Category Archives: Bahamas

EDITOR, The Tribune.

MANY Bahamians need a job, the PLP Government has been unsuccessful in providing sufficient jobs for a diversified Bahamian workforce in the Bahamas. Everybody is not a hotel worker in our Bahamas, Baha Mar cannot employ all of the Young Bahamians who are out of High School and College.

The Government needs to pay back part of their deficit you can use part of the VAT now the Bahamas Parliament will soon be dissolved and the PLP is now saying the electorate is late in registering to vote.

The PLP did not say that during the last referendum. But the PLP had turned the principles around, now the PLP needs to bow to the Bahamian electorate again at the upcoming general election.

The world is watching The Bahamas.

Thursday, January 26th, I personally visited the Princess Margaret Hospital and their computers were down for approximately five hours. Mr Minister of Health, you need to investigate this issue, before the house dissolves.

The first among equals will soon ring the election bell, ring your bell, sir, ring it when you are ready.

Baha Mar is not a Bahamas Government owned corporation. It is a private entity.

So the Government needs to stop announcing incorrect opening dates for a Private Company, Baha Mar.

The Bahamas Government has facilitated Baha Mar now you need to do your homework for the upcoming general election. You lost in the referendum.

The Bahamian electorate needs a change of Government and a change of Government is very much essential for the Bahamian people at this time.

The PLP do not have much time to investigate the corruption at the Road Traffic Department, VAT and the public landfill.

Many Bahamians all over The Bahamas are saying Hell No, Hell No investigate the issue before you go.

The Bahamian electorate is set to make their historic move on election day.

This is my comment as a British-trained political analyst. Based on the political temperature in our Bahamas at this time the people are indeed ready and willing to rock with Doc and the Free National Movement whenever the Bahamas House of Parliament is dissolved.

The Government should have adequate funds in the consolidated funds that at certain times to finance projects and not to delay all projects and tell the Bahamian people that you are waiting on the corporate entities to pay their company VAT or NI are you running a petty shop? Corruptibility cannot prevail in The Bahamas.

Do you need to borrow more money again to pay back for what were missing at the Road Traffic Department?

I would be much obliged for an opportunity to ask the leader of the official opposition ten questions over any of the public media the ten questions would be centred on government and politics.

I would like for the Bahamian electorate to determine if you are a real political leader. The Bahamian people need a visionary leaders who can govern the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Long live the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

BB MOSS Sr

Nassau,

March 8, 2017.

See the article here:

Bahamas Deficit - Bahamas Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

EFFORTS are underway by officials at the University of The Bahamas (UB) to secure representatives from every political party with a view to hosting a series of town hall meetings centred on national debate, political polling and scientific research.

Dr Christopher Curry, Chair of the School of Social Science at UB, said the concept is a step in the right direction for the country and its political climate, claiming that the inclusion of public and media at this level of the election process should translate into a more involved electorate.

Dr Curry added that, as a country, the Bahamas has never approached its electoral process from this standpoint, stressing that the move could lead to a systematic shift from a "party-like concept" of electoral discussions to one of "rational discourse".

The proposed series - which will start on Wednesday - is expected to run over the course of several weeks in the lead up to the election; featuring discussions on Small Island Sustainability; Economy and National Development; Local Government and the Family Islands; and Governance: Democracy or Dictatorship.

Organisers said they remain hopeful that the series could climax with a leadership debate featuring Prime Minister Perry Christie, Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis and Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Branville McCartney among others.

However, Dr Curry said that the final elements of that "finale" is still "a ways off", with several elements still having to "come together".

"This is unprecedented for the Bahamas, but as I say that, I have to note that it is something that moves us in the right direction," Dr Curry said.

He added: "Never before have we had political procedures approached from this standpoint; debate, rational discourse or reasoning on how best to move the country forward. It has often been centred on a party like concept where rallies take on the form of celebrations.

"Now we are talking about scientific processes, data analysis, formatted questions that lend to a resolution in certain cases. We want to generate polling, statistics and community involvement."

