Theeleutheran 06, 2017

Eleuthera, Harbour Island & Spanish Wells

Harbour Island Spanish Wells Eleuthera

Volume 10, Issue 6, July 2017

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

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CTI’s Learn & Earn Inaugural Graduation Ceremony - Class of 2017

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24-26, 36 & 38-39

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What’s Happening: Pg 13 for listing of events.

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New Leadership: Rotary Club of Eleuthera transitions to new team at elegant 2017 Changeover

Pictured: Rotary Bahamas executives with new Rotary Club of Eleuthera President Sherrin Cooper.

In an elegant all-white attire affair, the Rotary Club of Eleuthera, hosted their annual ‘Change Over’ event, where outgoing President Colin Moss symbolically passed on the President’s gavel to incoming President Sherrin Cooper. The event, hosted at Mrs. Cooper’s Unique Village Restaurant, saw scores of community members from throughout Central Eleuthera come out in support of the Club and it’s commencement

Pictured: Incoming Rotary President Sherrin Cooper hands the Past President’s Gavel to outgoing President Colin Moss.

of a new year, under new leadership.

Before pinning the new President, Colin Moss recognized two very special people, who contributed selflessly during his 2016/2017 tenure. The first was Susan Culmer of Palmetto Point, who he awarded with the ‘Rotarian of the Year’ award for the Club. Brian Carey of Tarpum Bay, was also recognized and awarded for ‘Service

Above Self’ during the past year.

After receiving her instruments of leadership and taking her oath, with the assistance of Asst. Governor Timothy Ingraham, new President Sherrin Cooper addressed the capacity audience of colleagues, friends and well-wishers and lauded her fellow Rotarians for their commitment, dedication and enthusiasm, that they each displayed, and

which had impressed her since attending her first Rotary meeting, she said.

As a former nurse, and well acquainted with serving, she expressed that at that meeting she knew that she was in the right place.

Mrs. Cooper stated that she would take inspiration from the Bahamas’ theme for Rotary - “Grow stronger, Serve better”, and would aim this coming year to work even harder. Her focus areas would include, the island’s youth - emphasizing peace and conflict resolution, primary school literacy, and PTA support; as well as healthcare specifically prevention and support for the Cancer Society’s mammogram machine project.

“We have our work cut out for us Rotarians, but I know that you can do it, because I’ve seen you all in action,” encouraged new President Mrs. Cooper.

“At the end of my tenure, I would like for our Club to continue to be recognized as a strong and unified organization with a visible presence, because we focus on programs and activities that support youth, young leaders, and the community at-large.”

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Local “Plus”

Jun/July 2017

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20th UWI Graduation Coats Largest Class of Bahamian Doctors

Pictured: Dr. Andrea Culmer with Principal of Central Eleuthera High School, Marie Galanis. Mrs. Galanis commented that this was a proud day for (CEHS) who celebrated the coating of alumnus, Andrea Culmer, Valedictorian Class of 2005; Pictured: Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the University of the West Indies School of Clinical Medicine and Research (UWI SCMR) in collaboration with the Bahamas Ministry of Health, inducted forty-four doctors into the Bahamian medical fraternity – the largest in its history. The ceremony was held on June 19, 2017 at Meliá Nassau Beach hotel. Pictured in front of the newly-coated doctors from left to right are: Postgraduate Education Coordinator, Professor Dr. Paul Ramphal; Professor Dr. Renn Holness; UWI Professor Emeritus, Sir Henry Fraser; Minister of Health Dr. Duane Sands; Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest and Director of the Bahamian UWI SCMR Dr. Robin Roberts.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the University of the West Indies School of Clinical Medicine and Research (UWI SCMR) in collaboration with the Bahamas Ministry of Health, has inducted fortyfour doctors into the Bahamian medical fraternity – the largest in its history.

At the graduation ceremony, held at the Meliá Nassau Beach hotel on June 19, the new and eager doctors took the sacred medical oath and were presented with their white coats and stethoscopes in a room filled with their loved ones, as well as, members of the local medical community.

Dr. Theo Strachan, the top student of the class, received several awards, including the Dr. George Sherman Award for Most Outstanding Student in Obstetrics & Gynecology, the Adult & Pediatric Medicine Award for Most Outstanding Student in Clinical Medicine, the Dr. Anthony Regis Award for Most Outstanding Student in Final MBBS (M.B.B.S means Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery) Examinations and the Dr. Cecil M. Bethel Award for Most Outstanding Student.

Other students awarded were Dr. Nekishia Rolle, Dr. Hameed Loghavi and Dr. Kelly Johnson for Most Outstanding Performance in Community Medicine, Most Outstanding Student in Psychiatry and Most Outstanding Student in Surgery MBBS Examinations respectively.

Sixteen post graduate awardees for 2016 and 2017 were also highlighted at the ceremony. The post graduate areas of study included: Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Surgery.

As a proud alumni of UWI himself, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis congratulated the new cadre of doctors and shared the importance of the continued growth of the Bahamian medical programme.

“We have come far in terms of the impact of this particular programme,” said the Prime Minister. “Twenty years ago when the School of Clinical Medicine and

Research was launched, few may have imagined that we would ever achieve the level of success evidenced over recent years. This speaks to several positive developments. We have entered a phase in The Bahamas where we are producing a stronger and better prepared cadre of students who are well-equipped to undertake the rigours of medical education. This positive result is reflective of the level of and standard of the teaching faculty of the University, which has produced such phenomenal results.”

Also bringing congratulatory remarks was Minister of Education, Science & Technology Jeffrey Lloyd.

Director of the Bahamian UWI SCMR, Dr. Robin Roberts, said the success of the programme cements the need for further investment in medical education on a national scale.

“In just 20 years in Nassau, we have graduated 329 new Bahamian doctors, representing over 85% of all graduates from this campus,” he said. “History will record that UWI medical school gave the opportunity for a Bain Town shoeshine boy to become a doctor, and now, the Prime

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New Doctors Continued from pg. 6 Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

According to Dr. Roberts, between 2014 and 2016 alone, 95% or 83 Bahamian UWI graduates made the decision to work in local government services - something that is much needed given the growing demand for doctors throughout the country.

“Currently our challenge is providing the right numbers to meet service needs, versus appropriate physician deployment, and the physicians’ needs to subspecialize,” he explained. “Our school is critical to the launch and success of the National Health Insurance (NHI) programme.”

Minister of Health Dr. Duane Sands revealed the government has allotted approximately $4 million per year toward the further development of the medical field.

“I assure you that the government remains committed in its support of the clinical medicine and research programme which includes support per student with $13,400 of the $20,000 per annum tuition along with a monthly stipend and the subsidy of the salaries of the lecturers.”

The 2017/2018 National Budget estimates that $307,565,885 will be provided to fund the public health sector for the fiscal year.

Keynote speaker UWI Professor Emeritus, Sir Henry Fraser encouraged the newly coated doctors to wear their profession with honour and shared proverbs to be

successful. “…you have the greatest honour of privilege in the world, to be a doctor,” he said. “May you love it, however tough and challenging some days and nights. He who loves his job and his avocation never has a hard day’s work. And may you be the very best you can be, practicing every day the five C’s – courtesy, compassion, caring, commitment and collaboration. Do it all with love and charity and from your metaphorical heart. Give wherever you can, of whatever you possess. To give is to love. To withhold is to wither. Care less for your harvest than how it is shared, and your life will have meaning and your heart will have peace.”

Of 400 Bahamian UWI medical graduates from 1951 to 2013, 90% have returned and provided service to their country with more than 50% spending their entire medical career in government services.

At the end of the ceremony, the 44 newly coated doctors were informed that they would all begin their internships the next morning.

The Eleutheran | Jun/July 2017

Position Vacant

Cook – da Perk Café We seek to employ an energetic and enthusiastic individual to work as a part of our team at da Perk Café in Governors Harbour. Cooking experience and the ability to work with others preferred. A good attitude and reliability a must.

Apply at the café or contact us on 332-2620 or by email at daperkcafe@gmail.com

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F EAT U R E

Jun/July 2017

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An Eleutheran Profile:

Mrs. Karen E. Miller- Crean By elizabeth bryan

“Believe in Yourself” Introduction: Mrs. Karen Elizabeth Miller-Crean has been a part of the fabric of Eleuthera for the past 26 years, having led the Lower Bogue All Age school as Principal from 1991 to 1997, the Governor’s Harbour Primary School, from 1997 to 2008, and finally, the Emma E. Cooper Primary School from 2008 until 2017. Brought up by proud and loving parents, Mrs. Miller-Crean said a healthy sense of self-worth and confidence was impressed upon her early in life, and a strong sense of believing in herself would take her very far.

Early Days: Young Karen was born to Gladys Francis and Alfred Miller on August 13th, 1954 on the island of New Providence. Her mother hailed from the Berry Islands, and her father was a young man, originally from Andros. The two got together after her Mom moved away from her first husband in the Berry Islands in search of a better life. Although not formally married, both her mother and father played integral roles in her life, and after the couple separated, she shared that her dad continued to be there for her and her siblings.

Mrs. Miller-Crean was the fourth of five children, with three older sisters, and a younger brother. Sharing some of her earliest memories, she said, “My eldest sister was like the mother in the house, because my mother worked two jobs. I went to Oakes Field Primary, but during that time it was just family - my sisters and I, my brother, and my Mom was very protective of us… Everything with her and my father was about education, so we had to get our homework done, go to the library, couldn’t have too many friends. With my Mom, even though she worked two jobs, when we got home from school dinner was always there. She worked at the British Colonial in the morning, and another job In the evening, and my eldest sister made sure homework was done. My Mom and Dad separated in 1962, but he was always in our lives - we went to him and he came to us, and we always spent special occasions together, when he would come by the house. We could never say a word negative against our father, and Mom took care of him also, before he died.”

“We went to Bethlehem Baptist church on Wulff Road, and when it came to church, we went to Sunday school, then mid-morning church, then afternoon Sunday school, then evening

church,” chuckled Mrs. MillerCrean, saying maybe that’s why she didn’t go as often now. “Later on when were older we started going to Transfiguration Baptist church, which was the mother church of Bethlehem Baptist.”

School Days: “At the time I was going to Oakes Field Primary and when they split, I went to Harold Road, now A.F. Adderley, where I spent two years in Junior High. Back then, whichever district you lived in or ‘catchment’ you couldn’t just go to any school, you had to attend the public school in the area where you lived, so I was sent to Harold Road.

After that I went on to Queen’s College (QC) from 1969 to 1972. It was during the time when politics began to change, and I graduated the year before Independence.

“In those days, when you went Above: Mrs. Miller-Crean is pictured being honoured at a special Retirement Ceremony to a private school like QC, you held for her on June 1st, 2017 at the Revival Baptist Church in Palmetto Point. went as a number, to fulfill a quota so that private school could receive their government grant or subsidy for taking would put you in a particular grade level get,” said Mrs. Miller-Crean. Her memoon a number of public school children. and you basically stayed there. Whether ries of her time at Teacher’s College were So going to QC wasn’t the best choice in you worked well or not you were streamed, good ones, and she developed close friendhindsight for me, because I did not suc- so during my time there, I was stuck in ships there that have lasted a lifetime. “I completed Teacher’s College in 1974 at the age of 19, and asked to be placed in Grand Bahama, as I had visited there and liked it.” Mrs. Miller-Crean taught in Grand Bahama at the Martin Town Primary School for four years, from 1974 to 1978.

ceed the way I should have. There was a lot of prejudice. I left Harold Road as a really good student, but they never tested me for placement, and so I was randomly streamed and that was it. But, going to QC made me realize that, hey, no matter where anyone puts you in life, you don’t have to stay there. That’s why right now I encourage children, no matter where they are right now, no matter what their background is, that doesn’t determine where they are going in life!

So I went into QC, didn’t do as well as I could have, but graduated - did CSE’s and not GCE’s because at the time they

the C stream. In those days, if you came from a one parent home, you were looked on differently, and on top of that QC was predominantly white, so when you went in you were really just a number, but I got through that.”

Despite her high school experience, Mrs. Miller-Crean said that she had always wanted to teach, and shared, “So after graduating, I went on directly into Bahamas Teacher’s College in 1972. I always had confidence in myself, and I knew that whatever I wanted to do I was going to

In 1976 the University of Miami brought some of their programs to Grand Bahama for the Bachelor’s degree, so she enrolled and added that to her teaching slate for two years. In 1978 Mrs. MillerCrean decided that she would go back to University full time, and attended St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina from 1979 until 1982, attaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and graduating Magna Cum Laude - was on the Dean’s List straight through and was also included in the Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.

She was also part of the Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, as well as the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society. Mrs. Miller-Crean said that in addition to the scholarship that she had during her time at St. Augustine’s, her Mom was integral in her achievements, by supporting her financially during her time away in school, and she was really appreciative of that.

Career and Family:

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An Eleutheran Profile Continued from pg. 8

Doing a Master’s Degree was in Mrs. Miller-Crean’s sights, but at the time, she could not continue to burden her Mom, so after a semester long break, Mrs. Miller-Crean got straight back into the classroom in Andros, where she was placed at Mastic Point Primary, and continued there for three years, from 1983 until 1986. She was blessed with her son Ryan Christopher during this time.

In 1987, Mrs. Miller-Crean returned home to New Providence, and with the strict practice of saving, which her Mom had instilled in her since an early age, she was able to invest in building an apartment in the Stapledon Gardens area.

“My mother was a single woman, but by the time she died, she had houses on rent, owned her home outright in South Beach Estates, and was a landlord for umpteen years and when she retired, she had three houses that she rented, maintained and managed, “said Mrs. Miller-Crean, quite proud of her mother’s legacy of investment, ownership, management and entrepreneurship. Mrs. Miller-Crean then taught at Palmdale Primary for a few months, before moving to Carlton E. Francis Primary, as one of the founding teachers there when the school opened for the first time. She stayed there until 1991, where she also became a founding member of the overall Junior Junkanoo program in Nassau.

Her life changed dramatically after this time, “I remember watching the movie, ‘The Flying Nun’ as a child, and telling myself that when I became a teacher, I would go from island to island, and part of it was that I was also going to be a nun.” She smiled, saying, “I didn’t become a nun, but I did become a teacher and I still wanted to go from island to island to teach.” In 1991, Beverly Taylor, a friend of the family, and a former teacher at Harold Road, was an executive at the Ministry of Education in charge of the Science curriculum. She advised Mrs. Miller-Crean, who by that time had been overlooked three times for the Senior Mistress position at Carlton Francis, that she did not have much opportunity for promotion where she was, and suggested that she apply for a Principal position.

Mrs. Miller-Crean chuckled, saying she had a little too much mouth. Mrs. Taylor told her that she would not go further where she was, and asked if she would be interested in going to Eleuthera to a Principal position.

“It was never my dream to become a school principal, only to teach in the classroom - but she persuaded me,” said Mrs. Miller-Crean. Donald Symonette, who was President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers at the time, also took her out to dinner and assisted in convincing her to try the Principalship, she said, as she was heavily involved in the Union at the time. So she took on the position of Principal at the Lower Bogue All Age School in September of 1991.

