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Bahamas, June 29, 2017 Nassau The Bahamas was presented the 2016 Caribbean Sapphire Pegasus Business Aviation Award for Outstanding Country Promotion, the first award of its kind for the region.

The Sapphire Pegasus Award is a symbol of gratitude for the superb performance in an industry segment where mediocrity is unacceptable. The award was introduced to the region during the Caribbean Aviation Meetup in St Maarten June 13-15.

Based on expert advice and the long record of outstanding performance, we decided thatThe Bahamas should be awarded for the excellent promotion of the Caribbean over a longer period of time in the business aviation industry, said Antonia Lukacinova, founder of the Sapphire Pegasus Awards.

It is not just about the presence and presentations at international conferences and exhibitions, but also about the available online information and hardcopy documentation. The explanations are so well done and comprehensive that they hardly leave an opening for questions. We believe that this needs to find international recognition and honoring.

Director General in the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation Joy Jibrilu was presented with the award on Tuesday, June 13 during the Caribbean Aviation Meetup in St. Maarten. She also delivered the keynote address at the aviation conference.

I am excited and thrilled by the announcement that The Bahamas has won the award for our outstanding promotion in business aviation. We at the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation work tirelessly to create new strategic partners in key markets across the world to increase airlift and new routes to the country. That is our goal. We also go above and beyond to promote our destination and position ourselves as the best in the region. As a team, we have accomplished many mammoth tasks and this award is vindication of that hard work. Thank you, Mrs. Jibrilu said.

The Sapphire Pegasus Awards are a unique series of international business aviation awards and are given for the outstanding performance by companies or individuals in the business aviation sector.

The finalists are nominated by companies and individuals in the business aviation sector. The Sapphire Pegasus Awards started out by recognizing the outstanding performance of companies, teams and business individuals from the EMEA region and Russia. This is the first year that four awards are being given out for excellence in the Caribbean.

Press Release: BIS

#Bahamaswinsaviationaward

Read more from the original source:

Bahamas wins new business aviation award - Magnetic Media (press release)

Instead of a trip to the Chop House Classic in Knoxville, Poore will take his Indians to the Bahamas for the Tabernacle Baptist Academy Thanksgiving Tournament.

The Tribe will play four games in the Bahamas the first four games of the Poore era at D-B.

We were scheduled to go to the Chop House Classic, Poore said. There is nothing wrong with that tournament. You play some good teams, but there is a low level of excitement when you tell your guys you are going to Knoxville to play in a Thanksgiving tournament.

The Bahamas, on the other hand?

The guys were really, really excited when I told them about the Bahamas, he added. Its the Bahamas and its pretty exciting for a high school kid to go out of the country and play a game.

Poore likes to have a trip of some kind every year for his team. He took three of his Jefferson County teams to the Bahamas tournament and said the experience is much more than just basketball.

When you go somewhere like the Bahamas for a week and you have a week with not only the players, you have a week with dedicated supporters from the community that are going along, a couple of school faculty that are going and parents and everybody is in one group, Poore said. Its a pretty special thing. You can start to grow as a program.

The trip will be played on Grand Bahama Island and hosted by Freeport, although there are only two indoor gyms on the island.

Freeport doesnt have an indoor gym, Poore noted. The JV teams when they play interschool games, they play outside in the parking lot because there are not enough indoor gyms.

Tribe players will also see Bahamian students in academic situations.

The neat thing is when we visit, our players get to see the classrooms with no air conditioning, two mini ceiling fans and way-too-overcrowded conditions, Poore said. Its helpful to appreciate what we have when we come back.

When the Indians return stateside, theyll play their home opener against who else? Jefferson County.

Thats my first game at D-B in the States, said a smiling Poore. We get back on Sunday, we play them on Tuesday. I joked with the staff when I left, The streak against D-B is over, brother.

Poore also plans for the Indians to continue competing in the prestigious Arbys Classic.

We not only want to be in the Arbys every year, we need to have a good showing and be competitive, he said. I hope our players look at that as an opportunity to sell our brand. Thats going to be big for us.

Poore played in the Arbys Classic at Greeneville and coached Jefferson County to a third-place finish in the 2014 tournament.

The memories for me as a player and coach are great memories, he said. We had that fabulous game against David Crockett in 2014 coming from 19 points down.

Ive never been at a school that goes every year. At Jefferson County, we didnt get to go back after that one showing.

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Poore heightens Tribe excitement by adding trip to Bahamas - Kingsport Times News

URI News release...

KINGSTON, R.I. The University of Rhode Island mens basketball team has made a change to its summer foreign trip plans.

Originally scheduled to visit London, England and Paris, France over an eight-day span from August 7-16, the Rams will now visit the Bahamas for a six-day stay from August 7-13.

We made this decision with the best interest of our student-athletes and their safety in mind, said head coach Dan Hurley. Our staff and our administration arrived at this decision based on the events that occurred there recently and the overall uncertainty in both of the locations we planned on visiting. Safety is our ultimate concern.

While there is no specific threat that led the decision to switch locations, the United States Department of State issued a travel alert for American citizens visiting Europe on May 1, 2017 that extends through the month of August.

The NCAA allows basketball programs to take a take a foreign tour once every four years. Rhode Island is permitted to hold 10 days of practice prior to the trip. Once in the Bahamas, URI will scrimmage the Bahamian National Team twice during its trip in early August.

Link:

URI Basketball Trip Changes Plans from Europe to the Bahamas in - ABC6 - Providence, RI and New Bedford, MA ... - WLNE-TV (ABC6)

Almost two years after two Florida teenagers went missing at sea, investigators are still piecing together the details of their final moments. When Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos took a small boat out July,24, 2015, it appeared they were headed for the Bahamas, according to a court document obtained last week by WPLG-TV.

By putting together social media activity and interviews with friends and family, investigators were able to discern where the 14-year-olds may have been headed that day.

Read: Federal Lawsuit Filed In Case Of Florida Boys Lost At Sea

Me and Austin r crossing to the Bahamas tomorrow come with us, Cohen wrote in an Instagram message to a friend Jul. 23, 2015, according to the court document. We wouldnt check in.

Perry Cohen (L) and Austin Stephanos (R) went missing almost two years ago during a fishing trip off the coast of Florida. Photo: United States Coast Guard

The not checking in appeared to be in reference to avoiding customs officials on the way to the Bahamas.

In addition, Stephanos posted a Snapchat photo the day they left. The picture showed fishing poles on the boat alongside the caption Peace Out Jup.

Usually, when we say Peace Out Jup, we mean going to the Bahamas, a friend of the boys told investigators.

The social media activity was discovered after Stephanos iPhone was recovered almost eight months after the boys disappeared. The phone, their life vests and the 18-foot boat were eventually found, though no trace of the teens themselves was ever located.

The boys mentioned to at least one other friend that they were thinking about heading to the Bahamas, but eventually Austin said it was too rough, the friend told investigators.

The boys intended to take the boat out quite a distance, a girlfriend of a Stephanos family member told investigators, noting she had seen them with two extra gas cans before leaving.

Interviews with Stephanos grandfather also led officials to believe the boys had their sights set on the Bahamas. Richard Kuntz told investigators he gave his grandson $100 to buy gas for their fishing trip.

And thats when they starting talking about going to the Bahamas, ya didnt, he was just there, he knows you need a passport, he didnt have any money and he knows, two engines to go, minimum, or two boats, never by yourself with one engine and one battery, Kuntz said, according to the court document. The one battery, he wouldnt think about, but one engine, he would, and 40 gallons of gas, no.

Read: Plane Disappears Over Bermuda Triangle, 2 Adults, 2 Toddlers Missing

Cohens stepfather also told investigators that Cohen asked to borrow a boat GPS the night before leaving, telling him that Stephanos wanted to buy one.

I said, What are you going to do with it? he told investigators. You guys fishing or what are you going to do with it? Besides that, how are you going to hook it up? No mount. No wire. Perry said No, he has some wires there, he really wants to try. And I go, Perry, its not going to work, but if [you] need to satisfy your curiosity, go ahead.

The rest is here:

Florida Boys Lost At Sea Planned To Go To Bahamas, Posted Snapchats Just Before Disappearing - International Business Times

Rebecca Coriam was swept overboard by a wave off the coast of Mexico in 2011 while working on the Disney Wonder.

