State Funeral service for

The Honorable Obediah Hercules Wilchcombe, Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister

in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas

age 64 years, a resident of Nassau, Bahamas and Freeport, Grand Bahama, will be held at 11am, on (TODAY) Thursday, October 12th, 2023, at Christ Church Cathedral, George Street, Nassau, New Providence. Officiating will be The Very Rev'd. Harry Bain.

A Funeral Service will be held in Freeport, Grand Bahama, at 10am, on Saturday, October 14th, 2023, at The Pro-Cathedral Christ the King Church, Pioneers Way East Atlantic Drive, Freeport, Grand Bahama. Officiating will be Rev'd. Father Norman Lightbourne. Interment will follow in West End Public Cemetery, West End, Grand Bahama.

Left to cherish precious memories are his Children: Sherard, Obiecheryl, Alisa and Adia; Brothers: Jackson, Linden, Claude Christopher and Richard; Adopted Brothers: Basil and Desmond Sands, Vaughn Strachan; Sisters: Jacqueline, Keva and Judith; Adopted Sisters: Catherine Sands, Christine Sands-Been, Yvonne Sands, Heather Strachan, Adrienne Sands, Michelle Sands, Bonnie Basden, Patrice Johnson, Mavis Pinder-Smith; Grandchildren: Shamarzio, Sherard Connor, Khari, Devardo, Lamia, Tyrone, Stameko, Adayzcha, Zchavago, Zchavariya; Grand Nephews: K'ylin, Michael; Grand Nieces: Lyn'a, Laila, Maliah, Mickelle, La'shai; Uncles: Will Arthur, Cleveland Beneby, Gregory Mullings, Daniel Williams, Liston and Harry Jones, Charles Johnson Sr., Stephen Russell Sr., and Huel Braynen Sr., Harold Gray; Aunts: Gloria Delancy, Henrietta Arthur Mullings, Icilda Stuart, Mary Duhaney, Evenglia Jolly, Jencie Higgins, Doranda Russell, Rolander Johnson, and Judy Braynen, Olga Wilchcombe, Louise Butterfield, Lorraine Arthur, Lita Jones, Christine Beneby and Patrice Williams; Son-In-Law: Clyde Bowleg; Niece: Brandy Carey (Lashard); Nephews: Lynden, Julio (Leslia), Brandan (Anara), Charles, Brenden, Michael, Tevin, Kadeem; Cousins: Former Chief Justice Dame Joan Sawyer, Arnet Poitier and Family, Anita Bernard and Family, Premier of the Turks and Caicos, Washington Misick and Family, Former Premier of the Turks and Caicos, Michael Misick and Family, Minister of Immigration, Arlington Chuck Musgrove and Family, Kirkland Russell Sr. and Family, Artis Neely and Family, Kevin Thompson-Delancy, Vernon and Derick Delancy, Charles (Chuckie) Bridgewater, Tony Rigby, Ryan Davis, Hubert, Lionel, Wilfred, George and Michael Douglas, Gloria Forbes and Family, Katherine Forbes-Smith and Family, Neville Wilchcombe Jr., Dion and Deondre Russell, Jeremy and Perry Higgins, Geovanni Bain, Geraldo Outten, Sanford, Thomas, and Greg Duhaney, Jeffery, Geoffrey and Deangelo Stuart, Stephon and Stephen Russell Jr., Charles Jonhson Jr., Javon and Huel Braynen, Vincent and Jervane Musgrove, Leroy and Lofton Jolly, Treason Jr., Clifton, Mario, Barry and Kevin Scott, Dexter, Derek, Tony, Aaron, Denaj, Steven Wilchcombe, Gwendolyn Dorsette, Donnalee