A State-Recognized Funeral Service was held for Her Excellency Ambassador Alma Adams, former Senator and Diplomat, at Christ Church Cathedral, November 17, 2023.  Interment was at St. Agnes Cemetery, Nassau Street.

Fourteen junior high school Family and Consumer Science General Studies students who competed in the National Round of the 31st Bahamas Young Chef (Junior) Culinary Competition (Finals) were commended for their efforts.

“You did an amazing job,” said Chef Tevin Kemp, one of the judges for the annual competition held at A. F. Adderley Junior High School Wednesday, November 15, 2023 and organized by the Department of Education in conjunction with Asa H. Pritchard/Mahatma Rice and Robin Hood Flour.

The students who represented schools in New Providence and the Family Islands were: Lael Green, Inagua All Age School; Kymora Dames, San Salvador Central High School; Kellisha Munroe, L. N. Coakley High School; Malia Thacker, Arthur’s Town Comprehensive School; Cerell Simms, North Long Island High School; Shillaya Jean Louis, Jack Hayward Jr. High School; Jusriel Major, Sister Mary Patricia Jr. High School; Christina Lesbott, Central Eleuthera High School; Simmia Lafleur; Preston Albury High School; Clinteea Rolle, Loftus Roker High School; Kayla Derisma, Patrick J. Bethel High; Akeelah Maura, Akhepran International Academy, Samuel Fortune, A. F. Adderley Junior High School; and Aaliyah Cooper, D. W.  Davis Junior High School.

They created dishes using Mahatma Rice and Robin Hood Flour products based on the this year’s theme 'Celebrating our Jubilee: Bahamian Cuisine...Our Flavour Profile, Our Food Culture, Our Identity.'
 Coconut Crab/Avocado Dough Soup and Molton Watermelon/Bean and Rice Treat, Tama Sop Guava Delight and Funky Nassau Crack Conch/Rice Plantain Crepe were some of the dishes prepared by the budding student chefs.

After whipping up their dishes, one-by-one along with their coaches they made their presentations before a panel of professional judges including: Chief Judge Chef Gerald Rolle, Chef Tevin Kemp, Chef Emmanuel Gibson, Chef Michael Adderley, Chef Basil Dean, Chef Edwin Johnson, Chef Jeremy Houghton (Johnson and Wales University) Chef Celeste Smith, Chef Aliea Rolle and Chef Ted Burrows.

During the critique session, Chef Dean encouraged the students to utilize local products and to focus on uniformity. “At the end of the day it adds up to value and perception. [They are] important to the customer. Make sure they look alike because [they] speak to consistency,” he said.

The judges also offered the following suggestions to the students:
- Keep your eyes on the prize. The dishes should reflect flour, rice and Bahamian  products;
- Manage your time;
- Know how to pivot; know how to change course; do not stop if something doesn’t go as planned;
- Study your recipe and spend more time perfecting the food;
- Always make sure the name of the dish is in line with the end dish.

The junior and senior division winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on Friday, November 17, 2023 at Government High School. 

