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Anita Doherty Our Warrior

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By Deandrea Hamilton & Dana Malcolm

Editorial Staff

 

#TheBahamas, March 31, 2022 – It takes true determination to master one sport but in true ‘Mrs D’  fashion Anita Doherty mastered five, and then went on to become a legendary educator and pacesetting philanthropist.

Anita started out as De Gregory.  Part of a fabulous close-knit clan.  Later she would become Doherty (thanks to her husband) or ‘Mrs D’ as she was fondly called, revered for touching the lives of thousands of people.

“Anita Doherty committed her life to service; to teaching, to educating our youth, guiding and directing a generation that will be forever grateful.

She had the strength of character molded on the principles of hard work and determination. She was nobody’s fool, and was resolute in her convictions. These were among her qualities that quantified her leadership in the classroom, in the conduct of her civic duties and in her sports prowess.

Arguably, Anita Doherty was among the greatest Bahamian female athletes. From track and field to tennis, she had mastered. Her achievements were high and her performance stellar,” said Hon Obie Wilchcombe, Minister of Social Development and Member of Parliament for West End & Bimini.

Little known fact, Anita Louise Doherty was born in 1949 in Nassau, New Providence but she was a West End girl to the bone.  Her history reports that at the age of five years old, Anita moved to the capital of Grand Bahama just as the island was coming  into its own, a hayday which her family would be intricately a part of through business, sports and politics.

Wallace Groves, an American investor, around the same time little Anita moved into Grand Bahama would begin development on a lumber project which mushroomed to a multi-million dollar lumber industry and led to the population of Grand Bahama and establishment of Freeport.

While education was available in her home, Anita was afforded an education abroad.  She attended Hampton, a boarding school in Jamaica.  This is where her love of sports was cultivated.  From 1960 to 1967 she dominated the Jamaican Hockey and Tennis scenes taking both the Under 16 and Under 18 girls tennis championship titles.

After leaving Jamaica she entered Ulster College of Physical Education in Northern Ireland where she continued her sporting career representing her college in Under 21 Netball Tournaments and Track and Field.

In 1970, Anita officially started what would be a four decades long teaching career.  She entered the noblest of professions while still honing her sporting talent. She took her penchant for mastering multiple sports to the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh Scotland in 1970 where she represented The Bahamas in the Pentathlon.

At the time, she was also teaching at Hawksbill All Age School in Grand Bahama; later the Ministry of Education would shift her to Nassau and the D.W. Davis High School where she would tack on four more years.

Next stop for the tough-love-styled teacher would prove her most enduring; she spent 38-years as a Warrior.  Initially as a P.E. teacher, advancing to Vice-Principal and then to Principal of the school.

“She was a fierce warrior in the truest sense of the word! A former athlete, Educator, Vice Principal and Principal of Bishop Michael Eldon School, her dedication to Education and Athletics impacted the lives of the numerous students she taught, coached and mentored during her stellar 38-year career.

As a proud warrior and Freeport Anglican High School Alumna, I have beautiful memories of my former PE teacher and Educator. I was fortunate to witness her passion for young people firsthand.

Mrs. Doherty left an indelible mark on Grand Bahama, and she will be missed,” said Hon Ginger Moxey, Minister for Grand Bahama and a 1991 graduate of Freeport Anglican High School.

For 38-years, Mrs. D would shepherd youngsters at Freeport High which became Freeport Anglican High which today is called the Bishop Michael Eldon School, an Anglican Central Education Authority run institution.

Among her students, Deandrea Hamilton, CEO of Magnetic Media.  On learning of Mrs. D’s death, Deandrea penned her own tribute, which is posted at Magnetic Media Fanpage on Facebook and at MagneticMediaTV.com, the company’s website.

Anita Doherty was a wife to John Sr, a mother to John John (Jr) and two grand-children.  She was a sister, auntie, cousin, friend, icon, community leader and a member and former governor of Pilot Club International.

“A legend has taken her heavenly wings. Our sincere condolences to the Doherty family, our Pilot family and countless friends and students around the world, who knew and loved  our dear Pilot Anita,” said Karen Ferguson-Bain, Governor, Bahamas District Pilot International.

Doherty was recognized by the Government at a 25th Silver Anniversary Banquet in July, 1998 and by Zonta Club of Nassau Women ‘Living Legends in November, 1998. She was also inducted into the Grand Bahama Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and The Bahamas Hall of Fame in 2011. In 2014 she was honoured by the Kamalamee Organization.

Never one to keep her talent to herself, Mrs. D has been involved in community activities as Director – YMCA Keep Fit, President – Bahamas Netball Association, Secretary – Grand Bahama Softball Association and Treasurer – InterScholastic Sports.

She served as President of The Grand Bahama Tennis & Squash Club, President of The Grand Bahama Athletic Association, Vice President of The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations and Secretary of the COED Pilot International.

Anita Doherty ascended to the highest seat as Chief Councilor, which is equivalent to being the mayor of the City of Freeport in Grand Bahama.

