Category Archives: Bahamas

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Belinda Wilson secured her sixth consecutive win at the polls yesterday to return as the president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers.

Wilson said her executive team A Team won 13 out of 15 seats

During an interview with Eyewitness News ahead of the vote, Wilson shared that she has had her ups and downs in the executive role for almost two decades.

She is the longest-serving president and executive in the unions history.

Wilson was elected as a BUT trustee in 1996, and that marked the beginning of her service in one of the countrys largest unions. However, it wasnt until eight years that she would secure her first three-year term as president.

She credits her availability, communication, and following through with commitments as the keys that led to her being a long-serving unionist.

I try to meet as many of the members that I can so that we can communicate, so they can know, hey, Im your president, but Im here to serve you. And Ive given service to the best of my ability, said Wilson.

Im very assertive, but when it comes to serving my members, theres a level of honor and humility that I bring to that service.

And so I pride myself on, I should say that I probably know 99% of the members by name and school. And if I dont know your name, face, school, I can basically tell you the subject you teach.

The long-serving union president said she has had her share of battles with various entities, noting her resilience has left her with enemies.

However, she said it was also the reason why she feels her members have held on with her despite the battles, throughout the years.

Every time Ive been knocked down, I got up, she said.

I got up quickly and I landed on my feet. But its because Im focused.

I know who I am, and I know what the truth is. So, a lot of times I would have detractors who would say things against me. I dont even respond. I wait for the right opportunity to respond when it counts the most, Wilson said.

The expectation, that Wilson will once again take the lead by securing hundreds of ballots over opponents, similarly to previous years is, unclear with the establishment of the fairly new, Bahamas Educators Councilors and Allied Workers Union (BECAWU), that came onboard in October 2020 which has cut down the number of potential voters by as many as 700.

BECAWU President, Sandra Major says she believes that this factor will have an impact on the outcome of the elections.

With the numbers that we would have had they would not have that support, and of course, it would definitely impact what the outcome would be.

Im sure about that because youve got a large number of voters from Grand Bahama and some of the other islands as well; with Grand Bahama having the largest number outside of New Providence. Im sure it would have changed something.

And although there are now two separate Teachers Unions, the plight of teachers in the public service remains the same. Major says that whoever the newly elected BUT president is, their focus should be on listening to the needs of the members, to best serve them.

We have to find a better way in the education system to meet the needs of teachers.

Were doing our job, the ministry has an obligation to do theirs; we have an obligation to do ours and then once that is done then we know we can work together but we want to work together in a mutual respect.

If you have disagreements, meet; iron them out, do what you have to do to get the work done for your teachers.

Wilson has announced that this will be her last campaign, and highlighted projects she plans to carry out during her final three-year term. These include the completion of the multimillion-dollar complex, which is currently under construction; the facilitation of additional teacher training; and an affordable subdivision for members.

One thing that Ive not been able to get done is a Bahamas Union of Teachers housing subdivision, which weve put the corporate vehicle in place for that, Wilson said.

We have the list of our teachers who want houses. The government has identified some property, so we hope that we can get that property so we can get about 40 homes built for our members.

I believe, if we can get those houses built, even if not all of them, just some of them, I believe that will make my heart really glad and Ill be pleased, she added.

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Wilson wins sixth consecutive term Eye Witness News - EyeWitness News

Here's the official release from the team:

The Miami HEAT announced today that they will hold their 2022 Training Camp presented by Baptist Health, at Baha Mar in the Bahamas, from Tuesday, September 27 through Saturday, October 1, 2022.

Following Media Day on Monday, September 26 at FTX Arena, the HEAT will travel to the Bahamas and will conduct two-a-day practice sessions Tuesday through Friday at the award-winning luxury resorts Convention, Arts and Entertainment Center. The team will conclude training camp on Saturday with a practice session open to invited guests and kids from the Bahamas Youth Basketball Federation, before returning to Miami on Saturday afternoon.

Media availability will take place following the first daily practice session only, with a viewing time updated each day. A media workroom will be set up within the Baha Mar Convention Center in the Inagua Room. Media should enter through the resort side entrance of the convention center.

Training camp is not open to the public.

