URI News release...

KINGSTON, R.I. The University of Rhode Island mens basketball team has made a change to its summer foreign trip plans.

Originally scheduled to visit London, England and Paris, France over an eight-day span from August 7-16, the Rams will now visit the Bahamas for a six-day stay from August 7-13.

We made this decision with the best interest of our student-athletes and their safety in mind, said head coach Dan Hurley. Our staff and our administration arrived at this decision based on the events that occurred there recently and the overall uncertainty in both of the locations we planned on visiting. Safety is our ultimate concern.

While there is no specific threat that led the decision to switch locations, the United States Department of State issued a travel alert for American citizens visiting Europe on May 1, 2017 that extends through the month of August.

The NCAA allows basketball programs to take a take a foreign tour once every four years. Rhode Island is permitted to hold 10 days of practice prior to the trip. Once in the Bahamas, URI will scrimmage the Bahamian National Team twice during its trip in early August.

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URI Basketball Trip Changes Plans from Europe to the Bahamas in ... - WLNE-TV (ABC6)

It's been two months since Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner officially filed for divorce (and two years since they announced their separation), but they still make sure to spend quality time together with their three children, Violet, Samuel and Seraphina.

Case in point: The whole familyvacationed in Baker's Baylast week.

"Ben and Jen took a family vacation with other family friends," an insider tells E! News. "There was never any question that Ben would be there. All the dads went along, and it would have been strange for the kids not to have their dad there."

If Baker's Bay sounds familiar, that's because it's the same Caribbean island the family visited after they announced their separation in 2015. But they've been going there for years, even before that.

Of course, with the vacation comes plenty of speculation regarding their relationship status. However, our insider confirms, "They are not getting back together at all. They are both moving on, but will continue doing things together as a family."

We're told Benwasn't there the entire time. Rather, hecame for a few days toward the end of the trip.

As for the getaway, another source dished,"They stayed in the same house they always stay at. It's beachfront and beautiful. It's an annual tradition for them when the kids get out of school to come for a long vacation. It's very relaxing, and they can feel like they're on island time with nowhere to go and nobody they need to see."

Erik Pendzich/REX Shutterstock

So what did they do?

Our insider added, "The kids spent a lot of time on the beach swimming and playing in the sand with their friends. They also swam in the pool at the house and visited the club. Ben and Jen both worked out at the gym daily."

The former couple has always been very vocal that co-parenting their three children is their No.1 priority, and they will remain united as a team to do so.

"We are definitely a modern family," Jen told Todaylast summer. "You don't have a choice," she added, admitting that while their new normal might look unusual to some, they're actually "doing really well."

Ben reiterated that statement when he told E! News,"Jen is a superhero mom. She is an amazing mother, and I'm really lucky to have her as a partner to co-parent these kids with.We try our best, we put them first and that's what we do."

Us Weekly was the first to report about the vacation.

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Inside Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Family Vacation in the Bahamas, Two Months After Filing for Divorce - E! Online

Almost two years after two Florida teenagers went missing at sea, investigators are still piecing together the details of their final moments. When Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos took a small boat out July,24, 2015, it appeared they were headed for the Bahamas, according to a court document obtained last week by WPLG-TV.

By putting together social media activity and interviews with friends and family, investigators were able to discern where the 14-year-olds may have been headed that day.

Read: Federal Lawsuit Filed In Case Of Florida Boys Lost At Sea

Me and Austin r crossing to the Bahamas tomorrow come with us, Cohen wrote in an Instagram message to a friend Jul. 23, 2015, according to the court document. We wouldnt check in.

Perry Cohen (L) and Austin Stephanos (R) went missing almost two years ago during a fishing trip off the coast of Florida. Photo: United States Coast Guard

The not checking in appeared to be in reference to avoiding customs officials on the way to the Bahamas.

In addition, Stephanos posted a Snapchat photo the day they left. The picture showed fishing poles on the boat alongside the caption Peace Out Jup.

Usually, when we say Peace Out Jup, we mean going to the Bahamas, a friend of the boys told investigators.

The social media activity was discovered after Stephanos iPhone was recovered almost eight months after the boys disappeared. The phone, their life vests and the 18-foot boat were eventually found, though no trace of the teens themselves was ever located.

