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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Top Stories of the Year
The Bahamas Weekly is pleased to present A Year in Review and our Top Stories of 2015! 2015 has been another wonderful year for The Bahamas Weekly and we wish to take this opportunity to first say THANK YOU to our viewers, subscribers, sponsors, collaborators, our advertising members and clients, our media partners, P.R. agents, contributing photographers, and our valued columnists! 2015 brought us the Baha Mar bankruptcy; the devastation of Hurricane Joaquin coupled with the nation pulling together to rebuild the southern islands. We witnessed a blood moon, and the last wild horse of Abaco died. The Bahamas was featured in two Al Jazeera documentaries, one on The Bahamas-China relationship, and the second one was related to sports doping. The Abaco prom entrance in an ambulance went viral. A SpaceX fairing washed up in Elbow Cay. Other tops stories were the the Rubis oil leak, fires and smoke from the Harold Road Landfill, slut shaming, and the Freedom of Information Bill. The Bahamian flag made it to the North Pole, World Day of Prayer focused on our archipelago, Alicia Wallace became one of the first Queen’s Young Leaders. The Bahamas Girl Guides Association turned 100, and Bahamas Tourism featured 16 weddings on 16 Islands. In Grand Bahama, a new bridge to the east was started; a contract was signed for a new causeway at Fishing Hole Road; crime was on the increase; and the power situation remained a hot topic. The Hawksbill Creek Agreement, turned 60, and an historic Cabinet meeting was held on the Island. At the end of 2015 a museum was announced to be located at Garden of the Groves. In 2015, some of our hottest topics in 'News' were Baha Mar, Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, Crime, Human Rights, Freedom of Information, and NHI... Our MOST READ article was on the sad news of the death of Johnny Kemp.
2015 held many historic moments! Here's some of our Top News Stories: Baha Mar announces voluntary chapter 11 bankruptcy Royal Navy evacuates residents from Crooked Island When Hurricane Joaquin Washed the Sea into His Home NEMA Update on Islands affected by Hurricane Joaquin SpaceX fairing found washed ashore in Elbow Cay, Bahamas The Bahamian Flag Makes it to the Top of the World And the Emmy goes to... Bahamian Chris Pinder! Last wild horse of Abaco dies Abaco ambulance prom entrance goes viral Jones Communications names 2015 Person of the Year Alicia Wallace becomes one of the 1st Queen's Young Leaders Contract Signed for New Fishing Hole Causeway in Grand Bahama 2015 Kamalamee Honourees Announced Bahamas' First Cochlear Implant Surgery Deemed a Success First Bahamian Woman Elected ICAC President Extradition of Eight Bahamian Citizens 8 Provisional Web Shop Licenses Granted Pope announces release of 9 Bahamian inmates from Cuba Bahamas Crisis Centre demands apology from Leslie Miller 4 men arraigned for double murder in Holmes Rock Women’s and human rights activists sign proclamation against #SlutShaming Bahamas Women’s Watch condemns arrest of 11 Jamaican women Local entrepreneur creates website to rate Bahamian doctors Al Jazeera reports on Baha Mar and Bahamas - China relations GBPA on Hawksbill Creek Agreement six month extension Press pioneer, Eileen Carron receives Lifetime Achievement Award Severe Flooding in Harbour Island, North Eleuthera and Abaco Freeport, Bahamas memorial held for Sir Jack Hayward German alpine cabin shipped to Grand Bahama Island James Bond fans celebrate 50th anniversary of Thunderball Shipwrecked couple wed on Grand Bahama Island Historic First as Bahamas Changing of the Guard Features a Female Officer Sir Jack Hayward dies in Florida at 91 In SPORTS the The Bahamas collected 54 medals in total and came out on top to win the 44th annual Carifta swimming championships. Our Special Olympics athletes brought home 25 medals from the World Summer Games in LA! Swimmers Joanna Evans, and Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace wowed us throughout the year. The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) took on a fresh new executive. On track it was Shaunae Miller and Jeffery Gibson who stood out most. Grand Bahama's Jonquel Jones keep soaring in U.S. college basketball with George Washington and was named the league’s Player of the Year and its Defensive Player of the Year. Tureano Johnson won the WBC Silver Middleweight Championship. The Bahamas played host again to the IAAF World Relays, the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic, Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, Star Sailors League Championships, Battle 4 Atlantis, Junkanoo Jam, and the Atlantis Crown Invitational. The Buccaneers took this years Heineken Cup, while the Freeport Rugby Football Club celebrated 50 years.
