I!"#NDS
Friday, OctOber 30, 2026
around da
Inside:
INCORPORATING
GRAND BAHAMA
CELEBRATING HUMANITY'S CONNECTION TO NATURE THROUGH ART see page 7
Gourmet
GATHERING Scotiabank Hosts Exclusive Dinner With Chef Esther Choi At The Bahamas Culinary Festival see pages 10 & 11
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Friday, October 30, 2026 around da Islands
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By LEIGH LIGHTBOURN
T
HE sound of goatskin drums, the flash of colourful costumes and the infectious rhythm of Junkanoo brought Bahamian energy to the streets of Key West this month as the Grand Bahama Cultural Performers returned for their fourth year at the Bahama Village Goombay Festival. With 55 performers making the trip for the October 16–17 festival, the Grand Bahama contingent was larger than ever, continuing its mission to share Bahamian culture and strengthen historical ties between the two communities. Held over two days in Key West’s historic Bahama Village neighbourhood, Goombay is a free, family-friendly street festival celebrating the area’s deeprooted Bahamian heritage. Centred around Petronia Street, the event features live music, dancing, Caribbean and Bahamian food, arts and crafts, and colourful Junkanoo processions. The festival also traditionally marks the start of Key West’s internationally known Fantasy Fest celebrations, bringing residents and visitors together for a lively showcase of island culture. For Craig Rolle, Freeport chairman of the Grand Bahama Cultural Group, the mission extends beyond delivering a spectacular performance. It is about sharing an authentic piece of Grand Bahama, strengthening cultural connections and ensuring Junkanoo continues to gain recognition beyond the shores of The Bahamas. The journey began four years ago when the Bahama
Grand Bahama Junkanoo performers bring
Bahamian pride to Key West
Village Junkanoo Committee invited Mr Rolle to bring several Bahamian Junkanooers to Key West to assist the local group with its parade. That first trip attracted 29 participants, each paying their own way, with assistance from Antanasio Curry, leader of Freeport’s New Generation Junkanoo group. Mr Rolle recalled the enthusiastic response from Key West residents, who told the visiting performers it was the best Junkanoo presentation they had seen since the Goombay Parade began. The experience demonstrated the appetite for Bahamian culture in a community whose history is closely connected to The Bahamas. Bahamian
immigrants settled in the neighbourhood during the 1800s, working in fishing, sponging, boatbuilding and other maritime trades. The festival celebrates those ties through music, food, dancing and cultural expression, transforming the neighbourhood into a gathering place for residents and visitors. In the second year, Alan Thurston of the Village Junkanoo Committee took responsibility for coordinating the festival and invited the Grand Bahama contingent to help strengthen its Junkanoo presentation. The group returned with 30 participants, building on the relationship and laying the groundwork for further growth.
For Mr Rolle, one memory captures the excitement surrounding the group's participation. Arriving in Key West at 2am on a Saturday, the performers found people waiting at the lodge hall to welcome them, an enthusiastic reception that encouraged them to deliver an even stronger performance. This year, the Grand Bahama Cultural Group also helped establish two booths,
extending the Bahamian presence into the festival's food and beverage offerings. One sold Bahama Mamas and Gully Wash, while the other featured traditional dishes, including cracked conch, conch fritters and conch salad. The group is also working towards greater representation by Bahamian entertainers, with the goal of having a Bahamian entertainer perform at the festival for the first time next year. Behind the growing presentation is a considerable commitment of time, effort and personal resources. Mr Rolle paid tribute to the 14-member team that worked long hours to make the trip
possible, along with the Junkanooers whose dedication brought the performances to life. He also acknowledged support from the Ministry of Tourism, Grand Bahama Port Authority, Control Chemicals, Foley Electric, Krazy Joe's Bar, Homeboyz Bar & Lounge, Fair Play Lounge, FOCAL, Clear Blue Maritime Agency, Mechanical Engineering and First Security Systems. Mr Rolle emphasised that further support from Grand Bahama's business community remains important to sustaining the initiative and enabling more performers to participate. He noted that international cultural opportunities often involve relatively few Grand Bahamians, with participants frequently travelling from Nassau. “This group represents Grand Bahama and The Bahamas as a whole,” Mr Rolle said, appealing to local businesses to recognise the value of supporting the performers. “It was a great experience for them because a lot of them never did Junkanoo internationally.” As the contingent grows, so does its potential to promote Grand Bahama as a destination rich in culture, creativity and talent. Each performance introduces new audiences to Junkanoo while strengthening the historical and cultural links between the islands. Four years after that first invitation, the group's performers are no longer simply joining the Goombay parade. They are helping shape its Bahamian character and building relationships that could bring even more of The Bahamas to Key West in the years ahead.
