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This CDRom contains a complete interactive information guide to the Bahamian Island of Eleuthera Bahamas. Along with an eclectic collection of  personal Writing of short stories, Poetry, Prose, Articles and 200 digital Photographs of the island of Eleuthera.  These photographs are a collection of Unique photos of the seasons and picturesque beaches, flowers, sunsets, sinage, buildings people etc.

This item is a great gift idea for people who have visited Eleuthera island in the Bahamas and for those wanting to know much more 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.

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See Calendar of Events for Eleuthera 2003- Bottom of the page.

See our latest book release,”Blood on the Empire.”

Today’s news

Thursday, 22 May 2003

Weather

Today was a cooler temperate day where the temperature got up to a high of only 89 degrees. There was a 12 knot breeze over the landscape and overcast skies for most of the day. It was another great weather day in Eleuthera. Enjoy the Eleuthera weather when you have the chance to do so.

News, Articles and Information

Ode to Tarpum Bay

Oh that there were another place

I loved so well

To the sea gulls in the morning

Beating, yelling over the salty sea

To the wind that washes through to the bones

From the bench at Travellers rest

And still the mystery of the day unfolds

To the sun in the east

And the glory clouds

That roll across the sky

The awesome power of the

Morning breeze to sooth away

One wretched restless night

Oh that there were another place

That I’ll call home

To sooth away our fears

And give me friends abound

That there were a village with such delights

As petty shops and house porches perched

Beside the open bay

That gleam in the sun like the aqua sea

And give my heart some joy

A simple place where fishermen

Tend their nets in the cool

Of the morning and fowls at dawn

Proclaim the morn

Oh for a place where seas

Wash away bad dreams

And bring the drifter home

To travellers rest and empty smiles

The clouds array in the drama of

A winter storm and brings

The troughs of rain which farmers praise

And share their bounty with the few

That there were a place where

A rainbow on the open sea

And distant islands curve

Away from light, a place

Where sailors praise the mighty shores

Oh that there were another place

As glorious in virtue as Glenelg

Fishing report

Fishing resumed after a few days of high seas. Our fishermen are back to catching and making their fish products available for sale daily at the fish market at Tarpum Bay.

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Tuesday, 20 May 2003

Weather

Another scorcher today as the temperature in Eleuthera rose to 90 degrees. This summer weather activity is a sign and indication of the seasonal summer weather to come this year. It is predicted because of the intense heat that we will have an active hurricane season on our hands this year. Several major hurricanes have already been predicted and that is not good news for Eleutherians. We have yet to deal with some of the problems caused in the past to docks and bridges due to Hurricane Floyd and Andrew a few years past. Last years hurricane season was not very active, hopefully if the professionals are wrong we might escape experiencing the terrors of a major raging hurricane this year. Lets hope that happens.

Enjoy the Eleuthera warm weather today. It’s a lovely day for the Beach and the outdoors.

News, Articles and information

The Writer’s Society of the Bahamas

This writer’s organization is one of the few society groups for writers in the Bahamas and they have decided in this years drive for membership to establish an Eleuthera branch of the group. Through that group Eleutherian writers and those interested in learning to write will have an opportunity to interact and learn from the already seasoned, professional members of the group.

On Thursday the 15^th of May the ladies in the leadership role of the group including Mrs. Vera Chase and colleagues met at the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas to talk on air, ZNS AM 1540 radio to Mr. Pyswell Forbes who is the host of the Good Morning Bahamas show and one of the countries most popular and sought after hosts around. They announced their annual general meeting, which was held that evening at the Nassau Yatch Club where many of its regular members would be in Attendance. They also announced their annual Poetry contest. Application forms for the poetry contest can be collected on Eleuthera at the Haynes Library in Governors Harbour or by calling George Major at 3344076.

 Also speaking at the meeting was Web Designer Mrs. Lisa Wells who is also a member of the writer’s society. Along with Mrs. Wells were several speakers who spoke on a variety of topics of importance to the Writers Society.

The Bahamas Writers society is seeking to rise to new heights and broaden the horizon of its members by sharing and learning together. They seek to meet more regularly and inspire members to further propel themselves into the exciting, challenging career of writing. Several members of the group are published authors while others are still working on writing projects and seeking to publish in the near future.

Mrs. Vera Chase is no stranger to Eleuthera. She has been a professional banker in the Chase Manhattan bank when it had its branches in Eleuthera and also has a lovely home here in Governors Harbour, Eleuthera where she occasionally resides.

The Bahamas writers Society is seeking to reach out and touch the lives bringing together in the national group as many Bahamian people as they possibly can.

The president of the Bahamas Writers Society is Mrs. Sylvia Laramore Crawford. She resides full time in Cat Island and commutes from time to time to Nassau in order to conduct business.

The Bahamas Writers society is looking forward to a bright future as the craft of writing is a growing art of interest among a growing number of Bahamians who want to be active in the writing profession and continue to grow and perfect their own writing skills. There are many challenges for the organization however. Apart from being a great social club the society has the task of ensuring that writers in the Bahamas get the respect and financial rewards from the profession that they deserve. Some of the problems brought to light are the fact that the only method of publishing option available to the majority of Bahamian writers is Vanity publishing or Self Publishing. Bahamian organizations and Bahamian printing companies are not organized to the point as yet to where they are able to pay Bahamian writers for the work that they do. Therefore limiting the writer in his scope of projects which he or she can pursue because of funding issues.