1992 was a red letter year for North Eleuthera, where Mrs. Miller-Crean had relocated, with her son who was just eight years old at the time and had just completed third grade in Lower Bogue. Hurricane Andrew blasted its way over North Eleuthera in August of 1992, and Mrs. Miller-Crean was among the unfortunate ones who lost all of her material possessions. After the catastrophic passage, she sent her son to stay in New Providence with her mother. “That was an experience coming back to that,” said Mrs. Miller-Crean, who had ridden out the storm in Nassau. She recalled having the experience of waiting on a line for what was her only option for food, and going without electricity, and water for some time.

“I’ve always had a bit of an adventurous spirit. I like doing things out of the box,” she said, smiling as she reminisced about having no clothes, and having to wear a friend’s clothing, several sizes too large. “It was a learning experience about the value of life, and not valuing things. What you can do with nothing, and how you can rebuild your life with faith in God, and doing what you have to do.” Mrs. Miller-Crean had been staying in a government cottage which had just been renovated really nicely, she said, and on her return flight, about a week after the storm she recalled seeing the spot where her cottage had been, and spying her bathroom’s toilet bowl sitting in the bathtub. Her cottage had imploded. “To this day, when we go through hurricanes, and people are concerned, it doesn’t bother me, because what I realize is that you can always get things back, but you cannot get life back. So I don’t worry about stuff. They are only things, and that was a lesson for me.”

Mrs. Miller-Crean then went back to the business of helping to rebuild the school, recalling she and the staff going through mud to reclaim pieces of furniture and the like. After a time, things got back to normal, and she continued as Principal at Lower Bogue, until love and marriage caused her to relocate to the Governor’s Harbour Primary School in 1997.

Mrs. Miller-Crean met her husband to be - Mr. Anthony Crean - for the first time almost as soon as she hit the island in September of 1991, at a District Teachers meeting, where he introduced himself. Their first time going out was to lunch at Big Sally’s in Savannah Sound, where she remembered the biggest hamburgers ever - that you could almost not get your mouth around. After talking and dating

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The Eleutheran | Jun/July 2017

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Local CTI’s Learn & Earn Inaugural Graduation Ceremony - Class of 2017 10

Jun/July 2017

Pictured: New CTI Graduates stand with Instructors and Executives of CTI along with special guest speaker, Robert Robertson, President of BTVI (front row, left).

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Twenty two men and women from the South Eleuthera community celebrated their successful completion of the Centre For Training & Innovation’s (CTI) Inaugural Learn & Earn Program on Friday morning, June 23rd, 2017 at Fountain of Life Ministries in Rock Sound.

Along with certificates of completion, a number of the beaming Class of 2017 graduates were recognized for special qualities they brought to the program, like leadership, service, as well as creativity, and high achievers were spotlighted for completing their courses with honours (above a 3.0

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An Eleutheran Profile Continued from pg. 9 for several years, the couple got engaged on Christmas Eve of 1996, and tied the knot the following July of 1997.

In September of 1997, Mrs. Miller-Crean began her new adventure at the Governor’s Harbour Primary School, where she would spend the next eleven years of her professional career. In 2008, Mrs. Miller-Crean was transferred to Emma E. Cooper Primary School in Palmetto Point, where she would finish up her remaining nine years, until June of 2017.

Reflecting on her colorful career, Mrs. Crean emphasized that she never waited on the government to continue her education process. She pursued opportunities to expand her knowledge in her field, which took her to numerous places around the globe. Professional development conferences and certificate courses took her to San Francisco, Chicago, Texas, New Orleans, Boston, Orlando, Australia, New Zealand

CTI GRADUATION: grade point average), or high honours (above a 3.5 grade point average). Areas of study mastered by the CTI students included; Carpentry, Electrical, Farming, Hospitality, Housekeeping, Landscaping, and Plumbing.

Specially invited guest speaker at the ceremony was Dr. Robert Robertson, President of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), who spoke to the successful graduates about setting goals, no matter what they were, and going after them. Relating his own personal story of sacrifice and perseverance to get into College, he expressed his appreciation of students who were motivated enough to find a way to get to the CTI program every day, and congratulated them for their hard work and commitment.

Commenting on the impact of the successful graduation and what it meant for South Eleuthera, CTI Registrar, Mrs. Gacintha Deveaux-Gordon, said, “This means that they don’t have to go to Nassau any more, or abroad to study. We are building CTI so that we are able to offer short programs, to get certifications in various areas. We plan to expand to an Associate’s Degree program soon - within the next year. So we are looking forward to the expansion, and expanding online as well to have a wider reach. People won’t have to come to the campus site in Eleuthera to be in class.”

Mrs. Deveaux-Gordon also noted that their early programs covered areas which were seen to be most relevant to many of the skill sets needed currently in South Eleuthera, adding that CTI also assisted students interested in opening their own businesses with planning and the licensing process.

Cercelia Thompson, mother of two, and a successful graduate in the Electrical program, shared that her two children were a source of motivation for her to push through and said, because of that, she excelled. “I also did the single phase electrical course offered by BTVI, and hope to continue in Electrical,” she smiled. Georgianna Brown, another honours graduate,

Continued from pg. 10 and the eldest of ten siblings, who studied Plumbing, says she is headed to Doctor’s Hospital in September, where she has now been accepted to complete a course in Phlebotomy.

Shaun Ingraham, CEO of the One Eleuthera Foundation, and Chairman of the Board of CTI, stated, “When we started One Eleuthera, we knew that tertiary education was one of the three primary things we wanted to address, and in our first five years, we’ve managed to launch a tertiary level institution. We’ve now finished our first cohort, our first graduating class and it feels good, a major milestone. Of course we have to grow the program. Next we go through the evaluation process, to see what worked, what didn’t work, and where we should strengthen. We are very excited to see the caliber of students we were able to produce.”

BTVI has also now formalized their relationship with CTI, with more integrated courses, including online, and joint registration expected in September where students could register for both CTI and BTVI in Eleuthera, with the ability to take BTVI courses right on island, said Mr. Ingraham. He also put out a call to skilled professionals with degrees to join the program as instructors, and spoke of an upcoming campus expansion to James’ Cistern at the Camp Symonette location, in the Fall, where students from Central Eleuthera could also take advantage of CTI courses.

Successful Class of 2017 graduates included; in Carpentry: Jalencia Brown, Mavis Munnings, Evelyn Thompson, and Insworth Wallace; in Electrical: Natasha Ingraham, Taneshia Gibson, Shaquille Hall, Car Knowles, and Cercelia Thompson; in Farming: Maranda Horton; in Hospitality: Cornell Miller, and Terika Miller; in Housekeeping: Anastacia Brown, Lateria Delancy, and Lashanta Stuart; in Landscaping: Loren Nixon, Tanya Delancy, Kenneth Jones, Lashawn McPhee, and Deangelo Pratt; in Plumbing: Georgianna Brown and Jayneka Brown.

Pictured: Mrs. Crean looks on seated, next to her husband, Mr. Anthony Crean.

and others as a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) International Conference - which she attended every two years since the early 90’s on her own budget.

“It’s not what the Ministry can do for you, but what you can do for the Ministry,” said Mrs. Miller-Crean, while thinking about her time in education. “I put in place programs, while working with teachers and collaborating. I got out of it what I wanted to get out of it. You can only do so much, then others need to come along to carry on the fight. I think I accomplished a great bit. Whichever school I went into, I took it from where I met it and tried to take it to the next level, and I want to see whoever takes over continue, and not let things fall apart.

“You don’t wait for the government to do it for you. I learned early on as an administrator that you can do anything you want to do, as long as you are prepared to work. You have to step out there and take chances. You can’t just sit in the box and say, this is the Ministry’s policy. As a teacher and as an administrator, you have to work out of the box. In the parameters of the Ministry’s policies, you can’t duck that, but the Ministry does give a lot of latitude. If you can document that what you are doing is in the interest of the children and the institution, and in the 26 years of being a principal I’ve taken some chances, but not once has the Ministry told me - that’s not our policy. I have hired people to work in the school, and paid them out of the money collected by the school, and not once have I been reprimanded, because it was all for the school… I loved it. You have to stand up and be able to account for what you do, and once you are accountable, whatever you are doing, you get rewards from it changes in your children, your teachers, your school, and your environment.”

When asked for a brief bit of advice for teachers as she leaves the profession, Mrs. Crean shared these moving thoughts, “Take the children from wherever you meet them and make them believe in themselves. Don’t let the child come to you as just another child, put inside that child that they are somebody! Connect with them as someone who wants to see the best for them… I think that was one of the most impactful things during my years at Governor’s Harbour, at Emma Cooper and Lower Bogue. No matter their age when I see former students I speak to them in a manner that would let them know that I still have an interest in them. We have children, with people who don’t believe in them, and they don’t believe in themselves. I want children to believe in themselves. Teachers have to make children believe in themselves!”

Do not go gentle into that good night: Mrs. Miller-Crean shared that she has no intention of just puttering in the garden after her retirement in June 2017. “I’m going to give myself several months to unwind, but by about January I want to begin working with children between the ages of seven to fourteen, but mainly with the primary aged children, who have reading and comprehension deficits. On the family islands especially, we have these ‘catchment’ primary schools in each township, where teachers generally teach to the average child, and the children who are below average are getting left behind.” Her idea is to host a volunteer afterschool program, working with children who are struggling and non-readers.

Mrs. Miller-Crean dedicated 45 years of her life to educating young Bahamians, 19 years as a teacher, and another 26 as a school principal.

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Local

Jun/July 2017

BTC Helps To Make Travel Opportunities Possible For DCMS Students BTC recently helped to make the international travel dreams of twenty seven young students a reality by contributing $2,000 as a Gold Sponsor to the Deep Creek Middle School’s (DCMS) Starlight

Affair Fundraiser.

“The Starlight Affair is the PTA’s biggest fundraiser, held during the last several years at Ingraham’s Beach Inn, with a silent auction and we invite lots of people,

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Pictured: L-R Dennis Delancy - DCMS, Principal Kathy Bauer - DCMS, Aisha Fitzgerald - DCMS, Eric Carey - DCMS, BTC Manager Berthenia Knowles, Tonya Johnson - BTC, and Rashida Sweeting - DCMS Administrative Asst.

both within the greater organization of Cape Eleuthera/Island School and on the island to come and be a part,” said Katie Bauer, Principal at DCMS, now in her second year at the school.

“A big facet of DCMS is international travel, and to have students look at possibilities of places to go with the idea of becoming leaders in the world - and coming back and being leaders within the Bahamas… We try to get them access to experiences that they might not have otherwise,” explained Principal Bauer.

She added that much of the school’s PTA fundraising activities are aimed at defraying the cost of travel opportunities for DCMS students, saying, “The more money that we can raise, the less parents have to contribute. This year we were able to give every parent that had a traveler, $500 from the PTA, and their charge was only $50.

So we have some students who have trav-

elled three times this year.”

Seventh graders, Aisha Fitzgerald, Eric Carey and Dennis Delancy were all smiles, as they stood with Principal Bauer to formally accept the donation from BTC General Manager for Eleuthera and Cat Island, Berthenia Knowles on Monday morning, June 12th, 2017.

“They are doing wonderful things with the students… So it’s really exciting and we are happy to be a part,” said Ms. Knowles.

Aisha shared that she was on her way to Camp Dudley/Kiniya on Lake Champlain, Vermont, for a month during summer 2017, as one of four students who went every year on scholarship. BTC’s donation would assist with her travel to and from camp, along with twenty six other DCMS students who would also travel either to summer camp, to boarding school opportunities, or on their grade 8 annual class trip.

Eleuthera a “hot bed”

of illegal migrant activity during the months of May & June

BY THE ELEUTHERAN NEWS TEAM During the months of May and June, over a six week period, authorities have been alerted to four major illegal landings on island, with 258 people taken into custody in association with those landings up to press time.

Shortly after 8 a.m. on Saturday morning, June 24th, 2017, a Haitian vessel was reported seen off of Windermere Island in Central Eleuthera.

Police and Immigration officials commenced an active ground search of the immediate area for illegal migrants associated with the landing.

As of Sunday evening, June 25th, 27 people had been taken into custody in association with the vessel – 24 men and 3 women. An Enforcement Immigration team out of New Providence arrived on island Saturday afternoon to assist in search efforts, returning to the capital later that night. Local Immigration and Police teams continued the

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Migrants:

Continued from pg. 12

search late into Sunday evening.

More than three weeks earlier, authorities in Eleuthera had been alerted to yet another illegal Haitian vessel landing off of a beach near Bannerman Town on Tuesday morning, May 30th, 2017. The discovery was made around 10am, and officials suspected the illegal landing to have taken place earlier on Tuesday morning at about 7am.

Local Police and Immigration teams launched another intense search in South Eleuthera for the illegal migrants who may have been on board the vessel, with six men taken into custody as of 1:00pm on Tuesday afternoon. Authorities in New Providence were also informed of the latest developments, said the Immigration, Officer In Charge (OIC) for Eleuthera, Mrs. Shema Darling.

On Wednesday morning, May 31st, 2017, Police and Immigration teams reported that a total of 41 illegal migrants (all men) had been apprehended from the illegally landed Haitian vessel, discovered near a Bannerman Town beach on May 30th. The 41 migrants were transported

to New Providence on Wednesday morning, via PineappleAir. A week later, on Wednesday, June 7th, five illegal Haitian migrants (all men) were flown into New Providence via Pineappleair from the Governor’s Harbour airport at approximately 11am, after being apprehended in the South Eleuthera area during the Labour Day/Whit Monday weekend. Two of the men were taken into custody in Wemyss Bight on Sunday, June 4th, and the other three men were caught individually on Friday, June 2nd – one in Bannerman Town, another on the Cotton Bay road (Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown Ave.), and the third man was taken into custody in Green Castle.

Another four illegal migrants (all men) were also apprehended earlier on Friday, June 2nd, 2017, and sent into New Providence on the same day – bringing the total number of people to have been taken into custody in association with the illegal landing near Bannerman Town beach on Tuesday, May 30th, 2017 to 50.

Earlier in May, on the 17th, a Haitian sloop illegally landed near the same area, which resulted in 93 illegal migrants being taken into custody after a four-day search by local Police and Immigration, as well as Defence Force and Immigration personnel out of New Providence.

Another group of illegal migrants came ashore in South Eleuthera, near the Cape Eleuthera area on May 13th, which after an intense three-day search, yielded arrests of 88 illegal migrants.

The Eleutheran | Jun/July 2017

13

Congratulations !

Congratulations to Kamera Cartwright on achieving her BA in History (Education) and for receiving Top of the Class at the University of the Bahamas. From your parents, Travis and June Dean, grandmother Marionette Cartwright, aunts, sisters and the entire community of Harbour Island!

