Bahamas News
Woman’s Death Inspires Overdue Blood Drive in The Bahamas
By Deandrea Hamilton and Rashaed Esson
Editorial Staff
#TheBahamas, March 9, 2023 – The Bahamas Public Hospitals Authority, in one of its responses to the heart-breaking story and loss coming from the death of a young woman, wife and mother has finally held a blood drive; the first in years and the late Kenise Symonette-Darville is remembered amidst the effort.
A bittersweet initiative, the blood drive held on February 25 in Nassau and Freeport has raised the profile of the dire need for Blood Banks to be well stocked as a matter of life and death, literally.
Acutely aware of the pain of loss that can come from something as unimaginable as a public hospital functioning without the requisite resources is the family left behind by Kenise Darville who was laid to rest on February 11. Nearly 6,000 people watched her funeral service online; a report which captivated a nation and certainly motivated right actions within the healthcare system.
Last month, Kenise took to Facebook live and spoke out about her experience at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau, revealing that the doctors waited days before they informed her that she had to reach out to friends and family for blood donations due to insufficient blood supplies in the blood banks.
Following Kenise’s cry for help, a flyer was circulated to spread the word of her need for a blood transfusion. Many people came forth in Darville’s time of need according to her husband, Jerad Darville, now wifeless and left to raise their three children without a mother.
“It was a joy to see us come together as a collective, to come together, to honour my wife, to fight for my family,” said Jerad tearfully.
Jerad was grateful for those who gave blood as other lives would be impacted, he has since been vocal about the disappointment he again faced as the investigation into the death of Darville exposed, according to his report to Bahamian media that his wife’s course of treatment could have and should have been different; had that been the case, Kenise would be alive today.
In Nassau, the blood drive was held at Sunshine Holdings and in Grand Bahama, ‘A Pint of Love’ as it was dubbed drew a record number of donors according to Minister for the island, Ginger Moxey.
“We are happy to see the Police recruits that are here, as well as the National Youth Guard, they’re here with a strong presence, about 30 I believe. I think we’re making history today in terms of blood donated on a given day,” she said in an interview on the day.
Going forward, the vision according to Moxey is to make blood drives a frequent happening.
She said, “We want it to become the norm and, like the doctors had indicated earlier, after three months you can donate again. So, we want to see it as a continuous effort.”
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.
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