Opened by Grand Hyatt, the Baha Mar Convention Center is one of the largest event venues in the Caribbean, designed to be the ultimate destination for events. The 200,000 square foot indoor and outdoor convention facility features state-of-the-art courts for players, elevated seating experiences for viewers, and leading technology to film and broadcast training.

We are honored to be chosen as the host destination for The Miami HEAT 2022 Training Camp and thrilled to be entering a multi-year partnership with the three-time NBA champions, said Graeme Davis, President of Baha Mar. A quick flight from Miami, Baha Mar is the leading Caribbean destination for world-class athletes and sporting events. We look forward to welcoming the team for a week of training, coupled with the opportunity to explore the resorts wide array of amenities, experiences and world-class restaurants.

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Miami Heat To Hold Training Camp in the Bahamas - Sports Illustrated

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Under the theme Ocean Champions, the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation summer Sea Camp programme reached more than 100 children on the islands of New Providence, Exuma, Eleuthera, and Andros.

BREEFs annual Sea Camp is an empowering, educational, and fun experience that every child in The Bahamas should have at least once. The camp provides hands-on experiential learning for students, using the natural environment as a teaching tool, and engages campers in protecting our oceans and their resources.

Sea Camp fosters a sense of appreciation for the Bahamian marine environment; it inspires campers to become environmental stewards while teaching them practical water skills to help them safely explore Bahamian marine coastal ecosystems.

Observing the progress in their swimming ability throughout the camp and their enthusiasm while identifying fish and coral below the surface is truly a rewarding experience, said Allison Longley, BREEF Outreach Officer, and Lead Camp Coordinator.

In total, BREEF says that over one hundred children were a part of this years programme.

One such participant was Leilah Mackey, who is nine years old. Explaining what she learned, Mackey said overfishing and plastics in the water is harming fish and will make them go extinct. Turtles are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of plastics.

I am motivated to educate people about how they can help so we can have fish for future generations, she said.

Dale Pinder, age 14, was similarly motivated following the camp.

Having the opportunity to experience the coral reefs during the BREEF camp has made me want to protect the environment even more so that the next generation can enjoy it, Pinder said.

Ethan Cordona, age 11, said: I have learned that many fish species are endangered, and so fish need more protection all around the world and not just here in The Bahamas.

BREEF kicked off the summer of 2022 by hosting its Sea Camp programme in New Providence. During the camp, children experienced our marine environment by immersing themselves in the coral reef and mangrove ecosystems, which included a snorkel field trip to Bonefish Pond National Park, Saunders Beach, and Long Wharf Beach.

For many campers, this was their very first time snorkeling. Ocean Champions were spotted on Saunders beach taking action and combatting plastic pollution by conducting a beach cleanup, collecting over 40lbs of garbage, and using some of it to create ocean conservation art.

Leaving garbage on the ground leads to it ending up in our waters and harming our marine life. If we dont take action to protect our marine life, they will die, said Evante Haven, age 9.

BREEF traveled to Georgetown, Exuma conducting a Sea Camp day experience full of ocean adventures in partnership with the British American Financial Group (BAF) camp. Campers learned more about our blue Bahamas through an interactive coral reef and fish identification presentation followed by a fun afternoon snorkeling session.

In Eleuthera, the highlight of the camp was a memorable snorkel trip to Twin Coves located in Governors Harbour. Throughout the week, campers learned about the importance of fisheries regulations, marine protected areas, and climate change. BREEF Sea Campers also had fun in the sun while learning about renewable energy by using a solar panel to collect and store energy and power various devices.

The final fun-filled Sea Camp took place at award-winning Kamalame Cay, where campers enjoyed the remarkable island off the north side of Andros. The Sea Camp had a diverse group of campers, including children from The Bahamas, the United States of America, and Italy. It was a great experience for all to have such diverse backgrounds but share a common groundtheir enthusiasm for the water. Students had a fantastic time on the cay learning about the Bahamian marine environment, including mangroves and coral reefs.

BREEF extends its gratitude to all its partners who hosted the camp, including Ardastra Gardens & Wildlife Conservation Centre, Haynes Library, Kamalame Cay, BAF Global Group Ltd, and all of the BREEF volunteers who assisted during the duration of the camp.

