Bahamas News
Partnerships formed to deal with complaints of emissions from industrial plants in GB
FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas — The long-standing issue and litany of complaints by residents of Pinder’s Point regarding strong and possibly harmful emissions from industrial plants within the area is being addressed by the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, the Hon. Vaughn Miller, with a promise to “bringing a permanent solution” to the problem.
Minister Miller, along with members of his Ministry were in Grand Bahama recently to form a collaborative partnership with the Ministry for Grand Bahama, the Grand Bahama Port Authority and stakeholders from the Industrial Park to discuss a vexing problem that has plagued some Grand Bahamians for years.
During a press conference on Thursday, October 3, 2024, in the Collab Unit of the Ministry for Grand Bahama, Minister Miller revealed the meetings he has had with all of the partners involved to bring about a solution and outlined some of the steps that will be taken to deal with alleged emissions from nearby industrial plants.
“We’ve come to Grand Bahama, because we’ve heard the cries of the people,” said Minister Miller, during Thursday’s press conference in Grand Bahama. “We’ve heard the complaints. We’ve come because of the complaints that we’ve been hearing from the residents, particularly of the Pinder’s Point area, and surrounding communities as to the alleged emissions and odors from industrial activities in the area.”
Residents making their complaints have referred to Buckeye, a nearby Industrial Plant, as the source of those emissions. For Minister Miller, it was important to get Buckeye in on the discussions.
“So, in partnership with Buckeye, the Ministry of Grand Bahama, the Grand Bahama Port Authority and my Ministry, the Ministry of
Environment and Natural Resources, we will be seeking to put together a number of short and long-term solutions to address the issues,” added Minister Miller. “The principal objectives will be to return to regular monitoring of the air quality, of the soil, of the ground water and other areas.
“This has been a vexing problem for successive governments who have sought to address this issue over the past thirty or more years. But there have not been any sustained efforts to bring final resolution to this issue. But that’s the reason we are here, to bring the sustained effort and because we want to bring a resolution to this matter.”
Joe Votta, Vice-President of Buckeye Caribbean Region said the company appreciated the opportunity to engage and collaborate with members of the government and all of the company’s external stakeholders on the matter. He said Buckeye will continue to dedicate its efforts to being a safe, environmentally responsible and collaborative corporate citizen in Grand Bahama.
Buckeye Bahamas took over the industrial plant in 2009. The recent complaints are being attributed to unplanned maintenance to its facility. Minister Miller stated that Buckeye may not be the only industrial plant on the island who may be guilty of harmful emissions.
“We believe that other industrial plants on the island could be guilty as well,” said Minister Miller. “It is our intention to do a complete review to identify where these emissions are coming from and let the chips fall where they may.”
Minister for Grand Bahama, Hon. Ginger Moxey admitted that the complaints from the residents of Pinder’s Point and surrounding communities have persisted for years. Therefore, she was more than happy to have the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources come in to conduct collaborative meetings with all of the agencies involved in an effort to address those concerns.
“Buckeye is here, represented, and we had a great meeting on the way forward on things we intend to do to make sure that conditions are improved,” said Minister Moxey. “So, I’m grateful to the Ministry of Environment for taking the leadership on this. It’s going to be all-hands-on-deck. We cannot work in silos and expect to get things done.
“I’m thankful to all who are involved and a part of this. We want to see results. We want to see action, not business as usual. So that we can ensure that people’s lives improve, and the area is impacted in a way that improves their lives.”
Minister Miller assured that the efforts to correct whatever issues that may exist in the communities near the industrial parks will be a continuous one. In fact, he noted that in the very near future, representatives from his Ministry will return to Grand Bahama to meet with the other stakeholders, the other corporate entities in the Industrial Park.
The purpose for this, he said, is to let them know that the health, well-being and lives of the residents living within that community is important to his government and his ministry. Once the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources has met with all of the industrial park stakeholders, they will then go to the people in those affected areas and hold very candid conversations with them about the plans to deal with the issues.
“Our intention is to bring a resolve to this vexing issue that’s been hanging around for far too long,” said Minister Miller. “We’ve heard the cries of these residents and we’re taking it very seriously.”
