Category Archives: Bahamas

Chief medical advisor says antiviral drugs will not cancel out the need for vaccinationsDr Fauci predicts a low level of COVID-19 disruption by spring

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Despite the introduction of antiviral drugs against COVID-19, there will still be a need to administer vaccinations globally, according to Dr Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to the United States president.

Fauci made the comment yesterday while appearing as a guest on local talk show The Morning Blend with host Dwight Strachan.

His take on the latest COVID-19 treatment to hit the market comes as pharmaceutical companies seek to introduce antiviral medication to treat onset COVID-19 symptoms for high-risk individuals.

Fauci noted that while its very good that we are getting these very promising drugs, prevention is the only way to end COVID-19 outbreaks.

Treatment only helps you to not get seriously ill once you get infected, he said.

If you want to end an outbreak, you have to stop getting infected, and you do that with a combination of vaccines and mitigation methods in such appropriate situations.

He confirmed that vaccinations will still be required even with these new drugs being administered.

The United Kingdom medicines regulator has approved the first antiviral medication for COVID-19 in the form of a pill called molnupiravir.

The pill, which was developed by US drug companies Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, will begin being given twice a day to vulnerable patients who have been diagnosed COVID-positive.The drug must also be given within five days of developing symptoms in order to be most effective.

Pfizer has also announced that it has developed a pill named Paxlovid that would cut the risk of hospitalizations or death by 89 percent in vulnerable adults.

There is still no cure for the novel coronavirus, with a mix of treatments being used to manage symptoms and effects of the disease.

When will it end?

Asked yesterday how the exit from the pandemic will look, Fauci noted that the world is still moving through the different phases of the pandemic.

You go from the pandemic phase, which means its somewhat controlled which it is, we know that globally then you get to a deceleration of cases over, but then you get to control and there are various levels of control, the US medical expert explained.

So, the WHO (World Health Organization) can declare its over as a pandemic when you get down to a certain lower level of infection throughout the world, but that doesnt mean were done with it because if you get really, really good control, then you have very few cases.

You can declare a pandemic over, but you can still have a lot of cases in the community. We want to get as low-level control as we possibly can.

Fauci added: What we are hoping is that when we get through this winter and go into the spring, then we will have a lower level that it is not disrupting society That will depend very much on how many people around the world get vaccinated.

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DR FAUCI WEIGHS IN: US medical expert speaks on when he sees pandemic being declared over - EyeWitness News

Relative says girl was loving and affectionateResidents regret not becoming involved sooner as there were red flags

NASSAU, BAHAMAS A four-year-old girl was assaulted and died in hospital on Friday, just weeks after sources said she walked to a neighbors house from her Major Subdivision home and asked not to be sent back.

According to reports, doctors at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) informed police around 5pm on Friday that a child had been brought to the hospital unresponsive.

An investigation revealed the girl sustained several injuries to her body.

Police said an autopsy would confirm the exact cause of death.

Police advised that a man and a woman were arrested and were assisting police with their investigation.

In a correspondence with Eyewitness News, a relative identified the girl as Bella, whom he described as sweet, loving and affectionate.

Kevrick Sands, purportedly Bellas older cousin, said she was a happy girl who loved to give hugs.

She was a sweetheart, he told Eyewitness News.

Happy little girl who loved to hug and love to call me daddy, loved to play with her cousin, loved to smile always.

Happy, just a happy, little, lovable person, inside and out, [and] because of Bella showing so much love, she made me want a little girl.

The death of the young girl has sent shockwaves throughout the community and country.

Eyewitness News understands Bella had lived with her father in Freeport, Grand Bahama, before moving to New Providence to live with her mother in recent months.

Yesterday, residents of the street where the girl lived were quick to share their accounts of alleged domestic abuse and incidents in which the mother was locked out of the home, even naked on one occasion.

Some claimed the child was left home alone on occasion and while they were minded to call authorities, they were hesitant to become involved a decision several neighbors said they regret as the child may still be alive today had they done so.

Jason Lord, a resident of 50 years who lives opposite the one-story home where Bella lived, said he saw from his gate when the ambulance arrived and the man came out with the child clutched in his hands and she was unresponsive.

