eleuthera

Former Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera in the PLP administration died on Monday evening following a long bout of illness. James Oswald Ingraham was 83-years-old.

Who was Oswald Ingraham?

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis addressed the House of Assembly on Wednesday morning, bearing bad news. He said Exuma and Eleuthera’s COVID-19 cases are skyrocketing.

As of yesterday, Tuesday 17th,  there were a total of 99 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Exuma, and on Eleuthera, a total of 143 confirmed cases.

Why it matters

• The competent authority in recent weeks announced restrictive measures for mainland Exuma, and mainland Eleuthera, due to exponential increases in new cases of COVID-19 on those islands.

What’s happening?

• Health officials report that from the analysis of the map of cases, the spread is occurring throughout Exuma.
• From interviews conducted in the community by the health team, some people are still having gatherings, and residents believe this is largely contributing to the spread of COVID-19 on Exuma.
• A team from the Ministry of Health made up of members of the contact tracing team and the surveillance unit is currently in Exuma to assess the COVID-19 situation.
• A health team is scheduled to return to Eleuthera next week to complete a follow-up assessment and to determine the impact of the recently imposed restrictive measures on that island.

Eleuthera’s march against the COVID-19 restrictive measures was scheduled for today at 5 pm, but it is no more. However, coordinators Demetrius Johnson and Dwight Pinder have in no way thrown in the towel as they fight what they believe is “unfair and unrealistic” measures.

CSJ Report spoke to Johnson today who said he understands health officials concern that cases are rising on the island, but he said the government must balance health and economy, as many people in Eleuthera are “hurting.” He believes that the country should learn to coexist with the virus without locking down.

Why it matters

• Eleuthera has a total of 127 COVID-19 cases, which is the fourth-highest for the country. Prime Minister Hubert Minnis has since imposed a 24-hour weekend lockdown and weekday 6 pm to 5 am curfew for the island to curb the spread of the infectious disease.
• Ports of entry have also been closed for that island due to the emergency order.
• Ten people are restricted at funerals and weddings, while indoor church services are prohibited.
• The new measures do not include Spanish Wells and Harbour Island.

Why ‘I March for Eleuthera’ Cancelled

• Demetrius Johnson said demonstrators of the march scheduled for 5 pm today did not have a permit to assemble. Johnson said he and Pinder met with two superintendents of Royal Bahamas Police Force, who told them that they needed a permit from the Commissioner of Police to assemble and told that the march would contravene the emergency order.
• Johnson said the intended objective was to meet for “only a 30 to 45-minute presentation.”
• He promises the march will resume once the permit is granted.

What’s the solution?

• Johnson disagrees with the government’s 6 pm curfew as islanders have little time to grocery shop and get home after leaving work at 5 pm. He recommends and 8 pm or 9 pm curfew instead.
• He further calls for the government to remove the 24 hour-weekend lockdowns so that residents can still work. The 24-hour weekend lockdown will come into effect on Friday.
• Impose the same restrictions in Spanish Wells and Harbour land, where cases are present.
• Give a more logical approach to dealing with the virus and qualify how people are getting sick. He said “people are not hanging out at night.”
• He wants South Eleuthera MP Hank Johnson to support his community and hopes he will present the concerns to the prime minister.

North Eleuthera MP Ricky Mackey agrees with new measures

North Eleuthera’s MP Ricky Mackey agrees that the measures are a difficult but necessary decision for the well being of every resident on the island. He added that the restrictions will reduce the number of cases so that tourists can continually visit the island.

“We too often do not do the things that are required to mitigate the further spread. I know it is uncomfortable, but we have to continue to wear masks. We have to continue to social distance. We take it too lightly.

“If we think the decisions are too harsh, callous, and not in the best interest of us individually, let’s think about the entire island, the constituency as a whole, and our community as a whole.”

The big picture

While cases are trending upward in Eleuthera, health officials are relieved that cases in New Providence, Abaco, and Grand Bahama are decreasing. Since March, there have been 5,308 cases in New Providence,  817 on Grand Bahama, and 180 on Abaco.

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis loosened restrictions for New Providence and Abaco, while tightening measures for Eleuthera.

Why it matters

The number of COVID-19 cases in New Providence and Abaco has slowed and health officials say they are encouraged by the decrease, while cases have heightened in Eleuthera, causing concern as the island battle 117 cases.

Key points

New Providence and Abaco

• The 24-hour weekend curfew was lifted on New Providence and Abaco, replaced with a 6 pm to 5 am curfew on weekends.
• Beginning tomorrow, Monday 9th, a new weekday curfew imposed from 9 pm to 5 am  in NP and Abaco. The curfew will be implemented in Grand Bahama on weekdays and weekends.
• Retail businesses and pharmacies can begin in-store services, Monday to Saturday.
• Grocery stores can reopen to the public on Saturdays, restocking on Sundays.
• Arawak Cay can restart outdoor dining Monday to Friday.
• Hotels can resume in-door dining.
• Beaches and parks are opened to the public on weekends from 5 am to 6 pm. Groups are still limited to 5 people.

Eleuthera

Excludes Spanish Wells and Harbour Island

• Effective this week, a 24-hour weekend curfew will begin at 6 pm every Friday to 5 am every Monday.
• A daily curfew will be imposed from 6 pm to 5 am.
• Businesses can operate during the week but can not operate on weekends.
• Bars and restaurants will be closed.
• Funerals and weddings are restricted to 10 people, excluding officiant; graveside services permitted only; no wedding receptions permitted.
• No indoor church services allowed.
• No in-person classes permitted.

