The Tribune
Minister opposes port’s water park
Hanna-Martin said the cruise port is a dock, Nassau is the destination
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
GLENYS Hanna-Martin opposes the Nassau Cruise Port’s plan to develop a water park attraction, telling developers: “Please, give it a rest.”
The education minister and Englerston MP is the only member of the Davis administration to take this
stance publicly, saying in the House of Assembly yesterday: “Let our people come through your dock. You could make your dock nice, no problem with that.
“Come into Nassau.
“I hope they heard me on that.”
Mike Maura, the port’s CEO, told Tribune Business earlier this month
Cannabis bill passes after bCC urges govt to hold off
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
The Christian Council said during its consultation with government officials, it only supported introducing cannabis for medicinal purposes.
“We stand firmly against the introduction
ELECTED officials passed bills to legalise cannabis for medical and religious use yesterday, hours after the Bahamas Christian Council urged them to suspend the debate because it opposes some elements, including decriminalising possession of small amounts of marijuana.
‘Too many years’ of underfunding cited over Eleuthera water woes
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
STATE Minister in the Office of Prime Minister Leon Lundy said the Water and Sewerage Corporation
is still working with the Office of the Attorney General to determine the future of its contractual relationship with Aqua-Design, the company that provides water services in Central Eleuthera.
“Unfortunately, the water infrastructure in Eleuthera went under-funded for too many years in parallel with the collapse of the relationship with Aqua-Design,
lundy refuses to name athol island developer
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
LEON Lundy refused to name the developer of a major project on Athol Island even as St Anne’s MP Adrian White renewed concerns about the project’s environmental impact in the House of Assembly.
Mr White raised alarm about the project in the House earlier this month,
By NEIL
saying it had severe environmental implications. He claimed that piles of barge and sand had been deposited on the island and that native limestone had been demolished to create a path across much of the island.
Mr Lundy, the MP for Central and South Andros and a state minister in the
Central and South Andros
MP Leon Lundy
Minister Glenys Hanna Martin speaks out against NCP’s proposed waterpark at the cruise port during her contribution in the House of Assembly yesterday.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
THE Tribune called on readers to join in our campaign to Love Ya Dog - and Parker Louis was quick to take part.
Parker emailed with pictures of prize pooch Ravioli, saying: “This is our dog Ravioli. We take her everywhere with us, she’s an island gal from Spanish Wells and now living on Nassau.
“She is trained for protection with help
from Stubsdale (Devlyn Stubbs).
She loves the water and boating, sticks and her coconuts. Much love for all the fur babies!”
The Love Ya Dog campaign encourages dog owners to take care of their pets - and we are calling on readers to join in.
We want to encourage those who do treat their pets well to show them off - and by doing so letting others see a better way to treat their pets.
CARE TIP: There is no such thing as a “house dog.” All dogs are happy to be inside. They just need to be house trained. Inside the house they are safe from poison and can protect your home better. Potcakes make wonderful indoor dogs.
• Send us a picture of you with your dogs to loveyadog@tribunemedia.net to join the campaign and show that you Love Ya Dog.
From left: Seth McCarthy, Ravioli, Parker Louis (dog owner) and Devlyn Stubbs (dog trainer).
Minister opposes port’s water park
that the $35m water park project aims to create 350 full-time jobs and should be completed within the next 18 months.
He said the pool-based water park will be constructed behind the amphitheatre towards the western side of Nassau Cruise Port’s existing property.
News of the project sparked critical reactions from many residents. Some vendors downtown also say they are not benefiting from the cruise port because many guests are not venturing outside it.
Mrs Hanna-Martin said The Bahamas is more than a destination.
“The cruise port is a dock,” she said. “It’s a docking facility. The port is Nassau. In Nassau, we have our straw vendors, our taxi drivers, our entrepreneurs. We have this huge rich cultural dynamic, full expression of who we are in the port of Nassau and so I heard some talk about some water theme park; please, please give it a rest.”
The Englerston MP said she has no problem voicing her concerns because she only works for the “people of Englerston” and the Bahamian people.
Known for sometimes taking nationalist positions, Mrs HannaMartin opposed Royal Caribbean International’s $110m project for Paradise Island while she was in opposition. She told reporters last year that her position remains the same. However, the Davis administration approved the project.
Hanna- m artin: GOvt expects tO meet deadline
THE Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training yesterday issued a statement saying that recent posts on social media about this year’s examination results are false.
The statement said: “While we are working assiduously to ensure that the results are released in a timely manner, the 2024 examination results have not yet been published. Please be advised that BJC and BGCSE examination results for the 2024 examination cycle will be released on August 6, 2024, at which time an official announcement will be made.”
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
EDUCATION Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin expects the government to meet its school renovations and repairs deadline if the weather and other factors permit. She estimated that “tens of millions” were probably spent on school renovations and repairs so far.
She said workers are in the third phase of redeveloping Government High School, with one phase
remaining. When workers are finished, she said, “Government High is going to have a brand new school.”
The school, she said, was old and in such a terrible state that she was embarrassed when she visited it.
She added that major works are underway at LW Young and Uriah McPhee.
She hopes the government will construct eight swimming pools this summer, aiding Government High School, Sadie Curtis Primary School, TG Glover Primary School, Anatol Rodgers High
School, and others.
She said officials are trying to integrate swimming into the curriculum to teach students how to swim.
She said the government may give responsibility for the year-round maintenance of various schools to certain technical people at the Ministry of Works.
She said officials are engaging the contractor responsible for Harbour Island’s All Age School. Complaints persist that the school is in disrepair.
She said the government would complete a structure
Officials debate cOmpendium Of bills aimed t O prO vide better intellectual prO perty prO tecti O n
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
ELECTED officials debated a compendium of bills that seek to better protect the work of musicians, authors, photographers, filmmakers and other creatives.
Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper hailed the intellectual property rights legislation as transformative, saying it will make the Bahamas more appealing for both foreign and direct investments.
He said: “We are a financial services leader. We are a tourism mecca. And over the past three years, due to the efforts of this administration, we have become one of the regional hotspots for major investments. It was past time for our IP framework to be transformed.”
“Fortunately, after many, many years of industry observers calling for change, an administration is finally in place that has done the necessary work to bring our IP laws fully into the 21st century.”
He said the legislative package, consisting of the Patent Bill 2024, Copyright Bill 2024, Trademark Bill 2024 and others, offers protections to Bahamians from “shady business practices” and copycat IP
infringements locally and abroad.
He said the existing laws were outdated and not up to international standards.
“These bills modernise our approach to addressing copyright, trademark, and patent protections, including areas like geographical indications, false trade descriptions, and new plant varieties,” Mr Cooper added.
“Currently, our framework is non-compliant with CARIFORUM-EU EPA and WTO guidelines. At the end of this process, our IP laws will be fully compatible with the highest international standards.”
He said the government had targeted 11 new international conventions the country can join, including the Patent Cooperation Treaty; the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks; the Vienna Agreement Establishing an International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks; and the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks.
“While the legislative changes will strengthen and modernise our laws and indicate our willingness to comply with international standards, there is deeper work that must be done locally to
ensure compliance,” he added.
Mr Cooper said one way the government is improving efficiency is by launching a dedicated intellectual property office, which requires separating this function from the Registrar General’s Office and introducing a standalone IP office.
He added that with the passing of these bills, writers, artists, musicians, producers, and others would be able to receive royalties from those using their intellectual property for the first time.
“Junkanooers will be able to protect their iconic patterns and designs,” he said.
“Manufacturers creating products with specific formulas made from local crops like cascarilla bark and cerasee will be able to protect those products. The same goes for local jam, jelly, and hot sauce creators, local salt production techniques, and iconic local brands.”
“We’d like to create a future where we make the term a ‘Made in The Bahamas:’ a global brand representing high-quality and specialised cultural and indigenous products that truly represent our strengths as a nation in the same way that ‘Made in the USA’ or ‘Made in China’ are recognisable all over the world.”
The Patent Bill 2024,
which repeals the Patent Act 2015, includes provisions that would establish the Office of the Registrar of the Intellectual Property Office and enable a patent owner to request the Comptroller of Customs to treat imports as prohibited goods.
Meanwhile, the Copyright Bill 2024 lets a copyright owner apply to a court for appropriate measures when an infringement occurs. It also clarifies the circumstances in which a performer’s rights could be infringed.
The Trademark Bill 2024 protects government agency trademarks and empowers the courts to order relevant information related to trademark infringements.
“The two additional bills before us today, the Registrar of Records Bill (2024) and the Registrar of Companies Bill (2024), will facilitate the splitting of the Registrar General into a Registrar of Companies and a Registrar of Records,” Mr Cooper added.
“This split will expedite the reforms we are working on, ensuring that there are specialised staff and resources to perform these two distinct functions. This transformation will bring about an unprecedented improvement in service delivery, setting a new standard for our country.”
that second homeowners put on the school’s campus. The structure was designed to provide classroom space and a hurricane shelter.
She said officials are looking to construct a new facility to complement the work of the second homeowners.
EDUCATION MINIsTEr GlENys HANNA-MArTIN
‘Too many years’ of underfunding cited over Eleuthera water woes
culminating in the August 2021 Supreme Court ruling in AquaDesign’s favour regarding this very same Central Eleuthera Desalination Plant,” Mr Lundy said in the House of Assembly.
“Extensive investment in Eleuthera’s water infrastructure is now in progress, over $27m+ and climbing, but these works are only now nearing completion, and we expect that residents will see substantial improvements in the reliability of their water supply across the island in the coming months as these investments are completed and commissioned.”
Central Eleuthera residents have experienced severe water disruption in recent weeks.
Central and South Eleuthera MP Clay Sweeting called the situation dire, adding that the lack of public services is a safety and public health crisis.
He said help is underway, as 100,000 gallons of water was barged to the island yesterday to fill storage tanks and several initiatives aim to re-establish normalcy.
“The one million imperial gallon tank at the Naval Base site is being finalised with pipes that arrived on the island last week and will be completed within one month,” he said at a press conference. “A new desalination containerised unit of 600,000 imperial gallons is in Freeport and will be shipped to Eleuthera within a week.”
