#Nassau, The Bahamas – February 19, 2020 — STATEMENT ISSUED FEBRUARY 13 – The Corporation (WSC) can confirm that we have restored normal water supply to our customers in the following settlements on mainland Abaco – Crown Haven, Fox Town, Mount Hope, Wood Cay, Cedar Harbour, Coopers Town, Fire Road, Blackwood, Casaurina, Cherokee, Crossing Rocks and Sandy Point.
File Photo: WSC Staff in October 2019, Abaco
We have experienced some recent challenges with our water supply systems on the islands of Moores Island and Grand Cay and we expect those to be fully rectified in the coming days. The Grand Cay storage tank was destroyed during the hurricane and a contract has been issued for the demolition of that tank and another contract has been issued for a new 125,000 imperial gallon storage tank.
Last week, WSC mobilized a private contractor to assist our team working to complete extensive repairs to our Marsh Harbour distribution system which includes the communities of Marsh Harbour, Spring City, Dundas Town, Murphy Town, Central Pines, Pelican Shores and Eastern Shores. It is expected that these works will continue for the next few months resulting in substantial improvements in the reliability of our Marsh Harbour water supply system.
At the Marsh Harbour pumping station site, WSC will commence major clearance works in the coming days for a new 1,500,000 imperial gallon storage tank that has already been contracted, a new pumping station building and two (2) new solar power fields. New standby generators were also delivered this week for both the new pumping station and another for the wellfields. When completed, our Marsh Harbour pumping station will be our most advanced water pumping station in the Family Islands with sufficient solar capacity to operate our entire wellfield and pumping station along with standby power and BPL power for use when the sunlight is not available.
File Photo, WSC in Abaco post Hurricane Dorian
This week, WSC mobilized a private contractor to assist our team working to complete extensive repairs to our Treasure Cay distribution system which includes the communities of Treasure Cay and Green Turtle Cay. These works are also expected to continue for the next few months. At the Treasure Cay pumping station, a new standby generator has already been installed and this generator is powering our facilities as no BPL power is available at this location as yet.
The storage tank at this facility was destroyed during the storm and demolition works will be starting in the coming days to remove the collapsed tank and tank slab to make room for a new 750,000 imperial gallon tank that already been contracted.
A contract has also been issued for the repair of the Green Turtle Cay storage tank that was damaged during the hurricane.
Rebuilding of W&S infrastructure started in Abaco, WSC photo
Our Treasure Cay commercial office was destroyed during the hurricane and our Board is expected to approve the commencement of a procurement exercise for several building contracts shortly including a new Treasure Cay commercial and operations center, the new pumping station for Marsh Harbour, two (2) solar power equipment buildings and refurbishment of all of our existing buildings on the mainland and cays.
On Sweetings Cay, which is managed as a part of our Abaco operations, the nongovernmental organization (NGO), WaterMission has provided a standby generator and a desalination plant as the complete water production facility on island was destroyed during the hurricane and the distribution system also experienced substantial damage. The generator and desalination plant are operational and providing water for the remaining residents.
Water Mission on the ground in Abaco assisting restoration and rebuild of water infrastructure; WSC photo
WSC is presently exploring an offer from another NGO to assist with the required distribution system improvement works. Notably, WSC has purchased a plant to replace the plant we lost in Sweetings Cay; at present, it is in Grand Bahama awaiting shipment to Sweetings Cay. Detailed Condition Assessment Reports have been completed for our Treasure Cay and Spring City sewerage systems, both of which incurred substantial damage during the passage of the hurricane.
Our Board is presently reviewing options to commence the required sewerage refurbishment works and it is anticipated that a contract award will be made in the coming weeks.
To support our operational and commercial teams, a fleet of new vehicles and required equipment has been procured. Some items have already been shipped to Abaco and additional items will be shipped in the coming days.
To date, WSC has awarded contracts for vehicles, equipment, new facilities, restoration works & services in excess of $8.3 million and we anticipate another several million dollars in contracts will be awarded in the coming weeks. WSC appreciates the understanding, patience and support of our valued customers in the Abacos as we work to rebuild a stronger, more climate resilient water and sewerage infrastrustructural system.
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NASSAU, The Bahamas, March 29, 2023 – Over 100 schools in New Providence, public and private, and some 30 plus schools in Freeport have been inspected by The National Accreditation and Equivalency Council (NAECOB) to ensure high quality standards for the delivery of education.
“We will cover every island, every cay in this country to make certain that the facilities that we send our children to are adequate, conducive for learning, safe and sound for education,” said Thelma Grimes, chairperson, NAECOB.
“We are going to head to Cat Island and all the others before June. This is our announced visit. They [schools] have a chance to get things fixed that are not finished and [afterwards] we will have the unannounced.”
