The Eleutheran Newspaper Feb/March 2021 Issue by The Eleutheran

Real Estate

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Volume 14, 02/12, Feb/March Issue

Eleuthera, Harbour Island & Spanish Wells, The Bahamas

Your FREE copy Harbour Island, Spanish Wells, & Eleuthera - North, Central & South

` Information. We Deliver!’’ Monthly In Print & Daily Online. Since 2008 - ‘‘Eleuthera’s most reliable Source of News and

2021 Spelling Bee Champ!

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

IEFC Cooperative Moving Forward New Farmers Almanac Calendar Released The Innovative Entrepreneurs and Farmers Cooperative (IEFC), currently led by Chairman, Bekera Taylor, originally formed shortly after the pandemic took hold in 2020, to leverage government incentives, and to bring together the scattered group of farmers and entrepreneurs throughout The Eleutheras. Since the group’s first meeting in June 2020, they set out to accomplish a number of goals - including establishing themselves as a legal Cooperative as well as several initial fundraising initiatives.

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Harbour Island Green School Nabs Eleuthera District Spelling Bee ADVICE:

14 (When to Run...) ; 13 (MAKE a quick Sale ...) |

Read More On Page 26

Nurse Edwards brought together sixty medical professionals, educators, other private organizations, well-wishers, family and friends in a hybrid face-to-face and online seminar -

Opinion :

12 (US-Cuba Normalization...) |

Inside

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Spelling Bee: 12 year old Geyon Mullings

The 2021 Eleuthera District Spelling Bee, was hosted at the Resource Center in Savannah Sound on Thursday, February 25th, despite challenges caused by the pandemic. This year just three (3) schools, were able to take part, however, organizers commented that they were pleased to be able to still offer the opportunity to compete, to the nine (9) students who battled it out on the Thursday. The spelling contestants included: Travon Mackey, Tyrus Bailou, and Breanna Thompson from North Eleuthera High School (NEHS); Geyon Mullings, Danejo Murray, and Ava Charles from the Harbour Island Green School (HIGS); as well as Maliha Cooper, Florie St.Luc, and D’Sean Homer from Central Eleuthera High School (CEHS). Mrs. Marie Galanis, an organizing committee member, commented that, although the number of students competing had been greatly reduced, the competition was nonetheless fierce, with the contest carrying on for twenty (20) tense rounds, and the first mistake not made until the fifth round of spelling. Rounds six (6) through twelve (12) saw the next six (6) competitors slowly yield, and the final two students left standing, from CEHS and HIGS sparred head to head for another eight (8) rounds before Geyon Mullings of HIGS pulled

Competition was fierce at the 2021 Eleuthera District Spelling Bee, despite a smaller group of contestants. Above: Student participants battle it out on February 25th at the Savannah Sound Resource Center. off the win, besting Maliha Cooper of CEHS, who took second place. Coming in third, was Travon Mackey of NEHS. 2021 Winner, Geyon Mullings, is a twelve-year-old eighth grade student at the Harbour Island Green School

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A Candid Conversation with Central and South Eleuthera’s MP, Hon. Stephen Hank Johnson During the final week in February 2021, Member of Parliament, the Hon. Stephen Hank Johnson during a candid interview with The Eleutheran, spoke about his remaining time in office as the representative for Central and South Eleuthera, his hopes for the upcoming election, as well as some of the ongoing projects on his current slate and a look into the future - with or without his MP title. In response to being asked about ongoing and upcoming works on the island, Mr. Johnson shared an update on the current status of a number of projects, saying, “The Governor’s Harbour Clinic - the contract was signed for that three months ago. It’s now a matter of waiting on the mobilization to begin to get those repairs at the Governor’s Harbour Clinic going. Also, the MP Stephen Hank Johnson.

road works on the Queen’s Highway are presently being done. That is going to be 11 miles of asphalt road (covering areas) from the north all the way to the south a total of 11 miles. Certain spots are being picked to do presently, and we are hoping in the next budget the the government will be able to do more, because you are looking at quite a bit of funding to do the hot mix. They are paying by the miles. So, the contract presently is $11 million for approximately 11 miles of road works - in this present contract... I think the plan is to be here for a while, to make sure Eleuthera gets a number one highway.” Mr. Johnson, explaining the necessity of having a non-local company complete the current highway project, pointed out, “Bahama Hot Mix is here doing the works on the Queens

Highway for several reasons. They are producing an asphalt finish road - which is much thicker than the current sand/ seal roads, and will last much, much longer. We have no local contractors with the hot mix plant or equipment, or the know how, so, fingers may be pointed at the company doing it, but it is not about politics. It’s about being able to get a Bahamian company capable of constructing the asphalt quality finish road. This asphalt road will last many times longer than the current sand/seal roads - so it’s about the long term value to the island and getting the value for the money.” Continuing with his description of ongoing works in Eleuthera, Mr. Johnson stated, “The Rock P36

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Minister shares governments’s vision of establishing the country as a leader in financial tech and digital sectors

Elsworth Johnson, Minister of Fin. Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration. Minister of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration, the Hon. Elsworth Johnson welcomed industry partners to a virtual symposium aimed at sharing the Government’s vision of establishing The Bahamas as a leader in financial technology and digital assets. “This symposium is reflective of our shared vision for ushering in a new wave of FinTech innovations in The Bahamas, establishing this nation as a regional and world leader in the sector,” Mr. Johnson said as he addressed participants via a Zoom link on

Thursday, March 4, 2021. “My ministry is fully committed to facilitating this work and collaborating with our partner agencies, industry stakeholders and leaders to ensure that we are going about this work in the most thoughtful way possible. We will continue to deliver on our mandate of advancement through innovation,” he said. The first such symposium was held May 20, 2020, which created a blueprint for effective virtual stake-

holder engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic with more than 350 participants. This year’s symposium titled: “FinTech and Digital Tokens: Legislation, Regulation and Practice in The Bahamas,” attracted approximately 500 participants who logged on to the Zoom link, and heard from featured experts from The Securities Commission of the Bahamas and The Central Bank of The Bahamas, who discussed the DARE Act which regulates the FinTech space. Additionally, leading local and regional experts shared their practical experiences in the space along with local and international FinTech professionals who spoke to the employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. “As the world undergoes a period of accelerated digital transformation, The Bahamas will not be left behind. We are a small nation that has consistently punched above its weight in many respects when it comes to financial services, and there is no reason for FinTech to be any different,” the Minister said. He added, “The government’s recent passage of the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges

Act or DARE Act, the Securities Commission of The Bahamas’ FITLink Fintech Hub and the launch of the world’s first ever Central Bank Digital Currency are proof positive of this administration’s forward-thinking agenda on FinTech, digital assets and related innovations.” Mr. Johnson further explained that the objective is to stabilize the country’s strengths within the sector while continuing to expand market share through new initiatives, attracting investors from around the world and creating a fertile environment for domestic participation in this emerging industry. “This is what the Ministry of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration has set its focus on for the immediate and long-term future. “One of the ways we will achieve this is by engaging our most important stakeholders and providing critical information so that industry stakeholders, policymakers and regulators are all on the same page. That is why events like this one are so crucial to achieving our objectives,” he said.

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Ministry of Health Launches a ‘Healthy Together’ Public Awareness Campaign The Ministry of Health held a press conference on Thursday, February 18th, 2021, to announce the launch of the ‘Healthy Together’ Campaign aimed at boosting public compliance with best practices and protocols. Minister of Health, Renward Wells, acknowledged that the global pandemic has lasted much longer than anticipated, and pointed out that, “there is a great temptation to let our guard down and ease up on taking the necessary health precautions.” He stated and cautioned, “Life is sacred and we must all place a high value on life to protect all Bahamians. We should always listen to the health authorities and the authorities in general. They have the responsibility to protect us. Do not develop a casual attitude. This can cost us our lives and those of our family members.” The Minister encouraged Bahamians to face the new normal ‘Healthy Together’, as many people, including civil servants have

been called back to work as of February 1st, 2021, private schools have resumed face-to-face and hybrid learning, and effective the week of February 22nd, 2021, public schools will also commence hybrid face-toface learning. With more people in the same space and the need to continually practice physical distancing, Minister Wells said that he was pleased to announce the launch of the “Healthy Together” campaign. The Healthy Together campaign, he explained, is an initiative designed to provide members of the public with a source of information and resources to promote and maintain health and wellness. The campaign takes an evidence-based approach to promote responsible behavior and encourages a mindset change in compliance with public health measures to protect the Bahamian population. Topics covered in the campaign include general safety tips such as maskwearing and physical distancing best prac-

Renward Wells, Minister of Health.

tices. Information about underlying conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease and how to recognize a person suspected to have COVID-19 P13 are also included. There are also guidelines for public inter-

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‘Grow Your Own Food’ Gardening Project Launched By CSE For Cancer Survivors The Cancer Society, Eleuthera Branch (CSE) launched a ‘Grow your Own Food’ gardening project, with an introductory meeting, a training workshop and distribution of gardening starter kits and essential gardening tools, at the Wellness Center in Palmetto Point on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021. This healthy lifestyle initiative was the Society’s first activity for the year 2021. Cancer survivors living on the island of Eleuthera were invited to participate, and the facilitators for the workshop on Tuesday, included: Mrs. Avis Munroe, Chief Financial Officer with One Eleuthera Foundation; Deon Gibson, Farm Manager, the Center for Training and Innovation (CTI); Jade Sands, Farm Coordinator, CTI; and Sheryl Fax, Grounds Coordinator, CSE. The main objective of the project was to promote healthier lifestyles through making healthier food choices, improve food security and improve overall heath - especially vital for cancer survivors and for cancer prevention, said

CSE President, Mrs. Sherrin Cooper. A total of twenty gardening starter kits were donated by the Ministry of Agriculture through BAMSI and twenty sets of essential gardening tools were purchased by the Cancer Society Eleuthera Branch, for distribution to the participants. During the launch, Mrs. Munroe, one of the facilitators, who is also a cancer survivor, presented on the topics: • Why you should grow your own food, • Choosing the right location in your yard, • Choosing vegetables to plant, and • Seedling Care. Mr. Gibson and Ms. Sands demonstrated how to use the starter kits and best practices for planting seeds. “The session was highly informative and well received by the participants,” said President Cooper. The project, she added, was expected to continue during this year and the participants would continue to be advised on planting in and out of season. Cancer Society, Eleuthera branch members expressed their gratitude to One Eleuthera and CTI for their partnership and to the facilitators for contributing their time and expertise to the project. In reference to other CSE activities, President Cooper shared that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the safety protocols in place, the Annual Cancer Society Hope Ball for 2021 had been cancelled, however, the Society’s penny/coin drive is still ongoing.

Presenter, Avis Munroe (left) being introduced by Cancer Society board member, Juanita Pinder.

The month of May 2021 is Cancer Awareness Month and CSE is hoping to be able to host some further activites then, said President Cooper. “We will advise further on events and dates as soon as it is deemed safe to host inperson events. In the meantime, virtual events will continue and the public will be advised.” Mrs. Cooper added that CSE continues to provide financial assistance and outreach to survivors or qualifying persons who were referred to Nassau for additional testing for cancer related illness. She expressed that the Cancer Society Eleuthera Branch was very appreciative of the support for their events that have been carried out virtually recently, and looked forward to the Eleuthera public’s continued support of the Society’s activities and programs.

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Moving Forward - New Farmers Almanac Calendar Released The Innovative Entrepreneurs and Farmers Cooperative (IEFC), currently led by Chairman, Bekera Taylor, originally formed shortly after the pandemic took hold in 2020, to leverage government incentives, and to bring together the scattered group of farmers and entrepreneurs throughout The Eleutheras. Since the group’s first meeting in June 2020, they set Above: IEFC Treasurer, Mrs. out to accomplish Gwendolyn Patram with a number of goals Administrator Gregory - including estab- Knowles. lishing themselves as a legal Cooperative as well as several initial fundraising initiatives. “We’ve come a very long way since our first meeting,” said Chairman Taylor, adding, “...since then we’ve been incorporated, we have a strong, focused core of a dozen plus paid members. We are now recognized as a cooperative, and we’ve already received training from the Bahamas Cooperatives Society. Director, Cheryl Bowe-Moss facilitated the training here in Palmetto Point early in January 2021.” Some of the over-arching aims of the IEFC, said Taylor, is to promote local food security, to create a marketplace for entrepreneurs and farmers to sell their products, and to support and help create entrepreneurs through their network. The latest fundraising initiative by the IEFC to be successfully realized is a Farmers Almanac Calendar, now available for sale on the island. “It has a vast resource of information, like the fishing chart, as well as very detailed information on the best days for doing different types of farming activities throughout the year,” she described. During February 2021, IEFC members met with Administrators throughout Eleuthera, officially introducing the new Almanac calendar to them; including Gregory Knowles in South Eleuthera, Margaret Symonette in Central Eleuthera, and Carletta Turnquest in North Eleuthera. Farmers and entrepreneurs from throughout Eleuthera as well as the wider Bahamas, said Taylor, are invited to join the new cooperative’s vision. For more information those interested can reach the IEFC at 458-6314 or 470-1131. Current Board members include: Bekera Taylor, Chairman; Warren Johnson, Assistant Chairman; Edgar Seligman, Director; Jassedette Hepburn, Secretary; Dorlan Curtis, Assistant Secretary; Gwendolyn Patram, Treasurer; and Indy Rolle, Assistant Treasurer.

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Feb/March, 2021

U.S. – Cuba normalization could increase production of COVID-19 vaccines

By Sir Ronald Sanders

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own) If U.S. President, Joe Biden, eases the trade embargo against Cuba, one benefit to developing countries, including the Caribbean, could be greater access to coronavirus vaccines at an affordable price.

