The Bahamas 42nd Independence

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Souvenir Booklet

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I Pledge my allegiance to the flag and to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas For which it stands, one people united in love and service.

NASSAU ZNS Radio Building Harcourt “Rusty” Bethel Drive off Collins Avenue P.O. Box N-8172 Nassau, Bahamas Tel: (242) 326-5803 Fax: (242) 326-5816

The Hon. Obie Wilchcombe Minister of Tourism with responsibility for BIS Mr. Harrison Thompson Permanent Secretary Mr. Luther E. Smith Director General BIS

FREEPORT Office of the Prime Minister Government Complex East Mall Drive, 4th Floor P.O. Box F-60137 Freeport, Grand Bahama Tel: (242) 352-8525 Fax: (242) 352-8520

Produced by Special Projects Unit BIS Elcott Coleby Deputy Director Frederica Lightbourne Administrative Director A Culture Shock Media/Project Masters

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CULTURE

42 Cultural Legends

The Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of independence, July 10th 2015-“The Year of Culture”- presents to the country Forty-Two CULTURAL LEGENDS for National Recognition, Honour and Highest Commendation.

Drawn from a multi-layered field of endeavor, our 42 CULTURAL LEGENDS have distinguished themselves through their art form and expression, and accordingly have humbly achieved status amongst their peers and the public consensus of appreciation.

It is with profound gratitude, we present the 42 CULTURAL LEGENDS:-

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HOPE CURRY 27

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1. Patrice Johnson 2. Viveca Watkins 3. Smokey 007 4. The Region Bells 5. The Rahming Brothers 6. The Cooling Waters 7. Sister Rachel Mackey 8. Paul Knowles 9. Fast Eddie Dames 10. Terez Hepburn 11. Bert Williams 12. Johnny Kemp 13. Sweet Richard 14. Berkley Van Byrd 15. Dry Bread (Cyril Ferguson)

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BROTHER BARRY 34

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16. Eric Minns 17. Pat Rahming 18. K.B. (Kirkland Bodie) 19. Eugene Davis 20. Funky D (David Ferguson) 21. Fred Ferguson 22. Ira Storr 23. Nehemiah Hield 24. Max Taylor 25. Frank Penn 26. Nita Ellis 27. Priscilla Rollins 28. Claudette "Cookie" Allens 29. Hope Curry 30. Phil Stubbs 31. Arlene Nash Ferguson 32. Abigail Charlow 33. Joanne Callender 34. Telcine Turner-Rolle 35. Greg Lampkin 36. Brother Barry 37. Rev. JJ Stubbs 38. Veronica Bishop 39. Duke Errol Strachan 40. Alton Lowe 41. Royal Bahamas Police Force Band 42. Terez Davis (Dynamite Daisy)

MESSAGE FROM HER EXCELLENCY DAME MARGUERITE PINDLING GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS

My Fellow Bahamians, I greet you heartily as we celebrate the forty-second anniversary of our Independence, rejoicing in our accomplishments with jubilation, and re-committing ourselves to the further development of our Sovereign Country.

I am delighted to note this year that we celebrate under the theme “Our Children, Our Future.” This is highly appropriate, in as much as it provides the opportunity tor reflection on the fact that the majority of our people are under the age of 25 years.

Our young Bahamians are the leaders of the future, and it is essential that they be well-equipped in order to build on the foundation already established, and which, properly nurtured, will carry The Bahamas forward in the years to come. As Parents and Guardians, and indeed all adult Bahamians, we must therefore dedicate our efforts toward preparing them to assume the important role which citizenship conveys.

As we contemplate the future, I urge all of us to recommit ourselves to those values which will keep our families strong, our children safe and protected, our youth motivated to aspire to excellence, and our communities caring and supportive. Above all we must remain united and maintain the capacity to demonstrate love and respect everywhere.

Let us all resolve to unite in dedication to the maintenance of those tried and proven virtues which will bring us success, demonstrating good family values, respect for others, and upholding law and order so that we will ever rejoice as “One People, United in Love and Service.”

Happy 42nd Independence Anniversary to all!

Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling Governor-General of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas

The 2015 Future Teachers of The Bahamas

Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling Governor-General of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas

MESSAGE FROM THE RT. HON. PERRY G. CHRISTIE, MP, PRIME MINISTER OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS

I begin by offering my congratulations and best wishes to the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas on this, the 42nd Anniversary of the Independence of our great nation. I cannot do so without reflecting on the indomitable struggles of our past heroes, as well as ordinary men and women who committed themselves to the ideals of Independence and in so doing have brought us to this point in time. It is also worth reflecting on the “post-independence� generation, those citizens who have lived in a free and independent nation and who through their own actions have given us the nation that we have today. It is with pride that I congratulate all Bahamians who have been involved in this seamless evolutionary process and we applaud their achievements.

Today, 42 years after 1973 we turn our gaze to our children, our future. The question must surely be asked: what will our country be like in another 42 years and what will be the attributes of our nation at that time. As we fast forward, we can only hope that it will continue to be a nation that believes in democracy and the Rule of Law, that it will continue to be a Christian Nation as set out in the Preamble to The Bahamian Constitution, that it will be a nation where tolerance and the acceptance of diversity of views prevail and that it will be a nation of pride and patriotism and above all we will continue the upward thrust that our visionary founders believed in so that The Bahamas can aspire to become the best little country in the world.

The test as to whether this would be achieved will depend on our children. They represent the future. It is for this reason that we must, especially now, inculcate those enduring values that will guarantee that The Bahamas remains on its path of progress and success. These are values of hard work, ambition, cultural and artistic accomplishments, loyalty, prudence and respect for others. This is not a task which can only be achieved by our system of education but must also be reinforced in the home and in other institutions and by those of us who find ourThe Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie selves in a position of mentors and leaders. It is a task which each and every Bahamian must Prime Minister/Minister of Finance take on and we must do so by our words, by our actions and by our examples. Good citizens are formed by the ethos of the community and the society and we will need the community to ensure that as we continue to walk this journey of nationhood that our children will lead us into the future with confidence.

As Bahamians of every walk of life and from every corner of our archipelago come together to celebrate our unique achievement as an independent nation, I urge you to be proud of where we have come from and to be even more confident that a bright future lies ahead of us.

Happy Independence, Bahamas!

The Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie Prime Minister/Minister of Finance

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MESSAGE FROM CHAIRMAN OF THE 42ND ANNIVERSARY INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS & MINISTER OF TOURISM

On July 10, 1973, The Bahamas became a free and sovereign nation, ending 325 years of peaceful British rule.

The Bahamas is still a young nation - only 42-years-old - with a relatively small population. However, there is much for which the nation’s citizens should be proud.

We have built up our nation to be one of the wealthiest in the region, as we became a leader in the tourism and financial industries, setting the gold standard with other nations looking to see what they could do to emulate us.

Hon. Obadiah H. Wilchcombe

Minister of Tourism/Chairman of 42nd Independence Celebrations

We are well-respected on the world stage as our people continue to represent us in the area of sports, entertainment and culture and so many other spheres of life.

As the Chairman of CARICOM, this tiny nation’s current Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie, is travelling the globe representing the whole Caribbean Community in areas of concern to the region.

This nation might be small, but we have more Olympic medals than countries with millions of people, and we continue to nurture individuals who can compete on the world stage in any arena.

The founding fathers of this nation, wished nothing more than for The Bahamian people to excel through love and unity, knowing that God will see us through once we do not lose sight of the fact that all things good come from Him whom we serve.

Each year as we observe Independence, let us not take it as just another holiday.

Instead, let us work together to ensure that The Bahamas continues to prosper for future generations to come.

Best wishes to all!

Hon. Obadiah H. Wilchcombe Minister of Tourism/Chairman of 42nd Independence Celebrations

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42nd Year of Anniversary

1973 2015 And a child shall lead them: “I’ll go alone!”

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orty-two years ago on a bright and sunny afternoon as a fresh Independence breeze air conditioned Clifford Park thousands of school children adorned in jumpers depicting the three colours of our new national flag took to the field to demonstrate an emerging love and patriotism for our new nation.

The performances of these children capped months of preparation and training led by the then Minister for Education The Hon. Livingstone Coakley.

He assembled a team of Timothy Gibson, then

“I peep at my past Through the limbs of a tree; A little Black boy With little bare feet Chirping ‘Rule Britannia’ Innocently.”

-Robert L. Johnson The Road 1973

Music Master for the Ministry, E. Clement Bethel, for whom the national arts festival now takes its name; Mrs. Patricia Bazzard and Shirley Hall Bass, the renowned choreographer and dancer, who this country graciously borrowed from Chicago, Illinois to create the theatre of National Independence in 1973.

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It was only fitting that children should lead the way.

Perhaps the most compelling proposition for Independence had come during a speech by Prime Minister Lynden Pindling leading into the pivotal and crucial 1972 general elections, upon which the plebiscite on Independence rested.

Pindling, in one of his many vintage oratorical moments recalled how on a campaign swing in the tiny settlement of McKanns in North Long Island, a young school girl got up to read a poem she had written as the then colony stood on the crossroads of a momentous landmark decision.

“I’ll ask my mother to come go with me.

And if she says NO. I will go alone….

“I’ll ask my father to come go with me.

And if he says NO. I will go alone…”

To have witnessed the Birth of Our New Nation on the morning of Tuesday July 10th, 1973 shall forever remain a precious, cherished and special experience and a treasured memory.

The magnificently wonderful historical testimony about that morning shall forever be reposed in the living memories of the many who began assembling on Clifford Park before the sunset that Monday to await the most eventful morning, and to witness the end of an epoch and the start of a brand new era with the Birth of Our Nation 42 years ago.

You would have listened by Radio Bahamas and the anxious announcers: Calsey Johnson, Carl Bethel, Ed Bethel, Don Pritchard, Elva Russell, Cindy Williams and Reg Smith providing colour commentary as their voices crackled with emotion, so rightly attached to that moment .… National television would come four years later; but for then, Radio would do it.

Others cut out the newspaper pages of our new flag, unfurling, freely, resplendent in the fresh winds of change and captured in the many photographs of E. Garth Mitchell, Philip Symonette, Freddie Nabbie, Gus Roberts, Bruce Delancey, Stanley Toogood, Andrew Aitken, Howard Glass, Roland Rose and Freddie Maura.

