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Daily Archives: February 18, 2017
Bahamas’ ‘Growth Potential’ Down 3% Since Century Start – Bahamas Tribune
Posted: February 18, 2017 at 4:39 am
By NEIL HARTNELL
Tribune Business Editor
The Bahamas economic growth potential has dropped quite sharply since this century began, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive said yesterday, urging the Government to curb spending to ensure fiscal sustainability.
Jarkko Turunen, the Funds mission chief to the Bahamas, said Value-Added Tax (VAT) and other revenue reforms had failed to eliminate the fiscal deficit, as promised, because the Christie administration had increased spending at the same time.
He told the Chamber of Commerces State of the Economy 2017 forum that the Governments spending had risen across all main components, with the biggest jump in subsidies and transfers to the public corporations.
On the positive side, Mr Turunen said the IMF expected the Bahamas $6.7 billion national debt, and accompanying ratio to GDP, to stabilise, although this was likely to be above the so-called 70 per cent danger threshold due to Hurricane Matthew.
However, he added that the roots of the problems bedevilling the Bahamian economy and its financial sector lay in this nations persistently low GDP growth rates, which factored into high levels of unemployment and violent crime.
Mr Turunen said the Bahamas needed to now simultaneously achieve faster economic growth and push forward with fiscal consolidation via reduced spending, so that VATs revenue gains were not squandered.
Many of the issues we see in the Bahamian economy and financial sector (non-performing loans) have their roots in the fact growth has been so low, the IMFs mission chief to the Bahamas said.
Real GDP growth has been weak, negative for the past two years. Take out 2010 and 2012, and growth has been negative or zero since the global crisis of 2008-2009.
The Bahamian economys anemic growth had fed into high double-digit unemployment rates, especially among young persons aged 15-24 years-old, where it is around 30 per cent.
Reading the news about crime, Im reminded about high youth unemployment, Mr Turunen said. At the same time, potential growth has declined.
He said the Bahamas economic growth potential had dropped from between 2.5-4 per cent at the start of the 21st century to around 1-1.5 per cent now - a decline that, at its maximum, is equivalent to 3 GDP percentage points.
Potential growth was actually high in the 2000s in comparison to the Caribbean, but has declined quite sharply, Mr Turunen said. Our estimate is the potential growth is between 1-1.5 per cent in the medium term.
There has been a decline in the major factors, labour and capital, but the decline has been driven by negative productivity growth, which has persisted for quite a while.
Fundamentally, low productivity growth shows theres some structural constraints. Mr Turunen pointed to the Bahamas high cost environment, particularly on labour and energy, and sliding ease of doing business as the culprits.
Adding that the Bahamas needed to better prepare its high school graduates for the workplace, Mr Turunen backed the concept of a National Development Plan (NDP), but said the stark negative growth position meant the IMF would recommend a shift to implementation as opposed to the ongoing planning.
To combine faster economic growth with fiscal consolidation (austerity), the IMF executive called on the Government to re-purpose its spending, switching monies from its recurrent (fixed cost) account to invest in infrastructure projects that would enhance medium and long-term GDP expansion.
Mr Turunen reiterated that the IMF was projecting a 3.5 per cent fiscal deficit for the 2015-2016 Budget period, placing the total amount of red ink at between $280-$300 million, well in excess of the Governments $150 million forecast.
The deficit has not been eliminated because government spending increased at the same time, Mr Turunen said.
Referring to the previous speaker, Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finances financial secretary, Mr Turunen added: Im sure Simon has a much more interesting story to tell. There has been an increase in spending on all the main components. The biggest increase is in subsidies and transfers.
When adjusted for inflation, Mr Turunen said the Governments spending had been flat in some years, but it had increased in real terms for the past two fiscal years.
There has been quite a bit of progress on the revenue side. Now is the time to focus efforts on rationalising spending to ensure fiscal sustainability, he added.
The debt is expected to stabilise over the medium term. You dont want a situation where the debt continues increasing, and thats not a situation where we see the Bahamas going.
Mr Turunen said the IMF had projected that the Bahamas central government debt would stabilise at 68 per cent of GDP pre-Matthew, but it was now expected to increase significantly and exceed 70 per cent.
He called on the Bahamas to Budget and set fiscal targets according to its position in the hurricane zone, and to also focus on its total public sector debt and unfunded pension liabilities.
