The Bahamas, November 13, 2026 – More than 600 people will sit down along the Western Esplanade on Saturday for community event The Longest Table – and as diners take the place, they will find their tables adorned by handprints from the children of Blairwood Academy.

The idea behind The Longest Table – which is being held under the patronage of the Governor General, Dame Cynthia Pratt – was to bring together the community of The Bahamas – and with community being one of the central beliefs of Blairwood Academy, it made for a perfect partnership.

The handprints – in the colours of The Bahamas – are on a runner that will stretch along the full length of the table, which will stretch for more than 700 feet.

The Longest Table is about more than sharing a meal. It’s an evening built around connection, conversation and the experience of being part of something unique. It will see hundreds of people join together as the sun goes down for a moment of unity.

For Blairwood Academy, that unity was a key part of becoming involved.

“It’s all about school and community working together,” said Shemeca Moss, the academy’s director.

Under her guidance, the children decorated table runners with their handprints in Bahamian colours, adding a personal touch to Saturday’s waterfront gathering.

Shemeca said the children truly enjoyed participating, especially the little ones who were excited to see their own handprints.

As hundreds of Bahamians gather around one long table this Saturday, these colourful creations will serve as a reminder of what The Longest Table is all about, community, connection and unity.

Blairwood Academy is a specialised school in Nassau for children with dyslexia, ADHD, autism and other learning differences. It has been a pioneer in improving the lives of children and advancing standards in education, and organisers wanted to include the school to highlight their work for the benefit of the community.

The Longest Table is an event that has been hosted around the world – but this is a first for The Bahamas. It will see the table divided into groups – each headed by a table captain – with each group bringing its own food and any extra decorations, but ultimately joining in one long table to dine together.

“We wanted to bring people together and this event is ideal – it is not about taking sides with anything, it is simply being together as a community,” said Paula Welch, of Diane Phillips & Associates, which is organising the event alongside John Watling’s Distillery.

“We have been genuinely touched by all those who have supported the event – with helping hands from Baha Mar, which has provided the tables and chairs, the Governor General’s staff, the police for ensuring security, the Bahamas Parks and Beaches Authority, Bahamas Waste, and so many more. And nothing shows those helping hands more than the handprints of the children from Blairwood Academy.”

Pepin Argamasilla, co-founder of John Watling’s Distillery, said: “We wanted to bring The Longest Table to Nassau because it truly is something that brings people together. At John Watling’s, we love to encourage partnerships and togetherness because that is how we all help one another. This will be a chance for people to sit down as a community. It will be a moment of history – and an event we hope will return and grow.”

There was a high demand for tickets for the event, which is free – and booking has now closed. Dining begins at 5.15pm on Saturday.

DEAR EDITOR,

Sometimes the best ideas come from experiences far away from home.

It was while I was living in Europe that I saw how excited people were about England’s iconic double-decker buses. It was a symbol of culture – and visitors looked forward to the ride as an experience in itself rather than just a method of transportation.

That sparked a thought: What if we brought that same excitement to The Bahamas, but made it uniquely Bahamian?

In November 2024, that thought became 2 Storeys Tours. I wanted visitors to see Nassau in a way they had not been able to before. That meant they could come straight off a cruise ship and onto a double-decker to see what makes our country what it is – to see our beautiful waters and to discover what makes us Bahamian.

We wanted to create something memorable, something visitors would associate with their Bahamian vacation, just as people associate double-decker buses with England.

The bus may catch your attention, but The Bahamas is what makes the experience unforgettable.

We also believe tourism should create opportunities for Bahamians.

We started less than five years ago with one very used double decker bus.

Now thanks to cruise ship business, we have quadrupled the size of our little fleet. We now have four shiny new red and blue buses, so we can say Welcome Ashore in style.

Depending on the season, between 70 and 80 percent of our business is cruise-passenger driven. Even during the slower season for hotels, the cruise ships arrive filled with people looking to explore historic Nassau and we are giving them the closest to a bird’s eye view as they can get. And they love it.

Turning an idea into a functioning business has been an exciting journey, but certainly not without challenges. From planning and preparation to finally seeing our buses on the road, the experience has taught us patience, perseverance, and the importance of believing in a vision.

We are proud of how far we’ve come, and even more excited about what lies ahead.

Building partnerships helped us to get to where we are today – building them further will take us to where we can reach tomorrow.

Our ambition is to make 2 Storeys Tours a recognised and trusted name in Bahamian tourism. We want to continue improving our tours, developing new experiences, embracing environmentally responsible tourism, and building meaningful relationships – and eventually take the 2 Storeys Tours experience beyond Nassau to other islands.

Above all, we want to build something that lasts.

Looking back, it’s incredible to think that an observation while living in Europe could lead to a business right here at home.

What began as an idea became a business with a purpose, and we’re only getting started.

Our inspiration came from abroad. Our passion comes from home. And our future is proudly Bahamian.

By: KEEVON MAYNARD

President, 2 Storeys Tours

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.