Murray, Joyann Tucker, Chrisker Bridgewater, Renee Lightbourne-Gibson, Venessa Lightbourne, Shenell Duncombe (Scheffan Duncombe), Desiree Burrows, Raquel Deveaux, Charmaine Poitier, Portia Nottage, Marsha Major, Sandra Duhaney, Patrice Gibson, Shirley Pinder, Gina, Natasha, and Michelle Stuart, Sheila Williams, Beverley Gray, Claudia Watson, Shanika Jones, Evelyn Glinton, Desiree Aranah, Rochelle Wilkerson, Joyann Saunders, Marvel Lightbourne, Tyrenda Russell, Geleatta Johnson, Carol, Laura, and Darcia Musgrove, Anissia Powell, Brendalee and Sherica Jolly, Velencia Juice, Latosha Scott, Josette, Aretha, and Tredicia Wilchcombe, Lillian Adderley, Andrea, Bridgette, Audajha, Audjhanae, and Cindy, Nathalie Gordon and Family, Esther Knowles and Family, Sinclair Knowles and Family, Joseph Rigby and Family, James Smith and Family, Linda Turnquest and Family, Anthony Robinson and Family, Curly Rahming and Family, Diana Swann and Family, Debbie Bartlett and Family, Karen Wilson and Family, Cheryl Johnson and Family, The Honourable Neko Grant, Former M.P., For Central Grand Bahama, Carlton and Portia Smith, Patricia Smith, Antoinette Neely, Delores Stubbs and Family, Brenda Smith and Family, Lincoln Forbes, Mildred Miller, Perry and Michael Lightbourne, Sharon and Sherry Rigby, Garrian Jones, Kevia Ferguson, Xavier Colton, Anson Hanna, Michael Hanna, Dru Poitier, Felicia Ferguson, Craig Grant, Douglas Grant, Franchelle Jones-Wilchcombe; Friends: The Honourable Philip E. Davis, QC, M.P., Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, The Right Honourable Perry Gladstone Christie, Former Prime Minister of The Bahamas, The Right Honourable Hubert Ingraham, Former Prime Minister of The Bahamas, The Honourable Glenys Hanna- Martin, M.P. Minister of Education, Technical & Vocational Training, The Honourable Wayde Watson, M.P. Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs, His Excellency Cornelius A. Smith, Former Governor-General, Muna Issa and Family, Mrs. Belinda Wilson, Mrs. Debra Armstrong and Family, Delroy Howell, Nuvolari Chotoosingh and Family, Andrea Jenoure, Pleasant Bridgewater and Family, Rengin Johnson and Family, Catherine Longley and Family, Howard Rolle and Family, Michelle Reckley and Family, Hilton Bowleg and Family, Jewel Major and Family, Janet, Andrea, and Pamela Carey, Dawn Weech, and Sharon Griffin, Raymond Neymour, Michelle Reckley and Family, Gladstone McPhee and Family, Peter Adderley, Elvis Hepburn and Family, Van Dyke Hepburn and Family, Joyann Stuart-McIntosh, Constance Hanna, Cora Lashae Colton, Scorpio Evans, Jenkins Rolle, Laura Williams, Barbara Pierre, Lulamae Smith, Felix Bowe, Charlie Major, Richard Demeritte, Bev Anglin, Lorna Lawrence, Jackie Adderley, Jervis Delancy Jr., Gary and Helen Barnett and Family, Theophilus Davis and Family, Darrel Rolle and Family, Lloyd Grant and Family, Shelly Harden and Family, Gwen Symonette-Pinder and Family, Ava Roberts; and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