Bahamian writing must develop in order to meet the demands of both the global and local reader. There is so much that can be done in the way of further promoting the Bahamas and its fantastic natural environment, its culture and it tourism industry. Anywhere from cinematic writing to Novel writing can be accomplished in the mainstream media by our Bahamian writers should they be able to receive the correct financial support and backing from the publishers of books in the Bahamas. It goes much further than that but some organization has to do the groundwork in the way of establishing a quality standard for country and its writers. The Bahamas Writers Society is embarking and directing its efforts in that direction and is working for the betterment of writing conditions for its members. There is a long way to go but with the assistance of the public and the publishing industry these problems can be overcome. The establishment of a branch in Eleuthera is a further step in the right direction to achieving that goal.

Fishing Report

Fishing continues at the docks in Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera daily.

Many fishermen are now discussing the establishment of a season being placed on the catching of spawning grouper schools during the winter season when the fish gather in schools  in an annual ritual in order to fertilize their eggs and hatch their offspring. This placing of a season on the catching of the much favored fish is necessary the department of Agriculture says because of the diminishing numbers of the important fish in our Bahamian waters. Other Caribbean countries like Jamaica and Haiti have already lost their grouper populations due to over fishing and the Bahamas is one of the last region in the Caribbean where the fish can be seen in great numbers. However these numbers are less year after year after millions of pounds of Grouper fish are caught and sold locally in addition to being exported to different fish markets around the United States and Europe. Like the Lobster the Grouper, they say, needs the protection of the closing of a few seasons to replenish the population and improve the spawning and feeding grounds of the important fish.

Although it would be a financial burden on many local fishermen to discontinue catching the Nassau grouper the majority of them are in agreement that a seasonal fishing period is necessary in order to save the grouper species in our Bahamian waters.

This current issue is the cause of much debate and despair among most Eleuthera fishermen.

In addition to placing a season on the catching of the grouper fish there is also discussions ongoing by the government of the Bahamas as to the establishment of a national sea park or several of them around the rich fishing ground in various areas of Eleuthera. This action will have a great effect on the lives of our many fishermen on the island. No official word yet on the establishment of these national marine parks but fishermen and the public are awaiting word from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries on the matter.

More news from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow

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Monday, 19 May 2003

Weather

Thursday, 15 May 2003

Weather

It was not an overwhelmingly hot day as we adjust our attitudes to the warmer temperatures this clime has to offer. Today the temperature got up to 90 degrees. There was no rain but occasionally clouded skies. The warm afternoon wore on with slight breezes over the landscape at about 10 knots. Enjoy the weather in Eleuthera today.

News, articles and information

Island Dreams

If I could see now

The colours of the rainbow

In my dreams

The evolution of ordinary

Things in the mundane

Change to the fruitful yields of ever

If I could see

The young ones grow

And teach them well as best I know

The times that they are in

How important it is to dream

To dream the dreams of ordinary things

And see to success

The fulfilment of those dreams

Then life would be

No ordinary thing

If I could see the flowers grow

And flocks of sea gulls flying low

Over the seas of time

As the winds of summer blow

To refresh my mind

As the tides rise and go

To and fro and summer days

Come to an end

If I could see the flowers bloom

And nighttime jasmine by the moon

Be blown then I would see

The meanings of life come to pass

Outside my door and by the shore

If I could see these things for sure

One hundred years or more

Then islands come and islands go

I’ll see the world as best I know

By the lovely island shore

Fishing Report

Fishing is alive and well in Eleuthera. There are large quantities of delicious fresh fish available for purchase daily at the docks at Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas.

More news daily from Tarpum bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow

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Wednesday, 14 May 2003

Weather

Another scorcher of a day here in Eleuthera. The temperature went up to 91 degrees and it made another uncomfortable hot day. There was little wind on the landscape to make up for the usual breeze. There was no rain today. The skies were clear and bright. It was a beautiful day for those who like the suns rays and a tan but for those who don’t like the heat this is the worst time of year for us. Its time to turn on the AC’s and live indoors for a while. Enjoy the outdoors in Eleuthera. The beaches were beautiful today.

News and articles

The makings of a religious paradise

In 1967 Mr. Oliver came to Eleuthera for a visit. He happened to be a missionary who was a part of an organization called the GMU or the Gospel Missionary Union located in the mid west United States. He had a great dream for Eleuthera that year and saw his dream come into reality after being given the rights to a large piece of land at the top of the hill in Savannah Sound, Eleuthera. The piece of land that was given to Mr. Oliver was the beginnings of a Christian missionary high school called Windermere High. After the agreements were signed with the local commonage land committee of Savannah Sound, Eleuthera construction on the school began. Since that time year after year Windermere High school has turned out approximately one hundred graduates annually at the high school level having given them a rich Christian based education and training in the daily living of the Christian religion and its practice in their life. Almost every student that graduated from Windermere had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and was the better off after being fully prepared for life. This was the central focus of the Christian, missionary run high school in addition to the teaching of a good basic education.

For many years the GMU supplied the school with its annual budget, money for expanding and operating the dormitory high school and supplied the teachers who were missionaries at the school. They came from both the United States and Canada. The private high school also charged a minimum fee for each student who attended the high school annually. The school has also given many gifted students scholarships to attend the highschool. This fee included, an education, daily meals and living in the dormitories of the high school. Boys and girls of course lived in separate dorms and the Christian high school had a strict behaviour code for it’s live in students equivalent with the instructions of the religious leadership of the organization. The cost of running the school was supplemented by the fact that the students themselves were required to do chores daily for a certain amount of hours during the daily activities of the school, some before, others after class. This worked out well with the program and its intentions to train the students for the realities of life after high school and beyond. The curriculum was a basic one with religion being the main focus of the curriculum. Windermere had religion and Christian living as its central focus in the lives of its students and it made sure that before leaving the school each student had every opportunity possible to have a personal relationship with the leader of our lives, the Lord Jesus Christ. This accomplished the largest issue and became the most important focus of the missionary staff to ensure the application to the rules of the bible and Christian living into the lives of its students. For more than thirty years this goal was achieved through the financial support of both the local community and the Gospel Missionary Union who equally supported the efforts of the schools founder and the needs of the local community of Eleuthera Island, Bahamas for higher education.

