Connect with us

Bahamas News

BAHAMAS: Education – ‘sharp cutlass’ to a brighter future says Minister Campbell

Published

on

#Nassau, August 8, 2019 – Bahamas – Ensuring that the children of The Bahamas are provided with a solid, educational foundation is paramount for the Government of The Bahamas, Minister of Social Services and Urban Development the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell said.

Taking his cue from a sermon preached by Prophetess Shameka Morley, Senior Pastor of Anointed to Reign Kingdom Ministries, Minister Campbell said the government realizes that education is the “sharp cutlass” that is needed to clear a path towards a greater future for Bahamian children everywhere.

“What you are doing today, and what you have done in this community on so many other days, is helping to keep cutlasses sharp; you are helping these young persons by providing them with the relevant tools, with the requisite equipment and supplies heading into the new school year to ensure that they can chop through the weeds of ‘a lack of’ or whatever obstacles that may be in the way of being able to start the new school year off on a positive note.”

Minister Campbell was addressing students, parents and church members attending the second annual Anointed to Reign Kingdom Ministries Back-to-School Jamboree held on the Church’s grounds (Saturday, August 3). Minister Campbell applauded church officials for maintaining the partnership with the Ministry of Social Services and the community it serves.  He was joined at the Jamboree by Mrs. Patricia Minnis, Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister.

“I remember attending a church service here once and saw the Senior Pastor (Prophetess Morley) ascend the pulpit with a cutlass in hand. I was trying to figure out what she was about to do, but quickly realized that she was using the cutlass as a form of symbolism, an allegory to the fact that in order to cut through the weeds, the bushes of the obstacles and challenges of we will face in life, you need a sharp cutlass.

“That symbolism was not lost on me and has stayed with me ever since and so when we think of some of the social ills that are facing us in The Bahamas, we know that one basic thing that is going to help cut through some of those challenges they face is ensuring they use their time in school wisely to get a good education that is being offered. Being able to get a quality education is like that symbolic cutlass. As a community, we need to ensure that our children get the best possible education that they can; as parents, we have to encourage our children to get the best possible education that they can, and you, as children, have to ensure that you take advantage of all of the opportunities to get a well-rounded education.”

Minister Campbell said Saturday’s Jamboree helped to provide the 200 students who received assistance with “no excuses” for showing up for the new school year, and that “The Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development is working towards ensuring that no person in The Bahamas falls through the cracks of not having; that no person in The Bahamas falls through the cracks of not being able to do the basic things and among those basic things, is being able to go to school and get an education.”

Minister Campbell said officials at the Ministry, and indeed the Government of The Bahamas, are looking for the kind of public/private partnerships than will drive the country ‘forward, upward and onward.’

“A partner is somebody who has similar thinking, and is working towards the same goals that you are working towards and with similar expected results or outcomes: It is an awesome pleasure for me to be here because we have found another partner in Anointed to Reign Kingdom Ministries.

“We are most grateful when institutions and entities such as the Church partner with us to ensure that our children get the love and attention they deserve and the tools and opportunities they need to become the best that they can, because the government cannot do it alone,” Minister Campbell said.

By Matt Maura

Release: BIS

Photo Captions:

Header: Ms. Shanrese Bain of Anointed to Reign Kingdom Ministries presents Mrs. Patricia Minnis, Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister, with a bouquet of flowers at the conclusion of Saturday’s opening ceremony.   Mrs. Minnis applauded church officials for the kindness shown to the 200 students who received back-to-school supplies and urged the students to take make full use of the opportunities to get a good education. Also pictured (from left) are: Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell, and Prophetess Shameka Morley, Senior Pastor, Anointed to Reign Kingdom Ministries.   

Insert: Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell gets in on the face painting activities during the second annual Anointed to Reign Kingdom Ministries Back-to-School Jamboree held Saturday (August 3) on the church’s grounds, Golden Isles Road.  The Jamboree catered to 200 students. 

(BIS Photo/Matt Maura)

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