On Monday we found out that the Alzners, Oshies and Winniks are vacationing together in the Bahamas during the Caps bye week. Tuesday night, we found out its not just the three couples and their kids. The Backstroms and Johanssons are with them, too.

In a post calling it the Best Valentines Day weve ever had, Taylor Winnik shared a photo of the whole 20-person crew, including some unidentified friends or family members, hanging out on the beach at Atlantis Paradise Island.

Best Valentine's Day we've ever had pic.twitter.com/uZLxPsS3Ko

Taylor Winnik (@TaylorWinnik) February 15, 2017

Meanwhile, another group of players and significant others including Tom Wilson and his girlfriend Taylor Pischke, Taylor Chorney and his wife Haley, Brett Connolly and his fiance Katrina, and Braden Holtby and his wife Brandi are all vacationing together in Turks and Caicos.

John and Gina Carlson have stuck closer to home but are still enjoying that beach life in Fort Lauderdale.

Bahamas, Daniel Winnik, Karl Alzner, Lauren Oshie, Marcus Johansson, Nicklas Backstrom, Taylor Winnik, TJ Oshie

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Caps players and families have 'best Valentine's Day ever' in the Bahamas - Russian Machine Never Breaks

The Washington Capitals have dispersed all across North America for their NHL bye week, and on Monday, we found out an amazing bit of news. The Oshie family, the Alzner clan, and the Winnik crew are all vacationing together at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.

The Oshie family included TJ, his wife Lauren, their two daughters Leni and Lyla, and Laurens sister, Ally. Karl and Mandy Alzner brought along their little ones,Stella and Anson. Daniel Winnik tagged along too and brought his lovely wife, Taylor. All three families look like they are literally having the best time ever.

What a backdrop.

Photo: @TayTayRu

Lauren Oshie and Taylor Winnik were lookin fab during their night out Monday.

Photo: @TayTayRu

Lauren and Lyla pose for a quick pic. (We see you, Daniel Winnik.)

Photo: @lauren.oshie

TJ also made sure to help Lyla out with some sand drawings.

Video: Lauren Oshies Snapchat

Alas, Lyla realizes the worst part about any drawing you make in the sand. They eventually get washed away. Poor girl.

Video: Lauren Oshies Snapchat

TJ also made sure to spend some quality time with his youngest daughter Leni.

Photo: Lauren Oshies Snapchat

Photo: Lauren Oshies Snapchat

Leni looks happy to be in the sand.

Photo: Lauren Oshies Snapchat

Heres Papa TJ pushing Lyla and Leni back to the hotel to take a nap.

Video: Lauren Oshies Snapchat

What a beautiful family.

Photo: @lauren.oshie

S/T to @CAPLDY

Bahamas, Daniel Winnik, Karl Alzner, TJ Oshie, Vacation

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The Oshies, Alzners, and Winniks are vacationing together in the Bahamas - Russian Machine Never Breaks

Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade.

By SANCHESKA DORSETT

Tribune Staff Reporter

sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE the country recording 13 homicides in 13 days, Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade said the Bahamas is not in a state of crisis and the average Bahamian can continue to go about their day as normal day without the fear of being attacked.

At a press conference at police headquarters on Monday after a weekend of carnage, Commissioner Greenslade said the only solution to the countrys crime problem is to keep prolific offenders behind bars. He said the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) is not considering implementing a curfew or locking down certain neighbourhoods and the suggestion to do so is emotional and makes no sense.

His comments came hours after the country recorded its 27th homicide for the year. Seven people have been killed since Friday.

On Monday afternoon, police also reported that a man was stabbed outside an establishment on Nassau Street while two men were shot while in the area of Ross Corner. These victims were said to be in stable condition in hospital.

Commissioner Greenslade said it is simply not enough for people to point the finger at the police in times of crisis yet refuse to manage their homes or assist the police in catching wanted persons.

It is a falsehood to tell the Bahamian public and the world at large that the Bahamas is in crisis, that is nonsense, he said. Every well meaning citizen in this country is well aware that these young people that are unfortunately dying and the young people that are the perpetrators, these are people that have fallen though the cracks of our society and they did not remain in school. The ones who did, when they got out of school, chose to associate with the wrong type of company and this is tit for tat, you touch my boy I touch your boy type of thing.

He added: I do not want the public to form the impression you cant drive your car and go to work, or you cant drive your car to go to church, or you cant drive your car and go to the grocery store. We have a problem, lets not kid ourselves and that problem is prolific offenders that are in and out of the system who are not prepared to not live a life of crime....

This country is not at a stage where the average decent citizen has to be concerned about being attacked, Commissioner Greenslade added. Do we have cases were someone is robbed and where an innocent person dies, yes. But I am telling you year on year, those who are prepared to look at the facts can tell you that no one is interested in harming persons who go about their normal daily activity.

Bahamians can go about their daily lives as normal, I dont perceive that any Bahamian citizen who is going about their business on a daily basis is going to have any issues. It is a very bad development in this country but this is not something that happened overnight.

He also said there are far too many healthy bodied prolific offenders in our country who have no hesitation in causing harm to other people and until these people are put away for good the crime situation will never improve. When asked if the RBPF is considering implementing a curfew in high crime areas, Commissioner Greenslade said absolutely not.

The only solution (to crime) is when these people are arrested and charged, that we allow due process and natural justice and we put them before the courts. I believe firmly as the commissioner that they should remain incarcerated based upon the egregious crimes they have committed, Commissioner Greenslade said.

