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Friday, September 18, 2026
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Inside:
STUDENTS HELP RESTORE BAHAMIAN MANGROVES WITH BTT
INCORPORATING
GRAND BAHAMA
see pages 14 & 15
JourNEY Homecoming
Anina Major’s Dual Exhibitions Celebrate Identity and Artistry see pages 8 & 9
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Friday, September 18, 2026 around da Islands
By BARBARA WALKIN barbara@barefootmarketing.net
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HE Freeport Players’ Guild (FPG) is preparing for a busy new season, with auditions, new productions, acting workshops and the highly anticipated staging of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat all on the horizon. Following its summer break, the Guild is turning its attention to the months ahead, with plans already taking shape for productions that will carry theatre lovers through the holiday season and into 2027. Guild President Olivia Dorsett told Around da Islands that auditions for two upcoming productions are expected to take place this month. The Guild is planning a late-November production to open the new season, followed by a Christmas show for children in December. The November production, still being finalised, is another dark comedy written by Ms Dorsett. “I don’t want to give too much away just yet,” she said, but confirmed that the production is well underway and is expected to serve as the Guild’s season opener. The Christmas production, Jitney Express, was written by one of the Guild’s own members and is also expected to go into production following auditions. The Guild launched its new season with a membership drive during the President’s Cocktail Party at the Regency Theatre on Saturday night. The event drew strong community support and gave patrons a glimpse of one of the organisation’s major productions planned for next year. During the party, guests were treated to a preview of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which is scheduled to take the stage in March under the musical direction of Wilfred Burrows. The production has already been fully cast, and members of the lead and ensemble cast performed during the event. The evening also included an “In Memoriam” tribute
DURING the President's Cocktail Party, there was an ‘In Memoriam’ tribute honouring longtime Guild members of the theatre community who have passed away.
Freeport Players’ Guild prepares for a new season honouring longtime members of the theatre community who have died. Ms Dorsett said the membership drive was an important part of the Guild’s efforts to strengthen its base of support. In previous years, she noted, some patrons attended membership events without actually joining the organisation. This year’s event, however, resulted in both individual and corporate memberships, reflecting what she described as tremendous support from the community. Businesses such as Paint Fair and Island Jeep either joined the Guild or made donations. During the party, Ms Dorsett credited Paulette Russell and SueLyn McCrea for their continued commitment to Camp Center Stage, describing the two-week summer camp as one of the Guild’s most consistent initiatives, giving young people an
“We’re always appreciative of the corporate sponsors and individuals who step forward.” opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of theatre. Campers participated in full-day classes and workshops covering acting, technical theatre, backstage work, prop-making, set construction, lines and music, culminating in a one-night performance of an original play open to the public, as well as parents, family and friends of the young actors.
FREEPORT Players’ Guild (FPG) President Olivia Dorsett.
Photos: KEITH BULLARD
Ms Dorsett said the camp also received significant community support this year, with sponsors and private donors providing scholarships for children who might otherwise have been unable to attend. Approximately 10 scholarships were donated, allowing more young people to participate. “We’re always appreciative of the corporate sponsors and individuals who step forward,” she said, noting that some donors contributed enough to cover the cost of several students. The Guild is also continuing its efforts to educate and develop those interested in theatre production. At its most recent general meeting, Georgia Storr-Taylor of Georgia’s School of Dance & Theatre addressed members and guests on the many elements involved in mounting larger productions. Her presentation covered topics ranging from building a production team and selecting scripts to securing rights and royalties, managing costumes and determining the appropriate length of a production. Ms Dorsett said she is also working on plans for an acting workshop at an upcoming general meeting. As the new season approaches, Ms Dorsett said theatregoers can expect the Guild to continue pushing creatively and exploring new ideas on stage. That commitment was evident in the Guild’s final production before the summer break, which featured an actual car on stage, an example of the increasingly ambitious and inventive approach being taken by the organisation. The upcoming season, she said, will continue in that spirit. With a new original production planned for November, the return of Jitney Express for the Christmas season and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat already in rehearsal for March, the Freeport Players’ Guild is preparing for a full calendar of entertainment.
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This WEEK in Around da Islands Bahamian News, Features & Culture
what’s
hot
GRAND BAHAMA NEWS Pg 4 — Grand Bahama airport redevelopment: waiting for take-off
this week
Pg 5 — Grand Bahamians feel the squeeze as fuel prices rise Pgs 6 & 7 — Four years in, WAUSM taking root in Freeport
Welcome...
NEW PROVIDENCE FEATURES
to Around da Islands, our weekly supplement, free with Friday’s Tribune. In this edition, we take you from the galleries of Nassau to the mangroves of Grand Bahama, with stories of creativity, conservation, education and growth. Our cover story turns the spotlight on Bahamian artist Anina Major, whose two new exhibitions explore ideas of home, return, landscape and belonging. Closer to the stage, the Freeport Players’ Guild is preparing for a busy new season, while a Bahamian folktale is reimagined through dance in Chickcharney. In Grand Bahama, we look at the continued growth of Western Atlantic University School of Medicine, meet students who traded their classroom for the mangroves to help restore habitats damaged by Hurricane Dorian, and share the story of Terrance and Lavender Roberts, whose legacy spans education, national development, family and agriculture. We also take a look at some of the issues affecting everyday life and development across the islands, from rising fuel costs and the long-awaited redevelopment of Grand Bahama International Airport to conversations about building a stronger foundation for Abaco’s future.