Windermere has produced some of the most productive, professional graduates on the island and in the history of Eleuthera Island. Many of its students have gone on to college and have become accountants, pastors, lawyers, reverends, politicians, teachers, architects, Engineers and met many other of the higher professional aspirations of its local inhabitants who attended the high school. This has been a fine, successful example of the positive impact that religion has on the lives of many Bahamians and is a direct demonstration of the power of God to directly impact our lives giving us the option to further make the right choices in our lives to positively impact ourselves and our local community. This idealism went on for more than thirty years and has been a wonderful example in the teaching of Christian living and the power of the church to positively impact the lives of us all.

However trouble in Paradise is brewing. The local Commonage land committee, the same committee who initially gave the GMU the permission to develop the land is now in the process of revoking the charter and permissions given to Windermere high school for the use of the commonage land. The committee has new grievances and complaints. They expressed that for years now Windermere high school has not been paying the agreed annual rental payments to the local land committee. Furthermore the high school has broken its agreement signed initially at the inception of the idea of the school. In addition there are complaints from the local committee members that the managing missionaries of the present day Windermere high school are not respecting their rights to the land and their role as landowners. Two recent attempts at holding an official meeting between the managers of the school and the local commonage land committee have been unattended by the high school management body and there has been no official word from the governing body, the GMU with an official position as to the financial viability and its further financial support of the high school.

The community of Savannah Sound is up in arms over the situation. In fact there are legal arrangements being made by the local commonage land committee to revoke the agreement given the school if there is no positive word heard from both the high school management and the GMU by the 31^st of August 2003. After the end of August the property is expected to be confiscated from the GMU if the demands of the community of Savannah sound are not heard. The local committee allege that Windermere High school broke the laws of the local commonage committee and their licence to the school will be revoked if no solution to the problem is reached soon. As one local committee member put it so elegantly,” We are the landlords, they are the tenants.”

In speaking with the Management of the Windermere high school we were told that there is no closing of the school expected. The manager expressed that the school is working toward full Bahamianization and is working with a group of Bahamian educators and investors in order to accomplish that goal. She said that the school is hoping in the near future to become a premier boarding school inviting students from all over the Bahamas to study there. Thereby expanding their outreach and their impact on the lives of many more Bahamians even those outside of the island of Eleuthera.  They are in the process of renovating the buildings and expanding the schools facilities.

In a passionate way she expressed that there is nothing to worry about. The school will not close she says. She said things would be worked out despite the fact that the rumours of the schools closure persist. She said that there are those who would like to close the school however their efforts will not prevail.

Expressly in her words,” Pray about it and the lord will work it out.”

Fishing Report

Fishing continues in Tarpum Bay. There is still lots of fish available in the daily catches for purchase down at the docks. Come on out in the early afternoon and get your supply of fresh fish daily at the fish market of Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas.

More daily news from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow.

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Tuesday, 13 May 2003

Weather

The weather in Eleuthera is again quite warm as the summer season is approaching and some may say that its here as indicated by the daily temperatures. Todays high got up to 91 degrees with an occasional rain and scattered cloudy skies. There was no relief in sight today and the breezes did not come to relieve us today. It’s a hot one outside and residents are advised to seek shade and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun unless otherwise unavoidable. Enjoy the warm Eleuthera weather today.

News and articles

Meeting Daisy Fuentes

Daisy Fuentes, that witty, humorous hostess of both MTV and America’s favourite home videos fame was spotted today by me at on vacation at a private rental house of Mr. Fischer of Windermere Island, Eleuthera, Bahamas. The now slimmer gal was on vacation with friends. The lavish private home is a wonder place for the lovely hostess and her vacation party of four.

I entered the bedroom to repair the satellite system and was astonished to find her there in a wonderfully decorated bright bikini. This pretty girl was dressed in her skimpy, floral pink bikini playing a video game with her British accented friend who was stretched out at his leisure at nine AM this morning. Her delightful voice rang out in conversation as I entered the room and the undeniable quality of the physical make up of her mouth further introduced her to me. Her slim physique in her bikini were a refreshing view and a little shocking as compared to her fuller figure on America’s funniest home videos. She is now a really small girl much like Demi Moore these days.

Windermere Island is the second home capital for many of the world’s elite including Prince Charles of Britain, The Duke of Windsor and his family who all have private homes there. The famous photo of Princess Diana in a grey bikini at the beach was taken there on Windermere Islands West beach a few years ago before her death while on vacation here. The island employs a number of local Bahamian contract builders, garderners, cooks and maids. It is the economic main stay for many Eleutherians and seasonal winter guests.

Eleuthera continues to be the vacation capital in the Caribbean for people famous and not so famous who are looking for an uncluttered and relaxing vacation place away from the eyes of world media. Many internationally famous people have homes here like rock star Lenny Kravitz, son of Bahamian actress Roxy Roker, of the television show Moving on up to the top fame and pop diva Patty Labelle. I have had the good fortune of meeting several of these people who are quite relaxed and happy to be a part of the tourist scene here in Eleuthera, Bahamas.