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Town Hall Meeting To Be Held By Civil Society Bahamas – Bahamas Tribune
Posted: at 4:39 am
CIVIL Society Bahamas (CSB), an umbrella group for civil society organisations in The Bahamas, is hosting a Town Hall Meeting for the Citizens Task Force on Electoral Reform on Saturday from 10am to noon at St Marys Parish Hall, Virginia Street, Nassau.
The group says it believes that it is possible to design an electoral system for the country that is less cumbersome, more transparent, more fair and more egalitarian than the current one.
Citizens are invited to participate in an extended conversation on what a new electoral system would be like. CSB says it wants to engage the public on the subject through a series of public meetings throughout The Bahamas to hear their views on several recommendations.
These include the establishment of an Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IBEC); the setting up of a permanent Register of Voters; the implementation of Campaign Finance Reform; the registration of political parties with the IBEC; primary elections to choose constituency candidates; constituencies being able to recall their member of Parliament; and constituency boundaries to be redrawn with less frequency.
CBS is an umbrella organisation representing the interests of all the non-profit and non-governmental organisations in The Bahamas since 2005. It is a non-partisan, non-governmental, civil society organisation which focuses on the betterment of individuals through improvement of their general social, economic, spiritual and mental welfare.
Refreshments will be served at the town hall meeting.
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Town Hall Meeting To Be Held By Civil Society Bahamas - Bahamas Tribune
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Vineyard Power vying for offshore wind farm – Cape Cod Times (subscription)
Posted: at 4:38 am
Doug Fraser @dougfrasercct
CHATHAM This June, the state will solicit bids seeking offshore wind farms to produce 400 megawatts of electricity. Its the first of four phases of what state officials hope will be 1,600 megawatts of offshore power; 15 percent of what the state uses annually, enough power to replace what will eventually be lost when Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station shuts down.
Submitting a bid in June will be the first tangible step for a group of Marthas Vineyard residents who started the Vineyard Power energy cooperative six years ago in response to a lot of the things they didnt like about the nowdefunct Cape Wind project. It has 1,400 members and claims the cooperative represents 5,000 people on the island.
Richard Andre, president of Vineyard Power, said their prospects improved dramatically when Gov. Charlie Baker signed legislation in August that required that powerutilities solicit and contract for 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind power as part of their energy portfolio by 2027.
Then, we knew we would have a buyer for our power, Andre said.
Vineyard Power representatives came to the headquarters of the Cape CodCommercial Fishermens Alliance in Chatham on a stormy Wednesday to get feedback from fishermen.
Perhaps it was fitting that there werent many fishermen in the audience, because Andre said that unlike Cape Wind, which was sued by Vineyard fishermen and hotly contestedby many Cape fishermen, they havent received any negative feedback.
We identified our site in 2009 as an area with the least amount of fishery conflicts, Andre said.
The process was helped considerably by the federal government in 2009 when theBureau of Energy Management mapped out areas of the ocean with good wind and relatively few conflicting uses or environmental concerns. John Pappalardo, CEO of the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermens Alliance, was part of the team that helped to eliminate large areas that were valuable for fishing, shellfishing or for fish habitat.
This zone was much larger. We shaved a huge piece out of it primarily because of scallops, Pappalardo said.
At over 500 feet tall, the 40 to 70 turbines that would be constructed in the first phase would be spaced more than a half mile apart. Andre told the audience there would be no reduced speed or areas closed to navigation or fishing. It has not been determined yet whether there could be anything like a kelp or mussel farming operation using components of the turbine. There would be money available to reimburse fishermen displaced during construction work.
By locating them 12 miles offshore, Andre said the turbines would only be visible on extremely clear days and, even then, would be far off in the distance.
We wanted a different model than Cape Wind. We wanted there to be local benefit, local employment, and local input into the project, Andre told the audience. Weve met with over 20 fishing groups since March of 2016.
Vineyard Power partnered with Vineyard Wind, which holds the lease on the 260 square miles of ocean 12 miles south of the island. Vineyard Wind is a subsidiary of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, a Danish company that invests pension funds from NorthernEurope. It has $3.5 billion in assets, Andre said, and is primarily focused on renewable energy projects. CIP has managed and invested in over 1,000 megawatts of offshore wind turbines currently being built in Europe, according to its website.
Three companies, Deepwater Wind, another Danish company, Dong Energy, and Vineyard Power hold the three federal leases in federal waters south of the Vineyard that were designated as appropriate for offshore wind through an ocean zoning process. In September, the three companies signed letters of intent to use the state-run $113 million New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, which had been built in anticipation of the ill-fated Cape Wind offshore wind farm being constructed.
This December, Eversourceacquired 50 percent ownership of the offshore wind farm proposed by Dong Energy.
All three offshore wind companies could be submitting bids this summer, Andre said. Price is the primary consideration, and he anticipates the winning bid will be in the mid-teens per kilowatt hour as compared with Cape Winds prices, which were over 20 cents. Each subsequent bid phase is required to start at a lower price than the previous ones as improved technology and economies of scale reduce costs. Europe, where they have been producing such power for decades, has seen offshore wind drop to 10 cents, Andre said.
The area south of the Vineyard has been rated the best or second best on the East Coast for the strength and consistency of its wind, Andre toldthe audience.
Vineyard Wind ships were out on Nantucket Sound this summer and fall doing seismic and sonar testing on the sea bed to determine what type of foundation would be required for the turbines.
Environmental studies of impacts on birds and marine life, and permitting, will continue for another two years. Construction could start as early as 2020 and take two years. It will take about 2,000 construction workers for the first phase, and Andre said the plan is to employ a lot of local workers.
The company with the winning bid would also have to get state permits to run cables, which will be buried 6 feet deep in the sea bed, to the mainland.
Follow Doug Fraser on Twitter:@dougfrasercct
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IRS Cracks Down on Offshore Tax Cheats – CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
Posted: at 4:38 am
The Internal Revenue Service says that hiding money or assets in unreported offshore accounts remains on its 2017 list of tax scams known as the Dirty Dozen.
Since the first Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) opened in 2009, there have been more than 55,800 disclosures and the IRS has collected more than $9.9 billion from this initiative alone.
In addition, another 48,000 taxpayers have made use of separate streamlined procedures to correct prior non-willful omissions and meet their federal tax obligations, paying approximately $450 million in taxes, interest and penalties. The IRS conducted thousands of offshore-related civil audits that resulted in the payment of tens of millions of dollars in unpaid taxes. The IRS has also pursued criminal charges leading to billions of dollars in criminal fines and restitutions.
"Offshore compliance remains a top IRS priority. We've collected $10 billion in back taxes in recent years with 100,000 taxpayers making use of our voluntary disclosure programs," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. "The IRS receives more foreign account information each year, making it harder to hide income offshore. I urge taxpayers with international tax issues to come forward and get right with the system."
Compiled annually, the Dirty Dozen lists a variety of common scams that taxpayers may encounter anytime, but many of these schemes peak during filing season as people prepare their tax returns or hire people to help with their taxes.
Illegal scams can lead to significant penalties as well as interest and possible criminal prosecution. The IRS Criminal Investigation Division works closely with the Department of Justice to shut down scams and prosecute the criminals behind them.
Hiding Income Offshore
Over the years, numerous individuals have been identified as evading U.S. taxes by attempting to hide income in offshore banks, brokerage accounts or nominee entities. Then access the funds using debit cards, credit cards or wire transfers. Others have employed foreign trusts, employee-leasing schemes, private annuities or insurance plans for the same purpose.
The IRS uses information gained from its investigations to pursue taxpayers with undeclared accounts, as well as bankers and others suspected of helping clients hide their assets overseas.
While there are legitimate reasons for maintaining financial accounts abroad, there are reporting requirements that need to be fulfilled. U.S. taxpayers who maintain such accounts and who do not comply with reporting requirements are breaking the law and risk significant fines, as well as the possibility of criminal prosecution.
Since 2009, tens of thousands of individuals have come forward to voluntarily disclose their foreign financial accounts, taking advantage of special opportunities to comply with the U.S. tax system and resolve their tax obligations. And, with new foreign account reporting requirements being phased in over the next few years, hiding income offshore is increasingly more difficult.
At the beginning of 2012, the IRS reopened the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program following continued strong interest from taxpayers and tax practitioners after the closure of the 2011 and 2009 programs. This program will be open for an indefinite period until otherwise announced.
