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Friday, OctOber 16, 2026
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Friday, October 16, 2026 around da Islands
Red Cross
fundraiser aims to expand Meals on Wheels By BARBARA WALKIN barbara@barefootmarketing.net
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IMBERLEY Outten is markingher first year in the role of Administrator of the Grand Bahama Centre of the Bahamas Red Cross Society with a goal of raising the funds to not only sustain, but expand the organisation’s community programmes, including its flagship Meals on Wheels initiative, which provides meals to residents in need across Grand Bahama. Mrs Outten said that Meals on Wheels serves nearly 100 meals each day, Monday through Friday, reaching communities from the eastern to the western end of Grand Bahama. “We would like to expand that programme because the need is so great,” she said. “We’re a non-profit organisation, so we can only operate based on the donations we receive.” To that end, she is inviting residents to an evening of music, entertainment, and community support at its annual Rhythm of Giving benefit concert this Saturday, October 17, at Blair House. The annual event is one of the organisation’s major fundraising efforts, helping to provide resources for its ongoing community work. Dequann “Ms. Dee” Carroll, a member of the Red Cross Fundraising Committee, said the concert offers the community an opportunity to support a worthy cause while enjoying an evening of live entertainment. “Rhythm of Giving is about bringing people together for a purpose, and that purpose is to give,” Ms Carroll said. “We’re going to be dancing, but we’ll also be giving back to programmes such as Meals on Wheels that make a real difference in people’s lives.” Mrs Outten noted that the evening will feature the Nassau-based band Visage, whose return to Grand Bahama is expected to generate excitement among local music lovers. “We just want to invite Grand Bahama to come out. They don’t want to miss this event,” Mrs Outten said. The work of the Red Cross extends beyond food assistance, with its community outreach and
BAHAMAS Red Cross Society, Grand Bahama Centre Administrator Kimberley Outten.
Photos: Bahamas Red Cross Society Grand Bahama Centre
THE WORK of the Red Cross extends beyond food assistance, with its community outreach and emergency preparedness initiatives also playing an important role in supporting residents.
The Red Cross also continues to offer CPR and First Aid training, including group sessions for businesses seeking to equip their employees with essential emergency-response skills. Mrs Outten said corporate organisations should take advantage of these opportunities to make workplace safety a priority. She described volunteers as the heart of the organisation, encouraging residents who may not be able to attend the concert or make a financial contribution to consider giving their time. “The same way we don’t turn down people who need help, we don’t turn down people who want to help,” she said. “Even if it’s just your time, we’ll take it.” With the centre relying on community support to maintain and expand its services, the annual fundraising effort has attracted support from a range of corporate partners, including RBC Royal Bank, the Ministry of Tourism, the Grand Bahama Port Authority, DevCo, the Insurance
Mrs Outten expressed gratitude to returning sponsors and welcomed additional businesses interested in supporting the organisation’s work. She stressed that the concert’s impact should extend beyond a single evening, helping to sustain programmes that serve the community throughout the year. Tickets for Rhythm of Giving are $125 and are available at the Bahamas Red Cross Society’s Grand Bahama Centre, located behind Western Bakery, near Parks Uniform. The concert begins at 7pm at Blair House. Guests are encouraged to arrive on time to enjoy the evening’s planned activities, including happy hour, live entertainment, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. The dress code is cocktail attire or semi-formal, with guests encouraged to wear comfortable dancing shoes. Residents interested in volunteering, supporting the Meals on Wheels programme, arranging CPR and First Aid training, or learning more about the Red Cross’s other initiatives can contact the Grand Bahama Centre at 352-7163 or 352-7165, via WhatsApp at 829-6950, or through the Bahamas Red Cross Society Grand Bahama Centre on Facebook and Instagram.
BAHAMAS Red Cross Society, Grand Bahama Centre Administrator Kimberley Outten receives a donation for the centre's pantry from Grand Bahama Power Company.
emergency preparedness initiatives also playing an important role in supporting residents. Through its various programmes, the centre provides assistance to vulnerable households while helping individuals and organisations develop essential skills to respond to emergencies.
Commission, Focal, Simplified Lending, Insurance Management, Pure Water, Exquisite Catamaran Centre, THE RED Cross continues to offer CPR and First Aid trainPelican Bay and H. Forbes ing, including group sessions for businesses seeking to Charter. equip their employees with essential emergency-response skills.
around da Islands Friday, October 16, 2026
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contents This WEEK in Around da Islands Bahamian News, Features & Culture
what’s
hot
GRAND BAHAMA NEWS Pg 4 — Young basketball prospects visit GB for training camp as partnership supports future of sporting facilities
this week
Pg 5 — A global perspective on women’s advocacy Pg 6 — GB’s Fourth Annual Oktober Beer and Barbecue Festival set for October 24 Pg 7 — What Grand Bahamians want from the Prime Minister’s visit
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ON DA COVER
CAT ISLAND FEATURES Pgs 8 & 9 — Connecting communities through Climate Science
NEW PROVIDENCE FEATURES Pgs 10 & 11 — Boys’ bond of friendship that has survived six decades Pg 12 — Island Brainwaves
Community scientists Raheem Rollins and Antonese Paul
ANDROS FEATURES Pg 13 — From Deep Creek with a Heart for Home
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ABACO FEATURES Pg 14 — Paint Place marks 24 years on Abaco after hurricane and pandemic
NEW PROVIDENCE FEATURES Pg 15 — New songs burst to life from Independence Day tragedy For advertising contact:
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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
Friday, October 16, 2026 around da Islands
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TEAMS are making use of the St. George's High School Gym during the basketball season.