She has also been a Wall of Fame honouree at Hampton Girls School, Jamaica where daily she continued to share devotions with the alma mater, just as she did with members of her family and her church.

It was that confirming evidence that until the end, Anita Doherty, was dedicated to being an inspiration and committed to helping to usher people to their fullest potential; that she was a woman of great faith in God and His handiwork.

There would be no sudden pass for Anita.  It was a gradual walk, a trot maybe across that finish line of life… unresponsive at first, then fearlessly with a bit of preparation for those who loved her most, she slipped away.  Gone, but always to be remembered.

Anita Doherty died on Monday March 28 at the age of 73; her funeral is announced for Freeport, Grand Bahama, Saturday April 9, 2022 at the Christ the King Pro Cathedral at 10am.

 

Bahamas News

Next U.S. Ambassador?  Walker Pledges Business-Driven Approach as U.S. Looks to Counter China in The Bahamas

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

The Bahamas, September 16, 2025 – For the first time since 2011, the United States is on the cusp of sending an ambassador to The Bahamas — and the nominee, former football star turned entrepreneur Herschel Walker, is promising to bring his business instincts to the diplomatic table.

Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week, Walker underscored that his background in food-service companies and small business leadership has prepared him to think practically about investment. “I know how to run a business, how to create jobs, how to make payroll. Those lessons translate into building relationships and building trust,” Walker said.

Walker, who was nominated by President Trump in December 2024, faced the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 11. As of now, he has not yet been confirmed; his nomination remains under review, pending a committee vote before it can move to the full Senate. If approved, he would become the first U.S. ambassador to The Bahamas since 2011.

For years, U.S. officials have stressed security and counternarcotics cooperation with The Bahamas, including through “Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos.” But in areas like infrastructure, medical care, and long-term investment, Washington has often been absent.

Hospitals and clinics remain under-resourced, and hurricane recovery has been slow in many islands. Chinese state-backed firms, by contrast, have shown up with financing packages and construction deals — a presence that has raised alarms on Capitol Hill.

“Only 50 miles off our shore, The Bahamas is too important for us to ignore,” warned Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders during Walker’s hearing. They called China’s inroads “strategic, not charitable,” suggesting Beijing’s long game is about ports, proximity, and political leverage.

Walker positioned himself as a nontraditional but pragmatic envoy. He argued that his business career, rooted in private sector success, equips him to champion American investment in The Bahamas.

He pledged to:

  • Promote U.S. companies interested in medical and infrastructure projects.
  • Support an environment that encourages American investors to see The Bahamas as more than just a beach destination.
  • Highlight opportunities for partnerships that improve public services, healthcare, and resilience against hurricanes.

“I’ve built businesses. I know what it takes to attract investors and create opportunity. That is exactly what I intend to bring to our relationship with The Bahamas,” Walker said.

The Bahamas is not just a tourist paradise. It’s a frontline state in migration, drug interdiction, and hurricane response. More than six million U.S. visitors travel there annually, making stability and safety a U.S. domestic concern as much as a foreign policy one.

And yet, with the ambassador post vacant for 14 years, the U.S. has often looked detached — opening space for China’s ambitious Belt and Road agenda. The fear is that infrastructure deals signed today could give Beijing leverage in the region tomorrow.                                                                                                                                                                                                                Walker’s confirmation would symbolize a course correction, signaling Washington’s intent to re-engage not only in security but in the economic future of The Bahamas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Not everyone is convinced Herschel Walker is the right man for the job. His nomination revived controversies from his 2022 Senate run, including past allegations, public gaffes, and doubts about whether he has the diplomatic polish the post demands. Some senators and analysts questioned whether celebrity and business experience were enough for a role requiring nuance in foreign policy and geopolitics.

Critics argued that The Bahamas, sitting just 50 miles from Florida and facing intense Chinese interest, deserves a seasoned diplomat rather than a political ally.

Walker confronted those doubts head-on. “People have underestimated me all my life — in academics, athletics, and business,” he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “And I have always proven them wrong, through discipline, determination, and by outworking everyone.”

He admitted he had never served as an ambassador but countered that his career prepared him in other ways: building businesses, managing payrolls, and connecting with people from all walks of life. He framed his business background as a strength, promising to use it to encourage U.S. investment in healthcare, infrastructure, and hurricane resilience projects in The Bahamas.

Rather than sparring with critics, Walker leaned on confidence and persistence: “I know how to build trust and find common ground. That’s what this relationship needs.”

If confirmed, Walker would have to balance his role as diplomat with expectations of being a commercial cheerleader for U.S. firms. His emphasis on entrepreneurship suggests a willingness to push U.S. businesses toward opportunities in healthcare, ports, and post-storm reconstruction — areas where Bahamians say they need the most support.

For Bahamian officials, the question will be whether Washington is prepared to back words with financing. U.S. private sector dollars, paired with aid and development partnerships, could help shift the tide against Chinese influence.

