Daily Archives: June 1, 2020

By: Tim Reilly May 28, 2020

The 18th hole at The Abaco Club is a demanding challenge that comes with a surreal view on its perched-up oceanside green.

The Abaco Club

Welcometo our Where I played series, in which a resident GOLF staffer runs througha recent day at a course you might play in your future. Today, weve got theAbaco Club on Winding Bay, a true links course in the Bahamas.

Unlike its boisterous counterparts in the Bahamas, The Abaco Club on Winding Bay is a quiet refuge from the world. Abaco is home to a Scottish-style links course thats right, a links course in the Bahamas designed by Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie. Sadly, in September 2019, Category 5 Hurricane Dorian wreaked havoc on the Great Abaco area and the club was closed for two months while it was rebuilt and recovered.

The Winding Bay Fundwas established to specifically assist the people of Abaco in the form of food, shelter, medical aid and supplies, and to provide assistance in the islands clean-up and rebuilding efforts. To date, the fund has raised over $3 million through donations from members, friends, family and visitors.

But The Abaco Club reopened for business less than two months after Dorian and hasnt looked back since. Heres what you should know about this under-the-radar Bahamas gem.

The 4th hole at The Abaco Club is the first time you get a glimpse of the ocean on the course, but it wont be the last.

The Abaco Club

Course: The Abaco Club on Winding Bay

My tee time: 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13; and 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 (I couldnt resist going around a second time!)

Course Type: Private

Membership options: Full Membership Resident, Abaco Membership Non-Resident, Full Membership Non-Resident Bahamian Citizen, International Membership Non-Resident, Sports Membership, Social Membership

Price: Varies by season

How to get there: Traveling from New York, I took a connecting flight through Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Located just 186 miles east of Palm Beach, its a short puddle-jumper flight from the Florida coast.

Difficulty: You need to play well to score well. There wont be many lucky breaks coming your way. The fairway terrain often leaves you with an uneven lie and theres little room for error on approach shots. In true links fashion, its not uncommon to watch what you felt was a good shot roll 10-15 yards off the green in any direction. The undulated greens make it fun to track your ball when you strike putts just right but it also leaves you scratching your head when you dont.

The course gradually picks up in difficultly. Hole Nos. 15-18 are a real test and known as the best final stretch in the Bahamas. (Lets just say the views on those four helped distract me from the numbers on my scorecard.) The Abaco Club is challenging in the way a course should be, leaving you to say, I want to play again knowing what I do now.

Fun fact: The first tee is located just steps away from a cabana bar, Flippers, on the beach. Seriously, just steps away. Before my Friday twilight round, I lounged on the beach that looked like something youd find on a postcard, grabbed a drink at the bar and took it with me to the courseand made it back to the bar when I was done playing. Its the ideal circle of life when it comes to Bahamas golf livin.

Notable holes:

No. 4 (180-yard par-3) As the first hole that comes with a backdrop of the ocean, this is when the full beauty of the course truly begins. The staggered tee boxes are surrounded by colorful shrubbery and flowers that create a vibrant scene. You could end up playing a short-or-long iron, maybe even a hybrid, depending on the ocean breeze that day.

No. 16 (380-yard par-4) The 16th is by far the most intimidating tee shot on the course, especially if you venture to the back tees. Theres a canyon thats wedged between the right side of the fairway on 15 and 16. Unlike the 15th, which is more of a straight shot, the 16th bends to the right, begging you to accept the challenge and see how much of the canyon you can clear. This is your high-risk, high-reward moment on the course. The livings easy everywhere in Abaco other than the 16th tee.

Its a picture-perfect scene on the 17th hole at The Abaco Club.

The Abaco Club

No. 17 (163-yard par-4) Trouble on the right, a heavy slope on the left and blue ocean as far as the eye can see comes with the 17th hole. Its a picture-perfect par-3. Id be content grabbing a cooler and setting up shop to play the 17th over and over again for the day. This is the type of hole you daydream about at work.

