Daily Archives: March 5, 2020

Just a hop and a skip (or a seaplane) from southern Florida, Bimini is a pocket-sized island paradise complete with turquoise waters. Proximity to Miami is a mere 50 miles, making it an easy weekend getaway to ultimate relaxation. Tropic Ocean Airways flies out of Miami seaplane base or Fort Lauderdale for a quick thirty-minute flight. A ferry boat runs to the island duo as well, from Port Everglades with Balearia and takes approximately two hours to reach Bimini.

Friendly locals will make you feel more than welcome on this under the radar Bahamian island speck. Whether you fancy a swim, want to try your hand at deep-sea fishingor crave authentic island vibes, Bimini is your nearby destination to check those boxes like the famous visitors, Ernest Hemingway and Martin Luther King Jr.Let these 10 photos guide you through the best way to experience the island...from fresh seafood eats to getting around from beach to beach, this is how to do Bimini.

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Beautiful Bimini: A Photo Guide to the Tiny Island in the Bahamas - TravelPulse

Destinations around the world are taking the offensive to battle travel worries and the coronavirus.

The Bahamas put out a statement on the weekend to say there have been no cases in the island chain, while Bologna, Italy put out a video saying the city is open for business.

"The Bahamas Ministry of Health is working closely with the all pertinent government agencies throughout the destination to execute The Bahamas National Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-19," officials said in their release. "At this time, there are no reported cases of the coronavirus in The Bahamas."

"The World Health Organization (WHO) does not currently recommend any restriction of travel or trade, and The Bahamas continues to welcome visitors to the destination. The Bahamas is one of the few countries conducting COVID-19 testing and is actively employing several measures used globally to screen visitors and residents and to manage the response to individuals of concern in line with international health best practices. Traveller health questionnaires and a screening protocol are used at ports, hotels and rental properties to identify guests who may require surveillance or treatment."

There are currently only four quarantine cases in The Bahamas.

A destination-wide education campaign is underway in The Bahamas to remind the public of the basic hygiene practices that can be used to prevent the spread of the virus including frequent, proper hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, frequent disinfection of surfaces and avoiding close contact with those exhibiting signs of respiratory illness.

"The WHO (World Health Organization) currently considers the risk to The Bahamas and Caribbean from the coronavirus to be low, but a key element of the IHR plan is to inform the public of relevant updates regularly," Bahamas officials said.

Bologna officials are using the hashtag #BolognaWontStop for their campaign, and said the video they posted is meant to spread a positive message about the city and about the country of Italy.

We strongly believe that it is important to adequately communicate the current situation, the City of Bologna is constantly monitoring the evolution of events but at the moment things here in Bologna are normal and everything is going on as usual, they said. This is the reason why we created the video, following the first one by the City of Milan, to spread the message that Italy, and Bologna, won't stop. We hope that other Italian cities will follow.

I was in Bologna and the Emilia-Romagna region for a week or so several years ago and loved it. The food was spectacular and theres a tremendous amount of history to the area, not to mention lovely wines and beautiful, hilltop villages such as San Leo and Verucchio.

The massive ITB travel conference slated for Berlin this week was cancelled late last week. But officials with the U.S. Travel Association say the annual IPW gathering, slated this year for Las Vegas starting in late May, is full speed ahead at this point.

While IPW is several months away, we're presently on track to host an outstanding event in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 30-June 3. It's "all systems go" and planning for all scenarios is well underway. Registration is strong from both domestic and international attendees, said IPW General Manager Malcolm Smith.

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Bahamas and Bologna Go On the Offensive to Battle Coronavirus Concerns - TravelPulse Canada

Tyreke Mallory, 21, (left) and Ricardo Jones, 27, are escorted to court on Friday to face murder and abetment to commit murder charges. Photos: Vandyke Hepburn

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

TWO Freeport men were charged in the Freeport Magistrates Court on Friday in connection with the islands third murder.

Ricardo Jones, 27, of No 44 Strafford Way; and Tyreke Antonio Mallory, 21, of No 4 Scott Avenue, appeared before Magistrate Rengin Johnson in Court Three.

Mallory was charged with the murder of Frithzon Kersaint. It is alleged that on February 23, at Freeport, the accused intentionally caused the death of Kersaint by means of unlawful harm.

Jones was charged with abetment to commit murder. It is alleged that on the same date and place, he aided and abetted Mallory in the commission of the murder of Kersaint.