And there are those who would have heard the stories from community leaders and church elders, who talked about it all day long … what did they see?… what did they hear?… how did they feel? Still, many of you would have sat through the unending recitations of long school essays on our emergence from the abstract of infinitive “Subjects of the United Kingdom and her Realms and Territories in the Colony of the Bahama Islands” to become citizens of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Independence was a mighty big first footstep forward and it is important to

look back at how that generation came of age - embracing this bold and novel trek on the bridge to the future.

by, made way for the radio drama, “Dr. Paul”. Now total silence was the order of the day for the one o’clock news.

Home-based businesses in tailoring and barbering were identified with the marquee “DONE WITHIN.”

The nostalgia of July 1973 may hold some clues to what influences impacted the culture to embrace nationhood.

Father Allen and Keith’s were the luxuries of Bahamian fast food. Baseball and basketball shared wide fan base support with stars like Tyrone Aker Strachan, Peter Macaroni Gilcud, Peter Brown, Hank Williams, Wenty Ford, Peter Bethell and Sterling Quant.

If you did not have a 20-foot antenna on your roof … you did not own a television set.

The week of July 10th 1973 met the sultry voice of Diana Ross of the Supremes fame blaring from radios everywhere with her number one romantic hit, “Touch Me in the Morning.” After Morning Devotions on Radio Bahamas, Manu Debango’s “Soul Makossa” sparked the morning rush and bled into a long playing version of “Che Che Merengue” or Andre Toussaint’s “Where have all the flowers gone?”

Another memorable number one song in the USA and on our radio was Jim Croce’s “Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown.” Exuma, the Obeah Man had a “Brown Girl in the Ring;” “Housewives Choice” with Cindy Williams or Nadine Bene-

Horse racing at Hobby Horse Hall at Cable Beach was a family-packed entertainment center. Sunday evening family drives across the island ended at Howard Johnson’s Ice Cream in the Nassau Beach Hotel.

Nassau had two major traffic lights – Wulff Road and Collins Avenue and Blue Hill Road and Meeting Street.

Mailboats like “Air Swift,” “The Gary Roberts” and “Air Pheasant” were still the major transportation of choice to get to the Family Islands.

A Haitian immigrant community was noticeably emerging in Carmichael, the farming district and in the crowded urban area of Coconut Grove, Englerston.

Coin Laundromats were operated by the American Lloyd Burnside and six Pepsi bottle caps got children into the Saturday matinee at the Wulff Road Theatre, the East Street Cinema or the Market Street Capitol movie houses.

The Nassau Guardian was a morning newspaper and The Tribune hit the streets after 4 pm.

The political parties churned out their side of the story each weekend. The

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PLP with the Bahamian Times and The Herald and later The People and the FNM with The Torch.

The Yellow Bird, Central Highway Inn, Father Allen and the Blue Notes Room were lively and provocative stages for local musicians and were all within a three mile radius.

Evening family entertainment for those who did not have a television set was the radio programme “The Bahamas Champion of Knowledge,” hosted by the husband and wife team of Richard Crawford and Sylvia Larramore Crawford.

The Nassau Shop was the largest and classiest department store on Bay Street and the Stop N Shop, further east on Bay, or the Iron Mongery were the housewives’ choice. Mr. Wells sat

in the narrow door way of “The Hole in the Wall” and jitneys went by the name Swan, Bahamas, Thrifty, Economy; and everyone knew Jimmy the driver from Port Au Prince.

Sands Fountain was a major landmark adjacent to the Churchill Building, the Fish House and Fruit and Vegetable Market were situated on the Wharf and horses drank from large stone overflowing troughs on Frederick Street. Straw Vendors were sprawled on the sidewalks from the Bank of Nova Scotia on Parliament Street to the Woodes Rodgers Wharf.

Traffic flowed in the opposite direction on Bay Street and Policemen rode “Iron Donkey” bicycles in long pants, blew whistles to summon help and the Austin Morris, a British vehicle that looked like a derby hat sitting on

wheels, was the Police official transport. The diesel Mercedes engine rata-tat chime of the meter taxi buzzed its beat alongside clog-less streets. Fish vendors on bicycles or from the trunk of old cars came to the community to sell “fresh fish” and people bought fish by the string. And the string was the fronds from the Bahamian Golden Coconut tree through the gill and out of the mouth of Jacks, Snappers, Google Eyes and Grunts and knotted.

Percy, Toote and Lil Mule were the web shop “Flowers” of the day and when the police talked about raiding a gambling house it meant a few guys were caught throwing dice.

The bell bottom pants and Jump Suits complete with elephant cuffs and in the colours of the national flag were the fashion craze for this event. This

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colourful, yet nationalistic fashion ensemble was courtesy of the Independence Commission for the Youth March and Show on Clifford Park that July 10. The Afro was still seen as an adult hair cut and adolescents and teenagers did not give barbers fancy instructions. We just sat patiently while the little hair we were allowed to grow came off and the Jervis lotion was sparingly splashed on a bald head.

The Kerosene Oil Pump with its elaborate gadgetry and its musty smell distinguished a well stocked store from a petty shop, and Lionel Carey’s on Market Street could not stock linoleum fast enough for kitchen floors.

The Hatchet Bay Milk Stands sold eggs, fresh milk, butter and ice cream at a chain of locations all over Nassau.

The $3 bill, the 15 cents coin and the 50 cents paper note were in active circulation.

Big name foreign companies like Navios and McAlpine anchored the emerging Middle Class labour force.

Out of this crucible -January 10th 1967 and the 1968 snap general election, a centrifuge of political maturity had enveloped our people.

The only brand name we knew about fashion or got in clothes Buster Brown, Curity diapers, Hanes and Fruit of the Loom underwear.

This was our beloved Bahamas of 1973. Such warm nostalgia.

Boys and Girls played Hop Scotch and shot marbles in the dirt; and played pegging with Lignum Vitae Tops.

We made Cubie and Box Kites with elongated tails and never got bored about having to wait for 20 more years for our Cell Phone, our Ipods and our Tablets.

Grade Six students were pumped to set and pass the Common Entrance Examination. A seat in the Government High School was the Holy Grail.

Black Students were living with the White Students in dormitories at Queen’s College, after Sean McWeeney had called out the White Head Master and the radical youth organization UNICOM had shut its mouth on socialism.

The hottest gossip in Nassau was still about a Bahamian jumping down from the Catholic Priesthood a year earlier to marry a Canadian teacher he met on campus at St. Augustine’s College, Nassau.

Bordens Dairy Milk Crates were nailed onto lamp poles for a friendly game of Basketball 21 and a cadre of teachers from England had arrived to teach in our primary and high schools.

“The Banana Boat Beat” was the hottest night club jingle; Pino’s Italian Restaurant in the Prince George Arcade down town had given up trying to convince Bahamians to eat pizza; Local soda came in the bottle … Bravo… Tropi-Cola, and Mom and Pop shops, covered every community and never imagined the forcible break and entry of the Supermarket.

Cruise ships like the Oceanic, Emerald Seas and the Flavia called at Prince George Wharf where boys dived off the dock for coins tossed into the sea by passengers.

Green pigeon peas were sold by the quart and you waited as the Vendor shelled them. King Edward was the name of a Cigar and Gold Star was the beer that “broke up the bar,” and “Becks” was “the big one.”

Children wrote in exercise books in school which had the portraits of Queen Elizabeth 11 and Prince Philip on the cover.

“Look Up. And move on. The World is watching,” properly scored the new value system of the emerging nation.

The heated political events post Majority Rule such as the defeated No Confidence Motion in Prime Minister Lynden Pindling and the cataclysmic events of the new ruling Progressive Liberal Party’s emergency Conclave at Small Hope Bay in Andros injected further political intrigue into the national conversation and consciousness.

Who could forget the bellowing voice of Cecil Wallace Whitfield at the party’s national convention at the

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British Colonial Hotel, down town, where he resigned as Cabinet Minister and his poetic speech in the House of Assembly … “Free at last, free at last … my soul is dancing.” The United Bahamian Party - a dinosaur and relic of a bygone era, essentially took itself off its political respirator and with its merger with the new Free PLP, essentially formed the hybrid Free National Movement. The 1970’s were indeed a political hot bed.

Trinidad attained its freedom a few weeks later on August 31st 1962.

And Barbados got Independence on November 30th 1966.

Yet Pindling, having emerged from another colossal victory over the UBP and the Free PLP in the 1970 Mangrove Cay By-Election, served notice on his countrymen that the PLP would lead the Colony to Independence after the 1972 General Election.

This was indeed one of the factors which aided in the maturing of the national debate on independence in 1971.

Blowing from other major former English colonies of the West Indies, the wind for change was on a direct path for the Bahama Islands.

Jamaica had gained its Independence on August 6th 1962.

One must remember that the Bahamas had recruited scores of policemen from these West Indian territories and they had brought with them their enlightenment about independence and the new emerging nationalism that was sweeping these former colonies.

Colonialism had left indelible scars.

The appointment of the Duke of Windsor, the abdicated King of England as Royal Governor of the Bahamas in 1940, had led to an escalation of the class divide and influenced the minority ruling class merchant oligarchy that theirs was a genetic right and all others should defer accordingly.

Oswald Brown, a journalist of the era writes that “through skilful gerrymandering of constituency boundaries, clever legal interpretations to deny black people the right to vote, “the status quo appeared invincible.”

The 1962 general election where women voted for the first time and the 1963 Constitutional Conference in London where the Colony was granted Internal Self Government together began to clear the way for the main event which was about to take the UBP by complete surprise on January 10th 1967.

“As sure as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west,” boasted Sir Stafford Sands, the czar of the Bay Street Boys, as the UBP were called, “we will win the general election.”

The Quiet Revolution had begun and the road to nationhood loomed on the horizon.

Prime Minister Pindling and his Cabinet released the Green Paper on

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Independence, which became the central hub of debate and discussion across the land.

A Colonial Governor Sir Francis Cumming Bruce travelled with a special government delegation around the Family Islands to gauge the communities and the peoples’ concerns and interests on the issue of Independence.

