NEW PROVIDENCE, The Bahamas -- For four (4) days networks all across the Caribbean, had their eyes set on our new state of the art Thomas A. Robinson Stadium as the CARIFTA 2013 games took place. More importantly seventy (70) young Bahamian athletes represented the Bahamas on the international stage as they competed in their respective track and field events.

The Progressive Young Liberals applaud the CARIFTA 2013 team as they made our nation proud and demonstrated that the young people truly set the pace in regional integration and international representation. As we watched from the stands, from our homes and streamed via the internet, we all stood proud as our young athletes competed with such passion and commitment. Through the tears, pain, joy, triumph and hard work, we congratulate all participants on a job well done. PYL also congratulates The Bahamas Amateur Athletic Association (BAAA), all of the coaches, parents, support teams, coordinators, sponsors and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Daniel Johnson and team, on a weekend of excitement and true sportsmanship. A special congratulations to Ms. Shaunae Miller for winning the coveted Austin Sealy Award, becoming the 6th female from the Bahamas to capture this title.

The Progressive Young Liberals applauds the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture in their endeavors to institute a National Sports Academy that will further develop the skills of our young athletes to meet international standards. PYL also supports the government’s stance to support the CARIFTA games expanding from a weekend event to a two-week Caribbean Olympics that would highlight the youth throughout the Caribbean not only in track & field and swimming but other disciplines such as basketball, tennis, volleyball, softball, cycling, and soccer. We continuously support the Hon. Daniel Johnson and his respective ministry in their efforts to seek opportunities to promote The Bahamas for its culture, infrastructure, facilities and most importantly promote young Bahamians in sports and other talents.

Click HERE to download the schedule of events PDF.

KINGSTOWN, Saint Vincent -- Under a Euro 30 million project funded by the European Union (EU) for projects to improve sustainable and equitable management of fisheries and aquaculture in Africa Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States, fisheries officials from CARIFORUM States are receiving training in the use of modern, cutting-edge, information and communication technology tools in their daily activities.

“The enhanced use of these modern communication and information sharing tools, such as video-conferencing, social networking, tools for online collaborative document preparation and editing,  can result in significant cost savings, increased productivity and outputs, as well as boost the earnings and income of fishers, and improve competitiveness and profitability within the fisheries and aquaculture sector,” said Milton Haughton, Executive Director, of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Secretariat, at the launch of a three-day regional training on information and knowledge sharing on sustainable fisheries management in the Caribbean.

Haughton described the regional training workshop, which opened Monday and runs through to Wednesday, as “another significant milestone in our journey to transform the fisheries and aquaculture sector, and enhance its contribution to national economic development.”

He said that organizers are providing practical training which they hope will improve capacities and lead to greater integration of Information and Communication Technology tools in all areas of the work of fisheries departments and other fisheries organisations in the region.

There has been a lot of talk recently about the restriction of work permits within the next year by this PLP administration. The good Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration stated recently in his contribution to the House of Assembly that within a year work permits will not be issued for certain classes of workers namely maids, housekeepers and labourers. The point made by the Minister is that these are jobs that Bahamians can do and that they will work with the Department of Labour and the National Training Program to ensure that Bahamians are trained to do these jobs. The PLP should know that this firstly is a choice issue for Bahamians as to whether they are willing to do these jobs and then it becomes a training issue.  After a public outcry on such a policy by individuals in the community, business owners and potential investors, the Minister rebutted by saying that the earlier position espoused by him was just to start a public discussion on the matter. We therefore wait in anticipation on what the policy of this government will be after the “public discussion”.

What needs no public discussion is the profound illegal immigration mess this country faces. This indeed is perhaps the most paramount concern of the immigration department todate. Just look around our country and listen and your questions on illegal immigration in the Bahamas would be answered. We have an illegal immigration problem in this country of mammoth proportions!

In 2009 it was determined that there were 37 shantytowns in New Providence alone…37 shantytowns on an island 21x7. It is a known fact that these shantytowns are places where for the most part illegals live, criminals seek refuge, and the living conditions are inhumane. The use of BEC is allowed illegally, the water table is contaminated and buildings are erected without building permits. Women of the night, barbershops, food-stores, number houses and churches, just to name a few, are in these shantytowns. Any and everything is allowed in these places that should be condemned but it seems like administration after administration lacks the political will to eradicate this problem.