The boys mentioned to at least one other friend that they were thinking about heading to the Bahamas, but eventually Austin said it was too rough, the friend told investigators.

The boys intended to take the boat out quite a distance, a girlfriend of a Stephanos family member told investigators, noting she had seen them with two extra gas cans before leaving.

Interviews with Stephanos grandfather also led officials to believe the boys had their sights set on the Bahamas. Richard Kuntz told investigators he gave his grandson $100 to buy gas for their fishing trip.

And thats when they starting talking about going to the Bahamas, ya didnt, he was just there, he knows you need a passport, he didnt have any money and he knows, two engines to go, minimum, or two boats, never by yourself with one engine and one battery, Kuntz said, according to the court document. The one battery, he wouldnt think about, but one engine, he would, and 40 gallons of gas, no.

Read: Plane Disappears Over Bermuda Triangle, 2 Adults, 2 Toddlers Missing

Cohens stepfather also told investigators that Cohen asked to borrow a boat GPS the night before leaving, telling him that Stephanos wanted to buy one.

I said, What are you going to do with it? he told investigators. You guys fishing or what are you going to do with it? Besides that, how are you going to hook it up? No mount. No wire. Perry said No, he has some wires there, he really wants to try. And I go, Perry, its not going to work, but if [you] need to satisfy your curiosity, go ahead.

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Florida Boys Lost At Sea Planned To Go To Bahamas, Posted Snapchats Just Before Disappearing - International Business Times

Instead of a trip to the Chop House Classic in Knoxville, Poore will take his Indians to the Bahamas for the Tabernacle Baptist Academy Thanksgiving Tournament.

The Tribe will play four games in the Bahamas the first four games of the Poore era at D-B.

We were scheduled to go to the Chop House Classic, Poore said. There is nothing wrong with that tournament. You play some good teams, but there is a low level of excitement when you tell your guys you are going to Knoxville to play in a Thanksgiving tournament.

The Bahamas, on the other hand?

The guys were really, really excited when I told them about the Bahamas, he added. Its the Bahamas and its pretty exciting for a high school kid to go out of the country and play a game.

Poore likes to have a trip of some kind every year for his team. He took three of his Jefferson County teams to the Bahamas tournament and said the experience is much more than just basketball.

When you go somewhere like the Bahamas for a week and you have a week with not only the players, you have a week with dedicated supporters from the community that are going along, a couple of school faculty that are going and parents and everybody is in one group, Poore said. Its a pretty special thing. You can start to grow as a program.

The trip will be played on Grand Bahama Island and hosted by Freeport, although there are only two indoor gyms on the island.

Freeport doesnt have an indoor gym, Poore noted. The JV teams when they play interschool games, they play outside in the parking lot because there are not enough indoor gyms.

Tribe players will also see Bahamian students in academic situations.

The neat thing is when we visit, our players get to see the classrooms with no air conditioning, two mini ceiling fans and way-too-overcrowded conditions, Poore said. Its helpful to appreciate what we have when we come back.

When the Indians return stateside, theyll play their home opener against who else? Jefferson County.

Thats my first game at D-B in the States, said a smiling Poore. We get back on Sunday, we play them on Tuesday. I joked with the staff when I left, The streak against D-B is over, brother.

Poore also plans for the Indians to continue competing in the prestigious Arbys Classic.

We not only want to be in the Arbys every year, we need to have a good showing and be competitive, he said. I hope our players look at that as an opportunity to sell our brand. Thats going to be big for us.

Poore played in the Arbys Classic at Greeneville and coached Jefferson County to a third-place finish in the 2014 tournament.

The memories for me as a player and coach are great memories, he said. We had that fabulous game against David Crockett in 2014 coming from 19 points down.

Ive never been at a school that goes every year. At Jefferson County, we didnt get to go back after that one showing.

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Poore heightens Tribe excitement by adding trip to Bahamas - Kingsport Times News

Rebecca Coriam was swept overboard by a wave off the coast of Mexico in 2011 while working on the Disney Wonder.

