Preparation, time management, sacrifice, a high level of discipline, pursuit of excellence and determination were the requirements of the high achievers in the 2023 national examinations according to the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training. She said the students’ achievements were not by happenstance and required a lot more than just being “very smart."

In an address at the National Awards ceremony, Minister Hanna-Martin emphatically stated that the candidates are “truly exceptional young people of whom we are all very proud.”

The annual ceremony by the Examination and Assessment Division of the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training, recognizes the outstanding achievements of students in the Bahamas Junior Certificate (BJC) and the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) examinations. The 2024 event was held Monday, March 11 at William Johnson Auditorium, Joe Farrington Road.

Among those present were the Hon. Michael Halkitis, Minister of Economic Affairs, and Lorraine Armbrister and Joel Lewis, permanent secretaries. Teachers, senior education officials, family, well-wishers and sponsors also witnessed the occasion.

Minister Hanna-Martin said, “We are really celebrating the achievements, but for me it is the underlying foundational facts which have led to [these] achievements. We’re celebrating these young people and who they are and what they have done and the fruit of their efforts.”

To the young people she said, “We are proud of you. We know that not only are these results a product of who/what you are and what you have given, but [they are] also that of your parents, teachers, an empathetic and extended village and your support community and all those around and this is another way we ensure that our young people succeed.

“We celebrate these young people for their attainment and their essence. Congratulations to all who have poured into and contributed to the flourishing of that essence. We pray that they will go from strength to strength . . . and come back wherever they end up … and put their hand to the till in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas so we can make it the nation that we know it must be.”

She singled out these  achievers for their outstanding performances:

- Zante Ferguson of H. O. Nash Junior High School, Best BJC results in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas – 12As.  She also received Subject Awards for Family and Consumer Science and Literature.

- Avnaly Alceres, a former student of Jack Hayward Senior High School, received the Marjorie Davis Award for Best Overall Performance in the BGCSE examination in Government Schools - 5As, 2 Bs

- Cherkadin Wells, a student of Queen’s College, who received the Carol Hanna Award for Best Overall Performance in the 2023 BGCSE examinations in independent schools and the Paul L. Adderley Award for Best BGCSE Overall Performance in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas – 14 As, 1 B.

Students of government schools received a standing ovation for tying for Overall Best BJC Results:

Eric Fox of NGM Major High School – 8 As, 1B

Quade McPhee of H. O. Nash Junior High School – 8 As, 1 B

Carnis Higgs of H. O. Nash Junior High School – 8 As, 1 B

Darnel Ferdinand of S. C. McPherson Junior High School – 8 As, 1 B

Kassidy Burrows of Exuma Christian Academy received the award for Best Overall Performance for BJC results in Independent Schools – 9As, 1B, 1C.

Students who have achieved a minimum of 5 A’s in the BJC and BGSCE were recognized in the category Honourable Mention.

Students receiving the highest mark at Grade A in various subjects for BJCs and BGCSEs were awarded.

Students receiving the best results on the island (at least 4 subjects at D and above) for BJC and BGCSE examinations were recognized.

The audience clapped with approval and stood to their feet as the mother of the late Dario Rahming, former head boy of Queen’s College High School, who passed away in October 2023, accepted an award on his behalf.

The prizes included plaques, gifts from corporate sponsors and incentives from the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training.