Pindling became the single personal focus of the anti-independence base.

So much so that he fretfully declared while on the independence campaign trail that the issue had become about him, rather than about independence.

The people went to the polls in 1972 and gave the PLP a landslide mandate to govern and to pursue independence.

In 1972 when the White Paper on Independence was tabled in the House of Assembly by Prime Minister Pindling, it was unanimously agreed to by both sides with the new Opposition

Leader Kendal G. L. Isaacs and his team supporting the measure.

The 1973 Independence Secretariat had galvanized the land. In an age where social media, cell phones, and local cable television programming were non-existent, with just Radio Bahamas and the eagerness and enthusiasm of the people, the Bahamas was ready on the morning of July 9th, 1973.

Thousands of Bahamians had attended the Government’s open Independence Conference held at the A. F. Adderley High School, Blue Hill and Harold Road.

Debate was lively and provocative everywhere. Just about every night another forum on Independence was being held at St. Mary’s Auditorium or Hall up at St. Augustine’s College.

The St. Agnes School Room on Cockburn Street became a revolving door of youth and panel discussions.

School children from primary, junior and senior levels were engulfed in the ceremonial performances of what we all knew would be the signature national event of a lifetime.

When the HMBS Britannia docked at the Prince George Dock brining HRH Prince Charles, 21 years old at the time to represent the Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II at the formal presentation of the Constitutional Instruments, the people were more than ready.

From the flurry of events was fast and furious: the Ecumenical Service on Clifford Park that morning led by the Reverend Dr. Reuben Cooper Sr.; laying of the cornerstone for the Central Bank; Milo Butler sworn in as the first Bahamian Governor General; the Youth performance at Clifford Park and the song writing and poetry performances, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas joined the global sovereign ranks as its newest independent member with all the aplomb given our culture.

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When Prime Minister Pindling travelled to New York later in the year with His Excellency Mr. L. B. Johnson as the country’s first Ambassador to the United Nations and our flag joined that of other nations on the United Nations building, hearts continued to swell with pride.

IT WAS NOT AN EASY ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE. But to place the historic significance of the event of independence in its correct and proper context within the broader evolution of what Bahamian historians call “the modern Bahamas,” one has to necessarily chronicle the significant events that shaped and characterized the modern Bahamas – one of which is independence.

EMANCIPATION OF SLAVERY/ POMPEY REBELLION IN EXUMA Dr. Gail Saunders, in her book, “The Bahamian Loyalists and their Slaves” reported this epiphany moment :-“In 1830, A.J. Lees, acting as Lord John Rolle’s agent, attempted to trans-

fer 77 of Rolle’s slaves from Exuma to Cat Island. Led by a 32-year-old slave named Pompey, a number of the slaves hid in the bush for several weeks and then stole a boat and sailed to Nassau to petition the Governor.

When Governor Smyth finally heard their case, he found that Lees had lied to obtain the transfer permit and ordered that the slaves be returned to the Rolle Plantation on Exuma where their peers celebrated their return and refused to work. The military was again called in, and searched the slave houses for arms, recovering 25 muskets. Pompey took a short cut through the woods and warned people in the second slave village on the plantation, who subsequently hid themselves and their weapons in the bush.”

The National Museum in Nassau is now named after Pompey and a statue has been erected in Exuma. For more information, visit The Bahamas National Archives, or read the history of The Bahamas and slavery in ‘Bahamian Loyalists and their Slaves’ by Dr Gail Saunders

Burma Road: The Awakening In the generally peaceful modern political history of The Bahamas, Monday, June 1, 1942 stands out as a moment of defiance. Hundreds of Bahamian workers employed on an American Government project to construct the Windsor Air Field in western New Providence, stood up and demanded to be paid wages equal to their American counterparts. They marched toward Nassau in an angry and disgusted mood as a last resort when negotiations on their behalf for equal pay apparently failed. The lead bargaining agents, the Hon A.F. Adderley, Dr. C.R. Walker and the Hon. Charles Rodriquez tried in vain for three long weeks to negotiate with the white minority government, but to no avail.

The inimitable Ronnie Butler in a clever and poetic case of art imitating life would later immortalise this event in an iconic Bahamian song called Burma Road. He melodiously captured the rage of the Bahamian labourers this way:

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“Going Down Burma Road “Going Down Burma Road “Going Down Burma Road “Don’t lick nobody”.

THE BIRTH OF THE PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PARTY The man generally credited with the conception of the first political party in The Bahamas, the birth of the Progressive Liberal Party, was House member (for Cat Island), Real Estate Broker and magazine publisher, William “Bill” Cartwright. He is reported to have invited the Hon. Charles Rodriquez, Henry Milton Taylor (the party’s first Chairman), Cyril St. John Stevenson, Samuel Carey, Holly Brown, Clement Pinder and F.W. Russell among others to his Bay Street

office for the first meeting that would lead to this formation. The course and mission of the PLP from the beginning were clear -- to represent all that were opposed to unfair privileges and the wealth and power this afforded to the Bay Street Boys. So on the 23rd November 1953, the Progressive Liberal Party was formed.

THE GENERAL STRIKE From the agitation of the labourers for equal pay, regardless of colour and nationality in 1942, labour has been an integral part of the struggle for social justice. In an obvious attempt to stifle the economic independence of the taxi cab drivers, members of the minority oligarchy suddenly decided to directly transport tourists to and from the airport and the hotels. In other words, no other persons would be allowed to carry incoming visitors.

The response from the taxi cab union was swift and drastic. On January 12, 1958, the day of the scheduled opening of the then Nassau International Airport (now LPIA), members of the Taxi Cab Union blockaded the entrance to the airport. The drivers of over 50 taxi cabs gave their keys to the late Clarence A. Bain who placed them in his briefcase and promised to keep them “til hell freeze” and whoever wanted the men to will “have to skate on thin ice.” Further, the Bahamas Federation of Labour headed by the late Sir Randol Fawkes, urged hotel and construction workers to strike in support of the taxi cab union. The result was the closing of hotels and a cessation of construction activity in New Providence. The strike lasted for 19 days.

“Not a sweat,” was the cry of the workers, until their demands were met. The

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General Strike of 1958 was the most far reaching and successful industrial action in the country.

BLACK TUESDAY Tuesday, the 27th April 1965 has gone down in Bahamian history as “Black Tuesday.” Ever since women secured the right to vote in 1962, the opposi-

the Hon. Paul L. Adderley argued that the constitution did not intend that the constituencies should be based on the number of registered voters, but the number of eligible voters. Those assertions were the principal bones of contention and so the stage was set.

So on Black Tuesday in the house

mission to delineate constituencies and boundaries instead of the House, which was the current practice. The proposed amendments were rejected by the governing side.

As tension built in the House, the crowd outside the House screamed “amend,” “amend.” This is when Lynden Pindling walked over to the Speaker’s table and lifted the 165-year-old mace, the symbol of the Speaker’s authority. “This is the symbol of authority” he said, “and authority on this island belongs to the people and the people are outside. Yes. The people are outside and the Mace belongs outside too.” With this Mr. Pindling hurled the Mace through the open window.

Majority Rule and the road to Independence

tion Progressive Liberal Party charged that the boundaries of the constituencies as set out by the ruling white minority in the House, were unfair and totally not representative of the people. Even though in national radio address, then Premier Sir Roland Symonette stressed the constitution’s words, “as far as reasonably practicable” in delineating the boundaries, the member for the Western District,

of Assembly, the governing United Bahamian Party sought approval for a Boundaries Draft Order, establishing the boundaries for the various constituencies in The Bahamas pursuant to provisions under section 63(1) of the 1964 Constitution. The PLP proposed a national voter registration drive to ascertain the number of eligible voters and their distribution. They also called for an independent boundaries com-

With the abolition of the property vote, together with the right of women to vote and the attainment of one man, one vote, Majority Rule became a reality on January 10th, 1967. With this new found self awakening and political awareness among the masses, the attention turned to issues of our national identity and our right to self determination and etching our mark as a nation on the international stage. The road to independence would be the next leg in our journey of national development and the deepening of our democracy, but this trek would not be an easy one.

Looking back now, 1967-1973, was an eventful and cataclysmic period: 1967-1973.

Pindling’s Progressive Liberal Party formed in 1953, the first political party in the colony would spend 12 long and arduous years in Opposition before Majority Rule would be achieved on

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January 10th 1967.

The election victories of Alvin Braynen in Eleuthera as an Independent and Randol Fawkes on the Labour ticket provided the impetus for a political deal which was consummated, by the then British Royal Governor Sir Ralph Grey, recognising the PLP as the Party which commanded the majority support in the House of Assembly and to invite Mr. Pindling to form a Government.

The FNM position was “Independence … Yes. But not at this time.”

The Colony of the Bahama Islands, with one of the major emerging economies in the region was about to embrace what Winston Churchill had seen “as the winds of change” blowing over the British Empire and the progressive move of nationalists to shake off the yoke of imperialism.

The 1972 General Election campaign many believe was the most unsettling in our history.

Prime Minister Pindling reportedly survived a plot to blow up a stage in Abaco where he was scheduled to make a pro Independence speech when it was learnt that dynamite and active fuses had been rigged and wired under the stage.

An American mercenary fighter from the Vietnam War known in Intelligence circles as “Mad Mitch” had been recruited by certain persons and was training and preparing a renegade militia in Abaco to resist Independence.

PLP Candidates in the 1972 general elections Sidney Carroll

and Oscar Johnson had their business places fire bombed.

The Bahamian people went to the polls on September 1972 and gave the PLP a landslide victory.

Independence had won.

Rallying the Bahamian people to unity in the aftermath of the general election and in the midst of a national sensitization programme on what independence would mean and represent. Prime Minister Pindling said nothing inspired him more and convinced him of the legitimacy of the hour for independence like a poem recited by a 12-year-old school girl in a school room at McKanns, Long Island in 1972.

“I’ll ask my father to come go with me…

And if he says no, I will go alone.

“I’ll ask my mother to come go with me …

And if she says no, I will go alone.

“I’ll ask my brother to come go with me…

And if he says no, I will go alone.

“I’ll ask my sister to come go with me…

And if she says no, I will go alone.”