CHESTER, England, Thursday June 29, 2017 A Bahamian investigation into the mysterious disappearance of a woman who was working on a Disney cruise ship has been harshly criticised by a British maritime expert.

Officially, Rebecca Coriam, 24, was swept overboard by a wave off the coast of Mexico in 2011 while working as a child-minder on the Disney Wonder. Her family has always suspected foul play, however, because they maintain that there were no reports of rough seas in the area at the time.

Heat Street reports that it has now come to light that two friends who worked with Coriam on the ship later visited her parents at their home near Chester, England and said she had confided in them that she was scared of being raped or sexually assaulted.

Shortly after she disappeared, an official investigation was launched in accordance with maritime law, which states that if a ship is in international waters the case is the responsibility of the nation where the vessel is registered.

The Disney Wonder was registered in the Bahamas. At Disneys expense, one officer Superintendent Paul Rolle from the Royal Bahamas Police Force was flown in to investigate. Rolle arrived with no forensic equipment.

Notes sent by the UK Foreign Office to Coriams parents indicate that her final movements focused on her relationships with two crew members her American girlfriend and a man from Central America.

According to Superintendent Rolles notes: (American woman in relationship with Miss Coriam) left to get more beer. Came back and Rebecca and (male crew member who was in a relationship with the American woman) chatting.

She came back and all 3 went to (male crew members) room. (Male crew member) had sex with both. (American woman) left the room again to get beer. Came back and Rebecca and (male crew member) had sex.

The Bahamian detectives notes also detail how the male crew member had a very nonchalant attitude when being questioned. He was laughing and joking and police had to give him a warning.

The Coriam family suspect Rebecca died because she wouldnt agree to an open bisexual relationship with the male and female crew members. They believe their daughter was sexually assaulted and that any sex she had outside of her lesbian relationship was forced, and not consensual.

Maritime expert Bill Anderson, who is working with the family, was quoted as telling Britains Daily Mail: Everything has been covered up. Rebecca was a happy-go-lucky person with plenty to live for. The only thing that was upsetting her was pressure being placed on her to have sex with somebody she didnt want to.

But the investigation, by one detective from the Bahamas, and the carefree way they let suspects out of their grasp, beggars belief.

Although the Coriam family is pushing for a new inquiry into Rebeccas death, British authorities have said that the incident is not in their jurisdiction.

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Bahamas Criticized For Slack Investigation into Disappearance of Cruise Ship Worker - Caribbean360.com (subscription)

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Bahamas First's top executive yesterday warned that this nation "can't afford to have more sovereign downgrades" due to the negative impact on private sector credit ratings.

Patrick Ward, its president and chief executive, said ratings for the insurer and other Bahamas-based companies could be threatened by increased 'country risk' stemming from this nation's reduced creditworthiness.

"I don't think the Bahamas can afford to have more sovereign downgrades," Mr Ward said, "looking at it from the point of view of entities like Bahamas First that have ratings which are in some way linked to the sovereign rating of the country.

"Future downgrades could start to challenge the ratings Bahamas First and other companies have."

The negative consequences for Bahamas-based companies as a result of this nation's eight-year sovereign downgrade trend were recently highlighted by the Nassau Airport Development Company's (NAD) downgrade.

The move by the Fitch rating agency was directly linked to the Government's deteriorating creditworthiness, with Dionisio D'Aguilar, minister of tourism, saying it had a direct impact on NAD's debt servicing costs.

"Their [NAD's] debt got downgraded because Fitch said there's additional sovereign risk," the Minister previously confirmed to Tribune Business. "They went to downgrade NAD one rating below investment grade, and one effect of that was they needed to increase the bond reserve fund from $19 million to $38 million."

This, Mr D'Aguilar added, had forced NAD to increase passenger and other user fees at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) in a bid to meet the increased debt costs.

NAD's situation shows Mr Ward's concerns are not without merit, with the Bahamas First chief pointing out that the Bahamas was not alone on the issue.

He added that all Caribbean nations, apart from Trinidad & Tobago, which is barely clinging on, had lost their 'investment grade' creditworthiness with one or both of Standard & Poor's (S&P) and Moody's.

