Bahamas News
Minister Rolle Shares a Taste of Bahamian Culture at Forum in Dubai
#DUBAI, November 30, 2018 – UAE – Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Lanisha Rolle gave a brief taste of the topic of Bahamian culture to the delegates and distinguished guests in attendance at the First United Arab Emirates Caribbean Cooperation Forum, in the city of Dubai, on November 24, 2018.
“Excellencies, this event is not only timely but visionary,” Minister Rolle noted. “As the world transforms from the status of national states to a global village, each country’s culture above all is being impacted predominantly by the advancement of technology, and the desire of nations to work in unity to enhance our relationships, and build better nations for our people to work and our children to grow and play.”
“Indeed, it is essential that while we recognize all that we have in common, it is equally important that we preserve our individual cultures,” she added. “With this backdrop, I will attempt to share succinctly yet informatively with respect to the multiple facets of the Bahamian culture, in particular, our prominent industries, music, arts, cuisine, customary practices and religion as well as note factors that impact cultural trends and transformation.”
Minister Rolle also thanked the organizers for their invitation, warm hospitality, and for the opportunity to share with on the topic. She pointed out that it would be it would be remiss of her if she were not to boast of the thing that all Bahamians say, ‘identify us’ and brings everyone together: Junkanoo.
Minister Rolle began by giving a brief talk on Junkanoo and termed it “The Bahamas’ premier cultural festival”.
“The Junkanoo Parade is a collection of cultural expressions inclusive of fine arts, native music and the work of local artists,” she noted during her talk. “Every aspect of the parade is unique, from the creation of giant 30-foot costumes made from local card board and crepe paper, to the manufacturing of drums made from goat-skin harvested on our very islands, to the unique Afro-Caribbean dance and sounds that create a spirit that inspires Bahamian pride and an atmosphere of jubilance.
“Notably, the festival unites a cross-section of people from varying economic statuses, demographics and religious backgrounds. Junkanoo only speaks one language for the people of The Bahamas, and that’s ‘We Bahamian and Proud’.”
Minister Rolle pointed out that, worthy of mention, was the industry’s efforts to include Bahamian youth in the rich cultural experience.
“As a part of our strategic cultural succession plan, for 30 years we have developed a Junior Junkanoo Program as a feeder system and strategic tool to educate our school children regarding the value of our heritage and the culture of our ancestors,” she said.
She then gave a brief introduction to “good island food”, saying that The Bahamas is also known for its rich cuisine inclusive of the delicacies of native conch, lobster and fish, all organically grown in its waters.
“Our professional chefs and local house cooks have developed a rich combination of spices and unique food handling and preparation techniques; in addition to mouth-watering flavours that leave our natives and visitors alike returning for more,” Minister Rolle said. “While there are fast food restaurants mainly in the capital city of Nassau, there is a love for morning boil and stew fish with warm freshly-baked johnny bread, the famous conch burgers, cracked conch or famous ‘chicken-in-da-bag’ for lunch, and conch salad or fritters for appetizers, and our scrumptious green peas and rice, fresh fried grouper or snapper fish, broiled crawfish or lobster for dinner, and a variety of native fruit drinks such as the coconut sky-juice.”
She pointed out that it was customary to eat at least three meals per day, and prepare great feasts during Christmas holidays, and a spread for adult birthday celebrations. Indicative of the Caribbean and Latin American countries, foods prepared in The Bahamas are normally seasoned and spicy, she added.
“Demonstrating our ability to attain excellence in culinary arts, this year, The Bahamas National Culinary Team was selected as the region’s best in the ‘Taste of the Caribbean Competition’,” she said. “Indeed, this achievement speaks to the high standard of food preparation practiced within our jurisdiction to the satisfaction of the world.”
Minister Rolle stated that freedom of religion is a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution of The Bahamas and that citizens, visitors and residents are free to exercise their religious belief.
“Sports and developing professional athletes also play a significant role in our Bahamian culture,” she said. “Education is also a most important aspect of our culture and thus pre, primary and secondary education is provided free of charge.”
Minister Rolle noted that some forces that influence Bahamian cultural platform include climate change, irregular migration and poaching.
“While we recognize that these problems are not unique to The Bahamas, we appreciate the need for countries to work collaboratively to ensure the preservation of our cultural identity,” she said.