PHOTO CAPTION
FORMING PARTNERSHIPS – Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources, the Hon. Vaughn Miller (center) speaking to the press about a partnership between his ministry, the Ministry for Grand Bahama, the Grand Bahama Port Authority and Buckeye Bahamas to bring about a sustained solution to the decades-old problems of strong, harmful emissions in Pinder’s Point and surrounding communities, during a press conference on Thursday, October 3, 2024 in the Collab Unit of the Ministry for Grand Bahama. Also on hand for the press conference was Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey; Minister of State for the Environment and Natural Resources, Zane Lightbourne; Member of Parliament for Central Grand Bahama, Iram Lewis and Vice-President of Buckeye Caribbean Region, Joe Votta.
(BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)
DEAR EDITOR,
Sometimes the best ideas come from experiences far away from home.
It was while I was living in Europe that I saw how excited people were about England’s iconic double-decker buses. It was a symbol of culture – and visitors looked forward to the ride as an experience in itself rather than just a method of transportation.
That sparked a thought: What if we brought that same excitement to The Bahamas, but made it uniquely Bahamian?
In November 2024, that thought became 2 Storeys Tours. I wanted visitors to see Nassau in a way they had not been able to before. That meant they could come straight off a cruise ship and onto a double-decker to see what makes our country what it is – to see our beautiful waters and to discover what makes us Bahamian.
We wanted to create something memorable, something visitors would associate with their Bahamian vacation, just as people associate double-decker buses with England.
The bus may catch your attention, but The Bahamas is what makes the experience unforgettable.
We also believe tourism should create opportunities for Bahamians.
We started less than five years ago with one very used double decker bus.
Now thanks to cruise ship business, we have quadrupled the size of our little fleet. We now have four shiny new red and blue buses, so we can say Welcome Ashore in style.
Depending on the season, between 70 and 80 percent of our business is cruise-passenger driven. Even during the slower season for hotels, the cruise ships arrive filled with people looking to explore historic Nassau and we are giving them the closest to a bird’s eye view as they can get. And they love it.
Turning an idea into a functioning business has been an exciting journey, but certainly not without challenges. From planning and preparation to finally seeing our buses on the road, the experience has taught us patience, perseverance, and the importance of believing in a vision.
We are proud of how far we’ve come, and even more excited about what lies ahead.
Building partnerships helped us to get to where we are today – building them further will take us to where we can reach tomorrow.
Our ambition is to make 2 Storeys Tours a recognised and trusted name in Bahamian tourism. We want to continue improving our tours, developing new experiences, embracing environmentally responsible tourism, and building meaningful relationships – and eventually take the 2 Storeys Tours experience beyond Nassau to other islands.
Above all, we want to build something that lasts.
Looking back, it’s incredible to think that an observation while living in Europe could lead to a business right here at home.
What began as an idea became a business with a purpose, and we’re only getting started.
Our inspiration came from abroad. Our passion comes from home. And our future is proudly Bahamian.
By: KEEVON MAYNARD
President, 2 Storeys Tours
Bahamas News
Federal Investigation into Florida Turnpike Tragedy that Killed Three Children of Bahamian Mother
NTSB examining roadside assistance driver’s actions, SUV speed and seat belt use after six people perish in fiery collision
ORLANDO, FLORIDA — October 29, 2026 — Federal investigators have joined the investigation into a horrific Florida Turnpike collision that claimed six lives, including all three children of a Bahamian mother, as questions intensify over what caused the deadly crash.
The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has confirmed that it is opening an investigation into the October 23 accident, which occurred around 9:31 p.m. near mile marker 252 in Orange County.
The agency’s involvement brings federal scrutiny to a tragedy that has devastated several families and prompted an extraordinary
outpouring of sympathy and disbelief.
Among those killed were siblings Charles Milton, Jakara Milton and Dalvena Green, the three adult children of Marshall Clarke-Milton and her husband, Charles Milton Sr.
The siblings were traveling with three others to Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, reportedly on their first trip together.
They never arrived.
FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS EXAMINE WHAT WENT WRONG
The NTSB confirmed to FOX 35 Orlando that its investigation will examine the training and performance of the roadside assistance driver, the actions of the SUV driver, including speed, and whether the occupants were wearing seat belts.