Some Eleuthera residents have also experienced frequent power outages.
Mr Sweeting said parts for an engine in Harbour Island will be installed so that the unit can be operable soon.
He said in North Eleuthera, BPL is set to complete its current transmission line project phase, which is expected to end the three to four-hour power supply disruptions.
BPL is also bringing in 6MW of rental generation that will be online by late August to improve capacity in north and central Eleuthera. An additional 2.5MW of generation will be installed at Rock Sound Power Station by late August to increase capacity on the island for customers in South Eleuthera.
“I live on Eleuthera,” Mr Sweeting said. “My family is affected by the water issues. These are legacy issues that have affected Eleuthera for years.
“We do not use this as an excuse, but to remind the public that we are not satisfied with the current state of utilities, but we are fixing it. I stand with the people of Eleuthera and I will continue to advocate for the immediate relief to these issues.”
Lundy refuses to name Athol Island developer
Office of the Prime Minister, did not say how much land was leased to the developer, but claimed yesterday that environmental approvals were given in February despite contrary claims by leading environment officials.
“He could check the records,”
Mr Lundy said. “I wouldn’t give the person’s name in the House, but there is someone who got the lease, and they do have the environmental clearing to do what they’re doing over there.”
Last week, Dr Rhianna NeelyMurphy, head of the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection, told Tribune Business that no environmental approvals had been given to a developer or project on Athol Island.
Mr White raised Dr Neely’s
statements yesterday and questioned how approvals could be given to people who harm the environment “on an act first, ask later basis”.
“The director, the woman in charge of ensuring that the proper environmental planning are in place to give approvals for any project, is now being represented by the member of South and Central Andros to have given approvals to this project after the partings were embedded in a marine sea protected habitat,” he said.
Mr Lundy said he would lay a document to prove his claim, but he did not do so during yesterday’s morning sitting.
“This isn’t private information,” Mr White rebutted. “Give us the name of the person or the entity that has that Crown lease
if, in fact, you have it as you have disclosed to the members of the public today in this honourable House. Stop telling the people that they don’t need to know what they don’t need to know.”
The Davis administration has not publicly announced any projects for the island, but multiple Bahamian investors have long wanted to develop the area.
Mr White said yesterday:
“What is even more significant now is that there is a pier, Mr Deputy Speaker, not even a dock, not even a floating dock, but there is a pier, which to my eyes from the photos I’ve seen, stretch some two hundred feet maybe 200 yards.”
“That pier has dock pilings that go into the sea bed. They don’t rest on top of the surface of the water like a floating dock might,
but they’re in the protected marine area.”
“At the end of that, there looks like some shanty shack –– the ones that the good member for Central and South Eleuthera has been bulldozing down throughout the Family Islands. There’s a shanty shack at the end of that pier which some suspect may be the location for the toilet facilities.”
Mr White said it would be an “absolute absurdity” and a blemish on the government if environmental approvals were given for the project.
“You’re building this for multiple persons that are going to be soaked in sunscreen that will impact the marine habitat, the coral (and) the small fish in that area,” he said. “This, Mr Deputy Speaker, is the true legacy of the PLP.”
MP for Mangrove Cay and South Andros Leon Lundy.
Cannabis Bill passes after BCC urges govt to hold off
of a cannabis industry, the decriminalisation of small quantities of marijuana and the smoking of marijuana in any form and in any environment,”
Christian Council President Bishop Delton Fernander said in a statement.
“We have survived and thrived without a cannabis or hemp industry all these years, and we see no evidence or research to support that the introduction of such an industry would add any real economic value to our people or to our country.”
Bishop Fernander said successive administrations have proposed changing the status quo on cannabis, but failed to provide data showing such an industry would financially and socially benefit the country.
“We have no knowledge of any advertised town hall meetings or paid promotional advertisements by the government, that clearly demonstrate through proper research, data collection or statistics the impact a cannabis industry would have on the country, its people, our way of life, crime, law and order as well as our international reputation,” he said.
He said the council believes decimalising small amounts of marijuana will lead to an increase of marijuana use and abuse among young people and evoked the drug era of the 1980s, a “dark period of our country’s history.”
“We don’t see any positive return for The Bahamas by entering into the cannabis or hemp industry, but instead we see this as a dangerous and potentially damaging initiative that can lead to an increase in criminal activity and the further destruction of our communities inclusive of our homes, which is the fabric of our society,” he said.
“We also stand opposed to the use of any Crown land to create marijuana fields for the purpose of harvesting and selling cannabis locally, domestically or internationally.”
Health Minister Dr Michael Darville responded to the Christian Council, emphasising that the bills’ primary objective is to help people suffering from various diseases.
He said the government is committed to ensuring that economic opportunities from the bills are fairly distributed and not concentrated in the hands of a few.
He also noted that many jurisdictions in the region and world have gone further than The Bahamas at decriminalising marijuana. Under the bills, people found with up to one ounce of marijuana will get a fixed penalty of $250.
Parliamentary Service S act enacted on July 1, called a landmark law
THE Parliamentary Service Act came into force on July 1.
The Davis administration released a statement yesterday calling it a landmark addition to the country’s laws, a “transformative and necessary buttress to our democratic style of government.”
The law aims to enhance Parliament’s independence by placing the legislature under the Parliamentary Service Commission, an autonomous body.
It empowers the commission to provide administrative personnel and necessary facilities to the House of Assembly and the Senate. It also allows Parliament to manage its administrative and financial affairs.
The commission’s functions include providing financial resources and the necessary administrative, technical and support services; determining and hiring necessary staff; managing all matters related to the legislature;
and managing Parliament’s real and personal property.
The commission’s first members are House Speaker Patricia Deveaux, Senate President LaShell Adderley, Deputy House Speaker Sylvanus Petty, MPs Fred Mitchell, Wayne Munroe, Myles Laroda, Pia Glover-Rolle, Adrian White, and Michael Pintard, senators Michael Halkitis, Darren Henfield, Ryan Pinder and Michela Barnett-Ellis, and parliamentary clerk David Forbes.
r BdF and B a S ra S earching F or miSS ing h aitian muS ician F eared to Be lo S t at S ea
POLICE yesterday announced that a search is under way amid fears that a Haitian musician visiting The Bahamas has been lost at sea.
In a statement, it was reported that police and Defense Force personnel and members of the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA) are searching for 32-year-old musician Mechanste Wens Jonathan Desir, known as Mechans-T.
In yesterday’s Tribune, we reported that the performer had not been seen or heard from since July 4 and had been reported missing to police on Monday. The musician’s brother reportedly left The Bahamas on May 23, but Mechans-T stayed behind for a vacation.
There had been some speculation that Mechans-T’s disappearance was connected to a boating incident on Andros last week, but without evidence. Police said a boat with eight people was travelling from Ocean Cay to Eleuthera with eight passengers when it began taking on water and sank nine miles off Morgans Bluff, Andros. Several people, including Hondurans and one Haitian national, were reportedly rescued.
The police statement did not clarify why authorities
suspected Mechans-T had been lost at sea. It said there were unconfirmed reports of him in Abaco on Tuesday, and there were no records of him entering or leaving the country. He was reported to
have been performing at a night club on May 18 in celebration of Haitian flag day.
Anyone with information is urged to call 242-367-2560, 911, 919 or Crimestoppers on 328-TIPS.
President of the Bahamas Christian Council, Bishop Dr Delton Fernander
The Tribune Limited
NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI
“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH
Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
Publisher/Editor 1919-1972
Contributing Editor 1972-1991
RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.
Publisher/Editor 1972-
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Why the silence on Athol Island?
WHAT’S the big mystery over Athol Island?
The Tribune has been keeping an eye on matters on the island, where development work has been taking place to the consternation of a number of observers.
In fact, several of our readers reached out directly to express their concerns on the matter.
Yesterday, a remarkable moment took place in the discussion – a member of parliament stood up and completely refused to even name the developer behind the project.
Leon Lundy says he “wouldn’t give the person’s name in the House, but there is someone who got the lease, and they do have the environmental clearing to do what they’re doing over there”.
What on earth could be the reason not to give the name of a developer of a project?
When The Tribune raised questions on the project, we were told – by the head of the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection, no less – that no environmental approvals had been given to a developer or project on Athol Island.
Mr Lundy seems to know different. He also promised to lay a document to prove that approvals had been given to the project – but did not do so yesterday morning.
The House is now on summer recess until September 18.
What could be the problem over naming the developer? As FNM MP Adrian White pointed out in the House, “this isn’t private information”. He said: “Give us the name of the person or the entity that has that Crown lease if, in fact, you have it as you have disclosed to the members of the public today in this honourable house. Stop telling the people that they don’t need to know what they don’t need to know.”
Quite right. If there is a developer, name them. That shouldn’t be something that cannot be disclosed to the public. And if there is paperwork that shows the approvals have been given – which should also name the developer on any applications, of course – make them publicly available. In fact, publish the lot. Whatever studies were carried out to evaluate whether approvals should be given, details of consultations, all of it.
There is a suggestion that the development involves the relative of a high-ranking MP. Is that why this case magically means a cloak of secrecy around the developer? That would be one rule for one and another for the politically connected.
Mr Lundy would surely want everything to be above board, would he not?
Rest assured, if all eyes were not already on what is happening on Athol Island, and who is behind the project, then they are now.
Inquiry ours but Interpol could help
EDITOR, The Tribune.
IN the US especially they poll for everything... we have polls here but infrequent and suspect the usual clients are political parties funding should be available at UB to have on-going research of social-economic and political aspects...a University does this. What if there was a poll - the pollsters get 7-800 responses not only Nassau but across the islands... not too many respondents having fixed lines. What would be the
majority opinion to a simple question: In your opinion is there any concern as to corruption in the RBPF? Absolutely no proof but street-talk usually is reasonably accurate the response would be Yes. My next question will any enquiry of the current issues at RBPF arrive at a conclusion within a reasonable time and will the conclusion be believed?
Politicians, of course, depending on which side you sit will defend or attack
Picture of the day
Hoping BPL plans bear fruit
for obvious reasons... in a small community like ours having cousins check on cousins-brothers-in-laws is hardly not too conducive … agree Enquiry should be ours as it is our thing, but would not close the door to requesting support from INTERPOL or other acknowledged agencies. Scotland Yard has had issues over the past years, don’t forget.
