Bahamas News
BAHAMAS: The Press Club Media Awards – Meet The Nominees
#Nassau, November 6, 2018 – Bahamas – The best in Bahamian media would be recognized for their hard work and dedication in the field of journalism and mass communications, during The Bahamas Press Club Media Awards scheduled for Saturday, November 10, 2018.
The Black Tie, Red Carpet event will be held in the Governor’s Ballroom at the British Colonial Hilton, under the 
Patronage of Her Excellency the Most Hon Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
This year’s theme is: “Celebrating 45 Years of Bahamian Media 1973-2018”, and Title Sponsor is IL Cares Foundation and Verizon Media Group. Other major sponsors are Aliv, Sunshine Holdings Ltd. Royal Fidelity, ZNS, The Nassau Guardian, The Tribune, The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and many other supporters of Bahamian media.
The night’s top award is The Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award and the recipient is veteran broadcaster and owner of Island FM, Sir Charles Carter. The Pioneer Award goes to Ivan Johnson, Publisher of The Punch and The Press Club Person of The Year will be revealed at the awards ceremony, as well as The People’s Choice Award being voted online by the public.
CATEGORIES & NOMINEES
Best Cinematography Award
- Eyewitness news – Eyewitness News – Sentenced to suffer
- Andrew Burrows – Ministry of Agriculture – We can feed ourselves ( North Andros & Long Island)
Best Editing for Television News Story
- Terran Knowles – NB 12 – Tradewinds
Best Editing for Television News Story or Documentary
- Andrew Burrows – Ministry of Agriculture – Can We Feed Ourselves – Abaco
Best Newscast
- Clint Watson – Eyewitness News – Labour day newscast
Best Producer Award – Packaged
- Apryl Sands and Shameko Gilbert – Eyewitness News – Autism: Special Place for Special People
- Clint Watson – Eyewitness News – Newscast Oct 4 Beyond the Headlines
- Andrew Burrows – Ministry of Agriculture – Can We Feed Ourselves – North Andros
- Genea Noel-Ferguson & Kendeno Knowles – Eyewitness News – Newscast October 1st – Cancer Registry Long Overdue
Best Television Documentary
- Deandre Williamson – ZNS – A history of Fox Hill
- Andrew Burrows – Ministry of Agriculture – Can We Feed Ourselves (Long Island & Abaco)
- Eyewitness News – Sentenced to Suffer
- Carla Palmer – ZNS – Agriculture Now
- Jerome Sawyer – REV TV- Lifeline to Crooked Island
Best Television News Story
- Jasmine Brown – NB12/Nassau Guardian – Phenton Neymour Shares Cancer Battle
Kyle Walkine – Nassau Guardian – Johnathon’s Prom Night- Deandre Williamson – ZNS – Shantytown Eviction Deadline Update
- Apryl Sands – Eyewitness News – Shanty Town Residents
- Genea Noel-Ferguson – Eyewitness News -Ashes or Dirt?
- Sancheska Brown – Eyewitness News – Girl Needs Help
- Theo Sealy – Eyewitness News- Child Murdered in Cross Fire
Best Video Editing Award
- Rossano Deal – Nassau Guardian – Special Needs Prom Night
- Rossano Deal – Nassau Guardian – Minnis to address the OBAN issue
- P Giovanni Armbrister – Eyewitness News – Tyler’s Place
- Shemako/Shamiko Gilbert – Eyewitness News – Labour Day Family Victim Mourns
- Agatha Christie – Eyewitness News – Johnson Prepares for Fight
Bursell Brandshaw Press Photographer of the Year
- Torrell Glinton – Nassau Guardian – Munning Road Vigil
- Eric Rose – BIS – Youth and Culture in The Park A Hit in St. Barnabas
- Eric Rose – BIS – Coverage of E. Clement Bethel Arts Festival
- Elizabeth Bryan – The Eleutheran -The Eleutheran
Cyril Stevenson Award for Outstanding Political Journalism
- Vaughnique Toote – NB12- Minnis on Oban BPC Report
Kenneth Nathaniel Francis Award for Newspaper Design and Composition
- Ayhisha Small-Cleare – The Nassau Guardian
- Vernal Bryan – Volume 11, Issue 9 – The Eleutheran Newspaper
- The Tribune – The Tribune
Leon Turnquest Award for Sports Print Journalism
- Sheldon Longley -The Nassau Guardian – We’ve Come a Long Way in The Men’s 400m
- Sheldon Longley – The Nassau Guardian – Steven, Shaunae shine in Shanghai
- Renaldo Dorsett – 10 Year Seniors – The Legend of Deandre Ayton: Part II
- Renaldo Dorsett – 10 Year Seniors – There Can Only Be One
- Simba French – The Nassau Guardian – A breakdown of The Bahamas’ medals at CARIFTA
- Simba French – The Nassau Guardian – Unstoppable
Leslie Higgs Feature Writer of the Year
- Rogan Smith – The Punch – Now, Let Me Be More Pacific, How To Avoid Getting Catfished In Classified Ads
- Sloan Smith – The Nassau Guardian- We Wanted the Death Penalty
- Cara Hunt – The Tribune – Shaunae Miller and Natajia Miller interviews
- Elizabeth Bryan – The Eleutheran – An Eleutheran Profile: Dorothy Elaine, Neely Rahming
Outstanding Sports Broadcast Journalism
- Randy Smith – Eyewitness news – Johnson Preparing for Fight
- Amajahl Knowles – ZNS – Klay, Mychal Thompson speak about Giving Back
- Anthony White Columnist of the Year
- Inigo ‘Naughty’ Zenicazelaya – A Comic’s View: Dey Can’ Be Serious With This Political BS
- Inigo ‘Naughty’ Zenicazelaya – A Comic’s View: Left In The Dark – Again
- Rogan Smith – All Fun And Jokes Aside, To Beat Or Not To Beat
- Felicity Ingraham – A Blind Love
- Felicity Ingraham – Face to Face
Social Media Award of the Year
- Hadassah Deleveaux – Blog – Over The Hill…The Other Side
- Timothy Bain – 2018 Deandre Ayton NBA Draft Recap
- Ras De’Niro Thompson – YSC PR – Current Affairs Podcast
Student Media Journalism Award
- Kenton Hepburn – UB TV – Sherwood Rahming
- Laurencis Smith – UB TV – Ken Mullings
- Leah Cooper, Andrea Darville, Berthony McDermott, Jade Bethel – UBTV – UB Grad Day
- Ginelle Longley – Eyewitness News – Eyewitness News
Website of the Year
- Rogan Smith – Blog
- Spice Media Group – The Eleutheran
- Eyewitness News
Tickets are $150 per person.
Contact
To learn more, please contact:
Lindsay Thompson
Secretary
242-434-5643
For more about the Bahamas Press Club 2014, visit www.bahamaspressclub.org
Facebook: The Bahamas Press Club 2014
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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