop themselves and their ideas for the benefit of the community.

Participating students used this opportunity to research what it would take to bring their ideas to fruition, presenting on concepts that truly interested them. The passion for their ideas was evident in the way they fielded questions from their peers and listened attentively to the suggestions from the judges and moderator.

It was undeniably a learning experience for everyone present.

Continued On Page 21

Pictured: Participants of the Innovation Competition happily display their ideas for future businesses flanked by the competition judges. From L-R: Competition judge Kenwood Cartwright, students Randall Tynes, Peaches Sweeting, Kendy Thompson, Drexal Butler, Edrick Munroe, Jasmine Brown, Dariana Michel, Breandra Whylly, and competition judge Errol McPhee.

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CEHS and Preston take 2019 Eleuthera District Spelling Bee Titles in distinct island competitions.

The atmosphere, during the penultimate round of the 2019 Central and North Eleuthera District Spelling Bee Competition was crackling, as parents, teachers, coaches and other students watched the three final competitors duke it out for bragging rights as the best speller in the district. Although, the audience had to remain as quiet as possible, ears were perked with bated breath, not wanting to miss the pronunciation of each word, and the exhales as each competitor moved forward through the stiff competition, were almost audible.

BY The eleutheran news team

Two girls - Kymethera Albury, a fifth grader from Laura L. Anderson primary school; Terrinique Sands, a seventh grader from Central Eleuthera High School (CEHS); and one boy - Amari Pinder, also a seventh grader from CEHS, were the last three standing from a starting pool of twenty two (22) students following the fifth round. After tackling words like ‘hypothesis’, Laura L. Anderson’s Kymethera Albury was taken down by the simple but tricky ‘dross’, bowing out in third place.

The final round saw Amari come up first, spelling ‘interrupt’ correctly. It was then on to Terrinique, who was given the word ‘maraca’, which she did not spell correctly. So, according to the final round rules, Amari was asked to spell the same word, which he did successfully. To secure the win, Amari was given a new word, ‘polymer’, which he confidently spelled correctly, to win the top spelling title. The top finishers were Kymethera Albury in third, Terrinique Sands in second, and Amari Pinder in first place.

Above: Competing spellers at the North and Central Eleuthera district Bee eagerly anticipate the start of the competion.

Below: Eventual winner in North and Central Eleuthera, Amari Pinder, introducing himself ahead of the start of the Bee.

Earlier rounds during the very competitive bee saw a number of bright spellers doing extremely well. Eight schools were represented during the exciting contest; including; • Governor’s Harbour Primary with Andrielle Gardiner, Lavaal Fernander, and Milalah Bethel; • Harbour Island All Age School with Religious Neely, Kahlia Higgs and Joriam Louis; • Emma E. Cooper Primary School with Tabetha Decosta, Makai Gardiner, and Shemaire Walker; • Laura L. Anderson Primary with Kymethera Albury, Farah Joseph, and Kani Reid; • Samuel Guy Pinder All Age School with Imelda Saintilus and Roodly Agenor; • P. A. Gibson Primary with Alicia Rolle, Maliaha Cooper and Neikeeleah Johnson; • James’ Cistern Primary School with Kourtney Bethel and Jaden Johnson; and • Central Eleuthera High School

with Amari Pinder, Terrinique Sands and Juvens Ben-aime.

Amari Pinder will now go on to represent the Central and North Eleuthera district in the Bahamas National Spelling Bee, scheduled to take place in New Providence in April 2019.

The South Eleuthera school district hosted its Spelling Bee, one day earlier, on Thursday, January 24th, 2019 at the Rock Sound Primary School. Topping out the winners circle in the South were • Brandon Smith of Rock Sound Primary in third, • Amaya Boodoo of Tarpum Bay Primary in second place, and • Nathalia Saunders of Preston Albury High in first place.

Nathalia will go on to represent the South Eleuthera school district joining Amari at the Bahamas National Spelling Bee in April.

Local

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

BIG IDEAS

Continued from Page. 19

Pictured: 2nd place winner, Kendy Thompson receiving her prize check from competition judge Kenwood Cartwright.

Not only were students able to get a feel for what it was like to present their idea to a potential investor such as a bank manager or venture capitalist, it was a chance for them to test out their pitch and be enlightened to challenges and spin-off avenues for expansion to their business idea that they hadn’t previously considered.

“It was a big eye opener for me,” said participant Dariana Michel. “I learned about ways to get people to buy and want your product or service.” While

Pictured: 3rd place winner, Breandra Whylly receiving her prize check from OEF CEO Shaun Ingraham.

picking her idea for the competition wasn’t a challenge, Michel admits she was nervous about presenting it to the judges and audience. “To my surprise it captured their attention and I was very happy about that.”

Since their first Entrepreneurship class session in October 2018, students have been exposed to a wealth of information. As class instructor,

Mrs. Hinds-Jordan has been “tickled pink” to have the opportunity to teach students of such a young age the basics of entrepreneurship and to give them the building blocks to turn their ideas into real life businesses that they can call their own.

With the February 22nd graduation date drawing closer and closer, students are putting their all into this final push towards

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their certificates and the next steps in improving their lives and making an impact in the community.

To learn more about CTI and its programs, call 334-4711 or email cti@oneeleuthera.org.

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Local “Plus”

Jan/Feb 2019

PANCAP: HIV PREVENTION RESPONSE IN REGION Continued from Page. 1 stated goal included the percentage of persons aged 15 – 49 years diagnosed with HIV in the last 12 months; percentage of children born to HIV-infected mothers who are infected; percentage of persons living with HIV (PLHIV) on treatment (ART) and virally suppressed; and Domestic and International AIDS spending by category and funding sources.

METHODS The evaluation was conducted between April and November 2018 with three objectives: 1. Obtain feedback from the regional partners as to the progress, achievements and gaps of the regional HIV response; 2. determine the level of implementation of the CRSF, the progress, achievements, gaps and challenges; and 3. provide clear recommendations on the strategic priority areas for the new CRSF and to inform its development.

The evaluation was conducted in two phases; Phase 1: Collection and analysis of survey data from a Partner Self-assessment and a Partnership Assessment; and Phase 2: Collection and analysis of data for key indicators of the CRSF 2014-2018 to help the Partnership determine the progress made, particularly in relation to impact and outcomes.

During Phase 2, a virtual consultation was conducted among government and civil society partners from countries with the highest number of respondents to the partnership assessment to corroborate the perceptions obtained from the surveys and to determine whether the trends that emerged from the surveys remained or varied significantly.

The draft evaluation report was reviewed by PACC members and amended to improve its

analytic depth and clarity.

FINDINGS The findings for each of the Six Strategic Priority Areas are presented in the full evaluation report.

The evaluation found that while the Caribbean has made progress in responding to the HIV epidemic, the impact of the prevention response has been inadequate, particularly among key populations. Of concern is that the annual number of new HIV infections among adults in the Caribbean declined by only 18% from 2010 to 2017, from 19,000 [14,000–31,000] to 15,000 [11,000–26,000].

Key populations, Men who have sex with men (MSM), Sex Workers (SWs) and their clients, and partners of key populations, transgender persons, and persons who use drugs, accounted for the majority of the new HIV infections (68%) during this period.

Conversely, new infections among children fell from an estimated 2,300 in 2010, to 1100. However, although significant progress has been made in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, available data for the period 2015 - 2017 showed that HIV infected pregnant women receiving ART to reduce HIV transmission declined from 92% in 2014 to 79% in 2015 and 75% in 2016 and 2017 respectively, illustrating a significant decrease that requires investigation.

There has been progress in placing more people living with HIV on treatment, however much more needs to be done to increase the numbers and to retain people on treatment. In fact, significant effort is required for the Ca-

www. EleutheraNews . com

Box 1 (https://pancap.org/who-we-are/caribbean-regional-strategic-framework/) .

The legislative environment • The constitutions of the majority of Caribbean countries lack reference to non-discrimination on the basis of HIV status or sexual orientation.

Ordinary laws do not cater for non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or HIV status. Broad-based non-discrimination and equality legislation exists only in relation to employment in certain countries.

The Bahamas is the only CARICOM country where antidiscrimination provisions in the employment act make reference to HIV as a basis for non-discrimination.

• The Bahamas restricts entry, stay and residence for HIV positive people while Belize, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago have specific laws criminalising HIV transmission.

• The Anglophone Caribbean maintains some of the most regressive antigay laws in the world. Same-gender intimacy, regardless of consent or physical location, is criminalised in 11 CARICOM states. Sentences range from life imprisonment in Barbados and Guyana to 10 years in Belize, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. There are also laws against cross-dressing and constitutional bans on legal recognition of same-sex relationships. Trinidad and Tobago prohibits entry for homosexuals.

• With the exception of Suriname, PANCAP member countries prohibit activities related to sex work, including soliciting, living off earnings, loitering and wandering in public places, procuring for the purpose of prostitution and using a premises as a brothel. Source: PANCAP. Justice for All: Creating a Facilitating Environment to Reduce HIV Related Stigma and Discrimination in the Caribbean. 2014.

ribbean to achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Targets (90% of people living with HIV are aware of their infection, 90% of people diagnosed with HIV are linked to antiretroviral treatment (ART) and 90% of those on ART adhere and have undetectable levels of HIV in their blood). The gap to achieving the first 90 of the 90–90–90 Targets in 2017 was 54,800 people living with HIV [1].

The gap to achieving the first and second 90s of the 90–90–90 Targets in 2017 was 74,700 people living with HIV. The percentage of people living with HIV who achieved viral suppression increased from 37% in 2016 to 40% in 2017.

However, the gap to achieving all three 90s at the end of 2017 was the need for an additional 103,000 people living with HIV to be on ART and be virally suppressed. Given this situation, the Caribbean is at risk of not achieving the 2020 Targets.

Global financial resources to support the HIV epidemic have been progressively decreasing since 2011. However, domestic financing has improved during the implementation of the CRSF 2014-2018[2]. UNAIDS 2018, noted that “domestic resources increased between 2006 - 2017 by 124%, while international resources declined by 16%”[3]. As at the end of 2017, domestic resources were contributing significantly to the cost of ART and the overall treatment programme. Despite this trend, national resources to support services to achieve prevention continue to be low[4], with the implication that the gains could be reversed if this gap is not quickly filled.