Great appreciation and gratitude to: The Rt. Rev'd. Laish Boyd Bishop of The Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands, The Rev'd. Father Oswald Pinder, The Rev'd. Canon Curtis Robinson, The Rev'd. Canon Norman Lightbourne, Bishop Neil Ellis, Pastor Rex Major, Gerred DeGregory, Glendria Rolle, The Honourable George Weech, Former M.P. for Bimini and the Berry Islands, The Bahamas Government, The Rand Memorial Hospital Administration and Staff, Doctor Monique Pratt, Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Thompson, Mrs. Joyann Pennerman, Bahamas Union of Teachers, Nebo's Lodge No. 21 PHA, West End, Grand Bahama, West Grand Bahama and Bimini Constituencies, Social Services & Urban Development Management & Staff, Information and Broadcasting Management & Staff, The Grand Bahama Port Authority Management & Staff, Progressive Liberal Party Women's Branch of Grand Bahama, Marco City Constituency, Grand Lucayan Management & Staff, Maurice E. Moore Primary School Administration, Staff and Students, Mayfield Park Community, Rudy Meadows, Nate Moore and the Miami Dolphins Organization, James Culmer & Old Bahama Bay Management & Staff.

Freeport

The body will lie in state at the Police Headquarters, East Mall Drive, Freeport, Grand Bahama, on Friday, October 13th, 2023, from 12noon to 5pm.

The post Obediah Hercules Wilchcombe appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

The post Obediah Hercules Wilchcombe appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

Dear Editor,

On more than one occasion, our police commissioner, under controlled anger, registered his disappointments and frustrations about the frequency of targeted murders.

He pleaded with us to "get it right" with regard to the granting of bail, which has now become an automatic death sentence.

Our commissioner described the revolving door and lamented that persons were brought before the courts one day, only to walk the streets the next day or the next week.

The criminals are rolling over with laughter while thumbing their nose at the establishment as if to say "you can't touch us". There is no fear!

They see the law as toothless. They commit murder and inflict mayhem with reckless abandon, acting almost with impunity. They know all too well that if they are caught, they would granted bail in most instances because experts and laymen continue to remind us of suspects' constitutional rights.

And so, what do they do? Some take matters into their own hands in an attempt to settle some score because they feel that the criminal justice system has failed them. That's it!

Base on the law of probability, a person is more inclined to commit an act if he thinks he has a good chance of not being caught or punished.

With any number of bright legal minds in the legal profession, and with the power of our collective geniuses, we must find a way to untangle this convoluted predicament of granting bail because this wanton display of vigilante justice is untenable. It cannot stand.

In the name of peace and civility, how many more backyards, or playgrounds, or roadside murders can we tolerate?

How much more of our sons' blood must splatter across the sidewalks at noonday while our mothers, sisters and daughters scream out in anguish and disbelief?

The fear is almost palpable amongst our people. Paralysis and inertia have seemingly invaded our collective consciousness.

The question is not whether we are smart enough to fix the bail issue, which undoubtedly we are, but rather if we are bold enough.

Judges and magistrates have some degree of latitude, but in the main, they apply the law.

Our political leaders and all the relevant agencies of the state must summon the courage and mount a coordinated and sustained effort to deal with this vexing bail issue in an attempt to reverse this current trend of targeted killings.

If not, we would be right back here next year, and the year after, wringing our hands in despair while updating the murder count.

— Zephaniah Burrows

The post Fix the system  appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

The post Fix the system  appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

Residents at a town hall meeting last night unanimously rejected Atlantis' plans to establish a seaplane operation in Montagu Bay, leading to Acting Port Controller Berne Wright declaring at the event that the Paradise Island resort will have to go back to the drawing board and find a new location for the operation.

"Stevie Wonder could see what's happening here," said Wright toward the end of the meeting, acknowledging the strong opposition to the project.

Despite inclement weather, there was a strong showing from members of the local sailing community and residents who live along the eastern end of New Providence and elsewhere on the island.

Those in attendance found it appalling that the plan for Montagu Bay was even being considered given that this year — the 50th year of the nation's independence — Parliament declared sailing the national sport of The Bahamas.

In a July 31, 2023 letter addressed to Wright and Director General of Civil Aviation Alexander Ferguson, Vaughn Roberts, Atlantis' senior vice president of government affairs and special projects, said the resort settled on a program of domestic seaplane arrivals and departures in Montagu Bay with passenger transfers via a floating platform to a ferry boat.

The plan is for the ferry boat to transport passengers between the floating platform and an existing dock at the Atlantis Marina.

The floating platform would be positioned in Montagu Bay for passenger embarkation/debarkation.

The proposed schedule of flights include the Swimming Pigs Seaplane Tour to Spanish Wells, Eleuthera, and the Kamalame Cay Excursion.

Roberts wrote, "As demand increases, we will look to expand the number of flights and excursion destinations within The Bahamas. We also anticipate a number [of] charter flights based on demand."

In addition to Atlantis, project partners are Coco Bahama Seaplanes (seaplane operator); Exclusive Tours (tour operator and booking agent) and Pieces of 8 (ferry and safety boat operator).

