News
Duke and Duchess impressed with Coral Farm in Grand Bahama
By: Andrew Coakley
Bahamas Information Services
#TheBahamas, March 28, 2022 – Their Royal Highnesses Prince William and Duchess Catherine got up close and personal with a project that is dear to Prince William’s heart, during their tour of Coral Vita Coral Farm in Grand Bahama.
The tour of the Coral farm took place on Saturday, March 26, 2022 as a part of the Royals’ Official Visit to The
Bahamas. Since founding Coral Vita, Sam Teicher and Gator Halpern have been recognized as part of Forbes 30-Under-30 Social Entrepreneurs, Echoing Green and JMK Innovation Prize Fellows and WeWork Creator Awards Global finalists.
Prince William expressed fascination with the work being done at the Coral Farm, listening intensely during a summary of what they do at the Coral Farm, and asking questions about some of the various corals being grown at Coral Vita.
Prince William and Duchess Catherine were invited to plant a Propagule, a mangrove in the Mangrove Farm at the Coral Vita site. They both got their hands dirty, as they scooped up some of the soil to properly plant the Propagule.
Prince William and Duchess Catherine chatted with four young volunteers at Coral Vita farm, following the planting.
“Keep up the good work, Duchess Catherine told the young ladies. “What you’re doing here is great work and what you do is going to greatly help restore the coral reefs on your island.”
They were given an extensive tour of the facility, where they got a first-hand look and explanation from founder Sam Teicher about how the project was started and how growing coral actually worked.
The Prince and the Duchess boarded a yacht where they were taken to an area off of east Grand Bahama to plant coral there.
Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Vaughn Miller, who was on hand with the Government delegation touring the Coral Vita facility with the Prince and Duchess, said that he was impressed with what is being done at the coral nursery, adding that he would like to see more Bahamians get involved in the project.
“I spoke specifically with one of the partners of this project about Bahamians becoming much more involved with this and possibly being trained so that they can take this same project to the other family Islands replicate this
project there.
“You know the stony coral tissue disease is spreading rapidly and has become a real issue in this country. Thank God there is now a solution for it and we can do restoration work. So, hats off to what they’re doing here, not just with the coral, but with the mangroves.”
As a result of Hurricane Dorian, Grand Bahama lost over eighty percent of its mangroves: Minister Miller said this is an important restoration project not just for Grand Bahama and Abaco, but for the islands around The Bahamas.
Prince William, after listening to what the plans are for restoring the mangroves in Grand Bahama, noted that what happened after Hurricane Dorian was devastating for The Bahamas and was glad to see that Coral Vita’s work was helping to restore all that was lost since the storm.
Coral Vita, which opened in Grand Bahama in 2019, is the world’s first land based commercial coral farm. They cultivate 24 different types of indigenous coral with innovative techniques that speed up growth by 50 percent (micro fragmenting) and make the coral more resistant (assisted evolution) to the rising temperatures and acidity.
Photo Caption:
Header: Both Prince William and Duchess Catherine got an opportunity to plant a Propagule, which is like a seed for mangrove, during their tour of Coral Vita Farm in Grand Bahama on Saturday, March 26, 2022.
1st insert: Prince William asked a series of questions during the tour of the Coral Vita Farm on Saturday, March 26, 2022 in Grand Bahama. Workers at the facility explained how coral is grown at the facility. Looking on in the background is Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Vaughn Miller and Minister for Grand Bahama, Hon. Ginger Moxey. At right is Sam Teicher, one of the Founders of Coral Vita Farm.
2nd insert: Upon their arrival at the Coral Vita Farm in Grand Bahama on Saturday, March 26, 2022, Prince William and Duchess Catherine got a brief history on the reason and purpose of establishing the Coral Vita Farm.
(BIS Photos/Lisa Davis)
The Bahamas, August 27, 2026 – The Royal Bahamas Police Force wishes to inform members of the public that several individuals are scheduled to appear before the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 27th August 2026, at 12:00 noon.
