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 Bahamas — Bahamian author Teri M. Bethel combines heartfelt storytelling, practical tools, and devotionals to help couples navigate the emotional and spiritual challenges of menopause together. Often called “the silent storm” in a woman’s life, menopause is deeply personal, widely misunderstood, and rarely discussed openly. Teri M. Bethel is changing that conversation with her new book, Unspoken Storms: A Christian Woman’s Guide to Menopause and Marriage – With Devotional Prayers for Emotional Healing and Intimacy.

Through the fictional yet emotionally raw story of Amanda—a devoted wife navigating menopause’s emotional, physical, and spiritual challenges—Bethel opens the door for honest, grace-filled conversations in homes and churches.

For many women, menopause brings more than just hot flashes; it can shake identity, emotions, and even marriage. “It’s unfortunate, but menopause sneaks up on many women and men,” says Bethel. “Beyond the jokes about hot flashes or personal summers, there’s often silence. But when mood swings, depression, anxiety, brain fog, and the physical pain of intimacy show up—and no one connects the dots—confusion can take root. My goal was to bring hope, clarity, and real help to this season.”

Early readers are calling Unspoken Storms “a book that walks beside you like a trusted friend.” Colleen Aitken praised Bethel’s approach as “beautifully tender, yet raw in its honesty—offering hope, healing, and restoration.” Heather Sands added: “I couldn’t put it down. It’s not the typical menopause book—it’s a source of peace, relief, and understanding for both women and men. This book belongs in every marriage ministry.”

Men often want to help but don’t know how, which can lead to misunderstanding, distance, or even divorce. While there are medical guides and clinical handbooks, very few books speak to women and couples with faith, empathy, and hope, blending story, Scripture, and practical steps for relief.

More than a novel, Unspoken Storms is a resource:

• For women: to feel seen, understood, and equipped with faith and practical tools for this stage of life.
• For men: a bonus chapter by Teri’s husband, Tellis, which offers insight into how menopause affects husbands, especially those who may be facing midlife challenges themselves, plus prayers to strengthen the marriage.
• For couples: guidance to restore communication, intimacy, and partnership.

Bahamian author, Dr. Deborah Pople-Smith commended the book for “helping marriages realize that talking about menopause is not taboo—it’s necessary. Love and intimacy can still be shared with a little understanding and patience.”

“Menopause can feel like the end of something,” says Bethel. “But in reality, it can be the refining of love and faith. This book is an invitation to walk through it—together, stronger.”

Unspoken Storms is now available in Nassau at Logos Bookstore, in Eleuthera at Office General, and on Amazon in paperback, eBook, and audio formats.

By Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

ALIV and ALIVFibr have been honored with five major Ookla awards at the recent CANTO Conference in Nassau, taking top honors for: Fastest Mobile Network in The Bahamas; Best Mobile Network in The Bahamas; Best Mobile Gaming Experience in The Bahamas; Best Fixed Gaming Experience in The Bahamas and Fastest Fixed Network in the Caribbean.

These accolades, based on billions of global Speedtest® results, underscore ALIV’s robust infrastructure and commitment to innovation. Franklyn Butler II, CEO of Cable Bahamas Group, highlighted this significance:

“These awards are based on billions of real-world tests—independent, objective, and customer-driven… That speaks volumes about the strength of our infrastructure and our commitment to innovation.”

John Gomez, CEO of ALIV, praised the milestone as proof of delivering a world-class network:

“These awards are tangible proof that we’ve achieved our goal of building a top-of-the-line, unrivaled network in the Caribbean. We will continue to expand the ALIVFibr network to Abaco and beyond.”

This dual recognition—spanning both mobile and fixed sectors—is rare in the region and demonstrates ALIV’s ongoing growth and ambition. The company’s strategic fiber rollout, branded as ALIVFibr, has rapidly expanded high-speed broadband in Nassau and parts of Abaco, backed by a $70 million investment.

Public sentiment also aligns with this prize-winning momentum. According to a 2024 retail fixed market review by URCA, customers rated service availability and reliability highly—evidence that quality is consistently improving. However, social media feedback shows pockets of concern over service installation delays, suggesting room for customer support enhancement.

With nearly universal internet coverage—94% national penetration but only 24% fixed broadband adoption—these awards signal ALIVFibr’s ability to close the remaining connectivity gaps. The company’s speed, reliability, and national strategy are now validated by both metrics and metrics and user sentiment.

As ALIVFibr continues its rollout to Abaco and beyond, this victory is more than symbolic—it’s a tangible testament to its leadership in Bahamian telecom.

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Hundreds impacted across the region as Digicel pulls plug on major digital platforms

July 14, 2025 – In a stunning move that’s sending shockwaves across the Caribbean media landscape, Digicel has announced the immediate closure of its flagship digital news platform, Loop News, and the winding down of its regional sports broadcaster, SportsMax. The telecommunications giant is shifting its focus away from media and toward enterprise services, ending over a decade of regional journalism and sports coverage.

The announcement, made this week through social media and confirmed by multiple news sources, reveals that Digicel is effectively dismantling its media division. The shutdown of Loop News is immediate, while SportsMax will cease operations by August 8, 2025. The decision affects nearly 100 jobs across the region — including journalists, editors, producers, and technical staff.

Loop News, founded in 2014, quickly became one of the Caribbean’s most trusted digital news sources, offering real-time updates, multimedia features, and regional coverage that spanned politics, crime, lifestyle, and entertainment. With editions in Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, St. Lucia, and other territories, Loop grew into a digital-first newsroom serving millions of Caribbean readers at home and abroad.

SportsMax, acquired by Digicel in 2011, held exclusive broadcast rights to major sporting events and leagues, including Premier League football, international cricket, and athletics — making it the go-to cable channel for Caribbean sports fans.

In a public statement, Digicel cited a “strategic shift” toward enterprise-level services, such as cloud solutions, cybersecurity, and managed IT infrastructure, as the primary reason for exiting the media space. The company described the closures as “difficult but necessary” to streamline operations and prepare for long-term sustainability in a competitive telecommunications market.

“These are not decisions we take lightly,” Digicel said in its statement. “However, in an ever-evolving digital economy, we must focus our resources on areas where we can create the most value for our customers.”

The response from staff and the wider media community has been one of disappointment and concern. Many expressed shock at the abrupt nature of the decision, and at the loss of two platforms that helped define Caribbean digital media over the past decade.

“I still can’t believe it,” one Loop editor said anonymously. “We worked hard to build something credible, regional, and relevant. This feels like more than a corporate shift — it feels like the end of an era.”

The closure raises broader questions about the future of independent, regional news media in the Caribbean. With Loop gone, there’s now a major gap in accessible, regionally connected journalism — particularly on mobile-first platforms.

As Loop’s website now carries only a farewell message, and SportsMax counts down its final weeks, Caribbean media consumers are left wondering: what comes next?

And more urgently — who will fill the vacuum left behind?