Category Archives: Bahamas

Comedian Lil Duval is recovering in a hospital after he was hit by a car while riding an all-terrain vehicle in the Bahamas.

Duval, whose real name is Roland Powell, was flown to a hospital in Nassau earlier this week for a broken hip and other injuries. In an Instagram video he posted Tuesday, the comedian is seen covered in bandages as his gurney is wheeled toward a small plane.

"Somebody hit me in they car while i was on my 4 wheeler. Now my leg broke and i gotta get flown over to nassau and have surgery," Duval captioned the video before clarifying in a separate post that he suffered a broken hip in the accident, not a broken leg.

In another Instagram video, a doctor seen was drilling into his knee in an apparent medical procedure.

Duval also shared updates on Twitter, writing in a post that the car was traveling "full speed" when it hit him. He said doctors told him it was "amazing" that he had no internal bleeding.

The comedian has since been transferred to Jackson Memorial Hospital in South Florida, according to ABC affiliate WPLG of Miami. The news station said he arrived Wednesday via Trinity Air Ambulance.

Further details about the accident were not available. The Royal Bahamas Police Force did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday.

Duval was on BETs comedy competition series "Coming to the Stage" in 2005 and has appeared on "Wild N Out" with Nick Cannon as well as MTV2's "Guy Code" and "Hip Hop Squares." The comedian also released several singles including "Smile (Living My Best Life)" and "Black Men Don't Cheat."

Minyvonne Burkeis a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News.

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Comedian Lil Duval flown to hospital after being hit by a car while riding ATV in the Bahamas - NBC News

Nigerias Ambassador to Cuba, Benaoyagha Okoyen, has presented his Letters of Credence as the non-Resident High Commissioner Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to The Bahamas.

The Bahamas is officiallyknown as the Commonwealth ofThe Bahamas.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that he has concurrent accreditation to Nicaragua, and Honduras.

Okoyen presented the Letters of Credence to Mr Cornelius Smith, the Governor-General of The Bahamas, in Nassau on Wednesday, the Embassy of Nigeria stated on Thursday in Havana.

He thanked Smith for accepting his nomination as High Commissioner-designate and extended the warm greetings of President Muhammadu Buhari to the governor-general and the people of The Bahamas.

Receiving the credentials, Smith congratulated and welcomed Okoyen and wished him success in his responsibilities as Nigerias High Commissioner to The Bahamas.

He also extended warm greetings to President Buhari and expressed his governments desire to move relations between the two countries higher.

After the presentation, Okoyen had a brief meeting with the governor-general, who extended an invitation to President Buhari.

At the meeting, Okoyen expressed commitment to deepen bilateral ties between Nigeria and The Bahamas.

This, he said, included the conclusion of pending cooperation agreements of the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) in Nigeria and promoting new areas in private banking, tourism, trade and investments.

Responding, Mr Cornelius Smith invited Nigeria to participate at the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in October.

Amb Benaoyagha Okoyen (L) presenting a gift to the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas , Honourable Philip DAVIS,(R) after the presentation of the letters of Credence.

Okoyen was also received by Mr Philip Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas.

The prime minister assured Okoyen of his support and recalled his meeting with President Buhari in Rwanda and further extended his personal greeting to the President of Nigeria. (NAN)

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Nigeria's envoy presents Letters of Credence at The Bahamas The Sun Nigeria - Daily Sun

A man, who police believe is responsible for the shooting death of four-year-old Kenton Seymour Jr, is expected to be charged with murder next week.

Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander gave members of the media this update today.

Seymour was struck by a stray bullet on July 26 as he was heading home with his parents around 10 pm.

Seymour was sitting on his mothers lap in the front seat of the family car when he was hit.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) said the bullet was fired by gunmen who were chasing after a 27-year-old man.

Cops said the man ran in front of the vehicle in an effort to evade the gunmen.

The man, who was recently released on bail for a murder charge, was detained by police.

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The Bahamas: Suspect expected to be charged with 4 year old's murder | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean

IZAAK Bastian and Lilly Higgs.

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BIRMINGHAM, England: When the Commonwealth Games gets underway today, swimmers Izaak Bastian and Lilly Higgs will be the joint flag bearers for the Bahamas during the march past of athletes.

Bahamas team general manager Rudolph Ferguson confirmed that the decision was made during the senior management meeting by the officials for Team Bahamas before they announced it to the swimmers.

The ceremony will witness the participation of 72 countries and will feature more than 5,000 athletes when it gets underway at the Alexander Stadium at 7pm, which is five hours ahead EST or 2pm in the Bahamas.