She was limp, Lord said.

They put her inside the ambulance and then I saw the ambulance driver come around.

As I saw him come around, I saw him jump on the passenger side of the ambulance and I beckoned to the ambulance driver to say he hit her, and that was it.

I heard him say call the police and they left, and that was it.

Warning signs

According to sources, police visited the home sometime last year due to a domestic dispute.

Neighbors said there was constant fighting.

One time they had a fight and she actually Lord, I wonder if I should even say this came out naked and ran around the corner and he came after her and brought her back inside and I think the police was called and came to the scene, Lord said.

But other than that, they had a volatile relationship, very volatile.

The neighbors mother, Gean Maxine Lord, 80, told Eyewitness News from her porch that Bella was in the street one day and came to her home seeking something to eat.

I came out her and sat with her and her mother came and she said she reach now, so I said okay then, wait until she parks the car and then she ran over and went to her mother, she said.

When she came over, I asked her where she came from, who she was and where she lived, and she pointed over there I gave her something to eat, and when the mother came, the mother never even came back to say well thank you.

Lord said:That should have been the red flags right there, but none of us picked up on it.

Its a few things that happened, but no one picked up on it.

According to Lord, the mother came to his gate sometime last month and said she was tired of her and her daughter being allegedly beaten.

He said: My mother was going to call the police, but you know when you dont want to get involved, you hold back. Had we known it was like that, I could guarantee you my mum would have been the first to call on the phone.

Another neighbor, who did not wish to be named, said: I dont know too much about the little girl, but she used to come out of the house and go by the woman next door, and when she (the mother) used to come for the little girl, she didnt want to go back to the stepdaddy.

Another resident of over 30 years called the incident shocking and sad.

He agreed that residents should have picked up on the warning signs, but said people tend to mind their business and when residents sought to call the police, the woman defended her partner.

The woman was always trying to defend the man when it comes to us saying police, said another resident of Morleys Close.

Up to the night when she got questioned, however the case may be, she had no type of my child dead or trying to react or whatever. She was calm as day before we knew the little girl had died because that was all we were waiting for to hear from the hospital that the little girl was okay.

Lord added:We all just mind our own business.

But thats something that we feel very, very bad about to the point where I couldnt sleep that night. Thats how bad it was, and I wish and my mum wishes she could have done something, but such a sad situation.

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'SHE WAS A SWEETHEART': Four-year-old girl dies after alleged assault - EyeWitness News

ONiel Leadon, a young climate activist and conservationist from the Bahamas headed to the COP26 climate summit to take part in talks with The Extreme Hangout, a youth-led hub and event space at the COP. Having built up a huge following on Instagram for his work, the young leader has been making waves in the climate activism space and is furious with the Prime Minister for abandoning the Commonwealth of Nations.

He launched an attack on Mr Johnson for sending mixed messages on climate, saying that while he appears to be championing the cause of climate awareness, he still supports controversial projects like the Cambo oil field.

Oil drilling and explorations are a huge source of climate emissions, and with the Bahamas being a country that will likely feel some of the most severe impacts of climate change, Mr Leadon has been devastated by Mr Johnsons actions and wants him to do more.

He toldExpress.co.uk: Its like a slap in the face for people like us.

The support is lacking so tremendously for Britains overseas territories, and the homes of individuals who live there are the most at stake.

Id personally like to make an appeal to Boris Johnson to not forget these people.

These people are on the front line of the climate crisis, and considering what the British Government does for its citizens, and I feel the Caribbean overseas territories have been forgotten and it's saddening.

Mr Leadon also hit out at COP26 organisers for ignoring the voices of both young activists and political figures from Britains overseas countries.

My friends from these Caribbean territories could not get the accreditation to attend COP, they could only get it through random entities that were willing to sponsor our youth group, and not UK badges.

There are ministers from the Caribbean in Britains overseas territories who could not get the accreditation to come to COP, and that can be so discouraging.

Mr Leadon said he was expecting much, much more support from the Government.