According to Dr Curry, Wednesday's town meeting willbe constructed around the topic, "Is the Justice System just?" and feature presentations for crime and justice spokespersons from respective parties.

Senator Keith Bell, Progressive Liberal Party candidate for Carmichael; Marvin Dames, FNM candidate for Mt Moriah; Stephen Greenslade, DNA candidate for Carmichael; Gregory Moss, leader of the United Democratic Party and MP for Marco City; Andrew Stewart, leader of the Bahamas National Coalition Party: Sharell Alli McIntosh, founder of the Bahamas Constitution Party; and Alex Morley, leader of the African Peoples Socialist Party are expected to participate.

Last year, in response to calls by some in the media for him to resign, Mr Christie challenged Dr Minnis and Mr McCartney to debate, stating: "Bring Minnis here, bring Branville here, Christie here and say tell us what you believe in, and make your judgment. Ask questions, see who has a command of the country, who understands where the country ought to be going and who could speak to those issues.

Subsequently, only Mr McCartney formally accepted the Prime Minister's invitation. The DNA leader went as far as to offer to cover all of the expenses associated with the event.

Dr Minnis for his part, brushed off the issue for several days, ultimately declining the opportunity on the grounds that he was more interested in unseating Mr Christie than in debating with him.

My answer to that challenge remains the same; we have an ineffective CEO running our country. I am by far more interested in removing him than a debate, said Dr Minnis.

Wednesday's forum will be hosted at 6pm at the university's Harry C Moore library.

See original here:

University Of The Bahamas Aims For Political Town Hall Meetings - Bahamas Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas could be perceived as having gone rogue if Royal Bank of Canadas (RBC) pull-out drives Bimini and Spanish Wells residents to use web shops for mainstream financial services transactions, a local provider warned yesterday.

Paul Moss, Dominion Management Services president, told Tribune Business that the Bahamas financial services reputation and integrity could be undermined if web shops became de facto banks in Family Island communities.

While the web shop industrys legalisation via the Gaming Act 2014 was intended to bring it and its finances into the formal economy, Mr Moss pointed out that all commercial banks - with the exception of Bank of the Bahamas - were accepting the sectors funds and deposits.

As a result, he warned that the Bahamas anti-money laundering regime, and international regulatory standing, could be compromised if Family Island residents increasingly turned to web shops and the underground economy to conduct their daily banking business.

That is what is going to happen; its happening even now, Mr Moss told Tribune Business of fears that web shops will fill the vacuum created by the withdrawal of RBC and other commercial banks from the Family Islands.

Web shops are going to see more financial banking business, and this is something the former Central Bank governor [Wendy Craigg] had concerns about.

John Rolle, her successor, has publicly sought to bridge the gap between the web shop industry and Bahamas-based commercial banks through education, exposing the latters compliance departments to the stringent regulatory regime imposed by the Gaming Act 2014.

Mr Moss, though, reiterated that this has yet to result in commercial banks outside Bank of the Bahamas accepting web shop deposits, thus potentially leaving hundreds of millions of dollars outside the regulated, formal banking system.

What were making now is a statement that the Bahamas might be a rogue in terms of its anti-money laundering regime, he warned.

What Im saying is that, if left unchecked - if theres no bank in Bimini or Spanish Wells, and the web shops are there - they will become de facto banks.

We know commercial banks, apart from Bank of the Bahamas, are not accepting web shop funds because of the perceived high risk attached, Mr Moss explained.

If that goes unchecked, almost implicit in that is we have allowed Bahamians to participate in unsupervised and unregulated financial transactions, and that creates a problem for the whole jurisdiction. Thats something weve got to guard against.

Web shops are already effectively used as money transmission providers, with Bahamians placing funds in their gaming accounts for pick-up on other islands.

However, concerns that they may be increasingly used for regular banking transactions have escalated since RBCs announcement that it will shortly close four branch locations, including three in the Family Islands.