The evaluation team proposed a number of overall recommendations for the goal as well as specific recommendations to address the gaps and challenges identified under each Strategic Priority Area. Additionally, the team proposed that the following Strategic Priority Areas should be retained in the new CRSF: An Enabling Environment, Prevention of HIV Transmission, Treatment, Care and Support, Integrate HIV into Health and Socioeconomic Development and Sustainability.

The evaluation team further proposed that a new Strategic Priority Area – Strategic Informa-

tion, Monitoring and Evaluation and Research, should replace Strategic Priority Area - Shared Responsibility to bring into sharper focus the importance of countries’ capacity to report on HIV data nationally, regionally and internationally, including on the CRSF indicators. Such emphasis would enable better reporting on, and profiling of the epidemic in the Caribbean. The main activities that fell under “Shared Responsibility” will be subsumed into the existing Strategic Priority Areas so as to ensure continuity of these initiatives in the new CRSF. The Priority Areas Coordinating Committee, which was convened virtually on 10 January 2019 accepted the evaluation report. The PANCAP Executive Board which was convened virtually on 17 January 2019 also accepted the evaluation report and thanked those responsible for preparing the report; recognized that while the Caribbean has made progress much more needs to be done to achieve the targets; called on all countries and the Partnership to renew efforts to build capacity and work together to achieve the targets.

The Execute Board noted the legal judgments in Caribbean courts affirming human rights arising from litigation and called on countries not to wait on litigation but to make amendments to laws to recognize the rights of key populations and the rights of all to access sexual and reproductive health services. The board also noted that while tens of thousands of cases of HIV infections have been prevented there is a need to significantly reduce new infections, and this requires that countries promote age-appropriate sexual education and skills and extend sexual reproductive health services to all youth and key populations.

The board also called on all countries to introduce innovative prevention approaches and improve the quality of prevention services to ensure greater impact in reducing new HIV infections; and further called on the Priority Areas Coordinating Committee to develop a new Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS for the period 2019 to 2023.

Local

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

| Jan/Feb 2019

Calendar Guide - into February 2019

highlights in FEB 2019

Rock Sound Home Coming Committee to host

‘Fish Fry on the Park’, each Friday starting January 25th, 2019. Activities begin at 5pm - Until at Kiwanis Park (Behind The Mission House), Queens Highway, Rock Sound, South Eleuthera. Food and drinks will be on sale, with music by Popstylers Entertainment and friends.

Feb 2 - Eleuthera Junior Junkanoo Parade hosted in Rock Sound, South Eleuthera - starting at 3pm

The Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA) to host Town Hall Meeting and Pop-Up Office in Eleuthera. A Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for 6pm

on Wednesday, February 6th, 2019, and a ‘Pop-Up’ Office will be hosted from 9am to 3pm on Thursday, February 7th, 2019 at the Cancer Society’s Wellness Center in Palmetto Point, Central Eleuthera. Join URCA’s team at the Town Hall Meeting for an update on URCA’s work in the energy and electricity sectors. Also, meet with them at their first ‘Pop-Up’ Office to discuss matters concerning licensing, competition, billing or complaints concerning services in the regulated sectors. If you wish to provide internet services, start a radio or television station or have questions about renewable energy, do not miss this opportunity to speak one on one with the regulator. Current Licensees are also invited to ‘pop in’.

Refreshments will be served. For more information contact URCA at info@urcabahamas.bs, call 242-300-URCA (8722) from the Family Islands, or check out www.facebook.com/URCA242.

February 7th - Attorney V. Alfred Gray to host a FREE Legal Clinic beginning at 6pm at the Cancer Society’s Wellness Center, Palmetto Point.

Feb 6-8 - E. Clement Bethel Arts Festival hosted in Eleuthera On February 6th – 8th, 2019, the 60th Annual E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival will be celebrated in Eleuthera.

“This will be an exciting year as we endeavor to extend the festival from the schools into the greater communities of our islands. This festival is for everyone! It is a platform for artists of all ages and genres.

It is a time for residents of this wonderful country to celebrate and participate. We are inviting church choirs, family groups, instrumentalists and bands, singers, actors, dancers and visual artists to participate,” said organizers.

“Both island and national winners will be announced and awards and prizes,” they added.

Adjudicators include: Philip Burrows, Drama; Lawrence Carrol, Dance; Abby Smith, Art; and Trent Davis, Music.

For more information; in Eleuthera contact: Clara Young, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Office, Tarpum Bay – (242) 3344650; in Nassau contact: Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture, University Drive, (242) 502-0600/1.

National Health Insurance Town

Meetings, tentatively scheduled for February 12 and 13 at 6pm (locations to be announced)

Feb 23 - Youth Leaders Awards to be hosted at Worker’s House, Governor’s Harbour at 7pm.

Youth leaders from Gregory Town to Bannerman Town to be recognized for their contributions.

Holidays and Observance Days:

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Taste of Central Eleuthera

Annual “Taste of Central Eleuthera “ event returns. The five (5) MethodThursday, February 14th - Valentine’s Day ist Churches, from Palmetto Point to Gregory Town, in the Central Eleuthera Region jointly host this event annually. This year it takes place on February 8th, 2019. The event The third Annual Eleuthera Island Jam show cases our native dishes, local entertainment “Dr. Seabasketball tournament will be held on Fribreeze” and other local bands, day and Saturday evenings, February 15th and 16th at as well as Arts & Crafts on show. the Eleuthera Bible Training Center in James Cistern.

Event hosted at the Parish Hall The team from Harbour Island has taken home the in Governor’s Harbour, from trophy (and the cash) the first two years. This year, 11:00am - 3pm. teams will be gunning for them. Contact , Bill Landers, for

more info. 557-7607

School EVENTS Q1-2019:

Feb 6 - CEHS Christmas Term Awards Ceremony at Worker’s House, Governor’s Harbour

Friends of Special Olympics - Eleuthera 2nd Annual Dinner with Friends

Saturday, March 30th, 2019. (at Bahama Breeze) Feb 7 and 8 - District High School Track and Field Championships in Rock Sound

CONTACT

The Eleutheran Newspaper at 422-9350 or send email to

services@theeleutheran.com,

to have your community notices and events listed.

a

C O N S E RVAT I O N C O R N E R

26 | Jan/Feb 2019

The Bahamas Coral Innovation Hub

By CEI This past autumn marked the beginning of the Bahamas Coral Innovation Hub, based out of Cape Eleuthera.

The hub aims to upscale coral reef restoration in the Bahamas, develop new technologies, as well as educate, train and engage local Bahamians on the importance of coral conservation.

Key hub members include The Nature Conservancy, The Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS), SECORE International, SHEDD Aquarium and the Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI).

“As an archipelago of over 700 islands and cays painted in clear, popsicle-blue waters, it’s no secret that coral reefs are vital to Bahamian culture, economy and ecology. Still, live

coral cover is lower in the Bahamas than any other Caribbean nation” says CEI. Over the next five years, the Bahamas Coral Innovation Hub aims to develop one of the largest coral reef restoration projects in the Caribbean, as well as tackle the following cuttingedge research questions: 1. How can we use sexual coral recruits and microfragmentation to grow and farm corals on a much larger scale than what we see today?

2. How can we maintain genetic diversity of our reared coral populations, so that they might be more resilient to climate change?

3. How can we raise awareness

about the importance of corals and coral restoration technology? In particular, how can we involve local communities and Bahamian youth in our reef-rebuilding work?

“By working together, we plan to grow and plant thousands of baby corals onto Bahamian coral reefs each year,” said PIMS and CEI coral researcher Lily Haines, “as well as offer experiential education opportunities in coral restoration to hundreds of students in the Bahamas.”

Local

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

Remembering Mrs. Correne Sands Founding Eleuthera Cancer Society President

June 30th, 1937 - December 21st, 2018 Mrs. Correne Sands, the founding president of the Cancer Society Eleuthera Branch, and stalwart of her Palmetto Point hometown, passed away on December 21st, 2018 at the age of 81. Her colleagues at the Cancer Society Eleuthera Branch, held a special memorial service for Mrs. Sands on Friday evening, January 4th, ahead of her formal funeral service, which took place on Saturday, January 5th, at the Wesley Methodist Church in Palmetto Point. The special service was marked by condolences and tributes offered by numerous relatives, friends, pastors, churches and Christian council members.

Cancer awareness on the island was a labour of love for Mrs. Sands. This passion was fueled by her very personal experience of being diagnosed with cancer herself back in 1981. In 1982 she spearheaded the beginning of Eleuthera’s Cancer Society, and as president of the Cancer Society Eleuthera Branch for almost quarter of a century, she has had the opportunity to impact many lives. The Wellness Center at the Cancer Society is specially designated as Correne Sands Hall in her honour. Mrs. Correne Sands and her husband Mr. Kingsbury Sands were blessed with six children - two daughters and four sons (one deceased), and numerous other relatives.

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Island “Buzz”

Jan/Feb 2019

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2019 Annual Royal Bahamas

Police Force Church Service hosted in Palmetto Point The Eleuthera Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), held their annual church service on Sunday, January 27th, 2019.

The event this year was hosted at the Wesley Methodist Church in Palmetto Point, Central Eleuthera, moderated by Pastor Orlando Thompson. All uniformed agencies on island were in attendance, including the Police, Customs, Immigration, Road Traffic, Airport Authority, Medical Personnel, as well as other public servants and as a special treat to everyone who came out, the Royal Bahamas Police Force band was also on the program - to the delight of the audience.

Remarks were brought by Mr. Hank Johnson, MP for Central and South Eleuthera, who most notably, promised that he would encourage his government to continue investing in the needs of the RBPF on island, and that they had his full support. Rev. Lee Carl Sands, President of the Eleuthera Christian Council also gave brief remarks and he was joined by a cadre of his colleagues in ministry in the audience.

Host Pastor Mrs. Elmena Bethell presented the main message during the service, which centered around the theme of the officers being ‘servant leaders’, always keeping those around them in mind, not lording their authority, but working to rebuild, revive and renew as they helped to bring justice to the nation. She also reminded them that their service was vital even when unappreciated. Having been appointed by God in their positions, she exhorted them to show love and mercy in their daily lives.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), and former OIC of the Eleuthera Division, Theophilus Cunningham, joined by ACP Clar-

ence Reckley, current OIC Family Island Districts were also in attendance, representing the Commissioner of Police, during the annual ceremony. ACP Reckley brought special greetings, and made a presentation to the host Pastor and speaker Mrs. Elmena Bethell, following her powerful message.