FILE Photo
Young basketball prospects visit GB for training camp as partnership supports future of sporting facilities By BARBARA WALKIN barbara@barefootmarketing.net
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GROUP of basketball players from Seed United Academy is spending several weeks in Grand Bahama conducting a training camp for local boys, spotlighting the opportunities basketball can create and helping a local school finish its gymnasium. The visit builds on an existing partnership between Seed United Academy, based in Grand Bahama with programmes in the US and Canada, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Norris Bain, the ministry’s Deputy Director of Sports, told Around da Islands the visiting players, aged 14 to 16, are not ordinary high school basketball players, but young athletes involved in a development programme designed to prepare aspiring players for higher levels of competition. While in Grand Bahama, the young men are also attending school. Mr Bain stressedthat the current visit is focused on training and development, with no immediate plans for the group to play competitively on the island. Seed United Academy, a youth basketball development organisation founded by Alex Victor, works to prepare young men for college education and basketball, with some aspiring to pursue professional opportunities in the NBA or overseas. The relationship with Grand Bahama began to take shape during the ministry’s summer basketball programme in St. George’s in July. Seed United supported the programme by bringing in specialised personnel, including basketball trainers, nutritionists and yoga instructors, to expose young
DEPUTY Director of Sports Norris Bain ALEX VICTOR, Founder and CEO of Seed in the Ministry of Youth and Sports. United Academy.
participants to the discipline and preparation required to pursue the sport at a higher level. The academy also brought a young player who had earned McDonald’s All-American recognition and signed with the University of Houston, giving local participants an opportunity to see what can be achieved through dedication, training and continued development. Beyond the summer programme, the partnership produced a contribution with the potential to benefit basketball across Grand Bahama for years to come. During talks with Seed United’s leadership, Mr Bain raised the condition of the Jack Hayward Gymnasium, noting that it was an important sporting facility serving the Freeport community and that a new basketball floor was needed. The academy’s partners responded by agreeing to donate approximately 8,000 square feet of flooring, covering both its purchase and shipment to Grand Bahama. Mr Bain said the donation was made as a philanthropic contribution to the gym and the wider community, without conditions attached. The Jack Hayward Gymnasium has long served as a venue for basketball and other sporting activities in Grand
Bahama. Its importance extends beyond school based sports to outside organised competition, providing a space where young people can train, develop their abilities and participate in community sporting programmes. It will be a while, thought, before the donated flooring can be installed. Mr Bain explained that repairs to the gymnasium’s roof must be addressed first and the timing of the installation will depend on the completion of necessary work to the building. The contribution, however, reflects a broader effort to strengthen the facilities available to young athletes in Grand Bahama while expanding their access to quality coaching and development opportunities. Mr Bain acknowledged the involvement of the Minister Mario Bowleg and Ministry of Youth, along with, Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper and Grand Bahama Minister Ginger Moxey. For Grand Bahama, the partnership offers benefits on two fronts: the immediate opportunity for local boys to learn from visiting basketball prospects and the prospect of a renewed playing surface at the Jack Hayward Gymnasium once the necessary roof repairs are completed.
By LEIGH LIGHTBOURNE
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OR Katherine B Smith, a collective approach is essential to focus attention on the issues affecting women and girls in The Bahamas. Better known as Kay, the former parliamentarian, Managing Director of the Disaster Reconstruction Authority and founder of the Grand Bahama based Girlcon Organisation, returned recently from the International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute’s 17th Annual Global Policy Summit in Washington DC with a renewed commitment to building a stronger voice.
The Grand Bahamian told Around da Islands: “Internationally, women’s organisations are mighty and powerful particularly when they come together on the issues most impacting women and girls. They become a big voting block and therefore government listens.” The September 18 summit brought together Black women leaders from across the United States, Africa, the Caribbean and the wider diaspora under the theme “No Longer Silent: Connecting Black Women Globally — Amplifying the Work to Eliminate the Violence Against Women.”
IBWPPI describes its work as connecting and advocating for Black women and girls globally through public policy, with violence against women, education, health and wellness, economic security and the eradication of human trafficking among its areas of focus. With perspective gained from more than three decades involved in public service and community development in The Bahamas, for Mrs Smith the value of such gatherings lies not only in the opportunity to speak, but in learning from what other women are doing. “While not surprising to me, I felt the speakers talked about so many powerful and creative programmes to assist women and girls on so many different issues some we would do well to ‘copy,’” she said. Bringing those ideas home is part of Mrs Smith’s continuing work through the GirlCon Organization, created in 2017 by a collective of women committed to developing programmes for women and girls, with a focus on health and wellness, education, leadership development and advocacy for equal rights. Its vision is that “every girl is valued and empowered to live a life without limits,” while its mission is “to advocate for, inspire, and empower girls to be more.” Mrs Smith’s involvement extends beyond GirlCon. She is also part of the wider Women United movement, a Bahamian coalition established in 2019 to bring organisations assisting women and children into a common space for sharing resources, coordinating services, collaborating and advocating for national change. The coalition’s value was demonstrated during both Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic, when participating group worked together to respond to urgent needs involving women, children and families. “In the Bahamas our female groups are not as mighty in numbers, so I believe we are more
GIRLCON Founder Katherine "Kay" Smith.
