Category Archives: Bahamas

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler is using training camp in the Bahamas to prepare for this season.

He's also using it to trash talk the locals. When asked about his plans while away from the basketball court, Butler did not hold back.

"Dominos," Butler said. "I came over here to whoop ass and I'm not playing. All my Bohemian people, I'm here to whoop ass. I will be on the streets tonight playing Dominos. Y'all look for me because I'm here."

The Heat opened camp Tuesday.

ADEBAYO PUT TRUST IN SPOELSTRA

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo has heard all the possibilities.

Some are saying he should is fine at center while others think he is more suited for power forward. Adebayo is indifferent on the subject and said he will it up to coach Erik Spoelstra.

Many say the Heat will struggle at power forward after the departure of P.J. Tucker, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in the offseason. The Heat held their first day of training camp Tuesday in the Bahamas.

""I still have the leeway to be myself and be who I am," said Adebayo after being asked about playing different positions. "I feel like all guys who substitute for P.J. are qualified for it. We make things work around here, even if people think it doesn't. We somehow make it work. I'll leave that up to Spo. He's done a great job of putting guys in position to win."

Last year the Heat were the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Adebayo said the team has put their trust in Spoelstra to make the right decisions.

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"I feel like the five out there is going to make it work," Adebayo said. "We're going to figure it out. It's coach's job to help us adjust."

MORE HEAT-RELATED STORIES

Heat complete roster with Dru Smith signing. CLICK HERE

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For a look at some of the latest Heat apparel. CLICK HERE

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Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler Issues Dominos Challenge To Anyone In The Bahamas During Training Camp - Sports Illustrated

Ian could be a classic example of the fact that a hurricane's category doesn't tell you everything about all of its potential impacts.

Ian should become a strong hurricane in the western Caribbean Sea or Gulf of Mexico. But you may have noticed from the forecast path graphic that Ian's winds are then expected to diminish as it nears the Gulf Coast.

Given that, will Ian be that big of a deal once it reaches the Gulf Coast?

Yes, and there are important reasons why Ian will be dangerous regardless of what category it is at landfall.

Projected Path And Latest Storm Information

You're probably at least somewhat familiar with the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale and its ubiquitous "Category 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5" descriptors.

This scale was developed in the 1970s and is strictly based on a storm's maximum sustained winds.

That's important for the wind damage potential of a hurricane, but no single parameter can encapsulate all the threats of a storm.

Here are two other important factors that will also play a big role in Ian's final impact on the U.S..

A hurricane's category doesn't tell you how big it is, or in other words, how large its wind circulation extends. That's important to determine the magnitude and extent of its impacts.

Ian's size will also increase by the time it's in the Gulf of Mexico. This typically happens in hurricanes and tropical storms as they move farther north.

And here's the key: Ian will maintain a large circulation even if it loses some wind intensity before landfall.

A larger storm blowing over a greater area of the ocean over the longest time will generate the highest storm surge if all other factors are equal.

That means Ian's storm surge will likely be dangerous, regardless of how strong its winds are at landfall, or what category of a hurricane it is.

Recent history has provided several examples.

Winds in 2008's Hurricane Ike were Category 2 at landfall along the upper Texas coast after dropping from Category 4 levels north of the Caribbean Sea.

However, its giant size in the Gulf of Mexico generated a 15 to 20 foot storm surge that wiped out most structures on Texas' Bolivar Peninsula.

A home is left standing among debris from Hurricane Ike Sept. 14, 2008, in Gilchrist, Texas.

Hurricane Katrina in 2005 weakened to a Category 3 at landfall, but its giant size in the Gulf of Mexico generated a record U.S. storm surge of 28 feet along the Mississippi coast.

Sandy in 2012 had tropical-storm-force winds 1,000 miles wide the largest Atlantic tropical cyclone on record since at least 1988 before it produced a record storm surge along parts of the New Jersey, New York and Connecticut coasts.

Hurricane Sandy's tropical-storm-force (light orange) and hurricane-force (brown) wind fields at 11 a.m. EDT on Oct. 28, 2012.

So how can you tell if the size of a current tropical storm or hurricane is large?

Meteorologists including those at the NHC will often note in a forecast whether a storm is large or small. In cases like that, you'll often see graphics of the wind field, such as for Hurricane Irma in 2017 below.

Put simply, the larger the circles in graphics like that below, the larger the storm.

