Category Archives: Bahamas

Written by Jason Perlow, Senior Technology Editor Jason PerlowSenior Technology Editor

Jason Perlow is a technologist with over two decades of experience integrating large heterogeneous multi-vendor computing environments in Fortune 500 companies. His expressed views do not necessarily represent those of his employer, The Linux Foundation.

Last week, I decided to take a very long-needed vacation on Grand Bahama Island. And while I did not purposely intend to ditch my technology on this trip, the fact that it wasn't convenient to use my electronic creature comforts contributed significantly to my enjoyment.

Grand Bahama, an island of about 530 square miles, is only 60 miles to the east of Palm Beach, Florida. But it might as well be 6,000 miles away because its internet connectivity is terrible.

BTC, a single mobile telecom provider, provides 3G and 4G services throughout the island with limited cell coverage. Full-time and seasonal residents can get dedicated broadband internet. But at our timeshare condo residence, the Island Seas Resort, one broadband connection was shared by a few dozen apartments -- with limited Wi-Fi access points throughout the entire complex.

Overlooking Taino Beach on Grand Bahama from Tony Macaroni's Conch Experience

Before going to the island, my wife and I knew that connectivity would be lousy. We'd taken two other trips in 2008 and 2012, so we had some experience with the place. But to further complicate matters, Grand Bahama is still recovering from Hurricane Dorian (September 2019), which caused devastating damage to its eastern half and its principal town of Freeport to the west. Its tiny airport terminal is currently temporary, as its permanent structure is undergoing major repairs.

So why vacation on the island? Unlike Nassau/New Providence, which has about 275,000 residents and gets a constant influx of tourists from jam-packed cruise ships, Freeport/Grand Bahama has fewer people on it -- with a max population of about 52,000 at any given time. It has very little in terms of nightlife, restaurants, and bars. What it does have is many beautiful (and sparsely-visited) white sand beaches; a crystal blue ocean for snorkeling and scuba diving with lots of fish, some sharks, and manta rays; and great island cuisine.

Because we needed a barebones level of connectivity while we were away, I decided that only one of us needed mobile data. I asked my wife to contact AT&T and get us an unlimited international roaming contract for her phone for the month, which costs $10 per 24 hours of use in the Bahamas. That sounds like a lot of money for a one-week stay, but it's far less than any data overages we might have incurred otherwise.

My wife decided to bring her iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch because she absolutely had to have Apple Fitness Plus and close her rings every day. I decided to go minimalist by bringing only a global Android phone with me -- an OPPO Find X5 Pro review unit -- primarilyto take food photoswith its exceptional camera. I also took a six-year-old Kindle Oasis preloaded with books.

Also: Amazon Kindle Oasis: E-reader for the one percent

We could have also bought an eSIM from BTC for my phone, which is more affordable than the AT&T plan. But they are data skimpy, and we'd need to be very careful about the photos and videos cloud syncing if we used one. As it is, I had my wife turn off all the data sync stuff in iCloud for her photostream and application updates, just in case. We did need to use Google Maps on my wife's phone for GPS navigation in the car, but we pre-downloaded the maps for Grand Bahama so we could navigate offline.

High Rock Beach, Grand Bahama

After seeing just how bad the 3G and 4G connectivity on Grand Bahama was on my wife's phone, I decided not to get a data plan from BTC. I would connect to Wi-Fi at the timeshare, cafes -- wherever I could find it. And I was not going to get stressed if it didn't work because I was on vacation.

There's an interesting side effect to having slow, unresponsive internet connectivity: you put your phone down, and it forces you to engage with people and your environment. Since I knew my connectivity would be crappy for the week, I turned on DND, put both of my email accounts and Slack on OOO, and quiesced all my notifications.

Do you know what happened? After about half a day of painful withdrawal, I stopped stressing about it.

Instead of thinking of emails, social networking notifications, and instant messages, my only concerns for the day were getting up in the morning, having coffee and eating breakfast, going to the pool or beach, considering what beer (in Grand Bahama, it's Sands, brewed in Freeport) or cocktail (I recommend the Goombay Smash or the Yellow Bird) I was going to drink, deciding what we were going to do for lunch, choosing what I was going to read that afternoon, and then deciding what we were going to do for dinner.

