The Eleutheran Newspaper - Sept/Oct Issue 2018

Eleuthera, Harbour Island & Spanish Wells

Harbour Island Spanish Wells Eleuthera

Volume 11, Issue 9, October 2018

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

Déjà vu : No let up in the influx of illegal migrants into Eleuthera - 4 dozen found around GHB Fifty-two (52) illegal migrants were transported from Governor’s Harbour to New Providence on Monday, October 1st, via Bahamasair, to be held at the Carmichael Road Detention Center pending further arrangements for them to be repatriated back to Haiti.

The group included one permit holder, who was charged with aiding an illegal landing. His vehicle was also confiscated and turned over to the Crown, according to Chief Superintendent of Immigration for the Eleuthera District, Mrs. Shemah Darling. The group of illegal migrants transported to New Providence included; 1 woman, 4 minor boys, and 47 men.

Forty-three (43) of the migrants in custody were caught from a recent illegal boat landing in Central Eleuthera.

The boat landing or possible drop off was suspected by authorities to have taken place sometime on Wednesday,

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Above: Bahamasair being boarded by illegal Haitian migrants on October 1st, 2018.

Masons marching to the beat

Young New Anglican Deacon

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Farewell pg: 8

An Eleutheran Profile

Rose Mae Neily Green

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Sept/Oct 2018

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New Managing Director and New Plans at

The Cove Eleuthera Resort

BY THE ELEUTHERAN NEWS TEAM

Jason Trollip, new Managing Director at The Cove Eleuthera Resort, who arrived on island at the beginning of August 2018 - in an interview with The Eleutheran on Wednesday, September 26th, spoke about his new role, the resort, as well as upcoming plans at the unique luxury property.

Is this your first time to Eleuthera?

Yes. First time in the Bahamas, Eleuthera and first time in this part of the world. I spent the last two years in Indonesia. It was an incredible place. We ran a hotel that was voted the best hotel in the world by Travel and Leisure magazine, two years in a row. It was Nihi Sumba on the island of Sumba, which is pretty unknown, but the hotel did really well two years in a row. Then we decided to try some new areas, and see some new parts of the world (My wife and my two children and I). The Caribbean stood out for us and looked very exciting, and obviously the Bahamas is a world renown, iconic destination, so it was a good move for us.

Tell us a little about your background and where you are from?

I grew up in South Africa, both my wife and I. We come from a Safari hotels and resorts background. I’ve been working with Safari hotels and resorts for about 20 years, not only in South Africa, but also Tanzania in the Serengeti National Park. After that, into Indonesia for two years, and then here.

With the uptick in visitor arrivals in 2018, has The Cove seen an increase in performance over last year?

Yes, we’ve had a very good year.

Our revenues and occupancies are up between 15% and 19%. A lot of that is due to the unfortunate circumstances of other Caribbean islands last year, with the hurricanes and the damage they sustained… So we anticipated that we would do better than we had budgeted.

So we’ve had a really good year. It’s unlikely that the trend will continue next year. Next year will probably be more of the same of where we are right now.

How many employees to you anticipate having on property for your new season opening on October 1st?

We have 130 employees, and for the peak season we will probably take on a few additional hands to help us through the season. So, we may take ourselves up to 140 to 145 to help us through the January to May period. About five people out of the current 130 are foreign.

Our focus is less on expats from other countries and more on Bahamian development. First and foremost finding staff from Eleuthera, and if we can’t, then other islands in the Bahamas, or finding

Bahamians abroad, within the Caribbean or elsewhere. So it’s a long process of being true to Eleuthera first of all. It’s a good place to be. We’ve still got a huge amount of training and development that is required to get us to a world class stage. We know that, and are hand picking skilled people around the world who are able to come and transfer knowledge and skill to the staff here. So in the future, they will be able to do it.

What’s new at The Cove?

There are some great plans for the next few years. We have a group of consultants here now, starting to plan for the next phase of The Cove - the next stage in its growth and life cycle. This September we’ve done some deferred maintenance that was urgently needed. Next year, we will likely close for a shorter period of time to do some work on some of the rooms. Some of the sizes of the rooms will double, by incorporating two different rooms into one unit. That’s the plan for some of the units that we have in 2019. At the end of all of our plans in 2020/2021, we will actually come up to the same number of rooms (57 units), because we will be utilizing some of the rooms differently. For example, the current ‘Sanctuary’ building, we are looking to convert into a spa, gym, café, boutique and yoga space. We will then build a series of new oceanfront villas. But at the end of the day we will still remain at the same number of units. So 2019 will be a small closure to do some reconfiguration of rooms, and also we will start work on our back of house areas, our facilities, store rooms, offices, workshops and maintenance, and staff accommodation will be revamped at the same time next year. A lot of the work next year will be back of house. Right now, the plan is for 2020 to be a second phase closure, where we will do a lot more in the front.

For a visitor to The Cove this season, how would you sum up what they can expect to experience?

It’s a very romantic place to be - a lot of honeymooners and couples, gorgeous beach experiences, beautiful sunsets. The romance you can’t get away from. If you combine the beauty of the area, and the romance of everything we do here, and the Eleutheran feel of the people’s culture - the combination is a very gentle, satisfying outcome - very relaxing, with calm spaces in which to unwind. You get a real sense of why people come to the Bahamas to take in our gorgeous beaches, eat handcrafted foods that are local to Eleuthera, the Bahamas and the Caribbean, with very high quality furniture, sheets, and amenities all of the nice things in life to make you feel spoiled.

We have a state-of-the-art gym.

We have a spa, with not only treatment rooms in the main building, but also treatments available within guest rooms.

We have two beaches, north and south beach, with an infinity pool which straddles both areas, and is positioned for viewing our incredible sunsets. We’ve got a sushi restaurant and bar here, to add to our amazing Gregory Town Grill - a dynamic Eleutheran cultural styled Above: Jason Trollip, New Managing Director at The Cove Eleuthera Resort. restaurant, and the main interior Freedom Resthe past it has been to assist some of the local schools in early childhood development - preschools and pritaurant - which is more continental, internamary schools to get kids on to the right footing. We’ve tional cosmopolitan. We have the Pointe Bar, done some nice donations to the local schools in that which is on the end, which is our sunset bar. regards. We are also currently working with the local We also have a tremendous amount of activifire department to fix the fire trucks in both Hatchet ties. Our boats are available for fishing, diving, Bay and Gregory Town, because we know that has snorkeling, bone fishing and the like. There are been a challenge in the past. I think as the Enchantbicycles for guests wanting to get out and exment Group becomes more involved here, we will start plore along the main road, and we partner with identifying local community needs and seeing where taxis who do tours all around Eleuthera - all of we can assist, and to mobilize our guests to assist the the hot spots, as well as Spanish Wells and Harsame. It’s up to me now to meet with those communibour Island. ty leaders and find out what are the deeper challenges for the area, and see how we can be of benefit to them.

What vision do you have for future community involvement by The Cove?

I think it’s something that we need to focus more on. I don’t think enough is being done. In

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EXPERIENCED BOAT CAPTAIN/ DECKHAND WANTED: *To start November 2018 *Valid “B” license or higher. Marine Mechanical skills Certifications an asset. *Previous experience in scuba diving industry a real asset. *Must have cash reserve to make move to Harbour Island (or North Eleuthera) *Will train on dive sites Apply to George Gross, Valentines Dive Center, Harbour Island, Bahamas.

Email resume to george@valentinesdive. com.

lot - FOR SALE BY OWNER Rainbow Bay - Ocean View (Hill Top) Lot #10, Block #48, Section C. Size: 100 X175 X100 X 90 Located: 3 miles southeast of Hatchet Bay Subdivision.

Price: B$85,000.00 - This is negotiable.

The Dunmore Hotel Restaurant Harbour Island, Bahamas Positions Needed 1 Bartender 2 Servers 1 Busboy Requirements for positions: Starters/Beginner skills in Bartending and as a Server. Only serious applicants need apply. henry@dunmorebeach.com

New Issue The Eleutheran Magazine An absolutely spectacular new issue of The Eleutheran Magazine is now out, and it’s completely engrossing from cover to cover on its 148 pages. Pick it up around town, at the ports, tourism offices - if it’s not already in your room.

Request a copy: 422-9350 (services@theeleutheran.com)

“The whole magazine is a superb production!” feedback!

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North Eleuthera Airport New Manager, -

New Flights, New Lounge in the Works New Manager at the airport in North Eleuthera (ELH), Mr. Patrick Kemp, recently gave an update on some of the short term plans for the location for the new season and shared some insight on returning home as a young professional, after being away from the island for more than a decade. Patrick arrived back home in Eleuthera in March of this year, and took part in an intensive training program in preparation to formally take up his new posting as the Airport Manager in North Eleuthera on May 28th, 2018.

“This place is such an interesting hub, because we have transits coming in from all over. Just a few weeks ago, an aircraft arrived from Switzerland.

This place is a house to so many different walks of life and there are differing opinions on how the airport should progress. Some people say, ‘You all need to upgrade this place, it does not meet what you do’, and others that say, ‘We love it just the way it is’,” said Mr. Kemp.

“However, in the interim, we are trying to bring it up to a certain standard,” he added, and continued, “We are about to put on a departure lounge that will be able to seat about 120 people, and will include a snack shop as well.

It is anticipated that the lounge will take three months to construct, at a cost of $175,000. The new airport will take about two and a half plus years to construct, at a cost of about $40 million, and we are currently scheduled to break ground on that sometime next year.

We are hoping to have the new lounge completed by December of this year, as a ‘band aid fix’ to alleviate the stress of the high traffic expected during the upcoming season.

“Expanded airlift is expected to begin in November with a new American Airlines flight coming out of Charlotte, North Carolina. We also have a new domestic airline that is expected to begin coming in here on November 1st, called Bahamian Airways, flying between North Eleuthera and New Providence.

With that being the case, we have a whole lot to do. So, we are trying to relieve the congestion of all that’s going on. It may not happen in time, as you are dealing with a government department. However, the floor plan has already been submitted to head office, and construction plans are being completed for submission to the Ministry of Works for final approval. Then construction can commence. This year is projected to be even busier than the previous one, especially with new properties in the pipeline, both on the mainland - like the yacht club said to be opening in Hatchet Bay, and a couple projects in Harbour Island. So, with all of this going on, we

are expecting an influx of visitors this season.”

Describing the current traffic at ELH, Mr. Kemp shared, “Silver Airways, during this slow period has still been operating flights into North Eleuthera every day, with one flight on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and two flights per day on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. During the peak season, Silver Airways will return to their five flights per day schedule into North Eleuthera. American Airlines and Delta are also expected to resume their regularly scheduled daily flights into North Eleuthera beginning in November, with American Airlines having also added the new direct flight out of Charlotte. Domestic airlines, Pineappleair and Southernair, are continuing with their daily three flights schedule out of New Providence as well.

“We have been competing with Abaco for that second place spot in the country’s airport hubs in arrivals and departures, and there are certain months when we’ve actually surpassed Abaco.”

Mr. Kemp, who originally hails from Current Island, has lived in New Providence since graduating high school in Spanish Wells, and currently resides in Lower Bogue since his return. His most recent post in New Providence was as a lecturer with Galilee College, and he is also the owner of PS Custom Designs and Printing, which is still a going concern in Nassau. “This has been different,” he said of his new position. “I have always worked in the private sector. This is my first government position, so, coming in it’s a lot different. In the private sector, it’s go, go, go - it has to get done. What I’m finding in government is, because of the bureaucracy and process/’red tape’, it takes a little bit longer. However, we understand there is a great need here at the airport, so, we are working on that.

We are trying to get some stuff done. In this position you have to be versatile.

It pulls you in many directions, and it’s good. I guess the first part of it was getting past understanding the role, managing expectations versus reality, and with that being the case, the adjustment period is still ongoing. For example getting accustomed to always being on call 24/7 in the case of an emergency.”

When asked about how he now feels about the decision to return home, and advice for others wanting to do the same, Mr. Kemp smiled, “I wish I had come home a bit earlier. I have no intention of returning to New Providence to live, so I’m now settled back home.

I’ve spent a number of years in Nassau, however, all of my immediate family have been here in Eleuthera, so there is nothing like being back home, and being

Above: Patrick Kemp, New Airport Manager at North Eleuthera’s ELH.

able to spend real time with family once again.

“I’ve had conversations with other people who have also relocated back home, and they all say it’s so much better being back home than being in Nassau or in the U.S. The grass is not greener. You would assume that in coming home, the opportunities would be fewer, but

that is not the case, because, there are both employment and entrepreneurial opportunities - plus, the additional benefits of being so much more relaxed, transportation is easier - literally cruising around compared to the rat race in Nassau.

The pace of life is so different, so much less stress, the fellowship, the family - it’s priceless.”

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An Eleutheran Profile:

Rose Mae Neily Green (nee Barry) (62)

BY Elizabeth A. Bryan

Rose Mae Neily Green (nee Barry)

With a ready smile and generous spirit, despite the challenges she has experienced during her lifetime, Rose Green, of The Bluff, North Eleuthera, is a true survivor and living life to the full.

Young girl in the Bluff - helping Mom with chores: Rose Mae Neily Green (nee Barry), was born on July 23rd, in 1956 within the North Eleuthera township of The Bluff to Winifred Cornell Barry (nee Saunders) and Wilson Charles Barry. Her family was a large one, as was the norm back then, with fourteen children, and she was not alone entering the world, with a fraternal twin sibling, Carlie Mae - who Rose quipped as she smiled and chuckled, “we shared nothing but our parents, we had everything else, our own.”

She continued, “We didn’t have lights or running water at that time, however, growing up on a Family Island, we were knitted. Your mom was my mom, and you were my sister.

We lived like that,” described Rose. “I also grew up in a family where my mother was an entrepreneur and I guess I’ve followed in her footsteps ….For me, I love it. Out at the North Eleuthera airport, where Sands Liquor Store is now, that’s ours. That’s where we grew up helping our mom. She started with plaiting the straw hats, then ventured into a restaurant and bar…

“As children in the house, we had chores.

We would get up at 5:30am/6:00am, because we had chores to do before school, and in those days you had to scrub floors. We would scrub it with a piece of wire and cloth, or use a piece of turbot fish skin as a scrubber. We also had to plait, and my mom also baked, so, we had to grease those pans - 50 odd pans in the morning before school - and by lunchtime, all that bread was gone. Anything she could have gotten her hands on to do, my mom did. While growing up, we were also one of the first families to raise American chickens. Mommy would have them brought in, and we would have to sometimes check on them at 2am in the morning,

to make sure the lantern was still lit, and they were all well. They were in little coops and, oh, the fresh eggs. We fed them with corn that we grew and we would grind it. We also had goats and sheep. Mommy also did the bottled tomatoes, so we would also have to clean bottles. I loved it! Looking back at it, I loved that type of growing up.

“To me, we are blessed, because we grew up here. We sometimes went out early in the morning by the airport to help mom prepare - when the spring breakers were coming in there could be a hundred - two hundred, and we helped prepare sandwiches. Most of them then would be on their way to Spanish Wells, where there was a resort back in the ‘60’s.

They would come in the big jumbo jets and Bahamas Airways at the time. Our family’s livelihood came from my mother’s business there,” shared Rose.

Continuing with her recollections of her young life at the airport, Rose, added, “There were three main taxicab drivers back then.

One was my uncle, J.B. Barry; Mr. Bert Sawyer from Harbour Island; and Mr. Ned Johnson out of Lower Bogue. I’ve seen it grow over the years from then ‘til now…

The airport was also our gateway to get into Nassau. I remember going up to where you could catch a ride to Nassau. When a plane landed, you would just go out there and say, ‘Can I catch a ride to Nassau’? Normally the planes, the little Cessnas would come and bring people and go back empty - so you could catch a ride! And you didn’t have to pay, most would say, ‘Yes, we are going - you can come’. I remember a Mr. Stewart, who lived right on the highway, who had a little one engine plane. He was a war veteran who came out here to retire. He would always give us free rides to Nassau, and in cases of emergency he would have been the one to take the patient into Nassau.”

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living. My daddy was an all-rounder - mechanic, carpenter, and he built boats - the glass bottom boats. I could remember well, the first generator in The Bluff came from my uncle, J. B. Barry. The first television in The Bluff came from another one of my uncles, John Barry. These were my dad’s brothers.”

School Days and others: “Going to school, we didn’t have uniforms,” Rose recalled. “My mom did push to have uniforms implemented later on, with the green skirts and white blouses. However, when I was young we used our common clothes. We had school in the open, and everything was open in the school room - no partitions. So everybody could hear everybody else, but still we learned. The school then was in the same location it is now in The Bluff, but it was just the main original structure, which was added on to in later years.