Preparation, time management, sacrifice, a high level of discipline, pursuit of excellence and determination were the requirements of the high achievers in the 2023 national examinations according to the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training. She said the students’ achievements were not by happenstance and required a lot more than just being “very smart." In an address at the National Awards ceremony, Minister Hanna-Martin emphatically stated that the candidates are “truly exceptional young people of whom we are all very proud.” The annual ceremony by the Examination and Assessment Division of the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training, recognizes the outstanding achievements of students in the Bahamas Junior Certificate (BJC) and the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) examinations. The 2024 event was held Monday, March 11 at William Johnson Auditorium, Joe Farrington Road. Among those present were the Hon. Michael Halkitis, Minister of Economic Affairs, and Lorraine Armbrister and Joel Lewis, permanent secretaries. Teachers, senior education officials, family, well-wishers and sponsors also witnessed the occasion.   Minister Hanna-Martin said, “We are really celebrating the achievements, but for me it is the underlying foundational facts which have led to [these] achievements. We’re celebrating these young people and who they are and what they have done and the fruit of their efforts.” To the young people she said, “We are proud of you. We know that not only are these results a product of who/what you are and what you have given, but [they are] also that of your parents, teachers, an empathetic and extended village and your support community and all those around and this is another way we ensure that our young people succeed. “We celebrate these young people for their attainment and their essence. Congratulations to all who have poured into and contributed to the flourishing of that essence. We pray that they will go from strength to strength . . . and come back wherever they end up … and put their hand to the till in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas so we can make it the nation that we know it must be.” She singled out these  achievers for their outstanding performances: - Zante Ferguson of H. O. Nash Junior High School, Best BJC results in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas – 12As.  She also received Subject Awards for Family and Consumer Science and Literature. - Avnaly Alceres, a former student of Jack Hayward Senior High School, received the Marjorie Davis Award for Best Overall Performance in the BGCSE examination in Government Schools - 5As, 2 Bs - Cherkadin Wells, a student of Queen’s College, who received the Carol Hanna Award for Best Overall Performance in the 2023 BGCSE examinations in independent schools and the Paul L. Adderley Award for Best BGCSE Overall Performance in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas – 14 As, 1 B. Students of government schools received a standing ovation for tying for Overall Best BJC Results: Eric Fox of NGM Major High School – 8 As, 1B Quade McPhee of H. O. Nash Junior High School – 8 As, 1 B Carnis Higgs of H. O. Nash Junior High School – 8 As, 1 B Darnel Ferdinand of S. C. McPherson Junior High School – 8 As, 1 B Kassidy Burrows of Exuma Christian Academy received the award for Best Overall Performance for BJC results in Independent Schools – 9As, 1B, 1C. Students who have achieved a minimum of 5 A’s in the BJC and BGSCE were recognized in the category Honourable Mention. Students receiving the highest mark at Grade A in various subjects for BJCs and BGCSEs were awarded. Students receiving the best results on the island (at least 4 subjects at D and above) for BJC and BGCSE examinations were recognized. The audience clapped with approval and stood to their feet as the mother of the late Dario Rahming, former head boy of Queen’s College High School, who passed away in October 2023, accepted an award on his behalf.   The prizes included plaques, gifts from corporate sponsors and incentives from the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training.

Nearly one year ago, Cordell Broadus, son of legendary American rapper Snoop Dogg, stood before hundreds of University of The Bahamas (UB) freshmen and declared his interest in financially supporting the talented artists and musicians among them. Some seven months later, Mr. Broadus made good on that promise by generously donating $100,000 to the University to support the creative arts at UB. 

On Thursday, 7th March, UB executed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Mr. Broadus a.k.a “Champ Medici” and the Tezos Foundation in the RBC Auditorium of the Franklyn Wilson Graduate Centre for the establishment of the Champ Medici Arts Fund (CMAF) Scholarship Award. The CMAF is a $1 million philanthropic effort in partnership with the Tezos Foundation to support emerging and legacy musicians and artists across the globe who are seeking to build and create new creative and cultural works on the Tezos blockchain.

A two-part gift, the CMAF Scholarship will donate a monetary prize to be allocated to UB students participating in a competition which will showcase their non-fungible tokens (NFT) projects. The CMAF and the Tezos Foundation will offer educational tutorials, materials and guidance on how to use the Tezos blockchain to mint, market and sell their works. 

The second part of the gift will be used to purchase the technology and relevant equipment and supplies for the students so that they can further pursue digital art and music initiatives within the University’s curriculum and in the future.

“This just really came from the bottom of my heart,” said Mr. Broadus. “My first time outside of America was to The Bahamas with my grandma and my great-grandma, who are both no longer here. So, just coming down here has always been inspiring, obviously beautiful, as the country has a very rich culture. You guys have intelligent students, and I just wanted to be representative and show that you don’t have to play sports and make music to become successful, but you can have ownership and your own narrative and do things you want to do. So, that’s what I’m trying to strive to do.”

