By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

EFFORTS are underway by officials at the University of The Bahamas (UB) to secure representatives from every political party with a view to hosting a series of town hall meetings centred on national debate, political polling and scientific research.

Dr Christopher Curry, Chair of the School of Social Science at UB, said the concept is a step in the right direction for the country and its political climate, claiming that the inclusion of public and media at this level of the election process should translate into a more involved electorate.

Dr Curry added that, as a country, the Bahamas has never approached its electoral process from this standpoint, stressing that the move could lead to a systematic shift from a "party-like concept" of electoral discussions to one of "rational discourse".

The proposed series - which will start on Wednesday - is expected to run over the course of several weeks in the lead up to the election; featuring discussions on Small Island Sustainability; Economy and National Development; Local Government and the Family Islands; and Governance: Democracy or Dictatorship.

Organisers said they remain hopeful that the series could climax with a leadership debate featuring Prime Minister Perry Christie, Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis and Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Branville McCartney among others.

However, Dr Curry said that the final elements of that "finale" is still "a ways off", with several elements still having to "come together".

"This is unprecedented for the Bahamas, but as I say that, I have to note that it is something that moves us in the right direction," Dr Curry said.

He added: "Never before have we had political procedures approached from this standpoint; debate, rational discourse or reasoning on how best to move the country forward. It has often been centred on a party like concept where rallies take on the form of celebrations.

"Now we are talking about scientific processes, data analysis, formatted questions that lend to a resolution in certain cases. We want to generate polling, statistics and community involvement."

According to Dr Curry, Wednesday's town meeting willbe constructed around the topic, "Is the Justice System just?" and feature presentations for crime and justice spokespersons from respective parties.

Senator Keith Bell, Progressive Liberal Party candidate for Carmichael; Marvin Dames, FNM candidate for Mt Moriah; Stephen Greenslade, DNA candidate for Carmichael; Gregory Moss, leader of the United Democratic Party and MP for Marco City; Andrew Stewart, leader of the Bahamas National Coalition Party: Sharell Alli McIntosh, founder of the Bahamas Constitution Party; and Alex Morley, leader of the African Peoples Socialist Party are expected to participate.

Last year, in response to calls by some in the media for him to resign, Mr Christie challenged Dr Minnis and Mr McCartney to debate, stating: "Bring Minnis here, bring Branville here, Christie here and say tell us what you believe in, and make your judgment. Ask questions, see who has a command of the country, who understands where the country ought to be going and who could speak to those issues.

Subsequently, only Mr McCartney formally accepted the Prime Minister's invitation. The DNA leader went as far as to offer to cover all of the expenses associated with the event.

Dr Minnis for his part, brushed off the issue for several days, ultimately declining the opportunity on the grounds that he was more interested in unseating Mr Christie than in debating with him.

My answer to that challenge remains the same; we have an ineffective CEO running our country. I am by far more interested in removing him than a debate, said Dr Minnis.

Wednesday's forum will be hosted at 6pm at the university's Harry C Moore library.

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University Of The Bahamas Aims For Political Town Hall Meetings - Bahamas Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A former Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president yesterday said it was totally unfair, unjust and untrue for Baha Mars foreign bathroom manufacturer to criticise this nations skills construction labour shortages.

Stephen Wrinkle told Tribune Business that the assertion by Oldcastle SurePods, which made 1,800 prefabricated bathrooms for Baha Mars casino and Grand Hyatt hotels, again showed how the Government had failed to protect Bahamian contractors and employees.

The criticism arousing Mr Wrinkles ire came in a press release issued yesterday by Oldcastle to tout its bathrooms, which were pre-assembled and then shipped by container to Baha Mars property in Nassau prior to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing,

In addition to the speed, simplicity, superior quality and safety benefits of modular bathrooms, two things stand out with this project, said Bill Seery, Oldcastle SurePods director of business development.

Installing 1,800 bathrooms in one project site is our biggest job to date. Second, was our ability to ship to an island that faces skilled construction labour shortages.

Mr Wrinkle took issue with the latter remark, describing himself as saddened and disappointed by Oldcastles dismissive comment about the quality of the Bahamian construction workforce.

He questioned how many Bahamian contractors the company had talked to, or knew, and added: Thats totally unfair to Bahamian contractors and workers; totally unfair, unjust and untrue, and, once again, the Bahamas is not looking out for the interests of the Bahamian people.

How can Oldcastle presume to know what our construction capabilities are? They didnt contact the BCA for any relationship, and have not talked to any of the main contractors, yet they come in duty-free, get free board and house, do the work and take the profits home, while we have thousands of construction workers out of work.

Mr Wrinkle added: That doesnt compute. Thats why the economy is in the shape its in.

This will continue to be the modus operandi until we have a Government that respects the interests of industry and the private sector.

Oldcastle said its product had been selected by China Construction America (CCA), Baha Mars main contractor, to eliminate thousands of man hours from the project site, while ensuring five-star bathroom quality.

Oldcastle added that the prefabricated bathrooms were easy to lift, place and install, helping developers save time and money.

Continued here:

Foreign Contractor Blasted On Bahamas Labour Criticisms - Bahamas Tribune

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Royal Caribbean, the worlds largest cruise line, has announced that they have reached an agreement withthe Bahamas to not only grow tourism to the country, but also to greatly enhance CocoCay that includes building a pier on the island. Royal Caribbean has committed to a multi-year agreement with the island nation of The Bahamas that will help grow tourism to the destination, rapidly increase the cruise lines employment of Bahamian nationals and invest in hospitality training to develop talent in the country.