grand bahama
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around da Islands Friday, October 30, 2026
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Friday, October 30, 2026 around da Islands
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Bahamian market. We’re also looking forward to some exciting new initiatives with Paint Fair in the coming year, so stay tuned.” Paint Fair also debut its Holiday Home Décor Pop-Up, Paint Fair President Lesley Davies-Baptista said the annual event has become a welcome opportunity to connect with the community and help customers prepare their homes for the By BARBARA WALKIN barbara@ barefootmarketing.net
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T was a full house for Paint Fair’s annual Colour and Design Show on Tuesday, October 20, bringing together more than 150 guests for an evening of colour, creativity and design inspiration.
Presented in partnership with Pittsburgh Paints Company (PPC), the popular event showcased the latest international colour and design trends, offering practical ideas for refreshing homes and businesses ahead of the holidays. The highlight of the evening was the unveiling of PPC’s 2026 Colour of the Year, Artifact, a sophisticated
Full house for Paint Fair’s Annual
Colour& Design Show
blue-grey. Attendees also explored emerging global design trends and learned how to adapt
them to suit homes and businesses across Grand Bahama. Lynsey Hankins, Colour and Design Manager for PPC’s dealer network, returned to Grand Bahama for her third Paint Fair show and was impressed by the response. “The energy in the room was fantastic!” she said. “This was my third visit to Grand Bahama, and I think it may have been our best show yet,” Hankins said. “It’s always exciting to share colour and design trends and see the enthusiasm for bringing those ideas into the Grand
holidays. “We’re incredibly grateful to the Grand Bahama community for its continued support,” Mrs Davies-Baptista said. “We love kicking off the holiday spruce-up season with our Colour and Design Show, giving customers access to the very latest ideas and practical advice to help them create a look they’ll love for the holidays.” She said the new décor pop-up adds another dimension to this year’s holiday offering, a seasonal collection of carefully selected accessories available at the company’s Bellevue
Lane showroom through Christmas. “This year, we are particularly excited to debut our Holiday Home Décor PopUp. We’re testing the market with a carefully selected collection of unique pieces that bring together colour, texture and light. It’s an opportunity for customers to find something a little different, and we’re looking forward to seeing what our customers respond to.” Mrs Davies-Baptista added that the event also offered a chance for people to come together and enjoy an evening of creativity and inspiration. “We know times can feel challenging, but there’s something special about bringing people together for an evening of creativity, inspiration and a little fun. That’s really what this event is all about,” she said. For longtime attendee Angela Pinder, the show has become a welcome annual tradition and a valuable source of ideas for the season ahead. “Paint Fair’s Colour and Design Show is always an exciting and informative event. I look forward to it every year as the start of the fall season and an opportunity to explore holiday colours and styles,” Ms Pinder said. She also praised the Paint Fair team. “The owners and staff at Paint Fair are always friendly and knowledgeable about their products. I especially like when they invite representatives from the product companies to speak. They provide additional information and share decorative ideas,” she said. Guests enjoyed an evening of design inspiration, giveaways and lively conversation, with enthusiastic feedback from those in attendance.
