Nassau, Bahamas, September 12, 2024 – Digital resources have become an integral part of day-to-day business activities and the education experience. As another school year begins and library traffic heightens, students and patrons across the country will have more devices at their fingertips.

CIBC Caribbean recently donated a substantial number of computers to public libraries and Yellow Elder Primary School. The computers donated to the National Library and Information Services will be distributed to libraries in New Providence, Abaco, and Grand Bahama.

Jacqui Bend, CIBC Caribbean’s Managing Director said, “At CIBC Caribbean, we are deeply committed to advancing technology both within our organization and in the communities we serve. By donating these computers to libraries and schools across The Bahamas, we’re helping to ensure that everyone has the digital tools they need to thrive in today’s world, just as we continually innovate to better serve our clients.”

Dorcas Bowler, Director of Libraries, emphasized the importance of CIBC Caribbean’s donation.

She said, “In today’s technological world, a library does not only house books but is also an information hub and a treasure trove to access information at the click of a mouse on computer terminals, tablets, and other electronic devices via the Internet and WIFI. Patrons, including adults and children, need up-to-date information for success in school and everyday living.

“This donation from CIBC Caribbean aligns perfectly with our mission to provide ready access to quality resources and services for all persons throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. It supports our vision of an accessible library system equipped to meet the demands of the 21st century.”

Bowler further highlighted the critical role libraries play in fostering lifelong learning and providing equitable access to information. “Libraries build strong communities and change lives,” she said.

“This generous donation from CIBC will significantly enhance our ability to offer modern technological resources to all, particularly in remote and underserved communities.”

Yellow Elder Primary School will utilize the computers to enhance its educational offerings. The school’s acting principal, Tamica Adderley, expressed profound gratitude, stating, “Computers play a pivotal role in modern education, revolutionizing the learning experience for both educators and students.”

Adderley said, “At Yellow Elder Primary School, these computers will enable our students to engage with adaptive learning platforms such as Renaissance Star 360, which tailors educational content to individual learning needs. This not only fosters a dynamic and participatory learning environment but also ensures that our students are equipped with the vital digital literacy skills necessary for future success.”

She added, “On behalf of Yellow Elder Primary School Family, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to CIBC Caribbean for its generous donation. CIBC Caribbean’s commitment to education and technology will have a lasting impact on the learning experiences of our students. With CIBC’s support, we can create a technologically enriched environment that empowers our students to thrive in an ever-evolving world. Thank you for being a valuable partner in shaping the future of our community.”

Photo Caption:

Libraries across the country and Yellow Elder Primary School received computers from CIBC Caribbean to support the evolving needs of day-to-day business activities and the education experience

From: Bahamas Information Services

September 5, 2024

 GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas — The Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, in an effort to ensure a clean and pristine Bahamas for the enjoyment of all, continues its advocacy for the clean up of the country’s coastal areas. Each year, in conjunction with the Ocean Conservancy, tourism officials on Grand Bahama Island via the Ministry’s Sustainable Tourism Development Department, join with representatives from over 100 countries world-wide for a cleanup day at beaches and other shorelines.

International Coastal Cleanup Day is set for Saturday, September 21st, and tourism officials are calling on the Grand Bahama community to join the effort to #SeaTheChange by tackling ocean trash.  Jermaine Johnson, MOTIA Coordinator and Manager of the GB Sustainable Tourism Development Department, urged residents to volunteer during a press conference on Wednesday, September 4th, 2024, at the Ministry’s office in the Fidelity Financial Centre on East Mall and Poinciana Drives.

“The Bahamas is always happy to participate considering we are an archipelago and coastlines are extremely important to our tourism product,” he said. “We’re looking to clean up 10-12 beaches this year. We’re also looking for support from the community, so those who want to participate can feel free to come out. We’re especially looking for support from our civic organisations — so that’s our Lions Club, our Pilot Clubs, Kiwanis, the Rotaries, etc., also lodges and greek letter fraternities; so all the sigmas and all the phis, and all the alphas and betas, we’re looking for your support as well in this year’s coastal cleanup. We want this year to be a greater success than it was last year. We want to get as much garbage out of our oceans and off our coastlines as possible,” he added.

The event is set to begin at 8am and wrap up at 10am.

Last year over 30,000 pounds of debris was collected from local beaches. It is important to note that these beach cleanups are not only keeping the island’s beaches beautiful and sanitary, but they also provide valuable data about the quantity and types of refuse that clutter coastal areas. This data is collected and sent off to the Ocean Conservancy to be used in a global report issued each year and it is all in an effort to help policymakers better understand the sources of pollution so they can develop strategies for long-term solutions and effect policy change.

EarthCare, Litter Free Bahamas, Keep Grand Bahama Clean Committee, the Royal Bahamas Police Force Urban Renewal division and local schools are also partnering with MOTIA for Grand Bahama’s observance of International Coastal Cleanup Day.

PHOTO CAPTION

#seathechange — The Ministry of Tourism’s Sustainable Tourism Development Department of Grand Bahama, joined by partners, is urging the wider community to come out to a beach near you and help keep Grand Bahama’s beaches clean and pristine, Saturday, September 21st from 8am to 10am.  This effort is in support of the annual International Coastal Cleanup Day and will help in creating long-term solutions for protecting the earth’s oceans.     (BIS Photos/Jamika Culmer)

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)