Fire at abandoned Bay Street building under investigation

A fire at an abandoned building on Bay Street was brought under control before it spread to any buildings nearby, police said today.

The fire broke after 3 p.m.

Superintendent Kenrick Morris, director of Fire Services, said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The two-story building, which has been abandoned for several years, was gutted by the flames. Several cars were also destroyed.

Despite initial reports from police that human remains were found at the property, Morris said firefighters made no such discovery.

However, he said salvage efforts were ongoing.

The post Fire at abandoned Bay Street building under investigation appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/fire-at-abandoned-bay-street-building-under-investigation/

Sir Sidney’s latest honor: A film school in his name

Arizona State University (ASU) is naming its new film school, The Sidney Poitier New American Film School, after Cat Island native Sir Sidney Poitier for his contribution to the world through his roles is a well-deserved honor, according to Bahamian filmmakers Kareem Mortimer and Maria Govan.

“I love Sir Sidney, and it’s long overdue,” said Mortimer. “His contribution to the world through his roles, and through his directorial work has been inspiring for not only me, but every filmmaker and actor around the world, so it would make sense to name a film school after him, because he’s opened so many doors for black actors.”

Poitier, who is now 93, was the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, receiving the honor in 1964 for his performance in the 1963 film “Lilies of the Field,” which was set and filmed in Arizona.

Michael M. Crow, president of the university, said the decision to name the school after Poitier is about much more than his achievements and legacy, but because he “embodies in his very person, that which we strive to be – the matching of excellence and drive and passion with social purpose and social outcomes, all things that his career has really stood for”.

I think it’s appropriate, long overdue and well-deserved,” said Mortimer who is known for such films as “Chance” (2005), “The Eleutheran Adventure” (2006), “Float” (2007), “I Am Not A Dummy” (2009), “Children of God” (2010), “Wind Jammers” (2010), “Passage” (2013), “Cargo” (2017).

The school naming was revealed during a celebration video released on Monday, January 25, featuring remarks by the ASU community, film industry icons and three of Poitier’s six daughters.

The university, which is expanding its existing film program into its own school, said it has invested millions of dollars in technology to create what’s intended to be one of the largest, most accessible and most diverse film schools.

The school will move in the fall of 2022 to a new facility in downtown Mesa, Arizona, seven miles from the university’s Tempe campus. It will also occupy the university’s new center in Los Angeles.

Poitier was also the first Black actor nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award for the 1958 movie “The Defiant Ones.”

Govan who also spoke about her love for Poitier, described him as “amazing.”

“I’m so thrilled he’s being honored,” said Govan.

She shared with The Nassau Guardian one of her favorite stories she has of him.

“Somebody sent him a copy of ‘Rain’ [her first narrative feature film], and I didn’t know – and as much as ‘Rain’ is celebrated, I as the filmmaker see the cup as half empty and I was hard on the film when it was released. I got a call from Sir Sidney on my phone … I was in Brooklyn at the time – it was an unknown number but I took the call and a deep voice on the line said ‘Is this Maria Govan?’ I said yes. He said it’s Sidney Poitier, and I just watched your film and if you have a minute, I would like to speak to you about it.”

Govan said the conversation ended being more than a minute and more like an hour.

“I walked about the block in Brooklyn, talking to him about the film and he was so supportive and helpful.”

Govan said she spoke to him about all the flaws she saw in her final product, and of Poitier telling her that a singular project would not determine her, but that the tapestry and body of her work would. She said he told her the only thing a first film needs to accomplish is alert the world to her allowing her to make a second one. And she said he told her she had done that.

“It was healing to hear him – someone who mattered to me, and has a real eye for the work I was doing, and I was invested,” she said.

She said Poitier’s advice to her was to focus on the bigger picture, keep focusing on the work and that she deserved to make a second film.

Govan’s second feature “Play the Devil” premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June 2016. In 2018 Govan was hired to direct an episode of “Queen Sugar,” a television show produced by Ava Duvernay and Oprah Winfrey.

Govan said she visited with Poitier one time in Los Angeles, and they had tea.

Poitier’s other films include “No Way Out,” a 1950 film, as well as “To Sir with Love,” “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and “In the Heat of the Night.”

Films he directed include “Uptown Saturday Night” and “Stir Crazy.”

His daughter Beverly Poitier-Henderson told The Associated Press her father was “doing well and enjoying his family time,” and considered it an honor to be the namesake of the new film school.

Poitier-Henderson and two of Poitier’s other daughters described in interviews how the film school’s emphasis on inclusivity and access aligned with their father’s long-held ideals.

“If it has my dad’s name on it, it has to be inclusive, because that’s the foundation of who he is and what he stands for,” said Anika Poitier, who like her father is a filmmaker. “And it’s important to not only have inclusion but to have diversity, and to give people the opportunity to tell their stories. I think it’s imperative to cast a wide net and allow anyone who’s called to tell their story to learn how to do that.”

Sydney Poitier Heartsong, the actor’s youngest daughter, noted that the two most important things to her father as she grew up were education and the arts.

“Those are the two tracks that run throughout his life, that define what he has contributed and defined what he felt was important to his kids,” she said. “The arts were also a form of education. He wanted to pass that on to all young people but specifically young people of color.”

Steven Tepper, dean of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts said the ASU film production programs now enroll 700 students, but that the number is expected to double over three to five years.

Poitier served as non-resident Bahamian ambassador to Japan from 1997 to 2007. The western bridge which connects New Providence to Paradise Island is named in honor of Poitier.

Poitier was born on February 20, 1927, in Miami, Florida. He arrived two-and-a-half months prematurely while his parents were visiting Miami. But as soon as he was strong enough, Poitier left the United States with his parents for The Bahamas, where he spent his early years on his father’s farm on Cat Island. When he was 15, Poitier’s father sent him to live with one of his brothers in Miami. While still a teenager, Poitier traveled to New York City where he worked menial jobs to support himself, until he found his life’s passion.

The post Sir Sidney’s latest honor: A film school in his name appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/sir-sidneys-latest-honor-a-film-school-in-his-name/

‘One Night in Miami’ and ‘Promising Young Woman’ – two films to see

“One Night in Miami” (US Rated R)

Cast: Leslie Odom Jr., Aldis Hodge, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree

Genre: Drama

Dwight’s Rating:

Boxing’s Muhammad Ali; crooner Sam Cooke; NFL fullback Jim Brown; human rights activist Malcolm X – four legends who rose to the top of their fields, and were tremendously influential across the globe.

The year 1964 found them all at critical points in their lives – two of whom would soon lose theirs. They were all either at the peak of their careers and/or rapidly ascending in public awareness and scrutiny.

A new film, based on many very real events, examines a fictional encounter, and posits that this meeting changed the trajectory of the four men’s lives.

“One Night in Miami” is based on Kemp Powers’ play of the same name. First staged in 2013, it is remarkable how timely it seems for what the world is experiencing right now, and how in step it is in a film year that appears unshackled in tackling tough subject matters.

In the film, it’s the night of February 25, 1964. In Miami, after just winning the world heavyweight boxing championship for the first time, Cassius Clay, is about to announce he’s converted to Islam, and is just months away from changing his name to Muhammad Ali. He’s joined by his mentor Malcom X, and friends NFL record-breaker Jim Brown, and pop superstar Sam Cooke. They discuss the responsibility of being successful black men during the civil rights movement.

The conversations get deep and often devolve into arguments. Feelings get hurt, and it’s all very intense.

Now while these men did know each other, and while, by many accounts, the foursome did indeed meet up after Clay’s victory that night, it is unclear whether they had any such conversations.

Nevertheless, the source material is incredibly smart. Perhaps not all, but most of these timelines do work and seem to fall within the realm of possibility. So, credit must be given to Powers, who also wrote the film’s screenplay; he has crafted a wonderfully imaginative piece of work.

While it is based on a one-act play, it certainly doesn’t feel like one – with the exception of the eloquence of the actors, and the poignancy of their words. Those aren’t quite characteristics of most films these days.

For that magical transition from stage to screen, we must salute Regina King – making her directorial debut here. This is a very polished production, exuding the master touch of a veteran. Is there nothing this Oscar and multiple Emmy-winning actress can’t do?

Being both incredibly well written and directed already makes “One Night in Miami” better than most of the flicks released each year. However, that’s not even the best part. It also features some of the best performances all year.

Close your eyes and you’ll think the late Muhammad Ali was playing himself here. Not only does Eli Goree (HBO’s “Ballers”) share a resemblance with “The Greatest”, but he has Ali’s voice and mannerisms down pat. This is more than just an impersonation, though. Goree brings warmth and sensitivity to the role as well.