Steamed Conch with Macaroni and Cheese at the Bell Harbor Inn, Grand Bahama

That's an oversimplification of what a typical vacation day in Grand Bahama is like, but it's not that far off the mark.

Because the Wi-Fi was slow and unreliable, it was painful to use it. So I spent my vacation actually having a good time instead of documenting it.

My wife told me that I was more present because I wasn't constantly looking at my phone. It was a side of me she hadn't seen in a while, as I'm always connected and distracted by notifications back home.

Having poor data connectivity has other advantages as well, including forcing you to engage with people to get information. While we did use Google searches to discover restaurants and shops, we found out very quickly that a lot of information was woefully out of date due to Hurricane Dorian. It turns out that word of mouth, driving around, and exploring are the best ways to get to know the place.

Don't get me wrong -- coming home and having my multi-gigabit broadband and 5G was great. I don't think I can ever give it up, at least not with my current profession. But there is something to be said for a "Grand Bahama" mode for our connected devices, especially after work and on weekends.

If there is an easy way for Apple and Google to simulate frustratingly-slow Caribbean internet connectivity -- so slow that you are disinclined to use technology when you aren't on the clock -- that's a feature we might all benefit from using.

Grand Bahama Mode in iOS 16 and Android 13? No problem.

See the article here:

On Grand Bahama, the internet is terrible. I loved it - ZDNet

Every year, visitors and locals will flock to the county to see our beautiful beaches. After all, we're home to miles upon miles of sandy beaches as well as the historic Jurassic Coast. It's no wonder people want to see the stunning sights that Dorset has to offer.

For some, our beaches serve as a great go-to area that many can rely on to have dog walks, evening strolls or morning runs. While others will argue, you don't have to fly to the other side of the world to have exotic beaches.

There have been many people who have said plenty of Dorset's beaches are comparable to the sunny locations of tropical destinations. For MyLondon reporter, Finn Byrne, his experience to one Dorset beach left him feeling like he had spent the day in the Bahamas.

Read more: Sandbanks beach ranked one of UK's best for summer 2022

Finn decided to venture from his busy London surroundings to the tranquil Highcliffe Beach near Christchurch. Highcliffe is often considered one of the best beaches in our county to visit - though these local photographers offer a list of other, lesser known beaches that are off the beaten track.

Here, Finn writes an account of his trip to the well-loved beach and his thoughts on the area.

A trip to the beach in April can often go one of two ways. After a few days of sunny weather I was convinced that the summer season had already begun and planned to make a trip to the South Coast to visit a beach best known for its spectacular views and long stretching shoreline. And after realising that it would only cost 25 for a return train ticket my mind was made up.

I took the train from Waterloo to Southampton and then made the small journey to Hinton Admiral, in Christchurch, on the Hampshire/Dorset border. I hadnt heard of Highcliffe beach before, but was told it was one of the best beaches along the South Coast. From the Hinton Admiral station it was then a thirty minute walk to the beach or alternatively a 1.60 hire bike ride to Highcliffe Castle where you can then walk down the steps to the golden beach.

I was blessed with the weather, and it seemed that I was right about summer arriving prematurely. Walking down the steps to the shore I felt as if I was abroad. This assumption was solidified through the abundance of palm trees and exotic plants, which convinced me that I might be in the Bahamas and not really the UK.

I was so caught up with the idea that I was abroad, I decided that it might be a good idea to cool off in the water. Unlike the Bahamas, the water was deceptively cold and I was freezing after swimming for less than five minutes. I had been fooled by the scenery and was on the verge of hypothermia.

This would have been embarrassing but as I left the water I realised there was hardly anyone around to see. The beach was almost deserted and along the five hundred metre stretch of coastline there were only another dozen or so people. Further up the beach there were more people enjoying the sun, but it was empty compared to the tourist-heavy alternatives of Brighton and Bournemouth on the South coast.

The quaint town of Highcliffe seemed a world away from the fast pace of city life which I had left behind. A lack of arcades and pubs was the only real downfall of this hidden gem but this was made up for by a cute village caf serving food and hot drinks. The weather took a turn and it became windy and a bit chillier but this didnt stop the fun.

