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ALIV sponsors UB student to regional agricultural conference - Jul 29, 2017 - 4:07:57 PM

ALIV, The Bahamas’ newest mobile network, has sponsored one of ten students from the University of The Bahamas who will attend the 32nd West Indies Agricultural Economic Conference with a sub-theme of “Food & Nutrition Security: The Pathway to Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Caribbean. The official handover of the cheque to Assistant Professor, Dr. Erecia Hepburn and Ricarla Rodgers, was made on July 20th at ALIV’s Headquarters off Soldier Road.

According to the Caribbean Agro-Economic Society’s website, the International Conference will deal with crucial agricultural issues affecting Caribbean food and nutrition security. The conference will be held from August 6-11, in Georgetown, Guyana...

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Haitian Migrants apprehended in Ragged Island - Jul 17, 2017 - 9:28:26 AM

Just over 60 Haitian migrants were apprehended in the southern Bahamas on Thursday morning during a joint exercise by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and Immigration authorities.

Shortly after 8:30 am, a Haitian sloop arrived offshore at Ragged Island. Defence Force and Immigration officials along with community members engaged in a joint exercise to take into custody the migrants, who were quickly located on the sparsely populated island. The undocumented migrants included 40 men, 10 women, and 14 children. The migrants will be transported to the Capital by a Defence Force patrol craft for further processing by immigration officials...

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Exuma Students to Participate in Youth Ambassadors Leadership Exchange in USA - Jul 15, 2017 - 11:01:13 AM

Six students from L.N. Coakley High School in Exuma have been selected by U.S. Embassy Nassau to participate in the prestigious Youth Ambassadors Leadership Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State through U.S. Embassy Nassau and implemented by World Learning. World Learning is a global not-for-profit organization with educational and international development operations in more than 75 countries. It fosters global citizen-activism by connecting over 100,000 participants. The Youth Ambassadors Program brings together talented Caribbean students who are committed to improving the communities and able to represent their countries as Citizen Diplomats. The Youth Ambassadors Program with the Caribbean will be held August 7-28, in the United States. The participants include Clive Ferguson, Kareem Minnis, Sky Cartwright, Tranique Brown, Wynter Curtis and Waydero Rolle. Ms. Latrell Bethel will accompany the group as the adult chaperone...

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Bahamas First to Host Hurricane Prep 101 - Public Education Event - Jul 13, 2017 - 3:47:06 PM

Bahamas First General Insurance Company will facilitate a free public education seminar on Tuesday, July 18 at 6 p.m. at The British Colonial Hilton under the topic, Hurricane Prep 101.

The event will feature a presentation by The Bahamas Red Cross on hurricane preparedness followed by a panel discussion. The panel will include representatives of The Bahamas Contractors Association, Technical Adjusters Bahamas Ltd., Bahamas First and NUA Insurance Agents & Brokers. Attendees will garner tips on how to maintain their homes and property to best withstand and recover from a storm, how to expedite and simplify the claims process in the event of a loss and will also learn about key benefits and terms of homeowners insurance...

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Scientists Publish Study on Bahamian Conch Population - Jul 8, 2017 - 9:15:10 AM

New Study Shows a Caribbean Queen Conch Population is Slowly Dying of Old Age Within a Marine Sanctuary

CHICAGO – The queen conch is an iconic Caribbean marine snail whose populations have declined significantly over the last two decades due to overfishing. Even when individual populations are well-protected within marine sanctuaries, their long-term viability may be in doubt, according to a new study published at the end of June in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series. The study suggests that a network of connected marine parks would better protect conch into the future...

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ORG endorses Vision 2040 - Jul 7, 2017 - 10:01:19 AM

As the new administration continues to set its agenda, The Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG) is urging the government, private industry and civil society alike to look to the National Development Plan (NDP). ORG, a not-for-profit civic foundation aimed at generating accountable governance, education reform, and economic development has stepped forward to endorse the NDP drafted during the last administration. The group urges that government and civil society groups adopt the plan as a common roadmap and a platform to coordinate efforts toward a brighter future.

“The NDP team has done open, fair and comprehensive work. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Many of the objectives that government, civil society and private industry are working toward are outlined in the NDP working draft..."

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Atlantis Marine Division Celebrates Third Straight Accreditation from the AZA - Jul 6, 2017 - 12:36:13 PM

At a recent joint staff celebration, officials from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) joined in with Atlantis Executives in an informal presentation of a plaque signifying accreditation by the organization.