At a signing ceremony attended by Perry Christie, Prime Minister of The Bahamas and Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International, the cruise line confirmed plans for a significant investment in major enhancements to CocoCay its private island destination in The Bahamas which will include the construction of a pier, additional guest features and amenities, and new opportunities for vendors and craftsmen to promote the culture of The Bahamas to visitors.

Cruise Fever reported back in June how Royal Caribbean was in talks to build a pier on CocoCay for a cost of approximately $47 million that would allow Oasis class ships to visit the island for the first time.

As part of the agreement, Royal Caribbean plans to work with The Bahamas government to develop a training program to provide those who aspire to a career in hospitality with a unique opportunity to participate in innovative training and development. The cruise line will create a curriculum that will prepare many thousands of students for careers at sea on board one of Royal Caribbeans ships.

The classes will be facilitated by dedicated instructors who will provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge to help them develop valuable and marketable hospitality skills. In addition to the classroom experience, students will receive on-site guidance and training from shipboard professionals.

Royal Caribbean has committed to rapidly growing the number of Bahamian nationals employed by the cruise line in the next five years. In addition, they have joint ownership of the Grand Bahamas shipyard in Freeport at which major revitalizations and drydock maintenance of its ships take place.

Operators of the worlds largest ships with an additional two mega ships under construction and four on order, Royal Caribbean currently brings 1.7 million visitors a year to The Bahamas, with plans to significantly expand that number in the next decade as they add capacity in the region. With its strategic location and proximity to the United States, Bahamian destinations are already marquee ports of call for 13 of Royal Caribbeans ships and are consistently highly rated by guests.

Photo Credit: By UpstateNYer Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Royal Caribbean Building Pier on Private Island in the Bahamas - Cruise Fever

LOS ANGELES A spokeswoman for Peter Nygard says the Canadian clothing manufacturer plans to appeal a ruling in the Bahamas that found he violated a 2013 court order to stopdredging near his beachfront home.

In a statement Wednesday, Sallie Hofmeister says Nygard and his associates"respectfully disagree" with the ruling, but they have paid the $50,000 fine handed down by the Bahamas Supreme Court.

A lawyer for the environmental group Save the Bays, which brought the case against Nygard,released a statement Tuesday calling the court ruling "an extraordinary triumph for environmental justice in the Bahamas."

Fred Smithsays Nygard has nearly doubled the size of his property over the years by digging up sand and placing it along his beachfront.

However, Hofmeister says Nygard Holdings Ltd. was issued a permit authorizing the "lawful removal of obstructions" from a marina on the property.

Shesays the permit was issued after the original court order, and the firm had no reason to believe it was invalid or issued without property authority.

"It remains our contention that the removal and stockpiling of sand from the Nygard Cay marina was carried out in good faith in full accordance with the conditions of a government-issued permit," Hofmeister says.

She also says the company will challenge part of the judge's ruling that requires the company to move the stockpiled sand to a nearby beach.

"There was no evidence presented in court showing that any sand removed from Nygard Cays marina since the injunction had migrated from Jaws Beach," Hofmeister says.

"Therefore we believe there is no justification for requiring the sand to be moved to Jaws Beach."

The Canadian Press

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Canadian fashion mogul Nygard pays $50K fine in Bahamas, but will appeal ruling - rdnewsnow.com

MIAMI, March 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's largest cruise line, Royal Caribbean International, has committed to a multi-year agreement with the island nation of The Bahamas that will help grow tourism to the destination, rapidly increase the cruise line's employment of Bahamian nationals and invest in hospitality training to develop talent in the country.

At a signing ceremony attended by Perry Christie, Prime Minister of The Bahamas and Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International, the cruise line confirmed plans for a significant investment in major enhancements to CocoCay its private island destination in The Bahamas which will include the construction of a pier, additional guest features and amenities, and new opportunities for vendors and craftsmen to promote the culture of The Bahamas to visitors.

"Royal Caribbean has been a long-standing partner of the islands of The Bahamas and their plans to significantly increase tourism to our country as well as to develop the talent of our youth and expand employment opportunities for Bahamians is commendable," said Prime Minister Christie.

As part of the agreement, Royal Caribbean plans to work with The Bahamas government to develop a training program to provide those who aspire to a career in hospitality with a unique opportunity to participate in innovative training and development. The cruise line will create a curriculum that will prepare many thousands of students for careers at sea on board one of Royal Caribbean's ships. The classes will be facilitated by dedicated instructors who will provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge to help them develop valuable and marketable hospitality skills. In addition to the classroom experience, students will receive on-site guidance and training from shipboard professionals.

Royal Caribbean has committed to rapidly growing the number of Bahamian nationals employed by the cruise line in the next five years. In addition, they have joint ownership of the Grand Bahamas shipyard in Freeport at which major revitalizations and drydock maintenance of its ships take place.

"Tourism is an important engine of growth for the economy of destinations in the Caribbean and The Bahamas, and we are excited to bring more visitors on our newest and most innovative ships to this popular vacation spot," said Bayley. "Our commitment to The Bahamas is multifold. It is our responsibility to contribute to the country's economic diversity, to its employment base and the training of Bahamian youth as well as the protection of the environment. We are excited about the continued growth of tourism in The Bahamas, and look forward to doing our part to keep that growth and progress moving along in the years to come."

Operators of the world's largest ships with an additional two mega ships under construction and four on order, Royal Caribbean currently brings 1.7 million visitors a year to The Bahamas, with plans to significantly expand that number in the next decade as they add capacity in the region. With its strategic location and proximity to the United States, Bahamian destinations are already marquee ports of call for 13 of Royal Caribbean's ships and are consistently highly rated by guests.

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Royal Caribbean International is an award-winning global cruise brand with a 48-year legacy of innovation and introducing industry "firsts" never before seen at sea.The cruise line features an expansive and unmatched array of features and amenities only found on Royal Caribbean, including jaw-dropping, Broadway-style entertainment and industry-acclaimed programming that appeals to families and adventurous vacationers alike. On board, guests are catered to with the cruise line's world-renowned friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service by every staff and crew member. Royal Caribbean has been voted "Best Cruise Line Overall" for 14 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards.

The cruise line sails 25 of the world's most innovative cruise ships to the most popular destinations in Bermuda and the Caribbean, Europe, Canada and New England, Alaska, South America, Asia, and Australia and New Zealand. Media can stay up-to-date by following @RoyalCaribPR on Twitter, and visiting RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers should call their travel agent; visitRoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royal-caribbean-finalizes-agreement-with-the-bahamas-to-grow-tourism-to-the-destination-300420341.html

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Royal Caribbean Finalizes Agreement With The Bahamas To Grow Tourism To The Destination - Yahoo Finance

LOS ANGELES A spokeswoman for Peter Nygard says the Canadian clothing manufacturer plans to appeal a ruling in the Bahamas that found he violated a 2013 court order to stop dredging near his beachfront home.

In a statement Wednesday, Sallie Hofmeister says Nygard and his associates "respectfully disagree" with the ruling, but they have paid the $50,000 fine handed down by the Bahamas Supreme Court.

A lawyer for the environmental group Save the Bays, which brought the case against Nygard, released a statement Tuesday calling the court ruling "an extraordinary triumph for environmental justice in the Bahamas."

Fred Smith says Nygard has nearly doubled the size of his property over the years by digging up sand and placing it along his beachfront.

However, Hofmeister says Nygard Holdings Ltd. was issued a permit authorizing the "lawful removal of obstructions" from a marina on the property.

She says the permit was issued after the original court order, and the firm had no reason to believe it was invalid or issued without property authority.

"It remains our contention that the removal and stockpiling of sand from the Nygard Cay marina was carried out in good faith in full accordance with the conditions of a government-issued permit," Hofmeister says.

She also says the company will challenge part of the judge's ruling that requires the company to move the stockpiled sand to a nearby beach.

"There was no evidence presented in court showing that any sand removed from Nygard Cays marina since the injunction had migrated from Jaws Beach," Hofmeister says.

"Therefore we believe there is no justification for requiring the sand to be moved to Jaws Beach."

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Canadian fashion mogul Nygard pays $50K fine in Bahamas, but will appeal ruling - Times Colonist

U.S. Army vet Kermit Johnson explains after his career change, LIMS gave him the amazing career opportunity which followed with an offer to film in the Bahamas. Dont miss a thing. Get breakingKHTS Santa Clarita News Alertsdelivered right to your inbox.

After the tour, I was pretty much stoked, Johnson says. This was my opportunity to actually change careers.

Johnson was involved in many other film positions, such as background or stand-in work, but he was never involved in sound until experiencing the production lots, which peaked his interest.

I always enjoyed the environments there, Johnson says.

The part that really initiated Johnson to become a part of LIMS is the support they provide for veterans.

Johnson joined the sound editing post-production department, and now as a graduate, he explains that, The skills they teach you there are skills that actually work in the real world.

LIMS provides real work experience, and that helped Johnson with an unplanned opportunity.

Fortunate for me, I had a job fall right into my lap, Johnson said: the opportunity to shoot a feature film in the Bahamas as a sound operator.

It was a fortunate moment where Johnson says he was at LIMS, at the right place, at the right time. Before I (knew) it, three days later, he said, I was on a plane to the Bahamas.

The Lifton Institute of Media Arts and Sciences, or LIMS, not only offers full-service movie studios Los Angeles filmmakers can use, but also doubles as a film production school. While LIMS students usually have never worked in the industry before, President Jimmy Lifton says that most people have skills that can be easily translated into the production trade. LIMS offers 10-week film production training and veterans job training programs designed to prepare students to go out and get a paid job on a movie or TV set.

Vet 200 Program

Lifton Institute of Media Arts & Sciences (LIMS)

27567 Fantastic Lane

Castaic, CA 91384

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Army Veteran Gets Opportunity To Work In The Bahamas While On ... - KHTS Radio

SmartNews Keeping you current ( Christopher Dorobek /Flickr)

smithsonian.com March 7, 2017 1:42PM

There are many reasons to visit the Bahamasbeautiful beaches, conch fritters, killer snorkeling. But in recent years one of the biggest attractions has been the island nations pigs. The swimming pigs of Exuma to be exact, a group of porkerson a small island called Big Major Cay, who over the years have taken up the hobby of paddling around in the areas crystal blue waters. Recently,however, at least seven members of the now-famous pig colony mysteriously died, their bodies found floating in the sea, reports Ben Guarino at The Washington Post.