Photo: Kay Smith
impactful when we centralize our efforts,” she said. That collective voice featured prominently in Mrs Smith’s contribution at the Washington summit, where she spoke about violence against women and girls in The Bahamas, the continuing national conversation surrounding sexual offences and marital rape and the need for action beyond simply acknowledging troubling statistics. “What are we doing in response?” she asked. “First we’ve got to strengthen our collective voice where we articulate the changes we want to see in our communities.” For Mrs Smith, the work does not end with an international conference or a public statement. Her approach is to continue building relationships, learning from organisations abroad and applying useful ideas at home. “I am working with several US entities and the more I meet during my travels and learning what they do, I use the best practices and try to make a difference at home,” she said. For a woman whose career has included parliamentary leadership, diplomacy, disaster reconstruction, private-sector management and community advocacy, the continuing thread is connecting experience, relationships and ideas, and bringing them back to the women and girls of The Bahamas.
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A global perspective on women’s advocacy
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Friday, October 16, 2026 around da Islands
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PLANS for the upcoming Fourth Annual Oktober Beer and Barbecue Festival were announced on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The event is set to take place on Saturday, October 24, 2026 from 4:00pm to 10:00pm on Taino Beach grounds.
BIS Photo:Danielle Rollon
GB’s Fourth Annual Oktober Beer and Barbecue Festival set for October 24
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HE Ministry of Tourism, in partnership with the Grand Bahama Island Promotion Board, has announced the fourth annual Oktober Beer and Barbecue Festival that will take place for the first time on Taino Beach grounds. The festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, from 4pm to 10pm. Attendees can look forward to a variety of local breweries and an assortment of barbecue offerings. The evening’s entertainment lineup will feature performances by Deep South Island Boys, Ophie and Da Websites, Conch Juice Band, Top Tier Band and Bahamas Brass Band. Guests can also experience an exciting
Junkanoo rush out by the Superstar Rockers. In addition to the live performances and food offerings, the festival will feature a variety of games and activities for both children and adults, ensuring fun for the whole family. To make the event more accessible for visitors, the Ministry of Tourism will provide bus transportation from hotels in the Freeport area. “We want to invite our visitors and residents to come out and enjoy an evening of live entertainment, amazing barbecue food, beer and so much fun,” said Jillian Williams, Brand and Communications Representative of the Grand Bahama Island Promotion Board.
LABOUR Advocate Lionel Morley.
By BARBARA WALKIN barbara@barefootmarketing.net
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S residents await Prime Minister Philip Davis’ planned visit to Grand Bahama in the coming days, there are questions whether the anticipated announcement will deliver meaningful solutions to the island’s longstanding economic challenges. Foreign Affairs Minister and Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Fred Mitchell announced earlier this month that PM Davis would travel to Grand Bahama to convene a “civil society meeting” involving the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), its licensees and other stakeholders. The meeting, Mr Mitchell said, would provide an opportunity for the government to outline its plans for Freeport and the island.
problems rather than continue trading blame over who is responsible for them. Among his most pressing concerns is the plight of the Grand Lucayan hotel and its former employees who, he said, remain without the compensation they believe they are owed. Mr Morley also raised questions about the agreement between the government and Emera for the purchase of the Grand Bahama Power Company, saying the public Photo: BAR- still needed a full and detailed BARA WALKIN explanation of the deal. He expressed concern about the additional government borrowing and what he described as a lack of clarity surrounding major financial decisions. Mr Morley said he welcomed the Prime Minister’s presence in Grand Bahama but said the visit should be an opportunity to address the public’s concerns. Small business owner Lynn Adams said she hopes the anticipated announcement does not involve the government purchasing the Grand Bahama Port Authority. Ms Adams questioned the government’s financial direction, pointing to what she described as a lack of visible or tangible solutions to Grand Bahama’s economic difficulties despite substantial borrowing and major financial arrangements. She also cited the recentGrand Bahama Power Company purchase as another development about which she wants greater clarity. James Smith, a retired hotel worker, expressed disappointment with successive political administracommerce at all levels to be contions, saying neither the Progressive nected, be supported, and help grow Liberal Party nor the Free National Grand Bahama’s economy,” he said. Movement had earned his confidence. Mr Hepburn stressed that the “The public should be able to judge Chamber had received no direct compolitical leaders by their actions munication about the visit from the rather than their promises, particuOffice of the Prime Minister, Cabinet, larly when the island continues to face the Government of The Bahamas, economic uncertainty and residents the PLP or any other government are waiting for improvements in their representative. lives,” Mr Smith said. He said the Chamber’s only information about the planned meeting had come through a news report carrying Mitchell’s announcement. Labour advocate Lionel Morley told Around da Islands that he remainsunsure about the government’s ability to deliver meaningful change, pointing to a history of unresolved issues affecting Grand Bahama. He argued that after a full term in office, the government should be prepared to address the island’s longstanding
What Grand Bahamians want from the Prime Minister’s visit GRAND Bahama Chamber of Commerce President Ralph Hepburn said the Chamber received neither direct communication about the visit nor an invitation to the planned meeting.