The Bimini and Spanish Wells pull-outs will leave both islands without a physical commercial banking location, and force residents to travel to Freeport and Harbour Island, respectively, if they need to access a branch.

RBCs move has caused uproar among the residents and private sector on both islands, forcing Nathaniel Beneby, the banks Bahamas managing director, to meet with local government officials and some businesses on Bimini yesterday. Some complained, though, that they were unable to access the meeting.

RBCs pull-out follows Scotiabanks withdrawal from North Eleuthera and Long Island in 2015, as commercial banks seek to cut costs in a low-growth economy that has saddled them with a $1 billion-plus pile of non-performing loans.

The commercial banking industry is also trying to drive Bahamians to increasingly turn to electronic banking channels, such as the Internet and mobile apps, to conduct their financial services business rather than visit branches.

However, many observers feel the banks are trying to make Bahamians run before they can walk. This nation is still a cash-intensive economy, with many employees paid by cheque and requiring a branch to deposit and cash them, while many older Bahamians are not familiar with electronic banking technology.

Mr Moss said RBCs pull-out would cause tremendous hardship for Bimini and Spanish Wells residents, and expressed surprise the bank would choose to exit the former island given its strong economy.

Bimini, particularly over the last five years, has grown exponentially, with a number of Bahamians employed at the resort down there, he said. They have to use that bank because its the only facility there; they have to use it.

Its going to mean that people are going to have to use more cash, and its not good in any society where people cant have the banking services they desire. Its going to be tremendously hard.

With many Biminites likely to have to travel to Freeport just to cash and deposit their pay cheques, Mr Moss added: Its crazy. It doesnt make sense. Bimini is taking off.

I think RBC is making a strategic move, but the move is backwards. Bimini is poised for more development. There are more people looking at Bimini.

Mr Moss said the difficulty the Bahamas faced, especially with the Canadian-owned banks, was that branch closure decisions were taken either at Caribbean head offices or Toronto by persons who have no appreciation for the situation on the ground.

Arguing that banks played a vital role in sustaining Family Island communities, Mr Moss criticised what he described as a short-sighted hands-off approach towards ensuring financial services were available throughout the Bahamas.

He called for a proactive policy of promoting Bahamian bank/credit union development and ownership, and agreed that this nation look at legislative tools similar to the US Community Reinvestment Act.

This mandates that US-based banks not discriminate in the provision of financial services, and that these are provided to low income and remote communities on the same terms as received by more affluent persons.

It has also been used to require financial institutions to assist in the creation of credit unions, and savings and loan organisations, in neighbourhoods they have exited.

This is what the regulators should already be doing. We are at the mercy of the banks, Mr Moss told Tribune Business.

Weve had this hands-off approach to financial services. We stick our heads in the sand until we are forced to act. Were going to get these results, quite frankly with this hands-off approach to empowering Bahamians to own banks.

We should do that. Put the policies in place to make sure these banks dont get away from their obligations. Its an opportunity for the Government to look at policies so Bahamians can become owners of savings and loan institutions, or even fully-fledged banks.

Visit link:

Rbc Withdrawal May Send Bahamas 'Rogue' - Bahamas Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A former Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president yesterday said it was totally unfair, unjust and untrue for Baha Mars foreign bathroom manufacturer to criticise this nations skills construction labour shortages.

Stephen Wrinkle told Tribune Business that the assertion by Oldcastle SurePods, which made 1,800 prefabricated bathrooms for Baha Mars casino and Grand Hyatt hotels, again showed how the Government had failed to protect Bahamian contractors and employees.

The criticism arousing Mr Wrinkles ire came in a press release issued yesterday by Oldcastle to tout its bathrooms, which were pre-assembled and then shipped by container to Baha Mars property in Nassau prior to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing,

In addition to the speed, simplicity, superior quality and safety benefits of modular bathrooms, two things stand out with this project, said Bill Seery, Oldcastle SurePods director of business development.

