Ryan Nguyen had the world by the tail.

After several years of hard work, the San Jose native recently graduated from UC Riverside with a bachelors degree in business administration and a job already lined up back home.

First on his agenda, however, was a fun-and-sun-filled vacation with his family in the Bahamas a place hed never been and was eager to experience.

But on Tuesday, during an afternoon snorkeling trip with his family, the 20-year-old apparently lost consciousness and drowned.

It was a freak accident, said his older brother, Shawn.

His family remains in shock, he said, still hoping for answers about what Shawn, 22, characterized as an unexplained drowning. Ocean conditions at the time, he said, were ideal.

Ryan had graduated on Friday, June 16 following in the footsteps of his big brother, also a UC Riverside business administration grad. Both of them were members of the same fraternity, Phi Kappa Sigma.

He was the most genuine guy you could ever meet, said Shawn, a consultant for a software company in Orange County.He always put a smile on peoples faces, and he knew how to take a joke. He was just a really great kid. He had his whole life ahead of him.

The second son of parents Vivian and Thuy Nguyen, who later divorced, Ryan like Shawn had played football at San Joses Leigh High School, where both brothers were running backs for the Longhorns.

When Ryan got accepted to UC Riverside, Shawn looked out for him, proud to introduce him to members of his fraternity, where they bonded with so many others.

Im glad we got to do that, Shawn said. It was the best decision of both our lives.

On June 17, just hours after they had finished celebrating the graduation ceremony, the brothers flew from Southern California to Houston. They met up with their mother and stepfather Michael Than, and two stepsisters, 8-year-old Madelyn Than and 10-year-old Makayla Than, then headed to Nassau.

By Tuesday, the family had signed up for a day of snorkeling, all of them piling onto a boat headed out to sea. Everyone was fitted with a life vest.

We all know how to swim, Shawn said. There were kids of all ages out there swimming, and adults. I was by his side the whole time.

Every time the brothers went to a new snorkeling site, Shawn said, it was a 30-minute session. But at some point in the mid-afternoon, the two got separated.

When it was time to go, the guide blew a whistle, calling us to get back into the boat, Shawn recalled. But Ryan didnt return. We were yelling his name and couldnt find him. Then we saw his bright green vest, about 80 to 100 yards away.

By the time they reached Ryan around 3 p.m. in waters off Rose Island, he was floating, lifeless.

We brought him onto the boat, but he was already unresponsive, Shawn said.

The guide immediately began CPR, turned the boat around and headed back to land, calling ahead for an ambulance to meet them as soon as they arrived.

Ryan was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A report in the Bahamas Weekly the next day said police were investigating the circumstances and that an autopsy would be performed to determine the cause of death.

Back in the U.S., Shawn is still trying to make sense of the loss.

There is no reasonable explanation for why this happened, except that it was his time to go, he said, haltingly. Theres a reason for everything, and it may not be clear now, but God had bigger plans for him.

And somewhere, behind the grief and tears, is a lesson, the brother said.

Hopefully, it lets people know not to take things for granted and to hold your family even closer, Shawn said. Because you never know when things will happen. You can never plan for it, or expect it.

Ryan Nguyen is also survived by his stepmother, Phung Nguyen, and 10-year-old twin stepsisters, Haley and Kaley Nguyen, all of San Jose.

A visitation and prayer service will be held Friday at the Darling-Fischer Garden Chapel, 471 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose. A mass will be held Saturday morning at Holy Family Parish, 4848 Pearl Ave., San Jose, followed by interment at Oak Hill Memorial Park, 300 Curtner Avenue, San Jose. The times of the services are pending.

A candlelight vigil will be held at 8 p.m. Sunday at the UC Riverside bell tower.A GoFundMe page has also been established for Ryan.

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College grad from San Jose drowns in Bahamas - The Mercury News - The Mercury News

By Laura Farmer, correspondent

Jun 24, 2017 at 1:32 pm | Print View

When Iowa City writer Rebecca Entel first traveled to San Salvador, Bahamas, for an academic workshop, she learned about small ships carved into plantation ruins throughout the island. Hundreds of ships, some very basic, others far more detailed.

Its really haunting to see, she said in a recent interview. Youre on this tiny island and everywhere you look theres this gorgeous view of the water. But imagine youre someone who cant leave what a ship in the distance might represent to you. There are also interpretations that the drawings could be of slave ships not necessary indicating a dream of freedom.

How drastically different perspectives can simultaneously coexist is the foundation for Entels debut novel, Fingerprints of Previous Owners, out this month from Unnamed Press.

The story takes place at a resort in the Caribbean thats been built over the ruins of a slave plantation a ripe juxtaposition. The books narrator, Myrna, works as a maid at the resort, and secretly tries to excavate the ruins, risking both her job and her ties to her community, as citizens rarely discuss the islands history.

Entel, who is associate professor of English and Creative Writing at Cornell College, first began writing this novel while teaching Caribbean Literature in San Salvador. For the last six years, she has returned to the island about every 18 months to teach and conduct research for her novel.

I was really fascinated by the fact that the plantation ruins were not being preserved, she said. The only people who were interested in them were people like me who were coming from the U.S. to research or teach. People seemed really curious about why I wanted to go there and why I wanted to take students there.

The ruins were so overgrown, in fact, that Entel had to learn a new skill in order to access them. When I told someone at the research station I was going to the ruins, they gave me a machete. I thought they were kidding.

They were not.

Entel quickly learned the most effective way to use a machete was not to hack her way in, but to go with the angle of gravity. This experience quickly served as a metaphor for Entels approach to writing about a culture and geography outside her own.

It was tricky. I wanted to be as historically and factually grounded as possible, especially when writing about a place that is not my place and my culture. And knowing how fraught that can be and wanting to get it right.

In her novel the island is fictionalized, but the questions of preservation and personal history are rooted in truth, both from Entels extensive academic research, and her personal familial research.

Its an interesting situation for people like me who popular genealogy services just cant help. Entels maternal grandparents are holocaust survivors, and her mother was born in a refugee camp. They came to the U.S. when she was a baby and never went back, and never had an interest in going back.

While Entel was writing this book, she traveled to Eastern Europe twice, becoming the first family member to do so.

When I was going to Poland, where my grandparents were from, my grandmother did not want me to go to Auschwitz thats where my grandfather was during the war. She said, Why would you go there? And then a family friend who was also a survivor was upset that I wasnt going, which was really interesting.

When I thought about it in relations to the Bahamas, it wasnt that my grandmother thought Auschwitz shouldnt be preserved, its that she didnt see any reason for me to go. For her it was for people who dont know the history or dont believe the history to go see that, and thats why it should be preserved. But she really didnt want me to go. And I didnt.

Her trips to Eastern Europe, coupled with regular research trips to the Bahamas, secured Entels interest in public memory and commemoration.

I found that in the Bahamas Im thinking as a researcher, that these sites need to be preserved, and then when I was in Lithuania at a mass gravesite, I could understand the perspective of another grandchild of survivors who said: Dont you think they should just bomb all this out of existence?

I definitely have more questions than answers about what I think about all of this, but its made me question how I think about other peoples histories, and my personal history.

Up until this point she had always considered herself to be a short story writer, having published works in Guernica, Joyland Magazine, and other top literary journals, as well as landing on the shortlist for awards from Glimmer Train, Southwest Review and the Manchester Fiction Prize.

But she found inspiration for her novel in an unusual place: a pile of garbage. The beach in the book where the garbage washes up thats a true detail. Its really crazy to see. Theres one side of the island where its very calm and peaceful and the beaches look the way Caribbean beaches look in resort brochures. And then theres this other part of the island where theres something about the current that brings garbage from all over the world.

She started jotting down notes and ideas about the beach, and eventually, after working on a short story for years, found herself writing a scene in the voice of a character.

