Connect with us

Bahamas News

BAHAMAS: Prime Minister visits families of victims of the Labour Day Parade tragedy; and visits survivors in hospital

Published

on

#Nassau – June 4, 2018 – Bahamas – Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Hubert Minnis spent a good portion of Saturday visiting the families of those who died on the Randol Fawkes Labour Day Parade on Friday. He also visited the survivors who were hospitalized as a result of injuries sustained in the unfortunate mishap.

Cutting his Labour Day holiday weekend short, the Prime Minister arrived from Long Island where he was attending the Regatta and took a small delegation with him to the various homes in New Providence.

The deceased are: Dianne Elizabeth Gray-Ferguson, 55, of Coral Harbour; Kathleen Augusta Fernander, 51 of Buttonwood Street, Pinewood Gardens; Tabitha Charlene Haye, 41, of Pineyard Road; and Tami Patrice Gibson, 48 of Tropical Meadows.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Hon. Duane Sands, Minister of Health; Senator the Hon. Dion Foulkes, Minister of Labour; Bishop Delton Fernander, President, The Bahamas Christian Council; Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Jack Thompson and Bahamas Information Services, the Government’s public relations department, on June 2, 2018.

During his visit with family members, who were obviously distraught, the Prime Minister offered condolences on behalf of the Government and the people of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.  Bishop Fernander prayed with family members and assured them that God is “faithful” and will comfort them in their time of bereavement.

The Prime Minister and Bishop Fernander interacted with and offered words of encouragement to the husbands of Haye, Gibson and Gray-Ferguson, and with Nahshawn Fernander, son of Kathleen Augusta Fernander.

Officials reported that 24 participants in the parade suffered injuries and were taken to hospitals for medical care.  Of the injured who remained hospitalized, the Prime Minister and his team visited with them at the state-owned Princess Margaret Hospital and the private Doctors Hospital, where the victims were recovering in the Female Surgical Wards I and II, and the Intensive Care Unit, respectively.

Hospitalized are Christine Adderley, Tamika Lightbourne, Annabell Sands-Gibson and Phillippa Roberts-Forbes.  The families of the deceased and the recovering victims in hospital responded overwhelmingly to the visits by the Prime Minister and his team, indicating that the gesture “cheered” them up after facing such an ordeal.

The Prime Minister had initially issued a statement on Labour Day, Friday, June 1, in the aftermath of the incident.  He commended the participants, first responders, onlookers and the professional teams at the Princess Margaret Hospital who worked with great compassion and urgency to care for the injured, and those who had already passed away.

“We commend all those who came to the aid of those affected by this tragedy,” the Prime Minister had said. “Government ministers and other officials will continue to offer immediate support and ongoing assistance. We are committed to doing all that we can to assist the family members of the deceased, and those injured and their families.”

 

By: Lindsay Thompson (BIS)

Photo Captions:

Header: Bishop Delton Fernander, President, The Bahamas Christian Council offers words of encouragement to Stephen Haye, husband of Tabitha Charlene Haye, 41, of Pineyard Road, who died on the Labour Day Parade on Friday, June 1, 2018. Looking on are Prime Minister Hubert Minnis; Duane Sands, Minister of Health; and Senator Dion Foulkes, Minister of Labour.

First insert: Prime Minister Minnis meets with the bereaved family of Tami Patrice Gibson, 48 of Tropical Meadows, who died on the Labour Day Parade on Friday, June 1, 2018.

Second insert: Prime Minister Hubert Minnis and Bishop Delton Fernander, President, The Bahamas Christian Council speak with Nahshawn Fernander, son of Kathleen Augusta Fernander, 51, of Buttonwood Street, Pinewood Gardens who died in the Randol Fawkes Labour Day Parade on Friday, June 1, 2018. Looking on is Senator Dion Foulkes, Minister of Labour.

 

 

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis meets with Michael Ferguson, the husband, and other family members of Dianne Elizabeth Gray-Ferguson, 55, of Coral Harbour who died on the Randol Fawkes Labour Day Parade on Friday, June 1, 2018. Also pictured, left, is Senator Dion Foulkes, Minister of Labour. The Prime Minister was also accompanied by Duane Sands, Minister of Health; Bishop Delton Fernander, President, The Bahamas Christian Council; Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Jack Thompson; and Bahamas Information Services, June 2, 2018.  (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

 

 

 

Dr. the Hon. Hubert Minnis, Prime Minister, led a small delegation to Doctors Hospital to visit victims who were among the injured during the Randol Fawkes Labour Day Parade on Friday, June 1, 2018. Hospitalized there are Christine Adderley and Tamika Lightbourne, Saturday, June 2, 2018.  (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Minnis led a small delegation to the Princess Margaret Hospital to visit victims who were among the injured during the Labour Day Parade on Friday, June 1, 2018. Hospitalized are Annabell Sands-Gibson and Phillippa Roberts-Forbes, June 2, 2018.  (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

 

 

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

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

Published

on

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.”

 

 

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

The Bahamas Successfully Hosts Its Fourth World Athletics Relays

Published

on

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)

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

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

Published

on

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.”

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING