FNM supporters in North Abaco will not support Ingraham again. Party must transition with new team and young people or face the music if Ingraham returns.

Even after trouncing his then deputy, in elections held a year ago, FNM leader Dr. Minnis is still being targeted, particularly by the old guard members of his party, as someone who lacks the leadership skills and intellectual oomph to make the FNM sufficiently attractive to voters in sufficient numbers to make them a winner at the polls in 2017.

The magnitude of his victory, certainly left all and sundry with the belief that he was solidly in control of his party and would lead them into the next general elections. Wait a minute folks. Before the ink was dry on the official results of those elections, up comes the former deputy prime minister in the FNM’s administration, publicly saying that Dr. Minnis had a 6 months window to prove his mettle.

There is no certainty that Dr. Minnis is now safe and the problems of the FNM are settled. The situation, therefore, still demands extraordinary leadership from Dr. Minnis and a willingness to compromise on the part of his detractors. Something must give. Even one of the morning tabloids, who are massive supporters of the FNM, now match the frequency of their vitriolic editorial attacks on PM Christie with similar bitter and mean-spirited attacks of Dr. Minnis. These attacks oftentime seem personal. Their is no doubt in my mind that Dr. Minnis, never mind that he criticized PM Christie for attacking the arrogance of the print tabloids for accruing to themselves the authority to determine who should lead this country, now agrees with PM Christie.

No matter ones political persuasion, we must know that the FNM is an important institution to our democracy, that, up to now, rests on the foundation of two vibrant political parties. An unfocused FNM, plagued by infighting and distrusted by voters, undermines that democracy.

In the absence of substantial change in Mr. Minnis’s style and manner, including in the way he confronts the PLP administration, he can expect continued sniping, and snipping at his heels, if not open disgruntlement, from those in his party, who are hostile to his leadership.

As the leader of the party, the onus is on Mr. Minnis to reach out, stretch, even to embrace, without dagger, those of his colleagues with whom he is uncomfortable. But he can do something else: engage his party in deep policy introspection and the fashioning of big, doable ideas to offer to the Bahamian people, not mindless criticism of government policies.

Bahamians should know what the FNM stands for, not only what it’s against.

Christie, Davis and Roberts must remember the DELEGATES SENT THEM ONLY AS THEIR VOICES!!!! AND ANY DAY THEY CAN BE REMOVED BY THOSE SAME DELEGATES!
Guess who told Christie to stay on? Keep reading to find out….

Nassau, Bahamas — A story today is being written inside the PLP and what it tells will be one that will echo a long time into the future of the oldest political party in the Bahamas. From a glimpse inside we see a “one man campaign” now being played by Party Leader Mr. Perry Christie!

Serious headwinds are hitting the organization; from one conversation it is best described as “Civil War”! The hyenas have eaten the young, and the dogs of war are now about to set the stage come this November! It is bad! The exchanges are already bad. And from our archer’s view, blood is already in the water.

Sources tell us Christie has descended into rank victimizing strategies. Yesterday we saw signs of worse to come. There was no Cabinet Meetings held, as the Prime Minister was not in the country. This was a first. He is now unable to trust any member to run the EXECUTIVE! Look what we have come to!

Like Hubert Ingraham who fired key Cabinet MPs in his last and final days in office, Christie has gone to the papers, NB12 of all places which have a distaste for the PLP, threatening and doubling down in talk on who he will behead if any man moves against him. What a JOKE!

This is not good. This is not democracy!

What is worse is the fact that the bad advisors now responsible Christie’s descent into all this mess have already launched a ‘vicked’ spate of attacks on persons making known their positions. It’s UNBELIEVABLE!

And all this is interesting because the man who led the PLP into two election victories is now finding out that the ROOM has gone quiet and almost everyone is concerned about the future of the party.

Christie has led the PLP into real internal Civil War!

He has taken it upon himself to suggest only he knows when he should go, but the truth of the matter is that that is not the way it works! The Constitution inside the PLP makes it exceptionally clear that the DELEGATES make up that decision and the power of who represents the VOICE of the PARTY OF INDEPENDENCE is vested in those with the power of the ballot inside the organization at Convention! To dismiss that fact would be painfully lethal to anyone who suggests otherwise. In short as one stalwart said to me, “….dis mama dem Party – dey in-charge!”