J WILLIAMS Nassau, July 2024.
EDITOR, The Tribune. THE government of The Bahamas should be commended for the recent announcement concerning plans to restructure the supply of electricity in this country. Unfortunately, we have heard similar pronouncements in the past, but successive administrations have been unable to improve the provision of electricity in this country. Bahamians will only have to wait until next month when they receive their next electricity bill to be painfully reminded of how their politicians have failed them over the years.
An article from the Jamaica Observer dated the 22nd May 2024 indicates that consumers in Jamaica saved between US$244m and USS473m between 2017 and 2023, a period of six years with the use of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). This is a country just south of
our archipelago. Further, a CARILEC article dated 11th July 2023 states that “The Bahamas has one of the highest electricity rates in the Caribbean, with an average cost of around $0.36 per kWh”. This information makes one realise that lowering electricity rates is not rocket science like some of our politicians would have us believe. This leaves one to question whether the high electricity cost that has burdened businesses and people in this country for so long is the result of our politicians’ ignorance, incompetence, corruption or al of the foregoing. The current government should also be commended for its vocal environmental advocacy that has gained the attention of many countries
around the world. However, this campaign seems somewhat hypocritical given our government’s lethargic approach to transitioning from some of the most environmentally damaging fuels, such as Bunker C oil and diesel, to sources of renewable energy such as LNG and solar power in electricity generation. The CARILEC report mentions that other Caribbean countries are more advanced in their efforts to convert to sustainable energy than we are. It is hoped the current plans to change electricity generation and distribution in this country come to fruition so that the Bahamas may receive the twofold benefit of lower electricity costs and sustainable energy electricity generation.
CONCERNED
CITIZEN Nassau, July 2024.
Pink flamingo taking a wade.
Photo: Alejandro Contreras
Grand Bahama’s Flamingo Air now certified for Medivac flights
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THE Grand Bahamabased Flamingo Air is now certified to operate Medivac flights within the Bahamas and Caribbean region.
The airline will also launch a new service to Central and South Eleuthera with four weekly flights from New Providence.
The airline provides service from New Providence to Rock Sound, Eleuthera, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Flamingo Air introduced its scheduled services to Eleuthera last Friday with two inaugural flights to the Rock Sound Airport. To commemorate the milestone, a ceremony
was held at the airport. The airline was founded in Freeport in 1996 with one five-seater aircraft. Today, it has a growing fleet with scheduled flights to Bimini, Abaco, the Exuma Cays, and Andros and charter flights throughout The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Works Minister Clay Sweeting commended Flamingo Air for “its visionary approach” in providing services throughout The Bahamas. “I find the long-standing business relationship between Flamingo Air’s President, Raymond Meadows, and CEO, Vincent Colebrook, impressive, and an exemplary model for all Bahamian entrepreneurs who seek sustainable success,” Mr Sweeting said.
Bowleg visits summer camps
Mr Sweeting said Flamingo Air’s scheduled flights between New Providence and Eleuthera will create more full-time jobs, contractual work opportunities, and foreign and domestic tourism and help spur Eleuthera’s economy.
Flamingo Air has commenced scheduled flights to Eleuthera.
Seen from left are Captain Vincent Colebrook, CEO; his wife, Phyllice Colebrook, Accounts Manager; Excellency Ruby Ann Darling, Deputy to GovernorGeneral; Works and Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting, MP for Central and South Eleuthera; Sharon Meadows, General Manager; and Captain Raymond Meadows, President.
Photos of Minister Bowleg and staff from his Ministry interacting with participants in the Sewing Summer Camp, held and CI Gibson High School.
Photos: Eric Rose/BIS
Seizing the moment: What we can learn from British election
“If Sir Keir [Starmer] can improve Britain’s chronic low productivity and raise the efficiency of the British state, then he may offer a lesson to centrists elsewhere: not just how to win power, but how to use it. It starts by him seizing the moment.”
– Economist
AFTER 14 years of chaotic governance; a revolving door of prime ministers; often gross incompetence; a host of economic problems such as the aftermath of Brexit, COVID-19, and the Liz Truss budget disaster; and various dysfunction, the British electorate ejected the Conservatives from office.
In contrast to the United States and France, it has been a relief to watch the pageant of democracy in the United Kingdom: a seamless, quick, peaceful transfer of power, resulting in a party with a mandate for change that will not be hobbled by gridlock.
As is typically the case, the vote was more a referendum on the Tories and less an embrace of Labour.
The lower voter turnout suggested that many voters are not enamored by either major party, and desperately sick of the hypocrisy and immature politics of the day.
Still, there was a pentup desire for change that benefitted Labour, punishing the Conservatives for their smugness, carnival of pratfalls, and major blunders. As in other countries, the entrenched cost of living crisis was bound to hurt the incumbents.
What Sir Keir Starmer
accomplished should not be underestimated.
Elections in the United Kingdom are typically won from the centre. Sir Keir had to make his party appear responsible, especially on the economy, and moderate.
After former leader, Jeremy Corbyn dragged Labour too far left, Starmer, like Neil Kinnock and Tony Blair before him, had to reset Labour as a centrist party that could capture votes across the political spectrum. Starmer did something else as profound while in opposition. He meticulously prepared Labour for governance. He hired the civil service mandarin, Sue Gray, a former Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office, as Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Opposition. A part of her remit was to prepare a plan for governance. Such planning is typical in the UK, and should be
normative in a Westminster-based system such as ours. Gray and her team reportedly engage in detailed planning. She now serves as one of Sir Keir’s key advisers in Downing Street. Expertise makes an enormous difference in governance.
We cannot breezily compare ourselves to the UK, especially given our size and less access to talent. However, there are significant lessons which both major parties endlessly and flippantly refuse to learn.
Leaders in The Bahamas often allow their parties to atrophy while in office. They do not prepare more detailed plans for their first year in office, succumbing instead to the gimmicky PR talk of the “First Hundred Days”.
The FNM has tended to have more detailed manifestoes than the PLP. Though few voters pay attention to these documents, they may prove pivotal if they serve as part of a broader and more detailed plan to govern and to deliver election promises.
The last prime minister to have such a programme of governance was Hubert Ingraham, who had his own Sue Gray, in the person of former permanent secretary and senior policy advisor, Teresa Butler. Since then, the policy advisor role has morphed into an advisor who mostly vets foreign direct investments.
Sadly, recent governments have been woefully unserious about policy formulation because most
Starmer did something else as profound while in opposition. He meticulously prepared Labour for governance.
of our leaders appear more interested in power, prestige, and dispensing patronage than they are in ideas and policy.
How many of our leaders have a philosophy of governance, of economic, political, and social development?
Our politics is often a barren wasteland where ideas are not nurtured.
By example, there is the urgent need for debate on the structural problems in tourism, crime, and social development. An emerging issue is the relationship between police corruption and gang activity and crime. What are the ideas and plans to increase productivity and the efficiency of the state?
How does one engage in policy deliberation and formulation absent a policy apparatus in the Office of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Office? It is akin to a major technology company like Alpha or Microsoft, not having a research or policy unit. Yet, we are void of a well-structured policy unit. While many would find this shocking, our leaders are mostly blasé and indifferent.
Is it any wonder why policy development, which is never an easy task even in the most organised governments, is so egregiously chaotic in The Bahamas?
This is one of the primary reasons cabinet meetings often meander and why the parliamentary timetable is often ad hoc and disorganized. Without innovation companies fall behind and sometimes die. Lacking innovation in myriad areas
The Bahamas has fallen far behind and is languishing in various areas. This includes innovation in and the management of basic public services, which continue to worsen.
Mr. Ingraham carefully managed the country. This included oversight of basic public services, the delivery of which are now “shot to hell” in a range of services. Instead of proper planning, governments are constantly putting out fires.
The first days in office often set a tone and a pattern for a government. Taking a cue from Sir Keir, the new Labour Cabinet appears ready, calm, well briefed, competent, and articulate. There were significant briefing and preparations for a shadow
minister well in advance of their election to office.
When is the last time a new Bahamas Government seemed likewise? When is the last time a new government truly “seized the moment” beyond empty rhetoric and grand public relations gestures that produce little of note.
In the King’s Speech yesterday, Labour pressed: “The era of politics as performance and self-interest above service is over.”
There is always a performance element to politics. But what Labour may be referring to is the simplistic ad nauseum promotion of performance over substance for which Boris Johnson was infamous.
No matter how many people one hires at OPM and other ministries, communications and public relations will never substitute for and the delivery of services. Moreover, the Tories were also punished because they seemed obsessed with myriad self-interests.
Voters know when cabinet ministers prioritise their interests, perks, and goodies over the needs of the former.
When a government begins in disorder it rarely recovers. Sadly many new cabinet ministers in The Bahamas, giddy at being elected and craving the notoriety, patronage, and spoils of office, soon fail, while still believing they are beloved.
The popularity of the moment is soon ravaged because of the chaos, incompetence, boisterous arrogance, unbridled pomposity, and perceptions of corruption by the public.
Add to this ministers who are out of their depth, poorly briefed, sometimes contemptuous of media scrutiny, and indifferent to constituents.
Labour knows the honeymoon will end relatively quickly. This is why it has begun to quickly put in place policies and initiatives intended to yield results. There will be inevitable failures, mistakes, and crises.
But they have a detailed programme of governance as outlined in the King’s Speech, which included 40 bills. We have seen so often here at home the number of bills in the Speech from the Throne, which are never realized in the timeframe suggested.