READ MORE:UK firm sets date for first flights of revolutionary hydrogen planes

Mr Leadon warned that, by 2080, some scientists have predicted that the island will be entirely underwater.

He said: Every time I say that I get so emotional because that is within my lifetime and its not hard to imagine that me and my friends will be dead by the end of the century.

Its devastating to think that I might even have to physically leave my home as a climate refugee.

Continued here:

Boris slammed for 'abandoning' Commonwealth in COP talks: 'Slap in the face for us - Daily Express

Mobile operator drags on BISX-listed parent

Govts total share of losses now over $70m

But Cables 2022 Q1 loss slashed by 64%

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Alivs near-$41m loss for the year to end-June 2021 continues to drag on both its BISX-listed parent and the Government, just-released financial statements reveal.

Cable Bahamas annual group results disclosed that the mobile operators performance continues to weigh heavily on its near-term outlook, with those losses responsible for dropping it back into the red following a profitable 2020 that was achieved via the $301m-plus proceeds from the one-off Summit Broadband sale.

Franklyn Butler, Cable Bahamas group chief executive, could not be reached for comment before press time last night, but the financials also reveal the sustained, continued losses being suffered by the Government due to its majority shareholding in Aliv.

By virtue of its 51.75 percent equity stake, the Governments share of Alivs 2021 financial losses was pegged at $22.107m. That represented a 17.3 percent decline from the prior years $26.573m share of the mobile operators red ink, with the Government having suffered a collective $70.403m loss over the near-five years since Aliv launched in November 2016.

Cable Bahamas holds the remaining 48.25 percent equity stake, and Board and management control, in the mobile phone operator which ended the Bahamas Telecommunications Companys (BTC) monopoly in that market segment.

While many Cable Bahamas shareholders are likely to be alarmed at the extent of Alivs losses, executives from both the BISX-listed communications provider and its mobile subsidiary have repeatedly argued that the journey to achieving profitability for the latter is a marathon and not a sprint.

Damian Blackburn, Alivs former top executive, told this newspaper earlier this year that its positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) growth was a better measure of the companys performance as a start-up mobile operator.

He explained that net or bottom line profitability is a longer-term objective that industry players typically reach in their seventh to tenth years due to the heavy investment in network build-out and the subsequent depreciation that attracts on balance sheet and income statement values.

The figures unveiled by Cable Bahamas seem to provide some support for this argument. Alivs revenues rose 8.5 percent year-over-year to $83.314m, compared to $76.811m for the year to end-June 2020. Operating expenses, meanwhile, remained flat at $70.558m for the 12 months to end-June 2021 as opposed to $70.834m in the prior year.

What drove Aliv to its net loss was continued interest expense on the debt incurred to build-out its nationwide mobile network infrastructure, plus the depreciation and amortisation charges that Mr Blackburn cited to this newspaper in early 2021. They stood at $19.886m and $26.517m, respectively, combining to account for $46.4m worth of expenses. This compared to over $42m in 2020.

While some may argue that these are so-called paper losses related to accounting treatments and practices, and having to include the Governments share, others are likely to retort that a loss is a loss. And it is unclear how patient Cable Bahamas shareholders are willing to be in waiting for Aliv to turn a net profit, especially given that the Bahamian capital markets are extremely dividend driven.

For Alivs loss wiped out more than $12m in net profits generated by Cable Bahamas TV, Internet and fixed-line businesses over the 12 months to end-June 2021. The BISX-listed communications providers group-wide loss was pegged at just over $28m due to the red ink incurred by its mobile subsidiary.

However, Cable Bahamas 2022 first quarter results released yesterday indicate that both group and Alivs performance have improved subsequent to the 2021 year-end with the mobile operator likely losing around $8m for the period based on the $4.522m hit taken by the Government.

And, while Cable Bahamas suffered a $2.009m group net loss for the period based on having to incorporate the Governments loss in its accounts, that represented a 64 percent year-over-year reduction on the $5,524m impact suffered in the 2020 first quarter.

