Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Disaster Risk Management, the Hon. Leon Lundy headed a special call meeting with the Grand Bahama Disaster Consultative Committee, February 15, 2024 on what was his first official visit to Grand Bahama since taking on his new portfolio.

Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey; Senator the Hon. Kirk Russell; Permanent Secretaries Joel Lewis and Marcellus Taylor; Disaster Reconstruction Authority Director Alex Storr; and National Emergency Management Agency Director Captain Stephen Russell were also in attendance.

The meeting, which included various department heads of the government, administrators, chief councillors and private partners, was held at the COLLAB Center in the Harold DeGregory Building and was called mainly to allow State Minister Lundy and his team to hear the concerns and challenges of the committee with a goal of devising a smooth contingency plan between the three major disaster management agencies under the newly formed Disaster Risk Management Authority.

State Minister Lundy and his delegation travelled to Grand Bahama to formally introduce himself and meet with teams on the ground, as well as get a first-hand look at on-going home repairs and operations throughout the island following Hurricane Dorian in 2019.

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Disaster Risk Management, the Hon. Leon Lundy headed a special call meeting with the Grand Bahama Disaster Consultative Committee, February 15, 2024 on what was his first official visit to Grand Bahama since taking on his new portfolio. Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey; Senator the Hon. Kirk Russell; Permanent Secretaries Joel Lewis and Marcellus Taylor; Disaster Reconstruction Authority Director Alex Storr; and National Emergency Management Agency Director Captain Stephen Russell were also in attendance. The meeting, which included various department heads of the government, administrators, chief councillors and private partners, was held at the COLLAB Center in the Harold DeGregory Building and was called mainly to allow State Minister Lundy and his team to hear the concerns and challenges of the committee with a goal of devising a smooth contingency plan between the three major disaster management agencies under the newly formed Disaster Risk Management Authority. State Minister Lundy and his delegation travelled to Grand Bahama to formally introduce himself and meet with teams on the ground, as well as get a first-hand look at on-going home repairs and operations throughout the island following Hurricane Dorian in 2019.

Last week, members of the Ethan S. Bain Environmental Health Foundation (ESBEHF) paid a courtesy call on the Hon. Vaughn Miller, Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources, to discuss the group’s current projects and future objectives.

During the meeting, representatives from ESBEHF highlighted the environmental challenges facing our country, particularly littering and the improper disposable of waste. The group also spoke to the Minister about the critical role students and environmental health professionals play in a sustainable future for the country.

The meeting concluded with discussions on partnership opportunities between the Ministry and ESBEHF. Formed in 2006 in memory of Bahamian environmentalist Ethan S. Bain, the local nonprofit is focused on providing scholarships and professional development opportunities for environmental health professionals.

The group has also provided garbage bins and cleaning supplies to various local non-profit organizations and community groups and launched an anti-littering campaign in 2023. Pictured from l to r: Jacqueline Bain, Founder, ESBEHF, the Hon. Vaughn Miller, Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources, Janice Miller, Foundation Chair and Shonalee Johnson, Assistant Chair at ESBEHF. For more information on the ongoing work being done by ESBEHF, visit ethansbain.org, email connect@ethansbain.org or follow on Facebook.

Assistant Commissioner of Police and Officer in Charge of Grand Bahama and the Northern Bahamas, Ms. Shanta Knowles, accompanied by senior police officers, Senator Kirkland Russell and representatives from various government agencies conducted a walkabout in Pinder’s Point on Friday, February 2, 2024.

The newly appointed Assistant Commissioner of Police told the media that the purpose of the walkabout was a part of her plan to traverse all the communities in Grand Bahama to “find out the concerns of residents” in each community. Pinder’s Point was the first community for the walkabout by ACP Knowles.

ACP Knowles was adamant in ensuring that the walk through the community was not just something done by the Grand Bahama Police Department, but featured other agencies, including Urban Renewal, the Department of Immigration, the Defence Force, Department of Health and the L.E.A.D Institute.

“The goal is for us to walk the community and to meet the people, hear their needs and be able to address their needs, especially when it comes to crime and the fear of crime in the various communities,” said ACP Knowles.

“We’ve had a very good response from the people in Pinder’s Point. We know that there is an area that we can brush up on, but I appreciate the candid comments that we’ve received.”

The Assistant Commissioner of Police said it is her hope that the walkabout on Friday would not be the last walk through the community. She is hoping that such a drill would become a regular thing, not just in the Pinder’s Point community, but through communities throughout the island. She’s also hoping that the other government agencies who accompanied her on Friday would see the need to duplicate their efforts along with her police force.

ACP Knowles is looking to not only walk through each community in Grand Bahama, but also through the communities in the Northern Bahamas.  Asked what some of the comments were she received from residents in Pinder’s Point during her walk through the community, ACP Knowles said that for the most part, all of the comments have been positive and encouraging.