Fishing report

Fishermen in Eleuthera are catching smaller catches of fish this summer. There is a shortage apparently with some of the species of fish. Some species might have been over fished in the past and today’s catches show this result. The over abundance of Jack fish and Red Snapper which are the staples of the local Bahamian Fish eating population are dwindling in supply. After many decades of fishing and the use of modern fish netting techniques like gill netting large quantities of fish have been caught. There are also more fishermen fishing in the fishing grounds off of the island of Eleuthera. The droves of red snapper which appeared spawning in the Cape Eleuthera area some five years ago have largely disappeared. No one has a scientific explanation for their disappearance as yet but it is widely accepted by the fishermen that the stocks of schooling fish were over fished and moved elsewhere to spawn and congregate away from the nets and traps of the fishermen.

The Conchs from the flats at Cape Eleuthera have disappeared as well. Fishermen have to go further and deeper for the same conch and that has affected the price of fish. As with any other business there are changes and adjustments that have to be made according to the supply of the product. The shortages of fish and conchs have meant that the fish consumer has to pay more for the same quantity of fish when caught further and deeper by the fishermen.

There are changes at the fish market today. Keep informed so that you will know what to look for when you purchase your next quantity of delicious, nutritious fresh fish from the fish market at Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera.

More daily news from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow.

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Monday, 12 May 2003

Weather

Steamy hot day again in Eleuthera. The barometer rose up to 90 degrees today as the clear skies shone above. There was a little chance of rain today with a light breeze blowing over the landscape. All in all it was an excellent day for outdoor activities however beware of the extreme heat and take precautions. Enjoy the nice Eleuthera weather today.

News and articles

Mothers filed out in droves to the churches Sunday in white and in the noon day heat for the annual mothers day services as the island celebrated the memorable event. There were many gifts given and much time taken to communicate that great love for mother this mothers day.

Land For Free

By George Major

Land for free, yes,land for free or at least in keeping up with the modern equivalent, a piece of land for $500.00. That’s the going rate for a piece of land here in Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera. You can get a piece of land here, 100 feet x 100 feet for $500.00. That’s right if you are a descendant of Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera and can prove it by some official document you are entitled to be a part of this modern day land grab.

The land is commonage land. Left in place for the following generations of Tarpum Bay descendants as a gift by our fore fathers here on the island of Eleuthera. It was their way of securing some future promise for their offspring. Many years ago the older generation assembled themselves and decided to give their future generations a gift of deed. A gift of property that would last as an investment for a lifetime and that could be passed down for generations to come. They made the gift out of something that they had much of, Land in abundance right outside the limits of the growing, enterprising town and what a great gift it was indeed.

After several generations of discussions and organizing finally seven years ago a Commonage land community committee headed up by Mr. Cleaveland Knowles of Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera were able to pass a unanimous decision to make the land available to inhabitants of the settlement of Tarpum Bay, the beneficiaries of this land gift. All of the necessary legal work was done by the committee with the approval of the towns people through public meetings and the great land for only a $500.00 purchase price from any inhabitant of the town was born.

There are some limitations however. The land comes with no other ownership documents than a certificate of ownership from the land committee at Tarpum Bay. That means that the land cannot be mortgaged through a traditional banking system. The land can only be bought and sold by and to a descendent from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera. These limitations ensure that the land will be in the possession of the township of Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera and its residents as long as they continue to exist. These limitations are protections to ensure that the land as a generational gift, for which they were originally intended, would always be in place.

Initially from the inception of this inexpensive land settlement came into effect the lots sold like hotcake and the proclamation to everyone in the country went out to Baymen all over the Bahamas in order that they too would be able to secure their portions of land. One piece of land per person. Orders of sale came from as far away as Baltimore Maryland and all over the Bahamas the news was spread of the land for $500.00 agreement for persons descending from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera.

In the past seven years from records kept by the secretary of the organization there have been as many as 200 to 250 lots sold in the many transactions and clearing of land that have taken place over the last seven years and at $500.00 a lot there has been significant monies raised and taken in by the attending commonage land committee of Tarpum Bay, Eleuthaera. It is estimated by several member that as much as $100,000.00 or more has been raised in the process of selling this land by the land committee. However therein lies a problem. Where is the money? Up to date, according to several committee members, who have purchased lots in the area of the commonage land there has been no accurate reporting done by neither the chairman or the treasure of the committee to the body of the organization in the past seven years and for the past seven years the same leadership group has maintained it grip over the land selling committee in the community. It is reported that during each of the previous elections the chairman forwarded and was seconded that the existing leadership of the commanage land committee remain in place, including himself as leadership. As this has remained over the last seven years it is reported that much complacency by the land selling committee has taken place and up to the present date the exact amount of lots sold nor the finances collected for the sale of these lots still remains a mystery to the community as there has been no financial reporting being done by the commanage committee during the last seven years.

Today there is an uproar over the affairs and financial dealings of the commonage land committee here in Tarpum Bay. There is some evidence of financial expenditure, which has taken place over the last seven years. There have been some roads pushed throughout the parcels of land being sold by the committee and some money spent in the preparation and spacing of the lots. A local architect/surveyor who sits on the committee has assisted in drawing plans and partitioning off the lots to the individual purchasers of those lots.

Since the intitial year of sales there have been a number of homes built on the property by the individual home owners but over 70% of the lots remain secured by purchased and undeveloped still up to today. This was not the original arrangement under which the lots were initially setup for purchase by the committee which passed amendments during the first few sessions of their meetings in making the land available to the public. The original agreement was that upon purchase of the piece of land a home had to be built on the land within one year of the purchase of the land or the property would be passed onto the next person in line who wished to build a home immediately. The membership envisioned these problems and wished that the land purchased would be immediately developed to avoid spreading out the developing of the land over too large an area at one time. The purchaser who had his land revoked would be given a place in the lottery at a later date and given a lot in a further section of the commonage estate when they were ready to build their house within a years time. Their lot would be secured since they had already paid their money to the committee. This would ensure, as envisioned by the committee that the development of the commonage land would go on in unison where an entire neighbourhood would be created in unison at one time. This would move in line with the consent of the land committee and would mean a meaningful sight of development in the Tarpum Bay, area. A sight of great beauty and development, which is one of the encouraging and sought after signs by present Tarpum Bay community developers. These initial agreements did not work.