No. 18 (543-yard par-5) Finish strong! Theres no room for error on the 18th tee shot. The ocean is embedded into your mind on the left, as youll hear waves crashing when you address the ball, but theres also hidden bushes and shrubs off to the right. I wouldnt count on reaching this par-5 in 2. The most important shot is your second. Try to avoid that runoff to the right of the green to end your round on a high note. When you tap that final putt in make sure to soak in the ocean view on a perched-up green.

I loved: The Abaco Club has world-class golf, beautiful views and a no-worries attitude, and thats all this golfer from the Big Apple could ask for. Theres nothing pretentious about the course, or the community as a whole for that matter. Barefoot luxury is what Abaco considers themselves and I can attest to that. All the amenities you could ask for exist while maintaining the feeling of an escape from reality.

After your round, I recommend taking the short stroll over to the beach, grab a drink at Flippers, jump in a kayak and take the 15-minute trek to whats referred to as Sugar Cane Island located straight off the Winding Bay beach. Its a small, uninhabited island thats the absolute perfect setting for a sunset drink.

Theres no better way to cap off a round of golf at The Abaco Club than to take in the sunset off Winding Bay.

The Abaco Club

I didnt love: The golf balls I lost on 15 and 16. You can find three custom-marked Life of Reilly balls laying in the bottom of the canyon between both holes. I pushed my ball off to the right once on 15 and went for the hero shot twice on 16 and you guessed it, came up a zero both times.

My lack of versatility around the greens was exposed in a big way. I dont frequently play many links-style courses, so I wasnt accustomed to keeping the ball low around the greens. I played a game of ping pong with myself on a few holes going from one side of the green to the other, but I have no one to blame by myself for that.

Bring your A-game and enjoy a slice of golf paradise at The Abaco Club.

Reilly is GOLFs social-media editor. In September 2017, he took over the reins to the brands Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages. He manages GOLFs short- and long-term social strategy and produces social video content. Beyond the social space, he contributes to GOLF.com and GOLF Magazine as a writer. His ranking of the best golf scenes in Seinfeld is his magnum opus.

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Where I played: The Abaco Club is Bahamas golf (and living) at its best - Golf.com

What are your biggest business concerns surrounding COVID-19?

Our commitment remains to the health and safety of our residents and the millions of people that visit The Islandsof The Bahamas each year. The global tourism sector acted quickly to ensure the safety of tourists and locals alike and destinations have unfortunately already felt the weight that COVID-19 will have on their economy. The tourism industry in The Bahamas accounts for just over 40% of our GDP and 50% of employment. Since this industry makes up such a large percentage of Bahamian employment, we are doing what we can to support those affected by job loss.

The Baha Mar Resort on Nassau.

Despite the devastating impact caused by Hurricane Dorian, we had a record 7.2 million international visitors last year. Due to the current travel restrictions, we are at zero. We, of course, want to welcome visitors back into The Bahamas when the time is right. In the meantime, we have brought a piece of The Bahamas to travelers homes through Zoom backgrounds where anyone can fly over the most beautiful turquoise waters in The Bahamas, hang with the flamingos or swim with the nurse sharks onBahamas.com/WithLove. We have also shared a messageFrom The Bahamas With Loveon The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviations YouTube page featuring a special message from Tourism Ambassador Lenny Kravitz,to remind consumers we will be ready to welcome tourists to our shores again when it is safe to do so.

The pink sand beach along Harbour Island.

What is your current business strategy for dealing with the situation?

We are continuing to closely monitor the situation and following guidance from the Bahamas Ministry of Health and other government agencies pertaining to the countrys Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-19. We have been and will continue to take a day-by-day approach and extend and/or amendemergencyorders as needed.

While we are not encouraging international travel into The Bahamas currently, those looking for inspiration for future travel can visitBahamas.com/WithLoveand use our Island Finder to plan their next trip.

How do you think things will look in your industry a year from now?

We understand that the extraordinary scale and actions required to contain COVID-19 will have an unprecedented impact on all levels of society in countries around the world. While it is hard to say and we do not want to speculate what the travel industry will look like in a year from now, I can say that The Bahamas will continue to offer an exceptional island escape to its visitors when it is safe to do so.