We started with class 1, 2 and 3, then grade 1, up to grade 9. At that time there were about 10 to 20 students per class, in the school, depending on the age group. Mrs. Laura L. Anderson, of The Bluff, who celebrated her 100th birthday this year, was one of the teachers at the time. In those days we didn’t use chairs and desks - we had wooden desks.

I remember very well, my daddy made one, and we didn’t want anyone else to sit in it,” she smiled. “On a Friday, we had a half day of school, because that afternoon we changed clothes, and would have to scrub the school floor and desks. We actually looked forward to that. It was fun, and we enjoyed that. It was not during my time at the school, but I was told that C. W. Sawyer was once a principal, as well as Reverend Frederick Kelly of the Methodist Church, as well as a Mr. Rolle.

Rose continued describing her memories of school days in The Bluff, saying, “Apart

going to church at night. We had lamps in the church, and we also had the organs that you had to wind and pump.” Rose said that first came water, and then came electricity to The Bluff, but fresh water wells would continue to be a lasting legacy. “We still have a few of the wells, where you could go and use the rope with the bucket to draw water from.

Back in the day, just about every house had their own well, and some still do.”

Now standing at a commanding five feet, eleven inches in height, while growing up, Rose was always tall for her age. So, after doing needlework in school, she got into sewing, using her talent to adjust her clothing to accommodate the additional inches she needed for her longer limbs. “I would take apart blouses and other clothing, and put them back together. I started with patterns, but realized they took up unnecessary cloth, so, I practiced sewing free hand.” Sewing became a hobby that Rose enjoyed all of her life, and today, a room in her home is still dedicated to it, where she assists her church, local organizations and others with her nurtured talent.

A career at home and retirement challenges: Rose started her teaching career at the age of 15 in 1971. “I had just come back from Highbury High (now R. M. Bailey), and I had wanted to be a nurse. While waiting to hear from the Ministry of Health, I was told that they were short on teachers here in The Bluff.

We had two British teachers here, Sally and Larry Dreeves, and Mr. Dreeves encouraged me to apply for a teaching position. So I said, okay, and my mom encouraged me, saying, ‘Go Rose, go, and teach them what you know’. So that’s where I began, as an untrained teacher.”

Rich farming and fishing legacy of the Bluff: “North Eleuthera, and especially The Bluff had large citrus orchards,” said Rose. “Tangerines and oranges were in abundance here. But, hurricane after hurricane eventually destroyed the trees… My first recollection of hurricanes was Betsy in 1965, when I was nine years old. As you get older, you understand more about what it was and the effects…

We had a lot of flooding here in The Bluff, but for us as kids it was play time with all of the water. I remember us walking and looking around, picking up downed guineps that had come off of the trees.

“In North Eleuthera, we farmed,” smile Rose proudly. “J. (Joseph) B. Barry was my uncle - he was the famous taxi 52 - the same number passed on to well-known taxi driver Frederick “Fine Threads” Neilly. Almost everybody farmed. Most of the big homes you see here in The Bluff were built by farmers with money from the farm, and those who were not farmers were fishermen. There was not much else to do, but farm or fish for a

from the regular academic subjects, we also did sports and studied music. During school time, sports was done in the road. We ran races in the road, and they made sand spots for high jump at the back of the school. We had outside toilets at the school at the time as well,” she shared. “I remember also, when I was between five and about seven, we used to buy milk. They would bring this big container of milk, and you had your little cup. We had to pay ‘truppence’ for the fresh milk.”

Running water and lights hit The Bluff while Rose was still in school. Before that though, she described, “Even though we didn’t have electricity, that did not stop us

“In 1976, I went on to begin my teaching degree at the College in New Providence,” said Rose. “During my studies, I got sick during the time of my exams and was hospitalized, so, I couldn’t finish them. It pushed me back. Also, I already had two girls, so I didn’t take summer classes - I would go home to be with my girls. So, my teacher training took about four years. From then, my life’s career has been here teaching in The Bluff. I’ve taught from grade one right up to

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Above: Rose, surrounded by her family and friends, at an awards dinner earlier in 2018 where she was honoured for her years of service within St. Paul’s. Her award was presented by Bishop Laish Boyd.

An Eleutheran Profile Continued from pg. 8 grade 9, and in primary school, you teach all of the subjects. I also assisted quite a bit with Physical Education, as I love the sports.”

Rose lost her first husband of 18 years, Anthony Maxwell Neily, in 2008. He died of an aneurysm at the age of 50. “He was also from The Bluff, and we all grew up in school together here,” said Rose. She was blessed over time with six children - five girls and one boy. Three before her first marriage, two with her first husband, and an informally adopted daughter. “My daughter of Haitian descent came into my life when she was eight years old. She slept over with my girls, then continued to come over and eventually stayed with us. She is now 37,” Rose smiled.

Also in 2008, after 36 years at the school in The Bluff, Rose retired from teaching because of medical challenges. She shared that while writing on the blackboard she was experiencing difficulty in doing so and numbness. During a medical checkup, which included an MRI, it was discovered that she had a slipped disc. Going through the medical board to await release to have her operation, six months passed, and she decided that with 36 years under her belt, she would sooner look after her health rather than suffer serious medical setback to hold on to her job. “The doctor called me on the phone while I was at work, and said, ‘you have to come in as soon as possible, because the disc is already pro-

truding’.” If not dealt with, Rose was told she could become crippled. So, she made the decision to resign. Several successful operations followed, for both the slipped disc as well as pinched nerves, with the scars remaining at the small of her back and on her neck. “Things that happen, that I have no control over - I don’t fret about it. It is what it is,” smiled Rose.

Rose got remarried in 2013 to her current husband, Sidney Green, who was originally from Gregory Town. “I knew him for years.

He did upholstery in New Providence, and one time I needed assistance with some sewing I was doing, and we became close after that.” Recounting an amazing sequence of events that took place in later years after it was revealed that she had developed heart disease, Rose highlighted the importance of always being kind. “The small act of kindness that you do - you never know what seed you are sowing… I feel I would not have been here, if it was not for a small act of kindness.”

Rose shared that she has gone through five heart attacks in her lifetime. “Valentines in 2016, my heart was going at 220 beats per minute - my shirt was flapping. I was experiencing another heart attack, and something lifechanging happened when I was in hospital. I was discharged because I didn’t have the money to get the operation to install a dual pacemaker/defibrillator, which I was told I needed at the time. The hospital couldn’t hold me anymore. So I was sitting waiting for my medication - already discharged. There were three nuns/sisters who came around, and I overheard them talking

to the patient next to me. I’m very sociable, so before they came over to me, I said ‘hi, I’m Rose’, and we chatted briefly about my situation. One sister asked where I was from, and I replied, ‘The Bluff, Eleuthera’. She said, well you should know Donald and Betty Hudson, and I said ‘yes’. Then I told her, that I knew her, I had recalled delivering a letter to her door from the Hudson’s, and she remembered as well. So she inquired again about my current situation.”

The recollection of that one small act of kindness would snowball into a scurry of amazing actions that would see Rose receiving her lifesaving operation within four days of chatting with the sisters. “That opened all the doors… Be kind! Don’t hold evil in your heart. Be kind,” exhorted Rose. The operating doctor, current Minister of Health, Dr. Duane Sands, came to see her before the operation, exclaiming that he had to see who this woman was that he had received so many calls about to make the surgery happen - ‘I needed to see who was this Rose Neily, because for the calls I got, and for the people who called me, I had better get this right today. I have got to fix you up’,” he said - recalled Rose.

This incident resulted in Rose being outfitted with a dual pacemaker and defibrillator.

Since the surgery, which she recounted was a miracle that it happened at all, Rose shared that she has experienced three heart attack events, which were stabilized by the life saving device installed near her heart. “Since I’ve had it put in, it has gone off three times.

Actually, being shocked, I experienced that three times. When the pacemaker can’t bring

my heartbeat down to a normal pattern, I can tell, because it feels like I’m going to faint my heart stops beating, and then the defibrillator kicks in. What they can do now with technology is amazing.”

With her extremely positive outlook, which quite probably figures into her amazing story of survival and continuing on, Rose explained, “When you see me, I am walking by faith. I’m limited now with things like driving and standing up cooking. I have no other regular pains, so otherwise, I still live a normal life. Some of the things that I used to do, I can’t do anymore - for example, like pushing a wheelbarrow - but still, I can’t be scared, because it’s a mental thing. The doctors tell me that there’s nothing more that can be done for my condition other than what has been done. What this device can’t do, that’s it, so, why should I dwell on it.”

To give back to her community, Rose shared that she hopes to start a three month sewing class, free of charge, in the near future, where she can pass on her skill and talent to others. “A lot of the children in high school, from The Bluff, ask me for assistance from time to time, so I hope to start the class early in 2019, once I can secure a venue.”

In her church at St. Paul’s Anglican in The Bluff, Rose has also served as the Priest’s Warden for the past 17 years, giving of her time and assistance, and she was also made a JP (Justice of the Peace) in 2007.

Voicing her indomitable spirit, Rose chuckled as she shared, “I don’t keep still. When I have down days, I work through it, and then I’m out again.’

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Local “Plus”

Sept/Oct 2018

MEDIA near saturated

AS THE STRUGGLE TO CLAIM ELEUTHERA’S LIGHTHOUSE POINT CONTINUES. The battle for Lighthouse Point, at the southernmost tip of South Eleuthera, continued throughout September with widely publicized media campaigns by both Disney Cruise Lines, and the One Eleuthera Foundation / Save Lighthouse Point coalition.

Darold Miller Radio Show: A group of local South Eleuthera supporters of the Disney development proposal were present with Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera, Mr. Hank Johnson, sporting ‘We support Disney…” t-shirts, and voiced their support for the Disney Cruise

Lines proposal, which promised 100+ jobs for local residents, in their development of a cruise port with a pier, shops, a marina, restaurants, walking trails and more - during a two and a half hour nationally broadcast radio show, hosted by Darold Miller, which ran from 10:30 am until 1:00pm, hosted in the township of Wemyss Bight on Monday, September 17th, 2018.

A number of local supporters who were interviewed commented on the consistent decline in the economy of South Eleuthera during the past several decades, and looked on the Disney proposal as something that promised

Above: Radio Talk Show Host, Darold Miller, Live in Wemyss Bight, South Eleuthera.

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to make a positive economic impact for some of the residents in South Eleuthera, with their promise of 100 plus jobs onsite.

During an interview, as a guest on the radio show, Mr. Hank Johnson, stated that his government had made no decision as yet on the proposed Disney cruise port development at Lighthouse Point, South Eleuthera. In answer to Darold Miller Live host’s question to him on when the Bahamas government would make a decision on the Lighthouse Point issue, Mr. Johnson stated, “As soon as my government has completed their evaluation, my government will send a team to Eleuthera. We will hold a town meeting and the voice of the people will be heard. This will happen in the next week or two… South Eleuthera has been left behind, and we want to be heard…

We will stand as one and we will make sure that the decision made is made in the interest of the people of South Eleuthera.”

Radio Talk Show Host, Darold Miller was very vocal in his support for the Disney proposal, citing the long history of Disney’s cruise port operations in the Bahamas. He was also part of a group, which included a number of the local supporters present during the radio broadcast on Monday, who had been taken by Disney representatives to tour their current Castaway Cay cruise port location during the previous weekend.

(See full article online, visit Eleutheranews.com/?p=17426) Student Radio Campaign: A week earlier, students from Central Eleuthera High School took part in a New Providence radio talk show blitz, where they shared their support for the Save Lighthouse Point coalition.

On Saturday September 15th, those students, along with representatives of the Save Lighthouse Point coalition then accompanied a group of media personalities out of New Providence, who visited Lighthouse Point to experience the location under discussion firsthand (For the full article,visit Eleutheranews.com/?p=17373).

Disney OpEd: On Saturday, September 22nd, Vice President of Disney Cruise Lines, Kim Prunty, released an OpEd article by President of Disney Cruise Lines, Jeff Vahle, dubbed, “Creating Sustainable Economic Opportunity in South Eleu-

thera”, where he described a visit that he had made to South Eleuthera, and his experience meeting some of the people in the local community of Bannerman Town - where Lighthouse Point is located. He also highlighted Disney’s business history within the Bahamas, and described Disney’s plans for the Lighthouse Point property.

(For the full OpEd release, visit Eleutheranews.com/?p=17494)

Above: Jeff Vahle, President of Disney Cruise Lines.

In further information disseminated, Disney estimated the design and construction of the cruise port project would take approximately four years to complete, beginning with marine and civil construction. This, it was said, all hinges on finalizing the acquisition of the land, obtaining all necessary Government approvals and permits, completion of a full environmental impact assessment, with a mitigation and management plan and approval of the BEST Commission and other relevant authorities, prior to commencement of construction.

Several letters to the Editor were received following the publication of Disney’s OpEd, opposing their proposed development. (For a sampling of the letters published, visit Eleutheranews.com/?p=17537) Town Meetings Wrapup: One Eleuthera Foundation, along with partner organizations, during September, completed a series of community meetings to promote the sustainable economic development of the Lighthouse Point site, and surrounding communities, in South Eleuthera. (For more information, visit Eleutheranews.com/?p=17504)

With the help of local residents, One Eleuthera and the wider environmental coalition, influencers from New Providence got a guided tour of the beautiful Lighthouse Point and its surrounding areas including the seaside cave structures on lighthouse beach.

Local

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Lodge week Celebrations Splendid Parade through JC was the kick off http://eleutheranews.com/?p=17637

Lodge Chapters of Black Free Masons throughout Eleuthera celebrated the beginning of their organization with a week of special activities, which began with a grand march and church service on Sunday, September 9th, 2018 in the township of James’ Cistern.

The parade began with members in full formal dress marching from the Cork Tree along the main thoroughfare in James’ Cistern to the Wesley Methodist Church at 3pm that afternoon, where Masons, Order of Eastern Stars members, sojourning brothers, and all other concordant bodies gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of the founder and visionary of Black Freemasonry, in the year 1775, Prince Hall (1735-1807).

The week of celebration was held under the auspices of District Deputy Grand Master Brother Javarro Kemp, representing The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge Common-

wealth of the Bahamas Free & Accepted Masons of District Number Two, Eleuthera.

Past Master Michael Culmer who was the master of ceremonies for the commemorative service, commented following the week of activities, that the celebrations were successful in strengthening the links between the lodges and families involved throughout Eleuthera, adding that the bar this year had been set high and they didn’t know how they would top it next year - with every concordant body having been represented at this year’s commemorative service.

The overall success he explained was also highlighted in the measure of impact the organizations were having in local communities and the encouraging feedback received. Another positive outcome said Mr. Culmer was Continued On Page 16

Short lived Bus Contractors strike for overdue payments

Four contractors providing busing services within the Central and South Eleuthera district within Eleuthera led a protest strike on Tuesday, September 11th, which halted bus services, affecting students from Gregory Town to Savannah Sound.

One contractor, revealed that the group had not received payment for their continued services since April of 2018, with September beginning the fourth month with contractors receiving no payment.

Principal at the Central Eleuthera High School, Mrs. Marie Galanis, who commented that she had not been informed of the action beforehand by the contractors, confirmed that 85% of the student body were able to be in attendance on the Tuesday, with the remaining 15% unable to find an alternative means of getting to school. Those students who normally rode the buses that made it to school on Tuesday morning, either hiked or were carpooled to school, she said.

She further informed that Member of Parliament, Mr. Hank Johnson, was able to arrange for temporary alternative busing for later in the day on Tuesday, and that busing services returned to normal on Wednesday morning CEHS PTA president, Shanta Maurice of Gregory Town, shared that she and other parents got together to bring groups of students to school that Tuesday morning, rather than allow them to return home, and miss a day of classes because of the strike.

Following the protest strike on Tuesday morning, the contractors were informed by personnel from the local Accounts Office at the Administrative Complex in Governor’s Harbour, that outstanding payments were available, pending authorization out of New Providence. Contractors later confirmed that all outstanding payments were settled on the same day.

The Eleutheran | 09/10 2018

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Young Eleutheran Inducted As Anglican Deacon - a packed congregation turned out for the service.

BY tHE eLEUTHERAN nEWS TEAM

Above: Newly Installed, Deacon Dave Dimitri Thomas. Left: Bishop Laish Boyd presided over the installation of Deacon Thomas.

Young Dave Dimitri Thomas of Governor’s Harbour, Central Eleuthera, on Thursday, September 13th, 2018 was inducted into the ‘Holy Order of Deacons’ within the Anglican Church, during an elaborate Ordination Service, held at the St. Patrick’s Anglican Church. Well-wishers, family members, and friends comprised the large crowd of onlookers in attendance with chairs spilling out into the entrance foyer to accommodate the swell of attendees.