“Transformation of our cultural industry requires the development of facilities such as a Local Performing Arts Theatre and a state-of-the-art Music Recording Studio,” Minister Rolle added. “A formalized cultural education curriculum would also ensure the necessary further development of our cultural values and initiatives.”
Minister Rolle quoted Marcus Garvey, whom she termed a well-known Caribbean Politician, by saying, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
“Fellow Delegates, ironically and quite significantly, my Ministry’s theme for our 2018 National Cultural Month in December is: ‘The Root, The Tree, The Fruit’, a theme which speaks holistically to the essence of our Bahamian/Caribbean Culture,” she said. “On that note, on behalf of the Government of The Bahamas and in my capacity as the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, I wish to congratulate this honourable body on a successful cooperative forum, and look forward to the fruits that will bear from the seeds planted during this inaugural conference.
“I thank you once again for allowing The Bahamas to be a part of this ground-breaking experience and wish your country every success.”
Bahamas News
Federal Investigation into Florida Turnpike Tragedy that Killed Three Children of Bahamian Mother
NTSB examining roadside assistance driver’s actions, SUV speed and seat belt use after six people perish in fiery collision
ORLANDO, FLORIDA — October 29, 2026 — Federal investigators have joined the investigation into a horrific Florida Turnpike collision that claimed six lives, including all three children of a Bahamian mother, as questions intensify over what caused the deadly crash.
The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has confirmed that it is opening an investigation into the October 23 accident, which occurred around 9:31 p.m. near mile marker 252 in Orange County.
The agency’s involvement brings federal scrutiny to a tragedy that has devastated several families and prompted an extraordinary
outpouring of sympathy and disbelief.
Among those killed were siblings Charles Milton, Jakara Milton and Dalvena Green, the three adult children of Marshall Clarke-Milton and her husband, Charles Milton Sr.
The siblings were traveling with three others to Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, reportedly on their first trip together.
They never arrived.
FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS EXAMINE WHAT WENT WRONG
The NTSB confirmed to FOX 35 Orlando that its investigation will examine the training and performance of the roadside assistance driver, the actions of the SUV driver, including speed, and whether the occupants were wearing seat belts.
The agency investigates serious transportation accidents to identify safety failures and recommend measures that could prevent similar tragedies.
Its involvement does not establish wrongdoing by either driver.
The Florida Highway Patrol is conducting a separate investigation into the collision.
According to the preliminary police account, a Road Ranger roadside assistance truck had been parked in the highway median before its driver received instructions to assist a disabled box truck on the opposite shoulder.
As the Road Ranger moved across the northbound lanes, it collided with a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse carrying six adults.
Both vehicles left the roadway and caught fire.
All six occupants of the SUV died at the scene. The Road Ranger driver survived with minor injuries.
MOTHER CHALLENGES EARLY ACCOUNT
Witnesses reportedly told investigators that the SUV was traveling at high speed without its headlights illuminated.
However, those observations have not been established as the definitive cause of the collision.
Clarke-Milton has challenged suggestions that her children or their companions were responsible, urging investigators to examine the evidence before reaching conclusions.
She wants investigators to establish the SUV’s actual speed and determine whether its headlights were operating.
The family’s concerns underscore the importance of the continuing investigations, particularly given the movement of the roadside assistance vehicle across active highway lanes.
ALL THREE CHILDREN LOST
For Clarke-Milton, the investigation unfolds against an almost incomprehensible personal tragedy.
She lost all three of her children simultaneously.
In an emotional interview with FOX 35 Orlando, the grieving mother described the terrible feeling that overcame her when she could not reach them.
“My heart sank,” she said, recalling the moment she feared her children were involved.
The siblings were among six people whose lives ended during what should have been an enjoyable evening together.
The other victims included Timothy Williams and Shawn Palmer. A sixth person’s identity had not been publicly confirmed in the latest reports reviewed.
The family’s heartbreak has resonated across The Bahamas and beyond, with expressions of sympathy accompanying calls for answers.
SEARCH FOR ANSWERS CONTINUES
The Florida Highway Patrol has indicated that a crash report is expected within approximately ten days of the accident.
The NTSB’s investigation will examine broader transportation safety concerns, including the operation of roadside assistance vehicles and the circumstances surrounding the collision.
For the grieving families, the findings cannot reverse the tragedy.