Ahead of the visit, some residents and business representatives are expressing frustration over what they see as a lack of transparency on the part of the PLP government, unanswered questions and promises that have yet to translate into tangible results. Ralph Hepburn, president of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, questioned the government’s decision not to invite the Chamber to participate in the planned discussions. “The government not inviting the Chamber to be a part of this conclave shows how the government views this Chamber and its regard for Chamber participation in matters concerning the economy of Grand Bahama,” Mr Hepburn said. However, he said the Chamber would continue advocating for its members and the wider business community. “It is still our goal to help all businesses and persons connected to
PRIME Minister Philip Davis is set to convene a “civil society meeting” involving the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), its licensees and other stakeholders.
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JAMES SMITH, a retired hotel worker, expressed disappointment with successive political administrations after promises made were not kept.
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Friday, October 16, 2026 around da Islands
around da Islands Friday, October 16, 2026
features
ADDIS Ababa University Africa Day Event co-sponsored by the Ethiopian Ocean Institute.
NSR on a research dive to study seagrass.
cat island
Connecting communities through Climate Science By LEIGH LIGHTBOURN
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YME Bahamas Pop Up Classroom at the Rake n Scrape Site.
fter years of trying to conduct ocean and environmental science in Cat Island, the big question for environmentalist Nikita Shiel-Rolle was how to give ordinary people the tools to understand and monitor the pressing environmental issues facing the world around them despite having only limited access to equipment. Da Grouper School was her response, a community-powered learning network that brings together science, culture and environmental awareness, encouraging people of all ages to participate in climate research and conservation. Three times a year, Da Grouper School convenes a Global Party where music, movement and storytelling bring participants together. Practical activities such as measuring rainfall, testing water and soil quality, and documenting biodiversity, build scientific skills while helping communities understand environmental changes affecting their livelihoods. Antone Paul, a local Cat Island student and Community Scientist who works with YME 242 and Da Grouper School, said: “For me, what makes programmes like these so important is not just about learning; we are actually gaining knowledge and skills we can take back into our community and share with the next generation. Living on an island, the land and the sea are such a big part of our everyday life, so understanding what we have and how it affects us and how we
can protect it for future generations is something that really matters.” Shiel-Rolle, MSc, founder and CEO of Young Marine Explorers (YME Bahamas) and PlanetWerx, a US-based nonprofit technology systems integrator, is also a Bahamian real estate professional with H.G. Christie, specialising in waterfront estates and island lifestyle properties. H.G. Christie previously sponsored Art by the Sea, an event that formed part of Da Grouper School’s programming two years ago. Her next step is making environmental monitoring technology more accessible. Through PlanetWerx, Shiel-Rolle is developing the Lab in a Bag, a portable system that enables communities to collect environmental data without advanced laboratory infrastructure. The kit includes equipment for monitoring weather, water quality, soil and agriculture, with additional sensors being developed to investigate environmental challenges such as gases associated with sargassum abundance. “We are currently producing our first seven units, with one specifically committed to Cat Island,” Shiel-Rolle explained. The goal is to have all seven deployed by the end of November 2026, allowing communities to begin building a full year of environmental and climate data. The long-term ambition is to deploy hundreds of kits throughout The Bahamas, creating a network of community observation points. The locally collected information could complement the work of government agencies and scientific
institutions, strengthening understanding of environmental changes across the archipelago. The initiative is also being explored internationally. In July 2026, Shiel-Rolle and a colleague presented a strategic planning framework to Ethiopia’s Ministry of Planning and Development, examining how Da Grouper School could help connect national climate strategies with rural communities through environmental monitoring and locally generated data. Shiel-Rolle’s wider work includes the Ethiopian Ocean Institute, a long-term initiative to advance ocean science, regional cooperation and peace building in the Horn of Africa. For Shiel-Rolle, the vision is for communities to become not merely observers of environmental change, but active contributors to the knowledge needed to address it. From Cat Island to international partnerships, Da Grouper School demonstrates how local experience and community knowledge can help shape global solutions, while ensuring that the partnerships and technology developed along the way continue to benefit the Bahamian communities that first inspired the work.