The Cove Resort on Eleuthera.

What have you learned from other difficult times in the past?

The aerial cays of the Bahamas.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, the resilience of the Bahamian people shone through and will do the same again. We understand that the general public are looking for transparency during this difficult time and we are providing that with regular updates from the Ministry of Tourism representatives as well as directing people to the appropriate health and government organizations that are most equipped to respond to particular inquiries.

Morning routine?Work traditionally begins at 9am,and inevitably I have a conference call either with my team or external partnersat 10am. The advantage is that I can go outside and sit on a verandah to take some of my morning calls and enjoy a cup of coffee while observing the return of the wildlife to my neighborhood. This has been wonderful and has given me a new appreciation for nature.

Currently binging?I got to watch my first Netflix show two weekends ago after making a conscious decision to do so. I have since watched two series that I would never have watched, and which are complete extremes:UnorthodoxandCaliphate. The former provided a view of an ultra-orthodox Jewish community, and the latter was a thriller that just draws you in. Given the intensity of these programs,I had to go back to HGTV to come back to reality! And most recently,Becoming. It was truly inspiring.

Currently reading?Reading is important to me and so I will always have a book at hand. Its been good to catch up on some of the books that I have wanted to read:EducatebyTara Westover,Before We Were YoursandAn American Marriage,most recently.

What are you doing to spend quality time with those youre sheltering with?Its been very good just spending time together and making it work. There are three in my home at this time,and we all have carved out our space to work from.I have found myself getting excited about cooking,(It gives me a legitimate excuse to procrastinate from work) and so cooking and sharing a meal with the family has been priceless. Unfortunately, no one else is interested in my TV shows and so I have had to watch those alone. But we are all news buffs and will watch the news and discuss whats happening in all the countries where we have a connection.

What are you doing to stay healthy mentally and physically?I take time to walk most days which has been really good. On many occasions,my husband has joined me on an evening walk, whichhas allowed for the opportunity to really pause and reflect.

Where are you dreaming of visiting once things are back to normal?We are definitely considering traveling when this pandemic isoverand it is safe to do so. Our first trip,however, will be to one of the other Islands of The Bahamas for a beautiful beach and laid-back break. It is difficult to decide which island in The BahamasEleuthera, Exuma, Long Islandbut I will take any at this time. They are all spectacularly beautiful and offer something unique. It is what keeps me motivated,and I just cant wait!I have a new sense of appreciation for my country and the wonderful travel opportunities it provides.

Originally posted here:

Joy Jibrilu: From Working with Lenny Kravitz to Virtual Visits, the Creative Ways the Bahamas Director of Tourism is Keeping the Region Top of Mind...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS An American couple isolating on their sailboat in the Ragged Island chain confirmed today that they legally cleared Bahamas Customs and Immigration before entering Bahamian waters.

Captain Brian Trautman and his wife Karin, who host a sailing travel vlog, were featured in a BBC World Service report yesterday which quickly made its way around Bahamian social media yesterday.

The story was widely received by Bahamians with outrage many of whomquestioned whether the couple was in Bahamian waters legally and whether they were poaching from the waters given footage showing them catching crawfish.

In an interview with Eyewitness Newstoday, Trautman insisted that these misconceptions were not true.

We did in fact legally clear into the Bahamas through Customs and Immigration and were provided a cruising permit for our boat and fishing permit, as well as paid all our fees required for checking in, he said.

Since the lockdown order came into place we have observed the notices by sheltering in place.

We are very passionate about conservation and following the laws and guidelines set out by The Bahamas government, and go out of our way to support marine conservation initiatives.

He further explained that the content for their videos is filmed weeks in advance,so the footage shown during the interview was filmed in February and March prior to the lobster season-ending.

Trautman noted that it isunderstandable how easy it is to mistake that everything filmed is current, however, he sought to assure that they are not breaking or flaunting The Bahamas rules while the rest of the country is on lockdown.

He said the negative backlash received from the story has been something new for them, given that they always try to portray a positive image of the people they meet and the places they visit.