Cuban scientists have been working on four vaccine candidates to counter the virus. They believe that their most successful candidate, Sovereign 2, will enter a final phase of testing next month. Vincent Verez, one of the leading scientists on the Cuban team, says that clinical tests, in two trial phases so far, have revealed that Sovereign 2 is “very safe with very few adverse effects”. The scientific team claims that producing the coronavirus vaccine was made more difficult by the sanctions on Cuba. They were not able to buy all the equipment and raw materials they needed, including spectrometers used for quality control. Nonetheless, their work is continuing. They have used a 20-yearold spectrometer that is still powerful enough to analyse the vaccine. Cuba’s biotech sector is well developed, making eight vaccines (for other diseases) administered to children in the country and exported to more than 30 countries. A successful coronavirus

vaccine from Cuba would help to break the global control of the market by the big pharmaceutical companies in the US and Europe. Cuba’s geographical location in the Caribbean and its willingness to share a successful vaccine with the developing world, would ease the pressure on CARICOM countries which face a twin problem in relation to inoculating their people. The first is to access vaccines being produced by the large pharmaceutical companies particularly, Pfizer and Moderna, and the second is getting better prices. CARICOM countries have not been able to vaccinate more than one per cent of their people despite herculean efforts by governments to secure vaccines. The COVAX facility, established by the World Health Organization, to negotiate both supply and price with the major vaccine suppliers, has encountered major obstacles and is yet to deliver any of the vaccines for which Caribbean countries have already paid. A rollout is scheduled to start soon, but it will be less than 10 per cent of the quantities that were ordered. The generosity of the Indian government in donating 570,000 does of the AstraZeneca vaccines to CARICOM countries has helped them to get the inoculation programme started. But to get to the point of vaccinating 80 per cent of their populations so as to achieve herd immunity, requires access to more vaccines at prices less than the suppliers are offering. Given that the world’s richest countries have pre-ordered and pre-paid for supplies, the big pharmaceutical companies are under no pressure to reduce prices, or ramp up production, even as global demand is increasing rapidly. Pfizer expects about $15 billion in revenue this year from its COVID-19 vaccine developed with BioNTech. Further, the governments of countries, in which the large producers of vaccines are located, have implemented measures, restricting exports of COVID-19 vaccines, citing intellectual property rights. Pfizer and Moderna claim

the rights to vast amounts of intellectual property that will be useful, if not necessary, for others to develop vaccines in the future. Sadly, the governments of the countries in which Pfizer and Moderna are located have also spurned urgings to facilitate such exports. Human rights, including the right to life and health, have been disregarded. For these reasons, it would be beneficial to the Caribbean if the most promising of the four vaccines that Cuba is developing could secure World Health Organization (WHO) authorization after successful testing. While he was campaigning for the U.S. Presidency, Joe Biden pledged to reverse sanctions placed on Cuba by former President Donald Trump in his efforts to win Florida where a large number of Cuban exiles reside. One of the most unfounded measures against Cuba is its listing, in the last days of Trump’s administration, as a sponsor of terrorism. The critics of this listing have rightly pointed out that it is unjustified and serves no purpose other than to further cripple the Cuban economy. More particularly, it will hamper deals between Cuba and other countries. Governments of Cuba’s closest neighbours, including CARICOM, have called for its reversal. About 20 churches and religious organizations in the U.S. also sent a letter on 17 February, to President Biden asking that the decision to include Cuba on the list of States sponsoring terrorism to be revoked. At the same time, others, including the new Chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez, continue to demand harder and tougher measures against Cuba. The latter represent opposition, most of whom want nothing less than the immediate collapse of the Cuban government. President Biden’s instincts on normalization of U.S. relations with Cuba are grounded in the successful efforts of the Barack Obama administration of which he was Vice President. Nothing good will come from pursuing a decades-old failed policy that no one wants, except disgruntled Cuban-American exiles – a few of whom are in the U.S. Congress. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com 25 February 2021 P13

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HOW TO MAKE A QUICK SALE By Mike Lightbourn

If you’re under pressure to sell your home quickly, you may have to bite the bullet and take some dramatic steps to increase the chances. Consider the following proven suggestions to produce a quicker sale. Price the home ten to fifteen percent below your competition. All other things being equal, your home will readily appear as the best value. Also consider the price “range” your home will fall into and make sure you don’t squeeze out potential homebuyers by refusing to adjust your price by a few thousand dollars. For example, a $995,000 home will appear more attractive than a $1,000,000 home. By refusing to offer to list at $995,000 you are excluding an entire category of purchasers who are looking for homes under $1 million. Ask your BREA agent about any incentives you can offer. Perhaps you can contribute more in closing costs or offer some extra

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furnishings or a piece of art work, for example. We’ve had clients who have included a run-about boat, a golf cart and even a beautiful antique car in the sale. It can help to be creative. If you have a strong need to sell quickly, any or all these suggestions will make your home stand out above the competition. Curb Appeal Pretend you are a buyer and are seeing your house for the first time. Better still, ask your BREA agent to do so with a fresh eye. What is his or her impression? Fix any problem right away. It may be as simple as painting the front door or rejuvenating the dry grass in the front yard. First impressions are best impressions. Listen to Prospects Ask your agent to share feedback from prospects who have looked at your home. Buyers are far more objective than sellers. If you hear several times that the kitchen is dark, upgrade the lighting or paint the kitchen a lighter colour.

Healthy together

actions like face-to-face learning at school, the return to the workplace, fellowshipping at church, travelling and dining. The campaign will also provide tips and advice for those facing mental health challenges as a result of the pandemic, said Wells. The multi-channel campaign, he continued, will feature images and videos to be circulated via social media, television, newspapers and an official campaign website, healthytogether.gov.bs, that will serve as a central hub for all information. Minister Wells advised, “very soon another tab will be added that stores all the information about the COVID-19 vaccine in The Bahamas. As we move along, there are plans to have many more additions to the website in the upcoming days.” “Thanks to the Governmental leadership, acting on the advice of our healthcare professionals, and thanks to you and your efforts, the extremely devastating impact that this virus could have had on The Baha-

mas has not fully materialized,” said the minister. “Moreover, our success as a nation depends on continued, collective adherence to public health protocols. As the country prepares to resume more services, let us keep focused on the goal of limiting the spread of COVID-19.” During the next two months, the ‘Healthy Together’ public awareness and education campaign will be rolled out across all channels, said Minister Wells. Coupled with evolving government policies and resources to battle COVID-19, he conveyed that the public’s continued cooperation can serve to keep the worst days of the pandemic behind us and prevent a third wave. To learn more about the campaign, visit the ‘Healthy Together’ website at healthytogether.gov.bs.

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By Mike Lightbourn

Be Reasonable You may be surprised at the number of deals that fall apart because the seller refuses to compromise even slightly. Ideally both the seller and buyer should be happy. Sometimes it helps to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. For instance, the buyer may ask you to knock $10,000 off the price because repair work is necessary. Don’t reject the proposal without giving thought to it. Get a couple of quotes yourself. You may be able to get the job done for less. REMEMBER: If you want to sell quickly, your property must be priced right.

Questions or comments? Contact me at info@cbbahamas.com Mike Lightbourn is president of Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty.

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A DVICE

When to Marry & When to Run for the Hills - The Art of Escaping Flawed Relationships

Teri M. Bethel

If you’re on the market for a spouse and don’t know who you’re dealing with, you can end up with a prune rather than a peach. Both are good on the surface, but each has a distinct effect on your life. Many people, especially in large societies, resort to online dating sites. Some folks are happy with it; others are not. Stories are often told of people who post profile pictures of their younger, smaller selves to attract the partner of their dreams. Back in my great grandfather’s day, there was no online dating. In fact, after his wife died tragically in Inagua, where they lived, he realized he needed another wife to help him raise their two sons. Great granddad opted for a mail-order bride from England; he selected a

beautiful creamy-skinned young lady from a catalog and paid the fee. She was sent months later on the next boat smoking to the islands. Unfortunately, a switch-up of ladies before departure resulted in her unattractive sister being sent in her place. Though the song had not yet been penned, I imagine her stepping off the boat singing, “Signed, sealed, delivered, Baby, I’m yours!” It was a long journey, and sending her back was not an option. On the other hand, great granddad, a tall, distinguished businessman and a catechist in the Anglican church, was known to be a God-fearing man, so rather than cuss and carry on, I imagine that he bowed his head and asked Jesus to take the wheel. He eventually got over his shock and disappointment. Whether you choose a possible mate from some online site or shopping among your local pickins’,

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you should brace yourself. Surprises are inevitable. Still, you should have some idea of what you are looking for. Or at minimum, when you should run for the hills. Parents can be helpful sometimes: Just a quick heads-up for single ladies considering tying the knot with their beau. Fathers of all people can smell a rat or a sweet-talking, golddigging trickster a mile away. They know when their daughters are being conned; duped, and taken advantage of by a Johnny Slickster. Many of them know from experience, shall we say? Those who are aware of these moves tend to be very strict with the daughters. Some young ladies learn quickly, even though the messenger can be a little bumpy in their delivery at times. Nadia learned how to spot a huckster from her dad. At 35, she was just getting into serious dating after being focused on her career goals and building her duplex townhouse in a good New Providence community. When Jack, her new boyfriend, showed more interest in her after visiting her home on the hill, she didn’t pick up right away. It was days after their engagement when he suggested that they put their assets in both of their names that a warning light went off. Jack didn’t have any sound assets of his own other than a few taxi plates that barely made it to the road and the handful of gold-plated rope chains that peeped through his partially buttoned collared shirt. He still lived with his parents at 42 years of age and drove a refurbished sports convertible. It didn’t take Nadia long to tell Jack to hit the road and don’t turn back…no more. All that glitters is not gold: On the other hand, mothers also have a unique way of discerning the right and wrong friends for their children. Many young men have brought their girl home to mom for a quick assessment. Sometimes they get a nod; other times, they get a raised eyebrow or a harsh stare, and when really concerned, a cut eye followed by

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a suck teeth. A young man confided in his mother that he wasn’t sure the girl he was attracted to was the real deal after receiving several photos of extreme makeovers on social media. The transformation was startling. He was not a heart patient, but still, he wasn’t looking for a surprise after she washed her face and removed her attachments. While he didn’t have a problem with a woman taking care of herself and making general enhancements, he didn’t want to have a wife who had to sleep with her makeup on for his peace of mind. His mother’s advice was brief. She encouraged him to take the young lady for a swim in the ocean before he proposed. His mom believed that what was not naturally hers would hopefully wash away with the tide. He opted to ignore her suggestion and asked the lady directly, “Are you the one, or should I look for another?” Not all surprises are what you bargained for: An acquaintance shared her father’s story. Peter was a former military general in the South Pacific who had fallen in love with a local beauty. They dated for several months before he proposed. One morning he decided to surprise her with a visit. Not expecting him, she answered him behind the closed door, asking him to return after she had put on her makeup. This was ludicrous to him, they were from a modest culture, but they would soon be married. The lady reluctantly opened the door to her apartment. Not knowing what to expect, the man stumbled backward and ran away screaming. The only sound that blared in his pulsating head was, “Run, Peter, run!”His fiancé’s chest was flatter than usual. She had no eyebrows, short lashes, a receding hairline with thinning short hair, her flat face had virtually no lips, which was a stark contrast to her usual sumptuous lips, long lashes, sculpted face, and thick long hair. They never saw each other again. At a gathering, a father cautioned his son about his new girlfriend. He told him that she looked good and seemed P15

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Teri M. Bethel is a publisher and author of relationship enrichment books, Bahamian inspired romance, and adventure novels for children that share our islands’ history and culture. She is also an artist and purse making instructor. Her books and DVD tutorials are available where good books are sold in Eleuthera and New Providence and on Amazon.com. Teri and her husband have two adult sons. Website: www.inspirepublishing.org

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Advice - Marry Or Run

very intelligent but wanted to know how long he knew her. Did he know her people? The son was irritated, his family was difficult to please, but still, he asked his father why he had reservations about his new girlfriend. His father pulled him aside and told him that in all the years he’s had women, he’s never seen one with an adam’s apple. Are parents always right? But can parents go overboard with their assessments, and what is the consequence? Shirley was sure Margot was not the right girl for her only child, Jason. She gave him an ultimatum. It was either his girlfriend or his mother. Shirley added that if he did choose Margot, he was not welcomed in their home. More than ten years and two grandchildren later, Shirley was too proud to admit that she had made a mistake. Jason and Margot were happy and were raising two lovely children who never knew their grandparents. Albert was not happy about his last daughter Yasmine’s choice of a husband. Of his two daughters, he couldn’t figure why she couldn’t find a suitor like her sister, whose husband was well known in the community and came equipped with a great job and home. Her father didn’t consider character or potential, which was what Yasmine saw in her fiancé. When her sister’s marriage ended in domestic abuse and infidelity, Yasmine’s remained strong. After years of watching his oldest daughter’s marriage disintegrate, Albert conceded, Yasmin was a better judge of character than he was. While parents can and do offer helpful relationship insights to their children. It is important to instill values in them early to help them decide on a spouse. Can parents still offer their opinion? Absolutely, when it is requested. Once you have made your position clear, there is no point in destroying your relationship. Show them by example what a healthy relationship looks like. It is also helpful to give them the ideal plain-talking marriage preparation book to help them navigate their relationship decisions as adults before looking for a suitor.

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Feb/March, 2021

An Eleutheran Profile: Mr. Jackswell Percentie (72) BY elizabEth bryan

Mr. Jackswell Percentie. A tale of two lives, is Jackswell Percentie’s story. One of them, a wide path that led to unspeakable lows in character, behaviour and impact on both his own and other’s lives - the other, a narrow, rocky, uphill climb, out of the abyss of drug addiction and other abuses, criminal activity and destruction and into a life of repentance, redemption, self-discipline, faith, love, and continued hope. Jackswell sat down with ‘The Eleutheran’ on a Saturday afternoon in early March and shared his storied life and times of the past seven decades. “When I think of all these things I’ve experienced in my life and where I’ve been, I am truly grateful for where I am now, and wanted tell this story to be an encouragement to others, and I’m grateful to be available to help others.” A native of the picturesque, postcard-perfect island of Harbour Island in North Eleuthera, Jackswell was born to his mother, Jacquelyn Gertrude

“When I think of all these things I’ve experienced in my life and where I’ve been, I am truly grateful for where I am now, and wanted tell this story to be an encouragement to others, and I’m grateful to be available to help others.”

Percentie (nee Sawyer), and father, Victor Charles Percentie, on September 25th, in 1948. The eldest son, with nine younger siblings and an older sister, Jack grew up on the island during the post-World War II era. Hotels like ‘The Pink Sands’ and others were in full swing, and tourists even then, were the thing, on Harbour Island. “My dad was a musician, and worked at the famous Pink Sands Hotel, as a supervisor, as well as a vocalist and guitar player, and my mom, for most of her life, also worked at the Pink Sands, then she became a straw vendor, one of the original of Harbour Island,” shared Jack - looking back at some of his earliest memories. The dichotomy of the black and white economies that exist on the island and in the Bahamas today existed then as well, but he would only become consciously aware of racism, he said, when he hit New Providence, as a young teenager. “We lived in a very little house, and there were three rooms, with a little kitchen, a little bedroom, and a little living room. My earliest memories is that I slept on the floor on blankets, that’s what I knew - I didn’t know anything about the bed... “I remember at four years old, playing with and helping with my cousins and little sisters and brothers, but I left them and I went to school. I saw others and one of my big cousins - a year older than I was, going to school - so I said I was going to school too, with him. I was four years old then,” smiled Jack. He attended the Harbour Island All Age School, which in 1953 was just the one building on the top of the hill. “There were no separations, with all the classes in one room. I sat in the northern end of the schoolroom and could see all of the other classes. In going to school, I was a quick learner and caught on right away, and my parents were happy that I was going to school,” he shared. Going to the Methodist church and Sunday school was also a family tradition he took part in every week, said Jack. “In school, I had no problems, with a knack for picking up things quickly. I was always at the top of my class... I remember one teacher, Mrs. Francis Saunders, a very tall lady. She lived a few houses down from where I lived on Duke street. She was a very loving and still stern teacher - I remember I would hold her hand coming home from school with her, as she lived right there - those were early years. Later on, another teacher I remember was Mr. Neely the principal who was from Spanish Wells and then in my final years there was P. J. Bethel - he was a well-known teacher and historian. The grades back then - were class 1 to 4, and form 1 to 5, and you got there (form 5) by the time you were 14. Only if you had the know-how and attained a scholarship or had finances, you would get to go to senior high school/ college,” said Jack. By 1963 at the end of his all-age school tenure, he had achieved 5 BJC’s, and was, as he put it - ‘a little bit ahead of the average student’. As a young boy, Jack recalled his love for fishing, “I was a little fisherman - I loved to fish along the seashore for bonefish, grunts and shad, that was one of my greatest pastimes, fishing.” For a couple of summers, while still in all-age school he worked at Pink Sands helping with inventory along with his cousin Pablo Davis. “During my teenage years he lived here in our home, in my father’s house, which was bigger by then. My dad expanded the house, building onto and around the little house from my young childhood - he and my Uncle Humphrey Percentie.” Jack also remembered going out to the cays surrounding Harbour Island with them in a little boat, where they would collect rocks - some which his dad sold to Pink Sands. As early as five-years-old, Jack sometimes worked alongside his Dad at the hotel. As a musician, his dad would sing and play the guitar and the maracas, while he would dance. “I remember dancing for people like the actor Raymond Burr - from the program “Iron Side”. So, growing up, I knew about tourism and international people.” He said his Dad had wanted him to learn to play an instrument also, but he wasn’t interested. “I was a good student, but I was rebellious against what my dad wanted to teach me.” After completing all-age school, now a young teen, Jack with P18 no immediate options for senior high school in New Providence,