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ONSERVATION Cove, home to the Coral Vita coral farm, a queen conch breeding and egg farm and a mangrove nursery, welcomed hundreds of residents on Saturday for its grand reopening and annual Community Day following renovations. The October 24 event marked a new chapter for the Grand Bahama facility, reaffirming its role as a centre for marine conservation, scientific research and environmental education. Ann-Marie Carroll, programme manager at Blue Action Lab, said: “Community Day invites residents, families, students and visitors to learn more about the importance of protecting The Bahamas’ marine and coastal ecosystems.” She added: “The reopening of Conservation Cove represents more than an improved facility. It reinforces the importance of providing a space where conservation research, environmental education and community involvement can work together to support the future of The Bahamas’ natural resources.” Throughout the day, attendees explored interactive exhibits and educational activities focused on coral reef restoration, mangrove conservation and queen conch restoration. Local environmental organisations and businesses engaged with visitors, while vendors showcased their products and services. A raffle featuring prizes donated by supporting businesses added to the festivities. Coral Vita, founded by marine biologists Sam Teicher and Gator Halpern, was established to help restore threatened coral reefs by growing corals in land-based farms and transplanting them onto degraded reefs. For Blue Action Lab, the reopening also provided an opportunity to showcase progress in queen conch research and restoration. Ms Carroll said: “As part of its ongoing conservation efforts, Blue Action Lab has expanded its on-land
BLUE Action Lab team member sharing information about the Queen conch breeding and egg farm.
BLUE Action Lab Founder Rupert Hayward (left) chatting with Jermaine Johnson, Sustainable Tourism Development Department Coordinator and Manager, Ministry of Tourism.
BLUE Action Lab and Waterkeepers Bahamas team members are having some fun on the water.
ANN-MARIE CARROLL, Program Manager at Blue Action Lab.
Photos: Angelina Rahming/ Akr Photography
queen conch breeding and egg farm to three times its previous size.” The additional space will support breeding efforts and provide greater capacity for research aimed at safeguarding the future of the important Bahamian marine species. However, Ms Carroll emphasised that hatchery efforts alone would not be enough to ensure the queen conch’s long-term recovery. Healthy seagrass beds, responsible fisheries management, continued scientific research and meaningful community participation are also essential to protecting queen conch populations and ensuring the species remains part of Bahamian waters for generations to come. Among the returning highlights was the Community Mural, led by
LOCAL Conchshell Design craftsman
Bahamian artist Jamaal Rolle, widely known as The Celebrity Artist. The mural has become a signature feature of Conservation Cove Community Day, giving participants an opportunity to express their creativity while celebrating environmental awareness and community pride. Since its launch, the annual event has grown into an important community outreach initiative on Grand Bahama. More than 1,000 people attended in 2025, reflecting growing interest in environmental education and conservation. This year’s event again attracted hundreds of residents, with more than 30 local vendors participating. Their involvement provided small businesses and entrepreneurs with opportunities to reach new customers, showcase their products and contribute to an event centred on sustainability and local enterprise. Ms Carroll said: “Beyond its educational activities, Community Day continues to create opportunities for residents to meet the organisations working to protect Grand Bahama’s natural resources, learn about ongoing conservation initiatives and discover how they can become involved.” Blue Action Lab thanked its sponsors, including the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Tourism Development Corporation, Western Atlantic University School of Medicine, Ministry of Tourism and FOCOL, for helping make the event possible. Special appreciation was also extended to raffle sponsors Bahamas Wholesale Agencies (BWA), Baha Mar Resorts, Pelican Bay, Renu Day Spa, Grand Bahama Nature Tours, Green Blue Outdoors, Goombay Outfitters and Sanctuary Bay.
news
WATERKEEPERS Bahamas representatives
celebrates new chapter in marine conservation By BARBARA WALKIN
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grand bahama
Conservation Cove
around da Islands Friday, October 30, 2026
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Friday, October 30, 2026 around da Islands
By BARBARA WALKIN The Davis administration’s plans to overhaul Grand Bahama’s governance arrangements have intensified debate over the future of the island, with questions emerging about the proposed reforms and whether public consultation will influence the final outcome. Prime Minister Philip Davis presented the Green Paper, Grand Bahama: A Framework for Stability and Growth, last week during a televised address at the Grand Bahama Shipyard. It proposes establishing a Grand Bahama Development Council to coordinate island-wide initiatives, a comprehensive review of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and new legislation to guide planning, regulation and public accountability across Freeport, East and West Grand Bahama and the surrounding cays. Mr Davis said the government intends to modernise existing arrangements while respecting lawful commercial interests,
Green Paper
sparks debate on Grand
Bahama's future
contracts and investment protections. He invited residents, workers, businesses, investors and other stakeholders to submit their views during a six-month consultation period, scheduled from November 1, 2026, to April 30, 2027. The government’s timetable calls for a White Paper in July 2027, draft legislation by December and legislation to be introduced in early 2028. However, questions have emerged over how much influence Grand Bahamians will
have on the proposed reforms, particularly after Mr Davis indicated that while the pace and details could be discussed, changing the existing governance arrangements was no longer negotiable. Dillon Knowles, immediate past president of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce and a longtime figure in DEVCO, challenged the premise that Freeport’s arrangements require wholesale change. He described Freeport as “a private IMMEDIATE Past President of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, Dillon Knowles.