There were numerous walking routes, cycle paths and activities to get stuck into. Being only two hours away from home meant that the thought of heading back wasnt hanging over me and I could relax knowing that home was always within touching distance. Golden sand, beautiful waters, long stretching beaches and a lack of tourism, made Highcliffe beach the perfect day trip getaway.

What is your favourite Dorset beach? Let us know to news.dorsetlive@reachplc.com

You can stay up-to-date on the top news near you with Dorset Live's FREE newsletters enter your email address at the top of the page or sign up to our newsletters.

More from DorsetLive:

Originally posted here:

Londoner visits Highcliffe Beach and compares it to the Bahamas - Dorset Live

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A MAN believed to be in his early 40s was shot andkilled at his home in Grand Bahama early yesterday morning, pushing the countrys murder count to 48 so far for the year, according to this newspapers records.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Stephen Rolle said officers were alerted to a shooting in the Bruce Avenue area shortly after 8.30am.

According to reports, a man was at his home when a vehicle pulled up. One of the male occupants got out ofthe vehicle, produced a firearm and began firing shots in his direction.

He was shot about the body multiple times, the police press liaison officer said.

That male then wouldve fled to the residence where he collapsed, and he was pronounced dead. EMS personnel attended the scene, and they discovered no signs of life.

Although police have not identified the victim, a relative told The Tribune the deceased is Javon Pinder aka JP, a father of two. However, hedeclined to speak further about the shooting.

According to ASP Rolle, the victim was known to police.

Asked if officers are concerned about retaliation in view of the incident, he said: Its not safe to assume that its going to be retaliation, but we keep our ears open and prepared for anything that comes forth.

We just want to urge the public to put those guns down again. We cannot say that enough because like you said, it could be your very own or a family member. If you have any information of where a firearm may be, contact the police and get that firearm off the streets to save another life being lost on Grand Bahama, he added.

ASP Rolle also told reporters that police are following some leads into the shooting and that officials are hoping to soon conclude the investigation.

Thursdays homicide comes after a man was shot and robbed on Soldier Road in New Providence on Wednesday night.

Sources say the victim is a man who was acquitted of murder last year.

However, Superintendent Audley Peters was unable to confirm his identity when asked about it yesterday.

There was a robbery that occurred last night where a male was in front of a residence in conversation with a friend, Supt Peters said yesterday. The male was approached by two men and when he saw them coming, he approached them and asked them what the situation was. Apparently, an altercation ensued and one of those suspects shot that male and took his vehicle along with some other personal items. The victim was transported to the hospital where he is receiving treatment for his injuries and that investigation is ongoing at the moment his condition is not life threatening.

The shootings come as police and the Davis administration seek to get a handle on violent crime in the country and after 22 homicides were recorded in March, one of the deadliest months on record in the country.

Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to call police at 919, 502-9991or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.

Visit link:

Murder in Grand Bahama takes year's tally to 48 - Bahamas Tribune

By Steven Danforth Singer

The year was 1866. The brig Baltic departed the port of New York in September of that year, bound for the port of Galveston, Texas. On board was a large consignment of miscellaneous goods. Capt. Maddocks followed the standard route, passing the outside of the northern Bahamas to avoid the Gulf Stream, expecting another uneventful voyage. Unlike today, there were no weather forecasts, and the captain had no idea that a hurricane was heading for the Bahama islands. The unfortunate brig got slammed by the October 1866 hurricane which ravaged many parts of the Bahamas and sank a good many ships in the area. The Baltic was caught in the storms fury and her cargo shifted. She started taking on water and the crew frantically worked the pumps in hopes of keeping her afloat. She ended up wrecking approximately 200 feet off Ridleys Head on North Eleuthera, Bahamas, between Spanish Wells and Harbour Island. Its quite possible that Capt. Maddocks ran her aground in order to save the crew, and its believed all of the crew did survive.

The Baltic was built in Camden in 1854. Rated at 284 tons, her dimensions were 108 feet in length, 26 feet in breadth, and her depth of hold was 10 feet. At the time of her sinking, she was owned by W.H. Hooper of Camden.

