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Health Survey Revealed that One in Five Bahamian Students Between the Ages of 13 and 18 Has Attempted Suicide

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By Llonella Gilbert
Bahamas Information Services

 

 

NASSAU, Bahamas, July 14, 2025 – Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Phillip Davis said the 2025 Global School Health Survey revealed that one in five Bahamian students between the ages of 13 and 18 has attempted suicide.

“One in five. That number is staggering and heartbreaking,” the Prime Minister said during the signing of the Framework Agreement between Governments of The Bahamas and the People’s Republic of China for the New Providence Specialty Hospital held at the Office of The Prime Minister on Friday, July 11, 2025.

He said, “There is no single cause, but we know the pressures are real: the expectations, the silence, the bullying, the economic strain at home, and the ever-growing influence of social media.”

The Prime Minister explained that the images, the comparisons, the pressure to be perfect is too much. “Our children are carrying burdens many of us cannot see, and in some cases, cannot even begin to understand.”

He said, “This is not just a health issue. This is a moral issue. This is a national issue. It is a call to action for the government, for parents, for teachers, for churches, for communities.”

The Prime Minister said the Government took a major step forward in 2022 with the passage of the new Mental Health Act, the first meaningful reform to the nation’s mental health legislation in nearly 60 years. “We did not just pass a law; we laid the foundation for a new era in how we support those who are struggling.”

He added, “We have begun training more professionals — doctors, nurses, and community health workers — and we are training our guidance counsellors and educational officers to recognize the signs, to intervene early, and provide support that works.

“But legislation alone is not enough. Training alone is not enough.

“We also have to change how we show up in the lives of our children.”

The Prime Minister explained that a tablet cannot take the place of a conversation. An iPad cannot substitute for quality time, and the pressure children face from the constant pull of social media — the comparisons, the online cruelty, the need to be liked, followed, validated — is harming them. “And we have to do more to shield them.”

He said, “As a country, we cannot afford to lose our children to silence. We cannot allow pain to hide in plain sight. Every life matters. Every voice deserves to be heard. Every young person deserves to know they are not alone.”

The Prime Minister said that in addition to building up the physical infrastructure, he wants the nation to commit to building an emotional and social infrastructure, strengthening the systems of care and compassion that will help every Bahamian, especially the youth, to live with dignity, purpose, and hope.

He added, “To our partners in the People’s Republic of China, I thank you for standing with us in our pursuit of a healthier Bahamas.  To the Bahamian people, I want you to know that we see the need, we feel the urgency, and we are acting.

“The work continues. And we will see it through together.”

(BIS Photo/Mark Ford)

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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Department of Gender Affairs Congratulates Rev. Clare Robinson on Historic Induction as First Female President/Bishop of BTCI Conference of The Methodist Church

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 4 September 2025 The Department of Gender Affairs, within the Ministry of Home Affairs, Religious Affairs, and Transportation, extends heartfelt congratulations to Reverend Clare Robinson on her historic achievement of becoming the first woman in 213 years to be inducted as President/Bishop of the Bahamas Turks & Caicos Islands Conference (BTCI) of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA); a Momentous Occasion in the History of Gender Equality.

The Department of Gender Affairs proudly celebrates this moment of progress and inspiration, recognising Reverend Clare Robinson as a beacon of faith and leadership for generations to come. Reverend Robinson’s induction is a monumental triumph for women in leadership, for the Church, and for society as a whole. Her trailblazing journey affirms the limitless potential of women to lead with wisdom, faith, and courage.

The induction service will be held at Wesley Methodist Church, Malcolm Road, Nassau, The Bahamas, in a landmark ceremony led by Reverend Ron Juan Simson, Connectional President of the MCCA. Joining in this historic occasion will be a high-level delegation from the Turks & Caicos Islands, underscoring the regional significance of this milestone and the unity of our Methodist community across the Caribbean and the Americas.

Born in South Caicos and raised in Grand Turk, Reverend Robinson is no stranger to breaking barriers. She is the first female itinerant presbyter and the first female superintendent minister of both the North and South Turks & Caicos Islands circuits. Answering God’s call to full-time ministry in 2005, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theology (First Class Honours) from the University of the West Indies and a Master of Divinity, before serving faithfully within the MCCA. She will now lead 37 Methodist congregations across The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands.

Reverend Robinson has been married to Mr. Irvin Robinson for 34 years, and together they are the proud parents of one daughter, Charnelle Robinson. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Robinson family for their unwavering support and understanding, which has been instrumental in Reverend Robinson’s journey and her ability to serve the Church and the community.

In celebrating this milestone, the Hon. Shaun David Malcolm MP, Minister of Home Affairs remarked:

“Today, we celebrate a truly historic achievement in the life of the Church and in the advancement of gender equality across our region. The induction of Reverend Clare Robinson as the first female President/Bishop of the Bahamas Turks & Caicos Islands Conference of the Methodist Church after 213 years, stands as a powerful testament to faith, perseverance, and the limitless potential of women in leadership. On behalf of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Religious Affairs & Transport and in particular, the Department of Gender Affairs, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Reverend Robinson on this remarkable accomplishment. Her elevation to this sacred office affirms God’s call on her life and inspires every woman and girl to know that their gifts, talents, and service are vital to nation-building and the advancement of God’s Kingdom.”

We are confident that Reverend Robinson’s leadership will strengthen the spiritual and moral fabric of our communities, as Minister responsible for Religious Affairs it is not only our responsibility but our obligation, to pledge and support as she embarks on this historic journey. May God grant her wisdom, courage, and grace as she fulfils this divine calling.

Mrs. Carolyn Dickenson, Director of gender Affairs, stated that “Reverend Robinson stands as living proof that faith knows no gender and leadership knows no bounds. Her induction is not just history, it is prophecy fulfilled. Her journey is a beacon of hope, not only for women of faith but for every woman who has ever been told her place was limited. Today, the glass ceiling within the Church has been shattered, and the sound of its breaking will echo for generations. This induction is more than a ceremony it is a revolution of possibility. To every girl across the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands who wonders if she is enough, Reverend Robinson’s achievement shouts back: You are more than enough. Let this moment ignite dreams, stir courage, and remind us all that when women rise, communities rise, nations rise, and the Kingdom of God is strengthened. This is just the beginning of a brighter future.

Additionally, the officers and members of the Women in Development and Women in Sports, extends heartfelt congratulations to Rev. Clare on this historic milestone. Your achievement is not only a personal triumph but also an inspiration to women everywhere who strive to lead, to serve, and to break new ground.

The Department of Gender Affairs stands proudly with Reverend Robinson, pledging to continue championing equality, empowerment, and leadership for all women and girls.

Congratulations Rev. Clare.

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