Wayde Nixon, one of the farmers that originally brought pigs to the island about 30 years ago, told Sloan Smith at the Nassau Guardianin late February that he initially believed tourists, who interact with the pigs and feed them, may have caused the deaths by giving the pigs alcohol and junk food. Kim Aranha, president of the Bahamas Humane Society, also speculated on the cause. It could just be a horrible accident where they ate something poisonous, she told local news source Tribune 242in late February. "It could be malicious but I dont really see why someone would go out of their way to hurt those lovely animals.

Now, Delaney Chambers at National Geographic reports on March 4 that a preliminary examination shows that the pigs likely died from ingesting too much sand.

The pigs have been on the island so long, they are used to foraging for natural food, Ventoi Bethune, an inspector with the Bahamas Humane Society, tells Chambers. The pigs would occasional prance down onto the beach for a snack from visitors. But increased popularity and big influx of tourists have changed the pigs' habits. In recent years, the pigs have even been featured on the reality show The Bachelor. Now [the pigs] stay on the beach and arent living in the forest.

Instead, the porkers eat small bits of food thrown by tourists, which means they probably get a snoutful of sand each time they take a nibble. An ongoing drought on the island which has dried up the pigs water supply may have also contributed to the deaths.

Despite the die-off, tourists will still be able to visit the remaining pigs, though they may not be able to swim or pet the porkers as they did in the past. Bethune tells Chambersthat a warden will now be stationed at Pig Beach. V. Alfred Gray, the Bahamas'Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources tells Smith that the agency will soon establish rules for interacting with the pigs, including a boundary around the pigs and restricted feeding by the public.

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Jason Daley is a Madison, Wisconsin-based writer specializing in natural history, science, travel, and the environment. His work has appeared in Discover, Popular Science, Outside, Mens Journal, and other magazines.

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What Killed More Than Half a Dozen of the Bahamas' Swimming Pigs? - Smithsonian

President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Brigadier David Granger speaks at a luncheon held in his honor at Churchills restaurant in the Grand Lucayan on Friday afternoon. (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama Sitting Chairman of the Caribbean Community regional body (CARICOM) and President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Brigadier David Granger said that he and members of his Cabinet were in The Bahamas to learn, and during his visit to Grand Bahama he admitted that in two days they had learned a lot.

Addressing a special luncheon in his honour, hosted by Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie and Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville at the Grand Lucayan, Brigadier Granger said that The Bahamas has been a good example to the rest of the Caribbean community in terms of outstanding development.

We have been deeply impressed by the development of The Bahamas, particularly in the financial and tourism sectors under Prime Minister Christie, said the Guyanese President. But there can be no doubt about the pre-eminence of the Bahamian economy and I have come with my Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Agriculture, and Minister of Business and Minister of Tourism to look and to learn from The Bahamas.

From what we have seen here in Grand Bahama, there is no doubt a model for industrial development and format from which we can learn a lot.

President Granger said that regional tourism and collaboration between member states must become an emerging trend, especially if Caribbean islands that depend heavily on tourism intend to survive in the face of the opening of the borders of a destination like Cuba.

I am convinced that if we can combine our talents and our resources we can offer a world-class product. The Bahamas is already a world-class destination and we would like to learn how you have been able to accomplish that position.

Grand Bahama has set the stage as a major player in the industrial sector and from the visits we have made to places like the Container Port and the Grand Bahama Shipyard, we can take away so much information to study. We are very happy with what we have seen during our visit here.

He said that The Bahamas is well on the path to prosperity and security, and well on the path to sealing its position with solidarity with the rest of the Caribbean community. Brigadier Granger said be assured that his ministers for Tourism, Business and Finance would be back in The Bahamas at a later date, for a longer period of time, to learn more about how The Bahamas has been able to accomplish what it has in terms of gaining a foothold in tourism, economics and industrial success.

The Caribbean is a unique zone situated in between two giants the North American Continent and the South American Continent. In between we have scores of small and micro-states.

These states and countries are threatened because of economic hardships. But we have to transform our economies. So we have been able to come to Grand Bahama and see how this transformation is taking place.

But Grand Bahama is just one part of the entire Caribbean and during my semester as head of CARICOM, I will take the message of what I have learned here to my colleagues around the Caribbean.

During the luncheon, Sarah St. George, Vice-Chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, presented Brigadier Granger with a special gold coin, which represented the 50th anniversary of the Port Authority.

By Andrew Coakley Bahamas Information Services

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Guyana's President Said He Learned a Lot During Visit to The Bahamas - The Eleutheran

NASSAU, Bahamas A judge in the Bahamas has fined a Canadian clothing manufacturer $50,000 for violating a court order to stop dredging near his beachfront home.

The environmental group Save the Bays, which brought the case against Peter Nygard, calls the ruling an extraordinary triumph for environmental justice in the Bahamas.

In a statement, a lawyer for the group says Supreme Court Justice Rhonda P. Bain has found Nygard in contempt of court for violating her 2013 order to stop the dredging.

Lawyer Fred Smith says Nygard has nearly doubled the size of his property over the years by digging up sand and placing it along his beachfront.

Smith says the judge has given Nygard until March 21st to pay the fine or be sent to prison for two weeks.

Officials for Nygard were not immediately available for comment.

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Canadian clothing manufacturer fined $50K for illegal dredging in Bahamas - 680 News

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

STABILITY in the countrys economic, education and environmental sectors were hailed as successful examples for Caribbean states by President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana David Granger this weekend during an exit interview with local press.

In an address moments before he boarded his return flight Saturday, concluding a three-day state visit to The Bahamas, the retired Brigadier General commended the Christie administration for sustaining one of the regions premier countries in the wake of one of the worlds most severe economic downturns.

General Granger, in the presence of Prime Minister Perry Christie at the Lynden Pindling International Airports VIP Lounge Saturday, said he viewed the three sectors as important lessons that could be adopted and adapted by every other country in the region, adding that his economic visit to The Bahamas would be viewed as a success in his country despite not returning with any written agreements.

General Granger, who throughout his time in The Bahamas pointed out that the Caribbean stood as a fragmented region that could advance through cooperation, said his belief was emboldened by what he witnessed specifically in Grand Bahama.

He said that the sincere and successful effort to by the government to deal with the economic issues plaguing the communities there showed him that patience, passion and forward-thinking were factors that could aid in his countrys efforts.

General Granger accompanied Mr Christie on a trip to Freeport, Grand Bahama, last Friday.

Of the trip, he said: We liked what we saw. It may just be container terminals, it may be just shipyards; but we saw at the second level, and I like to mention this, the work that is being done in education and for the youth. Because just going to the Hugh Campbell Primary School, you could feel the energy from those young people and I would like to come back 20 years from now.

The Bahamas has set an example to the rest of the Caribbean as to how we can transform smallness and poverty into economic power, he stated.

General Granger said his country would adopt the premise, smallness doesnt necessarily mean weakness, from The Bahamas moving forward.

There is no doubt, the government of The Bahamas has shown the way for small states and is a lesson and example for other states to learn. I have also emphasised that in some areas, particularly in the areas of our economical development, our tourism, we could learn from the tremendous years of experience and the wealth of expertise that we saw in The Bahamas, to develop our tourist product.

He added: I would like to feel that in more business like visits, my ministers would be coming back to work one on one with the responsible minister on the Bahamian side to ensure that these lessons are not just filed away, but that they become the pillars of partnership between what they call, the northern most English speaking Caribbean state and the southern most English speaking Caribbean state. So you have not seen the last of us.

Last weeks visit marked General Grangers first official visit to The Bahamas.

His country, like many other nations in South America, is battling through a massive economic decline.

In addition to that ordeal, the country is reported to be locked into a territorial dispute with neighbouring Venezuela, something that has seen battle ready warships move into Guyanese waters over the course of the last two years.

According to General Granger, his journey to The Bahamas was geared around finding feasible logistical concepts that could be implemented by his country to ease the grip of the continents economic woes.

Grateful

In response to his praise of the Bahamas on Saturday, Mr Christie said the objective praise was something his administration was intrigued to hear, adding that the Bahamian populace could now see and hear from countries in similar conditions and compare and contrast the rate at which The Bahamas is performing.

Mr Christie, noting how grateful he was for the presidents comments, said his administration has from a fiscal point of view done all it could given the demands of our country.

Cautioning the public over the oppositions doom and gloom talk, Mr Christie added: Unlike any other country in the region, and I argue even in the hemisphere, we have an island nation that requires duplication resources - schools, hospitals, clinics, roads, water and it is a work in progress, it costs a lot of money.

Advancing his argument, Mr Christie contended that his government has to manage and promote a total of 28 airports, several of which have to operate international flights.

He said his administration has gauged estimates on how much it would take to move these facilities to international standards - $150m, he noted.

Mr Christie added: You dont earn that, you have to go out and borrow it it adds to the national debt.

The point was supported by General Granger who noted that his country, which is larger than The Bahamas, has only two airports to manage.

Mr Christie noted that most countries in the region are grappling with similar problems and a united effort, in time, could alleviate the pressures faced by all in the region.

To thank The Bahamas for hosting him and members of his delegation, General Granger presented Mr Christie with a painting of a jaguar; the animal is considered noble in Guyana.

Additionally, General Granger pledged to ship several of his nations national tree crops to the Bahamas as a part of Guyanas National Tree Day celebration later this year.

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Guyana President Hails Bahamas As Example To The Caribbean - Bahamas Tribune

NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) The Bahamas government has taken issue with the reports of the United States and Amnesty International on human rights issues in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

The Perry Christie government in separate statements said that it is preparing an official response and intends to issue a formal protest on the matter.

The government said that prior to the release of the US State Departments 2016 report on human rights in The Bahamas, the government spoke with representatives of the United States government prior to the release of the report on human rights in the Bahamas.

During those conversations, it was made clear to the US that the proposed report contained significant inaccurate information with no basis in fact and in some cases incomplete information.

Now that the US report has been publically released, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration is preparing an official response from The Bahamas Government and intends to issue a formal protest in this regard.

In the report, Washington noted that on July 8, last year, a foreign citizen reported he had been beaten by two or more corrections officers at the Bahamas Department of Corrections (BDOC).

He said that following an altercation with an inmate, prison guards placed him in handcuffs, bent him over a cart, beat him with a PVC plumbing pipe wrapped in duct tape, and then took him back to his cell without providing any medical attention.

The report also indicated that a migrant held in the immigration detention centre in Freeport faced alleged unprompted, regular beatings from the guards, as well as inappropriate sexual behaviour toward female detainees.

Prison and detention centre conditions failed to meet international standards in some areas, and conditions at the governments only prison remained harsh due to overcrowding.

Overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate access to medical care remained problems in the mens maximum-security block. In October 2015 the commissioner of corrections reported the maximum-security block of the prison held 625 inmates in spaces designed to hold approximately 375 inmates when constructed in 1953. The minister of national security reported that the BDOC, which was originally built to hold 1,000 prisoners, held 1,727 inmates as of October 2016.

The report noted that inmates reported receiving only two meals per day, and often only one, with a meal sometimes consisting only of bread and tea.

Fresh fruit and vegetables were rare to non-existent. Prisoners also reported infrequent access to drinking water and inability to save potable water due to lack of storage containers for the prisoners. A few cells also lacked running water, and in those cells, inmates removed human waste by bucket.

The report also noted that prison guards complained about the lack of a full-time dentist and a failure to appoint a staff psychiatrist.

There were four inmate deaths through October 2015, reportedly due to HIV infection, natural causes, an apparent suicide, and injuries resulting from fighting. Reports from the coroners court were pending on the latter two deaths.

The government did not provide updated statistics in 2016. In August 2016, upon the conclusion of a Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) hearing that was closed to the public, the Bahamian government cleared five RBDF marines accused of beating five Cuban detainees at the CRDC in 2013, Washington reported.

It also noted that numerous Haitian migrants reported being detained by immigration officials and solicited for bribes of B$1,000 to B$3,000 (One Bahamas dollar =US$1.00), with the CRDC front office functioning as a clearinghouse.

Many claimed that immigration officers targeted their dwellings once their undocumented status was discovered demanding multiple bribes. Haitian migrants and civil society organizations complained of frequent warrantless searches of Haitian homes without probable cause.

Regarding the 2016-17 Amnesty International report, the London-based human rights group criticised Nassau for its discriminatory posture towards lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people and for the countrys constitutional referendum on gender equality.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government takes no acts to discriminate against people based on their orientation, race, colour, creed, gender or religion.

The Bahamas Government shows that it is an equal opportunity protector of all citizens and residents of this country. In addition, the Government takes all appropriate steps to ensure that its citizens of whatever description are safe.

It is unfortunate, even in countries which are strong democracies with good human rights records, when there are public views espoused that are discriminatory. Nevertheless, The Bahamas Government is firmly committed to the protection of all its citizens.

On the question of right to privacy of citizens, the Bahamas government said it wanted to reiterate without qualification there is no threat to privacy in the Bahamas.

The reports of any such threat are entirely misplaced, it added.

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Bahamas govt denies US and Amnesty human rights reports - NYCaribNews

NASSAU, Bahamas, March 6, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Bahamas is excited to host Fyre Festival 2017, slated to take place on April 28-30 and May 5-7 of this year. Set in the surrounding natural beauty of The Exuma Islands, Fyre Festival will deliver a one-of-a-kind immersive experience in music, culture, art, culinary delights and luxury for an unprecedented event over two weekends.

The musical performances, which will be staged in The Exumas, will feature popular artists such as the G.O.O.D. Music Family, Major Lazer and Disclosure (DJ set). Fyre Festival organizers recently announced that Blink 182, Migos, Lil Yachty, Matoma, Claptone, and Le Youth will also be performing. Additionally, Fyre Festival has partnered with ZERO to bring artists Lee Burridge, Rampue, Bedouin, Nicone, Daniel Cowel, Jan Blomqvist, Lovecraft, Bo, and Stephanie Roxanne to Fyre's "Pirate's Cove" stage. Thug******, Blond:ISH, Tensnake, and Beto Abrahao will also perform. This enclave for electronic music will host a sunset to sunrise curated set and an array of top electronic / deep house talent. Additional headliners and the full music lineup will be announced soon.

The local Exuma community looks forward with delight to serving as host to Fyre Festival 2017. Local authorities have been working hard over the past months to prepare for the inaugural kick off on April 28. No efforts have been spared to ensure a wonderful experience for each of the thousands of guests coming for Fyre Festival 2017.

"We are very excited that The Exumas have been selected as the home of Fyre Festival. This music festival will bring to The Bahamas one of the largest events ever hosted in our destination, and we are delighted to welcome all attendees to our island. We're working closely with the Fyre Festival Team to ensure that visitors have an unforgettable trip to the Exumas. The Exuma Islands and surrounding seas are one of the most beautiful and pristine destinations in the world. We're looking forward to sharing the beauty of our island with guests of Fyre Festival, just eight weeks away" - The Hon. Obediah H. Wilchombe, M.P., West Grand Bahama and Bimini; Minister of Tourism.

For more information on Fyre Festival, please visit their website, http://www.fyrefestival.com and contact the organizers, concierge@fyreapp.com.

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 world's 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 It's 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

A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=42245

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UPDATE: The Islands Of The Bahamas Welcome Fyre Festival to The Exumas - Yahoo Finance

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Each year, thousands of spring breakers head to the Bahamas on vacation, many of them via cruise ships. Hoping to help them avoid danger and even time behind bars, the Bahamian Embassy issued an advisory, saying that by following their tips and [exercising] caution and good judgment, travelers would make their own stays both safer and more pleasant.