The experienced
61-year-old Starmer, who served as a senior civil servant, is prepared for office. How well he succeeds or fails is unknowable. He appears pragmatic, intelligent, ruthless when necessary, generally affable, and a generally effective communicator. Labour reportedly has a number of advisers in think tanks whose task is to help guide the party’s political direction while preparing for the next general election. This suggests a certain foresight, humility, and wisdom. The conceit of assuming that one will automatically have two terms in office is a fool’s bargain, especially in a country like The Bahamas that has consecutively dumped one-term governments since 1997. Boris Johnson thought that he was Mr Popularity and would enjoy two terms. He became smug and complacent. At times he coasted. Much of his governance was shambolic and slipshod. Five years later the Tories got a shellacking they could not have imagined. What are some of the lessons our major parties should learn from the UK? One should seriously and diligently begin to prepare for government while in opposition, including developing legislative and policy initiatives. Recruit the best possible talent, including advisors and candidates who may serve in cabinet. Develop a policy planning and delivery apparatus across government. Better organise OPM and the Cabinet Office to coordinate government business and communications. To seize the moment, one must be thoroughly prepared in advance. This might even help a party to win two consecutive terms, of which our politicians seem more interested. Yet even amidst this self-interest, might our leaders try to do better in the interests of a citizenry that may reward a party with two terms if they performed better and realised significant change, the quality of which Labour and Sir Keir are offering the United Kingdom after 14 years of dysfunction. It has been a long time since a new government has been prepared for and truly seized the moment!
Britain’s Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaking on stage at the launch of The Labour party’s 2024 general election manifesto in Manchester, England, Thursday, June 13, 2024.
Photo: Jon Super/AP
Trump selects Vance for VP, as Biden faces more scrutiny
THE Republican Convention is dominating the headlines this week, as expected. On Monday, Donald Trump was unanimously nominated as the GOP candidate for president, and he surprised some but also satisfied many by naming 39-year-old JD Vance as his vice-presidential running mate.
Vance looks like a wise choice for Trump, whose confidence that he will win re-election must be as high as it has ever been.
Vance, now in his second year as junior US senator from Ohio, served in the Marine Corps; was graduated from highly selective Yale Law School; wrote a
STATESIDE
with Charlie Harper
best-selling book (“Hillbilly Elegy”) that chronicled a hardscrabble youth spent among relatively poor displaced white workers; worked for a while under a right-wing mogul in Silicon Valley near San Francisco; attacked and then successfully recanted scathing
criticisms of Trump less than a decade ago, and has since done two things that probably led to Monday’s selection.
First, Vance has developed a pretty close relationship with Trump scion Donald Trump, Jr. Both men have publicly
boasted about that, and it appears they share a genuine friendship and mutual regard.
Secondly, Vance has adopted the attack dog stance that for many years was favoured by presidential candidates. The idea was that the V-P candidate had few constitutional duties anyway and shouldn’t deflect any attention from the top of the ticket, so the V-P candidate concentrates on the dirty work of assaulting the opposition so the presidential nominee could appear above the fray and presidential.
Vance fulfills the attack dog responsibilities as have few others in recent memory. To some observers, he actually out-demagogues Trump himself, all while carefully positioning himself as appropriately deferential to the boss. It’s been a quick ascent for a smart, gifted man who will likely do exactly what Trump wants during the campaign.
If Trump wins in November, however, Vance’s stance would likely change, since Trump would be constitutionally barred from seeking another term and Vance would almost automatically be anointed as his successor. Vance would logically want to appear presidential at some point in his vice-presidential team, perhaps even from near the start of that term, but certainly before its third year.
Here are a couple of other tidbits about Vance, and about his very impressive wife, Usha, who is the daughter of immigrants from India, as is former South Carolina governor, UN ambassador and recent presidential candidate Nikki Haley.
vice-presidential candidate this year is his own apparently close friendship with Trump, Jr. Both V-P contenders thus seem to owe their position, at least in part, to friendships with the sons of the presidential candidates.
Second: Vance and his wife Usha met at Yale Law School, where it appears that Usha must have compiled a stupendous record of academic achievement, since after graduation she studied at Cambridge University in England and then clerked for both then Court of Appeals judge and now Supreme Court justice Brett Cavanagh and later for the top jurist in the US, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
One can only imagine the level of intense competition for such positions among recent law school graduates.
The Vances’ meeting at law school is reminiscent of another high-profile couple who met there. That’s Bill and Hillary Clinton. From many reports, Hillary Clinton, like Usha Vance, met her future husband while both studied at Yale and then devoted time to family and legal careers while their husbands pursued highly successful political careers.
For now, the campaign rosters are set. It will be Biden and Harris versus Trump and Vance in November – if Biden survives a storm of skepticism and doubt inflamed by his lame performance in a June 27 televised debate with Trump. Democrats and liberals are wringing their hands in dismay as Biden’s age and ability to handle his momentous responsibilities seem to become a larger issue almost every day and to preoccupy mainstream news media including the New York Times and the major TV networks.
Biden, who has now sat for lengthy interviews with both ABC and NBC since his debate fiasco, is generally doing well in these highly scrutinized tests of his acumen and stamina.
If Biden is to survive the growing chorus of criticism of his age and fitness for four more years as president, he needs to campaign vigorously and wisely. He can only silence the critics with strong performances in public for a such as campaign rallies and press conferences.
And, especially in light of last week’s assassination attempt against Trump in western Pennsylvania, Biden needs to carefully allot his public appearances to have the most significance for the November election.
Practically, this means focusing on just three states that have been described as the key bricks in the so-called “Blue Wall” of Democratic support in national elections.
Those states are Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. These three are often cited as part of a group of seven “swing states” that will decide this election. The others are in the West (Arizona and Nevada) and the South (Georgia and North Carolina).
But a recent New York Times analysis shows that despite Biden’s current sagging position in national polls, he can still win this election by carrying giant, consistently Democraticsupporting states like New York, California and Illinois, together with numerous smaller states in the West and New England – so long as he carries the three crucial Upper Midwest states.
Maybe Biden can win in Arizona and Nevada. Georgia and North Carolina are frankly long shots. But he must carry the critical Midwest Big Three of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. So that’s where he should spend his time.
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First: It is interesting to note that one of the big reasons president Joe Biden picked former California senator Kamala Harris as his running mate in 2020 was her warm friendship when both were attorneys general of their respective states with Biden’s son Beau. Beau was the far more accomplished of Biden’s two sons and the one who seemed on a political arc that might have rivalled his father’s when he died of brain cancer in 2015.
But one of the reasons often cited for the meteoric ascendancy of JD Vance to be the GOP
But he also exhibits an annoying peevishness that is jarring and unattractive. He detracts from overall strong performances by whining about why his interviewers aren’t concentrating on Trump’s continuing existential threat to the American political system.
To his credit, Biden has come around and has acknowledged his dreadful debate performance.
But whispers continue to be heard from campaign and media insiders that the Biden we saw on national TV in late June is more the real day to day Biden than was previously revealed or reported.
Donald Trump agrees. Here’s what he said as he announced his nomination of Vance: “JD Vance has had a very successful business career in Technology and Finance, and now, during the campaign, will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and far beyond.” Trump also mentioned Minnesota and Ohio in his remarks, but if Biden loses Minnesota or Trump loses Ohio, they’re already in so much trouble that worrying about the Big Three will be pointless.
It is interesting that Trump, in his announcement, also mentioned American workers. The Big Three states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin all feature big industrial bases and trade union strength and influence that have traditionally been closely aligned with the Democratic Party.
One of the keys to Ronald Reagan’s great political success in the 1980s was his ability to appeal beyond union leadership and traditional political allegiance to individual American industrial workers. Many of them defied their union leaders and supported Reagan.
Trump has shown some ability to emulate Reagan in this regard. While several giant trade unions have indicated that they will support Biden, some others like the Teamsters Union are wavering. Labour unions have long offered major support to political parties (mostly Democrats) with their ability to organise workers and make sure they vote on Election Day.
Biden has touted his support for and affiliation with unions throughout his presidency, with good reason. But over the past 40 years, the GOP has used inflation and fear of globalisation and job loss to stoke anger and resistance to Democratic policies.
Former President Donald Trump is introduced during the Republican National Convention Tuesday in Milwaukee. At right is Republican vice presidential candidate Senator JD Vance, R-Ohio.
Photo: Paul Sancya/AP
Officer testifies gun found at crime scene two days after police-involved shooting of Valentino Johnson
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
THE family of Valentino Johnson looked on as the inquest into the 46-year-old’s April 16, 2023, police-involved killing continued yesterday.
Police claimed Johnson was killed after leading them on a high-speed chase from Gladstone Road to Seven Hill Road.
Police claimed that an officer from the K-9 division found a firearm near the burgundy Nissan Cube Johnson was driving, which was found two days after the Crime Scene Unit initially inspected the crime scene and documented the evidence.
Detective Inspector Austin Bowles, who joined the Crime Scene Unit in 2014, testified that he saw empty bullet casings scattered across the road and bullet damage to vehicles and a house. However, police vehicles appeared to have taken no damage.
Inspector Bowles presented a crime scene album showing three groups of evidence
markers representing three separate locations on Seven Hill Road where shots were fired during the police chase, resulting in Johnson being shot through the back by a single bullet.
The wounded Johnson reportedly lost control of his vehicle, drove through a residential yard, hit the back of a parked car and fence and crashed into a vacant home next door.
Inspector Bowles’ inspection — which took almost 3 hours — informed him that the vehicle sustained gunshot damage to the front windshield, right side, and rear.
Six black plastic wrappings of suspected marijuana in a white bucket and gas tank container were found in the backseat of the burgundy Nissan Cube. Inspector Bowles testified that a firearm was not found after he completed his initial investigation of the crash site.
In an earlier testimony, an inspector who was one of the first officers to examine the burgundy Nissan Cube said he did not find a firearm.
Fired bullets and metal jacket fragments were found at the crime scene, along with the other
evidence.
Police Corporal 3890
Keron King, who joined the K9 Unit three years ago, testified on behalf of himself and his German Shorthaired Pointer canine partner ‘Tracker’.
He said that on April 18, 2023, while on duty, he brought Tracker to the crime scene, where he met several officers.
He said Tracker indicated via “stop and stare associated with digging” that he found a chrome Bersa Thunder 45 handgun loaded with four rounds of ammunition.
He said the firearm was covered in dirt.
Chief Court Marshall Angelo Whitfield pointed to the court monitor, which showed a photo of the crime scene. The area was fairly vegetated and had minimal to no dirt.
Mr King nonetheless maintained that Tracker found the firearm covered with dirt.