The committee developed entire additional areas of the commonage land and sold land to anyone from the community who wished to secure a piece of land and over 70% to date have not lived up to their agreements to build their house within one year as initially agreed by the commonage land committee. This has meant that a much larger than initially intended land area has had to be made available. Also more than are necessary funds have been spent in the construction of roads through the over sold parcels of land which now stretch far beyond the borders, some say of what was originally intended. This all makes for great controversy in the community of Tarpum Bay today.

There is great controversy and questioning going on into this well intentioned idea today. Many are searching for real answers to the truths as to what actually happened to the moneys that were collected in the land sales process. Many want to know why the chairman or the treasurer of the organization do not give a full and accountable financial report for the tens of thousands of community dollars involved. There is a struggle going on in the process and it has been vowed by members that they intend to get to the bottom of the matter. They are calling for a full scale financial report before the end of the year before some official inquiry and auditing into the matter will take place through legal channels.

Someone is accountable and well meaningful organizations are not run by a cunning leadership who keep voting themselves into office without going through normal voting channels. Someone must be held accountable otherwise this well meaning intention of commonage land in Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera will go down in history as the largest scam in the community.

Fishing report

Fishing continues as fishermen make the best of the hot summer weather for fishing. You can still purchase quantities of fresh fish from the docks at Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera daily however you have to come earlier in the afternoon. Fishermen are going out earlier and coming in earlier in the evening to beat the afternoon heat in dealing with their fish catch for the day. Coming to the docks for around 3pm around this warm summer time weather is ideal.

More news from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow.

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Friday, 09 May 2003

Weather

Another scorcher for Eleuthera today as the days high temperature rose to an impressive 90 degrees. The weather continues to climb higher in temperature as the summer season approaches. It is not untypical of  the summer temperatures to be as high as 93 degrees during the height of he summer season. While the temperatures are climbing higher there is some relief in the way of breezes blowing over the coastal areas of the island. The beaches and sea shore areas are an excellent place to enjoy some of these breezes for some relief from the heat. Enjoy the warm Eleuthera weather today.

News and articles

 New Bank Branch at Governor's Harbour, Eleuthera

Today a new sign went up over the Barclays Bank branch in Governor’s Harbour.

They have made a merger with CIBC and changed their name to First Caribbean International Bank. The bank has outlets and branches all over the Caribbean including Nassau, Jamaica, Barbados Antigua and many other Caribbean countries. The new merger places a branch of the International Caribbean bank in Governors Harbour, Eleuthera.

All the original staff has been maintained and business at the bank is ongoing. The new name probably means new upper management but the operation will be otherwise transparent to local individual account holders as business in the same style and fashion as the old Barclays bank goes on. Our community members who now work for the new First Caribbean International Bank at Governors Harbour look forward to continuing to serve Eleuthera’s financial needs.

Barclays Bank seems that it has been fading in Eleuthera for the past ten years. First some five years ago, the branch at Rock Sound closed its doors. Now the only remaining branch on Eleuthera at Governor’s Harbour has ceased operation under the Barclay name. This has some Eleutherians worried as the economic status of the island of Eleuthera continues in a steady decline.

Eleuthera has faced many changes over the past twenty years. The Barclays bank represents to them the last bastion of the old investment guard who built the new Eleuthera some thirty years ago. Since then, they all have left, and Eleuthera has crumbled, piece by piece.  Barclays Bank was one of the last representatives of the financial success that Eleuthera used to enjoy. Now it just seems that there are too many closing businesses and an island-wide lack of new jobs for our community.

Some local Eleuthera residents were surprised at the new name change. Speaking with a few of them today, they expressed some grief that the old Barclays Bank was no more.

 “What will happen next?” expressed one Eleuthera resident, perhaps unaccustomed to such changes. The parade of company closings has left our island’s economy in a deplorable state. It has meant that many of his children have had to leave the island to find jobs in the city in order to have some kind of career.

The old are lonely, and without their loved ones. They fear that gradually things are getting worse.

“Barclays has totally closed out of Eleuthera,” remarked an elderly lady sitting on a park bench by the sea. Expressing anger and neglect, she remarked that there is no more money on Eleuthera.  Soon all of the banks will be closed out if the present economic situation has its way.  She told me that her old age pension is completely recycled in the payment of her water, telephone and electricity bills alone. There is no money left for her to put up in the bank. She is sure that she is just one of many, and this general lack of financial viability is the cause of the bank closings. 

My elderly companion did not see that it was just a name change. For her it was just another omen of things getting worse and worse on our island. 

What will happen next for Eleuthera indeed?” she said to me as we looked out together over the water. I had no answer for her, so we just listened to the waves for a few moments.

Fishing Report

The typical summer fishing in Eleuthera produces some of the most fantastic, flavorable fish of the entire year of fishing. The seas are rich with quantities of spawning fish like Jacks and red snapper. Have you ever tried red snapper rowe? This spawning egg sac of the red snapper is delicious fried quite dry.

These smaller pan frying fish are a large part of the diet of most Eleuthera natives. Many of the local festivals and fairs feature fried fish as one of the delicacies the island of Eleuthera has to offer. Fried Barracuda is another favorite for many Eleutherians.

At the docks today there was a variety of small frying fish and grouper available for sale. Fish like, grunts, red snapper, small tuna and jacks. These are typical summer fish. Enjoy fishing in Eleuthera when you have the chance.