Prince Charles will read The Queens message for the Commonwealth Games as he represents Queen Elizabeth in a prelude to 11 days of exciting competition in 25 different disciplines.

The Commonwealth Games, formerly changed in 1978 from the British Commonwealth Games, is the biggest sporting extravaganza outside of the Olympic Games.

Bastian and Higgs are here in Birmingham with the rest of the swim team that includes head coach Andy Loveitt out of Grand Bahama, and the team of Devante Carey, Lamar Taylor, Luke Kennedy Thompson, Katelyn Cabral, Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson and Rhanishka Gibbs.

Travano McPhee is the assistant coach. They are staying at the University of Birmingham, one of the three designated games villages.

Also here in Birmingham, but staying at the Hilton Hotel at the NEC, are boxers Carl Hield and Rashield Williams, who will be coached by Vincent Strachan, the president of the Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation. Triathlete Armando Moss and and his coach Cameron Roach are at the University of Warwick.

Ferguson said over the next few days they are expecting members of the other disciplines, including wrestling, consisting of Felix Neely and Abacos Lorin Sawyer, coached by Kenton Roker; wrestler Rashji Mackey and coach Clinton Burke and judokas Cynthia Rahming and Andrew Munnings, coached Willard McKenzie;

Originally named to the track team are Devynne Charlton, Anthonique Strachan, Steven Gardiner, LaQuan Nairn, Jahmaal Wilson, Terrence Jones, Tynia Gaither, Ken Mullings, Shaun Miller, Kendrick Thompson and Charisma Taylor (womens triple jump/100m hurdles).

Ferguson, a track and field coach with the Star Trackers Track Club, could not confirm exactly who would be coming in from track and field. But said some of those restrictions may hamper their efforts to have athletes replaced who can no longer come because of one reason or the other.

It will be a wait and see process with exactly who will be here to compete in track and field when the athletes start arriving on July 30. Nonetheless, Ferguson said they are anxious to get the games started with swimming and triathlon on Friday.

We have a very young team and, for a lot of them, this is their first time competing at the Commonwealth Games, he said. The expectations are extremely high, but we dont want them to put any pressure on themselves.

We want them to go out there and compete at their best and once they give us that, we cant expect any more. We do expect to see a lot of PBs (personal best performances). Lets get to the finals and anything could happen in the final. So were very optimistic about this team. I think they all have a sense of pride representing the 242. We will make them as comfortable as possible.

The chef de mission for Team Bahamas is Roy Colebrooke, a vice president of the BOC. He will be assisted by Oria Wood, another vice president of the BOC. Rickey Davis heads the medical staff that include Patrice Roberts.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, along with BOC president Romell Knowles and Bahamas Aquatics president Algernon Cargill head the list of dignitaries here for the games, but are not directly involved with Team Bahamas.

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Bastian and Higgs to fly the flag for Bahamas - Bahamas Tribune

Royal Bank of Canada has been ordered to divulge the real owners of 97 offshore corporations that used its services, but a critic is wondering why it's taken the Canada Revenue Agency six yearsto acquire a fount of information that could help detect tax cheats.

The companies involvedare all registered in the Bahamas, a tax haven, and originally came to light as part of a leak of financial records called Bahamas Leaks.

In submissions to the Federal Court of Canada, the CRA says most of the companies used tactics to "obfuscate the identities of the persons who truly control and beneficially own these entities," and it wants to check whether the real owners are Canadians hiding money in tax havens.

"The CRA is concerned that any or all of these 97 Bahamian corporations may be controlled and/or beneficially owned by persons resident in Canada," the agency says in a court filing.

Canadian individuals and corporations have $23 billion in declared, known funds held in or invested through the Bahamas more than France, Spain and Portugal combined. A 2018 CRA study suggested Canadians have another $76 billion to $241 billion in undeclared, hidden wealth stashed in all offshore jurisdictions combined, but it didn't break it down by country.

In May, a judge granted the federal government's request for an order for Royal Bank and its RBC Dominion Securities subsidiary to provide any information that would help the CRA identify the owners of the 97 Bahamas corporations. The bank did not oppose the government.

The CRA says in its court filings that all the companies had investment accounts at Royal Bank or RBC Dominion at some point, "which suggests that they might be or have been controlled by persons resident in or situated in Canada."

It's not inherently illegal for Canadians to have an offshore account or company, but any assets over $100,000 and any income have to be reported for tax purposes.

CBC/Radio-Canada originally reported in 2016 that the Bahamas Leaks revealed that three Canadian banks had provided services to nearly 2,000 offshore companies in the Bahamas since 1990. The banks were what's known as "registered agents" licensed intermediaries who pay the annual fees to the Bahamas corporate registry, manage the paperwork and in many cases also incorporate the offshore companies.