Friday, July 7th - National Pride Day Monday, July 10th - INDEPENDENCE DAY Monday, August 7th - Emancipation Day/August Monday

National Events: FISHERMEN’S FEST

highlights in JULY/AUGUST Briland Summer Junkanoo Festival (date updated) Saturday, July 1st Venue: Fig Tree, Bay Street Time: 12 noon to 1:00am Culinary: Down Home Food, Coconut Water, Conch Salad, Farmer’s Market Activities/Games: Plaiting of the Maypole, Goat Skin Drumming, Cowbell Shaking Competitions: Pineapple Eating, Bucket Relay, Egg and Spoon Race, and Pink Sand Dance Floor Entertainment: Music by Fadda Chippy, Live Performance by Fanshawn Taylor, Combined Junkanoo Rush Out (Zulu and Warriors Junkanoo Groups)

SEE YOU THERE! Contact Information: Harbour Island Tourist Office (242) 333-2621, (242) 333-3104

BLUFF HOMECOMING Wednesday, July 5th to Monday, July 10th, 2017 Entertainment: Geno D and the High Rock Band Bluff Homecoming Beauty pageants - July 2nd 7pm - Purple Mae’s - Lower Bogue (Little Miss Princess, Little Miss Bluff, and Miss Teen Bluff)

SAVANNAH SOUND HOMECOMING Friday, July 7th to Sunday, July 9th, 2017 Contact organizers: Denny Rankine (423-2310), or Paulette Strachan (470-0991)

Friday, July 14th to Saturday, July 15th, 2017 For the information of those wishing to visit the fest from Eleuthera, there will be a $5 return fee from Gene’s Bay to the Fest site. The Government Ferry and Mr. Gabaniel Baptiste will be collaborating to get persons to the site from the dock.

community Events: Independence celebrations: Monday, July 10th, 2017 The People’s Love and Unity Rush - Bay St. - 1am Culturama Parade & Concert Western Esplanade - 2-6pm State Reception - Government House - 6-8pm

School Events:

GREEN CASTLE HOMECOMING Thursday, July 6th - Monday, July 10th Entertainment: Veronica Bishop and DJ Snow

PALMETTO POINT FISH FRY Palmetto Point Homecoming Committee organizers announced, that starting June 24th, the homecoming committee will hold a Fish Fry event every Saturday evening going forward, from 4pm – until (with floating bar). Call 464-0506 for more information.

SUMMER VACATION - School’s OUT !!

Public Schools Reopen on: September 4th, 2017 -

Orientation for grades 7, 10 and new students (high school) September 5th, 2017 -

All students return

The Levy Preserve and Haynes Library Present: Camp Safari 2017 Summer is here and once again it is time for Camp Safari Eleuthera. In partnership with the Haynes Library, Camp Safari will take place at the Levy Preserve the week of July 17th-21st 2017.

Applications can be obtained from the Haynes Library; be mindful that there are a limited amount of spaces available.

Royal Bahamas Police Summer Camp Program The Police Summer Camp program begins on Monday, July 3rd (Opening Ceremony at Worker’s House at 11am), and will run for four weeks, closing out on Friday, July 28th.

14

Local

Jun/July 2017

GENERAL ELECTRIC Announces Construction of a New Seawater Desalination Plant In Eleuthera By the eleutheran news team

In the midst of continued water supply challenges, GE Water & Process Technologies announced on Tuesday, June 6th, 2017, their plans to build, own and operate (BOO) a new Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant in North Eleuthera, on a 15 year contract with the Water and Sewerage Corporation, to help improve water quality and reliability of potable water on the island.

“GE’s build, own, operate water treatment solutions provide fresh, potable water with little to no capital expenditure for our customers. We handle the entire process from equipment installation to startup to operations as well as maintenance, repair and trouble-

shooting,” said Kevin Cassidy, global leader, engineered systems—GE Water & Process Technologies.

The new plant, which is intended to serve approximately 7,500 residents, will have the capacity to produce 600,000 imperial gallons per day of clean drinking water, said GE. This new facility will be GE’s fourth BOO desalination plant

on the island.

Cyprian Gibson, assistant general manager - Family Islands, with the Water and Sewerage Corporation, commented on the recent announcement, saying, “We are committed to providing a reliable, accessible, affordable and safe water supply to all Bahamians. This latest seawater desalination plant in Eleuthera, the fourth by GE on the island, will bring much needed freshwater to our residents.”

The new plant is expected to begin commercial operation during the first quarter of 2018.

www. EleutheraNews . com

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

| Jun/July 2017 15

16

Local

Jun/July 2017

www. EleutheraNews . com

Cape Eleuthera Resort partners with South Sleuthera stakeholders in providing $60,000 equipment for upkeep of road verges South Eleuthera District Council Commissions New Farm Tractor and Bush Hog Machinery The South Eleuthera community came together on Thursday, May 25th to mark the successful acquisition of a brand new $60,000 farm tractor and bush hog, which local government representatives said will go a long way in keeping the verges and highways throughout South Eleuthera beautiful in a more timely and efficient manner. The new machinery was made possible through a partnership between the local South Eleuthera District Council and Central Government, the One Eleuthera Foundation, and Daniel Devoss, President of Cape Eleuthera Resort Ltd, and DP Fox. Monique Smith, General Manager with the Cape

Eleuthera Resort was on hand representing Daniel Devoss, and did the honours of cutting the ribbon on the newly commissioned equipment, and commented, “This signifies our support of private/public partnership coming together for the benefit of the community, and we felt it was definitely a must for us to be a part of this to show our support for South Eleuthera.”

Local government councilor, Mr. Ronald Horton, who was a key visionary in the new machinery’s acquisition, explained some of the ways the farm tractor/ bush hog combination would be put to use in the area, saying, “It will be used to cut 10 foot verges along the roads in South Eleuthera, to create shoulders for the highway. So if people are in a vehicle that has broken down, they can pull to the side without being an obstruction to traffic on the road. Also, for those people Pictured: Administrator Glenn Lightbourn, MP Central and South Eleuthera Hank Johnson and other community stakeholders joined Cape Eleuthera Resort and Marina’s representatives at the commissioning ceremony.

who are lovers of healthy walking, they can use the side verges without having to be in the road, so it’s a safety improvement overall.

Additionally, this will enhance the sides of the roads, so people driving along will enjoy the scenery, with all the waterscapes. In time, we would also like to add native trees and plants, as well as palms to further enhance the area. It also has the ability to be used by local farmers for various functions.”

“We also already have in hand a plan for scheduled maintenance so this equipment can last more than 10-15 years, as well as the cost to operate it annually, including labour, which is $36,000 per year,” said Mr. Horton, “and we’ve already engaged Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) and the One Eleuthera Foundation.”

Before the arrival of the new equipment, the road verges in South Eleuthera could only be maintained four times per year, using equipment from Central Eleuthera on a rotation basis, which was not sufficient, said Mr. Horton. Talks about purchasing the machinery began in 2016 at the local district level, he shared, and after garnering the interest of pri-

vate partners, local and central government committed to the project.

Hank Johnson, newly elected Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera was on hand for the commissioning, and remarked during the brief ceremony, “If you want to see Eleuthera achieve anything, these are some of the things that we as local leaders must tap into. The government will not always be in the position to provide everything that we need, but we as a people can come together, unite as one and make sure things happen. We can do that by partnering with organizations like the One Eleuthera Foundation, and the Devoss family at Cape Eleuthera, who saw the need to partner with local government, making sure the district is maintained and looked after. I know what it’s like being a part of the local government system and wanting to achieve some goals so it brings back memories…, and tells me that once we unite as one, this is what we can achieve.”

Local

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

| Jun/July 2017 17

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Members of the South Eleuthera community look on as Monique Smith, General Manager at Cape Eleuthera Resort and Marina cut the symbolic ribbon as the new farm tractor and bush hog machinery was commissioned.

18

Local “Plus”

Jun/July 2017

Long time Sponsor Honoured at 11th Annual

Tim’s Refrigeration

Doubles Tennis Tournament

(L-R): Tim Dames, Artie Johnson and Perry Newton.

Key organizer for the yearly event, Coach Artie Johnson, commented that the 11th Annual Tim’s Refrigeration Eleuthera Doubles Tennis Tournament was again a success. It was hosted in Palmetto Point on Saturday, May 27th, 2017, with competition beginning at 9am in the morning at Knowles tennis courts. Players participating this year came from Nassau, Spanish Wells and Eleuthera.

Patrons of the tournament since its inception, Mr. Tim Dames and his wife, Ethel Dames, were specially honoured and recognized for their committed contribution with plaques, presented by Coach Johnson. Perry Newton, Treasurer of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) was also on hand to help in the presentation, as well as take part in the day’s friendly rivalry.

Mr. Newton also brought with him, tennis balls and caps for the children

www. EleutheraNews . com

By the eleutheran news team

who would take part in Coach Johnson’s upcoming 18th Annual All Eleuthera Youth Tennis Camp, scheduled to take place from Monday, July 10th to Friday, July 21st, 2017 at Knowles Courts, Palmetto Point.

After the dust had settled from spirited competition, the final results in the 11th Annual Tim’s Refrigeration Eleuthera Doubles Tennis Tournament were as follows:

& Aleida Jimenez - 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) *Men’s over 60 champions were Tim Dames & John Williams who defeated Raymond Linder & Andrew Barr - 8-6 pro set (Consolation third place was Chris Rolle & Horatio Green) *Mixed Doubles champions were Chris Rolle and Aleida Jimenez who defeated Tim Dames & Doris Kemp - 8-5 pro set

*Men’s open champions were Charles Rolle & Roy Rivera who defeated Tim Dames & Perry Newton - 6-3, 7-6, (7-5) *Ladies open champions were Doris Kemp & Esther Newton who defeated Betty Carey- Johnson

New Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera, Hank Johnson, along with Coach Artie Johnson and Event Patron, Tim Dames, made trophy presentations to the winning teams.

Local “Plus”

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

| Jun/July 2017 19

100 MileSeagillian

‘Tour De Lootra’ On Saturday, May 27th, a group 2017 cycle of well over 40 riders left Gene’s Bay at 6am in the morning to cycle from all the way to Cape Eleuthera - split into three groups of different speed gene’s Bay to levels (A, B, C). Cyclists participating in this 3rd Annual ‘Tour de CApE ELEUTHERA Lootra’ 100 mile ride were made up Pictured: A contingent of of riders from Spanish Wells (called the ‘Seagillians’), Nassau (from the had improved so ‘Enjoy! Cycling Club Bahamas’), and several much, we increased from Freeport, Grand Bahama. our ride in Nassau from 30 miles to 43 miles Maria Campbell from the ‘Enjoy! Cy- on Saturdays and from 45 miles to 50 miles cling Club’ out of Nassau said she met Chad on Sundays. As a group, our speed increased Albury, visionary of the annual event, after from 15 mph to 18 mph!” the first tour in 2015, and was told about the On Monday, May 29th, The Eleutheran ride that encompassed the whole length of Newspaper caught up with one of the out of Eleuthera. The notion of joining the twenty town riders in Spanish Wells, who had stayed five strong Seagillians on the challenging ride on island past the weekend. Jermaine ‘Choo were thrown out to others in the club, said Ma- Choo’ Mackey, a boxer, participated as part of ria, and those tired of just riding around Nas- his training for triathlon competitions to get sau took up the challenge. Twenty riders from even faster on the bike, and increase his fitNassau took part in the 2017 ride, which was ness level for running. “That’s what brought the club’s second year participating. The ri- me to ‘Tour de Lootra’, hanging out with cyvalry was intense, she described, saying it was clists in Nassau. I came and met a bunch of a continuous race - with the two main groups ‘Seagillians’, and they are very scary,” smiled sounding off to each other as they passed - the Mackey, saying, “Next year we’re going to be signature sound of the Seagillians being the stronger to deal with those ‘Seagillians’. The sound of the seagull as they sped by. ride was awesome… It was great, but it was The eager group of riders from Nassau, hot. The first 45 miles were good, but the last arrived on Friday, May 26th, with most staying 60 plus miles were really crazy.” on until Sunday, May 28th. “Everyone was so gracious. It’s a big reason why we came back “It took me 5 hours, 3 minutes and 43 secthis year,” said Mrs. Campbell, adding, “I onds to make the ride”, quipped, Stan Higgs, think it was very challenging, fun and reward- a proud Spanish Wells ‘Seagillian’ standing ing, with great fellowship and rivalry. Every- next to Nassauvian Jermaine Mackey. “This one came away feeling really great about the is my third one, and I’ve cut off a half hour whole weekend.” The Nassau club members each year. The first one, I was a little over 6 also saw some other great fringe benefits of hours. Last year was 5 and a half hours, and the experience, she said. “Last year when we this year I did it in just over 5, at an average went back to Nassau, everyone’s performance speed of 18.4 miles an hour.”

Seagillians and “Enjoy” Cycle Clubbers all smiles at the end of the 100 mile ride.

Early Bird

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Local

Jun/July 2017

www. EleutheraNews . com

Eleuthera Local Government Elections: Results South Eleuthera - 2017 Local Government Election - Preliminary Results (Successful Candidates) Tarpum Bay Kenwood Cartwright Ronald Carey Sherry Sands Elijah McCartney Milton Johnson Tina Leary Jennifer Sweeting

211 201 166 164 151 140 118

208 196 187 170 167 160 156

Green Castle Eldiqua Thompson Kennord Mackey

95 91 88

Jackson Jolly

63

Deep Creek John Pinder Neil Thompson

110 109

Kelsey Williams Daniel Smith Teran Mackey Henry Delancy Walter Delancy

Central Eleuthera - 2017 Local Government Election - Preliminary Results

128 120

Hewitt Fernander Juan Gardiner Demetrius Johnson Roderick Pinder Daniel Gierzewski Margaret Seymour Edith Rolle

159 158 152 147 124 123 102

Savannah Sound 100 75 66 58 54

Bannerman Town A re-vote is scheduled for July 8th, 2017, due to tied result.

Denward Rankine McDonald Culmer Camille Campbell David Wallace Majorie Culmer

57 55 51 44 39

Palmetto Point Sais Cooper Delshire Mingo Tavares Knowles Tyrone Knowles

Richard Sands Frederick Mingo Reginald Bodie

105 104 98

James’ Cistern

Governor’s Harbour

Waterford

Wemyss Bight

Rock Sound Lincoln Young Ronald Horton Patrick Maynard Philip Kemp Lashonda Leary Michael Saunders Edward Sands

Karen Burrows Bernadette Sweeting Nora Smith

148 111 108 101

Aretha Rolle Edmund Bethel Windsor Bethel Jr. Denario Evans Rose Kirby

105 89 86 81 60

Gregory Town Gerald Cartwright Dina Johnson Shanta Maurice Larry Minnis Edward Thompson

100 92 92 81 71

Hatchet Bay Kennedy Scavella Robert Scavella Patricia Bain Ava McQueen Carol Pinder

105 98 86 80 69

North Eleuthera - 2017 Local Government Election - Preliminary Results Spanish Wells Robert Roberts Herbert Albury Roy Pinder Richard Pinder Sumer Pinder Ernest Albury Shawn Sands

429 405 313 -287 284 284 255

The Current Aldred Albury Uncontested Current Island A Councilor to be appointed Uncontested The Bluff Mr. Pedican Mr. Joseph Mr. Hudson Mr. Williams

69 28 15 10

Lower Bogue Castello Neilly Dominic Johnson Desmond Johnson Damon Bethel Antonius Johnson Upper Bogue Ernie Kelly Uncontested Harbour Island (Polling Divisions 1, 2, and 3) Andrew Johnson Antoine Barry Ashderone Davis Ashley Percentie Martin Grant Joseph John Roberts Percentie Wanda Higgs

166 160 146 134 33

Local

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

| Jun/July 2017 23

24

Local

Jun/July 2017

www. EleutheraNews . com

Inaugural Bahamas National Diploma (2017)

Graduation Ceremony Celebrated in Eleuthera (Eleuthera, Bahamas) Eighty Three (83) very proud 12th graders, along with select family members and friends celebrated on the morning of Tuesday, June 13th, 2017 at the Ministry of Education’s Inaugural Bahamas High School Diploma Graduation Ceremony for Eleuthera, at the Wesley Methodist Church in James’ Cistern.