Example of a hurricane wind field graphic, from Hurricane Irma in 2017.

If a large hurricane or tropical storm is headed for landfall, expect its storm surge to be higher and, in general, its impacts to be more widespread.

A storm's forward speed also matters.

You can find out how fast the storm is moving in our graphics, such as in the example below from Hurricane Isaias in 2020. This storm motion is updated with each advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

A storm's forward speed depends on the large-scale winds surrounding it that act as its steering wheel.

In Ian's case, we expect it to slow down somewhat around the time of its landfall.

If a hurricane is out to sea and moving slower, there's more preparation time for areas potentially threatened by the storm.

But when a storm slows down near or over land, its impacts are not only prolonged, but also greatly amplified.

In 2019, Hurricane Dorian exploded into a Category 5 hurricane as it approached the northwestern Bahamas. Then the winds pushing the hurricane forward collapsed.

Dorian's eyewall lashed the northwestern Bahamas for an unfathomable 52 straight hours while at Category 4 or 5 intensity.

The intense winds drove a storm surge of up to 28 feet on Grand Bahama Island, according to the Bahamas Department of Meteorology (BDOM). At least 74 residents were killed in the Bahamas, with damage estimated at $3.4 billion, according to the BDOM.

Then there's a storm's rainfall.

How much rain a storm produces has little or nothing to do with the storm's wind intensity, but rather how fast it moves.

In 2017, Hurricane Harvey slammed into Texas at Category 4 intensity, then took an agonizingly slow meander near the Texas coast for four days.

Up to 60 inches of rain fell along the upper Texas coast, triggering catastrophic flooding. Harvey remains the nation's second-costliest hurricane or tropical storm ($143.8 billion in 2022 dollars) behind only Katrina.

Besides checking for the storm's current forward speed in a graphic, the forecast path graphic could also hint at a stalling storm ahead.

When it no longer resembles a cone, but rather takes on the appearance of a circle, or there's little separation of forecast points, it suggests the storm is expected to slow down or stall. You should expect prolonged impacts from heavy rain, storm surge and winds, as the last two examples illustrated.

The forecast "cone," or sphere, of the center of Hurricane Harvey from the National Hurricane Center issued Aug. 24, 2017. Harvey's forecast stall caused the typical "cone" shape of this path to resemble a circle.

A hurricane is much more than its "category" or even the forecast path of its center.

Other key factors, including how large it is and how fast it moves will determine the ultimate impact from Ian, and storms in the future.

The Weather Companys primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

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Hurricane Ian A Gulf Coast Danger, Regardless Of Its 'Category' Strength - The Weather Channel

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Many Bahamians seem to believe that I, Ortland H. Bodie Jr., am or maybe an unconstructed and unapologetic member and supporter of the iconic Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). I suspect that some of them may be correct. That, even if it were so, would never influence my financial or political acumen and judgment. I call a spade a spade and fear only The Lord Jesus Christ and in a good way.

It has now been one year since the Davis administration was ushered in with him as Prime Minister. Within the first year of his government, all Bahamians, except the dishonest and visually impaired, are able to see on the ground significant achievements. The country has reopened for business after the administration, generally, but through the hard and innovative health and medical conditions led by my good friend, the Hon. Michael Darville (PLP-Tall Pines), Minister of Health & Wellness along with his professional teams in the industry.

Covid still lingers, but we seem to have a grip on it where related numbers of deaths from the same have decreased tremendously and for that we thank God. The economy is roaring, again, after being as quiet as Kitty for more than two dreary and long years of the mercifully dismissed Minnis regime. Bahamians who really want to work or start or expand a business are able to do so, again. Yes, I concur that access to non consumer loans for business purposes is vexing and a severe retard to the continued growth of the economy.

Some good news, however, is now being offered by any number of domestic and internationally based fund raising entities who are registered and regulated by the relevant governmental ministries and commissions. Bahamians with a well prepared business plan and some measure of self generated capital, are now able to crowd fund and buy mutual funds and other financial assets.

Tourism is humming along nicely. It has been reported that most of the larger hotel properties here in New Providence and the bulk of Family Island resorts/lodges have been booked out straight into 2023 if The Lord continues to tarry. Sandals, God bless that corporate citizen extraordinare, also, has just announced a multi- million dollar proposed expansion right here in The Bahamas. Several other developments, driven by DFI, throughout this beautiful and wonderful nation of ours, are coming on stream.