The wreck was quickly buried under the shifting sands and mostly forgotten until 1992. A local fisherman, Nick Maillis, had always been interested in sunken treasure, and had found a number of wreck sites over the years during his fishing voyages. Local fishermen were familiar with the area as they would find dead fish here with no explanation why they died. Nick suspected something toxic may be in the area that was affecting the local fish population.While checking out the area, he found what appeared to be evidence of some wreckage sticking out of the sand.

Nick filed this away in his memory until another Bahamian treasure salvor contacted him in 1992 saying he had a salvage vessel available, and did Nick have any sites they could work on. Nick had applied for and was granted a salvage lease on this area through his salvage company, Bahamas Salbos Research and Recovery. Nick then agreed to let them work on this particular site. During that summer, the 100-foot salvage vessel El Esperanza, was brought to the wreck site. The wreck was again completely buried under sand, and the salvage vessel used its prop wash deflectors to begin to move away the sand on top of the site. Nick had put them directly on top of the wreck, and soon they began to uncover an almost totally intact 19th century sailing vessel, which turned out to be the brig Baltic, which had remained completely buried for 126 years.

The El Esperanza continued to uncover the wreck, and soon the upper part of the hull was exposed. Divers were able to enter the vessel through the upper deck and found a whole assortment of cargo items to be salvaged. What they found were medical supplies and instruments, munitions, dinner ware, religious figurines, ink bottles, spirits, silverware, food stuffs, plate glass porcelain, and a large amount of English Staffordshire china.

Before long, the deck of the El Esperanza was full of the recovered cargo items. The crew only worked about three weeks, but when they were done, they had recovered over 25,000 pieces of cargo. About 6,000 pieces of china have been recovered so far. The china was packed in barrels protected with straw, with approximately 100 pieces of china in each barrel. Complete sets of dinnerware china were recovered.

Other items recovered were porcelain from Germany and ginger jars of the Ching Dynasty from Chylong, China.

Some medical instruments recovered included brass hypodermic needles, and enema apparatus. Some of the rubber tubing for those had the patent dates, and one read, patent by Goodyear, 1857.

Hundreds of perfectly intact bottles of food stuffs were also brought up by the divers. Many were still in their packing crates which still had the contents legibly printed on the outside. The bottles of pickles still looked good enough to eat, though nobody attempted to do so. Bottles of apricots and capers were also recovered. Spirits bottles were still stacked just as they were 126 years ago.

Soon, the reason for the dead fish in the area became apparent. Large amounts of medical bottles began to be recovered believed to contain morphine, opium, arsenic, and other chemicals. The leaching of the chemicals from the wreck, is what had been killing the fish in the area over the years.

The identity of the wreck was determined when part of a wooden packing crate was recovered with the word, Brig Baltic, Texas. A wooden barrel of mackerel was also recovered dated 1866, with the packing companys name, and Gloucester, Massachusetts printed on the outside. They now had the name of the vessel, the year she sank, where she was bound, and evidence she was from a northeast port.

Salvage was slowed down because of the large cargo of plate glass blocked the way to the rest of the cargo hold. The approach of Hurricane Andrew, which soon struck the Bahamas and South Florida, put a permanent stop to any further salvage work. Nicks home was destroyed by the hurricane, and the wreck of the Baltic was buried again and temporarily forgotten. Fortunately, all the recovered artifacts were placed in secure storage and all survived.

The Bahamian government, the salvors, and Nick all got a share of the salvaged items. A Floridian, Tim Brodie, had heard of the salvage and met with Nick in the Bahamas. Tim researched the items in Nicks possession, and was able to identify manufacturers and place of origin on much of the porcelain, china, etc. Some were quite rare and sought after by collectors. Nicks collection was brought over to Florida and put on display for a time at the old Graves Museum of Archaeology in Dania, Fla. On May 24, 1997, most of Nicks collection went to auction at the Sloan Gallery Auction House, in Miami, Fla.

The brig Baltic may still remain relatively intact, buried under the sands of Eleuthera.

Steven Danforth Singer is a consultant and the author of Shipwrecks of Florida and More Shipwrecks of Florida. You can find more about him at anchorexplorations.com.

[Ed. Note: This article was previously published in the Winter 1996 issue of Treasure Quest Magazine.]