What concerns this writer most is this: Since when were leaders in the PLP given the authority to decide who can offer themselves for high office in the organization? Anyone can challenge any post made vacant in the PLP! And while there is no guarantee the delegates would elect any ‘Johnny-come-lately’, the organization was founded on the principals of democracy! This is DEMOCRACY at its finest!

The PLP fought hard for women to exercise their rights at the voting booth! It fought hard for Universal Suffrage! It fought even harder to deliver Bahamians into the realms of nationhood through Independence! Yet today, in the Party of Pindling, Butler and Hanna, the practices of democracy are being endangered!? Ambushed with threats by the leader suggesting that whoever offers for election in the party should expect that there will be consequences?! My Goodness – What in da hell is this?!

Has the PLP become a dictatorship?!

This cannot be real! The power to elect voices of the PLP rests with the DELEGATES! They decide the future of the organization and when anyone dismisses that fact then ya know…IT’S TIME FOR THEM TO GO HOME!

We report yinner decide!

Freeport, Grand Bahama — 400m hurdler, Jeffrey Gibson, stopped by the offices of Bahamas Information Services Northern Bahamas to pay a courtesy call on the Department’s head on Friday.

Jeffrey arrived in Grand Bahama on Thursday, fresh off of a record-breaking season.

He is currently ranked fifth by the IAAF.

Gibson is seen with some of BIS’s staff members. From left sitting are: Shervoine Roker, Tanya Munroe and Alean Scott. Standing from left are: Robyn Adderley, Gibson, Lewis Astwood and Vandyke Hepburn, manager of BIS. (BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)

At the lectern, State Minister for Investment Hon. Khaalis Rolle is pictured addressing the media and stakeholders at a press briefing on Saturday (September 19) at the Hilton Hotel to provide an update on the work of the National Development Plan Secretariat. The diagnostic phase is complete. Seated from left are Dr. Nicola Virgill-Rolle, Director of Economic Development Planning; Dr. Rodney Smith, President of the College of The Bahamas; and Felix Stubbs, Chairman – National Development Plan Secretariat.

By Elcott Coleby

On hand to encourage broad based private sector participation in crafting the country’s National Development Plan called VISION 2040, State Minister for Investment in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Khaalis Rolle, addressed stakeholders at a media briefing on Saturday at the Hilton to provide an update on the work of the NDP team led by Dr. Nicola Virgill-Rolle, the Director of Economic Development Planning.

“Even though this initiative started initially in the Office of The Prime Minister and was started by a government, one of the things we insisted on almost immediately was that we wanted to transfer this to the private sector. We wanted the citizens to be in charge of developing a national plan which will guide the country for the next twenty-five years” said Minister Rolle.

He told the media and civil society that sometimes as a country and a people, we look at national development through “political lens.” Some have observed and argued, said Rolle, that one of the reasons The Bahamas has not lived up to its potential was that “we are too politically focused.” He believes that minimizing the role of the politician in this national process is one way of ensuring that Bahamians get a firm understanding of where this country needs to go – free of the distractions of political clutter and din.

Referring to Singapore, Hong Kong and Ireland as models of success in the minds of many, Rolle opined that The Bahamas equals or exceeds any of those countries in talent and capability and pointed to the modern Bahamas as an example. After building many of the public institutions that make up the modern Bahamas, “we became activities focus and activities driven” where leaders prioritized short term political survival through narrowly scoped and focused political platforms, lacking the requisite “infrastructure to take the country forward on a medium or long term basis” said the State Minister for Investment.

“We are the best little country on God’s earth. We just have to now begin living that dream” he said.

A long term National Development Plan driven by the people, and in particular the private sector, can assist The Bahamas in realizing its full potential according to Rolle.

Commending and underscoring the significance of the work of the NDP Secretariat and Dr. Nicola Virgill-Rolle’s team specifically, the State Minister said that Dr. Rolle’s work “is probably some of the most important work this country will see in this generation.”

VISION 2040 was launched earlier this year at the College of The Bahamas by Prime Minister Christie with an initial grant of $450, 000 from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). To date the secretariat has completed phase one, the diagnostic phase of the plan, and has prepared a draft on the state of The Bahamas, addressing the core areas of social policy, governance, the environment, infrastructure and the economy.

The Sustainable Nassau Initiative (SNI) was officially launched by Prime Minister Christie on the 2nd September at the National Art Gallery to kick off phase two of the plan. Phase two will take the form of constructive engagement or a national conversation involving workshops, community meetings, online surveys, the arts, essay submissions and the promotion of VISION 2040 to stimulate greater public awareness and participation.