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Pgs 8 & 9 — Coming Home: Anina Major’s latest chapter Pg 10 — Bahamian folklore takes centre stage in ‘Chickcharney’
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GRAND BAHAMA FEATURES Pg 11 — The inspiring journey of Terrance and Lavender Roberts in Bahamian Agriculture Pg 12 — Island Brainwaves
ABACO FEATURES
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Pg 13 — Abaco Business Outlook puts focus on long-term prosperity
GRAND BAHAMA FEATURES Pgs 14 & 15 — From Classroom to Coastline: Students help restore Bahamian mangroves with BTT
Every week, Around da Islands, having partnered with Grand Bahama 242, highlights news, features and developments from Grand Bahama and the Family Islands. And don’t forget, this is your supplement too! Send us your story ideas, features and tips – we can’t run then them all, but we’re committed to strong, fair representation from across the islands. So come along for the ride! From all of us here at The Tribune – The People’s Paper.
COVER Anina Major/photo by Melissa Alcena
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The Tribune: tribads@tribunemedia.net Phone: 242.502.2394 Grand Bahama 242 News: 242newsbahamas@gmail.com Send story and feature suggestions to: Islands@tribunemedia.net
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Friday, September 18, 2026 around da Islands
By BARBARA WALKIN barbara@ barefootmarketing.net
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OR Grand Bahamians, the seven-year wait for a properly redeveloped Grand Bahama International Airport has been marked by a series of announcements and evolving timelines as plans for the major infrastructure project continue to take shape. More than five months after Mowlem International Ltd announced that it had been appointed to provide project management services for the redevelopment of Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA), residents are still awaiting details on when major construction will begin and when the new airport is expected to be completed. Last week, the Minister responsible for Aviation, JoBeth Coleby-Davis, travelled to Grand Bahama and met with the newly appointed board of the Freeport Airport Development Company (FADC). Around da Islands contacted Minister Coleby-Davis and Director of
MINISTER responsible for Aviation, JoBeth Coleby-Davis, front row left, and Minister for Grand Bahama, Ginger Moxey, front row right, along with Director of Aviation Kenneth Romer, second row left, met with the newly appointed board of the Freeport Airport Development Company (FADC).
Grand Bahama airport redevelopment: waiting for take-off Aviation Kenneth Romer before the delegation travelled to the island, seeking an update on the project’s status, including work completed to date,
the expected construction timeline and the role of Mowlem International Ltd. No response was received before press time. Following the visit, the meeting was described on the minister’s Facebook page as “an opportunity to review progress, discuss ongoing initiatives and identify further opportunities to advance the airport's development agenda.” The redevelopment received renewed attention in February when Prime Minister Philip Davis announced that the government had signed
a deal for the first phase of the project, describing it as an investment of approximately $130m. Speaking at the Grand Bahama Business Outlook, Mr Davis said Phase One would deliver a modern terminal with US pre-clearance, expanded apron space, stronger flood protection and improved road access. He also said the government had signed a contract with Manchester Airports Group, which had previously been linked to the project, for management of the airport. “Even as I speak there is work going on at the airport,” he said. Since then, attention has increasingly turned to when the redevelopment will become more visible on the ground. In a LinkedIn announcement approximately five months ago, Mowlem International Ltd said it had been appointed by Polycon GB Limited to provide project management services for the redevelopment. The appointment represented another step towards implementation of the long-awaited project. The company said its role would include coordinating early-stage activities, aligning project teams and managing delivery across design, programme, cost and risk. It also said its work would support critical infrastructure upgrades and development of the airport's future masterplan. The announcement was accompanied by a rendering of the proposed airport facility.
The company’s history traces its roots to John Mowlem, who founded the business in 1822. Mowlem went on to become one of Britain's major construction companies, with landmark projects including Battersea Power Station, the Docklands Light Railway and the Dublin Port Tunnel. According to information published on Mowlem Group's website, the company’s history also includes a connection to The Bahamas through BHM Construction International (UK) Limited, founded in The Bahamas in 1984 and known for its civil engineering work. Around da Islands contacted Bahamas Hot Mix Managing Director Ebbe Saidi, who is listed on the company’s website as a shareholder and director of Mowlem International Ltd. No response was received before press time. In June, there was another indication that the airport remained on the government’s agenda. On June 15, government officials toured the airport site. Two days later, Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey said: “Work at the airport remained on track.” She did not provide details of the work being undertaken or a specific timeline for completion. The pace of the redevelopment has also attracted public and political attention, with questions raised about the project's timeline and financing. Coalition of Independents Leader Lincoln Bain has argued that the airport is critical to
Grand Bahama’s tourism industry and wider economy and has called for greater clarity on when the redevelopment will be completed. Beyond the political debate, residents and business owners are also eager to see progress on an airport viewed as an important part of Grand Bahama’s continued economic development. Lyn Adams, a Grand Bahama small-business owner who travels frequently for business, said residents have waited long enough for an airport capable of accommodating the level of travel the island has historically experienced. “This tight-lipped attitude from the government is not acceptable anymore,” Ms Adams said. “We are intelligent people. We are not our forefathers who blindly follow politicians anymore … well, some of us.” Ms Adams said Grand Bahama needs its airport and questioned why, after years of discussion, residents are still waiting for meaningful progress. For Grand Bahama, the significance of the redevelopment extends beyond the airport itself. A modern international gateway is widely viewed as an important component of the island’s tourism product and broader economic development. With project management arrangements in place and further development promised, attention now turns to the next stage of the project and when Grand Bahamians will begin to see the long-awaited redevelopment take shape.