But they may establish what happened on that stretch of Florida’s Turnpike and whether anything could have prevented six people from losing their lives.
For one Bahamian mother, the loss is especially devastating.
Three children left for an evening of entertainment. Not one came home.
Nassau, The Bahamas, October 22, 2026 — The National Computer Incident Response Team of The Bahamas (CIRT-BS) has issued a cybersecurity advisory warning businesses, government institutions and other organisations about the growing threat posed by Akira ransomware, a cybercriminal operation capable of stealing sensitive information, disrupting networks and demanding ransom payments.
Active since March 2023, Akira operates through a Ransomware-as-a-Service model, with affiliates exploiting weaknesses in computer networks to gain unauthorised access.
Once inside, attackers can steal confidential data, disable recovery systems and encrypt files, preventing organisations from accessing critical information.
Particularly concerning is Akira’s use of double extortion, threatening to publish stolen information unless victims pay. Some attacks involve data theft without encryption.
The October 22 advisory identifies vulnerabilities involving Cisco and SonicWall firewalls, VPN services, Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol, Veeam backup systems and outdated Windows and Linux operating systems. VMware ESXi and Nutanix AHV environments are also potential targets.
Attackers may exploit unpatched software, stolen login credentials and inadequately secured remote-access applications, including AnyDesk and RustDesk.
Warning signs include unexpected administrator accounts, unusual remote logins, unauthorised software installations, suspicious backup activity, mass file changes and ransom notes.
CIRT-BS recommends immediate security updates, multifactor authentication, restricted remote access, stronger network monitoring and secure backups maintained separately from operational systems.
Organisations should also remove unnecessary internet exposure of remote desktop services, limit administrative privileges and regularly test backup restoration.
The advisory does not identify any confirmed Akira attack against a Bahamian organisation but highlights vulnerabilities that could expose institutions to serious financial and operational disruption.
Cybersecurity incidents can be reported to CIRT-BS at soc@cirt.bs or through its official website.
NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Bahamas’ Minister of Energy, Utilities and Aviation, The Honourable JoBeth Coleby-Davis, delivered an
electrifying address during the opening ceremony of the 2026 CARILEC Resilient/Renewable Energy Community (CAREC) Conference and Exhibition, being held October 18–22, 2026, at the British Colonial Hotel in Nassau, The Bahamas.
Under the theme “Empowering Progress: Strategic Policy and Planning for the Energy Transition,” the event draws more than 200 industry leaders, policymakers, regulators, and energy professionals committed to advancing practical strategies for sustainable and reliable Caribbean power systems through renewable energy and emerging technologies.
During her address, titled “The New Energy Era: Transforming Policy into Progress,” Minister Coleby-Davis reminded attendees that The Bahamas’ national motto, “Forward, Upward, Onward, Together,” aptly describes what the region’s energy transition demands.
“Empowering Progress speaks directly to our national motto. Not waiting for progress, but creating the conditions that allow progress to
happen. Meaningful progress, however, does not occur by accident. It requires vision, sound policy, strategic planning, strong institutions, and the determination to turn decisions into results,” said Minister Coleby-Davis.
Participants acknowledged that small island developing states share similar pressures, compounded by geographical challenges, small electricity markets, ageing infrastructure, geopolitical influences, and the growing threat of severe weather.
Tasked with ushering in a new energy era across the islands while addressing the challenges posed by The Bahamas’ unique archipelagic composition, Minister Coleby-Davis said, “Every island needs a different answer, but the same logic. As an archipelagic nation, we must provide electricity across many islands, each with its own demand and infrastructure needs. Our strategy, therefore, must be national in direction, but responsive to individual communities.”
Restating her Ministry’s three core messages—that energy is an economic and security priority, technology must be viewed as a tool to
support strong institutional leadership, and natural gas should be considered a bridge, not a destination—Minister Coleby-Davis reiterated that “progress must now be reflected in functioning infrastructure, effective institutions, and better electricity services: from policy commitments to coordinated implementation, and from fragmented investment decisions to long-term planning.”
Organised by CARILEC and co-hosted by Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) and Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC), the annual Conference and Exhibition brings together the Caribbean energy community to advance practical solutions to the region’s most pressing energy challenges and accelerate progress towards more resilient, reliable, and sustainable power systems.
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