We have to ensure that people that walk around with assault weapons and other variations of weapons, that have raped people, that have attempted to rape people, that have killed people that have attempted to murder people they should remain, I will make no apology, they should remain incarcerated and have their day in court. If we continue he way we are going we will continue to chase our tails.

People are getting emotional and saying things that sound good to say - a curfew is not a good idea. I am going to say we should be careful...You can not ask the commissioner, in a democracy, with any intelligence to go into a community and just hit people over the head. It doesnt work like that, it makes absolutely no sense. I am telling you again, please listen to me. We know who the man is that shot the person, we have arrested him and taken him to court. Why are you continuing to ask me the same question? Why am I having to arrest these men again?

We are kidding ourselves. Yes, some drastic things should happen but the question should not be how drastic is the approach by the police. How much more drastic would you wish us to be? We dont sleep at night, our families hardly see us, everything we do we show you.

Commissioner Greenslade also said police are still looking for several persons in connection with this weekends homicides. Anyone with information on any of these murders is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.

Link:

Greenslade: Bahamas Is Not In Crisis - Bahamas Tribune

Nassau is back in business. The main port of the Bahamas quickly bounced back from Hurricane Matthew last fall, with resorts, restaurants and tourist attractions on line. If youre planning a first or return visit this spring, here is how to explore the Caribbean destination right now, from sampling fresh catches to diving to relaxing on secluded beaches.

A couple miles from downtown Nassau is Goodmans Bay, a vibrant beach where you can find cookouts, parties with bright umbrellas and locals swimming and snorkeling on the placid beach.

To eat like a local, too, head to a fish fry, like Nassau's Fish Fry, near Goodman's Bay. And at Twin Brothers (multiple locations, twinbrothersbahamas.com), tryclassic Bahamian cuisine like grilled mahi mahi, rice and plantains.

For something quite unique, head to dive resort Stuart Coves Dive Bahamas (stuartcove.com) on the southwest side of the island and explore underwater in a SUB aquanaut, a machine that combines motorcycling and scuba diving. Be sure to watch out for pirate fish, seabass, yellow tail snapper and stingrays.

Hop on a boat and head to Blue Lagoon Island, a secluded nursery for more than 100 species of marine life. Choose between shaking fins and wet kisses from dolphins or sea lions with an animal encounter (dolphinencounters.com), then rest up at the adults-only VIP beach.

For boutique shopping, head to the downtown Nassau area, along West Bay Street. Highlights include Straw Market, where a plethora of vendors selling colorful Mexican wares like baskets, blankets, and tchotchkes, and Cotton House, which sells colorful boots with intricate designs.

The all-inclusive Melia Nassau Beach (melia.com) is a kid-friendly resort located on Cable Beach, about a 20-minute bus ride from downtown Nassau. The most scenic views of the beach can be taken in on one of the wrap around balcony suites; if you have a family or a group of friends, opt for the 2-bedroom/3-full-bath suite. Indulge in the selection of free water sports like water biking, kayaks and stand-up paddle boarding. Fancy getting certified to dive? The property offers a complimentary scuba diving introduction at the pool area. The on-site restaurants offer a selection of cuisine from all over the world, from the Marketplace buffet restaurant, where dinner is themed each night, to the tapas bar Estavida.

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Nassau, Bahamas: Where to eat, dive and lay out on the sand - amNY

NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) The police on Monday appealed to citizens to provide information no matter how small or insignificant the tip may seem as they launched investigations into several murders in the Bahamas over the weekend.

Police said that the information could be provided anonymously or through Crime Stoppers.

They said that on Sunday, a man was shot dead while standing outside of his home. The authorities said that the unidentified man was approached by two armed gunmen who shot him before fleeing on foot.

In another incident, the police said two separate shooting incidents have resulted in one man being killed and two others hospitalised on Saturday.

The police said in the first incident, a group of people were attending a party, when the occupants of a blue self-drive vehicle pulled up and fired several shots into the crowd before speeding off. Two males were shot and taken to hospital where one of them remains in serious condition and the other in stable condition.

In the second incident, an unidentified male was standing outside of his home when the occupants of a vehicle pulled up and shot him before speeding off. The man was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police said that two of their colleagues have been hospitalised after they were shot by a suspect who has since been detained.

They said the shootings on Sunday occurred when the male and a female police officer responded to a domestic incident at a home in the capital.

While at the home, a man arm with a shotgun approached and shot both of them. The officers returned fire but the suspect was able to flee in a vehicle. The two officers were taken to hospital where they remain in stable condition, a police statement said, adding that the suspect was held suffering gunshot wounds. Police also recovered a shotgun from the suspect.

Police said on Friday, three people were shot dead during two separate shooting incidents.

In the first incident, a male was walking with two other males when a male armed with a handgun approached and shot him before fleeing on foot. The victim was pronounced dead on the scene.

In the second incident on Saturday, a group of people were at a nightclub, when an altercation occurred that led to a male armed with a handgun firing several shots into a crowd.

One male was shot as he attempted to leave in his vehicle. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Another male was taken to hospital where he later died, the statement said, adding that the police have launched an island-wide manhunt for the suspects.

In other criminal activities over the weekend, police said they seized several rounds of ammunition during an operation in Nassau Village.

An American national along with three Bahamians including two women have been taken into custody in connection with the discovery.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Free National Movement (FNM) has called on the government to break its silence on the crime situation in the country.

Those charged with ensuring the safety of our nation, must reassure citizens, and all residents, that the situation is under control, said the FNMs Marvin Dames.

He said that with 25 murders already on the record, an average of one murder every two days, and a pace that, if continued, will certainly lead to another heinous murder record, making a case that the nation is secure is extremely difficult.

