New Providence has experienced a rise in murders, including the killings of a number of women and children in recent years. The lives of women are being snatched away in the Bahamas along with other innocent victims. Vigilante justice is growing in our streets. Murders seem to have reached unprecedented levels in recent months and something must be done to end the carnage.

The Bible gives clear instructions in both the Old and New Testament on how to deal with murderers and reduce violence. In recent months a lot of lies have been told with regards to the biblical position on how to deal with convicted murderers. Many of these are strictly opinions based on political correctness and the culture of European jurisdictions.

Members of Citizens For Justice Bahamas (CFJB) are outraged at the level of murders and violent crime in the Bahamas and are calling for capital punishment to be reinstated in accordance with the Constitution and honest biblical interpretation.

Bishop Walter Hanchell, Chairman of Citizens For Justice Bahamas, is demanding that laws regarding capital punishment be enforced or be removed from our law books. Enforcement is preferred and very necessary.

The recent spate of murders in the nation has caused serious concerns. While we commend Commissioner Paul Rolle and his fine officers for great policing, we must take the correct measures in order to reduce murders. As a result of the negative social effects of Covid19, there appears to be an increase in domestic violence and violent crimes.

Presently, hundreds of persons charged before the courts with murder are on bail and walking our streets. Cases take far too long to be heard followed by years of appeal after conviction.

Citizens For Justice Bahamas has observed with interest that both former Prime Minister, Dr. Hubert Minnis and former Minister of National Security, Marvin Dames are proponents of the death penalty. We commend them for their stand, which is on the right side of the debate on capital punishment. After almost five years of governance, absolutely nothing was done, however. It was all talk to get votes. Former Prime Minister Perry Christie also promised to deal with enforcing capital punishment but never did.

CITIZENS FOR JUSTICE BAHAMAS also supports the death penalty and have been calling for the resumption of capital punishment in the Bahamas for many years. Marvin Dames stated in an interview that the FNM government would use everything on the books including capital punishment, to make the Bahamas safe for law-abiding citizens. Absolutely nothing was done in this regard.

The last time the death penalty was carried out in the Bahamas was on January 6, 2000, over twenty-two years ago, when David Mitchell was hanged for killing two German tourists. All death sentences since then have been commuted because of the Privy Council's philosophical objection to capital punishment. Unless the government of the Bahamas passes strong leglislation that would prevent the Privy Council from ruling against the execution of convicted murderers, we will never see the death penalty carried out in the Bahamas again. Thugs will continue to take innocent lives knowing that they will face no real consequences for their evil.

It is our view that the biblical basis for capital punishment must be followed. It is God who established moral laws to govern us. The bible is clear on the death penalty and unless and until we follow the laws of God, the senseless murders will continue.The blood-baths must stop, however. We must do what is necessary as a people to address the issue of murders, violent crime and illegal guns. Again, we appeal to our lawmakers to amend our laws to ensure that there be no impediments at the Privy Council when ruling on murder cases. We also call on legislators to greatly increase the penalties for all violent crimes, including rape. armed robberies, assault and possession of illegal firearms.

Below are biblical passages that command that the death penalty be carried out both in the Old and New Testament. We have noted that not one prophet in the Old Testament or any of the New Testament writers, including the Apostle Paul, condemned capital punishment or even spoke out against it even once. Jesus never taught that capital punishment should be abolished as many false teachers today falsely promote. In fact, Jesus Christ, Himself received capital punishment at the hands of the Roman soldiers. He never opposed capital punishment because His word supports and commands state killings. Capital punishment was established by our Creator, God, to remove offenders from society. No government or institution has the authority to overrule God's supreme laws. Capital punishment was never meant to be a deterrent, even though it is, when it is carried out speedily. It was meant to punish murderers for taking precious lives that God created

All moral laws have their root in the Bible including capital punishment. The death penalty was always mandatory, except in the case of accidental or unintentional death. Below is what God says with regards to murder and capital punishment in His Word.

In the Old Testament, the following passages clarify the fact that capital punishment is necessary to maintain law and order for the safety and protection of citizens.

Genesis 9:6 "Whosoever sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed".

Exodus 21:12 "He that smiteth a man so that he die, shall be surely put to death."

Ecclesiastes 8:11 "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."