More daily news from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow.

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Wednesday, 07 May 2003

Weather

The weather in Tarpum Bay today was another warm one. The high today rose to 90 degrees with a light breeze over the landscape. There was less than a 20% chance of rain and the sky was bright and clear. The kind of day which made you want to turn the air conditioner on or walk on the beach for relief. Enjoy the weather in Eleuthera today.

News and Articles

The day in Eleuthera was relatively quiet without much fan fare. There are some tourists on the island and we are hoping that this summer tourist season will be a good one. With our proximity to the United States hopefully many Americans and Canadians will want to come and spend some quiet peaceful time in Eleuthera this summer.

Haynes Library Coffee Social

After two weeks of being absent from our weekly library social  at the Haynes Library in Governor's harbour I arrived there yesterday just before ten AM.  I like to come early as I am especially fond of both the people at the Library and their Tuesday morning socials. I think to myself, since it is approaching summer there will be that much interest this morning.  I took a long smell of the delightful nutty aroma coming from the coffee brewing on the side table, as was the custom.

Then Joyce came in the side door.  One of the regulars, her ever-pleasant face welcomed me back to the library. She peered at me under her glasses and did her regular check on my diet, making sure that I was still keeping within bounds.

“Atkins, eh? You mustn’t stay on that too long .  And drink plenty of water,” she added. "For your kidneys.”

I stood at the counter after having selected my three books that would have to last me until the next library social. The empty room sounded with the echo of  the librarian’s footsteps as she came down the stairs from setting up an email client at the computer terminal.  Joyce poured herself a cup of coffee, another dollar in the donation box.  

By this time Alice came into the library wearing her usual bright smile.  Punctual, she had left her husband Fred at home doing something this morning, to be the second person to see. Althea finished stamping my books. I moved to sit at the great table of debate in the centre of the room with the ladies who had already poured their coffee.

We discussed how none of the other people had showed up this morning.

“They’re all gone for the winter,”  Alice said.

Soon Davida came into the library looking sporty as ever.  A long-time winter resident from New York who is married to Bob, they live in Connecticut during the summer.  They too will be gone in a few days.  

We talked about Donna Allen, gone back to Martha’s Vineyard.  

We seemed to know that we were to be the entire group this morning. "Maybe it 's better that they didn’t come," Alice said. "It's quiet this way.” The ladies laughed and I laughed.  How delightful I felt in the empty grand room of the old historic Haynes library, drinking my coffee and talking with the last remaining stragglers before they too depart for their homes.

This is the time when Eleuthera loses its winter residents. It is as if the birds fly home to roost without a chance to say good-bye to many of them. Eleuthera will miss you for the summer until you return next season.

It was a wonderful, hollow morning at Haynes library coffee social this morning.  I’ll miss you all too.

Fishing report

There was some fishing today but not the usual amount. The winds are higher today and most fishermen chose to stay in port to wait for more favourable weather. You can purchase frozen fish from the homes of most of the fishermen in Tarpum Bay.

More news from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow.

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Tuesday, 06 May 2003

Weather

Another hot day in Eleuthera. Summer is surely here and the weather is here to prove it. It you like the warmth, this is the place for you. The temperature rose to a high of 88 degrees again today and will be around 77 degrees tonight. It’s a fabulous time for the outdoors and the beach. Remember that it is an ideal time for fishing and other boating activities. Enjoy the weather in Eleuthera today.

News

Eleuthera and Its Seasonal Parades

Junkanoo may be a new word to you but in the Bahamas it has a meaning of fantasy and fun. Junkanoo is a Christmas time celebration of fantasy and percussion instruments like no other in the world. The cultural event held each Christmas and New years day is legendary in the Caribbean circles. Like carnival it is a street party, which depicts a wide variety of world themes, and its history goes back to the early 1800’s when the founder of the celebration, a man named,” John Canoe,” founded the event. The original junkanoo celebrations were celebrations held at Christmas time and other public holidays held by the slaves and ex-slaves of African heritage residing in the Bahamas. It was a positive outlet of their tyranny and repression. The historic celebration continues in the Bahamas until today.

In recent times every island in the Bahamas shares the excitement of Christmas and comes alive with the months preceding the holiday filled with late nights and days of preparation of banners, costumes and floats for the several hour early morning celebration. The mystique of junkanoo is best felt in the twilight hours of the morning when the darkness prevails and the beat of the percussion goatskin drums, cowbells and whistles fill your breast with an undeniable soul felt rhythm. The effect is undeniably of pre African origin and has been passed down verbally and culturally by its practioners. The young and the old are deeply involved in this cultural activity, which goes right to the heart of the entire Bahamian society.

The celebration is a street festival of lights, percussion music, dancing, brightly decorated costumes and fantasy as various scenes and world wide cultures and natural scenes typical of the Bahamas and its culture are depicted in bright ornate decorative crepe paper and other beaded jewellery. The preparation of which takes literally months. The preparation of  celebration begins as soon as the present one is completed. The junkanoo groups work year round in some of the cities communities in order to be the best prepared. It is the larges cultural festival in the Bahamas and now has an annual budget well over one million dollars as costuming becomes more modernized and elaborate. Prize money, now up to around forty thousand dollars earned by the winning groups can never conpensate for the tens of thousands of dollars spent on the costuming, practising and music involved in the Christmas festivals. Junkanoo is a work of Bahamian pride and is held high as a measure of the creativity and respect to the historic past of the Bahamian society.