To learn more about how you can get involved in BREEFs marine education programmes, please visit http://www.breef.org.

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BREEF Summer Camp takes marine education to the islands - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The Bahamas subtropical weather makes us experience autumn in a pretty unique way. Although the wind doesnt suddenly pick up, with all the leaves turning brown and falling off the trees like in the places we often see on TV; symptoms of allergies during this time of year tend to be pretty much universal.

Family Medicine Center Medical Director, Dr. Graham Cates said staying ahead of the problem is key.

He said people predisposed to sinus or nasal congestion, speaking with your doctor to get the medications that can help you through the season can save a lot of the headache that comes with scrambling around after the symptoms get too intense.

If you are somebody who is predisposed towards having congestion, nasal congestion, then obviously making sure that you speak with your health care provider so that you can have the necessary medications, whether those be over-the-counter recommendations or whether those be medications that are prescription medications, Cates said.

Pollen, dust, animal dander, and temperature changes are some of the triggers that may clash with the respiratory system during the fall season. Cates outlines several symptoms that come about as a result of these elements.

Nasal congestion, difficulty with breathing; and then some people may have other symptoms that may extend into their sinus cavities where they may get facial pain, and facial discomfort associated with it.

And then beyond that, it may extend even into your ears where youre having the popping of your ears or you cant clear your ears, like when you go on a plane, the physician said.

Aside from prevention, steering clear of the things that trigger allergies as much as possible is what the family physician says is part of the solution.

For example, if youre allergic to dust. Dust is one of those triggers. Try to keep things within the home environment, or the work environment dust free as much as possible, making sure that obviously, you have other triggers in the house, like carpets that are going to collect dust.

It may be better for you to consider removing those and using tiles within your home in the workplace, making sure that the air-conditioned filtration system is serviced and changed regularly to reduce your exposure to those allergens that you may actually have, he said.

If over-the-counter medicines, anti-histamines, and limiting exposure to pollen, dust, dander, and certain weather conditions arent enough to control the effects, Cates suggested seeking help from healthcare professionals who can prescribe stronger medications and antibiotics after assessing symptoms.

He added that it is important for individuals to take personal responsibility in monitoring their symptoms and conditions and reaching out for professional medical assistance whenever there is a health risk.

The old adage of prevention is better than cure is certainly true, Cates added.

So being aware of what your triggers are, trying to limit those triggers and reduce your symptoms during this allergy season.

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How to prevent fall allergies, avoid the headache - EyeWitness News

Jacksonville, Fl. The Buresh Bottom Line: Always be prepared!.....First Alert Hurricane Survival Guide... City of Jacksonville Preparedness Guide... Georgia Hurricane Guide.

STAY INFORMED: Get the * FREE * First Alert Weather app

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WATCH Preparing for the Storm

WATCH The Ins & Outs of Hurricane Season

READ the First Alert Hurricane Center Survival Guide

LISTEN & WATCH Surviving the Storm - WOKV Radio & Action News Jax

***** ALWAYS CHECK & RE-CHECK THE LATEST FORECAST & UPDATES! *****

REMEMBER WHEN A TROPICAL STORM OR HURRICANE IS APPROACHING: Taping windows is *NOT* helpful & will not keep glass from breaking.

Realize the forecast cone (cone of uncertainty) is the average forecast error over a given time - out to 5 days - & *does not* indicate the width of the storm &/or damage that might occur.

** No direct *inland* impacts expected from Fiona for Jacksonville/NE Fl./SE Ga.... beaches to be affected by easterly swells, rough seas/surf & a high rip current risk mid through late week.... **

Atlantic Basin:

Tropical wave - 96-L was upgraded to tropical depression #7 Wed. morning then to tropical storm Fiona Wed. evening & to a hurricane Sun. morning. Fiona has been battling a narrow - but significant - 30-40 mph - band of westerly shear to its immediate west & northwest but has still managed to organize. Storm bands started wrapping around the center Fri. evening as the storm organizes & subsequently strengthens. Upper level outflow has increased as well indicating better ventilation is becoming established & outside of land interaction, Fiona should be steadily strengthening over the next several days. Of note - the center moving a little south of due west into the face of the shear - as was the case Wed./Thu. & parts of Fri. - has led to eventually powerful tropical cyclones which Fiona could become, most likely - in the longer range. After a jog north Sat., Fiona has resumed a more west/northwest course with a close approach to Puerto Rico through Sunday night then to near or over the Dominican Republic Mon. followed by a sharper turn north to near & just east of the SE Bahamian Islands.