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HE cost of keeping a vehicle on the road has increased again, with new maximum retail prices for gasoline and diesel taking effect Wednesday as households already struggling with rising grocery and other living expenses face another financial squeeze. According to a notice issued by the Ministry of Economic Affairs under the Price Control Act, 1971, new prices for fuel sold by Freeport Oil Company Limited (FOCOL) became effective Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Under the new schedule, the maximum retail selling price in Freeport for lead-free gasoline is $7.07 per US gallon, including VAT, while Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) is now $7.33 per gallon. The maximum wholesale prices, including sea freight, are listed at $6.22 per gallon for lead-free gasoline and $6.80 for ULSD. The latest government notice identifies the prices as the maximum amounts permitted under the price-control schedule. Grand Bahama resident James St Louis told Around da Islands the continuing increases are making it increasingly difficult for people earning modest wages to meet their monthly expenses. “Every time you turn around, something else
is going up. Gas goes up, groceries go up, utilities go up, but the salary remains the same. When you are working for minimum wage, there is only so much you can stretch a dollar,” he said. Mr St Louis noted transportation is particularly difficult because gasoline is not an optional expense for people who depend on their vehicles to get to work, take children to school and handle everyday responsibilities. Grand Bahama resident Fredreka Brown said the pressure is especially challenging for households where one income is expected to cover rent or mortgage payments, food, transportation, utilities and other bills. “You get your paycheque and before you even get to enjoy it, the bills have already taken most of it. Grocery prices are higher, gas is higher and everything seems to cost more. But your salary is still the same.” Ms Brown said finding additional employment or another source of income can help, but it does not necessarily solve the problem. “Even when you have a second income, it is still hard to cope. You are working more, but the cost of everything is also increasing. At some point you have to ask yourself, how much more can a family realistically take on?” Another Grand Bahama resident, who gave his name as Sam, said the traditional advice to earn additional income is becoming harder to apply in
the current economic environment. “A second job can help, but it comes with its own costs. You have to drive to work, you have to eat, you have responsibilities at home, and you are already tired from working one job. When gas and groceries keep increasing, the extra money disappears quickly,” he said. He added that the concern is not simply the price of gasoline at the pump, but the cumulative effect of increases across the household budget. “It is not just gas. It is gas plus food plus electricity plus everything else. When all of those things increase at the same time and your salary does not increase, your standard of living goes down.” The Bahamas relies heavily on imported petroleum products. A government economic document has noted that petroleum products are brought into the country by ship and that major petroleum importers include Buckeye Bahamas, FOCOL, SOL Petroleum and Rubis. Higher transportation and energy costs can therefore place pressure on businesses that must move goods, operate vehicles or pay other fuel-related expenses. Those costs can ultimately feed into the prices consumers see for goods and services. The government has previously acknowledged the particular cost pressures facing The Bahamas because of its dependence on imports. In its 2024/2025 Budget Communication, the government said the country
A NOTICE issued by the Ministry of Economic Affairs under the Price Control Act, 1971, quoting new fuel prices sold by Freeport Oil Company Limited (FOCOL) became effective Wednesday, September 16.
had been affected by global supply-chain disruptions, turbulent commodity markets and higher food and energy prices. Historical government price-control notices also show that fuel prices in Freeport have moved significantly over time. For example, an official March 2025 notice listed FOCOL ULSD at a maximum retail price of
$5.16 per gallon, including VAT. The September 2026 schedule in the Ministry’s latest notice puts ULSD at $7.33 per gallon, an increase of approximately 42 percent. For working families, residents say the issue is becoming less about increases in the prices of individual products and more about whether household incomes are
Photo: GB242NEWS keeping pace with the overall cost of living. The concern expressed by residents is that wages do not automatically rise when the cost of necessities rises. As Ms Brown put it: “People are working. People are trying. But working hard does not change the fact that the cost of living keeps moving ahead of your income.”
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By BARBARA WALKIN barbara@ barefootmarketing.net
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Grand Bahamians feel the squeeze as fuel prices rise
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WESTERN Atlantic University School of Medicine (WAUSM) opened its doors in Grand Bahama in January 2022. It began with just 15 students; today, the campus has more than 100 students.
Photo: WAUSM
By BARBARA WALKIN barbara@barefootmarketing.net
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HEN Western Atlantic University School of Medicine (WAUSM) opened its doors in Grand Bahama in January 2022, it began with just 15 students and an ambitious proposition: that a new medical school could establish itself in The Bahamas while preparing doctors for careers in the United States, Canada and beyond. Four years later, WAUSM has graduated its first class of physicians, celebrated a 100 percent residency attainment rate among students who participated in the 2026 US and Canadian residency match, and is continuing to expand both its campus and its presence in Grand Bahama.