Installing 1,800 bathrooms in one project site is our biggest job to date. Second, was our ability to ship to an island that faces skilled construction labour shortages.

Mr Wrinkle took issue with the latter remark, describing himself as saddened and disappointed by Oldcastles dismissive comment about the quality of the Bahamian construction workforce.

He questioned how many Bahamian contractors the company had talked to, or knew, and added: Thats totally unfair to Bahamian contractors and workers; totally unfair, unjust and untrue, and, once again, the Bahamas is not looking out for the interests of the Bahamian people.

How can Oldcastle presume to know what our construction capabilities are? They didnt contact the BCA for any relationship, and have not talked to any of the main contractors, yet they come in duty-free, get free board and house, do the work and take the profits home, while we have thousands of construction workers out of work.

Mr Wrinkle added: That doesnt compute. Thats why the economy is in the shape its in.

This will continue to be the modus operandi until we have a Government that respects the interests of industry and the private sector.

Oldcastle said its product had been selected by China Construction America (CCA), Baha Mars main contractor, to eliminate thousands of man hours from the project site, while ensuring five-star bathroom quality.

Oldcastle added that the prefabricated bathrooms were easy to lift, place and install, helping developers save time and money.

Read more:

Foreign Contractor Blasted On Bahamas Labour Criticisms - Bahamas Tribune

Royal Caribbean International has announced a major new enhancement project at its CocoCay private island destination in the Bahamas.

The project will include the construction of a new pier, additional guest features and amenities and a push to help vendors and craftsmen promote local Bahamian culture to cruise visitors.

The CocoCay announcement came as Royal Caribbean also revealed a new multi-year initiative aiming to help grow the countrys tourism industry, including a training program for Bahamians interested in working in hospitality and a new hospitality curriculum to train students for cruise industry careers with the company.

Royal Caribbean has been a long-standing partner of the islands of The Bahamas and their plans to significantly increase tourism to our country as well as to develop the talent of our youth and expand employment opportunities for Bahamians is commendable, said Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie.

Royal says it has committed to rapidly growing the number of Bahamian nationals employed by the cruise line in the next five years.

Tourism is an important engine of growth for the economy of destinations in the Caribbean and The Bahamas, and we are excited to bring more visitors on our newest and most innovative ships to this popular vacation spot, said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. Our commitment to The Bahamas is multifold. It is our responsibility to contribute to the countrys economic diversity, to its employment base and the training of Bahamian youth as well as the protection of the environment. We are excited about the continued growth of tourism in The Bahamas, and look forward to doing our part to keep that growth and progress moving along in the years to come.

Royal Caribbean currently brings 1.7 million passengers each year to the Bahamas, with plans to expand that number.

Continued here:

Royal Caribbean Has Big Plans in the Bahamas - Caribbean Journal

U.S. Army vet Kermit Johnson explains after his career change, LIMS gave him the amazing career opportunity which followed with an offer to film in the Bahamas. Dont miss a thing. Get breakingKHTS Santa Clarita News Alertsdelivered right to your inbox.

After the tour, I was pretty much stoked, Johnson says. This was my opportunity to actually change careers.

Johnson was involved in many other film positions, such as background or stand-in work, but he was never involved in sound until experiencing the production lots, which peaked his interest.

I always enjoyed the environments there, Johnson says.

The part that really initiated Johnson to become a part of LIMS is the support they provide for veterans.

Johnson joined the sound editing post-production department, and now as a graduate, he explains that, The skills they teach you there are skills that actually work in the real world.

LIMS provides real work experience, and that helped Johnson with an unplanned opportunity.

Fortunate for me, I had a job fall right into my lap, Johnson said: the opportunity to shoot a feature film in the Bahamas as a sound operator.

It was a fortunate moment where Johnson says he was at LIMS, at the right place, at the right time. Before I (knew) it, three days later, he said, I was on a plane to the Bahamas.