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said his first job was with the ‘road gang’. At the time, Jack spent time with cousins of his who attended the Catholic school in Harbour Island, and was introduced to some of the lay teachers there. This association, he said, caused him to be recommended for a scholarship to go into the private Catholic high schools in New Providence. So, at the age of 14, Jack arrived in New Providence, first attending Aquinas College for one year, St. Augustine’s College for two years, and then a final year at Aquinas College, before graduating from senior high school in 1967. In senior high school, Jack played basketball for the schools, and couldn’t recall losing any championships while there, he said, smiling. While in New Providence, he lived on McCullough Corner east, in the inner city, with an uncle, who was a policeman. It was a cross-cultural environment, he said, with many Haitian and Bahamian people living in the area. When his uncle was not at home, a Haitian lady by the name of Mary and her husband Charles were his guardians - who fed him and helped take care of him. While his years in senior high school were changing days for the Bahamas and the world, in terms of civil rights, voter rights, and the like, those events were on the margins of Jack’s daily life. The roots of his wide path towards destructive behaviour and criminal activity actually began as little seeds, when he was quite young. “I drank from when I was a little boy,” said Jack. “Family and older friends gave me beer and ginger ale, and beer and coke, and a little later the local nightclub was my thing... When I danced as a little boy - this was also a part of the hotel story - I stayed out late, my Dad didn’t send me home, so, I learned to drink early.” He shared that his drinking grew, to become a habit. “I drank all through, and it led to smoking. I didn’t like smoking at the beginning, but drinking and smoking went together. My smoking later on led to marijuana, which eventually led to me smoking crack cocaine.” The father of six children, five girls and one boy, Jack shared that one of the behaviours he took on for much of his life was the use and abuse of women. A character that would mar his early relationships, and in addition to his substance abuse, would wreak havoc on his marriage and family life, and his role as a parent. When Jack graduated from Aquinas, he had already become a young parent, fathering his two eldest daughters, in 1967, and 1968. His first job after graduating from high school began in July 1968 at Barclays Bank on East Bay, where he worked as a cashier. A lasting memory from that first year at work, said Jack, was being able to see the first Paradise Island bridge go up, as it was in the middle of being constructed at the time. Early in 1969, he was transferred to the Barclays Bank branch in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera. This was a short-lived period, but he remembered renting a car every weekend to go home to Harbour Island, and lived in the ‘old Gaitor’s residence’ in Governor’s Harbour, he said. He then went back to Nassau for a very short stint, before transferring to Freeport in late 1969 where he worked at the Barclays Bank branch on the Mall. Freeport, said Jack, was quite the experience - what he called, ‘the good days in Freeport’. He admittedly said he wasn’t paid much working

in the bank, but the job was considered prestigious, and you had to dress the part. He was there at Barclays for a few years, before again returning to Nassau for a short while. Then returned to Freeport, where he began to work for a company called PETCO (Grand Bahama Petroleum) - part owner of the Bahamas Oil Refinery and Chevron. It was then the mid1970’s. Jack would continue in Freeport for a number of years, playing ‘musical companies, as he dubbed it, working for the Sun Alliance Insurance Company, CitiBank, a night auditor for the King’s Inn Hotel, then at the Jack Tar Hotel in West End, Grand Bahama. Work life then, however, was just part of Jack’s story. Jack married his first wife, Monica from West End, while in Grand Bahama. He and his family lived in Freeport, and then in West End. He and Monica were blessed with two children together, a daughter and a son. It was during his time in Grand Bahama, as a young father and husband, said Jack, that he graduated from his long-time habit of drinking and smoking cigarettes, to using marijuana, and later to smoking crack cocaine and also selling the drug. “I was in Freeport ‘Fun City’, when the cocaine started raining from the sky. This isn’t talked about much in our history - they talk about the boats and planes and Norman’s Cay, but I’ve never heard the account of how it came to Grand Bahama. “I quickly didn’t want to work. I tried to become a big player - selling while in Grand Bahama and at times in Nassau, Harbour Island and all over Eleuthera, selling the cocaine. There was so much going around. A lot of persons I know, actually got their start by selling cocaine. “In Grand Bahama - planes crashed, touched down in West End. One time they were bringing it off the runway in wheelbarrows - even my in-laws had the stuff, and I got duffel bags full. I dealed and used the cocaine - so I wasn’t successful in saving anything. I used and abused the cocaine to the fullest - almost killing myself in the process - I had no work in mind. “I lost my wife, and also my children, I lost them I realized I was fully addicted,” Jack detailed. These events, he said, led up to some of his absolutely worst years - 1977 to 1987. Ten years of being totally lost. “All I did was use and abuse everyone and anyone... I was involved in pushing drugs to locals and tourists, stealing and robbing, forging cheques, wheeling and dealing - to satisfy my drug addiction. “I was in a crack house in Nassau, and I also had a bar in Harbour Island that I used as a crack house, as well as an avenue to sell drugs, gamble, and for prostitution. When I got into any sort of trouble, I would go to another island, back to Nas-

Mr. Jackswell Percentie. sau, or back to Freeport.” Off and on, Jack said, he would try to go back into his family’s lives, but it never worked out. He would go back to using drugs, and was also unfaithful - one of the main reasons he said, he and his wife separated. He also fathered two daughters outside of his marriage during these years. By 1984, he shared that he was divorced and living in Harbour Island - still addicted to, and using cocaine. As a former high school basketball player, he was involved with the local community league basketball program, as both a player and a coach with a team called the ‘Trailblazers’. He recalled travelling with them to New Providence, and winning an Independence tournament, as the national Division 1 champions, but he admitted, that was not the whole story. A lot of the players, he said didn’t know that he was both using and selling crack cocaine. Unfortunately, though, Jack shared that one of his biggest regrets today was having introduced some of his players to crack - and over the years he has seen a number of them pass away. As time continued, serious low points were being lived. “I was on the streets using in Nassau especially - chasing after the drugs. In Grand Bahama I lived in the ghetto selling drugs - living a life of sometimes no return - a sick life.” He entered the Sandilands Rehabilitation center several times, but with no lasting success, and said he became ‘sick and tired of being sick and tired’. In 1988, the first shards of light began to glimmer at the end of the twisted tunnel he had fallen into, when he met a lady by the name of Dorothea Evans, who took him to a rehabilitation center in Tennessee, called New Life Lodge. It should have been a 30-day program, said Jack, however he ended up staying on for 11 months. That time was described as the beginning of his life of sobriety. “While in Tennessee, I had a few of the basketball players come to the center also for treatment - one of them successfully received treatment, unfortunately another is still P19 abusing drugs to this day.”

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Upon his return to Harbour Island and while still having many challenges, he started Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings there. While he had begun to tackle one of his major behavioural challenges, Jack said that he was still an abuser of women, involved in many relationships and was not truthful to himself or others. He went to Nassau and joined the newly opened ‘The Haven’ on Mackey Street. “I was one of the first students. It was a Christian center - and part of it was going to church and doing bible study and I began to find out who I was, my purpose, and that using drugs and hurting any and everything was not the way. “I stayed at the Haven and my work ethics improved - I remember working as a gardener for Pastor Rex Major. We attended Grace Community Church, and I became a member of the men’s fellowship at Grace, became a teacher at the Awana program, and quickly became a supervisor and counsellor at The Haven with a duty to supervise the new men coming in. I did this for a few years.” Sharing the steps along his journey to renewal, he continued, “We would visit other churches taking the message of hope to other people as well as to other institutions. One person who was very instrumental and had a profound impact on my life, was doctor David Allen, a director and founder of The Haven - which was an offshoot of ‘His Mansion Ministries’ in New Hampshire, USA. Through him I was able to visit there at one time to receive a six-week Christian counselling course on drug education and prevention. “After ‘The Haven’ I worked at Cher Cheshire Home, a residence for disabled persons on Dolphin Drive in Nassau. That was a prestigious job for me. Dr. David Allen got me that job. There were recovering addicts there and I would accompany Dr. Allen to workshops to tell my story about how I used to be on alcohol, and cocaine, treatment and what it took for me to beat that addiction, with rehab and being involved in church and positive programs. “While managing Cher Cheshire home for a year, which was run by a non-profit then, the disabled persons there - I cooked and cleaned for them, and took them where they needed to go. And I lived right there on premises. The job really built up my self-esteem.” Jack’s son, who was attending the College of the Bahamas at that time, came to stay with him at the home for a while, he said. After that year, the home was taken over by another

organization, and Jack was offered a different job - one, he said, that was a blessing and a miracle. It was now 1993, and according to him, he had only been sober a few years then, but he was given the opportunity to be a ‘male nurse’ and butler at the private home of the Tomlinson family, called ‘High Tor’ also known as the Balmoral Club on Prospect Ridge in New Providence. The owners were elderly, and Mr. Tomlinson had recently fallen, injured his leg, and needed assistance. So, Jackswell went to work - his duties also included chauffeuring the couple and babysitting the grandchildren when they visited. The position provided him with a comfortable place to reside, as a ‘live-in’ job, and his duties were evenings, nights and weekends. Dr. Allen, said Jack, was also instrumental in him landing this position, and he expressed how grateful he was to Allen for teaching him about counseling and teaching him about God’s Love. Jack would go on to work with the Tomlinson’s for the next eleven years of his life, until 2004, when Mr. Tomlinson passed on, and his wife moved to another residence in New Providence. In 1994, just a year into working with the Tomlinson’s, with his days available to him, Jack was hired by the Ministry of Health as a ‘Community Outreach Officer’ at the National Drug Council, where he again worked with Dr. David Allen as well as Ezekiel Munnings. He and his colleagues worked in the inner cities - with people who were using and abusing alcohol and others. Jack recalled the genesis of the ‘Say No To Drugs, Say Yes To Life’ program, where the Council, in partnership with the US Embassy/DEA and the Police, would go into the schools presenting the message of ‘Say No To Drugs’. He also took part in the summer program started by the National Drug Council, which had people coming in to present positive messages to children over the course of several weeks during the long school break. Today, when people who were children back then, remember the ‘Say No To Drugs’ program, Jack said he is touched. Throughout what he termed as the ‘drug epidemic’ in the Bahamas, he recalled, the ‘Say No To Drugs’ program developed and evolved to where the Bahamas won awards. Community policing, and the current police summer programs, he opined, came out of the National Drug Council’s program. “I still do this program today and try to help persons in the community,” he shared. “Now that I’m no longer with the Ministry I don’t speak as much, but I still try to help.”

All those years, working in New Providence, while he was sober, and had changed his work ethic and outlook on life drastically, Jack admitted that he still carried with him, the addiction of using people. “I didn’t take drugs and said I was a Christian. I was still out there doing work, in the community, still pretending to be a Christian, and still sober, but was still not right - my commitment and dedication to God was still questionable,” he said. It was a funeral event, shared Jack, that he attended at Bahamas Faith Ministries (BFM) - while there, he had what he described as a ‘spiritual awakening’. “I was crying and was almost uncontrollable, and I knew that something had changed in me, and I committed to stop lying, and abusing women in particular, and to really work for God. Immediately after that my life really changed.” Jack met his wife, Zoeann Darville Percentie, who has been at his side now for 12 years, a short time after the year was 2005. “I met my wife, a beautiful lady - and she gave me a chance to convince her that God had chosen her for me.” The couple wed and Jack described them doing ministry together at Grace Community church, and after moving back to Harbour Island around 2007, doing ministry together at the Wesley Methodist church. “God was truly with me all the time - I didn’t always make good decisions and if not for my wife, I may still have been lost,” said Jack. “Now, I still counsel, I do the AA program and God continues to bless and strengthen me. My motto is I love God, because God first loved me. I work in the church and search and seek to know God’s will, to be an example as a married person - to show those who are still using that God has a plan for us. To receive that holy spirit gift that He has given us. God - I rely and depend on Him for everything... When I used and abused my own family and those times, I pretended to be a Christian - I try to live the things I’ve been talking

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about. I try to walk the walk.” At the age of 65, after working at the Ministry of Health with the National Drug Council for 20 years (13 while in New Providence, and another 7 in Harbour Island), retirement came. Although now retired, Jack said he still works with individuals, and is always available to speak - about his personal experiences, God’s miraculous work in his life, and the importance of staying away from drugs. Lauding the work of his colleague who recently passed away, the late Reverend Godfrey Bethell - Jack highlighted the positive impact of the Celebrate Recovery Center that Reverend Bethell helped to build, and what a great program that had been for the community. Jack also continues to work with the Police and through the Courts in Harbour Island. “Persons using marijuana - first timers come to me for counseling - and they are allowed to go to treatment and come back under my guidance,” he shared. “Today I am thankful and very grateful to God, my wife, my family, and grateful that God has allowed me to live this long.” To today’s young people, Jack said, “Study, and know the Word of God - the manual for our lives - read and study. Children must be educated on the facts of what would and could happen if you use drugs. You do not play with it or test it - the first use can do it,” he warned. “Know what you are drinking, take care of your body, and know what you are putting into it. Go to bed early, stay well nourished, and keep your surroundings clean. Be disciplined, and carefully listen to your parents and elders.” Jack also emphasized that the Alcoholics Anonymous program is still ongoing in Harbour Island, and reminded, “Through AA there are people to help with counseling and options for treatment. There is help and there is hope!”

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Springing Up: Farmers Markets in Rock Sound, Governor’s Harbour and Harbour Island

The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, recently launched the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021 (IYFV) with an appeal to improve healthy and sustainable food production through innovation and technology and to reduce food loss and waste. He proclaimed at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, that IYFV 2021 is dedicated to raising awareness about the impor-

tant role of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition, food security and health. FAO, the lead agency for celebrating the year in collaboration with other organizations, launched the year with an international virtual event. Independent of this proclamation but with a similar spirit, in Eleuthera, Spring season 2021 in The EleuthP22

In the photos: Art work, produce and craft were some of the many items on offer in Governor’s Harbour. Pictured above is Mrs. Fernander vending artwork by Eula Bourne. Left is Ms. Munnings and below are a sampling of her musthave bags.

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Deep-sea drilling threatens

our deep ocean habitats too “Sadly, most Bahamians are unaware of the diverse and rich animal communities that live far beyond the sunlit shallow waters of the Bahamas.” Above: A brittle star clinging on to a bubble-gum coral found off Eleuthera by CEI scientists.

