New Category : About Bahamians
Hon. Obadiah Hercules Wilchcombe, MP
Wed, Sep 27th 2023, 10:58 AM
The Hon. Obadiah Hercules Wilchcombe, Member of Parliament for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, during a long political career, served most recently in the Davis administration as Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, and as of September 2023 as Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting. In the current administration, he also served as Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly.
Known for tireless commitment to the growth and development of The Bahamas, Minister Wilchcombe passed away while in office, at the age of 64 years, on September 25, 2023 in Grand Bahama; the nation was saddened by the loss.
A seasoned politician, Minister Wilchcombe served as Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party, Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister, and Senator. He was also a highly-respected Career Journalist having worked 25 years with the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas.
Born November 14, 1958 in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Minister Wilchcombe was the third child and second son of Jackson (deceased) and Mary (deceased) Wilchcombe. He received his early education at Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic School in Freeport and at Queen’s College in Nassau.
Following his graduation from Queen’s College in 1975, he became the youngest person, at the age of 16, to be employed at the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas as a reporter. He then went on to study at the University of the West Indies – Mona Campus in Kingston, Jamaica after receiving an in-service award to attend the Caribbean Institute of Mass Communications (CARIMAC) in 1982.
After his return to The Bahamas and the Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Wilchcombe was promoted in 1985 to Deputy Director of News and in 1987 he was appointed News Director. In 1990, he was promoted to the position of Assistant General Manager.
During his tenure with the Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Wilchcombe was assigned to cover then Prime Minister, the late Rt. Hon. Sir Lynden Pindling. He also covered a number of major events including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM) in Vancouver, Canada, Malaysia and Zimbabwe, the CARICOM heads of Government Conferences in St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados and The Bahamas.
He won a national award while with the Corporation for writing and producing the television documentary “Base Streets.” The programme illuminated the impact of cocaine on Bahamian society.
In 1989 he was appointed to lead the team responsible for the introduction of ZNS television to Grand Bahama.
From April 1999 to October 2000, Mr. Wilchcombe hosted the two-hour talk show “The Bahamas Today” that focused on the political, economic and social issues of the country on More FM Radio. When his professional ethics were challenged, Mr. Wilchcombe accepted four days in her Majesty’s Prison. He refused to reveal where he received a letter that was passed to him from a condemned inmate who, on the same evening that the letter was received, committed suicide.
During his tenure as Minister of Tourism, the Ministry of Tourism set record-breaking tourism arrival figures. He introduced new airlift services. Two of the top three films of 2006 were shot in The Bahamas due to the policy of film industry development.
Minister Wilchcombe is credited with introducing several tourism niches to the country, including Sports, Religious and African American tourism; and through his efforts, The Bahamas gained favoured nation status from China to advance tourism for the Chinese country.
He was named the Caribbean’s Leading Travel Personality in 2015, an honour bestowed by World Travel Awards (WTA) to acknowledge his significant contributions to the travel and tourism industry that year, and his positive impact on the industry over the course of a lifetime.
An avid sportsman, Mr. Wilchcombe was a former president of the Grand Bahama Basketball Association, and the Commonwealth American Football League (CFAL).
Mr. Wilchcombe is survived by four children: Sherrard, Obie-Cheryl Peta, Adia and Alisa.
Social Services, Information and Broadcasting Portfolio
Social Services
Social Development
Child Protection
Persons with Disabilities
Public Assistance and Social Welfare
Old Age Pensions
Indigent and Aged Persons
Care Facilities
Rehabilitative Service (Department of Rehabilitative Services)
The Simpson Penn Centre for Boys
The Willie Mae Pratt Centre for Girls
Bahamas Information Services
The Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (ZNS)
Political Career
Appointed to the Senate (August 1994 - PLP) by Prime Minister, the late Rt. Hon. Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling
Elected Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party (1995)
Contested the Marco City seat (PLP); was unsuccessful (March 1997)
Reappointed to the Senate (1997 – PLP) by Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie
Contested the Bimini and West End seat (PLP); won (May 2002)
Sworn in as Minister of Tourism, with responsibility for the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas and Bahamas Information Services (May 2nd, 2002)
Contested the Bimini and West End seat (PLP); won (May 2nd, 2007)
Contested the Bimini and West End seat (PLP); won (May 7th, 2012)
Contested the Bimini and West End seat (PLP); lost (May 10th, 2017)
Contested the Bimini and West End seat (PLP); won (September 16th, 2021 [snap election])
Sworn in as Minister of Social Services and Urban Development (September 22nd, 2021)
BDCS holds Grow Your Child Programme Session For Female Residents
Tue, Sep 26th 2023, 10:54 AM
Obie Wilchcombe dies at 64
Mon, Sep 25th 2023, 12:47 PM
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Tributes as Clara Taylor-Bell, wife of Cabinet minister, dies
Sun, Sep 24th 2023, 04:06 PM
Blue Lagoon Island Hosts BREEF BESS Scholar
Thu, Sep 21st 2023, 02:07 PM
As her peers settle into their college dorms, Windsor School's class of 2023 graduate, Maya Lindeman, has chosen a distinctive path. Instead of heading straight to college, Maya has embarked on a transformative gap year to gain practical experience—a decision she believes will significantly enhance her college journey.
