New Category : About Bahamians

Sixty long-serving youth leaders in Grand Bahama honoured

Wed, Oct 11th 2023, 10:07 AM

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s youth division paid homage to 60 long-serving youth leaders on Saturday, October 7, 2023 for the outstanding impact they have had on the youth in the community of Grand Bahama over the years.

The Appreciation Breakfast was held under the patronage of Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Mario Bowleg at the Foster B. Pestaina Hall as part of the celebration during Youth Month of October.

Youth Programs Coordinator Carla Brown-Roker noted that one has to have a special gift when it comes to the development of our youth and she thanked those assembled in her presence for the work they have done for decades.

The 2023 honourees are Pedyson Baillou, Annie Beckles, Angela Burrows, Dorlan Cartwright, Vanessa Cash, Ann Charlton, Keith Cooper, Marcus Cooper, Clayton Curtis, Edmund Dames, Ron Dames, Reggie Dean, Fredlin Delancy, Anita Doherty, Patrick Ferguson, Elaine Gomez, Jaron Harvey, Loleta Henfield, Marvin Henfield, Lisa Higgs, Daryl Jones, Dorothy Major, Beverly Mather, Leslie McDonald, Yvonne McDonald, Gary McIntosh, Kenneth Miller, Derricka Missick, Martin Munroe, Lenwood Neely, Frank Outten, Alisa Robinson, Gea Robinson, Darrin Rolle, Brennamea Rolle-Cooper, Robert Rose, Bruce Russell, Fenrick Russell, Rev. Lindy Russell, Dione Saunders, Sharon Sawyer, Narada Scott, Dudley Seide, Mavis Shepherd, Nevar Smith, Vernique Smith, Shelly Stewart-Rolle, Derek Stubbs, Madelyn Stubbs, Andrea Taylor, Sandra Taylor, Cecil Thompson, J. Maria Thompson, Kevin Tomlinson, Peter Watson, Richard Williams, Laquez Williams and Charlene Melbourne-Wright.

The honourees have worked with youngsters in music, Girls and Boys Brigades, marching bands, girls and boys’ clubs and a number of sporting disciplines.

“These are people worthy of recognition and this morning we must give them their due,” she said while praising them for their selfless sacrifices.

Deputy Director of Urban Renewal Senator Kirk Russell thanked the honourees for giving of themselves and resourced to the youth of the country.

“When you pour into a young man, when you pour into a young girl to change their life; to cause them to walk the straight and narrow, to cause them to want to stay in school and get an education, to cause them to want to go to college, to cause them to want to make a positive contribution somewhere in this country, you are doing your job in building the economic revolution of this country,” he said.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am here on behalf of a grateful prime minister, a grateful government to simply say thank you.”

The names of 60 honourees have also been submitted for the Youth Leaders Hall of Fame from Grand Bahama to be displayed on the wall of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture in New Providence.