Above: A field of deep-sea corals at 5,900 ft off of Florida, courtesy of NOAA. By Dr. Nick Higgs The Bahamas is at a crossroads in our history. Like the rest of the world, we need to rethink our relationship with fossil fuels. As the risks of climate change become an ever more real and present danger to our country, Bahamians must seek a sustainable future. Two symbolic events have brought this need into sharp focus: the destruction unleashed by hurricane Dorian

and the drilling operations for oil in the southern Bahamas. Dorian presents an ominous warning of what the future might hold if nations do not curb their use of fossil fuels, especially oil and gas. At the same time The Bahamas has been flirting with becoming an oil producing nation. A test-well was recently drilled in the southwest Bahamas at the end of 2020 but failed to show commercially viable quantities of oil. Leading up to this drilling, environmental organisations have been warning about the potential for damage to our environment if there was an oil spill. There has been much concern about potential impacts on fisheries, reefs and beaches, but one of the most threatened habitats is our deep-ocean ecosystems. Indeed, the major environmental impacts of the recent test-well have been on the seabed ecosystems surrounding the drill site. What are these deep-ocean ecosystems that I am talking about? Sadly, most Bahamians are unaware of the diverse and rich animal communities that live far beyond the sunlit shallow waters of the Bahamas. The Cape Eleuthera Institute has been exploring this deep-sea world over the last few years and shining a light on its inhabitants. I was lucky enough to go down in a submersible and see this world for myself in 2019. The deep seabed hosts rich coral reefs, different than those in the shallows but equally stunning. Deep-water corals can be hundreds of

years old, some of the oldest known animals alive. They provide homes for an array of weird and wonderful animals, many of which are species new to science. Beds of sponges and sea fans in the deep sea may hold the key to new drugs and antibiotics. The muddy and sandy deep seafloor can be as diverse as a tropical rainforest. These habitats are also home to deep water snapper and golden crab, species that provide food for humans. It is these deep-water habitats that are most at risk for oil extraction in The Bahamas. The Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) own environmental impact assessment estimates that over 80 tons of drilling muds and cuttings have been deposited on the seafloor, as well as 98,000 gallons of seawater-based drilling fluids disposed overboard from the rig during the drilling operations. Animals living around this well will have been smothered by inches of mud and it can be expected that heavy metal contamination may extend for a third of a mile around the well. These are not hypothetical impacts. They have happened. Because life moves at a slower pace in the colder deep waters, recovery from these impacts can take much longer than in shallow waters. A large-scale spill like that seen at the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 is improbable but lingers large in the public consciousness. Most people don’t realize that between 50-75% of the oil released in that event remained underwater and about a third of it ended up polluting the deep seabed. Scientific expeditions to the oil-well area found significant and lasting impacts on the ecosystem at least 7 years after the blowout event. The seabed was still visibly contaminated with oil and its by-products, with no way to clean it up. The most worrying aspect of developing an oil extraction industry in The Bahamas is that the deep-sea ecosystems and potential impacts on them are largely out of sight. We rely on the operators themselves for information and there is no easy way of carrying out independent investigations. The Bahamas just doesn’t have the scientific infrastructure to monitor this work. BPC has undertaken video surveys of the drill site, but these have not been made available to scientists. Likewise, the wider area remains unexplored. If an incident were to have occurred in December, we would have no baseline information to understand potential impacts. The Bahamas must take a precautionary approach in its use of natural resources. The deep-sea holds many other prospects: mineral resources, medicinal resources as well as the next level of tourism experiences. We need greater exploration and documentation of our deep-sea habitats before we can even contemplate exploitation. This is something that we are working on at The Cape Eleuthera Institute and we are committed to making this deep ocean world more accessible to all Bahamians.

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eras has ushered in the start of Farmers Markets across the islands, with weekly and daily options of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as local crafts and wares now available from north to south. Every Friday in Harbour Island, under the famed Fig Tree on Bay Street, the local Ministry of Tourism (MOT) there has relocated and rebranded the beginning of the weekend as the time for visiting ‘The Farmer’s Market’ - held each week from 9am to 5pm. Vendors from both Harbour Island and across the Eleuthera

mainland take part, and the response, said June Dean, local MOT Manager, has been wonderful, with visitor support growing weekly. Residents are excited and very supportive as well, she shared. On offer each Friday, is fresh produce, seasoned fruits, local foods, local arts, jewelry, as well as paintings and more. In the center of mainland Eleuthera, in the capital township of Governor’s Harbour, residents and visitors can also find fresh produce, local wares, beautifully handcrafted designer straw bags, local herbs and spices, fresh fruit daiquiris, locally crafted

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ter for Training and Innovation (CTI), residents and visitors can find the One Eleuthera Community Farm, open daily, from Monday to Friday - at 9am to 4pm, offering a variety of fresh greens, like kale, collard greens, beets, radishes, arugula, spanish thyme, rosemary, grape tomatoes, plus more - as well as cage-free eggs by the dozen. The options are varied as well as close by, no matter where you are across the lengthy expanse of The Eleutheras. Enjoy fresh produce, and the creative works and flavours of local artisans. An excerpt from the FAO Press Release: “While noting the challenges

in improving production and agri-food chains, the FAO Director-General encouraged countries to see the International Year as an opportunity to improve infrastructure, and farming practices thereby supporting small scale farmers. He emphasized fruits and vegetables were a good way for farmers to create cash crops”.

furniture and much more at the Farmer’s Market by ‘The Teakettle’ location on Cupid’s Cay - held each week on Thursdays and Fridays, from 10am to 4pm. Further south, just north of the Rock Sound township, on the grounds of the Cen-

Left: Mr. Kelly a farmer in North Eleuthera is shown here with some of his fresh produce at the Farmer’s Market in Harbour Island. Mr. Kelly’s products are also available at the Farmer’s Market in Governor’s Harbour Below: Mrs. Evans vends goods crafted and food items blended all locally made.

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Above: The Farmers Market in Harbour Island has been rebranded and relocated by the local Ministry of Tourism Office. It now takes place every Friday at the Fig Tree on Bay Street, beginning at 9am and going on until 5pm. Vendors from Harbour Island as well as the Eleuthera mainland offer a variety of fresh produce, seasoned fruits, local foods and baked goods, local arts, handcrafted jewelry, as well as paintings and much more. (Photos courtesy of Harbour Island Ministry of Tourism. Featured: At the bottom right of the photos above is Mr. Harvey Roberts, artist and photographer extraordinaire, at his stall dubbed, “You Come To Get You Ey?” - where locals can find photos from the 1970’s to today of people and places around Harbour Island - classic Briland moments.

In the photos: Shown left are two locally crafted accent tables (sold!) and above is a delicious serving of Conch Fritters sitting on a locally made serving tray - all at the Farmers market in Governor’s Harbour. On the right are just a sample of the expanding line of goods offered by OCTIS Organics.

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Nurses Seminar aimed to Tackle Workplace Communication Mrs. Bianca Edwards, a locally well known registered nurse, currently based in North Eleuthera, who is also a certified lactation counselor, Zumba instructor, and integrative health coach, was tasked with identifying a challenge within the institution she is employed in - as a final requirement to complete her master’s degree program with a specialization in Nursing Administration. The challenge identified by Nurse Edwards was the lack of effective communication, in particular within Family Island clinics. So, on Saturday, February 12th, 2021, she brought together sixty medical professionals, educators, other private organizations, wellwishers, family and friends in a hybrid face-toface and online seminar - hosted at the Wellness Center in Palmetto Point, to empower, equip and provide participants, colleagues, and stakeholders with the necessary knowledge and tools to strengthen their workplace communication. The seminar’s guest speaker was Aubynette Rolle, a certified John C. Maxwell Trainer, Coach, and DISC Personality Trainer and consultant, licensed to teach various management and leadership courses. The four-hour seminar on Saturday was described by participants as engaging, inspiring, motivating and stimulating, shared Edwards, who added, “The true measure of success will be determined when participants return to their working environment and do their part to strengthen communication there.” Edwards expressed a special thanks to all of her colleagues who assisted in supporting to make the seminar a success, including: Nurse Cambridge, Nurse Bunch, and Nurse Saunders.

Above: In person participants at the Nurses communication seminar hosted at the Wellness Center in Palmetto Point. Below: Attendees stand with guest speaker, Aubynette Rolle (center).

PUBLIC NOTICE- CERTIFICATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE (CEC) APPLICATION

In an effort to ensure Environmental Sustainability, the Government of The Bahamas enacted the Environmental Planning and Protection Regulations in 2020. Part of this legislation mandates that all projects (including those needing a building permit of any kind) must first obtain a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) from the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP). Prior to applying for a building permit, applicants should download and complete Form A and Form B here: https://www.depp.gov.bs/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Environmental-Clearence-Application.pdf https://www.depp.gov.bs/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Application-for-preliminary-review-of-proposed-projects.pdf The completed forms must be submitted via email to Eleuthera@depp.gov.bs after which DEPP will review and respond. For additional information, persons can visit https://depp.gov.bs/ Above: Nurse Cambridge and Nurse Edwards.

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The Eleutheran

Farewell reception for RBDF Senior Enlisted included Eleutheran, Terrance Culmer

Photo caption: Petty Officer Terrance Culmer receiving a token of appreciation on February 19th, 2021, for his services to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. Shown from left are: Chief Petty Officer Antoine Adams, president of the Warrant Officers and Senior Rates Mess; Chief Petty Officer Edgar Munroe, Petty Officer Culmer and Force Chief Petty Officer Marcello Charlow. (RBDF Photo by Able Seaman Fredrick Russell) Retired Petty Officer Terrance Culmer, a native of Savannah Sound, Central Eleuthera, was presented with accolades during a farewell reception at HMBS CORAL HARBOUR on February 19th, 2021. After serving the organization for nearly a quarter century, he was recognized for his dedicated services during a brief presentation by Chief Petty Officer Antoine Adams, president of the Warrant Officers and Senior Rates Mess. Also, in attendance on behalf of Base Engineering Officer Lieutenant Commander Gordon Roberts, were Engineering Warrant Officer Marcello Charlow and his team of Senior Enlisted. Petty Officer Culmer was a member of Entry 30, having joined as

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a Marine Recruit in April 1995. He officially retired on February 15th, 2021, after serving the organization for approximately 25 years. After a brief tenure in the Squadron Department, he was assigned to the Engineering Department in 2004, where he served as an Air Condition and Refrigeration technician until his retirement. He is also an avid sportsman, and was a member of the RBDF Floaters softball team dynasty. The Officers and Marines of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force thanked him for his many years of service, and extended Bravo Zulu to him, and a successful transition into civilian life.

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Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve Celebrates 10 Years on Eleuthera culture. In April 2019, the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve became the first institution in The Bahamas to be designated as an accredited Botanic Garden by Botanic Gardens Conservation International. This tier of accreditation recognizes institutions for their achievements in plant conservation.To receive this distinguished designation, a botanic garden must have: documented collections, public access, an education program, research capacity, and a long-term strategic plan, among other things. The Preserve’s long-range plans include providing support for tertiary level research in both botany and plant taxonomy, mentorship programs, and partnerships with regional institutions to promote plant conservation. Levy Preserve founder, Shelby White. (Photo by Chris Johnson) The Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve (LLNPP), an historic national park managed by the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) on the island of Eleuthera, celebrates its ten-year anniversary this March 24. Founded by Shelby White in honor of her late husband Leon Levy, the LLNPP is a living part of Bahamian history. It is the fulfillment of the vision of Shelby and Leon, who both loved the natural environment and way of life on Eleuthera. After Leon’s passing in 2003, Shelby wanted to honour her husband and his intereset in the preservation of the local bush medicine culture among Eleutherans. As such, through funding from the Leon Levy Foundation, the LLNPP was created. It is the first and only national

park on Eleuthera.

Ten years on, the LLNPP continues to make significant strides

in conserving Bahamian flora and fauna, promoting opportunities for people to enjoy nature, and fostering the wellbeing of local communities on the island of Eleuthera. To celebrate a decade of environmental conservation, the LLNPP will host an open house on March 24. Admission to the Preserve will be free. The LLNPP and the BNT invite the public to celebrate with them. For this event, all appropriate COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place to ensure the safety of visitors. To learn more about the role that the BNT plays to manage terrestrial and marine national parks, protect species that inhabit them, and inform environmental policy, please visit its website: www.bnt.bs, and follow/subscribe to various social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Located in Governor’s Harbour, the LLNPP spans 30 acres and serves as a research center for traditional bush medicine; a facility for the propagation of indigenous plants and trees; and an educational center focusing on the importance of native vegetation to the biodiversity of The Bahamas. The LLNPP offers visitors the opportunity to explore trails through wetlands and native coppice where native orchids and broad leafed hardwoods can be viewed in their natural habitat. Special areas highlight medicinal plants, that are used in traditional Bahamian “bush medicine “ and plants that are part of our edible history providing a unique insight into Bahamian

Wetland scape at the Levy Preserve. (Heather Carey Photography)

Welcome entrance at the LLNPP. (Heather Carey Photography)

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The Eleutheran

Face-to-Face Instruction Returns to Schools in Eleuthera, Abaco, Exuma and New Providence

student body began blended on-campus classes on February 23rd. Principal at Emma Cooper primary, Vernitta Thompson, commented that everything had gone smoothly during the first few weeks of face-to-face instruction, “There have been no hiccups, and the children are excited - even the grade ones and preschoolers. We’ve had one or two parents apprehensive about their children returning, and we had to make some adjustments to the shifts and breaks system, but the teachers and I are very happy to have them back. After P30

Above: Students at the Central Eleuthera High School receiving Math instruction, face-to-face. As public schools in New Providence, Exuma, Eleuthera and Abaco opened and students returned to the classroom for in-person learning beginning February 23rd, 2020, Director of Education, Dr. Marcellus Taylor, appealed to parents to communicate with school officials and work together as a team for a successful transition. “We know that challenges will exist,” said Director Taylor. “Colleagues in Grand Bahama, Andros and other islands that have engaged in face-to-face [learning] can attest to this but they have been able to meet the challenges because in those areas they have worked together as a team. I don’t see why in New Providence, Eleuthera, Exuma and Abaco we cannot do the same. Every stakeholder has a role to play. The Department of Education and the Ministry of Education (MOE) are doing our part to make the schools safe and to provide quality education for our children. We call on you to do your part in ensuring that this endeavor is successful.”

The MOE hosted a press conference Monday, February 22nd, 2021 at its headquarters on University Drive to announce plans for the operation of face-to-face instruction for the aforementioned islands. Senior education officials in attendance included: Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary; Serethea Clarke, Undersecretary; Julian Anderson and Sharon Poitier, Deputy Directors of Education. The Ministry closed its school doors on Monday, March 16th, 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, February 23rd, most of the MOE schools in New Providence, Abaco, Eleuthera and Exuma, opened using a hybrid model. Several primary schools on mainland Eleuthera, like Emma Cooper primary in Palmetto Point, did a test run with just their grade six students coming onto campus, for the first time in almost one year, on Thursday, February 18th, ahead of the midterm weekend, before the entire

Language Arts teacher at Central Eleuthera High School discussing literature with a 7th grade half-capacity class of students.