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riscilla Jasmine Rollins (born March 24th 1944) affectionately known as the Bahamian Queen of Soul is a Bahamian entertainer and international recording artist. Born in Nassau Bahamas Priscilla got her musical start as a teenager singing with her mother in a now defunct gospel group of the late 50s - 60s called the Strachans Coral Group. As a teenager she also honed her skills singing at various talent shows and matinee dances. In the mid to late 60s Priscilla joined producer Cedric Munnings group The Mighty Makers. The group gained much national success and limited international notoriety. The group performed at almost all of

the hotspots of the era such as the Coyaba Room, Central Highway and a club called Sin. In 1972 Priscilla left the group to pursue a solo career, teaming up with famed Bahamian producer and entertainer Tony McKay a.k.a . Exuma. McKay took her to New York where she recorded her first album on the now defunct Roulette label.

Roulette never released the album in its entirety, but released singles from the album project. Independence Morning was release to commemorate the Bahamas attainment of independence on July 10th 1973.

The song made Priscilla a household name in the islands of the Bahamas.

Priscilla also performed in a command performance that year for H.R.H. Prince Charles to celebrate

the Bahamian Independence. Letter from Miami was also released that year and internationally sold over a million copies. The song was adapted

by McKey & Rollins from an old ring play song that children sang in the islands.

During the 1980 Priscilla teamed up with her new manager Horace Elliott of Paradise Records in Canada. To produce four albums namely, Lovers Choice vols. 1 & 2. Priscilla Rollins and Priscilla Rollins Meet Glen Ricketts. In 1985 Priscilla was awarded the top female artist award by the Canadian Reggae Music Awards.

During the late 90s Priscilla teamed up with musician/producer Lester Adderley formerly of the international recording group Inner Circle

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Lyrics to Independence Morning Independence morning, it’s like a baby borning.

Independence morning, it’s like a baby borning.

Independence Morning Written by Tony McKay

On July 10th, 1973, Bahamians everywhere were free Free to shape their destiny, in the land of the rolling sea Man and woman, boy and girl, their is none rich like our soil Independence morning, it’s like a baby borning.

Independence morning, it’s like a baby borning.

Let us always, walk with God, and heed the teachings of the Lord Let justice be for one and all, short and tall, big and small Let us stand up straight and tall, never let our banner fall Independence morning, it’s like a baby borning.

Independence morning, it’s like a baby borning.

This new nation is God’s creation, that’s what it is to me You always lend a helping, to the poor from any land Let our heart swell in our chest, we will always be our best

to produce her sixth album entitled take me home. She also teamed up with her oldest son Kendal to write two songs for two compilations CDs released by Stars Record called The Best of The Best Vol. 2 and Bahamian Divas. The songs were Blacker Da Berry (Sweet, Sweet Man) and I Win. Currently Priscilla is living in New Providence and is compiling material for her upcoming album. She is slated to go back into the studio in mid July. Priscilla has performed all over Canada the east cost of the US, Aruba, Puerto Rico, France and Germany.

Independence morning, it’s like a baby borning.

Independence morning, it’s like a baby borning.

Freedom for all, not just you and me, oppressor we must never be.

Always loving one another, always sister loving brother Love love and let it ring, Lift your head and sing Independence morning, it’s like a baby borning.

Independence morning, it’s like a baby borning.

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DEFINING THE NATION'S RICH HERITAGE

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B

y any measure, Jonathan “Johnny� Kemp was a Cultural Icon, Culture Warrior and his impact on music entertainment was global in its reach and scope. Born and raised in The Bahamas in 1959, Johnny would take all of his values, raw talents and skills developed and honed at home to the Big Apple at the tender age of twenty, but by 1988, he would find himself front and center and a principal personality in a cultural revolution.

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Johnny helped to define the dominant urban musical genre of the 1980’s called “New Jack Swing” and in collaboration with one of the most prolific music producers of that era, Teddy Riley, delivered the party anthem of the 1980’s, "Just Got Paid." This classic soared to Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and to number 1 on Billboard’s R&B Chart in 1988. It was a track from Johnny’s second album entitled Secrets of Flying released in 1987 on the Columbia label. The track was also nominated for Best R&B Song at the 1989 Grammy Awards.

Jonathan Kemp from little Nassau, Bahamas, had achieved international acclaim against tremendous odds. He was not yet thirty years old at the time.

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Johnny Kemp, 1988 Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives

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His crossover appeal and influence were further strengthened when one of the top pop groups of the 21st century, N'Sync covered Johnny’s hit ”Just Got Paid" on their 2000 album No Strings Attached. Additionally, Keith Sweat would invite Johnny to appear on his 2007 Sweat Hotel Live CD But beyond the glitz, glamour and world fame, Johnny’s personal story is but one example of the Bahamian story which teaches us as a people that regardless of the limitations of our social, economic or geographic circumstance, if we believe, dare to dream big, dedicate ourselves and work hard, we too can achieve big things. It may not necessarily be in the areas of culture, music or athletics and our scope of influence might not be on the world stage before a global audience, but we can lead revolutions and leave our indelible footprints of influence in our homes, communities, our churches, our social groups and our country just as Johnny helped to lead a musical revolution in New York City within the over-arching culture of Hip Hop.

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Jonathan “Johnny” Kemp, Cultural Icon, Culture Warrior and yes a Bahamian son will remain an inspiration to generations of Bahamians and beyond our borders through his body of work, his influence on popular music, his infectious smile and his easy going manner.

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THE GOLDEN

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O

n Friday, August 10th , 2012 The Bahamas team of Chris Brown, Demetrius Pinder, Michael Mathieu, and Ramon Miller shocked the world when they defeated the United States in the Men’s 4x400m relay. Only two other countries in history had won this event.

In 1952 in Helsinki, Jamaica won with Arthur Wint, George Rhoden, Les Laing, and Herb Mckenley.

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At the 2008 Beijing Games The Bahamas won the silver medal with Andretti Bain, Michael Mathieu, Andrae Williams, and Chris Brown in 2:58.03.

Ramon Miller ran in the first round.

They also won the Silver medal at the Osaka World Championships in 2007 and the Osaka World Championships in 2005. In Helsinki the team of Nathaniel McKinney, Avard Moncur, Andrae Williams, and Chris Brown, in a national record of 2:57.32.

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C

hristopher "Chris" Brown (born 15 October 1978), also known as "Fireman", is a Bahamian track and field athlete from the Bahamian island of Eleuthera, who mainly competes in the 400 m. In addition to winning medals in individual contests, he has also won four World

Chris

Championships medals in the relay. He also won a gold medal in the relay at the 2012 London Olympic Games. He is an alumnus of Norfolk State University.

World Championships.

Also took a silver medal in the 4 x 400 m relay a few days later.

x 400 m relay along with Andretti Bain Michael Mathieu and Andrae Williams.

In 2007, his most successful year, Brown won gold medals in both the individual 400 m and the 4 x 400 m relay at the 2007 Pan American Games. In the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Brown tied the Bahamian national record, when finishing fourth in the 400 m final.

Brown (together with Avard Moncur, Andrae Williams and Michael Mathieu) also won silver in the 4 x 400 m relay at the 2007 World Championships.

In 2012, Brown finished third in the 400 m finals at the World Indoor Championships behind countryman Demetrius Pinder. He once again finished fourth in the Olympic 400 m final. He won his first Olympic gold medal four days later in the 4 x 400 m relay with Demetrius Pinder Michael Mathieu and Ramon Miller, They beat the defending champions the United States, marking the first Olympic men's gold medal in any sport for the Bahamas and the first American loss in that race at the Olympics since 1972.

In 2008 at the Beijing Olympics he placed fourth in the 400 m final when he was initially in 3rd place, American runner David Neville dived across the line just ahead of him. He lost the bronze by 0.04 seconds. A few days later he picked up a silver medal in the 4

On 22 August 2012 the Bahamian government named a street in his honor in his hometown of Wemyss' Bight, Eleuthera.

In 2005 he finished fourth in the 400 m final at the

BROWN

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Demetrius

PINDER

D

emetrius Pinder (born 13 February 1989) is a Bahamian male track and field sprint athlete who competes in the 400 metres. His personal best for the event is 44.77 seconds. At the 2012 London Olympics he was a 400 m finalist and relay gold medallist.

He was born in Freeport, Grand Bahama where he attended Tabernacle Baptist Christian Academy. In March 2011 he broke the 400 m indoor Bahamian national record of 45.78 previously held by Chris Brown with his 45.33 win at the 2011 NCAA Division I Indoor Championships. He won a 400 m silver medal in the

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2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul. He placed seventh in the 400 m final at 2012 London Olympic Games.

He also won gold at the 2012 London Olympics with the Bahamas 4x400 team, of himself, Chris Brown, Michael Mathieu and Ramon Miller beating medal favorites USA with a national record.

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amon Miller (born 17 February 1987) is a Bahamian sprinter.

He was part of the Bahamas’ gold-medal winning team in the men’s 4x400m relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, after running in the heats.

Miller is a former athlete at Dickinson State University where he won nine NAIA track and field national championships in his four-year career. Miller was named the most outstanding performer of his final NAIA national meet after winning the open 400-meter dash and helping the 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams win titles. Ramon won a Bronze Medal at the XIX Commonwealth Game, in Delhi, India a year later he won a bronze medal at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. He also won Gold at the 2012 London Olympics with the Bahamas 4x400 team beating medal favorites USA with a national record. Miller ran the anchor leg in the finals to bring a gold medal to The Bahamas.

Ramon

MILLER

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Michael

MATHIEU

Michael Mathieu (born 24 June 1984) is a Bahamian sprinter from Freeport, Grand Bahama who specializes in 200 metres and 400 metres. He was part of the Bahamian silver medal-winning team in the men's 4×400 metres relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, running second leg and recording a 44.0 split. He was also a part of second place relay team at the 2007 World Championships.

Individually, he has won medals at the Central American and Caribbean Championships, taking the 400 m silver medal in 2008 and the 200 m gold in 2011. His personal bests are 20.16 seconds for the 200 m and 45.06 for the 400 m (the former being the Bahamian record mark).

