Monday, August 30 signaled the start of the 2010-2011 school year sending thousands of school aged children from around the country back to the classroom.
Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!
Here on Grand Bahama, the start of the fall term also signaled major changes for public schools on this island with some veteran educators leaving the profession and others being reassigned to new posts. Perhaps one of the most noteworthy of all changes, however, is the separation of junior and senior students at the country's largest high school: Sir Jack Hayward High.
The GBTV news team visited the newly separated campus and spoke with senior and junior principals of the school.
NEWS ITEM ON HURRICANE EARL ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION, AT 6:00 PM WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2010.
DANGEROUS AND LARGE HURRICANE EARL CONTINUES TO MOVE NORTHWESTWARD.
AT 5:00 PM, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE EARL WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 26.3° NORTH AND LONGITUDE 73.3° WEST OR ABOUT 235 MILES EAST OF GREAT ABACO.
EARL IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST AT 17 MPH. THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TONIGHT WITH A GRADUAL TURN TO THE NORTH ON THURSDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 135 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
WHILE EARL POSES NO THREAT TO THE BAHAMAS AT THIS TIME LARGE SWELLS, DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS AND RIP CURRENTS FROM EARL WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT OUR SHORES.
NEWS ITEM – Tropical Storm Fiona
NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM FIONA ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION, AT 6:00 PM WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2010.
AT 5:00 PM, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM FIONA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 20.2° NORTH AND LONGITUDE 62.9° WEST OR ABOUT 140 MILES NORTH OF ANGUILLA OR 185 MILES NORTHEAST OF ST. THOMAS.
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas --Suspended more than 26 stories above the ground between the Royal Towers of Atlantis, Paradise Island and The Cove, Nik Wallenda, The King of The High Wire, made two death-defying stunts and at the same time broke the current Guinness World Record for highest bicycle ride (without a safety net) on August 28, 2010.
A seventh generation high wire and aerialist star, Wallenda traveled by bicycle over 100 feet from the West to East Towers at Atlantis while suspended 260 feet with a breathtaking view of the world’s largest open-air marine habitat and the turquoise ocean of The Bahamas. The feat saw Wallenda break his previous World Record set in 2008 at 135 feet high from the roof of the Prudential Building in Newark, New Jersey.
Nik’s performance was a welcomed delight to the thousands of Atlantis, Paradise Island guests who got a first hand view of history in the making. In addition to his Guinness Book of World Records bicycle stunt, Nik Wallenda also set a personal record by walking a distance of just under 2000 feet from the West Tower to The Cove Atlantis at an unbelievable and terrifying height of 250 feet above Aquaventure, the non-stop water experience, containing 7 million gallons of water and thrilling water slides. Nik called it, ‘the longest walk of his life’.
This particular attempt for the King of the High Wire was not without its challenges as Wallenda’s father, a former tight rope walker himself, suffered from heat exhaustion while rigging the wire for his son’s ambitious walk and was not able to witness his son’s brave attempt. Even rain and the threat of lightening didn’t seem to phase the brave King of the High Wire whose feats were well documented by the Discovery Channel and are set to air at later date.
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Immigration Hon. Brent Symonette 26 August 2010
There appears to have been some confusion relative to comments I made in an interview with the media on Wednesday, 25 August, as to the time frame for the resumption of apprehension exercises of illegal immigrants from the Republic of Haiti or any other country.
On 16 August, I issued a statement noting: “Persons who are found to be in The Bahamas illegally will be repatriated forthwith.” In the interest of allowing illegal immigrants who wished to leave immediately and voluntarily to do so, the Government has allowed for a brief period of voluntary repatriation.
That period will end on 31 August, 2010. Apprehension exercises will resume as of 1 September, 2010, consistent with my statement of 16 August relative to the resumption of such exercises:
“Having regard to the recent heightened infringement of Bahamas Immigration Law, notice is hereby given that with immediate effect, all illegal immigrants are requested to leave The Bahamas voluntarily. “All persons who are here illegally are in contravention of the laws of The Bahamas, and are advised to return to their country of origin or be subject to apprehension and deportation.”
My statement of 16 August reminded the general public of the Government’s long-standing policy with respect to illegal entry into The Bahamas. I also wish to recall the humanitarian decision of The Bahamas in suspending for a short period both apprehension and repatriation exercises following the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January of this year.
The Government has resumed repatriation exercises for illegal immigrants from Haiti. Over the past 6 months 772 Haitian and 183 Jamaican nationals have been repatriated to the Republic of Haiti and Jamaica.
The resumption of both apprehension and repatriation exercises are critical elements in the Government’s comprehensive immigration policy. This includes deterring illegal immigrants, irrespective of country of origin, from seeking to enter The Bahamas illegally.
GRAND BAHAMA, Bahamas -- The boundaries of the new relationship formed between the local arm of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Defence Force and BASRA were tested Monday, August 23, following a plane crash which left 6 passengers clinging to it's wreckage some 26 miles off Grand Bahama Island. Police say a distress call was received at the control tower of the Grand Bahama International Airport shortly before 10am. Fritz Cambridge, the pilot of the twin engine Aztec Piper reported engine trouble and lost contact with the control tower a short time later.
Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!
A GBTV presentation. Copyright 2010.
BASRA Chairman, Jamie Rose headed up the rescue efforts and recounted the moments following that call. The vessel used in the rescue efforts was one of three which were constructed by local boat supplier OBS Marine, which are expected to be officially turned over to police in short order. One of the vessels will remain on island for use by local authorities while the others will be deployed to other parts of the country. Rose told the GBTV news team that although the vessels were not officially commissioned he felt it necessary to commandeer the craft for the rescue mission.
Upon arrival, Rose said the pilot, Fritz Cambridge and the passengers identified as Jennifer Bullard, Miriam Gibson, Latanya Miller along with two children Tamasio and Terrinique Bullard, were shell shocked, but in otherwise good condition.
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Immigration Hon. Brent Symonette