Avoid Jet Ski Operators

If renting a jet ski while in the Bahamas is on your must-do list, proceed with caution. Jet ski operators, the advisory warns, continue to commit sexual assaults and other crimes against tourists, including U.S. citizens. U.S. Embassy personnel are instructed not to use jet ski rentals on New Providence and Paradise Beaches, including Cabbage Beach and Cable Beach. We strongly recommend you also avoid patronizing jet ski rental operations.

Noting that every year, U.S. citizens are killed or very seriously injured in scooter accidents, the Embassys advisory suggests renters inspect the equipment carefully and avoid old or rundown machines. It goes on to suggest tourists do something that few likely do, which is ask to see a copy of the operators business license and inquire about their medical and liability insurance coverage. Given how many folks might be new to riding scooters, they also suggest you ask for training before using the equipment, and offer a reminder that traffic in the Bahamas travels on the left side of the road and can be difficult to navigate. They also say that unlicensed scooter operators and rental services have been linked to assaults, including sexual assaults. Crime & Punishment While some tourists seem to think that people in the Bahamas simply walk around openly toking all day, the Embassy reminds that the possession or use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy, is a criminal offense that can result in jail time. And dont think youll get off easy as a minor, as all persons 16 years of age or older are tried as adults in the Bahamas! Its also worth remembering that entrapment is a frequently used law enforcement technique in the Bahamas and individuals offering drugs for sale may very well be undercover police officers.Finally, the Embassy points out that despite what you may have seen on television, they probably wont be a whole lot of help should you wind up in hot water. Your U.S. citizenship will not help you and will not exempt you from full prosecution under the Bahamas criminal justice system, they warn. U.S. Embassy officials can visit you in jail, provide information about the Bahamas legal system, and give you a list of local attorneys or doctors. [But] we cannot arrange for reduction of charges, your release from jail or payment of medical, hospital or other bills. They do, however, say they should definitely be contacted if you are a victim of crime or your passport has been lost or stolen.

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Embassy Issues Warning to Bahamas Visitors - Cruise Radio (blog)

Carnival Splendor docked at Miami as planned on Sunday morning, disembarking those passengers who sailed on last week's less-port-intensive cruise.

Due to propulsion issues, the line had beenforced to cancel port calls at St. Thomas and Amber Cove.

Guests on thatvoyage endingSunday received a 50 percent refund and a 50 percent credit toward a future cruise, as well as a $100 per person shipboard credit.

Over the weekend, though, the line confirmed that Carnival Splendoris still experiencing thattechnical issue that's affecting the vessels maximum cruising speed. "The ships technical team is currently working on assessing the repairs," the statement said.

So, the seven-day cruisethat departed on Sunday has a sizably modified itinerary. With its engine issues, the ship simply can't go as fast as planned.

The new, modified itinerary will include an overnight stay in Nassau and a full day in Freeport, both in the Bahamas.

That's a big change, as the ship won't even get to the Caribbean.Originally, this cruise's itinerary included port calls inGrand Cayman; Belize City; Mahogany Bay in Roatan, Honduras andCozumel, Mexico.

In addition to being closer to south Florida, the Bahamas is also home to Grand Bahama shipyard, where Carnival Splendorreceived a drydock update last year. Those shipyard resources could prove helpful to Carnival as it works to fix the propulsion issue.

Guests who opted to sail on this revised itinerary are now receiving a 50 percent refund of their cruise fare and a 50 percent future cruise credit, as well as a $100 per person credit posted to their shipboard accounts.

Carnival also said it had allowed guests on thiscruise the option of canceling and receiving a full refund.

"Wesincerely apologize for this disruption to our guests vacation plans," Carnival said in its statement.

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Carnival Splendor Is Sailing on Revised Itinerary to the Bahamas ... - Travel Agent

National Post

For Sale: $8.75M beachfront property in the Bahamas National Post Craving some winter sun? For a mere $8.75 million, the Abaco Club on Winding Bay in the Bahamas could be the solution. House of the day. Homes and cottages we'd love to have whether we can afford them or not. Key details: 5,834 sq. ft. 6 ...

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For Sale: $8.75M beachfront property in the Bahamas - National Post

Branville McCartney has resigned from the position of Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, a few months after the Opposition Leader from a rival party chose him for his position. (Photo credit: The Tribune)

NASSAU, The Bahamas, Monday March 6, 2017 Less than three months after Opposition Leader Loretta Butler-Turner tied the political knot with Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader Branville McCartney, that marriage has ended in a bitter divorce.

In an unexpected move, McCartney, who was appointed as Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, announced his immediate resignation from the post, declaring that his team was disassociating itself from the farce that has become the official opposition.

He was appointed mid-December 2016, after Butler-Turner created history first by replacing Hubert Minnis as head of the Free National Movement (FNM) and becoming the first female Opposition Leader, and then again by choosing the head of another party to fill the post of Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate.

At a news conference last week, McCartney charged that Butler-Turner had only sown seeds of confusion and had brought no real leadership or ideas to the post.

As leader of the DNA, in consultation with the executives of the party, I feel that we must now divest ourselves of the farce that has become the official opposition and fully direct our efforts to securing victory in the next general election, he said.

