Dear Readers,
This weeks Editorial comes from Barefoot’s Winter Intern on our the education system post dorian. We have to be very honest here, we are very proud! Enjoy.
Last week, many students in the Northern Bahamas - specifically on Grand Bahama, returned to the classroom for the first time since Hurricane Dorian. While many parents were undoubtedly happy about the resumption of classes, a recent conversation with a teenager in my life, however gave me some interesting insights into how I imagine many young people may be feeling.
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NEMA, Grand Bahama Shower Royal Caribbean with thanks in field kitchen send off after 600,000 meals, feeding continues with Cruise Line support of church and homes for the aged kitchens.
There were days when volunteers like Brittany Smith thought the work and the lines would never end, but there was never a moment when she thought of quitting. Smith, a Royal Caribbean crew member was one of more than 1020 people who over a period of more than a month turned out up to 20,000 meals a day in a bustling field kitchen set up and staffed by Royal Caribbean for survivors of Dorian, the catastrophic Cat 5 hurricane that pounded Grand Bahama and Abaco in the northern Bahamas. For Smith, the morning-to-night kitchen duty had double meaning – her family, missing for days, were survivors themselves. “They were in Abaco,” she said. “And everybody was asking, ‘Did you see them? Have you heard anything?” Finally, after a week had passed, she got the good news, they were alive. And like many of the volunteers, crew members and Royal Caribbean staff who came from Miami headquarters to work in the field kitchen, she radiated goodwill.
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Video Update: The Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation's progress in Grand Bahama. |
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Grand Bahama Utility Company Wellfields Inundated from Dorian Surge |
It is now six weeks since Dorian’s passage through The Bahamas and the Grand Bahama Utility Company (GBUC), a subsidiary of Port Group Ltd (PGL) continues to work unflaggingly to fully restore its water services to residents across the Island.
Hurricane Dorian caused catastrophic damage, inundating over 90 percent of GBUC’s wellfields with seawater. “Our groundwater reserves were severely impacted and intruded with salinity,” said Geron Turnquest General Manager GBUC. “Over the last few weeks we have assessed our wellfields, and we now have the data to make decisions and implement immediate actions that will help in the recovery of our potable water supply.” |
Junkanoo Commandos’ relationship with Norfolk’s Caribbean Community results in donation of hurricane relief supplies |
Executives of the Junkanoo Commandos cultural organization turned over the paperwork to twenty-two, 55-gallon barrels filled with hurricane relief supplies to the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development -- the result of a Bahamas Hurricane Relief Extravaganza organized by the Caribbean People Organization (CPO), Inc. a 501c3 organization, based in Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America.
The extravaganza was held Sunday, September 29 at the Chinese Community Association of Hampton Roads. Thirty Caribbean-owned businesses that are based in Norfolk participated in the Hurricane Relief effort. |
Heads of Agreement signed for $64 million development of Medical University in Grand Bahama |
Today the Government of The Bahamas signed a Heads of Agreement with Western Atlantic University of Medicine Ltd. for the establishment and operation of a University School of Medicine in Freeport.
The development represents a $64 million investment and will provide hundreds of construction and permanent jobs.
Prime Minister Minnis described Monday’s signing as an important part of the Hurricane Dorian recovery and reconstruction effort. “This development represents a significant investment in Grand Bahama, the country’s second largest economy,” said the Prime Minister. It is estimated that in the University’s first 10 years of operation, student and faculty spending on housing, food, entertainment, goods and on-island transportation, will provide a combined $200 million in revenue for Grand Bahama. |
| Campbell backs duo’s travel to U.S. Leadership Training Conference |
Officials at the Department of Social Services, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, provided a travel subvention to officials of two of the country’s organizations that advocate on behalf of the deaf and hearing impaired, to ensure their attendance at the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) United States Leadership Training Conference (NLTC).
Held in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America, October 16-19, the NAD Leadership Training Conference seeks to foster the enhanced development of leadership within state associations, organizations, and corporations. Recognized as the USA’s premier civil rights organization of, by, and for deaf and hearing impaired individuals, the NAD’s mission is to provide guidance and support to the deaf and hard of hearing community to take on society’s challenges and succeed in a more equal and accessible world. |
Morton Salt and BIMAWU Sign Historic Five Year Industrial Agreement |
Morton Salt and the Bahamas Industrial Manufacturers and Allied Workers Union (BIMAWU) signed a five year industrial agreement that was witnessed by the Minister of Labour, Senator the Honourable Dion Foulkes at the Department of Labour on Monday, October 21, 2019. The agreement includes wage increase, production bonus, shift premium and holiday pay increases as well as health benefits for workers. Minister Foulkes who and his team at the Department of Labour presided over the negotiations between Morton Salt and the BIMAWU described the contract signing as historic. Dorian. |
$64 million school of medicine will help GB to rebuild |
FREEPORT, Grand Bahama - A $64 million Heads of Agreement was signed on Monday, October 21, between the Government of The Bahamas and Western Atlantic University School of Medicine.
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis, was accompanied to Freeport by Minister of Education, the Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd and Minister of Health, the Hon. Dr. Duane Sands. Also present was Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson; Ian Rolle, president of the Grand Bahama Port Authority; senior government officials as well as Peter Goetz, CEO and Managing Member of Western Atlantic University and staff members from Western Atlantic. Western Atlantic University will offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in allopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, osteopathy and nursing, and nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant programmes. |
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#242NewsWeather'cause its always Better in The Bahamas: |
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| October 25, 2019 - Black Out: Art in the Dark, Popop Studios, Dunmore Avenue 6:30pm - 9:00pm
October 26 - 27, 2019 - Wine & Art Festival at Bahamas National Trust 12pm - 7pm
October 30, 2019 - Hallowine at Liquid Courage, Cable Beach 6pm - 9pm
October 31, 2019 - Trick or Treat at Kelly's, The Mall at Marathon 4pm - 7pm
November 9, 2019 - Toyland Opening at Kelly's, The Mall at Marathon 9am - 12pm
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| October 26, 2019 - Annual Halloween Kids Workshop at Bootleg Chocolate's 10am-3pm
November 2, 2019 - Conchman Triathlon, Taino Beach 6am
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| Events are on hold for Abaco until further notice. We do encourage you to eat at local restaurants, shop in local stores... to get both the economies going! |
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#242newsbahamas (242) 352-4578 |
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