The leaked files showed that Royal Bank acted as agent for 847 Bahamian companies listed in the leaked data, companies with names from Abbatis 1 Inc. to Yellow Jacket Holdings Ltd., while CIBC registered or administered 632 and Scotiabank handled 481.

Royal Bank didn't answer questions from CBC News about the Bahamas corporations, but did provide a statement saying that in general, it has "high standards and an extensive due diligence process to detect and prevent any illegal activity occurring through RBC."

Neither the CRA nor RBC would explain how the number of offshore companies of interest was whittled down to 97 from the 847 number. Some of that reduction is likely because even back in 2016, nearly half of those companies were already dormant or dissolved. It's possible the CRA also determined that many of the companies had no Canadian shareholders or other ties to Canada that could lead to tax obligations.

There is no indication in the docket of the Federal Court that the CRA has also gone after any of the companies managed by CIBC or Scotiabank. It's possible the tax agency obtained information directly and confidentially from those two banks using powers under the Income Tax Act that don't require it to first get a court order, but it wouldn't say.

"The CRA does not generally release information related to our compliance approaches, as it could provide a roadmap to non-compliance," the agency said in a statement to CBC News. "As such, we are unable to confirm if the CRA will be seeking authorization to retrieve third party data from CIBC and Scotiabank."

Toby Sanger, a senior policy adviser to the advocacy group Canadians for Tax Fairness, said the lack of transparency doesn't help the impression that the CRA "seems to be more focused on going after the easy targets, the small-time individuals," rather than the bigger and more complex cases of offshore tax evasion and avoidance.

"We shouldn't just kind of write these carte blanchechequesallowing wealthy corporations and individuals with money in whatever jurisdiction they decide to park it in to avoid taxes," he said in an interview.

The CRA, which proclaimed in the wake of other leaks, such asthe Panama Papers and the Paradise Papers, that it was cracking down on offshore tax shenanigans,also wouldn't explain why it's only seeking ownership records for the 97 offshore companies now six years after the Bahamas Leaks brought them to light.

"It's very frustrating and disappointing that it has taken the CRA so long to act on these leaks," Sanger said. "The slow action in this instance on the Bahamas Leaks means that they're just kind of crying wolf, and thatit's more bark than bite."

The Bahamas Leaks records were obtained by Sueddeutsche Zeitung, the same German newspaper that was leaked the Panama Papers, which then shared the files with the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and its network of global media partners, including CBC/Radio-Canada.

The Panama Papers emerged a few months earlier in 2016, but the CRA has yet to lay any criminal charges against anyone named in that leak.Othercountries have already brought hundreds of charges and secured convictions.

The CRA receivednearly $1 billion in extra funding between 2016 and this year to combat tax evasion and tax avoidance. In an email to CBC, the agency couldn't point to a single criminal conviction it's obtained in the last 4 years that had to do with offshore tax evasion.

The agency said last week that at one point, it had five open criminal investigations stemming from the Panama Papers, but it subsequently dropped three. The two remaining cases appear to be ongoing probes into $77 million in alleged withholding-tax evasion in Vancouver, and an investigation into an Alberta oilpatch financier.

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Royal Bank ordered to reveal who's behind 97 offshore accounts - CBC News

This article is about the monarchy of the Bahamas. For information on the other countries which share the same person as monarch, see Commonwealth realm.

Constitutional monarchy as a system of government in the Bahamas

The monarchy of the Bahamas is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The current Bahamian monarch and head of state, since the independence of the Bahamas on 10 July 1973, is Queen Elizabeth II. As sovereign, she is the personal embodiment of the Bahamian Crown. Although the person of the sovereign is equally shared with 14 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations, each country's monarchy is separate and legally distinct. As a result, the current monarch is officially titled Queen of the Bahamas and, in this capacity, she and other members of the Bahamian Royal Family undertake public and private functions domestically and abroad as representatives of the Bahamian state. However, the Queen is the only member of the Royal Family with any constitutional role.

All executive authority is vested in the monarch, and royal assent is required for the Bahamian Parliament to enact laws and for letters patent and Orders in Council to have legal effect. Most of the powers are exercised by the elected members of parliament, the ministers of the Crown generally drawn from amongst them, and the judges and justices of the peace. Other powers vested in the monarch, such as the appointment of a prime minister, are significant but are treated only as reserve powers and as an important security part of the role of the monarchy.