The successful graduates comprised students from all of the six high schools on the island, both public and private, including; Samuel Guy Pinder All Age (SGPAAS – 7 graduates), Harbour Island All Age School (HIAAS – 13 graduates), North Eleuthera High School (NEHS –

9 graduates), Windermere High School (WHS – 9 graduates), Central Eleuthera High School (CEHS – 23 graduates), and Preston H. Albury High School (PHAHS – 22 graduates).

Each high school celebrated their top students, with six Valedictorians, one from each school, and six Salutatorians. 2017 Valedictorians were; Saiydah Bryan of CEHS, Lachantae Johnson of HIAAS, Genanta Laguerre of NEHS, Hannah Ingraham of PHAHS, Charlton Kade Roberts of SGPAAS, and Clishae Sands of WHS. 2017 Salutatorians included; Malia Carroll of CEHS, Michelle

Delien of HIAAS, Love Tanis of NEHS, Fransisca Louis of PHAHS, Erin Mullin of SGPAAS, and Shantia Bodie of WHS. The ceremony was attended by officials from the Ministry of Education, including the Director of Education, Mr. Lionel Sands, who gave a special message of inspiration to the class of 2017, telling them to aim high, no matter what their background was. Giving the Valedictorian’s address, and representing the select group of graduates inducted into the Bahamas Senior High School Honours Society, was Valedictorian for CEHS, Saiydah Bryan.

Local

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com She challenged her fellow graduates to use what they had gleaned in high school to propel themselves to higher heights and new horizons, saying, “The memory of today will fade, but what you do tomorrow with today’s lessons will define who you really are.” Reverend Henry Knowles, with the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church delivered the commencement message, and encouraged the graduates to truly become lifelong learners in tandem with the Ministry of Education’s mandate.

This island wide class of 2017 were the very first group of Eleuthera high school graduates to attain the Bahamas High School Diploma, which standardized a minimum set of requirements attained by high school graduates nationally.

The essential minimum graduation requirements instituted, which each student aiming to graduate had to meet included the acquisition of; 4 Bahamas Junior Certificate subjects (BJC’s) in Mathematics, English Language, a Social or Technical Science (Religious Knowledge, Social Studies, Technical Drawing, or

| Jun/July 2017 25

26

Education Beat

Jun/July 2017

Eleuthera’s Class of 2017:

www. EleutheraNews . com

(1 of 4)

CEHS Valedictorian, Saiydah Bryan, delivered the Valedictorian speech at the graduation.

Pastor Henry Knowles gifted by students Hannah Ingraham and Kade Roberts - Valedictorians at PHAHS & SGPAA

Officials file out of the church at the end of the ceremony.

Caption: 2017 Valedictorians (Gold Sash); (L-R, top to bottom) Genanta Laguerre of NEHS, Hannah Ingraham of PHAHS, Clishae Sands of WHS, Saiydah Bryan of CEHS, Charlton Kade Roberts of SGPAAS, and Lachantae Johnson of HIAAS. 2017 Salutatorians (Silver Sash); Fransisca Louis of PHAHS, Erin Mullin of SGPAAS, Malia Carroll of CEHS, Michelle Delien of HIAAS, Shantia Bodie of WHS, and Love Tanis of NEHS.

Family and Consumer Science), and a Natural Science (General Science, or Health Science); a 90% record of attendance and punctuality; 30 hours of community service; 20 hours of job readiness training; parental participation in at least 3 PTA meetings per annum; a minimum grade point average of 2.0; as well as a minimum of 27 earned high school course credits – by the end of 12th grade.

The inaugural Bahamas High School Diploma Graduation event also heralded a major change for this year’s formal graduation ceremonies. Individual schools still had the option of holding awards ceremonies, however, they no longer awarded diplomas, and significantly each family island was required to have one combined formal graduation ceremony for those students who

National

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

National politics

Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Hubert Minnis in the House of Assembly during his Budget Debate Contribution, June 20, 2017. (Photo/OPM Media Services)

Former Administration Accused of “Channeling Money to Certain People”

By Matt Maura Bahamas Information Services NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Hubert Minnis, in his contribution to the Budget Debate, June 20, in the House of Assembly accused the former Progressive Liberal Party Administration of using Hurricane Matthew “as a way of channeling money to certain people.”

“Hurricane Matthew was a massive storm. It left destruction and devastation [across a number of islands]. It is absolutely unacceptable for public funds to be channeled to a select few in the aftermath of the Hurricane,” Prime Minister Minnis told House Members.

The Prime Minister said, for example, a total of $28,975,187 was expended on Hurricane Clean-up. $22,939,178 was spent to clean up New Providence, while $5,881,649 was spent on clean-up efforts in Grand Bahama and another $154,360 on clean-up efforts in North Andros.

Prime Minister Minnis said a number of in-

dividuals were engaged in the clean up exercise following the passage of Matthew.

“Upon my review of payments made to various vendors, I was astonished by one particular vendor which stood out. There are many questionable payments, but the payments to the vendor are shocking.”

Prime Minister Minnis said the one vendor received 46 payment transactions totaling $7,056,348.24. The request for payment was submitted through the Ministry of Works and the National Recovery and Reconstruction Unit. In addition, he said, contracts for cleaning and sorting debris at three dumpsites totaled $1,057,560 for a grand total of $8,113,908.24.

“We have quite a bit of information, much of which is quite shocking,” Prime Minister Minnis said. “We will pass this and other information to the Office of the Auditor General.

“Can you imagine what over eight million, one hundred and thirteen thousand dollars can do for this country? When one examines this, one can imagine the families that could have been hired; the homes that could have been constructed; the school repairs that could have been completed; the scholarships that could have been awarded,” Prime Minister Minnis added.

PM says Former Administration Cost Country More Than $32M in Potential Insurance Payouts Due to ‘Stunning Incompetence’

By Matt Maura Bahamas Information Services NASSAU, The Bahamas – The former Progressive Liberal Party Administration “cost the country” more than $32Million dollars in potential insurance payouts from Hurricane Matthew because of its “gross and stunning incompetence,” Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Hubert Alexander Minnis told Parliament June 20, 2017.

Delivering his contribution to the 2017-2018 Budget Debate, the Prime Minister said not only did the former government appear to use Hurri-

cane Matthew as a way of channeling money to certain people, but by not making the annual payment of $900,000 to the risk facility (Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility - CCRIF), the country failed to qualify for the payouts which could have been used in so many other areas.

“Thirty two million is an extraordinary amount of money that could have been used for so many good purposes,” Prime Minister Minnis said.

“Instead, these millions were wasted by a dysfunctional government. It is shameful. It’s disgraceful. I remember when the former Minister of State claimed in the House that The Bahamas

The Eleutheran | Jun/July 2017

would never be able to take advantage of this facility. This was an irresponsible and untrue statement.”

Prime Minister Minnis said the other four CCRIF Member Countries - Haiti, Barbados, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines – all received payouts on their Tropical Cyclone and/or Excess Rainfall insurance policies in excess of US$29Million combined – within 14 days of Hurricane Matthew’s passage.

Reading the contents of a letter he received from the Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility that the Prime Minister said he received May 31, 2017, Dr. Minnis said the CEO wrote that the facility was pleased that The Bahamas had been a member of CCRIF since its inception in 2007.

Dr. Minnis said the letter continued: “We are pleased that the Government purchased tropical cyclone (hurricane) policies every year between 2007 and 2014 and also purchased policies for both tropical cyclones and excess rainfall for the 2015/2016 policy year. However, we deeply regret that the Government decided not to renew its CCRIF policies for the 2016/2017 year, resulting in The Bahamas missing out on two CCRIF payouts from Tropical Cyclone Matthew.”

“I note that the annual policy for this insurance facility was approximately $900,000. I was shocked by what the CEO of the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility went on to say in his letter,” Prime Minister Minnis said.

The letter went on to say: “Based on the reg-

27

istered losses, it means that had the Government of The Bahamas renewed its tropical cyclone policy for 2016/2017, using the previous year’s policy conditions (attachment point, exhaustion point and premium), the policy would have triggered, resulting in a payout of approximately U.S. $31.8M equal to the coverage point.”

Prime Minister Minnis said that number would have been significant.

“This would have been the single biggest payout ever made by CCRIF to any country,” Prime Minister Minnis said.

Prime Minister Minnis said The Bahamas’ Excess Rainfall policy would also have been triggered resulting in a payout of US$855,874.

“Of course, those payouts would have been larger depending on the coverage purchased.”

The Prime Minister said CCRIF SPC made payouts totaling US$29,204,248 to the other four CCRIF Member Countries affected by Hurricane Matthew.

The payouts were made to Haiti, Barbados, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines on their Tropical Cyclone and/or Excess Rainfall insurance policies – all within 14 days of the event.

“Needless to say, I have directed the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance to renew the country’s policy with CCRIF so that this type of gross and stunning incompetence does not happen during our watch,” Prime Minister Minnis added.

Statement by the Leader of The Opposition the Hon. Philip Brave Davis in response to assertions made by the Prime Minister and other Government Ministers Nasssau, 22nd June 2017: In the House of Assembly, Prime Minister Hubert Minnis and some of his Ministers made certain assertions. Invariably, though, attempts to prove lies will always prove fruitless. I do not now, nor have I ever, condoned or encouraged wrongdoing. Threats will not change this.

We do not seek to excuse. We seek to share full facts and welcome any investigations into these facts.

Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) The allegation that the PLP allowed the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) payments to lapse, causing the forfeiture of up to $33 million in damages for Hurricane Matthew is false.

The facts are that The Bahamas, after careful consideration (and) on the advice of technical officers in the Ministry of Finance, Met Department and the Port Department took the decision to withdraw from

CCRIF following the rejection of a claim under the insurance for Hurricane Joaquin in 2015. The claim was rejected on the basis that the wind velocity did not meet the mandated speed to accept a claim and that the damage was therefore due to flooding and not to wind.

Up to that time, The Bahamas had been paying premiums in the tens of millions and were unable to collect anything. Acting on advice, Government agreed that self-insurance would be more cost effective. At the time of the decision, we were also in the middle of negotiations with CCRIF to adjust the terms of that insurance.

Prime Minister Perry Christie also brought this matter home to representatives of the World Bank when he met with them in Paris in December 2015

Continued On Page 30

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Perspective

Jun/July 2017

OP-ED

By Sir Ronald Sanders www.sirronaldsanders.com

By Sir Ronald Sanders (Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organisation of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are his own) Speech: I thank the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean for the invitation to address this 35th Annual Conference.

I have been asked to consider with you, “Global Economic Events impacting the Caribbean”.

Let me begin by drawing attention to an observation I made in a recently published commentary.

I said, “How these small states of the Caribbean will survive in a global society, where power prevails over principle, will increasingly become the question of this Century for their political leaders, businessmen, diplomats and academics”.

It is also a question for you.

Accountants, Tax Advisers, Auditors, Estate Planners - are now expected to be ‘whistle blowers’ on your own clients and to establish unprecedented machinery to guard against charges of facilitating money laundering, tax evasion and the financing of terrorism.

These requirements have serious implications for how some of your businesses will survive.

For, to survive within the rules, which are being imposed by the two bodies set-up and controlled by the industrialised nations, will be costly and risky.

Those bodies are the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that sets the rules, euphemistically called ‘recommendations’, for money laundering and counter terrorism financing, and the Global Forum of the Organisation for Economic

Policy Statement: The Perspective, Out There, Op-ED and Letters section of The Eleutheran newspaper is a medium we provide for the members of the Eleuthera community 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.

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Accounting profession imperilled by de-risking Co-operation and Development (OECD).

But, before I address the specific areas that impact your profession, it would be appropriate to review the international milieu in which Caribbean countries are operating.

In the words of Richard Haass, President of the US Council for Foreign Relations, “the world is in disarray”, characterised by the growing gap of inequality between developed and developing nations and a further gaping mismatch between global challenges and responses.

In all this, the countries of the Caribbean are deprived of a seat at the table of decisionmaking with only lip service being paid to their concerns, while, increasingly they are being subjected to the will of more powerful states acting in their own interest.

We should all recognise that when you are not part of the party at the table; it is usually because you are part of the menu!

The most worrying aspect – and one which has now encroached in perilous ways on your profession as Accountants – is the expanding imposition on the financial services sector of Caribbean countries of rules devised by developed countries to serve their own purposes.

The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Gutterres, recently observed that “The tide of globalization has yet to lift all boats. For too many, the path to prosperity has proven elusive”. “We also know”, he said, “that millions of people are being left behind”.

The Commonwealth Caribbean small states certainly fall among the millions of people that globalization has left behind.

The Caribbean and the reality of Globalization For the Caribbean, globalization has been a one-way street of impositions by powerful countries: • fiscal sovereignty has been violated by the strong; • tax competition remains under threat from the mighty; • economic growth and development have been impeded by unfair and unequal trade arrangements; and • the real perils that global warming and sea-level rise pose to the very existence of Caribbean islands and countries with low-lying coastal areas, are intensifying.

As a consequence of this many, if not all of them, are unlikely to achieve the much vaunted 17 Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations in 2015 in its ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’.

Despite current forecasts by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of world growth rising from 3.1% in 2016 to 3.5% in 2017 and 3.6% in 2018, Caribbean countries, with a few exceptions, will continue to face fiscal and structural constraints that will make it hard to manage financial, economic and other forms of volatility.

These are: • high debt to GDP ratios • disadvantageous terms of trade; and • grave constraints on the financial services sector, including the withdrawal of Correspondent Banking relations from Caribbean banks High Debt to GDP Ratios Dealing first with high debt to GDP ratio, this phenomenon plagues the majority of Caribbean countries.

The cost of debt service, in some countries, is so high that it severely constrains the spending capacity of governments to provide goods and services immediately needed by their people, and to invest in projects for economic growth.

A study, commissioned by the Canadian think-tank, the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), projects that, on its present course, by 2020, debt will remain unsustainable in 11 of 13 Caribbean small states, and there will be no change in 2030 when the UN’s Agenda for Sustainable Development will have run its course.