The communications providers share of Alivs losses also appears to have been dwarfed by profits from its other business segments, as net and comprehensive income attributable to its own operations stood at $2.513m.

Elsewhere, Cable Bahamas said it had come back into compliance with covenants related to $60m worth of outstanding bonds after the terms were amended following consultation with the issues trustee.

During the 2020 fiscal year, the group was not in compliance with the financial covenants of the notes as set out in the trustee agreement. As a result, the notes were classified as current liabilities in the comparative consolidated statement of financial position, Cable Bahamas 2021 financial statements said.

During the year ended June 30, 2021, the trustee agreed with the group to amend the notes trust deed covenants. The amended covenants became effective as of June 30, 2021. As such, the notes were reclassified to non- current liabilities in the consolidated statement of financial position.

Cable Bahamas has also recognised a provision over its ongoing struggle with the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) over whether the latter or the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) is responsible for regulating its Freeport subsidiary.

During 2016 and 2017, URCA issued preliminary determinations outlining perceived breaches by the group relating to the non-payment of fees with respect to operations in Grand Bahama. URCA believes that the group is in breach of Parts IV and XVI of the Communications Act and, as such, has pursued regulatory measures against the group with the view to resolve this matter, Cable said

The group, however, has maintained that based on provisions of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, URCA does not have a legal basis to license its operations in Grand Bahama, and has commenced legal proceedings to support the groups position. As at June 30, 2021, a provision has been recognised for what the group considers to be a probable future outflow.

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Cable and Gov't hit by $41m Aliv losses - Bahamas Tribune

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The government is moving quickly to address revenue administration reform and modernization efforts as one of the key planks in its recovery strategy, according to Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis.

He noted that this nations public debt levels have soared to approximately 100 percent of this nations gross domestic product (GDP).

We cannot passively rely on the economy to return to pre-pandemic levels of activity.

Michael Halkitis

Halkitis, while addressing the Long Island Business Outlook yesterday, stated: When a nations finances are in order, it allows government to invest in policies and programmes like critical infrastructure, education, housing and healthcare that can change the lives of their citizens.

Public debt levels of The Bahamas have soared from approximately 61 percent of GDP in 2018/19 to a shocking 100 percent of GDP by 2020. This has had a negative impact on our credit rating and the nations sovereign debt rating.

Halkitis noted that the Davis administration has no plans for exceeding the borrowing limits foreshadowed in the May 2021 budget.

Our principal concern is the stabilization of the nations finances, said Halkitis.

The government is moving quickly to address revenue administration reform and modernization efforts as another key plank in the recovery strategy.

I want to emphasize that the enhancement of revenue administration is not just about collecting more taxes, it is about ensuring that we minimize tax avoidance and fraud so everyone is paying their fair share and we can do more to relieve the tax burden on everyday Bahamians.

We are moving quickly to finalize the substantive establishment of the Revenue Enhancement Unit. Analyses suggest that the unit could collect hundreds of millions in owed taxes.

He added: The IMF and the Ministry of Finance have estimated an economic expansion of approximately two percent in 2021, increasing to eight percent in 2022. In 2026, we anticipate a return to growth of 1.5 percent for the Bahamian economy.

But to realistically address challenges like unemployment, stagnant household incomes and economic inequality, we cannot passively rely on the economy to return to pre-pandemic levels of activity.

As I have said before, every Bahamian business owner, no matter how big or small their business is, will be empowered by this administration.

Michael Halkitis

With the budgetary deficits that have remained a persistent issue even before the most recent economic downturn, we must be deliberate about growing the Bahamian economy.

To advance our national development, we know that we must actively pursue policies that expand opportunity, diversify industries and support small businesses and entrepreneurs, who are the backbone of the Bahamian economy.

Halkitis also noted that the Davis administration has set a target for regular infrastructure investment at 3.5 percent of its budget in the future.

We see this as necessary economic stimulus and vital to long-term economic growth across our archipelago, he said.

Halkitis also emphasized that the government remains committed to small business development and increasing access to financing through government funding.

We will improve access to grants and loans to incentivize and facilitate the launch of more small businesses and support existing businesses, said Halkitis.

Agencies like the Small Business Development Centre, the Bahamas Development Bank and the Venture Capital Fund will continue to have significant roles to play.

As I have said before, every Bahamian business owner, no matter how big or small their business is, will be empowered by this administration.

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ACTION PLAN: Govt moving quickly to address revenue administration reform and modernization, says minister - EyeWitness News

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Tribune Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

GOVERNMENT tabled an amendment to the value added tax legislation in the House of Assembly yesterday, outlining the planned rate change to 10 percent from the current 12 percent.

The amendment outlines the removal of the zero-rated application from several items. These include the local sale of butter, bread, mayonnaise, grits, cheese, corned beef, evaporated milk, condensed milk, margarine, rice, flour, tomato paste, cooking oil, baby formula and baby food, powder detergent, fresh milk, canned fish, soaps, soups and broths.

The list also includes mustard, sanitary napkins and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for infants.

The local sale of medicines and medicinal drugs will also now have VAT applied at the point of sale.

Further, the amendment says the zero-rating will be removed from the importation of replaced or repaired goods and services related to the use of terminal or bathing facilities by commercial vessels in respect of goods that have not been entered for home consumption under the Customs Management Act where the origin and port of destination are not within The Bahamas.

The same applies to commission earned as a result of the supply of the Central Bank of The Bahamas digital service.

The Bill also adds financial services to the list of zero-rated professional services when the benefit or advantage of those services are outside of The Bahamas.

According to the Bill the amendment additionally seeks to limit the scope of the zero-rated application by excluding international transport services attributed to privately owned and operated chartered vessels and carriers that leave port in ballast form from international commercial service.

There is also a provision to limit the zero-rating by providing that ancillary services are only included in the definition of international transport service where such services are supplied by the supplier of international transport services for or on behalf of such supplier as part of the same journey to which the supply of international transport services relates.

The reduction of VAT to 10 percent was a Progressive Liberal Party campaign promise.

However, its decision to place VAT on items that were made VAT-free under the former Minnis administration was met with mixed reviews.

Former State Minister for Finance Kwasi Thompson is among the critics.

Last month he said the Davis administration will be hurting the most vulnerable people in society when it reintroduces value added tax on breadbasket items.

Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis announced in the House of Assembly last month that while his administration will reduce VAT to ten percent across the board, it will also increase the VAT rate to ten percent on a variety of items that had been zero-rated under the Minnis administration. Exceptions to this policy include VAT exemption for electricity bills and special economic zones.

However, the policy shift means VAT will return to such items as baby food, bread, butter, grits, rice, soap, corned beef and various medications.

Mr Davis noted that experts have long said the government should strive to keep the VAT rate as broad as possible and exempt few, if any, items from the tax. This, experts say, would help the government keep the overall rate as low as possible while maximising returns.

Read the rest here:

Amendment to VAT legislation tabled in House - Bahamas Tribune

Stephen Warren Forrester, age 45, resident of Somerville, Tennessee and husband of Rebecca Ellis Forrester, departed this life Wednesday morning, October 20, 2021, in Nassau, Bahamas.

Stephen was born August 20, 1976 in Memphis, Tennessee to the late Lawrence Warren Forrester and late Sandra Kay Jordan Forrester. He was an Eagle Scout and a 1994 graduate of Fayette Academy. Stephen was a 1998 Union University graduate with a degree in Economics and Finance. On May 31, 2003, Stephen married the love of his life, Rebecca Ellis. They created a life full of special memories together. If you knew Stephen, you know that life with him was all about laughs and good times. He had a smile that radiated happiness and a laugh that was contagious. He was tender-hearted, quick-witted, and always had the right words to characterize any given situation. He was sincerely interested in others and wanted to see his friends achieve their goals. He was the best friend everyone wanted in their lives.