“Residents have said that this is a good initiative and that they were pleased to see the police and individuals from so many government agencies within their neighborhood,” said Knowles.

As the ACP and her senior officers spoke with residents of Pinder’s Point, representatives from Urban Renewal collected information from the residents about their concerns and that information will be turned over to the relevant agencies, with intentions of providing the residents with the respective help that is needed.

Deputy Director of Urban Renewal Development on the island of Grand Bahama, Senator Kirkland Russell called the effort “successful” from several aspects. He noted that the community of Pinder’s Point is considered a high crime area but pointed out that other issues pertaining to house repairs, health issues, social services and NIB challenges have been indicated during Friday’s walkabout.

“The whole idea was to bring a multi-group of agencies together, walk the communities, hear the concerns and have the relevant persons there who can address those issues in the shortest possible time,” said Senator Russell.

“It’s all about bringing relief, comfort and removing the anxiety from residents. This was not a project where we went in to hunt down people and arrest them, but to hear the legitimate concerns of residents so that we can go back and try to find the best ways of solving those problems.”

Senator Russell pointed out that in 2023, there were zero murders recorded on the island of Grand Bahama and this, he said, is a result of initiatives like the walkabouts by the police through various communities and the hard work of officers at the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Assistant Commissioner of Police and Officer in Charge of Grand Bahama and the Northern Bahamas, Ms. Shanta Knowles, accompanied by senior police officers, Senator Kirkland Russell and representatives from various government agencies conducted a walkabout in Pinder’s Point on Friday, February 2, 2024. The newly appointed Assistant Commissioner of Police told the media that the purpose of the walkabout was a part of her plan to traverse all the communities in Grand Bahama to “find out the concerns of residents” in each community. Pinder’s Point was the first community for the walkabout by ACP Knowles. ACP Knowles was adamant in ensuring that the walk through the community was not just something done by the Grand Bahama Police Department, but featured other agencies, including Urban Renewal, the Department of Immigration, the Defence Force, Department of Health and the L.E.A.D Institute. “The goal is for us to walk the community and to meet the people, hear their needs and be able to address their needs, especially when it comes to crime and the fear of crime in the various communities,” said ACP Knowles. “We’ve had a very good response from the people in Pinder’s Point. We know that there is an area that we can brush up on, but I appreciate the candid comments that we’ve received.” The Assistant Commissioner of Police said it is her hope that the walkabout on Friday would not be the last walk through the community. She is hoping that such a drill would become a regular thing, not just in the Pinder’s Point community, but through communities throughout the island. She’s also hoping that the other government agencies who accompanied her on Friday would see the need to duplicate their efforts along with her police force. ACP Knowles is looking to not only walk through each community in Grand Bahama, but also through the communities in the Northern Bahamas.  Asked what some of the comments were she received from residents in Pinder’s Point during her walk through the community, ACP Knowles said that for the most part, all of the comments have been positive and encouraging. “Residents have said that this is a good initiative and that they were pleased to see the police and individuals from so many government agencies within their neighborhood,” said Knowles. As the ACP and her senior officers spoke with residents of Pinder’s Point, representatives from Urban Renewal collected information from the residents about their concerns and that information will be turned over to the relevant agencies, with intentions of providing the residents with the respective help that is needed. Deputy Director of Urban Renewal Development on the island of Grand Bahama, Senator Kirkland Russell called the effort “successful” from several aspects. He noted that the community of Pinder’s Point is considered a high crime area but pointed out that other issues pertaining to house repairs, health issues, social services and NIB challenges have been indicated during Friday’s walkabout. “The whole idea was to bring a multi-group of agencies together, walk the communities, hear the concerns and have the relevant persons there who can address those issues in the shortest possible time,” said Senator Russell. “It’s all about bringing relief, comfort and removing the anxiety from residents. This was not a project where we went in to hunt down people and arrest them, but to hear the legitimate concerns of residents so that we can go back and try to find the best ways of solving those problems.” Senator Russell pointed out that in 2023, there were zero murders recorded on the island of Grand Bahama and this, he said, is a result of initiatives like the walkabouts by the police through various communities and the hard work of officers at the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

As the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) moves towards energy efficiency, the institution launched a training programme Monday (Jan. 29, 2024) for the installation and maintenance of solar PV systems at the Old Trail Road campus.

Eight instructors -- 4 males and 4 females (including 2 from Grand Bahama and 1 from Abaco) will be the first to benefit from the programme through the mentorship of BTVI and Nova Scotia Community College.

Dr. Linda Davis, president (interim) said, “This partnership with the government through the Ministry of Finance will be so scaffolded that the 8 instructors will, in turn deliver a 3-course series to 25 Bahamians throughout the country, including a pilot [programme] for persons with disabilities, and culminate with a component where this summer, those 8 instructors will then conduct a workshop for teachers and students.”