Progressive legislation, and quite a few others which I do not support, are now being drafted and moved to Bill form for submission to the legislative process. The questions of citizenship will require mature and sober thought based on multiple principles be they scriptural; economic; cultural; constitutional or moral, must be determined by registered voters in a National Referendum. Both a change of a monarchy to a republic and questions of citizenship must be placed before the electorate. To do otherwise would decimate the trust that the people of The Bahamas has reposed in the Davis administration.

Yes, we are back, big time, as a nation. The honeymoon is not yet over but the heavy lifting is about to begin. The PM has now paid his respects to the late Queen he must now bring about the liberalization of Crown Land and the unshackeling of commonage land. In opposition, the now PM was the most vocal MP supporting both measures. Now that he is primus inter pares, Brave MUST do what is right. Some say expectations but I say why not?

We are back no Bahamians, even the most misguided ones, must be left behind or marginalized. Brave, our beloved and visionary PM is on a roll. If he plays his cards right, he could transform The Bahamas into an even more prominent position of the world stage. Never mind the braying of the rudderless FNM and its putative leader, the Davis administration would appear to be doing the right thing.

Both the marital rape bill and that for cannabis should be shelved for now. There are more pressing economical and societal issues that are debilitating the continued growth of The Bahamas. We are no longer, if we ever were, the fishing village envisioned by the late great and inscrutable Hon. Arthur A.D. Hanna, my beloved benefactor; friend and mentor.

Brother Hanna, may The Lord Jesus Christ, bless him also, was a true son of the soil. Midge, as he was fondly known, mentored and trained three Prime Ministers: the Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham, PC; the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie and the now current Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip 'Brave' Davis, QC,MP. My own first political appointment was at the hands of Midge as a member of The Boy's Industrial School, now the Simpson Penn Centre.

All in all, we as a nation are back and the good times are about to roll all over The Bahamas. The days of doom and gloom are over. A new refurbished international airport will be constructed in West End, Grand Bahama to service that gem of an island while we await the ill-fated Grand Bahama International Airport to emerge from the ravages of Dorian and others before. West End is the easiest site and most viable and economically feasible to get up and running in the shortest space of time.

A National Health Care System is just around the corner. Multiple industrial and labour agreements have been signed off. Civil servants are getting what they feel reasonable and the Davis administration is trying to work with them without busting the national budget or debt. An embryonic National Youth Service is also just around the corner. A new private hospital, a subsidiary of the world respected and renowned Doctors Hospital is about to commission a huge facility over in Freeport.

Thank you, Prime Minister Davis and your stellar team on a job well done in your first year in office. There is much more work to be done and some of your cabinet appointees may need to be shuffled but, until then, in all things be the glory.

ORTLAND BODIE, JR.

Nassau,

September 20, 2022.

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A job well done in first year in office - Bahamas Tribune

Whether youre in the market for a luxury home, high-end supercar, or exclusive accessories to furnish any affluent lifestyle, duPont REGISTRY presents the one-stop shop for all things luxury. A new home means a new city with roads to discover, which is why we created our Home of The Day special to showcase some of the most exclusive listings and vehicles on the market. Shop some of our hottest inventory available now by clicking on the links below for more information. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more upcoming luxury lifestyle news and Home of The Day specials.

Address: Royal Island, Royal Island, Eleuthera, BahamasProperty Type: Private Island (430 Acres)Price: $50,000,000

Located off Russell Island in North Eleuthera, Royal Island is a 430 acre private island with beautiful beaches, great elevations a large natural harbor and a turn key private resort operation all less than 20 Minutes from North Eleuthera with its international Airport and FBO. In 2007 Royal Island was approved for a major marina in the natural harbor in addition to an 18 Hole Golf Course. These approvals can be utilized or modified to create an incredible private island retreat that will be perfect in our current times with many people planning their own private island retreat.

The accommodations in place include 5 luxury one bedroom beachfront villas, with large wraparound decks, a Welcome centre complete with Spa rooms and a gym, a restaurant/bar building and a guest house near the main buildings. All of the community buildings offer sweeping wrap around verandahs and both overlook the beaches and a stunning oval shaped pool. Royal Island, as set up currently, is excellent for private gatherings. Guests enjoy a customized experience, with a world class private chef, beach club, spa, fitness centre, a private catamaran, sports and security.