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s youth division paid homage to 60 long-serving youth leaders on Saturday, October 7, 2023 for the outstanding impact they have had on the youth in the community of Grand Bahama over the years. The Appreciation Breakfast was held under the patronage of Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Mario Bowleg at the Foster B. Pestaina Hall as part of the celebration during Youth Month of October. Youth Programs Coordinator Carla Brown-Roker noted that one has to have a special gift when it comes to the development of our youth and she thanked those assembled in her presence for the work they have done for decades. The 2023 honourees are Pedyson Baillou, Annie Beckles, Angela Burrows, Dorlan Cartwright, Vanessa Cash, Ann Charlton, Keith Cooper, Marcus Cooper, Clayton Curtis, Edmund Dames, Ron Dames, Reggie Dean, Fredlin Delancy, Anita Doherty, Patrick Ferguson, Elaine Gomez, Jaron Harvey, Loleta Henfield, Marvin Henfield, Lisa Higgs, Daryl Jones, Dorothy Major, Beverly Mather, Leslie McDonald, Yvonne McDonald, Gary McIntosh, Kenneth Miller, Derricka Missick, Martin Munroe, Lenwood Neely, Frank Outten, Alisa Robinson, Gea Robinson, Darrin Rolle, Brennamea Rolle-Cooper, Robert Rose, Bruce Russell, Fenrick Russell, Rev. Lindy Russell, Dione Saunders, Sharon Sawyer, Narada Scott, Dudley Seide, Mavis Shepherd, Nevar Smith, Vernique Smith, Shelly Stewart-Rolle, Derek Stubbs, Madelyn Stubbs, Andrea Taylor, Sandra Taylor, Cecil Thompson, J. Maria Thompson, Kevin Tomlinson, Peter Watson, Richard Williams, Laquez Williams and Charlene Melbourne-Wright. The honourees have worked with youngsters in music, Girls and Boys Brigades, marching bands, girls and boys’ clubs and a number of sporting disciplines. “These are people worthy of recognition and this morning we must give them their due,” she said while praising them for their selfless sacrifices. Deputy Director of Urban Renewal Senator Kirk Russell thanked the honourees for giving of themselves and resourced to the youth of the country. “When you pour into a young man, when you pour into a young girl to change their life; to cause them to walk the straight and narrow, to cause them to want to stay in school and get an education, to cause them to want to go to college, to cause them to want to make a positive contribution somewhere in this country, you are doing your job in building the economic revolution of this country,” he said. “Ladies and gentlemen, I am here on behalf of a grateful prime minister, a grateful government to simply say thank you.” The names of 60 honourees have also been submitted for the Youth Leaders Hall of Fame from Grand Bahama to be displayed on the wall of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture in New Providence.

Players with Bahamian roots experience media day

Tue, Oct 3rd 2023, 09:54 AM

Kai Jones might be missing in action as the Charlotte Hornets have announced that he is away from the team indefinitely and will not participate in training camp due to "personal reasons", but the two other Bahamians in the National Basketball Association (NBA) were a part of their respective media days and ready for another season.

Additionally, Klay Thompson, a player with Bahamian roots, was again asked about the possibility of playing for The Bahamas in the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Olympic Qualifiers next summer, and once again, he responded favorably.

In Indianapolis, Indiana, Chavano 'Buddy' Hield was in his usual jovial mood, despite the issue with contracts talks that he is experiencing with the club. He is entering the final year of his contract worth $19.2 million, and talks have broken down on a possible extension and its worth.

On Monday, Hield stayed away from contract talks, preferring to address his outlook on the season. Donning a new number, number seven, Hield said he's all about having fun this season, whether it's as a starter logging major minutes or off the bench in a reduced role.

"I'm just excited to get to work,'' he said. "Come in ready and get to work. I'm excited to work with these guys and it should be fun. We have a great coaching staff and a great team that's ready to put in the work and teammates who love each other. I'm a competitor so you put me in any situation, I'm going to figure it out. As a basketball player you have to know how to adjust. There's a lot of competition and it's fun. Everyone wants to start, but you want to compete first and foremost so I'm just looking forward to making my contribution. I'm excited and I can't wait."

Hield started alongside All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton for the Indiana Pacers a year ago and has been a starter in the NBA primarily for his entire career.

He and Haliburton had a friendly back-and-forth banter during the Pacers Media Day on Monday.

"Hey Tyrese, you think you're going to play in the Olympics next summer?" the veteran sharpshooter asked over top of the reporters. "Any plans for that?"

"If asked, of course I would love to Buddy," Haliburton responded. "I hope The Bahamas makes it."

Hield and Haliburton came over to the Pacers from the Sacramento Kings in a trade together. The seven-year NBA guard has maintained his status as one of the game's most prolific outside shooters with a franchise-record 288 three-pointers for the Pacers last season, finishing second in the NBA to Klay Thompson in three-pointers made.

Hield, 30, averaged 16.8 points and five rebounds with the Pacers last season. He is one of the more prolific shooters in the NBA, and so is Thompson.

Speaking of Thompson, the middle son of Bahamian legendary basketball player Mychal 'Sweet Bells' Thompson, he expressed interest in playing for The Bahamas at the FIBA Olympic Qualifiers over the summer during a trip to Manila, Philippines, to launch his shoe brand 'ANTA KT9', and he reiterated that interest at the Warriors Media Day on Monday. The older Thompson is a former No.1 overall draft pick in the NBA and has always professed his love and affinity for The Bahamas.