All of the top brass within the Eleuthera Division of the RBPF were also in attendance, led by Chief Superintendent Stephen Adderley, including; Superintendent Frederick Sands, ASP Lawrence Adderley, ASP Frank Neely, ASP Nigel Rolle, Reserve executives, as well as division Inspectors, Sergeants, Corporals, and Constables.

During the service, a ‘Presentation of Colours and Police Standards’ was conducted, and Officers fallen from the ranks during 2018 were announced and solemnly remembered. Music in a variety of engaging forms was a powerful part of the afternoon program, which brought together members of the community with serving officers, from lustily sung audience hymns accompanied by melodious instrumentation, to a heartfelt solo selection, and a number of choir renditions, as well as instrumental pieces performed by the RBPF band.

The uniformed officers, led by the melodious Royal Bahamas Police Force band, formed a colourful parade from the church through the heart of north Palmetto Point, following the church service, with attendees marching energetically behind, to the beat.

More beautiful scenes from this event online at www.Eleutheranews.com

Pictured: Scenes in the church and through the town as the RBPF band marches melodiously.

Also seen below are medical nurses with Dr. Cho, who diligently serve residents of Eleuthera.

Island “Buzz”

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

| Jan/Feb 2019

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Above: Uniformed RBPF ranks enjoy a light moment during the Annual Church service hosted at the Wesley Methodist church in Palmetto Point, Central Eleuthera.

Raised in Song: Voices of multiple choirs rang out during the ceremony, from Global Outreach Ministries, and Wesley Methodist Palmetto Point and Governor’s Harbour

Cupid’s Cay Dock - motorcade day

Top Brass: L-R Chief Superintendent Stephen Adderley, OIC Eleuthera District; Asst.

Commissioner of Police, Clarence Reckley, OIC Family Islands, and Asst. Commissioner of Police, Theophilus Cunningham enjoy the service. Left: MP for Central and South Eleuthera, Mr. Hank Johnson and Mrs. Shelly Johnson were also in attendance, seated next to Administrator Ivan Ferguson, North Eleuthera.

Local EleutheraNews 2019 Tony Crean Basketball Tournament postponed after day of on-court action 30

Jan/Feb 2019

Above: Students participating in the Tony Crean Invitational Basketball Tournament, with coaches Tony Crean, and Sharon Storr.

The Tony Crean Eleuthera Pre-Season Basketball Invitational kicked off on Friday, January 18th, 2019 in Governor’s Harbour, Central Eleuthera, where all six high schools in Eleuthera were set to begin competition in three divisions (2 boys divisions and 1 girls division) which would run during the course of two days, wrapping up competition on Saturday evening, January 19th, 2019.

Divisions scheduled to compete included six senior boys teams, five junior boys teams, and five open girls teams, with students from Samuel Guy Pinder All Age (SGPAAS), Harbour Island All Age (HIAAS), North Eleuthera High (NEHS), Central Eleuthera High (CEHS), Windermere High (WHS), and Preston H. Albury High (PHAHS).

Day one games on Friday saw just three of the six high schools out to compete, including CEHS, WHS, and SGPAAS. Game one had CEHS senior boys up against WHS, and saw CEHS win handsomely in a 60 to 31 matchup. Junior boys from from CEHS and WHS followed, and CEHS again took the win with 27 to 18. Girls action then began with SGPAAS up against WHS, which SGPAAS won 25 to 19. The afternoon play wrapped up with girls teams from

Samuel Guy Pinder All Age and Central Eleuthera High going head to head. Central Eleuthera High girls dominated the energetic matchup, ending the day with a 21 to 4 win over Samuel Guy. According to organizers, tournament action which should have continued on Saturday morning beginning at 10am on the court opposite the Governor’s Harbour Administrative Complex, had to be postponed following a few cancellations and other challenges.

www.

. com

Local

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

| Jan/Feb 2019

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Eleuthera Petroleum ltd ‘12 WKS OF CHRISTMAS’

PRIZE WINNER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Week 2 - Portable Radio Yvette Belle, Hatchet Bay - Seven Eleven Station Adam Francis - W & W Mackey Station

Above: Mr. Sands is featured in the photo above receiving his grand prize check from Mrs. Susan Hanna with Highway Service Station, and Ms. Indira Rolle with Eleuthera Petroleum Ltd

Eleuthera Petroleum Ltd. extends a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated during our exciting ‘12 Weeks of Christmas’ promotion, including customers, participating gas stations, as well as businesses which donated the amazing prizes.

“Happy New Year! And all the best to Eleuthera’s driving public.

We look forward to your continued partnership.

Week 1 - $50 Gas Voucher ; Devante Smith, Hatchet Bay - Highway Service Station; Taneshia Gibson, Waterford - Family Affair

Marcio Moxey, Rock Sound Family Affair

Week 3 - Lunch for 2 & Movie Passes - Globe Princess Yolarence Gibson, Gregory Town - Seven Eleven Station Kadejah Sands, Wemyss Bight - Family Affair

Week 11 - Tablet Indira Bethel-Rolle, James Cistern Seven Eleven Station

Week 4 - 12 pc China Set Vanessa Mayne, James Cistern - Seven Eleven Station Jernaka Rahming, C. Eleuthera - W & W Mackey Station

Iris Whylly - Dingle Motors

Week 5 - Hair Treatment Deann Sands, Gov. Harbour - Highway Service Station Albert Stubbs, Rock Sound - Dingle Motors Week 6 - Round Trip - Fast Ferries Jah Mc Donald, Gregory Town - Highway Service Station Virginia Sands, Rock Sound - Family Affair Week 7 - Fuji Instant Camera Jennifer Darville, Gregory Town - Seven Eleven Station Roselie Louisius, Rock Sound - Dingle Motors Week 8 - Service Oil - 1 Case Tokel Lockhart, Gov. Harbour - Highway Service Station Angel Thompson, Green Castle - W & W Mackey Station Week 9 - Airline Ticket - Bahamasair Deb Miller - Seven Eleven Station Gabrielle Bain, Rock Sound - Family Affair

MP Rickey Mackey discusses Issues & Opportunities Continued from pg. 6 mainland of Eleuthera that want to make investments to spark more commercial benefits on the mainland. They don’t want to just be subsidizing, by way of labour, Harbour Island and Spanish Wells.

They want to establish their own industry.

“A group of young men and women in the Lower Bogue area have established a development co-op, and they would like to develop a 20 room hotel, a strip mall, also the possibility of developing some office space, and we are excited. The co-op is now an official entity and so they can actually start. We are just waiting on the government conveyance of crown land for purpose of building the office complex and other various business ventures.

“The point I would really like to stress is that opportunities exist here, and I’m trying to reach out to some young people, because another area which is not being utilized is the tour industry.

Going to some of the historical sites, like Preacher’s Cave, and other sites like the Sapphire blue hole. I’m trying to have those areas cleared, with picnic tables setup, so persons can do tours there. I really want to see that happen, and I want to identify some interested young people.

At the Preacher’s Cave area, if a kiosk can be setup, so when tourists go there, snacks and drinks are available. There is a beautiful beach there - it’s an opportu-

Week 10 - BTC Cell Phone M. Ramnauth, Palmetto Point Highway Service Station

nity for some person to offer for rental, beach towels, beach chairs, beach umbrellas... We need to get our young people to think bigger than being an employee, and to start to become entrepreneurs - which is so much better than working a nine to five.

“Then you can see that the sky is your limit, and you can determine how much you make… We have people who are very entrepreneurial. The problem is that we don’t have the quantity, the numbers that we would like to see. We are a dynamic group of people, but we can’t seem to get enough people to have that passion to want to take a risk and go out there on their own. I’m a businessman myself, and I’ll have it no other way.

There are so many great opportunities in North Eleuthera, and I’m fortunate to represent this community.”

Ongoing concerns in Spanish Wells were also highlighted, “There is always the fishing industry, which seems to be a very sore issue in terms of Dominican poachers. We often times just hit the Dominican poachers, but we are also plagued with a lot of American poachers who come in here under the guise of cruising and sports fishing and they deplete a lot of our inventory as well. We don’t mind them coming and doing it the right way, but they are running private charters

out of here. Some of them brag of even supplying certain restaurants in South Florida. So these are the things that we have to deal with, and hopefully we can get it done.”

“On a national level, I’m somewhat saddened that we are not progressing as quickly as we need to be. Then I think some people are not appreciative of the financial state our country is in, and we all were aware that we were in a very difficult place financially as a nation.

And when you have a financial situation as drastic as we had, those issues are not resolved overnight. Some people are somewhat impatient, and I understand that - someone whose stomach is growling louder than you are talking, saying ‘hang in there and be patient’ - my only hope is that our recovery takes place sooner rather than later.

“I’m hoping that some of the austere measures that we’ve had to take to be more prudent in our spending, does not adversely affect people too badly, that they find it difficult to exist.

However, if you take your own life circumstances as an analogy of where the government is - if you don’t have the funding, and if you didn’t plan. If things have gotten away from you, it’s difficult to overcome that. If you don’t have the money to pay your bills, despite the fact that you are not generating the revenue, those bills are still piling up, and some-

Week 12 - 32” Flat Screen Smart TV Alicia Culmer, Savanah Sound Highway Service Station Phil Sands, W. Bight - Dingle Motors The GRAND PRIZE WINNER of $500 Cash was Mr. H. Peter Sands of Governor’s Harbour who made his gas purchase at the Highway Service Station. Mr. Sands is featured in the photo above receiving his grand prize check from Mrs. Susan Hanna with Highway Service Station, and Ms. Indira Rolle with Eleuthera Petroleum Ltd. Five gas stations were involved in the Christmas promotion, including Seven Eleven in Gregory Town, Highway Service Station in Governor’s Harbour, Family Affair in Rock Sound, Dingle Motors in Rock Sound, and W&W Mackey in Green Castle.

times that snowball just overwhelms you.

I’m hoping that we are able to stem the tide and get this country back on a good footing.”

Island “Buzz” www. EleutheraNews . com Students hit the streets of GHB at the 14th Annual Alvin Adderley Road Race 32

Young athletes from across The Eleutheras came together on Friday, January 11th, 2019 for an exciting 14th annual Alvin Adderley road race event. The road race, held each year in remembrance of former Eleuthera educator, Mr. Alvin Adderley, who died as a result of cancer, was staged at the Bayfront Park in Governor’s Harbour, starting shortly after 10am.