The Council informed the media of its progress during a briefing Monday, March 20, 2023 at its headquarters, Tonique Williams-Darling Highway.
Howard Newbold, Inspector and Council Member explained that the council’s seven inspectors are tasked with visiting every site or virtual space operating the following: primary/secondary schools, private/secondary, post-secondary, recognized, training, allied health and business institutions among others.
Mr. Newbold said inspections include an examination of:
-Safety and security standards -Human security which begins at the entrance to the property’ -Physical security: safety mechanisms including smoke detectors, fire alarms and extinguishers (service date verification, and evacuation plan) -Primary grounds, playground equipment, swing sets and slides -Curriculum -Information management system (student records, staff schedules, registration certificate with NAECOB, business license, photos of the national leaders etc.)
The Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Institute thanked NAECOB for their efforts. She described their work as “critical” and a part of an overall national thrust to ensure that the quality of education in the country is at a high standard.
“We’re the Ministry of Education and they’re our schools. We are accountable to NAECOB. They ensure that what is happening on the campuses throughout the nation meets the physical standards and the qualitative standards of education. You would have heard classroom size and teacher/student ratio. We may have challenges, and we do at the Ministry of Education but when these issues are brought to our attention we are obliged and compelled to seek resolution to ensure that the standards are met.
“This is a quality assurance measure for the Ministry itself and our schools to ensure that public and private and public schools meet these standards. We value that. Because the objective of the Ministry is to ensure that we meet the standards so that our young people who enter these institutions are afforded the best opportunity possible.
“Education is a cultural value; a norm. We submit ourselves to the work of NAECOB to ensuring what happens is done at least to make the acceptable standards of the delivery of education in our schools,” she said.
Cassia Minnis, registration officer, said “registration” certifies that a local educational institution/provider has met the criteria to offer an educational service in The Bahamas as outlined in the Education Act. She said it is mandatory that all educational institutions/provider offering/proposing to offer an educational service in the Bahamas must be registered according to the NAECOB Act and the Education Act.
She said NAECOB is aware of “small” schools operating within residential homes and warned that this is in contravention of the law.
She encouraged the public to view listings of all registered institutions on the website at naecob.org
NAECOB is responsible for registering and accrediting primary schools, secondary schools, post-secondary schools, and any institution that offers training in The Bahamas.
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PHOTO CAPTIONS
BIS Photos/Mark Ford
Header: Seated at the table, from left: – Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary; Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin; Dominique McCartney Russell, Acting Director; Cassia Minnis, Registration Officer; Thelma Grimes, Council Chairperson; Howard Newbold, Inspector, Council Member; Shena Williams, Council and Inspector; Dorothy Anderson, Inspector; T. Nicola McKay, Deputy Chairperson; (seated behind) Willard Barr, Council and Inspector.
1st insert: Thelma Grimes, Council Chairperson
2nd insert: Howard Newbold, Inspector and Council Member
3rd insert: The Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training
#TheBahamas, March 27, 2023 – As the 50th anniversary of our nation’s independence approaches, Bahamians everywhere are teeming with excitement and expectancy around the year-long celebrations set by The National Independence Secretariat.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister joined H.E Leslia Miller Brice, Chair of The National Independence Secretariat to unveil the Calendar of Events for the 50th Independence celebrations.
The calendar comprises a host of events, initiatives and recommendations for celebrations throughout all 33 islands of The Bahamas.
At this jubilant occasion the PM stated, “Celebrating independence is about acknowledging the greatness around us, the greatness within us, and the greatness ahead of us.
#TheBahamas, March 27, 2023 – Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors dominated the Bahamas at home, at the Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, for the 2022/2023 Concacaf Nations League on Friday, with a 3-0 victory.
The Soca Warriors struck their first blow within the first 5 minutes of the game, with Kareem Moses making the first shot in the top left corner of the net giving T&T one to the Bahamas’ zero (1-0).
Soon after, in about 26 minutes, they made another shot giving them 2-0 away from home; the scorer Joevin Jones. By the 34th minute mark, the winning goal was made by Ryan Telfer, T&T now at three.
Neither team scored any additional goals as the match progressed despite attempts made by various players.
Trinidad’s win gives them 12 points through five matches. Next match for the Soca Warriors is against Nicaragua; that clash is set for Monday March 27 (at home in Tobago at the Dwight Yorke Stadium), in a tussle of winner-take-all on the final match day. The victor takes home a promotion to League A and a spot in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup.
Angus Eve, T&T’s head coach expressed that the job is only half done, keeping aware that more challenges are coming their way, one of which is the nearing match against Nicaragua who is one point ahead of the Warriors.
Meanwhile, The Bahamas will journey to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with hopes of emerging victorious there.