#Abaco,
The Bahamas – September 1, 2020
— They floated almost angelically; the beautiful blossoms tossed onto the
waters buffeting the shores of Great Abaco. Beneath the clear ocean which
carried wreaths away from the still battered wooden dock and the people who
lined the shore, is evidence that something horrible happened here.
The
broken, barnacle-covered debris beneath, and flowers floating above created a dramatic image
– eerily symbolic of the gravity of the moment.
From cell phone video posted on Facebook
What
Abaco had endured, what the islanders have overcome and what was painfully wrenched
from the people on September 1, 2019 when Hurricane Dorian hit.
Wreaths
were today given to the very same waters which have taken so much… still it is
where countless loved ones spent their final minutes fighting for their lives
and where those left to mourn found it most fitting to say a more formal
farewell.
A
solemn ceremony was held at Friendship Tabernacle in Marsh Harbour on this
September morning; with dignitaries including local government officials,
Members of Parliament and Hon Darren Henfield, Minister of Foreign Affairs who
represented the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, all attending.
Messages
to the diverse attendees, according to prominent media businessman, pastor and
community leader, Silbert Mills were: “Uplifting,
encouraging, inspiring…”
Rev.
Mills shared, Abaconians were mindful of COVID-19 social distancing protocols
as they filed into the church; and he was pleased with the unity and comforting
tone of the service… some were quiet, he said, others sobbed and yet more were thankful,
somehow.
From cell phone video posted to Facebook, September 1, 2020
It
has been one year since Hurricane Dorian brought harrowing conditions which led
to a still untallied death toll.
“We
still do not know how many of our Haitian brothers and sisters were lost in the
hurricane,” explained Rev. Mills in our phone interview earlier today.
The
Royal Bahamas Police and Royal Bahamas Defence Forces brought nobility to the thanksgiving
service; participating most memorably in the finale wreath laying ceremony held
at the water’s edge.
The island’s capital, Marsh Harbour was crushed under the weight and devoured in the fierceness of Hurricane Dorian – strongest Atlantic Hurricane in modern history, which sat for three days over Abaco and Grand Bahama in the northern Bahamas.
Today, power is restored, internet services
are available, reconstruction is underway and temporary housing is embraced.
“Oh
the dome homes are complete and fully occupied; in fact new dome homes are
being built on properties as people work to repair what was structurally lost,”
updated Rev. Mills.
Government provided dome housing, post Hurricane Dorian
There
is dignity.
As wreaths were laid; the quiet singing of a well-worn gospel hymn of perseverance.
“…Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to knowa It is well, it is well, with my soul.”
Residents are at 5 p.m. called to line the shores from Marsh Harbour to Murphy Town for a drone fly-by in memory of Abaco’s darkest day.
Magnetic Media is a Telly Award winning multi-media company specializing in creating compelling and socially uplifting TV and Radio broadcast programming as a means for advertising and public relations exposure for its clients.
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.