This voice just kind of came out of nowhere. I hate it when writers say that, but its true! This voice describing how to get to these ruins that no one will talk about. And thats Myrna, the narrator.

Entel decided to focus her sabbatical on writing a novel. When she got stuck, she pushed herself to keep writing using exercises she shares with her creative writing students.

And while Entel still writes short stories, she has another novel in the works. My next book is set in Cleveland where I grew up. Its not autobiographical, but its about a community where there are a lot of survivors, and what that means for the children and grandchildren.

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Iowa City author's attraction to ruins in the Bahamas leads to first novel - The Gazette: Eastern Iowa Breaking News and Headlines

Two Florida boys who disappeared on a fishing trip two years ago near Florida left behind a map and sent messages right before they set off, according to a new report from the Palm Beach Post.

Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen, who were both 14 when they disappeared, messaged at least one friend if he wanted to join the day before.

Me and Austin r (siq) crossing to the Bahamas tomorrow come with us, Cohen wrote in an Instagram message to a friend, according to recently unsealed court documents, as reported by the Post.

Another friend of Austin Stephanos told officials that the boys were thinking about going to the Bahamas but said it was too rough to sail.

On Thursday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released a report saying a weather-related incident was the cause of the pairs disappearance, while noting that the boats engine was working when it took on water. The evidence (is) not conclusive enough to confirm any particular scenario on what happened that tragic day, other than the fact that the vessel took on water and capsized, stated the report, Weather.com reported.

The new details were unveiled as part of a civil court filing in December over Austins cellphone, which was found when the boat was recovered last year.

On Monday, Cohens family said its considering a civil lawsuit after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement released a report saying Stephanoss mother, Carly Black, was negligent. It, however, didnt recommend charges against her.

Black filed a likely pre-emptie lawsuit against the Cohens to prevent a wrongful death lawsuit, NBC2 reported.

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Messages, Maps Indicated Missing Florida Teens Wanted to Head ... - The Epoch Times

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Coral towers at Atlantis.(Photo: Atlantis)

The deal: Get away with the whole family to The Coral at Atlantis Paradise Islandin the Bahamas. The newly-redesigned family-friendly section of the resort features amenities for all ages, like a swim-up ice pop bar for children, a cocktail bar for adults and access to activities.

Cost: Starting at $1,077 ($359 per night).

Whats included: Three nights accommodation at The Coral; a choice of two shallow-water dolphin experiences, two kids' adventure evening escapepasses, or a combination of both; $150 resort credit.

When: Package available through Aug. 31.

Information: 1-866-285-2684, atlantisbahamas.com.

Sophia F. Gottfried

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Travel deal: The Bahamas - NorthJersey.com

Awaiting Senate confirmation as the nation's next ambassador to the Bahamas, known for its tax-sheltering proclivities, Doug Manchester, ex-publisher of the Union-Tribune and million-dollar donor to president Donald Trump's January inaugural festivities, can boast a victory in San Diego federal court.

Chief United States District Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz nominated to the federal bench here by president Bill Clinton in 1995 and elevated to chief judge five years ago has ruled that the developer's Manchester Financial Group, Inc. can't be held liable for the $466,310-plus judgement, along with costs and interest, awarded in 2013 against never-opened Manchester Financial Bank.

As reported here in July 2014, the deep-pocketed former U-T owner began dodging 21st Century Financial Services, a provider of data processing to his ill-fated banking start-up, following a ruling against the proto-bank by a federal court in Texas, later upheld by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Manchester's eponymous financial institution began as a gleam in the developer's eye in February 2008, just months before Wall Street's legendary meltdown.

"Rick Mandelbaum, a longtime bank executive who is helping launch the new venture, said 95 percent of the $20 million to capitalize the bank will come from Manchester himself." the Union-Tribune, then owned by fellow La Jollan David Copley, reported that month.

"Officers and directors are expected to put up the remaining $1 million thus eliminating the need to raise money from investors."

As with many of the developer's deals, the would-be bank involved a byzantine mesh of partnerships and corporations.

"A group of individuals, including Doug Manchester, Richard Gibbons, and Steve Strauss, sought to charter a bank to be called Manchester Financial Bank," recounts Moskowitz's June 7 order denying 21st Century's motion to name Manchester Financial Group, Inc., the developer's holding company, as an additional judgement debtor in the case.

During the crash, Manchester pulled out of the deal, "based on 'current economic turmoil', leaving 21st Century holding the bag, court records show.

Complicating the cast of characters is the relationship between Manchester Financial Group, Inc. referred to in the order as Manchester, Inc. and a related but separate entity, Manchester Financial Group, L.P., which during the bank's start-up process "issued two deposit checks to 21st Century," the order notes

After the deal fell apart, 21st Century "issued invoices for amounts it claimed were due under the Agreement. In email exchanges between Mandelbaum, Gibbons, and Doug Manchester, Mandelbaum recommended that payment be issued to 21st Century on behalf of the Bank." When the money failed to materialize, the creditor undertook its thus-far futile legal slog.

"21st Century bears the burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Manchester, Inc. was an alter ego of the Bank," writes Manchester's home town judge, adding, "Imposition of alter ego liability is 'an extreme remedy, [to be] sparingly used' and 'approached with caution.'

"Although 21st Century contends Gibbons and Manchester were both owners of Manchester, Inc., there is no evidence of this in the record. Nor does the Court find any evidence in the record submitted by 21st Century identifying any of the shareholders of Manchester, Inc."

As a result, says the ruling, the Court agrees with Manchester, Inc. that adding it to the judgment would violate its due process rights.

Whether the creditors case figures into Manchester's yet-to-be scheduled ambassadorial confirmation proceedings remains to be seen.

The more pressing issue of who is going to finance his controversial downtown Navy Broadway complex is likely to come up, including Manchester's solicitation of Chinese investors for an Austin hotel project ultimately backed by fellow California Trump supporter Thomas Barrack, Jr.

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Trump's Bahamas ambassador-designate escapes judgement - San Diego Reader

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Bahamas All-Inclusive Vacation Packages, Resorts & Hotels ...

Canada will begin its road to qualification for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Halifax.

Canada Basketball announced Thursday that the Canadians will host the Bahamas on Nov. 24 at Scotiabank Centre to kick off the first phase of qualifying for the World Cup.

The Canadians will play home and away games against the Bahamas, Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the first phase. The top three teams in the pool following move onto a second phase of competition against three new FIBA Americas opponents.

The top seven teams overall in the Americas Region will advance to the World Cup, which starts Aug. 31, 2019 in China.

Canada is currently ranked 24th in the world and eighth in the Americas Region.

"Canada Basketball is excited to begin our road to China by hosting our first qualifying game in Halifax," presidentand CEO ofCanada Basketball Michele O'Keefesaid in a statement. "The introduction of the new FIBA system allows us to showcase our national team to Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast and put Canada on display as a world-class destination for international basketball events."

The Canadian Press

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Canada to start road to basketball World Cup against the Bahamas in Halifax - BarrieToday

This month the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Developments (OECD) proudly announced that the Bahamas was the latest tax haven to make the decision to sign the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters:

"We very much welcome that The Bahamas has now officially expressed a strong interest in joining the Convention. Signing and ratifying the Convention will be a very significant step forward in implementing its commitment to tax transparency and effective exchange of information, in particular under the OECD/G20 Common Reporting Standard"

Pascal Saint-Amans, Director of the OECDs Centre for Tax Policy and Administration

The Bahamas indication that they intend to implement the treaty (note that nothing has in fact been signed) follows significant pressure exerted on the archipelago by the OECD to honour its commitments under the Common Reporting Standards (CRS) which require financial institutions to automatically exchange information regarding their clients to their clients local tax authorities. The Convention is seen to be the gold standard measure for tax-cooperation and key to the fight against global tax evasion and avoidance. 111 countries have now signed up to the convention with 52 Countries (including the UK) commencing automatic exchange of information with other jurisdictions in September 2017 (see our related blog: 'United Arab Emirates the latest tax haven to sign up to enhanced tax transparency' ).