Strong objections

The residents gathered last night insisted the operation would decimate sailing operations in Montagu Bay.

Among those at the meeting was Charlotte Albury, daughter of legendary Bahamian sailor the late Sir Durward Knowles.

Albury said her father would have been totally against what Atlantis is proposing in Montagu Bay.

"He would be appalled to even think that this would even be entertained, that they would take away Montagu Bay, not only for sailing — which he sailed since he was a young child and he lived to be 100, so he had many, many years of sailing under his belt — but to think that all the people now enjoying the beach, enjoying the camaraderie, now when they have regattas, just the whole Bahamian experience and people coming together as one, and we know the state the country is in, the mess that the youngsters are getting into, and this just gives them something to look forward to and to build team spirit which is so important in sailing," she told The Nassau Guardian not long after she strongly voiced her objections in the hall.

"He always said, it doesn't matter if you lose the race; it's the friends you meet along the way that make all the difference, so, as I said tonight, with the rumbling of the thunder, to me that was him saying 'don't mess with sailing; leave it alone'."

Dwayne Higgins, a member of the National Sailing Commission and vice commodore of the National Sailing Association, said any obstruction in Montagu Bay "takes sailing completely away from us".

"So for me, as a citizen of this country, I appreciate tourism. I know its value to this country; however, The Bahamas still at some point needs to be for Bahamians," said Higgins, eliciting applause from the crowd.

Hugh Buckner, an area resident and sailing enthusiast, said, "In opposing this, the reason [is not being] against the seaplanes per se, but the landing area.

"This landing area is right in the middle of Bahamian sailing. This is ground zero for Bahamian sailing and if you go and operate there at the times you're going to operate, you're going to be landing right in the place [where there are] children, many of them eight, 12-years-old."

Buckner said the area would become dangerous so the children won't be able to sail.

Lori Lowe, president of The Bahamas Sailing Association, said Montagu Bay is "the best place in the world to sail".

"We have had more than a number of international sailors come to this country and say that to us, unrequested, unsolicited," Lowe said.

She said she does not know how sailors could be safe with such an operation.

"The proposal talks about safety regulations and safety rules and being safe for the seaplane," Lowe said.

"There is nothing here for the safety of the people on the water."

Jaxon Parker, a sailing coach who teaches beginner sailing to eight to 15-year-olds, said his main concern is having children on the water the same time seaplanes are landing.

"That runway is literally where I will be having kids sail every single day of the week," Parker said.

He said in the event of an emergency with the children, he would be severely hampered in getting them to safety.

Parker also said, "Sailing is our national sport. What does Atlantis care more about, promoting youth sports in our country or profiting off Americans? What do we care more about, seriously? That is right where I'll be sailing. It would severely limit our ability to promote sailing in this country with our youth."

Coolidge Cartwright, a South Ocean resident and sailing enthusiast, also objected to the project.

"That area right there is where all the races are done," said Cartwright, who added that his son, who is now assistant sailing coach at Brown University, started sailing in Montagu Bay when he was eight.

He said a seaplane operation in that area would also take sailing away from underprivileged children who learn to sail through special programs that are offered.

"I'm not against Atlantis and their thing," Cartwright added.

"We have enough problems in this country. We need something for our youth, something positive."

Lissa Pyfrom, who lives between Florida and The Bahamas, expressed concerns about noise pollution from the seaplanes.

"These planes are not quiet," Pyfrom said.

"If you've ever been to Vancouver, Canada, and been down to where the seaplanes are, it is a noisy area and those planes are coming and going and as more flights get added and people want to go to other locations, it is going to get busier and busier and it will become a complete noise center. It will drown out that area."

'We can make this work'

Roberts, one of the Atlantis executives who was present last night, said the resort had eyed other areas.

"So we initially started this with other locations in mind to do this and we were directed by the Port Department and the Civil Aviation [Authority] to look at Montagu Bay," he said.

Asked what other areas Atlantis had considered, Roberts said, "Originally, the seaplanes used to land right in the harbor and pull right up to the Chalk's site, which was owned by Atlantis, and then we looked to the west of the harbor, in the Long Wharf area, as a potential, and, again, we were advised by the regulators that because of the activities with the cruise lines in the harbor, they wanted us to move to the east."