Mr Whitfield asked Mr King how Tracker usually indicates when he has found potential evidence. Mr King listed the indicators from most to least common: stop and stare, nose pointing
PassP ort a PPlications increase since gazetting of Dna Protocols for chil Dren born to bahamian men
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
APPLICATIONS for passports increased in the months after the government gazetted DNA protocols affecting those who were affected by last year’s landmark Privy Council ruling, which established that children born to Bahamian men are citizens at birth in all circumstances.
It is not known whether applications increased because of the new rules.
Still, Chief Passport Officer Nicholas Symonette said there has been a steady flow of people presenting with DNA tests to prove paternity since then. He said his office is working with several laboratories to ensure compliance with the rules.
“The Passport Office has seen an uptick of about five per cent in applicants for June and July thus far compared to April and May, and we are enrolling about 8 per cent more applicants than in the same
period in 2023,” he said. The office added additional hours on Saturday to handle summer applicants and encouraged eligible people to apply online through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Mr Symonette also said the Passport Office has seen an increase in cases of people losing their passports, people not realising they need a US visa, not just a police record, to pass through the United States from a third country and people unaware that some countries have a passport validity time to allow entry.
“All countries require a passport to be valid for six months to one year to enter their borders,” he noted, adding that people should research validity requirements and know they can renew their passports one year before expiration.
In May 2023, the Privy Council affirmed that children born out of wedlock to Bahamian men are citizens at birth regardless of their mother’s nationality.
The Passport Office
officially began accepting applications from people affected by the ruling in June 2023, as long as the person’s Bahamian father was identified on their birth certificate.
Officials took months to finalise DNA rules, frustrating many.
The DNA test can be done at any laboratory registered and licensed by the Hospitals and Health Facilities Licensing Board to “collect biological specimens for submission to foreign referring laboratories for the purpose of DNA testing and analysis to establish paternity”.
Likewise, any lab in the United States that is an AABB Accredited Relationship DNA Testing Facility can perform the test and report its findings to the chief passport officer.
The person who collects the biological specimen must not have a relationship with any of the people whose specimens are being collected for testing and analysis, be it a spouse, a child, a family member or
before laying down or sitting, sit, bark, or scratch to indicate a narcotic or weapon. Mr King acknowledged that the indicator Tracker used was not one the canine used often.
When asked if ex-cop Shando King was in the vicinity during the dog search, PC 3890 King confirmed this while listing officers Simmons, Thompson, and Ferguson as present. Mr King did not go into specifics about the
identities of the officers attached to the Crime Scene Unit who attended the scene on the day he was present. WDC 3895 Takia Harvey, who was on duty with Mr Bowles on April 16th 2023, when the shooting happened, testified that she was not made aware of a chrome firearm, nor did she see a K9 Unit at the scene of the crime. However, she could not say if other officers searched the crime scene while she was there.
a friend.
In cases where the applicant’s father has died, alternative sources of biological specimens can be a child of the man alleged to be the applicant’s father, a sibling of the man, a parent of the man or the biological children of the parents of the man alleged to be the father of the applicant.
Valentino Johnson
Worth it to Christ
By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net
UNDER the theme “Worth It To Christ”, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands Conference (BTCIC) of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas (MCCA) will come together this Monday to kick off the Youth Encuentro 2024.
For one week from Monday, July 22–Monday, July 29, at SuperClubs Breezes Hotel, The Bahamas will serve as the regional conference hostcountry for the very first time.
The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands District Conference (BTCIC) is one of the eight Districts of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas. This District comprises two territories - The Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Youth Encuentro is known as an MCCA Youth Conference, generally held every four years during the month of July, for young people between the ages of 15-25.
Organisers noted it is anticipated that 200 young people from around the
Caribbean including Antigua, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbuda, Barbados, Costa Rica, Dominica, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Nevis, Netherlands, Panama, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent, the Grenadines, Trinidad, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands will convene. In an interview with Tribune Religion, Deborah Barry, who serves as the Christian Education Secretary of The Bahamas/ Turks and Caicos Islands Conference (BTCIC) of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas (MCCA) said with the theme, Worth it to Christ, the goal is to bring young persons together to revive and rejuvenate themselves, to be more involved in their church and in their community.
She said: “We're trying to win souls for Christ. We also hope that this will be an opportunity where our young persons can make a commitment to Christ, to even serve in the ministry. This is an opportunity for them to just think about it, to consider serving in the full-time ministry and serving in other areas of the church.
"We will have about 200 young people from around the Caribbean, about 20 something countries, they'll be here. And everybody's excited because everybody wants to come to The Bahamas."
When asked how does it feel to have the event hosted in The Bahamas for the first time, Deborah said
this is absolutely an exciting experience.
“In The Bahamas, we have persons who are on the ground. The transportation is ready. All of the various ministries are in place to assist us. They're checking with all of the government agencies to make sure those delegations who are coming in, that they'll be greeted at the airport and taken to their hotel," said Deborah.
"In past time, we have sent delegates to Antigua, St Kitts, Jamaica, and the last time the conference was held in 2019 in Belize. We had a strong delegation over there and they had a wonderful time. The young people came back and are involved in the various
aspects of the church, ages 14 to 25. So we are happy of the Bahamian experience this year and encounter for Christ."
Deborah encouraged readers to continue to pray for the conference team, and become aware of such an awesome event happening here in The Bahamas.
“For the first time, can you imagine all of those countries coming in? Everybody, they've heard about The Bahamas but some have never been here before. They are going to be staying at Breezes, so this will be a resort experience for them. Again, we're looking forward to the young persons recommitting themselves to Christ, to be involved in their community, in their church, and to stay focused and remember that Christ is in everything," she said.
"We want the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to be over the lives of all of the persons who will be participating and sharing in this event. It's an awesome experience. Persons who have been a part of it before have said how it's a life -changing event for many of them."
She went on to say when it comes to the youth, there is sometimes a lot of negative press being broadcast about them - but with events like this - they hope to change that.
Deborah said: “We want the world to know, there is good, and these young persons have a voice. They want to know that we care about them and we love them. And this is an opportunity for us to show them,
to let them know that we believe they have a future and God is in charge of their life."
Deborah said attendees and participants can look forward to a number of activities taking place all week long. Highlights of the event will include a welcome reception co-sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Aviation and Investment, interactive workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, a procession of witness and community outreach. Its Ecumenical events will include a welcome service on Tuesday at the Wesley Methodist Church, Malcolm Road, beginning at 7pm. Speakers of the event will include the president of MCCA Youth, the Rev Sean Davis. Additional highlights will include an Open Air Service at Goodman’s Bay on Friday, July 26, to feature Edghill Thomas of the Panama Costa Rica District, a Procession of Witness on Saturday, July 27, at 9am, a community outreach, also on Saturday, July 27, at 10am, at Christie Park, Nassau Street, and a closing service on Sunday, July 28, at 5pm at Rhodes Memorial Methodist Church, Montrose Avenue. Organisers noted that at the conference’s Interactive Workshops, participants will be able to choose from a variety of thought provoking themes designed to address the unique challenges faced by today’s youth; and offer practical guidance and support.
They noted the importance of understanding how critical it is to empower the next generation of leaders. The organisers said the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas, through Youth Encuentro, will provide opportunities to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and support that will be required to advance the work of the 21st century church.
What’s your prayer for The Bahamas?
By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
As The Bahamas recently celebrated its 51st anniversary as an independent nation, some Bahamians are approaching this new year for the country in a very prayerful and reflective way.
While some Christian faithful say there is much to thank God for concerning the nation’s progress “we are not there just yet”. In fact they say The Bahamas as “a long way to go” on the only way to get there is through God’s strength and ability.
Though they have celebrated with the country they are praying for a much better and brighter tomorrow.
Some of the shared with Tribune Religion their prayers for The Bahamas as it marks its 51st anniversary.
Prayer for leaders
It is Agnes Johnson’s prayer that The Bahamas is blessed with leaders who will make the best decision for the greater good of the country and its people.
“The Bible tells us we are to always prayer for our leaders. We don’t only mend leaders who can talk a good talk but we need leaders who have real plans to clean up this country. I can only pray that we get some leaders who have some kind of back bone to stand up for what is right. Some of our leaders are only concerned about appearing right but we need them to stand up and fight for the people.”
Prayer for the economy
It is Jan Munroe’s constant prayer that Bahamas’ economy regains strength and makes a comeback.
“God knows our country has taken some blows, big blows over the years," Jan said, noting when the economy took a blow during the COVID-19 pandemic so did her personal economy.
She added: “I work in the tourism sector so I was one of those persons out of work. From that time, my prayer was for our economy and that God will breathe new life into it. My prayer is that God give his people witty inventions and creative ideas so that they can make a good life for themselves and family. I pray that our economy becomes diversified and that it rebounds and stay strong,” she said.
Prayer for peace
“We need in our communities,” said Demetrius Forbes.
“Things have deteriorated greatly in our people to the point where we argue and carry one with one another for the simplest things. Take for example if you are on the light too long or you don’t go immediately when the light turns
green people are ready to argue with you.
“I wouldn’t even begin to talk about the strife that exists in our families. Mothers are at odds with their children, sisters and brothers are not speaking to each other over problems that can be easily solved. I wouldn’t even begin to touch on all the killings that been happening.
"My prayer going into this new chapter of our history is that God touch lives in our communities. My prayers is that he helps our people to just have a greater tolerance for the mistakes of others. May we be more forgiving, slow to anger. May be not take things so personally. That is my prayer.”
Prayer for Healing
Jordan Saunders said her prayer is that the next 50 years see Bahamians become more healthy and whole.
“The health of the nation is the wealth of the nation and in order for us to actually have a nation we need our people to be health. So many Bahamians are battling chronic diseases that have left them handicapped and unable to enjoy a quality of life,” she said.
“My prayer is not only that God heal those who are sick and ill, but that he gives us a desire to seek out education on these diseases and the things that we can to do prevent them when we can. I pray he puts a desire in people to want to eat right and that we are able to access healthy food that does not cause us to break the bank."