Just a few months ago, a team from the AZA came to Atlantis to make sure the organization’s exacting standards for animal management and care including living environments, social groupings, health, enrichment, and nutrition were met.

This group also evaluated the veterinary programme, involvement in conservation and research, education programmes, safety policies, facilities, guest services...

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Khaalis Rolle, appointed Sr. Exec. VP of Sterling Global Financial - Jul 6, 2017 - 11:26:23 AM

Sterling Global Financial, a private banking, asset management and real estate financing firm with US$9 billion under management and administration, has announced the appointment of Khaalis E. Rolle as Senior Executive Vice President, Business Development.

Mr. Rolle is the former Minister of State for Investments in the Office of the Prime Minister. In 2009, Mr. Rolle became one of the youngest persons ever to be elected Chairman of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and is credited with, among other initiatives, merging the Chamber and the Employers’ Confederation...

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BTVI expanding IT programs - Jul 4, 2017 - 2:13:51 PM

Following a recent curriculum review, the Information Technology (IT) department of The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) will now be offering a set of new and optimized programs come fall 2017.

The new programs include Associate of Applied Science degrees in Network Engineering, Software Engineering and a redesigned Information Technology Management degree. This is in addition to an IT Support Specialist diploma and an IT Entry Level certificate program – the latter of which will also be available online.
The IT Entry Level certificate can be completed in 40-weeks online or on campus within a semester. It offers the essentials for a student with at least three Bahamas Junior Certificates to jumpstart a career in Information Technology...

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RBDF Apprehends 69 Haitian Migrants - Jul 3, 2017 - 7:03:44 PM

Over 60 undocumented Haitian nationals were apprehended in the central Bahamas early Monday morning by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

A Haitian sloop was intercepted on the Great Bahama Bank west of the Exuma chain by Her Majesty's Bahamian Ship Lignum Vitae under the command of Senior Lieutenant Bertram Bowleg around 2 a.m. Monday morning. The vessel was subsequently boarded and searched resulting in 69 migrants (58 males, 10 females and a child) being apprehended...

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Enrolment continues for NHI Bahamas; enrolment locations changing - Jul 1, 2017 - 6:19:28 PM

The enrolment phase of NHI Bahamas has seen nearly 25,000 Bahamians and legal residents enrol to date. While enrolment numbers have stabilized, enrolment remains open for persons who wish to select their doctor so they can receive Primary Care services at no cost at point of care. For the fastest and most convenient option, eligible persons are encouraged to enrol online at www.nhibahamas.gov.bs.

After assessing demand at enrolment centres, it has been determined that the enrolment site of Enoch Beckford Memorial Auditorium on Carmichael Road will close permanently as of Monday, July 3rd. Friday...

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GBHRA: enator Mitchell must distance himself from homophobic slurs - Jun 30, 2017 - 1:58:58 AM

The Grand Bahama Human Rights Association is appalled that Senator Fred Mitchell has failed to denounce and distance himself from the homophobic slurs which appeared on a Facebook page that he has publicly endorsed.

The page, ‘Fred Mitchell minute-by-minute’ is clearly named after Senator Mitchell and last year, he encouraged PLP supporters to follow its posts, saying the page “aligns with much of my thinking on political issues”. Yet asked by The Tribune to comment on the vile exchange in question, Mitchell refused...

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Bahamas to host ITU’s Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR 17) - Jun 27, 2017 - 10:35:48 PM

The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), on behalf of The Government of The Bahamas, is pleased to extend this invitation for you to participate in the 17th Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-17) from 11 – 14 July 2017, to be held at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, Paradise
Island, Bahamas.
 
GSR is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and has earned a reputation as the global annual venue for ICT regulators, policy makers, industry leaders and other key ICT stakeholders to share their views and experiences on matters of mutual interest.  GSR-17 will be under the theme: “Living in a World of Digital Opportunities”...

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NHI Secretariat Statement: Update on NHI Bahamas - Jun 26, 2017 - 8:52:17 PM

Starting today, NHI Bahamas is implementing changes across the organization as we seek to streamline our operations and budget. Since launching enrolment for NHI Bahamas on April 24th 2017, NHI Bahamas has assessed the level of resources used, and a determination has been made that not all of the organization’s resources are being fully utilized in the most efficient manner.