Previous

Next

Latest Articles

Obituaries

Community Happenings

Bookmarks

Arts & Entertainment

Obituaries

Read the original post:

The shipwreck and salvage of the Maine brig Baltic - Courier-Gazette & Camden Herald

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Coronavirus cases have doubled in the last two weeks, Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville pointed out yesterday.

It remains to be seen if the recent infections, which have largely been the result of imported cases, indicate an upward trend as The Bahamas awaits gene sequencing of 100 samples to determine the presence of the omicron subvariant BA.2

Data gleaned from the Ministry of Healths COVID-19 dashboard, shows there were 42 cases recorded between April 10-16, compared to the 87 cases between April 17-23.

Another five infections were recorded on Sunday.

A closer look at the infections shows that of the 42 cases during the week prior, 33 of them or 78 percent of them were imported cases.

In the last week, 47 cases or 54 percent were imported cases.

Between April 3-9, there were 51 infections.

Of them, 24 or 47 percent had a history of travel in the last 14 days.

At the Office of the Prime Minister, Minister of Health Dr Michael Darville said the government was not minded to increase restrictions at this time, prioritizing the tourism stimulus.

But he said health experts were examining the cases closely.

Responding to a question from Eyewitness News, Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis advised on Monday that plans were underway to lift the mask mandate in The Bahamas by summer or sooner.

Yesterday, Darville tapered that announcement.

The prime minister did say that we are looking at removing the mask mandate and we are optimistic about it, the health minister said.

With that being said, over the last two weeks, we have been watching our numbers, our RT-PCR tests, and our numbers have doubled.

That is of concern. Secondly, we also notice in the United States, in states where tourists come to The Bahamas the numbers have been going up as well.

And then a judge in South Florida, there is an issue with the removing of the mask mandate in public transportations as well as on aircraft. That is another concern.

So while we are mindful and wishful to remove the mask mandate, we must take into consideration the scientific factors that could potentiate the possibility of imported cases coming into the country.

The minister said upon a downward trend being observed, that would mean that the issue of the mask mandate would be taken into consideration sooner than later.

Darville suggested the EOC has not recommended any further relaxations of the COVID rules.

Despite the prevalence of imported cases, the minister also said there is no intention to amend protocols, including travel at this time.

Were a tourist country and our policy is to try and ensure that our tourism sector thrives, which means that we need people to come in to spend money, he said.

We are watching and we cannot make a determination at this particular time, but I can tell you that some of the cases are travel-related and it is of concern.

For the moment, restrictions remain relatively low.

Mask wearing remains optional in resorts and in open spaces where there is social distancing.

Subvariant

Health officials have been carefully monitoring the new omicron subvariant that has spiked cases in both the United States and the United Kingdom, where it has become the dominant strain.

When contacted recently, Director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme Dr Nikkiah Forbes said it is still not yet known if the strain will cause another surge.

The Pan American Health Organization has said as cases surge in Europe and East Asia due to omicron BA.2, countries in the region ought to remain vigilant and urgently close vaccination gaps.

In the last week, hospitalized cases have remained at around six cases down from the 97 hospitalized cases reported on January 31, during The Bahamas fourth wave.

The average positivity rate testing compared to positive cases stands at 10 percent, double the WHOs recommendations.

Read the original post:

Darville: COVID infection doubled in last two weeks - EyeWitness News

It's a long way from the Bahamas, but Elk Grove Village officials hope their latest marketing push packs a quicker punch.

The village is paying for the production of five 15-second commercials, to air on regular TV and digital media like YouTube, as part of its Makers Wanted campaign to promote its sprawling industrial park as a place to do business. The commercials will tie in with Makers Wanted ads on electronic billboards along tollways and major thoroughfares throughout the suburbs.

The ad campaign is being conceived by Banner Collective, a Chicago-based digital content studio that inked a $243,000 professional services contract with the village board Tuesday night. That contract, along with a separate $202,000 deal with Lombard-based ad agency Red Caffeine approved two weeks ago, represents a leaner 2022 marketing budget for the Northwest suburb that made a splash with the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl in 2018 and 2019.

Last year, Elk Grove sponsored three USA Olympic teams and paid for commercials and in-game features during Chicago White Sox broadcasts.