Aldis Hodge (“The Invisible Man” and TV’s “Underground”) is also quietly powerful as the calm voice of reason in Jim Brown – the only one of the four still alive.

Tony winner Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”) sings and acts his heart out in a powerfully emotional performance as Sam Cooke.

Odom’s would be the strongest one here, if it weren’t for British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir as Malcolm X. Ben-Adir’s is the breakout performance of the year. You must remember his name!

“One Night in Miami” is a triumph of excellence all around, and a fitting tribute to the four legends the film examines.

“Promising Young Woman” (US Rated R)

Cast: Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Laverne Cox, Jennifer Coolidge, Alison Brie

Genre: Thriller

Dwight’s Rating:

We are blessed with another strong directorial feature film debut.

Not only did actress Emerald Fennell – who played Camilla Parker Bowles in Netflix’s “The Crown” – direct “Promising Young Woman”, she also wrote the screenplay. And here again, we have a 2020 film that is boldly tackling a very timely and serious topic.

While it is a thriller, many are calling it a dark comedy as well. Indeed, it is amusing at times – reminiscent of “Gone Girl” (2014) – but the subject matter is certainly not a laughing one.

British actress Carey Mulligan plays Cassie. Traumatized by a tragic event in her past, she’s been living a secret double life by night. An unexpected encounter is about to give her a chance to seek out vengeance against those who wronged her.

This is arguably Mulligan’s most memorable of her numerous memorable performances to date. The role allows the Oscar nominee to run through the full gamut of emotions. She is simply outstanding. You can bet you’ll be hearing her name frequently come awards season.

Mulligan – who will surely be catapulted to the front of the line in the Oscar race – is surrounded by a fantastic supporting cast as well, especially Bo Burnham, in a performance almost as multilayered as Mulligan’s.

“Promising Young Woman” is entertaining and captivating from the beginning to its very surprising ending.

• Dwight Strachan is the host/producer of “Morning Blend” on Guardian Radio and station manager. He is a television producer and writer, and an avid TV history and film buff. Email dwight@nasguard.com and follow him on twitter @morningblend969.

The post ‘One Night in Miami’ and ‘Promising Young Woman’ – two films to see appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/one-night-in-miami-and-promising-young-woman-two-films-to-see/

BNYC set to drop Celebration Funk Medley video

Candice Dean Bostwick, an original Bahamas National Youth Choir (BNYC) singer, and Julian Bostwick, nephew of the late Cleophas Adderley, BNYC founder and director set the scene. The duo are introducing the younger generation to the old video of “Celebrate” an all-time fan favorite of BNYC fans and which is unofficially considered the choir’s national anthem, on a handheld device and reminiscing. Behind them, the BNYC’s new guard perform a thrilling twist to “Celebrate” which fuses into a tropical medley of songs, the Celebration Funk Medley, with the singles “Funky Soul Down in Abaco” and “Funky Nassau.”

From the opening beach scene, the video morphs into a party scene with choir members seamlessly flowing into the words of “Funky Soul Down in Abaco” penned by Patrick Swain and Garnet Stuart, used as the hook to bring in “Funky Nassau,” signaled by a whistle blast and rattle of a goatskin drum, with the new guard choir members transported to the city where they continue to deliver the funk to “Funky Nassau” the work of Ray Munnings and Tyrone Fitzgerald.

It’s this three-song compilation approximately three-minute long video that the BNYC is set to drop on January 31, in celebration of 30 years of the choir.

And it’s visually stunning!

“The BNYC has not released a music video of this magnitude since the 90s with the debut of ‘Celebrate’” said Dexter Fernander, BNYC director, who has brought another level of creativity to the choir with his out-of-the-box thoughts and efforts to merge the generations in order to bridge the gap and keep the culture alive.

Fernander said they opted not to remix “Celebrate” which was written and composed by Adderley, opting instead for a thrilling twist in the rendition, and fusing it into a tropical medley of songs.

“‘Celebrate’ already has a CD and so we did not want to duplicate it,” said the choir director. And he said Lazano Rolle did an amazing job meshing the three songs.

The BNYC video which is expected to drop on Sunday also includes element styles typically associated with historically black college and universities (HBCU) marching bands. Fernander said the element inclusions were intentional and a way to pay homage to the bands as many Bahamians have furthered their educations at HBCUs through participation in the bands and brought the flare home, which he said can be seen in the performances of local marching bands, and even in Junkanoo.

The dance choreography also showcased a meshing of styles from the choir’s original choreographers Robert Bain, National Dance Company; Carolyn Vogt-Evans and Le’Keisha Bostwick with current choreographer, Vernall Adderley.

The choristers are dressed in vibrant costumes they designed themselves, made with Batik fabric and a cape, mirroring those worn by HBCU majorettes, which Fernander said signals the royalty that they are and the excellence they always bring; and instead of a baton, they do a Junkanoo baton for the drumline they duplicated.

The video was recorded to all live music.

“We went into the studio with musicians who played.”

From conception to completion, Fernander said the video took approximately seven months taking into account the lockdowns and missed bookings due to the pandemic.

“I’m really proud that young Bahamians can come together and do the work,” said Fernander. “It gives me hope for the next generation. I’m proud we can still keep that culture alive and preserve it for a new generation.”

With the release of their video, Fernander said he wants people to realize culture is not dead and the pandemic did not stop anything.

“As an artist, you are pleased you have done what you were assigned to do. The joy of getting the work done was pleasing for me,” said Fernander a baritone and pianist who joined the choir in 1994. After pursuing postsecondary education, he was named assistant choir director in 2013 by Adderley, who died in July 2017. Fernander then stepped up to the role of interim director before he transitioned into director in fall 2019.

The BNYC is releasing the music video ahead of its spring album debut of “Island Celebration” – a compilation CD of 14 songs produced from 1983 to present.

The BNYC’s official three-decade anniversary was January 1, 2020. The choir was originally founded and directed by Adderley in 1983 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bahamian independence, but was re-established in 1990 after a years-long hiatus.

In 2020, the choir was set to begin celebrating its 30th Annual Concert season however many of the celebratory plans had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 global health crisis. This led the BNYC to engage their audiences with a selection of past performances and throwbacks of alumni enjoying the stage through various social media platforms.

And people have been sharing clips of the hit, “Celebrate” on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram acknowledging the nostalgia and reminiscing on what it felt like to be in the 90s after watching the 7 p.m. newscast on ZNS almost every other evening.

Within the last decade, the choir has presented Motown, the funk and groove of Earth, Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, the Wiz, and the Lion King Broadway featuring Junkanoo inspired costumes for its Broadway acts.

The post BNYC set to drop Celebration Funk Medley video appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/bnyc-set-to-drop-celebration-funk-medley-video/

Kareem Mortimer candidly explores life-defining experiences in new podcast ‘Looking Deep’

Jodi Hardy, a mother of six who gifted award-winning Bahamian filmmaker Kareem Mortimer’s own family with two children through surrogacy will lead off a list of heavy hitters as Mortimer launches “Looking Deep,” a podcast that intimately explores life-defining experiences from a diverse group of guests from around the world.

In “Looking Deep’s” first episode, Hardy, considers her motivations to carry life for two almost strangers. She shares the emotional weight of carrying a child whom she will ultimately give away, which she describes as “the most intense babysitting experience ever.”

“The power of storytelling to incite action and even shift culture is undeniable,” says Mortimer. “I’ve primarily executed storytelling through film, so it’s exciting to explore the world of podcasts and connect with a local and international audience this way. Our guests have all had incredibly interesting life experiences, and the way they share these events so transparently, I hope helps to broaden perspectives and illuminate truth for the listeners.”

In another episode, “Looking Deep” explores human trafficking and imprisonment through Billy Roberts’ eyes. Roberts, a convicted human trafficker, was arrested in 2010 by United States Coast Guards officers during a failed attempt to transport Haitian nationals from Abaco to the United States.

In his interview with iconic “Grease” co-star Jamie Donnely, the veteran actress shares her early motivations and experiences in acting, coaching, and writing. She describes why she now prefers lending her talent to independent films and creatives over the big and silver screen competitive culture.

Actor, former air force scientist, and sex worker Christian Patrick explores sexuality in a candid conversation about his upbringing and the series of events that led him to find and express his sexual freedom.

And writer and poet Tanicia Pratt discusses religious identity and her experience converting from a Jehovah’s Witness to Islam in a predominantly Christian and patriarchal society.

The first two episodes of Mortimer’s podcast will be released February 2 on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. Each 20-minute episode is complemented by an after show during which Mortimer and co-host Julia Woolley Chatwin dissect the discussion and share their takeaways.

Through the podcast, Mortimer delves into a range of subject matters. In each interview, he navigates his guest on a path to unveil how the human desires for happiness, fulfillment, and acceptance underpin a wide range of actions. The results he said are engaging dialogues that provide access to a fascinating world that may or may not be far removed from the listener’s reality.