Fernander installed as Baptist president
HUNDREDS of Baptists and scores of Christian denominational leaders from the Bahamas Christian Council gathered on Sunday, July 7, at New Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Baillou Hill Road South for the official installation service of Bishop Delton Fernander.
Bishop Fernander was installed as the 12th President of the Bahamas Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention.
Present and offering congratulatory remarks were Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, Opposition leader Michael Pintard and Pastor Mario Moxey (1st vice-president of the Bahamas Christian Council).
Bishop Fernander also serves as president of the Bahamas Christian Council. The sermon was delivered by the Rev Dr Forrest Harris, president of the American Baptist College, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Carrying out the act of installation and introducing the newly installed president were the Rev Dr William Thompson, the Rev Dr Anthony Carroll and the Rev Dr Philip McPhee (past presidents of the convention).
Serving on the president’s executive eeam and also installed were the Rev Daniel Nottage (executive secretary), the Rev Trajean Jadoret (1st vice-president), the Rev Heuter Rolle (2nd vice-president), the Rev Felton Rolle (3rd vicepresident), the Rev Elvis Burrows of Grand Bahama (4th vice-president), the Rev Alonzo Hinsey Jr (treasurer), the Rev Stephen Duncombe (recording secretary), the Rev Arthur Charlton, the Rev Randolph Deleveaux, the Rev J Carl Rahming and the Rev Keith Russell of Grand
Death Notices for TRAVASE WILLIAMS, 28
a resident of Milton Street, died on Sunday, July 14, 2024.
He is survived by his, mother: Elcina Monique Williams; father: Troy Babbs; 2 daughters: Treneia & Trenika; 1 son: Ace Williams; grandparents: Kendal & Rosetta Babbs; brothers: Garcian, Darius, Dwayne, Charles, Prescott, Troy Jr.; sisters: Brittney, Zachean, Trevonya, Ashley, Tyeishi & Rukeya; fiancé: Kevindina Miller; aunts: Lillian Ronard, Keva Armbrister, Kayla Babbs & Monique Babbs of Vera Beach; uncles: James, Shane, Ricardo, Kevin, Wellington Sears, Kendal Jr. & Kevin Babbs.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later
TRE CHRISTIAN FARRINGTON, 21
a resident of #112 Hospital Lane, died at PMH on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
He is survived by his, mother: Androsia Fernander; father: Ricardo Farrington; grandparents: Tyrone “Goatman” Fernander & Ida Farrington; 1 sister: Zaire Farrington; 8 aunts: Tyronya Arnett, Kaylana Bouier, Anishka & Andromeda Fernander, Margo Lightbourne, Kaisha Hanchell, Monique Farrington & Kayla Thompson; 4 uncles: Anthony Lightbourne, Noel & Tyrone Fernander Jr., Lysle Lightbourne; and a host of other relatives & friends
Funeral arrangements will be announced later
WHILEMENA FRANCINA HENFIELD, 63
a resident of Golden Gates #2, died at PMH on Sunday, July 14, 2024.
She is survived by, 2 daughters: Eltisa Henfield & Tara Robinson; 2 sons: Davaughn & Jamaine Henfield; 14 grandchildren; 2 sisters: Sandra Forbes & Dianne Gardiner; numerous aunts & uncles & a host of other relatives & friends
Funeral arrangements will be announced later
MRS. SHIRLEY ROLLE, 87
a resident of North Shore Road, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, died at her residence Monday, July 8, 2024.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later
DEREK KNOWLES, 68
a resident of Bartlett Lane, Shirley Street, died at PMH on Monday, July 8, 2024.
He is survived by his, children: Chester & Yasmine; brothers: Charles, Samuel, Albert Jr., Rupert, Jerry Sr., Keith & Shawn; grandchildren; numerous nieces & nephews & a host of other relatives & friends
Funeral arrangements will be announced later
INGER ROCHELLE BAIN-SEYMOUR, 54
Bahama (Vice-Presidents At Large).
In his official remarks as Baptist Convention’s president, Bishop Fernander highlighted the importance of every Baptist, called on all Baptists to arise and stated that the assignment to repair, restore and rebuild the convention rests on the shoulders of all Baptists. Indeed, it was a tremendous night for the body of Christ in The Bahamas and for Baptists in general. We can certainly say, “We are Baptists and proud!”
friends
a resident of Francis & Armbrister Streets, Fox Hill, died at her residence on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.
She is survived by her, husband: Brian Seymour; mother: Doranell Russell; 2 daughters: Shawniqua Moss & Briann Seymour; 1 son: Delano Dean; 7 grand children; sisters & brothers including: Marion Dean & Kenneth Dean; 2 aunts: Wendy Russell & Denise Strachan; 3 uncles: Dereck, Dave & Gary Russell; numerous nieces & nephews & a host of other relatives &
Funeral arrangements will be announced later
SPORTS
- PAGE 17
Lacarthea Cooper: ‘I am sad
I cannot compete with them’
By TENAJH SWEETING
Less than 24 hours after the Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) ratified a 20-member contingent set to represent the nation at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, social media became flooded with outrage as quarter-miler Lacarthea Cooper was snubbed from the team despite finishing in the top three of the 400m event at the BAAA Junior and Senior Nationals.
The highly-anticipated announcement by the BOC garnered mixed reactions in the court of public opinion as many were pleased to see 16-year-old Shania Adderley make the Olympic cut as the youngest Bahamian Olympian in history while others were disappointed to see a qualified athlete left off the list.
Cooper, along with her mother and scores of other
Bahamians, expressed their displeasure in BOC’s decision on Tuesday night but since then Tribune Sports understands that the 20-year-old will be allowed to travel with the team to Paris, France.
However, it remains unclear if she will compete in the mixed 4x400m event. She confirmed that officials of the BOC reached out to her yesterday evening and offered to take her with the team.
“They offered to carry me with the team. I will be with the other athletes and I guess that is the solution. I took it on because I still want to support Team Bahamas because I am not that type of person to say I do not want to be there or anything like that. I am sad that I cannot compete with them. I would have loved to but it is their decision. Obviously, I would want to compete but I cannot and that is what they said,” Cooper said.
Adderley displayed a great show of resilience at
the 2024 World Athletics Relays while competing with Olympians Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Steven Gardiner and Alonzo Russell at home in a bid to help the country qualify for the mixed 4x400m event back in May.
In her debut on the global scene, the teen received the baton in first place while running the anchor leg for The Bahamas but was passed by her competitors leading to a fourth-place finish in 3:14.86 for 12th overall.
The Grand Bahamian along with team officials were heavily criticised on social media after this event.
The teen bounced back the following day, running a brilliant second leg after receiving the baton from Gardiner.
Team Bahamas got the victory in front of the home crowd with a new national record of 3:12.81 and the narrative surrounding Adderley turned into a positive one.
Blue Chip javelin camp in full swing
By TENAJH SWEETING
THE free one-week javelin camp hosted by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MOYSC) in conjunction with the Blue Chip Athletics Club, powered by Norwegian Cruise Line, is now in full swing over at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium.
The main objective of the week-long camp is to find the next generation of top javelin throwers within the 12-16 age group. Day three brought out up to 16 athletes who are training under the tutelage of CARIFTA record holder Dior-Rae Scott and CARIFA gold medallist Taysha Stubbs.
The duo demonstrated the basic techniques needed to be successful in the javelin event.
“We have been doing some basic drills and exercises that will always translate into the throw when it is completed. We have been trying to make some techniques muscle memory for them and I would say it has been going pretty good so far. We just want to continue with what
we have been doing so far and on Friday we will put it all together and see how well they understood it,” Stubbs said.
She certainly knows what it takes to be a standout performer in the javelin throw event. The University of NebraskaLincoln commit is having a stellar season with eight first-place finishes out of the nine meets she has competed in. The 16-year-old QC student will look to keep the momentum rolling at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, scheduled for August 27-31.
Scott has been equally as impressive this season, picking up the javelin BAISS and CARIFTA records along the way.
With both javelin maestras leading the camp as instructors, it is a different experience than they are accustomed to but it is an opportunity they have wholeheartedly welcomed.
“I am grateful to be able to do this and pass down the knowledge I have learned from coach Maycock and Harris.
“It is going great. They have been taking in what
we have been teaching them. We just started off with the basic techniques and we are gonna keep progressing as the week goes by. They are starting to get it a lot more and they are really progressing,” Scott said.
She added that the group is showing great potential and she is expecting for some of the participants to keep the Blue Chip Athletics legacy going.
Cordell Munroe, 14, is accustomed to competing in the 400m, 800m and
1,500m events but decided to give the free javelin camp a try to add another event to his arsenal.
“This is my first time really trying javelin and the techniques so it is very
Meanwhile, for Cooper, she was unable to compete at the World Relays due to her collegiate commitments but expected to make the mixed relay pool based on her performance at the BAAA Jr and Sr Nationals in June.
The student of New Mexico State University placed third in the 400m finals with a time of 53.38 seconds while Adderley would finish fifth in 54.50 seconds.
The BAAA recommended the list of athletes qualified to represent the country at the Olympic Games and did not include Adderley, according to BAAA president Drumeco Archer last week.
Despite this, the BOC opted to go in a different direction.
Cooper was looking forward to this Olympic Games in particular after she missed the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan due to COVID-19. She is
CONTROVERSY SURROUNDS THE RELAY SELECTION FOR PARIS OLYMPICS
By BRANDON HUTCHINSON and Miguel Fernander Tribune Interns
IN a recent development concerning the selection of athletes for the upcoming Olympics, a storm has erupted over the decision regarding the mixed 4x400m relay team.
Jamieson Pratt, a prominent voice in the sporting community, has voiced strong opinions regarding the selection process.
“Personally, I am a rules guy and fair are fair,” Pratt asserted, emphasizing his belief that rules should govern selection. The controversy centres on Lacarthea Cooper and Shania Adderley, both vying for coveted spots on the team. According to Pratt, Cooper finished third
SEE PAGE 16 SEE PAGE 16
Lacarthea Cooper: ‘I am sad that I cannot compete with them’ at the Paris Olympics
disappointed in the situation but was grateful to those that rallied in support of her.
“I appreciate every last one of them who had something to say and supported me. I know it will start something again when I go to Paris and they probably do not see me running but I am thankful for them sticking up for me because I did not expect this,” she said.