She was one of two students to be named a Bahamas Environmental Stewards Scholar (BESS) program awardee. The year long program is offered in partnership by the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) and The Island School in Eleuthera.
Maya has her sights set on a degree in Environmental Policy and Law and is confident that the hands-on experience gained during her gap year will provide her with an invaluable foundation for her ambitious academic pursuit.
The 18-year-old is spending two weeks working side by side with the educational and zoological teams at Blue Lagoon Island, learning about marine species, husbandry, which is the care of animals, animal training and the company’s sustainability practices.
BESS scholars spend a semester at the Island School and participate in a paid four-month internship with BREEF. As part of the internship, scholars spend two weeks working alongside organizations including Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation, IDEA Relief and Blue Lagoon Island.
“I’ve always had a strong passion for the environment, and I know I want to work in the field. These weeks at Blue Lagoon Island have been amazing as it really pulls me into the physical aspect of what it is I’ve been studying all along,” she said of her immersion at Blue Lagoon Island.
The Blue Lagoon Island immersion is led by the company’s education supervisor Te-Shalla Clarke. She explains that the partnership with BREEF and The Island School is a natural one for the company.
“We all have the same mission – to educate and protect our natural marine environment. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by exposing our youth to the importance of taking care of our incredible marine habitat. At Blue Lagoon Island we have a strong internship programme, so it is a natural link for us to host the BREEF BESS scholars, she said.
Clarke was particularly excited to work with Maya, given her academic and career goals.
“We are governed by environmental policy and law, our accreditations are based on all of that, so having a Bahamian focus on that would be incredible,” she said, “it’s a great opportunity for Maya to have this sort of practical experience as she works towards her career goals.”
BESS Scholars spend a day working with each of the different types of animals and their trainers as well as a day with the veterinary team at Blue Lagoon Island during their first week, and the second week they work closely with Clarke to decide which aspect of the business they would like to focus on.
Maya was excited to spend time getting a better understanding of the company’s sustainability initiatives after spending a week learning about the company’s dolphins, sea lions, stingrays and nurse sharks, getting tips on how to tell the dolphins apart, assisting with meal prep in the fish kitchen and participating in program training sessions with some of the young dolphins.
“Living in the Bahamas you can see right in front of you what you’re fighting for, and the impact hurricanes and climate change have on our islands, so it’s such a great opportunity for me to see first-hand what a company like Blue Lagoon is doing to help protect our environment and operate in a sustainable way.”
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Wed, Sep 20th 2023, 03:10 PM
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Temple Christian School's Alumni Meet And Greet
Mon, Sep 18th 2023, 09:55 AM
Temple Christian School, the premier Christian educational institution in The Bahamas, recently hosted an Alumni Meet and Greet event that brought together alumni spanning generations for a memorable evening of connection, reminiscence, and celebration.
The recent event saw a diverse cross-section of former Temple Christian students, from those who walked the school's halls in the late 1990s to more recent graduates, coming together to rekindle old friendships and create new bonds.
Dr. Samuel Rutherford, Administrator for Temple Christian School (TCS), expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "The Alumni Meet & Greet was an excellent opportunity for TCS alumni to come together and reconnect. As an organization, it is important for us to embrace graduates of our past classes, and we really look forward to the opportunity to bring them together again in the future and deepening the enduring connections that make Temple Christian School a family for life. As we nurture this crucial aspect of our school community, it is our hope that we can foster a stronger sense of belonging, ensuring that our School continues to be a beacon of excellence for generations to come, while collectively working to enhance our educational and community impact.“
Reverend Keno Smith, Chair of the School’s board, shared his excitement about the event, saying, "I am thrilled to share the incredible success of our recent Alumni 'Meet and Greet' event! The turnout was impressive and the energy and enthusiasm among attendees were palpable."