The secretariat expects to conclude this three phase national development plan by the first quarter of 2016.

file photo

He was not required to enter a plea as the charge is an indictable offense, a preliminary inquiry will be held on the 7th October 2015. He was remanded to The Bahamas Department of Correctional Service until trial. He was represented by attorney Ms. Simone Brown.

New Opposition set up by Hubert!

In my view, it is high time nationhood take precedence over political expedience. For years The Bahamas has been bedeviled by an excessive amount of partisanship and political point-scoring which devalues debates in Parliament.

In virtually every debate the parliamentary opposition resorts to the misrepresentation of facts and the abuse of public officials in a bid to advance its causes. This does the country no favour.

This approach is an insult to the very sacrifice that the people of The Bahamas have had to make to ensure the long term fiscal stability of our country.

It is perfectly understandable, that each side in this House would seek to present themselves in the most favourable light. Electioneering is never far from the mind of any representative inside this House.

Amidst this concern for the electoral contest, we must, nevertheless, find the way to identify and debate, with truthfulness, honesty, sincerity, those issues that are fundamental to the existence and progress of our country. Truth should not become a casualty of our search for political advantage.

If we don’t proceed in that fashion, we would have forfeited not only the possibilities and prospects of our generation, but even more dauntingly, we would have forfeited the possibilities and prospects of future generations of Bahamians.

Coral Harbour Base (RBDF) – While on routine patrol in the area of Umbrella Cay in the Northern Abacos, Her Majesty’s Bahamian Ship (HMBS) P-48 commanded by Lieutenant Alexis Brown observed occupants aboard a Boston Whaler engaged in spear fishing. P-48 then proceeded toward the vessel to conduct a routine boarding and inspection.

Upon arriving in the area, two more vessels were seen by crew members of HMBS P-48. All three vessels then fled the scene as HMBS P-48 approached. HMBS P-48 gave chase intercepting one of the boats. Defence Force Marines later boarded the 17-foot Boston Whaler resulting in the arrest of two Bahamian men, who were found in possession of a quantity of undersized crawfish. At the time of the incident, the two men had no personal identification or any proof of ownership for the vessel.

Swift action undertaken by Lieutenant Brown and his crew members also resulted in the arrest of another small vessel engaged in illegal fishing. This incident occurred while P-48 was escorting the first vessel it had apprehended to Cooper’s Town. During the boarding, Defence Force Marines also confirmed that the two Bahamians aboard a second 17-foot Boston Whaler did not possess any form of identification or proof of ownership. Juvenile grouper and a quantity of undersized crawfish were found aboard their vessel.

The four men were and the two vessels were taken to Coopers Town, Abaco where they were handed over to the Department of Fisheries for various fisheries violations and further investigations and verification of ownership of the vessels.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains committed to “Guarding our Heritage.”

Some Baha Mar employees have found another job and are still on the payroll paid by taxpayers!

STATEMENT: Court-appointed Joint Provisional Liquidators for Baha Mar KRyS-Global (Bahamas) and UK-based AlixPartners today delivered good news to more than 2,000 Baha Mar employees – they have secured funding to pay salaries and employee benefits.

The news came in the form of a letter addressed to staffers of several Baha Mar-related companies, including those working for Baha Mar Ltd., Baha Mar Land Holdings Ltd., Cable Beach Resorts Ltd., Baha Mar Enterprises Ltd., BMP Three Ltd., Baha Mar Properties Ltd. and BMP Golf Ltd.

According to Edmund Rahming of KRyS-Global and Alastair Beveridge and Nick Cropper of AlixPartners, consistent efforts that began with their appointment on September 4 have resulted in funding that will cover all salaries and benefits from the time of that appointment.

“This will mean that for the payroll due to be paid this week, employees who are paid on a monthly payroll cycle will receive payment for the period 4 September to 30 September 2015, a period of 27 days; and employees paid on a bi-weekly payroll cycle will receive payment due in respect of the two week period 7 September to 20 September 2015,” they said.

The Joint Provisional Liquidators also assured employees that they intend to meet all employee benefits, including pension entitlements, accruing from the date of their appointment onwards and they will be taking steps to ensure that existing medical insurance coverage is maintained.

Employee benefits which have accrued but are unpaid in relation to the period prior to 4 September 2015 will remain outstanding until additional funding can be secured.