UB President Janyne Hodder said the University is extremely grateful for the kind gesture, which came at a time when UB is seeking to better itself and foster a culture of continuous improvement in academia via the pursuit of local and international accreditation, as well as celebrate 50 years of continuous operations in service to the nation. The $100K gift by CMAF and the Tezos Foundation will only augment those pursuits. 

“We are grateful for the vision of those at Champ Medici Arts Fund and the Tezos Foundation, Mr. Cordell Broadus and others, for making this investment in students of University of The Bahamas and for recognizing the potential of our talented students,” said President Hodder in her remarks. 

Mr. Broadus had an opportunity to speak to students at UB’s 2023 Fall Freshman Orientation, where he indicated: “We also have a fund where we give back money to minority artists who create music, who create art, and at some point, I would like to pick one of you guys to donate that money to in this room, whoever is a talented artist and a talented musician, let me know.”

Fast-forward to Thursday’s MOU signing, Dr. Douglas Barkey, Dean of UB’s College of Liberal and Fine Arts, praised Mr. Broadus for being a man of his word in partnering with the University. 

“We get a lot of visitors here, we see quite a few because of who we are and where we are, and we’re happy to receive them,” said Dr. Barkey. “They are all inspired by the creativity they see among our students and faculty, our young musicians, emerging artists, and they leave with the intention to help out in some way. We’re used to not hearing back. But that is not the case today. The Champ Medici Foundation for the Arts and the Tezos Foundation have come together to truly give back to the Bahamian community of emerging creative professionals in a very innovative manner through this gift.” 

Mr. Dino Hernandez, UB’s Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Affairs, praised the new partnership for granting talented artists at UB the opportunity unlock their creative musical and artistic talents. 

“We truly appreciate the partnership with CMAF and Tezos Foundation for the establishment of this $100,000 award, which I’m sure Dean of Liberal and Fine Arts Douglas Barkey and the exceptional music faculty are deeply appreciative of,” said VP Hernandez. “Providing our students with access to state-of-the-art digital equipment, educational tutorials, and mentorship, also will go a long way in teaching and training our students, many of whom are fantastic musicians and artists.” 

Nearly one year ago, Cordell Broadus, son of legendary American rapper Snoop Dogg, stood before hundreds of University of The Bahamas (UB) freshmen and declared his interest in financially supporting the talented artists and musicians among them. Some seven months later, Mr. Broadus made good on that promise by generously donating $100,000 to the University to support the creative arts at UB.  On Thursday, 7th March, UB executed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Mr. Broadus a.k.a “Champ Medici” and the Tezos Foundation in the RBC Auditorium of the Franklyn Wilson Graduate Centre for the establishment of the Champ Medici Arts Fund (CMAF) Scholarship Award. The CMAF is a $1 million philanthropic effort in partnership with the Tezos Foundation to support emerging and legacy musicians and artists across the globe who are seeking to build and create new creative and cultural works on the Tezos blockchain. A two-part gift, the CMAF Scholarship will donate a monetary prize to be allocated to UB students participating in a competition which will showcase their non-fungible tokens (NFT) projects. The CMAF and the Tezos Foundation will offer educational tutorials, materials and guidance on how to use the Tezos blockchain to mint, market and sell their works.  The second part of the gift will be used to purchase the technology and relevant equipment and supplies for the students so that they can further pursue digital art and music initiatives within the University’s curriculum and in the future. “This just really came from the bottom of my heart,” said Mr. Broadus. “My first time outside of America was to The Bahamas with my grandma and my great-grandma, who are both no longer here. So, just coming down here has always been inspiring, obviously beautiful, as the country has a very rich culture. You guys have intelligent students, and I just wanted to be representative and show that you don’t have to play sports and make music to become successful, but you can have ownership and your own narrative and do things you want to do. So, that’s what I’m trying to strive to do.” UB President Janyne Hodder said the University is extremely grateful for the kind gesture, which came at a time when UB is seeking to better itself and foster a culture of continuous improvement in academia via the pursuit of local and international accreditation, as well as celebrate 50 years of continuous operations in service to the nation. The $100K gift by CMAF and the Tezos Foundation will only augment those pursuits.  “We are grateful for the vision of those at Champ Medici Arts Fund and the Tezos Foundation, Mr. Cordell Broadus and others, for making this investment in students of University of The Bahamas and for recognizing the potential of our talented students,” said President Hodder in her remarks.  Mr. Broadus had an opportunity to speak to students at UB’s 2023 Fall Freshman Orientation, where he indicated: “We also have a fund where we give back money to minority artists who create music, who create art, and at some point, I would like to pick one of you guys to donate that money to in this room, whoever is a talented artist and a talented musician, let me know.” Fast-forward to Thursday’s MOU signing, Dr. Douglas Barkey, Dean of UB’s College of Liberal and Fine Arts, praised Mr. Broadus for being a man of his word in partnering with the University.  “We get a lot of visitors here, we see quite a few because of who we are and where we are, and we’re happy to receive them,” said Dr. Barkey. “They are all inspired by the creativity they see among our students and faculty, our young musicians, emerging artists, and they leave with the intention to help out in some way. We’re used to not hearing back. But that is not the case today. The Champ Medici Foundation for the Arts and the Tezos Foundation have come together to truly give back to the Bahamian community of emerging creative professionals in a very innovative manner through this gift.”  Mr. Dino Hernandez, UB’s Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Affairs, praised the new partnership for granting talented artists at UB the opportunity unlock their creative musical and artistic talents.  “We truly appreciate the partnership with CMAF and Tezos Foundation for the establishment of this $100,000 award, which I’m sure Dean of Liberal and Fine Arts Douglas Barkey and the exceptional music faculty are deeply appreciative of,” said VP Hernandez. “Providing our students with access to state-of-the-art digital equipment, educational tutorials, and mentorship, also will go a long way in teaching and training our students, many of whom are fantastic musicians and artists.” 