From stories celebrating iconic characters in blockbuster classics to those delving into the miry aspects of human existence, Mortimer maintains that “Looking Deep” provides a “no judgment platform with the hope that by learning about others’ truths, we get a deeper understanding of ourselves.”

New episodes of “Looking Deep” will be released every Tuesday.

The post Kareem Mortimer candidly explores life-defining experiences in new podcast ‘Looking Deep’ appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/kareem-mortimer-candidly-explores-life-defining-experiences-in-new-podcast-looking-deep/

CARIFTA aquatics postponed

The Barbados Aquatics Sports Association (BASA) has decided that it won’t be able to stage the 2021 CARIFTA Aquatics Championships as scheduled at the Barbados Aquatics Center, in Wildey, Christ Church, Barbados, this Easter. The event has been postponed.

The announcement, which came as no surprise, was made by BASA President Lady Cheryl Forde late Wednesday evening. There is no new date as yet, but according to reports, artistic swimming, swimming and open water swimming are still on the agenda for this year’s meet. Missing from this year’s event is the water polo competition due to it being a contact sport, and at the moment, contact sports are prohibited in Barbados due to the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This is the second CARIFTA sporting event to be postponed in less than a week. The 2021 CARIFTA Track and Field Championships, set for Hamilton, Bermuda, were postponed from April 3-5 to July 2-4.

“An executive decision was taken by BASA to postpone CARIFTA 2021 after a review of the current COVID-19 situation in Barbados and by extension, in the region. It was agreed that a new date would be decided after the ‘national pause’ – lockdown that is expected to end on February 17, and after we have had an opportunity to meet with the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit,” said Lady Forde in a statement. “In the absence of a vaccine, with the new variant present in Barbados, community spread locally, the general spiking of COVID-19 cases in neighboring countries and changing travel protocols locally and in a number of our neighboring countries, it was agreed that it would be prudent to postpone this regional competition at this time.”

Barbados has seen a spike in positive COVID-19 cases since the Christmas holidays, particularly with the arrival of the new variant of COVID-19 in that nation. As a result, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced earlier this week the establishment of a 15-day lockdown period from February 3-17. The country will go into a period of advanced restrictions. There were 34 new cases of the coronavirus reported in Barbados yesterday.

Bahamas Aquatics Federation (BAF) President Algernon Cargill said it is a disappointment that the meet was postponed. He said that Bahamas Aquatics was aware that Barbados was going through a second wave and their numbers had skyrocketed.

“We are very disappointed,” Cargill said. “Our athletes, despite all of the challenges we faced in The Bahamas, they have been training very hard. Our trials are set and we would likely have to postpone those trials when we know more about when CARIFTA will be held so that we can have the best possible national team for CARIFTA.”

Cargill said he does not expect the event to occur before June as it is a junior meet and athletes have exams as a priority.

“The likelihood of swimming and open water being held prior to June seems unlikely for many reasons. May which is being discussed, is when athletes are in final examinations, BGCSE (Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education) and external exams. Education is the top priority and we would never ask our athletes to miss final examinations or external examinations for CARIFTA. Also, there is no telling as to when it will be safe to have an international competition like CARIFTA. The dilemma is when will Barbados host CARIFTA?” Cargill stated. He added that July and August are also being looked into but a decision is not close to being made.

With the postponement of the event, this means that athletes in The Bahamas will see the qualifying period being extended to a time close to when CARIFTA will be held. By pushing the qualifying period back, it forces athletes to perform at a high standard instead of qualifying early and becoming relaxed. Cargill said a technical committee will meet and review a suitable date. The last day to qualify was originally March 8.

The Bahamas is still looking forward to winning a fourth straight CARIFTA swimming title in the pool, and sixth in the past seven championships. Guadeloupe spoiled a three-peat back in 2016 in Fort-de-France, Martinique.

In 2019, the year the last meet was held, Bahamian swimmers won 73 medals, inclusive of 35 gold, 18 silver and 20 bronze. The closest country to them was Jamaica with 59 total medals, including 22 gold. Trinidad and Tobago finished third in the medal standings with 43 total medals – 17 of which were gold.

In the point standings, The Bahamas won with 889.50 points. Jamaica was second with 748 points and Trinidad and Tobago finished third with 676 points.

In CARIFTA water polo that year, The Bahamas’ under-16 boys team won the gold medal, the under-14 mixed team won the silver medal and the under-19 boys team brought back a bronze medal.

According to Cargill, discussions are also being held for northern Caribbean nations – The Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Bermuda –ww to host a meet this year here in The Bahamas, as an avenue to give athletes some international experience. Cargill said the Ministry of Health has to approve such a meet before it is held. It will not be CARIFTA but more of a regional exposure for swimmers, Cargill noted.

It could also be a warm-up meet for the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships, whenever they are held.

The post CARIFTA aquatics postponed appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/carifta-aquatics-postponed/

Bain showcases The Bahamas on Instagram

In addition to remaining active, Bahamian Olympian Andretti Bain is ensuring that others do so as well, and at the same time, is promoting The Bahamas.

Bain, who won Olympic silver with The Bahamas’ men’s 4×400 meters (m) relay team in 2008 in Beijing, China, made a unique appearance on the Olympic Channel via the official Olympic Games Instagram account, on Tuesday, conducting a 30-minute full body workout with the host of the show Mathilde ‘Matty’ Delorme.

The live virtual event featuring Bain leading the session from a beachfront home of one of his clients here in Nassau, The Bahamas, was seen all around the world on a social medial platform with 2.7 million viewers.

Bain, 35, said he received tremendous feedback and is looking forward to being contacted for another session. He received the opportunity through a partnership with Airbnb and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), performing live in front of millions of viewers. Airbnb, the largest accommodations based online marketplace in the world, has created a new platform on its website featuring Olympian and Paralympian experiences, providing direct earning opportunities for athletes while at the same time providing activities for its guests during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bain said he initially came on board last April, and after his accomplishments were verified, he had to put together a workout experience and at the same time promote The Bahamas.

“It just amazes me that with technology we could bring the whole world closer together. This is amazing. They have given me free rein to be creative and to entertain the audience as long as it sticks to the format,” said Bain. “I just sold to them what I was offering – speak on Olympic journey, all the ups and downs and how I was resilient; give a 30-minute workout featuring the same routine that I do for personal training; and also highlight The Bahamas, speaking of how guests could just sit on a beautiful beach in warm weather year-round and enjoy a nice lemonade. People sign on from all over the world and enjoy the workout and the experience.”

Bain is well-accomplished as an athlete. He is one of just nine Bahamians to run under 45 seconds in the men’s 400m, recording a personal best time of 44.62 seconds that he ran to win the men’s 400m title at the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Bain is the fourth-fastest Bahamian of all-time in the men’s 400m.

“I was able to get a lot of good reviews – five star ratings,” said Bain. “They felt really good about it, the openness of allowing persons to see behind the scenes of being an athlete and working out with an Olympian. Here I am highlighting a particular aspect of myself and The Bahamas. Also, we talked how to keep faith during crisis times and how to use that as an opportunity for growth. I was able to highlight not just my story but The Bahamas as well. A lot of persons are unable to travel because of all of the restrictions but by signing on with the Olympic experiences with Andretti Bain, they can become a part of the experience here in The Bahamas and see what The Bahamas is all about.”

As it relates to the trials and tribulations he faced and what it takes to be an Olympian, Bain said that was all a part of what he spoke about in the short session. For him personally, he persevered and became an NCAA Champion after four years of collegiate training and never giving up. He went on to represent The Bahamas at the Olympics that same year, running the lead-off leg for The Bahamas’ silver medal winning 4x400m relay team. Bain is also a Pan Am Games gold medalist in the men’s 4x400m relay, a Commonwealth Games silver medalist in the men’s 4x400m relay, a Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games silver medalist in the men’s 4x400m relay, and a multiple medalist at the CARIFTA Games and CAC Junior Championships.

“A lot of people don’t realize the sacrifices that athletes make and the journey it takes to become an NCAA Champion and an Olympian,” said Bain. “For me, I was so motivated through the trials and tribulations and just kept pursuing my goals. I wanted to put the Bahamian colors on and represent The Bahamas. From me sharing my experiences, people from all over the world get to learn so much about The Bahamas and have a better understanding of what athletes go through.”

Bain’s experience can be viewed on the Olympic Games Instagram page or on his website www.andrettibain.com. Interested persons can book a private workout session with him through Airbnb’s website at the tab Olympian and Paralympian experiences, or by performing a search for his name – Andretti Bain. It’s titled ‘Olympic Journey with Andretti’. In facilitating the platform, one of the goals of the IOC was to keep the interest of the Tokyo Olympic Games at a high level. The postponed Olympics is now set for July 23 to August 8, still in Tokyo, Japan.