"We're not sponsoring anything unusual (this year)," said Mayor Craig Johnson, who was behind the unconventional college football game sponsorship.

But, Johnson hinted, "I'm already working on my next one."

Still, the mayor was excited about the new TV spots and corresponding billboards. He was ready to unveil the new ads at the board meeting Tuesday night, but last-minute tweaks will delay the release two weeks.

"It's not the same type of PR splash," he said of the commercials compared to the bowl game. "We're trying to do something a little different. If you do something repeatedly, it loses its effect."

The village spent $300,000 to have its business marketing tagline affixed to the title of the bowl game, but that was just part of an overall $700,000 marketing budget that also included TV ads, a website, an annual business expo and other marketing efforts.

The marketing spending this year -- just under $450,000 -- is more on par with what the village spent when the Makers Wanted campaign launched in 2015. That initial effort included a mix of television and radio commercials, print advertising and digital billboards along the tollways.

View post:

Elk Grove's latest marketing effort: Short TV ads and corresponding billboards - Daily Herald

NASSAU, BAHAMAS A nine-year-old boy testifying against six former employees of the Bahamas Childrens Emergency Hostel yesterday admitted to calling one of the women a derogatory name which led to him getting beaten on the day in question.

The trial continued its third day of witness statements before Magistrate Kendra Kelly.

The one witness of the day was living at the hostel for nearly two years during the time of the incident but was removed from the home in the aftermath of the incident.

He now resides at the Nazareth Centre where he has been staying for the past two and half months.

The prosecution alleged that on September 22, 2020, the women unlawfully physically abused nine boys and two girls in their care and custody, in a manner causing them unnecessary harm.

The young boy told the court that on that day he was beaten by a worker because he was being rude and later confirmed that he was fighting with another boy at the hostel.

The minor witness said after getting punished, it made him feel bad and he cried.

He said he was then sent to Sandilands for three months, which made him feel frustrated.

He identified Sabrina Smith in the court as the person who beat him.

He named another seven children who he remembered being in the dining room area when the incident occurred.

During the cross-examination, Wallace Rolle, attorney for Smith, asked the boy whether he believed little boys who fight should be spanked and get a whipping, to which the child agreed.

Rolle charged that the minor witness not only fought the children that day but also fought the staff.

He asked whether the boy cursed them out and told him to tell the court what it was that he told.

The child initially refused to repeat what he said on that day nearly two years ago, indicating I dont want to say that cause thats confusing.

After multiple attempts from the lawyer to pressure the child to repeat the word, he admitted that he called one of the workers the B word, which rhymes with witch.

Rolle then asked him whether he believed that was right and whether children who use bad words should be spanked to which the child agreed.

He then pressed the young boy on other bad words he claimed he said to the other staff, asking him if he curse any of the women about their private parts.

The prosecutor, Sgt Vernon Pyfrom objected to the line of questioning, insisting that it did not relate to the matter at hand.

After moving on from that issue, Rolle then attempted to suggest to the child that he was sent to Sandilands because he behaved badly to the staff and have a behavioral problem, which was also objected to by the prosecution.

Magistrate Kelly ruled that the young boy would not know why he was sent to Sandilands because he is only a child and could not speak to that.

Eloise Canter, 53; Carmetta Woods, 47; Natasha Pratt, 46; Occonelle Gordon, 25; and Sabrina Smith, 61, were charged with 11 counts of cruelty to children and all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Shawn Seymour, 42, was charged with 11 counts of failing to report the abuse of a minor and also pleaded not guilty to all of the counts.

The matter is expected to resume on May 16 for additional witness testimonies.

Continued here:

Emergency Hostel trial: Child witness says he called worker the B word that rhymes with witch - EyeWitness News

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TheBahamas, April 28, 2022 What would have been the largest project of its kind in the Caribbean, the billion-dollar, 1000-acre mega hotel Coral Harbor project may be moving forward but only at a fraction of its initial size.

The smaller plan is estimated to cost no more than 300 million dollars but the original, designed by Winstanley Architects and planners for Bahamas Leisure & Resorts Ltd. President and Chief Executive Officer Aboudi Debs, was slated to have, Six hotels, class A and class B, office space, four marinas, two golf courses, over 3,500 condominiums, single-family lots and estates, as well as retail and rental apartments.