"That would be cool because my dad never got the opportunity, and The Bahamas is a place where my story cannot be told without it. It's dear to my heart, so that would be sweet," said Thompson on Monday.

The Bahamas will play in the FIBA Olympic Qualifiers in the summer of 2024, and must win that tournament in order to advance to the 2024 Paris Olympics in men's basketball.

Thompson, 33, a 10-year NBA veteran, averaged 21.9 points and 4.1 rebounds for the Golden State Warriors last season.

The recently acquired DeAndre Ayton by the Portland Trailblazers is looking forward to a new beginning in Portland. Ayton, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2018, spent the first five years of his career with the Phoenix Suns, but came over to the Trailblazers in the three-team trade that sent All-NBA point guard Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.

"Just dominance. My name is DominAyton," he said. "I play with a lot of passion, and a lot of grit as well. I try to take the hypocrisy out of the game where I'm telling my teammates one thing and doing the other. I'm more of a team player. I'll make the sacrificial decision and take myself out – less shots for me. When it comes to winning, I'll be the gritty guy and do what it takes to get the job done."

With Jusuf Nurkic moving on to the Suns in that same trade, it's likely that Ayton will be the new starting center of the Blazers as they look to build around the Bahamian big man. In Phoenix, Ayton never got to truly live up to the number one pick status as he had to play third and fourth fiddle behind Devin Booker, Chris Paul and eventually Kevin Durant.

The five-year vet could now be the focal point on a team of younger players.

Ayton, 25, finished averaging a double-double a season ago, with 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. He shot 58.9 percent from the field.

Remaining in Phoenix, after the trade, is Eric 'EJ' Gordon – another player with Bahamian roots and one who suited up for the country at the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifiers in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, in August.

There have been talks of Gordon possibly being the fifth starter in Phoenix alongside Booker, Durant, Nurkic and Bradley Beal. However it pans out, it is believed that new Head Coach Frank Vogel will try different looks and grant various opportunities across a seven-month period this season.

Gordon, 34, has started 628 regular season games and another 36 in the playoffs in his 15-year NBA career. He gives Vogel another ball handler on the court who could space the floor and shoot from any angle, thereby providing instant offense.

Gordon averaged 13.1 points in 47 games with the Houston Rockets last season, and 11 in 22 games in his second stint with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Bain wins men's doubles title at regionals

Tue, Oct 3rd 2023, 09:39 AM

Tears, reflections and tributes for Dario

Tue, Oct 3rd 2023, 08:54 AM

'Jazz', Marlins reach playoffs

Mon, Oct 2nd 2023, 11:13 AM

Tributes after shock death of QC head boy

Mon, Oct 2nd 2023, 08:53 AM

THE death of Queen's College head boy Dario Rahming on Saturday sent shockwaves through the school's community.

The circumstances and cause of his death are unclear, but Dario - known as DJ to his schoolmates - collapsed during basketball practice.  #“He was an extraordinary young man and our hearts are broken,” the school posted to Facebook on Saturday. “We ask for your prayers for his family, friends, classmates and the entire Queen’s College community. We say that when one Comet shines, we all shine. But today, one of our Comets has fallen, so we fall as well.” #The school’s principal, Henry Knowles, told ZNS the student was on campus and collapsed. #He said the school followed proper protocols, adding that staff are trained to provide emergency CPR. #He said: “One of our nurses was on campus, she was outside with a sports event and she was able to be right there in place, she came and rushed to the clinic.  # “The ambulances were called. They came in record time, and until then, we were doing everything we could on our side,” he said, calling the tragedy “a very hard moment”. # “He’s our head boy and last week, I think it was, we did an installation of him and all our senior leaders. I can say when he came on stage to get his tie pinned on him, the entire school went nuts. Everybody absolutely loves him. He’s an extraordinary young man. You can put him in front as a poster of what we want the young men of the nation to be, and we’re all so heartbroken because of it. # “He’s smart. He’s a devout Christian. He preaches. # “He’s not a selfish young man. He’s well spoken. He’s humble. He’s very mannerly, and he’s caring.” # He added: “This is a very hard moment for all of us and we’re praying for the family, you know, we’re praying for the entire staff and the Queen’s College community.” # Across communities in The Bahamas, the death sent shockwaves - with churches holding prayers for Dario and his family. Meanwhile, numerous posts were made on social media sending condolences or offering prayers.  # A fellow student said he felt sad when he heard about the death. He said it was “definitely a shock - unexpected, unforeseen”. He said: “Dario was amazing. Everyone loved him, everyone appreciated him - he was head boy. His mother was a teacher at the school.” # The student added: “It’s definitely going to be a different sense in the air at school. The atmosphere is going to change. I remember him on the stage when he was getting installed as head boy and everyone was cheering for him. He will definitely be missed.” # A parent spoke to The Tribune yesterday, saying: “It’s definitely a tragedy. It was really unexpected. I hope that the school will give parents more answers about what happened. I just really feel for his class, it’s a horrible thing to happen in their senior year. I really feel for his mother and his siblings and my heart goes out to them. As a parent, I just can’t imagine what they must be feeling. I hope they will provide the students with the support they need to overcome this tragedy.”