As previously advised, employees of Meliá Nassau Beach Hotel will continue to be paid their salary and benefits in the ordinary course of business.

“The Provisional Liquidators appreciate that this is a difficult time for all employees,” the letter said. “Please be assured that the Provisional Liquidators are continuing their efforts to work with key stakeholders in order to identify the most appropriate way forward.”

The 111th Homicide victim is Anthony ‘Toe’ Miller – Young gun-totters trying to destroy the nation and the judges keep releasing them on BAIL!

Victim shot multiple times following argument.

Anthony ‘Toe’ Miller

BAIL FOR MURDER SHOULD BE SET AT NO LESS THAN $1 MILLION!

Freeport, GB — Bahamas Press has breaking news tonight and we are live at the scene of homicide victim #111.

The incident occurred on Grand Bahama just under one hour ago on Frobisher and Hudson Ave. outside the Cool Breeze Apt.

According to eyewitnesses, the victim was standing outside the apartment complex when an argument ensued between a male and the victim. Seconds later shots rung out and the victim was fatally struck multiple times to the upper body.

The gunman fled the scene and vanished in the dark night.

Sources have identified the victim as Anthony “toe” Miller. We pray for his soul tonight!

We report yinner decide!

Coral Harbour Base (RBDF) –The Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s Harbour Patrol Unit received reports concerning a 26-foot sport fishing vessel, named “Papa B” that was stolen from the Fox Hill Creek Canal early Monday morning. Acting on intelligence received, the Unit immediately dispatched two patrol vessels to investigate, which led them to a remote area in the Sea Breeze Canal where the vessel was found by Defence Force Marines. A 17-foot Boston Whaler that was later confirmed as stolen was also found by Defence Force Marines in the same area.

Subsequently, the two stolen vessels were towed to Harbour Patrol Unit were the matter was turned over to Police for further investigation.

The Defence Force expresses its gratitude to the Bahamian public for helping the Defence Force to achieve greater success in fulfilling its mandate to “Guard our Heritage.”

NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Hon. Dr. Bernard Nottage, Minister of National Security (interviewed centre), along with Senator the Hon. Keith Bell, Minister of State for National Security, witnessed a demolition by Royal Bahamas Police Force Officers of a dilapidated house on Balls Alley, off Shirley Street, Wednesday, September 23.

The house had been previously occupied by a single mother with five children, who have been relocated by Department of Social Services officials. (BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)

PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts

If he had just a remote and a sliver of an interest in securing the truth about the financial administration of Urban Renewal, he would have invited the accountable officer, that is, the Chief Accounting Officer of the Ministry which is the Permanent Secretary who follows the letter of the Financial Administration and Audit Act in executing the daily fiduciary affairs of Urban Renewal. The Permanent Secretary is the statute authority.

So there are no “unanswered questions” as Chipman is suggesting in the media, he simply refused to look in the right places to get the correct answers because he has absolutely no interest in the truth. His intent apparently is to mislead the public and promote ignorance in the public domain and in so doing, make a total mockery of the instrument of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

So the limited fiscal authority of the co-chairs of $10,000 is no surprise and is public knowledge. And why is Chipman even talking to the co-chairs about money when the laws of the country are very clear.

Urban Renewal is a government program like many others and funded from the public treasury like all other government programs and with donations. The Bahamas constitution empowers the cabinet to create programs and policies for the good governance of the country so to say explicitly that Urban Renewal has no legal basis is asinine and ignorant.

In terms of the structure and function of Urban Renewal, New Providence and Grand Bahama were divided into separate operational districts for practical reasons in the delivery of public services to Bahamians in need of them. Some Family Islands fall within the supervision of Grand Bahama and some fall under the supervision of New Providence. What is wrong with that?

The Urban Renewal Foundation was established, separate and apart from the central government, in the interest of transparency and accountability in governance; the question of influence peddling should not arise in its fundraising function. The Urban Renewal foundation should not be within Urban Renewal proper for very good reasons. The rationale behind its establishment and how it functions are matters of public record.

These explanations are necessary because the apparent intent of Mr. Chipman is to promote dumbness and ignorance in the public domain and the public is getting nowhere in being educated about how the $30 million to Urban Renewal was allocated to fund its 41 programs and 9 projects.

Chipman has abused his committee chairmanship and botched the administration of the PAC as it is intended in law for the very start. Everything he said to the media that he claimed was a surprise or “interesting” was public knowledge.