Located approximately 40 miles northeast of Nassau and only a 15 minute boat ride from North Eleuthera, Royal Island is the only island on the market with approvals for both a Golf Course and a marina and is well priced in the market. This incredible Bahamas private island from John Christie is currently available through Unique Homes for $50,000,000 by clicking on the listing link below. Check back into duPont REGISTRY for more luxury home listings and news.

Settling into a new home and area comes with the opportunity to discover new roads, whether it be off-road excursions for 4x4s or smooth canyon roads for performance cars. With an extensive network of luxury dealers and private individuals, we are proud to showcase some of the amazing inventory of luxury automobiles available on duPont REGISTRY. View the price and listing of each vehicle featured in this special by clicking on the links below.

Source: Unique Homes

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Home Of The Day: A Private Royal Island Located In Eleuthera, Bahamas - duPont REGISTRY News

By KATHRYN CAMPBELL

Bahamas Information Services

#ELEUTHERA, The Bahamas, September 27, 2022 A new bridge design that incorporates opportunities for Bahamian entrepreneurs was presented at a Town Hall Meeting Thursday, September 22, 2022 at St. Patricks Lodge Hall, Hatchet Bay.

During the livestreamed event the Minister of Works and Utilities, the Hon. Alfred Sears; the Hon. Clay Sweeting, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs; island administrators, representatives of the Ministry of Works, Town Planning Board, the Bridge Authority, Local Government, Lambert Knowles and other consultants, and residents of Eleuthera discussed plans for the proposed replacement of the Glass Window Bridge (GWB) in North Eleuthera.

Minister Sears termed the meeting very successful consultation and attendance by local stakeholders and virtual participants.

He said Mr. Knowles has assembled a world-class team of bridge designers who have put together a design that will turn the GWB into a symbol of resilience, sustainability and also a place of entertainment and relaxation where Bahamian businesses can come and share in the wonderful goods of Eleuthera to the international travelling public as well as the residents in Eleuthera.

Were speaking now with Caribbean Development Bank with respect to funding; the design is now completed, there is also interest in PPPs. Within the next two months we should have a funding pathway and then of course we will move on the procurement. Once the funding is in place we will announce a date.

It is not only a look out point, we are approaching this project as an enterprise where the people who live in Eleuthera would have the same opportunities that the people in South would have as the Disney Project would have, but it would be more significant than Disney because this project would be owned by Bahamian people entrepreneurs, performers and culinary artists.

Eleuthera is one of the places in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas where development is taking place very rapidly. It is one of the most unique communities in our country; it is the fifth largest economy within the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. We have some of the wealthiest industrialists with homes in Eleuthera; we also have booming Bahamian business resorts throughout Eleuthera.

The GWD represents a place where we can build opportunities for Bahamian businesses, Bahamian entrepreneurs to showcase the imagination of the Bahamian crafts persons, also to showcase the culinary skills as well as the extraordinary culinary dishes of Bahamian cuisine, he said.

Although spectacular Minister Sears said the current one-lane bridge is dangerous and unable to facilitate the transport of freight from the north to the south of the island because its carrying capacity is only 12 tonnes anything over 12 tonnes cannot be transported over the bridge.

He noted other challenges and informed that the bridge is not fulfilling the potential that it has for the development of Eleuthera.

Using a Power Point presentation, Mr. Knowles introduced the design team, technical aspects of the built design and various options considered for the new bridge.

He said the proposed bridge will be unique; a picture opportunity and a venue to host an event. It will have a park, security, rest rooms, parking, a location for food trucks to sell crafts and food; and topography with different elevation.

During the question and answer segment, Minister Sears said a decision has not yet been made regarding a bridge toll on the major undertaking.

It is a project which multilateral bodies and private sector investors have expressed an interest in participating in the funding. It is a project that once we have the community by-in the government is committed to building a world class production at this location. Construction is expected to take place on the proposed bridge from 2023-2026 at an estimated cost of $50-$60 million.

The GWB was built in 1990 and provides the only vehicular link between North and South Eleuthera.

(BIS Photos/Ulric Woodside)

Continued here:

The Release of Kidnapped Staff Member in Haiti - Magnetic Media

ON Saturday, Equality Bahamas hosted its sixth event in its CEDAW (Convention) Speaker Series, designed to increase understanding of the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. On a monthly basis, an expert, usually from the CEDAW Committee, leads discussion on one of the Articles of the Convention. At the most recent event, Corinne Dettmeijer, a Committee member from the Netherlands, made a presentation on Article 6 which is focused on trafficking and exploitation of prostitution.