FIONA SUMMARY/IMPACTS:

* Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands/nearby Caribbean islands: Heaviest rain, strongest winds & most severe seas through Sun. night with improving conditions by late Sun. night-Mon.

* Most intense impacts for Hispaniola late Sun. through Mon. Strongest winds will impact Dominican Republic along with flooding rains... Haiti will subject to some heavy rain & flooding but winds look to be much less

* Impacts to the Southeast Bahamas Mon. night through Tue. night.

* Possible impacts for Bermuda Thu. night/Fri.

* Possible - but still subject to change - impacts for Nova Scotia next weekend (becoming large/strong post-tropical ocean storm)

* Increasing swells/seas/surf + dangerous rip currents for virtually all of the U.S. east coast during the upcoming week (but Fiona well offshore)

Forecast models briefly trended more west Thu. but have trended back east recently which is why one should not become too obsessed with individual model runs. Some of the real time aircraft dropsonde data was used Thu. in the 18Z (2pm) GFS model run *but not* in the 00Z (8pm) model run which is probably why the GFS had a hiccup in the 18Z Thu. run showing a track much more west. I bemoan when real time data is not consistently used within the models as it usually causes inconsistency within the models. Either use it with reach run as long as its available or dont use it at all. The good news is that Gulfstream G-IV research aircraft started consistently flying Sat. & hopefully will continue the next several days with the data gathered from the atmospheric environment in & around Fiona then can be used to initialize the GFS for each run. This would help with better initial analysis for models at the beginning of the forecast cycle which would then - in theory - give more accurate output (forecast). The good news is that both the GFS & European models have generally been initializing/starting with a reasonable & accurate depiction of Fiona & its strength/location so far. Clustering & consistency of the models has recently improved with a definite trend east of the U.S. mainland. The GFS remains a little faster & bit more east than the European model... the UKMET appears to be out to lunch.

In any case... the historically more reliable models remain in better general agreement as the GFS is back to where its been for days - a powerful hurricane well east of Fl. mid week & staying east of the entire east coast of the U.S. through the end of the week. The European model has certainly trended east too though still slower, & now has even joined the party in taking Fiona far to the east of the entire U.S. east coast. A strong upper level trough still looks like itll capture Fiona by next weekend bending the transitioning to a post-tropical low to the north & northwest late in the week/next weekend which has implications for Nova Scotia as the low will remain very powerful. The UKMET model is still showing a relatively weak Fiona through next week far to the east of Fl. From an intensity standpoint in particular, the UKMET is an outlier (big time).

The westerly shear + somewhat dry air nearby have been the primary reasons for Fionas struggles the past several days. Having said that, Fiona still managed to produce strong & persistent convection despite less than ideal conditions. Overall environmental conditions are gradually improving near Fiona the next few days, so Fiona should become a hurricane sooner rather than later. The big caveat into Mon. will be eventual possible land interaction - especially the mountainous terrain of Hispaniola.

On the current official forecast track, Fiona will move near or a little east of some of the highest mountain ranges of Haiti & the Dominican Republic. Its this part of the forecast - Puerto Rico & Hispaniola - that right now is the most critical - the fork in the road when it comes to strength & track once over the SW Atlantic given the track over land could seriously disrupt Fionas organization. The two most major steering influences otherwise will be: (1) the Bermuda high (clockwise circulation) which remains well to the northeast over the Atlantic... & (2) the strength of Fiona - weaker is longer to the west steered more by low level flow (trade winds)... stronger will be faster to make the turn more northwest then north (steered by mid & upper level flow)... & (3) a strong upper level trough that moves into New England & the NW Atlantic late in the week.