Featured image: OPM Communications Unit

COVID-19 cases are rising all over Eleuthera and health officials are worried. The island has a reported 116 cases, of which 5 were confirmed on Thursday.

Why it matters?

The island was one of few islands with a small number of cases but infections jumped in recent weeks in North, South, and Central Eleuthera.

What’s happening

• Almost 80% of cases were among those 50-years-old and younger. The greatest proportion is among individuals of 20-39 years.
• South Eleuthera has the greatest proportion of cases–37. 8%
• North Eleuthera is a close second with 29.7%.
• Central Eleuthera has 24.3 percent of the cases.
• Local bars are popular hangout spots and a number of cases are linked to island bars.
• The current increases were also linked to a funeral, which occurred two weeks ago, some of which were attended by individuals from Freeport, Grand Bahama.
• Health officials observed that there is minimal to no adherence to public health measures, even though are aware of the protocols.
• Housing arrangements challenge the appropriate isolation and quarantine measures.

Recommendations

• Implement increased restrictions
• The stronger presence of COVID-19 ambassadors for compliance
• Close bars

Featured Image: Google

PLP leader Philip Davis said it is regrettable that businesses and homes in Eleuthera went without water for about three days due to the government’s negligence. He said the government must pay its bill to prevent disconnection from the water company Aqua Design.

The Big Picture

The government of the Bahamas and Aqua Design are in a payment dispute as government owes nearly $30.8 million to vendors and suppliers, of which a portion was due to Aqua Design at the end of August, this year, according to the Tribune.

Aqua Design has almost nine contracts to supply water throughout the islands, including Inagua, San Salvador and Eleuthera, contracts awarded and signed by the last PLP administration.

What the disconnection means

More than 2000 residents were without water during a COVID-19 period when they are encouraged to maintain proper hygiene amid the spread of the virus.

Areas affected

• Governor’s Harbour
• Palmetto Point
• James Cistern
• Savannah Sound
• Windermere Island

How was the water turned back on?

An injunction was filed in the Supreme Court, ordering that the water be turned back on for residents. Government, before the injunction, paid 4 million dollars this year, on its debt owed to Aqua Design. The water company had previously warned that it would disconnect supply to the Family Islands where it operates.

Works Minister Desmond Bannister calls Aqua Design “greedy”

He said the company “could have waited, but they are greedy and we have to deal with greedy people.” He added that the contracts the company signed are one-sided in their favour which “no thinking government would have signed.”

Philip Davis, former Minister responsible for water, says shut-up and pay the debt

Philip Davis, who would have had a hand in awarding the contracts to Aqua Design said the government should stop the finger-pointing and pay Aqua Design.

“The question to the government is very simple. Did the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) pay its bills to the water supplier and if not, is the supplier justified in turning off the water supply for nonpayment just as the government has disconnected the water and power supplies to thousands of its customers for nonpayment?

“The government must lead by example and pay its bills just as it demands payments from its utility customers.”

The father and four-year-old son killed in Rock  Sound, Eleuthera over the weekend, occurred when the family went to check on a house under construction.

The man identified as Jameric Greene and toddler Jeremy were shot when the family was ambushed by gunmen.

What is known

• The house under construction is distant from the main road.
• The father pleaded with gunmen not to shoot while he held the little boy. The mother told the Tribune, her husband said, “Don’t shoot, I have my son in my hand, please don’t shoot.”
• The mother said one of the gunmen started to shoot at her, but she ran into the bush.
• The four-year-old died along with his father during the shootout, as the mother ran for cover.
• The little boy was shot in the thigh as he pleaded to his mother, “Mummy get the doctor, please get the doctor.”
• The assailants jumped into the victim’s vehicle and drove off.
• Police say the assailants may not have been aware that other children were in the backseat of the vehicle.
• The assailants ditched the car and the children were found on a ‘dirt road.’
• The children were later reunited with their mother.
• One of the children is a newborn baby, as the mother returned to the island on Saturday after giving birth in Nassau.

The big picture

This incident seems to be a trend in the killing of children in the context of shootings. Over the last three weeks, this is the third child to be murdered.

The discovery of two women found dead in two separate incidents over the weekend is chilling as police officers suspect foul play in both matters.

The first woman, Keva Cash was found dead on a beach in Lower Bogue Eleuthera, at 12 noon on Saturday. She was found partially nude.

And the second woman, Samantha Barnett was found decomposed in an abandoned building on Dowdeswell Street, in a generator room.

What we know about Keva

• The Tribune reported that a sister believes Keva was raped, beaten, and drowned.
• The sister met with Keva on Friday around 7.30 pm, before her death
• Keva told her sister that she wasn’t feeling well because “something wasn’t right.”
• The sister received information that someone was chasing Keva through the community where she ended up on the beach.
• She was discovered by a little boy exercising on the beach.
• The sister said Keva suffered from a mental disability with speech challenges. She described her as having “an adult body with a mind of a two or three-year-old, but she is a person who knows who people are.”
• The sister remembered Keva as a jovial person who loved to dance and sing.
• The police have not said if they have a suspect in custody, but the sister claims the man in custody is from Lower Bogue.

What we know about Samantha

• She was 27-years-old.
• Samantha loved modelling and was a part of a modelling community called Model Management.com.
• Click here to view Samantha’s uploads: https://www.modelmanagement.com/model/samantha-barnett/?fbclid=IwAR2IxANU0e_1P_2fxSg_a8U1eOD7_MewNI3_0FaJjEZMrnZTJcoQ-PHiuCo

What we don’t know

• The identity of the suspect in either case
• The suspects’ motive for the death of both women