According to reports, police were called to several disturbances in the Caravel Beach area last Sunday when gunshots were heard, and a man was found dead.

Mallory was represented by Paco Deal of Carlson Shurland & Co. Neither of the accused men was required to enter a plea to the charges, which are both indictable offences.

Because the Magistrates Court cannot grant bail for such offences, Magistrate Johnson informed the accused men that bail was denied, but that they could make a bail application to the Supreme Court.

The case was adjourned to May 19 when it will proceed by way of the Voluntary Bill of Indictment.

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Two charged in connection with murder on Grand Bahama - Bahamas Tribune

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#NASSAU, The Bahamas March 4, 2020 The Bahamas Press Club held its Fifth Annual Media Awards Ceremony themed: Media in The Digital Age, in Black Tie fashion at the British Colonial Hilton on Saturday, February 29, 2020.

Theawards ceremony was held under the Patronage of Their Excellencies The MostHonourable Cornelius A. Smith, ON, Governor-General of The Commonwealth of TheBahamas and Mrs. Clara Smith.

Theevening attracted many who laid the foundation for a thriving media professionin the country. There was entertainment by Solo, lots of gifts and prizes.

Anthony Capron, President of The Bahamas Press Club 2014,underscored that from the beginning of time and through the ages, the centralmessage has not changed. What has changed, overtime, is the method by whichthat message is brought to the public.

Communication has transitioned from rock paintings of zigzaglines, dots, and symbols during the Stone Age, to this current era of newcommunication technologies. Now, stories can be typed and transmitted;photographs taken and sent; newspapers read; radio listened to; and televisionwatched from one medium alone: a smartphone, Capron described.

A BlueRibbon Panel of judges spent record-breaking hours reviewing the workssubmitted by the media in various categories including hard news, sports,features, business, politics, investigative, columns, documentaries and socialmedia. The work must have been printed or aired between November 2018 andAugust 16, 2019. The deadline for submission was August 17, 2019.

The Press Club selectedfor the Trail Blazer Award, the Rt HonHubert Alexander Ingraham, Former Prime Minister, for establishing theframework private broadcasting and Cable TV, throughout The Bahamas.

And, the top honour for the evening The Etienne Dupuch LifetimeAchievement Award, the recipient was journalist and diplomat Ed Bethel who began his journalisticcareer in 1959 at the Nassau Tribune under the tutelage of Sir Etienne Dupuchand Sir Arthur Foulkes. He went on to join ZNS as a sports in 1963, and spendmany years there, worked at JCN and other news agencies; a stint a BahamasInformation Services as its Executive Director and served as Consul General to New York and as HighCommissioner to the Court of St. Jamess, London, and Ambassador to theEuropean Union. He isalso a former President of The Bahamas Press Club.

SEEBELOW, THE LIST OF CATEGORIES AND WINNERS:

1 Leon Turnquest Award for Sports Print Journalism

WINNER Simba French Sports Reporter, The Nassau Guardian

2 The Phil Smith Award for Outstanding Sports BroadcastJournalism

WINNER: Jay Phillipe, Sports Reporter, ZNS (NorthernStation)

The Kenneth Nathaniel Francis Award for Newspaper Design andComposition WINNER: Whiteley McKinney, PageDesigner, The Tribune

4 The P. Anthony White Columnist of the Year

WINNER: Rogan Smith Columnist

5 The Leslie Higgs Feature Writer of the Year

WINNER: Jeffarah Gibson Features Writer, The Tribune

6 The Cyril Stevenson Award for Outstanding Political Journalism

WINNER: Genea Noel-Ferguson Editor, Eyewitness News

7 Best Documentary, Television (Long: 30 minutes to 1 hour)

WINNER: Clint Watson Editor/Producer, Eyewitness News

8 Best Documentary, Television (Short: 5 minutes to 30 minutes)

WINNER: Kenton Hepburn DigitalCommunications Officer, and Office of the Prime Minister.