From the Greater Antilles, forecast models continue to trend northward next week with Fiona which is reasonable given the now obvious alleyway thats become well established over the W. Atlantic. There will be some stair-stepping (north then NW to north, even NE then back to the north or NW) at times as weak upper level troughs come & go through mid week before Fiona encounters the strong upper level trough in about 4-5 days. The model spread has - for the most part - narrowed considerably. One cant overlook the GFS stability & reliability so far which takes Fiona will be near/just south of Puerto Rico then starts to turn Fiona north early enough/fast enough to mostly avoid Hispaniola to the immediate east through the Mona Passage (between Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico) while possible just glancing the eastern/NE coast of the Dominican Republic. This path would mimic Matthew in 2016 (in the short term!) which shot through the narrow (only about 80 miles) strait of ocean with few impacts from land. I still favor the track well east of Florida which is the trend indicated in the models as well.

Overall - once away from the Greater Antilles/Leeward Islands - it looks like conditions (water temps., shear & moisture) will favor strengthening next week. It *appears* Fiona will stay far to the east of Florida & most of the U.S. east coast, but we should check & re-check the First Alert forecast.

Another interesting forecasting tidbit... a typhoon over the W. Pacific is turning sharply to the north then northeast impacting Japan this weekend (track map at the bottom). This typhoon teleconnection might correlate rather well with Fiona over the W. Atlantic next week & the rather sharp turn north & - in time - northeast. This correlation is possible because of the upper level pattern - troughs (dips) & ridges (upside down Us) in the jet stream - that often (not always) mirror each basin (Pacific & Atlantic). See maps 6 & 7 below.

So to recap: Fiona is a storm that will have serious impacts on the Northern Leeward & virtually all of the Eastern Windward Islands of the Caribbean (no direct impacts to Cuba) through Sun. night into Monday with very heavy rain & strong winds with flooding & possible mudslides... then eventually at least some impact on some of the Bahamas Tue./Wed. - especially the Turks and Caicos Islands - followed by a move more north & - finally - north/northeast. Then there will be the bend back to the north or even northwest over the N & NW Atlantic late in the week.

Elsewhere... a couple of pretty strong tropical waves are over the Eastern Atlantic with at least some potential for slow development. One low over the Central Atlantic will move more north so no chance to move across the Atlantic. A more southern latitude wave just off the African coast may try to chug its way westward, at least in the short term.

Some weak low pressure is developing over the Western Atlantic to the east of the Carolinas & E/NE of Jacksonville in response to an upper level trough. The low should move slowly east/southeast embedded within strong shear that will likely hinder development & there may some interaction with Fiona by mid week if the low has not already dissipated.

Spaghetti plots including the ensemble (faint lines showing all the model runs which gives an indication of the uncertainty):

Mountainous terrain over especially the Central & Western portions of Hispaniola with some peaks 10,000+ feet:

Image Courtesy: NASA/JPL/SRTMImage

Possible upper level (about 30,000 feet) teleconnection with troughs & ridges between the Atlantic (steering Fiona) & the Pacific (steering W. Pacific typhoons):

San Juan radar:

Water vapor loop shows some dry air near wave 96-L, but its more moist than past days:

A zone of shear - on the order of 20-30+ mph - remains east/west just north of Fiona. Forecast models gradually take Fiona to the edge then west of the strongest shear.

Friday night recon mission:

Thursday recon mission:

September origins:

Averages below based on climatology for the Atlantic Basin through September. This season so far is well below avg.:

Wind shear:

Saharan dust spreads west each year from Africa by the prevailing winds (from east to west over the Atlantic). Dry air - yellow/orange/red/pink. Widespread dust is indicative of dry air that can impede the development of tropical cyclones. However, sometimes wanna be waves will just wait until they get to the other side of - or away from - the plume then try to develop if other conditions are favorable. In my personal opinion, way too much is made about the presence of Saharan dust & how it relates to tropical cyclones. In any case, weve had several large dust plumes spread west to the Caribbean & Gulf with the peak of Saharan dust typically in June & July.

2022 names..... Gaston is the next name on the Atlantic list (names are picked at random by the World Meteorological Organization... repeat every 6 years). Historic storms are retired [Florence & Michael in 18... Dorian in 19 & Laura, Eta & Iota in 20 & Ida in 21]). In fact, this years list of names is rather infamous with Charley, Frances, Jeanne & Ivan retired from the 04 list (all hit Fl.) & Matthew was retired in 2016. The WMO decided - beginning last year - that the Greek alphabet will be no longer used & instead there will be a supplemental list of names if the first list is exhausted (has only happened three times - 2005, 2020 & 2021). The naming of tropical cyclones began on a consistent basis in 1953. More on the history of naming tropical cyclones * here *.