To those who claim that capital punishment applied only in the Old Testament under the Mosaic laws, you are in error. According to teachings in the New Testament, it is clear that, Jesus and the apostles were in full support of state killings and never once condemned them. Below is what New Testament passages say about capital punishment:

Romans 13:1 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be (governments) are ordained of God." V4 "For he (rulers) is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid: for he beareth not the sword (capital punishment) in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."

Matthew 26:52 ..."All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword."

Revelation 13:10 ..."He that killeth with the sword MUST be killed with the sword." Note: The "sword" is referring to murder.

Capital punishment was established by God for the protection of society and to remove the offender from society. Human life is sacred and no man has the right to take another man's life except in self defense or during a war. We are convinced that the culture of murder will not change in the Bahamas until capital punishment is carried out according to the Constitution of the Bahamas and the laws of God.

All opposed to capital punishment, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, the European Union, the Privy Council, liberal judges and politicians and human rights activists, and some deceived church leaders, are all on the wrong side of the supreme laws of God with regards to capital punishment. They will all one day stand guilty before God for this grievous error. They know better, yet prefer to be politically correct, changing the will of the Most High, while at the same time, rejecting the truth of God's word.

May 2022, marks 10 years since Rubis Bahamas Limited, the premium fuel distributor of Rubis Ultra Tec Fuels purchased the Chevron fuels business in The Bahamas. Since then, the company has grown to a compliment of 23 Service Stations, 14 Marinas and supported numerous organizations along the way, including Bahamas Reef Environmental Educational Foundation (BREEF).

BREEF aims to educate and preserve the marine ecosystem for a sustainable future. Partnering with BREEF for the Snorkel Event and Beach Clean Up on Saturday, May 7, 2022, provided Rubis team members and their families the opportunity to experience the marine ecosystem and give back by cleaning up Saunders Beach.

Rubis volunteers disseminated into groups of three for 45-minute sessions to collect and sort trash for a national database. The groups collected 1 and a half 20-gallon trash bags along the shores and parking lot. Other participants enjoyed both activities and in total Rubis saw 45 persons support the initiative.

“Giving back is a part of Rubis’ corporate mandate. Rubis has clear Corporate Social Responsibility guidelines and reviews its contribution and impact on the community yearly. BREEF alone educates thousands of individuals each year, through its various programs. Rubis is a proud sponsor of its outreach program for over 5 years” said Micah Knowles, Rubis’ Sales & Marketing Manager.

Up next for the Anniversary is Rubis Fuel Hour at all 23 Rubis Service Stations across the islands of the Bahamas. For one hour on Friday, May 20th customers will have a chance to receive up to $10,00 in fuel giveaways and lots of goodies. Customers can follow Rubis Bahamas on Facebook for more details. The day after on Saturday, May 21st, Rubis will be the Title Sponsor for Resources and Education for Autism Related Challenges (REACH) Fun Run/Walk starting at 6am from Montague Beach. The public is invited to attend in support of Autism awareness.

Written by and Photos by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry

On April 29, 2022, the PACE (Providing Access to Continued Education) School building was officially named the Andrea E. Archer Institute, in recognition of its founder, Andrea Archer. She is a heroic woman who has dedicated her life to building programs centered on improving the welfare of students and families in The Bahamas. Additionally, a mortgage burning ceremony took place to celebrate this new mortgage-free Institute made possible by the unrelenting fundraising efforts of the PACE Foundation with significant support from the Sandals Foundation and the Bahamas Development Bank.

In attendance to pay tribute to Mrs Archer were Mrs Ann Marie Davis, spouse of the Prime Minister, the Honourable Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training, Sonia Brown, President of the PACE Foundation, family members, friends, and supporters of PACE.

“What makes Andrea stand out, is her compassion and integrity, and the ability to see light in people, in the midst of their struggle and the messiness of their lives,” said Brown. “Today we establish the Andrea Archer Institute because we have an ‘all of the above’ approach to the challenges faced by all young people in our country.”

Brown outlined some of the work completed under the PACE Program founded by Mrs Archer. “Young mothers receive an education, and are enrolled in a grant program that entitles them to a small monthly stipend that requires 90% attendance and punctuality at school, and full participation in activities.” The teens are also prepared for job readiness and placement and are assisted with transportation, childcare and food. The goal is to ensure continued education and success. After childbirth, they return to a new school for a new start.