Some 3,000 fourth, fifth and sixth graders are set to benefit from a “massive” operation that is designed to promote a culture of peace among public primary school students.

The Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training and the Bahamas Crisis Centre (BCC) announced the anti-violence Green Ribbon Peace Campaign at a briefing Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at the Ministry’s headquarters, University Drive.

Ministry officials including the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister; Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary; and Dominique McCartney-Russell, Acting Director were on hand for the launch.  Also present were representatives of the BCC including Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson, Director, and Noelle Nicolls, Champions of Peace Curriculum Co-Developer.

Some 17 New Providence schools will participate in the campaign, set to begin on March 5, which focuses on KRC -- Kindness, Respect and Courage.

“There are some basic values that we are not seeing practiced that operate on a spectrum of violent and aggressive behavior,”said  Ms. Nicolls.

“We want to shift the culture, shift the mindset around how we treat each other, how we interact, how we relate to each other, how we perceive what it means, who is worthy of respect, how do we practice being respectful to each other, and how we perceive courage.

“We don’t look at courage as the courage to speak up, the courage to set a boundary, the courage to help someone in need, the courage to share or ask for help. There are many aspects of these values that we believe --  if as a culture young people, as adults, we could practice kindness more, teaching each other with respect, being courageous enough to speak up, to walk away then we can shift the underlying culture that is giving rise to violence, not just the extreme violence but the violence that is happening on an interpersonal level in our homes, schools, communities.”

Ms. Nicolls along with Rowena Poitier, Director, Bahamas Artist Movement, have designed a workshop and trained over 150 volunteers from 14 partner organizations including Zonta, Toastmasters, Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas, Kiwanis Clubs of The Bahamas, the Medical Association of The Bahamas, the Royal Bahamas School Violence Unit to conduct simultaneous sessions in the schools that include role play and discussions.

Dr. Dean-Patterson said the BCC recognizes the need to address the prevailing violence in the country. “There are things that we can do – actions, thoughts, belief systems that we have to confront and eliminate, and we have to, and can, make a difference.

“Our children are so accustomed to hearing about violence, seeing it, watching it and being exposed to it. They are almost becoming desensitized. What we know is that we have to address it,” she said.

“We need to name the positive behaviours and qualities that we want our children to understand and accept.

“We want children to buy into them, internalize them, understand them and behave with those qualities and thoughts. Our plan is to go into the individual classrooms -- grades 4, 5 and 6 multi-level, multi-compartmental, talk with them, interact with them and allow them to role play to understand what we are saying.”

