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11th International Road Federation (Caribbean) Congress Opens in The Bahamas – developing ‘transport system resilience’

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By KATHRYN CAMPBELL

Bahamas Information Services

 

#TheBahamas, June 22, 2023 – Road safety, climate resilience and the infrastructure needs for a new and electrified vehicle fleet are among the discussions that engage transportation professionals during the 11th International Road Federation (IRF) Caribbean Regional Congress.

The Congress opened Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at Atlantis, Paradise Island to the theme “A Roadmap to a Safe, Inclusive and Resilient Transport System”.   Attendees include IRF delegates, representatives of supporting organizations including the IDB, World Bank Group and Caribbean Development Bank, representatives of public works and road agencies; regional institutions, major road contractors and design consultancies, civil society and transportation faculties and research institutes among others.

Present at the opening were: the Hon. Alfred Sears, Minister of Works and Utilities; the Hon. Jobeth Coleby, Minister of Transport and Housing; Bacchus Rolle, Parliamentary Secretary; Public Works ministers of the region; Luther Smith, Permanent Secretary; representatives of NEMA, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Royal Bahamas Police Force and officials from the Ministry of Works and Utilities.

Participants included C. Patrick Sankey, President and CEO, IRF Global; Dr. Lisa Fitz-Charles, Under Secretary who gave welcome address on behalf of Her Excellency Ambassador Leslia Miller-Brice. Jean Todt, UN Secretary, General Special Envoy for Road Safety gave the keynote address which was recorded.

In remarks, Minister Sears emphasized the urgent need for sustainable roads and infrastructure in the face of the existential threat of climate change.

Minister Sears highlighted the impact of Hurricane Dorian on The Bahamas. He said the most “horrific” hurricane of September 2019 resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and thousands of persons were made homeless.

“According to the IDB, The Bahamas sustained an economic loss of US$3.4 billion equivalent to 1/5 of GDP of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Therefore the issue about sustainability and resilience is not an academic exercise in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and indeed within the Caribbean because even though the carbon footprint is relatively small, the United Nations has declared island nation states to be the most vulnerable in the world.”

Minister Sears urged attendees to collaborate and explore how countries can collectively address the critical needs of citizens while strengthening the entire Caribbean. “How our countries can incentivize drivers who purchase hybrid and electric vehicles; how our countries can design roadways that accommodate all of our residents riding bicycles to school or work and how we can use more renewable energy in the production of asphalt and the construction and maintenance of roadways.

“Our solutions will not only help to stimulate economic development and reduce pollution which contribute to climate change, global warming and catastrophic hurricanes but also our solutions may help to address the rising cases of obesity and non-communicable disease throughout our region. Indeed, let us together achieve the goal of developing a roadmap to a safe, inclusive and resilient transport system,” he said.

Minister Sears extended appreciation to participants, speakers and sponsors and informed them that their presence and expertise are vital in shaping the discourse and paving the way for transformative change in the transportation sector.

He encouraged the delegates to seize the opportunity to learn, collaborate and forge partnerships that will accelerate their journey towards sustainable, resilient and inclusive road infrastructure.

Among the themes for the congress, June 13-16: decarbonization of road transport/clean energy, delivering resilient road infrastructure/disaster recovery and response, innovative and climate friendly materials for resilience and low cost road surveys and inspections.

 

PHOTO CAPTIONS

BIS Photos/Mark Ford

 

Header – Attendees at the 11th IRF Caribbean Regional Congress are pictured during a break following the opening ceremony at Atlantis, Paradise Island on June 14, 2023.

1st insert– Pictured are some of the delegates in attendance at the opening of the 11th IRF Caribbean Regional Congress at Atlantis, Paradise Island.

2nd insert – The Hon. Alfred Sears Minister of Works and Utilities delivers remarks at the opening ceremony of the 11th IRF Regional Congress on June 14, 2023.

3rd insert – ROADQUAKE SAFETY SYSTEM BOOTH

4th insert – LUTHER SMITH, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Works and Utilities gives the Opening Ceremony Vote of Thanks at the 11th IRF Caribbean Regional Congress on June 14, 2023.

5th insert – Patrick Sankey, President and CEO, IRF Global, welcomes delegates at the opening of the 11thIRF Caribbean Regional Congress on June 14, 2023 at Atlantis, Paradise Island.

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Bahamas News

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

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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.

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Alarming Sexual Assault cases raising fears in The Bahamas

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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.

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Bahamas News

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

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#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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