The couple has been sailing from country to country on board the SV Delosfor more than 10 years, exploring the worlds oceans.

Trautman also expressed thanks for the support they have received from Bahamians in Duncan Town, who have made them feel very welcomed and safe, and have also helped to arrange the delivery of supplies from the mail boat.

When Eyewitness News reached out to the Royal Bahamas Defense Force yesterday, a spokesperson advised that they were looking into reports of the couples isolation in Bahamian waters.

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Sailing vloggers defend isolation in Bahamian waters - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The Bahamas Petroleum Company has announced December 15 as the new date for the start its exploratory oil drilling in The Bahamas.

BPC received formal notification from the government in February to proceed with plans to drill exploratory oil wells before the end of 2020.

The company has four licenses in the territorial waters of The Bahamas, which was extended until 31 December 2020.

In March 2020, we were within weeks of commencing the drilling of our Perseverance #1 exploration well when we were compelled to defer due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, said BPC CEO Simon Potter in a statement.

Immediately, we undertook a range of activities necessary to reschedule activity toward the end of 2020 and into the first quarter of 2021, consistent with our license obligations (as extended for the declared force majeure event), by which time we expect the worst of the broad suite of impacts of the pandemic to be behind us.

To this end we are have entered into a rig contract with Stena Drilling, which provides a firm series of parameters on rig rate, provision of mobilisation and demobilisation costs, and defines a revised drilling window of 15 December 2020 to 1 February 2021.

BPC was initially granted the license for exploratory oil drilling in 2007 and subsequently got two renewals under the Christie administration.

The government currently maintains that itwas legally obligated to extend that license.

BPC now estimates the total cost of Perseverance #1 to be in the range of $21 million to $25 million a material reduction from the most recent prior comparable estimate.

In addition, the company continues to assess there to be up to $5 million in potential operating contingency costs, and has scoped up to $5 million of provisional costs for additional formation evaluation work that the company could elect to incur in a success case.

BPC has noted however that theextent to which these contingent elements are utilised will not be known until closer to or during drilling operations, and decisions in relation to incurring those items will be based on capital availability at that time.

A group of US representatives have also expressed their opposition to BPCs oil exploration efforts and have seeking to dissuade the Bahamian government from authorizing exploratory drilling.

Key concerns were penned in an April 17th letter to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo andStephanie Bowers the Charg dAffaires at the US Embassy in Nassau by Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell along with several other representatives.

The local and international environmental community have also called on the government to respond to the Congress members letter promptly and to immediately revoke the exploratory license granted to BPC.

Continued here:

BPC sets new date for oil exploration in The Bahamas - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis has moved the country into Phase 3 of its plan to re-open the economy, reducing curfew hours and relaxing restrictions on several sectors.

The 24-hour curfew will be lifted effective next Tuesday across the country, allowing free roam for residents between 5am and 9pm. However, weekend lockdown will continue on Fridays at 9pm to Mondays at 5am.

During the lockdown, residents may exercise in their immediate neighborhood between 5am and 9pm.

This upcoming weekend will include the Whit Monday holiday and the Labour Day Holiday.

In Phase 3, non-essential storefront business operations with essential staff may reopen, though they must post protocols and train their employees as to those protocols.

Stores must limit the number of customers based in stores and manage lines outside of storefronts with markers and security staff.

Minnis said churches will be allowed to resume in-sanctuary services on Saturdays and Sundays on June 6.

According to the governments phased plan, education operations, including national examination based on appropriate social distancing and masks.

The prime minister said he expects the education minister to make an announcement concerning the BGCSE examinations so as not to disadvantage students.

Law firms, justice of the peace and real estate agencies, financial services, including accounting services may operate between 9am and 5pm.

Retailers, including suppliers of cleaning mechanicals, fabric stores, auto part stores and mechanics, may operate between 7am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

Effective June 2, public beaches and parks will be opened on all islands except Bimini, Eleuthera, Exuma, Harbour Island, New Providence, Paradise Island and San Salvador.

At that time, commencement of graduation ceremonies, funerals and weddings, in groups of no more than 30, can be convened with the approval of the competent authority.