Chipman is reminded that the intent of the statutory Public Accounts Committee is to promote accountability and transparency in the governance of our country, not to be used as some witch hunt tool to further the selfish and narrow political agenda of Mr. Chipman and the FNM.

Though police are working hard to keep the peace – CLUBS APPEAR TO BE POPULAR AREAS FOR SHOOTINGS THESE DAYS!

Nassau, Bahamas – It looks as if in you decide to hang out at a club in New Providence there is a high chance you could be shot and just might die as the shootings outside clubs are becoming common!

We have been following some and here are two reported incidents! In the first incident, shortly after 2:00am on Saturday 26th September 2015, a man was involved in an altercation with another man at a nightclub located on Faith Avenue that resulted in him being shot to the body. The victim was rushed to hospital where he remains in stable condition.

In the second incident, shortly after 3:00am on Saturday 26th September 2015, a man was sitting inside of his vehicle outside of a nightclub located on Mackey Street, when a male armed with a handgun pulled up in a black Maxima vehicle and shot him before speeding off. The victim was rushed to hospital where he remains in stable condition.

All we say is this; if you don’t want to get shot stay from the clubs! But if you do we can recommend some popular shooting spots!

We report yinner decide!

From page 137 of the 1984 Commission of Inquiry Report….Read for yourselves BELOW!

George A. Smith, former MP for Exuma and the former PLP Minister who had to leave the Agriculture Ministry in disgrace!

Carlos Lehder is still alive today, and is serving a 55 year prison sentence. His net worth is $2.7 billion.

Nassau, Bahamas – The 1984 Commission of Inquiry, which left the reputation of former Cabinet Minister George Smith in QUESTION, proves the former MP for Exuma has no legitimacy or credibility to take part in the discourse of our public debate!

We have watched and followed the recent conversations coming from Smith lately, particularly those in the newspapers. What is interesting is how the Tribune and Guardian have sanitized the former Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Local Government in the Pindling Government. DEY HAVE NO SHAME!

What is indeed appalling in all this conversation is the fact that, while many former PLP Ministers’ characters never been called into question, Smith’s actions following the revelations in the 1984 Commission of Inquiry brought the country global shame! What a national disgrace!

When you read about scandal in the PLP in the Tribune, most of the time we believe they refer to George and the like. But today, all of a sudden, it appears that the morning dailies have forgotten about the 1984 findings in reference to George Smith and we at BP intend to jog their memories just for the record.

We want to remind Smith of a man by the name of Carlos Lehder Rivas who dreamed of buying anyone with his money, and desired to become the “king of cocaine transportation” in the world. The morning dailies forget how Lehder, who was brought up on an indictment in 1981 for smuggling 3.3 tons of cocaine from Colombia to Normans Cay in the Bahamas and then to airports in Georgia and north Florida in 1979 and 1980.

Norman’s Cay sat in the constituency of Smith and what we have to share with the Bahamian People in the coming days will prove that George Smith should not be nowhere in our National Conversations, must less sharing any views about the direction of the country or the PLP!

Someone at the Tribune should know George Smith resigned on 10th October, 1984 from the Cabinet of the Bahamas following the revelations from the 1984 Commission! Perhaps one day when they entertain him to start a conversation on the country they will ask him – WHY DID HE RESIGN FROM THE PINDLING CABINET!

We report yinner decide!

Pictured: Front(seated L to R) – Terah Sweeting (Eta Psi Omega), Shayne Sweeting (One Million Backpacks Committee Chairperson), Lillian Quant-Forbes (Deputy Director of the Department of Social Services), Mavis Collie-Johnson (Eta Psi Omega) and Ida Poitier-Turnquest (Eta Psi Omega).

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. – As part of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s One Million Backpacks initiative, which has the goal of donating and distributing one million backpacks and related school supplies globally over a four-year period, the members of the Eta Psi Omega Chapter accepted the charge to serve. Donations, which will promote the learning process by providing substantial support to students, included more than sixty backpacks filled with school supplies that will be dispersed among various students ranging from Primary to Secondary school age in Nassau, Bahamas.

A partnership between the organization and the School Welfare Division of the Department Social Services was forged. On numerous occasions the Chapter has donated to various Divisions within the Department of Social Services and for this venture the School Welfare Division was instrumental in identifying students with specific school supply needs.