Mr Ward said the impact had already been felt by the region's insurance industry, with Barbados-based Sagicor - a multi-jurisdiction giant - having been placed on 'credit watch with negative implications' due to fiscal weaknesses in its home country.

Bahamas First and several competitors, including RoyalStar Assurance, Summit Insurance Company and Security & General, are also all rated annually by A. M. Best, the insurance industry rating agency, for their financial strength and creditworthiness.

Apart from focusing on each company, A. M. Best's analyses also factors in country risks such as the Government's fiscal position, state of the economy and condition of the insurance market.

Further downgrades by either Moody's or Standard & Poor's (S&P) would threaten to impact A. M. Best's ratings of Bahamian insurance underwriters, and the former has already indicated its alarm over the 2017-2018 Budget.

Moody's, as revealed by Tribune Business, warned the global capital markets that the Bahamas' fiscal condition is "significantly worse" than expected due to the new government's planned $722 million borrowing - intended in part to cover the expanded $500 million deficit for 2016-2017.

With rating agency trust in the Government's fiscal projections seemingly undermined, the Bahamas' sovereign credit rating will rely heavily on the Minnis administration's ability to provide a convincing explanation for the increased borrowing and deficits to remain at its current level.

Mr Ward yesterday said "there's a direct cost of capital imposed" on private companies by sovereign rating downgrades, explaining: "You have got to provide more capital to sustain a level of rating that would not have resulted if our sovereign rating was in good shape."

The Bahamas First chief also alluded to the "long-term impact if the Government's debt is written down", given that insurance and bank balance sheets are loaded with bonds and other debt for asset-liability matching purposes.

"I hope they're going to take a measured approach," Mr Ward added of the rating agencies, "and give this new administration an opportunity, but who knows."

Mr Ward said further exchange control liberalisation was key to Bahamas First's ability to both expand into other countries and diversify its investment returns.

"It's central to our focus in terms of expanding our footprint," he explained. "It makes the whole proposition to expand our footprint easier."

Glen Ritchie, Bahamas First's group vice-president and chief financial officer, recalled how the company had waited two months to obtain Central Bank approval to increase its equity stake in its Cayman affiliate, Cayman First.

He emphasised that had Bahamas First been competing with rivals to make such an investment, the wait for exchange control approval could have cost it the deal.

The exchange control regime has long been viewed as an obstacle to Bahamian companies expanding into other Caribbean nations. Mr Ward said it placed local firms at a competitive disadvantage to Caribbean rivals, some of whom - enjoying liberalised capital markets - were moving into this nation.

He argued that further exchange control liberalisation would also enable Bahamas First to diversify its investment portfolio and earn potentially greater returns, while reducing geographical risk associated with the current restrictions to this nation.

Mr Ward said investments abroad by Bahamian companies would ultimately benefit this nation by bringing foreign exchange earnings back to these shores.

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Bahamas 'Cannot Afford' More Rating Downgrades - Bahamas Tribune

NEW YORK, NASSAU, MIES -- The National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) today announced the top 66 boys and girls from 16 countries and territories who will travel to the Bahamas for the ninth Basketball without Borders (BWB) Americas Camp. The camp will be held July 5-8 at The Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium in Nassau, marking the first time that the NBA and FIBAs global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in the Bahamas. Nike will serve as the official partner.

NBA and FIBA players and coaches, including J.J. Barea (Dallas Mavericks; Puerto Rico), Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks; Canada) and Sasha Vujai (New York Knicks; Slovenia), will coach the high school age campers. Barea, Powell and Vujai, will be joined by WNBA Legend Ebony Hoffman (U.S.).

BWB, the NBA and FIBAs global basketball development and community outreach program, has reached more than 2,720 participants from 134 countries and territories since 2001, with 46 campers drafted into the NBA. Twenty-three former BWB campers, including four former BWB Americas campers, were on opening-night rosters for the 2016-17 season, including Bruno Caboclo (Toronto Raptors; Brazil; BWB Americas 2013), Thon Maker (Milwaukee Bucks; South Sudan; BWB Americas 2015) and Kelly Olynyk (Boston Celtics; Canada; BWB Americas 2009). Three former BWB campers were drafted in the 2017 NBA Draft: Lauri Markkanen (No. 7 overall pick Chicago Bulls; Finland; BWB Europe 2014/BWB Global 2015), Frank Ntilikina (No. 8 overall pick New York Knicks; France; BWB Europe 2015/BWB Global 2016) and Isaiah Hartenstein (No. 43 overall pick Houston Rockets; U.S.; BWB Europe 2015/BWB Global 2016).