Four years in, WAUSM taking root in Freeport For Dr Paula Wales, Provost and Chief Operating Officer of WAUSM, the progress is significant, not simply because of the numbers, but because of what those numbers represent. “We’re building for the long term, and we’re just getting started,” Dr Wales told Around da Islands. By the following year, enrolment had reached 158 students, a substantial increase from the original 15, and the school has continued to add three cohorts each year, in January, May and September. The institution’s physical footprint is growing as well. Following the completion of its first two development
found in the achievements of its students. On May 2, 2026, WAUSM marked one of the most important moments in its young history when its inaugural class graduated in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For Dr Wales, the commencement represented the culmination of years of work by students, faculty and staff. “On May 2, we celebrated a historic milestone, the first WAUSM students to become physicians,” she said. “That moment was especially meaningful because it marked the transition from building a new medical school to seeing our graduates begin their careers as physicians.” The first graduating class has already begun making its mark. In the 2026 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) cycle, every WAUSM student who participated secured a residency position. The placements span 17 institutions and nine specialties across the United States and Canada. The residency destinations include programmes in emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, paediatrics, general surgery, physical medicine and reha-
students receive and the readiness they bring to the next stage of their medical careers.” The institution’s academic outcomes on medical licensing examinations are equally notable. WAUSM reports a 93 percent cumulative first-time pass rate on USMLE Step 1 and a 100 percent first-time pass rate on its externally evaluated Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) since the school opened. WAUSM also reports a 100 percent first-time pass rate for USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 as of July 1, 2025. “These are the kinds of outcomes we set out to build the school around,” Dr Wales told Around da Islands. “Our goal has always been to give students the academic preparation, clinical experience and support they need to become excellent physicians.” For Bahamian students, the significance of WAUSM extends beyond having a medical school on Grand Bahama. It provides an opportunity to begin their medical education at home before continuing into clinical training in the United States. Every WAUSM MD student follows the same academic pathway. The first
THE GOVERNMENT of The Bahamas and WAUSM have continued to work together under their Heads of Agreement, including plans for further expansion of the Freeport campus.
Photo: BARBARA WALKIN
phases, WAUSM is advancing additional campus expansion, with plans to accommodate as many as 1,000 medical students by January 2028. However, the clearest measure of the school’s progress is
bilitation, and child neurology. “Seeing our first group of students achieve 100 percent residency attainment is an extraordinary milestone,” Dr Wales said. “It demonstrates the level of preparation our
five 15-week semesters, approximately 20 months, are completed at the Freeport campus. Students then move into clinical clerkships, selectives and electives at partner hospitals in the United States
Health Professions (CAAM-HP) conducted its full accreditation site visit, reviewing both WAUSM’s Freeport campus and its Chicago clinical training site. The university is awaiting a final decision later this year. The review follows WAUSM’s progression through the established accreditation process. The school opened in 2022 in candidacy status and received provisional accreditation from CAAM-HP in 2023. US verification of credentials (ECFMG) and Canadian sponsor notes followed in 2024, confirming students’ eligibility to sit the relevant licensing examinations in the US and participate in the Canadian residency match. Dr Wales said the university views the current review as an important step in the development of a young medical school. “This is the standard progression for a new medical school, and we’re right on schedule,” she said. “We feel very good about where things are.” A full accreditation review typically occurs after a medical school has progressed through its initial years of operation and is approaching or has reached its first graduation, a milestone WAUSM achieved with its inaugural graduating class in May. The medical school’s development has also become part of the broader story of Grand Bahama’s economic and educational redevelopment. The university’s Freeport campus is a 50-acre pre-clerkship facility with simulation laboratories, clinical examination rooms, standardised-patient areas, classrooms, a library and Center for Academic Success, as well as student and faculty spaces.
EVERY WAUSM MD student follows the same academic pathway. The first five 15-week semesters, approximately 20 months, are completed at the Freeport campus.
Photo: WASUM
substantially increase the school’s capacity and, with it, the number of students and faculty living and working in Grand Bahama. For Dr Wales, however, the physical expansion is only one part of the university’s future. “We remain committed to our partnership with the Bahamian government, including the continued expansion of our Freeport campus and our commitment to providing opportunities for Bahamian students,” she said. DR. PAULA WALES, Provost and Chief Operating Officer of WAUSM. THE SCHOOL’s trajectory, from 15 students in 2022 to its first graduating physicians in 2026 and toward a campus designed to accommodate 1,000 students, represents an impressive period of development in its first years.
Photo: BARBARA WALKIN
The Government of The Bahamas and WAUSM have continued to work together under their Heads of
Agreement, including plans for further expansion of the Freeport campus. The next phases are expected to
The school’s trajectory, from 15 students in 2022 to its first graduating physicians in 2026 and towards a campus designed to accommodate 1,000 students, represents a significant period of development in its first four years. “We’re building for the long term,” Dr Wales said. “We’re proud of what our students have accomplished, proud of the role WAUSM is playing in Grand Bahama, and excited about what comes next.”