“It’s just an introduction of who I am, my career achievements and accolades, and then there is high intensity training for about 25 minutes – workouts that people can do at home,” said Bain. “I just want to encourage athletes to venture outside of their sport – we are globally recognized and there are many more opportunities out there beyond track and field. We have to take advantage of those opportunities and see ourselves as more than just athletes. It’s very frustrating sitting around waiting on assistance from the government or the athletics federation. I’m also appealing to the government to create programs that can expose athletes throughout the world. It could be a business opportunity for the athlete and it also benefits the country as a whole. It showcases The Bahamas to millions of persons around the world. It’s just about branching out and discovering these opportunities.”

The first part of Bain’s online workout focused on mobility and strength, the second part detailed a cardiovascular exercise, the third part was a strength workout, the fourth part dealt with core muscles, and the fifth part was a cool down and stretch period. Bain said he is looking forward to more sessions in the future and more opportunities to showcase The Bahamas.

The post Bain showcases The Bahamas on Instagram appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/bain-showcases-the-bahamas-on-instagram/

GSSSA hopes to roll out two sports in short order

The Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) is optimistic that it can get two sports off the ground despite the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic and national restrictions. There has not been any GSSSA sports competitions since March 2020.

GSSSA President Varel Davis said they were hoping to get school sports underway at the start of the 2020-2021 school year in September 2020.

This time last year, the GSSSA basketball competitions was in playoff mode, preparing for fiercely contested championships. This year Davis said they are focusing mainly on track and field.

“We believe since there will be the CARIFTA Track and Field Championships and maybe high school nationals as well, so we are looking to stage our GSSSA Track and Field Championships,” she said. “Also, our season is determined on when the Ministry of Education decides to go face-to-face. We can’t do anything without the kids back in school.”

In addition to track and field, Davis said the association wants the student-athletes also to participate in softball/baseball and volleyball.

As for when the schools will be opened face-to-face in New Providence, the Ministry of Education’s latest update posted earlier this week, stated that they are having discussions with the Ministry of Health in that regard. It was stated that after these discussions are concluded, then there will be a concrete date for the resumption of face-to-face learning.

Davis stated that they have the basic protocols in place and that it has been a difficult period for coaches and student-athletes.

“We have the basic protocols in place such as the wearing of face masks and hand sanitizing stations would be placed around the sporting fields or any venue we use. The three- to six-feet distance apart will be enforced. The regular protocols that are in place from the health officials will be enforced,” Davis said. “It’s been hard on coaches as well as our athletes during these times to not be able to do any training. Coaches are eager to get back to school so they could start training their athletes. The kids are asking as well when will sports resume?”

The league is hopeful that some after-school activities will commence in short order, particularly for 12th grade student-athletes who are looking for opportunities for athletic scholarships.

The two main sports that are actively competing at the club level under the Ministry of Health’s approval on the island of New Providence so far, are track and field and swimming.

Last school year, the GSSSA was able to complete the sporting disciplines of volleyball, basketball, cross country running and track and field before they were forced to stop sports completely because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The post GSSSA hopes to roll out two sports in short order appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/gsssa-hopes-to-roll-out-two-sports-in-short-order/

Corruption index score down for third consecutive year

The Bahamas’ score on the 2020 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) dropped one notch, which reveals the country’s score has declined on the index since 2018.

The Bahamas’ score moved from 66 to 65 in 2018, to 64 in 2019, to 63 on the 2020 index. 

This country’s CPI score remains one of the best in the Caribbean, second only to Barbados, which has a score of 64 and a rank of 29.

Executive Director of the Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG) Matt Aubry old Guardian Business yesterday that the tool to improve The Bahamas’ CPI score has been tabled in Parliament since 2017, but not passed.

He said the Integrity Commission Bill, which is going on four years with no movement toward legislation; and the Ombudsman Bill, could both improve the country’s standing on the index.

“The longer we let that persist, the more modern measurements reflect that you need to have these things in place,” said Aubry.

“The means of our ability to move forward is in our hands. The bill was tabled by Parliament in 2017. If The Bahamas wants to be able to move forward it’s critical.”

He added that corruption tends to spike after major disasters and he and Transparency International – an international non-governmental organization that seeks to combat global corruption – both maintain that as the COVID-19 vaccine rollout begins that governments put things in place to minimize any possible perception of corruption in the vaccination process.

“Corruption is one of the key barriers to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the COVID-19 pandemic is making those goals even more difficult to attain,” Transparency International states.

“The long-term effects of corruption on healthcare systems remind us that corruption often intensifies the effects of a crisis. Corruption is prevalent across the COVID-19 response, from bribery for COVID-19 tests, treatment and other health services, to public procurement of medical supplies and overall emergency preparedness.”

Aubry added, “Our conditions that we’re now moving towards are rife for people to take advantage of and vaccines are going to be another level of equity, just like COVID-19 results. You hear the random story of people selling negative COVID-19 results. You’ve now entered in a new level of equity and that’s something that we need to work against.

“Having ourselves prepared proactively in advance is going to be a better scenario than having to start to see these incidences of things that may or may not happen. But if they do, they are very hard to unbundle, both in the practicality and in the perception. 

“There’s a direct impact financially, there’s a social impact in terms of trusting government and the rollout of something like a vaccine is entirely dependent upon people’s trust and ability to feel like the system will meet their needs versus if they have to subvert it.” 

On the index, The Bahamas ranks 30th out of 180 countries. The United States sits at number 25.

The Bahamas had a high score of 71 in 2012 and remained at that level before declining to 66 in 2016. The country has declined on the index ever since. 

Transparency International’s score system puts the worst offenders at zero and the countries with the least corruption toward 100.

No country broke through 90 in 2020.

According to Transparency International, this latest CPI “paints a grim picture of the state of corruption worldwide”.

“While most countries have made little to no progress in tackling corruption in nearly a decade, more than two-thirds of countries score below 50,” the organization stated.

“Our analysis shows corruption not only undermines the global health response to COVID-19, but contributes to a continuing crisis of democracy.”

The post Corruption index score down for third consecutive year appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/corruption-index-score-down-for-third-consecutive-year/

New bills tabled to modernize civil aviation

Minister of Tourism and Aviation Dionisio D’Aguilar tabled a package of bills on Wednesday that are expected to modernize the aviation sector and establish an air navigation authority.

The three bills, which were also tabled in the Senate yesterday, are the Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority Bill, 2021; the Civil Aviation Bill, 2021 and the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas Bill, 2021.

The legislation comes as the government seeks to put in place a framework to collect overflight fees early this year and establish an aircraft registry.

The updated Civil Aviation Bill seeks to address the division of responsibilities between the Civil Aviation Authority and the ministry, as well as ensure that civil aviation in The Bahamas is administered in accordance with the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation – which established the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialized agency of the United Nations charged with coordinating international air travel – by establishing and implementing operating regulations and conducting safety and security oversight activities.

The ICAO audits the aviation safety and aviation security oversight capacities of its 193 member states. According to D’Aguilar, during its last audit in 2017, the ICAO gave The Bahamas an “abysmal”,  32 out of 100. The next audit is scheduled for this spring.

As a result, the government last year hired Aircraft Registry Group (ARG), a provider of aviation advisory services, to revamp The Bahamas’ aviation legislation.

The Civil Aviation Bill also addresses specific deficiencies in the aviation sector, on which the country scored low during its last assessment.

For example, The Bahamas scored 35 percent for meeting licensing standards. The new bill would require foreign and domestic air operators to be in possession of an air transport license, unless the aircraft lands or flies across The Bahamas without embarking or disembarking passengers, cargo or mail.

The Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas Bill gives effect to an ICAO protocol – Article 83 bis – which provides for the transfer of certain functions and duties from the jurisdiction where an aircraft is registered to the jurisdiction where the aircraft operates.

It also would require the Civil Aviation Authority to maintain a digital database and provide for an exhaustive list of state aviation programs.

The Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority Bill would establish an authority as a body corporate governed by a board. The authority would have the power to transfer the performance of certain functions of the authority outside of The Bahamas.

Any additional funds collected by the authority from fees, taxes or levies would be paid into the consolidated fund, according to the legislation.

The post New bills tabled to modernize civil aviation appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/new-bills-tabled-to-modernize-civil-aviation/

Only the work you do for Christ will last

What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. – I Corinthians 7:29-31

We in the Christian church are called to be focused on the cross of Jesus Christ. When we do that, we can avoid much of the setbacks which we encounter here on earth.

Jesus is the object our hope. Through him alone, we obtain eternal life. For that reason, we should let nothing sidetrack us. Yet, we do.