“When you help a teen mother – you help the nation,” said Mrs Archer at the ceremony. Her journey started in 1969 when as a community nurse and Medico-Social Counsellor, she introduced a program for teen mothers which later became known as the Student Mother Clinic, which offered counselling and school placement services. In 1984, the Student Mother Continued Education program emerged, evolving in 1993 to PACE - Providing Access to Continued Education, the name which Mrs Archer’s then 11-year-old daughter Tara, created.

Mrs Archer is charming, down to earth and tenacious. She holds many degrees, was a Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, and has a no-nonsense style. “The journey has not been easy. Many feet began this journey with us, to give pregnant students a second chance. It took courage, stamina, and fortitude to act despite the negative criticism and vilification,” she said. Mrs. Archer acknowledged the dedication and hard work of the PACE Foundation, and many partners, including the MOE, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, Ministry of Health and Wellness, family members and donors who have given overwhelming support during the past 53 years.

Half a century later, PACE has positively affected the lives of thousands of young women and others who have helped build our nation. This was shared by the Hon. Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin who dubbed Mrs Archer a Hero. “You told us, that their lives mattered and there was a future waiting for them.” Hanna-Martin told the audience that she recently met a young lady who was graduating from the University of The Bahamas, a PACE alumna, whose son was now 9 years old.

Mrs Ann Marie Davis was delighted to be part of the day’s event. “In the last decade, I have completed a lot of social work and heard a lot about PACE and young ladies in the program. A tea party a few years ago was held in their honour; I saw these young ladies who were beside themselves with joy and knowing that they have another chance to continue the life they wanted to lead. This is what PACE is all about… PACE allowed them to accomplish their dreams.”

Through the doors of PACE, have emerged many nation builders, doctors, lawyers, educators, an engineer, accountants and many entrepreneurs Andrea Archer herself a nation builder was ahead of her time. Mrs. Archer shares, “In the home, parents have to let the young girls know how precious they are and how important they are – so they don’t fall prey to illicit admiration, or people preying on their gullibility and naivety. Most parents have difficulty explaining family life and sex education to their children. They need to do this or those pre-adolescents may listen to their peers, to what’s on social media and veer in the wrong path.”

When asked about society’s judgmental views, she responded, “The facts are that some of those girls are not promiscuous; there was sexual assault, and they chose not to have an abortion; Some of the young ladies were preyed upon or were naïve concerning pregnancy. They had cousins or uncles who sexually assaulted them and there were cases of incest.” Mrs Archer asked that we not judge, and that we are kind and assist them, to allow healing and the possibility of a brighter future for mother and child.

The Andrea E. Archer Institute (AEAI) initiatives include a Train the Trainer program for counsellors who work with young males. The Mom Plus program provides support to mothers in their twenties, regardless of whether they previously enrolled in PACE. Contrary to popular belief, this age group is where the bulk of unplanned pregnancies occur, and the AEAI has created a vehicle to provide much-needed support. Sonia Brown adds, “The jewel in our crown, is the Character Day and Hidden Heroes initiatives that promote a national conversation around good character, especially, self-esteem and ultimately, decision making, that we often find lacking in teenagers. This is also a part of our pregnancy prevention strategy.”

Moderator Dr Ruthmae Sears, a PACE Foundation board member said of Mrs. Archer, “She is a phenomenal woman driven by a vision to catalyze change and promote equitable and inclusive educational opportunities for teen mothers in The Bahamas.”

For more information about the PACE program at the Andrea E. Archer Institute visit: www.pacebahamas.com

For the past 14 years, the Caribbean Bottling Company (Bahamas) Ltd. and Sprite have supported basketball initiatives, around the country, as a way to provide positive activities for young Bahamian men and women throughout the summer months. This year, they will once again support a number of basketball tournaments, camps and community outreach programs, inclusive of the Kevin Johnson Basketball Camp.

CBC has supported the Kevin Johnson Basketball Camp for a number of years, and Coach Johnson will once again help develop the talents of young players as they hone their skills and become more disciplined in the sport. The camp has been around for over two decades, and aims to instill lifelong skills, such as discipline and positive attitudes, in the kids.

“Each summer, we proudly support various summer camps, youth groups, and community outreach programs” noted Nikia Wells, Communications Marketing Manager. “We are always impressed by the sportsmanship, excitement, and level of athleticism displayed by the young athletes who take part.”

CBC will be keeping the players hydrated and refreshed with Dasani water and Sprite during the camp, which will take place from June 27-July 15, 2022.