Our top Sports stories: Bahamas Swim Team Comes Away Victorious at Carifta Games Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace takes gold at Pan Am Games Bahamian Wins 2 Gold, 1 Silver at Special Olympics World Summer Games Bahamas opens Sports Legend Walk of Fame Jonquel Jones named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Tureano wins WBC Silver Middleweight Championship Bahamas Sports Minister Introduces New BAAA Executive Team Bahamas National Sports Awards 2015 Results Bahamian Boxers Qualify for Olympic Trials Jeffery Gibson named a Rising Star in Caribbean sports Jeffery Gibson Takes Gold in Toronto at Pan Am Games Marathon Bahamas named among Best Races in the World Road to Queen E. Sports Center named ‘Mychal Thompson Boulevard’ Bahamas' Miller and Gibson victorious in Brussels (Audio) Bahamas American Football Federation clears the air Jacobi Bain wins Singles and Doubles in Honduras Junior Tennis Shaunae Miller takes silver in the 400m in Beijing Bahamian boxing 'Twin Towers' victorious at 15th Annual Ringside World Championship Men's 4x400m Relay Team Takes Bronze at the Pan Am Games Donald Thomas takes bronze at Pan Am Games Bianca Stuart takes silver in long jump at Pan Am Games Leevan Sands wins triple jump silver at Pan Am Games Shaunae Miller wins 400m in Switzerland Steve Gardiner wins 400m in Budapest Miller takes the 400m at the Jamaica International Invitationals See our full year in Sports HERE.
In ARTS, and ENTERTAINMENT... The Bahamas held the inaugural Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, and Sammi Starr was winner of the first Music Masters series with his song, "Jump in the Line." Bahamians performed in Haiti for Carifesta. Ronnie Butler received a Living Legend Award, Julien Believe performed "Caribbean Slide" on Miss World and was seen around the planet. Agents and scouts visited the Bahamas for the first annual Music, Model, Talent Showcase of The Islands (Island MMTS). The Bahamas All-Stars Marching Band performed at the Florida Classics Battle of the Bands, the Bahamen were featured in a huge Walmart promotion in the USA, Bahamian music documentary, MUSIC VOYAGER BAHAMAS was released, and 42 cultural legends were celebrated. The Bel Canto Singers celebrated 10 years, and the Bahamas Youth Choir 25 years. And, we sadly lost musical legend, Johnny Kemp.
In the visual ARTS, the Junkanoo Nymph hit the scene, and artists Matthew Wildgoose and Jamaal Rolle has very big years. We talked about the differences between Junkanoo and Carnival, and R. Brent Malone: Reincarnation showed at the NAGB. Lavar Munroe was chosen for world’s most prestigious art exhibition. The Stepping Stone Quilters celebrated their 25th annual exhibition. In film, actor Jamaal Rolle was seen on prime time TV in the USA in EXTANT, and Kareem Mortimer wrapped production on CARGO, the largest Bahamian film to date, and starring international actors. Travolta Cooper gave us a look into the Cannes Film Festival and into the living room of Sir Sidney Poitier, and Gena Rodgers-Sealey and Charlie Smith were on the film festival circuit with GENTLE GIANT: THE ANDRE RODGERS STORY and WHEN PIGS SWIM.