That the OECD has felt the need to publish the decision to sign the convention follows extended political wrangling between the OECD and the Bahamas Government. The OECD was not happy that, although the Bahamas was part of the CRS, they had chosen to implement bi-lateral treaties on a country by country basis rather than the all-encompassing multi-lateral version. The Bahamas argument against a multilateral approach related to concerns over security and data leaks. However this received short shrift from the OECD. Following negotiations with the Bahamian cabinet last year Mr Saint-Amans announced, if they play games they will lose. Their reputation will be hit.

It seems his words were headed by the campaign group the Tax Justice Network (TJN) who describe the Bahamas as a major wrecking-ball threatening global efforts to clamp down on cross-border financial secrecy, elaborating further that the Bahamas decision not to sign up to the multi-national convention makes it the dirty-money centre of choice. Indeed, historical links to Meyer Lansky (Al Capones accountant) who invested significantly in the Bahamas and the fact that the archipelago does not recognise tax evasion as a predicate offence for money laundering, makes the Bahamas reputation a vulnerable target.

However, it is too simplistic to suggest that multilateral convention and the CRS should be implemented come what may. Genuine concerns regarding privacy and data protection leaks are entirely legitimate in a situation where hundreds of nations will be sharing significant amounts of personal data multilaterally. There are undoubtedly going to be problems with so much information being shared in one go and all states (including those rich nations of the OECD) would do well to ensure that they are not at the wrong end of a massive data protection breach.

Finally, the elephant in the room: The OECD continues to put pressure on a number of offshore and developing nations to ensure compliance with the CRS. However its richest member, the USA, has not signed up to the CRS at all. The argument - because they have already implemented the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FACTA) which requires financial firms around the world to report accounts held by US citizens to the Internal Revenue Service - it is not necessary. But what about disclosure of information held by financial institutions based in the US? US officials have an answer to that too - individual agreements to disclose information with other jurisdictions will be signed on a bilateral basis I am sure that idea has been suggested somewhere before.

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Bahamas succumbs to OECD pressure to implement the Common Reporting Standards - Lexology (registration)

PHOTO: Dive boats docked at Club Med Columbus Isle, Bahamas. (photo by Eric Bowman)

Want to get away?

Why not a visit to some of the best beaches in the Caribbean?

Bahamas Ministry of Tourism details five reasons why you will fall in the love with these islands and want to visit time and time again.

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Island Hop Bahamas Ministry of ...

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Baha Mar Is Now Open In Nassau Bahamas Ministry of ...

Private Beaches

If peace and quiet are what you seek for your vacation, the Bahamas has you covered. Per a Bahamas blogger, The Bahamas boasts of 700 islands and cays and 16 of them are easily accessible destinations. On every island, youre bound to find a beach with no one in sight for miles.

Swim with Animals

Go scuba diving and explore the depths of the ocean and tons of marine life. Maybe youll see a shark!

If youd prefer dolphins over sharks, make your way to Bimini for free dolphin swims. And no trip to the Bahamas is complete without a visit to Exuma for the swimming pigs.

READ MORE Hook Barracuda and More on a Fishing Tour in The Bahamas

Surf

Yes, there is quality surfing in the Bahamas. While the Caribbean isnt the first place you think of when it comes to surfing, there are still locations in the Bahamas that provide surfing waves. Head to Eleutheras east coast anytime from October to April for the best waves, and dont forget to check into the awesome Surfers Manor Hotel.

Explore

In addition to gardens and reserves around the islands, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism recommends you explore the East End of Grand Bahama. Float on easy and beautiful waters on this kayak tour where you will see all kinds of marine life and flora and fauna.

Wine

Whether you love wine or not, you have to check out the Graycliff Restaurant. Per a Bahamas blogger, it is an over 200-year-old colonial mansion in Nassau that has the largest underground wine cellar in the Western Hemisphere.

A fascinating historical place as well as a romantic destination, should you book a private candlelight dinner that is.

For more information on Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, check out their blog here.

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Art is a veteran travel writer.

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Reasons to Fall in Love with The Bahamas - TravelPulse (blog)

PARADISE ISLAND,Bahamas,Wednesday June 21, 2017 Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in TheBahamashas completed a successful harvesting and out planting of corals to three coral reefs off New Providence that were destroyed last year by Hurricane Matthew.

This ongoing project an initiative of non profit organization Atlantis Blue Project Foundation(ABPF) helps rehabilitate damaged coral reefs by growing small coral fragments to repopulate reefs that have been eliminated through disease, hurricanes, or bleaching.

Since its inception more than 10 years ago, the Atlantis Blue Project Foundation has generated over $5 million through funding from Atlantis guests participation in the resorts marine adventures and is dedicated to saving sea species and their extraordinary habitats throughout The Bahamas and surrounding Caribbean seas.

With the help of Atlantis Marine team members, The Bahamas National Trust, The Nature Conservancy, BREEF,Stuart Covesand Dr.Craig Dahlgren, Director of the Perry Institute for Marine Science/coral reef scientist, the team harvested 150 pieces of finger coral from one of Atlantis two on-property nurseries and 100 pieces of staghorn coral from nurseries established by The Nature Conservancy and managed byStuart Coves.

The corals, as two-inch fragments or cuttings from naturally occurring corals and placed on lines or tree structures at the nurseries, were monitored as they grew at rates faster than they normally do on reefs. Once the corals were deemed healthy and large enough, they were placed back on the coral reefs in the ocean through multiple dives to sites that have been degraded by storm damage and human impacts.

The ongoing coral nursery project at Atlantis presents an opportunity to educate people about the importance of coral reefs in TheBahamas, saidDebra Erickson, Executive Director of the Atlantis Blue Project Foundation.

We are very proud of our established nurseries and our on-going efforts to help repopulate areas that have lost their coral.

TheBahamashas more coral reef area than any other country in the region and one of the largest coral reefs in the world.

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Bahamas Resort Helps Restore Coral to Reefs Destroyed By Hurricane Matthew - Caribbean360.com (subscription)

Will Speros June 21, 2017

Jeffrey Beers International (JBI) has unveiled its restoration of the iconic Dune restaurant at the One & Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas. The venue suffered considerable damage in October 2016 following a hurricane.

Spanning 226 seats across its dining and lounge areas, the interior has maintained its resort-style ambiance but has been brightened with a new material palette that includes dove gray Anigre wood millwork, warm gray upholstery accented in coral fabrics and abstract, geometric patterns, and porcelain floor tiles finished in cerused wood.

The resorts Hartford Wing is reimagined with contemporary dcor included in expansive rooms and suites crafted by JBI. The new design draws upon the natural colors of the Bahamas with cerulean blue and cool turquoise offsetting a palette of warm ivory and cream that mirror the sea and sky.

Stay on top of hospitality design news, latest hotel openings, designer interviews and not-to-miss events!

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Jeffrey Beers International Restores the Dune Restaurant in the Bahamas - Hospitality Design (blog)

Related article: Students serve overseas

Contributed photo

Taking part in the Social Circle Serves trip to the Bahamas recently were, from left, assistant principal Craig Hargrove; students Mikey Holmes, Logan Smith, Noah Guerra and Travis Parr; chaperone Kristi Parr; students Chad Helton, Mariah Robinson, Alexis Gaither and Jackson Davis and technology director Todd Hilton. They're standing on the Glass Window Bridge on Eluthera, Bahamas.

Contributed photo

Members of the Social Circle Serves Club work during their trip to the Bahamas.