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Students return to their classrooms albeit in smaller groups and with strict guidelines

all, what is school, without the children?” At the Central Eleuthera High School, children could be seen filing onto campus early on Tuesday morning, February 23rd, 2021, as teachers welcomed their junior and senior students back to campus. Strict health safety measures were in place and the morning school assembly looked very different, with students occupying a much larger area of the school grounds, to comply with physical distancing procedures now in place. Central Eleuthera High School principal, Mrs. Marie Galanis, at the end of the second week since the return to on-campus instruction, shared that she was pleased so far with how it was all working out at the school. The second week of school had more students in attendance than the first week, she said, indicating that parents with initial concerns were working through those, and feeling more confident. Teachers at the school, early on, also would have had concerns, said principal Galanis, however, with the school safety measures in place, teachers were happy to now have students face-to-face, and were comfortable with the smaller class sizes. During the February 22nd press conference, Director Marcellus Taylor highlighted, “We want to be very clear that schools opened in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas on October 5, 2020. At that time most of the schools opened using a virtual platform. However, a number of schools across the Commonwealth of The Bahamas were face-to-face from day one. Islands such as Cat Island in the MICAL District and Grand Bahama were face-to-face since then. What we are doing at this point is permitting the final batch of schools to engage in some form of face-to-face instruction.” The three models presented by the MOE are: face-to face, hybrid, and remote/virtual learning. “The preferred model for us is face-to face. As much as we can move towards face-to-face that is our intent. We will ensure that our students and teachers and all involved in the education enterprise are safe during the COVID-19 era. But we will never forget what our main remit is, which is to provide quality

educational services,” said Mr. Taylor. The MOE, he added, is guided by a Strategic Plan for the Safe Reopening of Schools - produced at the beginning of the new school year - which outlines health and safety measures, and engaged more than 3,000 stakeholders who assisted in finalizing its completion. In preparation for the opening of schools, the MOE undertook, intensive training of stakeholders including janitorial staff, implemented a system of daily checks for school bus operators with help of support staff, as well as the procurement of high quality, commercial grade cleaning agents and other supplies. Taylor pointed out that, under the hybrid model, students will attend school on a reduced schedule but are expected to engage in learning activities when not in school. “The learning activities when the students are remote will be either delivered virtually just as they were in recent weeks and/ or students receiving work from their teachers to take home with them so they can work on it while they are away from school. “This is very key and critical and we want parents to be aware of this so you are cooperating with the schools, sending your child to school on the days when they are supposed to be there, and also on the days when they are not supposed to be there, making the appropriate arrangements.” The Director remarked that under the health and safety protocols, the Ministry of Health has mandated that not more than 50 per cent of the student population is in school at any time. The Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd, Minister of Education, said in order to determine the best way to transition schools in respective islands from remote/virtual learning, to face-to-face instruction, executives in the Department of Education engaged in internal and external consultations and received information from districts and schools that had already returned to face-to-face instruction. “What that team learned in effect was that the Ministry needed to address several critical areas: health and safety,

Above: Physical distancing and masks now the norm in school classrooms.

Above: School morning assembly taking up a much larger space than usual. building equipment and supplies, staffing, transportation, training and care of students. To a very large extent these factors have not only been considered, but addressed. Where they haven’t been that particular school will not recommence face-to-face instructions until they are,” said Minister Lloyd. In order to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 virus, parents and guardians are asked to do the following: • Ensure that the student’s body temperature is below 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. • Monitor for possible Covid-19 related symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, loss of sense of smell or taste, sore throat or a continual dry cough. • Ensure that each child has a

face mask and if available, a personal hand sanitizer. If these symptoms present for students or staff members, or if either a student or staff member has had close contact with a person diagnosed with Covid-19, they are required to remain at home and to seek the appropriate medical advice. To assist with the safe return of students to their respective schools and to ensure that each school is able to manage their administrative and instructional functions, parents and guardians are requested to adhere to the details as advised by their child’s school.

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Caribbean Tourism Leader Lauds Women’s Contributions to Fighting COVID-19 Caribbean women are being celebrated for their tremendous efforts in helping the region’s countries and territories combat and recover from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. In a statement marking International Women’s Day on March 8, 2021, Vanessa Ledesma, Acting CEO and Director General of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), called for a greater commitment to equality, asserting that Caribbean women have been at the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, working tirelessly to ensure hotel and tourism facilities and communities remain safe and secure during the pandemic. “Our colleagues in the tourism and hospitality sectors are exemplary and effective

Vanessa Ledesma, Acting CEO and Director General of the CHTA leaders in protecting our destinations and strengthening our communities during this extraordinary time,” Ledesma stated. “Many of them worked with significantly reduced resources for much of the pandemic … they should be recognized alongside their colleagues in health care, caregiving, and community organizing for their effective mobilization to resist the pandemic.” Observing this year’s theme, “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”, Ledesma noted that while the tourism sector in the Caribbean has made strides in recognizing the value of women, more remains to be done to build an effective enabling environment for women to assume more leadership positions: “The responses of the region’s tourism sector to the crisis reinforce our contention that the different experi-

The Eleutheran

ences, perspectives and skills women bring to the table strengthened markedly the Caribbean containment of the novel coronavirus.” According to the United Nations, the majority of countries that have been more successful in stemming the tide of COVID-19 and responding to its health and broader socioeconomic impacts are headed by women. For instance, Heads of Government in Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, New Zealand and Slovakia have been widely recognized for the rapidity, decisiveness and effectiveness of their national response to COVID-19, as well as the compassionate communication of fact-based public health information. Despite these impressive facts, women are Heads of State and Government in only 20 countries worldwide, with only a handful of females holding such positions in the Caribbean. Ledesma noted that gender diversity at all levels of management and leadership positions also provides competitive advantages. “This has been confirmed during the pandemic response, so we need to create the right conditions to ensure the outstanding contribution of women to the health and safety of the region will be enlisted and installed in the highest executive levels of hospitality and tourism organizations,” she stated, adding that CHTA continues to invest in the next generation of female leaders through its Young Leaders Forum initiative. According to the CHTA leader it is time to move “forward together” beyond COVID-19: “We have to tap into the wealth of experience and strength women have displayed during this global crisis, and we must ensure the perspectives of women are integrated into the formulation and implementation of policies and programs at all stages of the ongoing pandemic response as well as our recovery.”

Central Bank Announces Additional Sand Dollar Authorised Financial Institutions

The Central Bank of The Bahamas advises the public that three additional financial institutions have completed the Sand Dollar cybersecurity assessment. These organisations are now authorised to distribute the digital currency and have earned the designation Sand Dollar authorised financial

institution (AFI). The Bank of The Bahamas and the Teachers and Salaried Workers’ Cooperative Credit Union are the first clearing bank and credit union authorised to participate in the Sand Dollar space. Both institutions will use the Sand Dollar app. Island Pay, a payment services provider, has met the

requirements to offer Sand Dollar services through its proprietary mobile application. These three institutions are finalising internal procedures and will begin offering Sand Dollar services to the public within the first or second quarter of 2021. Recent surveys document that the public requires assurances around the safety of conducting online transactions. As such, all Sand Dollar AFIs are required to complete robust and intensive cybersecurity assessments by an independent international firm before receiving approval to offer Sand Dollar services or integrate the Central Bank’s digital currency with their custom applications. This cybersecurity assessment evaluates AFIs’ custom apps, the

overall security postures of the businesses, and reviews the coding practices applied in application development. Further, the Sand Dollar platform has also undergone a rigorous and independent cybersecurity assessment. Additionally, Sand Dollarintegrated wallets are enabled with multi-factor authentication features. All mobile devices are required to support a device passcode or biometrics to access the app and complete transactions. These, of course, will be supplemented by the due care and attention that each digital payment user will be required to observe for all transactions that they undertake.

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Picture This - Literacy Week at Samuel Guy Pinder All Age School Literacy Week this year at the Samuel Guy Pinder All Age School was quieter than earlier years, when the entire school body would take to the main roads of Spanish Wells, parading in colorful costumes of storybook characters, with elaborately designed banners for each class. However, Principal Gibson, shared that activities still continued at the school during the week of February 8th to 12th, with a Pajama Day, a Wacky Dress Up Day, and parents coming in to read to the different classes throughout the week. Teachers and students also dressed up as storybook characters on different days, with lots of storytelling time fun.

Above, below and on bottom of facing page: Students, parents, teachers and staff at the Samuel Guy Pinder All Age School all took part in a number of in-school activities during Literacy Week, celebrated at the school during the week of February 8th to 12th. In lieu of the character parade, students and parents are shown in their story book characters, pajamas or wacky dress up day costumes and outfits. Parents and students are also shown reading favourite books to various classes during the course of the week.

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In Memory of

Reverend Godfrey Bethell (1949 - 2021):

On Saturday morning, February 6th, 2021, Reverend Dr. Godfrey Anthony Bethell of Palmetto Point, Eleuthera passed away at the age of 71. He had been hospitalized earlier in January 2021 after suffering a stroke, and received treatment in hospital in New Providence until his passing three weeks later. Since his ordination as a Minister with the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church in 2000, Reverend Bethell served in many churches, and was serving as Director of Worship and Fellowship Minister at Ascension Methodist Church in New Providence at the time of his passing. He was laid to rest at St. Margaret’s View Cemetery in Palmetto Point, Eleuthera on Saturday, February 20th, 2021. OBITUARY A TIME TO BE BORN: The late Milton Howitt (“Brah”) and Albertha Louise Bethell (nee: Heastie) welcomed their 5th child, Godfrey Anthony, into the world on October 15th, 1949. “Brah” was given the task of registering Godfrey’s birth, but accidently put his as September 15th, 1949. (Oops!) Godfrey always joked that he didn’t care what “Brah” put on the birth certificate, because his mother should know when he was born. Nevertheless, throughout his life, he bragged about having two birthdays. Godfrey and his ten siblings (who were very closely knitted) began their childhood years in Chippingham, followed by West Street, East Street, and Gibbs Corner; before finally settling on Cockburn Street, Fox Hill, where the family homestead remains today. Their mother, being a housewife for the majority of their lives, lovingly tended to and nurtured her children in a Christian environment; some of whom followed her in the Anglican faith, while others followed their father in the Methodist faith.

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bourne) at a Jaycee’s International Conference in Grand Bahama The short courtship ended in them being united in Holy Matrimony on September 29th, 1988. Godfrey’s five children from previous marriages and Elmena’s three children from a previous marriage blended well as they welcomed to their union another child. This family became an example of how a blended family should function, as there was unity, love, laughter, fun, discipline from all sides, and no favouritism was shown (even though each child will say he/she is the favourite). Based on Godfrey’s and Elmena’s closely knitted families, they desired the same for theirs, and such was achieved. This was also evident in the P46

Snapshot Officer Brown Jump Starts Police School Visits during Police Month at Deep Creek Primary Getting an early jump on the RBPF program of Police Officers visiting with schools across the island beginning in the month of March, which is marked each year as Police Month in the Bahamas, Officer Renardo Brown, based in South Eleuthera visited with the Deep Creek Primary School, on Friday morning, March 5th, 2021. The school held an awards and prefect installation ceremony, in which Officer Brown assisted with presentations, as well as awards to outstanding students. During his visit, he also spoke with the young student audience, encouraging them to focus on their studies, and to engage in positive behaviours and activities.

A TIME TO LEARN: Godfrey’s early childhood education began at Western Primary and Senior schools where he completed his education around the age of sixteen, achieving London Chamber of Commerce certificates. Immediately afterwards, he sought employment with the Bahamas Government in the Ministry of Works and at the same time attending the Police Training School. A TIME TO LOVE: In January 1988, Godfrey met Elmena Agatha Saunders (nee lightAbove: Officer Brown speaking with students at the Deep Creek primary school.

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CDB projects regional economic growth of 3.8% in 2021 After an extremely difficult year in which the economies of its 19 Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs) contracted by 12.8% on average due to the onset of Covid-19, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is projecting an average gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 3.8% in 2021. However, this projection, made in Part 1 of CDB’s Regional Report: 2020 Review and 2021 Outlook, released on February 25th, is clouded by the ongoing uncertainty, caused by the global pandemic. In 2020, the majority of BMCs registered double-digit declines in GDP. Countries with significant tourism industries, such as The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cayman Islands, Dominica, and Grenada, were hard-hit by a more than 70% drop in overnight visitors in 2020, which spilled over to affect other economic sectors. An increase in agricultural production in Jamaica could not prevent the economy shrinking by 10.4%. Agriculture in Belize was affected by a severe drought from the previous year, and then a reduction in tourism-related demand. The economy contracted by 13.3%. Guyana was the only economy to record economic growth (26%), solely due to the start-up of its first oil production. However, growth was lower than expected due to lower global oil prices. Declining oil prices also caused economic contraction of 11.1% in Trinidad and Tobago. Guyana also saw mixed performances in agriculture – sugar production fell while rice production rose. In Haiti the pandemic affected manufacturing supply chains. This compounded the effect of social unrest on the economy early in the year. Across the Region, the fall in economic activity led to a steep decline in government revenues. At the same time governments increased expenditure to support health sectors, and to provide social support and economic stimulus. Primary fiscal balances worsened in every BMC, averaging -4.1% of GDP compared with -1.3% in 2019. Increases in unemployment rates were recorded in many countries, including The Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Grenada, and Jamaica, and are expected in most others. Unemployment rates were generally higher for women and for young people. In 2020, debt rose in every BMC except Guyana. The regional debt-to-GDP average moved from 66.5% to 79.5%. In Barbados debt reached almost 150% of GDP. While regional debt is projected to continue rising to 81.5% of GDP in 2021, debt-to-GDP ratios are expected to fall in seven countries, with the steepest decreases in Barbados by 8.3 points to 141.2% and in Jamaica by 6.7% to 97.4%. While the Bank does not expect a return to 2019 tourism levels this year, tourism-dependent BMCs will experience some economic recov-

ery, led by Anguilla, where GDP is expected to increase by 10.9%. This recovery is underpinned by a gradual return of tourists, which is expected in the fourth quarter of the year, and focused efforts to roll out mass vaccination programmes throughout the Region. However, recovery is subject to risks, such as new waves of infection and possible new variants of the virus, and widespread availability of vaccines for some countries. Expected oil price increases along with production expansion should contribute to projected GDP growth of 8.4% for Guyana in 2021. Higher oil prices will also support modest economic growth of 0.3% in Trinidad and Tobago. When the pandemic diminishes, countries must

continue to address the enormous economic challenges that confront the Region. Accelerated programmes to strengthen macro fiscal frameworks and broad-based structural reforms are required to address the development constraints limiting productivity and growth. CDB President Dr. Warren Smith said: “The pandemic has underscored the importance of building economic and social resilience. We can only reduce the susceptibility to external shocks when we accelerate the diversification of our economies; broaden our productive base; and take appropriate measures to build competitiveness whilst providing adequate safety nets to protect our most vulnerable groups.”

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Suite of fiscal legislation tabled in House of Assembly: Changes ahead for public financial management, says PM

PM Minnis tables a suite of new fiscal legislation in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, February 10th, 2021. Citing its aim to reform public finance management in The Bahamas, the Government tabled a suite of new legislation in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, February 10th, 2021, meant to allow new levels of transparency and accountability. The Most Honourable Prime Minister Hubert A. Minnis presented the Public Debt Management Bill, 2021, the Public Finance Management Bill, 2021 (PFM); the Statistics Bill, 2021 and the Public Procurement Bill, 2020 that was first read in the House of Assembly last year. “Legislative reform doesn’t often seem revolutionary, but we don’t want Bahamians to miss the monumental changes these bills will bring about. For the Public Finance Management Bill, there will be criminal penalties imposed for the first time for financial malfeasance in the public sector. Everyone will be held to a higher standard. New financial reporting requirements, like monthly budget reports, will be introduced to government for the first time,” said Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Finance.

“Bahamians may have assumed these things were in place, but the truth is, the Financial Administration and Audit Act, 2010 (FAA Act), which we are now replacing, had many weaknesses and was terribly outdated,” said Minister Thompson. The PFM Bill transitions to a principles-based approach to public financial management thereby focusing on results, rather than taking an administrative approach, as was the case with the FAA. This Bill requires outcomes-based budgeting and reporting to support a comprehensive management of the budget. “Again, this is very significant as it will require cultural changes within our ministries and agencies. Ministries are not only responsible for spending and accounting for budgeted resources. They will now be responsible for tracking and reporting the impact of their spending; the impact of their programs. Are they using public funds in a way that deliver the desired and intended results? These are monumental shifts we are ushering in with our legislative forms,” said Minister Thompson.