At its origin the original costumes were made out of simple items like news paper clippings pasted onto clothing materials like shirts, coats and long pants as well as shoes and tennis. Now a days the larger costumes can literally take months to complete and cost thousands of dollars in man-hours of work and adornment. These costumes and musical pieces are absolutely breath taking and fantastic and keep improving as junkanoo groups invent new and more beautiful well-designed pieces. These pieces can be as high as a house and as wide as the street can take. Usually several pieces of banner and costumes are designed on wheels and can take up to four men to push and manoeuvre it down the streets dancing and moving with the music in the parade.

Junkanoo is also a cultural export and exhibition of the Bahamas as well. We are so proud of the evolution of this cultural event and its contribution to the nations number one industry of tourism. It has been taken abroad and was featured at the year 2000 superbowl in Tampa Florida and at a number of cultural exhibitions around the globe. An annual member showing at the American heritage festival on the Mall at Washington D.C. is typical and features the music and costuming of Junkanoo each year during the summer. Visitors to the mall in Washington share in this curious, musical delight as Bahamian culture comes alive.

One thing is for sure that Bahamians will ensure that the culture of Junkanoo will grow with the coming of future generations and we will always have this wonderful fantasy celebration of the seasons of winter with us. In fact Junkanoo is well celebrated during many of the Bahamas’s best-known cultural events during the entire year in the cities of Nassau and Freeport. It has become a cultural Icon for the Bahamian society and is a wonderful celebration, which will grow and grow for future generations of the world to experience. So come to the Bahamas during the Christmas season and experience the cultural explosion of a celebration called Junkanoo if you wish to celebrate something delightful and new in your life. It is a most wonderful experience.

Fishing report

I went out to the docks today when the boats came in from fishing. Several of the fishermen had voluminous amounts of grouper. Some had smaller pan-frying fish. None had conchs today. It seems that the shallow conch beds around Eleuthera have been exhausted. The conch still exist and you can get them but the problem is that you have to go out into much deeper waters and the cost for the conch then is a bit more. Fishermen locally are complaining that people are unwilling to pay for the price of conch under those conditions so they only dive conch when they have a large definite order. So if your interested in conch let the fishermen know and they can bring you some specially on the next trip out. Have fun at the docks at the fish market at Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas.

More daily news from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow.

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Monday, 05 May 2003

Weather

Todays weather is warm. Summer weather is setting in. The temperature in Eleuthera rose to a high of 88 degrees today. Tonights high will be in the high 70’s. Our skies were bright and clear with little cloud cover. There was less than a 30% chance of rain today. Enjoy the outdoor weather in Eleuthera today.

News

Fun things to do in Eleuthera

There are many fun things to do in Eleuthera. The largest of these is enjoying the beach and having fun fishing off of the shorelines. Fishing is a big past time in Eleuthera for many Bahamians and many international fishermen that visit our island. Bone fishing in particular is a big fishing activity, and you can do it on your own for free without having the need of a guide because the fish are right where you can see them at the shore. Many fishermen just wade out beyond the shoreline and throw out their lines to catch lots of sport bonefish. This activity could cost hundreds of dollars on other islands where you need a guide and a boat to go fishing but in Eleuthera you can do it for free.

Another great activity involving fishing is trolling. There are several yacht boats and large fishing boats around the island of Eleuthera that will charge you a minimum of $200.00 a day to fish and troll in the deep oceans just off of the coast of Eleuthera. You can catch a variety of game fish like Marlin, dolphin, tuna and other varieties during these times and even take part in our seasonal fishing tournaments that occur during the winter fishing season at harbours like Davis Harbour and Harbour Island Eleuthera.

Still other fun activities include the nighttime activities. There is a weekly fish fry held in Governors Harbour at Anchor Bay as well as several other settlements on Eleuthera each Friday night. Weekend fairs as well as several other cookout activities take place at other settlements on The Island.  Patrons eat delicious freshly caught fried fish and barracuda and other items of delectable Bahamian dishes like conch salad prepared by the committees every weekend in Eleuthera. The tropical drinks are delightful and refreshing.

There are also many nightclubs, which hold dances and other sporting tournaments weekly like darts, whiz and pool. You can show off your sporting skills or learn new ones and just have fun hanging out with the locals enjoying some of the culture and music our island has to offer.

We have a great historic library at Cupids Cay, Governors Harbour and the Spanish Wells museum in Spanish Wells, Eleuthera where historic items of interest to any culture are stored and put on display.

Take a day off during your vacation and rent a car in order to sight see along the 110-mile beachfront drive all along the island. You have to see the lighthouse beach historic lighthouse, its breath taking view of the end of the island. The beach there is ecstatic and captivating like no other you have seen before. It’ll leave you with great memories. You’ll see captivating island vistas and have a chance to sample island-grown fruits and stop along the way to dine at any number of village restaurants. The Bertha’s Go Go Grill will prepare for you a delightful lunch of grilled ribs or chicken or try Sheryl’s restaurant in Deep Creek for some wonderful cracked conch or Bahamian fried chicken, cole slaw with peas and rice if you want a luncheon treat that is a real wonderful dining experience.

How about the Glass Window Bridge where you can see the Caribbean sea and the deep blue Atlantic ocean meet at this historic site? Or the cliffs at James Cistern where the Atlantic ocean meets the shoreline of the island in a striking, memorable vista of sea cliffs, the ocean and the surrounding nature? Scuba dive the many historic wrecks and search for treasure in the many documented historical wrecks just off of the coast of Eleuthera.

There are many days of fun things to do on the island of Eleuthera you just have to get here, relax, talk with the locals who can direct you to many sights of interest around the island. Pick up a book on the island or some island made souvenirs from island made gift shop in Gregory town. Or just find a deserted, private beach and skinny dip at your leisure. There are many fun things to do on the Island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. See you there!