Because we do get sidetracked, the apostle Paul, in his charge to the church at Corinth, beseeched the Christians to focus. He wanted them to be so focused on the work of Christ, that he implored them to act as if they were not married, or if they sorrow, to act as if they were not in sorrow.

The apostle’s charge was that there was an urgency to do the work of God in Christ. He might have seemed to be somewhat harsh, especially for those who were married or those who mourned.

Thinking that the coming of the Lord was close at hand, he was saying to the church – time is short, you do not have time to be concerned about the things of the world. The most important things were the things of God.

He expressed that Christ Jesus would return to collect his church soon. Therefore, he was saying be ready for his return.

The urgency of Christ’s return was then, and is now, most important. His return is imminent and we should be focused on that return. The time is short because no one knows when the Lord will call us to our eternal rest.

When he does call us, it is the judgment for us. Because we do not know when the Lord will call us out of this life, we should work as if we do not have any time.

The proclamation of the gospel is paramount during our lifetime. The work of God comes before any and everything. There is nothing more important than that. 

We often think that there are things in our lives that are more important than the work of the Lord. We are always busy, never having time for the work of the Lord. 

The things of this world will pass away. We will lose them. When we leave this earth, they will remain here. We cannot take anything with us. Jesus calls us to be focused on his work.

Paul is simply telling the church at Corinth that God should take first place in their lives. Those words are also for us. Let nothing get between you and the work of the Lord.

When the day of judgement comes, no one except Jesus Christ can speak for you when you stand before the Lord’s judgment throne. There is no other advocate.

Not your parents, nor your husband or wife, not your friends, not your children, not your pastor or your earthly possessions. Only the work you do for Christ will last. Therefore, we should all focus on the proclamation of the gospel. That is what we are called to do. That is what is most important. Amen.

• Rev. Samuel M. Boodle, pastor at the Lutheran Church of Nassau, 119 John F. Kennedy Drive, can be reached at P.O. Box N 4794, Nassau, Bahamas; or telephone: 426-9084; E-mail: lutheranchurch@coralwave.com; website: www.nassaulutheranchurch.org.

The post Only the work you do for Christ will last appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/only-the-work-you-do-for-christ-will-last/

Are we there yet?

It is January of 2021, a little less than a year since The Bahamas was unceremoniously locked down and essentially cut off from its economic bloodline. We all know that this was done out of necessity for our very survival and there is little debate as to whether it was necessary, as countries large and small on every continent have gone through the same process. Even the countries that decided against lockdowns eventually caved and placed these same restrictions in place.

Ten months later we have learned a number of lessons and are currently riding a wave of good news, but the question many are asking is, “Are we there yet?”. Are we at the point where we can breathe a collective sigh of relief and declare COVID-19 essentially over, and get back to our normal lives? Unfortunately, the answer is we are closer than before, but we are not there yet.

A few times in the past week The Bahamas recorded less than 10 cases with zero deaths and only a few hospitalizations. This seems remarkable because I remember just a few months earlier getting a call from Samaritan’s Purse executives asking about logistical assistance to bring in and set up a field hospital because at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) it was essentially no room in the in for patients. How did things turn so quickly, and does this mean we should forget about restrictions and return to pre-COVID-19 life?

Of course, the answer is there are too many uncertainties to return to normal. It would be difficult for us to return to normal until the world returns to normal, and more specifically our neighbor to the north. Whatever is happening in the United States (U.S.) will in most cases eventually happen in The Bahamas, so we are at times at the mercy of their decisions. They are not there yet; in fact, they are much worse than we are. While we rejoice over record low numbers, they are just concluding a record nationwide surge that is just beginning to recede. They are not close to being there so even though we are closer, we are in such a precarious position that we must continue to be vigilant or risk a return to where we were a few months ago.

We should celebrate our success in fighting back the virus, but also remember that one or two mistakes can cause a resurgence. We are not there yet, but we are closer than before, and in the process, we would have learned some lessons that can help us continue the battle.

When will we get there? That is the multimillion-dollar question. We have seen some tourists return. We have implemented protocols in hotels and airports to make them as safe as possible while protecting ourselves – but without herd immunity the risk is ever present. Will natural herd immunity happen or will herd immunity through vaccine happen? The answer is we do not know for sure but normal progression based upon previous pandemics indicate that herd immunity ends pandemics.

What I do believe is that The Bahamas has demonstrated the resolve and will needed to win the war against the pandemic. I have spoken to people in many countries abroad and they are having so many issues of non-compliance, rebellion and civil unrest. In the U.S. we have seen a discordant reaction along political lines in some cases and open conflict of those for and against restrictions. Their results seem to indicate that they have taken the wrong path and a little country like The Bahamas has shown the giants what is possible if we work together despite the immediate pain.

This experience has been brutal and painful, but if we are close to being there, then in some ways the pain was worth the gain. My hope and prayer is that we do get there soon, and that our neighbor gets there soon, because we are inexorably tied to them and our economy needs our neighbors. Hopefully we would have learned other lessons along the way and are putting plans in place to shift the way we look at life to insure that in the event of a similar future we are better prepared.

 • Pastor Dave Burrows is senior pastor at Bahamas Faith Ministries International. Feel free to email comments, whether you agree or disagree, to pastordaveburrows@hotmail.com. I appreciate your input and dialogue. We become better when we discuss, examine and exchange.

The post Are we there yet? appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/are-we-there-yet/

The Christian home

So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.” – 1 Samuel 1:20

Up to the time of this writing, I have not seen the video of a child or children in one of the Government’s homes for children being severely beaten by the home’s caretakers. However, I have listened to snitches of condemnation of the same, and just a day or so ago as I was about to get a shopping trolley at a local food market, my disabled friend whom I haven’t seen in ages was nearby and like a scene straight from Hollywood began to tell me a story associated with the incident. Wow!

Since I too was once a child and grew up in the “hood” I can tell many stories that would conclude in many instances, the life of a child was not an easy walk in the park.

Indeed, there are stories to be told to the nation that would turn their hearts to the right – and the times in which we live that came upon this planet because of the pandemic, it would take the strong to survive. Strong in resolve that no matter the hindrances and financial devastation, minds are made up that faith in God is our survival kit.

This first book of Samuel opens up with a polygamous family – two wives and one husband.  Elkanah, an honorable and devout man of the tribe of Levi; Hannah, his first wife but childless; and Peninnah, his second wife and the mother of several sons and daughters. Every year Elkanah would take the family to Shiloh, the seat of the Tabernacle to worship and sacrifice to the Lord. On these occasions, Elkanah would give Hannah double portions of the sacrificial feast even though Peninnah had her children.

One need not to be a rocket scientist – such a situation is a bundle of discord and Peninnah took every opportunity to taunt Hannah about her childlessness. The scripture records, “Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.”

Hannah did not go the bush doctor or to Mama Lou with strange devices, but she went to the temple and poured out her heart’s desire to the Lord. The priest, Eli, not being able to understand the feeling of her infirmities, labeled and scolded her as a drunk; but he soon enough saw that he had committed a serious blunder that Hannah was no drunk, but a woman with a sorrowful heart. He told her to return to her home in peace and pray that God grant her petition.

In due time, Hannah gave birth to a son and she called him Samuel, saying “Because I asked the Lord for him”. Because of what God had done for Hannah she gave Samuel to the priest to be used for the honor and glory of God.

As women and mothers, are we asking God for our wombs to be blessed with children that would be blessings to our nation, the kingdom of God and society? Or, are we too busy planning showers and preparing rooms for the unborn and at the same time taunting others? If we want a better and not bitter society, then I share with you dear and faithful readers the hymn as written by Baylus B. Mckinney.

“God give us Christian homes! Homes where the Bible is loved and taught, Homes where the Master’s will is sought, Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought; God give us Christian homes; God give us Christian homes!

“God give us Christian homes! Homes where the father is true and strong, Homes that are free from the blight of wrong, Homes that are joyous with love and song; God give us Christian homes; God give us Christian homes!

“God give us Christian homes! Homes where the mother in caring quest, Strives to show others Your way is best, Homes where the Lord is an honored guest; God give us Christian homes; God give us Christian homes!

“God give us Christian homes! Homes where the children are led to know Christ in His beauty who loves them so. Homes where the altar fires burn and glow; God give us Christian homes; God give us Christian homes!”

Almighty Father hear our prayer and grant us thy peace.

• E-mail haystreet241@gmail.com or rubyanndarling@yahoo.com. Write to P.O. Box 19725 SS Nassau, Bahamas, with your prayer requests, concerns and comments. God’s blessings. 