It is important to note that the CIGI study found that in seven of the largest debtor countries in the region, debt rose due to the following things: • infrastructure reconstruction after natural disasters; • reduction in aid; • little or no access to concessional financing, forcing governments to borrow on tough commercial terms; • erosion of European Union trade preferences since the early 1990s; and • the impact on tourism of the global economic crisis which began in 2008.

tries in the Caribbean (including Barbados, The Bahamas, Belize, the six smaller Eastern Caribbean countries, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago) have lost some or all of their CBRs. Frightened by the huge fines and forfeitures with which they are threatened, particularly by regulators, and conscious of the branding of the Caribbean as a ‘high risk area’ for financial services, banks in the US and the UK that have done business in the region for over a century, are taking the view that the risk is not worth the rewards of the business.

Disadvantageous Terms of Trade The problem is exacerbated by the poor terms of trade that Caribbean countries experience.

It is significant that while the present administration in the United States complains of the high balance of trade deficit that the US experiences with the rest of the world in total, it enjoys a huge balance of trade surplus with the Caribbean, and particularly with the small island states.

In 2016, the US balance of trade surplus with the 14 independent states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was US$5.2 billion, an increase of US$600 million over the 2015 figure of US$4.6 billion.

The US is the largest trading partner of Caribbean states, accounting for approximately 60% of their total trade.

A similar situation exists with the Caribbean’s second largest trading partner, the now 28 member states of the European Union (EU).

In 2008, the 14 CARICOM countries plus the Dominican Republic each signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU collectively.

The relationship, therefore, is not between the two regions; it is between the EU as a whole and each Caribbean country individually – a relationship between a huge elephant and tiny mice.

In 2015, the EU balance of trade surplus with these countries was €2.8 billion; in 2016, the surplus rose to €3.3 billion.

The EU claims that the “purpose of the agreement is to make it easier for people and businesses from the two regions to invest in and trade with each other and thus to help Caribbean countries grow their economies and create jobs”.

But, figures show that this objective was not achieved.

But what is the risk?

The OECD Global Forum places all but one Caribbean country in the same categories of compliance as the US, the UK and many other EU nations.

And, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), created by the G7 countries to set standards for anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing (AML/CTF), does not name a single Caribbean country on its current list of ‘high risk jurisdictions’.

Notwithstanding the EPA, signed by the EU Commission on behalf of each of its member states, non-tariff barriers and ‘national’ laws, still prohibit ease of exports of goods and services to the EU market.

Further, a five-year review of the EPA indicated that the level of EU investment into Caribbean territories was low and there was no concrete example of EU investment.

In international trade, under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, terms are imposed on Caribbean small states as if each of them is equal in physical space, market size, and resources as the US, China, India or Japan.

Small Caribbean countries enjoy no special and differential treatment despite their small land space, their small populations, their limited human capital, and their susceptibility to shocks that originate from outside their borders.

Yet, in the case of every small Caribbean country, its global market share of trade is under 0.12 percent.

Withdrawal of Correspondent Banking Relations It is against this troubling background that adverse occurrences in the Caribbean’s financial services sector has to be considered.

The member states of CARICOM – all 15 of them – are now faced with what has been described as a greater danger to their economies “than a Category 5 hurricane”.

The danger is the effect of the withdrawal of correspondent banking relations (CBRs) by global banks in the US and the UK from banks in this region.

As I speak, several banks across several coun-

Additionally, 8 CARICOM countries plus 5 other Caribbean jurisdictions, including Bermuda and Cayman Islands, are in the process of conducting National Risk Assessments to improve AML/CTF systems through a methodology developed by the World Bank.

What is more all Caribbean countries are obliged to establish and enforce FATF and OECD rules.

Here is a list of the obligations that many Caribbean countries, with very scarce resources, have to finance: • The FATF’s rules on anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing; • The OECD’s common reporting standards; • The US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), under which financial institutions are required to report to the American Inland Revenue Service on accounts and other financial assets held by US persons and entities; • Operation of Tax Information Exchange Agreements with over 25 countries; • Operation of Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties with almost 90 countries.

In the case of the US FACTA, small countries in the Caribbean are paying for the dubious privilege of being policemen for the US IRS. Yet, the prospects for an improvement in the situation is not good.

While banks have been able to cobble together alternative correspondent payment arrangements for some transactions, the costs have risen by as much as 300 per cent.

And, there is no guarantee of the sustainability of these relationships.

What is clear is that if the present trends continue, the region will be in danger of losing even more sovereignty over its fiscal and banking affairs.

There is an argument that the harmful effect of the withdrawal of CBRs from indigenous banks is reduced by the continued operations of Canadian banks who, through their headquarters arrangements, can continue to provide banking services.

However, while the region should welcome and appreciate the role that Canadian banks play, even if all of them choose to remain in the region, effectively the benefit of competition for banking services would be lost.

Locally owned banks, because they are indigenous and know their customers and culture better, are more prepared to take risks involved in funding productive ventures.

That is an important consideration in development terms.

Further, left with a field bereft of competition, foreign banks can control the means of exchange and determine interest rates, lending policies, and sectoral investment.

None of this would be good for the general public or the economies of the region.

A responsible international community should help the Caribbean to address resist this serious

Perspective

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com problem of the withdrawal of CBR’s; other developing countries should be in the forefront of support, for the problem can spread to their shores, as it has already started in the Pacific Islands, small African countries and Central Asia.

No level playing field The origins of this grave issue date back to the early 1990s – indeed, coinciding with the rise of globalisation – when small countries in the Caribbean and the Pacific sought to take advantage of the promises of globalisation by developing financial services with a global reach.

In doing so, they presented unwelcome competition to industrialised nations that had, hitherto, cornered the global financial services sector.

For more than three decades the major member states of the OECD have been embarked upon a campaign to eliminate competition in financial services from Caribbean countries and other developing states.

That campaign has never waned.

It has gained validation in the international community by seducing or coercing some developing countries into participation in groups, created at the behest of G7 countries, ostensibly to establish globally acceptable rules on tax information exchange, transparency, common reporting standards, anti-money laundering, counter terrorism financing and tax evasion.

Let me emphasise that none of this is to say that the Caribbean region should not play a responsible role in combatting money laundering, countering terrorism financing and curbing tax evasion.

Every Caribbean country has an obligation to the international community to play an effective part, and each is trying its best, with limited resources to do so.

But, the rules that are being applied to small jurisdictions in the Caribbean are onerous and injurious, without being necessary or relevant.

What is more the playing field is not level.

For instance, in 2006, the FATF found the US to be non-compliant with entity transparency and gatekeeper rules.

For ten years, until last year, the FATF chose to do nothing about the it.

A further evaluation in 2016 found the US still not compliant, but nowhere has it been blacklisted or has any action been taken.

And, unlike Caribbean countries, such as Antigua and Barbuda and the Bahamas, the US has not signed-up to the OECD’s Common Reporting Standards (CRS) by which it would be required to report to their country of origin the identities of beneficial owners of Trusts, International Business Corporation and financial assets.

As a result, the US enjoys a global advantage in the establishment of Trust structures that have moved there to avoid disclosure, earning the US millions of dollars.

States in the United States, such as Dela-

ware, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado and Arizona, disregard OECD rules for disclosure and transparency of beneficial owners.

They are tax havens to all intents and purposes.

The US is not alone in this privileged position.

Emeritus Professor of Gresham College, Avinash Persaud, pointed out in a recent publication that last year the Home Affairs Select Committee of the UK parliament “concluded that the London property market was the primary avenue for the laundering of £100bn of illicit money a year”.

Yet, the UK is not on an EU blacklist.

So, it is clear that the doctrine of ‘might is right’ prevails; the principle of transparency applies only to the weak; and the notion of a level playing field for competition is a myth.

Seduction of the International Media In all this, the powerful nations have seduced the international media into becoming participants in their campaign.

As far back as 1834, a US Senator described this with prescient clarity.

He said “power marks its victim; denounces it; and then excites public hatred and odium to conceal its own abuses and encroachments”.

So, the Caribbean has been branded as a ‘tax haven’ and an ‘area of financial risk’.

The truth that dares not speak its name is that “automatic exchange of tax information”; false branding of countries as “tax havens “while the real tax havens continue to thrive and prosper; and sanctions against what is described as “uncooperative jurisdictions”, is an effective form of control by the powerful over the weak.

The Plight of the Accounting Community The FATF and the OECD Global Forum now require all jurisdictions to identify and name beneficial owners of financial assets.

This has extended to International Business Corporations and companies incorporated in domestic jurisdictions.

The days of bearer shares and numbered accounts are gone, except in some states of the United States such as Delaware and Nevada where the practice continues, and to which a great deal of global business has been moved to avoid disclosure.

In the Caribbean, however, our governments have been pushed into enacting legislation on beneficial ownership or face the pain of being black-listed with grave consequences for doing business in the international community.

As part of this process, the FATF has issued “High level principles and procedures for Accountants” to guide them on ‘the risk based approach to combatting money laundering and terrorist financing’.

In effect, Accountants and Lawyers, who have

The Eleutheran | Jun/July 2017

provided services to clients for years, are now required to be ‘gatekeepers’ and, effectively, they are obliged to report on their own clients if they suspect activities such as money laundering, terrorist financing or tax evasion.

Incidentally, the US Treasury has not applied anti-money laundering laws to ‘gatekeepers’.

In Canada, courts have repeatedly said that AML/CTF requirements, such as reporting on clients, violates the Attorney-Client relationship.

But, in our Caribbean jurisdictions, laws to this effect have already been adopted in some jurisdictions or are in the process of being implemented.

So, there is no level playing field in the global community.

But as much as Caribbean jurisdictions complain about the double-standard and hypocrisy of the application of OECD and FATF rules as the Premier of the Cayman Islands and the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man have done, having not fought collectively against this situation from the beginning, they now have to implement the rules or suffer the consequences of black listing and counter measures.

In this connection, huge obligations will be placed on Accountants to know the business of their clients in far greater detail than ever before, and to exercise extreme caution in providing a range of advice, including: • financial and tax advice • creation of corporate vehicles • buying or selling property • performing financial transactions on behalf of clients; and even • providing introduction to financial institutions.

FATF and OECD Global Forum rules will require governments to adopt and implement legislation that will hold Accountants responsible for actions of their clients that result in them being charged with facilitating money laundering, terrorist financing and tax evasion by their clients, not only within their own jurisdictions but in

cross-border activities.

This imposes a huge challenge on Accountants and Auditors.

Practitioners must now constantly keep abreast of international, regional and national developments to maintain your clients and develop new ones.

You will need to be able to adjust your own practices, including the potential need to invest resources and develop new practice areas for their clients, including those in compliance and enforcement.

For example, you will need to invest in systems, including software, to know and understand their clients’ business to protect yourselves.

Increasingly, the costs and risks involved will rise.

29

Both the costs and risks could well result in a decision by some Accounting firms that the rewards are not worth the risks.

In other words, some small accounting firms could opt for closure, leaving the accounting business in the region only to very large firms that have the capacity to conduct extensive checks on clients and their business.

There would also be the danger that small businesses would not be able to pay the fees charged by large accounting firms, resulting in a large number of small businesses being deprived of accounting services for many activities, including filing tax returns.

What is remarkable in all this is that, in the small communities of many Caribbean jurisdictions, these heavy-handed rules, devised by the OECD and the FATF, are hardly necessary.

The size and range of transactions in the Caribbean are not large enough to pose any grave risk to the world’s financial system.

Further, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), on which I once served as Chairman, is now less an advocate for the interests of the region, and more an implementing instrument of the FATF. What to do?

So, the question is how is all this to be managed by your profession and by the governments in the Caribbean?

Why do CARICOM governments, you might ask, not jointly resist these impositions that disadvantage their jurisdictions and render them uncompetitive in the global financial system?

The reality is that that particular horse has already bolted; trying to close the stable door now will accomplish nothing except a black-listing by any jurisdiction courageous enough to do so.

When the opportunity for a solid CARICOM resistance to the FATF and OECD rules was ripe, governments failed to act in concert.

In beggar-thy-neighbour policies in which countries sought to escape blacklisting, there was little or no solidarity.

Wider alliances with countries in similar circumstances in the Pacific, Africa, the Mediterranean and even Europe, were not

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National

Jun/July 2017

Congratulations !

Congratulations Harniqua on once again making your family proud. Continue the great work and reaching beyond the stars. in all that you do remember to put God first.

“Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism.”

David M. Burns From your Mom, Dad and family we love you.

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National Politics: Continued from pg. 27 during negotiations for the World Climate Accords.

In fact, he referenced the recent experience of The Bahamas with Hurricane Joaquin noting that existing insurance structures are inadequate and often legalism was relied on to deny legitimate claims which spoke directly to the situation with CCRIF. Following Matthew, I am advised, CCRIF wrote the Government suggesting that we may have qualified for loss compensation, this suggestion was referred to the team that had advised earlier and it was that team’s considered view that we would not have qualified.

The persons who advised us are still in the (public) service. Minnis only need to seek their input or review the files on this matter.

Contract for Clean Up of Petroleum at BEC Clifton Plant In respect of the allegation that Irrington “Minky” Isaacs received a no bid contract from BEC, this too is false.

The facts are that Mr. Isaacs’ company won a contract to assist in the clean-up of petroleum in Clifton Pier and Blue Hills Station at the BEC plant. I am advised that the contract was put out to bid and Mr. Isaacs Company was the successful bidder. The issue here is not how much was paid but whether value for money was obtained for the work given. Our advice is that it was.

It is important to note that the scope of works the subject matter of the contract had been in existence from at least 1997 with two other contractors having been engaged before the award of the contract to Mr. Isaacs’ company. The contract was issued following the established protocols -- contracts were let to other companies during the years 1997 to 2002 and then 2002 to 2007 and then 2007 to 2013. In 2013 after a successful bidding process, Mr. Isaacs’ company received the contract.

Being associated with the PLP and I suspect being associated with the FNM does not disqualify one from bidding for work with the state-owned enterprises.

PAYMENTS TO ASH ENTERPRISES POST HURRICANE MATTHEW

Public Health Sector to receive $307,565,885 during the 2017/18 fiscal year

By Llonella Gilbert Bahamas Information Services

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Minister of Health Dr. the Hon. Duane Sands said the public health sector will receive $307,565,885 during the 2017/18 fiscal year.

The Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) will receive $213,843,475, and $53,753,410 will be allocated for the Ministry of Health/Department of Public Health, Dr. Sands said during his Budget Contribution, Wednesday, June 14, 2017.

He added that $40 million has been provided to fund National Health Insurance.

“This total is more than any other Government Ministry. Combined with out-of-pocket and insurance expenditure, Bahamians spend approximately 9.7 percent of GDP ($800M) annually.

Dr. Sands said, “The Bahamas’ total health expenditure ranks among the top five in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Furthermore, the total health expenditure as a percentage of GDP has been climbing over the last two decades.”

He explained that with the current trends in non-communicable diseases,

violence and infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, the Bahamas’ struggling economy will be crippled by health challenges and costs.