Contributed photo

Social Circle rising freshmen Jackson Davis, Mariah Robinson, Chad Helton and Noad Guerra, along with Bahamas native Paul Munroe and chaperone Kristi Parr mix concrete for the slab of a home being built during a Social Circle Serves work trip.

Contributed photo

Social Circle City Schools technology director Todd Hilton works with Bahamas residents as they prepare a concrete slab on a home during a Social Circle Serves trip.

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Social Circle Serves works in the Bahamas - Walton Tribune

Chanel Iman and her boyfriend, New York Giants football player Sterling Shepard, escaped from their busy city lives for a weekend away at the One&Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas . Beach bummingBahamas, Chanel Iman captioned one cute snapshot on her Instagram, the image showing the model getting a piggyback ride from Shepard. The photogenic pair enjoyed a dinner at Dune by Jean-Georges Vongerichten, dined on the beach, and relaxed in the spa.

Chanel Iman and her athletic beau aren't the first high-profile pair to make an appearance at the Nassau resort. Jay Z and Beyonc are rumored to love the place, Angela Bassett and Kerry Washington are fans, and the property, where all rooms include private butler service, was even featured in Casino Royale. Each accommodation, whether it be a beachfront room or suite or an expansive villa residence, comes with a walk-in steam shower and a bath big enough for two.

Nickolas Sargent

Nickolas Sargent

Nickolas Sargent

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Chanel Iman Enjoyed a Romantic Weekend Away at This Stunning Bahamas Resort - Architectural Digest

Where are you taking Amy for your 30th anniversary?

The Bahamas, I answered.

Oh my! Youre going to love Atlantis.

My mind suddenly filled with visions of turbocharged slides rocketing screaming kids under shark-filled pools, while sea turtles languidly swam through massive saltwater tanks tugging signs advertising the all you can eat conch fritters.

Uh...well, we wont be going to Atlantis.

Not us. Weve been to Disney World many times so why bother with a Bahamian version? We wanted to see the real Bahamas, up close and personal. For years weve seen the commercials and advertisements and often wondered; is the water really that blue, that clean, that amazing? Are the people really that friendly? Are the starfish really that big?

Six months ago, with our 30th anniversary on the horizon, we started to plan our trip and we knocked around a multitude of ideas and destinations; and we both kept coming back to the tropics. Weve never been to the Caribbean and the thought of sinking our toes into a place that keeps time with the tides, where the sea is the clock, where we could relax and enjoy the peace and serenity that only a natural setting offers, was just too intriguing. And as we looked around, we were captivated by the Instagram account of Katie Storr. Shes a dive master for Stuart Coves Dive Bahamas and her underwater photos sold us on the Bahamas. Yeah, we wanted to do that.

Katie Storr

So we made our plans and blocked off our calendars. We would stay at Sandyport Beach Resort, go bird watching with Scott Johnson, Science Officer with the Bahamas National Trust, snorkel on Sandyports beach, take a cooking class at the Graycliff Hotel, find the best bar in Nassau, seek out Bahamian cuisine, take in the Bahamas Art Gallery, take a seaplane ride to Carriearl Hotel on Great Harbor, jump into a blue hole, snorkel some more, and finally go diving with the folks at Stuart Coves. After wed made our plans and were counting the days until our trip, the owners of Carriearl reached out to us and asked if wed mind being their guest chefs on our first night there.

Are you freakin kidding me!?

So how did it all go and what did we learn that would be of assistance to those planning their own Bahamas adventure? Well for one we brought too many pairs of underwear. Ill explain later.

We arrived at Lynden Pindling airport via American Airlines. We flew out of Charlotte, NC, on a day filled with rotten weather across the southeast and we had a relatively bumpy flight dodging thunderheads until we were a few miles off the coast of Florida. The weather broke and the clouds and turbulence gave way to a gorgeous blue sky and water that turned slowly from almost black to a shimmering turquoise. Bahamas means shallow sea, a name given by Christopher Columbus (yeah, that guy), and if youve never been to the Bahamas, the sight of that water can really bring out the child in an adult. As we eased below ten thousand feet and the vista opened up, animated voices filled the aircraft.

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Now to find an Uber. Uh...first lesson learned, Uber hasnt made it to the Bahamas, and there are no taxi services, only private taxis. Each taxi is independent so if youre staying at a hotel, or an AirBnb, the manager will have a few taxis he or she prefers. As the Bahamas are surrounded by 20 mph salt-laden air, the cars tend to look like outcasts of the latest Transformers movie. And they drive on the wrong side of the road so our first impression of the Bahamas was a bit of culture shock.

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We drive on the proper side of the road, John. So claims our friend Serena Williams. If you dont know, this group of islands was a British territory until 1973 and apparently the British left behind so many right-hand drive vehicles and wrong-side-of-the-road drivers, it made sense to continue driving on the wrong side of the road.

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Just enjoy the ride and marvel at the scenery.

photo courtesy Sandyport Resort

Our first three days were spent at Sandyport Beach Resort. If youre looking for a shimmering steel and glass hotel where a bucket of ice costs $5.00 ($6.50 with tip), look elsewhere. Sandyport is about five miles from downtown and an equal distance from the airport. Their rooms are tailored for those of us a little more self-sufficient. Theres a laundry, fully stocked kitchenettes and three or four restaurants within walking distance. Many more if you dont mind a miles walk. And the beach is but a very short walk away. Prior to check-in, Serena brought us to a local market and we grabbed a few necessities and some spectacular fresh grouper steaks for dinner, or breakfast.

Aaahhh, Mr. and Mrs. Malik, welcome to Sandyport.

Vernon Moss welcomed us with a disarming smile and a beefy handshake. The hotels General Manager, he was also our concierge and de facto guide during our stay. Hes a native Bahamian and happy to share the ins, outs and quirks of the Bahamas. Our second day we were scheduled to fly to Andros via a local airline with a 6:45 am departure. He wisely recommended arriving an hour prior to departure. As it was, we departed 25 minutes early. Why? Because all the passengers were there. Thanks, Vernon.

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Check in, had a quick look around, then into shorts and off to the beach.

And its breathtaking. The water is, well, see for yourself. This is about six feet of water beneath our Keens and we could count the scales on the yellowtail Snappers swimming beneath us.

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Two hours into our vacation and this is our first view from the beach. The bartender actually said its a bit hazy today, maybe tomorrow its going to be really beautiful.

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Sandyport is more than a hotel. Theres condos, apartments, shops and businesses and theyre all connected by a small harbor. The view from the balcony is worth the price of admission. From here we saw a multitude of fish, rays, birds, and even sea turtles. We were told a manatee and her calf were in the harbor but we didnt see them.

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After lunch at the Blue Sail, also right on the beach, the staff at Sandyport offered us snorkeling gear and we were off to the water. If youve never snorkeled, the Bahamas are a great place to learn. The water is clean enough that when you gulp down a quart, you wont become ill. Try doing that on an Atlantic beach and you might end up in ICU. And because the water is so shallow, theres very little in the form of waves, so you wont be dodging surf boards. The small rock jetty at Sandyport provided a haven for all manner of sea life including snappers, grunt, angelfish, sea stars, barracudas, porcupine fish...I could keep going. Complimentary snorkel gear, a three minute walk to the beach and after a few minutes in the water, and we were swimming through a massive saltwater aquarium.

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Wed been in the Bahamas less than three hours and we were already on sensory overload. It was time for a drink and we didnt have to go far, The Blue Sail Cafe, owned by Chef Jacques Carlino, a Frenchman with a penchant for turning out amazing pastries, is right there. And with this view, why get into a taxi?

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The lunch menu looked familiar to anyone thats dined at a country club in the states. A variety of sandwiches, burgers, cold salads and macaroni & cheese. Wait a minute...I thought I was in the Caribbean? Where were the mangos, papayas, pineapples, etc?

Sorry, Chef. This is the West Indies, not the Caribbean, and theres very little agriculture so not much locally grown fruits and vegetables. So we settled on the wood fired pizza and to our surprise, it was pretty damn good. And who knew that the local brew, Kalik, would pair so well with sunshine and pizza?

photo by the author

Soon we were back in the water for another swim because we wanted to earn our massage. We dont do yoga poses or juice cleanses, but were all about a real massage. And Sandyport has a great masseuse and an amazing setting for that massage.

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Eventually we did make it to downtown Nassau for a tour and a visit to the Graycliff Hotel and a cooking class with their chef, Elijah Bowe. Many years ago, Chef Bowe spent time in south Louisiana working for Chef John Folse, so we had plenty to talk about. Like myself, he is a disciple of Chef Paul Prudhomme. Chef Bowe is a natural showman, he engaged with us readily and entertained us with vignettes of his career and life in the Bahamas. He provided a station for each of us to join in on making conch chowder, snapper en papilotte, Caribbean slaw, and macaroni & cheese. The Graycliff is perhaps the most well-known restaurant in the Tropics due to their 200K+ bottle wine list.

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Murray Sweeting

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Our class was a three plus hour affair and if youre one for cooking classes and having fun in a professional kitchen, youll certainly enjoy this. After our class it was time for a walk around downtown Nassau.

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That evening, Vernon Moss and his wife took us to the Fish Fry neighborhood for Bahamian cuisine. Finally were going to have something local and authentic. And the menu is closer to a Calabash, NC fish house than what I was expecting. Fried fish, and shrimp, and conch, and wings, and burgers. French fries, slaw, and again macaroni & cheese. Vernon senses my disappointment and explains how everything on the islands, save for the two local beers and rums, must come in on a boat or barge. Theres very little industry in the Bahamas, and thats one of the reasons why the water is so clear. Tourism is the main industry and the Atlantis resort is the second largest employer, second only to the government.

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Alright I understand the limitations of transportation. However, if were going to stuff a barge full of french fries and hot house tomatoes, we could just as easily be sailing in tropical fruit and vegetables. For the life of me I was dumbfounded as to why someone wasnt serving or at least trying to create Bahamian cuisine. Sure we had delicious conch dishes but I couldnt see a distinct cuisine. Macaroni & cheese? Sorry my friends but theres nothing about that dish that can lay any sort of geographical stamp to the Bahamas, or the West Indies. Yet it was everywhere. Yes we had delicious food at the Graycliff and the conch chowder, conch salad, poached snapper en papillote, and guava duff felt very Bahamian/Caribbean but that was it as far as local dishes. Everywhere we went we were greeted with burgers, fries, pizza, etc. The place that several Bahamians recommended to us, Oh Andros, served us a mountain of fries, rice, Cole slaw, and macaroni and cheese with some amazingly fresh grilled snapper. Alright, I understand its tough to grow anything and most of the tourist clientele are Americans but how come some Bahamian chef hasnt stepped up and defined a true Bahamian cuisine?

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So if youre looking for a fine meal in the Bahamas, youll end up at an Italian or French themed restaurant. On one of our evening forays into Nassau, we spent a pastoral hour at the bar at Cafe Matisse. BJ Ramsay, their bartender, has the perfect antidote for a hectic afternoon downtown. Hes the bartender that every fine restaurant should have, a knowledgeable and engaging soul with an appreciation for spirits. After asking me if I prefer Scotch or Bourbon, (Bourbon) he poured me a glass of locally produced, wood-aged Jab sugar cane rum. And damn was it good. Notes of dried fig, fresh apricot, hints of white pepper and vanilla bean, and that sweetness of cane. Ive now got a small bottle in my personal bar.

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When we left Cafe Matisse, it was about 6:00 pm. And downtown Nassau had rolled up the sidewalks. We learned that when the cruise ships are docked, Nassau can be teeming with activity. When the ships whistle blows at 4:00 pm, most of the shops close up, too. So other than dining, theres not much going on by 5:00 pm.

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And heres the reason theres little agriculture on the Bahamas. Unlike the volcanic islands of the Caribbean, the Bahamas are limestone and the topsoil is rather shallow. Theres plenty of elevation on New Providence (the island thats home to Nassau) and in some places, one can walk or drive through small rises of it.

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On our fourth day we headed out to Carriearl Hotel on Great Harbor Cay courtesy Tropic Ocean Airways. When we first thought about a tropical vacation, Carriearl was what we had in mind. A small hotel (four rooms) on a small, quiet island with little distraction save for the water and adult beverages. So when the opportunity to stay at Carriearl came around, we were all in.

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On a trip of many firsts for us, perhaps my favorite was the seaplane flight. Our pilots were professional and courteous and entertained all of my questions on our ride, while Amy and Serena enjoyed the ride from the cheap seats. During our thirty minute ride, the visual majesty of the Bahamas was on full display. Shades of turquoise, sapphire, crystal, and indigo floated across our field of vision. In every direction, stretched out to the horizon, the water shimmered and glistened like a Monet in motion. Soon we were over Great Harbor. We flew parallel to the island, spotted our hosts on the beach, then cut across the island and landed perpendicular to the beach. When we touched, the water dispersed by the floats sparkled like diamonds in the sun.

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We taxied up to the beach, the engine was cut then Kent and Jack tugged the Cessna in backwards while Marty and his son Oliver helped us off. Seriously this may be perhaps the coolest thing Ive done.

From there it was a short walk up the beach to Carriearl.

So how do I accurately describe a visit to Carriearl? Again, if youre looking for Disney-style vacation, then Carriearl is not for you. Great Harbor Cay is sparsely populated, theres not really any night life, no theaters, no museums or attractions to speak of.

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However, if youve fantasized of spending real downtime, with 48 hours or more to do as little as possible and do it on the prettiest, quietest beach in this hemisphere, then Carriearl is waiting for you. Their restaurant is open six days a week and the bar is open seven, of course. Go for a swim, then grab a book off their shelf, a beer or rum at the bar then disappear into the luxury that only solitude can supply.

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While our bedroom had an excellent air-conditioner, we spent a lot of time in their common room, which was anything but. In the morning, Marty would open up the expansive glass doors and the dining room/sitting area became an extension of the beach. Of our three days there, the highs were in the mid 80s with a steady sea breeze.

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Angie & Marty have owned Carriearl for 12 years and only turned it into a hotel in 2012. Built in 1965 by Earl Blackwell, New Yorks Mr. Celebrity and the publisher of the Celebrity Register. Named after his parents, Carrie and Earl, its easily the most memorable hotel weve visited. Since we arrived on a Saturday and we were their guest chefs for the evening, we didnt have much time for lounging. We had a busy night in front of us, two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts had to be prepped. When we agreed to do this, we didnt ask for anything special in the kitchen. Great Harbor is no different than the rest of the Bahamas, plenty of great seafood but very little locally grown anything. So along with chef Edison Lightbourne, we went to work on the nights menu.

Amy Malik

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Chef had some local shrimp, lots of sweet and spicy red peppers, garlic, onions, and romaine lettuce and that became grilled romaine lettuce with pickled shrimp and a spicy rouille. The loaves of whole wheat bread, English peas, lemon, fresh mozzarella, and pea shoots were turned into Welsh Rarebit with an English pea and lemon puree. And my bride turned almonds, eggs, and fresh mint into Almond macaroons with mint buttercream and vanilla ice cream. By 7:00 pm their dining room had filled with that happy sound of satisfied diners. Its a combination of forks on plates, of glasses being hoisted, of bread being buttered and wine being opened and for those of us behind the scenes, we often judge the satisfaction level of our guests just by the tempo of the dining rooms melody.

The next morning one of our guests, Steve Johnson, the local harbormaster, took us (and his friends Jay and Karen Campbell) on a trip across the sea to Hoffmans Cay where we snorkeled through spectacular water and caught enough conch for us to make a heavenly lunch of conch salad. As conch are over fished by commercial operators, Steve was careful to make sure we only used the larger conch, and we only used what we needed.