However, silence on the part of our national security officials will not do, he added.

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Bloody weekend in Bahamas, Opposition calls for Gov't to break silence - Jamaica Observer

Cruise Line Drops 25 Bahamas Sailings Cruise Radio (blog) For years, It's better in the Bahamas has been not only that island's advertising slogan, but a sentiment that millions of cruisers agreed with. But it's beginning to look as if the longtime love affair between cruisers and the Bahamas may be fading ...

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Cruise Line Drops 25 Bahamas Sailings - Cruise Radio (blog)

Cuba is gaining influence as a trending destination in the Caribbean as various industry players reshape their regional travel schedules.

The most recent example of cruise industry changes is the announcement by Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) that it decided drop its Grand Bahama stopover in favor of newly awarded Cuba approval for its 2000-passenger ship, Norwegian Sky, the largest cruise ship to ply Cubas waters to date. The new itinerary for Skys four-day cruise now includes an overnight stop in Havana.

Price start at $699 per person including beverages.

The timing for the Sky to drop Freeport, Grand Bahama, an island that is still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Matthew, which struck the island in October 2016, is regrettable. We look forward to Norwegian returning to that island in 2018, Bahamas Tourism said in a statement.

In a statement published in the Jamaican Observer, FNM Deputy Leader, K Peter Turnquest said, There are constant reminders every week of more hotels and resorts closing, more workers being laid off, and now we have cruise lines leaving our beautiful waters for other countries.

Last week, competitor Royal Caribbean announced plans to extend its Cuba offerings for the rest of 2017.

Image by Cuba Journal

Royal Caribbean added eight sailings for voyages from Tampa through November 4th, the latest schedule of any U.S. cruise line to date. According to the Miami Herald, the other cruise companies traveling to Cuba Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings three cruise lines and Connecticut-based Pearl Seas Cruises have announced voyages only through the spring.

RELATED: Cubas Future as an Affluent Traveler Haven

For U.S. commercial airlines, adjustments are underway in the other direction.

Recently, American Airlines announced it would dropone of the two daily flights between Miami and the cities of Holguin, Santa Clara and Varadero. The airline cited weak demand in reducing its schedule to 10 daily round-trip flights from 13, starting in mid-February.

And as ofMay 3, 2017, JetBlue will fly aircraft with fewer seats to Havana, Santa Clara, Camagueyand Holguin. As a result, JetBlue will fly 300 fewer seats aday to its Cuban destinations.

In the hyper affluent travel segment, New York-based private jet startup Encore Jets has announced direct flights to Cuba from 24 U.S. cities and their respective airports, including Miami, Atlanta and New York.

The brokerage has partnered with the tour operator International Expeditions, recognized for its ongoing experience in tourism and government relations with Cuba. Together, the two travel companies have introduced private charter flights and customized experiences through Encore Jets Discover Cuba.

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In A Growing Trend, Norwegian Cruise Lines Drops Bahamas In Favor Of Cuba - Cuba Journal

The Sawmill Sink hole, on Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas, had something special waiting at the bottom for divers from the University of Florida: the 1,000-year-old skeleton of an extinct tortoise species, one so well preserved it yielded its ancient DNA intact.

The find, described by University of Florida researchers in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, is being called the first DNA sample extracted from an extinct tropical species.

"This is the first time anyone has been able to put a tropical species into an evolutionary context with molecular data," said study co-author David Steadman, in a statement.

"And being able to fit together the tortoise's evolutionary history together will help us better understand today's tropical species, many of which are endangered," he added.

The tortoise, Chelonoidis alburyorum, with a shell described as about the size of a football, seems to have lived a harsdscrabble life. Evidence of bite marks from predators such a crocodiles adorned the shell's surface.

Credit: University of Florida

The fact that anything from the ancient animal, much less DNA, was intact was a happy accident of chemistry. For DNA to remain intact for a long time, it needs to exist in cold, dry conditions - quite the opposite of life in the West Indies. But Sawmill Sink is a deep blue hole deep enough that, at its bottom, 80 feet down, say researchers, water devoid of oxygen is created by the decay of plants and animals. That lack of oxygen kept the tortoise preserved, allowing researchers 1,000 years later to find it and sample its DNA.

RELATED: World's Deepest Blue Hole Is in South China Sea

Bone collagen preserved in the skeleton helped the researchers date the find, while other, more poorly preserved tortoises allowed them to determine that Chelonoidis alburyorum went extinct about 780 years ago. Not coincidentally, the scientists say, soon after humans settled in the area.

"There's a correlation that the arrival of humans spelled the demise of the tortoises," said Steadman. "It's probably a blend of direct hunting and habitat loss as the humans started burning the forests in the dry season."

Will the tropics yield more such well-preserved treasures of nature? Only time will tell.

"We now know so much about the tortoise's anatomy, how it lived and its evolutionary context," Steadman said. "To be able to do that with other species is a goal."

Top Photo: The fossil skull of the Bahamian tortoise, which yielded the first ancient tropical DNA.

WATCH VIDEO: 5 Islands That Are Going To Disappear

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Ancient Tropical Tortoise Found in a Deep Blue Sinkhole in the Bahamas - Seeker

NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) The Bahamas says it is regrettable that Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) has decided to drop Grand Bahama from its schedule four-day voyage to the country.

NCL said that the Norwegian Sky will begin calls to Havana, Cuba in 2017.

The timing for the Sky to drop Freeport, Grand Bahama, an island that is still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Matthew, which struck the island in October 2016, is regrettable. We look forward to Norwegian returning to that island in 2018, Bahamas Tourism said in a statement.