The post The Christian home appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/the-christian-home/

Stop beating children

Why should we beat our children? Does the Bible really teach that parents are to beat their children? Does spare the rod, spoil the child (Proverbs 13:24) really mean that we should indiscriminately whip our children into a frenzy? Does it mean that parents are required to physically punish their disobedient children routinely with a belt, a stick, or a pad?

I have observed in The Bahamas and in the Caribbean islands I’ve visited and where I or other health professionals have conducted parenting seminars, when we present the subject of physical punishment, parents cannot objectively discuss it. Their minds are fixated on what they have been taught or experienced, or what works for them. 

These parents cannot free their minds of dysfunctional traditions to evaluate objectively and rationally their relevancy in the current environment. Thus, we have a locked-in or emotionally crippled society where the chains of unreasonable traditions severely restrict intellectual, spiritual, social, and emotional growth. No wonder violence is running loose like an enraged dog who escaped from his cage.

The Bahamas is one of the nations in the region where parents are holding on rigidly to traditional forms of punishment believing it is scriptural or effective. Teenage rebellion, teenage pregnancy, and pre-adolescent violence are higher than they have ever been, in spite of all the beating that is administered. So, why still beat?

We need to review our strategies. I believe that one reason so many still use beating as a form of punishment is because it is easy to apply and requires very little thinking and behavior modification skill. Parents who only resort to physical punishment do not engage reason to transform undesirable behavior. Thus, punishment has limited or no long-term redemptive value.

I have great difficulty reasoning with parents who prefer to stick to the good old days of harsh, unreasonable methods of punishment. Even when it is “staring” them right in the face that the physical punishment is not working, their only response is “perhaps, I am not beating hard or long enough”. They still continue, even when their own teenage child is telling them: “Dad, that’s not working”. It is as though these parents have lost all ability to reason. I am often surprised when I hear even highly educated people defend “violent” behavior as a healthy form of child discipline because “nothing bad happened to them”. This is when tradition takes precedence over reason. This is when a society moves from personal discipline and becomes chaotic.

As I have written in previous articles, many parents do not understand the difference between punishment and discipline, and they do not want to be taught anything about it. Although some form of punishment is needed when raising children, parents must be aware that no punishment is effective without discipline and reason.

What is discipline?

Discipline is teaching and modeling moral values. Discipline is an attitude. Discipline is self-control. Discipline is intrinsic or internal. Discipline is establishing and maintaining a well-structured home environment with sensible rules and guidelines to govern one’s behavior. For example, there are set bed and meal times. On the other hand, punishment is extrinsic – only external. If a parent beats a child for stealing cookies, but there is no bed time and the child has not been taught explicitly that stealing is wrong, then most likely, there is no discipline in the home. 

Socially, there is nothing positive about the word “beat”.

The dictionary defines “beat” as “to strike forcefully and repeatedly” or “to hit (a person or animal) repeatedly, so as to cause painful injury”. Globally, world social leaders are very much concerned about child abuse and the severer use of corporal punishment – beating. The Bahamas is one of the countries where a significant part of the population is stubbornly holding on to the negative traditions of corporal punishment. Ironically, The Bahamas is one of the countries where the number of dysfunctional families is growing daily and violence seems to go on unabated. 

If beating has been so effective over the past years, why hasn’t the violent behavior been averted?

From a theological perspective, genuine Christians – those who are fully guided by the Holy Spirit – understand that Jesus’ approach to disobedience is not harsh and crude. He is firm and redemptive.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.” – (1 Corinthians 13:4-6)

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” – (Ephesians 6:4)

Wise parents use these Bible texts to balance the one found in Proverbs 13:24: “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes”. The New Living Translation translates it this way: “Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.”

If parents focus on the word “rod” to mean the belt or a piece of wood, then it would be difficult to understand the true meaning of Proverbs 22:6: “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.”

The text does not say beat your children. The word used is about an instructional process. It is a process of teaching and learning. Why so many parents resort to beating is because they are too lazy to teach. No wonder a child psychologist, Dr. James Dobson, titled one of his books: “Parenting Isn’t For Cowards”. The word “rob” in Proverbs 13:24 comes from the Hebrew word which means “sceptre” (shebet). This is an instrument a monarch uses for something positive. In addition, the text uses the definite article “the” in front of the word rod. 

Unfortunately, our greatest challenge with overcoming the beating syndrome in The Bahamas is predominantly found among people of religious faith. Until those who claim to be God’s people allow him to permeate their minds, our country will remain violent. Church leaders, wake up and preach about a loving, redeeming Jesus.

 
• Barrington H. Brennen is a marriage and family therapist. Send your questions or comments to question@soencouragement.org or write to P.O. Box CB-13019, Nassau, The Bahamas, or visit www.soencouragement.org or call 242-327-1980 or 242-477-4002.

The post Stop beating children appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/stop-beating-children/

The challenge of Christianity

The membership at Bahamas Harvest Church (BHC) was encouraged to always be the stewards of influence that God has given them, and reminded that the influence is a powerful force.

“Your influence can either attract people to God, or it can repel people from him, whether you realize it or not,” said BHC senior pastor Mario Moxey during his Sunday sermon under the “Who Drank My Wine?” series. He explored what life is supposed to be like for Christians, a topic he told them would be difficult for many people to digest and receive, given human nature.

“Christianity is all about selflessness. This is diametrically opposed to us, to who we are,” said Moxey. “Christianity is about other people, not yourself.”

And he said Christian liberty revolves around social dos and don’ts – the things that are culturally normal. But Moxey said Christian liberty has some limits and that limit is how it affects a person’s walk with God, or how his liberty influences other people’s walk with God.

Referencing the apostle Paul, the senior pastor said Paul, the most major proponent and advocate of Christian liberty, pumps the brakes when it comes to Christian liberty.

“Paul believes in Christian liberty, so much so that the entire book of Galatians is all about liberty in Christ – that we are no longer in bondage … that we’re free. Paul says we have liberty from the penalty of sin in our lives through faith in Jesus Christ. And then he says we have liberty from the power of sin over our lives – that we have liberty from the presumption of sin; in respect of any activity that we do that is not expressively forbidden by the Bible that may be a presumption of guilt, even though it’s a gray area more or less.”

Moxey said when Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth, and said he is allowed to do anything, that that is what he meant.

“Because Paul understood his liberty. He understood what Christ dying on the cross meant and how that freed us, so he understood his liberty.”

The BHC pastor said that liberty is not a simple matter of whether something is right or wrong.

“If it’s forbidden, we know that it’s clear – it’s black and white; these other areas that Paul is referring to, what you may call gray areas, because the Bible does not expressly say that it’s a sin, is what Paul is talking about. Paul is challenging us on how we live our lives and the impact our lives have on other people. In essence, he is saying, my liberty is limited by two considerations, even though we are free to do anything and everything under Christ, what is its impact on my walk with God. Am I drawn closer to God, or am I drawn further away from God?”

Moxey said no believer has the right to knowingly cause someone to fall into sin and then excuse it by the catchphrase “they have a right to do whatever they want to do as they’re free in Jesus Christ”.

“Christian liberty ceases to be Christian and it becomes carnal the moment it begins to affect the walk of other people.”

Moxey said with Christian liberty means people are forced to consider other people, and not just have a bubble around themselves.

“We now have to think about other people in our walk and so, this requires us to have a certain level of Christian maturity.”

The pastor said Paul challenges people to raise the standard, not lower the standard, and that people have a decision to make – what they’re going to do with the liberty they have. And that whatever they have an appetite for, that believers should not allow heir appetite to ruin someone else.

“Christianity challenges us,” Moxey told them.

He said that unfortunately, not every Christian sees their life as an instrument to win others to Jesus Christ and that there are too many of them in their own bubble who could care less about the rest of the world and the people around them, as they are focused on themselves.

“There are Christians who tend to vigorously promote such liberties and they easily fall into an undisciplined lifestyle. But, on the other side of that pendulum, there are some Christians who tend to limit such liberties and they fall into a very legalistic lifestyle, so we’re caught now in this tension. And it’s not a matter of whether or not the Bible says that it is forbidden; we should all determine how we’re going to live our own lives and the activities that we engage in based upon how it impacts the reputation of Christ in the community and whether or not it’s going to help or hinder the advancement of the kingdom of God.”

Getting to that point, Moxey said is a completely different level of living and walk in God, because the expectation is that they’re going to live their life in such a way that even when they know it’s okay to do certain things, they have to give it up, because it could impact whether or not somebody else goes to heaven. He said in the midst of whatever they’re doing, believers have to ask themselves whether God is getting the glory out of what they are doing.

“The life God has called us to have is a selfless life, placing others above ourselves.”

The BHC senior pastor reminded them that the flesh is extremely selfish and self-centered, and expects the world to revolve around it.

