ISLAND OF BIMINI, BAHAMAS
Blue Lamp Awards
BIMINI'S "BLUE LAMP" AWARDS
In March 2010 as part of our local celebrations marking the 170th Anniversary of the Police Force in The Bahamas a number of persons were selected to receive local recognition for their good-will, cooperation and consistent support of the police in Bimini. While the majority of the Blue Lamp Awards are made in March they are also given throughout the year to persons or organisations the police wish to honour.
The local awards are named after the traditional "blue lamp" which is found outside Bahamian police stations. The custom of placing a "blue lamp" outside police buildings began in London, England in 1861. The practice spread throughout the United Kingdom and the British Empire. Today, in most Commonwealth countries it remains a custom to place a blue lamp bearing the word "POLICE" outside police stations. Some lamps are quite simple while others are fairly elaborate. In 1950 a famous British film was made entitled, "The Blue Lamp", which depicted life at a London police station. It is still shown on classic movie TV channels.
The Blue Lamps continue to burn outside Bahamian police facilities and as one officer remarked, "the blue lamp is a reminder to people this is a police station and it's a safe place and we're all here to help."
So, these local police awards take their name from this venerable symbol of police presence - the blue lamp. Bimini's Alice Town Police Station burns its blue lamp each night.
An elaborate blue lamp found in London, England where the blue lamp tradition began in 1861.
THE OPENING MOMENTS FROM THE BRITISH FILM "THE BLUE LAMP" MADE IN 1950.
2010 RECIPIENTS OF BIMINI'S BLUE LAMP AWARD
Mr Frank Cooney
Mr Emil Poitier
Captain Bill Keefe and Mrs Nowdla Keefe
Mr Owen Cheeseman
Mrs Ivy (Sam) Brown
Mr Robbie Smith
Mr Eduardo Benitez
Mrs Sarah (Manny) Rolle-Thomas
Bimini's Volunteer Fire Brigade (as a group)
Mrs Julie Dean receives a special Blue Lamp Award honouring her 35+ years in government service and assistance to the Royal Bahamas Police in Bimini. Mrs Dean has been working in the Administrator's Office in Bimini and holds the rank of Executive Clerk. ASP Tyrone Bethel, officer-in-charge, presents the award. Her husband is Malachai Dean and they have three children.
Frank Cooney, president of Bimini Sands Resort and Marina, receives a Blue Lamp Award from ASP Tyrone Bethel. The Award, given during Police Month, recognises his long standing commitment and support to policing in Bimini.
Emil Poitier, assistant manager of Bimini Sands Resort and Marina, received a Blue Lamp Award for his consistent support of the police and police programmes in Bimini. ASP Tyrone Bethel presented the award at the resort during Police Month activities in March 2010.
Mr Owen Cheeseman, a resident of South Bimini, received a Blue Lamp Award during Police Month from ASP Tyrone Bethel. Mr Cheeseman was honoured for his many years of service to distressed mariners in Bimini waters who needed assistance. His VHF relay station "Ricky J" has provided the police in Bimini and the U.S. Coast Guard with valuable assistance when boaters found themselves in peril at sea. Mr Cheeseman served in the US Navy during World War II and fought in the Pacific theatre of that conflict including the Battle of Guadalcanal.
Captain Bill Keefe and his wife, Nowdla, received a Blue Lamp Award during Police Month in March 2010. Capt and Mrs Keefe operate "Bimini Undersea" the island's longest operating dive and water sport operation. Bill and Nowdla have assisted the police numerous times over many years in search and rescue and recovery operations at sea. They have trained and qualified several police officers in SCUBA techniques and skills. The Keefe's also donated dive and snorkel equipment to the Bimini police station to assist officers when marine operations required such equipment. Mrs Keefe is a Bahamian from Grand Bahama, her husband Bill is from the United States. They have two children.
Sara Rolle-Thomas received a Blue Lamp Award from ASP Tyrone Police during Police Month activities. Mrs Rolle-Thomas operates Sara's Restaurant and Take-Out and has long been a partner with the police in Bimini for many years providing quality meals for both prisoners and visiting police officers.