9 Best News Story, Broadcast

WINNER: Apryl Sands, Reporter, Eyewitness News

10 Best News Story, Print

WINNER: Nico P Scavella,Reporter, The Tribune

11 Best Business Story, Print or Broadcast

WINNER: Deandre Williamson, Reporter/Editor, JonesCommunications Network

12 Best Editing for Television News Story or Documentary

WINNER: Shamiko Gilbert, Eyewitness News

13 Best Producer Award, Studio Live

WINNER: Genea Noel Ferguson, Editor, Eyewitness News

14 Best Producer Award, Live to Tape

WINNER: Shanaye Smith, Communications Officer, Officeof the Prime Minister

15 Website of the Year

WINNER: ZNS (Gina Bethel)

16 Social Media Award

WINNER: Eyewitness News, Eyewitness News FacebookPage

17 Best Cinematography (Documentary)

WINNER: Kenton Hepburn, DigitalCommunicationsOfficer, Office of the Prime Minister

18 Best Video Editing

WINNER: Keesha Bethell, ZNS

19 Best Newscast

WINNER: ZNS Northern Station

20 The Bahamas Press Club Student Media Award

WINNER: Anneisha Jones, University of the Bahamas Media JournalismSchool

21 PAHO-WHO Excellence in Health Promotion Award

WINNER: Tosheena Robinson-Blair, Publicist &Freelance News Anchor

Usually hosted in November ofeach year, The Bahamas Press Club 2014s 2019 Awards Ceremony was postponed byHurricane Dorian. As preparations for the November 2020 ceremony begin, TheBahamas Press Club 2014 looks forward to a continued outward expression ofresilience- from members of the media and, overall, The Commonwealth of TheBahamas.

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Media in the Digital Age Bahamas Press Club Stages Awards Ceremony - Magnetic Media

SNOW and flooding failed to stop Keighleys historic locomotive Bahamas as it steamed through the Yorkshire Dales all the way to Cumbria.

The 85-year-old locos latest journey on the mainline, from Keighley to the famous Settle to Carlisle railway, sold out.

The engine, owned by the Ingrow-based Bahamas Locomotive Society, ran successfully on time throughout its entire trip despite poor weather.

Among the passengers on the train were Keighley town mayor Cllr Peter Corkindale and Keith Whitmore, chairman of the Bahamas Society.

Another of the passengers, Keighley-born Sam Steventon, a member of the society, entered the raffle and won the prize of the numberplate 45596 of Bahamas which was carried on the loco.

Bahamas made its long-awaited return to the mainline last year with two sold-out journeys, after volunteers and specialists had spent several years restoring the locomotive with 1 million Heritage Lottery Fund money.

The locomotive was saved from scrap in 1967 by the Bahamas Locomotive Society, which has a workshop and museum at Ingrow West railway station.

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway organised the railtour, spending profits on maintenance of the local line.

Bahamas was built as a standard Jubilee Class in 1934 by the North British Locomotive Company and entered service in January 1935.

It was withdrawn from traffic on July 23 1966 after getting through nine boilers, ten tenders and running more than 1.25 million miles.

Keith Whitmore, chairman of the Bahamas Locomotive Society Chairman, said his organisation had been delighted to once again work with the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway following the sell-out Settle to Carlisle trips last year.

High-profile visitors to Bahamas since its restoration have included HRH the Duke of Kent and the Bishop of Wakefield, Tony Robinson.

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Bahamas braves the elements on mainline trip - Keighley News

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#NASSAU, NP March 4, 2020 As of Saturday, February 29, 2020, the first solar power had been sent to the Ragged Island Microgrid from the solar field near Gun Point, Ragged Island.

Bahamas Power and Light Company Ltd. (BPL) Director of Grid Solutions & Support Services Burlington Strachan reported that BPL teams have completed the work to tie in the solar field, and on Friday the first commissioning tests were done on the solar field, with power being sent to the grid for the first time under test conditions.

Those tests were successful, bringing BPL a significant step closer to completing the installation of the first solar baseload generation in our national grid. Next steps include continuous testing of the facility and moving on to installation of battery storage at the generator site. Ragged Islands renewable microgrid is an important first step in The Bahamas energy transition to more cost effective, sustainable and resilient solutions. This project is also one of the first in the Caribbean to feature Category V hurricane resilience and over 90% renewable energy generation.

BPL has partnered with Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) to assist with implementation of sustainable and resilient energy solutions across the Family Islands. RMI sees the Ragged Island Microgrid as the critical first project that BPL needs to properly operationalise solar and storage as primary dispatch. According to the Institute, the Ragged Island Microgrid sets the perfect precedent for the other Family Islands power systems. The development of the Ragged Island Microgrid supports the commitment of the Government of The Bahamas that Ragged Island would become a green island in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, and the progress of the project was the subject of a recent visit by the renowned CBS News programme 60 Minutes.