RAHEEM Rollins and Antonese Paul, community scientists in training
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BOYS’ BOND OF FRIENDSHIP THAT HAS SURVIVED SIX DECADES LEFT to right Michael Hepburn, Glen Archer, Malcolm Adderley, Sidney Outten, Eugene Bethel and Wellington Pratt
By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
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N June of 1965 a group of young men graduated from St Augustine’s College. They were among the last of a group of talented and academically brilliant young men admitted to the school back when it was an all-boys institution and classes extended from 8am to 8pm. The bonds they formed led to a friendship that has survived the past six decades and the lessons they learned allow them to play prominent roles in the development of the Bahamas. Today the class of 1965 still gather to talk about the “good old days at the Big Red Machine.” The attendance roster includes prominent attorneys, accountants, bankers, cultural icons and politicians. Last week the Tribune was invited to join some of the men for a special reunion at Latitudes Restaurant where the laughter and memories flowed throughout the night. Accountant Michael Hepburn explained that St Augustine’s was founded by the Catholic Church in January 1947 as an institution young Black men could go to obtain a high school education. “When we came along, it was still in its growing stage. It got started because black people were not allowed education after age 14. After age 14, you went to work and there was a whole generation of us who never got to high school. There
FROM left to right, Michael Hepburn, Sidney Outten, Wellington Pratt, Malcom Adderley and Eugene Bethel discussing the good old days
was only one high school in the country that black people could go to and that was Government High School. You got over 2000 applications and only 200 could attend and so you knew what the competition was like.” Th Catholic Church created the school and of the 95 young men who applied only 35 were invited to become the inaugural class. Mr Hepburn said the school immediately set the foundation for excellence that SAC is still known for. “Our teachers were all Benedict Monks; no women teachers and their whole mission was to build character. They taught you
MALCOLM Adderley explains what we did from 8am to 8pm.
Photos: Nikia Charlton
what it was to be a man of integrity and honesty and substance.” The schedule was gruelling - with the day beginning at 8 am and ending at 8pm. They would often eat breakfast lunch and supper at school. Because there were no microwaves at the time, if students bought lunch that needed warming, kitchen staff would warm it in a pot on the stove ahead of the break. The students had their daily academic lessons which included Latin), had to attend daily mass and they had sports lessons and then at 6pm they had a two-hour study hall which allowed them to do the majority of their homework and studying before they headed home. In addition, to its strong academic focus, St Augustine’s has always played a dominant role in sports in the county particularly track and
field. In fact, before the Sports Centre track stadium was built, the majority of track meets were held on St Augustine’s campus. Malcolm Adderley a member of the class of 1965 was one of the school’s stellar athletes particularly in the 400m. Today he is an attorney, former member of parliament for Elizabeth, has served as president of The Bahamas Industrial Tribunal and a Justice of the Supreme Court and a member of The Bahamas Public Service Commission. He was also instrumental in the Bahamas Amateur Athletic Association. “Everyone wanted to beat SAC,” he said. “This ain just start.” There were a number of organisations that sponsored track meets and the rivalry was always between Saint Augustine’s, the old Government High School, Queen’s College, St John’s College and St Andrew’s with the biggest rivalry between SAC and GHS. He said that the results always came down to a few points with the relays being the deciding races. There were two races that stand out in his mind, even after all this time. “In 1961 when Hugh Bullard who was very good at the 400 and Hector Julian Brown who was one of the best athletes the country has ever produced who was from Bimini and went to St John’s College. In 1961, at the headmaster’s track meet there was these 400 relays we excepted Hugh to beat Julian, it was the most fascinating track race I have ever seen in the Bahamas They started of neck to neck. They came into the home stretch together; it was such a grueling race that they both fell to the ground. It was a photo finish, but we didn’t have cameras in those days, so it had to be decided
students were admitted in 1967 although initially they were taught separately from the males. And while the school receives thousands of applications each year, the school’s student body remans just over 900.
The class of 1965 included:
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. Sydney Budts Outten: Husband of 52 years, father of four,very successful businessman, devoted member of Jehovah’s Witness . Malcolm E. Adderley · Husband of 52 years, father, successful attorney, former member of parliament, devoted catholic . Glenn R Archer - Husband of 51 years, father of two, well respected engineer, devoted catholic . Wellington G Pratt - Father of three, husband of 53 years, professional insurance advisor for 48 years, devoted member of the Seventh Day Adventists . Terrance R Gape - Husband of 48 years, father of two children, respected attorney at one of the country’s largest law firms, member of the Anglican Religion .Michael M Hepburn - Husband of 50 years, father of four, well known accountant, devoted catholic . Keith Smith - Husband of 53 years, father of two, well respected international banker and trust officer .William K Higgs - Husband, father, manager of a major retail chain, devoted catholic .A Eugene Bethel - Husband of 43 years, professional refrigerator consultant, devoted Christian .James M Malone- Businessman
2 3 4
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WELLINGTON Pratt and Michael Hepburn
who won and it took over an hour for the judges to decide. But we were SACERS, so Father Frederick came and said, we are the hosts, we concede and they agreed Julian was the winner.” The second race happened on November 22, 1963 “I remember we on the track getting ready to start the race when Father Frederick Frey got up with foghorn and said, ‘Please stand’ and we were nervous because the race was about to start and everyone stood and he said, ‘I have a sad announcement to make, President John F Kennedy has just been assassinated.’ I have never forgot that. And a month later on Christmas Day Father Frederik died.” Academics and sports aside, the men say they still had opportunities to just have fun as there was always something happening.
sent to the school, it was the best decision his parents could have made. He admits he wanted to go to GHS which dismissed at 3pm with the added benefit that he had friends at the school and it was coed. “I say boy, I going with my boys to Government High School, but Daddy didn’t say nothing, I waiting for my white and blue shirt, two weeks before school open I ask Mamma where my stuff and she said, your daddy got them, I went in the room and all I saw was grey grey grey (the colour of SACs uniform) I say Mamma what I do to y’all, I ain going to that school, that is prison 8 to 8, I cried I didn’t want to go, but the thing is that after I got to SAC, it was not long you know that SAC was the most wonderful thing in my life.” Today, the school continues to live up to its reputation as one of the country’s leading institutions. Female
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
. Peter N Lorenz- International businessman . Henry Sears-deceased . Samuel J Stirrup-deceased
. Peter Wilson-deceased .Henry Moss-deceased . Nehemiah Francis-deceased
. Michael L Allen-deceased . Anthony Duncombe- deceased . Harrison Dean- deceased . Jackson Burnside-deceased . Joseph Delaney-deceased
.George D Albury- recently deceased
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LEFT to right Michael Hepburn, Sidney Outten, Glen Archer, Malcolm.