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and other approved clinical settings. Bahamian students have been part of the university from its earliest days. Nine Bahamians have progressed from the Freeport portion of the programme to the next stage of their medical education in Chicago. Eight are continuing through the programme, while one has already graduated and is now completing a paediatrics residency in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “Bahamian students have been part of our student body since our first class enrolled, and we’re proud of the role they’ve played in building this school,” Dr Wales said. The university has also expanded its financial support for Bahamian students, awarding two scholarships annually to qualified Bahamians. It also offers merit-based Academic Excellence Scholarships to other Bahamian students. Since opening its doors in 2022, WAUSM says 11 Bahamian students have received a combined $1.8m in scholarships. That commitment is reflected in the September 2026 MD and August 2026 MAPP cohorts, which include the largest number of Bahamian students to date: 13 Bahamians in the MD class and five in the MAPP programme. “Our commitment to Bahamian students is not separate from our mission; it is an important part of it,” Dr Wales said. “We want qualified Bahamian students to see medicine as a career they can pursue, beginning here at home.” Another important milestone is taking place behind the scenes. In April 2026, the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other
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Friday, September 18, 2026 around da Islands
ANINA MAJOR, photo by Melissa Alcena
Coming Home:
around da Islands Friday, September 18, 2026
ANINA MAJOR, Ruby's Easter Hat, 2023
ANINA Major. Water Tower, 2024.
ANINA MAJOR, Crawfish Armor, 2023
Anina Major’s latest chapter By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
ANINA MAJOR, RockA-My-Cherry, 2025, glazed stoneware, silver luster, seaglass, H12.5 x W8 x D7, courtesy the artist and TERN, Nassu
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NINA Major says her two new exhibitions feel like several conversations coming together at once. The Bahamian artist will have her work displayed at both the Pérez Art Museum Miami and TERN Gallery in Nassau back-to-back, marking a significant moment in the career of an artist whose practice centres on sculpture and ceramics. “This fall feels like several conversations coming together at once,” she told The Tribune. “SOON COME HOME at TERN Gallery in Nassau is particularly personal because it brings the work back home and considers what return means after living away for many years.” The exhibition, which opened this week and will run until October 26, includes ceramic, glass, found objects and neon. It takes its title from Erna Brodber’s coming-of-age novel Jane and Louisa Will Soon Come Home. On October 1, Anina will open her first US solo exhibition at Pérez Art Museum Miami. Titled The Sacred Mangrove, it will run until next August. “That exhibition marks an important expansion in my practice from individual sculptures toward an environment. Large woven ceramic forms are brought together with bottle trees, crushed conch shells, ceramic shards and sound, creating a landscape that visitors move through,” she explained. The mangroves in the exhibition serve as a model for interdependence, protection, adaptation and cultural continuity. While the exhibitions are quite different, she said they speak to one another.
INSTALLATION view, Anina Major, Moments of Being, Shoshana Wayne Gallery, Los Angeles. Courtesy the artist and Shoshana Wayne Gallery
ANINA MAJOR, House In The Sky, 2026, glazed stoneware, sand, H20 x D9
ANINA Major studio, photo by Melissa Alcena, courtesy the artist and TERN Gallery, Nassau
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“One considers return and home, while the other expands outward into landscape.” She describes the journey to this moment as “serendipitous”. “I have always been creative, but I didn’t necessarily imagine becoming an artist. To date, my journey has been about following the breadcrumbs with a desire to learn. Looking back, I find it rather serendipitous, and some would say fated. Every step of the way, I was open to the ‘what if?’ and curious about where the experience might lead. “From saying yes to a community ceramics class after work on Wednesdays, to a studio neighbor suggesting, ‘You should go to grad school for art.’ From that moment, the rest is history.” She went on to study at the Rhode Island School of Design. Over the past decade, Anina has emerged as a compelling voice working at the intersection of ceramics, sculpture and installation. Hand-weaving clay to resemble palm-leaf plaiting, she draws on Bahamian basketry traditions learned from her grandmother, transforming techniques commodified within the tourism economy into ambitious sculptural works. Anina said she wants viewers to draw on their own personal experiences when they encounter her work. “I don't necessarily want to prescribe an emotion. I want there to be enough familiarity for someone to enter the work, but also enough ambiguity for them to bring their own experiences to it. There can be joy, nostalgia, loss, protection, even humour within the same work. “If anything, I hope people leave more curious about the histories carried by materials and everyday objects that we often overlook,” she said. She also enjoys creating installations that respond to their surroundings and heighten the experience for her audience. “My favorite spaces have been places that challenge me to address a less than ideal layout. Before an engagement, I try to embody the energy of the space and consider the features that naturally influence my presence within it. That is where I start dreaming about the ways to further accentuate that experience. “Whether that is activating a gallery space that has two glass walls which lead to hypervisibility, inside and out, or carving a natural alcove within a park for a single gesture. I love a challenge.” She is also excited about what the future could hold. “In the next decade, it would be a blessing to continue expanding materially and spatially, creating more ambitious works while maintaining the intimacy and intelligence of the hand. Be in a position where the scale of the opportunities match the ambition of the ideas. “And, if I could find a way to generate opportunities for others to participate within those frameworks, even better.”