Deep Creek NNWC Clean Up Derelict Vehicles Within the Community On Saturday, February 20th, 2021, beginning at noon, Neil Thompson, Captain of the Men’s Auxiliary of the Deep Creek Eleuthera National Neighbourhood Watch Council, assisted by a team of young men from the settlement, worked with a contractor to remove derelict vehicles from throughout the community. Jahrin Ellis, of Esmeralda Commercial & Industrial, signed on as a corporate sponsor of the initiative providing funding to assist with the removal of the derelict vehicles. Residents were very enthusiastic about the effort and the team was able to remove ten old vehicles from throughout the Deep Creek community before it began to rain. Because of the inclement weather, the project was slated to continue several days later as the weather permitted. The work continued on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021, this time with Andrea Gibson, a public relations representative of the organization, P47

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MP Johnson Fields a Variety Of Questions in Open Interview

Sound main dock is almost in its final stages of being complete, and I’m very happy about that. They’ve done a good job so far. That was approximately $2.5 million initially, and there will be some additional funding added. Then the Fishermen’s dock in Rock Sound, next to St. Luke’s - that is also a part of that contract, and they’ve recently begun to mobilize work there... We are fortunate as a constituency. We’ve been able to get some things done, coming through several years of disaster. It has been very rough on the government - after Dorian, and then the pandemic. I’ve always asked for more, but I’m grateful that I’ve been able to accomplish some things.” He continued, describing work done to formalize approximately 100 temporary workers currently in the government employment structure on the island and efforts to have some home repairs done in the constituency, saying, “The 52 week workers that are presently employed throughout Eleuthera, I’m hoping within a matter of weeks, most of them will be dispatched into other areas, where they will become permanent and pensionable. Just tonight I received the vetting they were waiting for. So, I expect in a few weeks most of them if not all of them should be taken care of. I’m very pleased about that... We have Urban renewal as well, where every year we have been fighting to get certain roof repairs done, and every year the budget has been cut, especially with the disasters we have had. We are just about ready to do a few of the roofs earmarked for those most in need within the constituency. You can never get enough, but I’m grateful for the few we will be able to have done. I’m hoping to see those repairs mobilized shortly.”

A Passport office, said MP Johnson, is scheduled to be in Governor’s Harbour. “We have prepared the office where the Government Accounts section used to be in the Administration Building. Funding was spent on moving the Ministry of Works team that was in that section to the rear section. So, that is where the new Passport office will be going in Central Eleuthera, to service the entire island. It’s just a matter of weeks before we should have that Passport office functioning,” he informed. In reference to development projects, Mr. Johnson commenting on the Lighthouse Point project, stated, “The Disney project has been somewhat on/off. Originally they were ready to go, and environmental groups have pushed that all the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been published... and I’m hoping to see something coming out of the ground at the Disney project by June this year. That should be a $400 million plus investment in the South Eleuthera area. Once that comes off in the south we should see quite a bit of construction employment which can help keep us afloat at this time. “With the Philautia project at the US Naval Base, there is a hold up with some documentation. As soon as that documentation is cleared up, we are looking to them beginning to break ground at that site as well. We are also pleased with the development at the site of the old Potlatch property. They have done quite a bit of renovations there, and have added a number of villas in the rear. In the next few months, we are hoping to see the Potlatch Resort open. In the southern part of the constituency, the Cape Eleuthera Resort is open now as well... The cruise ship industry is currently on hold, but we are hoping that in the next few months we would get a green light on that as well. So, I think Eleuthera is poised to fare pretty well, with some things happening in the next few months.” Johnson emphasized the efforts taken by the government concerning overcoming the pandemic, highlighting, “The government is working feverishly to procure the vaccines needed for the country, which will be free of charge to the public. I would also like to ask Eleutherans to be extremely careful, and to not to be complacent in following the health and safety measures. While protecting yourself, you will also protect your family and others.” With the incumbent MP for North Eleuthera already confirmed and ratified to run as a candidate in the general election upcoming in 2022, Mr. Johnson was asked whether he was seeking to run again for Central and South Eleuthera. He responded saying, “Right now the decision is in the hands of the present government’s party officers, as to what direction I will be heading in, in the upcoming general election. It’s in the hands of the decision-makers as far as the party

is concerned. If my people call on me for service, I am willing to serve. If they are not, then I will do the honourable thing. “I’m hoping that within the next two weeks the party’s candidate’s committee, along with the leader would make a decision as to what direction we are heading in,” replied Johnson, when asked about when he expected to hear about whether he had been ratified to run in 2022. Commenting briefly on the backlash of recent widely publicized personal incidents in January 2021, and his strategy for trying to overcome the negative perceptions, and getting past the challenge, Johnson shared, “As a man, you can only be truthful about what happened. I will say this much, and leave it there. There is no way I could have done what I have been accused of, because on the mentioned incident dates, Hank Johnson was in his constituency serving his constituents - traveling with the Deputy PM the entire day... So there is no way I could be in New Providence committing a felon. It just didn’t happen. Police did their investigation and found it impossible, and I stand by that... I currently have no outstanding charges.” Mr. Johnson, when asked about his plans for 2022 if he was not successful in getting the nomination for Central and South Eleuthera, he shared, “If that is the case, one would have to take his position. If successful, I will continue to serve, and if not, I will continue to play my role within my community, as a community leader. I’m certain if it happens that way, I will not take a back seat. I will continue to serve my people in other areas. Of course I would go back into my private life role as well.” To the question of whether he would continue to support the FNM party and campaign for the other nominee, if not ratified, Johnson was stalwart, saying, “That is a bridge I will cross when I get to it, however, I have no plans of not supporting my party. I am an FNM. I joined the Free National Movement, and I’m a person - where my word is my word. I don’t go back on my word. So, whether I am serving as the Member of Parliament or not, or as the candidate or not - I will be supporting the Free National Movement. That’s for sure.” On the rumours of an early election being called, Johnson was asked about his thoughts. “I have no idea of that. In my personal opinion, I don’t see that happening. The Prime Minister and the government has some more work to be done. So, my thoughts are that you would get some more of that work done before calling a general election. It is up to the Prime Minister, but that is my personal opinion,” he shared. With the remaining year that he has as the representative for the Central and South Eleuthera constituency, Johnson was asked about his vi-

Lo c a l

Lord, Lord! (Originally published – December 2016)

Many church going Christians listen more to the preaching about God than reading the Bible for themselves and knowing what Jesus our Lord says. When you make an honest assessment of what is spoken by Jesus our Lord you will be shocked, because we ignore much of what He said. When Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mountain where He was transformed and they saw Him in His Kingdom glory, God the Father spoke and said, “This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!” Jesus said that anyone who wishes to follow Him must love Him more than your parents and relatives. What is the first and greatest command? ‘You shall love the Lord your God, with all your soul and body’. The God who created the universe, and called into being all that is, He is eternal, all knowing, and you cannot deceive Him who knows the end from the beginning; He planned it all! Many of us fear others, we think more highly of how people see and think of us, than of how God our creator and Jesus our Lord and Master thinks of us. Jesus said “No man can serve two masters” but that is just

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what we try to do, and we fail Him miserably. When Jesus was teaching His disciples in what we call ‘The Sermon on the Mount’ He said that at the time of judgment there will be many who claim to have been His disciples who will argue with Him when judgment is passed on them that they did not expect. Many will say “Lord, Lord in your name we prophesied, and cast out devils, and in your name worked miracles”. His reply will be “Depart from me you evil doers, I never knew you”. It is no wonder that we are admonished by the Apostles to “Put on the whole armour of God” so that we may be able to stand against the ‘fiery’ darts of the devil. The scriptures also warn us to be alert to the deception of the devil, for he comes as a raging lion, and as an “angel of light”. The lion’s roar can be heard from far away, while an angel of light is in your midst; be aware! The word of God is our only defense, and that is why we are tempted to ignore it. We are warned repeatedly that the enemy will place deceivers of the worse kind right in the midst of us, they will be like Tares growing with the Wheat, singing and praying right along with you because you fail to remain alert and become complacent. Jesus is our Lord and Master, no other word spoken is to override His words! We all do well to read the

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seven messages that Our Lord gave to John in the book of Revelations chapters 2 and 3. Again you will be stunned to realize that in the church “all that glitters is not gold” and today you have to be blind, deaf, and dumb to not see the level of departure from the teachings of Jesus and His Apostles. Everyone wants outward appearances, and much is done for the ‘show’, but Jesus demands genuine faith only! Only Jesus came from the Father to die in your place, only Jesus can save you, only Jesus will judge you in perfect righteousness. He! And He alone paid the price our Holy Father required of us, and only He is worthy. We are blessed to have the freedom to read the Bible, and to study the Word for ourselves. You may sit and listen to a preacher belittling Jesus and substituting feelings instead, you could be misled by the truth being substituted by opinion, God holds you responsible. We are warned to ‘judge’ what is taught, be sure it agrees with the Word of God. Is there any reason why Jesus said to Peter “feed My sheep”! The Bible has much to say about wicked Shepherds, who feed themselves while neglecting to feed and protect His Sheep. As we move forward in 2021 we must resolve to study the Word of God, and to accept only the truth as He reveals it to us. My opinion of what

By: Andrew L. Burrows andrewburrows1@gmail.com the Bible teaches means nothing if it is incorrect; only the truth matters. Jesus said “You call me Lord, and Master but refuse to do what I tell you”. He is Lord, His Word is truth! You are instructed to examine all that is taught by others and reject all that is not Truth. Remember what happened in Eden! God’s blessing on all who faithfully believe and proclaim His truth.

MP Johnson

sion for that time remaining, and the things he would push to see done. “There are quite a few community projects I’m looking at - for example the Rock Sound graveyard, also the sporting facility in Green Castle is another one. I’m also looking at trying to get the additional classroom facility at the Emma Cooper Primary completed, so the children would have that extra space. The dock in Palmetto Point, also getting the roads completed in the communities of Hatchet Bay, Tarpum Bay, Governor’s Harbour, Savannah Sound, and some in Rock Sound. “The subdivision in Governor’s Harbour opposite the Royal Bank, where there is 50.44 acres of land - to get that completed - to make available house lots for the people in Governor’s. Surveyor’s have

already been there - so, that’s one of the things we are looking at. I’m hoping the government will move swiftly in solving the crown land situation throughout the island of Eleuthera. Crown land here is an issue. The land situation in Hatchet Bay is also a burning issue, that we need to deal with so that the local residents in Hatchet Bay, James’ Cistern and the surrounding communities would be able to purchase a piece of the land at a good price, so the communities can grow. Hatchet Bay is land locked, so is Governor’s Harbour... “Those are some of the things I’m looking at. I would also love to have upgrades done to the Governor’s Harbour and Rock Sound International airports - Rock Sound needs firefighting equipment, both airstrips

need repairs. Cupid’s Cay dock needs some repairs done, street lighting in many areas need to be upgraded. We still have quite a bit that needs to be done. I will push for my people.” Johnson was asked about what message he had for his supporters if he were to secure the 2022 nomination. He shared, “I would want to say thank you to those who supported me, and say that there is hope... We’ve done remarkably well in such a short space of time. We’ve been able to move some mountains, and accomplish some things that many people before me were not able to accomplish. “So, if all goes well, we will continue to move mountains, and make things better for the island of Eleuthera. I concentrated on

bringing growth and development to the island of Eleuthera, tapping into every group of investors with the possibility of bringing development. And if elected again, I will continue to do just that, because the island needs that... I promise, if given an opportunity, to continue to serve to the best of my ability. I am proud of my track record. I’ve done my best, and went above and beyond - and will continue to do just that if given the opportunity to serve again. There were some regrets, but there were great moments as well... There is a lot more work to be done... We can do it if we come together... I’m looking forward, and I’m hopeful that I get a chance to serve again. I want to thank everyone.”

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Crime News Select police reports, shared by the RBPF

Drug Arrest Reports

• On Saturday 6th March, 2021 Officers were on mobile patrol in the area of Russell Island, Spanish Wells when they observed a young man acting in a suspicious manner as he threw an object into the sea. Officers recovered the object which appeared to be a marijuana cigarette. The young man was arrested and cautioned. Officers conducted further enquires which led to execution of a Search Warrant on the residence of the suspect where an additional quantity of suspected marijuana was discovered. The suspect was processed and charged for Possession of Dangerous Drugs. • On Friday 6th March 2021 Officers were on mobile patrol in the area of Three Island Dock when they observed an adult male who upon making eye contact with the Officers began acting in a suspicious manner. Officers searched the suspect and recovered a small quantity of suspected marijuana which the suspect admitted was for his personal use. As a result the suspect was arrested for that offence. • On Saturday 06/03/21 sometime around 8:10pm Officers while on special patrols in the area of Colebrook Alley, Harbour Island when they arrested and cautioned an adult male after he was searched and found to be in possession of a homemade marijuana cigarette. • On Saturday 6th March 2021 sometime around 11:00pm Officers were on special patrols in the area of Colebrook Alley when they encountered an adult male whom they suspected of being in possession of dangerous drugs. The suspect consented to a search of his person which resulted in the discovery of a quantity of dangerous drugs. As a result the suspect was cautioned and arrested. • On Tuesday March, 2nd, 2021 sometime around 2:30pm Officers while on special patrols in the area of Dunmore and Church Streets Harbour Island encountered an adult male whom they suspected of being in possession of dangerous drugs. The suspect consented to a search of his person which resulted in the discovery of a quantity of suspected marijuana. The suspect was arrested

and cautioned. • On Tuesday March, 2nd, 2021 sometime around 2:52pm Officers were on special patrols in the area of Dunmore and Church Streets, Harbour Island when they had cause to stop and search an adult male for dangerous drugs and firearms. A quantity of suspected marijuana was discovered during, as a result the Suspect was arrested and cautioned. • On Tuesday March, 2nd, 2021 sometime around 4:00pm Officers were on special patrols in the area of Colebrook Alley, Harbour Island when they had cause to search an adult male. During the search a quantity of suspected marijuana was discovered. The Suspect was arrested and cautioned . • On Sunday 28/2/21 sometime around 3:00pm Officers were on special patrols along the Banks Road, Governor’s Harbour when they had cause to stop and search an adult male. During the search a quantity of suspected marijuana was discovered in his possession as a result the suspect was arrested and cautioned reference to Possession of Dangerous Drugs namely Marijuana. • On Friday 26/2/21 Officers while on special patrols had cause to stop and search an adult male whom they suspected was in possession of dangerous drugs. During the search a quantity of suspected Cocaine was found in his possession. As a result the suspect was arrested and cautioned. • On Saturday 27/2/21 Officers while on special patrols on Duke Street, Harbour Island had cause to search an adult male whom they suspected of being in possession of dangerous drugs. During the search a quantity of suspected marijuana was found in the suspect’s possession. As a result the suspect was arrested. • On Wednesday 17th February 2021 sometime around 2:15pm Officer while on special patrols in the area of Barrack Street, Harbour Island had cause to stop and search and adult male whom they suspected was in possession of Dangerous drugs. The suspect was found to be in possession of a quantity of suspected marijuana. As a result he was arrested • Sometime around 2:30 pm 17/02/21 Officers while on special patrols in the area of Colebrook Alley, Harbour Island had cause to stop and search an adult male for dangerous drugs. During the search they discovered a quantity of suspected marijuana. As a result the suspect was arrested and cautioned.