Minnis said the public must act responsibly and continue to follow the advise and recommendations from health professionals.

International travel remains restricted to nationals returning home with strict protocols, he said.

He said: If we dont, again unnecessary lives will be lost.

Minnis said without moving into the new norm, the entire economy can be destroyed and rather that losing a few jobs, we can lose all

We are living in a new normal in which we must continue to practice.

He said before relaxing measures further, a risk assessment must be performed to explore the risk of opening of further; the ability of the public healthcare system to rapidly detect a resurgence of cases and absorb the load, as well as its ability provide medical care.

The prime minister said social distancing and hygiene measures undertaken in The Bahamas has not only limited the spread, but saved lives.

As of today, there were 100 confirmed cases of the virus, of which 43 were active.

There have been 78 cases in New Providence, 13 in Bimini, eight in Grand Bahama, and one in Cat Cay. The last confirmed case was on May 23. Six patients remain hospitalized.

The rate of cases demonstrates a flattening of the curve. There remain no specific therapeutics or vaccines for the virus.

He said as the country moves to reopen domestically and internationally, the public must remember the pandemic is ongoing, and all precautionary measures must be taken.

He said those who feel ill, must follow protocols to seek medical attention and call in advance of visiting a healthcare facility.

He said a mask must be worn, and residents should continue to reframe from handshaking and touching their faces.

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PHASE 3: Churches, gaming houses, and some island beaches open - EyeWitness News

A new rig contract was signed envisaging a fourth quarter spud date for Perseverance.

Financial results from () highlight the explorers relatively strong financial performance, as it awaits a hotly anticipated drill programme that was delayed amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Financial results for the twelve months ended December 31 confirmed BPC finished 2019 with US$11.2mln of cash.

Subsequently, the company has further supported its funding position with a 8mln financing facility with a Bahamian private family office investor and the establishment of a separate Bahamian domiciled mutual fund to specifically investing BPC shares.

The previous project timelines saw the Perseverance well taking place now, late May or early June, and, last week a rig contract with signed with a new spud date envisaged in the fourth quarter.

"Our exploration well, 'Perseverance #1', is aptly named, said Simon Potter, BPC chief executive.

During the period of these accounts we achieved so much, including unambiguous licence tenure, a rig framework agreement, contracting with globally renowned service companies for our drilling campaign, successfully initiating a funding strategy with you - the shareholders - coming first, creating a structure to allow Bahamians the opportunity to invest in their nationally significant project and obtaining Environmental Authorisation from the Government of The Bahamas.

Potter added: But even in the face of a dramatic and deeply impactful global pandemic we have remained resolute in our single-minded focus - to deliver the well.

To this end we have rescheduled our program, revisited our funding strategy, and most recently unconditionally contracted a drilling rig with a window for commencement of drilling beginning before the end of 2020, affording the company the greatest assurance of 60 days of continuous operations necessary to complete the well.

This chosen window demonstrates our clear intent to proceed to drilling without unnecessary delay, being the earliest opportunity post the 2020 hurricane season in The Bahamas, and by which time we expect the worst of the COVID-19 impacts to be behind us.

Potter noted that BPC has preserved all relationships with backers intent on flexibly supporting the Company once operations are able to resume.

Moreover, the company's prospect has not changed: the same rocks will still be there at such time as safe and responsible operations can resume, and shareholders can rest assured that the entire team at the company will continue working towards drilling with the same commitment and belief that has got us to this stage, he added.

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Bahamas Petroleum Company highlights strong financial position as it awaits Perseverance exploration well - Proactive Investors UK

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) is looking into reports of a family of three currently isolating on an uninhabited island in The Bahamas, Eyewitness News understands.

The BBC World Service featured Captain Brian Trautman and his wife Karin in a video report that quickly made its way around Bahamian social media today.

The pair host a crowd-funded travel vlog where they sail from country to country exploring the worlds oceans.

The couple, who also have a nine-month-old baby, share how they have been living onboard the SV Delos and on an uninhabited island for over 100 days though they had only planned to stay for one month.