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First Solar To Grid In Ragged Island makes '60 Minutes' Appearance - Magnetic Media

Florida resident and conservationist James Abernethy captured video of the moment he gave a lemon shark an affectionate nose rub after he spotted the animal swimming off Tiger Beach, the Bahamas, on July 13, 2019.

The video shows Abernethy calmly rubbing the lemon shark on its snout as other sharks swim by. He later named the animal Nakawe.

Abernethy told Storyful he has traveled to Tiger Beach since 1998 for the purpose of removing fishing hooks from sharks after he first spotted a lemon shark with a missing eye due to a hook that had been caught on its head.

Since that time Abernethy has spent 25 days out of each month hosting shark expeditions in the hopes of teaching people that sharks are not the mindless predators they are portrayed as in the media.

Abernethy stated that he has removed fishing hooks from at least eight species of sharks through his years of conservation work.

Lemon sharks get their names due to their yellow skin color which they use as camouflage when foraging for food in sandy shore areas, according to Oceana. Lemons sharks have short snouts and they typically eat bony fish, crustaceans, and stingrays. Credit: James Abernethy via Storyful

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Lemon Shark Gets a Snout Rub by Conservationist in the Bahamas - Yahoo News UK

Kylie Jenner has been showing off her brand new look while on vacation in the Bahamas.

The reality star recently went bronde, and then jetted to the Bahamas this week with her daughter Stormi, and a group of friends.

Taking to Instagram, Kylie shared a photo of her and her best friend Stassie Karanikolaou lying by the pool.

She captioned the post: Saturdays are for the girls.

The Kylie Cosmetics founder also shared a sweet photo of herself and her daughter Stormi walking on the beach, and wrote, you and me..

The 22-year-old then posed for a mini Insta shoot at her holiday accommodation, and stunned in a white mini dress with Chanel accessories.

Kylie shared photo from her girls trip after confirming her romance with Travis Scott is back on.

The couple, who share daughter Stormi, called it quits last October but have since reunited.

Following months of speculation, Kylie shared throwback photos of her and Travis looking loved-up at a 2017 Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder basketball game.

Kylie cheekily wrote, Its a mood, over the three photos.

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Kylie Jenner shows off her new 'bronde' locks in the Bahamas - Goss.ie

NASSAU,BAHAMAS The government is working with the Clearing Banks Association and domestic micro-financing institutions to promote and facilitate the countrys transition to a cashless society, according Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance K Peter Turnquest.

Turnquest was speaking at the opening of the Royal Fidelity Bahamas Economic Outlook.

He said: Cashless commerce and other innovative technological solutions can allow commercial banks to operate without the need for a physical presence, which is critical in our archipelagic context. As we know all too well, when disasters, banking services are often disrupted.

On the other hand, telecommunications systems are often the first to be restored. With the move to cashless commerce, communities can have rapid access to the financial system to rebuild their lives.

The Central Bank of The Bahamas launched the Sand Dollar digital currency on Abaco last week.

Turnquest flagged the program as a monumental initiative that will create sustainable solutions to the risk associated with natural disasters, strengthening financial inclusion and resilience.

The Sand Dollar is equivalent in every aspect to the paper currency with its value fully backed by the external reserves of the Central Bank, he said.

Through the Sand Dollar, Abaconians can now make payments at local grocers or gas stations right through their mobile devices in real time. The sand dollar also allows for feeless peer-to-peer transfers.

Of course, legal frameworks and regulatory systems are needed to support technological innovations in the financial sector. Even in this area, The Bahamas has been ahead of the curve. In 2016, the Central Bank issued a set of technology risk management guidelines to provide guidance and oversight for the advancements taking place domestically in social media, internet banking, and mobile technology.

Turnquest said: These guidelines help to mitigate IT and cybersecurity threats that undermine system soundness, customer data confidentiality and overall financial stability.

He furthered the country is focusing on practical solutions to the critical macroeconomic and development challenges it faces, including putting in place a comprehensive Disaster Risk Framework for Better Fiscal Management.

The framework includes different types and sources of financing, including different types and sources of disaster financing: Grants, loans, proceeds from dormant accounts in the commercial banking system, CCRIF, donations, catastrophic bonds.

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Govt. working on transition to cashless society - EyeWitness News