Abaco, Bahamas – The Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources has announced the delivery of a brand-new tractor for farmers on Abaco.

This critical piece of equipment was a focal point of discussion during a recent town hall meeting hosted by, Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Hon. Jomo Campbell and key officials from the Ministry.

The town hall, held at the Friends of the Environment building in Marsh Harbour, provided a platform for local farmers and fishers to voice their concerns and needs. One of the most pressing issues raised by farmers was the lack of access to essential farming equipment, particularly tractors.

“We have a tractor presently at the dock in Nassau that has been earmarked for Abaco,” Minister Campbell shared. “It’s a great feeling to know that we have recognized their needs and met them.”

The arrival of the tractor is expected to significantly enhance farming operations on the island, providing much-needed support to farmers as they continue to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Dorian.

Minister Campbell added, “I can definitely say that the passion for agriculture and fisheries is still alive here in the Abacos.

“We accept the fact that there is still more work to do, but the beauty of it all is that our hardworking farmers and fishers are willing to help us along the way,” he said.

This initiative is part of the government’s broader plan to strengthen agricultural production across The Bahamas, helping reduce reliance on imported goods and promoting local food security.

The announcement underscores the Ministry’s commitment to addressing the needs of Abaco’s farming community, marking an important step forward in boosting local agriculture.

Daphne DeGregory-Mialous, co-owner of Abaco Neem Farm, said, “I thought the meeting was excellent and timely.

“We haven’t had an agricultural town hall meeting since Hurricane Dorian. So, it was very much needed.”

DeGregory-Mialous added that she’s most excited about the minister’s energy.

“The entire team seems to have a new vigor – a younger approach. They seem to be taking action. So, that’s encouraging,” she said.

Earlier this year, the Ministry donated a new tractor with equipment and a new patrol vessel to Cat Island.

Minister Campbel said he intends to continue visiting family island farmers and fishers until he’s confident that their pertinent needs are met across the archipelago.

Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

September 20, 2024 – There are ambitious aspirations for the UN’s Summit of the Future, which the Secretary General today said should welcome invigorating ideas and strategies for member countries and global institutions eager to see greater international harmony.

“The Summit of the Future was born out of a cold, hard fact: international challenges are moving faster than our ability to solve them. We see out-of-control geo-political divisions and runaway conflicts – not least in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and beyond, said Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General in his press conference held on Wednesday in New York.

“Runaway climate change. Runaway inequalities and debt. Runaway development of new technologies like Artificial Intelligence – without guidance or guardrails.  And our institutions simply can’t keep up.”

The Summit, which opens on September 20, 2024 touts as its mission, a move to produce an “inter-governmentally negotiated, action-oriented Pact for the Future with chapters on Sustainable development and financing for development; International peace and security; Science, technology and innovation and digital cooperation; Youth and future generations; and Transforming global governance.”

It is a massive mission by any measure.

Guterres said without a “spirit of compromise” the meetings will fall short of the goals to redefine the synergy necessary for nations to walk hand in hand into the future.

“Crises are interacting and feeding off each other – for example, as digital technologies spread climate disinformation that deepens distrust and fuels polarization.  Global institutions and frameworks are today totally inadequate to deal with these complex and even existential challenges,” said the Sec Gen.

He pointed to an outdated outlook that was in desperate need of new vigor and unflinching commitment in order to demonstrate the countries of the UN can work together.

“The peacebuilders of the 1940s could not have predicted the changes that have swept over humanity over the past eight decades:  The catastrophic consequences of climate change. Space exploration in all its dimensions. The internet, smartphones and social media – all boosted by Artificial Intelligence.  Like our founders, we cannot know precisely what the future holds.”

The institutions of today were crafted in a bygone era, he reminded and over the three days of the meeting, which are broken down into Action Days and Summit Days, the Secretary General is appealing for the kind of synergy which leads to problem-solving strategies all nations can commit to following.

“But we don’t need a crystal ball to see that 21^st century challenges require problem-solving mechanisms that are more effective, networked and inclusive; That serious power imbalances in global institutions must be adjusted and updated; And that our institutions must draw on the expertise and representation of all of humanity.

Change will not happen overnight. But it can start today.”

For the over 7,000 people registered to participate in the Summit of the Future, there is anticipation for a few breakthrough alterations in pacts.

“The strongest language on Security Council reform in a generation – and the most concrete step towards Council enlargement since 1963.  The first set of governance measures for new technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, in all their applications — with the UN at its centre.  A major advance in reform of the International Financial Architecture with the most significant language yet strengthening the role of developing countries. A step change in financing the Sustainable Development Goals and a commitment to advance our SDG Stimulus, multiplying the resources available to developing countries. The list goes on.

It would be tragic if all of this would be lost.”

The future for our grandchildren, he surmised, cannot be the one that was built for our grandparents.

“I hope Member States will do everything possible to get the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations over the finish line.”

In 2020, the UN turned 75 and marked the occasion by starting a global conversation about hopes and fears for the future.  This was the beginning of a process that would eventually lead, four years later, to the convening of the Summit of the Future, a major event this September, which will take place at UN Headquarters, just before the annual high-level debate of the General Assembly.

The event will consist of sessions and plenaries based around five main tracks (sustainable development and financing; peace and security; a digital future for all; youth and future generations; and global governance), and other topics that cut across all of the work of the UN, including human rights, gender equality and the climate crisis.

The immediate outcome will be a finalised version of a Pact for the Future, with a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration for Future Generations in annex, all of which are expected to be adopted by Member States during the Summit.

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

Turks and Caicos, September 20, 2024 – The PDM along with Turks and Caicos Islanders are deeply concerned about the deplorable conditions of the highways and roads, particularly in Providenciales, according to Deputy Leader of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), Mr. Robert Been Jr.

In a media release, he said as he travels across the island and listen to the concerns of our citizens, one issue that stands out is the lack of “proper maintenance” and upkeep of our roadways.

“This is not just a matter of inconvenience, but a blatant failure by the current PNP (ProgressiveNational Party) administration to carry out one of the most basic functions of government: ensuring our roads are safe, functional, and well-maintained,” he outlined.

Adding that many of the roads are overgrown with trees and bush, creating both an eyesore and a hazard for motorists and pedestrians, he said the once pristine landscapes that contributed to our image as “Beautiful by Nature” are now obscured by untrimmed vegetation and deteriorating road conditions. “This is in stark contrast to the beauty that we proudly showcase to the world as our biggest selling point in the tourism market.

“Tourism is the lifeblood of our economy, and the condition of our roads is a reflection of how we maintain the image of our islands. When tourists drive through these overgrown, unkempt highways, what message are we sending? That we do not care about the very product we are trying to sell? This neglect not only affects the experience of our visitors but also places undue strain on our local residents who use these roads daily,” he said

The PDM Deputy Leader, in arguing that the lack of basic road maintenance is another example of the PNP’s incompetence., said if they are failing at “this most basic level”, then, how can Islanders trust them to manage the more complex and pressing affairs of our country?

“Road maintenance is not a luxury, it is a necessity. It is the bare minimum that the government should be providing for its citizens. When the PNP boasts about their achievements, we must ask, what good is a record-setting budget if they can’t even ensure the proper upkeep of our roadways?” he said

Mr. Been Jr. underscored that the PDM understands the importance of basic Government functions, and, if elected to office, it will make it a priority to address the “comprehensive repair and maintenance” of the road infrastructure across the entire Islands, and will ensure that roads are not only repaired but also regularly maintained to prevent the kinds of issues from arising again.