Chief Celebrant of the Ordination Service which began at 7pm was Bishop of the Diocese of The Bahamas & The Turks and Caicos Islands, Reverend Laish Z. Boyd, and he

was accompanied by a cadre of colleagues from parishes throughout the country and region.

Father Scott Brennen, formerly based at St. Patrick’s in Governor’s Harbour, and now serving as Priest-in-Charge at St. George’s Anglican in New Providence, presented the sermon and charge to Deacon Thomas during the evening.

He exhorted the new Deacon to prepare himself thoroughly for his new role of service through diligent study of God’s Word, effectively, girding himself with the wisdom and knowledge of God’s ways and will. Father Brennen also expounded on how to serve the Lord with excellence for the

Hurricane Shelter list

ELEUTHERA, CENTRAL NO. | NAME OF SHELTER |ADDRESS | CAPACITY 1. Camp Symonette | James Cistern |100 2. Church of the Nazarene | Palmetto Point | 100 3. George E. Johnson Memorial Centre | (St. Mark’s Methodist Church Hall) | Hatchet Bay | 100 4. Governor’s Harbour Primary School | Governor’s Harbour | 60 5. Salvation Army | Palmetto Point | 80 TOTAL CAPACITY 440 ELEUTHERA, HARBOUR ISLAND NO. NAME OF SHELTER | ADDRESS | CAPACITY 1. Harbour Island Public Library | Harbour Island | 20 2. New Alliance Church of God | Harbour Island | 100 3. St. John’s Parish Hall | Harbour Island | 100 TOTAL CAPACITY 220 ELEUTHERA, NORTH NO. NAME OF SHELTER | ADDRESS | CAPACITY 1. Charles Wesley Methodist Church | Lower Bogue | 150 2. Little Scholars Pre-school | Lower Bogue | 80 3. Mission Church of God | Upper Bogue | 350 4. New Jerusalem Church | Blackwood |100 5. The Current Community Centre | Current | 20 6. The Haitian Baptist People Church | The Bluff | 150 7. Zion Methodist Church | Current Island | 60 TOTAL CAPACITY 910

Continued On Page 36

CARICOM expresses solidarity with Indonesia

revised

Eleuthera 2018 (NEMA)

edification of the large audience.

Immediately following the ordination section of the service, new Deacon Thomas was warmly greeted by his family members, as well as fellow leaders in the church. His

ELEUTHERA, SOUTH NO. NAME OF SHELTER ADDRESS CAPACITY 1. Church of God of Prophecy | Tarpum Bay | 200 2. Deep Creek Primary School | Deep Creek | 62 3. Green Castle Primary School | Green Castle | 60 4. Rock Sound Primary School | Rock Sound | 210 5. Wemyss Bight Primary | Wemyss Bight | 300

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Caribbean Community (CARICOM) SecretaryGeneral, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has expressed the Community’s deepest solidarity with Indonesia in the wake of the recent catastrophes.

In a message of condolence to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Joko Widodo, Ambassador LaRocque said CARICOM’s thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who perished in the devastating earthquake of 28 September 2018 and the resulting tsunami on the island of Sulawesi.

“It is our fervent hope that the responders who are working valiantly will be successful in rescuing more survivors and relieve the suffering of those affected. The Community wishes a speedy and full recovery for the injured,” he told Indonesia’s President.

The Secretary-General expressed the Community’s confidence that “the indomitable will and resilience of the people of Indonesia will ensure that the people of Sulawesi overcome the trauma of this disaster.”

FOR RENT:

Seagrape House Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera.

Spacious, 2 bedroom apartment.

Now available. Ph.# 332- 2206. $1,200.00

National

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PM Minnis challenges the region to broaden its tourism brand

By Lindsay Thompson

Above: Prime Minister Hubert A. Minnis.

NASSAU, The Bahamas – Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Hubert Minnis called on the region to broaden its Caribbean brand in tourism and recreate a new direction forward.

He was delivering the keynote address at the State of Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2018 on Tuesday evening in the Grand Ballroom of Atlantis, Paradise Island.

The week-long conference explores possibilities and opportunities under the theme: “Rejuvenate. Recreate. Reconnect.

New Directions for Caribbean Tourism.”

“Our region must be known for ex-

traordinary visitor experiences and services.

We must also be known as a global centre of excellence for all aspects of tourism development,” the Prime Minister said.

He noted that in so many ways, the potential of the region is untapped.

“We are meeting here today in the name of one of the world’s most powerful brands: the Caribbean -- which some have called the “Paradise of the Atlantic,” the Prime Minister said.

He added, that no matter where you are in the world and no matter which language you speak and however you pronounce the word ‘Caribbean,’ it conjures delight and awe.

“Our brilliant constellation of people, food, drink, music, multiple international and indigenous languages, culture and natural delights in such a relatively small region is unmatched,” he said.

According to the Prime Minister, the world is increasingly recognizing the breadth of history and culture of what the late Caribbean Nobel Prize Laureate Derek Walcott described as “the fragments of epic memory,” which constitute the Caribbean experience.

In this vein, he said he was especially pleased that a compelling feature of the visitor experience at Baha Mar and Atlantis is Bahamian culture, inclusive of the visual, musical and culinary arts of The Bahamas.

The Eleutheran | 09/10 2018

He described the Caribbean as an archipelago of discovery and wonder, bound together by geography, history and culture.

“We are an archipelago of possibility. We are an archipelago of opportunity. We are an archipelago of resilience.

“We resonate with the rhythms of Calypso, Reggae, Soca, Junkanoo, Punta Rock, Reggaeton and other genres, which are all part of the pulsating heartbeat of a Caribbean Civilization that is unique among the civilizations of the world.

“It is this very Caribbean Civilization that we proudly offer to the world as we strive to become a global leader in tourism on multiple fronts. We must broaden our Caribbean brand in tourism,” the Prime Minister said.

One of the core objectives must be to help to create greater economic benefits from tourism for micro- small- and medium-sized businesses, he said.

“This means greater diversification across various tourism platforms as well as greater linkages with other economic sectors,” he added.

The Prime Minister said that the region is still working to develop and upgrade the museums and heritage sites that depict the traditions and culture of our people, as well as showcase,

in a sustainable manner, the wonders of marine life that highlight the earth’s biodiversity.

“The training and education of a new generation of entrepreneurs is vital in helping our citizens and economies to garner greater economic benefits from tourism,” he said.

The Prime Minister thanked Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar for his guidance of CTO matters over the past year and a half. And, he thanked Director General Joy Jibrilu, for her steady hand and guidance over the past several years.

Below: Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Board of Directors are pictured, October 2, in the lead up to opening ceremonies for 2018 State of Tourism Industry Conference at Atlantis, Paradise Island this week. Bahamas Minister of Tourism & Aviation, the Hon. Dionisio D’Aguilar, is pictured seated fifth right; CTO Chairman Dominic Fedee (St. Lucia), sixth right; and CTO Secretary General, Hugh Riley, seventh right.

Bahamas Director General of Tourism Joy Jibrilu is pictured standing sixth right. (BIS Photo/Kemuel Stubbs)

Calendar Guide highlights in OCT. 2018 6th Annual HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR Hosted by The Rotaract Club of Eleuthera & The Leon Levy Preserve Date: October 27, 2018 Location: Banks Rd., Governor’s Harbour Time: 6pm Kids $5 Adults $10 (Special Prizes for the Best Child and Adult Costumes!)

For more information CALL: 332-3831

Harbour Island’s Fresh Picks Farmers Market & Artisan Showcase to return in November Fresh Picks Farmers Market & Artisan Showcase at Valentines Resort & Marina on Harbour Island, Bahamas will start again on November 21st for Season 3 after completing its 2nd season with huge success. The 4th of July weekend was its best yet with over 24 vendors! The Fresh Picks Farmers Market will be held at Valentines every Wednesday from 10am to 3pm starting the day before Thanksgiving – just in time to pick up the absolutely freshest ingredients for your holiday dinner. Fresh Picks will continue to showcase the best farmers, chefs and artisans from Eleuthera and Harbour Island. The event has developed into a great happening for attendees to access farm-to-table vegetables, herbs, greens, baked goods and more. Both locals and visitors have come to enjoy this weekly event. The market will run weekly through July 24th, 2019!

FREE - Quilting Classes (Weekly) Pineapple Quilters Thursday from 10am -1pm For more information, Contact Stirlene Morley Tel: 334-4287/470-3694!

Youth Month Activities

YOUTH MARCH AND RALLY

MOT Christmas Craft Show

Holidays and Observance Days:

The Eleuthera Youth Council and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to host a Youth March and Rally, themed: ‘Youth: Forefront of Change!”

Venue : Governor’s Harbour Administrative Complex Date: Sunday, October 21st, 2018 Time: 2pm - Until

Leon Levy Preserve

Cancer Society of Eleuthera Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Beginner’s Yoga For Adults

October 12th - Breast Cancer Survivor Spotlight - Ms. Suzzette Kemp October 14th - Celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month at St. Patrick’s Anglican Church, Governor’s Harbour October 27th - Cancer Society of Eleuthera - Walk For A Cure Every Friday - Pink Polo Fridays (Contact CSE @ 332-1804 To Purchase Your Shirt)

Farmer’s Market Location: Tarpum Bay Homecoming Site Hosted by E.M.M.A. Every Saturday - 10am to 3pm October 20th - December 15th, 2018 For more information, Call: Gwendolyn Patram Tel: (242) 554-5307 / 477-2165 Email: emmael1896@gmail.com Submit Your Application Today Product Categories -Agriculture/Producer -Bake/Processed -Arts/Craft “Buy It, Make It, Grow It” BUY LOCAL

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Sunday, November 4th Daylight Saving Time Ends Thursday, November 22nd Thanksgiving Day

Wellness Activity Calendar Fall 2018

Sunday, October 21 Sunday, November 18 Time: 9am Fee: $10 per class (Limit: 10 persons) Class duration: 60 minutes Practice simple yoga postures to help you open those tight places focusin on breathing, stretching, strength, balance and flexibility.

Instructor: Monika Carroll Mats provided. Wear comfortable clothing.

Register by email: info@levypreserve.org or call 332-3831

school DATES Teacher PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS: Christmas Term 23rd & 24th October, 2018

MID-TERM Break: Teachers & Students 25th & 26th October, 2018

Saturday, November 24th, 2018 Ministry of Tourism Christmas Craft Show This is an annual event held on the grounds of the Ministry of Tourism, located in the heart of the settlement of Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera. An array of handmade crafts and goods will be available for sale, demonstrations and displays. The Christmas tree lights will be lit in ceremonial fashion after sunset, You won’t want to miss out on this event that will bring in the holiday mood. Event time: 10am -10pm.

For more information please contact the Eleuthera Tourist Office at (242) 332-2145. Email: gjingraham@bahmas.com or dyoung@bahamas.com

CONTACT

The Eleutheran Newspaper at 422-9350 or send email to

services@theeleutheran.com,

to have your community notices and events listed.

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Local “Plus”

Sept/Oct 2018

Cornèrtrader platform well-received by the market September 29, 2018 - One week after the official launch of the Cornèrtrader platform allowing Bahamians direct, individual access to international securities markets for the first time in history, the bank’s CEO reported today the public’s reception has exceeded all expectation.

“We had prepared for this for more than one year and our internal discussions and reviews led us to believe that the Bahamian public would welcome the capability to trade on international stock exchanges,” said Christine Russell, Chief Executive Officer, Corner Bank (Overseas) Ltd. “I don’t think any of us realized just how great the appetite would be. While it is too early to predict how many inquiries will translate into business, we can say without reservation that the phones have been extremely lively and the questions people are asking demonstrate the seriousness of their interest.”

Cornèr Bank unveiled the local version of its online trading platform, Cornèrtrader, at a well-attended reception and launch at BahaMar September 13. Among those on hand for the event were civic and business leaders along with financial services regulators and policy-makers including Central Bank Governor John Rolle, former Central Bank Governor James Smith, Securities Commission Chairman Robert Lotmore, co-chair of the Association of International Banks and Trust Companies Bruno Roberts and executives from Cornèr Bank, Lugano, Switzerland.

The milestone for Bahamians to participate in global markets was paved by a series of increasingly relaxed exchange control regulations by Central Bank under succeeding governors. It was the gradual liberalization of Central Bank B$ exchange control policy and a major leap in February of this year that opened the door for international trading at costs that were not prohibitive for Bahamians. Cornèr Bank, which has had a low-key presence in The Bahamas for more than two decades, was the first prepared to go to market with a product designed to let Bahamians benefit from the change.

During the launch, Russell noted that the trading platform would allow Bahamians to move beyond the role of consumer to that of investor.

“We could buy a Samsung phone, but not easily invest in Samsung stock. Even more glaring as an example, we can purchase items easily through a click of a mouse on Amazon, but not readily invest in Amazon; tradeable securities on the international markets,” said Russell.

“However, with the reduction in fees and the liberalization of exchange control, a new world of possibilities has opened up and as a leader in progressive banking and as a committed partner to The Bahamas, Cornèr has seized the opportunity to offer international trading to Bahamians. Our trading offering provides a one-stop shop service because we know how valuable your time is and how

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important convenience is to you. We facilitate all the regulatory exchange control requirements on behalf of the client thereby ensuring the ease of business and the client’s only role is to start trading.”

Once clients open an account, they are able to access information instantly on hundreds of companies on the open market whether they are traded through the New York Stock Exchange, London, Hong Kong, NASDAQ or elsewhere. Cornèr investment analysts study worldwide currency and commodities markets, companies and trends to

provide continuous updates.

Part of the attraction lies in the convenience, noted Russell, with Cornèr handling all regulatory requirements. It is also a portable platform, allowing the individual to enter buy and sell orders directly from desktop, laptop or smart phone. There is no middleman and trading fees, which are not onerous, are transparent. The first mock trades took place at the launch with guests expressing interest about trading outside the local stock exchange being offered demo passes to access and experience the trading platform for a trial period.

Holding court – Senior attorney Jerome Pyfrom, Holowesko Pyfrom Fletcher, far right, discusses potential for Bahamians to invest in international markets with Central Bank Governor John Rolle, 2nd from right, Securities Commission Chairman Robert Lotmore, 2nd from left and his son, Elliott Pyfrom, private banker.

Top level brass -- Financial celebrities on hand to celebrate the launch of Cornertrader, allowing Bahamians to invest in international securities include l-r, James Smith, former Governor of The Central Bank, Linda Beidler-D’Aguilar, Partner, GSO, AIBT co-chair Bruno Roberts and Cornèr Bank (Bahamas) Ltd. CEO Christine Russell.

Less than two weeks after its introduction, response to the trading platform has exceeded expectation.

(Left) Luigi Zizza Cornèrtrader Zurich demonstrated the Cornèrtrader platform that allows Bahamians to enjoy direct access to buying and selling shares on the global financial markets during an unveiling reception held recently at Baha Mar. (Photo by Ronnie Archer for DPA.)

Local

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Farewell and Appreciation Party Hosted For

Christopher and Allison Gosling

Above: Mr. Chistopher and Mrs. Allison Gosling.

A cross-section of business people, organisation leaders, friends and well wishers turned out at Sunset Inn on Friday evening, September 21st, 2018, to publicly show their appreciation for and say goodbye to Christopher and Allison Gosling who are retiring home after four decades in the Bahamas, most of which was spent in Central Eleuthera.

The Goslings, both retired teachers, and fulltime volunteers with HACE (Health Association of Central Eleuthera), operating and maintaining the fleet of ambulances, with the help of other volunteers for many years offering the only emergency ambulance services available to accident victims.

They leave for England on October 7th.

The Eleutheran caught up with Mr. Gosling during the event who spoke frankly on his journey and connection here in Eleuthera, “We are headed back to the U.K. after 40 years here. This is home.

It sounds patronizing, but I love the place, I love the people, I love everything about it. I will never be accepted like I’ve been accepted here. It takes years wherever you go to truly be accepted. My father-in-law was in the same village in England, he wasn’t originally from there, for 40 years, and he was still an outsider. But here, I can go anywhere pretty much, and people know me, trust me, and some people don’t like me, but that’s part of being.

“This is the most difficult thing I’ve ever done in my life. However, my wife misses the children, and grandchildren - not more than me, but it’s different… We put our house up for sale, and it was sold… I was hoping it wouldn’t sell… But then, we have no family here, and no medical insurance, so you never know what happens. If something serious happens, my wife and I would be on our own.

Working with the ambulance, I’ve loaded so many people onto planes and you say, ‘who is going with the patient’, and they would give a family member who is going or meeting them. We don’t have that.