East Atlantic:

Mid & upper level wind shear (enemy of tropical cyclones) analysis (CIMMS). The red lines indicate strong shear:

Water vapor imagery (dark blue indicates dry air):

Deep oceanic heat content over the Gulf, Caribbean & deep tropical Atlantic:

Sea surface temp. anomalies:

SE U.S. surface map:

Surface analysis centered on the tropical Atlantic:

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Talking the Tropics With Mike: Fiona becomes a hurricane near Puerto Rico - ActionNewsJax.com

An American woman was killed in a shark attack while snorkeling with her family in the Bahamas on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

A family of five, from the Lake Erie area of Pennsylvania, were on a snorkeling tour in the waters northwest of Rose Island when one of them -- a 58-year-old woman -- was attacked by a bull shark shortly before 3 p.m. local time, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Tour operators along with family members attempted to rescue the woman but were unsuccessful, police said. The victim suffered serious injuries to the left side of her body and was transported by the tour boat to nearby Fort Montagu on the eastern shore of New Providence island, where she was pronounced dead by emergency medical responders, according to police.

In this screen grab from a video, authorities arrive at the location where a 58-year-old Pennsylvania woman was killed during a bull shark attack off Rose Island in The Bahamas.

Obtained by ABC News

The victim was identified by her employer as Caroline DiPlacido, project coordinator for the Office of Community and Government Relations at Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania.

"Caroline was a powerful presence of kindness and friendship to colleagues, students, and the wider community and cherished many family ties to Gannon," the university said in a statement. "The news is devastating, and she will be missed."

Caroline DiPlacido in an undated photo.

Caroline DiPlacido/Facebook

DiPlacido, a 1986 graduate of the university, is survived by her husband and three children, according to the school statement.

The victim and her family had arrived in the Bahamas on Tuesday morning via Royal Caribbean's cruise ship Harmony of the Seas, police said.

In this screen grab from a video, people arrive at the location where a 58-year-old Pennsylvania woman was killed during a bull shark attack off Rose Island in The Bahamas.

Obtained by ABC News

Royal Caribbean confirmed in a statement that the woman was a guest on the seven-night cruise, which sailed from Port Canaveral, Florida, on Sunday.

She was on an "independent shore excursion" in Nassau when attacked by a shark and succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital, according to the Miami-based cruise line.

"Royal Caribbean is providing support and assistance to the guest's loved ones during this difficult time," the company said in the statement Tuesday.

In June 2019, an American tourist snorkeling off Rose Island was killed in a shark attack. The victim, 21-year-old Loyola-Marymount University student Jordan Lindsey, died after a school of sharks attacked her.

ABC News' Mina Kaji contributed to this report.

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American killed in shark attack while snorkeling in the Bahamas, police ...

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An American tourist was killed by a shark during a vacation in the Bahamas, according to local authorities.

The 58-year-old woman was on a snorkeling trip with her family when she was fatally maimed by a bull shark.

"It is further reported that family members observed a bull shark attacking the female," police said, according to Reuters. Tour company employees and family members rushed to rescue the woman.

The victim, who was a Pennsylvania resident, was taken a local hospital and declared dead. Police say that her upper body sustained injuries.

SHARK SIGHTINGS PLAGUE BEACHES NATIONWIDE OVER THE WEEKEND

FILE- A bull shark gets up close to inspect divers during an eco-tourism shark dive off of Jupiter, Florida, on May 5, 2022. (Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The woman and her family were passengers on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas cruise. According to Royal Caribbean International, it was an independent shore excursion.

The incident took place off the island of Green Cay, which is a half mile away from Rose Island where a 21-year-old American woman was killed in a shark attack in 2019.

SUMMER SHARK SIGHTINGS CONTINUE TO SPIKE ON EAST COAST

Royal Caribbean International confirmed the incident to Fox News Digital.

"It's just an unfortunate situation," Royal Bahamas Police Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings said at a news conference.