Jay Campbell

Jay Campbell

Jay Campbell

Jay Campbell

After a long day of boating and fishing and swimming, we were grateful for the comfort of Carriearl, the cold beer and the hospitality of Angie & Marty. Did I mention theyre British? On Sunday evenings, Chef Lightbourne prepares a classic English Sunday dinner of roast beef, Yorkshire pudding (popovers to you and me), and roasted vegetables. Sure it feels out of place, but so what? It was an amazing dinner, expertly prepared and graciously served.

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Remember how I mentioned taking too much underwear? Well on this leg of our Bahamian adventure, we admitted to bringing too much clothing. If youre headed to the Bahamas, its likely you wont need but one pair of dressy clothes. A nice pair of pants and shirt for the gents, a black dress for the ladies. Its warm and a bit humid in the Bahamas so keep it casual, dress loose and light. Shorts, loose clothing, walking shoes and a swimsuit. And a wide brimmed hat, too. The sun is relentless and theres plenty of shallow water and shiny sand for the suns rays to bounce off of, so bring your sunscreen. Keep in mind that snorkeling is a great way to fry ones scalp so lube up that head as well. Our hotels had a solid supply of snorkeling gear and likely the other ones do as well so we didnt bother bringing any, even though friends offered to loan it.

Seriously though, when youre hanging out at a bar with this view, youre not going to care what youre wearing.

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Carriearl harkens back to a different time. Its an oasis in the middle of the sea; a simple, rustic retreat thats delightfully luxurious and properly British. Even though theres WiFi, we tried to stay off it. Because one can always get on Facebook, but a view like this was only going to be ours for a few days. And in those few days, we swam and danced across the prettiest, most secluded beach weve seen, swam with an amazing collection of fish and sea life including a barracuda, jumped into the deepest blue hole, enjoyed wonderful meals, and made friends for life.

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Enjoy this video I made to showcase our flight and stay at Carriearl.

Originally posted here:

The Bahamas, for Two - HuffPost

JUPITER

The day before Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen rode out from the Jupiter Inlet to the Atlantic Ocean in July 2015 for what would be the last time, the boys messaged at least one friend to ask if the friend wanted to come along fishing the following day.

Me and Austin r (siq) crossing to the Bahamas tomorrow come with us, Cohen wrote in an Instagram message to a friend, according to court documents.

Another friend of Austin Stephanos told investigators that same day the 14-year-old boys had been talking about heading out to the Bahamas, but decided it was too rough that day.

The interviews, accounts and messages are part of a December court filing in the civil-court proceeding over Austin Stephanoss recovered cellphone, which was found when the 18-foot boat was recovered near Bermuda nearly eight months after the Tequesta teens disappeared. The documents were intended to compel a judge to let Cohens family have access to any information on Austin Stephanoss cellphone, though Apple was not able to recover anything from the iPhone. The case remains open.

The new details come after recent developments in the case and nearly two years after the pair steered into a storm on the Atlantic. Though the boat and their life vests were eventually found, the boys were never seen again.

On Monday, Cohens family said it was considering a civil lawsuit days after a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigative report was released stating the agency found Stephanoss mother, Carly Black, had been negligent and recommended charges. The State Attorney did not go forward with charges.

A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report released Thursday said a weather-related incident was to blame in the boys disappearance. Originally it was speculated that something may have happened to the boats engine, but investigators discovered the engine was still working when the boat took on water.

Throughout interviews and documents, Cohens family insists the Stephanos family knew their son was not allowed to go out to the ocean without another adult present. The Stephanos family said he couldnt have tried to go out there because he knew that there had to be two boats or two engines to head out that far.

But the boys actions and their conversations the day before their journey seem to show otherwise.

On July 23, 2015, Stephanos and Cohen were preparing for a trip. Though they wanted to go out to the Bahamas that day, Stephanos told at least one friend, who was later interviewed by investigators, that it was too rough that day, so theyd try the next, according to the document. When he talked about a fishing trip to his grandfather, who gifted him the 1977, single-engine boat, the man asked him how much gas he needed, then left him a $100 bill. Investigators would later find out the pair bought $122 worth of fuel.

Perry, meanwhile, asked another friend if he wanted to join over Instagram, saying they wouldnt check in, referring to skipping customs to get to the Bahamas. A map given to investigators by one of the boys friends detailed a path the teens might have tried to take that day.

That night, Perry asked his stepfather, Nicholas Korniloff, if he could use his GPS on the boat because Stephanos was looking to buy one. Though Korniloff protested at first, saying there wasnt a mount for it in the boat, he eventually said they could have it.

Its not going to work. But if (you) need to satisfy your curiosity, go ahead, Korniloff remembered telling him, according to the report.

The following day, July 24, after the boys stopped by the home of Stephanos grandmother to pick up supplies, filled up with gas and headed out of the inlet into a brewing storm, Stephanos shared a photo on Snapchat: three fishing roads stick out the back of a boat with the words Peace Out Jup written across it.

Another friend of the teens told investigators that when someone said, Peace out Jup, it usually meant they were headed to the Bahamas.

Staff researcher Melanie Mena contributed to this story.

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Messages, maps point to missing teens' trip to Bahamas before storm - Palm Beach Post

With just four weeks to go to the Opening Ceremony of the VIth edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the Commonwealth Secretariat, The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) and the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), today (Tuesday 20 June) announce a dynamic and inclusive programme of athlete engagement activities at the upcoming Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games to provide support and inspiration to tackle the issues facing the next generation of global sporting citizens.

Taking place on the Caribbean island nation of The Bahamas from 18-23 July 2017, the Commonwealth Youth Games will be the largest international sporting event ever held in the Bahamas, bringing together over 1000 young athletes aged 14-18, who will represent their country and compete in 9 sports over 6 days.

The Commonwealth Youth Games Athlete Impact Labs are an official part of the Bahamas 2017 Cultural and Personal Development Programme, helping fulfil the Games core ambition to strengthen the link between sporting competition, personal development and Commonwealth peace-building.

Welcoming the initiatives, CGF President and Chair of CABOS (the Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport) Louise Martin CBE said: Now more than ever, athletes are inspiring us on and off the field of play as global role models so were thrilled to be working with the Commonwealth Secretariat, RCS and UNICEF to engage, inspire and support our young Commonwealth athletes and young Caribbean hosts. These CYG Athlete Impact Labs recognise and support our young athletes as essential to delivering on the Commonwealths values and achieving the UN sustainable development goals through sport.

The Commonwealth Secretariat, Royal Commonwealth Society and United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) have worked closely with the CGF and the local Bahamas 2017 Organising Committee in Nassau to deliver a series of fun and interactive workshops, covering topics including youth empowerment, integrity and personal values, youth participation in sport governance and how young role models can contribute to human rights and sustainable development. The aim is to help young athletes and officials understand and explore how sport can be used to contribute to society and the rights of young people participating in and around sport.

The workshops will take place on rotation on the last three days of the Games, enabling athletes and officials to attend on an optional basis, and will be delivered by representatives from UNICEF, The Royal Commonwealth Society and the Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace (CYDSP) working group - a collaborative network of young sport and development leaders supported by the Commonwealth Secretariat and endorsed as the Commonwealths leading youth voice on Sport for Development and Peace.

Welcoming the partnership, Janine Thornhill, from Trinidad and Tobago, and Chair of the CYSDP Working Group said: This is a huge team effort as we join forces with our friends and colleagues at the RCS, UNICEF, Commonwealth Secretariat, the CGF and the local Organising Committee to use the Youth Games as a powerful sporting stage to connect with young people from every nation, culture and background.