Not that people don’t care, but they do have their own lives. So, there we are.”

Mr. Gosling quipped while he chatted with The Eleutheran, that with his other traveling exploits to Venezuela as a child with his parents until the age of eight (8), as well as several years living in India while in the British version of the Peace Corps, he had spent more than 50 of his 69 years of life outside of England. “So England is a foreign country to me,” he smiled.

Having volunteered in emergency services on the island for many years with HACE, Mr. Gosling also commented on the new Road Traffic Amendment Bill, saying, “I’m very pleased actually, that they are going to bring a law in here - which they can’t enforce - about drinking and driving and cell phone use while driving, because, I keep telling people,” mischievously smiling, as he chuckled, “I will be arrested within a week, thinking I’m in the Bahamas, with an open beer driving down the road.”

When asked what he wanted to say to the many friends and acquaintances he had acquired while living in Eleuthera, Mr. Gosling, choking up a little, said, “Words can’t express… Thank you…

I’ve had a great time. I’ve learned a lot. Thank you for letting me do what I do. I’ve learned so much while driving and being involved with the ambulance, and thank you for allowing us to be a part of the community… Oh, boy, it’s hard to express…,” he paused, battling for composure.

“We will come back… When you’ve lived somewhere, and been involved in everything, from the sporting club… and you get to know people, and you go to funerals, you go to marriages - you see houses built, you see the infrastructure of the whole thing changing, and you feel a part of it. This is an awful thing to say, but when I go the 1648 restaurant I feel superior, because I live here, as opposed to just being a visitor. When I go to England, I feel superior, because I’m coming back here. Not an arrogant superior, but a loyalty. Is the country perfect, absolutely not. But, it’s a great place, and I love it.”

During the farewell party, numerous community members gave tribute to the Goslings, expressing their love and appreciation for their contributions over the years. It was also announced that Mr. Jason Thompson of Palmetto Point, a longtime volunteer with HACE and leader with ‘Men of Faith’, would be taking over the Chairmanship of the HACE organization in Mr. Gosling’s absence.

The Gosling’s now move on to Nottingham in the U.K. where their children, Sarah and Claire, reside.

Above: Friends and colleagues at Sunset Inn at a farewell party hosted for Mr. and Mrs. Gosling.

| 09/10 2018

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Sept/Oct 2018

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Lodge Continued from pg. 11 a better understanding of the lodges by the public, pointing out that the lodges in Eleuthera included people from all walks of life, and did not prescribe to a specific type of worship, but rather encouraged members to be devoted and committed to what they believed, and not to think just of themselves, but about others.

Activities during the week, following the church service included a Family Fun Day, held on Saturday, September

In Photos: Freemasons on parade along the main thoroughfare in James’ Cistern.

15th on the Longley Newberry Park in Savannah Sound, where free food, drinks, games and entertainment were available for families. Other fellowship events were also held during the week at St. Glenelg’s Lodge Hall in Tarpum Bay and St. Patrick’s Lodge in Hatchet Bay. (See also, page 38)

Local

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

| 09/10 2018

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National

Sept/Oct 2018

www. EleutheraNews . com

Bahamas Developers Association Meets with DPM, Issues Resolved to Clear $1 Billion+ on Drawing Boards

(DPA Release) - With more than $1 billion in real estate development pending from Abaco to Exuma and concerns about recent changes in tax policy, the newly-formed Bahamas Developers Association met this week with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest.

“There was a grave concern among developers about a change in the ability to claim back costs on VAT returns when the budget that took effect July 1 was announced,” said a spokesperson. “It was a right every other business had and suddenly developers and builders were deprived of that. The change created immediate alarm and threatened to impact construction jobs, real estate and investment. Given that there is such a small profit margin in development, a sudden increase of 12% with the elimination of credits for material outlay was enough to bring sections of the industry to a grinding halt. We had been

seeking a meeting to try to resolve the issue so some of the projects that were on hold and others that were considering scaling back could move forward. We got that meeting on September 27 and it went well. We now await specifics and timelines.”

According to the organisation’s statement, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest and Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson agreed to amend the wording, which they said was an ‘inadvertent accidental oversight.’

“It is not in our interest to stand in the way of your success,” Turnquest, who was Acting Prime Minister at the time of the meeting, told developers and real estate professionals.

“We look forward to a good and harmonious relationship. You have my commitment and the commitment of my government to do whatever is in our power to encourage you. We recognize and appreciate the significant role you play in

the economy of The Bahamas.”

While the meeting with developers was not until late September, the DPM had acknowledged concerns and maintained contact throughout the summer, a fact that the association said provided temporary comfort, but it was not until the face-to-face with representatives of some of the largest projects in the country took place that developers breathed a collective sigh of relief. Among those in attendance were representatives or principals of Albany, Arawak Homes, Sterling Hurricane Hole and Sterling Global Developments, Aristo (ONE Cable Beach, Balmoral and THIRTY SIX), Palm Cay, Baker’s Bay, Passerine at Abaco Holdings, Starfish Construction, Children’s Bay Cay and Williams Cay, Exuma, two attorneys and a real estate accounting specialist.

Christine Wallace-Whitfield, President of the Bahamas Real Estate Association, and Heather Peterson, a member of the BREA board, also participated. Together, their existing projects totaled well over $1 billion and for some, the value of development was in the multi-billions.

“My technical team and I stand by to assist and you will be pleased to know that we are making changes in the DIR (Department of Inland Revenue) to expedite and facilitate payment of the VAT credits which you are due,” the DPM assured industry reps.

“All we were asking for was the same thing every business has, the right to claim back costs on VAT returns. Without that, costs would soar so high that some projects underway would have been in jeopardy for completion.

New projects were put on hold or sent back to the drawing table for reconsideration,” said the spokesman. “It was like a tsunami of development costs coming in on a tide of trouble so we are greatly relieved that resolution was achieved and the industry can move forward but we do need confirmation of processes along with the welcome assurances of remedy.”

The wording of the July 1 budget denied the right of builders and developers to include the cost of construction on VAT returns. That, along with long delays in VAT credits that some were experiencing, including one Bahamian condo developer who was owed millions, had thrown the industry into a tailspin and prompted the creation of an association to represent what had been individual and competitive entities.

The group met several times over the summer.

The positive meeting cleared the way for Palm Cay, which had put its $100 million One Marina project on hold pending resolution of the VAT implications. A date for that groundbreaking is expected to be announced shortly.

And a Bahamian developer who has held off on a high end mixed-use project on 12 acres said the resolution of VAT-related matters on development “revived enthusiasm” about those plans.

That project, he said, would create several hundred construction jobs and be a boost to the economy for several years.

Developers, attorneys and real estate professionals offered to assist government going forward to make information available at the time of transaction closings about Real Property Tax obligations.

Local

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

| 09/10 2018

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a

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National

Sept/Oct 2018

www. EleutheraNews . com

Earthquake M5.9

Causes death in Haiti and weak shaking in the South East Bahamas and Turks & Caicos According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) an earthquake of magnitude 5.9 struck 19km NW Port-de-Paix, Haiti at a depth of 11.7 km at about 8:11 p.m. (0011 GMT) SATURDAY, 06TH OCTOBER, 2018.

An initial Reuters report quoted local Haitian media as reporting at least one death and no major damage in the capital Port-auPrince. Further reports has placed the death toll at at least 11.

The Bahamas Department of meteorology issued an EARTHQUAKE WARNING in the aftermath of the quake for the SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THEIR ADJACENT WATERS. They said that NO TSUNAMI WARNINGS HAVE BEEN GIVEN AT THIS TIME and the situation IS BEING CLOSELY MONITORED.

USGS image: II & III- Weak shaking ; IV -Light shaking; V - Moderate shaking

Local

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

Look Out For *Great Energy at the recent Wemyss Bight Homecoming with the welcoming atmosphere. *North Eleuthera Regatta back in Briland - “Still Jammin” *Personal story of an Eleutheran woman’s survival and healing. *Highlights on the Picture Galleries coming up in the Next Issue of The Eleutheran and more. *Also see Online at www.EleutheraNews.com - A report on PM Minnis’ October 10th town meeting in Eleuthera.

| 09/10 2018

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Local “Plus”

Sept/Oct 2018

www. EleutheraNews . com

Pictured: Search dog, Kane, shown above, part of the K-9 unit in New Providence, was used in the search exercise for illegal migrants in Eleuthera in September.

In Photos: Scores of illegal immigrants transported to New Providence on October 1, before repatriation.

Above: Selection of new vehicles received by the Eleuthera Immigration team.

Migrants Continued from pg. 1 September 26th between the Banks Road and Governor’s Harbour. Authorities were alerted to a possible illegal migrant situation, when early on Thursday morning, September 27th, a 13-year old minor was found wandering in the Governor’s Harbour community, raising suspicions.

A comprehensive search exercise was conducted throughout Thursday by Immigration and Police, assisted by additional Immigration personnel out of New Providence, along with a K-9 search team. All 43 illegal migrants taken into custody as a result of the search on Thursday were brought before the magistrate court on Friday, September 28th, 2018, presided over by judge Kara Turnquest-Deveaux in Governor’s Harbour, and all pleaded

guilty to the charge of illegal landing.

“We know that there are still some migrants at-large from this illegal landing, so the public is being warned that if anyone is caught assisting or housing them they will feel the full brunt of the law,” said Superintendent Darling.

Another Immigration search exercise was conducted in the Governor’s Harbour community on Sunday, September 30th, which resulted in an additional 9 illegal immigrants being taken into custody.

To cope with the ongoing demands, Local immigration capability was increased in September with the arrival on island of five new vehicles to almost triple the three that serviced the island until now. “We are now fully equipped, and

they came right in time,” commented Superintendent Darling, referring to their use in apprehending and transporting this most recent group of illegal migrants. The vehicles include two Kia Sportages, two Nissan Versas, and one Ford F-150, with one more, a bus, expected to also arrive shortly.

The Department during the past several years has faced a serious shortage of vehicles as well as manpower to deal with the illegal migrant challenge in The Eleutheras. Six new personnel were also added to the team in recent months, with most of them reporting to their new locations during the first week in August. “Rock Sound is now fully staffed, with three new staff added,” confirmed Superintendent Darling. One person also joined the

Governor’s Harbour office, and two new officers joined the team in North Eleuthera, bringing the total compliment of Immigration Officers within the Eleuthera district to 15 staff members.

“They will definitely feel the presence, as we are now fully equipped,” stated Mrs. Darling. “We have also introduced new forms for both new and renewals applications - in line with the new digital services system being rolled out by Immigration in New Providence. We don’t have the online system in place here yet, but we are preparing and getting all the updated paperwork done. So, whoever is applying now and those who applied within the last two months, they want us to go back and track them, so they can complete the new forms”.

Local

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

On-island Training in ‘solar energy’

Facilitated by a

grant from GEF SGP Bahamas and a partnership between OEF, CTI and Island School.

| 09/10 2018

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Small Scale Renewable Generation Program (SSRG) for Commercial and Residential Customers, to experience savings in their electricity costs.

He stated: Under the Electricity Act and Regulations amendments made in 2015, the SSRG option was introduced for customers to have Grid Tied Renewable Energy (RE) systems. As stated these modifications require that systems be subject to an application, inspection and approval process. This approach has been established to ensure, among other factors, public safety for both the customer and the general public.

All existing and planned systems must obtain approval in accordance with this process. Operating a grid-tied system without following the registration, application and inspection process can result in fines or disconnection from the grid or both.

Bannister added, “I would be remiss if I were not to share with you that we have the perfect environment to foster small scale renewable generation in our many Family Islands, and so it would be of value to embrace this emerging technology to assist in the further development and modernization of our energy infrastructure as we seek to improve our conservation and efficiency capabilities.

Above: Solar students attended a reception in recognition of their achievement in successfully completing the Introduction to Solar Electric Theory, Design, and Construction course. This is the very first solar certificate to be offered in The Bahamas. Students from left to right: Ricardo Edwards, Stephen Galanis, Keddy Culmer, Thurman Knowles, Carvel Nixon, Bertram Rolle Jr., Raynard McDonald (not pictured).

“It is the intention of of Bahamas Power and Light to promote the Small Scale Renewable Energy Program by way of roof top installations, water heaters and the usage of government buildings.”

One Eleuthera Foundation, the Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) and The Island School partnered to host a solar training installation course held during the first week of September 2018. This training was made possible thanks to a grant from GEF SGP Bahamas. As part of the course, students completed an actual solar array installation at CTI’s campus under the guidance and instruction of Mr. Bryan Carroll from The Island School. Seven people were able to successfully complete the course.

The course was designed to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and skills to begin careers in the solar industry. Through a combination of classroom instruction and practical field exercises, students were able to further their understanding of basic solar energy fundamentals, design criteria, field engineering, and safe installation of grid-tied and off-grid solar applications, allowing those with previous electrical experience, an opportunity to use vocational training to further their education in the electrical trade, and to help bring energy independence to their communities.

Due to The Bahamas’ complete reliance on fossil fuels and no way of producing any, the country is vulnerable to global electricity price fluctuations. It is becoming more and more important to seek out and implement alternative energy solutions. The introduction of the Small Scale Renewable Generation (SSRG) Program has generated a significant amount of interest in residential and commercial solar systems.

“Solar photovoltaic technology is a proven, viable method for energy production and has strong growth potential in The Bahamas. Shifting electrical power generation to include Renewable Energy Technologies (RET’S) would create a more resilient electrical grid, likely lower the cost of electricity and increase the country’s self-sufficiency over the long term by ultimately reducing The Bahamas’ dependence on imported sources of energy such as fossil fuels”, said Michael Cortina, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at The Island School back in December 2017 when the Grant was first announced.

HON. T. DESMOND BANNISTER, MP in remarks presented to the BAHAMAS HOTEL AND TOURISM ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERSHIP MEETING in August 2018, encouraged increased participation from the Family Islands in the

Above: Solar installation students get practical experience during the week long course.

Training such as this in the Eleuthera community, serve to increase awareness and knowledge of renewable energy and its benefits which will hopefully result in an increase in the use of solar systems in homes and businesses on the island.

Elite Customs Brokers We offer: *Brokerage Services *Trucking *DHL Courier

Tel: 332-3066

Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera

26 | Sep/Oct 2018

Local Schools Program

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

2018-2019

The Island School’s Outreach mission is to foster meaningful relationships through education, conservation and sustainability to advocate living well in a place.

Educators and students of all grades are invited to join us at The Island School campus to access resources to support your curriculum using place-based education. We would like to connect the work that our scientists and engineers do at The Island School with the work that teachers are doing in their classrooms.

The Program seeks to build educational capacity for student centered learning using environmental education as an entry point.

We apply three objectives together for program effectiveness: 1. Develop environmental education resources that are locally relevant. These resources align with the Bahamian National Curriculum for primary and secondary schools.

2. Provide professional development in environmental education methodology to increase level of instruction and knowledge for teachers of Eleuthera.

3. Facilitate opportunities for students to develop, test and apply new ideas and new knowledge while gaining an understanding of the ecosystems of Eleuthera.

Programs offered: ● Field trips to Lighthouse Point ● Living things ● Coral reef ecology ● Animals & plants ● Mangrove ecology & restoration ● Biodiversity & ecosystems ● Invasive species: lionfish ● Fisheries management ● Nutrition & food supply ● Forces of energy

● Pollution ● Aquaponics ● Sustainable technology ● Sustainable agriculture ● Climate change ● Renewable energy ● Key species: Queen conch, Nassau grouper, crawfish, turtles and sharks Transportation: Included for schools located in South Eleuthera - Tarpum Bay, Rock Sound, Green Castle, Wemyss Bight, and Deep Creek. For schools North of Tarpum Bay, please contact us about programs where we come to you or ways to bring larger groups.

Meals: lunch provided for students and chaperones Cost: A donation of $5 per student is encouraged for programs staying for lunch Class size: We recommend bringing classes separately for a more intimate experience. Due to transportation restrictions, the maximum number of individuals per group is 15, students & teachers included.

For larger groups, you may provide another vehicle for a maximum number of 25 students. Program availability limited for groups over 25 students.

Students will need to bring: ● tennis shoes ● water bottle (they can refill on campus) ● snack (optional) ● hat, sunscreen (optional) ● bathing suit and towel (optional) Please verify what students need upon booking your program.

For bookings, please contact us well in advance.

Please call us 48 hours ahead for cancellations.

Thank you!

Contact information: Office line: 242 334 8552 ext. 6219 Stan Burnside Outreach Manager Cell: 470-8208 stanleyburnside@islandschool.org Kimberly LizotteOutreach Coordinator WhatsApp: 978-501-2098 kimberlylizotte@islandschool.org

Hurricanes:

Common Misperceptions B y D ennis F eltgen , N ational H urricane C enter Millions of people were affected by hurricanes last year. Their perceptions have now been reset, but some don’t line up with reality. Social science may be the answer to fixing it.