• Sometime around 3:00 pm 17/02/21 Officers were on special patrols in the area of Barrack Street, Harbour Island when they had cause to stop and search an adult male. During the search, a quantity of suspected marijuana was discovered. As a result the suspect was arrested and cautioned. A search of his residence revealed a quantity of suspected marijuana. He was further cautioned in reference to possession of Dangerous Drugs. • On Tuesday 16th February 2021 at around 6:05Pm Officers were on special patrols in the area of Colebrook Street, Harbour Island when they had cause to stop and search an adult male for dangerous drugs. During the search, a quantity of suspected marijuana was discovered. The suspect was arrested and cautioned. • On Monday 15th February 2021 at around 7:52Pm officers executed a search warrant on the residence of an adult male at Harbour Island. During the search a quantity of suspected cocaine was discovered. As a result the suspect was cautioned and arrested. Hidden in a light fixture in the bathroom. • On Friday 12th February 2021 sometime around 6:05pm Officers were on special patrols in the area of Chapel Street, Harbour Island when they had cause to search an adult male for dangerous drugs. During the search a quantity of suspected marijuana was discovered, as a result the suspect was arrested. • On Friday 12th February 2021 sometime around 7:40pm Officers had cause to search and adult male at Princess Street, Harbour Island whom they suspected of being in possession of dangerous drugs. As as result a quantity of suspected marijuana was found on the suspect who was then arrested and cautioned. • On Saturday 13th February, 2021 at about 12:20am Officers were on special patrols on Bay Street, Harbour Island when they had cause to stop and search an adult male whom they suspected of being in possession of dangerous drugs. During the search a quantity of suspected marijuana was discovered, as a result the suspect was cautioned and arrested.

House Breaking Report

On Saturday 6th March, 2021, an adult male reported to the Governor’s Harbour Police Station that sometime between the middle of February, 2021 and Saturday 6/3/2021 some unknown person(s) broke and entered an unoccupied residence located at Governor’s Harbour for which he is the caretaker

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locally

Feb - March 2021.

. The culprit/s stole (2) 32” flat screen television and (1) 42” flat screen television each valued at $400.00. Entry was gained prying the dead bolt lock an upstairs north western facing bedroom door. This matter is under active investigation.

Shop Breaking Reported

On Saturday 6th February, 2021, sometime around 7:10am, an adult female report to the Rock Sound Police Station that sometime between 6:45pm on Friday 5th February, 2021, and 7:10am on Saturday 6th February, 2021, that some unknown person/s had broken into her business establishment by picking a lock to a rear eastern door. Upon entering her store, she noticed that her hard plastic cash register drawer containing one hundred dollars in paper notes was missing from on top a wooden cupboard. Also missing from the same cupboard was a yellow plastic bag and a clear plastic bag each containing approximately forty dollars in coins. This matter is under active investigation.

Stealing Report

On Thursday 4/3/21 an adult male reported to the Harbour Island Police Station that sometime about two weeks ago a male known to him took a 23ft Albury Brothers Vessel named “Sandy Rooster” which is registered to him and he left the Eleuthera District he further reported that this was done without his permission or Knowledge the boat is valued at $100,000 Police action requested. This matter is under active investigation.

Near Drowning Report

On Sunday 21st February, 2021 an anonymous caller contacted the Harbour Island Police Station and reported that an unknown Caucasian male visitor who appeared to be heavily intoxicated had just fallen off the dock face first at a local Marina. Further, this male was pulled from the water however, he was said to be unresponsive. Police assistance requested. The victim was transported to the local medical facility where he was stabilized. He was then airlifted to New Providence for further medical attention.

House Breaking Report

On Thursday 18th February, 2021, an adult female reported to the Governor’s Harbour Police Station that some unknown person/s broke and entered her rental home and stole approximately eight hundred dollars ($800.00). Officers visited and processed the scene. A suspect was identified and was subsequently arrested and charged with House Breaking and Stealing.

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BREEF ‘Young Reporters For The Environment’ Launches Annual National Competition

The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation’s (BREEF) Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) programme invites students ages 11-25 to give nature a voice and submit an article or a photo with a short paragraph about an environmental issue that they are passionate about. The winner will be announced at BREEF’s Virtual Youth Environmental Leadership Summit scheduled for March 30th and 31st 2021

under the theme “Carbon, Corals and Conservation”. The 2021 competition is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) and the submission deadline is March 26th. The winners of the Bahamian national competition will be entered into the global competition that will be judged later in the year. “Young people around the world are coming up with inspiring solutions to environmental challenges and communicating about them in creative ways. This competition is an opportunity for Bahamian youth to be part of the solution to local and global environmental challenges” stated BREEF Executive Director Casuarina McKinney-Lambert. “Climate change is a huge threat to the world and especially life on small island states, corals are particularly vulnerable to warming waters and they are also our first line of defence from storms, and there are so many ways in which we can all get involved in conservation.” stated BREEF’s YRE Coordinator Allison Longley. BREEF first launched the Young Reporters for the Environment programme in 2019 when The Bahamas became the first country in the Carib-

bean region to offer the programme. The initiative aims to empower students to take a stand on environmental issues they feel strongly about and give them a platform to call attention to these issues through the media of writing, photography and videography. There are more than 350,000 young reporters in 45 countries across the world. BREEF runs the Young Reporter for the Environment and EcoSchools Bahamas through the Foundation for Environment Education. “What motivates me to protect nature is the sustainability of our surroundings for future generations. Nature is often neglected by human beings in today’s world and now it’s survival is becoming such a vital aspect of life; we have to protect it.” – Kaitlyn Archer, YRE Alumna For more details on how to register for the Young Reporters for the Environment Competition and the Virtual Youth Environmental Leadership Summit contact breef@breef.org or phone (242) 327-9000.

Snapshot Covid -19

As it was March 11th, 2021

For more information visit www.EleutheraNews.com

World Data

(https://clustrmaps.com/)

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Cuban Nationals apprehended in Bahamian Waters - By joint RBDF, OPBAT and USCG effort Others missing The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) said in a March 6th, 2021 press release that a search was then ongoing for five (5) Cuban nationals after nineteen (19) were picked up on Friday March 5th, 2021 in the Southern Bahamas during a joint effort by members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Operation Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG). The USCG said in a separate release that a Coast Guard Cutter Diligence rescue crew transferred six Cuban migrants to Bahamian authorities who were first sighted on Anguilla Cay, Bahamas on Wednesday March 3rd. According to the USCG the six people were spotted during a routine patrol, by an Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew who then dropped lifesaving supplies to them on Wednesday, at approximately 3 pm, after they were spotted. The Coast Guard cutter rescue crew arrived on scene, Thursday, and ensured the six people: five adults and one 17-year-old unaccompanied minor, did not have medical concerns before bringing them on the ship. The USCG further highlighted that since Oct. 1st, 2020, Coast Guard crews have interdicted 87 Cubans compared to fiscal year 2020, Oct. 1st, 2019 - Sept. 30th, 2020, where crews interdicted 49 Cubans. According to the RBDF while in the area, the USCG vessel also spotted eighteen (18) Cuban nationals on Cay Sal and as a result, RBDF vessel HMBS DURWARD

Aerial view of Anguilla Cay, Bahamas. Source: USCG

KNOWLES, under the command of Senior Lieutenant Jataro McDonald, was dispatched to investigate. After arriving to the area, DURWARD KNOWLES conducted an extensive search of the surrounding cays, waters and inlet for additional individuals. The Defence Force patrol craft rendezvoused with the USCG vessel on Thursday shortly after 2:00 pm, to receive the six (6) individuals. Shortly after 4:00 pm Thursday, HMBS DURWARD KNOWLES spotted a capsized vessel in waters approximately 3 nautical miles south of Cay Sal, and retrieved thirteen (13) Cuban nationals, including a deceased male. Both Defence Force and USCG remained in the area conducting searches for the presumed missing individuals.

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The Eleutheran

Six New Family Island Administrators Sworn in, Including Margaret Symonette for Central Eleuthera A swearing-in ceremony was held at Magistrate’s Court #9, on February 25th, 2021 for six Family Island Administrators. Chief Magistrate, JoyAnn Ferguson-Pratt conducted the ceremony. The new Administrators are: Millie Dawkins (Mayaguana), Bradford McKenzie (Acklins), Dale K. Gelin (Cat Island), Kathy V. Smith (City of Freeport), Margaret Symonette (District of Central Eleuthera) and Deborah Mosey-Rolle (Exuma). Also in attendance was Director of Local Government, Ms. Brenda Colebrooke. During the ceremony the Chief Magistrate challenged the administrators to always remain within the parameters of the law and warned them about compromising themselves as they carried out their duties. “Always hold the highest of standards and govern your personal life in such a way that you do not

bring disrepute to your office,” said Chief Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt. “The judicial oath that you are taking is the same that all leaders in the country including Cabinet Ministers and Judges take. The only difference is the post that you will occupy.” She also congratulated them for having been appointed to their new post and told them that someone has reposed confidence in them so they should carry out their duties at the highest standards.

PHOTO CAPTION: Chief Magistrate JoyAnn Ferguson-Pratt is pictured with newly installed Family Island Administrators. (BIS Photos/ Patrick Hanna)

The Administrators commenced their duties on Monday, March 1st, 2021. Director of Local Government, Ms. Brenda Colebrooke said that additional administrators will be sworn in during the upcoming months. Source: Written By Betty Vedrine, Bahamas Information Services

RBDF apprehends suspected vessel and crew A total of fifteen Bahamian fishermen and thirteen Dominicans were taken into custody after they were apprehended onboard a Bahamian fishing vessel off Anguilla cay on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. This, after two Cuban nationals were apprehended off Anguilla Cay on Monday, February 15, 2021. While on routine patrol, Her Majesty’s Bahamian Ship NASSAU, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Samantha Hart, boarded and searched a 62-foot Bahamian registered fiberglass vessel named “Blue Water II” approximately one mile west of Anguilla cay. Further investigation of the vessel uncovered the fishermen and the Dominican nationals onboard, along

with a quantity of scaled fish and crawfish, two unlicensed compressors and small amount of Marijuana. HMBS Leon Livingstone Smith under the command of Senior Lieutenant Ricardo McQueen assisted in escorting the captured craft to the capital. All of the men were taken into custody and handed over to Police and Immigration officials for further processing. Before this incident, HMBS NASSAU apprehended two Cuban nationals onboard a white convertor craft in the vicinity of Anguilla cay on Monday, February 15, 2021. Both men were taken aboard the Defence Force vessel and brought into the capital, where they were handed over to Immigration officials for further processing.

Blue Water II vessel taken into custody by RBDF.

42 www. EleutheraNews . com

Statement by the Caribbean Community on Access to COVID-19 Vaccines Following the Thirty-Second Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which was held virtually on 24th-25th February 2021, the CARICOM Prime Ministers and Presidents issued the following statement on access to COVID-19 vaccines: “The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is dissatisfied and deeply concerned about the inequitable access to vaccines for Small Developing States like those of the Community. CARICOM calls for equitable access to vaccines in order to curb the impact of the pandemic, to protect our citizens and bolster the economy. As the virus does not discriminate, access to vaccines should not be discriminatory, with a few countries dominating the market with their resources and their volumes. Heads of Government noted that to date, even

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countries with the funds to purchase, have been unable to procure and receive vaccines through commercial arrangements, given the relatively small volumes which they seek. Member States noted that although they have all signed on to the highly valued and appreciated COVAX Facility, the only vaccines received in the region to date were through the generosity of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, who has donated 170,000 vaccines to Barbados and Dominica through bi-lateral arrangements. CARICOM commends Prime Minister Modi for his generosity, which it is understood, will be continued. They also thanked Barbados and Dominica for having shared their initial supplies which were received from India. Member States further noted that while the COVAX Facility will provide up to 20 percent of Members’ needs, this limited supply will not allow us to attain the regional herd immunity, so necessary to fuel the resilient recovery that we are seeking. Heads of Government therefore call for a mechanism that allows smaller countries to have access to sufficient vaccines at the earliest juncture, if action is to be put behind the oft-repeated phrase that “noone is safe until everyone is safe”. Other initiatives, such as procurement through the African Union’s African Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP), as well as bilateral arrangements, are being pursued by some Member States with the support of CARICOM. We commend the government of the Republic of South Africa and the African Union, for having carved out an allocation for CARICOM countries. We urge developed countries, and especially those in our neighbourhood whose populations travel frequently to

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our region, and who host our largest diaspora populations, to make some available to the Community, initially as an interim supply given the immediacy of the need. CARICOM has taken a decision to write to the governments of some traditional partners on the matter. Attention is also needed at the multilateral level and to this end, the Community has called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to convene a Global Summit to address urgently equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, particularly for developing countries, which should be held in the context of the World Health Organization’s ACT-A Facilitation Council.” Source: CARICOM Secretariat 25 February 2021

PM provides update on arrival and rollout of COVID-19 vaccine (Healthcare workers and eldercare homes to receive first doses) The rollout of the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines was scheduled to begin within days of the arrival of the first batch of vaccines, Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis said on Sunday, March 7th, 2021 in a live update on the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine

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Bahamas receives first batch of COVID-19 Vaccines, from the Government of India

PM Minnis personally met the shipment of vaccines donated by the Indian government on Wednesday, March 10th, 2021, as they arrived in New Providence. (Photo by Kristaan Ingraham - BIS Photos)

By Lindsay Thompson NASSAU, The Bahamas -Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis, the Hon.

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in The Bahamas. The first 20,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine – a donation from the Government of India – were expected to arrive in The Bahamas on Wednesday, March 10th, 2021 following a slight delay due to logistical issues overseas. Those eligible to receive the first doses are healthcare workers in the public and private sectors, residents and staff of eldercare homes and non-ambulatory residents registered in the public health system. “This first and critical priority group includes those who are our first line of defense of the COVID-19 virus and those among the most vulnerable in our population,” said Prime Minister Minnis.

Renward Wells, Minister of Health, and other officials received the first batch of AstraZeneca vaccine – also known as Covishield -- at the Lynden Pindling International Airport. The vaccines arrived

It is expected that healthcare workers may begin booking their vaccination appointments online within days of the arrival of the vaccine. Healthcare workers were to be vaccinated on-site at their respective health institutions. Residents and staff of eldercare homes would not be required to make an appointment. Mobile units were to be used to vaccinate residents and staff of eldercare homes on-site on New Providence and Grand Bahama. On the Family Islands, medical teams would administer vaccines to healthcare staff on the island and on-site to residents and staff of eldercare homes. “Because we are receiving the vaccine doses in smaller batches, we will deviate from the original plan only slightly,” Prime Minister Minnis explained. “A phased approach must be

Wednesday, March 10, 2021 on United Airlines. Also present were: the Minister Foreign Affairs the Hon Darren Henfield; National Immunization Manager Nurse Ruth Bastian; Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pearl McMillian; Bahamas High Commissioner to India Lowell Mortimer; and President of the Bahamas India Association Dr. Anupama Jacob. The 20,000 doses are a gift from the Government of India, as was confirmed by the Prime Minister in his National Address on Sunday, March 7, 2021. The vaccines were pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO) and received Emergency Use Listing (EUL) approval by the WHO. The vaccines have also received certifi-

cation from the Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS). The vaccines are to be stored at the National Immunization Cold Storage Facility in New Providence and transferred to other islands as required. The facility has the capacity to safely store hundreds of thousands of vaccines. To ensure maximum security, facility will be under 24-hour guard by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. The Prime Minister had said that those eligible to receive first doses will be healthcare workers in the public and private sectors, residents and staff of eldercare homes and nonambulatory residents registered in the public health system.

applied to all islands in the first batch. At this stage, vaccines will be administered in phases on New Providence, Grand Bahama and the Family Islands.” The Prime Minister said The Bahamas has received a commitment from PAHO that through the COVAX Facility, The Bahamas will receive 33,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine before the end of March, and added that these doses are part of the 100,800 doses secured through The Bahamas’ pre-payment to the COVAX Facility that was announced last month. “We have been informed that the remaining 64,200 doses through COVAX are expected to arrive in The Bahamas by the of May 2021,” said Prime Minister Minnis. The Prime Minister noted that the vaccines from India were pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO) and received Emergency Use Listing

(EUL) approval by the WHO. The vaccines have also received certification from the Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS). The donation is part of a commitment from India to donate a total of 500,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries. Prime Minister Minnis thanked the Government of India for the donation on behalf of the Bahamian Government and the people of The Bahamas.