CHESTER, England, Thursday June 29, 2017 A Bahamian investigation into the mysterious disappearance of a woman who was working on a Disney cruise ship has been harshly criticised by a British maritime expert.

Officially, Rebecca Coriam, 24, was swept overboard by a wave off the coast of Mexico in 2011 while working as a child-minder on the Disney Wonder. Her family has always suspected foul play, however, because they maintain that there were no reports of rough seas in the area at the time.

Heat Street reports that it has now come to light that two friends who worked with Coriam on the ship later visited her parents at their home near Chester, England and said she had confided in them that she was scared of being raped or sexually assaulted.

Shortly after she disappeared, an official investigation was launched in accordance with maritime law, which states that if a ship is in international waters the case is the responsibility of the nation where the vessel is registered.

The Disney Wonder was registered in the Bahamas. At Disneys expense, one officer Superintendent Paul Rolle from the Royal Bahamas Police Force was flown in to investigate. Rolle arrived with no forensic equipment.

Notes sent by the UK Foreign Office to Coriams parents indicate that her final movements focused on her relationships with two crew members her American girlfriend and a man from Central America.

According to Superintendent Rolles notes: (American woman in relationship with Miss Coriam) left to get more beer. Came back and Rebecca and (male crew member who was in a relationship with the American woman) chatting.

She came back and all 3 went to (male crew members) room. (Male crew member) had sex with both. (American woman) left the room again to get beer. Came back and Rebecca and (male crew member) had sex.

The Bahamian detectives notes also detail how the male crew member had a very nonchalant attitude when being questioned. He was laughing and joking and police had to give him a warning.

The Coriam family suspect Rebecca died because she wouldnt agree to an open bisexual relationship with the male and female crew members. They believe their daughter was sexually assaulted and that any sex she had outside of her lesbian relationship was forced, and not consensual.

Maritime expert Bill Anderson, who is working with the family, was quoted as telling Britains Daily Mail: Everything has been covered up. Rebecca was a happy-go-lucky person with plenty to live for. The only thing that was upsetting her was pressure being placed on her to have sex with somebody she didnt want to.

But the investigation, by one detective from the Bahamas, and the carefree way they let suspects out of their grasp, beggars belief.

Although the Coriam family is pushing for a new inquiry into Rebeccas death, British authorities have said that the incident is not in their jurisdiction.

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Bahamas Criticized For Slack Investigation into Disappearance of Cruise Ship Worker - Caribbean360.com (subscription)

The FINANCIAL -- KPMG in The Bahamas ispleased to welcome Mr. Dennis Deveaux as an Associate Director in its Advisory team.

Mr. Deveaux will be responsible for supporting the ongoing development of KPMGs Management Consulting practice in The Bahamas and regionally and for KPMGs Data & Analytics advisory business. Dennis brings his core skills in the areas of financial management and mergers and acquisitions to KPMG, after working in a global setting outside of The Bahamas for the majority of his career.

Mr. Deveaux joined KPMG from Toyota Material Handling where he spent more than 10 years, having worked at the Director level leading the North American strategic planning, financial management and operational accounting functions. He recently led TOYOTAs strategy work in the area of logistics solutions. Dennis has significant international experience working in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. He also successfully completed a 4 year assignment at TOYOTA's global material handing headquarters in Nagoya Japan, as a senior financial/planning leader, according to KPMG.

KPMG remains a trusted advisor to the worlds most demanding clients. Its role as an advisor to the public and private sector is essential to driving efficiency and operational improvements, given the many opportunities that stand at the forefront of our national dialogue, noted Dennis I fully expect to leverage my past experience at TOYOTA, along with KPMGs global platform and local presence to support impactful contributions in the community.

Mr. Deveaux earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics from Fisk University and then a Master of Science Finance, as well as an MBA from the Saunders College of Business, at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Dennis is a graduate of St. Annes School and was formerly involved with Junior Achievement Bahamas as a student. He was also a former intern at IBM Bahamas as well as Shell Bahamas, prior to joining TOYOTA.

