Bahamas News
Colonial Masters, CARICOM is coming as Reparations Committee established
By Sherrica Thompson
Staff Writer
March 2, 2023 – The issue of reparations continues to loom large for Caribbean nations; as such, CARICOM has established a Reparations committee to take on all its former colonial enslavers.
The disclosure was made by the incoming Chairman of CARICOM and Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit while responding to questions about support for reparations for Haiti at the closing of the 44TH Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government meeting held in the Bahamas recently.
The questioned pointed to France as also being responsible for the Humanitarian crisis in the republic.
“CARICOM has taken a decision to establish a mechanism to engage our former colonial countries on the question of reparation, and each country was mandated to also establish a national reparation committee to engage on this subject,” he said.
This Committee will be instrumental for the region as it will provide a united front for Caribbean countries as they seek compensation and justice for the atrocities and exploitations that Caribbean people faced during slavery for over 400 years. 
While indicating that he does not believe the region should just accept ‘apologies’ for the atrocities faced during slavery, Prime Minister Skerit said CARICOM has been engaging in discussions on the issue of reparations and will continue to do so.
“The discussion on reparations, including reparations for the Haitian people, is all part of the discussions that we’re having at the Caribbean Community level. There’s no doubt we believe as Caribbean people that some kind of recompense needs to be provided to us.
“We’ll continue to engage at the regional level but also at the national levels as well and engage the former colonial masters on the issue and the question of reparations for our countries,” Skerit stated.
Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Motley, also chimed in on the discussion, with: “We do take note of the fact that the Netherlands has started the ball, is it adequate, is it appropriate? All of that may be the subject of many discussions and agreement and disagreement but suffice to say that a least the ball has started to roll with respect to the Netherlands statement.
Adding, “I think they need to go further, and I think that our engagement with Europe has to be at a level where… we place these matters for mature consideration recognising that we are the victims now of a double jeopardy.”
Motley committed the Caribbean Community to a subcommittee meeting “ shortly”; to be held to discuss the burgeoning issue in detail.
Earlier this month, the Trevelyan family, a former sugar plantation owner in Grenada, announced that it wants to set a world trend by paying reparations in a sum of £100,000, or approximately 120,478.00 USD, to the people of Grenada.
It demonstrated a small, yet positive step and precedent toward claiming financial reparations.
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#TheBahamas, August 5, 2023 – An American woman has been arrested in The Bahamas, accused of conspiring with two men, one of them alleged to be her lover, to murder her estranged husband.
The woman, 36 year old Lindsay Shiver and the two men, 28-year-old Terrance Bethel, the alleged lover and 29 year old Faron Newbold, were taken into custody last week following police investigation of a reported burglary at
Grabbers Bar and Grill restaurant on Great Guana Cay.
The police looked into their cell phones and found WhatsApp messages detailing the assassination plot to kill her husband.
The couple, who built a life in South Georgia have three children and are home owners on the island in the Abacos.
News outlets throughout the US have reported on the scandalous story, including that a nasty court battle over the couple’s reported, $5 Million dollar fortune and three children was underway. Shiver, an entrepreneur is a former beauty Alabama queen, her husband a former football player was an insurance executive.
According to US media, the husband, Robert, recently filed for divorce from Shivers after a decade of marriage upon discovering she had an alleged extra-martial affair with Bethel whom she met in The Bahamas.
While the husband claims infidelity on the part of his wife, the wife claims he was abusive.
The suspects Shiver, Bethel and Newbold appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley on Friday July 28th. Their next court date is set for October 5th.
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#TheBahamas, August 5, 2023 – The Bahamas is now facing an unfortunate reality as sexual assault has become and is a growing issue since 2023. Women and girls are said to be living in fear for their safety from these perpetrators.
The Royal Bahamas Police force has reported on instances of assault in press releases found on their Facebook page.
One report spoke of a 50 year old they were searching for after he burglarized a home and sexually assaulted an elderly woman, 82 years old. She was reported to be asleep when he woke and assaulted her.
This took place on Tuesday July 11th, 2023 at the home in the Centreville area of Nassau.
There is another incident that took place on July 17th, 2023 which the police are seeking in catching the suspect as they investigate. It involves a man believed to the perpetrator in for an armed robbery and sexual assault.
According to preliminary data, he approached the victim, a female, with a firearm, robbed her and sexually assaulted
her. He proceeded to enter the house and robbed a male and escaped. This happened in the Cowpen Road area; also in Nassau.
The assaults continue to grow in number as the police reported that they were investigating two other incidents that took place on July 24th.
The first had to do with a female, 30 years old who reported she was driving on West on Marshall Road when two men approached her after she slowed down near Faith Avenue. One of the males with a firearm, forced her from her vehicle and took her to nearby bushes where they sexually assaulted her after which they escaped.
The second incident involved à 32 year old woman who was sexually assaulted by a male known to her. It is reported that she was walking in the Fleming Street area when she accepted transportation from the suspect, who drove her to a dirt road off Gladstone Road where he presented a firearm and proceeded to rape her.
Furthermore, another assault, this time involving a 9 year old girl, was reported. As revealed by preliminary information, the victim was playing with friends outside where she lives on Saturday July 29th, 2023 when the suspect, a 42 year old male of Summerset Estate, driving a white Nissan Skyline, arrived and gestured to her to enter the car.
She entered the car after which he took her to an unknown location, threatened her and sexually assaulted her. She was later found somewhere in Spikenard Road; this also happened in Nassau.
Fortunately, he was caught and arrested for abduction and sexual assault on Sunday July 30th by officers affiliated with the Drug Enforcement Unit.
There are other reports of sexual assault throughout The Bahamas as well as rape and attempted rape during the earlier parts of the year, dating back to as early as February.
CAPTION: Women Leaders, including Ann Marie Davis, wife of the Prime Minister filled the gallery of The Bahamas Senate this week as members of the upper chamber debated the Protection Against Violence Bill 2023. The debate came just as the country experiences a spike in sexual assaults against women and girls. Photo by Patrick Hanna, BIS.
#TurksandCaicos, August 5, 2023 – On August 3rd, 2023, Premier Misick met with the Leader of the
Opposition of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the Honorable Michael Pintard. The discussion was highly productive, and they delved into matters of mutual concern between their neighboring nations. Hon. Pintard was accompanied by other opposition members, including Senator the Honorable Darren Handfield and Mr. Joshua Sears.
Group photo caption:
From Left to Right: Mr. Joshua Sears, Senator Hon. Darren Hendfield, Premier Hon. Charles Washington Misick, Bahamas Leader of the Bahamas Hon. Michael Pintard and Deputy Premier Hon. Erwin J. Saunders.
-
Crime5 days agoMan killed in Grace Bay in broad daylight; Murder No. 12
-
Caribbean News1 week agoBarbados price reduction to facilitate CARICOM inter-regional travel
-
News1 week agoSoldier the dog pulls in 2 million views
-
News6 days agoBTC CC and Sports Club Reminisce on the Way Forward in Work and Play
-
News5 days agoInvest Turks and Caicos boosts economy with MSME Program
-
Caribbean News6 days agoCaribbean and African entities request reparations for slavery.
-
Bahamas News5 days agoHusband Murder Plot foiled in The Bahamas; Wife and two others arrested
-
Crime5 days agoPDM Calls on Leaders to Stand Up, Speak Up on shocking Crime