It said that NCL received approval for a one day per week sailing into Cuba, and that date coincides with their Freeport stop, which resulted in them dropping Freeport, Grand Bahama from its four-day schedule.

Norwegian Cruise Lines have been sailing in The Bahamas for 50 years and all of its vessels are registered under the Bahamian flag. This not only proves confidence in our destination, but it is also a testament to our stability in the region, Bahamas Tourism added.

It said that figures from 2016 show that cruise visits were up by 5.8 per cent in 2016 over 2015.

A total of 4,219,218 visitors cruised to The Bahamas through to November last year, compared to 4,066,530 for the same period in 2015. As a result, thousands of jobs and millions of dollars have been injected into The Bahamian economy as a result of the cruise industry.

Moreover, many cruise lines who committed to move their itinerary to Asia have moved back to the region, where The Bahamas owns the market share. This is further evident in the investments by all major cruise lines including Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Disney, MSC and Carnival Cruise Line.

But the main opposition Free National Movement (FNM) said that the decision by CNL to withdraw from Grand Bahama underscores the downward spiral of the local economy.

There are constant reminders every week of more hotels and resorts closing, more workers being laid off, and now we have cruise lines leaving our beautiful waters for other countries, said FNM Deputy Leader, K Peter Turnquest.

This change in destinations will mean that The Bahamas will lose out on 25 cruises, which make stops in both Nassau and Freeport, in the second half of 2017. This will have major negative impact on our tourism industry.

We will experience a loss of customers, a loss in revenues, and profits and an increase in our national debt. With the US-Cuba relations on the mend, The Bahamas needs to work double time to ensure that other Cruise Lines do not end their calls on Bahamian ports.

When companies start to leave the Bahamas and a trend is allowed to begin, it is hard to stop. This Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Government has not been working to save these cruise lines from leaving rather they have focused solely on massive foreign-owned resorts. We need to catch ourselves from this death spiral quickly or we will be over the cliff before we know it, he added.

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Cruise Liner pulls out of Bahamas for Cuba - Jamaica Observer

Atlantis, Paradise Island

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Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island

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British Colonial Hilton Nassau

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Bay View Suites Paradise Island, Bahamas

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Atlantis, Paradise Island

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The Cove Atlantis

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Bay View Suites Paradise Island, Bahamas

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Travel Deals - Official Nassau Paradise Island, Bahamas ...

SaskTel beaches employees in the Bahamas News Talk 650 CKOM It could be described as Saskatchewan's greatest job and it isn't even in the province. While many are freezing in Saskatchewan's extreme cold temperatures, eight SaskTel employees are living and working in the Bahamas. In July 2016, SaskTel ...

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SaskTel beaches employees in the Bahamas - News Talk 650 CKOM

For Old Dominion, the thrill of making its first bowl appearance might have been tempered by the fear of losing money.

ODU wouldn't have been the first to end up in the red on a bowl trip, especially with international travel involved.

Instead, thanks to help from Conference USA and fundraising efforts, the Monarchs will land in the black. Athletic Director Wood Selig said when the numbers are finalized, he expects the trip to the Bahamas Bowl to have generated as much as $250,000.

"Everybody assumes that we took a beating financially going to this bowl game in the Bahamas," Selig said. "We're going to make money, and not just five or ten dollars. It'll be six figures that we'll benefit financially from this bowl experience. It exceeded all expectations."

To be sure, sending 200 people to Nassau for five days isn't cheap. In December, the Virginian-Pilot reported that ODU's expenses for the trip were expected to be nearly $587,000. That's in line with what Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky spent when they went to the Bahamas Bowl in 2015 and '14.

But Conference USA made things considerably easier by cutting ODU a check for almost $590,000. That was enough to cover two charter planes, 140 hotel rooms, and per-diems for 200 members of the Monarchs' travel party.

"We had a lot of our expenses covered up front as part of a really unique finance plan that Conference USA has implemented so that you don't go broke with the success of going to a bowl game," Selig said. "We did very well financially because the way the conference is set up."

Not every conference is as helpful. Two years ago, Central Michigan played WKU in the inaugural Bahamas Bowl. The Mid-American Conference fronted the school $450,000, but an Associated Press story reported that CMU claimed a loss of $145,000.

C-USA also allows each bowl participant to keep the first $100,000 it generates in ticket money with the remainder being split among membership. Old Dominion sold 1,786 tickets (including proxies) at $50 per. That's $89,300, all of which ODU was able to keep.

Old Dominion also received significant help from fans and boosters who wanted to help the football program make history. The Old Dominion Athletic Foundation's #ODUBowlBoundFund raised $160,000.

"That was a result of our donors saying, 'Hey, I'm so excited about the direction the program is going, I'm going to write you an extra check before the end of the year,'" Selig said. "People were underwriting dinners for the team. They were contributing to the travel costs and expense of the bowl."

Also beneficial to the football program and the university, for that matter was media exposure.

According to sportstvratings.com, the Bahamas Bowl was viewed in 1.37 million households. The 2010 Census concluded the average household has 2.58 people, so it can be estimated the game had more than 3 million viewers.

Played on Dec. 23, a Friday, and televised by ESPN, the Bahamas Bowl was the only game in the 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. slot. It led up to the Navy-Louisiana Tech game in the Armed Forces Bowl (which was viewed in 2.3 million households).

"It was a three-and-a-half-hour infomercial for Old Dominion University, for ODU athletics, for ODU football," Selig said. "The announcers were extremely positive about Coach (Bobby) Wilder, about the university, about the direction of our football program."

The bowl itself generated excitement among Monarch fans and alumni, but ODU's 24-20 win over Eastern Michigan provided even more. The university bookstore has sold 2,000 T-shirts, including several with "Bahamas Bowl Champions" in large print.

"I think I underestimated the value of winning a bowl game," Selig said. "Had we not won the game, people would have still recognized us and remembered the game. But because we actually won the game, that went further to advance ODU's brand."

Johnson can be reached by phone at 757-247-4649.

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Conference USA helps Old Dominion make money on Bahamas Bowl trip - Daily Press

The BahamasPress.com is an online news operation in the Bahamas. On December 27, it reported, "Lyford Cay resident Papa Doug Manchester is being tipped as the next U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas under a Trump Administration." (Lyford Cay is a gated community on New Providence Island, Bahamas, considered one of the most affluent and exclusive communities in the world.)

I cannot find that other media have followed this or whether BahamasPress.com covered it again. I phoned Manchester's office and asked one of his assistants if he is in the running for ambassador to the Bahamas. She replied, "Not to my knowledge, no." She quickly added, "I don't want to discuss this with you" and hung up. I have not heard back from the Bahamas government.

Manchester is a multimillionaire real estate developer who once owned the San Diego Union-Tribune.

After Fidel Castro drove the American Mafia out of Cuba in the late 1950s and early 1960s, gangsters decided to make the Bahamas their next offshore gambling haven. Mob financier Meyer Lansky was the major planner. Casinos were set up in the Bahamas. But after the Bahamas got their freedom from Great Britain in 1973, the islands were not so friendly to mobsters, who moved their banking to the Cayman Islands.

The Bahamas were one of the early offshore banking havens. In 2009, when many nations were cracking down on offshore havens, Prime minister Hubert Ingraham said that banking secrecy was one of the pillars of the 50-year-old financial services sector, and there is no plan to change them. However, the Bahamas are not now considered one of the major bank-secrecy havens. Under certain circumstances, it will provide information to foreign governments.

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Doug Manchester to be Bahama Papa for US? - San Diego Reader

You cant leave the Bahamas without sampling conch. Whether cracked, curried or in a hearty chowder, the scrumptious sea snail, which thrives in the archipelagos warm and shallow waters, is a must.

But heres another way to enjoy this Bahamian bite.

Treat yourself to one of these conch bowls, painstakingly made by local artisan Aaron Cooper.

Cooper cuts, cleans and polishes the pink-lipped mollusks to fashion curvaceous bowls that serve a multitude of purposes.

Use them as soup bowls (they come with conch spoons) or as servers for gravy or salad dressing (I used mine for cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving dinner). Fill them with guest soaps, potpourri or bath salts and display them with pride in the bathroom. Or use one as a catchall for coins on an entry console or jewelry on your bedside table.

Coopers other conch creations include Christmas decorations and jewelry, and theyre all available at Craft Cottage at the Doongalik Studios complex in downtown Nassau.

Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, CJ Travel Editor

Originally posted here:

In the Bahamas, the Art of Conch - Caribbean Journal

By Local Organising Committee

IAAF World Relays

Bahamas 2017

A MAJOR sporting event such as the IAAF World Relays Bahamas 2017 can only be successful with the integration of volunteers.

For this years event the LOC is expecting more than 800 volunteers who will give of their time and talent to make the 2017 edition the best edition of the world event.

The hundreds of volunteers have been busy ironing out the logistical details for the relays including accreditation, attachs, translators, helpers and the like.

An event of this magnitude just doesnt happen, said Jerome Sawyer, IAAF World Relays communication director.

It is an intricate dance where many different partners and volunteers are a major participant in this dance. Without them we cant have a successful event.

Many of the volunteers are never seen and some are never at the track.

There are volunteer translators in the four major languages for the event - Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch - who will only be at the host hotels assisting athletes and will never be at the track and their service is just as important as the volunteers who run the athletes clothes baskets around the track, Sawyer added.

Many of the volunteers will be outfitted by the athletic equipment company ASICS which is the new uniform sponsor for volunteers.

The companys name is actually an acronym for the Latin phrase anima sana in corpore sano, which translates roughly as a healthy soul in a healthy body.

We have ordered a full complement of uniforms for our volunteers, said IAAF World Relays volunteer coordinator, Tarahan Mackey.

To make sure there they have everything needed for the IAAF World Relays Bahamas 2017, the LOC will use the Bahamas High school relays March 18-19 as a test event for the World Relays Bahamas 2017.

It will be a test to see if we have the full complement of our volunteers, staff and then we know we are going to work and how it will run functionally, Mackey added.

There will also be four classes for volunteers leading up to the main event in an effort to streamline the functionality of the volunteers.

We are hoping that the classes are filled, Mackey said. Hospitality is the only thing that we have, we have to be proponents of great and excellent service.

The 2017 programme for the IAAF World Relays includes heats and finals for the 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m, and the 4x800m for both men and women over the two days of competition.

Runners will also contest a mixed gender 4x400m event. The 2017 Relays are also included in the IAAF World Athletics Series of events.

The single session ticket prices for general admission is $15. Costs for the Silver section is $50, Bronze is $40 and the Gold section is $70.

Tickets are available for the relays online at NSA-Bahamas.com and at the box office at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

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Volunteers 'Good To Go' For Iaaf World Relays Bahamas - Bahamas Tribune

Tuesday, February 07, 2017 by: Sharell Lockhart, News Reporter - Published Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Lupus Bahamas President C. Tamika Lightbourne (left) thanked SpeedX Courier and Freight Services CEO Darrin Williams (right), for assisting the organization with securing new Lupus and the Kidneys Educational Pamphlets for distribution throughout the Grand Bahama community.(PHOTO: JENN ...

Lupus Bahamas President C. Tamika Lightbourne thanked SpeedX Courier and Freight Services CEO Darrin Williams, for assisting the organization with securing new Lupus and the Kidneys Educational Pamphlets for distribution throughout the Grand Bahama community.

The Lupus and the Kidneys Educational Pamphlets is the second to be released of the Lupus Bahamas Organization six-part pamphlets series, which will provide factual information on the affects of Lupus, as well as symptoms, diagnosis and treatment availability.

According to Lightbourne, Today (Thursday, February 2), Lupus Bahamas is elated to have in hand a new educational pamphlet that is the second in our six-part Lets Unite & Fight Lupus Awareness Campaign.

Over the course of the next few months, the Lupus Bahamas organization will distribute the new Lupus and the Kidneys Educational Pamphlets at public and private community clinics island-wide.

Lightbourne added that the organizations previous pamphlet provided general information about Lupus Bahamas, which is a non-profit organization. It also explained exactly what lupus is, its symptoms, categories and possible treatment options.

Additionally, it helped to explain Lupus Bahamas Vision, which is to constantly strive to empower and encourage those living with Lupus; to be a recognized organization inspired by passion for helping all affected by lupus continue to live great quality lives.

The Lupus and the Kidneys Educational Pamphlet is quite important as an estimated one-third to one-half of lupus patients develop lupus nephritis within the first six months to three years of their lupus diagnosis, which involves inflammation of the kidney that is caused by systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) and is an autoimmune disease in which the bodys immune system targets its own healthy body tissues.

Each year since the inception of Lupus Bahamas, organization members have traveled around the island speaking at various civic agencies, including the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama Sunrise informing the populous of its mission, which is to place priority on education and awareness through research and literature, believing that quality information is essential for improved health.

And also to foster learning and research success by working with doctors and medical professionals to promote proper and accurate diagnosis, which will further enhance the quality of treatments and health care throughout The Bahamas, revealed the Lupus Bahamas president.

During a speaking engagement at the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama Sunrise of which SpeedX Courier and Freight Services CEO Williams is an active member, Lupus Bahamas was able to strike a partnership with the businessman, who offered his companys courier service to bring in the new Lupus and the Kidneys Educational Pamphlets.

Fervently in his belief that it is important for every business corporation to give back to the wider community, Williams said, Certainly is an honor for SpeedX to partner with Ms. Lightbourne and the Lupus Bahamas organization, which aims to enhance the Grand Bahama communitys education about lupus.

Definitely, I was impressed by the presentation made by Lupus Bahamas at the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama Sunrise meeting and following it, I sought to provide assistance to the organization through my company offering shipping and courier services to help lighten the load oftentimes placed upon the non-profit agencys finances.

SpeedX Courier and Freight Services has been operating on Grand Bahama for the past three years and I have always felt that companies across the island should step up to the plate and positively contribute to the community in which it earns profits.

Whenever possible, I do my best to help out various civic organizations in the community like Lupus Bahamas in fact, we are grateful to have provided aid to the Grand Bahama Childrens Home, as well as other community outreach projects for the benefit of the islands populous.

It is my intention to continue to help the Lupus Bahamas organization particularly as it involves shipping of their educational pamphlets and I urge the community to support all their initiatives and become more informed about the disease.

For further information about Lupus Bahamas and the Lupus and the Kidneys Educational Pamphlets Lightbourne encouraged interested persons to send an email to lupusbahamas.gb@gmail.com or telephone 1-242-439-6208.

Published Tuesday, February 7, 2017

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Mix and Mingle

Non members are welcome!

American Independence Celebration

Come celebrate the American Independence with us. Live music, food and fire works.

14th Annual Southfest Community Festival

GB Chamber of Commerce Business Luncheon

The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce Monthly Business Luncheon Meeting.

Atlantic Medical Fun Walk

The Fun Walk starts from Jasmine Corporate Center to the Lucayan Circle and back.

Coconut Festival

The 16th Annual Pelican Point Coconut Festival, Easter Monday.

Good Friday Holiday

GB Business Outlook

TBA

Annual Conch Festival

3rd Annual Conch Festival hosted by Rotary Club of Grand Bahama Sunrise.

Spring Break Bahamas

3 days of excitement with Youth Explosion: Basketball Tournament and worship church service. Special celebrity Quest Kel Mitchell of Nickelodeon, 6 basketball teams from the waver runner sports program and many more.

Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce

Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce Monthly Business Luncheon meeting.

11th Annual Golf Classic

Grand Bahama American Women's Club 11th Annual Golf Classic.

Calvary Temple Church 45th Anniversary Service

Under the theme, "Glory is Here," Rev. and Mrs. Ernie Deloach will be guest speakers at this event.

Calvary Temple Church 45th Anniversary Banquet

Elder George Cooper will be honored for his years of dedicated service to the Assemblies of God. Contact the church for tickets.

"Da Market"

Reach Autism Meeting

All persons are asked to attend and be on time.

The Northern Region Public Service Week Planning Committee

Chicken and Steak out

The Bahamas Constitution Review event

A review of the proposed amendments to the Bahamas Constitution... What is it? How it impacts this country in the future? Get all your questions answered surrounding this issue.

The 2013 Miss Grand Bahama Beauty Pageant

Pre-show at 8:15 PM.

Sunday Jazz with CaY

Entertainment, food, drinks & bouncing castle.

"IT'S A SPRING CELEBRATION"

The downtown stores along with the GBPA Downtown Junkanoo Festival

Stores remain open late, Bahamian food, Junkanoo rush-out. All day event ending with Junkanoo!

Miss Grand Bahama Costume Competition

Leaving from the YMCA and finishing at Port Lucaya Marina for judging of costumes.

Cooling Waters Post Mothers Day Concert

Special Guests: The Rahming Brothers

Miss Grand Bahama evening gown and swimsuit competition

Poolside

Julien Believe Single Release Party & Birthday Bash

First Baptist Church Women's Ministry

(Sisters in The Spirit) Annual Women's Conference Theme: The Power of a Praying Woman/Mother. "Scripture 1st Samuel chapter 1.

GB Diabetic Support Group

All interested persons are asked to attend, please be on time.

Pilot Club of Lucaya Meeting

International Federation of Women Lawyers, GB Chapter (FIDA) Meeting

All persons are asked to attend and be on time

Retired Educators Monthly Meeting

All retired educators are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served during the meeting.

Toastmasters Club Destiny Meeting

Toastmasters Club Destiny Meeting

Kingdom Culture Junkanoo Group Monthly Meeting

All members are asked to attend

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Omircon Pi Sigma Chapter monthly meeting

All members are asked to attend and be on time.

Lupus Bahamas Monthly Meeting

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Lupus Bahamas releases new 'Lupus and the Kidneys' Educational Pamphlet - The Freeport News

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas leads the entire Caribbean on economic losses stemming from crime, losing $434 million or almost 5 per cent of its annual gross domestic product (GDP) to the scourge.

The extent of crimes impact on Bahamian economic output and wider society is laid bare in an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report, which shows that out of 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries, only Honduras and El Salvador incur greater annual costs as a proportion of GDP.

The study, The costs of crime and violence: New insights in Latin America and the Caribbean, reveals that the Bahamas is one of only two countries in the region where crime costs its citizens and residents more than $1,000 per person annually.

Once currency differences are accounted for, crime was shown as costing Bahamas residents $1,177 per capita annually, second only to Trinidad & Tobagos $1,189 per person.

The IDB study described crimes costs as particularly high in the Bahamas, while placing Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago in the same category, with more than 75 per cent of Bahamian companies spending money on security personnel, technology and equipment.

Again, the Bahamas is second only to Trinidad in the proportion of companies forced into expenditure on security measures, which has become an everyday feature of life for too many businesses.

The private security industry has been one of the few growth areas in the Bahamian economy since the 2008-2009 recession, reflecting just how strong a grip crime - and the fear of crime - maintain on the private sector and wider society.

In Honduras, private spending is almost 2 per cent of GDP more than twice the regional average and the higher bound is above 3 per cent, the IDB said of spending on security measures.

El Salvador follows with costs incurred by the private sector hovering between 1.6 and 2.7 per cent of GDP. The Bahamas and Brazil also show high private costs, with estimates varying between 1 and 1.9 per cent.

The IDB study also found that when it came to the Caribbeans urban areas, New Providence and Nassau led the way when it came to the number of physical assaults, robberies, burglaries, thefts and car thefts per capita. Nassau was above the global and regional average for all categories apart from burglary and theft.

The findings again illustrate why it is a matter of national urgency, and priority, for the Bahamas to get a grip on crime, given the enormous economic and social costs it continues to inflict, and which threaten to both undermine its main industries and overall competitiveness.

Not surprisingly, the three countries in the [Caribbean] that lose the highest percentages of their GDP to crime are those with the highest levels of violent crime: The Bahamas, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, the IDB study found.

The high levels of crime likewise affect the private sector in the [Caribbean]. The number of firms in the Caribbean experiencing losses due to crime, and the proportion of firms that pay for private security, are higher than the international averages. These costs draw money away from other activities that could potentially enhance productivity - such as the amount spent on research and development, which is lower than the amount spent on crime overall.

Finally, although government expenditure on combating crime is relatively high, the money is spent overwhelmingly on police, but this has not translated into higher police effectiveness, the report continued.

Moreover, with precious little of the total expenditure going to the judicial systems and crime prevention, much of the sub-region has ended up with overcrowded prisons, where nearly half of the detainees may wait years before going to trial.

The report, which has been studied by Tribune Business, seeks to measure crimes costs from three perspectives. Apart from the impact on the private sector, and the spending by households and companies on security, it also analyses the cost to government in terms of public expenditures on the judicial and prison systems, plus the police force.

And, finally, it also attempts to measure crimes social costs, particularly its impact on Bahamians quality of life, and income lost by the imprisonment of inmates at Fox Hill prison.

The Bahamas was found to lead the Caribbean by almost a full percentage point of GDP when it came to crimes costs, estimated to cost this nation 4.79 per cent of annual economic output - a sum equivalent to $434 million.

Only Jamaica came near to the Bahamas at 3.99 per cent of GDP per annum, with just Honduras and El Salvador ahead of this nation in the Latin American and Caribbean region, both losing more than 6 per cent of their annual economic output.

Adjusting for different currencies and exchange rates, the IDB study found: Trinidad & Tobago and the Bahamas have the highest costs at well over US$1,000 per capita in international US dollars.

Argentina is a relatively distant third, with per capita costs slightly below $700 in international US dollars. Guatemala, Paraguay, and Honduras, in that order, have the lowest per capita costs at or below $300 in international US dollars.

The Bahamas was also shown to be above the regional average when it came to income lost as a result of murders/homicides, the report pegging this at almost 0.5 per cent of annual economic output - a sum equal to $40-$50 million.

