This holiday season, many Grand Bahama residents have been giving back through multiple feeding programs providing individuals and families with hot meals or grocery items. Operation Christmas, a collaborative effort between Apostle Phalmon Ferguson of United Faith Ministries International in New Providence and the Bahamas Union of Teachers’ Freeport branch, was launched on December 22, 2022.
By FELICITY DARVILLE
IT’S important to celebrate men! They use their brain, their brawn, their wit, and their love to be heroes. Those who do so much for so many deserve to be honored and praised, too – even more so during the Christmas season. They may be even more vulnerable during this time, so it’s important to be aware of men’s feelings and needs, according to Terence Bethel.
“Men and boys find it very hard to process and manage stress,” he told me.
“If this week we hear of a murder or suicide, which are quite common around the Yuletide season, it will very likely be a man or boy.”
Governor General C A Smith speaks at a ceremony to mark the launch of the Governor General’s Volunteer Bahamas Program on Grand Bahama, Friday, December 18, 2020. (BIS PHOTO/LISA DAVIS)
FREEPORT, BAHAMAS The Governor General’s Volunteer Bahamas Program was officially launched on Grand Bahama on Friday by Governor General C A Smith in a ceremony that honored some 13 individuals and organizations.
Those honored included Calvin Martin, Dwayne Stuart, Jude Grant, Grand Bahama Lakers baseball team, Butler and Sands Blue Jays, D’Sean Smith, Jensen Burrows, Jason Albury, the Rotary Clubs on the island, Pastor Darren Rolle, Dudley Seide, Stephanie Burrows and Lindy Russell.
The ceremony was held at the C.A. Smith Building.
His Excellency said he was delighted to be back home in Grand Bahama, and thought that, one day, history would record this day as a defining moment in Volunteer Bahamas.
Two weeks ago, The Governor-General’s Volunteer Bahamas Program was launched in New Providence. The program exists to encompass, encourage, and celebrate those people as well as civic and charitable organizations, associations, clubs and groups that significantly and generously contribute through volunteering without seeking reward.
He said, “For as long as I can remember, it has been a dream of mine to bring volunteers from all across the islands with the sole purpose of bridging the gap that exists between those in need and those who are able and willing to fulfill those needs.”