Current NBA assistant coaches James Borrego (San Antonio Spurs), Jim Boylan (Cleveland Cavaliers), Darvin Ham (Atlanta Hawks) and David Vanterpool (Portland Trail Blazers) will also serve as BWB Americas coaches. Patrick Hunt (President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches; Australia) and Ronald Cass (FIBA Coach) will serve as camp directors for the boys and girls, respectively. Armando Rivas (Chicago Bulls) will serve as the camps athletic trainer.

Players and coaches will lead the campers through a variety of activities on and off the court, including movement efficiency, positional skill development, 5-on-5 games and daily life skills seminars focusing on health, leadership and communication. One boy and one girl will be named BWB Americas Camp MVPs at the conclusion of the camp.

BWB Americas will also include a Jr. NBA clinic with local youth in the Bahamas in partnership with community organizations, which will highlight the power of sport to promote cultural understanding while teaching the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle and the values of the game, including teamwork, integrity and respect.

Nike, a BWB global partner since 2002, will outfit the campers and coaches with Nike apparel and footwear.

The NBA and FIBA have staged 49 BWB camps in 30 cities across 25 countries on six continents. More than 230 current and former NBA, WNBA and FIBA players have joined more than 185 NBA team personnel from all 30 NBA teams to support BWB across the world.

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Hawks Assistant Darvin Ham To Coach In Basketball Without Borders In Bahamas - Hawks.com

The International Table Tennis Federation hosted a press conference Friday to introduce future plans for the table sport. Pictured (l-r) are Adrain Rolins, Keith Saunder, Shameka Fernander, Geoffrey McPhee, Richard McAfee, Wellington Miller and Carl

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas and the sport of table tennis itself made history.

The Bahamas Table Tennis Federation became one of the final four countries in the world to join the International Table Tennis Federation. With the additions of the Bahamas, Cape Verde, Eritrea and Guinea Bissau, the ITTF became the only sport in the world to have every country as a member federation. Global membership of the organisation now stands at 226 countries.

The ITTF international course conductor, Richard McAfee, officially represented the international governing body at a press conference to announce the partnership. ITTF is very proud to be the first international federation on earth to have every country in the world as a member. The Bahamas was one of the last four to come in and in honour of that the ITTF has launched a developmental project, which will last about a year in the country, he said. They have already sent in an equipment package, we will be hiring a local developmental officer and hopefully we will get table tennis back to the glory days you have had here before, but this time it is going to be interconnected to the ITTF and programmes around the world. Hopefully we will be able to raise it to a new height and support it in a lot of different ways.

The goal of the BTTF is to encourage, promote and control the sport of table tennis throughout the country.

To that end, the Bahamas hosted a two-day club coaching course, taught by McAfee at the home of table tennis, the YWCA on Dolphin Drive.

BTTF secretary Shameka Fernander said the organisation seeks to educate the public on the sport.

We want to give special thanks to the Bahamas Olympic Committee for assisting us in this process. Table tennis has been around in the Bahamas for a very long time and The Nassau Table Tennis Club has been playing for over 40 years. Our home is at the YWCA on Dolphin Drive and a lot of people dont know about it, but we want to increase the amount of players, clubs, she said.

One of our first projects is to integrate table tennis into the schools so we are hosting a course with the Ministry of Education teachers and we are very excited to have that.

Table tennis was once one of the leading sports in The Bahamas, and the sport is a part of the curriculum in schools. The BTTF has taken part and won numerous awards from prestigious tournaments around the region, and on the international circuit.

Said BTTF president Geoffrey McPhee: We hope the country can pick up the enthusiasm we have for the sport and we now have to share it with a younger generation. We want the younger kids to know there is an even greater sport they can participate in so we can grow this sport to the level of others in the country.