On September 14, 2015, the members of Eta Psi Omega Chapter paid a visit to the Division’s Office on Robinson Road and presented Mrs. Lillian Quant-Forbes, Deputy Director of the Department of Social Services, with the backpacks and school supplies.

We told yall put the Dame in Government House and watch the Royals return!

Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas received HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne in a Welcome Reception at Government House on Sunday, September 27, 2015 attended by the Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Sen. the Hon. Allyson Maynard Gibson, and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Dr. Daniel Johnson. Pictured are: HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, second left; HE Dame Marguerite Pindling, centre; Prime Minister Perry Christie, second right; Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson, right; and Minister Daniel Johnson, left. (BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson)

Nassau, New Providence — The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, arrived in Nassau on Sunday, September 27th and was greeted by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie, and the Governor General, H.E. Dame Marguerite Pindling.

Her royal Highness is also the president of the Caribbean-Canada Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue (CCELD) and is in the country for a CCELD 2015 Bahamas Study Tour before joining others from 21 countries for the start of the Dialogue in Ottawa.

The CCELD is an intensive two-week in-field leadership development experience which takes place every four years. It broadens perspectives and improves decision-making practices for the high-calibre, mid-career men and women selected from business, government, labour and civil society, from across the Caribbean and Canada who participate. Addressing the leadership crisis gap, the in-field experience of the CCELD creates opportunities for emerging leaders to gain new skill sets in the moment.

The CCELD builds on the existing strong bonds between Caribbean countries and Canada and its lineage traces back to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conference, whose unique model has proven successful for thousands of emerging leaders, including more than 3,000 Canadians since 1956.

Last Saturday, three young ladies left Nassau on Air Canada to jThey are Ruthann Rolle of the Ministry of Tourism, Royann Dean of Baha Mar and Keithra Morley, Founder of the Boys & Girls Club (Bahamas).

Additionally, The Bahamas will be receiving a group of twelve individuals drawn from cities in Canada and across the Caribbean who will participate in a Study Tour, visiting various communities, workplaces and institutions under the theme: “Leading through Innovation and Transformation.”

CCELD Alumni include: Gershan Major, Lindsay Thompson, Terry Miller. Tara Cooper Burnside, Philip Simon and Stephen Thompson.

Hubert Ingraham at the Blackjack table.

By Jerry Roker
for Bahamas Press

Several months ago, the Canadian banks doing business in The Bahamas, declared that local web shops are persona non grata at their banks. They would not accept funds generated by these properly licenced local black entrepreneurs. As I seem to recall, their rational was that as a matter of policy, their parent companies prevents them from doing so.

For the record, recent gaming legislation enabled Atlantis and similar establishments to conduct on-line gaming, for their foreign guests. The local web shops customer base are local Bahamians. Under The Financial Transaction Act and Proceeds of Crime Act, both are considered financial institutions and ought to be treated the same.

In my view, Atlantis’ operation is substantially more of a risk, in that they will have as their customers foreign players, using foreign currencies, while the local web shop operators are restricted to the domestic market.

The 2014 Gaming Act regularizes the local gaming industry and the same Know Your Customer and ant-money laundering protocols are in place for both the local and international financial institutions.

In any event, for you to thumb your nose up at a local business licenced to do business in a sovereign country, by the government of that country, where you are essentially a guest, while rolling out the red carpet for foreign owned businesses doing essentially the same thing, at a minimum is unfair, and one can argue that such behavior is racist.

HONOUREE — The Northern Branch of the Bahamas Society of Engineers on Thursday honoured one of their own — Paul Lockhart during the 2015 Grand Bahama Annual Meeting and Workshop Luncheon at the Ruby Swiss Restaurant. Shown from left are: Darious Williams, Master of Ceremonies; Remington Wilchcombe, Northern Branch President; Mr. Lockhart; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Urban Development, the Hon. Philip Davis, who was the guest speaker for the event; and Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville. (BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)

ADDRESSING ENGINEERS – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development, the Hon. Philip Davis. (BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)

The Deputy Prime Minister commended the Northern Branch for pursuing new opportunities for their members and remaining abreast of new trends in engineering.

As on previous occasions, Mr. Davis repeated his call for the community to embrace the locally registered professional engineers in major developments from the outset and not as an afterthought.

Reminding the group that the Northern Bahamas includes other islands in the north, Deputy Prime Minister Davis said he flew in from Abaco having addressed The Bahamas Business Outlook Seminar under the theme, “Securing Our Abaco Through Partnership, Planning and Productivity.”