The Lifton Institute of Media Arts and Sciences, or LIMS, not only offers full-service movie studios Los Angeles filmmakers can use, but also doubles as a film production school. While LIMS students usually have never worked in the industry before, President Jimmy Lifton says that most people have skills that can be easily translated into the production trade. LIMS offers 10-week film production training and veterans job training programs designed to prepare students to go out and get a paid job on a movie or TV set.

Vet 200 Program

Lifton Institute of Media Arts & Sciences (LIMS)

27567 Fantastic Lane

Castaic, CA 91384

Here is the original post:

Army Veteran Gets Opportunity To Work In The Bahamas While On Set At LIMS - KHTS Radio

LOS ANGELES A spokeswoman for Peter Nygard says the Canadian clothing manufacturer plans to appeal a ruling in the Bahamas that found he violated a 2013 court order to stop dredging near his beachfront home.

In a statement Wednesday, Sallie Hofmeister says Nygard and his associates "respectfully disagree" with the ruling, but they have paid the $50,000 fine handed down by the Bahamas Supreme Court.

A lawyer for the environmental group Save the Bays, which brought the case against Nygard, released a statement Tuesday calling the court ruling "an extraordinary triumph for environmental justice in the Bahamas."

Fred Smith says Nygard has nearly doubled the size of his property over the years by digging up sand and placing it along his beachfront.

However, Hofmeister says Nygard Holdings Ltd. was issued a permit authorizing the "lawful removal of obstructions" from a marina on the property.

She says the permit was issued after the original court order, and the firm had no reason to believe it was invalid or issued without property authority.

"It remains our contention that the removal and stockpiling of sand from the Nygard Cay marina was carried out in good faith in full accordance with the conditions of a government-issued permit," Hofmeister says.

She also says the company will challenge part of the judge's ruling that requires the company to move the stockpiled sand to a nearby beach.

"There was no evidence presented in court showing that any sand removed from Nygard Cays marina since the injunction had migrated from Jaws Beach," Hofmeister says.

"Therefore we believe there is no justification for requiring the sand to be moved to Jaws Beach."

See the original post:

Canadian fashion mogul Nygard pays $50K fine in Bahamas, but will appeal ruling - Times Colonist

The smoke from the landfill has not cleared up as yet.

NASSAU, The Bahamas, Wednesday March 8, 2017 Residents of a community near the burning landfill in The Bahamas capital are not expected to get the all-clear to return to their homes for another few days.

While the massive fire at the New Providence Landfill in Nassau has been contained, Environment and Housing Minister Ken Dorsett said there will still be smoke in the Jubilee Gardens area and it was best for residents to stay away for now.

He said the firefighters were battling not only the fire at the landfill but also a forest fire in the surrounding areas.

Residents were forced to evacuate their homes when the fire, which began on Sunday, sent thick, black hazardous smoke into their neighbourhood.

We will probably be experiencing smoke for the next five to seven days. That is how long it will take to put this out. It will not be an easy fix, Dorsett said at a press conference on Monday.

We are still not recommending people return to their homes in Jubilee Gardens. The wind changes direction throughout the course of the day, but from what I have seen I do not think the police have changed their advice thus far in terms in returning to their homes.

Despite an evacuation order being in place for the rest of the week, some residents have returned to their area to assess whether their homes sustained any damage.

Prime Minister Perry Christie said government was considering providing financial assistance to residents who have been adversely affected.

He said at the press conference that damage assessments have started and the government will do whatever it takes to ensure that residents are returned to sense of normalcy in the shortest time period.

To the extent that premises were affected whether discoloration as a result of the smoke, whether inside fumigation what we would want to do and to give very serious consideration to is making that assessment and having the ministry coordinate an effective restitution, restoration process by way of assisting the residents to normalcy meaning, getting in there and whatever remediation process that should be initiated inside of the home, to restore it to what it should be, even with respect to painting outside the home if that has been affected Christie said.

The government will in fact involve itself in that process to ameliorate the situation for people and to bring them as quickly as possible back homeThe government will take further steps to ensure that the families that are affected will have some form of restoration back to normalcy.