She expressed that BOC president Romell ‘Fish’ Knowles has since reached out to apologise for the entire debacle.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture (MOYSC)
Mario Bowleg weighed in on this controversial matter
yesterday. “I was told that the BAAAs made a recommendation which started the uproar a few weeks ago and did not include her. At the end of the day, the final list that was ratified by the BOC did include her, so as the minister we have to support whatever the final decision made by these federations,” he said.
Minister Bowleg maintained that the government has no jurisdiction over this matter but would never like to see any Bahamian athlete disenfranchised.
“I would never want to see any Bahamian athlete disenfranchised at any point for any reason or the other but, at the end of the day, the Ministry cannot dictate or interfere with the BAAAs, BOC or any
national federation as it relates to their final selection of their teams that will represent the country. We are just here to support them financially and morally and whichever team they select we will support,” he said.
The BOC president confirmed that Cooper will be a part of the team commuting to Paris, France but declined to provide any further comment on whether she will compete or not.
BAAAs president Archer opted not to make any comment on the situation when contacted yesterday.
The Olympic Games are scheduled to begin on Friday, July 26 and wrap up on August 11.
Free javelin camp
FROM PAGE 15
helpful. I am very thankful for this opportunity because it gives me another event to try and another chance to make it to CARIFTA,” he said. The 14-year-old is looking forward to learning some more techniques over the next two days. “They were teaching us how to throw the javelin. The camp is going well so far and I am really looking forward to learning some more,” he said.
Rissanique Jules, 13, usually performs in the short distance events but she
wants to take the new javelin skills and use them during the next GSSSA season.
“The training is good so far. I believe this will help us to perform well in the next GSSSA. I am enjoying it and I have been able to learn the different stances, directions to move and hand throws in order for the javelin to go where it has to go. The javelin camp has been fun so far and very educational,” she said.
The camp continues today at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium and will run from 9am to 1pm. It will end on Friday.
SELECTION FOR PARIS OLYMPICS
FROM PAGE 15
in the trials, which traditionally secures a spot in such competitions.
Despite this, Shania, who finished below her, was selected instead to accommodate public demand.
“I do believe Lacarthea should have gotten the spot,” Pratt stated unequivocally, questioning the decision of the Bahamas Olympic Committee to prioritise public favour over established rules.
He argues that this decision not only undermines the integrity of the selection process but also wastes resources, as Lacarthea, was the faster runner over the four hundred metres.
“No offence to Shania,” Pratt added diplomatically, acknowledging her achievements, “but I do believe Lacarthea should be on the team.”
The controversy has not gone unnoticed among athletes, with one anonymous athlete expressing disillusionment with the process.
“If I was in her place, I would have felt discouraged,” the athlete said, referring to Lacarthea’s removal from the team after an initial unofficial announcement of her selection. “To just get taken off without a warning or something is just crazy.”
Criticism has now been directed at the media for its handling of the situation.
A Facebook user, expressing disappointment, accused certain media outlets of sensationalising the issue unnecessarily.
“Frankly, I am disappointed in the role that the media played in this story, especially that other station who always runs sensational stories!” the Facebook user lamented. According to the user, the media’s extensive coverage and focus on one athlete, Shania, under the hashtag #ProShania, inadvertently stirred up conflict and division.
“The media pitted these athletes against each other, clubs against each other and fans against each other,” the user criticised, suggesting that the intense media scrutiny had exacerbated tensions rather than fostering a fair and constructive debate.
“This is a most unfortunate and sad situation all around,” the user concluded, reflecting a broader sentiment of regret over the fallout from the media coverage.
Delta
ATLANTA (AP)
— Delta Air Lines celebrated members of Team USA yesterday at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport before the athletes flew to Paris for the Summer Olympic Games. The airline had t-shirts and water bottles at the gate where archers, fencers, basketball players and other athletes were scheduled to depart. Signs read, “Good Luck Team USA!”
and “A Merci Beaucoup From Us to You.” Atlanta-based Delta is managing travel for all U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Mary Theisen-Lappen, a weightlifter who will compete in the Olympics for the first time, was among the celebrated athletes.
“I’m excited,” she said.
“I’m nervous.” Passenger Gillian Tran, 17, from Tallahassee, Florida, was delighted to learn
she would be on the same flight as the athletes when she got to the gate. She said her family won tickets to the Paris Games in a lottery two years ago. She posed for photos with some of the athletes.
“I’m also excited to go to the Olympics because I did a history fair project about the 1936 Olympics two years ago,” she said. The opening ceremony for the Games is scheduled for July 26.
ADDING NEW TALENT: Day three of the free javelin camp hosted by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Blue Chip Athletics Club saw 16 potential throwers learn the basic techniques for the javelin event at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium. Photo: Tenajh Sweeting/Tribune Staff
A PERSON looks out the window as athletes from Team U.S. depart from the airport on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Atlanta.
(AP Photo/ Brynn Anderson)
LACARTHEA COOPER (File photo)
CARIFTA record holder Dior-Rae Scott (left) and CARIFA gold medallist Taysha Stubbs.
Team Bahamas athletes set for Paris Olympics
GO TEAM BAHAMAS!: THE Bahamas Olympic Committee announced
20-member team (see photos) to compete
Games, scheduled for July 27 to August 11 in Paris, France, with Cora Hepburn as the chef de mission and Roy Colebrook as the team leader. Dr Ricky Davis will be the team’s doctor with Katrice Robinson as the physiotherapist. Named as coaches are James Rolle, Corrington Maycock and May Miller. The swimmers are Lamar Taylor in the men’s 100m freestyle and Rhanishka Gibbs in the women’s 50m freestyle. They will be coached by Travano McPhee.
STEVEN GARDINER
MILLER-UIBO KEN MULLINGS
CHARLTON
DONALD THOMAS
SHANIA ADDERLEY
TERRENCE JONES
DENISHA CARTWRIGHT
ANTOINE ANDREWS
RHEMA OTABOR
IAN KERR
CHARISMA TAYLOR
WANYA MCCOY
JAVONYA VALCOURT
WENDELL MILLER
QUINCY PENN
LAMAR TAYLOR
RHANISHKA GIBBS
ZION MILLER ALONZO RUSSELL
Stephen Curry strong in US men’s basketball team’s 105-79 win over Serbia in Olympic warmup
By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer
STEPHEN Curry was relatively quiet offensively during the U.S. Olympic team’s first two exhibitions before the Paris Games.
He got a lot more assertive yesterday with his official Olympic debut less than two weeks away. Curry scored 24 points, Bam Adebayo added 17 and the U.S. beat Serbia 105-79 to improve to 3-0 in its five-game slate of exhibitions in advance of the Paris Olympics.
THE SPORTS CALENDAR
“We drew it up for that particular reason, to get him going,” James said.
“He sees one go through the hoop, you see what it opens up for the rest of his game, for the rest of the
Anthony Davis finished with seven points, six rebounds and six blocks, helping to lead a U.S. defensive effort that limited Serbia throughout. Anthony Edwards had 16 points. LeBron James added 11. Curry scored the first nine points for the U.S. in a flurry that James said was by design.
BASKETBALL PEACE ON DA STREETS
THE annual Peace On Da Streets Basketball Classic, dubbed “Shooting Hoops instead of Guns,” is being held every day until July 21 at the Michael ‘Scooter Reid” Basketball Center at the Hope Center. All games start at 6pm daily. Categories include 12-and-under, 16-and-under, 20-and-under, government ministry, church and open divisions.
The event is being promoted by Guardian Radio and Radio House Outreach.
CLERGY VS POLITICIANS
AS part of the Peace ON Da Streets Classic, organisers will once again stage the showdown between
July, 2024
members of the Clergy against the Members of Parliament.
The game is scheduled for 8pm Sunday, July 21 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.
CHESS TOURNEY POSTPONED
THE Bahamas Chess Federation has announced that its Independence Cup 2024 Tournament, scheduled for July 13-14, has been postponed due to the lack of a suitable venue.
This tournament was supposed to be the second qualifier for the Bahamas National Chess Championship 2025. The federation will arrange another qualifier soon.
The next open qualifier is the New Providence Open 2024, scheduled for August 10-11.
game for all of us. He set the tone.”
The U.S. led by as many as 31 points in the last of a pair of warmup games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Americans go to London to play two more tuneups before heading to France. The first is Saturday against South Sudan, followed by a matchup with Germany on Monday at London’s O2 Arena.
U.S. coach Steve Kerr likes the progress his team has made and said its ability to overwhelm teams with different defensive looks will be vital.
“I think the identity of the team is our depth, the strength of the team is the depth,” Kerr said. “If we can play in 4- or 5-minute bursts of intense defence, hitting bodies, rebounding, being physical, then it makes sense to play that way. We’ll see if we can keep doing it.”
The U.S. had an uneven start before using a 16-2 run in the second quarter to take a 56-42 advantage and led 59-45 at halftime.
Nikola Jokic had 16 points and 11 rebounds for Serbia. Aleksa Avramovic added 14 points. Serbia was playing its second game in two days, coming off a loss to Australia on Tuesday in which it rested captain Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Though Serbia was without Bogdanovic for the second straight game, it struggled offensively, shooting just 41% (29 of 71).
The U.S. also held a 30-21 rebounding edge.
Adebayo and Davis combined for 14 rebounds.
“Bam and AD together are really something,” Kerr said. “Just the switching, but they can also protect the rim and be in a drop if we go to that coverage.”
Wednesday’s matchup was an important preview for the Serbians and U.S., which will both compete in Group C at the Olympics. They open their quests for gold against each other on July 28.
FINISHING STRONG
After nearly squandering a big lead in its narrow victory over Australia on Monday, there was no such letdown for the U.S. this time.
The Americans led by 25 after three quarters and quickly increased it to 30 in the final quarter.
LINEUP SHUFFLE
The U.S. used its third different starting lineup, going with Curry, Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James and Joel Embiid. The only constants over the three exhibitions have been Curry, James and Embiid.