For Walker, the test will be whether his business acumen can translate into diplomatic wins — giving Bahamians alternatives to Beijing, while deepening the U.S. role in the Caribbean.

Analysis: If Walker delivers, this appointment could mark a turning point: a U.S. strategy that recognizes that in the Caribbean, investment is diplomacy.

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Bahamas News

Conflicting Reports as Grand Bahama Awaits Its New Airport: What to Believe?

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

September 16, 2025 – Grand Bahama’s wait for a modern international airport has taken another dramatic turn. Just days after reports surfaced that the $200 million redevelopment had collapsed because partners failed to secure financing, the government is now insisting the project is alive and well — with funding in the “final stages” and construction on the horizon.

Earlier This Week: Airport Deal in Dire Straits

The week began with grim headlines. Deputy Prime Minister and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper confirmed that private partners in the much-heralded consortium had not produced financing. “Regrettably, the funding had not happened,” he admitted, sparking widespread fears the deal had crumbled.

Those admissions triggered a storm of skepticism in Freeport. Back in February, the government had declared the airport deal “finalized,” naming Aerodrome Ltd., Manchester Airport Group, and BHM UK as partners. They promised demolition within 30 days, designs in 45 days, and a new terminal by year’s end. But now, more than four months later, not a single milestone has been delivered.

For residents and business leaders, the collapse narrative confirmed their worst fears: that Grand Bahama was once again being strung along with empty promises. Long-stay tourism — the kind that sustains hotels, restaurants, taxis, and shops — depends on a functioning airport. Without it, the island’s economy remains hobbled.

Today: Government Pushes Back

But late Thursday, the government issued a forceful rebuttal. “The redevelopment of Grand Bahama’s International Airport remains a central priority for this administration and is key to the island’s economic renewal,” the statement read. Officials stressed that they are “in the final stages of securing funding and concluding agreements on airport management.”

The statement went further, clarifying the role of Manchester Airport Group, the UK’s largest airport manager. MAG, it said, was never meant to provide financing but remains a core partner in shaping the airport’s development and management. Bahamian contractors, the government insisted, are part of the team tasked with delivering the facility. “Our focus is on results,” the release concluded. “Grand Bahama will have the airport it needs to grow, attract investment, and strengthen its role as a gateway to The Bahamas.”

Who Should Grand Bahama Believe?

The conflicting narratives — one of a deal in “dire straits,” the other of a project in “final stages” — have left Grand Bahama residents struggling to know what to believe. Is the airport project truly on life support, or is the government simply playing its hand close until funding details are nailed down?

Skeptics point out that this is hardly the first time the airport has been declared a priority only to see little follow-through. Promises in 2023, in February 2025, and again in summer 2025 all failed to produce visible progress. Each missed deadline has chipped away at public trust.

Supporters of the government counter that large infrastructure projects are inherently complex, with legal negotiations and financing arrangements often dragging longer than planned. They argue that the continued involvement of Manchester Airport Group is evidence the project is still credible.

The Bigger Picture

Grand Bahama’s airport troubles are intertwined with the stalled $120 million Grand Lucayan hotel sale, which also remains without visible progress 129 days after it was announced. Business leaders insist both projects must move together if the island is to see real recovery. A luxury resort without a modern airport is as unviable as an airport without hotel rooms to fill.

For now, the people of Grand Bahama are left in limbo. This week they were told the airport deal had failed. Today, they’re being told it’s moving forward. The only certainty is that, nearly a year after the latest round of promises, not a single crane has touched the sky.

As one resident put it: “We don’t need more statements. We need to see bulldozers.”

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U.S. Coast Guard Trains Bahamian Partners in Water Survival Skills

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The Bahamas, September 10, 2025 – Rescue swimmers from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama visited Nassau to train Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) and Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) members in water survival skills as part of Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) earlier this week.

“Training alongside our USCG partners ensures our personnel are best prepared for the unique challenges of joint operations” said Superintendent Wendy Pearson, Commander Drug Enforcement Unit.

The multi-day exercise, centered on the USCG’s Shallow Water Egress Training (SWET), enhanced the safety and preparedness of Bahamian partners who routinely operate aboard USCG helicopters during OPBAT missions. The exercise provided hands-on instruction for 31 participants and strengthened interoperability between U.S. and Bahamian agencies engaged in counter-drug, search and rescue, and maritime security operations throughout the region.

“We were excited and proud to have the opportunity to share our expertise with our Bahamian partners. Not only did RBDF and RBPF perform exceptionally well, they exceeded the standards we set for the event,” said Petty Officer Second Class Cole Johnson, USCG.

OPBAT is a cooperative multi-agency international operation supporting The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands to stop illicit drug smuggling through the region. U.S. Embassy Nassau Chargé d’affaires Kimberly Furnish stated, “Since 1982, OPBAT has worked to stop the flow of illicit narcotics through the Caribbean, destined for the United States or other jurisdictions.  This is international cooperation at its best.”

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