KPMG is pleased to welcome Dennis and his wife, Dr. Teykia Deveaux back home. We are very fortunate to welcome Dennis into our Advisory team. He brings a wealth of experience, industry knowledge and expertise to the management team. As our Advisory practice grows, we are confident we have the right people in place to best support the needs of our clients, and to continue to drive our business forward noted Simon Townend, Head of Advisory for KPMG in The Bahamas. The firm will continue to invest in attracting the best and brightest Bahamians, including those working abroad, to return home and contribute to the national development of The Bahamas.

KPMG is a wholly Bahamian owned member firm of KPMG International and has been in The Bahamas for almost 60 years. KPMG has 3 offices in The Bahamas and employs 80 professionals. KPMG provides a wide range of advisory services to the public and private sector in The Bahamas and across the region from its Bahamas office.

Read more here:

KPMG in The Bahamas announces appointment of Mr. Dennis Deveaux - The FINANCIAL

It's been two months since Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner officially filed for divorce (and two years since they announced their separation), but they still make sure to spend quality time together with their three children, Violet, Samuel and Seraphina.

Case in point: The whole familyvacationed in Baker's Baylast week.

"Ben and Jen took a family vacation with other family friends," an insider tells E! News. "There was never any question that Ben would be there. All the dads went along, and it would have been strange for the kids not to have their dad there."

If Baker's Bay sounds familiar, that's because it's the same Caribbean island the family visited after they announced their separation in 2015. But they've been going there for years, even before that.

Of course, with the vacation comes plenty of speculation regarding their relationship status. However, our insider confirms, "They are not getting back together at all. They are both moving on, but will continue doing things together as a family."

We're told Benwasn't there the entire time. Rather, hecame for a few days toward the end of the trip.

As for the getaway, another source dished,"They stayed in the same house they always stay at. It's beachfront and beautiful. It's an annual tradition for them when the kids get out of school to come for a long vacation. It's very relaxing, and they can feel like they're on island time with nowhere to go and nobody they need to see."

Erik Pendzich/REX Shutterstock

So what did they do?

Our insider added, "The kids spent a lot of time on the beach swimming and playing in the sand with their friends. They also swam in the pool at the house and visited the club. Ben and Jen both worked out at the gym daily."

The former couple has always been very vocal that co-parenting their three children is their No.1 priority, and they will remain united as a team to do so.

"We are definitely a modern family," Jen told Todaylast summer. "You don't have a choice," she added, admitting that while their new normal might look unusual to some, they're actually "doing really well."

Ben reiterated that statement when he told E! News,"Jen is a superhero mom. She is an amazing mother, and I'm really lucky to have her as a partner to co-parent these kids with.We try our best, we put them first and that's what we do."

Us Weekly was the first to report about the vacation.

Read more from the original source:

Inside Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Family Vacation in the Bahamas, Two Months After Filing for Divorce - E! Online

NASSAU, Bahamas: Seventy-five public relations professionals and their guests visited Nassau during this years Public Relations Society of Americas (PRSA) Sunshine District Conference held on June 23 26.

Every year the PRSA holds a conference in different districts, this year it was organized by North Florida. The organizers of this years conference wanted to plan something more exciting and took the conference onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise that stopped at Coco Cay and Nassau.

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism hosted the group for a full day of activities in Nassau and the guests were treated to an authentic taste of The Bahamas. Jeanie Gibson, General Manager of Global Communications, said the goal is to encourage the cruise visitors to come back and experience even more of the destination.

We felt this would be a great opportunity to show these public relations executives, a taste of The Bahamas so that we can convert them from cruisers into stopover visitors. PRSA has a number of chapters with over 200,000 professionals. Their annual conference is normally in the United States but perhaps we can bring one of their other conferences down here such as the travel and tourism conference which hosts some 300 public relations and tourism professionals, she said.

Bryan Campbell, Chairman of the 2017 PRSA Sunshine District Conference, said the relationship between The Bahamas and South Florida made it an easy decision to visit.

The great relationships that South Florida districts and Miami have with The Bahamas just made it kind of a natural idea for us to come to The Bahamas, enjoy some time on the cruise and enjoy some time out here in beautiful Nassau. Being able to hear more of the history and understand more about the country, is allowing our people to have a better time while theyre here and working with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism on being able to gibe this information to our members is great, Campbell said.