Fourteen junior high school Family and Consumer Science General Studies students who competed in the National Round of the 31st Bahamas Young Chef (Junior) Culinary Competition (Finals) were commended for their efforts. “You did an amazing job,” said Chef Tevin Kemp, one of the judges for the annual competition held at A. F. Adderley Junior High School Wednesday, November 15, 2023 and organized by the Department of Education in conjunction with Asa H. Pritchard/Mahatma Rice and Robin Hood Flour. The students who represented schools in New Providence and the Family Islands were: Lael Green, Inagua All Age School; Kymora Dames, San Salvador Central High School; Kellisha Munroe, L. N. Coakley High School; Malia Thacker, Arthur’s Town Comprehensive School; Cerell Simms, North Long Island High School; Shillaya Jean Louis, Jack Hayward Jr. High School; Jusriel Major, Sister Mary Patricia Jr. High School; Christina Lesbott, Central Eleuthera High School; Simmia Lafleur; Preston Albury High School; Clinteea Rolle, Loftus Roker High School; Kayla Derisma, Patrick J. Bethel High; Akeelah Maura, Akhepran International Academy, Samuel Fortune, A. F. Adderley Junior High School; and Aaliyah Cooper, D. W.  Davis Junior High School. They created dishes using Mahatma Rice and Robin Hood Flour products based on the this year’s theme 'Celebrating our Jubilee: Bahamian Cuisine...Our Flavour Profile, Our Food Culture, Our Identity.'   Coconut Crab/Avocado Dough Soup and Molton Watermelon/Bean and Rice Treat, Tama Sop Guava Delight and Funky Nassau Crack Conch/Rice Plantain Crepe were some of the dishes prepared by the budding student chefs. After whipping up their dishes, one-by-one along with their coaches they made their presentations before a panel of professional judges including: Chief Judge Chef Gerald Rolle, Chef Tevin Kemp, Chef Emmanuel Gibson, Chef Michael Adderley, Chef Basil Dean, Chef Edwin Johnson, Chef Jeremy Houghton (Johnson and Wales University) Chef Celeste Smith, Chef Aliea Rolle and Chef Ted Burrows. During the critique session, Chef Dean encouraged the students to utilize local products and to focus on uniformity. “At the end of the day it adds up to value and perception. [They are] important to the customer. Make sure they look alike because [they] speak to consistency,” he said. The judges also offered the following suggestions to the students: - Keep your eyes on the prize. The dishes should reflect flour, rice and Bahamian  products; - Manage your time; - Know how to pivot; know how to change course; do not stop if something doesn’t go as planned; - Study your recipe and spend more time perfecting the food; - Always make sure the name of the dish is in line with the end dish. The junior and senior division winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on Friday, November 17, 2023 at Government High School. 

Last month, Lombard Odier Bahamas officially announced the top winners in its inaugural youth environmental initiative. This year’s recipients were asked to describe how a local environmental organization is contributing to a more sustainable future for The Bahamas. A green ribbon panel comprised of Lombard Odier employees and local external stakeholders selected the winners.  
 
Nevaeh Kerr of Kingsway Academy and Pedronique Newbold, a student at T.A. Thompson Junior High School tied for first place in the 7-9th grade category with Samuel Fowler of H. O. Nash Junior High School as runner up. In her submission, Kerr focused on the overall preservation work being done by the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) while Newbold highlighted BNT’s recent “50 for 50” independence tree planting campaign. Top winners received a tablet and a plaque and all three students will have a chance to participate in an environmentally focused program next summer.  
 
Journey Higgs and Maya Lindeman, students at Windsor School Albany took top honors in the 10-12th grade category. Danielle Heastie of Windsor School Albany was the runner up. In her submission, Higgs outlined local environmental non-profit Friends of the Environment and their focus on conservation, restoration and preservation of Abaco’s environment and natural resources. In her essay, Lindeman explored the groundbreaking work being done by the Bahamas Plastic Movement to reduce plastic pollution in the country through research, youth education and policy changes.  Lindeman, Higgs and Heastie will participate in internships with local environmental organizations next summer.  
 
During a presentation at the private bank’s office in Lyford Cay House, students met with Edward Zouein, Lombard Odier Bahamas CEO and Kasynthi Bodie, CFO and Deputy CEO to learn more about the organization’s global push for a more sustainable future.  
 
“As an organization, Lombard Odier is committed to supporting young Bahamians. This project allowed us to hear their views on sustainability issues that directly impact their future. Through this inaugural youth environmental initiative, students were able to shed light on specific causes and the tremendous work being done by local environmental organizations.” said Edward Zouein. 
 
“We look forward to continuing to connect young Bahamians to causes that promote sustainability both now and in the future.” 
 
In addition to presenting the winners with their awards, Lombard Odier Bahamas also made presentations to three local environmental organizations (Bahamas Protected Areas Fund, Friends of The Environment and Bahamas Plastic Movement) who were directly involved in the youth environmental initiative or were mentioned by the students in their submissions.   

