Bahamas News

The US Government Donates Approx. $600,000 Worth of Emergency Equipment to NEMA

Published

5 months ago

March 13, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

By Llonella Gilbert

Bahamas Information Services

#NASSAU, Bahamas, March 13, 2023 – Minister of State with Responsibility for Disaster Risk Reduction the Hon. Myles Laroda thanked the United States government for its “very generous donation” of 28 generators, which will be installed with automatic transfer switches, carbon monoxide sensors and fire extinguishers.

This support package costs approximately $600,000 and the generators will be deployed to shelters in Abaco, Andros, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Exuma and Mayaguana, the Minister of State said during a ceremony for handover of emergency generators and transportable reverse osmosis systems to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at the agency’s headquarters on Monday, March 13, 2023.

“The determination of which islands will be supplied with generators was made following inspections in 2022 of the 143 facilities that served as hurricane and emergency shelters throughout The Bahamas.

“The US Northern Command has also partnered with the Disaster Reconstruction Authority (DRA) to secure a generator for the Hurricane Shelter/Community Centre that is currently under construction in Abaco.”He explained that in addition to the generators that are being donated, the US Northern Command is also donating six easy transportable Reverse Osmosis Systems. These systems will allow for the rapid production of potable water for general use, in remote areas.

The Minister of State said NEMA and agencies of the United States government, such as US Northern Command and USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, have enjoyed a strong partnership for many years. The focus of the partnership has been in programs of capacity building, and knowledge exchange in the areas of disaster mitigation,

preparedness, response and recovery.

He explained that the capacity building initiatives have included workshops and seminars for Family Island Administrators, Local Government Council Members and other members of the Disaster Committee.

Additionally, it allowed for training and equipping of teams in 12 Family Islands to be able to conduct Flood Water Rescue operations in various communities, or to conduct rescues for downed aircraft in marsh areas, or boaters in distress in sight of land.

Further, the programs have allowed for training and equipping teams in seven islands to be in a position to respond to community fires to minimize the chances of their getting out of control and becoming disasters. Teams have also been trained as first responders and train-the- trainers in Community Emergency Response Teams or CERT.

The Minister of State said in September of 2020 The Bahamas was the recipient of the United States generosity by way of:

· A mobile shelter facility valued over $3.1 million to provide for rapid and efficient sheltering to affected persons in any community of The Bahamas;· Twelve – 16 feet medical Whaly rescue boats that are outfitted with 40 HP Yamaha engines, safety stretchers, life vests and 20-foot trailers valued at $151,778.70;· Emergency Relief Supplies valued at $45,000 to augment supplies in the three Emergency Relief Warehouses that are situated Great Inagua, Grand Bahama and at the Coral Harbour Base. All three of these warehouses were gifts from the United States by way of the US Northern Command; and· Materials valued at $71,000 have been provided to repair 13 churches in Grand Bahama and Abaco that are used as hurricane shelters and were damaged during hurricane Dorian.

Also in attendance at the handover were Lance Posey, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy; Jon Smart, International Engagement and Acquisition Division Chief US Northern Command; Carl Smith, Permanent Secretary and Captain Stephen Russell, Director of NEMA.

Mr. Posey said, “This a sign of our commitment to preparedness, which will enable effective response and recovery.

“As close friends and partners to The Bahamas, the US government, US North Command and the US people do not believe in simply showing up after disaster strikes. We know that the work done now is just as important as the work that is yet to come.”

He added, “We are here now and we will always be here ready to help side-by-side with our Bahamian neighbours.”

PHOTO CAPTION: The US government donated approximately $600,000 worth of emergency generators and transportable reverse osmosis systems to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at NEMA’s headquarters on Monday, March 13, 2023. Attending the handover ceremony were: the Hon. Myles Laroda, Minister of State with Responsibility for Disaster Risk Reduction; Lance Posey, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy; Jon Smart, International Engagement and Acquisition Division Chief US Northern Command; Carl Smith, Permanent Secretary and Captain Stephen Russell, Director of NEMA. (BIS Photos/Kristaan Ingraham)

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.