The PR professionals were treated to a mini-tour of Nassau stopping at Parliament Square, Paradise Island and Smugglers Restaurant where they watched a conch salad demonstration while getting to try the delicious delicacy, conch fritters and uniquely Bahamian beverages.

Bonnie Upright, Co-Chair of the conference said the feedback on the visit to Nassau has been incredible.

Public Relations Society of Americas (PRSA) Sunshine District Conference members enjoying a trip to The Bahamas

Weve had a number of people that have never been on a cruise before, weve got a number of people with us who have never been to The Bahamas before and so as a co-chair its exciting to not only offer professional development opportunities within the public relations profession but also talk about tourism, public relations industry and show people things they have never seen before.

A number of folks said they would like to come back and spend more time in The Bahamas. There was a relatively short tour of the island where we were able to get a taste of the island, get a taste of conch and try traditional beverages. I cant say enough about how fantastic everyone has been and the feedback has been phenomenal, Upright said while sipping a Goombay Punch.

See the original post:

Bahamas hosts Public Relations Society of America Conference - South Florida Caribbean News

Posted on 29 June 2017. by Jones Bahamas

Great leadership calls for great service and those who are privileged enough to lead must be humble enough to serve their country, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis said Tuesday night.

Leadership is all about the people, Prime Minister Minnis said.

Prime Minister Minnis said he and newly-elected Bahamas Christian Council (BCC) President, Bishop Fernander, share a common destiny.

Bishop Delton Fernander, the Senior Pastor at New Destiny Baptist Cathedral, and his team were installed during the service.

God, in His wisdom, has called both of us for such a time, the Prime Minister said. This is indeed a new season, not only for the Christian Council, but for The Bahamas. We are both here because of the grace and mercy of Almighty God. We must both approach our office and duties with humility, focus and an attitude of service. We must both pray for Gods continued wisdom and understanding.

I congratulate you and your team. I commit not only my support, but you have my pledge to always be open to your spiritual counsel.

Addressing the Bahamas Christian Councils Service of Installation held at the William Thompson Auditorium, Jean Street, Prime Minister Minnis said the BCC is important to the wellbeing and development of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

The Bahamas should be thankful we have an organization called the Bahamas Christian Council, filled with spiritually strong leaders who love their God and their country. The Bahamas should not take these gifts for granted, Prime Minister Minnis said.

I firmly believe that a great part of the national change we all desire will only come when we truly follow Christian values and principles.

Prime Minister Minnis said Bahamians and The Bahamas have a great deal to be thankful for and should not lose sight of the many gifts God has bestowed on citizens and country alike.

The bible tells us to give thanks in every circumstance, Dr. Minnis said. The people of The Bahamas have a great deal to be thankful for. We should thank God that we live in one of the best countries in the world. We should thank God that even though we face challenges, we are a strong, talented and courageous people. We should thank God for our religious freedoms that allow us to pray and worship without fear of persecution.

Prime Minister Minnis congratulated Bishop Delton Fernander on his ascension to the presidency of the Christian Council and for Bishop Fernanders faithful and exemplary service to your own church (New Destiny Baptist Cathedral) and his country.

I give God thanks for your election to the office of President of the Bahamas Christian Council. I wish you and your team Gods favour and grace as you lead this important organization.

The prime minister also commended outgoing BCC President Dr. Ranford Patterson for his tenure as BCC president.

Dr. Patterson has been a passionate, outspoken, thoughtful and fearless spiritual leader, the prime minister said. (He) and his team have provided sound, biblical guidance for our people on important national issues.

The Christian Council has established several commissions to investigate such matters as the council may refer to it or such other matters that fall within its term of reference for 2017.

These include areas such as theological and bible studies, education and culture, economic development, health and wellness, crime and justice, moral and social matters, family life (the role of men), children, youth and young adults, pastoral education and ethics and women (church women) among others.

The council was constituted to promote understanding and trust between various parts of Christs Church in The Bahamas at all levels, to further Christs mission of service by the joint action of Christians in The Bahamas, and to witness for the Christian community in The Bahamas on matters of social and common concern.