When a hurricane is approaching, many people prepare based on previous experience.

But they’re not always right. Here’s a sampling: “I live outside of the cone, so I am safe from feeling the effects.”

The cone has nothing to do with impacts, only the average track error of the past five years. 2017’s Irma went up Florida’s west coast, but its wind field grew in size and pushed storm surge onto Florida’s east coast.

“It’s never flooded here before.”

It’s not easy to picture 60 inches of rain, but it was one of the biggest stories of Harvey. There’s no historical record of that amount, so it’s difficult to imagine what it will do.

“I got hit last year and it was a one hundred year storm, so I’m in good shape for the next one hundred years.”

All a hundred year storm means is that you have a one percent chance of it happening to you every single year. That’s the same as a 25 percent chance of flooding in a typical 30year mortgage. You can get hit in back to back years or even in the same year.

Major Hurricane Irma on Sept 8, 2017. Image credit: NOAA

“A very slight wiggle in the track doesn’t matter.”

That could be true over the middle of the ocean, but not for land. Hurricane Irma proved that. Its wiggle of 30 miles along Florida southwest coast meant the difference between getting only a few feet of storm surge versus 9 feet.

“We went through a Cat 4 and nothing bad happened” Many people in Key West will tell you Irma was a Cat 4 there. The reality is they only got Cat 1 winds.

You had to go 20 to 30 miles away to find the Cat 4 winds. The reality is that you’ve got to understand exactly what you went through and that you may not have seen the strongest part of that storm.

How do we line up perception

with reality? The answer lies in social science. A project will soon begin at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center to find ways to better communicate the risk from the hurricane hazards, find out how people are interpreting our products and to make sure everything is actionable. We have to plan for what COULD happen, not what has happened in the past. It’s a life and death proposition.

Perspective

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

THE GRANNY POD SOLUTION ble for both their children and parents.

In other words, they are sandwiched between two generations in one home.

This can be somewhat stressful to all.

Some Sandwich homeowners in the States have turned to something called the Granny Pod as a middle ground solution between nursing home and home care, or simply as a place for retirement, especially if there is a single parent.

What is a Granny Pod?

B y M ike L ightbourn Caring for aging parents is a vexing problem for many Bahamians.

In years gone by, extended family life was normal and aging parents often lived with their offspring.

However, times changed and it seems that fewer of them do anymore Aging parents can be particularly challenging for the so-called “Sandwich Generation.”

Sandwich homeowners are responsi-

Also known as MedCottages, they are prefabricated 12 x 24-foot pods designed for the backyard. They connect to existing electrical and plumbing systems.

The Granny Pod allows both aging parents and their children to have their own personal space while still being able to connect easily.

Another advantage is older parents won’t feel so isolated. They can have a pet.

If they’re mobile they may keep a flower of vegetable garden and help their children out (if they want to) with babysitting or laundry, giving them an important sense of purpose if they have too much time on their hands.

If you have a good relationship with your parents, this is a win-win situation for both parties.

The Eleutheran | 09/10 2018

Comfort and Safety Granny Pods are built with safety in mind and include a kitchenette, a bedroom and a bathroom. Everything’s designed in a comfortable, small-scale space with easy access.

Features include handicap accessible bathrooms with railings and safety features and padded floors to cushion joint pains or falls.

Granny Pods incorporate modern nursing home technology, including webcams and life alert systems.

Of course, any structure is subject to Town Planning approval and must be designed to withstand hurricanes.

I am sure the concept of GrannyPods can be adapted by local architects and builders.

The construction industry is sluggish in some settlements, so this is a good time to negotiate contracts for projects and repairs.

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Questions or comments?

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

An Added Plus Provided it conforms with the environment and doesn’t look odd, a Granny-type Pod can serve as an additional selling point for a home.

(Landscaping also can work wonders).

The pod can be marketed as a guest cottage, an older child’s living space (rent free or low rent while he or she saves for a deposit on a home), a kid’s hang out, home office and so on.

For more information and food for thought, visit the Medcottage facebook page.

The Caribbean now has 14 LTE-A networks A 5G Americas infographic shows the current state of LTE networks in a survey of 29 territories of the Caribbean. There are 14 LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) networks available in 8 countries and dependencies of the area. The survey detected a total of 53 LTE networks currently in operation.

BUENOS AIRES (ARGENTINA), September 10, 2018.- A 5G Americas infographic with information from TeleGeography revealed that 14 LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) networks were in operation as of June 2018 in a sample of 29 countries and dependencies of the Caribbean.

LTE-A networks are available only on 8 of the surveyed countries and dependencies, while the remaining 21 have not yet deployed the technology. Thus, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas and Saint Martin already benefit from the advantages of this technological evolution in wireless services.

Meanwhile, LTE is widespread in the region with 53 networks in 26 of the 29 territories. Only three countries and dependencies did not have operation LTE networks by the end of the first quarter of 2018 (1Q 2018): Cuba, Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

LTE-Advanced is an evolution of the LTE (4G) standard, defined for the first time in Release 10 (Rel-10) of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which provides

higher connection speeds, among other technological features. According to the 3GPP, LTE-Advanced offers peak speeds of 3 Gbps in the downlink and 1.5 Gbps in the uplink.

Among its main advantages, it features Carrier Aggregation, improved use of multi-antenna techniques, and support for Relay Nodes, which allows it to offer higher transfer rates, better performance and efficiency in the use of network resources.

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Perspective EleutheraNews The Black must be discharged!

Sept/Oct 2018

OP-ED

By Sir Ronald Sanders www.sirronaldsanders.com

By Sir Ronald Sanders (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the OAS. He is a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The view expressed are his own) Racism was the bedrock of European colonialism in the Caribbean. The subjugation, oppression and exploitation of African people as ‘sub-human’ was justified by colonial powers based on race and colour.

A crucial fixture of the architecture of racism and oppression in British colonies in the Caribbean was a judicial system that assigned black people to the status of ‘property’. They belonged to someone else with no rights. Even when black people were ‘freed’, their rights under the law and their access to justice were practically non-existent.

British laws and British Courts upheld and maintained slavery as legal, morally acceptable, and wholly justifiable. In this connection, it is almost inexplicable that today there are persons in the Caribbean who shamefully insist on retaining the Judicial Committee (JC) of the British Privy Council as their final court of appeal.

The idea that rejects the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as the final appellate court for Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries is that justice will be delivered fairly and rightly by a court of a former colonial power than it would be by a court of its own. This idea turns the record upside-down, ignoring history completely.

The case history of the CCJ since its

www.

inception in 2005 amply demonstrates that, in 13 years, it has given ordinary people in four CARICOM countries more access to justice than did the JC of the Privy Council in 185 years.

The very notion that Caribbean people would be treated more fairly and justly by foreigners than by their own smacks of an unjustifiable, and frankly, unacceptable self-contempt.

“the Black must be discharged”. But when in 1825, after her return to Antigua, a case was brought to the High Court of Admiralty seeking Grace’s freedom on the precedent of Somerset, she was denied that freedom on the basis that “a slave, though on landing in England becomes free, ceases to be so when returned to the colony from which she came”.

Nationals of CARICOM have achieved all over the world in almost every field of human endeavour, including the law. Nothing justifies the mistaken view that Caribbean people are not the equal of any, or that the justices of the Privy Council are in any way superior, fairer or more objective than the justices of the CCJ.

England’s air was “too pure for slavery to breathe in”, but British laws and British courts upheld and maintained slavery in Antigua and the rest of the Caribbean.

In terms of their fairness and immunity from political pressure by governments, it is instructive that of the 79 cases heard by the CCJ as the final court of appeal in which four governments were involved, the governments lost 41 of them. In other words, the CJJ found against governments more often than they judged for them.

In Antigua and Barbuda and in Grenada, referenda will be held in November, giving the electorate of these two nations the opportunity to amend their constitutions replacing the JC of the British Privy Council with the CCJ. An affirmative vote to do so would, at last, free the people of these countries of the colonial links to Britain under which their kin were transported into slavery, kept in bondage, technically ‘freed’ into poverty without compensation for their brutal exploitation and then made to suffer a further near 100 years of apartheid-type exploitation before being released into independence, beginning just 58 years ago.

Throughout the greatest part of that period, it was British-made laws and the JC of the British Privy Council that upheld the system of colonial exploitation. The JC of the Privy Council was created in 1833, the same year that the Act to abolish slavery was passed by the British parliament. The JC of the Privy Council, therefore, helped to enforce the laws of the colonial system that maintained the exploitation of Caribbean people.

In the case of Antigua, the story of the slave called Grace is worth recalling. Grace was taken as a slave from Antigua to England in 1820 “in attendance on the wife of her owner”.

Some 48 years earlier, another slave by the name of Somerset, had been freed in England by Justice, Lord Mansfield, who found that “the air of England is too pure for slavery to breathe in”.

Mansfield ruled that, on that basis,

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

Why any person, who claims Caribbean heritage with any sense of pride or belonging, would cling to the Privy Council and not opt for its own, cannot be explained by a fear that the CCJ would be controlled by governments.

That assertion has long been discredited for its falsehood. The literature on the independence of the CCJ is plentiful, including the fact that its Justices are not appointed by governments, nor do the governments pay their salaries.

From time to time, those who argue for the retention of the JC of the PC as the final appellate court equate the performance of local courts in Caribbean jurisdictions to the CCJ. This is a false comparison. Even if it were accepted that local courts in Caribbean jurisdictions are subject to political

. com

pressure because justices are paid from the government treasury and are appointed by government bodies, the CCJ is completely independent of government control as has already been established.

Caribbean countries that retain the JC of the Privy Council let themselves down. Of the 52 nations of the Commonwealth that previously appealed to the JC, the majority, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand – Britain’s kith and kin - have long since left.

Only 10 independent Commonwealth countries continue to be tied to the JC, and, astonishingly, 8 of them are from CARICOM countries. Their loitering at the doorway of the Privy Council could end in the door being shut in their faces, as has already been foreshadowed by one of its leading spokespersons who warned that it was time for them depart.

“The Black must be discharged” would take on another meaning as the loiterers find themselves scrambling for an independent and competent final court of appeal. Thank goodness, the CCJ exists.

Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com

Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com

Opinion

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

letter to the editor Save our island’s No.1 ranked beach!

Dear Editor, As an Eleuthera tour guide for the last fourteen years I’d like to think I have my finger on the pulse of why visitors to our island - the majority who drive our tourismdependent economy, not Princess Cays stopover cruise passengers, although I have guided some of those also - come to Eleuthera.

Quite simply it is places like Lighthouse Point, our island’s untouched southernmost point - three or four beaches in one I describe it when recommending the long, but worthwhile drive. Of course it’s so much more than that. I’ve been lucky enough to visit Andros, the Abacos, Grand Bahama, the Exumas, Cat Island, and the Berrys and LHP ranks right up there for beauty, and with its limestone cliffs etched over aeons of wind and water, as unique as any of our island gems.

But the fight for LHP, like almost anywhere rightly or wrongly, turns to economic boost and jobs. Preserving our natural heritage alone is scoffed at by many. Bahamians need jobs. What I think has been somewhat overlooked in One Eleuthera Foundation’s and Disney Cruise Lines’ lobbying is the harm, not help, to the economy that developing LHP would bring.

It was one of the first places family and friends took me to on one of my first visits to the island. We camped overnight, the no-see-ums hardly a deterrent for what our creator laid out before us under a star-burned sky. It was one of many camping visits, as I became the one to share with friends and family;

and it never disappointed.

Every time we ventured, and still venture south from our base near Gregory Town, whether to LHP or otherwise, we inject money into the economy. Rock Sound’s unparalleled plaza, coffees, bars and beers, lunches and dinners, conch salads, festivals and cook outs and sometimes even a room night if tenting too rustic for some.

And LHP is the big draw for the expatriate residents and visitors of our 110-mile long island to drive that far south. It is the No. 1 ranked Eleuthera beach on Tripadvisor.com. Take it away, as Disney surely will, and the year after year injection into businesses all over the southern part of Eleuthera will be noticeably diminished. It’s a difficult variable for economists to measure, if one were to try, but if free access (or almost free, if a nominal National Park entrance fee becomes the new reality with OEF’s plan) is cut off to LHP it will hurt the economy. Lost in the payoffs and black-crabbing, petty arguments is the fact we are at a time of overall growth for our island’s economy as real estate, visitor numbers and etc. swell with the global economic recovery. By all accounts 2017 and 2018 were banner years for tourism. Why not give South Eleuthera a chance to benefit with all its (remaining) assets intact?

The Eleutheran | 09/10 2018

and beyond.

I’m one, like many, who want LHP to stay exactly as God created it, but if we are forced to choose, One Eleuthera Foundation’s plan is the only choice.

Even if both sides submitted the exact

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same plan why not give the Bahamian company a chance this time?

Sincerely, Thomas Glucksmann, resident

Times are a changing, Eleuthera is growing (whether you like it to or not) and domestic and international tourism will (continue to) grow in the Deep South. Give it a chance. Take away LHP and you hurt your chances to see it happen. Always keep this lodged firmly in your mind: Cruise ships are a HUGE deterrent for the tourists that have been visiting our island since the days of Juan Trippes’ first Pan Am flight

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

MAN. DIR. / CO-Pub

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

CONSULTING EDITOR

Theresa Burrows

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

Phone | WHATSAPP | TEXT

1 (242) 422-9350 email / website services@TheEleutheran.com editor@TheEleutheran.com www.EleutheraNews.com

fax/landline

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

Elizabeth Bryan, BBA (Photo/Writer)

Andrew Burrows, Ronald Sanders

editor@TheEleutheran.com

contributing writers

asst copy editor

Sherelle Wallace Godfrey Kelly

Safyha Bryan

In-house Writers - articles written and edited by The Eleutheran Team.

These may be investigative, informational, Sports, Education, Business etc.

Size: 40 Pages;

Stamped: October 9, 2018 8:18 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

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Crime News

Sept/Oct 2018

www. EleutheraNews . com

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

Reports issued by the RBPF locally.

Police Contact Numbers

Rock Sound Sgt. Office 334-2212 HeadQuarters (GH) 332-3500 Fighters in extinguishing the same and reported Rock Sound Airport Station 334-2052 Governor’s Harbour 332-2111 that the fire had caused minor damages to a shack Lower Bogue Station (Airport) 335-1208 OR 332-2117 owned by an elderly male of Coffee Hill North Harbour Island Station 333-2111 O/C Governor’s Harbour 332-2723 Palmetto Point. There were no injuries reported.

O/C Harbour Island 333-2327 332-2323 Gov.Harb.

Airport Station At 3:55pm on 16/9/18 the complainant Spanish Wells Station 333-4030 Deep Creek Station 334-8207 contacted the G.H.P.s and reported that the fire Gregory Town Station 335-5322 Tarpum Bay Station 334-4033 flared up again.

Hatchet Bay Station 335-0086 Rock Sound Station 334-2244 Officers saw and spoke to the complainant Eleuthera REPORTS who informed that his house was completely destroyed by fire. The scene was photographed THREATS OF DEATH & CAUSING HARM and a written statement was recorded from the REPORT to act in a disorderly manner. They then arrested reported arresting and cautioning the suspect at complainant, investigations are ongoing.

On Sunday 23rd September 2018 somehim reference to Disorderly Behavior. He was 8:40pm on 15/09/2018 while on Cupid’s Cay time around 12:20pm, an adult male came later processed and charged with Disorderly after searching his person and finding a small Traffic Offence Report in at Rock Sound Police Station and reported On 17/09/18 Officers from the Eleuthera Traf- quantity of suspected marijuana. The suspect was Behavior. that a short while ago while at his residence, a fic Section conducted Traffic Checks in the Central processed and charged with that offence. male known to him told him that he was going Traffic Offence Report Eleuthera area during which some eight (8) drivers to kill him and hit him in the face with a rock Report At about 7:34am on Tuesday 11th SeptemDamage were cited for various traffic offences. causing injury after he told him to stop talking On Thursday 13th September, 2018 some- ber 2018 Officers came in at the Governors people business. Police action was requested. time around 5:55pm an adult female came to the Harbour police station and reported that At about Road Accident with injury Report On Sunday 23rd September 2018 Officers Governor’s Harbour Police Station and reported 7:05am on 11/09/2018 while on routine Traffic Sometime around 6:40 pm on 17/09/18 an viewed the complainant with a laceration to anonymous caller contacted the Governor’s Har- that sometime between 10:00pm on 12/9/18 and Check on Queens Highway, Governors Harbour the forehead that was bleeding and a small 8:00am on 13/9/18 some unknown person(s) in the area of the Governors Harbour Internabour Police Station via telephone and reported scrape to the left cheekbone same of which caused damage to a light blue 2007 Honda Air- tional Airport they reported three (3) drivers for that there is a traffic accident in the area of Sky was slightly swollen. He was issued with a wave by pouring sugar into the gas tank. Police various traffic offences.

