Connect with us

Bahamas News

Happy Birthday to Bahamasair, Celebrates 50 Years of Flying to Turks & Caicos 

Published

on

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, June 22, 2023 – As it marks 50 years of operation Bahamasair flew into the Turks and Caicos on June 15th  on a celebratory voyage. The regional flight landed in Providenciales to the spurt of water canons welcoming it to the soon to be officially named Howard Hamilton International Airport.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority, TCIAA hosted the event with live video showing the view from the aircraft as it landed, giving a bird’s eye view of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Bahamian flags and colors sat alongside the TCIs as Anya Williams, Acting Governor; Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism and E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier attended the special golden celebration.

‘We Funk’ Junkanoo group opened the festivities with a rhythmic rush; the brief ceremony was hosted by Nikeva Ariza, Corporate Affairs and Communication Manager of the Airports Authority.

Bahamasair is the official flag carrying airline of The Bahamas and has served the TCI faithfully for decades connecting the country to the world even prior to some of the larger more established international airlines.

It’s only fitting that the airline celebrated along with the Turks and Caicos which they have served so faithfully and whose residents have supported the airline with dedication.

Norman Saunders, former Chief Minister, was invited to speak at the event and had some insightful history to share with the audience.

“We welcome you and we remember your flights into the TCI with fondness,” he continued,  “I was the first agent for BahamasAir in these Turks and Caicos Islands.”

He described going to Nassau for training in writing tickets, handling passengers and more.

“At the time there was only one airport that BahamasAir could land at and that was in South Caicos- and passengers had to travel from Provo out the other islands by boat believe it or not,” he revealed.

The airline began officially on June 18 1973, the same year the nation gained independence, with inter country flights from one Bahamian island to the next. In that same year it expanded to other destinations including the Turks and Caicos.

“It wasn’t always easy flying from South Caicos to Inagua to Nassau but you were the pioneers of commercial air service into these islands and for that we will always be grateful to you,” Saunders declared.

Michelle Lee, Station Manager at Bahamasair at the Providenciales International Airport said, “This service unites families, provides a rich exchange of culture, fosters business opportunities and gives travelers access to some of the best beaches and friendliest people this side of heaven.”

In that same vein, Managing Director of Bahamasair Tracy Cooper offered, “Bahamasair takes the time to thank the people of the Turks and Caicos for your unwavering support over these years.”

A plaque was presented to Mr. Cooper on behalf of the Members and Executive of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association.  A 50th Anniversary cake was also cut in commemoration of the festivities also spearheaded by Godfrey Smith, CEO of the TCIAA.

The message from all speakers was one of family and togetherness and a promise of a lasting, expanding connection.

Bahamas News

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

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

Alarming Sexual Assault cases raising fears in The Bahamas

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

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

Published

on

#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.

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING