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completely the island of Eleuthera and its unique brand of people. The
beautiful digital photographs on this disk can be used for a variety of
purposes from Screen savers to calendars and mouse pads or simply to show a
relative or a friend just what the island of Eleuthera has to offer. Its all
there on this CD rom. This CD rom is produced and is a unique product of the
island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. Get your copy while supplies last. This CD rom will be upgraded and available annually See Calendar of Events
for Eleuthera 2003-
Bottom of the page. See our latest book release,”Blood on the Empire.” Welcome back to www.tarpumbay.com
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Eleuthera’s Writers Digest Magazine’s primary concern is content. We would like for you to contribute your Short Stories, Articles and Poetry today. Send your content to the Email: [email protected] Your content will be evaluated and if
acceptable it will be printed. Today’s news Friday, 31
October 2003 Weather Balmy winter breezes
abound in Tarpum Bay and Eleuthera today. The temperature dropped down to a
cool 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The entire day was overcast with only an
occasional rain. This is an example of our winter weather and is typical for
this time of year. It was a great day for the outdoors or touring Eleuthera
today and not such a good day for the sun. Enjoy out weather in
Eleuthera whenever you get the opportunity. Eleuthera weather is most
beautiful this time of year. News, Articles
and Poetry A Tourist’s
Halloween In Eleuthera What to my surprise
should happen When I appeared upon
the scene Superman and
Frankenstein in the midst of Halloween I thought that I’d
gone foreign And left my home
alright But what should
appear to me its Halloween tonight A night for peas and
rice and lobster Fritters and cracked
conch too But if you know the
surprise in me It would happen to
you too I came to the
Bahamas To see the sand and
sea The sunshine in this
paradise As I’d seen on TV Tonight to my
surprise I jumped As they crowded at
the door “Trick or Treat, Its
Halloween good miss” In Eleuthera by the
shore Tonight is the
annual Anti-halloween Christian/religious program in Tarpum Bay put on by the
Church of God. Pastor Brenville personally from a religious point of view
chooses to promote his Christianity and religion instead of promoting the
almost pagan holiday of Halloween. The pastor
vehemently opposes the holiday and chooses to share his Christian principals
with the general public instead of allowing it to go by without some
opposition. Many people on
Eleuthera look foreword to the event, which is well attended tonight. There
will be music, skits, preaching, and gift bags for the children. This is an
opportunity for the church and pastor Brenville to share their message of
Christianity and they are greatly appreciated by the community for their
efforts to share a positive and a good message in our trying times. If your looking for
a positive message see you in the middle of town on Front street Tarpum Bay
just opposite sister Allen’s store. Fishing Report Fishing is
temporarily suspended due to bad weather. In a few days when the seasonal
blowing has subsided fresh daily catches of fish will be available for sale
at the docks at Tarapum Bay and other venues along the island where fish are
sold. For now the only
places to buy fish are from vendors who have supplies frozen in their
freezers. This is an alternative option for those wishing to have fresh fish
caught only a few days ago. More news from
Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera Bahamas tomorrow Back
to top of page Back to home/start page October 30th
2003 Weather Overcast and rainy
this morning as Eleuthera opens another day. The temperature is into the mid
eighties with cloudy skies. Its another beautiful day in Eleuthera. Enjoy our
beautiful weather today. It will probably clear up later this afternoon for
trips to the beach and the outdoors. See you in Eleuthera News, Articles
and Poetry Beautiful MorningBy George major Morning crept in on the Bay Slow seas toss tenaciously with their tide Early rising fishermen are already out to sea Dread and Jay stand in a fixed position Mending the nets for a better days catch You can see the beach of for miles As it curves with the island So clean, clear and bright As the islands green lies in the distance Dotted by little indicators of mans existence The rain in the distance showers its prey Grey skies rage above with a wet threat I’ll do my duty this day I’ll enjoy the sun and surround myself with pleasantries I love the world and the people in it This day a promise for the quiet Island people Do not allow the day to overwhelm you Its solace and its beauty are astounding School children gather by the post office for bussing I am the better off having experience this coming of the day As Halloween approaches
tomorrow the children are ready to celebrate. Our Halloween is the
traditional one with costumes and candy for the trick or treaters. Guy Fox celebrations
are being held on November 5th. You’ll remember guy fox as the man
who tried to blow up the British parliament in the eighteen hundreds. This
holiday is a traditional one in Eleuthera and the Bahamas as it is in the
entire British commonwealth. Fishing Report Several fishermen
have left the docks early this morning before the sun rose. They are
expecting better catches as the weather cools. Netting is the order of the
day as many of these fishermen have as their goal to supply the village with
fresh frying fish. Jack and snappers more likely today. Some grouper and
lobster will be at the docks later this afternoon as well. See you at the docks
in Tarpum Bay today. More News from
Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas
tomorrow Back
to top of page Back tho home/start page Wednesday, 29
October 2003 Weather Today’s weather was
warm and sunny. Another bright day on the island of Eleuthera. The
temperature rose to 85 degrees with overcast skies later in the afternoon, no
rain however. The day was relatively cool and is a move toward the further
cooling trend coming this winter. Drafty nights and cool mornings are typical
of this time of the year. Enjoy our weather in
Eleuthera today. News and
Articles Eleuthera’s Natural
Arts and Crafts guild meets on Wednesdays. We met today and continued to work
toward our grand opening next week. Available for sale will be Palm Frond
Baskets, Horse Eye bean necklaces, plaited palm frond baskets, lamps, glass
bottle jewelry, top palm brooms and a slew of other wonderful natural gift
and personal items. Creativity and fun in designing natural art gifts is the
work of the guild. Its fun to imagine a
product and bring it to fruition in the real sense. Making something of value
someone else can love and enjoy. This is at the heart of the work at the
guild. Contributing to this creativity is certainly a joy. Weekly work begins
on Wednesdays at 10Am and continues on into the afternoon till after 2pm. On
the best days participants do not want to leave the guild. What comradery and
friendship abound. The grand opening of
this new season of the guild will come November 5th at 10Am when
the guild will open its house and treasures to the public. You are welcome to
come and enjoy the items produced and available for sale to the general
public. Come out Next week
as early as you can and enjoy the day taking lessons from members of the
guild in several different art disciplines like palm frond platting or
coconut frond fish making. Its gonna be a day of fun and freedom at the
guild. You will be able to enjoy some of the treats made available by the
members of the guild as well. It’s going to be a great time. See you there. Fishing Report Fishing weather is
good and catches are on the rise by local fishermen. Larger amounts of
lobster, grouper and frying fish are being realised by local fishermen. Come on out and
purchase your share of fresh fish products today. You can just come to the
pier to see the fish being cleaned. It’s a daily fun event at the docks in
Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera each day in the afternoon. See there any good weather
day. More news from
Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera Bahamas tomorrow Back
to top of page Back to home/start page Tuesday, 28
October 2003 Weather Another beautiful
day in the fall here in Eleuthera. The temperature rose to a high of 87
degrees Fahrenheit today. There was no rain just bright-unhindered sunshine.
The skies were clear except for little occasional clouds. Over all the
temperature is coming around to a cooling trend. Little breezes blow over the
landscape from the seas. It was a great day for beaching and for the
outdoors. Enjoy our Eleuthera weather when your in Eleuthera. Have a great
day. News and
Articles The day began with
an early light. We all thought it was just going to be another ordinary day
at the seashore. When we arrived we found out that Dread and the boys were
taking the day off from fishing to fix the nets. They had a long day ahead of
them. To sweeten the day
and have some company around while they worked the boys decided to have a
cookout at Travellers rest Dock Side Tarpum Bay. The grills were
brought out. Batches of chicken for the grill and crabs. The lobster would
come later. The girls also helping carry off the event came out in order to
prepare the food. The drinks began being poured early in the day. Anejo and
Coke with lots of ice. Jive talking and jokes were the order of the day as
the boys began their work and we all started with the preparation of the
food. By noontime the
chicken was barbecued, the fish fried, the drinks continued to be poured and
the nets were being mended. The fresh bread, cole slaw and more drinks came
next. All was going well. The day wore on in this festive atmosphere at the
seashore and we had a lovely day grillin, talking, eatin, drinkin and mending
the nets. What another wonderful
day in the sunshine at Tarpum Bay down by the sea at Travellers Rest. Fishing Report Fishing continues at
the docks here in Tarpum Bay. The openine of a new fish buying business began
in Tarpum Bay for the opening of this years lobster season. Now you can
purchase quantities of fresh/frozen lobster and grouper any time you need
them. Come to the docks and inquire. Ask for Nick or Toya should you be
interested in this supply of fish products. On bad weather days
this is a great alternative to fresh fish. Quantities are available daily. More news from
Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow Back
to top of page Back to home/start page Sunday, 26 October
2003 Weather Oh what a beautiful
day in Eleuthera. This is the weather that many Eleutherians have waited on
all through the summer. An essential break in the heat but not too much cool.
The temperature today has dropped down into the mid eighties with slight
breezes over the landscape. A much needed break from the heat of summer. Fall
and Winter are definitely taking place. This is evidenced by the many
changing bird species on the islands at this time of year. This is a very
active time for our bird watching industry. It continues to flourish because
of our warm winter climate and the diverse variety of bird species on the
island. Eleuthera we have found is not an exclusive paradise for people
alone. Enjoy our Eleuthera
weather today. See you in Eleuthera soon. News and
Articles The weekend in
Tarpum Bay was quite active this time around. There were more activities than
we can account for. Friday night say the annual Anniversary party of our Mr.
And Mrs. Joy and Adrian Johnson. What a splendid time. Almost two hundred
people attended and were entertained by delightful music, dancing, drinks and
great food. What a wonderful night of local entertainment to commerate. Many
will talk about such local gatherings for years to come. Saturday night saw
the birthday party of Samantha Carey of Tarpum Bay. Samantha turned 15 and
had a lovely party for family and friends that evening. Some friends were in
from other islands including Nassau. We had a wonderful chat with Grace from
Zion Baptist church in South Beach Nassau. Grace, a fine lady is searching
for an island man to love and marry. I wish her well in her search for the
ideal island man. I think I can help her out further in that search. We’ll
have to see. Beatrice, her sister and other family and friends accompanied
her. Also visiting our
lovely island was our delightful friend Mrs. Morris. Mrs. Morris, an art
executive with the National Art Gallery visits our island frequently and did
enjoy herself here this weekend. We wish her well in her pursuit to make
Eleuthera her home eventually. I can say first hand that such pursuits in
life are fruitful, a test and trial potentially but eventually fruitful. My Vision For EleutheraBy George Major In this five year plan I will give you some of the pitfalls I see our government and Eleutherian leaders have fallen into. Some of the traps that exist that impede our national and inter-island development. Changing our thinking is essential to making a meaningful effort to develop Eleuthera in a new way that has not been tried before with the assistance of our national planners. Eleutherians and our local political leaders are powerless unless empowered by national political leaders and given the essential budgets to economically effect the needed changes in Eleuthera. There is no use passing legislation in parliament without the economic empowerment of local officials who are now charged by national government to create economies and employment in the Island of Eleuthera and the other Out Islands. The complete colonization of our Islands like Eleuthera has not taken place yet because we do not have the complete representation of essential government services located on these islands. All we have are a number of ineffective satellite offices, which are inconclusive, and an unnecessary drain on the national treasury. Central government leaders do not have the decency and trust in local residents to staff these satellite offices with trained indigenous people. These offices are staffed and Nassauvians employees/directors housed on each island at the expense of the national treasury to which we all contribute. Indigenous people are not trusted to carry out the leadership directives needed in these offices. Educated Eleutherians with college degrees, like myself, have to look elsewhere for meaningful employment or are left to waste away in the island. We are told by central government to farm and do other menial forms of labour to survive the harsh, detached economic environment, which exist on Out Islands like Eleuthera. With meaningful implementation by central government of the following suggestions the betterment of our economic/cultural/social plight will be realized in Eleuthera and the other Family Islands. Potential Eleutherian Economic Resources Support:
If implemented single handily this plan will positively impact the economy of Eleuthera in the way of creating a positive and meaningful development, which the inhabitants can rely on. This will allow for the much needed involvement and increase in the native professional population in order to make the necessary development of education and industry take place. An increase in population will take place. The population through this five year plan is expected to more than double. With an increase in the population in five years there is no need to implement additional infrastructural amenities on the island. The infrastructure of Eleuthera is sufficient to sustain more than fifty thousand residents. Forty thousand more than exist here today. Fishing Report Fishing on the
Caribbean side of the island has been suspended temporarily until the rough
seas subside. All fish is being caught from the Atlantic side of the island,
which remains still fruitful for fishing. Substantial amounts of fish are
being caught and sold daily at the fish market in Tarpum Bay. If you want your
varieties of fresh fish see you at the docks at Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera,
Bahamas soon. More news from
Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow Back
to top of page Back to home/start page Tuesday, 21
October 2003 Weather What a beautiful day
in Eleuthera today. The weather was
simply nice. Its cooling down a bit on Eleuthera. The temperature was up into
the mid 80’s 88 to be exact with out a sign of rain. Simply a beautiful day.
Enjoy our Eleuthera weather today. News and
Articles Employment in Eleuthera Employment is perhaps the most fundamental question to the growth of Eleuthera today. The fact is that employment has been at an all time low for the past ten years in Eleuthera. We have not had the benefit as other islands have to have major hotels and other investment entities impact our local economy. For the past twenty or so years the only employment on the island of Eleuthera has been the few hotel properties that still exist in areas like Harbour Island and Winding Bay, the private sector of businesses like the few bank branches, the numerous independent businesses like the food stores and the government sector. The hotel sector has left much to be desired. On the main island of Eleuthera over the past twenty years we have lost all of our major hotels due to the lack of interest of the original investors or the damage caused by natural disasters like hurricanes. This happened in the case of our most prestigious hotel property, Club Meditteraine in Governors Harbour. The only new hotel development on the mainland has been the establishment of the Winding Bay, Club Venta by the Italian Ventagglio hotel chain. This sixty-room hotel has since closed its doors and sits empty on the beaches of Winding Bay today either because of a lack of clientele or a lack of interest by the owners of the hotel chain. Harbour Island has continued to do well in the hotel/tourism sector. For the past five years Harbour Island, unlike the remainder of Eleuthera has achieved an explosion of tourism visitors. This is due to the local phenomena of the wonderful, accommodating people of Harbour Island, the increased access by air service with the refurbishment of the North Eleuthera airport and the mystique which continues to flourish in the area when it comes to tourist services and the quaint continued service to the guests that visit the island. Tourists tend to love Harbour Island. Harbour island like Abaco is a unique case in Eleuthera and the Bahamas. These areas need to be further studied by our tourism officials in order to ascertain what factors make these places work so well for tourist with a view to adapting these phenomena to other parts of Eleuthera and the Bahamas. Harbour Island, like Abaco, Sansalvador and Exuma has continued to grow its hotel sector with the establishment and renovation of the few hotel properties on the island. New properties like the Rock House and the New Valentines Marina are evidence of this. The island is only affected in a negative way when the seasonal closure of these hotel properties occurs during the months of August and September. Months when the visitor arrivals are dropping off and hotel occupancy are traditionally down. Private sector businesses on Eleuthera are surely a source of positive accomplishment. For generations merchants on Eleuthera have continued to sense the need for essential goods and services by the local population and have moved to fill these needs in a way that keeps the local economy amply supplied daily with fresh goods. The weekly mail boat services are the driving force behind the importation of these goods from ports like Nassau primarily and secondarily Miami. Eleuthera can certainly benefit further from the establishment of major food chains and mall outlets like Costco’s, Solomon’s and City Markets. These make for better competition in the local markets and will keep the economy keen and competitive, a necessity in any growing country. These give the consumer more choice and excite the local environment into continued revenue spending. The banking sector continues to flourish especially over the last twenty years when banks realized the need for Eleutherians to borrow money and hedge their properties and employment against the fastly growing inflation on the island. Banks have moved in to Eleuthera continually and established themselves in order to take advantage of this necessity. However the industry is fastly growing sour. With the massive lack of employment and the already overburdened income of Eleutherians many long established properties and investments are up for sale by the major banks. The island simply does not have the employment levels to sustain such entities like our major cities. We have been caught in the process and are being bitten badly for following our only mains of sustenance. Over the past few years the banks have had to make significant legal moves to sell off indentured properties in order to recover lost funds. If this trend is allowed to continue Eleutherians on the whole will loose in a major way. Banks have been necessary last resort for funding by Eleutherians who have sold themselves out of necessity to the banks for the necessary funds they need to live and flourish in this most down trended economy presently. Whether the banks remain and continue to lend money depends on how fast the turn around in the economy takes place on Eleuthera. Without the necessary funding to effect that turn around themselves Eleutherians are turning to the government to attract foreign investment as has been the case traditionally. The few foreign philanthropist of the past are now a dying breed. Their survivors have sought not to invest their funds in Eleuthera like the patriarchs and have turned away from the investments their fathers funded in the deep south Eleuthera and do not feel the responsibility their forefathers felt to support and grow the economy of Eleuthera for the benefit mainly of Eleutherians. Men like Juan Tripp of Pan American Airlines, Mr. J. D. Ames of Alcoa Aluminum, Arthur Vining Davis and a few others took the bull by the horns and single handily invested personal fortunes in order to develop hotels, Marina’s, Golf coursesk, shopping centers and other essential properties in South Eleuthera. South Eleuthera Properties owned by these philanthropist was the wealthiest land holding company in the Bahamas but was forced out of their business many feel by the PLP government who had selfish interest at heart when they overtook the government during the late sixties and the early seventies. The company ran and sold off their holdings for pennies to the dollar no longer interested in being dictated to by the new political culture, which swept through the Bahamas and South Eleuthera. The present day inheritors of the south Eleuthera properties holdings either do not have the interest and the good will to further develop businesses and hotel properties in South Eleuthera or they simply do not have the funds to do so. In either case the populous of Eleuthera has lost a great generation of meaningful, necessary investment experienced during the days of the great philanthropical giants mentioned above. The answer to private investment therefore falls at the feet of government, which is the only body with the capital, interest or the will to create investment and employment in the area of South Eleuthera. The problem is that they are burdened with the task of similar investment and employment everywhere in the Bahamas and are not able to answer the task single handily in the timeframe expected by all Bahamians. The fact is that the burden for investment and the creation of jobs lies with the government. The government established a process and continues to hold onto and do not make the necessary funds available to local Eleutherians in order for them to invest. Given the levels of investment needed in order to create jobs in the tourism sector and the private sector the people of Eleuthera simply do not have the amounts of collateral needed to secure the loan amounts necessary to establish and build these properties. The minimal investment in hotel properties mentioned these days is well into more than fifty million dollars. Where in the world can the average Bahamian or Eleutherian raise the necessary collateral to approach this kind of tourism project? The fact is that this is the kind of hotel/tourism property with which they will have to compete. Government must bite the bullet and make lesser amounts of funding available to Eleutherians on a good faith/good business practice basis in order to see a turn around in the amounts of tourism properties and developments entered into by the local population. I do not see this happening in the present polarized political climate. Government will simply not take the necessary risk needed to empower local Eleutherians and Bahamamians in order to assist them in the process of investing themselves in tourism/hotel properties. However it can be done. There is a model of business, which we can follow to establish this necessary process. Eleuthera and the Bahamas can be a flowing paradise for tourism given our proximity to the largest tourist market in the world. We have a beginning in our history. Let us continue to build on what we have. Let us establish ourselves and grow to be the most successful tourist colony in the western hemisphere. With the right attitude by government and political officials I feel this trend can happen for us within the next five years. This is my hope and my vision for investment and employment for Eleuthera and the Bahamas for the next five years. Fishing Report All is well in Eleuthera
in terms of fishing. Although the amounts of fish are not as large these days
due to the many bad weather spells you can find any kind or any amount of
fish you would like to purchase at the docks. Come early and get your
supplies of fish today. If you in Eleuthera and love fresh, delicious fish
see you at the docks in Tarpum Bay. More news from
Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow To
top page of page Back to home/start page Monday, 20
October 2003 Weather Todays weather
climbed to 88 degrees Fahrenheit. It was another bright sunny day with no
rain. The skies were bright and open. The weather is now cooling for the
coming winter. Nights are cool into the low 80’s. We are looking forward to
the coming cooler weather. Enjoy our Eleuthera weather today. News and
Articles Education In Eleuthera One of the most progressive assets of the modern developing world is education. Through the brilliance and the ordinary application of scientific theory and other theories in other disciplines in Education countries develop and thrive in industry. A great society can always be recognized by its insistence that education comes first and is developed along with society. The great societies created by the Romans, the Greeks, the Egyptians, the Mayans all have their unique educational contributions that were discovered through inspiration and are still applicable in their fields of endeavour today. Recently the medical achievements of the Americans in separating and creating new life are worth note and can be achievements for we Eleutherians to commemorate and work toward. Eleutherians, in fact Bahamians have not yet discovered the power of Education and I feel that not enough of our GNP is spent developing this important resource. Too often we prefer to invest our hard earned national dollars on the spectre of Junkanoo and elaborate island holidays. To date the only forms of education available in the island of Eleuthera are these:
The fact is that there is a great need for a full time college level institution on the island of Eleuthera. This would serve several purposes:
The value of Education to a society is so important and so valuable that its availability to a society is a necessity. I do not see why Out Islands like Eleuthera do not at least have an institution like BTVI(Bahamas Technical and Vocational Training Instituation). A Vocational training Institution present on the island and available to those students who value vocational training as opposed to full time college degrees. The fact is that if Eleuthera is to grow at all with a view to establishing a permanent long lasting society that will be present and assist in the growth of the island for generation after generation higher learning must be an integral part of that process. These basic needs of modern developing societies like Eleuthera need to be met in order to eliminate the massive brain drain that has been typical of our global migration over the past 100 years. The fact is that Eleutherians and Bahamians are brilliant when it comes to discovery through education. We have brilliant lawyers, doctors and tradesmen. The problem is that they live elsewhere outside of Eleuthera. Many still are attracted to living in the Bahamas but the trend has been their continued migration to the larger, more lucrative industrial first world. Our nation is filled with wonderful examples of professional persons working and contributing on a national and international level in many professional disciplines like Law and Medicine. Many Eleutherians aspire to such fields of endeavor but find the necessity for travel far too expensive and are eliminated from the ranks of these achievers. I encourage the government of the Bahamas to work diligently over the next five years toward the establishment of at least two community colleges and one central vocational institution for the island of Eleuthera in order to combat and eliminate the unthinkable trend of international and interisland migration which has plagued our societies for far too long. The impetus for the long term planning and implementation of stable institutions which will allow our people to be permanent and confident in the knowledge that they are receiving as much of an education at home here in Eleuthera as they can receive in any institution abroad. This is a necessity component and must come forthwith in the near future. There is no other way to stop the alarming trend of the migration of our most brilliant and most able contributors to the further development of our Out Island societies. It can be done with prudent and unprejudiced thinking with a long-term view to national sustainability and must be seen as a necessary plan to combat the competition which will be brought on by the implementation of such international initiatives as the FTAA and other global efforts by the major industrial countries. Tell me, do you see the need? How can we permanently put an end to inter-island and international migration of our most valuable resource, our people? We need them to return home and establish along with us a permanent sustainable, competitive economy in order to successfully compete with the remainder of the world. We must eliminate the need felt by our precious people to migrate in search of bread to other more hostile environments. We must not stop developing our educational plan in Eleuthera until we can attract Legal professionals and Medical professions to migrate to Eleuthera for institutional training instead of the reverse. The potential for agricultural and acquicultural development in the way of institutions in islands like Eleuthera are enormous. We have the environment and the necessities that go along with such developments and beyond that we have the urgent need to see such institutions develop in order to further protect and preserve our own natural resources. There is much work to do friends. We aren’t there yet by any measure. We are tired and hungry but we must continue on with a positive view to the future and continue to correct our massive mistakes and our vision. How we as leaders of a country allowed the escape of the most progressive of our people, our resources, that we need so well continues to astound me. Onward, Upward, together to a brighter, better Bahamas in which we all choose to live. With the right vision of the future our tomorrows can be bright. Fishing Report It is a great time for fishing. One of the past times of Eleutherians is fishing off of the shore along the island. There is a tremendous amount of fish to be caught. Many people prefer to catch their own fish rather than buy fish from the fish market. So if your looking for a new activity in Eleuthera try fishing from the shore anywhere. See you at the fish market in Tarpum Bay, Eleutherea today. More News from Tarepum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow Back to top of page Back to home/start page Friday, 17
October 2003 Weather Todays weather is
cool and overcast. The temperature today is in the middle 80’s Fahrenheit and
is occasionally rainy. This cooling trend is expected to last over the next
few days. Enjoy our Eleuthera
weather today. News and
Articles Population-Trends
In Eleutherian History Recommendations
for change The
population ever since I can remember as a boy here in Eleuthera was around
12,000 people from Spanish Wells in the North to Bannerman Town in the south.
The problem also as I can remember has been that all throughout our history
Eleutherians have always depended on other locations for employment and for
education. Thus
Eleutherians like other Bahamian Out Island people have always been a
migratory people. Not to the extent of the Haitian people where they leave
home and never return but to the extent that they continually reside either
in Nassu, Freeport Grand Bahama, The United States, Britian or Canada. They
do return home for vacation and for visits occasionally making the pilgrimage
home as much as they can to contact and support their fellow islanders. Since the
great world wars in the 20’s and the 40’s I have heard my grand father and
other islander talk about the projects when they left the island of
Eleuthera and relocated to the United States for periods of six months to a
year when they were given immigration status in order to work in the
agricultural industry in the US. They worked as day labourers all over the
united States from the Key lime plantations in the city of Key West Florida to
the Apple orchards of the great western New York State. Some of
these men were married and had families at home. Many of them were single.
Those who had strong family ties and interest at home in Eleuthera returned,
many of them did not. Many like My uncle Wilfred remained after the projects
and married in New Jersey where he raised a family. To date I have cousins in
both New Jersey and San Francisco California as far as I am able to verify. Since
then in modern times beginning in the early sixties before the great tourism/
hotel boom took place in South Eleuthera many of our citizens left for
employment and educational purposes and manly resided in the cities of
Freeport Grand Bahama and Nassau. They were after opportunities of education
and employment. Many became lawyers, teachers, government employees and
doctors. Many became merchants in a growing city of Nassau and now own many
of the landmark business establishments gracing the city of Nassau from one
end of the city to the next. Certain names like the Carey’s, the Roger’s and
the Culmer’s are synonymous in the city of Nassau with big business and
commercial activity. They all descended from the island of Eleuthera and have
risen to new prominence in the city over the last 40 years. There has
been no statistics kept over these many years documenting this migration from
our home island but I estimate the out flux of residents to be in the
hundreds of thousands over the many years these mass necessary migrations
took place. The fact
is that not many people moved into Eleuthera from other islands and countries
to replace these migrants therefore the population has remained steady at
just over 10,000 souls on an annual basis since the Bahamas has been doing
statistical studies and documenting the resident populations of our
island. In most
recent times due to the most dramatic drop in economic activity during the
years from 1980 to 2003 the population of Eleuthera has hit the new low of
under 10,000. The most recent statistics put the population at just above
9,000 people residing permanently over the entire island. This new low in
population demonstrates the dramatic out flow of the local populous and is a
most disturbing trend when compared with the overall migratory trend that has
taken place on the island of Eleuthera over the past 100 years. It is
evident in studying this trend that more than seventy percent of the people
ever born on the island of Eleuthera are now immigrants residing elsewhere,
though many of them residing in other islands of the Bahamas. This
trend must discontinue in our present times if we are to be able to realize
any personnel resources, which are necessary for our development. Ask
yourself the question for example, how many Americans or Japanese migrate to
other countries? They don’t, they stay at home, battle the trends and build
the greatest economies in the world. In my estimation Eleutherians have to
adapt the same attitude and grow with our economy in order to effect any
meaningful change here in Eleuthera. We must
as a nation generate the necessary economy in Eleuthera in order to ensure
that Eleutherians remain at home and concentrate on building a meaningful
economy here. We cannot
do it alone. It cannot be done in a vacuum. It must be planned, studied and
implemented as a rule and a way of life that will create a new future for the
island of Eleuthera. In my opinion we must remain at home and begin to build
the industrial processes that we will need to compete with the economies that
are encroaching on us presently from around the globe. We must
remain at home and learn to compete on an equal footing through sweat and
tears if necessary. Our community’s social/cultural structures demand that we
stay in place and build from decade onto decade in order to realize the
benefits that have been gained and built in countries and cities elsewhere in
the world. This has
all been done before. We need only to study others examples and do likewise
in order to succeed at the process. Which
will be the government of the Bahamas brave enough to take the necessary
steps to discontinue this self-destructive migratory trend which has divided
us for more than 100 years in our history? Study the
cultures of the industrial world and see what they do. They stay at home, build
strong families, cultures and produce. Can Eleutherians ever do the same? What we must do:
The establishment of such funding and interest will again attract our lost population making it possible for them to consider moving home to Eleuthera again and sharing their experience and professional skills. In addition we will be able to attract new people with new modern expertise we may use and exploit to our benefit. We must design a modern attractive environment built for growth and adapted to our lifestyle and future plans for the island. Fishing Report Fishing will resume
when this bit of unseasonable cold weather subsides. The weather is breezy
over the seas which has the tendency to make the waters blurry. Fishermen
cannot dive and see properly in such seas. More news from
tarpum bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow Back
to top of page Back to home/start page Weather Eleuthera weather
warm and sunny as Storm passes over at this time. Temperature daily is around
88 degrees and sunny. Summers relentless heat has not ended. New and
articles While announcements
of help and hope are on the way concerns of an economic and developmental
nature continue to rise in the community. People are hopeful that the new
developments proposed will bring about the relief needed to ease the burden
on its residents the islands atmosphere is charged with tension as residents
rally around community. Unity and progress are the goals despite economic
times. If you are in Eleuthera you will notice the disparity which exists
between the island communities and the outside world. Continue to hope for
a better future for our communities. Another Eleuthera
Author: Passing Jacks
byVangerry OldhamNSBN: 1242-00126-001Description The Commonwealth of the
Bahamas:
Fishing Report Fishing has
discontinued due to the passing of the hurricane. More news from
Tarpum bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow Back
to top of page Back to home/start page Tuesday, 09
September 2003 Weather Today’s weather in
Eleuthera is partially cloudy and cool. The temperature is currently around
85 degrees. News and
Articles Article: Development at Windermere Island The proposed development at the Northern End of Windermere Island comes with some controversy. There are some concerns that the nature of the private gated community, which is Windermere Island, will change to an open non-secure development. Allowing the unrestricted movement of clients over the bridge access on the island. Prior to this development the island of Windermere has been a private, gated one allowing access to homeowners, guests and employees only. The movement of masses of visitors through the properties will have a definite effect on property values on the island. There are some concerns by homeowners that property values and overall security will decrease under this type of proposed development. Another factor impeding the progress of this new development project has been the issue of clear land ownership title. In fact, according to Mrs. Nicky Kelly, in her punch column, the previous owners of the land are waging a court battle in an effort to halt the proposed development project. According to local sources the project will take place at the middle of the month of September. Included in the proposed Development is to be a pro Golf Course, A marina, luxury condominiums, and an elegant clubhouse. Windermere has traditionally been a closed community reminiscent of gated communities around the Bahamas like Lyford Cay, Sandy Port, and other gated communities in the eastern portion of New Providence. Some most noted homeowners among the lot at Windermere Island are Prince Charles, The Duke of Windsor, and many other prestigious wealthy, world famous homeowners. The world famous photo of Princess Diana sun bathing in her bikini a few years ago was taken at West Beach on the western shore of Windermere Island while she vacationed privately with her family. Windermere Island is the year round dwelling place for the elite world travellers who enjoy our local hospitality in Eleuthera. The island has been an economic mainstay for many years for Eleuthera residents mainly in Central Eleuthera. The coming development on the island will be a long anticipated one that will hopefully be the lead project in a series of developments that can have the effect of regenerating the declined economy of the island of Eleuthera. An estimated 75 million dollars is to be injected into the Bahamian economy by the end of the development. The over all effect will be the availability of jobs for local Eleuthera residents who will again have the option of staying at home and working as opposed to having to migrate to city centres and other international destinations for employment opportunities and Education. Fishing Report Fishing continued today as the weather improved somewhat over the weekend. Fish products were available today at the docks for purchase. Get your fish products at the docks today. Enjoy fresh fish products from the Fish Market today. More News from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow Back to top of page Back to home/start page Monday, 08 September
2003 Weather Weather again today
is overcast and rainy. The temperature this afternoon is a cool 85 degrees
and a welcome from the summer heat. Enjoy the Eleuthera weather today. News and
Articles Article: National Opinion Opinions are a dime a dozen. But those that are relevant to debateable issues serve a good purpose. Not everyone is able to express his or her opinion in a meaningful way. Some of us are deadly afraid to express ourselves openly. Afraid we’ll give too much of ourselves away. Leaving us exposed to elements like victimization. We are afraid to be noticed and thought to differ especially with popular political opinion. We must sometimes give up our security to further debate on issues that effect public policy. Poverty and subservience need not interfere with our ability to effect meaningful change in our society. They are motivating factors for which we must cry out. Even if at a personal cost, the end result is a greater good for all our citizens is the relevant goal. Growing up and residing on a small island like Eleuthera produces the effect much of the time of being cut off from national media. Eleuthera is a beautiful island however it has its drawbacks which date back for many years. There is no newspaper, no radio station, and no forum for island wide consensus on issues other than community gossip. These problems affect the social atmosphere and produce a variety of people who are much of the time quite remote and less expressive when it comes to their opinion. The Bahamas as a country cannot grow effectively this way. Those residents that leave the islands find a voice in the economic power struggle of Nassau and Freeport. They pay the same price as experienced by the residents of our nations cities. Those who are left behind have relative little to say about national policy since they have no forum to express such. The Internet, toll free numbers to national radio stations and more access to the nations leading newspapers are a very positive trend in granting Out Islanders access to expression. These methods of access allow Out Islanders to have meaningful input to the national debate. The years of neglect, hurt and frustration, are mainly directed at central government and the countries national elite. It is the absence of national access to common things like education, employment and public services which weigh heavily on the minds of Out Islanders. The nation as a whole has to know this. Currently in the media you will see many examples of the concerns of Out Islanders as they write letters to the newspapers, have toll free access to the national talk shows and involve themselves in events of national interest covered by the media. Out Islanders are calling for more participation in the nations top development exercises. The island of Exuma is an example of the new development interests of the government and foreign investors have in the new financial markets our Out Islands have to offer. Eleuthera, Andros, Cat Islanders, and the remaining islands are calling on the government to continue to place their economic concerns on the agenda hoping for equal access to national development. Their outcries must go on. They must be continued to be heard when the development of the entire nation is being planned. There is much work to do. Eleuthera, like Exuma is expecting the construction of a new luxury resort during the month of September on Windermere Island. This greatly anticipated step in the right direction has taken more than twenty years to come about. Eleuthera Island has not had significant development since the early seventies. Cape Eleuthera and Club Med were the last two significant development projects not counting Harbour Island. Three decades ago the island used to be the most developed island outside of New Providence. If the new 75million dollar development does take place as schedule it will be a new indication of the rising hope taking place in Eleuthera. Residing Eleutherians have waited decades in order to see this regeneration of economic hope take place. One thing is for sure. Out Islanders must not continue to be neglected when it comes to their security and development. The concentration of 90% of our GNP is invested in Nassau and Freeport. Less than 10% is invested in the remaining twenty-four major islands of the Bahamas. Why this limited investment plan has been allowed to continue in the Bahamas is suspect. The entire nation must grow as a whole allowing each sector to support the other while maintaining its independence and economic freedom in order to allow the free flow of expertise and services. This development plan for the entire nation must take root in the thinking of national planners. For too long they have concentrated their efforts solely on the growth of Grand Bahama and Nassau. Given the correct amount of attention eventually the entire country will begin to grow as a whole. Thus allowing a much greater participation of Out Islanders to eventually take place. It is not easy or flattering to be neglected in any capacity. The neglect of our Out Islands has taken its effect on our national societies and we have reaped the loss of many of our sons and daughters. We must continue to look forward to a newly structured national development plan that includes equal benefits for all. National equality should be our goal instead of discriminatory and selective development. Fishing Report Fishing will resume tomorrow
as soon as the rainy weather subsides. More news from
Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas Tomorrow Back
to top of page Back to home/start page Friday, 05 September
2003 Weather Overcast and rainy this afternoon in Eleuthera. The rain continues to fall outside as the temperature falls to a low of 82 degrees. This activity is an after effect of hurricane Fabian. This more favourable temperature is desirable at this time. Enjoy our Eleuthera weather today. News and Articles
Don’t forget the upcoming events in Eleuthera. The Green Castle homecoming is happening in November and the North Eleuthera regatta is about to happen also during the month of October. Some excitement happening here during these times. Article: The State of Music in the Bahamas Music is defined in the Webster’s dictionary as an agreeable sound. Bahamian music has the challenge therefore of satisfying the vastly varied musical tastes of Bahamians and our visitors. The more successful Bahamian musicians are at this pursuit the more rewarding the musical industry in the Bahamas will be. The Bahamas has witnessed spurious success on the international music scene. The inspiring music of the now international group, “Bahamen” hit the airwaves in America and remained at the top of the charts for many months. The financial rewards were enormous. The height of that success experienced by Bahamen culminated when they were commissioned to play at the 2002 NFL Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida. Bahamians stood proud and gyrated to the exciting sounds of Bahamen every time the song,” Who let the dogs out,” played over the airwaves. Recently a frequent visitor to Harbour Island, Eleuthera sent a CD of the group, “Courage Band.” The group’s international recognition is evident by their recent concert appearance in West Palm Beach, Florida where such international musical giants as Maxi Priest and Beres Hammon accompanied them on stage. The style of music expressed by both the Courage Band and Bahamen gained them appeal around the globe. The brand of music played by these groups is appealing and represents the some of the best in the potential that Bahamian music has to offer. During the seventies the cool, sweet, soulful sounds of the Tconnections led by Theophilous Coakley and Berkley Vandberg hit the international stage and set the scene for the launching of Bahamian music in a big way. Before that experience the funky sounds of Mr. Freddy Munnings and the Munnings brothers had significant impact. The Munnings brothers were able to sell “Funky Nassau” to a British group. Although not a major commercial success the experience strengthened the tie that Bahamian musicians had on the international music scene. Bahamian music has always had global appeal; musical tastes vary. Music lovers are always looking for music that is appealing and exciting. Successful music producers are masters at exploiting this hunger in music lovers. The International Music awards each year are filled with fresh new, exciting musicians who have created and filled a niche for some new taste in the palette of Music lovers. Musicians like Jamaica’s Sean Paul with his new Afro-centric, soulful, clapping Diwali rythms, Nora Jones keyboard jazz, and Alicia Keys vocal contributions are stunning examples of the fresh, new musical talent we can look forward to for years to come. Those established musicians with the ability to remain fresh and exciting continue each year to enlighten us with their unique, proven musical formulas. Who can forget the romantically haunting voice of Luther Vandross or the thrilling musical style of Stevie Wonder? The answer for us is that these gifts and talents exist in Bahamians. These gifted Bahamian individuals can create new and exciting musical interludes for listeners around the globe who will want to purchase for their personal musical collections. This is the process which perpetuates the musical industry. The persistence of individual personal tastes and the availability of gifted musicians to provide the global industry day after day with musical musings should be recognized as enormous potential for Bahamian musicians. In my opinion Bahamian music needs to adapt these proven principles and appeal to global taste. Can any government legislate taste? As Bahamians we cannot settle for less than the very best in our tastes, be they culinary, literary, or musical. In comparison I as a writer aspire to write the great Bahamian novel reminiscent of the writing styles of men like Homer, Thoreau, Ernest Hemingway and George Orwell among others. In order to achieve individual success as a writer I wish and work toward producing a literary style that will appeal to the average reader in India as much as it will titillate a Bahamian reader from Cat Island. So too is my conviction concerning Bahamian music. It must have global appeal. I fear that many more Bahamian musical groups must work on a global concept of appeal rather than concentrating on the limited musical tastes of our market of three hundred thousand people. While our limited productions are unique and flattering they are not financially rewarding to the point of allowing the musicians to further develop their careers. I think the Bahamas musicians union should go much farther than calling for national exclusivity for Bahamian music. I think their membership and the public will be better served by advocating for a musical style that is both appealing to both Bahamians and a global audience. At that point they too will experience a greater reward worthy of their effort. Examples of groups like the recent success of Harbour Islands’ Courage Band and Bahamen bring such pride to mind, as Bahamians are inspired to higher heights. The sky is the limit. There is an audience outside the Bahamas willing to explore and accept us just as we allow them to influence our varied taste in movies, music and literature. They must discover us in excellent form. Let us examine our musical interests with a view to becoming more successful, more fulfilled and more satisfied. We need to do this in order to grow in tandem with the remainder of the world and the Caribbean. We are only limited by our imagination and not by our geography. There are a world of musical tastes and a vast market beyond our borders just waiting for groovy Bahamian tones. As the Bahamas grows let us seek to increase our global visibility and in so doing parlay our every effort into a massive global recognition. The entire Bahamas can benefit in many ways. Fishing Report The daily fish
market in Tarpum Bay continues to flourish. Fishermen are catching quantities
of Lobster, grouper and conch though not in massive volumes. They are
catching enough to supply the local market at this time. Hopefully in the
near future catches will increase to accommodate the winter tourist market. Get your fish
supplies at the docks at Tarpum Bay today. Come now while supplies last. Most
fishermen return with their catch after 2pm in the afternoon. More news from
Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow Back
to top of page Back to home/start page Wednesday, 03
September 2003 Weather The weather today in
Eleuthera is overcast and rainy. The temperature is expected to reach a high
of 90 degrees today. Eleuthera is receiving some of the effects from the
movement of the hurricane Fabian churning out in the western Atlantic ocean.
The storm is expected to move further NNW and is not expected to impact the
Bahama Islands greatly. This is a great relief to Eleuthera residents who are
hoping for another quiet hurricane season. News and
Articles Crisis in Education in Eleuthera and the Bahamas
There are many issues arising in the educational system of the Bahamas. These pressing issues directly affect Eleuthera and the other Out Islands. These issues arise out of the long-standing announcement by the government that payment increases due to government employees are being withheld until December of this year. This delay in payment also affects the personal budgets of our nations schoolteachers.
In addition to this long-standing issue of delayed payment by the government there has been a significant amount of restructuring taking place in the Ministry of Education. This restructuring is thought by many to be taking place too late in the school year. It has resulted in the re-assignment and placement of senior management at the ministry. The overall effect of this shuffle has been a negative one. This late planning by the ministry of Education adversely affects the education of our children and the timely maintenance of our public school properties.
In Eleuthera the effect has been the re-assignment of the District Educational officer, Mrs. Ferguson from Eleuthera to the island of New Providence; several public school principals and teachers have been similarly affected. Mrs. Ferguson, the DEO for Eleuthera, is known by the public in Eleuthera to have done a great job during her tenure as DEO on the island. Her efforts in strengthening the educational system on the island have been many. She has significant support among the general public including many parents of children in the public school system.
Another vexing problem the educational system in Eleuthera is suffering is a shortage of teachers at the Rock Sound High School. The teachers disgruntled attitude last year toward the principal caused a number of them to relocate. A record number of these teachers applied and were approved for re-assignment at high schools elsewhere in the country. The massive movement in teaching support at the high school has left the opening of the school year in disarray. Several classes are left without representation. This disarray many say is also due to the fact that teachers learned of their reassignments from the ministry of Education in Nassau only days before the opening of school again this year.
The physical state of many school properties also contributes greatly to the fiasco going on in the public school system. Many people are of the opinion that school properties should be repaired during the length of the summer when students and teachers are away from the classroom allowing maximum access to contract workers at these properties. Many schools in Eleuthera are still awaiting repairs or are being worked on during this first week of school and this will continue to disturb the classroom environment for some schools for weeks into the school year.
Eleuthera residents are calling for the government and the ministry of Education to consider more precise planning in order to facilitate the urgent needs of Education in our country. Their apparent lackadaisical approach to school property maintenance leaves much to be desired. Residents are calling for an end to the very late re-assignment of teachers in our country. These problems have gone on for too long as an independent nation and many citizens are appalled that the government of the Bahamas and the ministry of Education have not gotten control of these problems after all these years.
These annual problems of the interruption of schools have been an annual predictable process.
In order for confidence in the Ministry of Education to grow in the minds of the general public these major problems must first be eliminated.
According to the general public in Eleuthera the government and the ministry of Education of the Bahamas have the funding and the resources to effect much more considerate planning of the educational system and the maintenance of our many public school properties throughout the country. Additionally their record, the lack of improvement in these areas is most disturbing to the members of the public and are said to be reflective of the governments lack of integrity toward its employees and counter to the expectations of the general public.
Eleutherians are calling for a national resolve on these irritating educational issues. Like many other areas of the country talk of a massive strike by teachers against the ministry of Education is being discussed in light of these issues. Fishing Report Fishing is suspended
today due to the slight increase in wind and the movement of the hurricane
Fabian in the Western Atlantic. Fishermen in Eleuthera are taking precautions
at this time. Fishing will resume when the weather subsides. More news from
Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow Back
to top Back to home/start page Tuesday, 02
September 2003 Weather News and Articles The Funeral of Mr.
Henry Sands took place Saturday morning. Many of his family and friends
attended his funeral here in Tarpum Bay. He will be missed by all. Saturday afternoon
saw a wedding take place. The Johnson family of Back Hill hosted the wedding
of their member Jamal Henfield to Mrs. Jennifer Hunt. The reception took
place in Ingrahams beach Inn. A great time was had by all. The community
sends out its heart-felt wishes for the happiness of the new couple and hope
they will find the love and life wished for in their residence in Tarpum Bay.
Article: In The Bahamas, The Fight For Freedom, A Better Democracy From Government Intervention And Greater Access Continues There continues to be a significant fight being waged in the media these days concerning the still quiet intellectual fight being waged in the Bahamas for less government intervention and less government control. As I listened to Mr. Vince Ferguson on the local national talk show Drive time live hosted by Mr. Steve Mckinney I could feel the rising of my emotions as I concurred with Mr. Ferguson as he discussed his view of a more democratic Bahamas more free to decide its own development destiny as he said,” by the local community as opposed to the all important, all knowledgeable, central government which seeks no assistance in formulating national policy from its citizens.” As he put it, we all are important and as intelligent as we need to be to decide what measures we wish to put in to place in order to secure the growth of our own national policies. The all important, self-concentric view of government as the sole promoter and organizer of national sense in development matters passed down out of their judgement to the general populous has re-appeared. Government in the Bahamas according to Mr. Ferguson does not respect the intelligence and intellect of the general Bahamian populous enough to trust them enough sufficiently to place their development decisions in their own hands. The government of the Bahamas does not trust the intellect of its local citizens. The educational system, it was inferred by Mr. Ferguson, has not fostered the intellectual freedom sufficient for the government ensured itself of the high levels of intellectual ability of the citizens of the country. The government of the Bahamas is afraid to test and trust the intellect of the nations citizens in the key decision making processes and budgetary matters. This he said is very evident in the Educational system where the government does not allow any public school or community to make up or control his or her own budget. Instead like our colonial masters they continue to pass down their annual budgetary constraints upon local communities and schools. This Mr. Ferguson said must be discontinued if the Educational system is to secure any responsible feel of itself in order to responsibly control it needs and constraints. Mr. Ferguson further stated that Education in the Bahamas needs further development. According to the veteran High school administrator of many years experience education is not only about the cognitive ideas but also about the comprehension of that education of interaction on a higher level of understanding between the citizenry of the country in order to facilitate the necessary dialogue and understanding it takes to develop industry and the necessary systems in the country. Education in the Bahamas has been primarily about the academic ideas and not the broader more functional concept about the daily implementation of the use of those ideas used through independent thought and freedom to establish not only a greater industrial process but a greater democracy built on the principles of freedom. I applaud Mr. Vince Ferguson for his insight into the psyche of the Bahamian Government. After many years of observation I agree and am grateful for the fact that at least one Bahamian had the guts to articulate this concept on national media. This verbalized concept of this clever observation brought about an epiphany in me when I realized the content of Mr. Ferguson’s idea. And this is the very function of democracy and freedom of speech through forums like ZNS the national media. This further establishes the argument waged in the Bahamas for greater freedoms and democracy as it relates to free speech and the need for more multiple outlets of national media like ZNS. For that purpose more AM radio stations are needed, not FM. Obviously Mr. Vince Ferguson is a very bright man and as such should be further encouraged to share his collection of national ideas with the general audience of the Bahamas. Mr. John Lee Ferguson, also a guest on the same talk show also held well on his support for Mr. Vince Ferguson. His own views and insight for a brighter future for Education in the Bahamas were just as insightful as his fellow panel guest. The Bahamas needs more forums and national media like ZNS AM which is able to reach both a national and international audience. Another concept Mr. Ferguson touched on was the fact that the government of the Bahamas is reluctant to release further its hold on freedoms in our society. My reason for saying that is to say that the government has been unwilling to issue more National radio stations with the freedom to create and express themselves like ZNS radio Bahamas. It is apparent to me that the government still wishes to control and spin national opinion by limiting greatly still access to national media forums. The government has been free in granting FM radio station licences with limited coverage confined to the island of Nassau only in order to control the national and international impact of opinion in matters that effect governmental views and negative opinion about government policy. This in itself shows the very short sightedness of our Bahamian government, which continues to impede its own progress and the growth of freedom, which will eventually come but at a much greater cost to us all. The Bahamas as a country has an enormous potential. We just need to organize among ourselves and decide to share the wealth and benefits with our brothers and relieve ourselves of secrets to hide thus explaining the need for the great wall, which still exists between us all. Some of us are beginning to realize the great potential our country has if our citizens and we will continue to fight for that great freedom and the right to be the greatest, most democratic country in the western hemisphere. Let us take the lead in brotherhood and Christian love. Should we have the guts to do so the Bahamas could live up to the potential I think it has. I have seen the Bahamas and certain Bahamians rise from relative obscurity in the seventies and rise to the ranks of world fame and opinion. Many of our people have this same potential hidden inside us. Will I continue to be just a dreamer for the Bahamas or will the Bahamian government release it strangle hold on the entire Bahamian society and allow us to embrace that rightful natural desire for freedom innate in us? More news from
Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow Back
to top of page Back to home/start page Monday, 01 September
2003 Weather Today in Eleuthera
the weather is overcast and cloudy. The temperature rose to a high of 89
degrees Fahrenheit. The seasonal summer days in Eleuthera have been
excessively warm this year. Residents were driven to use air-conditions more
regularly then usually and took advantages of the cooling properties of the
evening time seashore where they sought to find an escape from the hot
weather. This far into the
hurricane season we have been fortunate to have no hurricanes arrive on our
shores. Since this summer has been an unusually warm one more hurricane
activity was expected to affect the Bahamas and Eleuthera. We are still
hoping that we escape the horrible experience of a major hurricane on our
shores this year. There are still three more months left in the hurricane
season, which ends at the end of November. News and
Articles Eleuthera is an
exciting and warm place once again this school season. Children have returned
to schools and vacationers have mostly returned back to work from the summer
holidays. The summer has been warm
and great. We’ll continue to discuss the many events that took place on the
island of Eleuthera this summer as the days wear on. There have been
homecomings, religious activities, holidays and many vacationers to our
islands. Apart from the very pressing political issues many wonderful things
took place in Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera this summer. We’ll explore many of those
issues and share much news here daily. In the Bahamas at
this time as a country there is a lot of economic excitement and renewal both
promised and beginning. Emerald Bay resort in Exuma is one such part of that
excitement come to fruition. The resort opens in November and has just
completed a major employment drive mostly concentrated in the city of Nassau.
One criticism would be that their massive job search left out Eleutherians
since they did not visit the island to set-up and grant interviews to
perspective employment seekers on this island many of whom did not have the
economic means and the advanced notice to travel to Nassau in order to
participate in the job interview process for that resort. This trend is
another continuing example of how the out islands continue to be left out of
the economic loop of the country of the Bahamas. Many Eleutherians awaited
for months in advance for the job application and interview process to take
place by the Emerald Bay resort on the island as promised through the
national media. We continue to admonish that the Bahamian government have
more consideration the forgotten, impoverished, needy inhabitants residing on
the island of Eleuthera. As you will see,
that although there are many exciting economic developments going on in the
country of the Bahamas Eleutherians are still awaiting their day in the sun
when they will be able to return to paying their delayed bills, improve their
faltering nutrition needs and continue to educate themselves and their
families. The great news
recently by the government of the Bahamas that a 75million dollar development
will take place on the island Eleuthera at Windermere Islands still has to
been seen in order to be believed by the residents of Eleuthera who have been
duped too many times in the past. Appearantly the much needed development is
slated to take place on the island during the beginning of the month of
September. The announcement by the government stated that more than 200
employees would be needed in the initial construction phase of the upscale
development. However there have been no announcements in order to direct
Eleutherians to register at any place of employment up to this point.
Therefore many residents are sceptical that this development will take place
as announced. One other related
item contributing to the large scale speculation of this project by
Eleutherians is that the Member of Parliament for the island has announced
that his office has compiled a list of workers for the project and announced
over national media that the project owner contact his office when seeking
employees to fill his employment needs. This controversial issue announced by
the MP further dampens the spirits of Eleutherians seeking employment. It
seems that close government regulation of foreign investment has not ended
under the Bahamian peoples new initiative to further promote less government
intervention in local and foreign business affairs outside of their mandated
governmental function. Residents of Eleuthera are left wondering to date
whether government victimization has really ended. In further news the
Punch columnist Nicky Kelley announced in one of her articles that there was
a legal dispute going on between the previous and current owners of the
property where the development was slated to take place. No public
announcements have been made on this controversy. It seems that the national
media are unaware of the legal dispute. Today’s
Article: For all
of my adult life now, some twenty years I have been suspect of the intentions
of the national Bahamian government, our Nassau based ruling class and their
commitment to develop equally the entire Bahamas as a national country of
equality for all its citizenry. Being a citizen of the Bahamas and having
lived on the out islands I have witnessed the massive burden and inequality
of Out Island life as compared to the services and opportunities afforded to
Nassauvians, Grand Bahamians and other more connected politically Island
cultures in the Bahamas. To
explain this entire issue would take an entire novel, which I intend to write
at some point in the future. The fact
is that the centralized national resources, which are located on the smallest
island in the Bahamas, New Providence, is excruciatingly inaccessible and
inadequate for Bahamian citizens living in the Family islands. How we as a
nation have allowed this trend of development to proceed for the past sixty
years or more after becoming educated and aware of our own destiny still
amazes me. Why we have not redirected our citizenry and development efforts
to a more substantial, more accessible area of the country like the islands
of Eleuthera or Andros is in my opinion extremely short sighted and is a sign
of the many intro-centric prejudices and narcissistic view of life which
exist among members of Nassauvian society, the ruling class Bahamians and the
government of the Bahamas. From a
sociological perspective the national displacement of the majority of the
family structures which existed and still exists in the Out Islands of the
Bahamas is another catastrophe of this self destructive plight which has
taken place without control and planning by our leaders all lover our beloved
country. Now with
the development of Out Island hotel facilities like the Emerald Bay
initiative in Exuma island the displacement and upheaval in the static lives
of we Bahamians continues. We have become an inter-island nation of nomads
filled with the horrors of displacement brought about by the
de-stablalization of entire family structures in our most recent national
history. How we suture this systemic migrating madness allowed by
inadequately motivated politicians and leaders is now an essential debate and
must fill our contemporary agendas as we seek to establish ourselves as a
most stable country which is able to facilitate the growth potential of the
most beautiful, tropical islands God has place in such proximity to the
worlds most generous and most developed capital economy. When will
we nationally be led to confront these very essential issues of our development?
I think they are some of the most compelling questions, which must arise in
our debate to combat the most grievous waves of crime, and social
instability, which confront our cityscapes in the country of the Bahamas
today. I call on
the government and people of the Bahamas to initiate a public debate and fact
finding forum for solving these most unnoticed and un-admitted issues as fair
and equal national development for all Bahamian citizens on our national
social agenda. The centralization of national resources and people on the
smallest island in the country has grossly crippled our ability for massive
productive industry and agriculture since we are a people so divided from our
resources, families and land. Fishing Report The most economically
beneficial fishing season in the Bahamas has opened in August and continues.
The lobster season is the most productive fishing activity annually for
Bahamian fishermen and lobster processing houses throughout the Bahamas. Last
year the Bahamas exported more than 6million dollars worth of lobster
products to the international market. It is not expected that that figure
will increase due to the declining lobster stocks throughout the Bahamas. Fishing and the
conservation of the species is a most relevant topic on the minds of most
Bahamians now since we are in the process of attempting to protect our
fishing industry by protecting our fishing industry by rule breaking Bahamian
fishermen and international poachers who threaten our conservational methods
imposed for many years now by Bahamian government regulators. There is much debate
and much potential for regret if our fishermen do not adhere to the advise of
international and national scientific bodies studying the territorial waters
of the Bahamas for many fishing seasons now. There are many issues and news
items here for us to discuss. We will take our days one day at a time and
properly explore each issue one by one. Welcome back to
Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas here at www.tarpumbay.com
. We hope that you will return again and again to Tarpum Bay and www.tarpumbay.com. More news from
Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow Back
to top of page Back to home/start
page Fishing Schedule for Eleuthera Island 2003 Marlin- Winter-Trolling Tuna-April to May- Trolling Dolphin-April to May- Trolling Jacks- Summer- Netting and fishing line Red Snapper-Summer- Bottom Fishing Grouper-November to February- spearing Lobster-August to March-Spearing and traps Calender of events for Eleuthera 2003 Febrary 8th- friends of the library Valentines Dance at workers house.
For more information contact the library at 12423322877. Febrary 14th- Ministry of Health’s Food Fair Parish Hall Governors
Harbor-contact 12423322774. March- Annual Winter
Residents Reception. Contact Ministry of Tourism Governors Harbor ph.
12423322142. March- Eleuthera
Softball Season opens- Contact Mr. Kingsley Bethel 12423322179. March 15th- Friends of the library Annual silent auction 4-7pm. For information
call the library at 12423322877. March 29th
– Natural Arts and Crafts Guild of Eleuthera will hold their annual Crafts
fair at Unicorn Cay house Banks road, Palmetto Point, Eleuthera. Call Bessy
at 12423321424 April 16th-21st- James Cistern Homecoming Festival-contact Mr. Edgar White
ph. 12423322115 or Ms. Glenda Johnson at ph. 12423322142. April 16th-21st- South Eleuthera homecoming Festival Contact Mr. Ron
Horton ph. 12423342236. June 4th-9th- Palmetto Homecoming-Contact Mr. Ricardo Knowles ph.
12423321700. June4th-9th- Annual Pineapple Festival, Gregory Town Contact ph. 12423322142.
Annual Gulfstream International 22 mile cycling classic. Contact the Ministry
of Tourism at 12423322142. June 4th-9th- Deep Creek Homecoming. Contact Tiffany Mckinney at
12423348330. July 9th-13th- Savannah Sound Homecoming, Contact Ms. Ellen Gibson
12423326181. July 9th-13th- The Bluff Homecoming Festival- contact Mr. Cyril Saunders
ph. 12423351624. July 30th- August 4th- Bay fest, Hatchet Bay- Contact Peter Davis ph.
12423351600. July 30th-August 4th- Back to the Bay Fest, Tarpum Bay- contact Mr. Cleveland
Knowles ph. 12423344225. July 30th-August 4th- Governors Harbor Homecoming- Contact Ms. Emily Petty ph.
12423322142. September- Softball
playoffs- Contact Mr. Kingsley Bethel ph. 12423322170. October 8th-13th- North Eleuthera Sailing Regatta, Harbor Island, Contact
Ms. Kayla Davis ph. 1242333163. Mr. Daryl Johnson ph. 12423332279. November 26th-30th- Green Castle Homecoming. Contact Delroy Richards, ph.
12423346419. December 26th- Junkanoo Contact Ministry of Tourism ph. 12423322142. |
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Monday, 15 September 2003
Telecommute: FREE report, FREE market tips, FREE bulletins
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