Royal Caribbean International said it is "providing support and assistance" to the shark attack victim's family. (Royal Caribbean)

"Royal Caribbean International is providing support and assistance to the guests loved ones at this time," a spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Harmony of the Seas is currently on a7-nightcruise that sailed from Port Canaveral, Fla., on Sunday, Sept. 4."

The incident comes a month after an 8-year-old British boy was attacked by three nurse sharks in the Bahamas.

The victim was rushed to a nearby island, where she was pronounced dead. (EyesWideOpen/Getty Images)

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"My son could have been killed," the boy's father, Michael Downer, said. "It was like a scene out of Jaws."

Reuters contributed to this report.

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American woman killed by shark while snorkeling in the Bahamas

A shark attacked and killed a U.S. cruise ship passenger who was snorkeling in waters around the Bahamas on Tuesday, according to authorities.

The incident involved a 58-year-old woman from Pennsylvania and occurred at a popular snorkeling spot near Green Cay in the northern Bahamas, police spokeswoman Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings told The Associated Press. Skippings said the woman's family identified it as a bull shark.Royal Caribbean International said in a statement that the person died after arriving at a local hospital for treatment and that the company is helping their loved ones. They said the guest was participating in an independent shore excursion in Nassau and had been sailing on Harmony of the Seas, which is on a seven-night trip after departing Florida on Sunday.

The woman has not been identified publicly by authorities, but Gannon University, a private Catholic school in Erie, Pennsylvania, identified her as alumna and current university employee Caroline DiPlacido. The university said she was the project coordinator for the Office of Community and Government Relations on the Erie campus.

"Caroline was a powerful presence of kindness and friendship to colleagues, students, and the wider community and cherished many family ties to Gannon," the university said. "The news is devastating, and she will be missed."

The school said she is survived by her mother, husband and three children.

The majority of shark attacks in the Caribbean have occurred in the Bahamas, with two reported in 2019, one of them fatal. That incident involved a Southern California woman who was on vacation and was attacked by three sharks near Rose Island, located just a half mile from where Tuesday's attacked occurred.In December 2020, a fatal shark attack was reported in the French Caribbean territory of St. Martin, the first such incident in that region.Overall, at least 32 shark attacks have been reported in the Bahamas since 1749, a number followed by 13 attacks in Cuba during that time period, including one in 2019, according to the Florida-based International Shark Attack File.Michael Heithaus, a marine biologist at Florida International University in Miami, said in a phone interview that the high number of attacks in the Bahamas is likely linked to the fact that there are a lot of people in the water in that area and that it has a robust marine ecosystem.He said the Bahamas has a variety of shark species, the majority of which do not pay attention to people, except for bull sharks and tiger sharks."They get to very large sizes, and they eat big prey," Heithaus said, adding that sharks have incredible sensory systems and can be attracted to food, sounds and smells in the water.But overall, shark attacks remain rare, he stressed.Worldwide, there were 137 shark attacks last year, 73 of them unprovoked, according to the International Shark Attack File.

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Woman killed in shark attack while snorkeling in Bahamas, cruise ...

Ministry Marks the Successful Start of Global Sales and Marketing Missions

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (BMOTIA) this week, 7 September, hosted the first in a series of Global Sales and Marketing Missions at venues across Fort Lauderdale designed to further promote The Bahamas as a leading tourism destination and paved a path towards continued tourism recovery.

A delegation led by the Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, participated in a lineup of productive meetings with key stakeholders from across the tourism industry, culminating in a culturally-inspired evening event at the Broward Center for The Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.

During a tour of the newly named Little Bahamas of Coconut Grove, DPM Cooper was presented with a key to the City of Miami by Congresswoman Fredricka Wilson a Bahamian descendent leading the charge to preserve the history and contribution of Bahamians, who were the city's first settlers.

Joined by destination representatives, hotel partners and BMOTIA executives, DPM Cooper and Acting Director General, Latia Duncombe, hosted 150 sales representatives and industry partners and some 20 media and influencers at the evening event. Guests were transported to The Bahamas via picturesque digital displays of the beautiful Bahama islands, promotional videos highlighting the offerings of the 16 island destinations, a three-course sit down dinner featuring a Bahamian inspired menu, and an electrifying Junkanoo performance. A live Q+A panel highlighted The Bahamas' steadily growing tourism numbers for key industry leaders, sales and trade representatives, stakeholders and media in attendance.