Dettmeijer noted there used to be three Ps important to the conversation and action on trafficking.

There were prevention, protection and prosecution. There are now two additional Ps punishment and partnership. She shared that there must be follow-through, and no step or concept is sufficient on its own. Where prevention and protection fail, there must be prosecution and that prosecution has little effect without punishment.

Partnership, the last of the five Ps, not only applies to agencies and sectors, but to countries and regions. Fighting human trafficking, she said, is not something that one country does [on] its own. It needs cooperation. She added: Traffickers dont really respect borders.

In the session, Dettmeijer referred to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children which was adopted in 2000 and supplements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Aligned with the five Ps, its stated purposes are to prevent trafficking in persons (with specific attention to women and children), protect and assist victims of trafficking, and promote cooperation among States.

Dettmeijer highlighted that, contrary to what we may assume, trafficking does not necessarily involve the crossing of borders. Particularly useful is the definition of trafficking in persons provided in the Protocol. Article 3(a) defines it as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.

Once we understand what trafficking is, we need to pay attention to the people affected by it. It is critical we collect data, analyze that data and use it to develop interventions.

What gets counted counts, Dettmeijer said. In the Netherlands, they looked at the number of trafficking victims per 100,000 people. It was found that 257 of every 100,000 Dutch girls and 311 of every 100,000 Dutch girls between 12 and 17 years of age were victims of trafficking.

These numbers were then compared with the flu as an epidemic because, in the Netherlands, when 50 of every 100,000 people get the flu, it is considered an epidemic. This is an easy way for people to understand how many girls are trafficked, not only in numbers, but proportions. The data itself, then, is not all that matters. It must be presented in a way that is easily understood and contextualized.

In its Concluding Observations following the 2018 report of The Bahamas, the CEDAW Committee expressed its concern about the low number of trafficking cases taken to court and the lack of data on trafficking of women and girls. It recommended The Bahamas build capacity of the judiciary, law enforcement, health workers and other professionals who need to be able to identify victims of trafficking and make proper referrals. It also recommended the enforcement of the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention and Suppression) Act and support it with appropriate resources. Its third recommendation is the government conduct a study on trafficking in women and girls to establish trends and the extent of it.

As with the other recommendations made by the CEDAW Committee, we need to know these three recommendations, understand how they would help us to address the issue, and be active citizens who call on the government to action them.

Our borders do not protect us from trafficking, nor does our citizenship. We do not have to be taken from one country to another to be trafficked. As the definition of the Protocol makes clear, there need only be an abuse of power on one end and/or vulnerability on another end.

Trafficking has to be dealt with, not only in legislation, but in policies, through the training of law enforcement officers, healthcare workers, and social workers, and the collection, analysis, and sharing of data. Our next appearance before the CEDAW Committee is quickly approaching, though delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have work to do to come into compliance with the Convention, and there is no time like now to begin that work.

The full recording of the CEDAW (Convention) Speaker Series on Article 6 with Corinne Dettmeijer is available on the Equality Bahamas YouTube channel. It can be directly accessed at tiny.cc/cedaw6recording.

The next session, on Articles 7 (public and political life) and 8 (representation), led by CEDAW Committee member Nicole Ameline (France) will be held on Saturday, November 5, at 10am. Register for the virtual event at tiny.cc/cedaw7.

1 Ask for what you need. We sometimes fail ourselves by choosing not to ask for help. We may do this because we dont want to admit that we dont have it all together, we dont want to inconvenience or bother anyone else, or we are afraid of our request being denied. It can be difficult to push past these barriers we impose on ourselves. It is important to remember that we are all interdependent, and we all have a need for the care of another human being.

Give people the opportunity to show up for you. Give yourself permission to verbalize your needs and receive help from loved ones. Sure, they will be unable or unwilling to help from time to time, but that is not in your control. It is okay to ask for someone, or even multiple people, to support you. The people who love you will be happy you asked and it will make them feel good to be able to meet your needs. Think of it as a win-win. You get what you need, and they get a self-esteem boost.

2 Remember that two things can be true, and more than one action may be required. It is possible to recognize that a specific action needs to be taken now, and to acknowledge it is unfair, inconvenient and the result of systems of inequality and oppression. There are times when, for expedience, we do what we have to do to get by and to do so quickly. This does not mean we cannot challenge the systems and practices we have to operate within.