The Crown today primarily functions as a guarantor of continuous and stable governance and a nonpartisan safeguard against the abuse of power. While some powers are exercisable only by the sovereign, most of the monarch's operational and ceremonial duties are exercised by her representative, the governor-general of the Bahamas.

In 1629, King Charles I granted Robert Heath, attorney general of England, territories in America including "Bahama and all other Isles and Islands lying southerly there or neare upon the foresayd continent". Charles Towne was settled in 1660 and named for King Charles II, but its name was changed to Nassau after William III came to the throne; the German region Nassau was a holding of William's family.[2]

The Bahamas became a British crown colony in 1718, when the British clamped down on piracy.

In August 1940, the Duke of Windsor was appointed Governor of the Bahamas. He arrived in the colony with his wife Wallis, Duchess of Windsor. The Duke was praised at the time for his efforts to combat poverty on the islands.[3]

In May 1963, a conference was held in London to consider a new constitution for the islands. The islands were granted full internal self-government, with the governor retaining reserved powers only for foreign affairs, defense, and internal security.[2]

On 10 July 1973, Charles, Prince of Wales delivered the official documents to Prime Minister Lynden Pindling, officially declaring the Bahamas a fully independent nation,[4] within the Commonwealth of Nations.[5] Shortly after independence, Sir John Paul was appointed the first governor-general of the Bahamas, the vice-regal representative of Elizabeth II, Queen of the Bahamas.

The Bahamas is one of fifteen independent nations, known as Commonwealth realms, which shares its sovereign with other monarchies in the Commonwealth of Nations, with the monarch's relationship with the Bahamas completely independent from her position as monarch of any other realm. Despite sharing the same person as their respective monarch, each of the Commonwealth realms including the Bahamas is sovereign and independent of the others. The Bahamian monarch is represented by a viceroythe governor-general of the Bahamasin the Bahamian realm.[6]

Since Bahamian independence in 1973, the pan-national Crown has had both a shared and a separate character and the sovereign's role as monarch of Bahamas is distinct to his or her position as monarch of any other realm, including the United Kingdom.[7] The monarchy thus ceased to be an exclusively British institution and in the Bahamas became a Bahamian, or "domesticated" establishment.[8][9]

This division is illustrated in a number of ways: The sovereign, for example, holds a unique Bahamian title and, when she is acting in public specifically as a representative of the Bahamas, she uses, where possible, Bahamian symbols, including the country's national flag, unique royal symbols, and the like. Also, only Bahamian government ministers can advise the sovereign on matters of the Bahamian state.[6]

In the Bahamas, the legal personality of the State is referred to as "Her Majesty the Queen in Right of The Bahamas".[10]

The Bahamian constitution is made up of a variety of statutes and conventions which gives the Bahamas a parliamentary system of government under a constitutional monarchy, wherein the role of the monarch and governor-general is both legal and practical, but not political. The Crown is regarded as a corporation, in which several parts share the authority of the whole, with the sovereign as the person at the centre of the constitutional construct,[11] meaning all powers of state are constitutionally reposed in the Bahamian monarch. The government of Bahamas is also thus formally referred to as Her Majesty's Government.[12][13]

Most of the Queen's domestic duties are performed by the governor-general, appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister of the Bahamas.[14]

All institutions of government act under the sovereign's authority; the vast powers that belong to the Bahamian Crown are collectively known as the Royal Prerogative. Parliamentary approval is not required for the exercise of the Royal Prerogative; moreover, the consent of the Crown is must before either of the houses of parliament may even debate a bill affecting the sovereign's prerogatives or interests.

One of the main duties of the Crown is to appoint a prime minister, who thereafter heads the Bahamian cabinet and advises the monarch or governor-general on how to execute their executive powers over all aspects of government operations and foreign affairs.[15] The monarch's, and thereby the viceroy's role is almost entirely symbolic and cultural, acting as a symbol of the legal authority under which all governments and agencies operate, while the Cabinet directs the use of the Royal Prerogative, which includes the privilege to declare war, maintain the Queen's peace, and direct the actions of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, as well as to summon and prorogue parliament and call elections.[16] However, it is important to note that the Royal Prerogative belongs to the Crown and not to any of the ministers, though it might have sometimes appeared that way,[17] and the constitution allows the governor-general to unilaterally use these powers in relation to the dismissal of a prime minister, dissolution of parliament, and removal of a judge in exceptional, constitutional crisis situations.[18]

There are also a few duties which are specifically performed by the Queen, such as appointing the governor-general.

