Bahamas News
LaRoda informs House Members of efforts to address Exuma flooding
NASSAU, The Bahamas – Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Hon. Myles LaRoda, Monday applauded the efforts of disaster risk managers and emergency response personnel on the ground in Exuma in the wake of the severe flooding that has impacted parts of the mainland.
Mr. LaRoda provided an update to House Members with regards to the local and national efforts to address the flooding. Areas impacted included Rolleville, Farmer’s Hill, the Forest, Barraterre, East Exuma, George Town and Roker’s Point.
State-Minister LaRoda, who is responsible for Disaster Risk Management and Emergency Response among his other duties, said the action taken by Disaster Risk Managers and Emergency Response personnel in Exuma highlighted a
key component of the country’s Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Strategy which plans for island-communities across The Bahamas to have the capability to effectively respond to disasters, emergencies and/or Severe Weather Events until help can arrive from outside of those communities.
Some of the actions undertaken included the opening of shelters, conducting initial damage assessments, and creating run-offs for the standing floodwater in order to mitigate some of the short, medium and/or long-term negative impacts floods can have on lives, properties, infrastructure and businesses.
Personnel from the Ministry of Public Works, the Department of Local Government and the Water and Sewerage Corporation, collaborated to determine the swiftest and safest ways to reduce water levels in order to avoid some of the potential hazards associated with floodwater – a priority. Their actions included using heavy equipment to create drain-offs for the floodwater to the ocean.
Exuma’s Swift Water Rescue Team was placed on Alert in the event they were needed to conduct water rescues. Additionally, the island’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was activated to effectively manage the situation from ground level, coordinating efforts with various agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency.
“Madame Speaker, one major aspect of the country’s Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Strategy is to ensure that island communities across The Bahamas are able to mobilize and assist themselves in the event of a disaster or emergency until help from the outside can arrive. This is exactly what occurred in Exuma,” the State-Minister said.
(Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Philip E. Davis, K.C., toured the affected areas along with senior government officials.)
Officials at the Bahamas Department of Meteorology, reported that rainfall amounts of 8.92 inches were recorded in Exuma on Wednesday, June 7, with an additional 2.73 inches recorded on Thursday, June 8. It is estimated that an additional 12 inches of rainfall occurred in Exuma over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday period. Long Island recorded 1.10 inches of rainfall on Wednesday June 7, 4.90 inches on Thursday June 8, and an estimated 6 inches (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).
The trough responsible for the heavy rainfall over the past five days was forecasted to continue to linger over The Bahamas until Tuesday (June 13), before moving away from The Bahamas by Wednesday June 14.
State-Minister LaRoda told Parliament that Damage Assessment Teams and Emergency Response personnel from New Providence — including personnel from the Ministry of Works, Water and Sewerage, Social Services and the Ministry of Health — were dispatched to Exuma to assist with the local efforts. They have been tasked with conducting further assessments, providing the necessary aid, and initiating relief measures where necessary.
With regards to the National Response, Mr. LaRoda said the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), after contacting officials from the Ministry of Works and Utilities, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) was able to facilitate the delivery of the following:
- Heavy duty pump from the WSC.
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300 feet of hose for pump – MWU.
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Two (2) heavy duty pumps from Bahamas Striping
The following were made available from NEMA’s Coral Harbour
Warehouse:
- Two pallets of tarps of various sizes to assist where necessary.
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Four (4) dewatering pumps and hoses.
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Six (6) Chemical backpacks – for mosquito spraying.
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Two, 10 KW portable generators and fuel containers.
All items noted above were delivered to HMBS Lawrence Major for transport to Exuma.
Mr. LaRoda took the opportunity to “once again” caution citizens and residents who haven’t already done so, to take action in order to be better prepared for all Severe Weather Events.
“Disasters can occur at any time. Knowing your risks and vulnerabilities can help to save lives. Ensure that you understand how to interpret forecasts and alerts, and know what to do before, during, and after,” he cautioned.
“Create emergency plans for your families. These plans should include evacuation plans, especially for persons residing in coastal, low-lying, and/or flood-prone areas. Know the location of shelters and the best, quickest and safest routes to get to them. Replenish your stock of emergency supplies, and take the necessary measures to protect property and possessions.
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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