Caribbean News

GROUP LAUNCHES 24-HOUR PRAYER INITIATIVE IN SUPPORT OF THE CARIBBEAN

Published

2 years ago

January 26, 2021

#BARBADOS (January 26, 2021) – A group of concerned Caribbean citizens has launched iPRAY Caribbean, a 24-hour prayer initiative in support of the region. A free livestream is set to take place from Jan. 30 at noon to noon on Jan. 31 (Atlantic Standard Time).

iPRAY Caribbean is encouraging every individual who lives in or loves the Caribbean to join in prayer at any point during the 24-hour period, for any length of time. As the Caribbean grapples with the damaging economic effects of travel restrictions amid the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and grieves the loss of family members and loved ones to COVID-19, the goal of the prayer initiative is to bring peace and healing to every individual and the region at large. “Though the effects of the virus have been horrendous for many, the pandemic has created the greatest opportunity ever for all in the Caribbean to come together as one in prayer,” said Barbadian Errol Griffith, president and founder of The Power Of Choice Inc. and one of the organizers of iPRAY Caribbean. With so many people forced to isolate and do most things remotely because of the pandemic, iPRAY Caribbean offers a chance for connection and fellowship by uniting people across the region and beyond. Persons can choose to pray privately on their own, as families, with friends, work colleagues, team members, prayer groups and others whether in person, on telephones or virtually.

The livestream will be available for anyone to tune into during the entire 24-hour period, but it is not a requirement to participate. People are encouraged to join the initiative in prayer wherever they are, for as long as they are able.

“This Caribbean-wide prayer initiative is also possible because of the large number of persons in the Caribbean who do pray,” added Trinidadian Andy O’Brien, who came up with the initial idea and wrote the official song for the event, entitled “24 Hours”. iPRAY Caribbean’s hope is that people will seek God’s wisdom and guidance in the rebuilding of individual lives, families, communities, institutions and economies in the Caribbean through knowing, hearing and obeying God in every aspect of their lives. “We can recalibrate and rebuild a better Caribbean, and one that is the best that it can possibly be,” Griffith added. “We can together as one with God, turn the greatest challenge faced by the Caribbean since the slave trade, into something for good.”

Another organizer, Dr. Orlando Seale, a pastor and president of the Caribbean Nazarene College, said, “Our Caribbean region has been blessed tremendously by God. We are asking God to ‘heal our land’ – healing that only divine intervention can provide. Domestic abuse, pedophilia, crime and violence have polluted our land. COVID-19 has now made it absolutely critical for us to come together as one voice praying to one God, Jehovah, for our healing.” The organizers of iPRAY Caribbean say they hope everyone who participates will realize their God-given potential, and encourage participants to take some time to reflect in the days leading up to the event. It is suggested that each person ponder the following questions to prepare for the prayer initiative:

What do I wish for the rest of my life?
What do I no longer wish, or not at all wish, for the rest of my life?
What promises am I making to God, myself and others going forward in my life?

For more information or to register, visit www.ipraycaribbean.com or contact info@ipraycaribbean.com.

Related Topics:#magneticmedianews #prayerforcaribbean #prayervigil barbados

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Bahamas News

Work of NAECOB critical in ensuring high standards in education, says Minister Hanna-Martin

Published

3 days ago

March 29, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

By KATHRYN CAMPBELLBahamas Information Services

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.

-30-

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

4th insert: Cassia Minnis, Registration Officer

Bahamas News

Bahamas Golden Jubilee Events Announced, Celebrations Across 33 Islands & Cays

Published

3 days ago

March 29, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

#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.

We are Bahamians. That identity is special.”

View the newly released calendar of events here:

https://celebrate-bahamas.com/calendar-of-events/…

Caribbean News

JAMAICA: 12,362 Seniors Registered Under New Social Pension Programme

Published

3 days ago

March 28, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

#Kingston, March 28, 2023 – There are currently 12,362 seniors registered under the Government’s new Social Pension Programme.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Karl Samuda, made the disclosure during the sitting of the Standing Finance Committee of the House on March 2, at Gordon House.

The initiative targets all Jamaican citizens 75 years and older who are not currently in receipt of a pension (overseas or local) or any other retirement, old-age or disability benefit or regular income, and are not living in a government institutionalised care facility.

“We are evaluating the manner in which we qualify persons to go on the programme. This is a discussion we will have to have, as some people fall through the cracks simply because they might have a refrigerator, or they might be lucky enough to have a television at home,” Mr. Samuda said.

“The direction in which we are heading, to have those things, does not move you from poverty to prosperity. So, the Government has an obligation to do everything possible to improve their quality of life, and so we will be looking at that,” the Minister added.

Mr. Samuda said between March 2022 and January 2023, the programme disbursed $446 million.

To register for the social pension programme, persons may visit any of the Ministry’s parish offices islandwide.

They will be required to complete a social pension application form, accompanied by their Tax Registration Number (TRN), National Insurance Scheme (NIS) card, and proof of age in the form of a birth certificate or a valid passport.

They should also take along a valid identification (ID), such as a driver’s licence, passport or voter’s ID, proof of bank account and any other document that may be required to process the application, for example, proof of citizenship.