PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Deputy Leader Chester Cooper told party faithfuls last night they are fighting for the “very soul of our nation.”

“It is a fight that we wage day by day to determine if the Bahamas will continue to wander aimlessly under the visionless, greedy, conflicted, self-dealing, inept, tainted behaviour of the Free National Movement, or if The Bahamas will keep moving forward into a new age under the stewardship of the PLP.”

Mr Cooper, speaking during the opening night of the PLP’s first national convention since 2017, joined other speakers in portraying the Minnis administration as uncaring and out-of-depth.

Speaking of the party’s plans for governance, Mr Cooper said the PLP, if elected in the next election, will begin the conversation of transitioning the country into a republic, citing Trinidad and Tobago as an example.

For the first time in the 44 years of the Church of the Nazarene in The Bahamas, an ordination service will take place outside New Providence and Grand Bahama, in Palmetto Point, Eleuthera, with the ordination service of Ministers Cyprianna Edgecombe and Roland Cadet as elders, the highest level of full-time service to ministry.

Edgecombe, interim pastor at Central Church of the Nazarene, East Street South, and Cadet, interim pastor at Palmetto Point Church of the Nazarene, Eleuthera, will be ordained at the Palmetto Point Church of the Nazarene on Sunday, July 28 at 10 a.m.

Hundreds gathered at Montagu Park to support the Bahamas Feeding Network’s 2nd Annual Steak Out which sought to raise funds to continue its fight to end hunger in The Bahamas. (Photos by Cay Focus Photography.)

Bahamas Feeding Network lead volunteer Recina ‘Scully’ Ferguson shares her expectations for the organization’s 2nd Annual Steak Out held at Montague Park.

Volunteers staff one of a nearly dozen grills laden with chicken and steaks at the Bahamas Feeding Network’s 2nd Annual Steak Out held recently on Montagu Park.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force Band entertains the public at Bahamas Feeding Network’s 2nd Annual Steak Out held recently at Montagu Park.

Clear blue skies, calm seas and a balmy ocean breeze were the backdrop to the Bahamas Feeding Network’s 2nd Annual Steak Out held this past weekend at Montagu Park where thousands lined up to support one of the organization’s annual fundraisers by purchasing steak, chicken and fish dinners.

“The support we received from the public has been nothing short of exceptional,” shared Philip Smith executive director, Bahamas Feeding Network. “From about 11am we had persons begin to assemble at the park and queue to be one of the first of the 3,500 tickets sold to collect their meals. What was even more special was the amount of families that came out and spent the day with us due to the family atmosphere we created. Switching the location to here was a great move.”

Last year’s steak out took place on the grounds of the Network’s Moseff House, Fox Hill Road headquarters which created factors which limited the enjoyment aspect for supporters.

“Due the increased number of persons we anticipated at this year’s event, we decided to move to a larger venue with greater access to parking and which provided an environment where we could offer an array of activities for children including bouncing castles and face painting,” Smith said. “The entertainment component also grew as we were so excited to have performances by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Band under the direction of Chief Petty Officer Mathew Rolle.”

Founded in 2013, the brainchild of H.E. Frank Crothers, BFN has grown from assisting 13 churches to providing food vouchers, hot meals and food parcels to more than 100 other civic or church-based organisations which help in the fight against hunger. Operated almost entirely by volunteers, the Feeding Network preps, cooks and plates up to 5,500 hot meals a week.

“Our work is truly a labour of love and we could not continue to our mission without the tantamount support of our volunteers who show up without hesitation. Further, the financial and in-kind donations from individuals and corporate Bahamas reassures me that we are indeed our brothers’ keeper. I wish to extend a sincere and heart felt thank you to all who contributed in making this steak out a success and we look forward to an even bigger and better event next year.

When I was much younger, there was a saying about “holdin’ on ter ya ma gown tail”. In more demeaning tones, it was said “under ya ma gown tail”. I knew what it meant then, and I wonder how many of us would understand that bit of Bahamianism today.

Since this country’s independence, nearly half a century ago, it seems that there is still a pervasive mentality of being attached to that colonial past; gown tail.

Sometimes I might say that we appear to be dragging “‘ol massa’s slippers”, but loose footwear like those may slip off, however unintentionally. No, being under the gown tail of ol’ misses seems more apt. It might be cool under there, or sometimes hot, but for sure there’s no light under those circumstances. So, the consecutive leaderships of this country for more than 40 years appear too blind to see or do things in an “independent” way.