Enrolment numbers for the programme have stabilized. Therefore, a number of positions in NHI Bahamas are no longer required.  While this has been a difficult decision to make, it is a necessary one at this time. There is a need to streamline operations and a reality that NHI Bahamas must continue to phase in health care services in a fiscally responsible manner...

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Minister of Education Clarifies Agreement With the Adventist Church - Jun 26, 2017 - 11:17:58 AM

The Minister of Education, the Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd, met on Sunday with Pastors Paul Scavella, Peter Joseph, and C. Melvin Lewis of the South Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists to discuss issues arising from the ongoing refurbishment of the Bahamas Academy school site on Wulff Road and the Minister’s contribution to the budget debate. Pastor Leonard Johnson, head of the regional office for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in The Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, could not attend because of church business overseas.

It was noted that despite the fact that a lease agreement had been drawn up, the same had not been signed by the Ministry after more than two years of occupation, renovation, and construction on the site by the Ministry...

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Swimming pigs tour operators receives TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence - Jun 22, 2017 - 8:07:48 PM


Harbour Safaris today announced that it has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence. Now in its seventh year, the achievement celebrates hospitality businesses that have earned great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year.

“I'm extremely proud of the team we've built in less than two years. We have grown from a one-boat operation to having 3 boats, 6 full-time staff, and a retail location. We are currently expanding our offerings and developing new tours. Our customer service is second to none, which is reflected in our rise to one of the top-rated boat excursions in Nassau” said Lee McCoy, President of Harbour Safaris...

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Managing Director of S.T.R.A.W. Inc. ™ Center for Young Women© Gives Presentation at Violence Prevention Regional Conference in Suriname - Jun 20, 2017 - 11:38:17 PM

Therena Cunningham, Managing Director of S.T.R.A.W. Inc.™ Center for Young Women© participated as a Guest Presenter in the recent Regional Conference hosted by the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) held in Paramaribo, Suriname during the week of Sunday 11 June – Thursday 15 June 2017.

Since 2013, the Resistance and Prevention Program (RAPP) has been under implementation in Trinidad & Tobago, Bahamas and Suriname with the generous support of the United States State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Bureau (INL) under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI)...

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‘Tremendous Response’ to Commonwealth Bank’s Spanish Wells Opening - Jun 17, 2017 - 5:28:24 AM

Commonwealth Bank staffers knew the opening of their newest branch on the island of Spanish Wells in North Eleuthera on June 6 was off to a strong start when they heard the voices.

“We were so surprised,” said Michelle Fox, Assistant Manager, Credit and senior officer at Spanish Wells branch. “We opened the doors to welcome the crowd that had already gathered and when they saw the balloons and all the decorations everyone started singing “Happy Birthday to Commonwealth Bank”!! The response every day since has been tremendous, people coming in to open accounts and processing other transactions.”

Commonwealth Bank’s presence represented the first time the island that prides itself on community-owned enterprises including a food store and fuel station has been home to an all Bahamian-owned and operated bank...

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Civil Society Groups: "Amend and Enact FOIA" - Jun 16, 2017 - 1:39:12 PM

Following remarks from the Attorney General declaring Freedom of Information a priority but expressing uncertainty about the bill’s status and future, a group of civil society organizations (CSOs) and private industry groups is pressing the new administration to highlight the amendment and full enactment of Freedom of Information. The group urges the government to look to the timely enactment of FOIA but also to take this opportunity to make revisions that strengthen the Bill.

The groups are a part of a caucus of CSOs and private industry groups representing over 100,000 Bahamians who comprised the central advocacy engine that pressed for amendments to the Freedom of Information Bill, aiming for legislation that better empowered the people and held government officials and departments accountable...

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Defence Force Rangers Installation Ceremony - Jun 15, 2017 - 10:30:40 AM

It was a celebration of the achievements of brilliant young people.as 408 Defence Force Rangers, both male and female took the challenge to set the standard of excellence in discipline, dedication and determination. They all were successful in being officially inducted into the Rangers program over the past several weeks.

The installation ceremony for the nation’s builders took place on several Family Islands. On the island of Abaco, 31 students graduated from the program. From Grand Bahama, 80 students completed the program, and 38 students from North Andros were successful. The final ceremony took place in New Providence on Saturday June 10th at the Defence Force’s Coral Harbour Base, where 259 students including 9 from the Berry Islands graduated into the program...