Third-Party Reporting
Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and the network of intergovernmental agreements between the U.S. and partner jurisdictions, automatic third-party account reporting has entered its second year. The IRS continues to receive more information regarding potential non-compliance by U.S. persons because of the Department of Justices Swiss Bank Program. This information makes it less likely that offshore financial accounts will go unnoticed by the IRS.
Potential civil penalties increase substantially if U.S. taxpayers associated with participating banks wait to apply to OVDP to resolve their tax obligations.
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Model advances analysis of offshore BOP closure during extreme conditions – WorldOil (subscription)
Posted: at 4:38 am
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A new modelling approach developed and validated by the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) presents a major step forward in understanding how offshore blowout preventers (BOPs) are likely to function if employed during a blowout. Results from the study funded by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) were presented today at the Ocean Energy Safety Institutes Public Technology Assessment Program Forum.
The emergency closure of a wellbore with a BOP is a highly complicated process in which high strength steel pipe must be cut and pinched closed under extreme pressure and flow conditions, said SwRIs Steven Green. SwRI is under contract with BSEE to develop and validate a methodology for conducting an analysis of a BOP closure event using existing commercially available software for advanced structural and fluid dynamics simulations. We have also developed a database tool that, when completed, will hold simulation results and allows BSEE and industry to interactively assess the basic design requirements of a BOP under its expected operating conditions, Green said.
Blowout preventers use multiple methods to prevent hydrocarbons from ascending through drill pipes and reaching surface operations. How well they would perform during a blowout, as opposed to activation to prevent a blowout, has been a concern for both the industry and regulators. The research performed by SwRI is part of BSEEs larger effort to advance the design of BOPs so that they function effectively under emergency conditions.
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UK offshore wind farm construction hit record high in 2016 – The Actuary
Posted: at 4:38 am
These figures signify a 42% share of Britains construction contract value in the utilities and power sector, and 21% of the entire UK infrastructure sector.
This trend in increased offshore wind developments is expected to continue, with Barbour ABI reporting that 23.3bn worth of construction contract value is currently in the pipeline.
Their lead economist, Michael Dall, said: Back in 2013 offshore wind farms accounted for only 7.5% of the annual construction value for the utilities and power sector, which increased in 2016 on the back of significant investment in this type of project.
With reports showing that the cost of producing electricity in this way have fallen significantly, the increase in construction value makes sense.
We have also seen a large uptake in the planning pipeline for future offshore wind farms over the coming years, suggesting this burgeoning sector will continue to expand in 2017 and beyond.
The increase in value of wind farm developments last year was significantly impacted by the Beatrice, Galloper, and East Anglia projects, which are together worth 3bn, and once constructed, will produce over 1,600MW of renewable energy per hour.
The UKs annual offshore wind farm construction contract value since 2013 is shown below:
UK energy minister Jesse Norman said: The UKs leadership in offshore wind clearly demonstrates that it is an attractive destination for renewable energy investment.
Thanks to the efforts of developers, the UKs vigorous supply chain and support from government, renewables costs are continuing to fall.
"Offshore wind will continue to help the UK to meet its climate change commitments, as well as delivering jobs and growth across the country.
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Greg McQuade discovers life on the high seas aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower – wtvr.com
Posted: at 4:38 am
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NORFOLK, Va. -- Just ask Kyle McCarthy about his job. And the adrenaline that flows through him like an electrical charge.
Yes. Sir, Absolutely. It is one heck of a ride up here Ill tell you what, he said.
Petty Officer McCarthy tackles one of the most stressful occupations in the United States Navy.
Because the first thing I see when I walk up is two jets turning around and moving, said Kyle. So you have missiles, bombs and torpedoes.
Kyle McCarthy
The sailor from Chesapeake is part of the ordinance team on board the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower.
It is definitely a fulfilling experience, he added.
The 24-year-old welcomed me to go below deck in a rare opportunity to be a sailor for the day.
But before accepting the invitation. I need to look like a sailor.
Our first stop at Naval Station Norfolk, was inside The Navy Exchange, one of the busiest spots in Hampton Roads, where we found Inell Lewis.
Inell Lewis
Ms. Lewis has been a seamstress for 50 years. She has dressed generations of military men and women. The Emporia native does not allow clients to leave until they appear, well, ship shape.
We want to have our sailors looking good because if it is not done right it reflects on us, said Ms. Lewis.
