Bahamas News
BAHAMAS: AG Bethel hosts ‘Stakeholder Meeting’ with IDB/CSJP officials
#Bahamas, May 11, 2018 – Nassau – Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Carl W. Bethel, QC, recently hosted officials from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and The Bahamas’ Citizens Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) to a Stakeholder Meeting at the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, Paul L. Adderley Building, John F. Kennedy Drive.
The Attorney General was accompanied by Minister of State for Legal Affairs, the Hon. Elsworth Johnson; Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, Marco Rolle; Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, Sonia Culmer; Danya Parker-Wallace, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs, Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs; Shane Miller, Assistant Director of Legal Affairs, Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, and Loren Klein, Consultant, Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs.
The Stakeholder Meeting afforded IDB and CSJP officials the opportunity to provide the Attorney General with an update on the progress of Component III of the Citizens Security and Justice Programme, which focuses on the further strengthening of the Administration of Justice System.
Attorney General Bethel said there is “a unity of purpose” and commitment on behalf of the Government of The Bahamas, and the various governmental ministries/agencies involved in the project, to the success of the Citizen Security and Justice Programme.
“We realize that we cannot keep doing the same things, the same ways, expecting different results,” Attorney-General Bethel said. “The project provides opportunities for us to re-imagine, particularly with regards to the treatment of young offenders, and further opportunities as to what can be done to turn things around; what can be done to intervene earlier, and so it is critically important.”
Dr. Dorcas Cox, Project Manager, said the Stakeholder Meeting with the Attorney General was “part of the ongoing process to get an understanding from the stakeholder perspective.
“The meeting enabled us to determine what value are we already providing; what value does he require in the future; is the project providing him (in this case) with the outputs he needs to realize the mandate and the vision and the mission of the Government of The Bahamas. The fact that the Attorney General embraces the programme and is committed to it, is wonderful news. It means that all we have to do is to keep him informed, keep him plugged in and engaged, and meet those expectations that he shared with us,” Dr. Cox added.
Funded by a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank, the CSJP has four components, the first of which deals with Conflict Resolution in a non-violent manner.
Component Two, addresses the lack of employability among young persons. Partnering with the Ministry of Labour (Department of Labour) and the National Training Agency, 2,600 young persons between the age of 15-29 will receive a cross-section of training targeted at soft skills instruction — communication, teamwork, proper job etiquette and technical skills training — with an opportunity to obtain some work experience in the hospitality and retail industries.
Component Three focuses on the further strengthening of the Administration of Justice System; while Component Four deals with the rehabilitation and re-integration into society of offenders both in the adult population of the Bahamas Department of Corrections as well as the juvenile facilities, Simpson Penn Centre for Boys and the Willa Mae Pratt Centre for Girls.
The CSJP calls for a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary approach “that necessitates the expertise of multiple ministries and governmental bodies, the business community, educators, the Clergy and Civil Society.”
Government ministries and their departments and agencies involved in the Programme include the Ministry of National Security (as the Government’s Executing Agency), the Ministry of Finance (Government liaison with the Inter-American Development Bank), Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Services.
The Office of the Judiciary (Supreme and Magistrates’ Courts) is also a part of the Programme.
“One of the major outputs in component three is an effective Integrated Case Management System across the entire Administration of Justice landscape. Stakeholders will be the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Supreme and Magistrates’ Courts, the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Department of Corrections.
“From arrest, to trial, to conviction, all of those stakeholders play an integral role in criminal justice administration. And so the system is designed to bring technology to bear so that we can reduce the backlog by reducing the amount of paper we have to distribute.
“The plan is to also improve communication across those various platforms and across those departments, enhance the scheduling and monitoring of cases, scheduling of cases, while ensuring that we have faster access to court transcripts. It’s a significant initiative.”
By: Matt Maura (BIS)
Photo Caption: Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Carl W. Bethel, QC, (seated centre) recently met with officials from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Citizens Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) during a Stakeholder Meeting at the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, Paul L. Adderley Building, John F. Kennedy Drive. The Stakeholder Meeting afforded IDB and CSJP officials with the opportunity to provide the Attorney General with an update of the progress of Component III of the Citizens Security and Justice Programme which focuses on the further strengthening of the Administration of Justice System.
Pictured along with Attorney General Bethel (seated from left) are: Danya Parker-Wallace, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs, OffIce of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs; the Hon. Elsworth Johnson, Minister of State for Legal Affairs; and Marco Rolle, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs. IDB officials are photographed in foreground. Our second photograph shows the full group during a Courtesy Call that preceded the Stakeholder Meeting.