She said BTVI is ensuring that the instructors are well-trained to comply with industry standards, codes and safety requirements. “We recognize the renewable energy industry is growing and BTVI is prepared to ensure that as an institution, we not only encourage eco-friendliness but provide the necessary that will go a long way towards unlocking a green future.”

Among the participants in the announcement of the training initiative: the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training; the Hon. JoBeth Coleby-Davis, Minister of Energy and Transport; Daniela Carrera-Marquis, IDB representative in The Bahamas; Elvin Taylor, Chairman/BTVI Board of Directors, Zoran Kondali, Manager/Nova Scotia Community College, and Marco Rolle, Programme Coordinator/Project Execution Unit.

Among those in attendance: Lorraine Armbrister and Neil Campbell, permanent secretaries; Keyshan Bastian, Deputy permanent secretary; Dominique McCartney-Russell, director; senior government officials, representatives of the Project Execution Unit (Reconstruction with Resilience in the Energy Sector in The Bahamas Project), the IDB, the Ministry of Finance, the Lyford Cay Foundation; BTVI and other stakeholders.

In his keynote address, the Hon. Philip Davis, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, expressed how proud he was to witness the implementation of another aspect of the government’s Blueprint for Change: repositioning and re-energizing BTVI as a regional leader in training, and creating new opportunities for Bahamians within the green economy.

The Prime Minister said he remains grateful to EU partners, with whom the government signed an agreement in March 2022, to support this training programme with a grant of $9 million.

“BTVI’s new and improved renewable energy program will encompass: training in the installation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic generation systems and other related services; measures for supporting industries within the solar renewable energy industry; as well as further support for staff and students, including a Pilot for Persons with Disabilities, and a workshop for teachers and students to expose them to careers in renewable energy.

“The programme is inclusive – of skills, abilities, and backgrounds – with men and women who will come from MICAL, Grand Bahama, Abaco and New Providence.

“It represents an innovative approach to learning, featuring hybrid classes and collaboration with multiple partners including Nova Scotia Community College in Canada, as well as private sector internship partners,” Prime Minister Davis said.

As the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) moves towards energy efficiency, the institution launched a training programme Monday (Jan. 29, 2024) for the installation and maintenance of solar PV systems at the Old Trail Road campus. Eight instructors -- 4 males and 4 females (including 2 from Grand Bahama and 1 from Abaco) will be the first to benefit from the programme through the mentorship of BTVI and Nova Scotia Community College. Dr. Linda Davis, president (interim) said, “This partnership with the government through the Ministry of Finance will be so scaffolded that the 8 instructors will, in turn deliver a 3-course series to 25 Bahamians throughout the country, including a pilot [programme] for persons with disabilities, and culminate with a component where this summer, those 8 instructors will then conduct a workshop for teachers and students.” She said BTVI is ensuring that the instructors are well-trained to comply with industry standards, codes and safety requirements. “We recognize the renewable energy industry is growing and BTVI is prepared to ensure that as an institution, we not only encourage eco-friendliness but provide the necessary that will go a long way towards unlocking a green future.” Among the participants in the announcement of the training initiative: the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training; the Hon. JoBeth Coleby-Davis, Minister of Energy and Transport; Daniela Carrera-Marquis, IDB representative in The Bahamas; Elvin Taylor, Chairman/BTVI Board of Directors, Zoran Kondali, Manager/Nova Scotia Community College, and Marco Rolle, Programme Coordinator/Project Execution Unit. Among those in attendance: Lorraine Armbrister and Neil Campbell, permanent secretaries; Keyshan Bastian, Deputy permanent secretary; Dominique McCartney-Russell, director; senior government officials, representatives of the Project Execution Unit (Reconstruction with Resilience in the Energy Sector in The Bahamas Project), the IDB, the Ministry of Finance, the Lyford Cay Foundation; BTVI and other stakeholders. In his keynote address, the Hon. Philip Davis, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, expressed how proud he was to witness the implementation of another aspect of the government’s Blueprint for Change: repositioning and re-energizing BTVI as a regional leader in training, and creating new opportunities for Bahamians within the green economy. The Prime Minister said he remains grateful to EU partners, with whom the government signed an agreement in March 2022, to support this training programme with a grant of $9 million. “BTVI’s new and improved renewable energy program will encompass: training in the installation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic generation systems and other related services; measures for supporting industries within the solar renewable energy industry; as well as further support for staff and students, including a Pilot for Persons with Disabilities, and a workshop for teachers and students to expose them to careers in renewable energy. “The programme is inclusive – of skills, abilities, and backgrounds – with men and women who will come from MICAL, Grand Bahama, Abaco and New Providence. “It represents an innovative approach to learning, featuring hybrid classes and collaboration with multiple partners including Nova Scotia Community College in Canada, as well as private sector internship partners,” Prime Minister Davis said.