“We have made some choices over the years that have created horrendous health challenges. They cannot be wished away and they are incredibly expensive to fix.”

“Yes, we have the technology and the skills and the drive to fix many of the problems… but can we individually or collectively afford to do so?”

He added, “The old people often say “If you like it, let it kill you… and we… most of us… are doing just that.”

The Health Minister said unless citizens can make fundamental changes that modify their behaviours and allow them to prevent sickness in the first place, the amount of suffering, disability and death will explode.

He explained -- add to that the public health care system is losing up to 25 per cent per year on waste and inefficiency.

“Our economy does not have enough VAT money to pay for this.”

Works were given to Jonathan Ash (Ash Enterprises) amounting to 8 million dollars for hurricane clean up with innuendo that there was no value for money and that cronyism was involved.

I am advised that the contract’s award followed the usual procedures. The contractors’ work and ability to perform was, I am advised, well known to the technical officers of the Ministry of Works. The contractor is not as far as I am aware connected to the PLP. I am advised the company had the equipment and in an effort to ensure that the Hurricane clean-up was done quickly, expeditiously and more effectively a contractor with the expertise and skills and equipment was awarded the work. That contractor was Ash Enterprises. I am further advised that the work for which the contractor was paid includes not just sums of money for his account but to pay all of his subcontractors and suppliers who assisted in the cleanup that he supervised. The only question, if any, was whether value for money was obtained. I am advised that there was value for money. And if further questions obtain, we welcome your investigations.

STAR ACADEMY (FORMERLY BAHAMAS ACADEMY) The Minister of Education’s assertion that the Star Academy with the Seventh Day Adventists for 20 million dollars was a waste of money.

That is false.

It is interesting that the Minister neglected to mention that similar arrangements as this contemplated with the Seventh Day Adventist Church was also concluded with a number of other churches including the Catholic Church of which he is a part.

It is unfortunate that the Minister has created controversy over a perfectly legitimate arrangement with the Seventh Day Adventist Church merely in an attempt to score cheap political points.

The Minister intentionally misled Parliament on many assertions about the school and left out

many key facts behind the decision such as the fact that there are actually 2 buildings on the property which the Ministry will occupy, one of which is now complete and to be used as an administrative building and the fact (that) when the school is complete it will also be the home of the technical cadets who will use it in the afternoon as they are being forced out of BTVI because of increased enrollment. Therefore, the completion of the school is of utmost importance to our troubled youth and the technical cadet program.

The question again is whether the arrangement can be justified by the overall contribution to society and whether the state receives value for money.

The Minister must recognise the value of a holistic partnership with religious schools for the general betterment of our children. The subventions and partnerships provide immeasurable benefits to our society beyond the question of costs. Focusing on cost only is myopic and exposes the Minister of Education and his government’s lack of appreciation of the ills of society much less how to address them in partnership with civil society.

For our part, we would like to thank all churches and in this instance the Seventh Day Adventist for their willingness to partner with the state in the overall education of our young people.

CONCLUSION I would wish to send a message to friend and foe alike that every allegation which the FNM has made during the campaign and since they became the government, they have made them rashly, intemperately and with malice aforethought. They have all been refuted by the PLP by the facts. This is from an old playbook which the FNM started in 1992, tried again in 1997, then again in 2007 which is to try to paint the PLP as crooks and thieves. Those allegations have proven to be lies. They did not stop from trying.

I want our PLP supporters especially not to be suckered into accepting the propaganda of the other side on these matters. PLPs must stand firm in the face of lies and propaganda. The FNM government under Dr. Minnis is acting like spoiled children in a candy store. The first thing our supporters and people of goodwill should ask when the allegations are made is: are they true? The facts show that their allegations are false.

Secondly, I want to invite the Prime Minister to stop whining, complaining and blaming and start governing. Crime continues unabated. Unemployment continues to create a scourge across our islands.

Climate change is real and continuing to attack our shores. In the meantime, a brand new government with a huge majority of seats is whimpering, whining and crying: look what the PLP did. Govern please.

Finally, I ask them do not threaten. Efforts to prove the lies which the government has fostered by false evidence and giving only one side of the story will always prove fruitless. The Progressive Liberal Party has not and will never condone or encourage wrongdoing so threats will not change this. We do not seek to excuse but rather to share full facts. If you have cases of malfeasance then act and let the chips fall where they may. Be sure however that you are wasting national resources in a political witch hunt.

Two can play at the game. Everyone remembers the FNM with Hubert Minnis sitting in the Cabinet selling BTC at an undervalue, giving away the national jewels for the price of the furniture. They allowed self-dealing with the creation of the Arawak Port Development on the phony assertion that a minister recused himself from discussions.

That is the FNM’s playbook. We have an obligation to say it isn’t so; it isn’t right and we do so.

Cut it out. Govern please or leave the job to someone who can.

Perspective

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

The Eleutheran | Jun/July 2017

31

clean reflections noticed that cleaning amounts to simply moving what we consider to be dirt, from one place to somewhere else. Apparently we here on Earth are stuck with everything that is here; things may change the way they look, feel or smell, but try as you may, they go nowhere.

Wash the dishes in a sink full of clean water. You add a small amount of detergent, and you wash away. Every cup, plate, and fork looks clean, especially if you also rinse them in clean, clear water. Good, now you are left with dirty dish-water laced with food scraps and oils. You flush the slurry down the drain and it is gone! So you think. What was By: Andrew L. Burrows God our Creator thinking when andrewburrows1@gmail.com He created Man? Everything that a man touches begins to I took my broom and swept decay, and human waste is the the floor until sweat drained most disgusting sight. A dead down my face. The breeze was limb or fallen leaves lying on refreshing, but it was blowing the ground looks normal, but most of the dust right back on a piece of paper, plastic or any the floor, and only the larger product that is man-made looks sand particles were heaped up. nasty. Why is that? In the beSo what did I get for all my ginning God instructed Man effort? Frustration. Have you to take care of the Earth, so it

is our responsibility to do just that!

The reason why there is life on this planet is because nothing remains constant, change is what makes life possible. Not only do things change, but there are opposites, such as: Day/Night, Light/ Dark, Wet/Dry etc. We are not like the other creatures that God made with just instinct, we were gifted with thought and reason, and must investigate and learn about our world. In short, we were created in the image of our Creator, but we often resort to habit and wish that all things would remain constant. Well, change is constant!

Have you ever tried to imagine what would happen if the earth stopped spinning?

If it did, all that we know would cease. The day would not change, the tide would not rise or lower, the wind would not blow and clouds would not move to bring shade or rain.

Have you shaken the sand and dust out of your rugs and away it blew in the breeze, and you thought ‘good bye to that’ but

you did not consider where the dust went to! Every one downwind from you would now receive a small amount of your dust. You will continue to receive the dust circulating in the air and will later discover that the counter top that you thought was clean is now covered with a new layer of dust. So, what goes around – comes around!

I lit a fire in my yard to get rid of some dry limbs, the smoke filled the neighbourhood and I thought I was being smart; I was getting rid of the limbs, but where did they go?

The wood changed to ashes, and in the process produced smoke that polluted the air in my neighbourhood. Next time I will be more thoughtful and take my trash to the district dumpsite. You see, the more we try to change things, the more they remain the same, and on the contrary, the more we struggle to keep things constant, the more they change.

The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes lamented that there was nothing new under the sun, and that what is, was before!

God has designed this world to keep each of us engaged for the duration of our lives. He has also made everything intricate and mysterious to command our attention as long as we live.

If you start a project and leave it for a time, the effects of decay would soon destroy all the good of your effort as nature seeks to reclaim all that you tried to modify. When I was a young boy I would always try to dig a large hole in the sand while enjoying the beach, but I never succeeded because the sides of the hole always caved in and filled up the space. Life is just like the sand on the beach, there is so much of it that we fail to notice just how much of it blows away when it is dry and windy, or how much of it washes back into the deep water when the sea is rough.

Life is yet a scarce commodity, and you do well to thank God for every moment of it! Oh, don’t stop cleaning, the dust may arrive on the wind, but it only leaves if you wipe it away.

Accounting profession imperilled by de-risking Continued from pg. 29 effectively forged.

As usual, divide and rule tactics were employed and they were effective The narrative that governments can do little or nothing to withstand the OECD and FATF juggernauts has become so entrenched that no one questions the fundamental flaw in the rules that are devised – and that is the assumption that one size shoe will fit all the feet, large or small.

Well, we know that to be a false premise.

And, our jurisdictions should be forthright and vigorous in arguing that structures that are required in the countries where more than 90 per cent of the world’s financial dealings occur, are inappropriate and burdensome in countries where less than 2% of global transactions take place.

The governments of Caribbean countries could, at the very least, take a more proactive, political stance in the work of the FATF, CFATF and the Global Forum.

Largely, participation of governments in these groups is at the technical level.

Only political representatives can respond to the threat of sanctions and blacklisting of jurisdictions that hang over the heads of technicians at these meetings.

But, representation at the meetings of these groups has little political input, and the decisions only become a matter of

discourse in public policy when legislation has to be passed in parliament at which point a party-political debate ensues that might delay the proposed legislation, but does not stop it.

Until representation of governments is escalated to the political level backed-up by sound technical work, the more powerful G7 countries will continue to dominate the decision-making of these bodies.

So, Caribbean governments should consider establishing collective machinery for participating in these meetings where they work-out their positions in advance and argue them jointly.

But, even before the governments consider establishing such collective machinery, in each jurisdiction and in the region as a whole, there should be a structure for consultation between governments and the professional organisations, such as yours, on the relevance of these rules and their effects.

After all, while the rules affect the economies and standing of the jurisdictions, they only do because of their impact upon the work of the private sector.

For these reasons, bankers, accountants, auditors, traders in the private sector should all be taking a greater interest in these matters, and urging consultation with governments prior to meetings of these

decision-making bodies.

No one jurisdiction in the Caribbean can expect to bring about change on its own; only a collective Caribbean response will achieve it.

And such a response requires industry research, professional experience, and sound argument.

Nothing short of a movement by many countries to wrest control of the rules governing the global financial system from the OECD countries and putting it where it has always properly belonged – the United Nations – can or will change the present unfair structure.

Such a movement would require trust and confidence among the governments that initiate the action.

It would also require political courage and non-partisan political support within countries.

Conclusion In the meantime, your profession would serve itself best by the following: • keep abreast of the requirements of the FATF and the OECD Global Forum, and ensure that you are in compliance with the rules that have already been legislated; • insist on consultations between your professional bodies and governments prior to meetings of the Caribbean Financial Ac-

tion Task Force, the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force and the OECD Global Forum so that your views contribute to the positions adopted at decision-making meetings; and • urge governments of all Caribbean jurisdictions to establish machinery for joint Caribbean policy positions that can be collectively argued in the G7 bodies.

Alliances should also be sought with groups within OECD countries that recognise that imposing onerous and unnecessary rules on small jurisdictions and disadvantaging them by allowing unlevel playing fields to prevail, do not make for a prosperous world or a peaceful one.

That, to paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, the world will not survive half-free, and half-enslaved.

There would be good reason for other developing nations and groups within OECD countries to join the Caribbean in such an undertaking.

For, the small are the bully’s first victim; they are seldom the last.

But the small must make themselves strong by the unity of their actions.

Your meeting should, at least, determine how best you can help to launch that process of unity in the interest of the Caribbean and yourselves.

Thank you.

32

Crime News

Jun/July 2017

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.

Arrest ref to Damage - On Friday 23rd June, 2017 at 6:14pm Officers arrested an adult male while at a local bar in reference to damage. He appeared to be in good health.

The suspect was processed , further cautioned and charged with Damage. .

House Breaking & Stealing Report - On Sunday the 25th June 2017 at 9:20am, an adult male reported to the Governors Harbour Police Station that sometime between 7:30am and 7:45am on Sunday the 21/06/2017, some unknown person/s broke and entered his residence though a north western bedroom window and stole a total of $2,040.00 cash and a jewelry box containing an assortment of necklaces and rings value unknown. Police action is requested.

Officers visited the residence which was processed, investigations ongoing.

Arrest ref to Possession of D/Drugs - On Saturday 24th June 2017, at about 5:15pm, Officers came in at the Governor’s Harbour Police Station with two adult males under arrest. They reported that while searching a bronze colored Honda Civic while in the area of Savannah Sound Beach in the presence of its occupants, they found a quantity of suspected marijuana wrapped in a clear plastic on the back floor. As a result they arrested and cautioned both males in reference to Possession of Dangerous Drugs. Investigation and ongoing in this matter Road Accident Report Accident with Injury - On Friday 23rd June 2017, sometime around 4:50pm, Offiers reported that while on mobile patrols on Queens Highway, Rock Sound just south of Sea Shells observed a gray 2006 Nissan Note overturned on the western side of the street in bushes about ten feet off the road facing in a northern direction. As a result officers made a check of the vehicle and surrounding area ending with negative results in locating persons involved in an accident. Information received was that the driver and passenger left the scene prior to the arrival of the Police enroute to the Wemyss Bight Clinic.

Officers proceeded to the Wemyss Bight Clinic where they saw and spoke with Dr. Sidney Smith who informed that he had received information of persons involved in a traffic accident and that they were enroute to the clinic. A short while later officers observed a male and female arrive at the clinic the male identified himself as the driver along with the female who was a passenger complained of pain in the left leg. the investigating office spoke with the driver under caution who reported that sometime after 4:00pm he was driving his vehicle south on Queens Highway Rock Sound in the area of Sea Shells at a speed of about 40 M.P.H when the vehicle started pulling to the left side and while trying to control the same, he lost control of the vehicle which overturned. He received no injuries. Hospital form and N.O.I.P forms issued. Measurements were also recorded.

Investigations continues.

Breach of Liquor License - On Thursday 22/06/17 about 4:05pm Officers received information that two bars located in North Palmetto Point were operating in breach of the liquor license. Officers observed upon arrival at one location that there were a number of persons gathered on the exterior consuming what appeared to be alcoholic beverages. However the front northern door of that establishment was closed.

Further checks were made by the officers who discovered a side eastern window was open.

Officers looked into the window where he observed a male known to them also the owner of the said establishment serving a customer a clear plastic cup containing a liquid suspected to be alcohol.

Officers then entered the establishment through a rear southern door which was found open and questioned the owner as to his reason for being open during the local government elections, also if the beverage he was serving contained alcohol, to which he admitted to.

He stated that he was sorry and he knew he should not be operating during this time and please could he have a break. Officers asked the operator to produce his business Licence which he did which was examined and found to be invalid from April of 2017.

The Owner was warned of prosecution for being in breach of the liquor Licence act, they also instructed him to produce proof of payment for the business Licence to the Governors Harbour Police Station on or before Monday 26th June 2017. They also warned him of pending prosecution if the same is not done. Officers ensured the establishment was shut down, and warned not to re-open until the lawfully prescribed time.