Mathieu attended St George’s High School in The Bahamas, graduating in 2001 as their “Most Outstanding Athlete”. He gained a

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sports scholarship to attend Southwestern Christian College in Texas, United States.

As a junior athlete, he won two relay medals in the under-20 section of the 2002 CAC Junior Championships. The following year he took the 400 m bronze medal at the 2003 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships. Moving up the age categories, he won a 400 m relay bronze medal at the 2006 NACAC Under-23 Championships in Athletics.

He opened his 2012 season in strong form. Competing on the Brazilian Athletics Tour, he ran a Bahamian record of 20.16 seconds for the 200 m and set a personal best in the 400 m with a run 45.06 seconds. He also equalled his 100 metres best with a time of 10.30 seconds. He also won Gold at the 2012 London Olympics with the Bahamas 4x400 team beating medal favorites USA with a national record.

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SAMAIYA

LUNDY The ‘Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year,’ 11-year-old Samaiya Lundy, is what one could call the total package.

By ROBYN ADDERLEY

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his soft-spoken student of Sunland Baptist Academy has a bubbly personality, brains, beauty, active in her community and is athletically inclined. Does she know what she wants to be professionally? Of course she does. Already, Samaiya volunteers at Freeport Veterinary Hospital because she wants to become a veterinarian.

Emphasising that she does not do it for money, she says she grooms the pets, takes them for walks but doesn't do anything too detailed. Her favourite subject is science, with her least favourite being math, "although I do well in that too."

Samaiya, now holding this prestigious title, did not know anything about the competition until her school informed her. "I actually didn't know what

it was until my school introduced me to it. I was nominated and as I entered the competition, I started to learn more about it."

What made her stand out in the competition? Very confidently, the response was, "My personality and everything that I was doing was to better myself.

It was not in vain because I won. So all of the hard work paid off." By hard work, Samaiya means keeping her Grade Point Average at 3.90, doing a number of activities namely playing soccer, softball, track and field, piano and if that's not enough, she is about to learn how to play the guitar.

Describing how she felt when she was at the actual competition, Samaiya said, "There was brief doubt in my mind, and as the names were being called I started to cry. But, those

tears turned to tears of joy because I won," she said with her bright smile.

A member of St. John's Jubilee, Samaiya's mother Shantelle says she and her husband, Mark often wonder "where she came from." According to her mother, she is a typical normal child in many ways but she has always been comfortable with adults; she is disciplined "but she is not average. She is normal, but different."

With a two-year-old sister at home, Samaiya finds it hard to find anything that really bothers her or that she does not like. Even during her interview, though taking her away from her activities at the Sir Charles Hayward Library Camp, she was very engaging and entertaining. Although

busy with her camp, she will continue to volunteer at the vet's office on weekends.

In her spare time, when she has some, Samaiya loves to ride her bike and take walks.

This former Brownie is a regular part of her school's Junkanoo group, a part of the 2015 championship team, recipient of a score of Distinction for her solo at the National Arts Festival and winner in the local category, a member of the school's choir and captain of the school's house team.

A leader in every sense of the word, Samaiya was also Head Prefect for the girls in Grade 6.

So why is this young lady so driven? Who is her greatest role model? Her mother. "She is a great role model and everything I do is because of her. My mom pushes me and she tells me what to do and what not to do, as well as letting me do what I am interested in."

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CHARLES

HAMILTON JR. Buzzes into history with Spelling B Championship

C

harles Hamilton Junior, a 13 yearold grade 8 student of St. Anne’s High School, Nassau was the only boy contesting against 19 girls at the Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island in the finals of the National Spelling B.

“I was very nervous with all the people out there. How I was severely outnumbered by girls, I didn’t think or have enough faith within myself to think that I could actually come first or come out victorious. I emerged first place and I am so happy,” said Charles hugging his mother and his coach Dr. Ruth Brown after his elated win.

Master Hamilton competed at the International Spelling B held in Washington DC the American capital earlier this year and had an impressive showing. He correctly spelt his qualifying words – “UMLAUT” AND “WENSLEYDALE” and hopes to compete again in the prestigious event.

The Spelling B was introduced to The Bahamas by Veteran Journalist Oswald Brown, when he served as Editor of the

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Nassau Guardian in the mid-1990s.

Tolstoy’s, “Anna Karenina” which is a tome of over 800 pages is just Mr. Brown was on hand some of the light things to cheer on young Master he breezes through. He is Hamilton and encouraged also a keen soccer player him to be ready for the and aspires to be The Banext international event. hamas’s David Beckham.

He enjoys swimming, Mr. Brown is appealing solving mazes, riddles for a national Spelling B and puzzles. coach for The Bahamas.

Master Hamilton is a sure bet to return to the Winner’s Circle. He is a prolific and avid reader and his favourite novel,

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REBECCA HENDERSON Our nation’s Highest Academic Achiever in 2014

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oung Rebecca Henderson has so much to be proud of yet she remains with her feet firmly planted on the ground. At the age of 16 she graduated from Queens College, Nassau with the distinction and recognition as Student of the Year and with her overall best performance in the BGCSE, Rebecca also received several coveted titles and awards.

The youngest child of Mark and Nicola Henderson, Rebecca says, “I want to be a doctor. I want my life to mean something. I want to do something which not only I like but which also helps other people. I don’t just want to be another human on this planet doing something that doesn’t really matter.”

In January 2015 the Ministry of Education Science and Technology recognized Rebecca’s outstanding scholastic performances.

Having spent 13 years as a student at Queens College, Rebecca earned 10 BGCSE’S certificates with 9 at ‘A’ grade and one at ‘B’ grade. Her ‘A’s’ were in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geography, Religious Studies, English Language, English Literature, Mathematics and

Spanish. Her ‘B’ was in Combined Science.

She graduated with a 4.42 GPA or grade point average.

Her awards were the Paul L. Adderley ( named for a former Minister of Education, Attorney General and Minister of Foreign Affairs ) Award for best overall BGCSE successes in the nation; Carol Hanna Award for Best Overall Performance in the 2014 BGSCE and an Independent or private School student.

Rebecca credits her success to her relentless pursuit of work.

“I always make sure I work. I don’t slack off during the year and when exam times come I suddenly just start work. No. All through the year I work. Through the year I go over things and when exams come I don’t stress myself overly or have a complete break down,” she says.

Pursuing a United World School scholarship, Rebecca offers this advice to students: “do your best. You can’t do better than your best. So just do your best and try your hardest and don’t give up at all.”

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SHANNON BUTLER

Our Nation’s Highest Academic Achiever in 2013

S

hannon Butler has settled very nicely into St. Andrew’s College in Scotland where he is pursuing his B. Sc. Degree in medicine. The 19 year old graduate of Queen’s College was awarded the prestigious All Bahamas Merit Scholarship by the Lyford Cay Foundation and named Valedictorian by the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

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Shannon was Head Boy and Valedictorian at QC. He is the son of Peter and Wendy Butler and hopes to become a cardiologist.

His dream is to return to The Bahamas after his education and to open the region’s first cardio-pulmonary transplant service and establish a regional donor register.

His 10 BGCSE successes came with 9 ‘A’s’ and 1 ‘B’. Shannon also chalked up the highest grade in the mathematics examination in his graduating year.

T cancer.

e’ja Munnings, 11, has been doing her part in the fight against the oftentimes deadly disease known as

The young lady who has just graduated from St. Thomas Moore and will attend Queen’s College in September has been making and selling ribbons (known as Ribbons for Life) to raise funds to assist the Cancer Society of The Bahamas and people suffering from the deadly disease.

Miss Munnings who has been doing this good deed for the past several months is now a philanthropist shipping her ribbons to the Family Islands, Jamaica, the United States and Canada. It seems more and more people around the world are hearing about her endeavour and are jumping on board to support her and the Cancer Society.

In her desire to do good Miss Munnings has also ended up helping Bahamian businesses, as she tries to buy most of the materials to create the ribbons locally. Since she has bought out entire stocks locally and her orders continue to rise, the young

philanthropist currently has to find suppliers abroad.

She originally learned how to make the ribbons with the aid of a cousin, Erika Hamilton, who first taught Miss Munnings how to create hair bows. Before she started making the ribbons, she sold the hair bows and started giving the proceeds to the Cancer Society after empathising with her friend’s mother who had two breasts removed because of the disease.

who were at first surprised at how far she would go to help others. However, they continue to support her and are proud of their daughter’s tenacity.

Miss Munnings’ ribbons consist of the 26 colours that are representative of cancer: gold (childhood cancer), orange (Leukaemia), lime green (Lymphoma), yellow (Sarcoma/bone cancer), purple (Pancreatic/Leiomyosarcoma), periwinkle (Esophageal cancer), teal (Ovarian cancer), pink (Breast cancer), navy (Colon cancer), light blue (Prostate cancer) and white (Lung cancer).

As word spreads about her good deeds, the young philanthropist is being invited to talk and inspire others in schools and churches. She has also inspired her parents Maranda Lightbourne and Clyde Munnings

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JOANNA EVANS

T

BAHAMIAN SWIMMING SENSATION in 2013

he Bahamas continued its regional dominance in 2015 when its swim team captured the 44th annual Carifta swimming championships held at the Barbados Aquatics Center from April 4-8th.

In winning the championship, The Bahamas secured a total of 54 medals - 29 gold, 17 silver, and 8 bronze. Rounding out the top three was Barbados, second with Trinidad and Tobago finishing third in medals.

In record setting form during that event was Bahamian swim sensation Joanna Evans who set

two new championship records on the second night of competition, accounting for 77 of The Bahamas’ overall points total of 756.5 points.

Set a new record in the 200m freestyle in a time of 2:03.00. This record was set by Jamaica’s Janelle Atkinson fifteen years ago in Barbados.

That time is also a senior national record for The Bahamas. It bettered the time of 2:04.07 Evans set at the CAC Games in Veracruz, Mexico, beat the Pam Am automatic qualifying time

of 2:04.99 and the World championships ‘B’ standard of 2:03.09.

She followed that magnificent performance with another record setting performance. Joanna set a new age group (15-17) record and new Bahamas senior national record in the 400m Individual Medley with a time of 4:59.25, breaking the record of 5:00.00 set by fellow Bahamian swimmer McKayla M. Lightbourn.