The agency investigates serious transportation accidents to identify safety failures and recommend measures that could prevent similar tragedies.
Its involvement does not establish wrongdoing by either driver.
The Florida Highway Patrol is conducting a separate investigation into the collision.
According to the preliminary police account, a Road Ranger roadside assistance truck had been parked in the highway median before its driver received instructions to assist a disabled box truck on the opposite shoulder.
As the Road Ranger moved across the northbound lanes, it collided with a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse carrying six adults.
Both vehicles left the roadway and caught fire.
All six occupants of the SUV died at the scene. The Road Ranger driver survived with minor injuries.
MOTHER CHALLENGES EARLY ACCOUNT
Witnesses reportedly told investigators that the SUV was traveling at high speed without its headlights illuminated.
However, those observations have not been established as the definitive cause of the collision.
Clarke-Milton has challenged suggestions that her children or their companions were responsible, urging investigators to examine the evidence before reaching conclusions.
She wants investigators to establish the SUV’s actual speed and determine whether its headlights were operating.
The family’s concerns underscore the importance of the continuing investigations, particularly given the movement of the roadside assistance vehicle across active highway lanes.
ALL THREE CHILDREN LOST
For Clarke-Milton, the investigation unfolds against an almost incomprehensible personal tragedy.
She lost all three of her children simultaneously.
In an emotional interview with FOX 35 Orlando, the grieving mother described the terrible feeling that overcame her when she could not reach them.
“My heart sank,” she said, recalling the moment she feared her children were involved.
The siblings were among six people whose lives ended during what should have been an enjoyable evening together.
The other victims included Timothy Williams and Shawn Palmer. A sixth person’s identity had not been publicly confirmed in the latest reports reviewed.
The family’s heartbreak has resonated across The Bahamas and beyond, with expressions of sympathy accompanying calls for answers.
SEARCH FOR ANSWERS CONTINUES
The Florida Highway Patrol has indicated that a crash report is expected within approximately ten days of the accident.
The NTSB’s investigation will examine broader transportation safety concerns, including the operation of roadside assistance vehicles and the circumstances surrounding the collision.
For the grieving families, the findings cannot reverse the tragedy.
But they may establish what happened on that stretch of Florida’s Turnpike and whether anything could have prevented six people from losing their lives.
For one Bahamian mother, the loss is especially devastating.
Three children left for an evening of entertainment. Not one came home.
Nassau, The Bahamas, October 22, 2026 — The National Computer Incident Response Team of The Bahamas (CIRT-BS) has issued a cybersecurity advisory warning businesses, government institutions and other organisations about the growing threat posed by Akira ransomware, a cybercriminal operation capable of stealing sensitive information, disrupting networks and demanding ransom payments.
Active since March 2023, Akira operates through a Ransomware-as-a-Service model, with affiliates exploiting weaknesses in computer networks to gain unauthorised access.
Once inside, attackers can steal confidential data, disable recovery systems and encrypt files, preventing organisations from accessing critical information.
Particularly concerning is Akira’s use of double extortion, threatening to publish stolen information unless victims pay. Some attacks involve data theft without encryption.
The October 22 advisory identifies vulnerabilities involving Cisco and SonicWall firewalls, VPN services, Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol, Veeam backup systems and outdated Windows and Linux operating systems. VMware ESXi and Nutanix AHV environments are also potential targets.
Attackers may exploit unpatched software, stolen login credentials and inadequately secured remote-access applications, including AnyDesk and RustDesk.
Warning signs include unexpected administrator accounts, unusual remote logins, unauthorised software installations, suspicious backup activity, mass file changes and ransom notes.
CIRT-BS recommends immediate security updates, multifactor authentication, restricted remote access, stronger network monitoring and secure backups maintained separately from operational systems.
Organisations should also remove unnecessary internet exposure of remote desktop services, limit administrative privileges and regularly test backup restoration.
The advisory does not identify any confirmed Akira attack against a Bahamian organisation but highlights vulnerabilities that could expose institutions to serious financial and operational disruption.
Cybersecurity incidents can be reported to CIRT-BS at soc@cirt.bs or through its official website.