The governor-general, to maintain the stability of the Bahamian government, appoints as prime minister the individual most likely to maintain the support of the Bahamian House of Assembly.[19] The governor-general additionally appoints a Cabinet, at the direction of the prime minister, at least eight other ministers of the Crown.[20] The Queen is informed by her viceroy of the acceptance of the resignation of a prime minister and the swearing-in of a new prime minister and other members of the ministry, and she remains fully briefed through regular communications from her Bahamian ministers.[21] Members of various executive agencies and other officials are appointed by the Crown. The appointment of senators,[22] and Supreme Court justices also falls under the Royal Prerogative.[23]

The Royal Prerogative further extends to foreign affairs: the governor-general ratifies treaties, alliances, and international agreements. As with other uses of the Royal Prerogative, no parliamentary approval is required. However, a treaty cannot alter the domestic laws of the Bahamas; an Act of Parliament is necessary in such cases. The governor-general, on behalf of the Queen, also accredits Bahamian High Commissioners and ambassadors and receives diplomats from foreign states. In addition, the issuance of passports falls under the Royal Prerogative and, as such, all Bahamian passports are issued in the governor-general's name, the monarch's representative in the Bahamas.[24]

The sovereign, along with the Senate and the House of Assembly, is one of the three components of the Bahamian parliament.[25][26]

The monarch does not, however, participate in the legislative process; the viceroy does, though only in the granting of Royal Assent.[27] Further, the constitution outlines that the governor-general alone is responsible for appointing senators. The viceroy must make nine senatorial appointments on the advice of the prime minister, four on the advice of leader of the opposition, and three on the advice of both.[28] The viceroy additionally summons, prorogues, and dissolves parliament;[29][26] after the latter, the writs for a general election are usually dropped by the governor-general at Government House, Nassau.[30]

The new parliamentary session is marked by the Opening of Parliament, during which the monarch or the governor-general reads the Speech from the Throne.[26]

All laws in the Bahamas are enacted only with the viceroy's granting of Royal Assent in the monarch's name.[31] The Royal Assent, and proclamation, are required for all acts of parliament, usually granted or withheld by the governor-general, with the Public Seal of the Bahamas.[32]

Within the Commonwealth realms, the sovereign is responsible for rendering justice for all her subjects, and is thus traditionally deemed the fount of justice.[33] In the Bahamas, criminal offences are legally deemed to be offences against the sovereign and proceedings for indictable offences are brought in the sovereign's name in the form of The Queen versus [Name].[34][35] Hence, the common law holds that the sovereign "can do no wrong"; the monarch cannot be prosecuted in his or her own courts for criminal offences.[36]

The governor-general, on behalf of the Bahamian monarch, can also grant immunity from prosecution, exercise the royal prerogative of mercy, and pardon offences against the Crown, either before, during, or after a trial. The exercise of the 'Prerogative of mercy' to grant a pardon and the commutation of prison sentences is described in section 90 of the Constitution.[37]

All justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the governor-general.[38]

All Bahamian judges have to swear that they will "well and truly serve" the monarch of the Bahamas, on taking office. Under the Official Oaths Act, the Judicial Oath is:[39]

"I, (name), do swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and Successors, in the office of ________ and will do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of The Bahamas without fear or favour, affection or ill will. So help me God."

The monarch does not, however, personally rule in judicial cases; instead, judicial functions are performed in her name. In international cases, as a sovereign and under established principles of international law, the Queen of the Bahamas is not subject to suit in foreign courts without her express consent. In addition, the monarch also serves as a symbol of the legitimacy of courts of justice and of their judicial authority. An image of the Queen or the Coat of arms of Bahamas is always displayed in Bahamian courtrooms.

In the Bahamas, the Queen's official title is: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.[40][41][42]

This style communicates the Bahamas's status as an independent monarchy, highlighting the Monarch's role specifically as Queen of the Bahamas, as well as the shared aspect of the Crown throughout the realms. Typically, the Sovereign is styled "Queen of the Bahamas," and is addressed as such when in the Bahamas, or performing duties on behalf of the Bahamas abroad.

The oath of allegiance in the Bahamas is:[43]

"I, (name), do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and Successors, according to law. So help me God."