On average, foregone income related to homicides represents 0.32 per cent of GDP, the IDB study said. However, this average hides enormous variability across countries.

The Bahamas has the third highest homicide cost, at 0.48 per cent of GDP..... The third country classified as having a high social cost of homicides [after Honduras and El Salvador] is the Bahamas, with an average cost from homicides of 0.53 per cent of GDP during the sample period. The Bahamas had a peak cost of 0.64 per cent in 2011, and the lowest value in 2010 at 0.47 per cent.

The Bahamas also incurred one of the high costs in income foregone as a result of the incarcerated prison population at Fox Hill, the IDB estimating this as equivalent to 0.35 per cent of GDP - around $30-$40 million - as result of inmates not being engaged in productive work.

Adding this to the 0.3 per cent of GDP spent by the Government on running Fox Hill prison, the report found the Bahamas was spending 0.65 per cent of its annual economic output on incarceration - a proportion that was the second highest loss in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

Taking all this into account, the Bahamas led the Caribbean in terms of the social costs inflicted by crime. Overall, social costs of crime are lowest in Chile, at 0.28 per cent of GDP, followed by Argentina and Barbados, both at 0.30 per cent, the IDB study found.

Countries with the highest costs are Honduras, at 2.19 per cent of GDP, El Salvador, at 1.44 per cent, and the Bahamas, at 0.94 per cent.

When it came to government spending on the police/security forces, and crime prevention, the IDB report found that the Bahamas lagged behind only Jamaica and Barbados, pegging this at between 1.15 per cent and 1.94 per cent of this countrys GDP.

However, conversely, the Bahamas and these other two nations were shown as spending the least - around 0.06 per cent of GDP - on their judicial systems and the administration of justice.

The IDB report said this overreliance on the police to combat crime had resulted in the Bahamas having the highest ratio of police to citizens in the region - some 846 officers per 100,000 persons.

However, high police density has not necessarily resulted in rapid police response or higher police effectiveness in solving and investigating crime, the study added.

Referring to a survey of persons living in Nassau and four other Caribbean metropolitan areas, the report said: Of those polled...., an average of 56 per cent said that if they called the police because someone was entering their home, it would take the police more than 30 minutes to arrive.

It would take more than three hours, according to 9 per cent of respondents, and 2.5 per cent said there are no police in their area at all.

The Bahamas, though, was said to have the highest murder rate detection based on 2013 data, pegged at 51 per cent.

And the Christie administration has been attempting to address the justice systems weaknesses via the $20 million Citizen Security initiative with the IDB, increasing the number of criminal courts and recently unveiling the Office of the Public Defender.

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Bahamas tops Caribbean on crime's economic cost | The Tribune - Bahamas Tribune

Brittany Lincicome has belted her way into the hunt for what could be her sixth consecutive berth on Team USA at the 2017 Solheim Cup after her season opening win at the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic.

"Making the Solheim Cup team is by far my number-one goal," Lincicome said. "Getting a win is just icing on the cake. To make the Solheim Cup team and play for (Team USA Captain) Juli Inkster again would just be a dream come true.

Known as "Bam Bam" for her monstrous tee shots, Lincicome jumped out to an early lead at the Pure Silk Bahamas while setting a 36-hole course record 129. She finished the final round in a tie with Lexi Thompson at 26 under par. Lincicome won the tournament title with a birdie putt on the first playoff hole. The Jan. 29 win marked her seventh career victory on the LPGA Tour and her first since she won the ANA Inspiration in 2015. The win also catapulted the 31-year-old Floridian to seventh place on the 2017 Solheim Cup point rankings.

Lincicome brings an impressive long game. She's hit drives as long as 369 yards and ranks third on the LPGA this season in average driving distance. She can easily challenge the par 5 holes, which could give her team opportunities to card eagles and birdies at Des Moines Golf and Country Club, site of the 2017 Solheim Cup. She also has improved her short game, showcasing an excellent putting stroke at the Pure Silk Bahamas.

While her early season win is a confidence builder, Lincicome says success in the match play format at the 2017 Solheim Cup will rely heavily on team chemistry. She ought to know, having played for Team USA in every Solheim Cup since 2007, where she has a combined match play record of 5-11-2.

"The Solheim Cup week is a very stressful week. Obviously we want to play well for ourselves, play well for our country and play well for our captain," Lincicome said.

"There's an extra pressure on it than a normal week when you play individually for yourself. Obviously the emotions are very high in the locker room. So I just try to be myself, pump everybody up and encourage everyone as best as I can."

Will Lincicome deliver her long blasts for Team USA? The next six months will tell. Get your tickets now to catch all the action when Team USA faces off against Team Europe at the 2017 Solheim Cup at Des Moines Golf and Country Club, in West Des Moines, Iowa, August 14-20.

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Bahamas Victory Could Propel Lincicome to 2017 Solheim Cup - LPGA (press release)

Miami hosting Venezuela-Bahamas Davis Cup tie Tennis Magazine It decided not to play the tie at home because of economic concerns in the country, instead moving it to Doral, Florida. But with an area population that is 17 percent Venezuelan, the team should still receive plenty of backing from the crowd. The ...

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Miami hosting Venezuela-Bahamas Davis Cup tie - Tennis Magazine

Miami Herald

Venezuela plays Bahamas in "home" Davis Cup matches in Doral ... Miami Herald Miami native Spencer Newman is on the Bahamas Davis Cup team that will face Venezuela this weekend in Doral. The matches were moved from Venezuela ... and more »

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Venezuela plays Bahamas in "home" Davis Cup matches in Doral ... - Miami Herald