Bahamas Olympic Committee president Wellington Miller said it was a step in the right direction to have another sport join the Olympic movement.

This discussion started last year in Rio. We sat down and went through it. We figured that if it was properly organised, everyone will be able to benefit from it. We look forward to the day when table tennis can benefit and be on our national teams, he said.

Excerpt from:

Table Tennis Making History In The Bahamas - Bahamas Tribune

Aol.com Editors

Jun 26th 2017 3:51PM

While President Donald Trump and first daughter Ivanka Trump were attending Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin's wedding over the weekend, Donald Trump Jr. and his family appeared to be having a great time on a Caribbean vacation.

The first son, his wife Vanessa and their children went scuba diving and fishing during their getaway to the Bahamas.

Trump posted a photo of his wife and his three youngest children -- 5-year-old Tristan, 4-year-old Spencer and 3-year-old Chloe. His two older children, 10-year-old Kai and 8-year-old Donald III, were not featured in any of his Instagram photos from this year's trip.

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Donald Trump Jr. and family enjoy Bahamas vacation

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Now that's a grouper. Took Vanessa and the kids away for the weekend and it seems we are off to a good start. #fishing #family #weekend

A little morning dive to kick off the day. #scuba #diving

Family boat day. Good times on the water. #family #weekend #familytime #water #sports

Before and after. #conch #freediving

Had some visitors come say hello at the beach today. #family #beach #weekend #bacon

Sun going down in a great weekend.

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Trump Jr. and his family are frequent visitors to the Bahamas, having vacationed there several times in the last couple years.

Back in Washington D.C., Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner, President Trump and first lady Melania Trump were spotted at Mnuchin's wedding to actress Louise Linton on Saturday evening. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen were also in attendance.

RELATED: Inside Steve Mnuchin's wedding and relationship with Louise Linton

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Inside Steve Mnuchin's wedding and relationship with Louise Linton

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WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: United States President Donald J. Trump and first lady Melania Trump depart the White House in Washington, DC on June 24, 2017. The Trumps left to attend the wedding of US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and Louise Linton. The first lady is wearing a Gilles Mendel silk chiffon gown with Manolo Blahnik pumps. ( Photo by Ron Sachs-pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: United States President Donald J. Trump and first lady Melania Trump depart the White House in Washington, DC on June 24, 2017. The Trumps left to attend the wedding of US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and Louise Linton. The first lady is wearing a Gilles Mendel silk chiffon gown with Manolo Blahnik pumps. ( Photo by Ron Sachs-pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: United States President Donald J. Trump and first lady Melania Trump depart the White House in Washington, DC on June 24, 2017. The Trumps left to attend the wedding of US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and Louise Linton. The first lady is wearing a Gilles Mendel silk chiffon gown with Manolo Blahnik pumps. ( Photo by Ron Sachs-pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: (Exclusive Coverage) (L-R) First Lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, Louise Linton, Vice President Mike Pence, and Second Lady Karen Pence pose at the wedding of Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and Louise Linton on June 24, 2017 at Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. Louise Linton is wearing a custom Ines Di Santo gown with wedding ring and earrings by Martin Katz. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for LS)

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: (Exclusive Coverage) Vice President Mike Pence (C) officiates the wedding of Louise Linton (L) and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin (R) on June 24, 2017 at Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. Louise Linton is wearing a custom Ines Di Santo gown with wedding ring and earrings by Martin Katz. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for LS)

UNITED STATES - MAY 18: Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin testifies, as his fiancee Louise Linton looks on, during a Senate Banking Committee hearing in Dirksen Building titled Domestic and International Policy Update, on May 18, 2017. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Steven Mnuchin (L) and his financee Louise Linton watch as US President Donald Trump speaks during Mnuchin's swearing-in ceremony as the next treasury secretary in the Oval Office of the White House on February 13, 2017 in Washington, DC. / AFP / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