At Naval Station Norfolk security remains tight. Our second destination? The massive nuclear powered Mighty Ike.
Sitting at Sewalls point just west of the I-64 bridge tunnel the second oldest carrier in the fleet just returned from a seven month combat deployment fighting the Islamic State in Operation Inherent Resolve.
As we discovered, each member of the Ikes crew of 5,000 plays a critical role on board the carrier.
Petty Officer Nick Moffett the ships banker and graduate of James River High School in Chesterfield wears many hats.
Were on the front line if you will, said Nick. Were on a ship. Were not on the ground but we are definitely contributing in a hands on way.
When he is not paying his fellow sailors Nick takes charge in one of the ships fire stations where he leads a team of sailors when crisis strikes.
I was the scene leader for the entire deployment, said Nick.
For the 28-year-old training is paramount because in the middle of the ocean calling 911 is out of the question.
If the ship goes down. We go down, said Nick. So we have to protect that. And we protect our lives.
Firefighters on board train every two weeks for hours on end.
So basically we bring all of this stuff out to the hangar bay. Everyone gets dressed to fight the fire or the flooding or any kind of casualty we might have, said Nick.
Nick put this journalist through the drill, helping me don the heavy, hot firefighting gear.
We dont know when the next casualty might happen or how bad it is, said Nick. We need to be ready to fight the fire or fight the flooding or fight whatever happened as soon as possible.
Putting on the equipment in mere minutes when an emergency arises requires several hands.
Nick Moffett
Nick you have a lot of people helping you? I asked.
Yes a ton of people helping you out, said Nick.
Another place on board where the temperatures soar? The four and half acre flight deck especially under the blazing sun in the Persian Gulf.
So the heat index was 150 degrees, said Kyle McCarthy. I have never felt anything like that in my life.
Kyle McCarthy and the ordinance team loaded jet fighters with everything from laser guided missiles to 2,000 pound bombs.
From there it is pedal to the metal. It is pedal to the metal, man, said Kyle.
The Chesapeake native does not take his responsibility lightly.
Were going to go right over here right down these steps, he said. Ill take you in where all the planning is and all the magic happens.
The 24-year-old led me to a room where the ordinance team members don life-saving equipment like the vest which has a transmitter inside in case Kyle falls overboard into the water. Kyle and his sailors work in tandem under and around supersonic jets in a type of high seas ballet.
Each teammate is assigned to a different task depending on their colorful shirt.
Were the Skittles on the flight deck because you have all of the colored jerseys, said Kyle.
The 70 plus F/A 18s on board the Mighty Ike were launched in missions against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
Our seven month deployment we dropped 1,222 pieces of ordinance on the bad guy. On ISIS, said Kyle.
He said with so many moving parts on the flight deck his duties can be hazardous. It is a dangerous but rewarding job.
As much as it gets difficult and stressful it is honestly one of the coolest things Ive ever gotten to do, he added.
Commander Erik Stinson leans heavily on Kyle. The pilot said no one individual can claim glory.
Without the ordinance on the aircraft we are nothing, said Stinson. The whole team. The whole strike group team. It is a team effort to accomplish a mission.
Its clear Petty Officer Kyle McCarthy and the crew of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower take pride in their jobs and their country.
At the end of the day you come back and say I cant believe I just did that, said Kyle. There is not a better feeling I can experience. It is a unique experience being in the Navy. I thoroughly enjoy every minute of it.
If you know of someone who I should feature in my "I Have a Story" segment email me at ihaveastory@wtvr.com
36.850769 -76.285873
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Greg McQuade discovers life on the high seas aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower - wtvr.com
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‘The internet is like the high seas’ – Deutsche Welle
Posted: at 4:38 am
Deutsche Welle: Mr. Chertoff, cyberspace basically right now is a space without borders. but now, a new global commission on Cyber Security is set to be launchedand you are slated to be a commissioner. The challenge seems big, the challenge seems urgent. Cyber security is a big topic at this year's Munich Security Confrerence. What can this global commission achieve realistically?