Just prior to race time, the family of Mr. Adderley were honoured in a short ceremony, with a recollection of his contribution to education in Eleuthera and special gift presented to his children, Carla and Terrell, who accepted for the late Mr. Adderley’s wife, Mrs. Lula Adderley. She was unable to attend this year with her children, who had made a special effort to be there in support of the event, despite the date change from November to January. Mrs. Sherrin Cooper, president of the Eleuthera Cancer Society, also took time out to share tips with the athletes about taking care of their health to prevent diseases like cancer and other non-

Jan/Feb 2019

communicable diseases.

“Every year we look forward to the event. It’s a great feeling,” shared Carla. She continued, “It’s usually held in November, which would have been the month that Dad passed away in 2003. They had a few issues this year, so we are into January this time, but, we all look forward to it. Mom was not able to make it here today, but in her absence she has sent her blessings and her love. Our eldest brother couldn’t make it this time as he couldn’t get off from work. So, he was very disappointed. However, my brother Terrell and I made it and we are very happy to be here, and thankful to the organizers, the students, all of the principals, the teachers and everyone that made an effort to have the kids here on this day - whether it was November or January. We are very, very appreciative of everything done. I’m sure if Dad was here, he would be happy also.”

Four (4) of Eleuthera’s High Schools/All Age Schools, and five (5) Primary Schools participated in

Above: Primary, junior and senior high students await the start of the race.

Above: Sherrin Cooper Terrell Adderley, Carla Adderley, and Tony Crean.

the hotly contested relay events, along with a fun team from the Primary Division made up of special needs students.

In the Primary School Division, ten member teams competed in half mile legs passing on the baton to teammates at the designated spot next to Bay Front Park. The High Schools competed in five divisions; under 20 boys, under 20 girls, under 17 boys, under 17 girls, and under 15 boys - also with ten member relay teams, but a longer leg distance of 1 mile, which took each competitor from Bay Front Park, south to the forked junction at Governor’s Harbour’s southern approach, then back, running

north along the Queen’s Highway into Bay Front Park.

School performances were fairly evenly split this year with Preston Albury High School taking top spots in the under 15 boys, as well as the under 17 boys divisions. Central Eleuthera High ran away with gold medals in the under 17 girls, as well as the under 20 girls divisions. North Eleuthera High School won the under 20 boys division, while Samuel Guy Pinder All Age which competed in just one of the five age divisions, walked away with silver in the under 20 boys race. Notably, Harbour Island All Age was not in attendance.

Island “Buzz”

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

| Jan/Feb 2019

33

Above: RBPF Mobile patrol team assisted with traffic control on the day.

Official Results: Primary School Division 1st - Governor’s Harbour 2nd - Green Castle 3rd - Emma E. Cooper 4th - James’ Cistern 5th - Wemyss Bight

In the High School Division Under 20 Boys 1st - North Eleuthera High 2nd - Samuel Guy Pinder 3rd - Preston H. Albury High 4th - Central Eleuthera Under 20 Girls 1st - Central Eleuthera

2nd - North Eleuthera High 3rd - Preston Albury High Under 17 Boys 1st - Preston Albury High 2nd - Central Eleuthera Under 17 Girls 1st - Central Eleuthera High 2nd - Preston Albury High Under 15 Boys 1st - Preston Albury High 2nd - Central Eleuthera High

Above: And they are off... Students take to the roads around Governor’s.

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1 (242) 332-2993 The Eleutheran, P. O. Box EL-25166, Governor’s Harbour Eleuthera, The Bahamas.

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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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Stamped: January 29, 2019 10:51 PM

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

34

National

Jan/Feb 2019

www. EleutheraNews . com

delegation of caricom states visits UN Secretary-

General to discuss the situation in the Bolivarian Rep. of Venezuela.

On Monday, 28 January 2019 a delegation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), comprising Dr the Hon. Timothy Harris, Chairman of CARICOM, the Hon. Mia Mottley and Dr. the Hon. Keith Rowley, Prime Ministers of St. Kitts and Nevis, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, respectively, and the Hon. Peter David, Foreign Minister of Grenada, H.E. Irwin LaRocque, CARICOM SecretaryGeneral, as well as the Permanent Representatives of these countries met with the United Nations Secretary-General H.E. Antonio Guterres to discuss the situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

The CARICOM delegation expressed its grave concern over the untenable situation in Venezuela. The delegation strongly urged that further deterioration would seriously aggravate the plight of Venezuelans. The Caribbean Community is steadfast that the region must remain a Zone of Peace.

The CARICOM delegation emphasised its commitment to the tenets of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter which calls on states to refrain from the threat or the use of force. CARICOM has been consistent in the critical importance it accords to the key principles of non interference and non-intervention. CARICOM reaffirmed the view that there was an urgent need for meaningful dialogue leading to a peaceful internal solution for

From Left: Hon Denis Moses, Foreign Minister, Trinidad and Tobago; Hon Mia Mottley, Prime Minister, Barbados; Dr Hon. Keith Rowley, Prime Minister, Trinidad and Tobago; HE Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General; Dr Hon Timothy Harris, Prime Minister, St. Kitts and Nevis and Chairman, CARICOM; Hon Peter David, Foreign Minister, Grenada; Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, SecretaryGeneral, CARICOM; Senator Dr. Jerome Walcott, Foreign Minister, Barbados

the Venezuelan people. The Caribbean Community is resolute in its belief that it is never too late for dialogue since the consequences of no dialogue will be dire.

The United Nations Secretary General extended his offer of good offices, circumstances permitting, to facilitate dia-

NOTICE ref application for Registration as a Bahamian Citizen: ENDA ORDEUS Notice is hereby given that EDNA ORDEUS of Rock Sound, South Eleuthera, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration/Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why Registration/Naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of January 2019, to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7417, Nassau, Bahamas.

logue and negotiation between the parties. The CARICOM delegation indicated its readiness to work assiduously to bring the parties to the negotiating table.

To this end, the visiting CARICOM Heads of Government today engaged with various Permanent Repre-

sentatives - Canada, the Russian Federation, the European Union and the African Union.

They also engaged with the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Foreign Minister of Mexico with a view to reduce tensions and build a platform for dialogue. Futher engagements

The Bahamas Supports the Recognition of Juan Guaidó as Interim President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Press Release, January 24th, 2019 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas wishes to inform that, at a Special Meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) held on 24 January 2019 to address the critical on-going political crisis in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, The Bahamas was among those countries of the Organization recognizing Juan Guaidó, President of the National Assembly, as Interim President.

This decision is consistent with The Bahamas’ affirmative voting on previous resolutions and calls for discussions within the OAS regarding the situation in Venezuela, including the 10 January 2019 resolution to not recognize the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro’s presidency.

will take place in the next few days as the situation remains fluid.

Venezuela’s constitution includes provisions that call upon the citizenry to disown any regime, legislation, or authority that violates democratic values, principles, and guarantees or encroaches upon human rights. In this regard, Article 233 of the Venezuelan Constitution provides specific circumstances through which the President of the National Assembly can assume the role of Interim President.

The Government of The Bahamas reiterates and shares its deep concern for the welfare of the people of Venezuela, given the critical economic and social challenges, as well as the migration challenges faced by its neighbouring countries. Figures from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP) and other international agencies indicate that some 3 million Venezuelans have left their country to seek refuge in neighbouring countries in Latin American and the Caribbean.

The Bahamas maintains its long-standing position of respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law and commits its support to the people of Venezuela for the restoration of representative democracy through a peaceful and orderly process.

Opinion

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

water

By: Andrew L. Burrows andrewburrows1@gmail.com

Water! It covers almost 3/4 of the earth’s surface. In liquid form it is in the vast oceans, lakes, rivers and underground caverns; in solid form it is frost, snow and ice found mostly at the

North and South Poles and Mountain Tops around the world; and as mist in the sky where it condenses and falls back to the surface as dew, rain, snow and hail. Simply put it is everywhere and all around us. It is good to know that there is so much water available to us in so many states and conditions because there is also a tremendous amount of needs and uses for it.

When I was a boy growing up in Governor’s Harbour we relied on the rain to provide the fresh water we needed for domestic use, at that time many of the old residences had one or more rain water cisterns and those that did not had to rely on water from wells that were located in the valley of the former French Leave/ Club Med hotels. In the 1960’s diesel pumps were installed at those well locations but the water supply became salty and had to be supplemented by fresh water extracted from the Ocean Hole at James’ Cistern and trucked to Governor’s Harbour until a more permanent pipeline brought water from North Eleuthera all the way south to Savannah Sound.

My grandparents had multiple rainwater cisterns, even though they lived across the street from the town water cisterns at the top of the hill and when I built my own homes they all have rain water cisterns. I found out soon after starting a family that it was an inadequate supply when used to

Perspective ‘OAS’ Continued from Page. 14

cil of the OAS on a majority vote of 18.

The problem with this approach is that when a majority of 18 secures passage of a resolution or a declaration on which others have not been consulted and that is unpalatable to them, a trail of bitterness is left among the 15 others, particularly when it is known that governments have been cajoled and pressured to help attain the majority of 18.It is sad that in the Americas, the governments of countries, that benefitted from the wisdom of the founding fathers of the United States, ignore the observation of Thomas Jefferson, one of the authors of the U.S. Constitution, that: “All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression”.

Tied-up with Secretary-General Almagro’s disdain for the official organs of the OAS is his decision now to run for a second term, although he had previously indicated that he would not. His stance on Venezuela, particularly, would have endeared him to those member states whose governments might wish him to remain as an addi-

tional instrument for advancing their peculiar interests.

But, if Mr. Almagro is not reined-in and his overreach not curtailed, many member-states will not tolerate it, and the organisation will be damaged irreparably. Governments, except the timid and the frightened, will not sit by idly while their rights are eroded, and their voices disregarded.

Mr. Almagro’s latest dangerous pronouncement, made casually at the CSIS meeting on January 15, is that, if what he calls “the interim President” of Venezuela being Juan Guaidó, one of the leaders of the opposition, designates representatives to the OAS, he will accept their credentials and seat them, presumably ousting the current delegates.

The Secretary-General has no such authority. No instrument of the OAS gives him that power. And, if it is that Mr. Almagro is setting-up this possibility for any vested-interest group in the OAS to force adoption of such a notion by a majority vote of 18, the OAS, in its present form, will not survive it.