We look forward to meeting athletes and officials to support, inspire and learn more about the issues and opportunities facing young athletes across the Commonwealth. We all passionately believe that sport can be used as a tool for development and peace and the CYG Athlete Impact Labs are another example of the important role the Commonwealth Sports Movement can play promoting the Commonwealth and our shared values.

Launched in 2000 and now in its 6th edition, the Youth Games are a sustainable opportunity for smaller cities and nations to benefit from hosting a major sporting event, using predominantly preexisting venues (in Nassaus case, most events take place at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre) whilst also promoting an inclusive and positive youth and sustainable development agenda.

With 50% of Commonwealth citizens aged 25 and under, the Youth Games play an important part in the Commonwealths mission to advance democracy, development and respect for diversity through sport.

For more information, please contact:

For Commonwealth Games Federation: Martin Reynolds Tel: +44 7789 772619 Email: m.reynolds@thecgf.com

For Commonwealth Secretariat: Will Henley Tel: +44 20 7747 6379 Email: w.henley@commonwealth.int

For Royal Commonwealth Society: Annette Prandzioch Tel: +44 20 3727 4300 Email: communications@thercs.org

As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.

These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics iswww.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only

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Commonwealth Partnership to Inspire Young Sporting Citizens at Bahamas Commonwealth Youth Games - Around the Rings (subscription)

June 19, 2017 15:20 ET | Source: Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

photo-release

NASSAU, Bahamas, June 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Bahamas was presented the 2016 Caribbean Sapphire Pegasus Business Aviation Award for Outstanding Country Promotion, the first award of its kind for the region. The Sapphire Pegasus Award is a symbol of gratitude for the superb performance in an industry segment where mediocrity is unacceptable.

The award was introduced to the region during the Caribbean Aviation Meetup in St. Maarten, June 13-15. Based on expert advice and the long record of outstanding performance, we decided that The Bahamas should be awarded for the excellent promotion of the Caribbean over a longer period of time in the business aviation industry, said Antonia Lukacinova, founder of the Sapphire Pegasus Awards.

It is not just about the presence and presentations at international conferences and exhibitions, but also about the available online information and hardcopy documentation. The explanations are so well done and comprehensive that they hardly leave an opening for questions. We believe that this needs to find international recognition and honoring.

Director General in The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, Joy Jibrilu, was presented with the award on Tuesday, June 13 during the Caribbean Aviation Meetup in St. Maarten. She also delivered the keynote address at the aviation conference.

I am excited and thrilled by the announcement that The Bahamas has won the award for our outstanding promotion in business aviation. We at The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation work tirelessly to create new strategic partners in key markets across the world to increase airlift and new routes to the country. That is our goal. We also go above and beyond to promote our destination and position ourselves as the best in the region. As a team, we have accomplished many mammoth tasks and this award is vindication of that hard work. Thank you, Mrs. Jibrilu said.

The Sapphire Pegasus Awards are a unique series of international business aviation awards and are given for the outstanding performance by companies or individuals in the business aviation sector. The finalists are nominated by companies and individuals in the business aviation sector.

The Sapphire Pegasus Awards started out by recognizing the outstanding performance of companies, teams and business individuals from the EMEA region and Russia. This is the first year that four awards are being given out for excellence in the Caribbean.

About The Bahamas

The Islands Of The Bahamas have a place in the sun for everyone. Each island has its own personality and attractions for a variety of vacation styles with some of the worlds best golfing, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, boating, as well as, shopping and dining. The destination offers an easily accessible tropical getaway and provides convenience for travelers with preclearance through U.S. customs and immigration, and the Bahamian dollar is on par with the U.S. dollar. Do everything or do nothing, just remember Its Better in The Bahamas. For travel packages, activities and accommodations information, call 1-800-Bahamas or visit http://www.Bahamas.com. Look for The Bahamas on the web on Facebook Twitter and YouTube

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Bahamas wins new business aviation award - GlobeNewswire - GlobeNewswire (press release)

A sun worshipper in Granary Square, central London, on Sunday. Photograph: Amer Ghazzal/Barcroft Images

Temperatures in some parts of the UK exceeded those in Los Angeles and the Bahamas on Monday as the hottest day of the year so far gripped the country.

Temperatures rose to a sweltering 32.4C in parts of greater London in the afternoon, just above the 32.1C highs of the weekend. Most of England and Wales was affected by the hot weather, which was made particularly sweaty by the absence of a breeze, though the north of England and Scotland saw cooler, cloudier conditions.

Emma Sharples, a spokeswoman at the Met Office, said: Heatwave is a funny term we dont really have a definition of it in the UK but none of us can deny it has been a prolonged period of hot weather, and night-time temperatures have been quite unusually high, which can also be the cause of potential health problems, as well as a lot of restless nights.

Public Health England has issued an amber heat alert until Wednesday, one tier below level four, which marks a national emergency.

The warm, dry weather contrasts with the heavy rain that dominated the final weeks of June last year, causing treacherously muddy conditions at the Glastonbury festival, where the highest temperature recorded for the month was just 28C. The forecast for Glastonbury this year looks considerably dryer, but still variable, with the Met Office advising people to bring both suncream and wellies.

The hottest day of the year could also still be to come, with predictions that the south of England could have temperatures of 34C on Wednesday and Thursday.

Traditionally, youd expect to get these sorts of temperatures much later on in the summer, in late July and August, but were seeing high temperatures already, said Sharples. And weve already had a fine spell of weather in May.

The unusually warm weather is due to an air mass coming from the tropical parts of the Atlantic, around the Azores islands, while at the same time the very hot conditions across France and Spain last week are being pushed northwards.

As the wind changes direction on Wednesday, there will be no respite from the heat. Sharples warned people to expect a few more sweaty, sleepless nights until Friday, with temperatures remaining high even after the sun has set. Night-time temperatures on Sunday and Monday hovered at around 24C.

There will be some thunderstorms across the north on Wednesday and a few showers, though they will get no further south than the Midlands.

The temperatures look set to drop by next weekend, however, as the cool air comes down from Scotland over Manchester and the north of England on Thursday, and over the London and the south-east by Friday.

While the prolonged heatwave will give a welcome boost to sales of sunscreen, ice cream and fans, it also comes with a health risk for the ill, vulnerable and elderly. The 10-day heatwave in 2003 resulted in about 2,000 heat-related deaths, and 680 people died during the long spell of hot weather in 2006.

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Heatwave temperatures in UK higher than Los Angeles and Bahamas - The Guardian

THE BAHAMAS team to the first NACAC Age Group Championships in Trinidad & Tobago with coaching staff members.

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas team to the first NACAC Age Group Championships in Trinidad & Tobago will return home from some good performances at the Hasely Crawford Stadium over the weekend.

The team, managed by Doris Ramsey with Cedricka Rolle as the head coach, competed in the pentathlon or five events for the boys and girls 11-12 and the heptathlon or seven events for the boys and girls 13-14 divisions.

Girls 13-14 Heptathlon

The Bahamas best showing came from Anthaya Charlton in their seven events after she finished second out of a field of 32 competitors with a total of 3,876 points. Her team-mate Shaunece Miller was 13th with 3,520 points.

Shaniqua Bascombe of Trinidad & Tobago was the overall winner with 4,057.

Charlton did the 60m in 10.01 for 798 points, the long jump with 5.61m for 738 pts, the shot put with a heave of 7.88m for 415 pts, the 60m hurdles in 9.15 for 740 pts, the high jump with 1.35m for 499, the javelin throw with 24.32m for 271 pts and she ran the 1,000m in 3:40.84 for 415 pts.

Miller did the 60m in 10.87 for 640, the long jump with 4.89m for 599, the shot put with 6.83m for 356 pts, the 60m hurdles in 10.09 for 596 pts, the high jump with 1.45m for 582 pts, the javelin throw with 27.19m for 309 pts and the 1,000m in 3:36.87 for 438 pts.