As of yesterday, the couple was still sailing in the Ragged Island Chain, near Maycock Cay.

Were thinking like, wellif we can stay here, and we can stay safe and we can stay healthy then it sounds like a much better place to be than heading off to some marina or dock in the U.S. where were just literally trapped on board, Captain Trautman said.

He noted that they have managed to stay very isolated and self-sufficient catching their own food, making drinkable water, and creating their own power supply with solar and wind.

During the interview, Trautman acknowledged that The Bahamas government had put the entire country on lockdown, closing the borders to inter-island travel on all types of transportation.

He also expressed concern over the start of the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season and the active season forecasted.

At some point, we will have to make a decision to leave because I dont want to stay here, you dont want to stay here through hurricane season it sounds like a terrible idea, he added.

Hopefully things will improve toward the end of this month.

The BBC story garnered some criticism by those who questioned whether the couple was in Bahamian waters legally and whether they could be considered poachers.

The couple was shown fishing and eating lobster during the closed season.

Some people insisted the story romanticized the couple opting to flee from the coronavirus outbreak in their country, noting that given their length of stay, they had ample time to return home.

The Bahamas entered into a state of emergency on March 17, just days after confirming its first case of the virus, and its borders were subsequently shut down on March 23.

The U.S. Embassy Nassau continually warned citizens who wished to return to the U.S. to make commercial arrangements as soon as possible unless prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period.

For those U.S. citizens on private vessels, theembassy urged pleasure crafts anchored or moored in The Bahamas to depart directly for their country of origin.

The embassy further advised that while vesselscan transit on a direct route back to the US, they willnot be able to refuel or make use of fuel docks during the full lockdown period.

Departing vessels from The Bahamas were told to avoid unnecessary deviation on the way to their final destination and crew and passengers must remain aboard their vessel.

It is currently unclear whether the couple followed maritime protocol to be docked off the uninhabited island.

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RBDF probing reports of couple isolating on uninhabited island - EyeWitness News

A look back at some of the more interesting stories from London's AIM market this week

() saw its shares zoom126% higher this week to 3p after inking a deal that sets in stone the start of operations for an exploration project.

The Perseverance-1 well, which is targeting 770mln barrels of oil offshore Bahamas, had been delayed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The group's chief executive Simon Potter announced in March that sticking to schedule could compromise the safety of operations.

From an initial May/June start date it was moved to back to October, and is now being finalised to kick off between December and February.

The oiler said this week it has contracted Stena Drilling to provide a drilling rig and associated equipment and services, locking in the current low industry prices.

The move knocks 15% off the estimated cost of the project, which will allow Bahamas Petroleum to fund expanded evaluation works without spending extra cash.

Earlier this month, the explorer was approved for listing on the Bahamas International Stock Exchange and is expecting to receive US$900,000 in subscription funds.

However, peer Attis Oil and Gas Ltd () had a worse week, having returned from a trading suspension on Wednesday 71% lower at 0.02p, then dropping another 30% to 0.01p in a day.

The firm, which focuses on boosting production in existing assets at lower costs, was meant to acquire a North America-focused peer but the takeover collapsed due to the weak oil price.

Instead, Attis raised 500,000 by placing shares at 0.0115p plus a further 420,000 through a bridging loan as it seeks to plough on alone.

Looking at the wider market, the AIM All-Share index rose 3.3% to 871 over the week, outperforming the FTSE 100, which advanced 2.6% to 6,154.

Among the few fallers, () tanked 33% to 2p on a share placing at a 38% discount, as the marble quarrying firmlooked to raise 800,000 to boost its strategy.

In the risers, () rocketed 102% higher to 3p on news of a partnership with wellness business Newcastle Premier Health, which will provide its know-how to the group's Cov-ID project, a digital passport to track and trace coronavirus cases.

Elsewhere, PLC () soared by 47% to 9p after sharing positive results on field trials for its PREtec peptide PHC279, part of the pest control firms products to be launched soon.

() ventured 49% higher to 5p after a member of the Swedish Parliament pushed the government to decide on any mining activity in Kallak and Laver; Beowulfs stalled iron ore project is in the Kallak region. The following day, the miner contracted Kati Oy to start working on a seismic model at the Kallak South project.