He said, “Partnership, Planning and Productivity is a theme that should symbolize the dynamics of the relationship between the islands of the Northern Bahamas, the business community and your Society. It is only through Partnership, Planning and Productivity that you benefit from the skills and the opportunity that your community affords.”

The Minister of Works and Urban Development commended them for engaging and exposing young graduate engineers to the profession through internships and

providing them with opportunities. He said, “as a Society of Engineers you seek to position yourselves at the start of the design process for new developments and to ensure that a more integrated approach is employed in works required. Grand Bahama has long been identified as the industrial capital of The Bahamas.

“As the population of this island and indeed The Bahamas continues to expand, the demands for government services and infrastructural development will likewise expand. Trained professionals will be needed to provide the technical leadership to match the developments that will come. Grand Bahama, I am sure will soon see a resurgence of activity that will usher in new life in its economy. The professionals within your Society will be called upon to be at the forefront of this coming economic resurgence and infrastructural growth on the island. As engineers you are the professionals that ensure that where we lie, what we drive on and where we work are built to the high standards of safety.”

The government, said the Minister, will continue to pursue investments in both public and private sectors, which will result in improved employment opportunities for Bahamian engineers, as their work is essential. It is important, he continued, that they register with the Professional Engineers Board.

There are many projects that include: the Fishing Hole Road Causeway; the Smith’s Point Seawall, the scheme is estimated to cost between one and one half to two million dollars; the Holmes Rock Junior High School, which has been sent out to Tender; the $6 million Fire Station, which is currently under construction; the refurbishment of the Farmers Market, which has also been started; and the refurbishment of the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre.

“Be assured that it is the intention and the mandate of the government to provide opportunities and to protect the rights of those within your profession. You must work to eliminate the shortage of professionals in your field. The recruitment of civil, environmental, chemical, electrical and mechanical engineers must be curbed. It is within your sphere of influence to cause a new approach to encourage more Bahamians to pursue studies in your field. I know that you are aware of the challenges in this regard and that you will engage the appropriate partners to ensure that more of your talented Bahamians will see the benefit of joining your profession.”

TOKEN OF APPRECIATION — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Development was presented with a plaque by Bahamian track sensation, Jeffrey Gibson during the 2015 GB Annual Meeting and Workshop Luncheon at Ruby Swiss Restaurant on Thursday. Shown from left are: Remington Wilchcombe, President of the Northern Branch of the Bahamas Society of Engineers; Jeffrey Gibson; Deputy Prime Minister Davis; Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville; and DeCosta Bethel, National President of the Bahamas Society of Engineers. (BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)

Hon. Melanie Griffin, Minister of Social Services & Community Development applauds the organizers of the Frank Crothers Inaugural Best Practices Seminar hosted by the Bahamas National Feeding Network. (Photo by Derek Smith Jr.)

Nassau, Bahamas — The Bahamas National Feeding Network (BNFN) recently hosted the Frank Crothers Inaugural Best Practices Seminar where some 60 feeding centres and churches gathered at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort for the opportunity to get firsthand accounts from the founder of an international civic organization and local governmental agencies on ways to effectively manage the plight of hunger in The Bahamas.

With some 13% of the population living below the poverty level of $4,247, the workshop helped shine light on what life is like for those who face the hurt and pain of hunger, for children who cannot concentrate in school because their bellies are empty or the elderly who are too proud to beg for food.

“Feeding and care of the poor and hungry is the work of God and we must try to emulate his way,” shared Hon. Melanie Griffin, Minister of Social Services & Community Development during her opening remarks at the workshop. “This workshop is an effort to do that. I thank the Network for hosting this seminar and I’m happy that the Network doesn’t feel that Government alone is responsible for the current situation in our communities.”

Launched in 2013 and founded by H.E. Frank Crothers, Ambassador of the Order of Rhodes & Malta, the BNFN was developed to unify and organize the distribution of food items among the agencies in order to minimize the duplication of effort all while increasing the efficiency of the process.

“With so many organizations and feeding centres involved with the preparation of meals and distribution of food packages on a daily and weekly basis around the country, we thought it necessary to host a full day workshop where we can better understand the challenges of our member partners, the system and receive proven and effective methods of operation from the founder of a long running and successfully operating food bank in Atlanta through the person of Bill Bolling, past executive director of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, ” said Philip Smith, BNFN’s Executive Director. “Mr. Bolling’s presentation provided incredible insight and demonstrated the benefits of some practices currently under consideration for implementation based on his mantra of Engage, Educate & Empower. A number of our members had concerns relating to the training of volunteers. As a result, we now have plans to begin a volunteer training program.”

