Miya Bahamas staff will be speaking to students at St. Anne’s public school in Nassau on Thursday, March 21st, at 9:30am. They will bespeaking about World Water Day, which is celebrated on the 22nd, and continuing their series of school talks on the theme that ‘Water is Life’. Sharing invaluable information about the importance of water conservation and working to curtail our country’s water wastage.

PLACE: St. Anne’s Primary School (St Anne's Close Fox Hill, Nassau)

DATE: Thursday, March 21st, 2024

TIME: 9:30am

Please contact Keva Lockhart to confirm your attendance at (242) 817- 1470 or Sarah Kirkbyat 727-9515. Our thanks for your consideration.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Miya Bahamas staff will be speaking to students at St. Anne’s public school in Nassau on Thursday, March 21st, at 9:30am. They will be speaking about World Water Day, which is celebrated on the 22nd, and continuing their series of school talks on the theme that ‘Water is Life’. Sharing invaluable information about the importance of water conservation and working to curtail our country’s water wastage. PLACE: St. Anne’s Primary School (St Anne's Close Fox Hill, Nassau) DATE: Thursday, March 21st, 2024 TIME: 9:30am Please contact Keva Lockhart to confirm your attendance at (242) 817- 1470 or Sarah Kirkby at 727-9515. Our thanks for your consideration. We look forward to seeing you there!

Environment and Natural Resources Minister the Hon. Vaughn Miller appealed to students of Anatol Rodgers Senior High School to harness the rich diversity of Commonwealth nations to forge partnerships, exchange ideas, and amplify voices on the global stage.

Said Minister Miller, “As we celebrate Commonwealth Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to upholding the values of democracy, peace, and prosperity that bind us together as a global community.

“May we draw strength from our shared heritage and collective resolve to overcome challenges and seize opportunities for a brighter tomorrow.”

He addressed the school’s assembly on Commonwealth Day, recognized on Monday, March 11, 2024 to the theme “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth.”

Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations, held on the second Monday in March.

Environment and Natural Resources Minister the Hon. Vaughn Miller appealed to students of Anatol Rodgers Senior High School to harness the rich diversity of Commonwealth nations to forge partnerships, exchange ideas, and amplify voices on the global stage. Said Minister Miller, “As we celebrate Commonwealth Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to upholding the values of democracy, peace, and prosperity that bind us together as a global community. “May we draw strength from our shared heritage and collective resolve to overcome challenges and seize opportunities for a brighter tomorrow.” He addressed the school’s assembly on Commonwealth Day, recognized on Monday, March 11, 2024 to the theme “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth.” Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations, held on the second Monday in March.

The 15th Annual University of West Indies (UWI) Toronto Benefit Awards celebrates the 2024 Honorees of its fundraiser in support of scholarships for Caribbean students on Saturday April 20th, 2024 at the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 181 Wellington Street, Toronto at 5:30pm EST. The sold-out gala affair is hosted by The University of the West Indies (UWI), top ranked among the world’s best universities, with Scotiabank as Lead Sponsor for the 15th consecutive year.

“The UWI Toronto Benefit Awards has provided 850 scholarships and bursaries to Caribbean
students over the years” exclaimed Elizabeth Buchanan-Hind, Executive Director of
University’s Institutional Advancement Division. “We know that education is the pathway to
success as is evident with those who graduated and have gone onto great careers because they
were able to attend The University of West Indies and get a world class education.”
 
Primary sponsors for this year’s event include Dr. Donette Chin-Loy Chang, Sprott Inc., The Hibbert Family Foundation, and BDO.

Under this year’s theme, Lighting the Way Together, this not-to-be missed night on the Toronto social calendar cultivates a high-profile guest list of corporate executives, public personalities and community members committed to giving back to the Caribbean diaspora.

The distinguished 2024 Honourees are: 

●    Luminary Award: The Honourable Mr. Justice Hugh L. Fraser, O.C., FCIArb., CollArb, OLY - Mediator, Arbitrator and Human Rights Activist

●    G. Raymond Chang Award: Mr. Raj Kothari, FCPA, FCA, MBA - Business Leader and Humanitarian

●    Chancellor’s Award: Air Canada - Global Organization serving the Caribbean

●    Vice Chancellor’s Award: Dr. Pamela Appelt, OD - Court of Canadian Citizenship Justice (Ret.), Humanitarian; Mr. Stanley J. Julien - Head, Special Accounts Management Unit - Canada, BMO Bank of Montreal, Business and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leader; Mr. Deland Kamanga, CFA - Group Head, BMO Wealth Management, Financial Specialist and Philanthropist; Dr. Claudette McGowan - Chief Executive Officer, Protexxa, Global Cybersecurity Leader and Human Rights Activist, Business Leader and Philanthropist
 
The Patrons of the UWI Toronto Benefit Awards are Dr. Donette Chin-Loy Chang, Mr. Andrew Chang, Ms. Brigette Chang, and joining them this year are Mr. Kevin Hibbert and Mrs. Ann-Marie Hibbert, both passionate supporters of higher education and the UWI Student Scholarship Fund. Mr. Hibbert was a recipient of the 2023 Vice Chancellor’s Award. 
Lighting the Way Together demonstrates how together, community donations, financial support and inspiration provides a lifeline to students eager to fulfill their educational dreams.