(BIS Photos/Derek Smith)
The Bahamas, March 30, 2026 – The voice of a proud mother captured the spirit of a nation Monday night, as Bendra Rolle shared heartfelt reflections on the overwhelming Bahamian support for her son, VJ Edgecombe, during the Philadelphia 76ers matchup against the Miami Heat in Miami.
“The patriotic support and scenery at my son, VJ Edgecombe’s NBA game… was overwhelming,” Rolle said in a statement issued following the game. “The arena in Miami was lit. Bimini and the Bahamas showed up and showed out.”
Her words come amid what has already been widely described as a remarkable showing of national pride, with Bahamians traveling in large
numbers to South Florida to witness the young guard’s continued rise. For Rolle, however, the moment extended far beyond basketball.
“Beyond VJ’s basketball talents, I’m so moved by his magnetic personality and personal journey to inspire and excite an entire nation—our beloved Bahamas,” she said. “I thank God for VJ’s humility and for his hunger for greatness. He never forgets how far God has brought us.”
While the Sixers did not secure the win on the night, Edgecombe delivered a solid individual performance, finishing with 13 points and five assists. He made an early impact on the game, showing confidence and poise before foul trouble disrupted his rhythm, but still managed to leave his mark in meaningful minutes.
The game itself evolved into a cultural showcase, with Bahamian flags waving throughout the arena and chants ringing out in support of Edgecombe. Much of that presence was bolstered by a coordinated travel push from Bahamasair, which helped facilitate fan travel and added to the electric atmosphere in Miami.
Rolle said the emotional weight of the moment was deeply felt by her family, as they witnessed firsthand the unity and pride of the Bahamian people.
“Thanks and love for the tears and overwhelming joy on Monday, Bahamas,” she expressed. “The Bahamian flags were love, loud, and proud. On my own behalf, VJ, and the entire family, I am ever grateful for the indescribable experience.”
Her closing words underscored what many have described as the true victory of the night—not the final score, but the powerful display of national pride and support surrounding one of The Bahamas’ rising stars.
PHOTO BY SIXERS NATION
Bahamian pride is already on full display in South Florida, with fans arriving in strong numbers ahead of tonight’s highly anticipated NBA matchup featuring VJ Edgecombe and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Helping to power that movement was Bahamasair, which rolled out a strategic promotion to facilitate travel, turning the game into a full-scale national showing.
And the celebration started early.
A “Bahamas Invades Florida” pre-party over the weekend set the tone, with Bahamian fans, DJs and supporters converging in Fort
Lauderdale to build momentum ahead of the game. The event, marketed as a major cultural gathering, has spilled into Miami, where a strong Bahamian presence is expected inside the arena tonight.
This is no ordinary road game.
The Sixers enter the matchup healthy and are favoured to win, adding to the anticipation surrounding what many expect to be a standout performance by the Biminite guard.
Edgecombe, the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has been electric in his rookie season — delivering high-scoring performances and quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s most exciting young talents.
But beyond the stats, it’s the moment that matters.
With South Florida just a short flight away, Bahamians have seized the opportunity to show up in force — flags, energy and all — transforming the game into something far bigger than basketball.
A national turnout.
A rising star.
And a night where the Bahamas is expected to be felt — from tip-off to final buzzer.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
The Bahamas, March 18, 2026 – Twenty days into the latest Middle East escalation, the United Nations is warning the conflict is spreading beyond its original battlefield, as the death toll rises and governments around the world issue urgent travel advisories — including The Bahamas.
In a March 17 statement, the UN Secretary-General’s office said the war must stop and called for all Security Council resolutions to be respected, noting with concern that countries in the Gulf continue to be targeted, raising fears of a wider regional confrontation.
The current round of fighting began February 28 with strikes involving the United States, Israel and Iranian-linked forces, followed by missile and drone attacks across Iraq, Lebanon and parts of the Gulf.
International monitors report more than 1,300 people killed in Iran alone, with additional casualties reported in Lebanon, Israel and Gulf states. U.S. officials confirm at least 13 American service members have died since the escalation began, while reports indicate additional senior Iranian military leaders were killed in recent strikes.
Despite the growing violence, several NATO countries including the United Kingdom, France and Germany have not joined offensive operations, instead calling for diplomacy to prevent the conflict from widening.
The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also issued a travel advisory, warning Bahamian nationals to avoid travel to Israel, Palestine, Iran and Lebanon and to reconsider travel across much of the Gulf region due to the risk of sudden escalation, flight disruptions and security threats.
Officials say Bahamians already in the region should remain vigilant and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
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