Beach, Queens Highway, Governor’s Harbour hospital form. involving injuries and damage. Police Assistance action requested. Officers investigated this matter This matter is under active investigation. and subsequently arrested and cautioned the ARREST REF. POSSESSION OF DANGERrequested. suspect. He was processed and charged with that OUS DRUGS Officers responded and returned to the Stealing Report offence.

On Monday 10th September 2018 someGovernor’s Harbour Police Station and reported At 4:10pm Saturday September 22nd time around 11:00am during Operation Southern investigating a traffic accident on Queens High2018 an adult male reported to the GoverTraffic Offence Report Storm Officers came in at Rock Sound Police way, Governor’s Harbour in the vicinity of Sky nors Harbour Police Station that sometime Station with an adult male suspect and reported Cyclists of the Eleuthera Traffic Division Beach, involving a red Honda Fit driven by an between the hours of 10:00pm on Friday 21st that at 10:45am while at Green Castle he was adult male. The driver reported that he was travel- conducted traffic checks and static point road September 2018 And 1:00pm Saturday 22nd searched by Officers who retrieved from his checks of the Central Eleuthera Division between ing South on Queens Highway making about 40 September 2018 some unknown person/s stole right front pants pocket a foil wrap containing the hours of 8:00am and 11:30am which promph on wet road surface and when he got to a his green, white and black 2017 Kawasaki XR curve in the area of Sky Beach, he lost control of duced positive results relating to traffic infractions suspected marijuana. He was shown the item to 450 Off road motorcycle serial/VIN number and also a strong police presence throughout the which he replied, “Its only one lil joint officer.” his vehicle, subsequently skidding off the road unknown at present time valued $8,000.00 area. There were (10) Infractions and (8) offend- He was subsequently arrested and cautioned for into a rock wall on the eastern side of the road. from under the stair case leading to his aparters reported for various infractions. the offence of possession of dangerous drugs.

He sustained a minor bruise to the right side of ment. Police action is requested. This matter is The suspect was processed and charged with that his forehead and was experiencing moderate under active investigation.

ARREST REF. CAUSING HARM offence. pain in his right shoulder. N.O.I.P. and hospital On Tuesday 11th September 2018 sometime forms were served on the driver. Measurements House Breaking/Assault: around 11:50am, Officers from the Rock Sound Threats of death report were recorded. The driver was treated at the On Saturday 22nd September, 2018, On Sunday 09th September 2018 sometime Levy Medical Centre by Dr. Cho and discharged. Police Station during operation Southern Storm sometime around 1:22am an adult female came in at Rock Sound Police Station with an around 7:10pm an adult female came to the Rock Investigations are ongoing. contacted the Rock Sound Police Station and adult male and reported that at 11:35am he was Sound Police Stn and reported that a male known reported that sometime around 12:50am she arrested at his residence reference to Causing to her threatened to kill her on Saturday 08th SepTrespassing Report woke up after she felt someone turn her body Harm, a complaint made on 8/09/18.

He was tember 2018. Police action requested. Officers On Wednesday 12th September, 2018 somearound and tried to climb on top of her. She later processed and charged with that offence. have commenced an ongoing investigation. time around 6:25pm an adult female reported discovered that it was a male known to her. to the Hatchet Bay Police Station that sometime She screamed and pushed him off of her and Traffic Offence Report: DANGEROUS HOUSE BREAKING REPORT around 5:20pm a male she knew came on her ran out of the room and then she opened the OR RECKLESS DRIVING On Friday 7th September 2018 sometime property without her permission attempting to front door of her residence and chased him out On Tuesday 11th September 2018 somearound 11:30am an adult female reported at watch her while she was nude. Officers comof her house. She is requesting police action time around 1:11pm during Operation Southern Rock Sound Police Station that on Thursday 6th menced investigations into this complaint. The in this matter. Officers responded to the scene, Storm Officers reported that sometime around September 2018 sometime between 5:15am and suspect subsequently surrendered to Police and investigations are ongoing.

1:00pm while on Pindling Drive, Rock Sound 6:15pm, some person/s unknown broke and enwas interviewed and charged with trespassing. they attempted to stop a black 2004 Hyundai tered her apartment by prying open the top dead STEALING REPORT Accent driven by an adult male who refused lock and bottom door knob of the front door.

Arrest reference to Possession of On Tuesday 18th September 2018, at to stop, but instead drove off at a high rate of Nothing appeared to be stolen at this time. She Dangerous Drugs. about 12:00 noon an adult male reported to speed.

Officers gave chase after the male who suspects her neighbor. Police action requested.

At 8:35pm Saturday September 2018 Ofthe Hatchet Bay Police Station that sometime was driving in a dangerous manner to the public.

This matter is under active investigation. ficers came in at the Governors Harbour Police around 6:00pm on the 17/09/2018, he parked They eventually caught up to him in front of the Station with an adult male suspect under arrest his 250 Chevy Truck and a man he knows stole Causing Harm/Damage Report reference to Possession of dangerous drugs. They Rock Sound Police Station and warned him of his Ratchet Set from the vehicle without his On Saturday 8th September 2018 sometime prosecution reference to driving in a dangerous or reported arresting and cautioning the suspect at permission. Same is valued at $290.00. Police around 1:25am an adult male , came in at Rock reckless manner.

7:15pm on 15/09/2018 while on Biscuit Street Action Requested.

Sound Police Station and reported that sometime Gregory Town after searching his person and This matter is under active investigation.

BEHAVIOUR around 1:00am after picking up his cousin , he ARREST REF. DISORDERLY finding a small quantity of suspected marijuana.

On Tuesday 11th September 2018 sometime requested that he assist him to another Settlement, The suspect was processed and charged with that Bush Fire Reported around 1:11pm, during Operation Southern after telling him that he did not have sufficient offence.

An anonymous caller contacted the GovStorm Officers came in at Rock Sound Police gas in his car to make it that far, he took a rock ernors Harbour Police station at about 10:58am Station with an adult male of Rock Sound and and threw it through the front windshield of his Arrest reference to Possession of on the 16.9.18 and reported that there was reported that sometime around 1:10pm while gray 2006 Nissan Note which hit him in the face Dangerous Drugs. a bush fire in the area of Coffee Hill, North in the front of the Rock Sound Police Station he causing injury and damage to the windshield.

At 8:45pm Saturday September 2018, OfPalmetto Point, spreading towards a residence. was throwing his hands in the air and shouting Police action was requested. ficers came in at the Governors Harbour Police Police assistance was requested. out that the police always harassing him.

Officers Officers while at Rock Sound Police Station, Station with an adult male suspect under arrest Officers visited the scene assisted by Mr. viewed the complainant with a deep laceration reference to Possession of dangerous drugs. They warned him of his behavior, but he continued Jason Thompson and his team of volunteer Fire

Crime News

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com above the left eye which was bleeding. Both of his eyes were also swollen. Dr. Sidney Smith was contacted to assist with medical attention. The mentioned vehicle was also viewed with damages to the front windshield and a medium size rock was found on the inside of the vehicle on the front passenger side in the area of the center console. The suspect was later apprehended, processed and charged with Damage.

The Eleutheran | 09/10 2018

Eleuthera Police Traffic Section

Obscene Language Report On Saturday 8th September 2018 sometime around 2:20am, Officers while on mobile patrols in the area of a local Night Club , observed a female known to them who exited the night club upon closure of the same by the officers.

This female then began making use of obscene language to the annoyance of the officers and was warned in regards to the same, however she Since its inception on the, 23rd August 2018. Officers of The Eleuthera Traffic Section have been continued using obscene language to the annoysteadfast to meet the objectives of the Commissioners Policing Plan 2018. ance of officers. As a results, she was informed of the offence and was warned of prosecution for Road Traffic Checkpoints Island wide: four (4) the offence.

Traffic Offence Report Total: one hundred & one (101) Traffic Accident Investigation Total: two (2) Causing Harm Report Official Motorcycle Escort Total: three (3) On Saturday 08th September 2018 at about 3:50am an adult male came to G.H.P.S and ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT Traffic Offence Report reported that while in the area of a local Night On Monday 03rd September 2018 about On Wednesday 29th August, 2018 at Club he observed an altercation in front of the 7:46am Officers from the Governor’s Harbour 12:00 pm Personnel C/O Levy Medical Clinic bar when out of nowhere a male he knows from Police Station conducted a traffic check where contacted the Governor’s Harbour Police Station James Cistern Struck him on the left side of his seven (7) drivers were reported for various traffic via telephone and reported that a female patient head with a bottle for no reason causing injuries with injuries who was a passenger in a vehicle police action requested in this matter. A written infractions. traffic accident was treated and has to be airlifted statement was recorded from the complainant Accident Report Traffic to New Providence for further medical treatment. and issued him a hospital form to seek medical Sometime around 3:30pm on the 3/9/18 Police assistance requested. attention.

Officers arrived at the scene of what appeared Officers visited the Clinic where they saw The suspect was later apprehended, proto be a two car vehicle accident. They observed and spoke with the victim who was a passenger cessed and charged with Causing Harm. a silver 2006 Suzuki Solio registered to and in a vehicle driven by an adult female which had driven by an adult female parked facing east in run off the road whom at the time was being DAMAGE Eleuthera Island shores with damaged observed treated and was complaining of pain to her neck On Thursday 6th September 2018, somearea, she was served with a Police Hospital form. time around 11:20am an adult male came into to the left rear side and to the right rear door.

Officers further observed a white and blue 1993 They also saw and spoke with the driver of the the Rock Sound Police Station and reported that GMC fuel truck parked facing north on Queens vehicle and invited her to the Governor’s Harsometime around 7:00am on Wednesday 8th Highway in Eleuthera Island shores driven by bour Police Station where she provided a written August 2018, several dogs entered the rear of his an adult male with no damages incurred. statement and was served a N.O.I.P Form. yard and killed ten chickens which were secured Measurements were recorded in the presence The vehicle was inspected where there in a coop valued at $15 each. Further that on of both drivers.

Notice of intended prosecution were visible minor damages to the front bumper.

Thursday 6th September 2018 sometime around was served on both drivers.

Investigations are Officers also visited the scene of the mentioned 10:45am, he made a check of his chickens and ongoing. traffic accident where measurements were discovered that three dogs had broken open recorded. The passenger was airlifted on flight his coop and killed ten Rhode Island Red Layer C6-FLR to New Providence to seek further medichickens valued at $25 each. Police action re- SPECIAL PATROL CONDUCTED On Thursday August 30th, 2018, sometime cal attention in regards to her injuries; investigaquested. This matter is under active investigation. around 6:00pm, Officers, left the Rock Sound tions continue.

Police Station on patrol of the Southern District Housebreaking report On Thursday 06th September 2018 some- of Eleuthera on a focused mobile patrol targeting Operation Blue Wave In keeping with Priorities One and Two time around 7:50pm an adult female contacted hotspots that harbor criminal activities. Three (3) of the Commissioner’s Policing Plan 2018 on drivers were reported for traffic offences and one the Rock Sound Police Station via telephone Saturday 15/09/18 Inspector Julian Newbold person was searched ref to Dangerous Drugs. and reported that sometime between the hours lead a team of Officers from the Governor’s of 7:15am and 7:50pm some unknown person Harbour Police Station in conjunction with Inbroke into her upstairs bedroom by means of the Traffic Operation Northern District spector Joseph Oldham and the Officers from the north western balcony window. Suspect(s) stole Thursday 30th August 2018 commencEleuthera Division Traffic Unit in a joint mobile On approximately $200.00 in cash made up of US ing at 7:00am Officers of The Eleuthera Traffic operation titled “Operation Blue Wave”. The currency. At this time she suspects her son of Section, continuing with their mandate paid Objective was to increase Police visibility, adsame address. Police action requested. special attention to the Northern District of the dress excessive speeding and to bring increased Island, setting up strategic Road Traffic check Police presence in areas where there was TRAFFIC OFFENSE REPORT points and Motorcycle Patrols throughout the suspected illicit activity. Officers were briefed About 9:30am on Wednesday 5th September 2018 Officers on motor cycle patrol on district. The Northern District stretches some 25 and patrols commenced with special attention to to 30 miles from The Glass Window Bridge to the communities of James Cistern, Rainbow Bay, Queens Highway Palmetto Point reported an Jeans Bay Dock, encompassing five settlements.

Hatchet Bay and Gregory Town/ Glass Window adult female for driving a black Ford Ranger During this operation, Officers stressed the Bridge in the North and Governor’s Harbour/Cutruck that was unlicensed ,not inspected and importance of road safety to all motorists, some pids Cay and Palmetto Point in the Central area not covered by third party risk insurance. The of whom were reported for various offences, with the following results: Persons Arrested (2); vehicle had license plates and a license disc totaling twenty-four (24).

Traffic Offences (17); Persons Searched (22); attached to the vehicle registered to a Honda Vehicles Searched (5); Warrants Executed (1) Odyssey. She was further cautioned and warned of prosecution for fraudulent use of license plates and fraudulent use of license disc. She was told to produce driver’s license to the GHPS within 48hrs

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-Harbour Island REPORTS Disturbance Report Police Assistance Requested Particulars: On Friday 28th September 2018 at 5:45pm an adult male of Coconut Grove Ave Harbour Island contacted the H.I.P.S via telephone and reported that his neighbor is creating an altercation with him over his trees that he has planted next to the fence. Police assistance requested.

Police visited the residence of the complainant and saw and spoke to the neighbor an adult female of Johnson Road Harbour Island who stated that the neighbor purposely allows his trees to grow high and over the fence into her own backyard so she was chopping down all the trees that were hanging over the fence into her yard. He was properly advised to keep his trees trim to a reasonable length avoiding them from hanging into the neighbor’s yard and they both were warned to keep the peace, area was left quiet.

Stabbing Reported: Police Assistance On Saturday 29th September 2018, an unknown caller contacted the HIPS and reported that a young man got stabbed in the area of the Vic Hum night and that he was at the local clinic, Police assistance requested.

On the same date at about 3:15am, an officer arrived at the Harbour Island Clinic saw and spoke with an adult male of Barracks Street who stated that he was involved in an argument with a young lady, and the argument got heated resulting in him getting stabbed in the back, no police action requested.

The officer saw and spoke with the accused who stated that while at Sammy’s Bar just across the street from the Bar she was approached by the young man who said that he wanted to talk, she went at his house to talk, while there he got very physical by punching her about the body resulting in her stabbing him in the back, no police action requested.

Threats of Harm Report: Police Warning - An Adult male of Dunmore Street Harbour Island came in at the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that on Thursday 26th September 2018 at about 8:15pm while in the area of the Fisherman’s dock situated Bay Street Harbour Island, he was confronted in a violent manner by a male whom he knows of Pitt Street Harbour Island, whom made a threatening remark towards him stating that “he has a bullet for him and he’s ready to knock him down with his motorcycle and cut his stomach open”. Police Assistance requested in having the suspect warned.

Assault Report: Police Assistance Requested - On Thursday 27th September 2018 at 12:11am an adult female of New Dunmore Subdivision Harbour Island came to the H.I.P.S and reported that sometime shortly after 12am same date she returned to her boyfriend ‘s residence; after a night out with friends, and as soon as she walked into the room he began slapping and punching her about the body and face, accusing her of sleeping with a male known to them.

Police assistance requested.

Child Abuse Report: A case aid worker c/o Social Services contacted the Harbour Island Police Station via telephone and reported that an adult male of Coconut Grove Avenue came to the Department of Social Services and reported that his daughter’s mother had beaten their daughter about the body and threw her off

32

Crime News

Sept/Oct 2018

a golf cart causing injuries. Police assistance requested.

The young adult female came in at the Harbour Island Police station with her toddler.

Checks were made of the child - she was warm in temperature but there were no visible signs of injuries. A police hospital form was completed and the mother was instructed to take her daughter to be examined at the clinic.

Property Dispute Report An adult male of Grand Bahama came in at the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that he is the executor of his deceased brother’s estate and is requesting that his nephew and his wife be warned that they are no longer to collect rent from the estate of his brother’s residence situated Love Lane, Harbour Island. He added that any violation of the decree will be brought before the courts and civil action taken.