"It's moments like these that remind us why we are premier," he continued. "I believe our alumni are pivotal to our school's success, and this event demonstrated the enduring spirit of our Temple Christian family. Reconnecting with old friends, forging new connections, and sharing memories were just some of the highlights of this unforgettable evening."
"As Chairman of the Temple Christian School Board, I am excited about the limitless potential that lies ahead," Rev. Smith said. "With such a vibrant and engaged alumni community, we are poised for greatness. The future of our school is bright, and events like these reaffirm our commitment to excellence."
He concluded by expressing his anticipation for more gatherings that celebrate the incredible Temple Christian community and strengthen the bonds that define the school's unique spirit.
Leah Davis, Head Girl and valedictorian of the TCS Class of 1997, led the evening's lighthearted program, inviting attendees to share memories and reminisce about the ‘good old days’. Ms. Davis shared, "In addition to socializing, the evening provided a fantastic opportunity for networking, shedding light on the diverse industries and businesses in which our alumni are thriving. I am certain that future collaborations and ventures among our talented alumni are on the horizon, further strengthening our Temple Christian community."
Temple Christian School looks forward to continuing to thrive and reach new heights with the unwavering support of its alumni and the entire Temple Christian community. Alumni are encouraged to contact the school’s office to register for future alumni events and to follow their social media pages.
Corporate Character Day 2023 focuses on DEI and Relationships Calls for Hidden Hero Nominations
Thu, Sep 14th 2023, 10:35 AM
Youth Leaders Rewarded for SDG Impact
Wed, Sep 13th 2023, 11:30 AM
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Tue, Sep 12th 2023, 10:06 AM
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Mon, Sep 11th 2023, 01:44 PM
Trailblazing Bahamian Golfer, Richard Gibson Jr., Historic Invite into US Mid-Amateur Championship
Fri, Sep 8th 2023, 03:24 PM
RF Bank & Trust is thrilled to announce its support for Bahamian golfer Richard Gibson Jr. who is etching his name in history as the first Bahamian to automatically qualify and be invited to play in the illustrious US Mid-Amateur Championship.
This prestigious event will take place at the esteemed Sleepy Hollow Country Club inScarborough, New York, from September 9th to 14th, 2023.
At just 31 years of age, Richard Gibson Jr. has demonstrated remarkable prowess, currentlyranking 246th in the world. His journey to the 42nd US Mid-Amateur Championship serves asan inspiring testament to his unwavering dedication, extraordinary talent, and relentlesspursuit of excellence in the sport of golf.
RF Bank & Trust is proud to sponsor Mr. Gibson, as the only Bahamian taking part in thetournament this year, as he prepares to compete on the global golfing stage. This sponsorship underscores our commitment to supporting aspiring athletes and promoting the values ofsportsmanship and excellence within our community.
"We are immensely proud to be a part of Richard Gibson Jr.'s journey as he competes in theUS Mid-Amateur Championship," stated David Slatter, VP and Group Head of Investments atRF Bank & Trust. "Richard's remarkable achievements signify a monumental moment not onlyfor him but also for The Bahamas. His dedication and skill in the game of golf are trulyremarkable, and we have no doubt that he will continue to make us all proud."
The 42nd US Mid-Amateur Championship will host a total of 264 skilled golfers representing20 countries, including The Bahamas, US, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, and England. For these264 competitors, the stakes are exceedingly high, as they vie for a chance to secure a spot inthe prestigious 2024 U.S. Open and a coveted invitation to the Masters. In addition, thechampion will earn an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort & C.C., alongwith exemptions from qualifying for the next 10 U.S. Mid-Amateurs and the next 2 U.S.Amateurs.
RF Bank & Trust extends its best wishes to Richard Gibson Jr. as he prepares for thecompetition. We are confident that his exceptional performance and unwaveringsportsmanship will continue to inspire young athletes across The Bahamas.
SCHEDULE OF PLAY
Saturday, Sept. 9 (Stroke Play, Round 1, 18 holes)
Sunday, Sept. 10 (Stroke Play, Round 2, 18 holes)
Monday, Sept. 11 (Round of 64, match play)
Tuesday, Sept. 12 (Round of 32/Round of 16, match play)
Wednesday, Sept. 13 (Quarterfinals/Semifinals, match play)
Thursday, Sept. 14 (Championship Match, 36 holes)
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