To be clear, objection to any such action will not come because any country is blindly supporting the Maduro government in Venezuela; it will come because the precedent it would establish

The Eleutheran | Jan/Feb 2019

35

wash clothes, bathe, clean, and water the garden. So even though rain water comes for-free, it is costly to prepare an adequate storage supply that will be maintained during times of heavy use and minimal rains. With the resulting dependence on the public water supply came the lack of conscience in the excessive use and wastage of this resource.

Now that more than half of the island is being supplied with water from the well-fields in the North, that supply had to be supplemented by Reverse Osmosis plants, and in that process, Chlorine is added as an additional purifier.

We are living in a time when more and more reliance is being placed on the Governance of the Country to care for and protect us from every threat. However, every effort made to protect also comes with the possibility of the use of dangerous and/or unproven means.

Chlorine used to kill bacteria that may contaminate a water supply system is not filtered out before being supplied to you, so it remains active in all points of use, even when you drink it.

Water is essential for living, and good living requires good water! However, adding a poison, even if in small amounts, the accumulated effect will eventually take its toll, and who has it helped? If you are going to break my back slapping a mosquito you do better letting it bite me. As a result of the

casual poisoning of the public water supply and no one going through the expensive process of constructing rainwater cisterns, the public now has to rely on industrial fresh water suppliers to provide ‘safe’ water to drink. My question to all at this time is “Are we better off now”? I recently saw a bottle of water imported from Fiji.

Now that there is wide acceptance of chlorinated public water supplies there are also many suppliers of alternative filtering systems, all intended to make you pay, one way or the other.

Drink the water and find out that the cure is worse than the ailment. Chlorine is used not because it is safe, but because it is the cheapest method of saying you are doing something to protect people! Once again you have relinquished personal responsibility for your own health to a non feeling system that only wants to be able to say ‘we are doing something’.

God is angry with this generation that is willing to destroy the health and wellbeing of people for the sake of money and power, and He will judge this world for its sin. Love for your fellow human brother and sister is to not take advantage of people to get money, power or fame; true love is to want the very best for all. Remove the Chlorine!

would be far-reaching and dangerous for any other country that is targeted for whatever reason.

The rules of international organisations and international law must be respected and upheld, or disarray will result.

Venezuela needs a negotiated and sustainable solution for the sake of its

people and for the stability of the region. Promoting division within Venezuela and isolating its de facto government from diplomatic discourse simply protracts the hardships the people endure.

Response and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com

GHB Airport Continued from Page. 10

Thursdays and Saturdays.

Aztec Airways, a smaller charter service - arriving from Fort Lauderdale with a less structured flight schedule.

TwinEx, a cargo plane - arriving from Fort Lauderdale on Fridays, adding flights as necessary during the week, depending on their cargo demand.

Bahamasair - operating domestic flights between Governor’s Harbour and Nassau on Fridays (2 flights - morning and evening), Saturdays (1 flight - morning), Sundays (1 flight - evening), and Mondays (2 flights - morning and evening).

A number of private aircraft arrive into Governor’s Harbour throughout each week as well, said Mr. Davis, with fuel available on site, provided by Earco Elite.

Several other ground handlers operate at the location, including Sovereign Atlantic, with key principal, Mr. Granville Bethel. Odyssey Aviation, currently based in Rock Sound, also handles a number of private flights arriving into Governor’s Harbour, he added.

Mr. Davis, although new to airport management when he began in June 2018, came in with decades of experience working within the travel industry, having worked with Nassau Flight Services early in his career, before transitioning into travel services - working first with Bahama Holidays, then with Playtours/Destinations/Going Places for more than 20 years. He also had a stint with the Ministry of Finance, as a Revenue Officer in the Business License department for five years, returning to travel services ahead of his 2018 appointment as airport manager for the Governor’s Harbour airport.

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Crime News

Jan/Feb 2019

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. around 9:00 am Officers from the Rock Sound Police Station acting on certain information launched operation “non stop”. The officers followed intelligence throughout the day searching various spots for a wanted suspect around 6:30pm the operation team received crucial information which led them to a residence just on the outskirts of Tarpum Eleuthera REPORTS Bay. Officers stormed the residence and found the suspect hiding on the inside. the ARREST (THREATS OF DEATH) suspect who put up a struggle reaching for a On Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019, sometime around 10:15am, an adult female knife in left pocket was subsequently subdued . A search was conducted of suspect and a came into the Rock Sound Police Staquantity of suspected Marijuana was found in tion and was informed about a complaint his left pocket; he was further cautioned,. He of threats of death made against her on was brought to the Rock Sound Police Station Wednesday, January 16th, 2019, she was arrested and cautioned for threats of death. for further processing.

On Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019, House Breaking - At about 2:30pm an sometime around 10:50am, while at the adult male came into the Governors Harbour Rock Sound Police Station, Officers saw and spoke with the suspect. Under caution Police Station and reported that sometime she admitted recording a video on her cel- before 2:30pm on Friday 18th January 2019, the residence for which he is the care taker lular phone on Wednesday, January 16th, was broken into by unknown person(s) and (1) 2019, that was broadcasted on her Facebook page. She denied sending a threats-of- dvd player Valued $250.00 and (1) Samsung death message and she informed that it was J Cellphone valued at $150.00 went missing.

He has no suspects at this time. Police action her son who is heard on the video saying he is going to kill someone. She declined to requested.

This matter is under active investigation. give a statement under caution.

Sometime around 1:10pm, the suspect was released from police custody pending further enquiries.

ARREST (THREATS OF DEATH) On Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019, sometime around 12:30pm, an adult male came into the Rock Sound Police Station and was informed about a complaint of threats of death made against him on Wednesday, January 16th, 2019. He was arrested and cautioned reference to threats of death. He was processed and charged with offence.

STEALING - On Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019, sometime around 3:25pm, an adult male came into the Rock Sound Police Station and reported that, sometime between 9:00am on Saturday, January 19th, 2019, and 4:00pm on Monday, January 21st, 2019, some unknown person/s entered the property of a friend and stole a 15 hp Yamaha Engine, valued at $400, from his red and blue fiberglass Skiff boat. He further stated that his boat was left at the said property for approximately one year. He is requesting police action in this matter. This matter is under active investigation.

Illegal Firearms/Dangerous Drugs Search Conducted Officers on mobile patrol reported that at about 3:15pm on 21/01/19 while on Queens Highway in the area of Pine Street Governors Harbour they stopped and conducted a search of a red Jeep Cherokee as well as its three (3) male occupants for Illegal Firearms and Dangerous Drugs with negative results.

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

with Intent to Supply - On 15.01.19 at 6:40am, officers executed a search warrant on the residence of an adult male reference to Dangerous Drugs and Firearms. As a results while searching a closet in a South Eastern Bedroom retrieved from the closet a clear plastic bag with two clear plastic wraps each with a quantity of suspected marijuana, estimated at two ounces. A search of a blue jacket pocket belonging to the suspect that was lying on the floor in that same bedroom revealed , four (4) silver wraps each with suspected Marijuana.

As a Result at about 6:45am the suspect was arrested and cautioned reference to dangerous drug with intent to supply.

Also confiscated as stolen goods and paraphernalia associated with the sale and distribution of dangerous drugs as follows; • One (1) black play station with Arrest reference to Houseone (1) remote; One (1) grey/blue screw breaking - At 5:06pm, on Wednesday kit set; Three (3) black/yellow Bostitch nail 16/01/2019, Officers brought into the GHPS gun; Three (3) black/silver Porter cable nail an adult male and reported cautioning and argun with RGO written on it; One (1) black/ resting him, while at the said station, reference silver ; scale’One (1) white Taylor scale; One to Housebreaking. He was processed and later (1) black Hairer 40 inch television; One (1) released pending further investigation. plastic bag with (18) Play Station tapes; One (1) black Philips 60 inch television flat screen; Obscene Language & Assault: One (1) black Android box; One (1) blue On Wednesday 16 January, 2019 sometime router around 10:45am, an adult female reported at Rock Sound Police Station that between Search Warrant Conducted Tuesday 15 January 2019 sometime around Firearm & Ammunition Arrest 9:00am, and Wednesday 16 January 2019 On 15.01.19 at 7:57am, officers acting sometime around 10:15am, an adult male apon information received, executed a search proached her saying, “Why you @$%# cutting warrant on the residence of an adult male your eyes, call the @$%# police.” He also reference to Dangerous Drugs and illegal said to her “You kill my mummy or you give firearms. While searching a north eastern my mummy a black needle?” He then forced bedroom, Officers retrieved from a brown a piece of paper in her face pushing her back headboard, one brown .45 glock pistol, a . Police action requested and assistance in red, white and blue Berol box containing having suspect transported to SRC ,New Proviwith thirty (30) .45 rounds of ammunition in a dence for further evaluation and treatment. white sock, along with one (1) black standard . Sometime around 8:10pm an adult male magazine with twelve (12) rounds of ammuniwas cautioned and arrested reference to astion, and one (1) extended magazine with ten sault. Suspect was seen by Dr. Sidney Smith (10) rounds of ammunition. and matter referred.

The suspect was arrested and cautioned.

Also confiscated from the scene were the SEARCH WARRANT Conducted following items; Arrest Possession of Dangerous Drugs One (1) black Philips 60 inch television On 15.01.18 sometime around 5:14am, flat screen; One (1) black Android box; One officers acting on information received, (1) blue router executed a search warrant on the residence of an adult male reference to dangerous drugs Arrest Housebreaking/ Stealing & and firearms. Present during the search at Receiving - On 15.01.19 at 1:30pm, Offithe time was the suspect, his mother, brother cers while on Queen’s Highway, Waterford in and Nephew. During the search a quantity of the area of Marco’s Bar, arrested and caution Dangerous Drugs was found as a result the an adult male reference to house breaking, males were arrested for Possession of Danger- stealing and receiving. He was transported ous Drugs. They were processed and charged to Rock Sound Police Station where he was with that offence. processed.

Arrested reference to Escape from lawful custody Possession of Dangerous drugs Search Warrant Conducted and Unlawfully carrying arms - On Arrest ref. Dangerous Drugs Sunday 20th January, 2019, sometime

Search Conducted Firearm & Ammunition - On 15.01.19 at 1:34pm,

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

Officers while at Queen’s Highway, Waterford searched two adult males for dangerous drugs and firearms with negative results.

Arrest Reference to Unlicensed Firearm - On 15.01.19 at 8:40am an adult male came to the R.S.P. Station and was informed that he is suspected to be in possession of an Unlicensed firearm. He was arrested and cautioned for Possession of an unlicensed firearm. The suspect was transported to C.D.U Nassau for further investigations.