Assault: Police Assistance On Thursday 20th September 2018, a young adult of Duke Street, Harbour Island came to the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that while walking in the area of Jackie Store , a male she knows walked up to told her to keep his name out of her mouth, and began telling her some hurtful things like carry your big dead #$$$7 and then he picked up three (3) rocks and threw them at her - police assistance requested in this matter.

Marine Accident Report: Police Action An adult male of Florida came in at the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that sometime around 5:00Pm on Tuesday September 18th 2018 while on board a 80ft Azimut yacht, which was captained at the time by a navigator who resides in Spanish Wells there was an accident with a 16ft skiff which was tied aboard his vessel causing damages to both boats. Police action requested.

Police recorded a written statement from the U.S Citizen pilot/captain who reported that his company hired the Spanish Wells man to navigate their vessel from Bridge Point North Eleuthera through the devils back bone.

However he reported that after they had cleared the area of the devils back bone the navigator increased the speed of the vessel. When he increased the speed his skiff that he had tied to the boat began to take on water and the captain came to a sudden stop and because of the wake the skiff slammed into the stern transom causing damages to letters, teak and transom door.

Police recorded a written statement from contracted Chef onboard the vessel also of Florida.

Investigations are ongoing into the matter and the relevant information will be forwarded to the Port Department for further recommendations.

Threats of Harm Report: Police Information - An adult male of Colebrooke Alley came in at the Harbour Island Police Station On Wednesday 19/9/18 sometime around 7:40Pm and reported that On Monday 17th September 2018 at around 4:30Pm while on the public dock situated Bay Street Harbour Island a male whom he knows accused him of stealing his brother’s phone after it was lost in the area of the dock. He added that due to him being present in the area he is being accused of stealing the phone. However on Wednesday 19th September 2018 around 5:00Pm he received information from the male that his brother said that where ever he sees him he will shoot him for his phone. Same recorded for Police Infor-

mation only.

Operation Briland Thyme A police Crew conducted traffic checks and static point road checks of the Harbour Island Division between the hours of 8:40am and 10:00am on 18th/09/2018 which produced positive results relating to traffic infractions and also a strong police presence throughout the area, There were (35) infractions and (31) offenders totaled.

ASP. N. Rolle Reported: Offender: Adult male of The Bluff, Eleuthera Vehicle: Red Ford S10 Offence/S: Driving with an expired driver’s licence Particulars: At 9:15am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling south along Colebrook Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult female of Trianna Shores Vehicle: Purple Honda Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 9:17 am on 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling south along Colebrook Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult female of Pitt Street Vehicle: White Honda Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 8:55am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling north along Colebrook Street and was warned of prosecution.

Insp. J. Oldham Reported: Offender: Adult female of Coconut Grove Avenue Vehicle: Gold Nissan Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 8:45am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling East along Gail Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Duke Street Vehicle: White 1999 Ford Ranger Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 8:50am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling East along Gaol Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult female of Colebrooke Street Vehicle: Black Volkswagon Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 8:55am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling East along Gaol Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Alice Street Vehicle: Red Chevy Offence/S: Unlicensed, Uninspected and not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 9:00am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling East along Gaol Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Harbour Island Vehicle: White Mitsubishi Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 8:45am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling East along Gaol Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Harbour Island Vehicle: Green Chevy Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 9:10am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling South along Dunmore Street and was warned of prosecution.

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Offender: Adult male of Alice Street Vehicle: Grey Nissan Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 9:15am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling South along Dunmore Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Colebrooke Street Vehicle: Yellow Club Golf Cart Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 8:45am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling South along Dunmore Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Colebrooke Street Vehicle: Blue Toyota Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 9:30am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling South along Dunmore Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Barrack Street Vehicle: Purple Honda Offence/S: 2yrs Child Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 9:45am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling North along Bay Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Clarence Street Vehicle: Black Ford Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 9:50am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling East along Gail Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Bay Street Vehicle: Green Yamaha Offence/S: Not Helmeted Particulars: At 10:00am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling south along Bay Street and was warned of prosecution.

W/Sgt 234 Taylor Reported: Offender: Adult male of Dunmore Street, Harbour Island Vehicle: Royal Blue Kia / Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 10:50 am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling south along Bay Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult female of Coconut Grove Avenue, Harbour Island Vehicle: Silver Suzuki Offence/S: Failing to transfer ownership Particulars: At 10:55 am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling south along Bay Street and was warned of

prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Bay Street, Harbour Island Vehicle: Honda Fit Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 11:02 am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling north along Bay Street and was warned of prosecution.

PC 3409 Fowler Reported: Offender: Adult male of Black Wood Vehicle: White and Orange Chevy Offence/S: Not Secured by seat belt Offender: Adult male of Black Wood Offence/S: Riding while not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 8:44am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling south along Colebrooke Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult female of Colebrooke Street Vehicle: White EZ- Go Golf Car LP# EL6003 Offence/S: No Licensed Disc Attached Particulars: At 8:50am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling north along Colebrooke Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Dunmore Street Vehicle: White Chevrolet Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 8:52am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling North along on Colebrooke Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Johnson View Street Vehicle: Grey Club Cart Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 9:05am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling South along Colebrooke Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Trianna Shores Vehicle: Black Ford Offence/S: Not Secured by seat belt Particulars: At 9:09am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling South along Colebrooke Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Dunmore Street Vehicle: White Ford Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 9:15am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling South along South

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Online at www.EleutheraNews.com Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Dunmore Street Vehicle: White Suzuki Carry LP# EL4310 Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 9:18am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling East along South Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Bluff Eleuthera Vehicle: White KIA Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt and invalid Driver’s Licensed Particulars: At 9:21am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling East along South Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Duke Street Vehicle: Green Ford Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt and No Front Licensed plate affixed Particulars: At 9:27am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling East along York Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Spanish Wells Vehicle: Grey Mitsubishi Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt and No Front Licensed plate affixed Particulars: At 9:27am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling South along Dunmore Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Johnson Hill Vehicle: White Suzuki Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 9:45am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling West along Church Street and was warned of prosecution.

Offender: Adult male of Harbour Island Vehicle: White Mitsubishi Offence/S: Not secured by seat belt Particulars: At 8:45am on the 18th/09/2018 was reported while travelling East along Gaol Street and was warned of prosecution.

Causing Harm Report On Tuesday 19th September 2018 at 12:40pm an adult female 94 of Coconut Grove Avenue contacted the H.I.P.S via telephone and reported that a young man she knows is attempting to get into her residence to attack his ex girlfriend. He had already beaten her about the body causing injuries. Police assistance requested.

Annoying Phone Calls Report On Tuesday 18th September 2018 at 12:30pm an adult male of Neely Street, Lower Bogue came to the H.I.P.S and reported that for the past 4 months some unknown person(s) continue to call his cell phone to his annoyance. Police assistance requested.

Disturbance Report On Monday 17th September 2018 at 4pm an adult male of Coconut Grove Avenue, Harbour Island contacted the H.I.P.S and reported that the residents of a home behind hers is constantly playing loud music to her annoyance. Police assistance requested.

Action Taken/Results An officer saw and spoke to an adult male of Coconut Grove Ave, also tenant of the

residence. He was informed of the complaint made towards him and was instructed to turn and keep his music down to a reasonable volume level. All was left in order at that location.

Police Information On Monday 17th September 2018 at 4:50pm an adult female of NY, USA contacted the HIPS and reported that she had lent $33,000.00 to a male known to her Johnson.

The agreement was that every time she comes to Harbour Island he would pay her back $500.00. She further stated she left her golf carts in his care and recently she found out that he has been renting out her golf carts without her permission. She said that she made attempts to contact him via phone, emails and messages with negative results. She was properly advised of civil action and this matter was reported for police information only.

Police Assistance Report: Police Warning Requested - On Saturday 15th September 2018 at 2:20pm an adult male of Coconut Grove Ave reported to police, while in the square opposite the Methodist church, two males attempted to ‘burst’ him in his head with a beer bottle after an argument between them all. He is requesting that both males be warned not to have anything to say to him.

Police spoke to one adult male and one juvenile of Coconut Grove Ave Harbour Island. Both of them were informed of the complaint made against them One of the males stated that the complainant started the altercation over some funds that were given to the band members. He also stated that he took the bottle from his brother and told him not to get his self in any problems. They both were sternly warned to keep the peace.

Road Block: Police Information Traffic Offence Offenders On Friday 14th September 2018 whiles the Crew of Alpha Eskimo-3 was conducting road checks throughout the entire Harbour Island, came across traffic infractions committed by offenders namely: 1) Adult male Alice Street; unlicensed and uninsured vehicle.

2) Adult male of Princess Street; unlicensed and uninsured vehicle.

3) Adult female of Nassau Bahamas: unlicensed and uninsured vehicle.

4) Adult female of Munnings Street; unlicensed and uninsured vehicle.

5) Adult male of Colebrooke Street; unlicensed and uninsured vehicle.

6) Adult male of Barrack Street; unlicensed and uninsured vehicle.

All traffic offenders were warned of further prosecution.

Traffic Accident Report: Police Assistance Requested - On Friday 14th September 2018 at 720pm an anonymous caller contacted the H.I.P.S and reported that there was a traffic accident in the area of York and Bay Street. Same involved a white Mitsubishi Wagondriven by an adult female of Trianna Shores and a green Huv 42106 XP golf cart driven by an adult male of Duke Street. Police assistance requested.

Police Warning Requested. On Friday 7th September 2018, an adult male of Alice Street, Harbour Island came to the HIPS and reported that a young man he knows consistently harasses him wherever he sees him for no apparent reason. He requested police warning in this matter. Civil action was

The Eleutheran | 09/10 2018

also advised.

At about 11:00am on Friday September 2018, an officer while at the HIPS saw and spoke with the accused of Dunmore Street Harbour Island inreference to this matter.

He admitted to having words with Mr Barry but denied harassing him. he was warned as requested by the complainant.

Police Assistance Report - On Friday 7th September 2018, a Case Aide Worker/ Dept. Social Services, contacted the HIPS via telephone and reported that the Dr. c/o H.I.C.C informed her that the adult female who was referred to C.C.A.C New Providence, failed to cooperate with the Doctor and be evaluated. The female is not permitted to her juvenile child in her care until the evaluation is completed. The Case Aide Worker/ Dept.

Social Services requested assistance to remove the child from her mother’s care. Police assistance requested.

At about 3:50pm ,On Friday 7th September, 2018, police and Dept. Social Service went to the residence of the female in question. They saw and spoke with the subject female, who refused to comply with the request to be evaluated by the Dr. at H.I.C.C. As a result Social Services removed the child from the residence.

Drug Search/Disorderly Behavior Report Suspect Arrest On Friday 7th September 2018 at 6:50pm police while conducting special duties in the area of Manna’s Wholesale store, observed several males at the rear of an adjacent yard acting suspicious. As a result, the four males were searched in reference to Dangerous drugs and Firearms. One of the men began acting in a disorderly manner. He was warned of his behavior by SGT 234 Taylor. He continued and as a result, was arrested and cautioned for Disorderly Behavior. He was taken to S-3 for safekeeping. Nothing illegal was found on the others.

On Friday 7th September 2018 at 10pm whiles at the HIPS, police conducted a record of interview with the suspect under caution and he admitted to the offences.

Suspect Charged Police charged the suspect with Disorderly Behavior contrary to section 206(1), Resisting Arrest: contrary to section 247, and Assaulting a police officer: contrary to section 247 of the Penal Code Ch.84. He said nothing in response to the charges.

Threats of Harm Report An adult female of Colebrooke Street Harbour Island came in the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that a male whom she knows of Coconut Grove Ave (HBI) made a threatening remark towards her stating that word on the street is that she does be disrespecting his mother whiles at work and if it happens again watch what will happen to her putting her in fear for her safety. Police warning requested.

On Wednesday 5th September 2018, while in the area of Barrack Street, an officer warned the accused adult male of Barracks Street in reference to this matter.

Fraud by False Pretenses Arrest As a result of a complaint made by an adult male on Tuesday August 28th 2018, an adult male of Clarence Street was arrested and cautioned by an officer at 9:15 am while in

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the area of the Government Dock, Bay Street.

Police interviewed the suspect under caution and subsequently charged him with Fraud by False Pretenses.

Threats of Harm Report Police Warning Requested On Tuesday 4th September, 2018 at around 9:50 am an adult male of The Bluff, North Eleuthera came in at the Harbour Island Police Station and reported a male known to him has been making threats remarks towards him since August, 2018. He is alleging that he is having a relationship with a female who is the accused male’s girlfriend. The complainant reported being annoyed and in fear for his safety. He requested police warning in this matter.

Suspect Arrested Reference to Stabbing - On Tuesday 4th September 2018 at 1:15pm police reported that at around 1:15pm while at the HIPS he cautioned and arrested an adult male of Prison Lane Fort Fincastle New Providence in reference to a stabbing/causing harm case.

Property Dispute Report Case Number: 1-18-090516 Particulars: On Tuesday 4th September, 2018 at around 10:45 am an adult male of Coral Boulevard, Coral Harbour contacted the Harbour Island Police Station via phone and reported that he is the executor of the estate of his deceased father. He further stated that he received information that a male is renting his father’s home. The property is presently being probated in Supreme Court and he has no authority to rent the property. Police assistance requested.

At about 4:30 pm police spoke with an adult female of Dunmore Street. She reported that she rented the home from the accused at a cost of $600.00 monthly. She has paid him $800.00 so far as is in arrears $400.00. The officer informed the tenant that the executor of the estate has directed the she leaves the premises.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon Report: Police Warning Requested On Tuesday 4th September 2018 at 11:05pm an adult female of Clarence Street Harbour Island came to the HIPS along with her male friend of Munnings Street Harbour Island and reported that at about 10pm same date while at Sammy’s Bar located Bay Street, an adult male who appeared highly intoxicated grabbed her by her arm after she told him not too because she had a bruise on it. To avoid problems she left Sammy’s Bar with her male friend and went by Daddy D’s. About 30 minutes later, the same male approached her and her male friend inside Daddy Ds and pulled out a cutlass asking for her friend; however the security and the owner took the weapon from him and made him leave. Police warning requested.

Stealing Report: Police Assistance Requested - On Tuesday 4th September 2018 at 11:55pm an adult female of Chapel Street Harbour Island came to the HIPS and reported that while at her residence she discovered that her $2,510.00 that she left secured in her glasses case in her dresser in her room in a big white envelope with her name on it missing. She is requesting police assistance in this matter.

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Perspective

Sept/Oct 2018

www. EleutheraNews . com

Trash or Waste?

By: Andrew L. Burrows andrewburrows1@gmail.com

Foam, Plastic, Glass, Paper, Steel, Aluminum! They make up the bulk of the materials that we use today to hold and store our foods, notions, liquids, and an endless list of other items we have. But for all the conveniences these things provide us, there is anoth-

er issue we must consider and it is what do we do with all of the empty items once used. There was a time when our town dump was well able to cope with the regular volume of trash, but that is now history, the dump sites today are severely stressed.

First and foremost, there is no national format for the design and location of dump sites. The local district or town dumps are not handled in any consistent order, and is open and unsupervised. Trash is simply dumped at the most convenient location, and if that is at the entrance, then so-be-it!

We have long professed and proclaimed our love for this beautiful home we call The Bahamas, and especially our island of Eleuthera. But our ways of expressing our love are very strange. We simply ignore what we and others are doing by pretending not to see the ever present paper, bottles, cans and every other form of trash on our streets. We can always blame the government for the condition of the dump site or the litter on the street, because it is collecting taxes from us and is responsible for maintaining the dump and cleaning the streets. Experience to date has proven that there is more to the story; we are not holding ourselves accountable to ourselves. We are the guilty ones, and no one should be com-

ing behind us to pick up what we drop or throw on the side of the road.

There have been all kinds of efforts made by individuals and groups to clear our streets and beaches of the never ending cycle of trash and litter, but there is still the need for a lasting solution to the problem, because the problem is not the litter, the problem is US! Instead of bending down and picking up what has dropped, we proudly ignore the fact and pretend it was someone else who may have responsibility for causing litter to be where it is.

One thing our COLONIAL past has instilled in us is that we do not own the environment around us. You may have a Title Deed to the property, but the resources above, on, or below it belongs to them, and it is no wonder we walk the streets but never behave like owners!

We also have become totally reliant on imported labour, and have demonstrated to our children that someone else will come behind and collect what they drop or leave sitting where it was used.

Where is our love of country? We are ashamed to be seen picking up our own waste! God have mercy if it is someone else’s trash!

At present we do not know the solution to our problem. So we will continue to import into this country all of the many junk products that quickly add

FAO: Hunger increases in the world and in Latin America and the Caribbean for the third consecutive year FAO press release

Global hunger increased to 821 million people and to 39.3 million in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2017. One in every four inhabitants of the region suffers from obesity, while child malnutrition continues to decline.