Stephen and Rebecca moved to Somerville, Tennessee in June of 2003 and he began his career with his parents at Forrester Appraisal Service. Stephen loved to travel and as their family grew, it was important to Stephen for their girls to experience the fun times that come with family trips. While Stephen maintained meaningful relationships, nothing was more important to him than his family. He loved a good meal at any restaurant, a night out with Rebecca and friends, and special dates with his daughters. Stephen loved nothing more than family trips, watching the girls play basketball or time together at home. He taught his children compassion for others and instilled in them high standards. Those family times were the parts of his life that made him the happiest. Stephen and his family attended Somerville First Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and an active member who served where needed. Throughout the years, he was a vital part of the church leadership team, even serving as the interim youth minister on multiple occasions. The youth of the church were near and dear to his heart. He poured into their lives and made church a desirable place to come and build relationships. Stephen was also a coach and referee for the Upward Basketball league at church. He had a passion for serving on mission teams and took several trips to Haiti with Hickory Withe Baptist Church. He loved the people of Haiti, their culture, and the Haitian Creole language. Stephen had a gift of learning languages and enjoyed speaking Spanish and would do so any chance he had. It could be ordering food at a Mexican restaurant or communicating with the Spanish speaking community at church. He enjoyed interacting with different cultures and wanted his children to see the importance of sharing that same love for others. He enjoyed hunting and even took his girls on hunting excursions. Tennessee Football was another favorite pastime. Stephen was a member of the National Association of Appraisers and most recently began teaching Qualifying and Continuing Education with Reynolds and Associates. He was active in the appraisal industry and continued to give back and contribute what he could to make that industry a better career path for others.

Stephen is survived by his wife, Rebecca Ellis Forrester; his two daughters, Mary Agnes Forrester and Phoebe Ellis Forrester; his uncle, Jimmy Jordan (Brenda) and his In-Laws, Stanley and Pat Ellis, all of Somerville, TN. Stephen was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence Warren Forrester and Sandra Kay Jordan Forrester.

Services for Mr. Forrester will be at 2 P.M. Monday, November 15, 2021 at First Baptist Church in Somerville with Bro. Stan Smith, pastor of the church, officiating. Remarks will be given by Daniel Jerkins, Blake Neill and Javier Garcia. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery at Williston. The officiant at the graveside will be Justin Wainscott. A visitation for Mr. Forrester will be from 5 to 8 P.M. Sunday, November 14, 2021 at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland.

Consistent with Stephen's love for the youth of our community, the family has requested memorial contributions be directed to: Fayette Academy, 15090 US Highway 64, Somerville, TN 38068 or First Baptist Church Somerville, attention: youth or missions, 12685 South Main Street, Somerville, TN 38068 or SMI Haiti, 8327 Haggard Court, Martinsville, IN 46151, http://www.smihaiti.org.

Condolences may be left on our online guestbook at http://www.PeeblesFuneralHome.com.

Published by The Daily Memphian on Nov. 12, 2021.

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Stephan Forrester Obituary (1976 - 2021) - Somerville, TN - The Daily Memphian - Legacy.com

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Please, a little space, in your powerful media, in a concise way.

The Bahamas, has a day in honour of Christopher Columbus October 12th, who landed in The Bahamas during that time.

Christopher Columbus, was born in Italy, the former Roman Empire, ruled by the Caesars, whom they accepted as their gods. Jesus was put on the cross, also St Peter. St Paul was beheaded and a christian. Christians were persecuted for 300 years, by the Roman Empire.

The son of a christian mother and a non-christian father, saw a cross in the sky, and led by him, the christians defeated the powerful Roman Empire, and Rome became a christian nation, over 1700 years ago. This is the christian nation that Columbus came from.

His support came from the Spanish Queen. He sailed and landed in The Bahamas, hence, the first christian prayer was said.

Columbus' trip was not in vain, it became a New World, with millions and millions of christians saying prayers and replacing the false gods.

Two important statues, were given to the New World the Statue of Liberty in the United States of America, given by the people of France and a Columbus statue, given by the black people of Portugal. In the world present or past, there always will be good and bad. Jesus the Son of God will separate.

During World War II, from the New World they went to Europe to help. Many, many ships were lost. With Columbus it was only one, a president, from his wheel chair, waiting for the outcome and for freedom of the world, soldiers, had to die.