Roberts said Atlantis respects the fact that there are regattas and other cultural activities that happen at Montagu Bay.

"So we can just as easy as we would black out weather related events, we can black out specific days when there are these kinds of events, but it would be up for us and the Port Department to try to understand exactly the dates we are proposing versus what else is happening in Montagu Bay," he said.

"We spent a lot of time in Montagu Bay to get to this point with the Port Department and we did not see the activity that they (the sailing enthusiasts) are describing."

He said Atlantis is proposing five excursions a week.

"So it's not a big operation and certainly if demand expands we will look to grow it, but there has got to be space in the harbor, either to the west or the east or whatever to make this work. I mean, these kinds of accommodations happen in harbors all around the world," Roberts said.

He said the seaplane operation would not be a money-making venture for Atlantis, but a way for the resort to make itself even more attractive and to offer a more interesting and diversified experience.

"There's no value to us," he said, seeking to make the point that it was not about profits.

"We're just trying to create some very high-end, curated experiences for the very high-end segment of our guests because then that allows us to differentiate us as Atlantis and it allows us to be that more exciting to people at the high end."

Roberts said the operation would better expose the Family Islands and boost tourism in those places.

The post 'Take your project somewhere else' appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

The post 'Take your project somewhere else' appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

The 17th Exuma Business Outlook (EBO) is set for tomorrow, and the state of the island's airport will be a primary topic of discussion, as well as the economic boon the Exuma chain of islands is experiencing at the moment, Exuma Chamber of Commerce President Pedro Rolle alluded to in a press statement.

"Whether you invest, live, or work in the Exumas, there is no more important investment than in infrastructure that facilitates the movement of people, goods, and services," said Rolle.

"While business opportunities abound, there are challenges that we must admit and deal with in a sustained manner."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation Chester Cooper, who is also the member of Parliament for the Exumas and Ragged Island, recently announced that the government has sourced funding for the continued development of the airport.

Rolle said that while it is widely understood that Exuma is seeing a boost in tourism numbers, the state of the Exuma International Airport is not creating difficulty in efficiently and comfortably handling present activity as well as projected traffic growth. While overall work has started on the airport project - he laments that there have been far too many stoppages, while noting that numerous business decisions are predicated on this airport facility's completion.

Other speakers at the 2023 Exuma Business Outlook include; Tracey Boucher, vice president of engineering, Cable Bahamas Business Solutions; Gowon Bowe, chief executive officer, Fidelity Bank Bahamas Ltd; Bob Coughlin, co-founder and president, Friends of Exuma and Developer, Turtlegrass Beach and Island Club; Dennis Deveaux, chief financial officer, Doctors Hospital Health System; Tracy Cooper, managing director, Bahamasair Holdings Ltd; Sarah Swainson, private charters and Business Development, Makers Air; Brent Hurt, developer, Marina Hoopers Bay; Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle, executive director, Bahamas National Trust, Carlisa Belle, Assistant Manager Currency Department, Central Bank of The Bahamas; Toni Seymour, chief operations officer, Bahamas Power and Light; Kerry Fountain, executive director, Bahamas Out Islands Promotion Board and Clayton Pat Smith, owner, Four C's Adventure.

Rolle said that Exuma is witnessing an "incomparable renaissance".

According to Rolle, while the success of the Exumas has been much chronicled, the present state of the Exuma International Airport is not appropriate for the growing tourist traffic, and the projected growth of tourism traffic.

He added that there is a need for the growing vacation rental market to inject revenue back into the Exuma community, especially given the number of foreign-owned properties.

Rolle said data needs to be gathered to see what that could look like.

"Additionally, there is a need to revamp The Fish Fry, possibly through a complete makeover or relocation for long-term sustainability and to ensure that developers uphold their commitments to enhance the community as outlined in their agreements," the statement said.

"The Exuma Business Outlook is anticipated to be a crucial gathering for mapping out the path towards the future growth and development of the islands."

The post Exuma Business Outlook to tackle conversation on infrastructure and growth appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

The post Exuma Business Outlook to tackle conversation on infrastructure and growth appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.