#Freeport, Grand Bahama – October 6, 2020 – With the support of the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) Limited, Genesis Academy’s Principal, Dr. Ricardo Major, and his staff will restart in-person lessons at the facility in late November.
Genesis Academy offers
Programme S.U.R.E. (Success Ultimately Reassures Everybody), a
subset of the Government of The Bahamas’ Ministry of Education (MOE). The Programme is tailored to troubled
teens who are trying to refocus on their education and obtain their high school
diplomas in Grand Bahama. With six trained, specialized staff, Genesis helps mainstream
students who are recovering from substance abuse, criminal rehabilitation, and
other needs not applicable to a regular classroom. It offers small classes, low teacher/student ratios and provides students
with individualized access to academic development, behaviour therapy, social
interaction and experiential training services.
“For over 20 years, the GBPA has provided
this facility for the Ministry of Education, as well as supporting the Academy’s
after-school programs and projects that help to guide these students back into mainstream life and
become productive citizens,” said Dr. Major. “On behalf of the Ministry, we appreciate the value the Port Authority
sees in our Programme. They have supported our Academy 100% and believe in
these students who, with our help, will become great members of the community.”
Genesis is located
in the Children’s Village near the Grand Bahama Children’s Home in Freeport and
was inundated with floodwater during Hurricane Dorian. The flooding destroyed
most of the interior, and the roof and the students’ agriculture and aquaponics systems were
also significantly impacted. “We hope to have the aquaponics area rebuilt, as learning
agriculture is a great outlet for our students and creates innovative
opportunities for them,” added Dr. Major.
With the work of the GBPA’s reconstruction
team and G&T Construction, the building
refurbishment is almost complete and awaiting final inspection with the Building &
Development Services Department. With MOE Superintendent approval, it will
reopen soon, and Genesis students will start school shortly after via smaller
classrooms at current public schools, and then will move back into their
facility in late fall.
“Every child deserves a second chance,” said Sarah St. George, GBPA Acting Chairman.
“Dr. Major and his team have helped rehabilitate many a wayward teen who just
needed that little bit more time, that little bit more attention and care. I believe in supporting our youth; they are our
future, so we must do everything we can to help guide them through tough times.
No child should feel forgotten. We will continue to support the after-school
programs such as chess, aquaponics, carpentry and traditional agricultural
programs because it makes a huge difference. We know our support
helps these children become better citizens for our home, our city and our
island.”
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The Bahamas is on its way to greater national food security and being less dependent on food imports with the Ministry of Agriculture’s container farms, two of them, provided by Eeden Farms.
On its Facebook, the ministry informs that the farms, both 40 feet, are able to produce the equivalent of 5 acres of high quality produce annually, resistant to hurricanes and pesticide free.
A container farm is a 21st century farming method that involves growing plants inside customized storage or shipping containers.
The Bahamas’ Prime Minister Philip Davis reiterated the threats of climate change to The Bahamas, speaking at a Global Citizen Conference in New York on May 2. He spoke of The Bahamas’ vulnerability as an ocean state, highlighting that more than 85 percent of the landmass is less than 3 meters above sea level and is porous limestone; a huge issue as water is able to seep into the land due to rising sea-levels. He expressed that Bahamians are “Doomed” to become climate refugees.
Bird Flu has been detected in domesticated birds in the US and now reports are saying in the next few months, chicken and turkey will more than likely be off the shelves as a result.
Bahamas supermarket mogul, Rupert Roberts, as owner of Super Value and Quality Supermarkets, is featured in a report by Guardian Business giving a frightening forecast. He fears poultry products will be wiped out.
This he says is scary.
He adds that suppliers are not saying much if anything at all, but are expecting this outcome worldwide.
The bird flu was found in chickens in Texas and Michigan, said media reports which also said one person was infected, as well as other livestock.
In response to the outbreak, the largest egg producer in the US, CalMaine Foods, temporarily stopped egg production in Texas and started executing over 1 million hens and 337 thousand chicks.
Despite this, Roberts reportedly said chicken and turkey supplies are safe for now. The Bahamas imports its turkey from Brazil, which Roberts hopes will grow to become the country’s main supplier.
However, the unfortunate outcome is that poultry prices are set to go up according to Roberts, as the small island nation competes with giant economies like China for poultry products.