The Bahamas national record stood for six years.

In the process of setting these new records, Joanna won 10 gold and 4 silver medals for The Bahamas at the 44th CARIFTA championships, propelling her country to victory.

The Pan Am Games, her next major international event, is scheduled for July in Toronto, Canada.

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A

rianna Vanderpool-Wallace is a sprint freestyle specialist from the Bahamas. She graduated from the sprint powerhouse, Auburn University, where she was a multi-time All-American and three-time NCAA Champion. Born March 4, 1990 to Vincent and Tietchka Vanderpool-Wallace, she has one brother named Aleksandr – her father is a politician in the Bahamas.

Auburn University Vanderpool-Wallace spent her four years in college studying Hotel and Restaurant Management and competing at Auburn University. The university had ties to The Bahamas, having housed Bahamian swimmers, Alana Dillette and Jeremy Knowles. Prior to her senior year, Vanderpool-Wallace was an 18-

time All-American the 2011 NCAA Champion in the 100m freestyle and the 50m freestyle. Vanderpool-Wallace graduated from the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., where she was rated a five-star recruit by Swimming World Magazine.

College career During her freshman season she took 10th in the 100m freestyle and 13th in the 50m freestyle, but earned more All-American honors on relays. At the 2010 NCAA Championships she earned six total All-America honors, including a fifth-place finish in the 100m freestyle.

During her junior year she was a double-winner in the 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle, and she was named the 2011 SEC Swimmer of the Year.

At the SEC meet she broke the NCAA and U.S. Open Records in the 100 freestyle, taking the title from Cal’s Natalie Coughlin. In her senior year at Auburn, she led off the fifth-place 200 freestyle relay, anchored the fifth-place 200 medley and 400 medley relay and finished second on the 400 freestyle relay. Individually she came in third in the 50 freestyle, fifth in the 100 butterfly, and won the 100 freestyle.

Early international career Vanderpool-Wallace competed at the Central American & Caribbean Games in 2006, and a year later she was apart of the bronze-medal winning 400m medley relay at the 2007 Pan Pacific Championships.

Beijing Olympics When she qualified for her first Olympic Games in 2008, Vanderpool-Wallace was only the second female swimmer to ever qualify for an Olympic Games. She competed in the sprint freestyle events – Vanderpool-Wallace finished 28th in the 100m freestyle and 24th in the 50m freestyle.

2012 Olympics At the 2012 London Olympics, Vanderpool-Wallace was apart of a small Bahamas team that was sent to the Olympics.

She made it into the final of the 50m freestyle, finishing eighth, and ended up 10th in the 100m freestyle. When she finaled in the 50m distance, Vanderpool-Wallace made history as the first Bahamian woman to make the finals of a swim event at the Olympics.

2015 world rankings As of May 5, 2015 she’s one of the world’s fastest swimmers in the 50m freestyle.

Currently training with SwimMAC Elite, Vanderpool-Walllace was honored by receiving The Bahamas’ 2015 “Senior Swimmer of the Year.”

THE BAHAMAS SWIMMING TEAM

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Swimming is considered an elite sport where parents get their children involved from a young age. They are there for them and in most cases continue to guide their progress from beginning to end.

There is a reason as to how the tables can turn in sports competition. Discipline is the key!

It was only a matter of time before the swimming team broke through in a big way. The handwriting was on the wall. Parents, coaches, supporters and

hile the Bahamas Carifta Swimming team made history with their first ever championship meet at Carifta, the Bahamas Track and Field Team at Carifta did just the opposite.

Silver Medal 15 - 17 Boys Relay

Many athletes have the talent, but a whole lot lack the discipline. It's not just about talent, it's about polishing that talent and taking the time to do so. Many other contributing factors are involved however, and parents and their guidance is important.

Silver Medal - 15 to 17 Girls Relay

sponsors have been involved from the very beginning. There are a number of clubs that are involved in swimming and these clubs thrive on discipline.

They demand it, they expect it and they receive it. As a result the fruits of their labor are achieved.

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With a head coach like Andy Knowles, who have been there, participated in the Olympics and has dedicated his entire life to swimming, The Bahamas was bound to breakthrough.

The Bahamas won its first CARIFTA swim title finishing with 736.50 total

Joanna Evans Gold 15 - 17 400 Free Style

points in Aruba for the 2014 Carifta Swimming championships. The Bahamas beat 18 countries in the region to capture their first title. The Bahamas also topped the medal standings with 55 total medals, 23 gold, 22 silver and 10 bronze.

SWIMMING TEAM CARIFTA Swim Team + Coaches 2014

Joanna Evans and Margaret Albury Higgs were the High Point award winners in their respective divisions.

Higgs captured 13-14 girls division with 78 total points, more than twice as much as the next highest scorer from Guadeloupe.

Team Coaches 2014

Evans also took her age division quite convincingly as well. She won the 1517 girls division with 70 points. Aruba was the next highest scorer with 41 in that division. In addition to Evans and Higgs, Dustin Tynes was also impressive as he finished first with a new Carifta record. Laura Morley won gold in the 15-17 girls breast stroke and Samuel Gibson took gold in the 11-12 boys 50m butterfly.

The 11-12 boys of Peter Morley, Izaak Bastian, Darren Laing and Samuel Gibson won the 400 m medley relay in 4:33.43, a time almost 10 seconds ahead of the second place finishers from Martinique.

together without properly concentrating on the efforts of the athletes.

Although they were the largest contingent ever, it was felt that no motivation or hands-on involvement was felt from the beginning.

The Swimming Team has made an impact in the region and now more focus must be placed on swimming in order to maintain their standards. There is no doubt now that the swimming community will raise more money and more parents will get involved.

Our junior program in Track and Field must be looked at again and a different angle must be taken. In the meantime, Swimming has been motivated to develop even further. With head coach Andy Knowles committed to making sure that swimming stay progressive, further achievements are expected.

Congratulations no doubt must go out to the coach Andy and the entire Swimming community which consists of parents, coaches, sponsors and The Ministry of Youth, the individual swimmers as well for Sports and Culture headed by Minister dedicating their efforts to making the Dr. Daniel Johnson has vowed to make Bahamas proud. Kudos! sports a major part of our make-up.

According to one executive of the More funding and attention will be swimming community, all efforts are made to sports. With the introduction of the Sports Academy set to get now focusing on next year and imstarted this year, major improvements proving on that first place finish. are expected.

Congratulations must also go out to Unlike the swimming competition, the Algernon Cargill, the president of the track and field team at the Carifta fin- BSF and his entire organization for ished with their worst showing since a job well done and for continuing Carifta started in 1976. It is felt that to make strides in swimming in The the people in charge just threw a team Bahamas.

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Sir Lynden Pindling's Remarks at the 1990 Youth Convention of the Anglican Diocese of Nassau and The Bahamas including Turks and Caicos Islands, St. John's College Auditorium, Sunday, August 19th, 1990

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"My generation has always believed that children are a gift from God, 'the author and giver of all things good.'

Sadly though, mankind is failing young people.

Throughout much of the world children are the principal victims of all of society's most troubling ills.

In this decade of the child, it is children, the fruit of humanity in developed and developing countries, who must quietly endure the ravages of war, hunger, poverty, disease, and illiteracy. In the so-called advanced countries of the world we are seeing evidence of a spiritual poverty, a sense of hopelessness and despair, that leads to drug addiction, crime, gang violence and other forms of anti-social behaviour, particularly among young people. And in The Bahamas we find ourselves struggling to deal with a spiritual poverty of our own as we try to respond to rising expectations in a rapidly changing economic, political and social environment.

"We are not a rich country, but we certainly are not poor. We do not have all we want; neither do we have all we need; but we do have more than most people have and for that we should be grateful. Everywhere people are struggling for the very things many of us take for granted. We have peace, stability, freedom of speech and religion and the right to go where we please whenever we please. The poor are still with us, and, like death and taxes, they will always be but, thank God, poverty does not stalk our land and everyone has access to basic

health care and education.

Millions of our neighbours, however, can only dream of living as we do. Yet, how many of us give thanks to God for the blessings he has bestowed upon us?

"We have known hard times in The Bahamas too but most of you are too young to remember them, too young to know what your grandparents had to do to survive.

You can't imagine the sacrifice they made to bring you to where you sit today. You are too young to know that, back then, the only place they had where they could take refuge from the daily battering their spirit and their pride took from racial and economic oppression was the church. It may be difficult for you to understand that the only peace many of them ever knew in those days was that moment when they fell to their knees and asked God to guide them.

"We were not a Nation then.

At that time we could not be a Nation because a majority of the people were not free to determine their own fate.

Some of them knew freedom would come one day, but many were not so sure. Some of them believed it because they knew that God would never abandon them; and they knew, too, that He would make a way out of no way.

Still, however, there were others who did not believe.

They believed that they would be free because they had faith and they kept that faith, the kind of faith the Bible talks about in Hebrews; faith that 'is the substance of things hoped for, the

evidence of things not seen.'

They had that kind of faith, the kind of faith that God rewards, and they worked to achieve the things hoped for because they also learned, long before John Kennedy ever said it, 'that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.' I should like to remind you young Christian warriors this evening that Bahamians as a people have always had faith, and though some may waver, and others profess doubt, as a people we do still trust in the Lord.

"Today your generation of young Bahamians, facing new challenges and seeking still greater goals, needs the faith that sustained your parents and grandparents during those trying times.

Besides being members of that generation you are also believers in God so I ask who better than you to spread that faith. If not you, who? And if not now, when?

"Your world is different from mine. You face a different set of challenges and problems than those I faced. Your interests and priorities, even your language, have changed and you are growing up with a global culture in a global village where the whole world is your backyard. Your music, which is a reflection of much of what your generation feels and embraces, is constantly changing. Your attitudes about life, love, work and faith are still being formed, however, and I pray that they are consistent with what The Bahamas needs to prosper as a Nation for all that you achieve and all that you believe will rest on the values you adopt during

these formative years.