Last month, Lombard Odier Bahamas officially announced the top winners in its inaugural youth environmental initiative. This year’s recipients were asked to describe how a local environmental organization is contributing to a more sustainable future for The Bahamas. A green ribbon panel comprised of Lombard Odier employees and local external stakeholders selected the winners.     Nevaeh Kerr of Kingsway Academy and Pedronique Newbold, a student at T.A. Thompson Junior High School tied for first place in the 7-9th grade category with Samuel Fowler of H. O. Nash Junior High School as runner up. In her submission, Kerr focused on the overall preservation work being done by the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) while Newbold highlighted BNT’s recent “50 for 50” independence tree planting campaign. Top winners received a tablet and a plaque and all three students will have a chance to participate in an environmentally focused program next summer.     Journey Higgs and Maya Lindeman, students at Windsor School Albany took top honors in the 10-12th grade category. Danielle Heastie of Windsor School Albany was the runner up. In her submission, Higgs outlined local environmental non-profit Friends of the Environment and their focus on conservation, restoration and preservation of Abaco’s environment and natural resources. In her essay, Lindeman explored the groundbreaking work being done by the Bahamas Plastic Movement to reduce plastic pollution in the country through research, youth education and policy changes.  Lindeman, Higgs and Heastie will participate in internships with local environmental organizations next summer.     During a presentation at the private bank’s office in Lyford Cay House, students met with Edward Zouein, Lombard Odier Bahamas CEO and Kasynthi Bodie, CFO and Deputy CEO to learn more about the organization’s global push for a more sustainable future.     “As an organization, Lombard Odier is committed to supporting young Bahamians. This project allowed us to hear their views on sustainability issues that directly impact their future. Through this inaugural youth environmental initiative, students were able to shed light on specific causes and the tremendous work being done by local environmental organizations.” said Edward Zouein.    “We look forward to continuing to connect young Bahamians to causes that promote sustainability both now and in the future.”    In addition to presenting the winners with their awards, Lombard Odier Bahamas also made presentations to three local environmental organizations (Bahamas Protected Areas Fund, Friends of The Environment and Bahamas Plastic Movement) who were directly involved in the youth environmental initiative or were mentioned by the students in their submissions.   

The National Training Agency (NTA) held a Certificate Presentation for Cohort 8 of the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) on Friday, November 10, 2023, at the NTA on Gladstone Road and Munnings Drive.

Director of Immigration William Pratt, in his remarks, congratulated the recipients on their stellar achievement, after completing weeks of intense and comprehensive research and training in leadership and management. The Executive Director of the National Training Agency, Terry Murray also brought congratulatory remarks.

The 22 participants represented various areas in government namely, the Department of Immigration, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Ministry of Disaster Risk Management, Parliamentary Registration Department, Department of Social Services, and the National Training Agency. 

Pictured out front with the graduates are: Pamela Gomez, ILM Centre Coordinator; William Pratt, Director of Immigration; Terry Murray, Executive Director, NTA; and Isla Deane, Undersecretary, Ministry of Disaster Risk Management.

The National Training Agency (NTA) held a Certificate Presentation for Cohort 8 of the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) on Friday, November 10, 2023, at the NTA on Gladstone Road and Munnings Drive.   Director of Immigration William Pratt, in his remarks, congratulated the recipients on their stellar achievement, after completing weeks of intense and comprehensive research and training in leadership and management. The Executive Director of the National Training Agency, Terry Murray also brought congratulatory remarks. The 22 participants represented various areas in government namely, the Department of Immigration, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Ministry of Disaster Risk Management, Parliamentary Registration Department, Department of Social Services, and the National Training Agency.  Pictured out front with the graduates are: Pamela Gomez, ILM Centre Coordinator; William Pratt, Director of Immigration; Terry Murray, Executive Director, NTA; and Isla Deane, Undersecretary, Ministry of Disaster Risk Management.