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10 Friday, September 18, 2026 around da Islands • In 2005, The Juilliard School named Kevin Iega Jeff one of its 100 Outstanding Alumni, an honour marking the school's centenary. He's been listed alongside figures like Viola Davis and Aretha Franklin.
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BAHAMIAN folktale will take on new life through dance next month when Chickcharney, an original production blending Bahamian storytelling with Black American and classical Indian dance traditions, premieres in Nassau. The dance theatre work, presented by the Shirley Hall Bass Foundation and Legacy Project, reimagines the legendary Andros chickcharney through a cross-cultural collaboration involving Bahamian choreographer Carlito Catalano and acclaimed American choreographer Kevin Iega Jeff. The production will premiere on Thursday, October 8, at the I.C.E Gallery, hosted by Bahamian artist Antonius Roberts, before a second performance on Saturday, October 10, at Fiona’s Theatre at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas. The work was developed during a cultural exchange residency at the historic Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre on Chicago’s South Side, reconnecting the project with a Bahamian-Chicago cultural exchange that began nearly 60 years ago. Foundation namesake Shirley Hall Bass, an original Dyerette and later director of the school, travelled to The Bahamas with 30 Sammy Dyer students in 1968. That visit launched a cultural exchange that saw Bahamian and Chicago dancers travel between the two countries for decades, sharing traditions and training through dance. Chickcharney seeks to carry that legacy into a new generation. Mr Catalano, the Foundation’s Cultural Exchange Director, worked with Mr Jeff, co-founder of Chicago’s Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, to develop the production’s movement vocabulary. The work draws on Bahamian, Black American and South Asian artistic traditions, incorporating the gesture, expression and discipline of classical Indian dance into its storytelling.
Bahamian folklore takes centre stage in
‘Chickcharney’ At the centre of Chickcharney is the story of a flamboyant young Bahamian boy who is scolded by his father for shining too brightly and flees into the Andros wilderness. There, he forgets one of the islands’ oldest warnings: never laugh at the chickcharney. After mocking one of the legendary birds, the boy is transformed, trapped between human and bird and belonging fully to neither world. Through the folktale, the production explores acceptance and the consequences of rejecting people for who they are. The Nassau premiere will also bring together visual and performing interpretations of the Bahamian legend. The performance at I.C.E Gallery will take place alongside Mr Roberts’ monumental wooden sculpture, also titled Chickcharney, creating a meeting of dance, folklore and visual art. “Chickcharney embodies everything our Foundation stands for, honouring Bahamian cultural memory while building bridges across artistic traditions,” said Cristin Carole, founder and executive director of the Shirley Hall Bass Foundation and Legacy Project and great-niece of Shirley Hall Bass. “My great-aunt began this work in 1968, carrying Chicago’s Black dance tradition to The Bahamas and bringing Bahamian artistry home to Bronzeville. To develop this piece with the same school where she started that exchange, and to watch it rise through the meeting of Black American, Bahamian, and classical Indian dance in the presence of Antonius Roberts’s extraordinary sculpture, is to witness heritage and innovation taking flight together.” The performances form part of the Shirley Hall Bass Foundation Biennial Benefit Weekend, which runs from October 8-11 and will bring Bahamian and international artists together for four days of activities in Nassau. Among the visiting artists will be Olivier Award-winning playwright Lolita Chakrabarti OBE, whose stage adaptation of Life of Pi won five
Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards. She will participate alongside Mr Jeff, filmmaker Jackson Knowles and other international artists. Mr Knowles’ participation also carries a Bahamian connection. The filmmaker recently traced his ancestry to Long Island, discovering that he is the great-great-grandson of Percy Knowles, who was born in Mangrove Bush in the Deadman’s Cay area in 1903. Both performances of Chickcharney are free, with admission by RSVP. The production is being presented as a work in progress, with the Foundation seeking support to eventually take
it to the Family Islands and the United States. The Benefit Weekend will conclude with a brunch hosted at the British Colonial Hotel. The Shirley Hall Bass Foundation and Legacy Project works to preserve the legacy of Shirley Hall Bass through performing arts education, cultural exchange and heritage preservation in The Bahamas and Chicago. The organisation is also collaborating with the Ministry of Education and the University of The Bahamas on national K-12 Performing Arts Goals and Standards in dance, drama, media arts and music. Tickets for the Benefit Weekend gala and further information on the Chickcharney performances are available through the Shirley Hall Bass Foundation.
The inspiring journey of Terrance and Lavender Roberts in Bahamian Agriculture By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
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OR more than four decades, Terrance L Roberts and Lavender Juanita Roberts have built a legacy of cultivation — of young minds, national development, family and, now, Bahamian agriculture. The couple met while attending St Augustine’s College — Terrance graduated in 1970, while Lavender finished high school in 1972 — and since their wedding in 1979, they have built a legacy spanning education, business, national development and, today, sustainable Bahamian agriculture. At the centre of their latest chapter is Berkshire Bahamas Farms, the family-owned agricultural and livestock enterprise in Pine Ridge Agricultural Estates, Freeport, developed with their son, Terrance Roberts III.
