Bahamas News
BAHAMAS: AG Bethel hosts ‘Stakeholder Meeting’ with IDB/CSJP officials
#Bahamas, May 11, 2018 – Nassau – Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Carl W. Bethel, QC, recently hosted officials from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and The Bahamas’ Citizens Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) to a Stakeholder Meeting at the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, Paul L. Adderley Building, John F. Kennedy Drive.
The Attorney General was accompanied by Minister of State for Legal Affairs, the Hon. Elsworth Johnson; Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, Marco Rolle; Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, Sonia Culmer; Danya Parker-Wallace, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs, Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs; Shane Miller, Assistant Director of Legal Affairs, Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, and Loren Klein, Consultant, Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs.
The Stakeholder Meeting afforded IDB and CSJP officials the opportunity to provide the Attorney General with an update on the progress of Component III of the Citizens Security and Justice Programme, which focuses on the further strengthening of the Administration of Justice System.
Attorney General Bethel said there is “a unity of purpose” and commitment on behalf of the Government of The Bahamas, and the various governmental ministries/agencies involved in the project, to the success of the Citizen Security and Justice Programme.
“We realize that we cannot keep doing the same things, the same ways, expecting different results,” Attorney-General Bethel said. “The project provides opportunities for us to re-imagine, particularly with regards to the treatment of young offenders, and further opportunities as to what can be done to turn things around; what can be done to intervene earlier, and so it is critically important.”
Dr. Dorcas Cox, Project Manager, said the Stakeholder Meeting with the Attorney General was “part of the ongoing process to get an understanding from the stakeholder perspective.
“The meeting enabled us to determine what value are we already providing; what value does he require in the future; is the project providing him (in this case) with the outputs he needs to realize the mandate and the vision and the mission of the Government of The Bahamas. The fact that the Attorney General embraces the programme and is committed to it, is wonderful news. It means that all we have to do is to keep him informed, keep him plugged in and engaged, and meet those expectations that he shared with us,” Dr. Cox added.
Funded by a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank, the CSJP has four components, the first of which deals with Conflict Resolution in a non-violent manner.
Component Two, addresses the lack of employability among young persons. Partnering with the Ministry of Labour (Department of Labour) and the National Training Agency, 2,600 young persons between the age of 15-29 will receive a cross-section of training targeted at soft skills instruction — communication, teamwork, proper job etiquette and technical skills training — with an opportunity to obtain some work experience in the hospitality and retail industries.
Component Three focuses on the further strengthening of the Administration of Justice System; while Component Four deals with the rehabilitation and re-integration into society of offenders both in the adult population of the Bahamas Department of Corrections as well as the juvenile facilities, Simpson Penn Centre for Boys and the Willa Mae Pratt Centre for Girls.
The CSJP calls for a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary approach “that necessitates the expertise of multiple ministries and governmental bodies, the business community, educators, the Clergy and Civil Society.”
Government ministries and their departments and agencies involved in the Programme include the Ministry of National Security (as the Government’s Executing Agency), the Ministry of Finance (Government liaison with the Inter-American Development Bank), Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Services.
The Office of the Judiciary (Supreme and Magistrates’ Courts) is also a part of the Programme.
“One of the major outputs in component three is an effective Integrated Case Management System across the entire Administration of Justice landscape. Stakeholders will be the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Supreme and Magistrates’ Courts, the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Department of Corrections.
“From arrest, to trial, to conviction, all of those stakeholders play an integral role in criminal justice administration. And so the system is designed to bring technology to bear so that we can reduce the backlog by reducing the amount of paper we have to distribute.
“The plan is to also improve communication across those various platforms and across those departments, enhance the scheduling and monitoring of cases, scheduling of cases, while ensuring that we have faster access to court transcripts. It’s a significant initiative.”
By: Matt Maura (BIS)
Photo Caption: Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Carl W. Bethel, QC, (seated centre) recently met with officials from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Citizens Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) during a Stakeholder Meeting at the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, Paul L. Adderley Building, John F. Kennedy Drive. The Stakeholder Meeting afforded IDB and CSJP officials with the opportunity to provide the Attorney General with an update of the progress of Component III of the Citizens Security and Justice Programme which focuses on the further strengthening of the Administration of Justice System.
Pictured along with Attorney General Bethel (seated from left) are: Danya Parker-Wallace, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs, OffIce of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs; the Hon. Elsworth Johnson, Minister of State for Legal Affairs; and Marco Rolle, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs. IDB officials are photographed in foreground. Our second photograph shows the full group during a Courtesy Call that preceded the Stakeholder Meeting.