"A government's mandate is primarily the physical world, the material world. However, the spiritual domain is no less important and it clearly is the province of the church. Bahamians needed a vision to come this far and, from the day Prince William landed in The Bahamas and founded Bethel Baptist Church 200 years ago, the church has played an important role, spiritually strengthening our people for the battle for freedom and equality. Your generation will need a vision of its own, a vision for the 21st Century, a vision of the kind of society in which you and your children will want to live. Your vision may be a new one but, in planning your life and the society you want to build, you will find that the foundation of your vision will be the same as that which fortified your forefathers before you. Their foundation was built on three very important things: God, Family and Country, and I can tell you now that you will not be able to find better ones.

"You see, freedom does have a price. It is not free. Freedom means responsibility, a responsibility to properly look after our families and ourselves; and citizenship demands more than simply paying taxes and voting for one's leader. In addition, each of us has a sacred duty to love and protect this blessed land God has given to us, to build it up and make it better for future generations. All of us have a stake in being Bahamian."

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HMBS Arthur Dion Hanna begins operations at sea

H

er Majesty’s Bahamian Ship Arthur Dion Hanna slipped its berth during the early morning hours Friday to begin its first patrol in defence of the country’s sovereignty.

Armed with new, sophisticated combat systems and technologies that are expected to achieve maximum returns – especially in the war on transnational criminal activities such as guns, drugs and human smuggling, and other activities such as poaching, the ship’s first patrol comes exactly one week after it was accepted into the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s fleet during commissioning ceremonies at Kelly’s Dock.

The first of nine ships built by DAMEN Shipyards that are designed to “revitalise the RBDF Fleet,” the HMBS Arthur Dion Hanna is also one of four Legend Class Patrol Boats that will be put into service over the course of the next few months.

Minister of National Security, Dr. the Hon. Bernard J. Nottage, said the entry of the HMBS Arthur Dion Hanna into operational service ushers in a new level of capability and capacity for the Defence Force. “The obligations of the Defence Force are very demanding and are becoming more challenging as The Bahamas is increasingly being threatened with illicit activities that are inclusive of the trafficking of drugs, human smuggling, trafficking in per-

sons, the poaching of our marine resources and trafficking in firearms and ammunition,” Dr. Nottage said.

“Illegal firearms in particular, have taken violent crime to a new level in our country. The increased threats require that we adopt new and improved strategies, particularly given the expansiveness and porosity of our borders.

“With modern communication, navigation equipment and armament, HMBS Arthur Dion Hanna is suitably equipped to safeguard the territorial integrity of the archipelago whilst providing maritime law enforcement throughout The Bahamas.

“It is our hope that we will achieve maximum returns through sound leadership and the resolve and determination of highly trained and committed professionals who can exploit the full range of capabilities offered by these new, sophisticated combat systems and technologies,” Dr. Nottage added.

Dr. Nottage said “what happens” in the country’s maritime territory have far-reaching implications for public safety and security throughout the islands of The Bahamas and beyond.

“Transnational crimes and other activities at sea – whether they be illicit trafficking, illegal migration or poaching of our marine resources –

can also have serious implications for inter-state relations.”

Dr. Nottage said The Bahamas’ “vulnerability” to these acts is verified by the reports of the World Bank and the United Nations that indicate the drug trade as prime driver of crime across the Caribbean.

Citing a U.N. Report on “Crime, Violence and Development: Trends, Costs and Policy in the Caribbean” (March, 2007), Dr. said the report indicates that the strongest explanation for the relatively high rates of crime and violence in the region, and their apparent rise in recent years – is narcotics trafficking.

“Those who serve onboard the HMBS Arthur Dion Hanna will play a leading role protecting the nation’s interest and in ensuring the stability of the national economy,” Dr. Nottage said.

“May the indomitable will and spirit of her namesake be throughout this ship and engrained in the Officers and Marines who serve aboard ship,” Dr. Nottage added.

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The Rolly Gray

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olly B. Gray was born on Staniel Cay, Exuma, on August 2, 1922, to Richard and Blanch Gray.

He was educated at The Public School at Staniel Cay. At an early age he and other little boys of Staniel Cay became involved in boat racing. It all began with The “CAMALAME” boat which they hand carved from camalame wood and rigged with cotton line and a flour bag for a sail! While still a youngster he elevated himself to the sailing of a ‘C CLASS’ dinghy boat, which he built himself.

At age 28 he met and married Maggie Bodie of Black Point, Exuma. To This union came forth four boys and four girls. In 1954, at age 36, he again elevated himself to the ‘A Class’ racing sleep and entered the first “Out Island Regatta” organized by Mr. Linton Rigg and some of the local seamen from the George Town, Exuma, area. As most of you knew, Rolly won that ‘A Class’ championship race and became the first and youngest captain to sail in that Regatta.

This chain of championships lasted

for 11 years. The first race was won in a sloop called the “Marie”. His second Championship was won in a sleep called the “Lady Muriel” and the remainder were won in the famous “Tida Wave’. For the record the following is a list of his achievements in The field of sloop racing: In 1954 he won first place in the “Marie” in George Town. In 1959 he won first place in the Regatta in the “Lady Muriel”. In l98o he won first place in the “Tida Wave” in George Town in Class ‘A’. In 1960, 1961, 1966, he won

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second place in the ‘Lady Muriel” and In 198l he also won second in the Tida Wave. In the “Class B” section in 1977 he won first place in 1977 sailing The “Foxy Lady”. In “C Class” Sailing he had 7 first place finishes on the “Sea Hound” in George Town and 2 first place finishes in the “Spray Hound”.

In total Rolly reigns as champion of the Regatta for some 21 years. Who else can boast of such a record.

In 1980 Rolly won The Marlboro

Championship of sailors in Montague Bay, Nassau, Bahamas. Other Awards include: The 1977 Certificate of Honour.

In 1980 he won The Ministry of Tourism’s Outstanding Achievement and Community Work Award from the Government and people of the Bahamas. In 1982 he was honored by The Staniel Cay Development Association During a banquet in his honor for his contribution to the sport of boat racing in the Bahamas. In 1983 he also received the Member of The British

Empire Award From Her Majesty The Queen in the New Year’s Day Honors.

The latest of the nine defence force patrol vessels was named after mariner Rolly Gray in his home town of Exuma.

These feats could not have been accomplished without the competent assistance of his reliable crew(s) and we say “Well done, Rolly, Well done”.

Commodore Leon Livingstone Smith, Commander, Defence Force (Retired) watches the Commissioning Ceremonies for Her Majesty's Bahamian Ship Leon Livingstone Smith that was named in his honor, alongside Governor General Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling (left) and his wife Helen. Mr. Smith served 14 years as the first Bahamian Commander, Defence Force, Royal Bahamas Defence Force and was responsible for number of firsts. (BIS Photo/Raymond A. Bethel Sr.)

Her Majesty’s Bahamian Ship (HMBS) Leon Livingstone Smith PM Vows Even Greater Resolve to End Transnational Crime

Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie addresses the large crowd on hand for the commissioning of Her Majesty's Bahamian Ship Leon Livingstone Smith.

The ship's crew is pictured in the background. (BIS Photo/ Raymond A. Bethel, Sr.)

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he Government of The Bahamas will do all that is necessary, legislatively, strategically and operationally, to guard and protect the heritage of those Bahamians alive today and those yet unborn from transnational criminal activity, Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie vowed.

“In this vein, we must spare no effort at both the strategic and operational levels, to put an end to cross-border criminal activities such as illegal immigration, human trafficking, drug smuggling, and arms trafficking,” Mr. Christie said.

“Further, I believe by our initiative to continuously upgrade the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in every possible aspect, it is clear that we will do all that is within our powers to completely rid Bahamian waters of poachers and others who come from far and near seeking to take advantage of our God

given resources.”

Delivering the keynote address at the Commissioning Ceremony for Her Majesty’s Bahamian Ship (HMBS) Leon Livingstone Smith, the Prime Minister said The Bahamas must continue to build upon the foundation laid by the first Bahamian to serve as Commander, Defence Force, Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and others, in order to find more effective and innovative ways of safeguarding Bahamian territory “from those who wish to engage in illicit maritime operations.”

Mr. Christie said the Government’s investment of $232 million into the Force’s ‘Sandy Bottom Project,’ is the clearest indication of its resolve in this regard.

The HMBS Leon L. Smith, is the third of nine patrol boats to be constructed for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force by the DAMEN Shipyard Group of Amsterdam under the Sandy Bottom Project.

“By the completion of the upgrades made under this Project, it is intended that all vulnerable areas of access into the southeastern corridors of The Bahamas will be fortified by the permanent presence of Defence Force assets,” Mr. Christie said.

The Government has already received dividends on its investment after the HMBS Arthur Dion Hanna, the first of the nine patrol boats to be commissioned, was able to successfully apprehend a vessel laden with 200 illegal immigrants attempting to enter the country.

The Defence Force will also maintain a permanent presence at an equipped northern command in Grand Bahama. This presence, coupled with the completion of the Satellite Base under construction at Gun Point, Ragged Island and an upgraded facility at Matthew Town, Inagua, will provide the Defence Force with the capability to respond to any and all threats to our national security”.

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T

he Grand Bahama Youth Choir has been receiving worldwide acclaim and bringing joy to the hearts of people around the world since its creation in 2009.

Caribbean.

The GBYC was created when there was a need to assemble a choir for the distinct purpose of performing for the opening ceremony of the local government conference hosted on Grand Bahama in May of that year.

During the conference, the Choir sang for 500 delegates from around the

The stellar performance received such rave reviews that the GBYC was invited to perform at a Bahamian Cultural Concert in Centennial Park, Atlanta, Georgia.

On the return trip to Grand Bahama, Mr. Tomlinson saw the

The GBYC performed under the direction of Kevin Tomlinson, who was directly responsible for finding the members to perform for the conference.

effect it brought to the lives of the choir members and how spellbinding the whole thing was to everyone. From that moment, he decided to turn this experience and project into a permanent programme.

The GBYC continues to travel on a route to excellence. It has not only given young people a place where they can interact in a meaningful way, but it has afforded young people a place they can call their second home and get the needed attention to develop their talents and skills.

The Choir has travelled to Detroit, Michigan and performed for Pastor Marvin L Winans at the Perfecting Church. They have

also performed in North Carolina, New York, and in Washington, for former Ambassador Andrew Young, who was instrumental in the civil rights movement with Martin Luther King.