For example, there was a request for financial assistance for a person who needed to present a passport to a new employer. Someone gave the money, and others challenged this requirement, noting it is both unfair and unnecessary as there are other, less costly ways to verify a persons citizenship and right to work in the country.

Someone noted the person who just got a job is probably not in a position to challenge the requirement. This is all true. The person was better off getting support in acquiring a passport to avoid delays in starting the new job, and we will all be better off when we successfully challenge this requirement and change the way employers verify identity and right to work.

A passport should not be required of anyone who is not crossing borders. We should not excuse bad systems, but we also should not expect the people marginalized by them to change them on their own. Some of us are better placed to do that, and we all need to step up.

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ALICIA WALLACE: Trafficking is a problem to understand and tackle - together - Bahamas Tribune

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Labelling the Davis administration paralyzed, unable and unprepared, the Free National Movement (FNM) called on the government to address the alleged proliferation of unregulated communities throughout the country.

In a statement from the party, the situation was branded as out of control, and most prominent in the islands ofNew Providence, Abaco, North Andros and Eleuthera.

The concerns from many tax-paying residents have fallen on the deaf ears of a number of Progressive Liberal Party MPs, some of whom represent these various communities, the statement read.

The FNM also expressed concern about the impact the communities are having on public health, crime, island water tables and the property value of residents.

What is even more disappointing and shocking is the deafening silence from the Government of the Bahamas, most especially the Prime Minister and the Minister of Works in response to this matter.

Minister of Works Alfred Sears, though, expressed his thoughts on the issue earlier this week, reminding a local daily that the government has to be guided by the rule of law.

Member of Parliament for South Abaco John Pinder also lamented the long-standing issue.

For his part, Pinder told a local daily that as an Abaconian, he knows this has been growing and mushrooming for decades, many decades.

He further said: Theres no one solution that covers it all, but its becoming an issue to where its not only humanitarian, but its a security issue.

The FNMs statement also took aim at the governments recent decision to demolish temporary dome housing structures in Spring City, Abaco.

The cry of the country to this day is, how could Prime Minister Davis have the nerve to bulldoze the homes of Bahamians but lack the courage to do anything about illegal housing developments that seem to be built daily in plain sight of local officials? it read.

The FNM also sought to compare the former administrations actions on the issue with the current PLP-led governments approach, claiming their party launched an aggressive program to combat the vexing issue when they last held power.

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FNM: Where is government's courage on shanty towns? - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Free National Movement Deputy Leader and shadow minister of National Security Shanendon Cartwright chastised the Davis administration for focusing on optics while showing little in the way of decisive action on crime.

Cartwrights assessment came by way of a statement released by his party as the countrys murder count races toward 100 for the year.

Calling this a regretful milestone, Cartwright said: We are deeply concerned about the bloodbath occurring on the streets of the capital, while there seems to be no coordinated strategy by this administration to stem it.

One year into governance the Bahamian people feel no more secure, despite the promises of the government to deal with crime, he continued.

While applauding the work of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander, Cartwright questioned the efficacy of calling for judges to limit bail to those who have been repeatedly accused of crimes but not yet brought to trial.

This a judicial, legislative and constitutional issue that the executive and Parliament must address, Cartwright said. we do not expect the commissioner to stand alone calling for institutional change while our government fails to address it.

Fernanders appointment took effect on July 5, 2022.

The Member of Parliament for St. Barnabas also used the statement to appeal to Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe, whom he shadows.

On behalf of the Bahamian people we are also asking the Minister to present to the country his governments comprehensive plan to combat crime and what measures are they putting in place in regards to rehabilitation.

In Opposition, the Government represented to the Bahamian people that they had all of the answers to address and combat crime. Well they are now the Government with the full resources of the state at their disposal, Cartwright charged.

We join with all Bahamians in waiting for the government to emerge from their slumber and get the issue of crime under control.

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Cartwright says gov't 'slumbering' on crime Eye Witness News - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) Commodore Raymond King yesterday said another 3,000 are needed to bolster the organization as he announced aggressive recruitment measures.

King said 125 people are expected to begin training by mid-October, adding that about 45 people leave annually.

He said the reasons for leaving are multifaceted; however, a large amount of those exiting tend to seek other means of work while others seem to be dissuaded by the RBDF efforts to disperse marines and officers across the archipelago.

