Bahamas News

The Green Cleaners Aims to Heal Sick Buildings with Healthy Cleaning

Published

8 years ago

June 11, 2016

Nassau, Bahamas – May 23, 2016 – Let’s face it, working in an office can sometimes feel like doing time in a germ factory. One cough or sneeze from a nearby cubicle and suddenly the entire staff is walking around with puffy eyes and tissue boxes tucked under their arms. But it may not always be a coworker who’s to blame for spreading flu-like symptoms. In fact, it may be the office itself that’s making people sick.

Known as Sick Building Syndrome, a school or office building becomes “sick” when poor air ventilation circulates volatile organic compounds (VOC). Spending hours cooped up inside a sick building every day can lead to headaches, dizziness, nausea, eye, nose or throat irritation and asthma attacks, all of which may seem very flu-like at first, but none of which can be staved off with doses of aspirin and bed rest.

“It’s increasingly becoming a major occupational hazard,” said Dr. Arlington Lightbourne, owner of The Wellness Clinic in Nassau. “How do we ensure people are happy, healthy and productive members of society? Through prevention.”

Lightbourne is one of 10 Bahamian doctors who collaborated to create The Green Cleaners, a Nassau cleaning agency owned and operated by Healthy Clean Ltd., that provides certified green cleaning janitorial and housekeeping services to private homes, vacation rentals, clinics, doctor’s offices and office buildings.

“Cleaning is an advanced science,” said Lightbourne. “You’re battling infectious diseases, allergies and asthma. It takes awareness and training so you’re minimizing the spread of disease without destroying your health or the environment. Green cleaning certification insures that our cleaning staff is current on safe green practices, training, and regulations.”

To become and remain certified as a green cleaner, companies must adhere to strict requirements as outlined by Green Seal, an American organization that provides standards and certification to protect human health and the environment. To meet the Green Seal Standard for Cleaning Services (GS-42), cleaning equipment must be energy efficient, staff training must be provided and cleaning products and procedures must reduce toxicity and waste, which means conserving water and using durable cleaning tools like microfiber mop heads, cloths and dusters, vacuum cleaners with approved air filters and trash bags that contain a minimum of 10% post-consumer recycled content.

More importantly, under the certification, cleaning solutions cannot contain harmful compounds like the cocktail of chemicals that make up traditional cleaning agents such as heavy metals (mercury, aluminum and arsenic found in laundry detergent), phthalates (present in plastic containers), formaldehyde (a component of dish washing liquids and fabric softeners) and chlorine (an ingredient in household bleach).

“The modern day janitor is on the frontline of infection control,” Lightbourne said. “One well-trained and equipped janitor can save more lives through prevention than a room full of doctors can cure.”

An overwhelming lack of education regarding preventative healthcare measures is what drove Lightbourne and his colleagues to found The Green Cleaners.As a former ER doctor, Lightbourne witnessed firsthand the effects of chronic respiratory illnesses like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer and sleep apnea, and became increasingly discouraged by the sheer number of cases that easily could have avoided if only his patients had access to the right information.

“We’re setting out to save lives a different way,” Lightbourne said. “We want to redefine what healthy living means in The Bahamas, not only at the individual level but societally as well, and that includes addressing every aspect of our daily lives—the chemicals we use, the food that we eat and the air that we breathe. Green cleaning is a necessary investment in better health, a better environment and a better bottom line.”

Bahamas News

Get your laugh on, March On, family drama by Gea Pierre, debut this weekend in Turks and Caicos

Published

4 days ago

May 13, 2024

Shanieka

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

After resounding success in the Bahamas, hit play ‘March On, The Story of Us’ has been inundated with requests to take their show on the road, and the first location they’ll be hitting is Providenciales Turks and Caicos with tickets on sale again this weekend, the show debuts Friday night.

Magnetic Media spoke to Gea Pierre, playwright, who told us the TCI was a natural first choice for the cast and crew where shows are set for Brayton Hall, for Friday May 10 at 8pm and Saturday has two showings; matinee at 4pm and evening, 8pm.

Tickets are $75 VIP. General admission is $60.

“We started ‘March On’ in November 2023 and it was really an opportunity for us to tell a story, the story of the Bahamas and to encompass the nations that we have an amazing relationship with like the Turks and Caicos,” she continued “We really got a lot of people calling [for the play] from [the TCI], so much so we really had to pay attentattention.

The response to ‘March On’ at home and abroad was overwhelming.

“To say it went well is an understatement, even before we opened we got calls from Canada, from all over the US with people wanting us to come and perform.”

And take the show on the road they did! Gea and her team have launched “March On: The Tour” and will be in Providenciales to perform on May 10th and 11th. It’s the first of a number of stops which include Nassau and several US locations.

Online tickets are available for purchase with credit cards. The full team returns on Friday, May 10 with the comedy production being held under the patronage of Washington Misick, TCI Premier and First Lady Delthia Misick.

Describing the close familial relationships between the TCI and the Bahamas, for many on the crew it will be like coming home Gea told us, for others it will be a treat to visit for the first time, the places that their grandparents described.