Mr Hepburn said that the school had numerous activities such as talent shows, musicals and plays that happened during the year. And the group of men all got along well. Another classmate Eugene Bethel said with three hundred male students, he didn’t remember there being any major fights. “You may have had a scuffle here or there I don’t remember a single day going to SAC that I wished, I was going somewhere else. Those monks built character.” Mr Hepburn said that despite the time period, there was a lack of racism on the campus. “Gene and I would serve on the altar together he didn’t see me as black; I didn’t see him as white, we were just school mates.” And Mr Adderley noted that while he was initially not happy about being
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9 Erected, 10 Gear, 12 Yes, 13 Thereby, 14 Art, 15 Sang, 17 Curtain, 19 Target, 20 Stretched. Down: 1 Pregnant, 2 Rare, 3 Owe, 4 Interpret, 5 Scenes, 6 Nosey, 8 Resigned, 11 Refuge, 13 Treat, 16 Nice, 18 Ash.
CRYPTOQUOTE AXYDLBAAXR is L O N G F E L L O W One letter stands for another. In this example, A is used for the three L’s, X for the 2 O’s, etc. Single letters, apostrophes, the length and formation of words are all hints. Each day the code letters are different.
Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday
TARGET DEMAGOGUE aged dame deem DEMAGOGUE deme demo doge dogma dome edema edge egged gamed gaud gauged geed geode goad gouged made mead mode mugged oedema
THE ALP
Black squar 24, 27, 29, 30 Across: Larg Oaths, Blasp Woe, Skedad Allotted, Fac Abject, Glow Enjoy, Drama
CROSS D
Across: BUC Down: CHILD
SUMMIT 76 and 78
island
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12 Friday, October 16, 2026 around da Islands
Yesterday’s Sudoku Answer
MICRO CROSSWORD
CHALLENGER
Yesterday’s Answers
By LEIGH LIGHTBOURN
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MAN with the imposing bearing of a former police officer and the authoritative air of one who has spent decades in the security business, Cleveland Andrew Duncombe has a certain presence, and can look rather intimidating at first. But spend a little time with him and another Cleveland emerges. There is the quick sense of humour, warmth, devotion to family and most of all, a deep affection for the place he still calls home: Deep Creek, South Andros. Mr Duncombe, founder and CEO of Candid Security Limited, left Andros at 17 and went on to serve in the Royal Bahamas Police Force before establishing his security company in 1997. What began with 15 employees, one contract and, as he puts it “a prayer”, has grown into a company employing more than 200 Bahamians. His business travels have taken him to the United States, Israel, London, Dubai, Amsterdam, Trinidad and Tobago and Singapore for conferences and executive programmes as well as opportunities to see how security operations and businesses function. His experiences have enabled him to bring back ideas and expertise to strengthen the Bahamian security industry while also allowing him to build relationships with professionals from around the world. Yet for all those destinations, home remains the place that matters most. Mr Duncombe regularly returns to South Andros, travelling through its settlements, visiting friends and family, listening to older residents and supporting initiatives that he hopes will create opportunities for the next generation. His father, now 96, still lives in Deep Creek, and Mr Duncombe treasures their time together.
“I love to spend time with my father,” he said. “Every chance I get, Andros is my first choice.” That commitment to home extends to education. In 2010, Duncombe established the Candid Security Scholarship Award for an outstanding graduate of South Andros High School, his alma mater. The scholarship continues to provide post-secondary assistance to students accepted to the University of The Bahamas. He has also helped reactivate the Grand Bahama South Andros Association, the South Andros High School Alumni Association and the South Andros Homecoming Committee, encouraging Androsians living elsewhere to return, invest and share their expertise. For Mr Duncombe, giving back is not only about organisations. It is also about maintaining the culture and enjoying the simple pleasures of island life. He visits settlements from Driggs Hill to Mars Bay, spends time with older residents and listens to stories that, he says, “you won't find in any book.” And then there is the cooking. Duncombe is happiest preparing stew fish, boiled fish, crab soup or conch fricassée for family and friends. For a man whose professional life involves security, management and international travel, cooking seems to provide a welcome counterbalance. If
Photos: Cleveland Duncombe
CLEVELAND Duncombe's travels have taken him to the United States, Israel, London, Dubai, Amsterdam, Trinidad and Tobago, and Singapore for conferences and executive programmes as well as opportunities to see how security operations and businesses function. MR Duncombe regularly returns to South Andros, travelling through its settlements, visiting friends and family, listening to older residents and supporting initiatives that he hopes will create opportunities for the next generation.