Established in 2019, the farm combines the Roberts family’s generations-old agricultural roots with modern, climate-smart practices. From its beginnings with Berkshire pigs, the operation has diversified into poultry, egg production and other livestock, with an emphasis on technology, sustainability and
strengthening Bahamian food security. Mr Roberts said farming is directly connected to national self-reliance. “True national sovereignty cannot exist on political independence alone; it requires robust economic independence. By modernising our ancestral farming roots with
climate-smart technology, we build a resilient foundation where Bahamian land directly fuels Bahamian self-reliance, security, and wealth.” The family’s success has earned national recognition for its contribution to the country’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprise sector. The elder Mr Roberts brings more than four decades of leadership to the enterprise. His career has spanned journalism with The Freeport News, senior tourism and hospitality positions, corporate governance and economic development. He has served with the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, Tourism Development Corporation, Hotel Corporation of The Bahamas, Lucayan Renewal Holdings Ltd, the Hawksbill Creek Agreement Review Committee Secretariat and the Grand Bahama Economic Advisory and Tourism Task Force. He also served
two terms on the Freeport Local Government Council and was a founding member and chairman of the former Grand Bahama Child Care Committee. Meanwhile, his wife has built a successful career in early childhood education, dedicating her professional life to nurturing children and inspiring them to learn and grow. In many ways, their journeys complement each other: she has spent her career cultivating young minds, while he is now helping to cultivate Bahamian land — both investments in the future. Together, they also cultivated a family. They are the parents of Aryana, Imani and Terrance III, who is married to Alexis (née Smith), and grandparents to Terrance IV and Nyla Kaye. The Robertses will be among the distinguished alumni honoured at the 2026 SAC Alumni Lighthouse Awards and Gala Ball on Saturday, October 24, at the Atlantis Ballroom, under the distinguished patronage of Archbishop Patrick Pinder. Tickets are $300, and SAC alumni, students, families, friends and supporters are encouraged to attend, with proceeds helping to support the continuing needs of St Augustine’s College and its students.
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Abaco Business Outlook puts focus on long-term prosperity By BARBARA WALKIN barbara@barefootmarketing.net
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HE 22nd Abaco Business Outlook got underway Thursday, with featured speaker Clay Sweeting, Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs, addressing business leaders, government officials, entrepreneurs and professionals from across Abaco and The Bahamas attending the one-day event at Abaco Beach Resort. This year’s seminar was held under the theme, “Strengthening Foundations for Long-Term Prosperity,” placing emphasis on the importance of building a stronger and more sustainable economic foundation for Abaco and the wider Bahamian economy. Mr Sweeting addressed issues affecting infrastructure, development and the continued advancement of the Family Islands. Joining Mr Sweeting was a cross-section of speakers, including Bradley Fox, MP, Parliamentary Secretary
in the Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs; Chantelle Sands, President of the Abaco Chamber of Commerce; Shakera Johnson, Director of Information Security, Cable Bahamas Group of Companies; Anthony Christie, Chief Operations Officer, Bahamas Power & Light; Chrishano Edgecombe, Manager II of Family Island Operations, Water & Sewerage Corporation; and Keiran Chase, Director of Consumer Sales, Cable Bahamas Group of Companies. The energy and professional services sectors were represented by Erold Farquharson, CEO of EA Energy Ltd; Victoria Albury, Group Assistant Vice President, Business Development, Northern Bahamas, Leno Corporate Services; and Robert Albury, Managing Director and Principal Technology Consultant of Waves IT. The programme also examined issues surrounding sales, tourism, hospitality and national communications. Speakers included Brooke Greene, Vice President of Sales and Merchant
Engagement, Kanoo; Tracy Cooper, Managing Director of Bahamasair Holdings; Tom Hill, Managing Director of Hotel Traffic Builders; Andre Miller, Executive Director, Global Communications, Ministry of Tourism; and Shannon DeFries, Vice President of Strategy, Tambourine. The event also brought perspectives from the church, insurance, human resources, labour, agriculture and entrepreneurship sectors. Those speakers included Fr Howard Bethel, Rector of
St John’s Anglican Church; Bionca Rolle, Assistant Manager – Regulatory Strategy & Development, Office of the Superintendent, Insurance Commission; Anne Lightbourn, Director of Human Resources at Baker’s Bay; Deborah Pratt of DAPS, Corporate Training & Business Services; Eleith Davis, Office Manager, Department of Labour, Abaco; Bekera Taylor, Public Relations Officer, Abaco Farmers Association; and Raquel Russell,
owner of Cross Creation’s Art Designs. With such a diverse group of presenters, the 22nd Abaco Business Outlook provided participants with perspectives on some of the key challenges and opportunities facing businesses and communities throughout the Family Islands. The theme, “Strengthening Foundations for Long-Term Prosperity,” comes at a significant time as Abaco continues to rebuild, develop and position itself for sustainable economic growth. The seminar provided an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange ideas, discuss emerging opportunities and consider practical strategies for strengthening Abaco’s business environment and supporting continued prosperity for generations to come.