Source: Office of the Prime Minister Commonwealth of The Bahamas

44 www. EleutheraNews . com

Government Unveils Partnership to Develop its National Cyber Security Emergency Response Team The Bahamas Government, through the Department of Transformation and Digitization, Office of the Prime Minister, has unveiled its international partnership with Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and local private sector partners to develop and implement its National Cyber Security Emergency Response Team. During the virtual launch in February 2021, Minister of State for Finance and for Grand Bahama, with responsibility for government digitization, Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson explained, now more than ever the country is faced with unprecedented challenges that have opened the door for greater exploration and new opportunities in the world of information and communication technology. “The use of digital devices and the accessibility of the Internet have changed the way we think and operate daily. In step with these changes, and as you are all aware, The Bahamas, through a loan facility from the IDB has embarked on a trailblazing initiative of digitizing some 200 government services over five years, placing them on-line and allowing the application, payment and in some cases receipt of the services over a secure platform.” Citing digitization progress so far, he explained, the government’s initial Pilot encompasses four services -- application for birth, death and marriage certificates, and the renewal of driver’s licences. In the coming weeks, the renewal of ePassport will be added, and to that more services every month on the platform. Further, it is anticipated that quasi-government and private business partners will use the platform. Senator Thompson stated further that the government is moving forward with a Bahamian electronic ID. “The government has piloted our cashless initiative, Digipay, at the Department of Immigration with plans to implement the initiative at Road Traffic, Bahamas Customs and other agencies. “The Judiciary and the Department of Social Services have begun using electronic wallet providers to receive payments and pay out benefits. Bahamas Customs will also launch its online digital declaration form where Bahamians can fill out and

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Minister of State for Finance and for Grand Bahama, Senator Kwasi Thompson. pay customs duties even before they arrive back gy will include reviewing, revising and implementing cyber legislation for the protection of citizens and home.” clients. Other objectives of this Project include: • Building a knowledge base that supports He remarked -- where there is an increased use the country’s development and implemenof information technology, software, and digital comtation of a national cyber security strategy munication, there are increased opportunities for as well as an approach for the protection of cyber-attacks and cyber-crimes. critical information infrastructures. Senator Thompson said the government is obli• Supporting the building of a national culture gated to do all that it can to put mechanisms in place of cyber security, and related awarenessto protect the government’s systems and citizens’ raising initiatives. data from exposure to these attacks. • Supporting the development of related naThe National Cyber Security Project has been tional cyber security platforms, such as created to establish the National Computer Incident national Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), eResponse Team (CIRT), with the primary objective government services, national identity, and of these efforts to assist The Bahamas in assessing access management framework. its current cyber security capabilities, developing a • Enabling the country to develop and ennational cyber security strategy, and establishing a hance its incident response and managecentral coordination point of contact for cyber sement capabilities. curity -- aimed at identifying, defending, responding and managing cyber threats. In addition to the aforementioned benefits, this Senator Thompson said, “We are also expected to identify our critical infrastructure and sectors. Ac- implementation will open the door for employment commodation has been identified and I also wish to opportunities for new careers in cyber security and announce and invite applications which will be pub- expand the technical skills of many of our people. This Project is not intended to be a quick fix and licly advertised for the posts of Manager and Analyst. These posts will immediately boost our cyber will last approximately two years; but that period will security capabilities while conducting our national incorporate strategy, implementation, training and assessment, preparing a national strategy and ul- handholding or mentoring. timately becoming the first member of the National Written by: Llonella Gilbert, Cyber Security CERT.” The creation of a national cyber security strateBahamas Information Services

64 Haitian Nationals Repatriated From New Providence On February 23rd, at approximately 11:54 AM, the Bahamas Department of Immigration working in accordance with UNHCR guidelines, repatriated fifty-seven (57) Males and seven (7) Females from Lynden Pindling International Airport to the Port-au-Prince, Haiti onboard a Bahamasair flight. This group of migrants was escorted by a joint team of Royal Bahamas Defence Force and Immigration officers. All Ministry of Health safety protocols were strictly enforced and overseeing the process of this repatriation operation was Chief Immigration Officer, Harold Thurston. The Department of Immigration reminded the public that they are committed to executing the mandates of their agency by effectively coordinating efforts with other Law Enforcement agencies, and international stakeholders to ensure compliance with the Statute Laws of The Bahamas. They further reminded that, “It is a criminal offence punishable by law to harbor illegal migrants in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”

Source: Bahamas Department of Immigration

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Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty and Baha Mar Announce Exclusive Partnership to Represent Baha Mar Residences Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty, the country’s premier real estate firm, announced a strategic partnership with Baha Mar, the leading integrated resort destination in The Bahamas, to exclusively represent Baha Mar Residences, the only Caribbean residential ownership project featuring impeccable turnkey residences by two acclaimed hotel brands: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and SLS Baha Mar. A collection of five-star, sophisticated one to six-bedroom oceanfront private homes and waterside villas, Baha Mar Residences are a spectacular, ultra-luxury addition to Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty’s extensive portfolio of exquisite properties in The Bahamas.

“We are honored to represent these extraordinary properties and iconic hotel brands. Baha Mar has created an exceptional destination and we take great pride in showcasing the exclusive Rosewood Baha Mar and SLS Baha Mar Residences across international markets,” said Nick Damianos with Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty. Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty’s strategic partnerships, technology platforms and expansive network uniquely position the firm to connect with high-net-worth individuals, marketing Baha Mar Residences, along with the destination’s unparalleled ownership experiences, to clients around the world. “Baha Mar offers the ideal lifestyle experience for contemporary homeowners looking for the privacy of a luxury home paired with the amenities of a world class resort destination,” said Graeme Davis, President, Baha Mar. “As the premier real estate firm in The Bahamas, Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty deeply values our unparalleled approach to resort lifestyle and we look forward to working together to reach Sotheby’s international network of qualified clients seeking the best of luxury living in The Caribbean.” As the unprecedented circumstances created by COVID-19 have influenced the search criteria for many luxury real estate buyers, Baha Mar provides residential owners with access to a wide range of on-property amenities, including Royal Blue, the Jack Nicklaus championship golf course; tennis at Baha Mar Racquet Club and spa services

The Eleutheran

at ESPA, in addition to signature culinary experiences around the property. “These amenities paired with the resort’s rental program make ownership at Baha Mar even more attractive for the clients looking to work remotely, stay and play at their new home,” added Damianos. As part of Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty partnership with Baha Mar, the real estate company will open a dedicated sales office located at the resort destination. The team is led by Michelle Collie, Director of Sales & Operations, who formerly served as Director of Resort Experience at Baha Mar, and sales associates Bianca Aranha and Jacquelyn Louis. This dedicated team will exclusively manage the real estate services and sales of Baha Mar Residences.

Sargassum Seaweed-Derived Products, Technologies and Value Chains - The Focus of a CRFM Training Workshop on March 3rd, 2021 (The Bahamas one of four countries targeted for field work) The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and Plant & Food Research, a New Zealand Crown Research Institute, hosted a virtual training workshop on Wednesday, 3 March 2021. The session—conducted with the assistance of Prof Mona Webber of the Marine Science Centre, UWI, Mona Campus, Jamaica—focused on techniques for harvesting, handling, species identification and processing of Sargassum seaweed for initial evaluation. It was attended by the four target countries for field work, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, and Jamaica, as well as other interested CARICOM States and organisations such as CARDI, CERMES UWI, University of Belize, the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisation (CNFO) and IAEA. The training supported the

effective implementation of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade-funded project entitled, Developing Sargassum Products for Climate Resilience in the Caribbean, due to commence in April 2021. In addition to the target countries, other CRFM Member States will benefit either directly or indirectly from the project, which aims to mitigate the environmental and economic impacts of Sargassum seaweed influxes in affected Caribbean countries through the creation of inclusive value chains. Since 2011, periodic influxes of massive quantities of Sargassum seaweed have been entering Caribbean waters, resulting in substantial economic losses and adverse impacts on human and environmental health. The Outlook of 2021 Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea

and Gulf of Mexico, released by the University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab on at the end of February 2021 indicated that, “…the eastern [Caribbean Sea] will likely experience increased amounts of Sargassum in March and April 2021, while some of the Lesser Antilles Islands will continue experiencing beaching events on both their windward leeward beaches.” It forecasted that the situation could continue into summer, with the overall bloom intensity possibly like that of 2019. In September 2020, the CRFM entered into a 3-year collaborative agreement with Plant & Food Research, to address Sargassum seaweed influxes in affected

Caribbean countries. Plant & Food Research and the CRFM are collaborating to explore the creation of new technologies and value chains from the Sargassum seaweed. The project aims to develop Sargassum-derived product prototypes and production processes, including a commercialisation strategy to support its marketing.

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Lo c a l Anglican mother, Albertha. Later on, in his young adult life, he began attending Rhodes Memorial and Coke Methodist churches with his father, who was a staunch Methodist. In 1992, he began his full commitment and consistent membership at St. Paul ‘s Methodist Church, Grand Bahama where he was fully involved in every aspect of various ministries. In 1994, when the Bahamas Conference of The Methodist Church (BCMC) became autonomous, he began his ministry at New Hope Methodist Church in Grand Bahama, where he played a pivotal role in the establishment of that congregation. This subsequently became the catalyst for his decision to begin training in full time Ministry. Godfrey earned his Bachelor of Ministry Degree from Covington Theological Seminary on August 9th, 1996. On this late stage of his life, he enrolled in theological studies at the South Florida Center for Theological Studies, where he received his Master of Divinity Degree. Godfrey was ordained in June 2000 as a minister of Word and Sacrament in the BCMC at Wesley Methodist Church, Governors Harbour, Eleuthera. Desiring to further advance in his theological education, Godfrey went on to receive his Doctor of Philosophy in Theology from Camden University on April 11th, 2008.

Reverend Godfrey Bethell.

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way he loved, cared for, and spoiled his grandchildren, all of whom affectionally called him “Grampy Godfrey”. Godfrey’s love was not only extended to his immediate family, but to everyone with whom he came into contact. A TIME TO WORK: In 1967, Godfrey began his career with The Bahamas Government for thirty-two years, starting at The Ministry of Works (MOW) in Nassau as an Apprentice Carpenter in the Carpentry Workshop. Later on, he was seconded to the Ministry of Housing. However, realizing his expertise and building skills, he returned to the MOW in Grand Bahama until his retirement in June 1999; thus, completing his tenure as Building Works Controller for The Northern Bahamas to include

Abaco, Bimini and Grand Bahama. During his 32-year career with the Bahamas Government, he was also employed by The Royal Bahamas Police Force as a Police Reservist (R155). Despite his short stature, he was able to command the respect and attention of his colleagues, and everyone he encountered. Godfrey was a man of many talents and skills. One of the many included becoming a certified appraiser in the Bahamas Real Estate Association since the year 2000, an experienced chilled water installer, and a private detective for many law firms. A TIME TO SERVE: Godfrey boasts of being an Altar Boy at St. Anne’s Anglican Church under the direction of Canon Pugh, Canon Milton Cooper, and his staunch

After his ordination, he served at numerous churches, including the Central Eleuthera Region, comprising of Gregory Town, Hatchet Bay, James Cistern, Governors Harbour and Palmetto Point (June 2000-August 2009). Godfrey then served at Ebenezer Methodist Church from September 2009-August 2015, when he retired as a full-time minister. In January 2016, he came out of retirement to pastor Ascension Methodist Church until the time of his demise. Desiring to serve God through the Church and society, he served as an officer in the Grand Bahama Christian Council, officer of the North Eastern Pastors’ Alliance, Director of The Bahamas Sonshine Emmaus Group, Director of Bahamas Methodist Habitat in Eleuthera, and President of the Eleuthera Christian Council. In addition to his pastoral work, he also believed that “service to humanity is the best work of life.” Therefore, he fulfilled this mandate by serving in the following capacities: o President Emeritus of The Grand Bahama Red Cross

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o President of the Jaycees International o Member of Toastmasters Godfrey’s membership in Masonic Lodges included: o Past Master of Lucayan Lodge #8188 o Past Master of Lodge Eleutheran Adventurers #1816 o Past District Grand Chaplain of the District Grand Lodge of the Bahamas o Honorary Senior Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Scotland o Past Zerubbebel of the St. Patrick Royal Arch Chapter #894 A TIME TO DIE: On January 18th, 2021, Godfrey was flown in from Eleuthera to Doctors Hospital in Nassau after suffering a massive stroke. In his normal jolly nature, he was telling his usual jokes with doctors and nurses in Eleuthera until he became unresponsive. Godfrey received treatment in both Doctors Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital for three weeks. Even though he could not respond, we believed that God was ministering to his spirit during this time. Sadly to us his family and friends, but precious in the sight of the Lord, on February 6th, he peacefully transitioned from time to eternity where he awaits those who are faithful to the end. May his soul rest in peace. Godfrey’s legacy will long live in the hearts and lives of his survivors: He is pre-deceased by: His parents: Milton Howin and Albertha Louise (nee: Heastie) Two brothers: David Clyde and Cleveland Ellie He is survived by his wife Elmena Agatha Bethell (nee: Lightbourne) 5 sons: Jermaine, Godfrey Bethell Jr., and Keith Bethell, Idi and Elry Saunders. 4 daughters: Melicianna and Euneeka Bethell, Geanna Munnings, and Anneathera Saunders. Daughters-in-law: Shannelle and Jannean Bethell Son-in-law: Davano Munnings Also, Grandchildren, Brothers, Sisters, Nephews, Nieces, Motherin-law, In-Laws and numerous other Family Members and Friends.

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Derelict vehicles, eyesores within the Deep Creek community, finally removed - to the delight of residents, courtesy of the NNWC and partners.

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Derelict vehicles clean-up

leading the charge. Mrs. Gibson led a team of young men along with the heavy equipment operator throughout the community to several residences where they collected old cars and trucks, hoisted them on the truck and transported them to the dumpsite. Residents of Deep Creek supported the work taking place by providing cool beverages to the workers. The day’s efforts ended near 7pm with some 14 vehicles dumped at the garbage site bringing the project to a successful conclusion. A total of 28 derelict vehicles were removed from the Deep Creek community as a result of this initiative.

Handy Tip! DIY Painting & Purse Making Tips Each month, learn a bit about do-it-yourself painted designs and purse making with valuable tips and expert advice: TIP 7. Adding value to a purse can be as simple as upgrading the materials you use. Rather than using a Velcro fastener, consider a tuck or twist lock closure. Instead of a straw handle, upgrade to one that adds to the beauty and worth of your bag. Additionally, purse feet improve the functionality of a purse, which qualifies it as value-added to your product. Now, who wouldn’t want to pay a pretty penny for a wellmade, beautiful handbag?

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS & SURVEYS - PUBLIC NOTICE The Department of Lands and Surveys released a public notice during late February 2021, in reference to unauthorized entry on Crown Land and Government Land. The brief notice read as follows: “The General Public is hereby advised that any unauthorized entry on any Government or Crown Lands throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas for the purposes of mining, clearing vegetation, construction or commerce is illegal and offenders will be fined and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” Source: Bahamas Department of Lands & Surveys