"All of our markets are critical to our success as we strive to reach pre-pandemic tourism arrivals," said Duncombe.

"We have daily airlift coming from Florida and it's extremely important for us to show how easy it is to get to and through the islands of The Bahamas. Whether it's boating fishing, diving, or the MICE market, there are significant opportunities here in Florida just 50 miles away. We are reengaging our trade and media partners as part of our strategy to double stopover visitors across our 16 island destinations.

"We know it's not always possible for key industry sales and media representatives to visit our beautiful islands -- so it is important for us to bring a taste of The Bahamas directly to them to ensure the destination remains top of mind in a very competitive landscape."

The series of events will continue onto Orlando, Florida, 8 Sept., followed by New York City, New York, later this month. Further stops in North America include Atlanta, Georgia; Houston, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Los Angeles, California, followed by cities across Canada.

In addition to major travel hubs throughout the U.S. and Canada, the delegation will be heading to Brazil, and the United Arab Emirates to bring a taste of Bahamian culture directly to key international markets across the globe to inspire travel to the destination.

ABOUT THE BAHAMASThe Bahamas has over 700 islands and cays, as well as 16 unique island destinations. Located only 50 miles off the coast of Florida, it offers a quick and easy way for travellers to escape their everyday. The island nation also boasts world-class fishing, diving, boating and thousands of miles of the Earth's most spectacular beaches for families, couples and adventurers to explore. See why It's Better in The Bahamas at http://www.bahamas.com or on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram.

PRESS INQUIRIES

Anita Johnson-PattyDirector, Global CommunicationsBahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation[emailprotected]

Weber ShandwickPublic Relations[emailprotected]

SOURCE The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (BMOTIA)

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The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation Brings The Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. as First in a Series of Tourism Focused Events...

Dnica Coto| The Associated Press

Pennsylvania woman sailing from Florida to Bahamas killed in shark attack

A woman traveling on a Royal Caribbean cruise out of Port Canaveral, Florida has died from injuries she sustained during an encounter with a shark.

Fox - 35 Orlando, Fox - 35 Orlando

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico A shark attacked and killed a U.S. cruise ship passenger who was snorkeling in waters around the Bahamas on Tuesday, authorities said.

The incident involved a 58-year-old woman from Pennsylvania and occurred at a popular snorkeling spot near Green Cay in the northern Bahamas, police spokeswoman Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings told The Associated Press.

Its unfortunate, she said.

Skippings said the womans family identified it as a bull shark.

Royal Caribbean International said in a statement to the AP that the woman died after arriving at a local hospital for treatment and that the company is helping her loved ones. They said the guest was on an independent shore excursion in Nassau and had been sailing on Harmony of the Seas, which is on a seven-night trip after departing Florida on Sunday.

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Most shark attacks in the Caribbean have occurred in the Bahamas. Two were reported in 2019, one of them fatal. That incident involved a Southern California woman who was on vacation and was attacked by three sharks near Rose Island, just a half mile from the site of Tuesdays attack.

In December 2020, a fatal shark attack was reported in the French Caribbean territory of St. Martin, the first such incident in that region.

Overall, at least 32 shark attacks have been reported in the Bahamas since 1749and 13 attacks in Cuba during that time period, including one in 2019, according to the Florida-based International Shark Attack File.

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Michael Heithaus, a marine biologist at Florida International University in Miami, said in a phone interview that the high number of attacks in the Bahamas is probably the result of a lot of people in the water in that area and a robust marine ecosystem.

He said the Bahamas has a variety of shark species, the majority of which do not pay attention to people, except for bull sharks and tiger sharks.

They get to very large sizes, and they eat big prey, Heithaus said, adding that sharks have incredible sensory systems and can be attracted to food, sounds and smells in the water.

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But overall, shark attacks arerare, he said.

Worldwide, there were 137 shark attacks last year, 73 of them unprovoked, according to the International Shark Attack File.

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Bahamas shark attack: PA woman killed while snorkeling, police say - USA TODAY