Found Drugs Report - On 15.01.19 at 10:50pm Officers came into the R.S.P.S with a Brown and Green Old Forth Hand bag containing Thirteen clear Plastic wrapping each with a quantity of grassy substance suspected to be Indian Hemp. They informed that sometime around 10:30pm todays date Officers acting on Information received went through a track road at Queens Highway Rock Sound where they searched an old abandon car and found the mentioned suspected marijuana.

Investigations of drugs are being continued .Total weight of drugs 5.34gramms. The suspected drugs was secured at the R.S.P. Station.

SUSPECT ARRESTED - Officers came in at the G.H.P.S. with an adult male under arrest and reported that he was arrested and cautioned at 9:51am on 14th January 2019 while in the area of Bahamas Power and Light Queen’s Highway Governor’s Harbour reference to Shop breaking and Stealing. He was processed and released pending further investigations.

CAUSING HARM - Officers came in at the G.H.P.S. with an adult male under arrest and reported where he was cautioned and arrested at 2:50pm on the 14th January 2019 on the banks Road Governor’s Harbour reference to a complaint of Causing Harm. He was processed and charged with that offence.

Arrest Reference to Possession of Dangerous Drugs - At about 11:25am on Monday 14th January 2019, Officers came into the Hatchet Bay Station with two adult male suspects under arrest and reporting arresting them reference to Possession of Dangerous drugs. Both suspects were interviewed under caution and charged both with possession of Dangerous Drugs contrary to section 29(6) and 29(2)b of the dangerous drug act Chapter 228.

DAMAGE VEHICLE /STEALING REPORTED At about 9:50pm on Saturday 12th January 2019 an adult male reported to the Governors’ Harbour Police Station that his black and beige 2001 Ford Expedition was broke into while parked at the rear yard of the

Crime News

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com Arrest reference to House Breaking and Stealing - Officers came in at the Governors Harbour Police station at about 12:39pm on the 7/1/18 with an adult male under arrest ant reported that he was arrested at about 11:20am same date reference to a complaint of House Breaking made HOUSE BREAKING REPORTED - At about on the 14.12.18.

9:45am on Saturday January 12th 2019 an The Mentioned officers reported executadult female Contacted the G.H.P.S and they ing a search warrant on the residence of are guest at House where, some unknown the said suspect and recovered two Lennox persons/s broke and entered into the house air-condition split units suspected stolen. and stole $3500.00 in cash and trashed the Enquiries into this matter are ongoing. entire house. Police assistance requested.

Officers responded to the scene saw Shop Breaking Reported - An adult and spoke with the complainants who took male came to the Governors Harbour Police the officer to a upstairs bed room and pointed station at about 1:11pm on the 7.1.19, and out a brown leather brief case that they said reported that sometime between Thursday contained $2,500.00 (twenty five hundred 3rd January 2019 12:00pm and Monday dollars) but was missing when they returned 7th January 2019, some unknown person(s) home. Officers was later taken to the back broke and entered the storage room to the of the residence where they discovered 4 said establishment. The culprit(s) searched back pack on the outside of the house that and stole (1) Porter Cable Sawzall in case contained all of their personal items includ- value unknown (1) Dewalt Planer value ing their passports. The Complainant also unknown (1) 12” chop saw sliding saw 500ft stated that $1,000.00 (One thousand dollars of roofing cooper valued $2,750.00 (1)Ryobi was missing from her small green wallet. This Sliding Wet Tile Saw valued at $849:00. Entry matter is under active investigation. was gained through the main door by forcing open the lock Police action was requested.

Suspect Hit and Run Driver arThis matter is under active investigation. rested - At about 10:50pm Offices came in at the Governor’s Harbour Police Station Stealing from a Vehicle Reported with an adult male and reported that at about An adult male came to the Governors 10:35pm he was arrested on Queen’s High- Harbour Police station at about 1:34pm way, Governor’s Harbour reference to Hit on the 7.1.19 and reported that sometime and Run near the Majority Rule Junkanoo. around 1:00pm same date some person(s) The suspect was taken to the Clinic to deter- unknown broke into his rental vehicle mine sobriety and subsequently released after through a rear back glass, the culprit(s) being warned of prosecution for the offence. searched and stole $88.00 in Bahamian currency, thirty pounds in British Currency, STEALING FROM A VEHICLE - At about $200.00 in Australian Currency, from his 12:35am on Sunday January 12th 2019 an wallet which was hidden under the front adult female reported to the Governors Har- driver seat. The said vehicle was left parked bour Police Station that sometime between unattended through Surfers Beach Road.

9:00pm on 12/1/19 and 12:15AM on 13/1/19 Gregory Town. Police action was requested. some unknown person/s went into the hood of her 2009 Mazda and stole a black battery Shop Breaking and Stealing At about 7:00pm on the 7/1/19 an adult valued at $120.00 which was left in the front male came in at the Governors Harbour of Burrows One Stop Shop. This matter is Police station and reported where sometime under active investigation. between 11:00pm on the 20/12/18 and the Causing Harm Report- At about 8:00 5/1/19 Some unknown persons broke and a.m. on Friday 11th January 2019, an adult entered his rental unit situated on Cupids female , came to the Governor’s Harbour Cay above Water front Café next to the Police Station and reported that her husband Immigration office and stole (1) gray, black, frequently beats her badly about her head and green containment safe valued at $200 and body resulting in injuries. Further that on and a black and gray Emerson 32 inch flat Today’s date 11/01/2019 while at their resiscreen television valued at $300. He suspects dence he beat her about her head and body a male relative of being responsible. Police resulting in bruising and cuts to her head, action requested. This matter is under active hands, chest and legs. She requested Police investigation.

Action in this matter.

Officers while at the Governors Harbour

Police Station observed injuries about the body of the complainant that appeared to be consistent with her report.

Royal Bank of Canada. The driver’s side window was smashed and the battery was stolen along with his wallet which contained his NIb Card, Driver’s License and Credit Cards.

Police action requested. This matter is under active investigation.

Harbour Island REPORTS

House Breaking - AT 3:00pm an adult female contacted the Governors Harbour Police Station and reported that on Wednesday 9th January 2019 sometime between 12:50pm and 2:40pm some unknown person/s broke and entered her home through a rear western bedroom window. $500.00 cash in 100 US currency notes was stolen from a purse she keeps in her nightstand dresser drawer in the bedroom. Police Action requested. This scene was processed.

Investigations are ongoing.

House Breaking Report Police Action Requested An adult female care taker of a residence on Dunmore Street came to the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that she owns the residence which is rented out to friends from America. She stated that they reported to her about 9:00Am on 21/1/19 this morning that between Saturday 19th January 2019 and Monday 21st January 2019 some unknown person(s) entered the residence and stole a total of $2,800.00 in u.s currency out of their bags while they were asleep. Police action is requested.

The Eleutheran | Jan/Feb 2019

Interfering with a Prisoner Police on Saturday 19th January 2019, warned a male about interfering with a prisoner.On Monday 21st January 2019, sometime around 7:05pm the officer reported observing the male clad in a grayish hoody jacket shouting out the nickname of the prisoner (arrested earlier for Firearms and Illegal Drugs) and jumped over the Administration wall to the cell block windows. The male then jumped back over the wall. The Officer then informed him of the offence of interfering with a prisoner and also told him he was under arrest before he ran down Colebrook Street.

Police Warning Requested On Sunday 20th January 2019 at 10:55am an adult female of Barrack Street, Harbour Island came to the HIPS and reported that a female she knows is constantly spreading false information about her telling people that she stole her boyfriend. She requested a police warning be issued. Police visited the residence of the accused who was informed of the complaint made against her and was sternly warned of her behavior. In her defense she denied all of the allegations.

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yard were made where a black and brown imitation pistol was found . As a result, police arrested and cautioned an adult male of Barrack Street for Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm. The suspect and exhibits were transported to the Harbour Island Police Station fort further processing and investigation.

Threats of Harm Report Police Action requested An adult male of Airport Road, North Eleuthera came to the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that at around 10:00 pm on Tuesday 15th January,2019 while along Bay Street in the area of Big Reds convenience store in Harbour Island, a male known to him threatened to blow off his head. He further reported that the man also threatened to come to the main land and kill his family placing him in fear of he and his family’s safety. Police action requested.

Threats of Harm Arrest On Friday 18th January, 2019 at around 8:55 pm a police crew arrested the accused suspect in the South Street area in reference to the Threats of Harm complaint. He was interviewed under caution while at Harbour Island Police Station where he denied threatening the complainant but stated that they Arrest (operation WEED THEM have an exchange of hurtful words towards OUT) - FIREARM/DANGEROUS DRUGS each other.

The suspect was released A police crew armed with a search war- from Police custody pending further investirant on Friday 18/1/19 at about 5:20Am went gations. to the residence of an adult male of Grant Street Harbour Island reference to Firearms Hit and Run Code 4-6 and Dangerous Drugs. Officers reported Police Assistance that while searching the kitchen area of the On Sunday 13th January 2019, at about home in a plastic bucket they discovered 7:45pm, an adult male of Colebrook Street, plastic wrapped packages with a quantity of Harbour Island came to the HIPS and reportmarijuana; and a black Springfield .40 hand- ed that while travelling South on Dunmore gun pistol serial number # US285915 with Street on his motor bike he was hit from the one (1) black and silver magazine containback by a Grey Honda Fit car causing him ing three (3) live .40 rounds of ammunition. to lose control and fall on to the side walk As a result of the discovery police arrested causing him to receive injuries to his face, and cautioned the suspect in reference to right leg and right hand. Police assistance Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm and requested. ammunition and Possession of Dangerous Drugs with intent to supply. However officers Found property report further reported that on searching the suspect Police Assistance bedroom at the residence, a navy blue denim On Friday 11th January 2019, at about pants was discovered in a clothes hamper 9:40am, an adult male of Barracks Street, and upon searching the pockets of the blue Harbour Island reported that sometime denim jeans they found a sum of cash in around 8:15am he went to work on DunBahamian and U.S currency. The suspect was more Street South to cut vines off a wall and further cautioned. The money was seized as throughout some bushes, while clearing the Proceeds from the sale of Dangerous Drugs. vine, he found a black case which contain The suspect and all exhibits were secured a brown and black gun along with pellet. and transported to the Harbour Island Police He the secured the gun and brought it to the Station for further processing and investigapolice station for further investigation. This tion purposes. matter is from a House Breaking complaint On Saturday 19th January, 2019 at made on 20/1/18 reference to items that was around 2:26 pm an police conducted a stolen. recorded interview with the suspect in reference to Possession of F/Arm, Ammunition A written statement from the property and Dangerous Drugs with the intent to Manager at the House in reference to identisupply. During the interview, the suspect re- fying the found property. portedly admitted to the allegations. He was subsequently charged with the offences.