Gea maintained that the team wanted to keep the show as accessible to residents as possible.

As for why you should come out and see the play, other than the great price point:

“The way that people have responded to it is non stop laughter, people have been moved to tears because there’s some emotion. It does not only lend to Bahamians. It’s a family drama, and anyone who’s ever been a part of a family is going to get something out of it, and something moving.”

Bahamas News

The Bahamas Successfully Hosts Its Fourth World Athletics Relays

Published

5 days ago

May 12, 2024

Shanieka

NASSAU, Bahamas – Hundreds of people from around the world turned out in full force for the BTC World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 that took place at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, May 4 -5, 2024.

This is the sixth edition of the relays and the fourth time that The Bahamas has hosted the event, which actually made its debut in The Bahamas in 2014.

President, World Athletics, Sabastian Coe said after three very successful editions from 2014 to 2017, the World Athletics Relays has quickly become one of the World Athletics vibrant competitions, developing a culture of fun and innovation that gives it a unique flavour.

He thanked the Bahamas Government, the local World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 committee and the Bahamian people for agreeing to host the relays. However, his main thanks were to the “world’s best sprinters” travelling from all the continents to compete in preparation for the road to Paris, France, in two months’ time.

During the opening ceremony, the athletes were given words of advice from Carl Lewis, one of only four Olympic athletes to have won nine Olympic gold medals, who is widely recognized as one of the greatest athletes of all time.

He said, “Keep it simple, do not try to do anything extra. Do what your coaches said. Leave on time, leave on time, leave on time.”

The athletes and crowds were treated to the sounds and sights of Junkanoo at the end of the opening ceremony. The Junkanoo performers stuck around for the two days of competitions, playing for the sprinters as they competed on the track.

Teams competed in the Women’s and men’s 4x100m, and the women’s men’s and mixed 4x400m. A total of 14 teams at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 automatically qualified for places at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Both days of competition were important, as day two offered another chance for qualifications for those teams unsuccessful on day one.

In fact, The Bahamas was able to take advantage of the second day of competition.

Bahamians were made proud as the country set a new national record during the mixed 4x400m relays thanks to the efforts of 16-year-old Shania Adderley, a student of Tabernacle Baptist Academy.

The team came first in their heat on Sunday evening after not being able to gain a spot for the Paris Olympics on the first day of competition.

Other sprinters on the team included Alonzo Russell, as well as Olympic champions Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

(BIS Photos/Kemuel Stubbs)

Bahamas News

PM at World Relays 2024 Opening: ‘Tonight, the eyes are on The Bahamas’

Published

5 days ago

May 12, 2024

Shanieka

NASSAU, The Bahamas – During his remarks at the Opening Ceremony for the World Athletics Relays 2024, on May 4, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis welcomed the special guests, athletes, officials, and “all lovers of athletics from around the world” to the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium here in the “vibrant heart” of Nassau, Bahamas.

“This weekend, the world’s finest athletes gather on our shores to embark on a journey that is not only about speed and strength but also about dreams and determination,” Prime Minister Davis said. “From the serene beauty of our islands to the historic grandeur of Paris, this event marks a crucial path to the Olympic Games in Paris 2024.”

He added: “Here in The Bahamas, we are no strangers to world-class athletics or the warmth and exuberance that such international gatherings bring. It is a distinct honor to once again welcome the World Athletics Relays back to our islands. This event holds a special place in our hearts, symbolizing a bridge between nations brought together by the universal language of sport.”

Prime Minister Davis noted that that year’s theme, “Paradise to Paris,” captured the essence of that journey.

“It is here, amidst the splendor of our sun-kissed beaches and the rhythmic sway of our palms that the chase towards Olympic glory begins anew,” he stated. “We are thrilled to offer a backdrop of unparalleled beauty, where every sprint, every baton pass, and every victory lap is set against the picture-perfect canvas of our islands.”

He added: “To our athletes, I say this: as you stand on the precipice of your dreams, ready to catapult yourself into the annals of history, know that you are part of a legacy of excellence and determination. This weekend, you are not only competitors but also ambassadors of your countries and the spirit of sport. We are especially proud of Team Bahamas, who carry the weight of their performance and the hopes and pride of our nation. You embody the spirit of The Bahamian people, and we are behind you every step of the way.”

Prime Minister said that to the international visitors, he extended “the warmest Bahamian welcome”.

“Over the next few days, as you revel in the thrill of competition, take a moment to bask in the beauty of our island,” he stated. “Discover why we proudly say, “It’s Better in The Bahamas.” Whether it’s the hospitality of our people, the tranquility of our waters, or the rhythm of our culture, you are in for an experience that captures the heart and rejuvenates the soul.”

“Let us celebrate the unity and friendship that sports foster, cheering every athlete and savoring the spectacle of human potential at its best,” Prime Minister Davis added. “I hope the races are swift, the results are inspiring, and the memories are lasting.

“Welcome to The Bahamas, the paradise where champions chase their dreams to Paris. As your host, it is my immense pleasure to declare the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 2024 officially open. Let the games begin.”