(BIS Photos/Derek Smith)
Bahamas News
Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday
Turks and Caicos, August 20, 2026 – The planned participation of the Bahama Brass Band in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ inaugural Constitutional Holiday celebrations on August 30 has sparked public debate over culture, heritage and the historical contributions of Turks and Caicos Islanders abroad.
Organizers defended the invitation, saying the band’s inclusion is intended to highlight the deep historical ties between the two countries
and honor Turks and Caicos men who helped establish and develop the institution in Grand Bahama.
According to the organizers, the Bahama Brass Band began in 1955 in Pine Ridge, Freeport, with Turks and Caicos Islanders, including the late Deacon Reuben Hall Sr. of Middle Caicos and Jenkins Williams and Mervin Hendfield of North Caicos, among those who helped build its foundation. The band eventually grew to more than 50 men.
The organizers also pointed to the participation of Turks and Caicos men in The Bahamas’ Independence celebrations on July 10, 1973, arguing that their contributions became part of Bahamian history while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.
Supporters say bringing the band home represents an opportunity to honor those pioneers, showcase their regional influence and expose younger generations to an important part of Turks and Caicos history.
However, concerns raised publicly described the invitation as potentially disrespectful to local culture and heritage. Organizers acknowledged those concerns, apologizing to anyone who felt overlooked or offended, while maintaining that no disrespect was intended.
The committee said the event should ultimately unite rather than divide, presenting the band’s history as evidence of the reach and resilience of Turks and Caicos heritage.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bahamas Brass Band
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Dasani products, proudly sponsored the fifth annual, Caribbean Hoopfest.
The tournament brings together Bahamian high school basketball teams and visiting teams from the United States for a competitive
showcase at the Kendal G. L. Isaacs Gymnasium. Following its inaugural year at the Kendal G. L. Isaacs gym and last year’s event at Loyola Hall, the tournament returned to the Kendal G. L. Isaacs gym this year.
During the weekend tournament, CBC kept athletes well hydrated with in-kind donations of Dasani Water, Powerade and Minute Maid Juices.
During the tournament’s final day, CBC provided additional support by offering Sprite No Sugar samples and inviting attendees to participate in its Spin the Wheel for a chance to win exciting prizes.
CBC was proud to support this incredible event, which provides young Bahamian athletes with valuable exposure to U.S. basketball scouts and coaches. This opportunity gives them the chance to earn scholarships, continue their education, and pursue their basketball careers in the United States.
Event organizer, Donald Francois shared his appreciation for CBC’s support.
“I want to express our sincere appreciation for Caribbean Bottling Company, who has been a tremendous supporter and an important part of the success of our program. Without CBC’s support, Caribbean Hoop Fest would not be able to function at the level it does today. And without Caribbean Hoop Fest, we would not have been able to provide the opportunities that have helped young Bahamian athletes gain exposure and pursue educational opportunities in the United States,” he expressed.
Since the program’s inception, several Bahamian student-athletes have been selected for scholarship opportunities, highlighting the
tournament’s growing impact on the development and advancement of young basketball talent in The Bahamas.
They are: Kelvin McDowells – Guard, Wodson Antoine – Power Forward, Justin Lafleur – Guard and Sean John – Guard.
After another successful edition of the tournament, Francois shared what he hopes he and Caribbean Bottling Company can achieve in the future.
“Our vision is bigger than basketball. We want to use the platform of Caribbean Hoop Fest to educate, develop, and create opportunities for young people and their families throughout the Bahamas. With individuals and organizations committed to our mission, we believe we can continue to grow the program and make an even greater impact,” Francois said.
For more details on community support, events and new products visit Caribbean Bottling Company at www.cbcbahamas.com today.
NASSAU, Bahamas — More Bahamians are accessing HIV and sexually transmitted infection-related healthcare through National Health Insurance, a trend the NHI Authority says should be viewed positively.
NHIA stressed in an August 6 statement that its 2025 figures measure healthcare utilisation, not newly diagnosed infections. They include beneficiaries screened, treated, monitored or receiving follow-up care, including people diagnosed previously.
“Increased utilisation of these services should be viewed as a positive development,” NHIA said.
The Authority pointed to “greater enrolment and use of NHI, improved access to screening and testing, continued treatment and monitoring of existing conditions, and increased willingness to seek medical care.”
The development comes amid a mixed three-year HIV picture. New diagnoses rose from 130 in 2023 to 156 in 2024, before declining to 142 in 2025.
NHIA said increased utilisation demonstrates that more beneficiaries are accessing needed healthcare and actively managing their health, reinforcing the importance of screening, early diagnosis and continued treatment.
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