Like some realms, the Bahamas defers to United Kingdom law to determine the line of succession.[44]

Succession is by absolute primogeniture governed by the provisions of the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, as well as the Act of Settlement, 1701, and the Bill of Rights, 1689. This legislation limits the succession to the natural (i.e. non-adopted), legitimate descendants of Sophia, Electress of Hanover, and stipulates that the monarch cannot be a Roman Catholic, nor married to one, and must be in communion with the Church of England upon ascending the throne. Though these constitutional laws, as they apply to the Bahamas, still lie within the control of the British parliament, both the United Kingdom and the Bahamas cannot change the rules of succession without the unanimous consent of the other realms, unless explicitly leaving the shared monarchy relationship; a situation that applies identically in all the other realms, and which has been likened to a treaty amongst these countries.[45]

The Bahamian monarch sends congratulatory messages to Bahamian citizens celebrating their 100th birthday, and to married couples on their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries.[46]

Within the Commonwealth realms, the monarch is deemed the fount of honour.[47] Similarly, the monarch, as Sovereign of the Bahamas, confers awards and honours in the Bahamas in her name. Most of them are often awarded on the advice of "Her Majesty's Bahamas Ministers".[48][49][50]

Through the passage of the National Honours Act 2016, the Bahamas established seven national orders on 27 January 2016. The monarch's vice-regal representative, the governor-general, serves as the Chancellor of all these orders.[51]

The Crown sits at the pinnacle of the Bahamian Defence Force. It is reflected in Bahamas's naval vessels, which bear the prefix HMBS, i.e., Her Majesty's Bahamian Ship.[52]

The Defence Force of the Bahamas is known as "The Royal Bahamas Defence Force". The Queen is the Head of the RBDF.[53]

In September 1979, Princess Anne visited the Bahamas Defence Force Base at Coral Harbour, and unveiled a plaque designating the Base as "Her Majesty's Bahamian Ship Coral Harbour". The Princess officially conferred the title "Royal" on the Force, making it known thereafter as the "Royal Bahamas Defence Force".[54][55]

Every member of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force has to swear allegiance to the Bahamian monarch on taking office. The oath is:[56]

"I, (name), swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Her Heirs and Successors, according to law, and that I will, as in duty bound, honestly and faithfully defend the Commonwealth of The Bahamas against all enemies, and will observe and obey all lawful orders of Commander Defence Force and of the officers, warrant officers and marines set above me."

The national police force of the Bahamas is known as "The Royal Bahamas Police Force".

The St. Edward's Crown appears on the Bahamian Police's badges and rank insignia, which illustrates the monarchy as the locus of authority.[57]

Every member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force has to swear allegiance to the monarch of the Bahamas, on taking office. Under the Bahamian Police Service Act, the oath of office, which is to be taken after the oath of allegiance, is:[58]

"I, (name), do swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady the Queen, in the office of _____ without favour or affection, malice or ill will, and that I will cause Her Majesty's peace to be kept and preserved; and that I will prevent, to the utmost of my power, all offences against the same; and while I shall continue to hold the said office I will, to the best of my skill and knowledge, discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law. So help me God."

The Queen on a Bahamian stamp

A post box in the Bahamas featuring the Queen's royal cypher

The main symbol of the Bahamian monarchy is the sovereign herself. Thus, framed portraits of her are displayed in public buildings and government offices. Banknotes in the Bahamas feature the Queen's portrait on the obverse. The Queen also appears on commemorative Bahamian stamps.

A crown is also used to illustrate the monarchy as the locus of authority, appearing on police force, postal workers, prison officers rank insignia.[57]

God Save The Queen is the royal anthem of the Bahamas.[59]

Under the Bahamian Oath of Citizenship, new Bahamian citizens have to take a pledge of allegiance to the monarch of the Bahamas, and her heirs and successors.[60]

The Bahamas holds a special place in Her Majesty's heart. Her love for this realm and you, the Bahamian people, stretches back over the decades, right to that first visit in 1966.

The Queen and members of the Royal Family have toured the Bahamas on several occasions.[62]

As part of larger Caribbean tours, the islands were visited by the Queen and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in February 1966.[62] In July 1973, the Prince of Wales represented the Queen at the Bahamian independence celebrations in Nassau.[62] The Queen and her husband returned to the islands in February 1975, and again during her Silver Jubilee tour in October 1977.[62] Princess Anne visited the Bahamas in 1979 with her husband Captain Mark Phillips to commemorate 250 years of Bahamian parliamentary democracy.[63]

The Prince and Princess of Wales visited in 1982 for a 10-day vacation.[64] The Queen and Prince Philp visited Nassau for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October 1985.[62] The Queen and the Duke visited again in March 1994.[65]

Prince Harry visited the Bahamas in March 2012, during his tour of the Caribbean to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The Princess Royal visited the Bahamas in 2015. The Earl and Countess of Wessex visited in 2016.[66]

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge toured the country in March 2022, to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.[67]