Our Top Stories in Arts and Entertainment: Bahamian legend, Johnny Kemp passes suddenly at age 55 Jamaal Hepburn lands costar role on CBS series, "Extant" Julien Believe performs at Miss World pageant in China Kareem Mortimer's CARGO wraps filming in The Bahamas John Berkley “Peanuts” Taylor honoured The Cinemas: A discussion with Sir Sidney Poitier “Gentle Giant: The Andre Rodgers Story” Hits a Grand Slam Dion Cunningham performs in Carnegie Hall Bahamian artist chosen for world’s most prestigious art exhibition Lee Callender featured among 11 world pianists in "United Pianos" video Charlie Smith produces FIFA Beach Soccer 2017 World Cup promotional video Eddy Raphael won Best Cinematography Award in Berlin for ‘The Shark Dancer’ Bahamian Performers Lit Up Carifesta in Haiti My Father's Land wins 2015 Amnesty International Human Rights Prize Raphael Munnings and T-Connection featured in "The Record Man" documentary Bahamas opens Sports Legend Walk of Fame Music, Model, Talent Showcase of The Islands (Island MMTS) See our full year in Entertainment HERE. AND our year in Arts & Culture HERE.
Check out BOOKS that were featured in 2015 HERE.
In FASHION... our biggest story was David Rolle winning the All Star Season of Mission Catwalk with his collection Yuma walking away with a one million dollar prize! The Fashion for Foundation returned to support the Ranfurly Home for Children and featured local designers; Cardel McClam showed off his fall winter '16 collection; and Trineil Hanna snagged the Miss Bahamas Organization’s (MBO) Top Designer Award. A new annual show, "Fashion Beats Cancer" was launched, also featuring local designers. Another of our top reads was Javotte Bethel's honouring of Bahamian women through fashion. Check out our Focus on Fashion section featuring local and international designs.
2015 Bahamian beauty queens: Miss World Bahamas, Chantel O'Brian; Miss Bahamas Teenager, Davette Strachan; Miss Teen Bahamas International, Britney Wells; Miss Earth Bahamas, Daronique Young; Miss Heritage Bahamas, Kylie Butler; Top Model of the World Bahamas, Celeste Marshall; and Miss Grand Bahama (Miss Coffee / Miss Tourism Queen Intl), Danielle Pratt.
On Crime... Elcott Coleby of BIS writes, "Crime continued to be a major and vexing social issue in 2015 with murder continuing to climb as other categories of serious crimes showed declines. Three highly emotive and high profile murders in 2015 was the conviction of Donna Vasyli for the murder of her husband, an Australian Podiatrist. The other was the senseless murder of Queen’s College teacher Joy McIntosh as she traveled down Park Gate Road and the stabbing death of 16 year old Doris Johnson High School 12th grader Adonai Wilson by two other students aged 15 and 17; this crime was caught on camera. The Christmas holiday was marred by six shootings, five of which were at the hands of young black women. This is a new and troubling development as the vast majority of victims and perpetrators of serious crimes such as murder are young black males. The country ended 2015 with 148 murders." Review all of our Royal Bahamas Police Reports HERE. In POLITICS, all of the nation's hottest topics were bantered about. Some of 2015's highlights were Renward Wells and Andre Rollins crossing the floor to the Free National Movement. The Rt. Hon. Perry Christie became chairman of CARICOM. Greg Moss of Marco City left the PLP to form the new United Democratic Party. The DNA held talks with the Cuban government in Cuba. And, entertainer, activist, Terneille Burrows announced her independent candidacy. Check our full Bahamian politics section HERE. You can also read Elcott Coleby's (Deputy Director at the Bahamas Information Services the government's news agency) recap of 2015 HERE.
In REMEMBRANCE... only some of those we lost: Sir Albert Miller, Sir Jack Hayward, Reverend Dr. Hervis L. Bain, Johnny Kemp, educator Sandra Edgecombe, Devince Smith, Colin Callendar, Warren Levarity, Reno Brown, Count Bernardino, Mildred Sands, Hilary Jones, Alfred Addington Alexander Brennen, Leonard Butler, Nigel Clarke, Alexander Pericles Maillis, Kenneth Perigord, Anfernee Brett Neely, Franklyn “Count Bernadino” Ellis, Alfred Bismark Coakley, Lisa Johnson, Mizpah Tertullien, Dorothy Davis, William “Bill” Saunders, and Paula Tynes. See all Obituaries / Condolence messages HERE.
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