Assault Report - On Thursday January 10, 2019 an adult male of Princess Drug Search Report (operation Street, Harbour Island, came to S-3 and WEED THEM OUT) - Search Warrant reported that at about 11:10 a.m. on ThursExecuted day January 10, 2019 a man he knows by Police armed with a search warrant went name told him to “get out this yard” and then to the residence on Barrack Street Harbour kicked him in his hip causing pain. Police Island in reference to Dangerous Drugs and action is requested.

Firearms. While searching a room officers reported discovering two (2) digital measurStealing report - Police informaing scales and a magic bullet nutria bullet tion: On Wednesday 9/1/19 at about 7:10pm blender were discovered with what appeared the Front Desk Clerk a local Hotel contacted to be suspected residue from marijuana.

Continued On Page 38 On searching the property police found a black Gamo air rifle. Further checks of the

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Crime News

Jan/Feb 2019

the area of Dunmore and Munnings Street Harbour Island creating a disturbance in the streets. Police arrived on the scene at Harbor Island Police Station and reported about 2:45Am and met a large crowd of that guests on their property informed her persons in the streets where an adult male that a dark male entered their cottage and of Dunmore Street Harbour Island and an stole an orange wallet, which contained adult male of Alice Street were warned re$200.00 in cash along with credit cards and peatedly to cease with the use of Obscene other valuable. Police assistance requested. Language and conducting themselves in a Disorderly manner. Both suspects were Attempted Suicide report arrested and cautioned in reference to DisPolice information: On Monday 7/1/19 orderly Behavior and Obscene language. at about 12:30pm an anonymous caller contacted Harbor Island Police Station Assault Report - On Thursday via phone and reported that a male at his 3rd January 2019 at 12:15pm an adult male residence located in Harbour Island was of Princess Street came to the HIPS and reattempting to commit suicide by cutting ported that at about 12pm, while in the area his wrist with a knife Police assistance of Big Red Food store, he was approached requested. by an adult male he knows who held in his An officer visited the residence of the hand a piece of wood attempting to hit him complainant where he observed an adult with it because he was walking around with male, conscious and laying down with a bible. He further stated that about three what appeared to be minor cuts to the left weeks ago while at Tiki Hut selling cigaand right wrist. He was assisted to theHarrette and cigars, another adult male beat bour Island Community Clinic and handed him about the body with a piece of wood. over to Doctor Farrington D.M.O for North Police action requested.

Eleuthera whom upon observation referred him to Nassau P.M.H for further observaStealing Report - On Thursday tion.

3rd January 2019, an adult male of Nesbit

Continued from pg. 37

www. EleutheraNews . com

Duke Street Harbour Island came in at the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that at about 2:00pm while at his residence after an exchange of words with his teenage nephew, who resides at the same location, the boy struck him to the right eye with a picket wood from off the wall in the front of their yard causing injuries to his upper eye lid. Police action requested.

Suspect Interviewed: On Tuesday 1st January 2019 at 11am, whiles at the H.I.P.S an officer conducted an interview with a teenage male suspect under caution in the presence of his mother of Duke Street, which he admitted to the offence. He was Charged with Causing Harm contrary to section 135(1) of the Penal Code Chpt.84.

Attempted Arson - On Saturday 29th December 2018, an adult female, of Coconut Grove Ave. contacted the HIPS and reported that sometime around 2:00am she dropped her female friend which is at Dunmore and South Street. While dropping her home, a young man she knows by nickname was standing outside of her house, so then asked her friend if she was going to be ok, and she said yes. She then pulled off, went home and after a few minStreet Harbour Island came to the HIPS and utes texted her friend. At about 2:30am she Arrest #1 Ref: Stolen Vessel reported that sometime between the hours heard a loud sound at the same time she Police reported arresting a young adult of 8:30pm on Wednesday 2nd January and heard her cousin’s alarm went off. She then male suspect of Princess Street inrefer6:30am on Thursday 3rd January 2019, went outside and noticed that her car was ence to a Stolen /Jet Ski /Vessel complaint some unknown person(s) stole a silver on fire. She woke up her parents and they made by a resident of the Narrows Harbour 2012 Yamaha Jet Ski model #VX110ALB, were able to put the fire out, police action Island. Police interviewed the suspect under hull Number DL5458Av from off a floating requested. cautioned where he was asked a series of dock, the property of Point of View. Police Arrest Report - On Saturday 29th questions. He denied the offence and alaction requested.

December 2018 at 9:15am an adult male legations. of New Dunmore Subdivision was arrested Arrest #2 - Police reported arresting Causing Harm Report - On and cautioned in reference to Attempted a male suspect of Bay Street Harbour Island Tuesday 1st January 2019 at 6am Nurse Arson. Police interviewed the suspect unin reference to the Stolen Vessel/Jet Ski. Woodside c/o HICC contacted the Harder caution and he denied the allegations.

He was interviewed under cautionbour Island Police Station via phone and Fighting/Causing Harm-At a where he were asked a series of questions reported that there are two male tourists at fight scene in Harbour Island, Police took and later denied the allegations to the the clinic with injuries resulting from a fight. two males under arrest in reference to offence.

Police Assistance requested. Police visited Fighting and Causing Harm. Another officer Suspects Released: The comthe clinic where they saw and spoke with arrived in the area of Bay Street Harbour plainant later informed police that he no the victims, an adult of Miami, FL and an Island where the suspects an adult male of longer wished to proceed with criminal adult male of the Dominican Republic both the Bluff North Eleuthera and a young adult charges into the matter after recovering the of ‘Chat and Chill’, Harbour Island. The male of Colebrooke Alley Harbour Island Jet Ski moored at a dock in Spanish Wells. males stated that while sitting on a golf cart were both under arrest for Causing Harm As a result they were released on the afterin front of Valentines Resort, Bay Street they and Fighting in a public place. noon 8/1/19. were attacked by a group of other tourists Update Arrest - An officer reported unknown to them. that at about 1:50Am on Thursday 27/12/18 Stealing Report - An adult he arrested a suspect in reference to female of Nesbitt Street Harbour Island Assault with a Deadly Weap- Causing Harm and unlawfully carrying came in at Harbour Island Police Staon - An anonymous caller contacted arms. Another officer reported that at about tion and reported that sometime between the Harbour Island Police Station at about 1:55Pm he arrested and cautioned suspect Sunday 23/12/18 and Wednesday 26/12/18 3:10Am and reported that there were gun an adult male in reference to Obscene Lana young man she knows, stole her Gold I – shots being heard in the area of Clarence guage Disorderly behavior and Obstruction. phone (6) cellular phone valued at $400.00 Street and Tiki Hut Bar. PC 3616 Austin left Police reported that information from her residence without her consent. the Harbour Island Police Station reference received indicated that there were thee She added that he informed her that he had to investigating same and reported that he (3) males at the community clinic sufferremoved the phone to get it fix. However saw and spoke to an adult male who report- ing from stab wounds Victims/suspects after she insisted that he return it he claimed ed that on Wednesday 2nd January 2019 are a young adult male of Clarence who to her that he lost it. Police action requested sometime around 3:20Am while walking received stab wounds to the left side of into the matter. from the Night club he and his friend were the neck and upper back; A young adult stopped and approached by a male armed male of Clarence Street who received Suspect charged reference: with a hand gun in the area of Colebrooke stab wound to his left hand and a Juvenile Ferocious Dog Attack and Clarence Street who later began to of Coconut Grove Ave with Multiple stab An officer reported that at about discharge shots in their direction putting wounds to his back .

2:00pm while at the Harbour Island Police them both in fear for their life and safety.

Investigations remains active and conStation charged the a female of Palm Hill They both later learned that the suspect is a tinues into the matter. the Narrows Harbour Island with Permitting male of Colebrooke Street Harbour Island. a Ferocious Dog to be at large and failing to Police action requested. Police collected 1 Suspect Arrested - On Saturday 29th License a dog . red (Orion) Red flare shell cartridge in the December 2018 at 12:53pm, a young adult Disturbance Report/ Arrest area of Clarence Street for future investigamale suspect of Colebrooke Street came - An anonymous caller contacted the Hartion purposes and processing. into the Harbour Island Police Station. He bour Island Police Station sometime around was arrested and cautioned at in reference 2:40am on Saturday 5/1/19 and reported Causing Harm report - On Monday to fighting. Police interviewed the suspect that there were a large amount of persons in 31/12/18 at about 4:37pm an adult male of under caution and he had no response to

the allegations. He was charged with fighting in a public place contrary to section 208(6) of the Penal Code CH 84, he said nothing in response.

Suspect charged - On Friday 28/12/18 police charged a juvenile male of coconut Grove Avenue Harbour Island with fighting contrary to section 208(6) and Causing harm contrary to section 135(1) both of the Penal Code chapter 84. The suspect was granted police bail in the sum of $1,500 with one suretor to appear before Magistrate Court Harbour Island.

Suspect charged On Friday 28/12/18 police charged a young adult male suspect of Spring Street Bluff Eleuthera with three counts of causing harm contrary to section 135(1) of the Penal code chapter 84. He was granted bail at the sum of $1,500 with one suretor to appear before Magistrate court Harbour Island.

Arrest reference to fighting- On Friday 28/12/18 police arrested and cautioned a young adult male suspect of Clarence Street Harbour Island in reference to fighting. He was interviewed and charged with Fighting contrary to section 208(6) of the penal code chapter 84. The suspect was later then fingerprinted processed and granted Police bail at the sum of $500 one suretor to appear before Magistrate Court Harbour Island.

House Breaking Report - On Monday 24th December, 2018 at about 9:00am an adult male of England c/o a vacation property on Alice Street, Harbour Island came to the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that sometime between 8:30 pm on Sunday 23rd December, 2018 and Monday 25th December, 2018 some unknown person/s entered his rental home and stole his black Louis Vouitton wallet which contained $300.00 in US and Bahamian currency along with £30.00.