One of the reason’s Embiid’s presence on the roster was a desire for the U.S. coaching staff this
cycle was to counter bigger teams like Serbia, which features a trio of 7-footers. Embiid’s conditioning still isn’t at its peak. But he was active on both ends, finding cutters on the offensive end and being an active deterrent in the lane on defense.
ENERGY SHIFTERS
For the second straight game, the U.S. reserves provided a spark. Edwards, Davis, Tyrese Haliburton, Bam Adebayo and Devin Booker entered the game for the first time with 4:54 remaining in the opening quarter and trailing 16-13.
The U.S. proceeded to outscore the Serbians 15-12 the rest of the period to tie the game at 28 entering the second quarter.
The American reserves accounted for 28 points off the bench in the first half.
STILL NO DURANT
Kevin Durant sat for the third straight game as he continues to recover from the calf strain he suffered early during training camp.
But guard Derrick White made his debut after joining the team over the weekend as Kawhi Leonard’s replacement. White had four rebounds and an assist in just over nine minutes.
UNITED States’ Stephen Curry takes a selfie with a fan after an exhibition basketball match between Serbia and the United States at the USA Basketball Showcase, ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic basketball tournament, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, yesterday.
(AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
CELEBRATING OUR SENIORS
GOVERNOR General Dame Cynthia Pratt attended the National Training Agency’s (NTA) Senior Citizens Appreciation Luncheon on Sunday. NTA held the event as part of its 11th anniversary festivities and the desire ‘to give back’ to the seniors. Participating were Unity House, Persis Rodgers Home for the Aged, Pat’s Senior Citizens Home, Good Samaritan Senior Citizen’s Home, and others. Hosts for the event were NTA officials executive chairman Agatha Marcelle and executive director Terry Murray. PHOTOS: BIS
for Commonwealth
ECO-FRIENDLY MOVE FOR KALIK PACKAGING
COMMONWEALTH Brewery Ltd (CBL) is playing its part in becoming more eco-friendly.
Kalik, the Beer of The Bahamas recently began transitioning its full portfolio into eco-friendly craft cartons from traditional corrugated cardboard.
This new look and material are a big step towards reducing the brand’s carbon footprint and has led to the most eco-friendly production process for the world-class Bahamian beer.
The new packaging which will roll out over the next few months, will allow more of the brand’s contents to be recyclable, and the lowcost material will require less water and energy for its production.
CBL says this change will have no impact on the
world-class brewing standards for Kalik, and each bottle will be filled with the same great brew that beer drinkers have known and loved since 1988.
“Kalik is steadfast in our commitment to the cowbell, connection (inter-island), culture, and conservation,” said Queswell Ferguson, senior portfolio manager for beers at CBL. “This eco-friendly design change is an emphatic step towards prioritising sustainability and executing our commitment to our conservation pillar.
“We want Kalikers nationwide to find pride in knowing that they are choosing a brand that cares for people and planet and protecting our nation’s beautiful natural environment.”
JAMIE POITIER, warehouse coordinator
Brewery Ltd (CBL), left, with Davon Smith, packaging operator for CBL, showcasing the new Kalik craft cartons.
School puts focus on sustainability
THE University of the West Indies Global Campus The Bahamas (UWIGCB) introduced the UWI International School for Development Justice (ISDJ) during the second annual Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Conference, hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister’s SDG Unit. The conference comprised the annual summit followed by the inaugural SDG Youth Conference, July 2 and 3, 2024 at the University of The Bahamas Performing Arts Theatre. The ISDJ is a school which UWI had dedicated exclusively to supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals - rooted in the Caribbean. Supported by IADB Invest, the ISDJ is a Reparatory Justice Project. It will
operate within The UWI’s existing Global Campus, which provides educational services to the global market using an online modality.
The ISDJ was developed to respond to the need to educate current and future activists within the framework of the 17 UN SDGs. Flexible study options exist, including a one-year Master’s level programme with degree offerings including Master of Science degrees in climate studies; sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation; public health and informatics; sustainability and data analytics; and sustainability management, among others. Continuing and Professional Education programmes (CPEs) and post-graduate Diplomas are also available at ISDJ, propelling a new paradigm for repair and development, equity, justice, ethics and transparency.
The UWI Global Campus Bahamas also announced that registration is open for its Fall 2024 CPE Courses. These courses are taught virtually and range from six to ten weeks of study, one or two nights per week, depending on the course. Professional lecturers will deliver courses in modalities such as: law for human resource practitioners; business and commercial law; project management; supervisory management I and II; quality control management; and a workshop webinar on monitoring and evaluation. UWIGCB representative
A Felicity Darville presented the official ISDJ brochure and Continuing & Professional Education (CPE) course offerings to Rochelle Newbold, director of the Sustainable Development Goals Unit, Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Bahamas. Her unit, which included youth SDG ambassadors, led a series of panel discussions on the SDGs during the conference. Topics included social inclusion; economic prosperity; and innovation and sustainability.
Prime Minist Philip Davis gave the opening remarks, citing a myriad of accomplishments the government has made towards achieving the SDGs.
The UWI’s strategy of focusing on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in building out its academic reputation and global research profile has produced a perfect score in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. Over the past decade, the university has strategically established joint global centres and initiatives with other respected universities to provide advocacy and development outcomes around sustainable development. Impressively, within THE’s series of metrics used to evaluate the performance of the individual SDGs, The UWI earned a perfect score of 100 percent for its relationships to support the goals in pursuit of SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals.
Workshop sends out a call for Grand Bahama lifeguards
A PARTNERSHIP is linking up to recruit lifeguards in Grand Bahama.
Carnival Corporation & plc is partnering with the Bahamas Tourism Development Corporation (TDC) in Grand Bahama to recruit lifeguards for its cruise port destination, Celebration Key.
The qualification programme will take place in Grand Bahama from July 24-26 and will be free to applicants.
The lifeguard cohorts will run concurrently and consist of a registration process, human resources screening, and a swimming skills assessment in both open sea and pool by accredited evaluators.
Applicants who pass this phase will be shortlisted for employment at Celebration Key, with Carnival Corporation conducting their lifeguard certification.
“The safety of our guests is of the utmost importance to Carnival Corporation,” said Brandon Culmer, assistant general manager, Celebration Key.
“These lifeguard positions are key to the atmosphere of carefree adventure and laid-back fun that we are seeking to create at this amazing destination. I am very proud that Grand Bahamians are being given first choice to fill these critical roles.”
The lifeguard positions are the latest in a series of exciting opportunities to open up for Grand Bahamians at Celebration Key, which is set to debut in 2025 and expected to boost the Grand Bahama economy, creating 700 permanent jobs.
“Carnival Corporation is committed to providing as many direct employment opportunities as possible to Grand Bahamians,” said
Shurmon Clarke, human resources manager, Celebration Key.
“Partnering with the TDC, which focuses on enhancing the hospitality industry to the benefit of Bahamians, is the best way to ensure that all residents of the island are aware of and have access to the many fantastic opportunities we are creating.”
TDC, a division of the Bahamas Ministry of
Tourism, Investment and Aviation, provides support for Bahamian professionals in the hospitality industry in an effort to grow the Bahamian economy. Ian Ferguson, executive director and CEO, said: “Collaborations with valued partners like Carnival Corporation is vital to our mission to support as many Bahamians as possible and increase their presence in the industry.
Celebration Key represents a very exciting prospect for hundreds of Bahamians, with a number of substantial opportunities at every phase of the project.”
With its recently announced $100m pier extension, the now $600m cruise port is poised to make a significant impact on the community of Grand Bahama.
In addition to direct employment opportunities,
Carnival Corporation has pledged to collaborate closely with Bahamianowned businesses, with the goal of having at least 75 percent of outlets at its new Celebration Key destination owned and operated by Bahamians.
Direct and indirect employment opportunities for Bahamians include food and beverage, retail, shore excursions, transportation and subcontracting services.
To date, more than 180 Bahamians from various islands are actively engaged in the construction phase, representing 96 percent of the total workforce, with 29 of the 31 construction companies onsite being wholly Bahamian-owned and operated.
To register for the lifeguard qualification programne, visit: https://form.jotform. com/241763306858868.
FROM left, Jillian Gray, Ministry of Grand Bahama; Auleena Robinson, senior executive, Tourism Development Corporation; Brandon Culmer, assistant general manager, Celebration Key, Shurmon Clarke, human resources manager, Celebration Key.
BREWERY HOSTS SECOND ANNUAL TRADE SHOW
COMMONWEALTH
Brewery Limited (CBL) recently hosted its 2nd Annual Trade Show and it was a one-of-a-kind experience for all attendees.
After its very first trade show last year, the overwhelming positive response led to the brewery deciding to make it an annual event.
More than 70 products across 12 brands were featured at the trade show where customers got the opportunity to sample from a wide selection of spirits, wines, and beers.
The event allowed CBL’s customers to speak to brand representatives about their portfolios and discover new ways to offer products at their businesses.
Attendees could be seen perusing the displays, and product catalogues while speaking with sales representatives to place orders.
“At CBL, we always want to foster of sense of customer centricity and convey confidence to the business owners that shop with us allowing them the opportunity to gain knowledge about our products and sample them firsthand,”
said Eryn Marshall, brand representative at CBL.
Among the 70-plus products featured at the
trade show, attendees were given an up-close look at some of the newest products launched this year including the Ricardo RTD, Smashin Goombay and Hard Switcha RTD, and the newest Vitamalt flavours, Coconut & Hibiscus, Ginger and Acai. Guests attended training sessions on various topics including industry and market trends, sparkling wine trends and how to maximise menus. The energetic sounds of The Expressions Band rang in the air as patrons enjoyed cocktail samples and interacted with CBL representatives at the various booths.
The Kalik Shop, CBL’s B2B digital platform, was also a featured booth during the show and customers could sign up for this digital service offered by CBL exclusively to its B2B customers.
Rhema Rolle, digital sales manager at CBL, said: “The trade show enhanced Kalik Shop’s visibility and credibility and witnessing the trade show attendees explore the platform and engage with our offerings first hand was truly encouraging.”
THE LADIES of The Kalik Shop, CBL’s B2B digital platform, were all smiles during the second annual Commonwealth Brewery Trade Show.
Shown