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From Classroom to Coastline: Students help restore Bahamian mangroves with BTT
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HAT started as a classroom lesson early in the 2025 school year for students at Sister Mary Patricia Russell Junior High School in Freeport, Grand Bahama, became an incredible journey in mangrove restoration. Students left their desks and waded kneedeep in mud as they joined the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust (BTT) team to plant mangrove seedlings they had spent months growing to restore key bonefish
habitats damaged by Hurricane Dorian. The Grade 8 students began their mangrove habitat restoration journey by collecting red mangrove propagules and bringing them back to campus, where they watered and grew them into seedlings that would restore vital bonefish habitat, connecting education, conservation and hands-on stewardship. BTT’s Bahamas Outreach and Education Coordinator Nina Sanchez visited the school to speak about the importance of mangroves in The Bahamas and their role in supporting
bonefish and the country’s flats fishery. Ms Sanchez explained that mangroves serve as key habitats for bonefish and nurseries for other marine species, supporting both the flats fishery and other commercially important fisheries that play an important environmental and socio-economic role in The Bahamas. She also highlighted another essential role mangroves play: protecting coastlines from storm surge and erosion, while positively affecting water quality and strengthening resilience to climate change.
“We took our first field trip to a mangrove habitat last semester. I was so excited because I had never seen a mangrove before,” Grant said. “Searching for the little propagules was very fun. Then we took the propagules back to our school, where we planted them in our garden and continued to learn about how they grow and why mangroves are so important to protect our islands. “It was a long process of taking care of the propagules and making sure they had enough moisture to stay alive. Watching them grow from little seeds to baby plants was tiring but fun because I got to do it with my classmates. By the end, hundreds of baby red mangroves were planted. It was an experience I’ll never forget.” That process culminated on Earth Day in April when the students joined BTT’s East End Restoration Crew and other schools to plant the mangroves at a restoration site in East Grand Bahama. Trekking through mud and shallow water, they saw firsthand what it takes to restore the mangrove forests that support marine life and protect shorelines — and had fun while doing it. Jermaine Johnson, with the Ministry of Tourism, Grand Bahama Island’s Sustainable Development Department, which partnered with BTT on the initiative, said the project demonstrates the value of collaborative conservation and youth engagement. “The success of this initiative highlights how collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, GBI and BTT can create a lasting impact,” Mr Johnson said. “When students actively participate in restoration, from trough building, to seed collection, to nurturing propagules and then outplanting, they gain a sense of ownership and responsibility that will influence how they care for our environment long into the future.” The initiative reflects BTT’s broader commitment to youth engagement and environmental education throughout The Bahamas, helping young people understand that scientists are not the only ones involved in conservation and that they, along with their communities, have an important role to play. Helping students understand the connection between mangrove restoration and bonefish habitat was particularly important. Healthy mangrove-based ecosystems provide shelter and feeding grounds for bonefish, their prey and other species that support a thriving recreational fisheries sector across The Bahamas. By restoring mangroves today, students are helping to protect the future of Bahamian fisheries for generations to come, while exposure to these activities during the school year can help foster environmental stewardship. From learning in the classroom to getting their hands in the mud, students at Sister Mary Patricia Russell Junior High School have helped restore red mangrove habitats and inspired a new generation of Bahamian environmental stewards.
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For many students, it was their first time learning about the roles mangroves play for both marine organisms and society, and many had never explored these habitats before. The initiative allowed the lessons to extend beyond the classroom walls. Rather than simply learning about the value of these ecosystems and the importance of conserving and protecting them, the students became directly involved in restoration activities. The pictures they had seen in a slideshow earlier in the year would soon become a reality. After the presentation, it was time for a series of unique field trips. The journey began with collecting mangrove seeds, known as propagules, from healthy mangrove areas, while also learning how mangroves naturally reproduce and spread across wetlands, flats and shorelines. Back at school, it was time to plant those seeds and watch them grow. Students built troughs and monitored the propagules over the following months, designing simple science experiments that complemented skills they were learning in their regular science lessons. “The benefits of engaging students in these habitat restoration practices go far beyond the activities themselves,” Ms Sanchez said. “When you look at the individual components of this program, from building troughs to growing seedlings, we are exposing our youth to real-life skills and connecting them with flats stewardship and sustainable fisheries and tourism in The Bahamas. The look in a child’s eyes when you tell them that they can mix dirt in their school uniform during the school day is inspiring, and when you turn propagule collection into a competition, you make learning fun and memorable. “As environmental educators, we must capitalise on this excitement by providing hands-on experiences that expose them to a wide range of activities that are going to allow them to be environmental stewards and contribute to the betterment of our country.” For Grade 8 teacher Leona Andrews, the project provided an opportunity to bring science lessons to life. “Harvesting and cultivating mangrove propagules with the students of Sister Mary Patricia Russell Junior High School has transformed abstract textbook science into hands-on learning,” she said. “It deepens environmental stewardship by showing students firsthand how their actions protect our coastlines and instils a sense of long-term responsibility regarding vital ecosystems. I am sure my students are thankful to BTT and the Ministry of Tourism GBI for initiating this project and allowing them to get real-world, STEM learning and be a part of this program.” The students themselves embraced every stage of the journey. Victory Grant, a Grade 8 student, recalled the excitement of watching the project unfold.
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