By ANDREW COAKLEY

Bahamas Information Services

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas — The Government of The Bahamas is committed to improving health care facilities throughout The Bahamas; and Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville is ensuring that health care facilities in the Northern Bahamas get the upgrades necessary to take health care to the next level.

Over the past few weeks Dr. Darville, along with Ministry of Health officials have been on a tour of clinics and hospitals throughout the country assessing those facilities, their staff complements, their needs and making recommendations for any required upgrades and improvements.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Philip Davis accompanied Dr. Darville on some of those site tours.  Most recently the Prime Minister and Dr. Darville toured health care facilities in the Northern Bahamas, namely Abaco, Grand Bahama, Bimini and the Berry Islands.

The Prime Minister was able to witness firsthand a monumental achievement in the life of the clinic in Marsh Harbor, Abaco, when the surgical theatre was used for the first time.

“It was an historic moment for this clinic,” said Dr. Darville, during the tour of the Marsh Harbor clinic. “Through a philanthropic effort, they are now doing cataract surgery here in Abaco. The people in Abaco are so grateful for this milestone. What some people may not know is that the Abaco clinic is a sister clinic of the one in Exuma.  So, what you see in Abaco is pretty much the same as what you would see in Exuma.”

Prime Minister Davis got an opportunity to tour the operating theatre in the clinic on Friday, August 9, 2024.  He noted that with the help of Liquid Legacy and the World Cataract Foundation, the government was able to offer surgeries, eye examinations and screenings, free to Abaco residents.

Dr. Darville thanked the staff at the Marsh Harbor clinic for the hard work they’ve put in to advance the procedures available at the clinic.  He confirmed that the Ministry of Health and Wellness is deep into its project to renovate the 41 clinics throughout the Family Islands. The Health Minister has visited most of those clinics where he received updates on the progress of the works being carried out thus far.

On Saturday, August 10, 2024, Prime Minister Davis, Dr. Darville, Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey and Ministry of Health officials toured the construction site of the $210 million Freeport Health campus, located off East Sunrise Highway.

The completion of the Freeport Health Campus, according to Minister Darville, will unify the Rand Memorial Hospital with other medical facilities in the Northern Bahamas, including clinics in Abaco, Bimini and the Berry Islands.

“A lot of people don’t know, but the Rand Memorial Hospital is not classified as a full hospital,” explained Dr. Darville. “There are Memorandums of understanding with some sub-specialties that are tied in with the Princess Margaret Hospital. With this particular facility, we intend to resolve that and begin to open up this new Northern health facility to the Northern region, inclusive of Abaco, Bimini and the Berry Islands.”

The Davis Administration broke ground for the Health Clinic in May of 2023. Since then, steady progress in the construction of the multi-faceted facility has been taking place. During the tour of the work in progress, Prime Minister Davis noted that the facility will take a more holistic approach to advanced health care in Grand Bahama and the Northern Bahamas.

The health campus facility will be built over three phases.

Phase one will consist of a nearly 60,000 square foot clinic.

Phase two will include an inpatient surgical suite urgent care facility.

Phase three will involve the construction of an acute care hospital with 126 inpatient beds. One of the most important components of the new facility will be the opening of an oncology center, which will give Grand Bahama cancer patients the option of remaining on island during cancer treatments.
The first phase is expected to be completed by the middle of 2025.

“We intend to have this facility also serve as a research hub for international researchers in matters of new innovations in medicine, including regenerative medicine and longevity,” said Prime Minister Philip Davis, during the tour of the construction works.

“We have the doctor’s university just down the street that will hopefully be integrated in what we’re doing here.”

It was during the initial groundbreaking that Minister Darville pointed out that drawings had been made for nine new clinics throughout the Family Islands. He also noted that 41 clinics in the country were set to undergo renovations.

PHOTO CAPTION

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE ON FREEPORT HEALTH CAMPUS – Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip Davis (center), along with Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville (right) and Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey (left), is given an update on the construction of the new Freeport Health Campus on Saturday, August 10, 2024. The first phase of the $210 million multi-faceted project is expected to be completed by mid 2025.   (BIS Photo)

MONTEGO BAY, September 5, 2024 – The bridge linking Cornwall Courts, Green Pond and surrounding communities in St. James was officially opened on Sunday, September 1.

The project, which had a budget of approximately $13 million, was completed just in time for the start of the new school year.

This will make life easier for  more than 30,000 people who were affected, particularly those living in the Cornwall Courts Housing Scheme, who have had to use an alternative route to access their community since July 2.

In his address at the opening ceremony, Mayor of Montego Bay and Chairman of the St. James Municipal Corporation, Councillor Richard Vernon, said he was satisfied with the project’s timely completion.

“It is not just a new bridge. It is an improved version of what was here before. It is resilient,” he pointed out.

In addition to the bridge, the project included the construction of a new drainage system complete with inlets and outlets.

Mayor Vernon also highlighted improvements made to the surrounding sections of the gully that was reinforced  and new sidewalks that persons with disabilities can access.

“The bus stop was removed and we’re going to build a new one,” the Mayor pointed out.

“Also, we are in dialogue with the Member of Parliament, as there is a drainage study being done, and this section is being looked at. So, the residents in this area can also anticipate a buildout and improvement of  the gully,” he added.

In the meantime, President of the Green Pond Community Development Committee (CDC), Judith Wallace, thanked all stakeholders for their efforts in ensuring that the bridge was completed.