The individuals and charges are as follows:
An 18-year-old female is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
Three (3) counts of Murder
Three (3) counts of Attempted Murder
Three (3) counts of Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life
Three (3) counts of Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm
Two (2) counts of Possession of Ammunition
Armed Robbery
Abetment to Armed Robbery
Stealing
Receiving
The charges stem from three separate shooting incidents and an armed robbery that occurred on Friday, 21st August 2026, and Saturday, 22nd August 2026.
The first shooting occurred in the area of Soldier Road and Baillou Hill Road, resulting in the death of a 51-year-old male.
The second shooting occurred in the area of Joe Farrington Road, resulting in the death of a 52-year-old male.
The third shooting occurred in the area of Gladstone Road, resulting in the death of a 36-year-old male.
The armed robbery occurred at a business establishment in the area of Carmichael Road and Baillou Hill Road.
A 21-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on one charge of:
- Murder
The charge stems from a shooting incident that occurred on Tuesday, 21st July 2026, in the area of Samson Street, Nassau Village, which resulted in the death of a 28-year-old male.
A 32-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
- Murder
- Attempted Murder
These charges stem from a shooting incident that occurred on Wednesday, 24th December 2025, in the area of Graham Drive, Yellow Elder, which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old male.
RBPF, PACD
by Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI — In a country where government press conferences are virtually non-existent, ministers are often difficult for
journalists to access and regular broadcast television news has disappeared, TCI Innovation, Technology and Energy Minister E. Jay Saunders has challenged Caribbean media to become “impossible to ignore.”
Speaking at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union gathering, Saunders argued that the Caribbean does not have a relevance problem but a “discoverability and positioning problem.”
Discoverability is precisely the issue in Saunders’ home country. Even Government’s own attempts at video news broadcasting have struggled against the realities of consistently producing a daily, weekly or even monthly newscast.
The difficulties confronting TCI media extend well beyond algorithms: limited advertising revenue, underfunding, shortages of trained professionals and insufficient human capacity leave newsrooms struggling for both staff and stamina.
Then there is the reality of operating in one of the region’s smallest societies. Politicians, journalists, advertisers, businesses and the subjects of stories often exist within the same tight economic and social circles. A controversial report that might create a ripple elsewhere can produce a tsunami in TCI, intensifying concerns among journalists about commercial and professional victimisation.
Saunders believes AI can help.
He urged Caribbean media to use the technology to transform one original story into television, radio, web, podcast, social and translated content without multiplying newsroom workload.
He also wants regional journalism structured so AI systems can find, understand and trust Caribbean sources, moving media beyond traditional SEO into Answer Engine Optimisation.
His ultimate message was emphatic: “Use AI not to make Caribbean media more artificial — but to make Caribbean voices more visible.”
For Turks and Caicos media, however, becoming visible may require more than technology. It requires an environment in which journalism can survive.
That last sentence is where I think we land the plane. It acknowledges that EJ actually has some us
Bahamas News
Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday
Turks and Caicos, August 20, 2026 – The planned participation of the Bahama Brass Band in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ inaugural Constitutional Holiday celebrations on August 30 has sparked public debate over culture, heritage and the historical contributions of Turks and Caicos Islanders abroad.
Organizers defended the invitation, saying the band’s inclusion is intended to highlight the deep historical ties between the two countries
and honor Turks and Caicos men who helped establish and develop the institution in Grand Bahama.
According to the organizers, the Bahama Brass Band began in 1955 in Pine Ridge, Freeport, with Turks and Caicos Islanders, including the late Deacon Reuben Hall Sr. of Middle Caicos and Jenkins Williams and Mervin Hendfield of North Caicos, among those who helped build its foundation. The band eventually grew to more than 50 men.
The organizers also pointed to the participation of Turks and Caicos men in The Bahamas’ Independence celebrations on July 10, 1973, arguing that their contributions became part of Bahamian history while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.
Supporters say bringing the band home represents an opportunity to honor those pioneers, showcase their regional influence and expose younger generations to an important part of Turks and Caicos history.
However, concerns raised publicly described the invitation as potentially disrespectful to local culture and heritage. Organizers acknowledged those concerns, apologizing to anyone who felt overlooked or offended, while maintaining that no disrespect was intended.
The committee said the event should ultimately unite rather than divide, presenting the band’s history as evidence of the reach and resilience of Turks and Caicos heritage.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bahamas Brass Band