US President Donald Trump (L) watches as US Vice President Mike Pence (out of frame) administers the oath of office to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (2nd L) watched by Mnuchin's fiancee Louise Linton in the Oval Office of the White House on February 13, 2017 in Washington, DC. / AFP / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: U.S. Treasury Secretary nominee Stephen Mnuchin and fiancee Louise Linton arrive for the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump became the 45th president of the United States today. (Photo by Saul Loeb - Pool/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 07: Steven Mnuchin and Louise Linton attend the 2016 Library Lions Gala at New York Public Library - Stephen A Schwartzman Building on November 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)

UNITED STATES - JANUARY 19: Louise Linton, fianc of Steven Mnuchin, right, President-elect Trump's nominee for Treasury secretary, attends his Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing in Dirksen Building, January 19, 2017. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Louise Linton smiles as her fiancSteven Mnuchin, Treasury secretary nominee for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, not pictured, speaks during a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Mnuchin defended his record as an owner of a mortgage lender that was accused of unfair loan and foreclosure practices during the financial crisis. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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More from AOL.com: Ivanka Trump faces criticism on social media over off-the-shoulder gown at congressional picnic Poll: Majority think President Trump and the first family should travel less Inside the extravagant wedding of billionaire Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and 36-year-old actress Louise Linton

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Where is Donald Trump Jr.? First son shares photos of lavish Bahamas vacation - AOL

The Illinois House of Representatives adopted aresolutionJune 22 to encourage airline travel to the Bahamas.

In an executive session called after the special session adjourned in just under 11 minutes, House Resolution 290 was adopted via voice vote. State Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, and state Rep. Camille Lilly, D-Chicago, sponsored the resolution.

The resolution encourages airlines flying between Illinois and the Bahamas to explore increasing the amount of flights between Illinois and the Bahamas.

And instead of encouraging in-state tourism, HR 290 promotes a newluxury resortin the Bahamas that opened in April.

While encouraging the taxpayers they represent to spend money out of state, Illinois still has no budget.

The Illinois Senate adjourned from special session June 22 after just 11 minutes and 54 seconds, and also failed to advance a budget. The special legislative session will cost taxpayers about $50,000 per day, according to an estimate from the Chicago Tribune.

Both sides of the aisle in Springfieldclaim to want a compromiseon a budgetto prevent Illinois from becoming the first state in the union with a junk credit rating. BothDemocratsandRepublicans have proposed plansto raise taxes by more than $5 billion, which wouldincrease the average Illinois households tax burden by $1,125 a year. But Illinoisans have expressed that they dont want a budget that hikes taxes.

Nearly two-thirdsof likely Illinois voters dont want an income tax hike as part of the state budget, according to polling conducted by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates and commissioned by the Illinois Policy Institute. More than three-quarters of respondentsopposehiking sales taxes. Andnearly 80 percentagree Illinois state lawmakers should pass major structural reforms before passing any tax increase.

The Illinois Policy Institute has introduced a budget proposal that offers real reform without raising taxes. This kind of reform-minded, no-tax-hike proposal is in line with what Illinoisans want. Lawmakers should use that as a framework while taxpayers pay for their costly special session.

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The Illinois House of Representatives adopted a resolution June 22 to encourage airline travel to the Bahamas. - Madison County Record

A South Florida chef who starred in a cable TV reality cooking show suffered third-degree burns Thursday after a gas explosion at his new restaurant in the Bahamas,Local 10 News in Miami reports.

Ralph Pagano was airlifted to a Miami hospital after the blast at Resorts World Bimini. He was turning on the kitchen's gas burners when the oven blew up. "My hands were on fire, my shirt was on fire, my pants were on fire," Pagano told Local 10 News from Jackson Memorial Hospital.

The chef, who starred in the Lifetime showAll Mixed Up, suffered burns on his face, legs and hands. "I thought I was going to die," he said. "Luckily, I stopped, dropped and rolled."

"I'm going to need skin graphs and about a month in the hospital, but I'm alive," Pagano said.

Pagano has made other TV appearances, including competing onHell's Kitchen andIron Chef. He owns several South Florida restaurants: Naked Taco in Miami Beach, Naked Lunch in Miami and Naked Crab in Fort Lauderdale.

He was opening a new Naked Taco location when the accident occurred.

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Celebrity chef injured in gas explosion at new Bahamas restaurant - Palm Beach Post

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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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)