Remaining in the sector, () glittered 33% higher to 21p after restarting its wholly-owned gold mine near Omagh, Northern Ireland, following lockdown.

And fellow miner () added 16% to 0.9p after announcing it has now recovered over 100 macro diamonds from bulk sampling operations at the Marsfontein development project in South Africa.

Elsewhere, medical devices business () shot up 20% to 119p after its polymer Elast-Eon was granted a US patent, paving the way for product development.

IT service manager () gained 36% to 64p after its FutureGov arm signed a significant digital transformation contract with a global philanthropic organisation, worth US$5.2mln over 14 months.

Meanwhile, data collection firm () climbed 28% to 44p after revealing it has traded profitably in the four months to April.

In the biotech space, () () added 14% to 111p after it unveiled details about presentations at a top medical conference, which underline the potential of its technology in predicting the recurrence of breast cancer.

Digital marketing provider Eagle Eye Solutions PLC () advanced 14% to 162p after lifting earnings guidance as well as announcing contract extensions with Sainsbury's and Asda.

Finally, bed maker () rose 12% to 1p after stating the lack of high street competition during the lockdown was beneficial to trading, although it admitted that next months store re-openings pose a risk.

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Small Cap Movers: Bahamas Petroleum rockets after scheduling start of exploration well - Proactive Investors UK

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs marked the anniversary of initial reports that Ramsey had been found in distressing circumstances.

According to MOFA, the ministry had received word about the foreign service officer on May 29 some five days before his body was discovered.

The ministry noted the government remains fully engaged in the investigation of their deaths through an Italian law firm, and continues to press for answers.

On this day, 29 May 2019, we in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs got word that Mr Alrae Ramsey, one of our own, had been reported as having been found in distressing circumstances, the statement read.

And mere moments later, the news reached us that he had passed. Moreover, short days later, the same news reached us about Dr. Blair John, his high school and college friend.

In a later interview, Director General of Foreign Affairs Sharon Brennen Haylock explained the statement was referring to Ramsey being reported missing.

The statement continued: From that first notification, the entire ministry became engaged with this disconcerting concern. The government of The Bahamas has been and remains fully engaged in the investigation of the case, the outcome of which, to date, has not brought a sense of satisfaction or closure to the families, friends or to the government. The Bahamas government, through the engagement of an Italian law firm, continues to press the Italian government for answers as to the cause of their untimely deaths.

The tragic deaths of the two young men sent shockwaves through the country.

Ramsey was on study leave and in Turin on break.

Blair had traveled to Italy to deliver a presentation and was scheduled to meet up with Ramsey, who was a former classmate and friend.

The MOFA statement read: On this day, we remember Alrae and appreciate that his life was short, but we know that he served his purpose in the grand scheme of things, particularly in the way he made an impression on his surroundings. His future with us was bright. To a person, we say that it was a privilege to have known him and to have worked with him.

We also remember Dr. Blair John. Although his life was not immediately connected to the ministry, he and Alrae had many mutual friends in the ministry. Dr. John will be remembered as a person who was God fearing and well-rounded, excelling not only in academics, but also in sports on a national and international level. Both young men left a legacy of being Gentlemen and Scholars.

The ministry added: We had an opportunity to meet again with their mothers, Alraes sister and Blairs father last week to address important administrative matters, and we take this opportunity to extend to both families our heartfelt condolences on a sad and painful anniversary.

We will keep Alrae and Blair and their families in our thoughts always. We ask that all Bahamians and their friends to do likewise.

An initial forensic medical examination indicated the men were in the river for two to three days, according to international reports.

Autopsies were performed on both men on June 10.

According to Italian media reports, the initial findings of the autopsy, performed by coroner Paola Rapetti, indicated the men drowned.

A toxicological examination was also performed.

Italian news outlets reported the results of this exam revealed only traces of alcohol were found in their blood.

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MOFA marks anniversary of Turin deaths, investigations still ongoing - EyeWitness News