The monarchy is not a major topic of debate in the Bahamas. The Constitutional Commission, which recommends making the governor-general president, has found "mixed feelings" on the matter, with a significant number of respondents being indifferent.[68] In 2020, former Attorney General Sean McWeeney stated the Bahamas' transition to a republic may be "inevitable" at some point, but that there is no real appetite or momentum among the Bahamian public for it yet, nor is there mainstream political will.[69] There are some minor and new republican parties such as Coalition of Independents (COI).[70]

Articles related to the Bahamian monarchy

Link:

Monarchy of the Bahamas - Wikipedia

NASSAU, N.P., Bahamas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sonic Foundry, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFO), the trusted leader in video capture, management and streaming solutions, today announced the official opening of its inaugural Global Learning Exchange (GLX) Hub in the Bahamas. Located in central Nassau, the Hub will serve as a base of operations for the GLX-Bahamas program, which will begin accepting applications for the fall semester on July 2nd.

Global Learning Exchange is an innovative solution designed to provide highly motivated students around the world with life-changing education opportunities by connecting them to world-class higher education programs in a flexible, cost-effective, and locally supported environment. The disruptive model that were introducing with Global Learning Exchange will help to democratize education and economic mobility on a global scale by connecting learners with the academic content and, more importantly, the support community that can help them achieve their career goals, explained Sonic Foundry CEO Joe Mozden, Jr. It will also support growth and development in emerging markets by enabling students and even mid-career workers to access world-class education opportunities while remaining rooted in their local communities.

The GLX-Bahamas Hub, which will operate in partnership with the Bahamas Institute of Business and Technology (BIBT), will provide Bahamian students with an unprecedented level of support relative to other online learning solutions. Prospective students will have access to in-person admissions and application assistance. For enrolled students, the Hub will offer a positive study environment, reliable Wi-Fi, tutoring and academic support, and career development resources, while also serving as a host venue for social and collaborative learning activities.

Together we are making a significant impact on the future of our youth and our country by providing world-class, affordable online educational opportunities in a local environment with all of the necessary study support and resources, said BIBT President, Dr. Deswell Forbes. This is a significant step towards enabling Bahamians to succeed personally and professionally at every conceivable level nationally and internationally.

Global Learning Exchange has developed partnerships that will enable it to provide students with a wide variety of public and private university choices from around the world. As of today, the company has memoranda of understanding in place with eleven universities in the US and UK, two non-degree skills and training providers, and is anticipating that at least six partner universities will have finalized program offerings in place for the Bahamas program by the traditional fall semester start dates.

To celebrate the launch of the Bahamas Hub, representatives from Sonic Foundry and Global Learning Exchange, BIBT, the Bahamas Ministry of State for Education, and others will be onsite for a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, July 1 (12:00-2:00pm ET). The Hub will hold its Grand Opening on Saturday, July 2 (10:00am-4:00pm ET). This event is open to the public and will include an information session, tours of the facility, and a live radio broadcast. Additional information and event registration for the Grand Opening is available here.

In the months ahead, Global Learning Exchange will focus on partner-led facility development projects in several emerging markets around the world where, despite the recent proliferation of online education programs, millions of students lack practicable access to higher education. GLX is currently in discussion with potential Hub partners in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Additional information on Global Learning Exchange can be accessed here.

About Sonic Foundry

Sonic Foundry (NASDAQ: SOFO) is the global leader for video capture, management and streaming solutions as well as virtual and hybrid events. Trusted by thousands of educational institutions, corporations, health organizations and government entities in over 65 countries, Sonic Foundrys solutions include Mediasite, Mediasite Connect, Vidable and Global Learning Exchange. Learn more at http://www.sonicfoundry.com.

2022 Sonic Foundry, Inc. Product and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of Sonic Foundry, Inc. or their respective owners.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements about the products and services of Sonic Foundry within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include statements about our products and services, our customer base, strategic investments, new partnerships, our future operating results, and any statements we make about the companys future. These types of statements address matters that are subject to many risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking guidance we provide. Any forward-looking statements should be considered in context of the risk factors disclosed in our periodic forms 10Q, 10K and other filings with the SEC. These filings can be accessed on-line at http://www.sec.gov and other websites or can be obtained from the companys investor relations department. All of the information and disclosures we make in this news release regarding our business, including any forward-looking guidance, are as of the date given and we assume no obligation to update or change this information, regardless of subsequent events.

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Sonic Foundry's Global Learning Exchange Launches First Hub in the Bahamas - Business Wire

Bahamasair, has relaunched a major route between Florida and The Bahamas.

The Bahamas national flag carrier just restarted service between Orlando International Airport and Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport.

The flights, which resumed this week, will be operating twice each week, with service on Mondays and Thursdays.

The flights will be operating through Sept. 10, according to the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation.