The Choir’s music was used for the acclaimed Ministry of Tourism’s “Behold” commercial that was featured in Super Bowl XLVII, and which also starred Bahamian NBA player Rick Fox and model Shakara Ledard.

This is considered one of the major highlights of the Choir’s performances along with its participation at the Miss Universe Pageant when it was held in The Bahamas in 2009.

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Did You See Uncle Lou when he fell in the well?

Wait till you hear the country’s hottest Rake N’ Scrape band

The Gerald Cash Primary School and the genesis of The Rake and Scrape Music Company

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herever they appear they are an instant hit.

Their innocence, their smiles, their passion for their unique Bahamian sound and the international novelty of their instruments and their charm have made the Rake and Scrape Company a stronger Ambassador at home and abroad for young Bahamian talent.

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The group has received funding from Baha Mar and from proceeds of a private auction to finance their international experiences and show case their talent and purchase instruments.

around the park after school, he did it with the intention of ensuring that the community children did not grow idle and wayward, but instead develop a focus in life. What he got was a whole lot more.

The band is mainly made up of students of the Gerald Cash Primary School Rake ‘n’ Scrape band, but also includes students who have gone on to high school.

The band has grown in number, and devoted students who went on to high school just could not leave the group behind, and so the Rhythm & Youth band was formed and it all came out of The Flamingo Gardens Park in the Carmichael Constituency, where the boys once hung out after school.

The Bahamas Rake ‘n’ Scrape Company, led by its director, Nathaniel Adams has performed at several landmark locations in New York including The Roman Catholic Church of the Epiphany and Vassar College, culminating in a one-hour concert at the United Nations.

Adams said the Bahamas Rake ‘n’ Scrape Company started with an idea and six Gerald Cash Primary School students. Now the band, which also goes by the name ‘Rhythm ‘n’ Youth’, has blossomed to 25 skilled members, ages five to 16-years from nine different schools across New Providence.

When Mr. Adams first started teaching rake ‘n’ scrape music to the young boys, who would linger

The group got their major endorsement and plug when Dr. Daniel Johnson Member of Parliament and Minister of Youth Sports and Culture took the group to Cat Island for the local heritage festival and they were a major hit.

Philanthropist Beat Schlagenhauf, who hails from Switzerland, was in attendance at the Cat Island festival and from that Cat Island performance plans were underway for a major fund raising event to finance the groups travel to the United States to perform. Schlagenhauf worked with the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture and Sapodilla

Restaurant owner Elaine Pinder to arrange a gala event, where others with the ability to donate and support the group could see them perform live and up close.

With the enthusiasm and excitement the band generates the culture of Bahamian indigenous Rake N Scrape music and its instruments are going to be around beyond the current century.

Businesswoman Elaine Pinder from Bamboo Shack opened her Sapodilla Restaurant for a gala night where the band performed and an Auction was held to raise their trip funding.

The event featured an art auction conducted by businessman Dionisio D’Aguilar, with works donated by artists John Cox, Toby Lunn and Marco Mullings.

“For five years we have been building and working on the rake n’ scrape program. It’s about the music, but music is only a vehicle,” Adams explained. “Baha Mar donated to our group, which is a big deal. We can use that money to get items to get some things that will help the band to move forward.”

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YEARS LATER

EDUCATION STILL OUR CHILDREN’S GREATEST GIFT

“Education, not money, is the cure for poverty and likewise education not jails is the solution to crime” is a common phrase enunciated by Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie. So important is the government’s commitment to education that it has committed itself to doubling the investment in education and training. The investment includes expanded preschool units, improved education regulation, expansion in special education, increased training for our educators, BTVI autonomy and transition into University of The Bahamas.

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As the country addresses the challenges facing our youth, education continues command the lion’s share of the national budget and forty-two years after nationhood, a quality education remains the best gift that our nation can offer our children.

The 2013/2014 academic year for example saw a significant increase in the BJC math where we saw the category of A-D increase by 20% over last year. In real terms this means that just over 1500 more students attained an A-D in BJC math when compared to last year.

This is 1500 more students we expect to see graduating in 2017.

These were the best results in over 10 years and the best BJC math results ever reported. This is the first time that the Ministry of Education has broken the BJC 70% pass rate barrier for A-D passes. In real terms this means that 2200 more students passed with the A-D grade than 2012. This was a significant improvement and there were steady improvements in BGCSE results.

Significant success was achieved in Early Childhood Care and Ed-

ucation including, two hundred and eight (208) caregivers being trained in a special Grandfather programme.

The Inter-American Development Bank loan project came to a successful completion in March 2014.

Some of the achievements of the INSPIRE project were as follow: • The Regulations and National Standards for Early Education was tabled in the House of Assembly and adopted in 2013; • Regulations for Inclusive Education was tabled in the House of Assembly and adopted last year; • The board of directors for BTVI was appointed last year to bring effect to Legislation for BTVI to be a semi-autonomous body; • Career Academy model for Sec-

ondary TVET were approved and implemented, and • almost five million dollars were spent in the last 2 years to install computer labs, and E-literacy capabilities in every junior and senior high school in The Bahamas.

The Bi-Partisan Committee for ‘A Shared Vision for Education 2030’ under the chairmanship of the Hon. Sharon Wilson submitted their draft report for a 15 year plan for education in The Bahamas. As you are aware this is a collaborative effort supported by the major political parties. Shortly, I look forward to presenting the final Bi-Partisan report to my cabinet colleagues before presenting to the House of Assembly and the country.

The area of special education, that

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is students with special needs, is often overlooked in educational systems. Research shows that as many as twenty-five to thirty percent of the student population are not learning to their full potential through conventional teaching modalities. Many teachers are ill equipped to diagnose and deploy the intervention strategies necessary for that twenty-five to thirty per cent of the student population with special needs. To address this issue the government leased the former Our Lady’s Catholic School, renovated it to the tune of almost three million dollars and renamed the school after Marjorie Davis. It has been outfitted with the latest technology and fully staffed. This Special Needs School

offer a unique curriculum for children in The Bahamas diagnosed with mild to moderate learning and developmental disabilities.

Addressing the question of the delivery of education at the top in the school system, the government has created a leadership path and institute to be able to train, develop and select the most suitably qualified leaders to head our public schools. In The Bahamas we are now for the first time establishing a path for principals and administrators whom the Ministry of Education will identify as entrants into a program that prepares teachers to become school leaders and mentors.

The government is committed to training and retraining our educators to improve our teachers’ skill sets and keep them relevant and to deliver the best quality of education to our children. The former Mable Walker primary school has been identified to undergo a multi-million dollar renovation to be converted into a multi-faceted teacher training and professional development institute.

The government has leased the original Bahamas Academy School building for students with behavioral problems as part of its school tracking policy to identify the root causes of truancy and poor scholarship achievement among too many of our youth in the public

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school system. The establishment of the Achievement Unit will facilitate much of the collection and analysis of the data; this will inform public policy. The government is committed to intervening in the lives of these at-risk youth, even when their parents are unable to identify and address these vexing behavioral problems in the homes because according to the Prime Minister, no child should be left behind. This policy is also an anti-crime initiative.

The recently announced $20 million jobs training program by the government is designed to tackle the unacceptably high rate of youth unemployment. The program will be administered through Urban Renewal Project in collabo-

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ration with the National Training Agency (NTA).

In the end the nation’s Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie, believes that the greatest gift a nation could award its children in addition to family and child protection is the gift of education because of its transformational powers.

“Education transforms lives. When we realize that education is the most powerful way of improving a person’s life, we will be more deliberate in our efforts to not only provide access to quality education, but to find ways to ingrain into the psyche of individuals and whole communities the value of an education.

According to the Education for All Global Monitoring Report, “if all students left school with basic reading skills, 171 million people could be lifted out of poverty”.

The Prime Minister was delivering the keynote address on the 23rd June at the opening ceremony of the 19th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers under the theme “Quality Education for Equitable Development: Performance, Paths and Productivity” where representatives of more than fifty countries converged on Nassau to develop a fifteen-year education plan for the Commonwealth.

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The Bahamas 41 Independence st

Ecumenical Service in Miami Florida MIAMI, Florida -- Bahamians, descendants and friends of The Bahamas, on Sunday gathered at the historic St. Agnes Church, Miami Florida for an Ecumenical Service marking the country’s 41st Anniversary of Independence. The well-attended Ecumenical Service was a contin-

uation of month-long Bahamas Independence celebrations, organised by a core group of leaders in the community.

Preceded by a month of weekend Junkanoo Fish Fry in June, the Independence celebrations officially began July 5th with an Independence Picnic. This past Sunday’s key event, will be followed by a

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OUR FUTURE

Gala Scholarship Fundraising Ball, by the National Association of The Bahamas, that will take place on Saturday, July 19th, at the Hilton Omni, Downtown Miami.

Bahamian dignitaries at Sunday’s Ecumenical Service included The Bahamas' Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Fred Mitchell; Bahamas Consul General to Florida, H. Ricardo Treco and Deputy Consul General, Sandra Carey.

Other dignitaries and members of the South Florida diplomatic corps in attendance included, the Member of Congress for the 26th District of Florida, Fredericka Wilson; Mayor of Stuart, Florida, Troy McDonald and the Hon. Franz Hall, Jamaican Consul General.

The Ecumenical Service, highlighted by a sermon presented by Father DeAngelo N. Bowe, St. Peter’s and St. Anne’s Parish, North Abaco, Bahamas, was followed by a Reception in St. Agnes church’s hall.

During the reception, The Bahamas Minister of Foreign Affairs joined Consul General Treco and Mrs. Treco in the annual cake cutting of the Anniversary cake.

Saint Agnes Episcopal Church is one of Miami’s oldest and largest churches. Currently pastored by Father Denrick Rolle, The church received its name back in the late 1800’s because the majority of the founding members had been members of the well-known St. Agnes Church, in Nassau, Bahamas.

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42nd YEAR OF INDEPENDENCE

THE BAHAMAS

42ND INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATING OUR CHILDREN:

OUR FUTURE

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THE BAHAMAS

CELEBRATING OUR CHILDREN:

42ND INDEPENDENCE OUR FUTURE