Michael Chertoff: I liken the internet a little bit to the high seas. Everybody uses it but it is not necessarily within any countries boundaries. So over a period of time we developed a body of maritime law that governs free passage - what you are allowed to do and what you are not allowed to do on the high seas. Sometimes there is controversy and sometimes the rules get broken. But the fact that we have rules makes it possible for everybody to use the oceans. And I think we could do the same in cyberspace. We can at least in some areas reach agreement that there should be some limits to what is done offensively or what is done defensively in cyberspace. It is not going to solve every problem and it won't be perfectly enforceable. But if we begin with some common interest, then I think first if we can reach some agreements we can build trust and we can at least begin to reduce some of the challenges to using the internet and the trust in the internet which otherwise I think can be a problem.
One of the big problems when it comes to enforcing norms in cyberspace is that it is a problem of attributing cause or blame. It is really difficult to pin down a violator and to find a smoking gun.
Michael Chertoff is a former head of US Homeland Security
Attribution is difficult, and one of the things that makes it more challenging to enforce the rules is that, with respect to cyberspace as with nuclear proliferation, it is precisely that the capabilities are wide and distributed. It is easy to masquerade as somebody else. And, in fact, one of the norms that perhaps we ought to have is an obligation to identify onesself.
That being said, there are ways to attribute. It may not be as straightforward as watching where a missile might have been launched, but there are tools you can use to actually track back who launched an attack. So, while it won't be a perfect situation, I do think there is enough capability. I think that we could call out somebody who persistently violates the norms - often, frankly, because you see the effects of what they do in terms of how it benefits the perpetrator.
What are the next steps after the launch of the commission?
First, we will have a broad representation from countries around the world and we have representatives coming on board; hopefully coming on board including China and Russia, as well as obviously the West and Africa and South America. I think we then want to define clearly what we want to achieve - at least in the short term and then in the medium term - and put together a plan to begin to develop some output and some results relatively quickly. Then, we can begin to socialize the recommendations with governments around the world. There are some areas where I think you could reach a pretty broad consensus because everybody benefits from having a clear understanding of the rules of the road.
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5 Reasons the Cruise Lines’ Private Islands Are Travelers’ Favorite … – Travel Agent
Posted: at 4:37 am
What makes a private island such a sought-after destination? Cruise experts at CruiseCompete say private islands rank number one on cruisers' to-do lists for five reasons:
1. A unique opportunity for relaxation: Private islands offer cruisers an escape from the pressures of everyday life.
2. The chance to live like royalty: On an island like Holland Americas Half Moon Cay, the staff caters to guests' every need. For a fee, passengers can reserve private cabanas where they will be attended to by private butlers. The butlers fill beverage glasses, prepare foods, and even offer cool cucumber to sooth eyes against the hot sun.
3. Ramp up the adrenaline: Private islands offer an array of activities including water sports, jeep tours and island explorations. Families are welcome as there is plenty to do for all ages.
4. The makings of an epic travel story: Between the beauty of the islands and the potential adventures available, cruisers will have all components for a memorable trip.
5. Paradise on Earth: The Caribbean waters, coral reefs, and beaches combine for some of the most beautiful scenes in the world.
Costa Cruises: Costa Cruises guests visit Catalina Island, off the coast of the Dominican Republic. The island offers activities such as volleyball, snorkeling and massages on the beach. Cruisers can also rent jet skis, go for banana-boat rides or just relax on the beach.
Disney Cruise Line: Disneys Castaway Cay provides plenty of fun for all ages. The island has cruise ship docking capabilities which allows guests to easily travel back and forth to their ship. Attractions include: Castaway Family Beach, Serenity Bay for adults, a teens-only activity area, and supervised programs for children.
Holland America: Holland Americas Half Moon Cay has been ranked Best Private Island by Porthole Cruise Magazine for 16 consecutive years. The island, located on Little San Salvador Island in the Bahamas, allows guests to feed stingrays, enjoy water sports, and have access to private cabanas with butler service.
MSC Cruises: MSC Cruises is currently developing their own reserve island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas. Ocean Cay will offer a 2,000-seat amphitheater, restaurants, bike rentals, zip lines, and a pavilion for weddings and celebrations. Ocean Cay is set to open to guests in October 2018.
Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegians private island, Great Stirrup Cay is located in the Berry Island chain of the Bahamas. The island offers an array of water sports including snorkeling, paddle boats, sailboats and kayaks. The cruise line also stops at Harvest Caye in Southern Belize.
Princess Cruises: Princess Cruises ships visitPrincess Cays, located on the southern portion of Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas. Cruisers can rent aqua bikes, seaboards, paddleboats, sailboats or rafts. The island has umbrellas, tiki huts and hammocks for beach-goers.