Bishop Fernanders team will include Archdeacon James Palacious (First Vice-President); Reverend. Dr. Beverley Strachan (Secretary); Pastor Ronald Campbell (Treasurer); Bishop Moses Johnson (Second Vice-President); Bishop Gregory K. Minnis (Third Vice-President); Bishop Gloria D. Ferguson (Fourth Vice-President); Reverend Irene Russell (Radio and Television Coordinator); Pastor Roslyn Astwood (Administrative Assistant to the President) and Bishop Albert Hepburn (Historian).

Apostle Leon Wallace, Reverend Dr. Vaughn Cash, Pastor Mario Moxey, Reverend Ednol Minnis and Dr. Anthony Farrington are the executive officers.

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PM Touts Virtues of 'Servant Leader' at BCC Installation - The Bahama Journal

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Volleyball Federation has selected a 12-member team, featuring two professional players, some savvy veterans and a few collegiate players, to represent the country at the CAZOVA Senior Championships for Men.

The team, coached by Covance Mortimer and Lloyd 'Ratty' Davis, will be heading to Couva, Trinidad this weekend to participate in the tournament that will run from July 2-10.

Named to the team are pro players Byron Ferguson and Shonari Hepburn, veterans Printanique Wilson, Toney Simon, Glen Rolle and Jamaal Ferguson, collegians Eugene Stuart and Rajahl Moxey, along with JeVaughn Saunders, Javari Southard, Lorenzo Williams and Shedrick Forbes.

"I think this is probably the best 12 that we will travel with in a while since I've been on the team," he said. "So I feel we have a lot of players that we can interchange in crucial movements in the game that we didn't have in previous tournaments."

Jamaal Ferguson took it a step further. " A lot of teams are trying to emphasise on their power or right side player. Our coaches have seen the evolution in volleyball and they are trying to replicate the same things that others are doing, so I think it will work for us because a lot of teams don't know what we are doing," he said.

"It's going to be a good challenge, but we are looking to win as the favourites. We just have to go out there and play up to that expectation."

The Bahamas has been placed in Group E with Jamaica, Haiti and Barbados. The team's opening game will be on Tuesday against Barbados, followed by Jamaica on Wednesday (July 5) and Haiti on Thursday (July 6).

The playoffs are slated to begin on Friday (July 8) and wrap up on Sunday (July 9).

The tournament comes just before the women's tournament is played July 26-31 when the Bahamas will be placed in Group D with Martinique, Trinidad & Tobago and Guadeloupe.

On Monday night during a practice session at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, the federation made the final cut. Coach Mortimer said he's quite pleased with the selection. "You can expect us to do the best that we can do," Mortimer said. "We have a veteran team with some of the players having been a fixture on the team for a while, so the experience on the international level is there, so I expect us to do very well."

The tournament serves as a qualifier for the World Championships with the first two teams earning their automatic berths into the next round.

"We are basically playing to fine tone ourselves because we have always played at a high standard in the past and we have been ranked a lot higher than most of our opponents," Mortimer said.

Looking at the mix-up of the team, Mortimer said their strength has and will continue to be up the middle, but they are looking at the transition from the middle to the right side.

"Every individual on the team have some sort of asset that they can contribute to our success, so that makes us overall an excellent team," he stressed.

However, Mortimer pointed out that if there was any weakness, it would have to be their mental aspect in regard to have focused the players will be when they get ready to play.

Davis said they have instilled in the players that in order to advance to the next round, the team will have to win.

"This is a very pivotal tournament for us," he stressed. "The future you go, the better it is for you. We will have some challenges, if we qualify, because we will start meeting the bigger countries like Cuba and Mexico.

"But we have a pretty young team, which can do some damage. We just have to start with this tournament. We have to win in order to look ahead to the next level."

Shedrick Forbes said there are a lot of expectations that he and his teammates have to live up too.

"We are more focused this time around mentally and now there is an expectancy of being the top team winning the gold medal at the tournament to move onto the NORCECA Championships in September to try and quality for World Championship 2018 in Japan," he projected.

Link:

12-Member Volleyball Team To Represent Bahamas At The Cazova Senior Championships For Men - Bahamas Tribune