“The community is happy for the hard work as we continue to work together to build a better community to serve one another,” she said.

Resident, Annmarie Douglas, also shared her appreciation for the swift completion of the project, noting that “people go and come” freely and without worry.

CONTACT: OKOYE HENRY

JIS REGIONAL OFFICE

MONTEGO BAY

Photo Captions:

Header: Mayor of Montego Bay and Chairman of the St. James Municipal Corporation, Councillor Richard Vernon (third right), cuts the ribbon to officially open the bridge linking Cornwall Courts and Green Pond communities in St. James, on Sunday, September 1.  Assisting are St James Central Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the House, Heroy Clarke (sixth left); Government Senator, Charles Sinclair (right); Councillor of the Salt Spring Division, Gregory Harris (second right); and Councillor for the Montego Bay South Eastern Division, Arthur Lynch (second left); and community members.

Insert: A motorist about to cross the bridge linking Cornwall Courts and Green Pond communities in St. James, after it was officially opened on Sunday, September 1.

Okoye Henry Photos

From: Bahamas Information Services

NASSAU, The Bahamas —  The Niccolo P. Small Meteorology Cadet Programme was launched in 2023 with nine cadets; and now, in 2024 it boasts installation of 17 cadets.

Energy and Transport Minister, the Hon. JoBeth Coleby-Davis at the Baha Mar Closing and Recognition Ceremony for this year’s Meteorology Cadet  Programme, August 22, commended the young cadets’ achievement and, also, the service to the nation of past and present meteorologists.

Hon. JoBeth Coleby-Davis

She said: “The Bahamas Department of Meteorology is an important agency of the Government of The Bahamas.  Its work is truly invaluable and touches every facet of our lives.  Led by the Acting Director, Jeffrey Simmons, the Department of Meteorology has worked tirelessly over the years to provide a critical service to our country and the Bahamian people.

“I publicly express my sincere gratitude for the tremendous work that the Department of Meteorology does every day.”

She noted, “It is no secret that climate change is leading to more extreme weather and climate events such as longer and more intense heat waves, heavier rainfall, and severe hurricanes.

“Our vulnerability to the adverse impacts of weather events is increasing in many areas. It is a fact that our islands are low-lying, and that many Bahamians live near the sea.

“By investing in the Niccolo P. Small Meteorology Cadet Programme, the Government of The Bahamas is giving young Bahamians an opportunity to become meteorological scientists and foster a sense of environmental stewardship.   We launched the Programme in 2023 with 9 cadets. Today, in our second installment there are 17 cadets – all young Bahamians who represent the future of our nation.”

Minister Coleby-Davis spoke to the dedication and service of former and Met trail blazers and department directors: “As the Acting Meteorology Director indicated in his speech, the Department of Meteorology has provided dedicated service to our nation over the years.

“As Minister with responsibility for the Department, I am acutely aware of some of the personal sacrifices made by past and current staff members of the Department of Meteorology in the fulfillment of keeping our country updated on weather systems and Bahamians safe.

“In far too many instances, the work of these individuals has gone unnoticed and unrewarded. I intend to change this observation.

“Last year, we recognized the work of former Director, Kenneth ‘Ken’ Lightbourne and the first female meteorologist, Donna Duncombe.

“This year we acknowledge the work of former Directors, Arthur Rolle, and Trevor Basden, as well as the current Acting Director of the Department, Jeffrey Simmons.

“Mr. Arthur Rolle became the third Director of the Bahamas Department of Meteorology. Under his directorship, Family Island Weather Stations went fully automated. With the assistance of the United States of America Voluntary Co-operative Programme, Mr. Rolle developed a storm surge atlas for the Northwest Bahamas. In 2009, Mr. Rolle was elected President of the World Meteorological Regional Association IV.

“Mr. Trevor Basden was the fourth director of the Bahamas Department of Meteorology. Under his directorship, the Government of The Bahamas invested over twenty million dollars for acquisition and installation of four doppler weather radars to effectively cover the entire island chain. During his career, Mr. Basden was a member of The Bahamas Hurricane Forecasting Team and the principal officer from the Department of Meteorology attached to the then Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). He has given numerous talks and lectures on hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis and disaster preparedness to schools, civic groups, and disaster preparedness officials.

“Mr. Jeffrey Simmons joined The Bahamas Department of Meteorology in 1979 as Meteorological Trainee and now serves as the Acting Director. Mr. Simmons has more than 44 years of experience in tropical meteorology forecasting with emphasis on hurricane tracking and forecasting. He has also been actively involved with climate change for more than 25 years contributing to many documents on global climate change issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.  Mr. Simmons is The Bahamas’ Permanent Representative to the World Meteorological Organization. Under his directorship, the Niccolo P. Small Meteorology Cadet Programme was established.

“In the future editions of the Niccolo P. Small Meteorology Cadet Programme, we will recognize other Bahamian pioneers in the field of meteorology and their contributions to the development of our nation.”

The Minister declared that she was proud of the young men and women in the second edition of the Niccolo P. Small Meteorology Cadet Programme, and encouraged other young Bahamians to enroll.  It was in 2016, under the leadership of then Minister of Transport and Aviation the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, she said, that the capabilities of the Bahamas Department of Meteorology were expanded.

(BIS Photos/Anthon Thompson)