Boys 13-14 Heptathlon

With a total of 31 competitors who started - only one failed to complete the seven-event package - Mateo Smith was seventh with 4,651 pts and a grieving Otto Laing was 10th with 4,541. Laings mother passed away just as he was preparing to travel and he said he wanted to go and compete for her.

Matthew Sophia of Curacao won the divisional title with 5,083 pts. Smith did the 80m in 9.58 for 887 pts, the long jump with a leap of 5.81m for 775 pts, the shot put with a toss of 9.87 for 516 pts, the 80m hurdles in 12.22 for 676 pts, the high jump with a leap of 1.70m for 779 pts, the javelin throw with 66.95m for 681 pts and he ran the 1,200m in 4:25.35 for 337 pts.

Laing ran the 80m in 9.83 for 834 pts, the long jump with a distance of 5.09m for 772 pts, the shot put with a toss of 10.83 for 562 pts, the 60m hurdles in 11.59 for 757 pts, the high jump with a height of 1.60m for 702 pts, the javelin throw with 53.26m for 571 pts and the 1,200m in 3:32.59.

Girls 11-12 Pentathlon

GShan Brown picked up a fifth place finish in their five events with 2,575 pts, while Lanique Thompson was 13th with 2,352 pts. A total of 28 competitors competed with Samiya Dell of Barbados winning with 2,894 pts. Brown did the 60m in 8.50 for 749 pts, the high jump with a leap of 1.25m for 426 pts, the javelin throw with 38.10m for 431 pts, the long jump with a distance of 4.21m for 460 pts and the 800m in 2:35.22 for 509 pts. Thompson, in her events, did the 60m in 8.60 for 688 pts, the high jump with 1.25m for 426 pts, the javelin throw with 30.78m for 350 pts, the long jump with 4.36m for 490 pts and the 800m in 2:54.25 for 358 pts.

Boys 11-12 Pentathlon

Only 14 competitors contested this division with Carlos Brown ending up fifth with 2,895 pts, followed by Daniel Ermilus 12th with 2,738 pts.

Lebron James of Trinidad & Tobago was the winner with 3,143 pts.

Brown led the Bahamas attack as he clocked 8.08 in the 60m for 843 pts, the high jump with a leap of 1.30m for 462 pts, the javelin throw with 44.67m for 495 pts, the long jump with a distance of 4.88m for 597 pts and the 1,000m in 3:13.91 for 588 pts.

And Ermilus ran 8.02 in the 60m for 857 pts, cleared 1.35m in the high jump for 499 pts, threw the javelin 20.51m for 224 pts, soared 4.73m in the long jump for 566 pts and ran 3:13.42 in the 1,000m for 524 pts.

Read more from the original source:

Team Bahamas Shines At Nacac Age Group Championships - Bahamas Tribune

On May 15, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that the next U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas will be a rich, ultraconservative real estate developer and hotel owner who became a media figure in his sixties, has fathered a large family, and opposes same-sex marriage as an affront to traditional marriage but divorced his wife to marry a much younger woman from the former Soviet blocjust like Donald Trump. This Trump doppelganger is Doug Manchester, who contributed early and heavily to Trumps presidential campaign and is being rewarded with the Bahamas nomination. Manchester already has a home in the Lyford Cay gated community on Bahamas New Providence Island.

Manchester, who insists on being called Papa Doug, backed Trump early, donating $50,000 to the Make America Great Again PAC in 2015. Both he and his second wife, Geniya Derzhavina Manchester, gave $454,800 to pro-Trump PACs. Manchester also helped organize several fundraisers, was a Trump delegate to the Republican convention, and donated $1 million to Trumps inauguration.

Just two weeks after Trumps inauguration, Manchester gushed that for the first time, a true capitalist is in the White House, an incredibly smart man with a big heart and an amazing family.

Born June 3, 1942, in Los Angeles, California, Douglas Frederick Manchester grew up in Coronado, California; Pueblo, Colorado; and San Diegos Pacific Beach neighborhood, where his father managed an apartment building. He graduated La Jolla High School in 1961, and earned a B.S. in Business at San Diego State University in 1965, where he worked as an insurance salesman. Also in 1965, Manchester married his girlfriend, Betsy Eldredge, with whom he eventually had five children.

After college, Manchester went into real estate, founding the Manchester Financial Group in 1970. Over the years, Manchesters company built a number of big buildings in San Diego, including First National Bank Center, the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina, the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel San Diego, and the Fairmont Grand Del Mar luxury resort. Manchester also founded two banks, the La Jolla Bank and Trust Company and La Jolla Pacific Savings Bank.

But in 2008, life started getting difficult for Manchester. He donated more than $125,000 to California Proposition 8 to ban same-sex marriage, claiming that his Catholic faithleads me to believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman. His activism for Prop 8, which passed in 2008, but later was ruled unconstitutional, led gay rights groups to boycott Manchesters hotels. Manchester eventually apologized, offering $125,000 in cash and hotel credit to same-sex rights groups, saying hes against gay marriage, not gays and lesbians.

In a stroke of irony, in October 2008just a month before the Prop 8 voteManchester left his wife of 43 years, who filed for divorce in June 2009. After several years of hardball litigationBetsy alleged that Papa Doug drained their joint bank accounts and opened her mailtheir divorce was finalized November 7, 2013. Just six weeks after the demise of his traditional marriage, on December 21, 2013, Doug Manchester, age 71, married Geniya Derzhavina, a 38-year-old Siberian.

Also in 2013, Manchester got himself and his business into hot water when San Diego Mayor Bob Filnera Democrat whose election Manchester had opposedtold a large audience that Manchester had asked him, through an aide, to to intervene and stop the code enforcement actions the City had taken because of several longstanding violations at Manchesters Grand Del Mar resort. Eventually, according to Dorian Hargrove of the San Diego Reader, Manchester had to sign a settlement, agreeing to not only mitigate impacts to natural habitat and stop using the [non-permitted facilities] but to also fork over $87,000 in fines and $250,000 for ongoing maintenance.

At the same time, Manchesters attempt to build a conservative media empire in San Diego took offand crashed. Manchester bought The San Diego Union-Tribune in 2011 for $110 million, acquiring his only daily competitor, the North County Times, for $12 million in 2012 as well as eight local weeklies in 2013.

From the outset, Manchester openly used the newspaper to promote conservative politics and construction projects that were in his financial interest. By 2012, New York Times writer David Carr opined that Manchester was using the paper as a brochure for his special interests, and criticized his ownership as a situation where moneyed interests buy papers and use them to prosecute a political and commercial agenda.

In 2015, after several years of falling circulation, Manchester sold The San Diego Union-Tribune to the Tribune Publishing Company, which owns The Los Angeles Times, for $85 milliona loss of at least $30 million. Around the same time, deprived of his bully pulpit, Manchester began his political dalliance with Donald Trump, leading ultimately to his ambassadorial nomination.

Manchester has been a major philanthropist in San Diego. He has made large donations to many local institutions, including San Diego State University, the University of San Diego, and the San Diego Symphony. He is a former trustee of the University of San Diego and of Wake Forest University, and has served on the board of trustees of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute.

Doug Manchester has played himself in three TV movies. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors declared May 31, 2012 (his 70th birthday) to be Papa Doug Manchester Day.

-Matt Bewig

To Learn More:

Doug Manchester to be Bahama Papa for U.S.? (by Don Bauder, San Diego Reader)

Who Runs San Diego? Douglas Manchester and U-T San Diego (by Eva Posner, San Diego Free Press)

The Fall of The San Diego Union-Tribune: How A Major GOP Donor Turned A Respected Paper Into A Corporate Shill (by Joe Strupp, Media Matters)

Read more from the original source:

Ambassador of the US to the Bahamas: Who is Doug Manchester? - AllGov