The workshop saw collaboration between member partners, sharing of ideas, resurgence of energies and an appreciation for the work of the attendees.

Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, John Rolle spoke to VAT and how charities are affected by the newly implemented tax, stating that it’s through taxes that governments fund activities.

The seminar was also the setting during which the single largest donation of $100,000 was distributed to the members of the BNFN allowing them to continue the much needed work in the communities.

The Melia Nassau Beach Resort was the venue of the recently held Frank Crothers’ Inaugural Best Practices Seminar hosted by the Bahamas National Feeding Network. The workshop was the feeding ground for some 60 organizations, churches and feeding agencies which make up the network to come together and be educated on tried and proven methods of charity management. (Photo by Derek Smith Jr.)

Member partners of BNFN are the Bahamas Red Cross, Bethel Baptist Church, Brea Seventh Day Adventist, Calvary Bible Church, Changes Ministries Int’l, Church of God of Prophecy, Club Restoration, Cornerstone Zion Ministries, Cornerstone Haitian Church, Cornerstone Zion Christian Partners of Hope, Ebenezer Methodist Church, Eljay’s Hilltop Cottage Ministries, Family of Faith Ministry, Great Commission Ministries Intl., God Temple of Praise, Heal Our Land, Judea Baptist Church, Kingdom Ambassadors World Outreach Ministries, Lakeview Church of God, Low Sound Seventh Day Adventist, Mosseff House, MCC Methodist Church, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Mt. Paran Baptist Church, New Bethany Baptist Cathedral, New Life Restoration Ministries, New Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, New Mount Zion Missionary Church, New Vision Ministries Int’l, Operation SOLD, Pentecostal Baptist Church, Remnant Tabernacle of Praise, Sanctuary of the Redeem, Seventh Day Adventist Church, Shiloh Temple Baptist, Society of St. Vincent DePaul, Solid Rock Church, South Andros Christian Center, St. Joseph’s Church, St. Michael Catholic Church, Stephen Dillet School, The Anglican Diocese, The Salvation Army, Vision of Hope Cathedral, Wesley Methodist Church, World of Hope Ministry and Youth for God Through Christ.

John Rolle, Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance addresses the attendees of the Frank Crothers Inaugural Best Practices Seminar hosted by the Bahamas National Feeding Network speaking on VAT and its effects on charities. (Photo by Derek Smith Jr.)

Marine Seaman Anfernee Brett Neely

Marine Seaman Anfernee Brett Neely

Coral Harbour Base 27 Sept. (RBDF) – Our hearts are heavy as we mourn our loss of young Marine Seaman Anfernee Brett Neely earlier today. Marine Seaman Neely succumbed to injuries he sustained during a boating accident in Nassau Harbour while on duty on Thursday 17 September 2015.

Neely enlisted in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force as a member of New Entry 52 on the 10th January 2015. His Entry is largest entry to date to join the Defence Force with a total of 108 Marines undergoing recruit training at the same time.

Marine Seaman Neely was a ‘giant at heart’ who grew to love his job. Upon successfully completing recruit training, Anfernee was subsequently drafted to the Defence Force’s Harbour Patrol Unit. The Unit is responsible for conducting marine patrols around Nassau Harbour, Paradise Island and the northern shores of New Providence. As a member of the Unit, Anfernee was a part of a team that was also responsible for providing marine security for cruise ships that brought millions of passengers to New Providence.

Looking forward to a promising future, Marine Seaman Neely proudly took on the honourable task of Guarding our Heritage as he performed his duties with diligence, dignity and much enthusiasm. We are therefore truly grateful for his service to the Defence Force and our nation.

It is therefore with much regret that I extend deepest condolences on behalf of the Honourable Dr. Bernard Nottage and Mrs. Nottage, Officers, Warrant Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, Junior Marines of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and myself, to Anfernee’s mother, Ms. Margaret Russell, who raised an outstanding son. I also extend sincerest condolences to Anfernee’s siblings, family members, loved ones and friends for their loss.
It is my sincerest hope that Anfernee’s short-lived, yet full life would serve as an inspiration to those of us who knew him. It is also my prayer that God’s grace and comfort will bring us all through this very difficult time of our lives.