Prime Minister Perry Christie (centre) at the press conference with Environment and Housing Minister Ken Dorsett (left) and Fire Services Chief, Superintendent Walter Evans (right). (Photo: Office of the Prime Minister Facebook page)

Meantime, noting that this was not the first fire at the landfill, the Prime Minister admitted that mistakes were made in handling solid waste at the dump by successive governments.

But he said he was personally involved in selecting a new manager for the landfill to introduce greater levels of technology and resources which would get rid of the problems nearby residents have faced over the years, once and for all.

We had meetings with a foreign entity with the capacity and assets that they manage in the US, and we met with a Bahamian group who advanced a foreign partnership with the expertise and resources.Together, we were approaching the final sort of concluding aspects of determining a new management company and the introduction of the measures that we believe would in fact eliminate, forever and forever, the kind of tragic circumstances that took place out there, Prime Minister Christie said.

Click hereto receive news via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

Read this article:

Bahamas Landfill Fire Under Control But Residents Told Not To Go ... - Caribbean360.com (subscription)

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

STABILITY in the countrys economic, education and environmental sectors were hailed as successful examples for Caribbean states by President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana David Granger this weekend during an exit interview with local press.

In an address moments before he boarded his return flight Saturday, concluding a three-day state visit to The Bahamas, the retired Brigadier General commended the Christie administration for sustaining one of the regions premier countries in the wake of one of the worlds most severe economic downturns.

General Granger, in the presence of Prime Minister Perry Christie at the Lynden Pindling International Airports VIP Lounge Saturday, said he viewed the three sectors as important lessons that could be adopted and adapted by every other country in the region, adding that his economic visit to The Bahamas would be viewed as a success in his country despite not returning with any written agreements.

General Granger, who throughout his time in The Bahamas pointed out that the Caribbean stood as a fragmented region that could advance through cooperation, said his belief was emboldened by what he witnessed specifically in Grand Bahama.

He said that the sincere and successful effort to by the government to deal with the economic issues plaguing the communities there showed him that patience, passion and forward-thinking were factors that could aid in his countrys efforts.

General Granger accompanied Mr Christie on a trip to Freeport, Grand Bahama, last Friday.

Of the trip, he said: We liked what we saw. It may just be container terminals, it may be just shipyards; but we saw at the second level, and I like to mention this, the work that is being done in education and for the youth. Because just going to the Hugh Campbell Primary School, you could feel the energy from those young people and I would like to come back 20 years from now.

The Bahamas has set an example to the rest of the Caribbean as to how we can transform smallness and poverty into economic power, he stated.

General Granger said his country would adopt the premise, smallness doesnt necessarily mean weakness, from The Bahamas moving forward.

There is no doubt, the government of The Bahamas has shown the way for small states and is a lesson and example for other states to learn. I have also emphasised that in some areas, particularly in the areas of our economical development, our tourism, we could learn from the tremendous years of experience and the wealth of expertise that we saw in The Bahamas, to develop our tourist product.

He added: I would like to feel that in more business like visits, my ministers would be coming back to work one on one with the responsible minister on the Bahamian side to ensure that these lessons are not just filed away, but that they become the pillars of partnership between what they call, the northern most English speaking Caribbean state and the southern most English speaking Caribbean state. So you have not seen the last of us.

Last weeks visit marked General Grangers first official visit to The Bahamas.

His country, like many other nations in South America, is battling through a massive economic decline.

In addition to that ordeal, the country is reported to be locked into a territorial dispute with neighbouring Venezuela, something that has seen battle ready warships move into Guyanese waters over the course of the last two years.

According to General Granger, his journey to The Bahamas was geared around finding feasible logistical concepts that could be implemented by his country to ease the grip of the continents economic woes.

Grateful

In response to his praise of the Bahamas on Saturday, Mr Christie said the objective praise was something his administration was intrigued to hear, adding that the Bahamian populace could now see and hear from countries in similar conditions and compare and contrast the rate at which The Bahamas is performing.