The RBDF currently consists of about 1,900 individuals.

What we found is, as we move to decentralize our operations, its a decision point for some of our members who may be gainfully employed otherwise, King said.

Its a mixture. The trend has been, everyone feels as though the Defense Force is the career for them, and so they join, and they find out within their first contract period either a three or five-year period that hey, this is not the place for me.

He added that other reasons are due to persons taking the job with the mindset that it will only be temporary, and others who have served for decades are deciding to leave before serving until the cut-off age of 60.

So we have persons who may join just to be able to save funding to continue the educational program, we have a number of our senior persons, despite the government within the last two years, increasing the age tenure for persons moving from 55 to age 60.

Persons are now being forced to make the decision, Should I leave at age 55 and stay until age 60? And What are our employment chances, who will employ us at age 60?

And so some persons are making the decision to leave at 55, to take their gratuity, the pension, and to move off and into another new career in some cases, King said.

Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe said the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Bahamas Department of Corrections are also gearing up for additional recruitment in response to the challenge of officers leaving while more persons are needed.

The recruitment continues in order to replace the manpower we lose by attrition and to make up for some of the deficiencies that we met in place, Munroe said.

Since taking the chair we have recruited two squads into every law enforcement agency.

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RBDF: 3000 officers needed to counter attrition Eye Witness News - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The solution to the capitals flooding woes has a multi-million dollar price tag, according to BRON Ltd. Coastal Engineer Carlos Palacious.

However, Palacious said in order to find out the actual cost, a full study and assessment would have to be conducted across the island.

A smaller study was done for the Sustainable Nassau Report in 2017, which predicted that millions of dollars would have to go into the project for its success.

With rising costs following the pandemic and high inflation globally, Palacious estimated that a project of this magnitude could possibly run the government into tens of millions of dollars.

Hurricane Ian brought swaths of long-lasting rain which settled in many areas unable to dry quickly enough for vehicles and pedestrians to walk through.

Palacious says solving the flooding altogetherwill require a drainage and stormwater maintenance infrastructure and management program. He explained that the reason for flooding in many cases is that buildings were constructed on land that was natural drains.

In those types of areas, we need holistic systems in addition to just gravity or where the water flows by natural flow through pipes; pumps might also be needed and retention pondsso that when theres a heavy amount of rain, the water can go somewhere, as well as deep wells, he said.

So, deep wells are dug several hundred feet into the ground and when the water is collected into a drain, it flows through a network of pipes, and then it goes deep down into the ground.

And so as long as the water can flow into the deep well faster than the rain is coming into the collection point, then the water obviously will dissipate or itll be managed effectively, Palacious said.

Drains pumps and pumps have previously been discussed by local developers as potential solutions. However, considering the countrys high water table, Palacious says that the most practical solution for New Providence would most likely be deep wells.

He continued: So they can be installed almost anywhere, but they have to be installed as an entire network so that all of the water thats collected in a certain area can be brought into one of these deep wells that goes down into the ground.

That is a solution that can happen, and its a major matter over here. Budgeting for it nationally, planning for it, engineering, etc; but its a solution that works.

Its already happening in New Providence and in other islands, but it would just need to be improved and expanded to tackle some of this flooding, he said.

Heavy rain bands from the passing hurricane have also caused water to settle in many communities and near schools causing major challenges for students and parents, with some roads covered in knee-deep water. I

n the meantime, Minister of Works, Alfred Sears said that he and his team have already begun tackling the issue.

Its not only Carlton Francis but also C.V. Bethel, where you have potted water; and the only way you can get through is by vehicle or by taking off your shoes and walking through the water, he said.

So Im advised that thats being addressed now. Based on a whats app I would have received from Mr. Henry Moxey [Ministry of works Senior Engineer].

The challenge we have in the Bahamas, and this is why land use, we are reviewing the land use policy is that many of our structures were built on wetlands, Sears said.

The Minister of Works added that they are in the process of looking over the countrys building code; saying that due to the higher frequency of stronger hurricanes, theres a need to build with greater resistance.

As we review our building code; and for those of you who would have joined us last week in the presentation, you know, we have a consultancy with Mott MacDonald.

That consultancy is to review the building code, look at best practices, benchmark it internationally so that as we move forward, we could very more effectively ensure that building is consistent with a rational land use policy, Sears said.

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Palacious: Heavy price tag to fix flooding Eye Witness News - EyeWitness News