Attempted House Breaking Report - At about 10:20am on 18/06/17 an adult female contacted the Governor’s Harbour station and reported she was contacted by some guest staying in a home stating that some person(s) unknown was around their residence tampering with the screen. Police assistance was requested.

Officers saw and spoke to the complainants who stated that sometime between 11:00pm on Saturday 17th June 2017 and 8:00am on Sunday 18th June 2017 some unknown person/s attempted to break into his rental house by pushing in a screen to an eastern living room window, access appeared to have not been gained, however a set of footprints were discovered in the sand under the window. This matter is under active investigation.

Police Assistance - At about 10:23am on Sunday 18/06/17 an adult female contacted the Governor’s Harbour Police Station and reported that there was an unknown male who has been living on the porch at the Parish Hall Queen’s Highway Gregory Town, claiming that the property belongs to his grandfather. Police assistance was requested.

Police Contact Numbers

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

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

Arrest reference to Vagrancy - At 11:35pm on Sunday the 18th of June 2017, Officers came in at the Governor’s Harbour police Station with an adult male of New Providence under arrest And reported where he was arrested at about 10:30pm on the 18/6/17 While at the St. Gregory Parish hall in Gregory Town in reference to Vagrancy.

The suspect was found sleeping on the porch of the said parish Hall and could not provide proof that he had an abode of any sort which Resulted in his subsequent arrest.

Attempted Rape report At about 7:28am On Saturday 17th June 2017, an adult female came to the North Eleuthera Police Station and reported that a male known to her attempted to have sex with her against her will. She stated that at about 10:00am on the Friday 16th June 2017, she went to a local Restaurant & Bar having drinks with a male she knows . She further stated that around 8:00pm on the same date, she was awaken by the male attempting to have sex with her at his residence. She was able to fight him off her and she ask him to drop her home. She is unable to recall how she got to his residence and she suspect that he may have given her a date drug.

The suspect was later apprehended and charged with that offence.

Traffic Accident Damage only At about 7:56am on Saturday 17th June 2017, Officers received information of a Traffic Accident at the North Eleuthera Packing House. Police assistance is requested.

As a result of this information received Officers visited the scene where they saw an adult male who stated that he was driving his 2007 Black Honda Accord car at about 1:30pm on Queen’s Highway West and upon reaching the intersection he applied brakes and because of the road being wet he skidded off the road. He collided into a chain link fence that secured the perimeter of the Packing House Property and a Green 2007 Silverado Truck registered to the Department of Agriculture. There were extensive damages to both vehicles, no injuries involved and police investigation continues.

Dangerous Drugs/ Firearms Search - At about 1:10pm on Saturday 17th June 2017, Officers while on mobile patrol in the area of Royal Bank of Canada, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, conducted a search of a silver 2002 Honda Accord, and its occupants (5) adult males in reference to suspected Dangerous Drugs and Firearms. The search ended with negative results.

Traffic Offence Report - At about 1:10pm on Saturday 17th June 2017, Officers while on mobile patrol in the area of

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

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

Royal Bank of Canada, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, reported an adult male for driving a silver/grey 2002 Honda Accord , south on Queen’s Highway, while the said vehicle was Unlicensed and Uninspected for the year 2017; driving a motor vehicle whilst not covered against third party risk insurance and without the use of a seat-belt. The driver of the vehicle, was informed of the offences and instructed to produce his driver’s license on the scene. He was then warned of further prosecution.

Arrest Reference to Causing Harm - At 4:08pm on Friday 16th June, two adult males came in at the Rock Sound Police Station where they were informed of a complaint made against them in reference to causing Harm. As a result both persons were arrested and cautioned. Officers interviewed both suspects where they admitted to causing harm and damage. At about 8:35pm both suspects were charged with Causing Harm and Damage. Both suspects were released on $3000.00 bail to appear before the Magistrates Court on 19/7/17 in Rock Sound Arrest reference to Possession of Dangerous Drugs At 4:20pm on Thursday June 15th 2017, Officers came in at the Governor’s Harbour Police Station with suspect an adult male under arrest reference to possession of dangerous drugs. They reported arresting and cautioning the suspect at 4:15pm on 15/06/2017 after conducting a search of his burgundy 1999 Ford F150 pick while on Haynes Lane in Governor’s Harbour, and finding a single homemade cigarette suspected of being made of marijuana in the ash tray.

The suspect was later interviewed, processed and later charged with the offence .

Traffic Offence Report - At 8:17pm on Thursday 15th June 2017, An Officer on Patrol contacted the Governor’s Harbour Police Station via telephone and reported that at 5:30pm on the 15/06/2017 while on TW Alley in North Palmetto Point, he observed a young man he knew riding east on TW Alley on an orange 2016 Keeway off road motorcycle with no helmet and in addition failed to yield to a stop sign at a cross junction. At 7:30pm The Officer observed the same male riding the orange motorcycle again and as a result he was made to stop and it was discovered that the mentioned motorcycle was not licensed and had no plate attached. Therefore he was informed of the offences and warned of prosecution.

Traffic Offence Report - At 10:40pm on Thursday 15th June 2017, an Officer on Patrol contacted the Governor’s Harbour Police Station via telephone and reported that sometime around 6:20pm on

Crime News

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com the 15/06/2017 while on Haynes Lane in Governor’s Harbour Eleuthera, he observed a male he knew, riding a green and white 450cc off road motorcycle west on Haynes Lane with no protective helmet nor did the motorcycle appeared to be licensed for the current year 2017.

At 7:12pm on 15/06/2017, The Officer saw and spoke with the male, he admitted that his motorcycle was not licensed as a result the Officer informed him of the offences and warned him of prosecution. He was further asked to produce his driver’s license to the nearest Police Station within 48 hours for inspection and warned of further prosecution if he failed to produce same.

Assault with dangerous Weapon: At about 3:05 pm on 14th June 2017, an adult male reported that on Wednesday 14th June 2017 at about 12:00 pm while at work , he got into an altercation with his brother who then took a large silver blade black handle knife and tried to stab him as a result he received a wound to the right hand. Police Action requested.

This matter is under active investigation.

SHOPBREAKING - At about 8.55am on 13/06/2017 an adult female contacted the G.H.P.S. via telephone and reported that she received information that her house located Bank’s Road was broken into and nothing at the time reported missing. Police Action requested.

Officers responded to the scene, saw and spoke to vacationers who are presently staying at the residence. An adult female reported that she and her family came to Eleuthera on Saturday 08th June 2017 , sometime between Monday 11:30 pm 12/06/2107 and 6:30 am 13/06/2017 some unknown person/s entered the residence and stole $424.00 from her hand bag and some $550.00 from her mother’s bag .Police action requested . This matter is under active investigation.

Road Accident Report - At about 2.40.pm on 13/06/2013 an unknown caller contacted the G.H.P.S. via telephone and reported a traffic accident in the area of French Leave Resort Queen’s Highway Governor’s Harbour - police assistance requested.

Officers responded to the scene and reported investigating a traffic accident involving a three vehicles collision that occurred along queen’s highway in the area of French Leave Resort in Governor’s Harbour that involved a grey 2006 Honda Civic driven at the time by an adult female also a light brown Cherokee jeep driven at the time by an adult male and a Red 1998 Nissan Frontier driven at the time by an adult male . Voluntary caution statements were given at the scene by all drivers .NOIP form served measurements taken investigations are ongoing.

Arrest ref to Possession of D/Drugs and Stolen Vehicle - At 10:45pm on Tuesday 13th June 2017, Officers came to the Hatchet Bay Police Station with (5) adult males under arrest and reported that he arrested and cautioned them while in the area of a local restaurant situated on Main Street Hatchet Bay in reference to possession of dangerous drugs and a stolen vehicle. The males were subsequently processed and charged with Possession of Dangerous Drugs.

TRaffic Accident ReporT - An anonymous caller contacted the Governor’s Harbour Station at about 9:15pm on the 13.6.17 and reported that there was a traffic accident on Queen’s Highway near the public dump Palmetto Point. Police assistance was requested.

Officers responded and discovered the same involved a silver Honda Accord driven by a male , he reported that he was travelling in a northern direction on Queen’s Highway Palmetto Point in the vicinity of the public dump with three male passengers and he went to overtake a Nissan Skyline GTO driven by a male known to him when both vehicles came in contact with each other. As a result his vehicle went into the bushes, however the other driver came back to the scene and left before the Police arrived. The driver and passengers received minor injuries and went to the Levy Medical Centre Governors Harbour to be treated.

Measurements was taken, and N.O.I.P was served on the driver. Further enquiries are ongoing.

SHOPBREAKING - At about 9.40am on 12/06/2017 an adult female contacted G.H.P.S. via telephone and reported that sometime between 7.00pm on 09/06/2017 and 8.00am 12/06/2017 some unknown person(s) broke and entered a Building, located Queen’s Highway Palmetto Point, where she is employed as administrator. The culprit(s) searched and stole (1) black projector make and value is unknown. Police action requested. Officers visited the Scene of incident investigations are ongoing.

Road Checks Report - On Friday 9th June 2017, between the hours of 11:30am and 1:00pm, officers of the Central Eleuthera District under the command of A.S.P Nigel Rolle along with Insp J. Newbold, Insp J. Oldham, conducted road traffic checks on Queen’s Highway Governors Harbour near Sky Beach Resort where a number of vehicles were stopped for various traffic violations. Five (5) persons were reported, two vehicle searches in reference to dangerous drugs and firearms ended with negative results. One female was arrested for immigration purposes and subsequently handed over to immigration department. All motorists encountered during this operation were advised to adhere to the rules of the road and to continue safe driving practices.

Arrest ref to Unlawful Sexual Intercourse - At about 8:25am on Monday 5th June, 2017 the crew of Officers came in at the Governor’s Harbour Police Station with an adult male under arrest and reported that he was arrested at about at 8:00am on 05/06/2017 while at his residence in reference to Unlawful Sexual Intercourse, a request made by C.D.U Nassau in reference to a complaint made at that Division. The suspect was taken into custody.

Causing Harm report and Arrest ref to Causing Harm and Damage : An adult female contacted the Governors Harbour Police Station and reported that the security Officer at the Pineapple Festival Site had a male in custody who they caught trying to steal from one of the stalls. Officers responded to the scene where they spoke to the Complainant who reported that he saw a male known to him behind one of the stalls at the site. Upon seeing the security, he ran. The security Officer

The Eleutheran | Jun/July 2017

stated that he caught up to the male who then assaulted him with a small crowbar. Police action was requested. Officers arrested and cautioned an adult male in reference to causing harm. He was processed and charged with that Offence.

Traffic Offence Report - On Friday 2nd June 2017 sometime around 8:37 am Officers saw and spoke to an adult male while at his residence. He admitted to being the owner of a silver 2000 Nissan Wagon, and that he permitted another to drive his car around 8:21am on 2/6/2017.

He was then warned of prosecution for permitting to drive a motor vehicle while not covered by third party risk insurance.

Indecent Assault - On Friday 2nd June 2017 at 8:40am an adult female came In at the Governor’s Harbour Police Station and reported that sometime around 8:15am while in the area of a local bar a man she knows grabbed her (on private parts of her body). She stated that she felt much violated and requested Police Action in this matter.

At about 10:00am Officers came in at the Governor’s Harbour Police Station with an adult male under arrest reference to Indecent Assault. he was processed and released pending further investigation.

Road Accident Report - A male contacted the G.H.P.S. by cell phone and report that there is an accident on French Leave Beach involving a vehicle which overturned and landed on a male.

An ambulance is requested. The Supt.

James Miller lead a team of Officers to the scene which occurred on an unpaved road opposite French Leave Resort 500ft east of Queens Highway, Involving a black and green Polaris Golf Cart registered to French Leave Resort and driven by an adult male .

Information received is that the male over took two golf carts while coming around a hill, he lost control of the golf cart causing it to overturn where he was ejected and the vehicle came to rest on top of him causing injuries. He was transported to the Levy Medical Centre prior to the arrival of the Police. The scene was photographed and measurements were recorded. The driver’s injuries were listed as serious but did not appear to be a life threatening, she also referred him to New Providence for further medical treatment. At 5:55pm on 31/5/17 the driver was airlifted to New Providence.

Damaged Vehicle Reported: - At about 10:00 am on Tuesday 30th May 2017 an adult male came in at the Governors Harbour Police Station and reported that while at about 8:10 am today’s date 30/05/17. He was ironing in his bedroom when he observed a fair skinned man known to him , clad in a reddish/Orange T-shirt and a dark blue or black long pants then he heard a sound like breaking glass. he then saw the male running from the yard toward the direction of the Airport. He then went outside to see that the left rear light on his car was broken, he is convinced it was done by the suspect. Police assistance/action requested in this matter.

Arrest Ref to Possession of D/Drugs - On Monday 29th May, 2017 sometime around 12:20pm, Officers while on mobile patrol observed several males standing just north of Working Man Bar, one of the males whom was wearing an orange

33

color shirt upon seeing the police ran off into bushes, as a result the remaining males, were all searched for dangerous drugs and firearms. Upon searching an adult male they discovered in his front right shirt pocket four (4) silver foil wrappings which contained a grassy substance suspected to be Marijuana.

He was arrested and cautioned and stated he does smoke. He was transported to RSPS for further processing. Negative results on search of other males present.

The suspect was interviewed under caution and he admitted that the drugs were his own. He was subsequently charged with Possession of Dangerous Drugs and was held in custody.

Arrest Reference to Possession of Dangerous Drugs - At 6:20pm on Friday the 25/5/17, Officers came in at the Governor’s Harbour Police Station and reported that while on mobile patrol at about 6:15pm they observed a black Acura with no license disk attached.

The Officers were able to stop the vehicle in the area of the Blue Room in Governor’s where both occupants were instructed to exit the vehicle. After exiting the vehicle a juvenile male and an adult male appeared to be very nervous. Officers searched the suspects but came up with negative results, however while searching the vehicle, they found a clear plastic bag with two (2) foil wrappers containing suspected marijuana under the driver’s seat. Both suspects were arrested, cautioned and transported to the Governors Harbour Police Station. Both suspects were processed and charged with Possession of Dangerous Drugs.

Arrest reference to Causing Harm - At about 11:35pm on the 24/5/17 Officers came in at the Governors Harbour police station with an adult male under arrest and reported arresting him at about 11:25pm on the same date while in Palmetto reference to causing harm.

Traffic Accident Report - At about 6:38pm on Tuesday 23rd May 2017, an anonymous caller contacted the Governor’s Harbour Police Station and reported that there is a traffic accident at Balara Bay, Governor’s Harbour. Police assistance is requested. Officers visited the scene and met two vehicles stationary on Queens Highway in an area just south of the Methodist Manse. Vehicle # 1 which was a silver 2005 Pontiac G6 Sedan driven by an adult male . The mentioned vehicle Sustained damages to the right and left front fenders and right front door. Vehicle # 2 a white 2007 Chevy Impala sedan registered to and driven by an adult male . His Vehicle sustained damages to left front fender, left front drivers and rear passenger’s door. Both vehicles upon arrival were found facing in a northerly direction on Queens Highway with vehicle # 1 parked in the north bound lane with it rear end partially off the shoulder of the north bound lane, just a head of vehicle # 2 that was also parked in the north bound lane.