September 11, 2018, Santiago, Chile - For the third consecutive year, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced an increase in the number of people suffering from hunger. In the case of Latin America and the Caribbean, 39.3 million people live undernourished in the region, an increase of 400 000 people since 2016.

According to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2018 (SOFI), globally almost 821 million people - approximately one in nine- were victims of hunger in 2017, an increase of 17 million in relation to the previous year.

“In the region we are stuck in the fight against hunger. In 2014, hunger affected 38.5 million and in 2017 it exceeded 39 million. These figures are a strong and clear call

to redouble efforts at all levels,” said FAO’s Regional Representative, Julio Berdegué.

Berdegué explained that the increase in hunger at the regional level follows the global trend and moves us away from meeting the Sustainable Development Goal 2— Zero Hunger by 2030.

This year’s SOFI was developed by FAO together with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Program (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) The experience of food insecurity In addition to the traditional hunger indicator reported by the SOFI (undernourishment), this year, for the second time, the report presents an indicator of severe food insecurity, based on household surveys.

According to this measurement, severe food insecurity in 2017 is higher than in 2014 in all regions, except North America and Europe, with notable increases in Africa and Latin America.

In Latin America, severe food insecurity jumped from 7.6 % in 2016 to 9.8 % in 2017.

Acute and chronic malnutrition in children Good news for the region is that it has a very low rate of acute malnutrition in children (1.3 %), equivalent to 700 000 children under the age of five, well below the global average of 7.5 %. Only one in every 100 children under 5 years of age in Latin America and the Caribbean suffers from this condition.

The chronic malnutrition of girls and boys has also fallen, from 11.4 % in 2012 to 9.6 % in 2017: today it affects 5.1 million children under five years of age in the region.

Obesity affects almost one in four inhabitants The news is much less encouraging on the issue of obesity. According to the SOFI, practically one out of every four inhabitants of the region lives with obesity: in 2016, obesity affected 24.1 % of the population, an increase of 2.4 % since 2012.

“In 2016 there were 104.7 million adults with obesity in our region. But there was a gigantic increase - of more than 16 millionin just four years. It is an epidemic that, despite repeated warnings from FAO and PAHO/WHO, continues to be out of con-

to our waste problem and hopefully create more jobs for more immigrants from other countries, because our little darlings can’t be seen getting their hands soiled, picking up what they dropped or allowed to be blown around by the wind.

Have you noticed the number of vehicles on this island? The strange thing is, about a third of them are permanently parked, not used because they are unrepairable and there is no system of disposal. It is useless holding on to a vehicle that parts can no longer be found to repair them, and as long as they sit, they are only further deteriorating.

Our Lord Jesus told the story of a man who starts to build a house but did not take time to calculate the cost of the project; He said that man would be the object of scorn by his neighbours because he could not finish what he started. We also are the object of scorn because we boast of the natural beauty of this island, but the one thing that degrades that beauty is our trash! It may come as a surprise to you, but many of the things we import contains more packaging than goods. What do we do with all that trash? …… may be the answer is ‘blowing in the wind’.

This Earth belongs to God who made it, and He will hold us accountable for how we treat it!

trol, with enormous effects on the health of people and the economy of the countries,” Berdegué warned.

Latin America and the Caribbean has the second highest percentage of overweight children in the world (7.3 %), which is equivalent to 3.9 million girls and boys.

Obesity in adults is also worsening globally: 672 million people are obese, more than one in eight adults.

Climate impacts food security In addition to conflicts, variability and extreme weather conditions are among the key factors in the recent increase in world hunger.

According to the SOFI, the cumulative effect of changes in climate is undermining all dimensions of food security, including food availability, access, utilization and stability.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, this was clearly seen in the Dry Corridor of Central America, particularly in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, one of the regions most affected by the drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon in 2015-16.

The drought was one of the worst in the last 10 years and resulted in significant reductions in agricultural production, with estimated losses of between 50 % and 90 % of the agricultural harvest. More than 3.6 million people needed humanitarian aid as a result of this drought.

Local “Plus”

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

| 09/10 2018

Rotary Club of Eleuthera represented at the First national Interclub Assembly press release

Representatives of the vibrant Rotary Club of Eleuthera traveled in August to New Providence to participate in the first ever Interclub Assembly for the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas.

The gathering was held on Saturday August 25th, under the theme “Be The Inspiration”, which is the 2018-2019 presidential theme for Rotary International President Barry Rassin.

Highlights of the Assembly included a panel of Past Rotary Presidents who led the audience in a discussion on the topic, “Challenges Faced by Clubs” and a panel discussion lead by Rotaractors on the topic “Ensuring the Transition from Rotaract to Rotary”.

“Rotary Interclub Assemblies provide the perfect opportunity for us to come together as a Rotary family in an atmosphere of fellowship and collaboration to exchange ideas, foster partnerships with other clubs and to elevate the discussion in regards to Rotary’s role in our community”, said Mario Smith, Assistant Governor for Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas (East) and event Chairman.

Bryan Knowles, Assistant Governor

for Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas (West) added, “The event demonstrated that future Interclub Assemblies will provide the space in which Rotary Bahamas will unite to strengthen our organization and to strengthen our service to our communities and the world.”

The event also featured presentations

by Acting Country Representative for the Inter-American Development Bank, Mr. Michael Nelson, Deputy Permanent Secretary and Director of Youth, K. Darron Turnquest and Past District Governor, Felix Stubbs. Rotarians also participated in discussions on “Building Effective Community Partnerships” and “How to Engage the Media”.

Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas is a part of Rotary District 7020 and includes: The Rotary Club of East Nassau, The Rotary Club of Abaco, The Rotary Club of Old Fort, The Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise, The Rotary Club of Nassau, The Rotary Club of Southeast Nassau, The Rotary Club of Eleuthera, The Rotary Club of New Providence and the Rotary Club of West Nassau. For more information on Rotary in The Bahamas please visit www. rotarybahamas.com.

AZTEC AIRWAYS ADDS MORE SCHEDULED FLIGHTS to Eleuthera Fort Lauderdale, FL. Aztec Airways has announced that they are increasing the number of flights offered to Eleuthera. According to their release, Flights are being added with the goal of offering two flights daily by the end of this year. Additionally, the airline reports they will be adding flights to other popular destinations in the Bahamas in the near future.

Above: Assistant Governor Bryan Knowles Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas (West) with the Eleuthera Rotary Club representatives.

Above: Past President’s Panel

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Local

Sept/Oct 2018

www. EleutheraNews . com

Deacon Continued from pg. 12 mom, Mrs. Sharan Petty showcased one of the brightest smiles among many.

Deacon Thomas, who studied at The College of The Bahamas, the University of the West Indies, and Codrington College (an Anglican theological college in St. John, Barbados), served at Epiphany Anglican Church, and Christ the King Anglican Church following completion of his Seminary studies. He also taught Religious Studies at the Jordan Prince William Baptist School and at Creative Vision Christian Academy. He now takes up his new role as Deacon, with his first assignment being in Freeport, Grand Bahama as Assistant Curate at Church of the Ascension. He will also serve as a primary school teacher, and as the Assistant Chaplain at Bishop Michael Eldon School, a private school run by the Anglican Central Education Authority.

Above: Deacon Dave Dimitri Thomas with his very proud mother, Mrs. Sharan Petty.

Retired Chef, Resident in Eleuthera continues Tradition of yearly treating

Underprivileged kids in New Providence

Pictured: Mrs. Shemah Darling with her father Rev. Dr. Samuel Saunders..

Three hundred (300) children and adults were out at McDonalds in OakesField, New Providence on Friday afternoon, September 28th, 2018, celebrating with 85 year old, Reverend Dr. Samuel Saunders, retired bakery owner, who operated Just Rite Bakery on Collins Avenue, until his retirement to the island of Eleuthera, two years ago. It’s a party that he has hosted each year for the past 35 years.

“When my dad turned 50 years old he started hosting this party at McDonalds, and he is now 85. I think he missed two years because he wasn’t well, and because of his recent relocation to Eleuthera, but people were calling, so we brought him down to have it again this year. There are now parents who were children when it first started, who are now bringing their children to the function. He did it for the underprivileged, as well as family and friends within the community. We have

represented, the Children’s Emergency Hostel, The Ranfurly Home, people from Bilney Lane, the Bain Town community where he grew up, some of his siblings, some of his grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and godchildren, and other childhood friends,” shared Reverend Saunders’ daughter, Mrs. Shemah Darling, a main coordinator of this year’s grand party.

There was live band music, as well as games and food for all who attended. “We want to do the same thing in Eleuthera very shortly. During national youth month celebrations, we want to do something at the Church of God in Rock Sound, Eleuthera - so that should be coming soon, the weekend after the holiday,” said Mrs. Darling, adding, “More people and organizations are also contributing to the annual party, expressing their desire to support and be a part of such a positive event.

Eventually my father wants to begin

an educational fund/foundation for the children of New Providence and as a new resident, now Eleuthera as well.”

The party event, which has always been held on the final Friday each September during the past 35 years, closely coincides with Reverend Saunders’ birthday on September 23rd.

Reverend Saunders, who served in both the Baptist and Pentecostal Church of God, came from a huge family, said his daughter. His mother had 13 children in New Providence, and they came from humble beginnings. He remembered going off on the Contract and he would think about his siblings at home not having anything to eat and sometimes he would not eat his own food then because of thinking of them not having. “He is not rich, but he expressed that he is grateful Continued On Page 37

Local

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Renown Bahamian Sculptor,

Stephen G. E. Burrows - 1937-2018

| 09/10 2018

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and Clifton Pier Station), having joined the company in the year 1956 and finally retiring in the year 2008.

This distinguished, godly, Eleuthera-born (Governor’s Harbour), patriotic Bahamian, was married to Mrs. E. Shirley Burrows since 1959. They were blessed with seven children: La Verne Burrows-Deleveaux (Endric Deleveaux) Linda Mackey, Stephen Burrows (Randa Burrows), Lisa Bastian (Antoine Bastian) Laurell Burrows, Faye Burrows and Felice Burrows, as well as many grandchildren, including: Stefen Deleveaux, Leah, Jordan (Jennifer), Adam (Stevette) and Jonathan Treco, Stephanie and Stephen Burrows III, Seth, Sara and Aaron Bastian, Jude Adderley, Ashley Joseph, Ainsley and Aaron Theus.

The S.G.E. Burrows Foundation was established in October 2013, and officially launched in May of 2014, by Mr. and Mrs. Burrows’ seven children, ‘To reclaim, rebuild and otherwise preserve the Artistic works of Mr. Stephen G. E. Burrows and to provide an Endowment Fund for scholarships to students of the Arts, especially sculpture art in public spaces.’

Sculptures made by Mr. Burrows:

Pictured: Portrait of Stephen Burrows; The Triton trumpet shell, being reinstalled in New Providence; A young Stephen (left) with his brother Sidney (sitting right); Treasured smile. Below: Circa 1980 photo of Mr. Burrows atop his Lobster sculpture at the foot of the Paradise Island bridge.

Mr. Stephen G. E. Burrows (1937 - 2018), distinguished nationally as the first Bahamian steel/ metal artist to have his creations displayed in public spaces throughout the Bahama Islands and other parts of the world, passed away on Tuesday, September 18th, 2018, and was laid to rest at the Eastern Cemetery in New Providence, following a funeral service held at Grace Community Church

on Friday, September 28th, 2018.

Bahamian Coat of Arms The Lobster The Conch shell The Rooster The White Crowned Pigeon The Iguana Lizard (Connecticut & San Salvador) Bacardi Rat Bat The Flamingo The Bahama Parrot (Abaco) Statue of Pompey (Exuma) Mini Conch shell on Mt. Royal Avenue The Woman Bust of Sir Lynden Pindling The Triton trumpet Shell The Dragon (unfinished) Surviving siblings of Mr. Stephen G. E. Burrows include: Angela Rankine, Inez Cooper, Sidney (Katherine), Leige (Thelma), Wilmore “Bill” (Janet) Burrows, Dawn Arnold, Eve (Maxwell) Poitier, Eula (Godfrey) Bourne, Andrew (Theresa) Burrows, Dr. Coralee (Jeremy) Kelly, Gregory (Barbara) Burrows, Faith (Dr. Steve) Lochan, Hope (Cardinal) McCardy and Richard Burrows.

He was a giant of a man who made exotic works of art and his pursuit of excellence was as large as the magnitude of the objects he created. Mr. Burrows was a Mechanical Engineer and former Station Manager of The Bahamas Electricity Corporation (Baillou Hills, the former Soldier Road station

Treat Continued from pg. 36 for God providing in his life, and he wanted to be remembered in this way, giving back,” said Mrs. Darling with a smile.

Reverend Saunders by profession was a pastry chef, and later owned his own business, ‘Just Rite Bakery’ on Collins Avenue. He got started, honing his skills in the hotel industry, before going off on the Contract. He moved to Eleuthera two years ago to retire, which resulted in the closure of his bakery, and now resides with his daughter, Mrs. Darling, in Tarpum Bay, South Eleuthera, who commented as a proud smile lit up her face, thinking of her dad, “He always wanted to retire to a Family Island, having originally come from Cat Island and South Eleuthera roots.”

Above: Underprivileged children in New Providence treated to an afternoon of food, fun and treats at McDonalds.

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Local EleutheraNews Three Eleuthera Youth Add Thousands of Signatures to Online Petition & Receive ‘Good Citizenship’ Award

Sept/Oct 2018

Picture this

Lodge Members march through JC - see gallery online at

http://eleutheranews.com/?p=17637

www.

. com

Pictured Above (L-R): Maisie Thompson (One Eleuthera), Kristman Moss (CEHS Student awardee), Wadainya Weinburger (CEHS Student awardee), Franchesca Hanna (CEHS Student awardee), Mrs. Marie Galanis (CEHS Principal), Heidi Johnson (Manager, Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve), Danielle Gibson (Consultant).

Wadainya Weinberger, Franchesca Hanna and Kristman Moss, students of Central Eleuthera High School, during the month of September, loaned their voices to the Campaign to Save Lighthouse Point joining their adult counterparts from the One Eleuthera Foundation and the Bahamas National Trust on a media tour to raise awareness about the need for sustainable – and not commercial development of the area.

In the days since, the teenagers from James’ Cistern, Hatchet Bay and Palmetto Point respectively, successfully encouraged thousands of Bahamians to sign the online petition to protect their island’s sacred space. They took to the airwaves in an impressive and passionate plea to their fellow Eleutherans, the government and the wider public to consider a more sustainable development model for the treasured lighthouse point and the surrounding 700 acres of land. “Lighthouse Beach is beautiful and picturesque, and we believe it is important to speak out if we want to save it,” said 16-year-old Franchesca.

The students first visited the famed Lighthouse Point along with their classmates from the Central Eleuthera High School, and were featured as part of a video to raise awareness about the cause. During their visit, they gained a first-hand appreciation of the beauty of the point and the potential it has for the future development of their island. Armed with that knowledge they began encouraging Bahamians and visitors to sign the petition for change. Afterward, they were also instrumental in welcoming media influencers to the island to help them gain a similar appreciation for the site. Because of their advocacy, an additional ten thousand people added their names to the petition taking the figure to more than twenty-nine thousand signatures.

Through his involvement in the campaign, 15-year-old Kristman Moss hopes to encourage even more persons to sign. “If we keep it, and maintain it, it’ll always be this beautiful” he noted, “we have to protect it and so we’re asking for everyone’s help to save this beautiful monument on our beautiful island”.

The trio was recently presented with awards to celebrate their activism, becoming recipients of the Good Citizenship Award as part of the annual Character Day celebrations at their school.

The event, a collaborative effort between various NGO’s and sponsorship partners, honors young men and women who prove, through their actions, that they are prepared to impact the way their society functions.

Each year, Character Day films and activities generate conversation on 24-character traits, grouped into 6 categories on the Periodic Table of Character Strengths. Events are intrinsically linked to the five key competencies of social and emotional learning - self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. “We couldn’t be prouder of these three amazing teenagers,” said BNT Executive Director Eric Carey. “They are passionate and knowledgeable and are using their influence to affect real change, which is what we want to see all the youth of this country do.”

To stand with One Eleuthera Foundation, The Bahamas National Trust and all the youth of Eleuthera, the public is asked to sign the ongoing petition on Change.org (https://www.change. org/p/dr-hon-hubert-alexander-minnis-savelighthouse-point) or to call their MP, or Cabinet Minister and ask them to consider an alternative to the Disney plan and to save Lighthouse Point for all.

Local

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

| 09/10 2018

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