“Our flesh has an appetite for those things that gratify our carnal nature. Everything that I do is for my me – my life, my happiness, my house, my car, my food, my wine, my everything – it’s all about me. Flesh has no place in your life and that’s why we have to crucify it. We need to crucify our flesh, because our flesh yearns for our rights and says I have a liberty to do this.”

But he says Jesus is the ultimate example of selflessness and service. And that his entire life was about selflessness and serving others.

“Jesus came not for his own benefit, but our benefit. God humbled himself. He gave up his divine privileges. He gave up his rights, and that’s what we ought to do, we have to give up our rights.”

Moxey said selflessness is one of the greatest traits in the Christian life. And he encouraged his membership to not use their liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love, to serve one another.

“The strongest force in the universe is our love. Love drives us to drink of this new wine, not just for ourselves, but for the benefit of others,” he said.

“There may come a day when you will want a loved one to come to faith in Jesus Christ, but because of the liberties that you have exercised in your faith, you may discover that someone drank your wine – in other words, they don’t make it,” Moxey told them.

“Whether or not you realize it, or whether or not you even accept it, it doesn’t even matter, there are people who are reading your life like it’s the gospel, because in reality you are the only gospel that some people will read. They get their cues from you. They’re watching you. You have to be a steward of the influence that God has given you, because that influence is a very powerful force. Your influence can either attract people to God or it can repel people from him, whether you realize it, or not. What are you prepared to give up for the sake of winning some to Jesus Christ?

The post The challenge of Christianity appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/the-challenge-of-christianity/

Career night for Jones in a loss

Despite having a little over 10 days of no basketball activities, Kai Jones showed no signs of rust as he was able to finish with his first career double-double – a season-high 15 points and career-high 10 rebounds on Tuesday, but his team, the nationally number five ranked University of Texas Longhorns (11-3, 5-2 Big 12) fell 80-79 to number 24 Oklahoma Sooners (10-4, 6-3 Big 12) at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.

Playing without head coach Shaka Smart, who tested positive for COVID-19 this week, and with just eight available scholarship players, the Longhorns showed mental toughness against a strong Sooners team. The team missed the services of Courtney Ramey, Jericho Sims and Brock 

Cunningham.

Jones, a reserve forward, got promoted to the starting lineup for this game by acting head coach K.T. Turner. The Bahamian made the most of his career-high 37 minutes on the floor as he made 5-of-11 shots from the field, including one three-point shot. He was 4-for-6 from the foul line. Jones also had a career-high three dimes. To show his motor on defense, Jones tied his season-high in blocks with two and also had two steals in the win.

Offensively, it was a slow start for the forward. He missed his first five shot attempts but luckily his team was only down 35-30 with 2:23 remaining in the half. That was when Jones split two free throws to get on the scoreboard.

“In the first half, I had a couple plays where I had a couple turnovers. On defense, I think that my motor was good but on offense, I could have made some smarter plays and knock some shots down that I would like to see go in,” Jones said.

Though Smart was not calling the plays, Jones said that Turner was helpful in ensuring that he stepped up despite having a tough first half.

“K.T. was being honest with me the entire game,” Jones said. “Early when I was having some struggles in not making the best plays, he was telling me ‘you have to pick it up’. I think he is very poised and we did not get the outcome that we wanted but he did a great job of being poised and leading us in being a positive and an honest voice.”

Jones said that while he was quarantined, despite testing negative for COVID-19, he kept himself busy in his room by working out. He was not allowed to attend any team activities during that time.

Against Oklahoma, the sophomore forward finished the first half with a dismal one-point performance. His team needed him in the second half and he responded. The Longhorns were down 43-34 at the end of the first half.

Jones picked up his play in the second half as he opened it with a steal just 15 seconds into the half. He then got fouled while throwing down a powerful slam dunk with 17:30 remaining in the game. He converted the and-one play to cut the Sooners’ lead to 48-39. That was part of a 7-0 run for the Longhorns and the Sooners led 48-43 with 16:05 remaining in the game.

Late in the second half, the Bahamian got a pass from guard Matt Coleman III and threw down another slam dunk with authority to cut the Sooners lead to just three points, 78-75, with 1:13 remaining in the game.

With five seconds remaining in the game, the Longhorns was about to throw the ball inbounds but the pass was too high for the 6’11” Jones and the Sooners were able to retrieve the ball and held on for the victory.

Austin Reaves led the way for the winners with 23 points. The Longhorns outscored the Sooners in the second half, 45-37, as Jones poured in 14 points but it wasn’t enough as they fell one point short of sending the game into overtime.

Jones, a former Brewster Academy player, reached double figures in scoring for the sixth time this season and attained that feat for the eighth time in his time at Texas. It was his second start of the season and 12th of his collegiate career.

Jones is now averaging 9.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per contest. He is shooting a blistering 59.7 percent from the field for the season.

Jones said that he will head back into the gym and come out improved for their next game. The Longhorns will head on the road to take on the University of Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday. The game gets underway at 8 p.m.

The post Career night for Jones in a loss appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/career-night-for-jones-in-a-loss/

Another Blue Chip throwers meet set for this Saturday

Blue Chip Athletics is gearing up for its second throwers meet of the season, set for this Saturday at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

Track enthusiasts could only hope it’s as successful as the first with seven athletes unofficially qualifying for the 2021 CARIFTA Games, but meet organizer and Blue Chip Athletics head coach Corrington Maycock said that is unlikely at this stage of training for the respective athletes. Overall, he expects about 20-25 athletes to take part in the three-hour meet. Athletes can register at the stadium on Saturday morning prior to the start of the event at a cost of $10 per athlete. The one-day meet will run from 9 a.m. to noon.

“Well, a lot of these athletes are just coming out of the weight room and they are not as fresh as they were coming into the season. Their muscles are sore, so the expectation is not for them to go out there and have massive personal best throws. It’s all about being fully prepared for CARIFTA. We’re trying to get the throwers on the right track – push them as much as possible and have them peak at the right time,” said Maycock.

The postponed CARIFTA Games is now set for July 2-4, still at the Bermuda National Sports Centre in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Despite the uncertainty of the event, due to the presence of COVID-19, organizers are moving full steam ahead with the planning of the junior regional event. Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ (BAAA) President Drumeco Archer said it is still their intention for The Bahamas to take part in the games.

If that comes to fruition, given the results so far, it looks like the country will be significantly strengthened in the throws. Calea Jackson, Tarajh Hudson, Rhema Otabor, Carnitra Mackey, Kamera Strachan, Kaden Cartwright and Keyshawn Strachan all surpassed CARIFTA qualifying standards in their first meet of the season. All are from Blue Chip Athletics. Hudson, Otabor and Keyshawn Strachan are former CARIFTA medalists. Otabor and Strachan in particular are reigning CARIFTA Champions.

Otabor was brilliant as she threw 47.15 meters (m) – 158’ 8-1/4” in the under-20 girls javelin at the first Blue Chip Athletics throwers meet of the season, easily surpassing the CARIFTA qualifying mark of 38.39m (125’ 11-1/2”). Strachan threw 64.45m (211’ 5-1/4”) in the under-20 boys javelin at the first Blue Chip Athletics throwers meet of the season, and then improved on that with a massive personal best of 66.77m (222’ 4”) at the T-Bird Flyers Track and Field Meet earlier this month. He easily surpassed the 

CARIFTA qualifying mark of 60.94m (199’ 11-1/4”) on both occasions.

Maycock said he is looking for 11 of the 12 throwers in his club to surpass the qualifying standards for CARIFTA at some point during the season, but he’s just taking it one day one time, looking for them to continue to progress.

“Really and truly, we are looking to other kids to step up and complement the other throwers who have already qualified,” said Maycock. “This meet is all about discovering those kids who possess untapped talent. We’re looking at the future, looking to get more kids involved – the more, the better.”

The event will cater to under-15, under-17 and under-20 athletes as well athletes competing in the open division. They will compete in the shot put, discus and javelin events, and there will be running time only for each event.

So, as to conform to health standards and COVID-19 protocols, as with each of the track and field meets this season, there will be no fans in the stands. The meet is certified by the BAAA, and results will count toward the remainder of the season.

BAAA President Archer said they are gradually returning to a state of normalcy and is hopeful that at some point this season, they will be able to accommodate spectators at the local athletics meets.

The post Another Blue Chip throwers meet set for this Saturday appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/another-blue-chip-throwers-meet-set-for-this-saturday/

Coleby, St. Fort, Higgs experience mid-week action

Bahamian professional basketball players Kadeem Coleby, Mark St. Fort and Lashann Higgs experienced playing time on the court in mid-week action for their respective teams on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Coleby was in action in Japan’s B1 League while St. Fort was also in action in Japan but in the B2 League. Both were in action last night. Higgs played in Spain in the Liga Femenina Endesa (Liga Dia) on Tuesday night.