development” and argued that the government’s sovereignty has never been surrendered. “The Port Authority remains answerable to the government,” Mr Knowles said. Mr Knowles said: “Concessions should not automatically be viewed as gifts to developers.” He argued that concessions can involve the government foregoing revenue it might not otherwise receive in exchange for investment, jobs and other economic benefits. He also noted that developers typically require public infrastructure, including roads, bridges and expanded utilities, which taxpayers may have to help fund. According to Mr Knowles: “The existing agreement already provides mechanisms for transferring responsibilities if the Port Authority is no longer PRIME Minister Philip Davis, addressing an audience at the Grand Bahama Shipyard on October 21, 2026.
Photo: BIS
considered the appropriate administrator.” His concern, however, is that the government has effectively decided to transfer those responsibilities to central government agencies in Freeport before consultation begins. He also questioned whether the process can be collaborative if the main decision has already been made. For C. Allen Johnson, senior spokesman for the Preserving Paradise advocacy group, the focus should be on ensuring that public consultation is meaningful. “A Green Paper,” he told Around da Islands, “is intended to invite evidence, test assumptions and consider alternatives; a White Paper should then explain the government’s position, including which recommendations shaped it and why other proposals were rejected.” Mr Johnson stressed that neither document carries the force of law. He said: “Publication of the Green Paper does not itself cancel licences, change contracts or remove property rights. Any legal changes must follow applicable legislative
and constitutional processes.” He also argued that consultation should extend beyond Grand Bahama because the Hawksbill Creek Agreement affects the wider Bahamian public. Attorney Gregory Moss supports Mr Davis’s call for change, saying the current arrangement should not simply continue for another 28 years. He said the Prime Minister had made clear that reform would proceed through legislation and due process, rather than retroactively. According to Mr Moss, investors’ rights would be preserved, while the Port Authority could continue as a landholding company but should not determine the island’s governing structure. The debate now turns to whether the consultation will produce more than a record of public submissions, with residents and businesses seeking clarity on jobs, support for Bahamian enterprises, investment certainty, the cost of new institutions and how development will reach East and West Grand Bahama. Businesswoman Lynn Adams told Around da Islands: “The governC. ALLEN JOHNSON, ment’s proposals have senior spokesman set the direction of the for the Preserving discussion. The crediParadise advocacy bility of the process will group. depend on the evidence Photo: BARBARA it considers, the alternaWALKIN tives it explains and the commitments it ultimately makes.”