A male admitted to over taking vehicle # 2 along the left side resulting in side swiping both vehicle # 2 and a stone wall off the shoulder of the north bound lane. Measurements were taken and both drivers served NOIP forms, both vehicles were removed from scene.

Continued On Page 34

34

Crime News

Jun/July 2017

Crime Reports Continued from pg. 33 Assault with a Dangerous Instrument - At about 9:59pm on Tuesday 23rd May 2017, an adult male came in at the Governor’s Harbour Police Station and reported that sometime after 9:00pm on the same date, while sitting on the step across from a local bar, he was approached by a young man he knew who had an exchange of words with him before striking him in the head with his Guinness bottle causing pain.

Police action requested. The suspect was later apprehended and charged.

Police Assistance Requested On Saturday 24.06.17 some time about 7:00 pm a male of Dunmore Street came to the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that sometime during Thursday 22.06.17 he lost his black Alcatel pop 4 cell phone valued at about $109.00. Further that when called, an unknown male answered the phone and demanded $500.00 for the return of same. Police assistance requested.

The complainant gave certain information and was advised. He also stated that he would return to the Harbour Island Police Station on Monday 26.06.17.

Assault Report On Saturday 24.06.17 some time about 7:30 pm a female of Nesbitt Street came to the Harbour Island Police Station with her son and reported that sometime around 6:00 pm while at the basketball court on Dunmore and Bay Street he was beaten about the body by another student known.

Police assistance requested.

Police recorded a written statement from the teen in the presence of his mother.

Police saw and spoke to the complainant and advised her to return to the station on Monday 26.06.17 with her son to which she agreed.

Trespassing / Throwing Missiles Report On Saturday 24.06.17 some time about 7:30 pm a male of Pitt Street came to the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that while on Bay Street he received information that at around 7:50 pm a male known to him entered his yard and threw a rock before attempting to get into his home. He reported being in fear for his family’s safety. Police action requested.

The complainant informed that on Sunday 25.06.17 his wife and daughter who were both present during the time of the incident would come to H.I.P.S and give statements regarding same.

Stealing Report On Saturday 24.06.17 some time about 9:10 pm a female of Barrack Street came to the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that sometime between 7:30 pm and 8:15 pm unknown person/s stole over $500.00 in Bahamian currency out of her brown leather wallet which was accidentally left on the seat of a golf cart whilst same was parked in front of a hotel on Alice Street.

Police action requested.

The complainant informed that she spoke to hotel owner Mr. Dencil Higgs who agreed to review the surveillance footage and inform her of his findings.

Burglary report - On Sunday 25/6/17 at about 10:00am a female of the

USA and c/o a House situated Bay Street Harbour Island came in at Harbour Island Police Station and reported that on same date at about 3:00am she was awoken by a young man whom she knows from Harbour Island whom had been invited to assist with an ongoing group visit. She further stated that he informed her that he had entered the home via the western front door to discover two unknown males exiting the back eastern dining room door which was left open making good their escape over a back eastern 10ft wall he further stated that it was too dark to get a good description of the males whom were wearing all black at the time. As a result she made a check of the home and discovered that $600 was stolen out of her purse which she left on the dining room table.

Police action requested.

Police recorded a written statement from the complainant.

An officer visited the scene where the complainant pointed out a eastern Dining room back door same was checked and no signs of forced entry was observed.

The officer informed Inspector Farquharson reference to this matter.

The officer reported that while at Harbour Island Police Station a statement was recorded from the male. Investigations continue.

Assistance Requested On Friday 23/6/17 at about 10:18am An anonymous caller contacted Harbour Island police Station via phone and reported that a known mental patient was s on Bay Street Harbour Island in the sea by the P.L.P Tent with a bundle of clothes washing them in the water and exposing herself while in the water Police assistance requested.

An officer saw and spoke with the female. She was advised to remove her bundle of clothes from the water and to go to her residence. Same was done area was left quiet.

On the same date at about 5:00pm Police along with family members proceeded to the residence of the known mental patient in reference to assisting her to Harbour Island Community Clinic for her medication where she was seen an treated by a nurse. No further assistance requested.

Lost Property Report On Thursday 22nd June, 2017 at about 11:30 am a female of Barrack Street, Harbour Island came to the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that sometime between 06.01.17 and 11.06.17 she lost her Bahamian Passport while in New Providence. Police assistance requested. Officers recorded a statement from the complainant.

House Breaking/ Report On Thursday 22nd June, 2017 at about a male c/o of a resort came to the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that sometime between Saturday 17.06.17 and Thursday 22.06.17 time unknown some unknown person/s entered his room and stole $800.00 in U.S currency from his wallet which was inside his travel bag. Police assistance requested.

Police recorded a written statement from the complainant. They visited the scene and noted no signs of forced entry.

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In Memory

Wanda Petty: Special thanks are extended to all who have reached out to the family of the Late Jules Bernard “Vincent” Bissainthe, during their time of loss. We love you. Continue to keep us in prayer. God bless.

Long lines: Commonwealth

Bank steps in as RBC steps out

The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) branch in Spanish Wells was a crowded scene on Monday, May 29th, as scores of residents towed a long line to wrap up their banking services with RBC as the institution readied to close its doors to the community for the final time at the end of the business day on Thursday, June 1st, ahead of the Labour Day/Whit Monday holiday weekend.

Some customers stated that they had spent hours in line on Monday morning, before being served, because of the sheer volume of people. Others expressed a lingering sense of disbelief that RBC, which had been a fixture on the island for so many years, was actually closing out and leaving, especially with the level of business they perceived had been done with the bank on the island. Robert Roberts, Chief Councillor for Spanish Wells, shortly after the RBC Spanish Wells branch closure was announced in early March 2017, commented that RBC had been present in Spanish Wells for more than 50 years.

In mid-April 2017, Commonwealth Bank officially announced its intention to open a new branch in Spanish Wells, taking full advantage of RBC’s closure in this market. Bank President Ian Jennings, said at that time, that Commonwealth Bank had been warmly welcomed by the Spanish Wells community, adding, “This move to Spanish Wells increases our presence to four islands and we look forward to serving the Spanish Wells community as we do so.”

The bank has branches in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco, and has some 6,000 shareholders and over 500 staff members.

With the exception of one employee near retirement, employees at the closing RBC Spanish Wells branch were said to have been taken on by Commonwealth bank, which opened in Spanish Wells on Tuesday, June 6th, immediately following the Labour Day/Whit Monday holiday weekend.

Island “Buzz”

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

Labour Day/Whit Monday Holiday Weekend Sights & Scenes 2017 The 30th Annual Pineapple Festival in Gregory Town, during the 1st through 3rd of June, once again had full support from the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) as a signature “Summer Festivals” event. Dynamic entertainment, great programming, a fun ‘kids world’ corner and a creative mix of delicious food and drink vendors, all came together to make this year’s festival, one fabulous weekend.

The new Festival venue at the northern exit of Gregory Town, now hosted there for the second year was again spacious and well laid out with comfortable tented seating areas - where patrons could enjoy pineapple inspired dishes and drinks, including fresh cut pineapple, or just relax and take in the on-stage

entertainment.

As an MOT signature event, this year’s Pineapple Fest saw the return of a professional lighting and stage set up where local bands – Bennett and the Boys, the High Rock band, and Dr. Seabreeze let loose, and national favorites, like the Spank Band backed up performers – Veronica Bishop and Avvy during the Friday and Saturday evening shows. Junkanoo rushouts by the Harbour Boys group were also highly enjoyed features during the Pineapple Fest weekend, along with the talented Freedom Marching Band - made up of mainly high school students, which very professionally, played on, despite a bit of rain near the end of their performance on the Friday evening.

A Gospel Jam on Thursday night, with local praise teams, in addition to colorful local designer fashion shows by Empress Verda, rounded out the Fest’s local on-stage entertainment.

Fifty plus miles to the south, in Deep Creek, the township celebrated their Conch Fest, which also

| Jun/July 2017 35 took place during the Labour Day/Whit Monday holiday weekend. Organizers for the Deep Creek Conch Fest had a full slate of activities planned along with energetic entertainment by the Visage Band, Rake N’ Scrape, Dyson Knight, Wendi, Najie Dunn, Christian Massive, and Lyrically Blessed.

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Education Beat

Jun/July 2017

Eleuthera’s Class of 2017:

(2 of 4)

www. EleutheraNews . com qualified for the new Bahamas High School Diploma.

12th grade students whose only deficiency was not having the minimum BJC subjects, still had an opportunity to receive their diploma in August, if they were successful in their June 2017 national exams.

A number of high school Principals across Eleuthera agreed in their positive outlook for the 10th and 11th graders following the Class of 2017, reporting that higher numbers of students already had the basic requirements, and would have had more time to adjust to the demands of the national diploma process. One Principal lauded the national diploma program, saying, “I think it’s an excellent idea, and even more students will rise to the challenge after this first year, especially with their parents pushing and supporting them.”

Notably, because of the limited space available within the venue location, the numbers of family and friends each graduate could invite to celebrate their special day with them were limited to three people. This challenge resulted in disappointment for many who would have liked to celebrate with graduates on the day. Hope has been expressed that this will be addressed in 2018, especially with the push to have an even higher number of successful graduates next year. *To order prints or digital copies of graduate photos, contact The Eleutheran Newspaper at 422-9350.

Graduates featured: Robert McCoy, Storme Sweeting, Janet Mitchell, Kesyla Pinder, TaGarren Knowles, Perez Sands, Nathan Sands, Sandra Sainvil, Erin Varence, Zyria Sands, Dimitri Rolle, Jalan Edwards, Caitlin Walker, Krista Saunders, Tiawana Kemp, Christina Moss, Elisea Cooper, Daundre Sands, Craig Carey, Shanika Gomez, Kristianne Thompson, Thelecia Collins, Fredericka Neely, Martina Campbell, Angelicia Bethel, Wilshenique Cooper, Shamar Culmer and Alchrista Ferguson.

Education Beat

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

Picture This: South Eleuthera

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The Eleutheran | Jun/July 2017

37

Celebrating Excellence: Preston H. Albury High School,

(Tarpum Bay, South Eleuthera, The Bahamas) Preston H. Albury High School (PHAHS) celebrated the best and brightest of their student body during an Honor Roll and Awards Ceremony held on Friday morning, June 16th, 2017 at the Ebenezer Gospel Chapel in Tarpum Bay. The service which was held under the theme: “Excellence Without Excuse”, got underway at 9:30 am and students from grades 7 to grade 12 were recognized for their academic achievements during the 2016/2017 school year.

48 students maintained a grade point average of 3.0 or above to attain a place on the Honor Roll, and an additional 8 high achieving students attained a grade point average of 3.5 or above to be included on the Principal’s List. Principal’s List students awarded for their excellence included, Sarah Carey, Brianna Hall, and Jasmine Hall, from grade 8; Jayden Miller from grade 9; Geordante Neely

from grade 10; Tiara Jones from grade 11; as well as Hannah Ingraham and Fransisca Louis from grade 12.

PHAHS Principal, Mrs. Fontella Knowles, during brief remarks near the beginning of the service commented on the invaluable support provided to the school by many of the parents and other south Eleuthera community members, encouraging them to continue and to do even more. District Superintendent for The Eleutheras, Mrs. Helen Simmons-Johnson, was also in attendance and gave remarks. She encouraged the students to celebrate their success and to continue to strive and to give their best. Mrs. Simmons-Johnson also stressed the importance of parents, students, the community, and the Ministry of Education engaging in a collaborative effort to ensure the success of students throughout south Eleuthera.

Special guest speaker for the event was Father Bradley Miller of the Anglican Diocese. He congratulated the students for their out-

By Malia Carroll

standing achievements, remarking to them that hard work always pays off. He told them not to underestimate themselves, emphasizing that they had unlimited options ahead of them. He went on to inspire the young audience with a number of tips for excelling, including; being disciplined, staying focused on their goals, managing their time well, and keeping the right company or friends, among others.

During the ceremony, the audience, made up of family members, friends and well-wishers from throughout the south Eleuthera community, were entertained with musical selections by the Preston H. Albury High School band, an inspiring poem by honoree Antonya Miller, and a liturgical dance by the Assemblies of God dancers before coming to the highly anticipated presentation of awards.

The 48 students recognized for achieving Honor Roll status included: Grade 7: Micquel Cartwright, Kristan Ingraham, Lael Knowles, Shicara Knowles, Sarai LaFrance, Jodi Oldham, and Anthonique Wallace.

Grade 8: David Elliott Grade 9: Joshua Claridge, Valentino Stubbs, Nathalia Brown, Yasmine Brown, Kayleaser Burrows, G’Ann Morley, and Carlissa Seymour.

Grade 10: Donovan McKinney, Precious Rolle, Oriana Carey, Traliyah Carey, Glenderia Francis, and Giltavia Goodman.

Grade 11: Brawley Gardiner, Montez Horton, Cargill Munroe, Shaquellia Allen, Dennis Carey, Avery Hall, Javar Jones, Kyleisa Albury, Tatyana Burrows, Marinique Leary, Raylonda Miller, Joenique Munnings, Ameiah Pinder, Nastascia Tynes, and Broneka Williams.

Grade 12: Term 1 Martin McCartney, Perez Sands, Martina Campbell, Merissa Jolly, Leslya Munroe, and Marinique Thompson.

Term 2: Bentelette Culmer Terms 1 & 2 Waldisha Gibson, Shanika Gomez, Marrissica Louis, Anthonya Miller and Garnitra Pinder.

38

Education Beat

Jun/July 2017

Eleuthera’s Class of 2017:

L-R (top to bottom) Bendreaka Roberts, Elna Authoriste, Ronae Albury, Ameia Hudson, Shelluno Pinder, Joshua Griffin, Kazi Johnson, Laveaux Bonami and Montez Anderson.

Cayden Underwood, Naomi Petty, Michael Bethel, Bentelette Culmer, Demetria Humes, Cheala Major, Venise Elisee, Franosha Johnson, Destinee Grant, Sharron Culmer, Lauryn Cleare and

Daphanie Charles (Honours Society).

Caption: Honours Society Graduates featured above (Silver Sash) : Garric Sweeting, Aranique Moss, Waldisha

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(3 & 4 of 4)

Gibson, Marinique Thompson, Ashmed Forbes, Omar Sineus, and Ruth Janvier.

L-R (top to bottom) Krystalanne Thompson, Lanesha Cadet, Azaria Knowles, Lawrence Romain, Anthonya Miller, Symone Neymour, Shantia Black and Latalia McDon-

ald,

Education Beat

Online at www.EleutheraNews.com

| Jun/July 2017 39

Garnitra Pinder, Leah Key, Brontae Bullard and Goshen Rahming.

Bottom row (L-R) Marrissica Louis. Carson Pinder and Jason Pinder.

PICTURE THIS Changing of the Guard at Government House on Friday, June 23, conducted before Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor General.

(BIS Photos/Derek Smith)

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