Sharks, as a group, are among the most threatened animals on the planet, and for many species, overfishing is the driving force pushing them toward extinction. But the growing popularity of swim-with-sharks tourism has conservation advocates proclaiming that sharks are worth more alive than dead. And as a new study lays bare, nowhere is this more true than in the Bahamas, where shark tourism contributes more than US $100-million annually to the countrys economymore than one percent of the 327,000-person nations gross domestic product. But its a conservation win that comes with a hefty list of caveats.

In the Bahamas, many shark species that have been pushed close to extinction elsewhere have seen their populations hold, partly because the country banned longline fishing in the 1990s. Many of these sharks are species that divers cant reliably encounter elsewhere. Tourists can swim with tiger sharks off Grand Bahama Island, great hammerheads off Bimini, and oceanic whitetips off Cat Islandall rare species that draw tens of thousands of scuba divers each year. Further contributing to the Bahamas reputation as a shark diving hotspot is the fact that baiting (using food as a lure) is illegal in nearby Florida.

Our study found that the Bahamas has the largest shark diving economy in the world, says Andrea Haas, a research associate at the Cape Eleuthera Institute and the studys lead author. This is exciting because it demonstrates the stream of economic benefits that the Bahamas is receiving from conservation actions it took many years ago.

Longline fishing has been banned in the Bahamas for decades, and all commercial shark fishing has been banned since 2011, making direct economic comparisons of shark wildlife tourism to shark fishing impossible in this case. However, the value of all Bahamian fisheries exports combined is around$80-million, less than the value of shark wildlife tourism calculated in this study.

This study found the flow of tourists from shark diving is, proportionately, even greater in the Bahamas hundreds of remote out islands, such as Cat Island and Bimini, than it is in the countrys major centers.

These out islands are locations where specific charismatic shark species are targeted for exclusive scuba trips, Haas says. The injection of revenues into these out islands associated with this shark diving are felt much more profoundly there due to the lack of other opportunities.

Shark tourism is bringing in more money than shark fishing overall, but for many Bahamians theres a dark side to the switch: this money is going into different pockets. In many cases, the money is leaving the country entirely. For example, many tourists come on liveaboard dive vessels from other nations, rather than arriving on locally owned boats.

When local communities receive financial benefits from their natural resources, they are much more likely to recognize their importance and get actively involved in their protection, says Elena Salim Haubold, who works with the United Kingdom-based Shark Business, which seeks to help protect sharks through wildlife tourism, and was not involved in the study. Unfortunately, this new research demonstrates that a high percentage of all money spent on shark tourism in the Bahamas ends up leaving the country via foreign-owned tour operators.

Shark wildlife tourism is not the silver bullet as some advocates claim. Instead, it is just one tool in a broad toolbox, says Haas. But what the new study clearly demonstrates is that, at least for the Bahamas, shark tourism can outpace shark fishing economically. If that wealth can flow to Bahamians more reliably, it could even provide financial justification for future conservation efforts.

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In the Bahamas, Sharks Are Worth More Alive than Dead - Hakai Magazine

FINAL RESULTS

FRIDAY

Placement matches

Barbados 5 Turks & Caicos Islands 2

Belize 6 US Virgin Islands 4 (after extra time)

Canada 2 Costa Rica 2

(Costa Rica win 3-2 on penalties)

Guyana 6 Antigua & Barbuda 4

Quarter-finals

El Salvador 5 Jamaica 0

United States 4 Panama 6

Mexico 5 Trinidad & Tobago 1

Bahamas 3 Guadeloupe 5

Saturday

Placement matches

Turks & Caicos Islands 4 US Virgin Islands 1

Belize 6 Barbados 2

Canada 6 Antigua & Barbuda 1

Costa Rica 5 Guyana 2

United States 6 Jamaica 2

Bahamas 5 Trinidad & Tobago 2

Semi-finals

Panama 2 El Salvador 2 (Panama win 2-1 on penalties)

Mexico 3 Guadeloupe 0

Sunday

15th place playoff: Barbados 3 US Virgin Islands 1

13th place playoff: Belize 9 Turks & Caicos Islands 4

11th place playoff: Antigua & Barbuda 8 Guyana 6

9th place playoff: Canada 5 Costa Rica 6

7th place playoff: Jamaica 3 Trinidad & Tobago 9

5th place playoff: Bahamas 2 United States 4

3rd place playoff: El Salvador 7 Guadeloupe 2

Final: Mexico 2 Panama 4

The finalists qualify for the World Cup in Nassau from April 27 to May 7.

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Before another jam-packed Malcolm Park beach soccer stadium, the Bahamas suffered a 4-2 loss to the United States of America yesterday and ended up in sixth place in the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship.

Although they fell short, leading goal scorer Lesly St Fleur said they gave it their best.

It was a great tournament. It prepares us good, but we still have more work to do, said St Fleur about the tournament, which prepares the Bahamas to host the FIFA World Cup in April at the same venue.

The World Cup is going to be a pretty higher level, so we have to be ready.

As the World Cup looms on the horizon, St Fleur said they hope to come back and put on a good show for the Bahamian fans. He admitted that they have a lot of work to do, but they just have to go back to the drawing board and get ready to compete.

I felt great for our home fans to cheer us on and I hope that they continue to cheer us on, he said. I hope that they come out in the World Cup and continue to support us.

St Fleur, however, said he felt he could have performed a lot better, although he posted 11 goals and was in the running for the golden boot. I have plenty work to do, but I will be ready for the World Cup, he said. In El Salvador, I had 11 goals and so to come right back here and keep on scoring goals and to help build up the team momentum, it feels good.

The USA broke the ice at 8:44 in the first period when Oscar Reyes got in a header from the left corner past goalie Torin Ferguson, who got the starting nod for the second straight game.

With 3:37, Nesly Jean tried to get the ball back to Ferguson but Alessandro Canale sneaked up on Jean and caught Ferguson too far out of the goal post to boot in the second goal for the USA.

The USA held on for a 2-0 lead to complete the first period.

In the first two minutes of the second period, the Bahamas blew a couple of golden opportunities to score when both Gary Williams and team captain Gavin Christie drew USAs goalie Christopher Toth out of the post, but neither were able to score on their consecutive respective touches.

With about four minutes left in the period, Lesly St Fleur got his chance to increase his goal scoring tally for the Bahamas as he had goalie Toth right on his side in front of the net, but his shot was a little too high.

Then with 20.2 seconds left, USAs captain Lewie Valentine was charged with a hand ball.

On the penalty kick, St Jean put the Bahamas on the scoreboard with his 11th goal in the tournament for a 2-1 deficit as the crowd roared their approval.

And with 2.5 on the clock, St Jean was awarded another penalty kick, but this time it went long as the USA held onto their 2-1 lead to complete the second period.

To start the third, 10:20 into the period, Joseph made an errant pass to Ferguson in front of the goal and Nicolas Perera was on the attack for the shot into the net and a 3-1 lead for the USA.

But on the next play, Christie got the free kick to cut the Bahamas deficit to 3-2.

The Bahamas got another break at 7:44 as Valentine got ejected leaving the USA short one player for two minutes.

Its beach soccer, its played rough, St Jean said about the physicality of the game. Sometimes you get out of hand and the judges pick up some things. We just have to be careful in the World Cup.

However, at 6:50, Jean was hit with a yellow card and the Bahamas failed to cash in on the USAs inefficiency before they got back to full strength.

All things evened, Toth goggled the ball in front of Christie before he booted in a goal near the half court line for a 4-2 lead for the USA.

With another three minutes left, St Jean got a pass to Christie, whose shot was deflected wild by Toth in the goalpost.

At 1:31, Joseph was hit with a green card.

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Bahamas Suffers 4-2 Loss To Usa - Bahamas Tribune

The Miami Dolphins, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, Dolphins alumni and celebrities will hold their annual trip to Nassau on Memorial Day Weekend.

Throughout the weekend, guests will mix and mingle with notable Dolphins alumni and celebrities while enjoying several festivities planned during their stay.

The weekend kicks off with a welcome reception and golf draw party on Thursday evening. On Friday, a golf classic commences with a shot gun start for 24 teams at Ocean Club. Each golf foursome includes the exclusive opportunity to play with a Miami Dolphins Legend or celebrity. The golf classic on Friday wraps with an awards luncheon and a Bahamas Bash party.

The weekend will conclude on Saturday with a free fan fest at Thomas A. Robinson Stadium. The day is packed with great festivities for families, including Dolphins Academy Youth Football & Cheer Clinics for kids ages 6-17. Spots are open for boys and girls who have an interest in learning the fundamentals of the game from Dolphins alumni or learning dance moves and chants from the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders.

The day is culminated by competitive flag football games between Nassau, Freeport Grand Bahama, Abaco, Exuma and a Dolphins Legends vs. Bahamas Legends Flag Football Game.

Golf and hospitality packages are now available for these events at Bahamas@dolphins.com. For more information, visit MarinoBahamasWeekend.com.

Schedule: Thursday, May 25 Arrival Day Welcome Reception (private event)

Friday, May 26 Dan Marino & Friends Golf Classic and Awards Luncheon (ticketed event) Dan Marino & Friends Bahamas Weekend Bahamas Bash (ticketed event)

Saturday, May 27 Dolphins Academy Youth Football & Cheer Clinics (free event) Dolphins Legends vs. Bahamas Legends Flag Football Game (free event) Bahamas Weekend Junkanoo Party (private event)

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PRESS RELEASE: Dan Marino And Friends Bahamas Weekend 2017 Planned For May 25-27 - MiamiDolphins

Lastweek I visited the Bahamas and enjoyed itslovely beaches and friendly people. A nice woman named Sharika transportedusto the beach and gave a great touralong the ride. She described how the past hurricane destroyed many businesses and hotels along the route. The rebuilding processis takinga long time and is negatively affecting the economy from decreased tourism.

I learned that half of the island is controlled by the Port Authoritysince 1955.Its a private agency that requiresall of the structures built on thatpart of the island tobeequipped withrunning water, electricity, stable walls and a roof. Every home and building on thatpart of the island must meet those requirements or they cannot build there. The Port Authority controlled halfof the island is also where the tourists comefrom cruise ships. They understandthat visitors want comfort and safety while on vacation and make sure that is what we see and experience. The Port Authority donated $3 million dollars to build a college on their island. They are trying to help theBahamiansprovide for themselves through education and better jobs.The Bahamas gained independence from the UK on July 10, 1973. Sharika describedsimple economics if people dont visit, they cantget money from tourists. The American dollar is equal to the Bahamian dollar so visitors feel comfortable purchasing gifts and spending money while on vacation.Bahamians want visitors tospend money and thereby help them emerge into a stronger country.

The other half of the islandis run by the Bahamian government. Thepeople on the government runhalf of the island live in poverty and are basically hidden from the tourists. According to Sharika, those homes are shacks. They dont have running water or electricity. Their roofs and walls are made of sticks and whatever else they can find to make a home ofnatural resources.Sharika said that the government half of the island is not safe for visitors so they keep us on the Port Authority side.More basic economics poverty yields increased crime. The have-nots will steal from the haves who are visiting their island. (Bahamas shack below.)

Think aboutthe poorerpartsof America. Those areashave dilapidated homes, higher crime rates and lower income. Those neighborhoods also predominately have the most amount of people on government assistance and haveless desirable schools. If a town is known for high crime and drugs, theywill not get people to move there, investthere, or work there. It is similar to the government side of the Bahamas where poverty just creates more poverty.

Here in the USA, thehouseon the right is froma Native American Reservation in Utah where afamily isusing cardboard for the walls and roof. Below left are empty homes in Camden, New Jersey and below center are boarded up homes in Progress, Illinois. As you can see, there are Americans living in poverty that the government didntfix across our own great nation.

Now think about the wealthierpartsof America. There arenicerhomes, lower crime from more police presence, and higher incomes. As a result, people want to live and invest there. Itmakes for a stronger economywithbetter schools, roads and jobs .The better schools help the residents attain better jobs thereby strengthening the economy. For example, below are occupied and well maintained homes in Utah, New Jersey and Illinois.

So, if you were in the market for a new home wouldntyou check out the school districts, crime levels, property taxes and local amenities before investing in a 30 year mortgage? How about if you were building a country hoping to last hundreds orthousands of years? Wouldnt you want the best for yourcitizensto live in asafer and better town? Lets face it, no one wants theirfamily and fellow citizens to live in the governmentrun side of town withcontrolled housing,high crime and low paying jobs. The USAis not much different than the Bahamas maybe.

Simple economics government run programs maintainpoverty levels while privately run programsgrow wealth. Does America need welfare programs to temporarily help citizens in need of course! Should the government provide a lifetime of minimal monetary support and render those citizens to a lifetime of poverty heck no!

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The Bahamas Private Developers vs. Government Run - Albany Times Union (blog)

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) The London-based international human rights group, Amnesty International, has criticised the situation in three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries on issues ranging from the ill-treatment of documented migrants to alleged crimes against humanity.

In its 2017 State of the Worlds Human Rights, Amnesty International paid attention to alleged human rights abuses in Haiti, Jamaica and the Bahamas. The other CARICOM countries were not mentioned in the report released over the weekend.

The report noted that in the Bahamas, there was widespread ill-treatment of undocumented migrants from countries including Haiti and Cuba.

It said the Dominican Republic deported thousands of people of Haitian descent including Dominican-born people who were effectively rendered stateless while often failing to respect international law and standards on deportations.

Upon arrival to Haiti, many people who had been deported settled in makeshift camps, where they lived in appalling conditions. Despite a commitment from newly elected authorities in the Dominican Republic to address the situation of stateless individuals, tens of thousands of people remained stateless following a 2013 Constitutional Court ruling which retroactively and arbitrarily deprived them of their nationality. In February, the IACHR described a situation of statelessness of a magnitude never before seen in the Americas.

Amnesty International said that rampant impunity allowed human rights abusers to operate without fear of the consequences weakened the rule of law, and denied truth and redress to millions.

Impunity was sustained by justice and security systems that remained under resourced, weak and often corrupt, compounded by a lack of political will to ensure their impartiality and independence. The resulting failure to bring the perpetrators of human rights violations to justice allowed organised crime and abusive law enforcement practices to take root and prosper.

Denial of meaningful access to justice also left huge numbers of people including in Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela unable to claim their rights.

Amnesty International said in Jamaica, impunity prevailed for the decades-long pattern of alleged unlawful killings and extrajudicial executions by law enforcement officials.

While more than 3,000 people have been killed by law enforcement officials since 2000, only a handful of officials have been held accountable to date. In June, the Commission of Enquiry into alleged human rights violations during the 2010 state of emergency made recommendations for police reform; by the end of the year Jamaica had yet to outline how it would implement the reforms.

The human rights group noted that in Haiti, no progress was made in the investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed by former President Jean-Claude Duvalier and his former collaborators.

It said that States made little headway in tackling violence against women and girls. This included failing to protect them from rape and killings as well as failing to hold perpetrators accountable. Reports of gender based violence came from Brazil, Canada, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Jamaica, Nicaragua, the USA and Venezuela, among other countries.

Amnesty noted that legislative and institutional progress in some countries such as the legal recognition of same-sex marriage did not necessarily translate into better protection against violence and discrimination for LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) people.

Across the Americas, high levels of hate crime, advocacy of hatred and discrimination, as well as murders and persecution of LGBTI activists persisted in countries including Argentina, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, the USA and Venezuela.

In the Bahamas, Amnesty International noted Bahamians voted no in a constitutional referendum on gender equality in citizenship matters in June.

Discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people continued, it said, adding that in the June referendum Bahamians voted on gender equality in citizenship matters under Bahamian law.

The proposed amendments backed by the government would have strengthened anti-discrimination protections based on sex. The result maintained inequality in Bahamian laws so that women and men pass on citizenship to their children and spouses in different ways.

The result put at risk the citizenship rights of families, in particular the risk of separation of families with diverse nationalities or children born outside of the Bahamas to Bahamian parents.

Amnesty said that stigma and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people continued and in April, activists founded the group Bahamas Transgender Intersex United.

In Jamaica, Amnesty said that unlawful killings and extrajudicial executions continued. Violence against women and discrimination against LGBTI people persisted. Children continued to be detained in violation of international standards.

It said that despite committing to the establishment of a national human rights institution, Jamaica had not established the mechanism by the end of the year.

Jamaica continued to have one of the highest homicide rates in the Americas, Amnesty International reported, saying that in June, a Commission of Enquiry published its much-anticipated report into the events that took place in Western Kingston during the state of emergency, declared on 23 May 2010, which left at least 69 people dead.

Almost 900 pages long, the report identified a number of cases of possible extrajudicial execution and produced a number of important recommendations for police reform. In an official response, the Jamaica Constabulary Force accepted a number of recommendations, such as committing to hold administrative reviews into the conduct of officers named in the Commissioners report.

But Amnesty said that the police continued to refuse to accept any responsibility for human rights violations or extrajudicial executions during the state of emergency.

By the end of the year, the government had still not officially indicated how it would implement the recommendations of the Commissioners. While the number of killings by police have been significantly reduced in recent years, 111 people were killed by law enforcement officials in 2016, compared with 101 in 2015. Women whose relatives were killed by police, and their families, experienced pervasive police harassment and intimidation, and faced multiple barriers to accessing justice, truth and reparation.

The human rights group said that Jamaica again failed to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, signed in September 2000, nor had it adhered to the UN Convention against Torture or the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

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Amnesty Int'l critical of Jamaica, Haiti, The Bahamas - News ... - Jamaica Observer

FORT PIERCERepresentatives from the Bahamas government agencies in Florida including the Bahamas Consulate General Office and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (BMOT) recently held a luncheon, Bahamian style, for forty staff and volunteers of Missionary Flights International (MFI) in Fort Pierce, Florida to show their appreciation to that organization, for their assistance to the residents of The Bahamas affected by Hurricane Matthew.

Persons feasted on signature Bahamian dishes including peas n rice, steamed fish and chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, toss salad, Bahamian pastries and homemade fruit punch and switcher.

Sandra Carey, Deputy Consul General, at the Bahamas Consulate General office was moved greatly by the goodwill and generosity shown by MFI and its staff. Their quick response and assistance has benefited the people of the Bahamas significantly and we owe them a depth of gratitude, she said.

Missionary Flights International is a private, faith-based non-profit mission aviation organization that operates flights between Florida, The Bahamas and areas of the Caribbean that need emergency relief assistance when disasters occur.

MFI flies their work team, missionaries, families and equipment to and from the field for short-term ministry, while sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

According to Captain Joe Karabensh, President of MFI, MFI stood in the gap for The Bahamas and Haiti and began praying and collecting monies and relief supplies, for those islands on Sunday, October 2, 2016 prior to hurricane Matthews arrival in the Bahamas, October 6-8.

As the eminent storm had escaped Florida, but hit The Bahamas, we were in a first responder position to activate quickly, transportation, funds and hurricane relief supplies we had received from residents and business houses throughout South Florida, to distribute to those areas affected by the storm.

In so doing MFI on October 8, immediately commenced relief to The Bahamas and has since provided more than 125,000 pounds of donated food and supplies directly to pastors, churches and the Salvation Army in Andros, Grand Bahama and Nassau, he said.

MFI also provides 470 ongoing Christian missions in Haiti and Dominican Republic as well as render assistance to several organizations in Eleuthera, Abaco, Nassau and Grand Bahama.

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Bahamas Grateful To Support From Missionary Flights International - South Florida Caribbean News

Several pigs have been killed and thrown into the sea (Picture: Getty)

A number of world-famous swimming pigs have been found dead inthe Bahamas and it isfeared they may have been killed deliberately.

Initial reports said that 15 of the pigs had been killed, but that figure is nowmore likely to be seven or eight. However, that leaves just seven or eight left alive on the Exuma Cays.

They were thrown into the sea after they were discovered on Friday according to the Bahamas Humane Society.

President of the charity, Kim Aranha, told the Tribune: I understand there are seven or eight pigs still alive. Its still unclear on the number of animals that are dead. Id say its more than seven, but certainly not the 15 as initially reported on social media.

She added: It could just be a horrible accident where they ate something poisonous. It could be malicious but I dont really see why someone would go out of their way to hurt those lovely animals.

I know there are a lot of silly sailors that go and feed them alcohol to try and get them drunk but thats not to mistake them with the tour operators based out of Nassau who have treated them with excellent care.

The pigs attract travellers from across the world and there are now fears that their deaths could harm tourism, a major source of income for the islands.

One of the pigs owners, Wayde Nixon, said that he believes they may have been given the wrong food.

He told the Nassau Guardian: Wehad them pigs there almost 30 years, and never has this happened before, but now we are going to have to regulate it.

Right now its blowing out of proportion with people, anybody bringing food there, anybody doing what they [want to] do.

We have people coming there giving the pigs beer, rum, riding on top of them, all kind of stuff.

The remaining pigs are said to be healthy and have been examined and given vaccines as a precation.

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Swimming pigs of the Exuma Cays, Bahama's killed and tourists are ... - Metro

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE being outsized and eventually outmanned on the pitch on Saturday, the Bahamas men's team held off Trinidad & Tobago 5-2, highlighted by two impressive goals from captain Gavin Christie and one each from tournament leading scorer Lesly St Fleur and Gary Joseph, in the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship.

With the win in the playoff round at the Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Facility at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge, the Bahamas clinched a match against the United States at 6.45pm on Sunday in their final game of the week-long tournament for fifth and sixth places in the standings in the field of 16 nations.

The US - who won the title in Nassau in 2013 - enjoyed a 6-1 rout of Jamaica, who will play Trinidad & Tobago in the seventh place playoff game.

Bahamas Coach Alexandre Soares, assisted by Stephen Bellot, said the team is coming into its own and performing at the level that he expects them to, going into the FIFA World Cup in Nassau in April as the host of the 16 nations coming in.

"Every day, every game is important for the ranking," Soares said. "Every game we win, it's important for us as we prepare for the World Cup."

Soares said they face a very competitive team on Sunday in the US, who they defeated during a trip to Europe when they prepared for this tournament, but he admitted that they will have to perform at their best if they intend to come out on top again.

The game with Trinidad & Tobago started as a defensive battle as neither team was able to capitalise on numerous attempts to score in the scoreless first period. Just before the break, the Bahamas received a scare when Dwayne Forbes was clipped on his head by Trinidad & Tobago's Lemuel Lyons and he needed medical attention after he came off the field by team physician Eugenia Patton.

Three and a half minutes into the second period, Joseph's shot hit the outside of the right post. With the goalkeeper pulled out of position midway through the period, Joseph tried to get a quick pass into Christie, but the keeper managed to get back in time to prevent the Bahamas from scoring.

However, with 5min 45sec remaining in the period, Joseph broke away from his defender and fired in the first goal and the celebrations began. Shortly after, the crowd went wild as St Fleur broke away from his defender, got a pass into Forbes and with Christie anxiously waiting in front of the post, he slipped a shot into the corner of the net to make it 2-0.

Forbes came back to start the final period and just over four minutes in, Christie powered past a defender and after drawing the goalkeeper out, was able to boot in his second goal to push the Bahamas lead to 3-0. However, in the build up, Forbes got another head injury and had to leave the game.

The game got physical halfway through the third period when goalkeeper Torin Ferguson attempted to snatch the ball from Trinidad & Tobago's pesky David McDougall. He got a little roughed up and Nesly Jean came to his rescue, but both received a yellow card from the referee.

A minute later, Ferguson sent a long pass to St Fleur, who found the back of the net on a reverse kick to make it 4-0. It was St Fleur's tenth goal of the tournament, the most by any player.

Trinidad & Tobago eventually got on the scoreboard thanks to Jesse Bailey's shot up the middle against Bahamas' number two keeper Ferguson, who was given the start over Ivan Rolle.

With 1min 38sec left, Lyons fired a free kick up the middle to make it 4-2 as Ferguson was unable to stop the shot.

As the game started to wind down, one of Trinidad & Tobago's coaches was ejected for arguing the calls.

Then with 50 seconds left, Williams was ejected after Trinidad & Tobago's Lyons was awarded a free kick. Williams had attempted to defend what he felt was an aggressive foul on Jean. The Bahamas ended up with just three players on the field of play. With 33 seconds left, Forbes was fouled and had to leave the game as Joseph came in and from the free throw, he drilled the ball past Trinidad & Tobago's goalkeeper, completing a 5-2 win.

Mexico and Panama will contest the final on Sunday night. Defending champions Mexico saw off Guadeloupe, who had beaten the Bahamas in the quarter-final on Friday night, 3-0 while Panama turned the tables on El Salvador, winning on penalties after a 2-2 draw. In the group stage, El Salvador had beaten Panama on penalties after a 4-4 tie.

Saturday's results

Turks & Caicos Islands 4 US Virgin Islands 1

Belize 6 Barbados 2

Canada 6 Antigua & Barbuda 1

Costa Rica 5 Guyana 2

United States 6 Jamaica 2

Bahamas 5 Trinidad & Tobago 2

Panama 2 El Salvador 2 (Panama win 2-1 on penalties)

Mexico 3 Guadeloupe 0

Sunday's programme

11.15am: Barbados v US Virgin Islands (15th-place playoff)

12.30pm: Belize v Turks & Caicos Islands (13th-place playoff)

1.45pm: Antigua & Barbuda v Guyana (11th-place playoff)

3pm: Canada vs Costa Rica (9th-place playoff)

4.15pm: Jamaica v Trinidad & Tobago (7th-place playoff)

5.30pm: El Salvador v Guadeloupe (3rd-place playoff)

6.45pm: Bahamas v United States (5th-place playoff)

8pm: Mexico v Panama (Championship match)

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Bahamas face US in fifth place playoff after beating Trinidad | The ... - Bahamas Tribune

Two of Caymans junior golfers, Andrew Jarvis and James Bould, demonstrated their skill in the inaugural Albany, Bahamas Junior Classic Tournament, hosted by The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour on Feb. 11 and 12.

The event drew competitors from across the U.S. and the Caribbean.

Andrew played in the Boys 16-18 Division, shooting 80-82 on the 6,700-yard course over the two days. He placed fourth in a very competitive field, after Florida golfers Ben Pirro (first) and Callum Brown (second), and Georgia-based Tripp Murphy (third).

James Bould, 11, earned a third-place finish behind Will McGriff of Florida and Colt Ingram of South Carolina. James shot 95-92 on the 5,300-yard course, nailing five pars in a row in round two to land himself a spot in the top three. His top-three finish at this tournament secured James an exemption into a mid-season invitational tournament at Sea Island in Georgia in June.

Up next

The local circuit continues with rounds five and six of the Digicel Junior Golf Series in March and May, and a team will also be preparing for the Junior Caribbean Championships in Trinidad in July.

For full tournament results and more details about CIGA junior and senior events, go to http://www.ciga.ky.

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Junior golfers fare well at Bahamas tournament - Cayman Compass

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Attorney General Hector Balderas has issued a second Scam Alert this week, this time warning senior citizens to protect themselves against the Bahamas Grandkids Scam hitting New Mexico.

Scammers are calling New Mexico senior citizens from Ontario, Canada, and Maryland telephone numbers claiming their grandchild is in jail for drunk driving in another country, namely the Bahamas. The scammers tell elaborate stories, including details of a destination wedding the grandchild traveled to, then explain that after the wedding, the grandchild was arrested.

The scammer does not let the grandparent speak to the grandchild because they are in court, but they do urge them to call a second number to post bail. When the grandparent calls the second number, they are informed of a deal if they obtain a prepaid debit card from Wal-Mart, the bail will be $2,000 instead of $3,000. They are then asked for that prepaid card number.

Im asking all of our families to be on guard for this scam as it preys directly on the love, trust and kindness of our New Mexico grandparents, Balderas said. If someone calls to tell you a family member is in jail in another country and wants money from you, please verify this information with other family members before you consider taking any action. These scammers want to scare you into giving them information and money, but do not let their lies intimidate you.

Recent numbers associated with this scam are Maryland number 1-443-687-8088 and Ontario, Canada, number 1-437-344-0996, but this scam originates from other numbers, as well. This is an old scam with a new twist and can include a variety of different lies to trick people.

The Office of the Attorney General was alerted to this new version by an 83-year-old grandmother and retired law enforcement officer who went all the way through the scam, without giving any money, and wanted to warn the public about the details.

Anyone believing they have received such calls is asked to report them to the Office of the Attorney General by calling toll-free, 1-844-255-9210.

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AG warning about 'Bahamas Grandkids Scam' - Artesia Daily Press

MIAMI The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) presented checks totaling $70,000 to hotel associations in Haiti and The Bahamas to assist residents in both countries with Hurricane Matthew relief efforts.

Recognizing the considerable hardship and damage which Haiti and part of the northern Bahamas faced in the aftermath of the hurricane, CHTA President Karolin Troubetzkoy called upon fellow hoteliers in the region to respond to the associations call for support.

CHTA developed a fundraising initiative through online auction channel CharityBuzz, with which CHTA previously collaborated on a relief and recovery project for Dominica. Regional hoteliers donated room nights for the auction to benefit residents in Haiti and The Bahamas, some of whom continue to struggle to put their lives back in order.

Thanks to the generosity of our CHTA members, we are heartened to make these contributions to our sister organizations, said Troubetzkoy. Our Caribbean countries and the industry responded when help was needed and I wish to thank those who answered the call.

Hotelier Agnes Pierre-Louis receives Haitis donation from (l-r) Vanessa Ledesma, Frank Comito and Karolin Troubetzkoy of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.

In Haiti, Hurricane Matthew claimed almost 1,000 lives in the southwestern part of the country and devastated agricultural and fishing sectors, flora, natural attractions, schools and homes, leaving thousands of families homeless and unable to meet basic human needs. In The Bahamas, there was severe damage on Grand Bahama Island, North and Central Andros, and the Berry Islands.

The Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Associations (BHTA) President Carlton Russell receives CHTAs contribution from President Karolin Troubetzkoy.

Troubetzkoy presented a $25,000 check to The Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Associations President Carlton Russell at Caribbean Travel Marketplace at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in January. A check for $45,000 was presented to Agnes Pierre-Louis, Treasurer of LAssociation Touristique dHaiti.

In consultation with CHTA, the Bahamas and Haiti Associations have identified areas where relief will be targeted, aimed at addressing long-term improvements to those affected.

Read more here:

Caribbean Hotel And Tourism Assoc. Helps Hurricane-Affected Haiti & The Bahamas - South Florida Caribbean News

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BEFORE a packed crowd at the newly built facility at Malcolm Park at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge on Friday night, the Bahamas suffered a heartbreaking 5-3 loss to Guadeloupe in the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship.

Even with more Bahamians lining the bridge and hundreds locked out in their effort to get into the stadium, the host team found themselves trailing on three occasions but battled back to even the score at 3-3 after two periods. However, Theo Gelas struck a pair of goals late in the third period to complete his hat-trick and secure the win for Guadeloupe which advanced them to a semi-final against Mexico on Saturday night.

The Bahamas, coming off three straight impressive victories to win group A in the round robin segment, will be back in action on Saturday at 5.30pm when they take on Trinidad & Tobago to determine which of the spots between fifth and eighth they will end up playing for on Sunday when the week-long tournament come to a close.

"We started off a little shaky in the first period, but I felt as if we regained our composure in the second and third periods, but some good playing by Guadeloupe held off our strong attack," said Bahamas' goalkeeper Ivan Rolle. "Anytime you are playing in sand, it's difficult, but we trained hard and we tried to stick to our game plan as much as possible."

Rolle, who had his most difficult match so far in the tournament, said the Bahamas would have preferred to be playing in the semi-finals, but they hope to come back and finish the tournament on a strong note just as they started on Monday.

"We were expecting to finish as least top four in this tournament, so it's very heartbreaking," Rolle, who was distraught at the final whistle, pointed out. "We want to use this tournament as a stepping stone to really show the world that we are ready to play at this level."

Rolle was referring to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup that will take place at the same facility in April. By virtue of being the host, the Bahamas have already qualified. Two more teams will join the Bahamas at the end of the tournament on Sunday.

As they use this tournament as a stepping stone to the more prestigious tournament ahead, Rolle said he was encouraged when he looked up and saw the tremendous support they received from the Bahamian public as the stadium was packed to its 3,000 capacity and people lined the Sir Sidney Poitier bridge to watch from outside as they couldn't get in.

Each time Guadeloupe scored in the first two periods, the Bahamas answered until Gelas put the game away for good in the third.

Damien Granchi-Constant, the Guadeloupe captain, took advantage of a loose ball to volley in from long range over Rolle after four minutes but Gary Joseph levelled 30 seconds later after some neat footwork. But within two minutes Gelas nodded in his first at the far post from a throw-in to put Guadeloupe in front and then Lesly St Fleur saw his penalty brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper, who had an excellent match. Sebastien Hell, joint top scorer in the tournament with St Fleur going into the game, gave notice of his threat by hitting the post just before the end of the period.

Joseph struck again early in the second to even the score at 2-2 but three minutes later, the imposingly physical Hell rose above the Bahamas defence to head Guadeloupe in front 3-2. St Fleur, having a sensational tournament, finally got through to tie the score at 3-3 just before the end of the period - his ninth goal of the event.

In the third period, the deadlock was broken when Gelas escaped onto a long ball forward and then punished confusion in the Bahamas defence at a corner to slide in at the far post with four minutes to go. Joseph fired in a free kick as the clock ran down on the Bahamas but the goalkeeper made another fine diving save.

Mexico, the defending champions, await Guadeloupe in the semi-finals on Saturday while El Salvador tackle the surprise package Panama. El Salvador cruised past Jamaica 5-0, Panama upset the United States 6-4 and Mexico saw off Trinidad and Tobago 5-1 in the other quarter-finals.

In the lower placement games played on Friday, Barbados defeated Turks and Caicos Islands 5-2; Belize stunned US Virgin Islands 6-4 after extra time; Costa Rica outlasted Canada 3-2 on penalties after they were tied 2-2; and Guyana held off Antigua and Barbuda 6-4.

RESULTS

Friday

Placement matches

13th place first round: Barbados 5 Turks & Caicos Islands 2

13th place first round: Belize 6 US Virgin Islands 4 (after extra time)

9th place first round: Canada 2 Costa Rica 2 (Costa Rica win 3-2 on penalties)

9th place first round: Guyana 6 Antigua & Barbuda 4

Quarter-finals

El Salvador 5 Jamaica 0

United States 4 Panama 6

Mexico 5 Trinidad & Tobago 1

Bahamas 3 Guadeloupe 5

PROGRAMME

Saturday

11.15am: 13th place second round: Turks & Caicos Islands v US Virgin Islands

12.30pm: 13th place second round: Barbados v Belize

1.45pm: 9th place second round: Canada v Antigua & Barbuda

3pm: 9th place second round: Costa Rica v Guyana

4.15pm: 5th place semi-finals: Jamaica v United States

5.30pm: 5th place semi-finals: Trinidad & Tobago v Bahamas

6.45pm: Semi-finals: El Salvador v Panama

8pm: Semi-finals: Mexico v Guadeloupe

Sunday

11.15am: 15th place match

12.30pm: 13th place match

1.45pm: 11th place match

3pm: 9th place match

4.15pm: 7th place match

5.30pm: 5th place match

6.45pm: 3rd place match

8pm: final

The two finalists will qualify for the World Cup in Nassau from April 27 to May 7. If non-FIFA members Guadeloupe reach the final the third place winners will take the qualification spot.

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Guadeloupe End Bahamas Hopes Of Progress In Beach Soccer Championship - Bahamas Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Moodys forecast that the Government will incur another $300 million-plus fiscal deficit this year emphasises why the Bahamas needs to create a contingency fund to cope with natural disasters, the Chamber of Commerces chairman said yesterday.

Gowon Bowe told Tribune Business that this nation needed to set aside reserves or insurance premiums as a safeguard against the financial impact from Hurricane Matthew-type events.

When we look at things like hurricanes and the unexpected occurring, what that highlights is not only the need to plan for the normal environment, but also to plan for the rainy day environment. That adds a dimension that we now have to factor in, said Mr Bowe.

Moodys on Wednesday forecast that the Bahamas fiscal deficit will remain above $300 million for the current Budget period, with Hurricane Matthew blowing it slightly higher than the prior year.

The international credit rating agency, in its latest quarterly assessment of the Bahamas sovereign creditworthiness, gave an insight into the extent of Matthews impact on the Governments finances by projecting a deficit equivalent to 3.6 per cent of GDP for 2016-2017.

We estimate that the fiscal balance in fiscal year 2017 will deteriorate to -3.6 per cent of GDP from -2.8 per cent the previous year, due to the negative impact from the damages caused by Hurricane Matthew last October, Moodys said.

As the Government will incur additional borrowing to cover reconstruction spending for public infrastructure, we now expect the central government debt-to-GDP ratio to reach 70 per cent by end of fiscal year 2017, Moodys said.

When we look at the economy, the deficits and the debt, there are going to be unexpected increases due to unexpected events, Mr Bowe said.

However, we have to get to the point where just like any business we are managing not only for expected occurrences but contingencies, meaning we are setting aside reserves, or insurance premiums and the like, to cover the unexpected events. It allows you to buffer against the impact of major events. As a country we have to be thinking along those lines.

The Christie administration, in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, revealed that the Bahamas would not have received any relief from the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) because the storm was not strong enough to trigger a payout.

As a result, the Government had ceased making financial contributions because the Bahamas would only have received compensation in the event of a Category 5 hurricane.

While Moodys estimates were not surprising, its projections for the 2016-2017 fiscal deficit are more than triple what the Government forecast last May, prior to the unanticipated $600-$700 million in damage inflicted by Matthews Category Three-Four storm surge and winds.

The Christie administration had projected a $100 million GFS fiscal deficit for 2016-2017, equivalent to around 1.1 per cent of GDP.

However, Moodys estimate is slightly higher than the 3.5 per cent GFS deficit that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates the Bahamas incurred in the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2016.

Taking $8 billion as the size of Bahamian GDP, the rating agencys estimate suggests that the Governments GFS deficit for the current fiscal year will come in around $290-$300 million.

Moodys, though, given that it pegged the $2.25 billion in outstanding consumer credit as equivalent to 25.5 per cent of Bahamian economic output in 2016, is suggesting that this nation has a $9 billion GDP.

Applying the 3.6 percentage to this figure would place the estimated 2016-2017 fiscal deficit at around $324 million, highlighting just how badly natural disasters can blow a nations finances off course.

The Government sought to borrow $150 million in emergency credit immediately following Matthew, a target it largely met. However, this increased both the GFS deficit and national debt beyond projection, with Moodys revised estimate for the latter now placing it at the ratio considered by the IMF as a danger threshold.

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Bahamas Must 'Buffer' Against Deficit Blow-Out - Bahamas Tribune

Several of the famous swimming pigs that draw tourists to the Bahamas Big Major Cay were found dead over the weekend from an undetermined cause.

Wayde Nixon, one of the pigs owners, told the Nassau Guardianthat seven of the pigs had died, and about 15 were still alive.

EyesWideOpen via Getty Images

The pigs were given the wrong food, Nixon told the news outlet. He didnt specify who gave the passel of pigs the food, or what it was. But he did say there have been problems with tourists acting inappropriately.

Right now, its blowing out of proportion with people, anybody bringing food there, anybody doing what they [want to] do, Nixon said. We have people coming there giving the pigs beer, rum, riding on top of them all kind of stuff.

Kim Aranha, president of the Bahamas Humane Society, told Tribune 242 its not clear if the pigs deaths were accidental or intentional.

It could just be a horrible accident, where they ate something poisonous, Aranha said. It could be malicious, but I dont really see why someone would go out of their way to hurt those lovely animals.

The results of a humane society investigation into the deaths will be available by next week, according to Tribune 242.

As a result of the deaths, tourists will no longer be permitted to feed the pigs, though they will still be able to visit them, V. Alfred Gray, minister of agriculture and marine resources, told the Nassau Guardian.

Popular legend attributes the pigs presence on the island to sailors who abandoned them, or to pigs swimming to the island after a shipwreck.

But Nixon and his business partner, Don Rolle, have told multiple media outlets that they brought a few pigs to the island in the 1990s in a scheme to start a farm. That failed, but the charm of free-roaming, swimming pigs ended up being a major tourist attraction.

Barcroft via Getty Images

The world-famous pigs have been repeatedly celebrated inthe media, and even made an appearance on the reality dating show The Bachelor last year. However, some animal advocates have expressed concern for the pigswell-being.

See the rest here:

Beloved Swimming Pigs Of The Bahamas Found Dead - Huffington Post

HAT TRICK: Lesly St Fleur in action as the Bahamas clinched a 3-2 victory over Jamaica in the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship. Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas will put their perfect 3-0 winning record on the line on Friday night against Guadeloupe as the knockout stage of the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship gets underway at the new Bahamas Beach Soccer facility at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier bridge.

The Bahamas, coached by Alexandre Soares and Stephen Bellot, were drawn to play in the feature quarter-final at 9.15pm following the completion of the group stage on Thursday night.

Its a quarter-final and Guadeloupe is a strong team, so you cant take anything for granted, said Bahamas team captain Gavin Christie. We just have to come out and play our best and hopefully we can get the victory.

Should the Bahamas win, they will play the winners of Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago in the semi-finals on Saturday. The championships will conclude on Sunday.

Christie said the team, only been assembled a year ago, is still a work in progress and they have to work on their finishing to put away their chances because in a tight tournament like this, they have to score.

One mistake could be one goal, so we have to narrow down our chances, he proclaimed. But each game were getting better and better and were going into the quarter-final confident and ready to play.

The Bahamas topped group A, scoring 10 goals and only conceding three. Lesly St Jean scored eight of the Bahamas goals, and is the leading scorer in the tournament.

The other group winners have piled up the goals. In Group B, Mexico scored 27 goals in their three wins and given up five. Guadeloupe, who the Bahamas play on Friday night, was in second scoring 11 and conceding 16 in winning two of their three matches. United States notched 20 goals and let in only four in Group C while in Group D, El Salvador hit 21 goals.

The Bahamas opened with a 4-1 victory over Guyana on Monday night as St Jean scored a hat trick . Kyle Williams added the other. On Tuesday they whitewashed Guyana 3-0 with another pair of goals from St Fleur, Gary Joseph booting in the other.

On Wednesday, the Bahamas closed out pool play with a 3-2 victory over Jamaica as St Jean again came through with a hat trick.

Friday's action began at 12.15pm with placement matches involving the eight teams which did not finish in the top two in their groups.

The quarter-finals got underway at 5.30pm with El Salvador cruising past Jamaica 5-0. Panama sprung a major shock by beating the United States 6-4 in the second tie. That will be followed by Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago at 8pm while the Bahamas closes the programme at 9.15pm against Guadeloupe.

FIXTURES AND RESULTS

Friday

Placement matches

13th place first round: Barbados 5 Turks & Caicos Islands 2

13th place first round: Belize 6 US Virgin Islands 4 (after extra time)

9th place first round: Canada 2 Costa Rica 2 (Costa Rica win 3-2 on penalties)

9th place first round: Guyana 6 Antigua & Barbuda 4

Quarter-finals

El Salvador 5 Jamaica 0

United States 4 Panama 6

8pm: Mexico v Trinidad & Tobago

9.15pm: Bahamas v Guadeloupe

Saturday (timings to be confirmed)

11.15am: 13th place second round: Turks & Caicos Islands v US Virgin Islands

12.30pm: 13th place second round: Barbados v Belize

1.45pm: 9th place second round: Canada v Antigua & Barbuda

3pm: 9th place second round: Costa Rica v Guyana

4.15pm: 5th place semi-finals: Jamaica v United States

5.30pm: 5th place semi-finals: Mexico or Trinidad & Tobago v Bahamas or Guadeloupe

6.45pm: Semi-finals: El Salvador v Panama

8pm: Semi-finals: Mexico or Trinidad & Tobago v Bahamas or Guadeloupe

Sunday (timings to be confirmed)

11.15am: 15th place match

12.30pm: 13th place match

1.45pm: 11th place match

3pm: 9th place match

4.15pm: 7th place match

5.30pm: 5th place match

6.45pm: 3rd place match

8pm: final

The two finalists will qualify for the World Cup in Nassau from April 27 to May 7. The Bahamas have qualified for the World Cup as hosts so if they or unranked Guadeloupe reach the final the third place winners will take the qualification spot.

Original post:

Bahamas Face Guadeloupe In Beach Soccer Quarter-Finals On Friday Night - Bahamas Tribune

20 Photos

It's hard to improve on an island vacation, but if your time off calls for more than an overcrowded stretch of sand and a half-melted pia coladasay, pristine, private beaches, full-service kids' clubs, and personalized snorkeling excursionslook no further than these 20 resorts, voted the best in the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Turks & Caicos in Cond Nast Traveler's 2016 Readers' Choice Awards. Click here to view as a list. Counting down...

It's hard to improve on an island vacation, but if your time off calls for more than an overcrowded stretch of sand and a half-melted pia coladasay, pristine, private beaches, full-service kids' clubs, and personalized snorkeling excursionslook no further than these 20 resorts, voted the best in the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Turks & Caicos in Cond Nast Traveler's 2016 Readers' Choice Awards. Click here to view as a list. Counting down...

Why you love it: Built around Aquaventure, a 141-acre waterpark with over a dozen rides and slides, the ocean-themed Atlantis, Paradise Island (located just off the northern coast of New Providence) is pretty much an aquaphile's dream. Knitted out with 20 swimming areas, it includes 11 pools, 31 private cabanas, and access to three beaches. The over-the-top mega-resort is a destination for marine-life enthusiasts, too: It's home to one of the world's largest open-air marine habitats, as well as Dolphin Cay, a state-of-the-art education center where guests can play with dolphins. And for those who prefer to stay firmly on dry land, there's also an 18-hole golf course, as well as a whopping 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges, and a casino.

Why you love it: Everything about Valentines Residences, Resort & Marina, on the Bahamas' Harbour Island makes it easy to unwind. Start with a laid-back lunch facing the docks at the breezy Boathouse Restaurant, and order the fried seafood platter with all your favorite fixings (think freshly caught grouper and jumbo shrimp, served with crispy plantains, tartar sauce, and a squeeze of lime), and you'll officially find yourself on vacation. The resort's world-class yacht marina is the largest on the islandit can accommodate vessels up to 160-feet longand offers fuel service, cable hook-up, and wireless Internet access at every slip. Speaking of marine pastimes: The waters around the resort swell with tuna, marlin, and wahoo, drawing both novice anglers and pro-fisherman alike.

Why you love it: Fresh off a two-year, $100 million renovation that saw the sprucing up of its rooms, suites, and public spaces, the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club is again the shiny new penny of Bermuda's resorts. It doesnt take long to reach this pink paradise: Flights from major U.S. hubs, like Boston, Miami, Chicago, and Atlanta, are under two hours, and the resort is just another 30 minutes from Bermuda International Airport. If accessibility isnt enough of a draw, then how about celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson's eponymously-named on-site restaurant? Like Samuelsson's other restaurants, dishes are at once highbrow and flavorful, but without the fuss (we recommend securing a seat on the 1,500 square foot wrap-around veranda and snacking on the crispy fish chowder croquettes). The resort is also home to the first and only full-service marina in Bermuda, and as such, it'll play host to the 35th America's Cupthe World Series of sailingbeginning in June 2017. More reason to book your summer getaway sooner rather than later.

Why you love it: Rosewood Tucker's Point has all the hallmarks of a five-star stay. The resort, golf club, and residential community sits on 240 acres of waterfront land in Bermuda, with immaculately maintained lawns and airy, colonial-style cottages furnished with four-poster beds. But it's not all about appearances: An attentive staff will remember not just your name, but how you take your morning coffee. Dinner at The Point is an upscale affair, and the formal dining room is decorated with eight 80-foot murals (which once hung in the SkyClub in New Yorks MetLife building) depicting seaports from around the world. The food isn't nearly as highfalutin' though, with seafood staples like grilled local swordfish and little neck clams. Head to the Dive & Watersports Center for a turn on the Tidal Pull, a 31-foot dive boat that'll guide you through some 240 square miles of pristine coral reef, and over to nearby caves and dive sites.

Why you love it: Connected via walkways to Atlantis Paradise Island, The Cove Atlantis is a refuge of calm within a complex resort thats all about activity. The 600-room tower (technically part of Atlantis Paradise Island, though it has a separate check-in, pool, and beach club) comes with its own slice of beach. Oversized rooms (ranging from 600 to over 4,000 square feet) are minimal in design and feature spacious bathrooms, sunken sitting areas between the bed and balcony, and two TVs. Sidle on over to the adults-only pool area to scope out the scene: The 9,000 square foot main pool is purposely shallow to encourage socializing with your fellow vacationers, but you can always opt to observe the action from afar on a poolside day bed.

Why you love it: Guests can expect a little of everything at the 404-room and suite Sandals Royal Bahamian: There's access to the pristine Cable Beach, of course, plus ten excellent dining options, and personal butler service. A whopping 30 room categories means you can pick your price point (and perks); we suggest the Windsor swim-up suites, where you can roll out of a four-poster bed and into the lagoon pool in a matter of seconds. The one standout feature remains the resort's private, offshore island, which you can reach on your own via a kayak or sailboat, or a resort-operated boat. With two quiet beaches, a spa, and an open-air seafood restaurantplus all the low-slung hammocks and cabanas you can dream ofit's truly an escape within an escape.

Why you love it: Sandals are known for their sheer scalethe all-inclusive, adults-only resorts hum along like small citiesbut that doesn't mean they're short on detail. Not only does the 249-room and suite Sandals Emerald Bay sit on a mile-long stretch of powdery white beachfront, it's also home to an 18-hole, Greg Norman-designed golf course, three pools (including one with a swim-up bar and a central fire pit), and a rotating list of parties and events to suit every tasteincluding a late-night chocolate buffet on Wednesdays. We wouldn't blame you for sampling each of the resort's seven restaurants, but put down the fork now and then to take a dance, tennis, or windsurfing lesson to really round out your trip.

Why you love it: The family-friendly West Bay Club resort sits on the widest stretch of Grace Bay Beach, at a safe removefive miles west, roughlyfrom the swarms of vacationers in the resort district. It has a Kids' Club for the little ones, a spa for you, plus one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom suites equipped with kitchens, washers, and dryers. Nurse a cold one at the resort's beach bar before you depart on an excursion, arranged by one of the resort's handy concierges: Whether you want some of the best beginners' snorkeling in Turks & Caicos (less than ten minutes away, over at Coral Gardens Reef), a day on the green, or a horseback ride on the sand at sunset, they'll sort it out for you. On Thursdays, take a short walk over to Lower Bright Park for a taste of the year-round Fish Fry, where more than a dozen local restaurants serve up perfectly crispy plates of seafood, and a local band provides the soundtrack.

Why you love it: This 758-room, all-inclusive hideaway has something for everyone in your family, whether it's the 45,000-square-foot waterpark; a 12-mile beach lapped by clear turquoise waters; ten different pools; or an Xbox play lounge, stocked with the latest games. The resort, with four unique villages separately recreating the architecture of Italy, France, the Caribbean, and Key West, is as global with its food as it is with its accommodations: There are 22 dining options on-site, offering everything from sushi to spaghetti and meatballs.

Why you love it: On the scrubby tip of the Northwest Point Marine National Park on Providenciales, Amanyara is a veritable vision: Airy, Indonesian-wood gazebos appear to float on the resort's central reflecting pool; inside, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass walls lead to sunken dining areas and bedrooms inlaid with teak. Opt for one of the Ocean Villasthe most private accommodation of them alland enjoy an infinity-edge pool, garden, and dockside day bed, perfect for taking that much-needed cat nap. At the indoor/outdoor The Restaurant, simplicity is best. Sample the spiny Caribbean lobster, grilled on a hot flame, and enjoy the fresh air on the open patiothough if you'd rather dine in air conditioning, that works, too.

Why you love it: Ample living space isn't the only selling point of the nearly 100-acre, 593-room Fairmont Southampton, which claims some of the largest guest rooms in Bermuda. The resort's stretch of private pink beach (which one guest described as "cotton-soft"), plus its proximity to the quiet, crescent-shaped Horseshoe Bay Beach, are large draws, too. Make a reservation for dinner at the historic, AAA Four Diamond-rated Waterlot Inn, which deals in some of the island's best sunsets and steaks. Burn it off the next day by playing 18 holes at the resort's 2,684-yard Turtle Hill Golf Club.

Why you love it: Grace Bay Club offers not one, but three distinct accommodations to its discerning guests: adults-only The Hotel building, family-friendly Villas Suites, and the Estate, a resort within a resort, with personal concierge service and exclusive access to dedicated Estate amenities, such as a separate pool, cabanas, and more. Despite catering to different crowds, they do have a few common features, including spectacular oceanfront views and notable service. Looking to stake your umbrella in the sand a little while longer? Rent one of the homes in the Private Villa Collection, a cluster of five freestanding private beachfront residences that come with all the amenities and services of a superior hotel stay, including roundtrip airport transfers, daily housekeeping, and complimentary breakfast.

Why you love it: It's hard to imagine anything more reinvigorating than a few days at this health-centric resort, on its own private island in the Caribbean. Guests should take full advantage of the brand's wellness program, COMO Shambhala, which promotes good health through offerings like enzyme-rich cuisine (hello, zucchini carpaccio and pineapple sundaes); complimentary yoga and Pilates classes; and holistic therapies, including reflexology and Ayurveda. For those who are a little more adventurous, the resort will also coordinate fishing and diving trips, biking excursions on nearby islands, and windsurfing lessons, and more. Or give yourself a full break and stay closer to the spa's infinity pool, overlooking the ocean.

Why you love it: You needn't leave your room at Harbour Island's Pink Sands Resort, just 50 miles east of Nassau, to sense that you're on vacation: Twenty-three British Colonial beach cottages, each with ocean- or garden views and decked out in wicker, white linens, and shiplap, should give you all the context clues you need. Stay holed up, however, and you'll miss the biggest draw of the resortthe pearly pink beaches from which it draws its name. Stop over at Blue Bar & Restaurant for crispy conch fritters served with bird chillies and sweet peppers; later, work off the carbs by kayaking or paddle-boarding with one of the resort's free boats.

Why you love it: On the eastern hook of Providenciales Seven Stars Resort, has plenty of bragging rights. For starters, the 115 all-suite resort is home to the island's only heated saltwater pool, plus a private shopping service, complimentary access to kayaks and paddle boards, and sailing and windsurfing lessons. Other freebies at the resort run the gamut, from a glass of rum punch and a chilled towel on arrival to a daily breakfast buffet and a Kids' Club (lizard hunting and sand castle building included). When you're not busy scuba diving, snorkeling the third largest coral reef in the world, or learning how to parasail, head over to the spa for a jet-lag massagefirm pressure focused on all those plane ride-driven problem areas, like the neck and lower back.

Why you love it: A stay at The Cove, Eleutherawhether in one of their rooms, suites, villas, or cottagesis bound to change the way you vacation. Located on a crescent of white sand beach backed by palm trees, you won't need to be reminded to relax. Take a dip in the hilltop infinity pool, which hangs over the ocean, or head to one of the resort's two beaches, where activities like kayaking and paddle-boarding abound. Looking to get off the island? Set sail for a half-day conch diving experience in nearby waters, after which the captain will take you to a private beach for a lunch prepared with the haul. However you fill your day, make time in the evening for an al fresco dinner at the indoor/outdoor Freedom Restaurant & Sushi Barwe recommend sitting outside on the wooden deck to guarantee some of the resort's best views.

Why you love it: Traveler readers are crazy about The Reefs, in Southampton Parish, Bermudaand it's easy to see why. This salmon-hued limestone resort, with a private pink sand beach to match, was built on the ruins of a 1680s farmhouse and offers a sunset view from every room. Guests extol the superb staff, and though it might not be best suited for families (this is honeymoon and anniversary territory, really), don't count it out: There are seven nearby golf courses, a swimming pool, two tennis courts, and three restaurants and bars. Ocean Echo, where semi-circular windows wrap the room in sea views, is known for its breakfast and brunch spreads. But for dinner, order the pan-roasted scallops and six-hour short ribs at Aqua Terra.

Why you love it: Located on Grace Bay in Providenciales, The Palms Turks & Caicos, is perfect for both a adults-only getaway or a trip with the kids. Rooms with white linens overlook the pool or the ocean, and the three-bedroom Penthouse Suite has a private outdoor shower to wash off the wear and tear of a day by the water. Bike ride into town, just ten minutes away, or take advantage of a seemingly-endless list of onsite activities that includes horseback riding, parasailing, tennis, whale watching, and jet-skiing. Stop to take in views of the crystalline surf at the beach, and cue the R & R at the award-winning, 25,000-square-foot The Palms Spa for a Mother of Pearl body exfoliation, delivered with a blend of hand-crushed conch shells.

Why you love it: Not only will you feel like a celebrity at the 107-room and suite One&Only Ocean Club, but you might just brush by a few at this beachfront resort with a twelfth-century Augustinian cloister and gardens modeled after those at Versailles. If you're feeling especially like a rockstar, opt for one of the 4,400-square-foot villas, each with its own infinity lap pool and louvered hardwood doors that open onto a private patio or balcony. Both the food and service across the resort's three restaurants are excellentespecially at Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Dune, which was recently spruced up. Good to know: The Hartford Wing, refurbished in 2015, includes completely renovated and expanded guest rooms and suites, plus a new beachfront infinity-edge pool, complete with a new bar and grill.

Why you love it: Spared damage by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, the 10-suite Kamalame Cay, right off of Andros Great Barrier Reef, still feels undiscovered. Choose from a selection of rooms, suites, bungalows, or 1,400-square-foot villas that sit right on the beach; then, when you're ready to pry yourself from the white sand, take advantage of the nearby hiking, diving, snorkeling, bird watching, and kayaking. Just don't forget to book an appointment at the resort's overwater spawe're especially fond of the 70-minute coconut body polish treatment, which involves a scrub of freshly shredded young coconut and brown sugar, followed by an application of Madagascan vanilla-scented moisturizer. This gentle exfoliation treatment will leave you smelling as divine as you feel.

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Originally posted here:

20 Best Resorts in the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Turks & Caicos - Cond Nast Traveler

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Moodys yesterday forecast that the Bahamas fiscal deficit will remain above $300 million for this current Budget period, with Hurricane Matthew blowing it slightly higher than the prior year.

The international credit rating agency, in its latest quarterly assessment of the Bahamas sovereign creditworthiness, gave an insight into the extent of Matthews impact on the Governments finances by projecting a deficit equivalent to 3.6 per cent of GDP for 2016-2017.

We estimate that the fiscal balance in fiscal year 2017 will deteriorate to -3.6 per cent of GDP from -2.8 per cent the previous year, due to the negative impact from the damages caused by Hurricane Matthew last October, Moodys said.

As the Government will incur additional borrowing to cover reconstruction spending for public infrastructure, we now expect the central government debt-to-GDP ratio to reach 70 per cent by end of fiscal year 2017.

While Moodys estimates are not surprising, its projections for the 2016-2017 fiscal deficit are more than triple what the Government has forecast last May, prior to the unanticipated $600-$700 million in damage inflicted by Matthews Category Three-Four storm surge and winds.

The Christie administration had projected a $100 million GFS fiscal deficit for 2016-2017, equivalent to around 1.1 per cent of GDP.

However, Moodys estimate is slightly higher than the 3.5 per cent GFS deficit that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates the Bahamas incurred in the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2016.

Taking $8 billion as the size of Bahamian GDP, the rating agencys estimate suggests that the Governments GFS deficit for the current fiscal year will come in around $290-$300 million.

Moodys, though, given that it pegged the $2.25 billion in outstanding consumer credit as equivalent to 25.5 per cent of Bahamian economic output in 2016, is suggesting that this nation has a $9 billion GDP.

Applying the 3.6 percentage to this figure would place the estimated 2016-2017 fiscal deficit at around $324 million, highlighting just how badly natural disasters can blow a nations finances off course.

The Government sought to borrow $150 million in emergency credit immediately following Matthew, a target it largely met. However, this increased both the GFS deficit and national debt beyond projection, with Moodys revised estimate for the latter now placing it at the ratio considered by the IMF as a danger threshold.

Moodys assessment, though, struck a more upbeat tone on the Bahamas medium-term fiscal prospects, suggesting that the $6.8 billion national debt and accompanying ratios will peak - and starting declining - by the 2018-2019 fiscal year.

Thereafter, fiscal consolidation efforts that include boosting revenues through higher tax compliance, as well as measures to rein in expenditures, will contribute to the stabilisation of the debt trend in 2018-19, Moodys said yesterday.

That said, downside risks remain due to a still weak, albeit recovering, economic performance, and the Bahamas susceptibility to climate-related events, such as hurricanes, that imply a fiscal cost in the absence of buffers.

The rating agency was also more optimistic on the Bahamas economic outlook given expectations that the multi-billion dollar Baha Mar project will be completed this year and open under new owner, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE).

It added that the recent declines in the unemployment rate, and number of discouraged workers, also reflect strengthening economic momentum.

The recent announcements related to the Baha Mar project are in line with our baseline assumptions that underlie our 1.2-2 per cent growth projection for 2017-2018, Moodys said.

Still, it acknowledged that the Bahamas annual GDP growth had averaged just 0.2 per cent over the past four years, and suggested faster economic expansion would be impossible unless this nation tackled deep-rooted structural problems in its labour and energy markets.

For 2016 and 2017 we expect growth to remain below the economys potential growth rate of 1.5 per cent, after which economic performance could be boosted to around 2 per cent depending on the progress made on the Baha Mar resort, Moodys said.

Over the medium term, structural rigidities in the energy sector and labour market, as well as impediments to ease of doing business, may constrain growth to rates closer to 1.5 per cent.

Pointing to the stable outlook it currently has on the Bahamas credit rating, which is one notch above so-called junk status, Moodys added: The stable outlook also incorporates the expectation that economic performance will strengthen in 2017-18, returning to levels close to the Bahamas potential growth of 1.5 per cent.

Under this baseline, we would see a stabilisation of the Bahamas key economic and fiscal metrics, although these metrics would remain weaker than for most Baa rating peers.

For the Bahamas credit rating to improve, Moodys said it required a strengthening of budgetary processes, including expenditure controls and improvements in revenue collections that lead to a rapid deficit reduction.

It warned that another downgrade could occur if the Governments commitment to fiscal consolidation and discipline diminished, and economic growth was slower than anticipated, impacting the Treasury revenues.

The debt-to-GDP ratio exceeds the Baa median (45 per cent), having more than doubled over the last decade to an estimated 67.5 per cent by the end of fiscal 2016, Moodys said of the Bahamas.

Government interest payments relative to revenues have also increased over 13 per cent in fiscal year 2016 from less than 10 per cent in fiscal year 2008, suggesting a somewhat limited fiscal space compared with that of most peers. The Bahamas has the lowest fiscal strength score among sovereigns rated Baa (same as Colombia and India).

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Moody'S: Bahamas Deficit Will Exceed $300m This Year - Bahamas Tribune

The Bahamas Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) says it has conducted survey to gauge public opinion and perception on the services provided by local clearing banks, and the level of fees associated with provision of those services.

We want banks in The Bahamas to take a serious look at the way they deliver customer service to their clients and make every effort to make that experience less frustrating and more pleasurable for their clients, said Jerome Gomez, chairman of the CPC..

We want the central bank, its board and management to take a look at the issue and see if bank fees should be regulated, and whether all increases and decreases should be approved or declined by the central bank, he added.

Gomez said 598 persons have responded to the survey, 402 short of the goal of 1000, with 177 persons or 30 per cent of respondents completing the survey online.

We are going to make this survey results available to the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Labour who has responsibility for the CPC, the Central Bank of The Bahamas and each of the commercial banks in The Bahamas, the chairman said.

We would like to get a public discussion going to clarify if the banking service determining process is broken and needs to be repaired, he added.

Gomez said that the CPC wants to know whether the banking fee structure is running amok because banking fees are unregulated and banks are trying to improve their balance sheet through fee increases as opposed to creating new and innovative banking products for their customers in an effort to improve profits.

Gomez said the Commission also wants to determine whether commercial banks are concerned about customer service, as most Bahamians feel trapped and locked in with their current banks. Most find it a hassle to change banks.

He said the next step is for the CPC is to examine what fees are charged in the foreign banks home countries and see how they match up to fees in the Bahamas. We will also look at fees in the Caribbean region and see how they match up to those charged here in the Bahamas, he said. - CMC

See more here:

Bank fees also under the radar in The Bahamas - Jamaica Gleaner

There is currently an epidemic happening on a small island in the Bahamas and we need to talk about it. It's mystery. It's dreadful. And it's killing our adorable swimming pigs that we all became obsessed with after watching JoJo Fletcher be nearly physically assaulted by one while on a group date on Ben Higgins season of The Bachelor.

The pigs appeared to live a charmed life , living on their personal island and being fed chick hot dogs (as they did on The Bachelor) and being cuddled by tanned vacationers. That is until now.

Yes it is true. The furry, feral piggies are dying! As of now, there are only about 6 or 7 left on the island, according to local reports. The site Tribune 42 writes that an investigation is under way to figure out the cause of death for these beautiful creatures, who also happened to attract many, many visitors and tourist.

After finding about half a dozen deceased pigs on the Big Major Cay, law officials disposed of the bodies by throwing them into the sea, which gives one an awful visual as some of them even grew to be as large as a small Shetland pony, according to one visitor of the island.

More than just saddening, the deaths of the pigs could also have a more sinister twist. The President of the Bahamas Humane Society, Kim Aranha told Tribune 42 that part of the investigation is determining if someone has been intentionally poisoning the farm animals turned beach babes. "It could just be a horrible accident where they ate something poisonous," she said. "It could be malicious but I dont really see why someone would go out of their way to hurt those lovely animals. I know there are a lot of silly sailors that go and feed them alcohol to try and get them drunk but thats not to mistake them with the tour operators based out of Nassau who have treated them with excellent care."

We hope the dedicated investigators are able to get to the bottom of this tragedy and make sure justice in served. In the meantime, we will remember the too short lives of our four-hooved friends below.

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The Famous Pigs From The Bachelor Island Date Are Dying - Refinery29

HAT TRICK: Lesly St Fleur in action as the Bahamas clinched a 3-2 victory over Jamaica in the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship. Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A rainy night cleared up just long enough for the Bahamas to secure their third win and claim the top spot in Group A of the CONCACAF Beach Soccer World Championships.

Lesly St Fleur continued his offensive dominance in the tournament with another hat trick and powered the Bahamas to a 3-2 win over Jamaica in last nights finale at the national beach soccer stadium.

Tied 2-2 for much of the third, St Fleur drew an interference call when he attempted a bicycle kick and was awarded a free kick.

His strike sailed by the outstretched arms of Jamaican Krik Porter for the Bahamas go ahead score with 2:45 left to play.

After dominant performances in their first two matches of the draw, Jamaica presented the toughest test for the Bahamas.

After finishing first in Group A, the Bahamas will now have to wait for the quarter-final draw - hosted at the conclusion of tonights final game - to learn their next opponent.

Beach soccer is a fun sport so each team you play its going to get tougher and tougher so you just have to go out there with a mindset that youre going to play hard, St Fleur said. It doesnt matter who we play next, we just have to go out there and play hard, get to the semis and take our shot at the final.

We just have to go out there and represent the country with pride. We know its going to get tougher and tougher and go out there and have some fun and win while doing that.

Veteran national team member Nesley Jean was key on the defensive end, stifling numerous opportunities for Jamaica in the third period.

Defence comes first. Im just happy everyone is playing together and Im proud of these guys, he said. Itll always be a rivalry between us and Jamaica. Jamaicas a very good team and we have played them numerous times, but they have improved and we have improved, we were able to come out on top this time.

Jean said the team is prepared for whoever they face in the next round.

Whoever comes out of the draw comes, we are prepared. We are ready and we are going to give it all for the country, he said. Im glad Bahamians are coming out and watching the games. The more they come out the more we can show them about the sport.

In the first third, Bahamian midfielder Gary Joseph was shaken up early on and after an interference call, drew a free kick. He drove home what an enthusiastic crowd thought was the first goal, however it was called back due to encroachment by a Bahamian player.

Bahamian goalkeeper Ivan Rolle again had an impressive game in the net for the home team.

After the Bahamas was called for a four-second penalty, Jamaicas Rohan Reid was awarded a free kick that was just deflected by Rolle to keep the game scoreless.

The Bahamas also missed several opportunities to add to their lead highlighted by team captain Gavin Christies shot which deflected just off the right post and they took a 1-0 lead into the second.

Jamaica scored the equaliser on the second possession of the second period with Reids shot at the 11th minute.

Dameion Benjamin took the lead for Jamaica with his goal at the 2:51 mark but St Fleur would score almost immediately at the 2:14 mark when he beat the keeper to tie the game for the Bahamas headed into the third.

In the early moments of the third period, St Fleur left a shot short for what looked like the certain go ahead score.

Rolles saves and Jeans effort on the defensive end highlighted the third for the Bahamas before St Fleurs late-game heroics.

Benjamin was called for a yellow card to place the tournaments leading scorer in scoring position.

In other matches on the day, Trinidad and Tobago defeated the USVI 5-1, the USA defeated Antigua and Barbuda 7-2, Panama and El Salvador drew 4-4, Guyana defeated Belize 4-1 and Costa Rica defeated the Turks and Caicos 8-2.

After a day off today, the Bahamas will return to the pitch in the quarter-final round on Friday.

More:

Three Straight: Lesly St Fleur Scores Hat Trick As Bahamas Beats Jamaica 3-2 - Bahamas Tribune