He told journalists he accepted the proposal to work with the Butler-Turner in Senate with the understanding that the DNA was separate and apart from any other opposition force, but would lend its voice, ideas and strength in official opposition to the failed [Perry] Christie administration.

FLASHBACK: Loretta Butler-Turner and Branville McCartney shake hands after the latters appointment as Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate was announced to the media.

McCartney suggested it was an error and lamented that there was currently no opposition party or personality in the House of Assembly that exemplifies the traits of leadership.

It was now obvious that Bahamian people will be better served by a DNA not complicit in the dysfunction that hobbles in Parliament at this time, he added.

Insisting that Bahamians deserved better, McCartney wasted no time in offering his party as the best option to tackle the problems facing the country.

To the people of the Bahamas, we say that if you want a government serious about fighting crime and putting the fear of God into these savage criminals who apparently have free reign on our streets, look to the DNA; if you want an end to this corruption that pollutes and perverts governance in our country, look to the DNA; if you want real accountability for where in the world our billions of tax dollars have been funneled without our knowledge, look to the DNA; if you want a government that stands for you and will return power and prosperity to the rightful owners of The Bahamas, look to the DNA, he insisted.

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After Brief Alliance, Opposition Parties in Bahamas Split ... - Caribbean360.com (subscription)

Prime Minister Perry Christie (in black jacket) watches as the dump fires. (Photo: Facebook page of the Office of the Prime Minister)

NASSAU, The Bahamas, Monday March 6, 2017 An immediate evacuation has been ordered after a massive fire broke out at the city dump in The Bahamas capital, Nassau, in the island of New Providence yesterday and continues burning.

The order to leave the area immediately, applied to residents living in the surrounding area of Jubilee Gardens who have been advised to take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety. Evacuation facilities were established at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has activated its Emergency Plan, and all available resources have been mobilized, a statement from the government said.

Although it is too early to be certain, officials say it appears that a number of fires were started in the area and because of the high winds being experienced on New Providence, at least one of those fires blew across the boundary and ignited the public landfill.

Prime Minister Perry Christie was on the scene shortly after the scale and intensity of the blaze were confirmed.

The number one priority is to ensure that everyone is safe. I am confident that the Emergency Services are doing whatever is required to make certain that no-one comes to harm. We have already made every resource available to limit the damage to property, and to minimize environmental harm, he said.

Christie added that the government would reach out to international partners for assistance, if the situation warrants that.

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Evacuation Ordered As Landfill in The Bahamas Burns - Caribbean360.com (subscription)

Pigs can't fly, but they can swim.

In the Bahamas there are beaches where you can swim with pigs. And feed them.

You can imagine they're a huge tourist attraction.

But two weeks ago, eight swimming pigs were found dead at the Exuma Pig Beach, where the animals havelived for the last 30 years. You may have spotted the pigs freely roaming the beach on an episode of "The Bachelor."Recent visitorsincludeDonald Trump Jr., the US presidents son, and comedian Amy Schumer.

It's believed they died from food poisoning, and now the Bahamian government has put a stop to tourists feeding the pigs.

Wayde Nixon co-owns the swimming pigs along with his business partner Don Rolle. Nixonbrought a few pigs over in the 1990s to start a pig farm on Big Major Cay, part of the Exuma island chain in the Bahamas.

The area became known as Pig Beach.Until the deaths, the cay had been billed asa sort of porcine paradise.

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RIP swimming pigs: Several of the Bahamas' beloved porkers found dead - PRI

Perry Christie apologized in Parliament.

NASSAU, The Bahamas, Thursday March 2, 2017 A sombre and penitent Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie faced the nation yesterday and apologized for theobscene gesture he made at a political meeting earlier this week.

Christie, who has been at the centre of a public furor after sticking up his middle finger at a public meetingon Monday night, offered his deepest expression of regret in a statement delivered in the House of Assembly yesterday.

I really stand to express my regret, to indicate specifically that it related to specific individuals, he said.

At the political meeting held in Fox Hill, a pumped up Christie shocked his supporters when he made the gesture, after detailing that it was how he had responded to man who challenged him to deny that he owned a particular condominium.

Yesterday, a more composed Christie insisted the gesture was not him, but he took responsibility for losing control while defending his family.

There was never any intention to speak to any other person or issue other than those who were attacking me or my familyand I would hope that those who may have been offended by it who were present, would accept that that is a matter that I would not have wished that I did.

He used the occasion to vent his frustration about persistent malicious attacks against his family.

Christie said that he makes an effort to ensure his family is not subjected to any degree of embarrassment regarding his conduct, but admitted it was exceedingly difficult and sometimes he did not know how to respond.

He questioned why the public, even those in the Christian community, did not speak out against unfair and false allegations levelled against him and his family and, by extension, other members of the wider public.

What is it about Christian charity, or the lack of it, that stops right-thinking persons from making interventions in public life to say that what you said about that lady is not right; it is not the right thing to do?

However, the Prime Minister urged the countrys young people not to see his inappropriate action as an example to follow.

Asking and answering whether he would do it again, in that place, at that time, on that occasion, for the reasons I was speaking, he said, the answer is no.

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Bahamas PM Apologizes For Flipping Bird, Saying He Lost Control While Defending Family - Caribbean360.com (subscription)