Other activities include poetry, essay writing, logo, song, and poster competitions that will allow children to depict their understanding of the core values.

Furthermore, schools will be encouraged to create Peace Gardens on their campuses, and an intervention to provide sensitization for parents will also be offered.

It is hoped that tripartite peace councils will be established in the schools that include student champions for peace, teachers/administrators and parents.

Minister Hanna-Martin thanked the BCC for partnering with the Ministry.

“We require the participation and engagement of all stakeholders. The work that the BCC does in this nation is well known.

“We are very proud to partner with them. I am impressed at the widespread engagement and the massive impact that we expect from them,” she said.

Some 3,000 fourth, fifth and sixth graders are set to benefit from a “massive” operation that is designed to promote a culture of peace among public primary school students. The Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training and the Bahamas Crisis Centre (BCC) announced the anti-violence Green Ribbon Peace Campaign at a briefing Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at the Ministry’s headquarters, University Drive. Ministry officials including the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister; Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary; and Dominique McCartney-Russell, Acting Director were on hand for the launch.  Also present were representatives of the BCC including Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson, Director, and Noelle Nicolls, Champions of Peace Curriculum Co-Developer. Some 17 New Providence schools will participate in the campaign, set to begin on March 5, which focuses on KRC -- Kindness, Respect and Courage. “There are some basic values that we are not seeing practiced that operate on a spectrum of violent and aggressive behavior,”said  Ms. Nicolls. “We want to shift the culture, shift the mindset around how we treat each other, how we interact, how we relate to each other, how we perceive what it means, who is worthy of respect, how do we practice being respectful to each other, and how we perceive courage. “We don’t look at courage as the courage to speak up, the courage to set a boundary, the courage to help someone in need, the courage to share or ask for help. There are many aspects of these values that we believe --  if as a culture young people, as adults, we could practice kindness more, teaching each other with respect, being courageous enough to speak up, to walk away then we can shift the underlying culture that is giving rise to violence, not just the extreme violence but the violence that is happening on an interpersonal level in our homes, schools, communities.” Ms. Nicolls along with Rowena Poitier, Director, Bahamas Artist Movement, have designed a workshop and trained over 150 volunteers from 14 partner organizations including Zonta, Toastmasters, Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas, Kiwanis Clubs of The Bahamas, the Medical Association of The Bahamas, the Royal Bahamas School Violence Unit to conduct simultaneous sessions in the schools that include role play and discussions. Dr. Dean-Patterson said the BCC recognizes the need to address the prevailing violence in the country. “There are things that we can do – actions, thoughts, belief systems that we have to confront and eliminate, and we have to, and can, make a difference. “Our children are so accustomed to hearing about violence, seeing it, watching it and being exposed to it. They are almost becoming desensitized. What we know is that we have to address it,” she said. “We need to name the positive behaviours and qualities that we want our children to understand and accept. “We want children to buy into them, internalize them, understand them and behave with those qualities and thoughts. Our plan is to go into the individual classrooms -- grades 4, 5 and 6 multi-level, multi-compartmental, talk with them, interact with them and allow them to role play to understand what we are saying.” Other activities include poetry, essay writing, logo, song, and poster competitions that will allow children to depict their understanding of the core values. Furthermore, schools will be encouraged to create Peace Gardens on their campuses, and an intervention to provide sensitization for parents will also be offered. It is hoped that tripartite peace councils will be established in the schools that include student champions for peace, teachers/administrators and parents. Minister Hanna-Martin thanked the BCC for partnering with the Ministry. “We require the participation and engagement of all stakeholders. The work that the BCC does in this nation is well known. “We are very proud to partner with them. I am impressed at the widespread engagement and the massive impact that we expect from them,” she said.

WITH REVENUES of an estimated $170 million derived across the Bahamas from flats fishing, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation the Hon. Chester Cooper celebrated the 40 graduates of the Bahamas Agriculture & Marine Science Institute’s (BAMSI) National Certification programmes in Flats Fishing and Nature Tour Guide, urging the would-be entrepreneurs to tap into the multi-million dollar industry. “The nature-based sector is seeing high demand from visitors. This certification gives you the capacity to create businesses of your own and contribute to the development of your communities and country,” he said.

