Many regard the holiday season as the most wonderful time of the year. However, the New Providence Ecology Park (NPEP) staff recently donated hundreds of pounds of food items to the Bahamas Feeding Network (BFN), recognizing that for many, even during this festive season, sustained food insecurity remains.

Instead of a corporate holiday practice such as secret Santa, NPEP's 65-member team engaged in a food-donation competition to help others. The group formed teams, and each week for one month, each team aimed to bring in the most food items for donation.

"Our team members poured themselves into this initiative, many investing up to fifty percent of their salary in purchasing food items to donate," shared Jaime Strachan, NPEP HR and Administration Manager. "Everyone was very enthused, and we are incredibly proud of their generosity and genuine concern for the community."

From bales of rice, grits, and sugar, to cases of canned goods and snacks, the NPEP team amassed a contribution that Archdeacon James Palacious, BFN Executive Director describes as "a tremendously big donation that means a whole lot." Archdeacon Palacious continued, "It means that some people are serious about helping to feed others, and we are really grateful for NPEP."

The holiday season is a stark reminder of the deep need in the community. Holiday cheer and indulgence juxtaposed against the rising cost of living and chronic food insecurity experienced by many rallied the NPEP team to action. "We know how tough things are for many families, and anything we can do to lessen the burden for those who need help to prevent someone from going hungry, we are happy to do," shared NPEP Foreman Antoine Joseph.

Since assuming management of the new Providence Landfill in 2018, NPEP has been systematically working to empower those in need through employment, investments in community organizations dedicated to sustainability, youth STEM education, and more.

"At NPEP, our root mission is to better the community. Not only through world-class waste management but through community building that empowers others," stated NPEP Chairman Felix Stubbs. "It is encouraging to see that this culture of service has permeated our team members and we look forward to deepening our roots in the community through service."

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Mario Bowleg expressed great optimism Thursday, December 8, 2022 on the impressive number of applicants already signed up to become the first cohort for the National Youth Guard Program under his ministry.

“I am happy to note that we have more than 200 registered already to be a part of this program. We are looking forward to more persons being registered when we start our second cohort, hopefully in June,” Minister Bowleg said.

The Minister was addressing key stakeholders at a special call meeting at the Grand Lucayan resort designed to disseminate information about the program and open the floor for frank dialogue with various agencies and organizations on how the program, which is geared toward incorporating the nation’s youth in volunteerism during a national disaster, can reach its maximum potential.

The government is looking to recruit 100 youth for every cohort in an aggressive campaign to empower young Bahamians and benefit the entire nation at the same time.

The first cohort of 100 will consist of 60 young people from the Family Islands and 40 from New Providence who will be called on to assist the government in the recovery stage in the national disaster plan.

“We want to ensure that we start with the Family Islands, especially Grand Bahama and Abaco, because while we may have police officers and Defence Force officers to be deployed in these various Family Islands, it’s also good to have every Family Island having someone on the ground already to prepare the way for when these Defence Force and police officers come,” he said.

Training for the first cohort begins in January 2023.

The program is being hosted in Grand Bahama and applicants must be between ages 18 and 25.

The cohort will undergo three months of training, followed by another three months of internship and will be on call as a reserve for two years while receiving a stipend.

Minister Bowleg thanked the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, which are the key partners in conducting training for the participants.

“Hurricane Dorian has taught us a lot but as these many hurricanes have come in the past, and those that will come, we understand that the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Defence Force do not have sufficient manpower in order for us to not only to prepare but to respond. So this administration took the initiative to see that it is necessary for us to invest in some of our young people to prepare them to be able to respond to a disaster,” Minister Bowleg said.

In fact, the minister noted that not only will the program participants be able to respond to a natural disaster at the end of the training, it will also provide them with the necessary tools that will prove useful to them in life.

Minister Bowleg is of the belief that there are some young men and women who see the light at a later stage in life.

“This program will allow us to give them the necessary tools that will prepare them an also help them to become employed,” he said.

The minister of youth, sports and culture explained that it was necessary to have the participants relocate to Grand Bahama and train at the Police College from the various islands to allow them to focus on the necessary skills they will be taught.

“This is a serious thing. We live in an area in the Caribbean where we know a hurricane will come again and we must prepare ourselves,” he said, while adding that it is the government’s belief that the best way to do that is to start with the younger generation.

“It is my hope that the government employs a majority of these persons in the various agencies so that when the time calls for them to serve they are free to serve,” Minister Bowleg said.

Also in attendance were Ministry of Youth Officer Kenneth Frazier; Assistant Commissioner Dellareese Rolle, The Royal Bahamas Police Force; Senior Commander Stephen Rolle, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force; Tammi Mitchell, The National Emergency Management Agency, Ministry of Youth Sport, and Culture Deputy Director of Sports, Northern Bahamas, Norris Bain and Youth Programs Coordinator, Grand Bahama, Carla Brown-Roker.

Minister Bowleg also toured the Police College later that afternoon.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Philip Davis joined Mrs. Ann Marie Davis (representative of the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister), Parliamentary and Senate colleagues, stakeholders and the general public, at the Urban Renewal Revolutionized Christmas Tree Lighting, Tuesday evening, December 6, 2022, at Christie Park. There were musical performances, giveaways and free food for the children, senior citizens and residents in attendance. (BIS Photos/Eric Rose. Drone Photography, Courtesy of Eric Rose)

November 4th, 2022, Nassau, Bahamas: Maintaining their company spirit of innovation, The New Duff recently released their newest shelf item to accompany their flourishing menu. The tangy follow up to last year’s Guavalava hot sauce, Pineapple Pow, has been flying off the shelves at the Bahamian company’s flagship store on West Bay Street.

Last year’s Guavalava performed extremely well with locals and tourists alike, becoming a table favorite to pair with wings and ribs in Bahamian households and restaurants. Pineapple Pow, touted to be great on white meat and in conch salad, has been selling out at the West Bay Street store since its debut two weeks ago.

Co-owner Lazar Delorenzo Charlton shares, “We always get incredibly excited when we create a new product that's a hit with our long-time and new customers alike. These sauces are physical manifestations of the love we have for what we’ve built here at The New Duff and we couldn’t be happier at how well they’re received. The sauces are palatable for everyone and can be paired with a multitude of Bahamian culinary favorites.”

Kendrick Delaney, Chef Owner added, “The people who follow us are very familiar with our innovative spirit so we wanted to continue to infuse that into our shelf items and other whimsical creations that keep Bahamians and visitors alike interested in what we do. Hearing Bahamians report that they’ve been using it on conch salad was a pleasant surprise for us and it inspires our team to continue to create more offerings that cater to the Bahamian taste buds.”

The New Duff is located on West Bay Street, just west of Arawak Cay, next to Bahama Grill. The owners and their team hope to share their new hot sauce flavor as well as the rest of their menu items at the upcoming Jollification Festival at The Bahamas National Trust Retreat on Village Road.