Unfortunately, the very same day Baha Mar went into chapter 11 my client made a proposal for a multibillion-dollar project in Coral Harbour. There was absolutely no taste for a large project of that size at that time and we all know the history of what took place at Baha Mar, and Christie will never get the credit for what he deserves with respect to resuscitating the Baha Mar project, but in terms of the project in Coral Harbour, there was just no appetite for it, Grimes said

The Baha Mar project was another venture that would have been the largest in the Caribbean but was plagued by controversy. After consistent delays and deferred openings, the project finally filed for bankruptcy in 2015. The principal developers blamed the development company, a Chinese company, for consistently missing deadlines and delaying the opening so far back that it became impossible to recoup the money spent. It was resold in 2017 and opened on a smaller scale.

Since then the Coral Harbor Harbor project has taken on a more bite-sized approach.

Grimes said the developers had assessed and scaled down to something that could be built in the foreseeable future. The approach seems to have yielded fruit as the principal developers met with the Bahamian government earlier this month.

Grimes told the Tribune, that the Coral Harbour Development is months away from making any formal submission to the government.

What they presented to the Government of The Bahamas was their intent to introduce phase one, stage one, which is a much smaller, well-defined project.

In terms of approvals, Grimes said they had not reached that stage.

Theyre in the very preliminary stages of finalizing plans so an application can be made as such in short order. It takes time to finalize plans, then you have to get approvals and then begin putting shovels in the ground.

Theyd not be applying, more likely for another four-plus months.

The attorney sought to refute any rumors that the development was breaking ground soon saying he and his clients had nothing to do with that release of information; calling it reckless and irresponsible for anyone to circulate that kind of information. He also cleared up rumors regarding a $9 billion transaction price tag on the resort saying it was untrue.

The rest is here:

Backyard Farmers to Benefit from Donation to Church Commercial Farming Group - Magnetic Media

NASSAU, Bahamas, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Spring break season is underway, and travelers seeking warmer days need look no further than The Islands of The Bahamas. With exciting resort offerings, tourism investments and new businesses opening their doors, the islands are brimming with vacation opportunities that appeal to everyone, from large families and friends to newlyweds.

NEWS

Angel Fish Creek Bridge Opens in Abaco The communities of Great Abaco and Little Abaco are reunited following the completion of the restored and renamed Angel Fish Creek Bridge, the longest single-span bridge ever built in The Bahamas, which was destroyed by Hurricane Dorian in 2019.

The Bahamas Distillery Company Begins Production in Freeport Spirits are high in Grand Bahama Island, courtesy of the newly established Bahamas Distilling Company, located in Freeport, that has started production on two offerings, Floating Pig Spiced Rum and Hammered Coconut Rum.

Iggy Azalea Headlines at Resorts World Bimini Resorts World Bimini welcomes fans for a weekend-long party, from 15 17 April, to see GRAMMY nominated rapper Iggy Azalea perform live. Packages begin at $598 per person, including round-trip transportation from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a two-night resort stay and a complimentary concert admission.

Carnival Cruise Line Marks 50 Years Visiting The Bahamas Carnival Cruise Line celebrated 50 years of visiting The Bahamas on 10 March 2022. To honour the long-standing partnership, festivities at Pompey Square, Nassau, featured remarks from the Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation and live performances by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Band.

The Bahamas Revered as a Top Travel Destination The Bahamas lands global recognition as a "Best Family Spring Break Destination" by U.S. News & World Report for its relaxing atmosphere and thriving ecosystem. The Bahamas has also been nominated for several World Travel Awards, from "Caribbean's Leading Beach Destination" to "Caribbean's Most Romantic Destination." Online voting for the World Travel Awards closes 3 May.

PROMOTIONS AND OFFERS

For a complete listing of deals and packages for The Bahamas, visitwww.bahamas.com/deals-packages.

Stay a Little Longer at Baha Mar Resort guests at Baha Mar receive the fourth night free when booking a stay at either Grand Hyatt or SLS, or the fifth night free at Rosewood, plus a $100 resort credit, unlimited access to Baha Bay Water Park and a complimentary "Return Home" Rapid Antigen Test.