The two trainings, which are a joint partnership between BAMSI, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Agriculture, represent the first and only certification programmes in the Bahamas and in the world. The current cohort was made up primarily of residents from Andros, at 95 per cent, with the remaining students coming from Inagua, Abaco, Long Island and Harbour Island.

“Graduates, your attainment of national certification as flats fishing and nature tour guides means you now have the capacity to carve out a distinctive niche within the nature-based tourism arena,” Mr. Cooper said. “You can not only now better protect the environment, but you can also grow our tourism industry.”

Data produced by the Ministry of Tourism shows that, “in 2022 flats fishermen in Andros alone made a direct contribution of around $25 million to the economy”, the Minister said.

Underscoring the significance of their accomplishment Agriculture Minister the Hon. Jomo Campbell congratulated the 40 graduates, calling the successful completion of their selected programme a remarkable achievement which reflects the dedication, skill and passion they have for their chosen craft.

“You have undergone extensive training and have proven yourselves to be knowledgeable and competent in your respective fields. Your expertise will undoubtedly contribute to providing exceptional experiences for visitors. Being a guide requires not just technical expertise, but also the ability to connect with people to create memorable experiences. Through completing this programme, you have demonstrated your abilty to inspire, educate and entertain, ensuring that every person who chooses to explore our waters and surroundings leaves with a deeper appreciation and understanding of our natural resources,” he said.

Echoing the comments of the Minister of Agriculture, Executive Chairman of BAMSI Senator the Hon. Tyrel Young said the ceremony marked a significant milestone for the graduates in their journey as professionals in the field of ecotourism. “As graduates of these national certification programmes, you are now equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to showcase our nation's treasures to visitors from around the world.”

Highlighting BAMSI’s role in the launch of the national certification programmes, the only programmes of their kind in the global community, Dr. Raveenia Roberts-Hanna, President of BAMSI, said the 40-person graduating cohort was the first to have undergone the extensive training approved by the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of the Bahamas (NAECOB). She also added that the robust programme had also garnered international interest and acclaim.

“The Government of the Bahamas has clearly prioritized the redevelopment of the agriculture sector with the establishment and support of BAMSI to drive economic growth through educational empowerment. There is a vision and indeed we have hope. The Bahamas is at a crucial stage of development and growth and must rely on the collective talents and commitment of all to remain sustainable and current.

“The role BAMSI plays in the growth and development of our country is not to be underestimated,” Dr. Hanna said. “The Institute has made tremendous strides since our opening on September 29, 2014. We have definitely answered the clarion call to provide relevant education and training in agriculture, marine sciences, aquaculture, environmental science and agribusiness and related disciplines in an environment that nurtures student success. In this our 10th year anniversary we can proudly add sustainable and ecotourism to our list of specialty training and certifications.”

Dr. Hanna also shared that 30 per cent of the graduates were females which was a first of its kind. “Some of our graduates are currently participating in an international fly fishing trade show, some are already gainfully employed within the sector and making meaningful contributions, and others have become entrepreneurs, spotting and fishing the next big thing. I am proud to say as enshrined in our motto, we truly feed minds and grow greatness here at BAMSI”.

She also noted that the next installment of the Flats Fishing and Nature Tour Guide programmes begin in July 2024.

The ceremony, which was held at BAMSI’s North Andros campus under the theme Soar Higher…Reel in Your Success, was also attended by the Hon. Leonardo Lightbourne, Member of Parliament for North Andros and the Berry Islands; the Hon. Leon Lundy, Member of Parliament for Central and South Andros; Senator, the Hon. Randy Rolle, Global Relations Consultant; Prescott Smith, President of the Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association, members of BAMSI’s Board of Directors, other stakeholders and community leaders from Andros.

While on campus, the Deputy Prime Minister also attended the official opening of BAMSI’s piggery unit and was given a tour of the Institute’s aquaponics centre, packing house and farm.