Fishing report

Fishing has resumed in Tarpum Bay since the weather has turned favourable. You can find a lot of your favorite seafood at the dockside fish market here. Come early and pick your choice fish from the fish market.

More news from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow.

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Friday, 02 May 2003

Weather

Today’s weather in Eleuthera is rainy and overcast. The days high temperature should get up to around 83 degrees Fahrenheit. The night’s temperature will be around 73 degrees. Enjoy the indoors during today’s rainy weather in Eleuthera.

News

Remember and attend the three homecomings coming up during the beginning of the month of June, the Gregory Town Pineapple festival, the Palmetto point homecoming and the annual Deep Creek homecoming.

See you there.

Beach Access

By George Major

It seems to me that one of the most beautiful commodities, which God has made available to us all are the beaches and the ocean. There is a premium set on these items and many countries and islands, like the Bahamas and Eleuthera derive their entire income from these wonderful natural creations. Thus the problem arises of ownership. Who owns the beach once the properties fronting the beaches have been purchased? This is a global problem it seems. Just last year in the state of California new beach access laws were passed which made it necessary for the owners of beach front properties to have beach access walk ways every few feet as determined by the local ordinances.

So too are the concerns in Eleuthera and the Bahamas. Especially in a more densely populated city like Nassau beachfront properties and beach access are at a high premium. Many local inhabitants complain that they are unable to obtain access to the already public beaches because of property fences and walls deliberately placed to cut off outside beach access. No new local ordinances have been passed but the problem continues to get worse as more and more property is sold on the waterfront areas around the Bahamas islands and we may one day find that we have sold out our right to beach front property to the many foreigners. Since they are the ones who are able to pay the prices for this extremely expensive beachfront property. They pay a high price for the privilege of living directly on the waterfront.

I believe that it is a God given right for all inhabitants of the world to experience the beaches of both the island and the cityscape, they are so relaxing and beautiful. They take us away from the usual construction landscapes of the many cities, the concrete jungles as they are sometimes referred to. Areas like Atlantic City, Seaside New Jersey or the wonderful area of Coney Island New York are examples of these. They are still largely natural and untouched by mankind and are sacred in the sense that they are left to the cause of nature and the natural environment of the oceans for keeping. We have a ways to go however in allowing local communities to enjoy the beauty of their own natural property.

I know of one case here locally in Eleuthera where for decades an area of local beach was a regular holiday resting place where locals visited on holidays and held the community picnics. They visited this area in the evenings and on weekends after work where they would hoist tire swings in the broad cedar trees and frolic on the beaches and the water until they were tired of its beauty and returned home for the evening to recuperate from the vastness of the natural beauty and activities of the day. It was something that all were allowed to enjoy. The time came when one foreign investor purchased the property from an unscrupulous real-estate salesman who gave him the rights to the beach access road as well as the beachfront property. That road was the last access to the entire winding beach, which stretched for miles long and up until today, is still a great loss of that wonderful experience by the local community. Now that the construction is done and the fences are up it is a long legal struggle to convince the foreign homeowner to relinquish his rights to the beach and the access road which he illegally obtained rights to through the unscrupulous real estate agent. This bit of business discourages both the local community and me and goes further to increasing the distance between the well-meaning foreign property owners in the community.

I do hope that in the long term something can be done to remedy this situation and give beach access back to the community instead of relegating beach access to some level of investment or income. Let all experience the wonderment and the beauty of Gods bright, excellent creations.

Fishing Report

Due to inclement weather fishing has been suspended temporarily for the few days of bad weather. Fishing will resume as soon as the weather recovers. You can however purchase fresh frozen fish from the homes of Fishermen in Tarpum Bay.

More news from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow.

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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 8^th- friends of the library Valentines Dance at workers house. For more information contact the library at 12423322877.

Febrary 14^th- 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 15^th- Friends of the library Annual silent auction 4-7pm. For information call the library at 12423322877.

March 29^th – 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 16^th-21^st- James Cistern Homecoming Festival-contact Mr. Edgar White ph. 12423322115 or Ms. Glenda Johnson at ph. 12423322142.

April 16^th-21^st- South Eleuthera homecoming Festival Contact Mr. Ron Horton ph. 12423342236.

June 4^th-9^th- Palmetto Homecoming-Contact Mr. Ricardo Knowles ph. 12423321700.

June4th-9^th- Annual Pineapple Festival, Gregory Town Contact ph. 12423322142. Annual Gulfstream International 22 mile cycling classic. Contact the Ministry of Tourism at 12423322142.

June 4^th-9^th- Deep Creek Homecoming. Contact Tiffany Mckinney at 12423348330.

July 9^th-13^th- Savannah Sound Homecoming, Contact Ms. Ellen Gibson 12423326181.

July 9^th-13^th- The Bluff Homecoming Festival- contact Mr. Cyril Saunders ph. 12423351624.

July 30^th- August 4^th- Bay fest, Hatchet Bay- Contact Peter Davis ph. 12423351600.

July 30^th-August 4^th- Back to the Bay Fest, Tarpum Bay- contact Mr. Cleveland Knowles ph. 12423344225.

July 30^th-August 4^th- Governors Harbor Homecoming- Contact Ms. Emily Petty ph. 12423322142.

September- Softball playoffs- Contact Mr. Kingsley Bethel ph. 12423322170.

October 8^th-13^th- North Eleuthera Sailing Regatta, Harbor Island, Contact Ms. Kayla Davis ph. 1242333163. Mr. Daryl Johnson ph. 12423332279.

November 26^th-30^th- Green Castle Homecoming. Contact Delroy Richards, ph. 12423346419.

December 26^th- Junkanoo Contact Ministry of Tourism ph. 12423322142.