For Coleby, he and his Akita Northern Happinets (20-10) defeated the bottom feeders of the league Levanga Hokkaida (9-21) 79-73 at the CNA Arena, in Akita, Japan. Coleby finished with a team-high 16 points and grabbed five boards while dishing out five assists. He was 5-for-7 from the field and 6-for-9 from the free throw line. The seasoned player was huge on defense as he finished with four blocks.

The Happinets used a huge 26-14 fourth quarter advantage to come back in the game and win the game, as the visitors held a 59-53 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Levanga controlled most of the game, including in the early going, but the Happinets managed to tie the game at 36 at the half. The Happinets used a key 8-0 scoring run to put the game away in the fourth quarter.

Coleby returns to action on Saturday when he and his team head on the road to play Sea Horses Mikawa (22-8) in back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday at the Wing Arena Kariya in Kariya, Aichi, Japan. Both games will get underway at 3:05 p.m. local time, 14 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST) here in The Bahamas.

St. Fort had his best game in his three games with the Fukushima Firebonds (14-17), but they fell 88-78 to the Sendai 89ers (20-13) at the Horaiya Koriyama General Gymnasium in Fukushima, Japan.

The big man scored a team-high 19 points and grabbed four rebounds. He converted 7-of-10 shots from the field including 1-for-3 from three-point territory. St. Fort finished 4-for-6 from the charity stripe. He came away with two steals.

A 26-18 first quarter advantage gave the visitors a good start and they never looked back after that. The 89ers took advantage in the fast break points category as they held a 15-3 advantage.

The Firebonds return to action this weekend with two home games as they play Earth Friends Tokyo Z (4-27). The Saturday matchup is set for 6 p.m. while the Sunday matchup is set for 1:30 p.m. local time, 14 hours ahead of EST here in The Bahamas.

Higgs and her team, Embutidos Pajariel Bembibre PDM (4-16), fell to Cadi La Seu (9-12) at home at Bembibre Arena, in Bembibre, Spain.

Higgs led her team with 17 points, four rebounds and one steal. She shot 6-for-10 from the field including 2-for-3 from beyond the three-point arc. She shot 3-for-4 from the foul line.

Bembibre started the game off scoring five unanswered points, but at the end of the first quarter, the visitors led 19-14. A 27-18 Cadi La Seu advantage in the second quarter put Bembibre in a hole as they trailed 46-32. Bembibre tried to come back in the game close in the third quarter but the visitors held the momentum and they got the victory.

Next up for Higgs and her squad is an away matchup tomorrow against Argon Uni Girona (18-2) at Pavelló Girona-Fontajau, in Girona, Spain. The game will get underway at 7:30 p.m. local time, six hours ahead of EST here in The Bahamas.

The post Coleby, St. Fort, Higgs experience mid-week action appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/coleby-st-fort-higgs-experience-mid-week-action/

Baha Mar to welcome back 700 employees in March

Approximately 700 Baha Mar associates will return to work when the property reopens its SLS and Rosewood resorts in March, Baha Mar President Graeme Davis yesterday confirmed.

This would mean about 2,500 of the resorts employees would finally be back to work after spending months furloughed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The resort posted to its website earlier this week that it would be reopening the two luxury resorts on March 4, as it moves into phase two of its reopening plan.

But as COVID-19 continues to surge in the resort’s key markets in the United States, Davis admitted that occupancy is currently low, particularly following the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) announcement earlier this month of more stringent travel protocols, which require every passenger arriving into the country by air – visitor, resident or citizen – to present a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen or RT-PCR test at the border.

Davis said Baha Mar saw an immediate impact in bookings after US President Joe Biden last week announced that it is his administration’s policy to require that all travelers comply with CDC guidelines regarding international travel, including recommended periods of self-quarantine or self-isolation after entry into the United States.

“We started to see cancellations coming in. We’ve had discussions with both the minister of tourism and the prime minister to lobby as strongly as can be, as we are lobbying in the United States to airline and government affairs officials to have us exempted in The Bahamas from testing to go back to the United States,” he told Guardian Business.

Davis insisted The Bahamas “deserves an exemption” from the CDC’s travel protocols, noting that Baha Mar executives and the government lobbied hard for The Bahamas to be moved from a CDC level four health notice – which indicates a very high level of COVID-19 and means that travelers should avoid all travel to that destination – to a level three – which means travelers should avoid non-essential travel to that destination.

“We’ve been lobbying for that. Obviously that does help. Not every traveler reads the CDC threat level, but it does help I think from a groups and meetings perspective. And we would certainly like to see that get down to a level two,” he said.

Davis continued, “If we can get an exemption – which we deserve based on the low level of COVID-19 cases in The Bahamas, the safety factor that we’re taking and the proximity and business trade that we have between the United States and The Bahamas – we should be exempted.

“I continue to urge all of us in our industry and the government to continue lobbying to have us exempted from the test to enter the United States as well as the quarantine, and put us in what would be the most competitive edge in the region.”

Baha Mar – which reopened the Grand Hyatt on December 17 – had originally been eyeing February to reopen the SLS and Rosewood, but Davis said March provided a better opportunity to build additional demand for the property heading into the spring break and summer seasons.

“Based on the travel patterns of our key markets in the United States, which is mostly the north east and of course we have spring break time from school, those who are taking off some time, this gives an opportunity for people to take that break,” he said.

“Plus, we’re getting to the peak of winter, you get the COVID-19 fatigue, you have the cold and winter fatigue, we feel that there is certainly more demand starting in March based on previous patterns and what we see for the future as well. So, this is an opportune time to open Rosewood and SLS to their key markets. This will help deliver consumer confidence that we are open and start building up toward a more robust summer season into Q3 and into Q4.”

Davis said the March date was also strategic as executives look toward the broader rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States and The Bahamas.

“We all believe strongly that further vaccinations in the United States will help support the demand for travel. I believe that the testing to go back to the United States with this proposed quarantine at home suggestion by the CDC has certainly had some negative impact on our demand, but we believe that building that consumer confidence starting in March through spring break into Easter and then into our summer season, that it does make sense,” he said.

“And as we start to see the vaccines get rolled out more rapidly and we start to see our key markets following CDC guidelines on physical distancing, mask wearing and hand sanitization; if that gets rolled out on a more aggressive nature on a federal level in the United States, this will help bring down the cases and help ease up the concerns for travel to places like The Bahamas.”

The post Baha Mar to welcome back 700 employees in March appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/baha-mar-to-welcome-back-700-employees-in-march/

Cooper: Bahamas should be proactive on EU blacklisting threat

Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Deputy Leader Chester Cooper, who is also the shadow minister of finance, yesterday urged the government to be proactive regarding the threat of another European Union (EU) blacklisting for jurisdictions with zero-rated corporate taxes.

Members of the European Parliament (MEP) last week adopted a resolution to put more pressure on the European Commission to keep “tax havens” blacklisted until they make material legislative changes the EU wants. While the resolution must go through various levels before it becomes law, the EU is seeking to have it enforced before the end of the year.

Cooper said the government should not wait for the blacklisting and should leverage its relationships with other nations and international bodies to combat the threat.

“What we know is that the EU will continue to change the standard to which we are held, while not holding their own member countries to the same standard. And what we also know is that they don’t care. We know as well that though we have a diplomatic presence now, our small country does not have the political clout to see these policies altered through bilateral engagement alone,” he said while contributing to debate on the extension of the emergency orders in the House of Assembly yesterday.

“What I’ve always urged is that we remain proactive on this front. We shouldn’t wait for the new blacklist to figure out what we need to do to get off it. So, since we already have the mission in Brussels, we should use that to recruit more weighty players to our cause.”

Cooper said The Bahamas should band together with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), or even the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) – which is also represented in Brussels and may also have similar concerns – lest it finds itself “scrambling yet again”.

“For instance, we could engage the European Banking Federation, which is in Brussels, and explain to them the potential detriment of these blacklists not only to us, but to the banking sector across Europe. For instance, if Mauritius makes the list, this impacts French institutions,” he said.

“If Panama makes the list, this impacts Spanish institutions. I think it also makes sense to engage other countries… The ACP represents many developing countries and has formal trade agreements with the EU. I would suggest we do this now, rather than later, or we’ll find ourselves scrambling yet again.”

Minister of State for Finance Senator Kwasi Thompson last month said the government is committed to the development of a more equitable tax system.

A comprehensive study on the country’s tax system was a recommendation of the Economic Recovery Committee (ERC) in October.

The post Cooper: Bahamas should be proactive on EU blacklisting threat appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/cooper-bahamas-should-be-proactive-on-eu-blacklisting-threat/