The inventions from the New World, Columbus, did not enjoy. A man landed on the moon, telephones, cars, trains, medical technology, cruising from Miami to Nassau, or a jet plane, taking him to the Spanish Queen.

From outer space, it is said that The Bahamas is a beautiful place, and in 1492 Christopher Columbus landed in This Place.

Thanking you, Editor, for your valuable space.

PATRICK BETHELL,

Nassau,

October 28, 2021.

Original post:

Landed in The Bahamas - Bahamas Tribune

New luxury expedition vessel Crystal Endeavor rendevoused with Crystal Serenity in a historic meet-up of Crystal ships off the coast of The Bahamas.

The new yacht encircled Crystal Serenity with guests of both vessels waving enthusiastically during the meet-up as the captains saluted each other via blasts of the ships horns, while the companys signature song What a Wonderful World serenaded guests.

Crystal Endeavor was on its inaugural two-day preview sailing from Miami for travel partners and members of the press, while Crystal Serenity was on the last leg of a week-long Luxury Bahamas Escape cruise that departed Miami on October 18.

Crystal Endeavor departed Miami on Monday (October 25) on a nine-day cruise to San Juan and will then spend the winter season in Antarctica where it will offer a series of 11- to 19-night Remote Expedition voyages. Crystal Serenity continued its seven-night cruises in The Bahamas until November 8.

With a staff to guest ratio of one-to-one, the 200-guest Crystal Endeavor is the only expedition yacht to feature a Japanese restaurant, a casino and a two-storey glass-enclosed solarium for nature viewing. It also claims to have the largest lead-in suites in the industry.

Link:

Crystal Endeavor and Crystal Serenity meet in The Bahamas - Cruise Adviser

Photo credit: U.S. Embassy Nassau

On October 28, General Glen D. VanHerck, the Commander of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), officially delivered a $2.4 million-dollar radar system to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) and the Government of The Bahamas, during an official handover ceremony at the Coral Harbour base on New Providence.

The new radar system is part of a commitment of over $10 million by the U.S. government to support maritime security in The Bahamas. The new radar (also known as a Maritime Surveillance System or MSS) in Coral Harbour empowers the Government of The Bahamas to better ensure the safety and security of the vast maritime domain of the Bahamian archipelago. It is the second MSS installed with funding from NORTHCOM, the first having become operational on the island of Great Inagua in 2019. The third and fourth systems have been proposed for Ragged Island and Great Exuma.

This maritime domain awareness capability will dramatically expand the Royal Bahamas Defence Forces ability to detect, localize, and track vessels in the waters surrounding their nation, said VanHerck. This radar and the capability it provides will greatly enhance domain awareness for The Bahamas.

General VanHerck was accompanied by a high-level delegation of U.S. Officials for his first official visit to The Bahamas, including Rear Admiral Dan Cheever of USNORTHCOM, and U.S. Charg dAffaires Usha E. Pitts. VanHerck was received at Coral Harbour Base by Prime Minister, the Honourable Philip E. Davis; Minister of National Security, the Honourable Wayne Monroe, and Comodore Defence Force, Dr. Raymond King.

Upon delivering the radar system, General VanHerck emphasized the unique U.S.-Bahamas relationship, noting In an environment where strategic competitors seek opportunities to gain a foothold in the Caribbean, this radar is a visible reminder of the United States commitment to our Bahamian neighbors, who are valued and willing partners in the defense of the Western Hemisphere.

Prime Minister Davis also remarked that When we make the waters of The Bahamas safer, the U.S. border is safer as well In my government you [the United States] will find an ally and a partner in securing our waters and borders.

Earlier in the day, before the donation, the General and his delegation also had the honor of meeting with Prime Minister Davis, Minister of National Security Monroe, and Commodore King for in-depth discussions on the many areas of common interest and shared values between the United States and The Bahamas, and opportunities to continue strengthening the U.S.-Bahamas relationship.

By U.S. Embassy Nassau | 29 October, 2021 | Topics: Press Releases

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NORTHCOM Commander VanHerck Delivers Radar System to RBDF - US Embassy in The Bahamas