Travel Worry-Free with Viva Wyndham Resorts Guests now enjoy enhanced travel benefits when booking a stay at Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, including flexible travel solutions, superior safety protocols and onsite COVID-19 testing.

$150 Fee Credit for Out Island Vacationers Private pilots receive a $150 fee credit for a pre-booked two-night hotel stay at any participatingBahama Out IslandsPromotion Board member hotel before 30 June 2022, to be used for travel until 31 October 2022.

PRESS INQUIRIESAnita Johnson-PattyBahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation[emailprotected]

Weber ShandwickPublic Relations[emailprotected]

SOURCE The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation

Read this article:

WHAT'S NEW IN THE BAHAMAS IN APRIL - PR Newswire

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The University of the West Indies Open Campus Bahamas has commissioned its first Advisory Board of Directors.

The Board will provide strategic direction, competencies and guidance as a means of ensuring the work plan and outputs are relevant and of high quality, and also are in alignment with student, business, government, national and community needs in The Bahamas.

In addition to making recommendations, advice and support, Board members ensure that programmes are current and relevant to business, industry, labor and professional development practices in The Bahamas.

Board members include: Marisa Mason-Smith, Chair; Charles Sealy, Vice Chair; Dr. Raveenia Roberts-Hanna; Terri Bellot; Dr Mortimer Moxey; Dr Kitiboni Rolle-Adderley; and Dr. Yvonne Hunter-Johnson.

We must commend the leadership of UWI Open Campus for the first appointment of a Board that will complement the advancement of its quality academic programmes and initiatives to its students and stakeholders, said Chair Mason-Smith.

This Board comprises a diverse team of professionals who are experts in their careers, making invaluable contributions in our community in fact, globally. It is an honour to be the first Chairman of this Board. I am humbled and confident that this Board will continue to serve with integrity, purpose and passion, leaving a legacy of academic excellence in our nation.

The Board may also be involved in providing insights with the areas of programming, such as marketing, promotion, fundraising and assisting with job placement for programme and course graduates.

In just a few weeks, thousands of students will complete their high school journey.

However, not all of them will receive a diploma. In some cases, these students are more adept at vocational studies. They, too, deserve an opportunity to receive some kind of certification.

For this reason, the University of the West Indies Open Campus Bahamas has designed programs that have given many students like these, the boost of confidence they need to leave school and be productive in society.

Many vocational programmes offered in high schools, such as cosmetology, agricultural science, and motor mechanics do not offer national certificates to reflect knowledge and skill learned in the content area, said Bridgette Cooper, Country Head, UWI Open Campus Bahamas (UWIOCB).

As a result, many students in these subject areas graduate from high school without evidence to confirm their academic achievements and participation career option. UWIOCB wishes to assist these students in earning Certificates of Achievement in the areas of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, designed for students interested in becoming a business owner/entrepreneur; and Health Management Programme is designed for aspirant clinical professionals in need of formal introductory training in the discipline. These two programme options will assist in preparing students for their chosen careers in either area upon graduating from high school, thus giving them a head start in their chosen careers.

UWIOCBs high school initiative started in 2021. It was so successful that students have requested the continuance of the five-week programme this summer.

Open Campus Bahamas was established in 2008 and is well known for offering a plethora of options for continuing education, personal enrichment and professional development. They include certifications, as well as Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral Degrees.

Cooper noted that UWIOCB has the capacity to design courses to suit almost any professional need, including programmes with courses specific to the need of an organization that wishes to support the professional growth of its employees.

UWIOCB has officially launched its most recent fundraiser the first annual fun, run, walk, push event. Proceeds will be used to award partial scholarships to high school students to attend this years five-week High School Summer programme. Participants will cover 5 kilometers as they exercise for a worthy cause. The fundraising event will be held on Saturday, April 30. Online registration begins on Wednesday, April 6. Registration fee is $35 and includes a race T-shirt.

UWIOCB is located on 33 Tedder St., Maderia St., Palmdale. For more information, visit http://www.bahamas@open.uwi.edu, or call 323-6593/456-6687; on Facebook: UWIOCCSB and Instagram: uwi.oc.bahamas.

Read this article:

UWI Open Campus Bahamas appoints first board Eye Witness News - EyeWitness News