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FOUNDER and CEO of Candid Security Limited, Cleveland Andrew Duncombe.
you follow him on social media, you will often see photos on a Saturday morning of his latest “berl”, with the phrase “It gern down!” “My cooking is therapeutic,” he said. “I love when folks say they enjoy my meals.” “I made it to where I am today because of the sweet grace of God,” Duncombe said. “There were many people betting on my success when I had nothing to bet with.” And if asked about it all, he is likely to pause, smile and deliver his favourite word “Indeed” because behind the imposing security executive is still a little boy from Deep Creek who never forgot where he came from. He will be combining his love of local cooking and honouring his heritage with his new restaurant, "Andros Indeed" Fine Food and Libating Lounge which is planned to be open January 2027 in downtown Freeport.
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From Deep Creek with a Heart for Home
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Paint Place marks 24 years on Abaco after hurricane and pandemic
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HE Paint Place has been trading on Abaco for 24 years. Its Marsh Harbour store was wiped out by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, then reopened during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Maura family business was founded in 1993 by the late Michael Maura Sr. It opened its Abaco branch in Marsh Harbour on October 15th, nine years later. When Dorian struck the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama in 2019, the store was a total loss and the company closed its doors. Like many businesses, The Paint Place had to close its doors. Eighteen (18) months later, March 2021, those doors reopened in the same location it occupied in the Abaco Shopping Plaza on Don Mackay Blvd. The reopening was a testament of our confidence in Abaco’s economy and our commitment and contribution to the community. The renovated 4000 square foot showcases our wide selection of exclusive brands; Benjamin Moore and Richard's Paints. In addition to offering premium products at affordable prices, The Paint Place’s outstanding customer service has always been at the forefront! Our local sales team will visit job sites, write specifications for your project at no cost and will also assist with product knowledge, color matching and price quotes for special projects. With the Covid-19 pandemic striking just six months after Hurricane Dorian, the Abaco reopening was not a guarantee. Like so many other businesses, there were significant financial setbacks, however, The Paint Place had more than one reason to push to the finish line and reopened the Abaco store. In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, The Paint Place management focused on relocating and stabilising their seven Abaco employees and their families. All employees were brought to New Providence, guaranteed jobs in the two Nassau’s Bilney Lane and Sandyport locations and supported as they tried to put together the pieces of a puzzle they never anticipated. Ashana Cornish-Thervill was promoted to manage the day-to-day operation. Head of the Paint Department, Kendal Kemp, is the paint specialist and has been with the company since inception 24 years ago.
The leadership team is supported by Shamere Mckenzie, Gordon Dean, Tatyana Sidor and Neanaro Nicolls. General Manager Christine King is quick to point out that the success of the business is much more than financial performance. At its core, The Paint Place is built around three guiding tenets: Care for Employees, Customer Service, and Community Involvement. These are not simply words, they shape how the business operates, how decisions are made, and how success is ultimately measured. Together, these three tenets have created a culture centered on people, relationships, and responsibility. With qualified family leadership and their full-time day-to-day involvement, Mauras Paint Place has new plans and will continue growing into the future. It is important to say heartfelt thanks to the mainland Abaco and Cays community for trusting Maura’s Paint Place with coloring their homes, offering expert painting advice and supplying quality paint and painting supplies. So, come on down to The Paint Place Abaco as we celebrate our 24th year of Culture, Community and Color. Find your favorite hues as well as a wide variety of varnishes, wood treatments, industrial coatings, floor, pool, and traffic coatings as well as paint sundries. When you want to paint it right the first time, visit any of our three convenient locations: Don Makay Blvd, Marsh Harbour Store Hours 7:30a.m. to 4:30p.m Monday – Saturday, Telephone: 3672271, WhatsApp: 829-1141, Email: abaco@thepaintplacebahamas.com Website- www.thepaintplacebahamas.com Bilney Lane off Shirley Street Store Hours 7:30a.m. - 5:30p.m. Monday- Saturday, Telephone: 3942213, WhatsApp: 828-1141, Email: bilneylane@thepaintplacebahamas. com Website: www.thepaintplacebahamas.com Sandyport Plaza, Cable Beach Store Hours: 7:30a.m. - 5:30p.m. Monday- Saturday, Telephone: 3278958, WhatsApp: 817-1141, Email: sandyport@thepaintplacebahamas. com Website: www.thepaintplacebahamas.com
By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
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HEMA Poitier has had a song of trust buried in her heart for more than two decades, but it is now bursting to life after a national tragedy prompted her to share the message with the world. The singer originally penned her new song Trust God in 2005, after going through a very difficult period in her life. Then, twenty years later, came the Independence Day tragedy in Abaco, and for Shema, the inspiration to finally release the song. The song’s overall message is: what do we do with our faith when we are hurting and do not understand? “For me, the answer is not that we pretend to understand,” she says. “It is that we can still trust who God is and ultimately rest in His unconditional love.” Trust God debuted on October 1 on gospel radio stations around the Bahamas. It has a global release set for October 30, when the single will become available for streaming and digital download. Explaining the songs origins, she says: “It was marked by deep emotional turmoil and heartbreak, compounded by financial challenges. Then, in a moment when it all became overwhelming, the lyrics and melody came to me all in one go. I was hurting deeply, and the song really came out of that place of pain. Trust God confronts different expressions of human suffering, including heartbreak, financial hardship, the devastating loss of a loved one, sickness, and the emotional and psychological weight that pain can carry. “At its centre is an anthem of faith, hope and trust in God, particularly when life presents circumstances that are difficult, or even impossible, to understand.” And while the words came easy, releasing the song did not. “I first attempted to record Trust God in 2006. Over the years, I returned to it several times, but various recording and production challenges prevented it from reaching completion. Eventually, after another serious attempt around 2011, I placed it on the shelf. But I never completely let it go,” she said.