The wallet was left on the kitchen counter.

Police action requested

Credit by Fraud Arrest - On Monday 24th December 2018 at 10:22 am an adult male of Dunmore Street came to the Harbour Island Police Station where he was arrested and cautioned by police in reference to Credit by Fraud. The suspect was interviewed under caution and released him pending further investigations.

Suspects in under arrest - Police reported arresting and cautioning suspects on Thursday 20th December 2018 at 4:10pm while at residence located 19th Street Spanish Wells for Possession of Dangerous Drugs with Intent to Supply Namely: A young adult male of Bluff, Eleuthera. A young adult male of 19th Street, Spanish Wells. Two adult females of 19th Street, Spanish Wells.

Suspect Interviewed Reference to: Possession of d/drugs With intent to supply - On Friday 21/12/18 police while at Harbour Island Police Station interviewed a young adult male of 19th Street Spanish Wells under caution in reference to the offence of Possession of Dangerous Drugs with Intent to Supply, he admitted to the offence. Suspect was taken into Police custody.

Local

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

| Jan/Feb 2019

Slew of new computers for the Haynes Library The beautifully restored, historic Haynes Library within the heart of the Governor’s Harbour township received a very welcome delivery this month.

As a result of proceeds from the 2018 Eleuthera All That Jazz Festival, 15 brand new computers arrived on island in January, and were set up and readied for use by Ferri Lighting Design & Associates (FLDA), with key principals, Bruce Ferri and Garth Osmond, who volunteered their time and expertise.

“We are excited to get the word out, so people know they are here, and they can come and use and access the new facilities,” shared Michele Johnson with the Friends of Haynes Library organization. All funds for the project, said Mrs. Johnson, has come through the Eleuthera All That Jazz 2018 event, and they also funded the Haynes Library summer 2018 program, which was six weeks of camps.

Describing the equipment, and some of what went into making the upgrade happen, Mrs. Johnson explained, “So we’ve got 15 new Mac (Apple) computers. Thirteen (13) of them will be accessible to students and the public on the second floor, and two will be setup with the staff downstairs, where students needing assistance can sit with them and do work. Haynes Library purchased the computer equipment, and flew Garth and Bruce in from FLDA. All of the FLDA services are volunteered to us, and they will be a ‘satellite link’ for the head librarian, Roz Seyfert, when she is troubleshooting anything with the new computers or the network.

FLDA has become a really strong partner, along with Eleuthera All That Jazz, in making sure that we’ve got it all here.

“It’s all very state-of-the-art brand new. We have had a wonderful computer system over the years, but we had started to limp a little bit, and Eleuthera All That Jazz said let’s go ahead and outfit the new computer center and get everything a little bit more up to date.

Because of course our kids are needing to compete on a much greater scale.

Roz is our IT person. She can probably fix just about everything, which is great, and she will be working with the two assistant librarians to get them up and running.”

Commenting on their choice of bringing in Mac computers as well as online protection for children using the system at the library, Mrs. Johnson, said, “We decided to go with Mac, for the stability against viruses, easier to protect, and we can put very good programming on it. They have very strong graphics and music development programs, which can aid kids in doing projects and presentations. Also, we do monitor what the kids are using online, with someone always present upstairs, and also there is user protection, with types of sites that cannot be accessed…

We also provide USB drives for the kids so they can save and be responsible for their own work, rather than saving to a computer that they may not have access to when needed.”

Left: Bruce Ferri of FLDA, spearheading the setup of the new computer system at the Haynes Library in Governor’s Harbour.

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Local

Jan/Feb 2019

www. EleutheraNews . com

Water and Sewerage Officials Inspect Tarpum Bay Water Plant

By Kathryn Campbell ELEUTHERA, The Bahamas – Executive Chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC), Adrian Gibson along with other officials inspected the water plant in Tarpum Bay during a recent stopover visit to the island.

The plant, which services the communities of Tarpum Bay and Rock Sound, produces approximately 460,000 gallons of water per day and has a storage capacity of 500,000 gallons.

Mr. Gibson said the WSC is exploring the possibility of extending transmission mains between the plants in Tarpum Bay and the settlement of Waterford to accommodate major developments like Jacks Bay and Cotton Bay resorts and others which may be on the drawing board.

“We have another plant further south in Waterford. That plant services the southern communities. It has a storage capacity of 250,000 and produces 90,000 per day. To accommodate the new development, Jacks Bay and their golf course, over the next three weeks or so, we’re putting in an additional 90,000 capacity. They will be producing 180,000 gallons per day in terms of pumping and producing, said Mr. Gibson.

“With the transmission mains, it means that Jacks Bay and other developments would be able to get water from the two sides. You will never have an issue with the golf course, supplying the hotels or whatever other investment may come up.”

The Chairman also highlighted additional work the corporation has completed in Eleuthera including extension works to water mains in German Village.

From Left: Stephen Hank Johnson, MP for Central and South Eleuthera, talks about water upgrades there.

Also shown from left are WSC officials including Cyprian Gibson, Assistant General Manager (partially hidden); Thomas Desmangles, Distribution Operations Manager; Elwood Donaldson, General Manager and Adrian Gibson, Executive Chairman, WSC, and MP for Long Island. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

Helping to add a smile to faces at Christmas

North Eleuthera Primary Schooler did just that with her successful drive Kaynia Minnis, a sixth grader at Laura L. Anderson, said she feels accomplished after her successful, first gift drive for children this past Christmas. In total, Kaynia and her family were able to collect educational, craft and play toys at an estimated value of $1,255.00.

Donations were given by locals as well as individuals from as far as the United States and all toys collected by the 25th of December, were personally delivered on Christmas Day. A few donations thereafter, were given to children at Kaynia’s school who were unable to be located over the holidays. “I wanted to make children smile at Christmas, and I did! I am so happy that everything was a success and many thanks to everyone who contributed and supported in every way. I pray God bless you all,” she shared. Kaynia is currently a school prefect, class president and the 2019 Student of the Year Nominee at the Laura L. Anderson Primary School in Bluff, North Eleuthera.

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Friends of Special Olympics Eleuthera formed to raise funds for athletes Special Olympics activities on island are being assisted and fundraising formalized, announced Mr. Tony Crean, who has worked with Special Olympics athletes in Eleuthera for a number of years. “We decided that we needed to have a Friends of Special Olympics Eleuthera, because we have several people with disabilities within the general community and not in school, who have graduated. We want to continue to keep them involved. So we set up a friends group. Agatha Bethel from Hailshams Legal Associates is the president. Kathy Colman of Colman

Design is the treasurer. Julian Carey, businessman from Tarpum Bay is in charge of fundraising, assisted by Mr. Carl Ramnarine, teacher at Central Eleuthera High School, and I’m the secretary and coach, assisted by my wife Mrs. Karen Crean, as assistant secretary of Friends of Special Olympics Eleuthera.”

The group has several goals for 2019 he added, saying, “Our main aim this year is to win the team event at the National Bocci tournament during the month of April. In terms of fundraising, our first event will be a dinner on March 30th,

Fire Destroys four structures at Princess Cay Sometime around 10:00pm on Monday, January 28th, 2019, Police at Rock Sound received a report of a fire at Princess Cay. SEEP (South Eleuthera Emergency Partners) was dispatched along with police officers.

On arrival they met four wooden structures fully ablaze. They were the generator house, reverse osmosis water plant, mechanic shop and tool shed on property. All four structures were totally destroyed.

The fire was contained within several hours to the mid-section of the Cay. Up to print time, the cause of the blaze was unknown to authorities.

Anymore on this story will be released online at www.ELeutheraNews.com

dubbed ‘An Evening with Friends’, with barbecue, a roast pig, grilled mahi mahi, vegetables, salads and wine at $50 per ticket - scheduled to take place at Bahama Breeze behind Hailshams Legal Associates in Palmetto Point. We are looking forward to raising at least $3,000, to match last year’s event.”

Efforts by the Special Olympics athletes on island are becoming more well known, commented Mr. Crean, “Last year, the awareness about the Special Olympics athletes on island went up alot. We had a t-shirt night at Fish Fry in Governor’s

Harbour during 2018 as well, which helped to generate quite a bit of positive interest.”

The signature event of Special Olympics Bahamas, the National Bocci tournament will once again be hosted in Eleuthera this year. Island teams expected to take part, said Mr. Crean, include Exuma, Abaco, Grand Bahama, Eleuthera and Nassau, and the tournament is scheduled to take place on the 27th and 28th of April in Rock Sound at the Center for Innovation and Training (CTI).

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Island “Buzz”

Jan/Feb 2019

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PICTURED HERE: Scenes from the Rock Sound New Vision Group performing at the Eleuthera Junkanoo Festival on Saturday evening, January 12th, 2019. For more photos, See our online gallery at www.EleutheraNews.com displayed across four pages, with four videoclips to set the mood at the following link: (http://eleutheranews.com/?p=20229).

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PICTURED HERE: Scenes from the Tarpum Bay Unity Builders Group performing at the Eleuthera Junkanoo Festival on Saturday evening, January 12th, 2019. For more photos, See our online gallery at www.EleutheraNews.com displayed across four pages, with four videoclips to set the mood at the following link: (http://eleutheranews.com/?p=20229).

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Island “Buzz”

Jan/Feb 2019

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PICTURED HERE: Scenes from the Savannah Sound Lucayans Group performing at the Eleuthera Junkanoo Festival on Saturday evening, January 12th, 2019. For more photos, See our online gallery at www.EleutheraNews.com displayed across four pages, with four videoclips to set the mood at the following link: (http://eleutheranews.com/?p=20229).

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PICTURED HERE: Scenes from the Harbour Boys GHB Group performing at the Eleuthera Junkanoo Festival on Saturday evening, January 12th, 2019. For more photos, See our online gallery at www.EleutheraNews.com displayed across four pages, with four videoclips to set the mood at the following link: (http://eleutheranews.com/?p=20229).

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Island “Buzz”

Jan/Feb 2019

PICTURED HERE: Scenes from the New’s Years Day perfomance in Deep Creek.

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For more photos online go to: (http://eleutheranews.com/?p=19786).

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PICTURED HERE: Scenes from the Boxing Day perfomance in Harbour Island. For more photos online go to: (http://eleutheranews.com/?p=18754).

For more photos of the CHRISTMAS DAY Junkanoo in Hatchet Bay go online to: (http://eleutheranews.com/?p=19085)

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