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Duncombe's
"Wild Tango"
paints humanity as part of nature's rhythm
B
AHAMIAN artist Sam Duncombe is inviting viewers to reconsider where people sit in the natural world with "Wild Tango: Kindred Connections", a new exhibition opening in Nassau this month. The paintings centre on the idea that humans are not separate from nature but woven into it. Duncombe said the title reflects the movement and relationship she sees in the living world, where species and ecosystems respond to one another much as dancers do in a tango. "We do not stand outside the wild, looking in," she said. "We are woven into its rhythm, shaped by it, dependent upon it, and connected to it in ways both visible and unseen." Rhythm is the exhibition's organising theme, from the beat of wings in flight and a whale moving through the sea to a school of fish and the opening of a flower. Each has its own pattern of movement, Duncombe said, yet none exists alone. The works encourage viewers to look beyond the single animal or landscape to the wider system it belongs to. A whale is part of an ocean, a bird part of a forest, a flower tied to its pollinators, and a reef supports a vast community of life. Humans, she said, despite the boundaries they have drawn between
themselves and nature, belong to the same living system. Using vibrant colour and expressive forms, the paintings range from intimate studies of a single creature to broad scenes of water, wildlife and landscape. Together, they explore the relationship between the individual and the whole. For Duncombe, the message goes beyond conservation. "It is a way of seeing," she said of the idea of connection. She described the show as both a celebration and an invitation to slow down, look closely and rediscover humanity's kinship with the life it shares the planet with. Duncombe has spent decades combining environmental advocacy with creative work inspired by nature and the ocean. She believes art can create emotional connections that lead people to value and protect the world around them. With Wild Tango: Kindred Connections, Duncombe brings this perspective to a vibrant celebration of life, inviting viewers to see the natural world not as something separate from humanity, but as a world to which we all belong. Opening: October 23, 6-8pm Exhibition dates: October 23-November 14 Venue: Doongalik Studios Art Gallery, #20 Village Road, Nassau, Bahamas
new providence
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around da Islands Friday, October 30, 2026
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Friday, October 30, 2026 around da Islands
around da Islands Friday, October 30, 2026
Photo Credit:Tatyana Lockhart
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Photo Credit: Shedd Aquarium
new providence
features
Photo Credit: Shedd Aquarium
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Photo Credit:Tatyana Lockhart
IFTY-TWO Bahamian students have completed hands-on marine science training through a three-year partnership between Shedd Aquarium, the University of The Bahamas (UB) and the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI). The initiative gave students the opportunity to study the country’s marine ecosystems aboard Shedd Aquarium’s research vessel, the Coral Reef II, combining classroom learning with practical field experience in Bahamian waters. Supported by Builders Vision Philanthropy, the programme delivered a for-credit field course in which students and faculty spent a combined 22 days at sea over the three-year period. Dr Raveenia Roberts-Hanna, BAMSI president, said the experience enabled students to turn theoretical knowledge into practical scientific skills. “This immersive experience on board the Coral Reef II delving into the marine ecosystems allowed our students to transform classroom theory into real-world scientific expertise,” she said. “We thank the Shedd Aquarium for the opportunity, which empowered our BAMSI scholars to lead the future of Bahamian marine conservation.” During four-day, three-night voyages around Grand Bahama and Andros, students lived aboard the vessel and explored seagrass beds, mangroves, patch reefs and offshore reefs, including through day and night snorkelling activities. Participants also rotated through vessel duties and completed a final examination as part of the academic course. Their work documented more than 150 species of fish, invertebrates and algae. Dr Mattias Johansson, an assistant professor at UB, said direct encounters with marine life helped students better understand what they had previously studied in textbooks. He said combining local knowledge with outside scientific expertise could improve learning outcomes and help prepare students to become future decision-makers in The Bahamas. The programme also provided opportunities beyond Bahamian waters, with four students travelling to Florida to join Shedd scientists on research cruises examining queen conch and reef shark populations.
52 Bahamian
students complete marine science training with
SHEDD AQUARIUM
The trips exposed students to long-term conservation research methods and additional technical skills. Several Bahamian students who took part in both the field course and a Florida research cruise reflected on their experiences. Student Tatyana Lockhart said she developed practical research abilities, including measuring
queen conch, using a hydrophone to track tagged conch and operating a small boat during field missions. She described night dives as a highlight that reinforced her passion for the ocean. Lashaunna Williams said working alongside specialists introduced her to marine science career opportunities she had not previously considered.
Learning to operate a dive compressor during a Florida research trip was among the experiences that broadened her perspective. Britney Basden said applying classroom knowledge in the Florida Keys strengthened her scuba diving, teamwork and scientific skills. Evening lectures also introduced her to new research techniques and potential career paths. All three students expressed hope that similar opportunities would become available to more Bahamian students. Dr Andy Kough, a research biologist at Shedd Aquarium, said the partnership was intended to establish a lasting relationship rather than provide a one-off expedition. “We’re proud of what these students accomplished in the water and are excited to where this experience might take them,” he said. Photo Credit: Shedd Aquarium
Photo Credit: John Towey - Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society
Photo Credit: John Towey - Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society