Mr Christie, noting how grateful he was for the presidents comments, said his administration has from a fiscal point of view done all it could given the demands of our country.

Cautioning the public over the oppositions doom and gloom talk, Mr Christie added: Unlike any other country in the region, and I argue even in the hemisphere, we have an island nation that requires duplication resources - schools, hospitals, clinics, roads, water and it is a work in progress, it costs a lot of money.

Advancing his argument, Mr Christie contended that his government has to manage and promote a total of 28 airports, several of which have to operate international flights.

He said his administration has gauged estimates on how much it would take to move these facilities to international standards - $150m, he noted.

Mr Christie added: You dont earn that, you have to go out and borrow it it adds to the national debt.

The point was supported by General Granger who noted that his country, which is larger than The Bahamas, has only two airports to manage.

Mr Christie noted that most countries in the region are grappling with similar problems and a united effort, in time, could alleviate the pressures faced by all in the region.

To thank The Bahamas for hosting him and members of his delegation, General Granger presented Mr Christie with a painting of a jaguar; the animal is considered noble in Guyana.

Additionally, General Granger pledged to ship several of his nations national tree crops to the Bahamas as a part of Guyanas National Tree Day celebration later this year.

Read the original here:

Guyana president hails Bahamas as example to the Caribbean | The ... - Bahamas Tribune

SmartNews Keeping you current ( Christopher Dorobek /Flickr)

smithsonian.com March 7, 2017 1:42PM

There are many reasons to visit the Bahamasbeautiful beaches, conch fritters, killer snorkeling. But in recent years one of the biggest attractions has been the island nations pigs. The swimming pigs of Exuma to be exact, a group of porkerson a small island called Big Major Cay, who over the years have taken up the hobby of paddling around in the areas crystal blue waters. Recently,however, at least seven members of the now-famous pig colony mysteriously died, their bodies found floating in the sea, reports Ben Guarino at The Washington Post.

Wayde Nixon, one of the farmers that originally brought pigs to the island about 30 years ago, told Sloan Smith at the Nassau Guardianin late February that he initially believed tourists, who interact with the pigs and feed them, may have caused the deaths by giving the pigs alcohol and junk food. Kim Aranha, president of the Bahamas Humane Society, also speculated on the cause. It could just be a horrible accident where they ate something poisonous, she told local news source Tribune 242in late February. "It could be malicious but I dont really see why someone would go out of their way to hurt those lovely animals.

Now, Delaney Chambers at National Geographic reports on March 4 that a preliminary examination shows that the pigs likely died from ingesting too much sand.

The pigs have been on the island so long, they are used to foraging for natural food, Ventoi Bethune, an inspector with the Bahamas Humane Society, tells Chambers. The pigs would occasional prance down onto the beach for a snack from visitors. But increased popularity and big influx of tourists have changed the pigs' habits. In recent years, the pigs have even been featured on the reality show The Bachelor. Now [the pigs] stay on the beach and arent living in the forest.

Instead, the porkers eat small bits of food thrown by tourists, which means they probably get a snoutful of sand each time they take a nibble. An ongoing drought on the island which has dried up the pigs water supply may have also contributed to the deaths.

Despite the die-off, tourists will still be able to visit the remaining pigs, though they may not be able to swim or pet the porkers as they did in the past. Bethune tells Chambersthat a warden will now be stationed at Pig Beach. V. Alfred Gray, the Bahamas'Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources tells Smith that the agency will soon establish rules for interacting with the pigs, including a boundary around the pigs and restricted feeding by the public.

Like this article? SIGN UP for our newsletter

Jason Daley is a Madison, Wisconsin-based writer specializing in natural history, science, travel, and the environment. His work has appeared in Discover, Popular Science, Outside, Mens Journal, and other magazines.

View original post here:

What Killed More Than Half a Dozen of the Bahamas' Swimming Pigs? - Smithsonian