The 15th Annual University of West Indies (UWI) Toronto Benefit Awards celebrates the 2024 Honorees of its fundraiser in support of scholarships for Caribbean students on Saturday April 20th, 2024 at the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 181 Wellington Street, Toronto at 5:30pm EST. The sold-out gala affair is hosted by The University of the West Indies (UWI), top ranked among the world’s best universities, with Scotiabank as Lead Sponsor for the 15th consecutive year. “The UWI Toronto Benefit Awards has provided 850 scholarships and bursaries to Caribbean students over the years” exclaimed Elizabeth Buchanan-Hind, Executive Director of University’s Institutional Advancement Division. “We know that education is the pathway to success as is evident with those who graduated and have gone onto great careers because they were able to attend The University of West Indies and get a world class education.”   Primary sponsors for this year’s event include Dr. Donette Chin-Loy Chang, Sprott Inc., The Hibbert Family Foundation, and BDO. Under this year’s theme, Lighting the Way Together, this not-to-be missed night on the Toronto social calendar cultivates a high-profile guest list of corporate executives, public personalities and community members committed to giving back to the Caribbean diaspora. The distinguished 2024 Honourees are:   ●    Luminary Award: The Honourable Mr. Justice Hugh L. Fraser, O.C., FCIArb., CollArb, OLY - Mediator, Arbitrator and Human Rights Activist ●    G. Raymond Chang Award: Mr. Raj Kothari, FCPA, FCA, MBA - Business Leader and Humanitarian ●    Chancellor’s Award: Air Canada - Global Organization serving the Caribbean ●    Vice Chancellor’s Award: Dr. Pamela Appelt, OD - Court of Canadian Citizenship Justice (Ret.), Humanitarian; Mr. Stanley J. Julien - Head, Special Accounts Management Unit - Canada, BMO Bank of Montreal, Business and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leader; Mr. Deland Kamanga, CFA - Group Head, BMO Wealth Management, Financial Specialist and Philanthropist; Dr. Claudette McGowan - Chief Executive Officer, Protexxa, Global Cybersecurity Leader and Human Rights Activist, Business Leader and Philanthropist   The Patrons of the UWI Toronto Benefit Awards are Dr. Donette Chin-Loy Chang, Mr. Andrew Chang, Ms. Brigette Chang, and joining them this year are Mr. Kevin Hibbert and Mrs. Ann-Marie Hibbert, both passionate supporters of higher education and the UWI Student Scholarship Fund. Mr. Hibbert was a recipient of the 2023 Vice Chancellor’s Award.  Lighting the Way Together demonstrates how together, community donations, financial support and inspiration provides a lifeline to students eager to fulfill their educational dreams.

From help with homework, to limbo lessons, sound engineering, conflict resolution, construction technology, auto mechanics and small engine repairs, boys in the Centreville community enrolled in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s (MOYSC) All Boys Afterschool Programme are being exposed to learning opportunities to enrich their lives.

Now into the second week, the programme for boys in the Centreville community is the continuation of an initiative for boys started in 2023 by a men’s mentoring network. It is sponsored in collaboration with Gang Reduction Intervention Prevention, The Brotherhood and Overtown Centreville Neighborhood Watch.

“It’s about taking our young men/boys and moving them into paths to become positive young men in our community. We hope that this would be a preventative programme from getting our young boys involved in gangs. Instead of going to a gang after school they are coming to a positive gang and that’s what the programme is all about,” said Henry Higgins, Administrative Cadet at MOYSC.

“We’ve pulled together a number of organizations that focus on boys to help us put programmes in the various communities.”

Forty-eight boys ranging in ages from 5 to 20 have registered for the sessions held 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm, Monday thru Friday, at Marjorie Davis Institute for Special Education, Deveaux Street.  

“We will have a limbo class every Tuesday and Thursday.  Limbo is a dying art in our country.  There are only three limbo dancers in The Bahamas now,” said Mr. Higgins.

“We also have a sound engineering class where they will learn how to be DJs and sound engineers.” 