SHEMA Poitier
Shema says many of her friends and family encouraged her to finish it. “They responded to its contagious melody, deeply transformative message and the particularly beautiful warmth characteristic of that section of my vocal register. Producers and listeners also observed that the song crosses musical boundaries, carrying qualities of contemporary Christian music while lending itself naturally to country influences,’ she explained. There was the added benefit of the advances in audio technology that have happened over the last twenty years that allowed her to revisit the recording in ways she didn’t think were possible. “It felt like I had been given a second chance at the song,” she said. “I hope it reaches people wherever life is hurting: people grieving, facing financial hardship, dealing with sickness, heartbreak, or simply wrestling with questions they cannot answer. “When we don’t understand, when we’re hurting and when we cannot see what God is doing, we can still trust who He is. Ultimately, we can rest in His unconditional, undying love.” It follows a list of other musical achievements for the singer. “My debut single, Affirmation, received three Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Award nominations. We Lift Our Hands, recorded with Adrian Edgecombe and the Bahamas Harvest Choir, and for which I served as lead vocals arranger and vocalist, won the 2004 Marlin Award for Praise and Worship Recording of the Year. “My original songs Walls of Jericho and Catapult have both advanced to the semifinalist round of the prestigious International Songwriting Competition, a global competition attracting entries from more than 150 countries and in which semifinalists have represented only about 15 percent of entries. Catapult also received a Bahamas Gospel Music Award nomination for Inspirational Song of the Year. When she is not singing, Shema works as communications Liaison within the Sustainable Tourism Department of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and looks
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he Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced that filmmaker Frank Flowers will receive the Caribbean Shining Star Tribute at the 21st annual festival, taking place December 7–14, with events in Nassau, New Providence and Harbour Island, Eleuthera. The honour recognises Flowers' continued rise as a filmmaker whose work has helped bring Caribbean stories and talent to the global stage. Flowers is best known for writing and directing Haven, the 2004 feature shot on location in the Cayman Islands and starring Anthony Mackie, Zoe Saldana and Orlando Bloom. The film marked a milestone for Caribbean cinema as the first feature entirely photographed on Grand Cayman, and it launched Flowers as a filmmaker to watch. BIFF hosted a special event around the film when it was completed and released, an early recognition of Flowers' talent that foreshadowed the acclaimed career that has followed. Since Haven, Flowers has built an incredible body of work that spans continents, including co-writing Metro Manila, winner of the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award and a BAFTA nominee, and Bob Marley: One Love, now among the top 10 highest-grossing musical biopics of all time. He was also commissioned to write Shooting Stars, the film chronicling NBA legend LeBron James' high school years. Most recently, Flowers wrote and directed The Bluff, the Amazon MGM Studios/AGBO pirate thriller starring Priyanka Chopra and Karl Urban. Released on Prime Video in February 2026, the film made history by climbing to the No. 1 movie on Prime Video both in the United States and globally within days of its debut and went on to top Variety's global Streaming Original Film chart in its first full week of release. On the strength of that success, AGBO has since acquired a new project to be scripted by Flowers and his Bluff co-writer Joe Ballarini, the latest sign that Flowers' star is still on the rise. Beyond the screen, Flowers remains deeply invested in his home region, serving as Chairperson of the Cayman Islands Film Commission board, where he works to advance Caribbean culture and storytelling in film. "Frank has been part of the BIFF family since the very beginning, and it has been extraordinary to watch his career grow from a young Caribbean filmmaker to a director whose work now tops the charts on a global stage," said Leslie Vanderpool, Founder and Executive Director of BIFF. "As Frank continues to grow as a filmmaker, it is a pleasure to honor his star as it continues to rise." The Caribbean Shining Star Tribute marks a first for BIFF. Where the festival has traditionally reserved its Shining Star Tribute for international actors, the Caribbean Shining Star Tribute was created to turn that spotlight closer to home, honoring the filmmakers and storytellers rising from the region's FILMMAKER Frank Flowers own shores. “Frank Flowers’ success demonstrates the extraordinary filmmaking talent coming out of the Caribbean, and we congratulate him on this well-deserved honor,” said Pepin Argamasilla, Managing Partner of John Watling’s Distillery. “We are proud to continue supporting BIFF and its monthly film series at John Watling’s Distillery, celebrating Caribbean cinema throughout the year.” The tribute ceremony takes place Sunday, December 13th at John Watlings, more information to follow at www.bintlfilmfest.com
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Filmmaker Flowers to receive Caribbean Shining Star Tribute
New songs burst to life from Independence Day tragedy
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Friday, October 16, 2026 around da Islands