The circumstances and cause of his death are unclear, but Dario - known as DJ to his schoolmates - collapsed during basketball practice. 

"He was an extraordinary young man and our hearts are broken,” the school posted to Facebook on Saturday. “We ask for your prayers for his family, friends, classmates and the entire Queen’s College community. We say that when one Comet shines, we all shine. But today, one of our Comets has fallen, so we fall as well.”

The school’s principal, Henry Knowles, told ZNS the student was on campus and collapsed.

He said the school followed proper protocols, adding that staff are trained to provide emergency CPR.

He said: “One of our nurses was on campus, she was outside with a sports event and she was able to be right there in place, she came and rushed to the clinic. 

“The ambulances were called. They came in record time, and until then, we were doing everything we could on our side,” he said, calling the tragedy “a very hard moment”.

“He’s our head boy and last week, I think it was, we did an installation of him and all our senior leaders. I can say when he came on stage to get his tie pinned on him, the entire school went nuts. Everybody absolutely loves him. He’s an extraordinary young man. You can put him in front as a poster of what we want the young men of the nation to be, and we’re all so heartbroken because of it.

“He’s smart. He’s a devout Christian. He preaches.

“He’s not a selfish young man. He’s well spoken. He’s humble. He’s very mannerly, and he’s caring.”

He added: “This is a very hard moment for all of us and we’re praying for the family, you know, we’re praying for the entire staff and the Queen’s College community.”

Across communities in The Bahamas, the death sent shockwaves - with churches holding prayers for Dario and his family. Meanwhile, numerous posts were made on social media sending condolences or offering prayers. 

A fellow student said he felt sad when he heard about the death. He said it was “definitely a shock - unexpected, unforeseen”. He said: “Dario was amazing. Everyone loved him, everyone appreciated him - he was head boy. His mother was a teacher at the school.”

The student added: “It’s definitely going to be a different sense in the air at school. The atmosphere is going to change. I remember him on the stage when he was getting installed as head boy and everyone was cheering for him. He will definitely be missed.”

A parent spoke to The Tribune yesterday, saying: “It’s definitely a tragedy. It was really unexpected. I hope that the school will give parents more answers about what happened. I just really feel for his class, it’s a horrible thing to happen in their senior year. I really feel for his mother and his siblings and my heart goes out to them. As a parent, I just can’t imagine what they must be feeling. I hope they will provide the students with the support they need to overcome this tragedy.”

Hon. Obadiah Hercules Wilchcombe, MP

Wed, Sep 27th 2023, 10:58 AM

Obie Wilchcombe dies at 64

Mon, Sep 25th 2023, 12:47 PM

Clara Taylor-Bell dies

Mon, Sep 25th 2023, 09:24 AM

Tributes as Clara Taylor-Bell, wife of Cabinet minister, dies

Sun, Sep 24th 2023, 04:06 PM

Tributes were paid on Sunday afternoon after the death of Clara Taylor-Bell, the wife of Minister of Housing Keith Bell, after a battle with cancer.