The boys will also dabble in small home repairs, how to fix generators, weed whackers, lawn mowers, repair and service vehicles, healthy life skills, hygiene, conflict resolution, anger management, self-esteem, [learn about] gender based violence, drumming and Junkanoo craft.

“All of these things are packed into the 13-week programme [We will also be teaching them] how to make Junkanoo supplies that can be sold. We will try to make them young entrepreneurs/businessmen as early as possible. 

“Everything is practical; they can use their hands. Some of them, they will learn how to make wooden banks and some will learn how to make chairs and tables from pallets,” said Mr. Higgins.

Why boys?

“Because there is a fallout of boys in our nation. Most people don’t recognize the fact that we have more boys born in The Bahamas than girls.  By the time they get 15/16 we lose them – we thought it was important to bridge that gap and catch the boys before we lose any more [that is when] you see there are more girls,” said Mr. Higgins.

“We see the fallout of boys in education, we see the fallout of boys who are getting involved in gangs.  In MYSC. This is actually one of our preventative programmes to save our boys.”

Mr. Higgins noted that the boys will be rewarded for performance, attendance and improvement. 

“We give rewards based on their accomplishments. Once they do something well we reward them,” he said.

“We just read The Story of Christ to them. They have to take the book home and tomorrow they will do a test on the story. Those who do well will be rewarded and those who improve will be rewarded.  We try to give a reward system so they will see that being here is worth it.”

Moreover, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture is also planning to offer parenting sessions. “We’re hoping by next month to do a monthly parenting programme where we meet with the parents to share their child/children’s progress and have a time to talk with them about parenting.  Once we recognize the boys who have short attention spans, etc. we want to help them [parents] work in these areas,” he said.

From help with homework, to limbo lessons, sound engineering, conflict resolution, construction technology, auto mechanics and small engine repairs, boys in the Centreville community enrolled in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s (MOYSC) All Boys Afterschool Programme are being exposed to learning opportunities to enrich their lives. Now into the second week, the programme for boys in the Centreville community is the continuation of an initiative for boys started in 2023 by a men’s mentoring network. It is sponsored in collaboration with Gang Reduction Intervention Prevention, The Brotherhood and Overtown Centreville Neighborhood Watch. “It’s about taking our young men/boys and moving them into paths to become positive young men in our community. We hope that this would be a preventative programme from getting our young boys involved in gangs. Instead of going to a gang after school they are coming to a positive gang and that’s what the programme is all about,” said Henry Higgins, Administrative Cadet at MOYSC. “We’ve pulled together a number of organizations that focus on boys to help us put programmes in the various communities.” Forty-eight boys ranging in ages from 5 to 20 have registered for the sessions held 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm, Monday thru Friday, at Marjorie Davis Institute for Special Education, Deveaux Street.   “We will have a limbo class every Tuesday and Thursday.  Limbo is a dying art in our country.  There are only three limbo dancers in The Bahamas now,” said Mr. Higgins. “We also have a sound engineering class where they will learn how to be DJs and sound engineers.”  The boys will also dabble in small home repairs, how to fix generators, weed whackers, lawn mowers, repair and service vehicles, healthy life skills, hygiene, conflict resolution, anger management, self-esteem, [learn about] gender based violence, drumming and Junkanoo craft. “All of these things are packed into the 13-week programme [We will also be teaching them] how to make Junkanoo supplies that can be sold. We will try to make them young entrepreneurs/businessmen as early as possible.  “Everything is practical; they can use their hands. Some of them, they will learn how to make wooden banks and some will learn how to make chairs and tables from pallets,” said Mr. Higgins. Why boys? “Because there is a fallout of boys in our nation. Most people don’t recognize the fact that we have more boys born in The Bahamas than girls.  By the time they get 15/16 we lose them – we thought it was important to bridge that gap and catch the boys before we lose any more [that is when] you see there are more girls,” said Mr. Higgins. “We see the fallout of boys in education, we see the fallout of boys who are getting involved in gangs.  In MYSC. This is actually one of our preventative programmes to save our boys.” Mr. Higgins noted that the boys will be rewarded for performance, attendance and improvement.  “We give rewards based on their accomplishments. Once they do something well we reward them,” he said. “We just read The Story of Christ to them. They have to take the book home and tomorrow they will do a test on the story. Those who do well will be rewarded and those who improve will be rewarded.  We try to give a reward system so they will see that being here is worth it.” Moreover, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture is also planning to offer parenting sessions. “We’re hoping by next month to do a monthly parenting programme where we meet with the parents to share their child/children’s progress and have a time to talk with them about parenting.  Once we recognize the boys who have short attention spans, etc. we want to help them [parents] work in these areas,” he said.