WITH REVENUES of an estimated $170 million derived across the Bahamas from flats fishing, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation the Hon. Chester Cooper celebrated the 40 graduates of the Bahamas Agriculture & Marine Science Institute’s (BAMSI) National Certification programmes in Flats Fishing and Nature Tour Guide, urging the would-be entrepreneurs to tap into the multi-million dollar industry. “The nature-based sector is seeing high demand from visitors. This certification gives you the capacity to create businesses of your own and contribute to the development of your communities and country,” he said. The two trainings, which are a joint partnership between BAMSI, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Agriculture, represent the first and only certification programmes in the Bahamas and in the world. The current cohort was made up primarily of residents from Andros, at 95 per cent, with the remaining students coming from Inagua, Abaco, Long Island and Harbour Island. “Graduates, your attainment of national certification as flats fishing and nature tour guides means you now have the capacity to carve out a distinctive niche within the nature-based tourism arena,” Mr. Cooper said. “You can not only now better protect the environment, but you can also grow our tourism industry.” Data produced by the Ministry of Tourism shows that, “in 2022 flats fishermen in Andros alone made a direct contribution of around $25 million to the economy”, the Minister said. Underscoring the significance of their accomplishment Agriculture Minister the Hon. Jomo Campbell congratulated the 40 graduates, calling the successful completion of their selected programme a remarkable achievement which reflects the dedication, skill and passion they have for their chosen craft. “You have undergone extensive training and have proven yourselves to be knowledgeable and competent in your respective fields. Your expertise will undoubtedly contribute to providing exceptional experiences for visitors. Being a guide requires not just technical expertise, but also the ability to connect with people to create memorable experiences. Through completing this programme, you have demonstrated your abilty to inspire, educate and entertain, ensuring that every person who chooses to explore our waters and surroundings leaves with a deeper appreciation and understanding of our natural resources,” he said. Echoing the comments of the Minister of Agriculture, Executive Chairman of BAMSI Senator the Hon. Tyrel Young said the ceremony marked a significant milestone for the graduates in their journey as professionals in the field of ecotourism. “As graduates of these national certification programmes, you are now equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to showcase our nation's treasures to visitors from around the world.” Highlighting BAMSI’s role in the launch of the national certification programmes, the only programmes of their kind in the global community, Dr. Raveenia Roberts-Hanna, President of BAMSI, said the 40-person graduating cohort was the first to have undergone the extensive training approved by the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of the Bahamas (NAECOB). She also added that the robust programme had also garnered international interest and acclaim. “The Government of the Bahamas has clearly prioritized the redevelopment of the agriculture sector with the establishment and support of BAMSI to drive economic growth through educational empowerment. There is a vision and indeed we have hope. The Bahamas is at a crucial stage of development and growth and must rely on the collective talents and commitment of all to remain sustainable and current. “The role BAMSI plays in the growth and development of our country is not to be underestimated,” Dr. Hanna said. “The Institute has made tremendous strides since our opening on September 29, 2014. We have definitely answered the clarion call to provide relevant education and training in agriculture, marine sciences, aquaculture, environmental science and agribusiness and related disciplines in an environment that nurtures student success. In this our 10th year anniversary we can proudly add sustainable and ecotourism to our list of specialty training and certifications.” Dr. Hanna also shared that 30 per cent of the graduates were females which was a first of its kind. “Some of our graduates are currently participating in an international fly fishing trade show, some are already gainfully employed within the sector and making meaningful contributions, and others have become entrepreneurs, spotting and fishing the next big thing. I am proud to say as enshrined in our motto, we truly feed minds and grow greatness here at BAMSI”. She also noted that the next installment of the Flats Fishing and Nature Tour Guide programmes begin in July 2024. The ceremony, which was held at BAMSI’s North Andros campus under the theme Soar Higher…Reel in Your Success, was also attended by the Hon. Leonardo Lightbourne, Member of Parliament for North Andros and the Berry Islands; the Hon. Leon Lundy, Member of Parliament for Central and South Andros; Senator, the Hon. Randy Rolle, Global Relations Consultant; Prescott Smith, President of the Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association, members of BAMSI’s Board of Directors, other stakeholders and community leaders from Andros. While on campus, the Deputy Prime Minister also attended the official opening of BAMSI’s piggery unit and was given a tour of the Institute’s aquaponics centre, packing house and farm.