Bahamas News
Israeli Government Partners with NEMA to Provide Portable Drinking Water for Grand Bahama
#Freeport, GB, October 9, 2019 – Bahamas – The Israeli Government, in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has donated water purification equipment to the island of Grand Bahama, which will provide residents with potable drinking water, following the passing of Hurricane Dorian.
During an official handing over ceremony at the C. A. Smith Complex on Sunday, October 6, 2019, Senate President and Coordinator of NEMA in Grand Bahama, Senator Kay Forbes-Smith thanked the State of Israel and the Israeli National Water Authority for their generous gift to the people of Grand Bahama.
“On behalf of the Prime Minister, the Government and the people of The Bahamas, we are grateful for the generosity of the Government of the State of Israel and of MASHAV, Israel’s Aid Agency (Government body) of international development and cooperation,” said Senator Smith.
“We are also thankful for the efforts of IsraAID for their tireless work in Grand Bahama to set up this unique water storage and distribution system. Today, we are opening the first system to go on line at the Pineridge Urban Renewal Center, which will serve the Pineridge neighbourhood and the surrounding areas.”
Senator Smith noted that by next week, IsraAID, Israel’s implementing partner for the project will work with NEMA to launch two other water stations on Grand Bahama, specifically at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Pinder’s Point and at the Central Zion Baptist Church in Eight Mile Rock.
Experts from the Israeli Water Authority are also providing detailed training for NEMA staff, to ensure that the three systems will provide clean drinking water to thousands of Grand Bahama residents now and if needed, for any future water outage or emergencies.
“Let me just say that this is such a wonderful effort from the Israeli Government, because not only are they installing the water systems for now, they plan to leave the equipment here for us,” added Senator Smith.
“That is an important aspect of all of this. What it means is that we have to take care of it. We have to store it properly and continue to train people on how to use it. We should not vandalize it and we should really accept it as a gift and a blessing.
“We are also very appreciative of the support that will be provided by the experts from Israeli’s National Water Authority, who have arrived on Grand Bahama to assist with the immediate needs. Soon, other experts from Israel will arrive on the island to assist with the long-term processes.”
Political Counsellor at the Embassy of Israel, Nadav Goren says the Government of the State of Israel, through its Agency for International Development Cooperation, MASHAV, aims to carry its humanitarian responsibilities wherever and whenever disaster strikes.
“When Hurricane Dorian hit The Bahamas in unprecedented strength, we felt obliged to take action for the well-being of its citizens,” Mr. Goren told those gathered for the handing over ceremony.
“As you all know, the hurricane led to the contamination of existing water reservoirs with salt water, which has caused severe water shortages throughout the country. The assistance program which we are inaugurating today is aimed at bridging that gap and providing potable water to Grand Bahama for those in need, up until the relevant authorities can restore the necessary water services.”
The Israeli Political Counsellor explained that their humanitarian assistance model is based upon the National Emergency plan of the Israeli Water Authority and draws upon Israel’s accumulated experience in dealing with emergency situations.
“Therefore, we are setting up an emergency water distribution operation that will reach a maximum amount of people in minimal time,” Mr. Goren added.
“In order to achieve this goal, we have shipped special Israeli designed equipment, which includes: water containment tanks, mobile distribution tanks and approximately 20,000 reusable personal water containers.
“This project is based on a true partnership. Hand in hand with NEMA, we will promote skill building, which in turn will ensure sustainability. This emergency relief operation would not be effective without the close cooperation of the Government of The Bahamas, in particular, the National Emergency Management Agency, under the leadership of Senator Kay Forbes-Smith.
“This is just another manifestation of the close friendship between our two nations. I would like to express the commitment of the State of Israel to the people of the Bahamas – we empathize with your suffering and commend your resilience. We will strive to improve your current water shortages through immediate relief efforts and hope this will also be used for contingency planning if, God forbid, disaster should ever strike again.”
Senator Smith thanked IsraAID for its tireless work in installing the systems and ensuring that local volunteers were trained to operate the water system. She said it was invaluable to have the additional expertise on the ground to help expedite the recovery of the island’s water system.
“Let me personally thank you Mr. Goren for coming to our island and please extend my gratitude to the State of Israel on behalf of the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the Government of The Bahamas and certainly the people of The Bahamas, for the kindness and generosity shown to the people of Grand Bahama and to all our residents and citizens of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas,” concluded Senator Smith.
By: Andrew Coakley
Release: BIS
Photo Captions:
Header: National Emergency Management Agency Coordinator in Grand Bahama, Senator Kay Forbes-Smith (left) accepts one of the containers of drinking water from Nadav Goren, Political Counsellor at the Embassy of Israel at the handover ceremony of the Israeli Water Assistance Mission to The Bahamas’ project at the C.A. Smith headquarters in Freeport Grand Bahama, Sunday, October 6, 2019. The Israeli Government, in partnership with NEMA, is donating water purification equipment to be setup in Grand Bahama providing residents with potable drinking water after the passing of Hurricane Dorian which contaminated the island’s water table.
Insert: Senator Kay Forbes-Smith, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Grand Bahama coordinator, speaks at the handover ceremony of the Israeli Water Assistance Mission to The Bahamas’ project at the C.A. Smith headquarters in Freeport Grand Bahama, Sunday, October 6, 2019. The Israeli Government, in partnership with NEMA, is donating water purification equipment to be setup in Grand Bahama providing residents with potable drinking water after the passing of Hurricane Dorian which contaminated the island’s water table.
(Photos by Tim Aylen)
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
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.
