Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Mario Bowleg expressed great optimism Thursday, December 8, 2022 on the impressive number of applicants already signed up to become the first cohort for the National Youth Guard Program under his ministry.

“I am happy to note that we have more than 200 registered already to be a part of this program. We are looking forward to more persons being registered when we start our second cohort, hopefully in June,” Minister Bowleg said.

The Minister was addressing key stakeholders at a special call meeting at the Grand Lucayan resort designed to disseminate information about the program and open the floor for frank dialogue with various agencies and organizations on how the program, which is geared toward incorporating the nation’s youth in volunteerism during a national disaster, can reach its maximum potential.

The government is looking to recruit 100 youth for every cohort in an aggressive campaign to empower young Bahamians and benefit the entire nation at the same time.

The first cohort of 100 will consist of 60 young people from the Family Islands and 40 from New Providence who will be called on to assist the government in the recovery stage in the national disaster plan.

“We want to ensure that we start with the Family Islands, especially Grand Bahama and Abaco, because while we may have police officers and Defence Force officers to be deployed in these various Family Islands, it’s also good to have every Family Island having someone on the ground already to prepare the way for when these Defence Force and police officers come,” he said.

Training for the first cohort begins in January 2023.

The program is being hosted in Grand Bahama and applicants must be between ages 18 and 25.

The cohort will undergo three months of training, followed by another three months of internship and will be on call as a reserve for two years while receiving a stipend.

Minister Bowleg thanked the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, which are the key partners in conducting training for the participants.

“Hurricane Dorian has taught us a lot but as these many hurricanes have come in the past, and those that will come, we understand that the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Defence Force do not have sufficient manpower in order for us to not only to prepare but to respond. So this administration took the initiative to see that it is necessary for us to invest in some of our young people to prepare them to be able to respond to a disaster,” Minister Bowleg said.

In fact, the minister noted that not only will the program participants be able to respond to a natural disaster at the end of the training, it will also provide them with the necessary tools that will prove useful to them in life.

Minister Bowleg is of the belief that there are some young men and women who see the light at a later stage in life.

“This program will allow us to give them the necessary tools that will prepare them an also help them to become employed,” he said.

The minister of youth, sports and culture explained that it was necessary to have the participants relocate to Grand Bahama and train at the Police College from the various islands to allow them to focus on the necessary skills they will be taught.

“This is a serious thing. We live in an area in the Caribbean where we know a hurricane will come again and we must prepare ourselves,” he said, while adding that it is the government’s belief that the best way to do that is to start with the younger generation.

“It is my hope that the government employs a majority of these persons in the various agencies so that when the time calls for them to serve they are free to serve,” Minister Bowleg said.

Also in attendance were Ministry of Youth Officer Kenneth Frazier; Assistant Commissioner Dellareese Rolle, The Royal Bahamas Police Force; Senior Commander Stephen Rolle, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force; Tammi Mitchell, The National Emergency Management Agency, Ministry of Youth Sport, and Culture Deputy Director of Sports, Northern Bahamas, Norris Bain and Youth Programs Coordinator, Grand Bahama, Carla Brown-Roker.

Minister Bowleg also toured the Police College later that afternoon.

Thousands of Bahamians around the country took to the streets to participate in an historic event on Saturday, December 3, 2022, kicking off the country’s Golden Jubilee Independence celebrations.

It was the #Roadto50 Race, led by the Hon. Philip Davis, Prime Minister, joined by members of his Cabinet, and a wide-cross section of Bahamians and residents who simultaneously participated.

 The National Independence Secretariat spearheaded the event. The co-chairs are Her Excellency, Leslia Miller-Brice, Bahamas High Commissioner to CARICOM, and Permanent Secretary Jack Thompson.

The Bahamas will celebrate 50 years of Independence on July 10, 2023 and the road race was aimed at galvanizing the country towards unity, leading to the historic milestone in the country’s development.

Each island held individual routes for the race; while New Providence’s race started and ended at Clifford Park. Participants signed up as runners, walkers, and cyclists. Each participant received a commemorative 50th medal at the finish line.

 At Clifford Park, a health village was created offering various attractions such as health screening, pop-up market, and participants were also treated to a concert featuring some of the best in Bahamian entertainment, and a Junkanoo rush-out at the end.

 

Thousands of Bahamians around the country took to the streets to participate in an historic event on Saturday, December 3, 2022, kicking off the country’s Golden Jubilee Independence celebrations. It was the #Roadto50 Race, led by the Hon. Philip Davis, Prime Minister, joined by members of his Cabinet, and a wide-cross section of Bahamians and residents who simultaneously participated.   The National Independence Secretariat spearheaded the event. The co-chairs are Her Excellency, Leslia Miller-Brice, Bahamas High Commissioner to CARICOM, and Permanent Secretary Jack Thompson. The Bahamas will celebrate 50 years of Independence on July 10, 2023 and the road race was aimed at galvanizing the country towards unity, leading to the historic milestone in the country’s development. Each island held individual routes for the race; while New Providence’s race started and ended at Clifford Park. Participants signed up as runners, walkers, and cyclists. Each participant received a commemorative 50th medal at the finish line.   At Clifford Park, a health village was created offering various attractions such as health screening, pop-up market, and participants were also treated to a concert featuring some of the best in Bahamian entertainment, and a Junkanoo rush-out at the end.

 

The Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) Blood Bank resumed voluntary donations on Thursday November 24th, 2022, after a brief suspension of donations to allow for repairs to the waterline supplying the Blood Bank. Hospital management extends sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. The Blood Bank is issuing an urgent appeal to the public to donate blood this holiday season. The hospital welcomes all blood types and just one donation can save up to three lives. Residents of Exuma are invited to participate in an upcoming Blood Drive beginning December 1st through 3rd at Rokers Hill and Farmer’s Point, Exuma. The PMH Blood Bank hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, with the last blood donor accepted at 4:30pm and on Saturday, 9am to 5pm, with the last donor taken at 3:30pm. This holiday season, give the gift of life and donate blood. For further information on how to become a blood donor or how to prepare for your visit to donate blood please contact the PMH Blood Bank at 502.7822.

The Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) Blood Bank resumed voluntary donations onThursday November 24th, 2022, after a brief suspension of donations to allow for repairs to the waterline supplying the Blood Bank. Hospital management extends sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused.

The Blood Bank is issuing an urgent appeal to the public to donate blood this holidayseason. The hospital welcomes all blood types and just one donation can save up tothree lives.

Residents of Exuma are invited to participate in an upcoming Blood Drive beginningDecember 1st through 3rd at Rokers Hill and Farmer’s Point, Exuma.

The PMH Blood Bank hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, with thelast blood donor accepted at 4:30pm and on Saturday, 9am to 5pm, with the last donortaken at 3:30pm.

This holiday season, give the gift of life and donate blood. For further information onhow to become a blood donor or how to prepare for your visit to donate blood pleasecontact the PMH Blood Bank at 502.7822.

 

A ‘pop-up’ Blood Drive with the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) was held on NationalVolunteer Day at the Mall at Marathon by the Governor General’s Volunteer Bahamas,led by His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Cornelius Smith.

Chartered Accountant, Lindsey Cancino, the Volunteer Bahamas chairman said that theneed for blood donations is constant and as such, there is never enough ways toencourage people to give blood and save lives.

“There are always many community needs but on November 19 th , National VolunteerDay we opted to partner with PMH to help boost the Blood Bank reserve,” said Mr.Cancino. “And I was gratified that we managed to engage several first time doners andwe hope they will become regulars.”

The Governor General attended and spoke to those donating blood and many of thevolunteers. A group of youngsters from St. Barnabas Anglican Church aided inpromoting the Blood Drive throughout the Mall.

The Governor General’s personal life-long belief and promotion of volunteerism in all itsmany guises, steered the formation in 2019 of an NGO called The Governor General’sVolunteer Bahamas. An online site is under development that will allow new volunteersto select a cause or event where they would like to be involved. Volunteer Bahamas willhelp match volunteers with their chosen area of concern. Its mission is to encouragepersons to volunteer; it is a call to action for persons to seek out volunteer opportunities,to instill and inspire a culture of volunteerism throughout The Bahamas.

Among the dozen people who donated blood, were two visiting remote staffers, Slavand Reena Bienko, from Canada who had been doners in their own country.Bahamians that donated ranged in age up to 67years of age. University of TheBahamas (UB) Chef Dominic Turnquest was one of the younger ones and a first timer.

At days end, 17 people had offered to donate and PMH closed-up with 12 very welcomepints. Volunteer Bahamas UB student Arthurnique Jones explained that many peopledidn’t qualify to donate because of underlying medical issues.

An online platform where NGOs and other volunteer groups and opportunities will belisted is under development. Volunteer Bahamas will post information on NGO’s andvolunteer needs so they can appropriately be matched with enquiring would-bevolunteers.

Television and radio interviews will continue through the end of November, VolunteerMonth, promoting the ways persons interested in volunteering can be matched withappropriate volunteer opportunities through The Governor General’s VolunteerBahamas database. Information at GGvolunteers@bahamas.gov.bs & https://m.facebook.com/Volunteer-Bahamas-A-Call-to-Action-105240464511703/

 

A ‘pop-up’ Blood Drive with the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) was held on National Volunteer Day at the Mall at Marathon by the Governor General’s Volunteer Bahamas, led by His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Cornelius Smith. Chartered Accountant, Lindsey Cancino, the Volunteer Bahamas chairman said that the need for blood donations is constant and as such, there is never enough ways to encourage people to give blood and save lives. “There are always many community needs but on November 19 th , National Volunteer Day we opted to partner with PMH to help boost the Blood Bank reserve,” said Mr. Cancino. “And I was gratified that we managed to engage several first time doners and we hope they will become regulars.” The Governor General attended and spoke to those donating blood and many of the volunteers. A group of youngsters from St. Barnabas Anglican Church aided in promoting the Blood Drive throughout the Mall. The Governor General’s personal life-long belief and promotion of volunteerism in all its many guises, steered the formation in 2019 of an NGO called The Governor General’s Volunteer Bahamas. An online site is under development that will allow new volunteers to select a cause or event where they would like to be involved. Volunteer Bahamas will help match volunteers with their chosen area of concern. Its mission is to encourage persons to volunteer; it is a call to action for persons to seek out volunteer opportunities, to instill and inspire a culture of volunteerism throughout The Bahamas. Among the dozen people who donated blood, were two visiting remote staffers, Slav and Reena Bienko, from Canada who had been doners in their own country. Bahamians that donated ranged in age up to 67years of age. University of The Bahamas (UB) Chef Dominic Turnquest was one of the younger ones and a first timer. At days end, 17 people had offered to donate and PMH closed-up with 12 very welcome pints. Volunteer Bahamas UB student Arthurnique Jones explained that many people didn’t qualify to donate because of underlying medical issues. An online platform where NGOs and other volunteer groups and opportunities will be listed is under development. Volunteer Bahamas will post information on NGO’s and volunteer needs so they can appropriately be matched with enquiring would-be volunteers. Television and radio interviews will continue through the end of November, Volunteer Month, promoting the ways persons interested in volunteering can be matched with appropriate volunteer opportunities through The Governor General’s Volunteer Bahamas database. Information at GGvolunteers@bahamas.gov.bs &  https://m.facebook.com/Volunteer-Bahamas-A-Call-to-Action-105240464511703/