Paul Gauguin Cruises:Paul Gauguin visits Motu Mahana, part of the Society Islands. The island offers local crafts and cuisine, music, and vanilla plantation tours.
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises: Coco Cay, designed exclusively for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises passengers, boasts a 20,000 square foot aqua playground named Caylanas Castle Cove. The two lines second island getaway, Labadee, features seven different neighborhoods that have individual offerings.
Visit http://www.cruisecompete.com
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5 Reasons the Cruise Lines' Private Islands Are Travelers' Favorite ... - Travel Agent
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Renting land to highest bidder a stumbling block for young people … – AG Week
Posted: at 4:36 am
Jim Kopriva believes the migration of youth away from rural areas isn't just a lack of career opportunity. It's a lack of habitat.
"What we see around here is land rented to the top bidder," Kopriva said. "Next thing you know, somebody from several hundred miles away is buying land right next door. The whole idea of renting for top dollar becomes like driving 40 miles to get gas for a penny cheaper."
For young people desiring to get started in agriculture, the concept of handing out land to the highest bidder becomes a challenging stumbling block. And on the heels of a short window when high crop prices turned marginal land into farm ground, many old homesteads that could have been handed over to young farming hopefuls are now gone.
Kopriva, who farms and ranches northwest of Raymond, initially began raising livestock on a small acreage while he held a daytime job in town. Without the chance to fix a rundown acreage as payment for a place to live, he might not have had the chance to pursue his ultimate passion of raising livestock. He believes that encouraging individuals to start small by making land available for them will bring young people back into agriculture.
"They need an opportunity to try and an opportunity to get their hands on some land resources," Kopriva said. "How nice would it be if land owners would prefer to rent to young people that are beginning farmers or just trying to get themselves established in agriculture?"
Living in the country provides families opportunities to become involved in agriculture even if it's not their primary occupation. Some of the most valuable ethics can be taught on a farm, and in Kopriva's mind those lessons are best taught through stewardship of livestock. Responsibility and commitment are quickly learned when those principles live right outside the back door for families that live in the country.
"Young people need livestock," Kopriva said. "If they don't go out and feed their bicycle nothing bad will happen the next day, but if they ignore their livestock, livestock teaches kids something they can't learn any other way."
Kopriva also sees benefits for the older generations that rent to younger families instead of holding out for the highest bidder. Younger individuals with families can tackle odd jobs to help out older neighbors while building a sense of community in the country.
"When that land owner needs a ride to town or needs snow removed from driveways, who's going to help them?" Kopriva asked. "I think it pays in a lot of ways."
The 2011 Center for Rural Affairs Census Report supports Kopriva's observation that fewer opportunities are available for young people to become rooted in small farming operations. However, SDSU Extension community development specialist Peggy Schlechter notes that South Dakota communities as a whole are growing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, South Dakota's population swelled by 7.9 percent from 2000 to 2010. While this population boost bodes well for larger South Dakota towns and cities, it masks the 4.4 percent drop in the rural countryside and small towns seen over the past decade.
Schlechter notes that rural communities need to change how they develop opportunities for young people. Instead of providing scholarships for youth to move away and pursue an education, communities need to build more incentives that will draw back former residents, especially those who already desire to return but require economic or entrepreneurial encouragement. Schlechter has seen interest in young people wanting to move back to their home areas. The issue becomes creating a viable habitat for young people to work and raise families in.
"We need to change the conversation," Schlechter said. "The attitude of people needing to leave to be successful, that's really got to change."
Schlechter believes that rural areas offer prime potential for people to play a significant role in communities. Rural communities require involvement from everyone in order for roles to be fulfilled. According to Schlechter, these communities need to become more intentional in promoting themselves as well as ensuring that everyone in the community has the chance to play a part.
"In rural areas you really have an opportunity as a leader to make an impact on people's lives and make a difference dramatically," Schlechter said.
Both Kopriva and Schlechter agree that proactive steps need to be taken for rural communities to thrive.
"How many people die with money in their account that they never used, but it crowded young people off the land?" Kopriva asked. "It's worth more to rent locally and keep people in the country than it is to seek the top dollar. To me, that's habitat."
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Renting land to highest bidder a stumbling block for young people ... - AG Week
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