Bahamas News

Solutions needed to address detrimental impact of ‘Skittle-D’ Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, says Environment and Natural Resources Minister

Published

4 months ago

April 23, 2023

#TheBahamas, April 23, 2023 – The government has created a task Force to tackle the issue of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (Skittle-D), a highly lethal coral disease which is threatening the health of coral ecosystems in The Bahamas.

The Department of Environmental Protection and Planning (DEPP) under the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR) along with the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) hosted a conclave Tuesday, April 18, 2023 to address the disease.

Researchers and representatives of NGOs and government agencies met at Breezes Resort, Cable Beach, to participate in the one-day event. Phedra Rahming-Turnquest, permanent secretary, and Dr. Lester Gittens, director of Marine Resources were present.

DEPP Director, Dr. Rhianna Neely-Murphy led the conclave. She said as one of the agencies in The Bahamas tasked with environmental protection and planning, DEPP takes its job “very seriously”.

“We saw it very important to participate in this initiative with PIMS, other stakeholders in the room and who will be joining us. Everyone has a role to play and we need to hear the voices of everyone. We have researchers, NGOs and government agencies. This afternoon we will have in the room — the private sector, people who take tourists on tours and interact with coral species on a daily basis. They have a voice and we need to take into consideration what they are seeing and some of the plans they may potentially have. They are dependent on these corals for their livelihood as well and we need to take all of their points into consideration,” said Dr. Neely-Murphy.

Today’s exchanges are designed to promote coral reef research, coral reef protection and coral reef restoration. Findings and recommendations from the conclave will be used to create a policy document.

The Hon. Vaughn Miller, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, underscored the importance of corals to The Bahamas.

He said, “Endowed with the world’s third largest barrier reef, corals are inseparably a part of The Bahamian culture; coral reefs are a major fabric of our lives. They are ecologically important, and play a vital role in supporting the economy and livelihoods that depend on them. They act as natural barriers, protecting coastlines from erosion and storm surge during severe weather events. When corals suffer, so does our culture. When corals die, so does an important part of our fabric.”

Minister Miller told participants that the time has come for the nation to move beyond treatment and to become more pro-active with solutions to address the detrimental impact of Skittle-D.

Said the Minister, “Our marine environment, if left unchecked, can accelerate coral destruction.

“Skittle-D disease is spreading quickly. Scientists have already confirmed the presence of Skittle-D on Andros, Grand Bahama, New Providence, Eleuthera, San Salvador, Long Island, Abaco, Exuma and the Cays, Cat Island and the Berry Islands.

“Treatment has been approved through PIMS, the main organizers of today’s conclave, with mixed results. We need to position the country to be ahead of the problem.”

According to Minister Miller, the Task Force will undertake the following:

-develop and implement strategies to prevent the spread of Skittle-D;-help to understand how reef condition varies over space, time and under different threat regimes;-explore how protection and restoration can reduce or even reverse the decline of coral reefs;-and seek to prevent permanent loss and damage of the country’s culturally and economically important reef building system.

Topics for the day’s agenda included: an Overview of Skittle D and The Bahamas Skittle D Task Force and Government Priorities, Who is Doing What: an opportunity for government agencies and partners to share their work focused on Skittle D, What Can Be Done and What Can We Do More Of, among others.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

Header: Dr. Rhianna Neely-Murphy, Director, Department of Environmental Protection and Planning, speaks at the conclave to address the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (Skittle-D).

Insert: Representatives of NGOs are shown at the conclave on the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease hosted by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources and the Perry Institute for Marine Science.

(Photos by Samantha Black/Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources)

Bahamas News

Husband Murder Plot foiled in The Bahamas; Wife and two others arrested

Published

5 days ago

August 5, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

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.

Bahamas News

Alarming Sexual Assault cases raising fears in The Bahamas

Published

5 days ago

August 5, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

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.

Bahamas News

Premier Misick received a courtesy call from the Bahamas Leader of the Opposition

Published

5 days ago

August 5, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

#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.