The service will then resume again between Nov. 17 and Jan 12, 2023, for the peak winter tourist season.

Travel is back in a big way this summer, and we are ready for it. We are making travel for Floridians easier than ever with more nonstop service to The Bahamas, said Chester Cooper, The Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation. Florida remains a priority market for The Bahamas, and we are thrilled to expand our flight offerings from the state with these weekly nonstop options from Orlando on Bahamasair.

Its a significant boost for Grand Bahama, which has been seeing a tourism resurgence since the country first reopened for tourism amid the pandemic.

Indeed, travelers increasingly have the island on their radar, drawn to Grand Bahamas collection of natural beauty, copious white-sand beaches and a growing slate of activities, including the return of the popular Goombay Summer Festival.

Thats along with an enviable selection of villas, too.

And its part of a growing trend in Orlando, which has quietly become a major source market for Caribbean tourism in the last several years.

More and more carriers are looking to the city as a hub for Caribbean flights, particularly carriers like Spirit and Frontier Airlines.

For more, visit Bahamasair.

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New Flights from Orlando to The Bahamas - Caribbean Journal

The NATPE conference is relocating to The Bahamas for its 2023 edition, leaving its longtime home in Miami for a resort on the island nation about 50 miles southeast of the south Florida coast.

The National Association of Television Program Executives will hold their annual get-together in Nassau at Baha Mar Resort and Convention Center from Jan. 17-19. The move to an island cluster outside the U.S. is a swing to reinvigorate interest in the annual gathering that has seen attendance wane in recent years amid the upheaval in the broader television business. NATPE is set to mark its 60th anniversary next year.

After many months of research and discussions with our partners we have greenlit the move to this bold new destination. Our aim is to ensure that we provide added value and new revenue opportunities to attendees across the content ecosystem, said JP Bommel, president and CEO of NATPE.

NATPE was once defined by the largesse of major studios and independent producers that erected giant booths and large installations to sell TV shows to local TV station buyers. Now the bulk of local TV station buying is controlled by about a half-dozen large station groups and their executives. In response, NATPE is shifting its focus to providing a setting for small-group schmoozing of clients and inter-company meetings.

With hundreds of new exhibition and activation options and over forty restaurants and entertainment venues across three hotels, Baha Mar is perfect for both business meetings and the networking that has made NATPE an industry staple for decades, Bommel said. But most importantly we have secured cost efficiencies and safety measures that will make this experience a great one for all. The response from our community is not only enthusiastic but outlines a clear path for sales meetings on-site with their global teams.

NATPE said the January conference would revolve around the theme of Content, Networking and Monetization. The organization promised exclusive curated meetings with buyers focusing on Drama, Unscripted, Kids and Factual programming, providing access to global distributors and producers eager to navigate the international acquisition marketplace.

(Pictured: A panel session with top TV executives at the 2016 NATPE conference.)

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NATPE Conference Moves From Miami to The Bahamas for 2023 Edition - Variety

The Bahamas under-15 girls basketball team at the FIBA Centrobasket Under-15 Girls Championship at the Coliseo Fernando Rube Hernandez in Gurabo, Puerto Rico.

TEAM Bahamas suffered another lopsided loss to Puerto Rico and remains winless headed into the bronze medal game at the FIBA Centrobasket Under-15 Championships for women.

Puerto Rico took an 83-37 win over The Bahamas last night at the Fernando Hernandez Colesium in Gurabo, Puerto Rico.

Terell McCoy led the team with a double double - 14 points and a game high 11 rebounds - while Savannah Turnquest scored 12.

Dwaynae Knowles finished with six points, seven rebounds, seven assists and five steals.

Desirek Nieves led Puerto Rico with a game high 18 points while Mia Canales scored 10.

The Bahamas won the rebounding edge for the first time all tournament, 49-43.

They also had their most productive period in the tournament when they were outscored by just seven in the fourth quarter, 23-16. Puerto Rico took an early 17-7 lead at the end of one and took a 45-18 lead at the half.

Andica Curtis lone basket of the game was The Bahamas only field goal in the third quarter when they were outscored 15-3. They trailed 60-21 headed into the fourth.

The Bahamas is now slated to face the Dominican Republic in the bronze medal game at 5:15pm today local time. Mexico and Puerto Rico will follow with the gold medal game at 8pm.

The top three teams in the championships will qualify for the FIBA Under-16 Womens Americas Championship in 2023.

In the first meeting against the Dominican Republic, The Bahamas suffered a 79-45 loss.

On Sunday, the Bahamas opened up tournament play with a 101-20 loss to Puerto Rico, before the loss to the DR.

They followed with a 119-19 loss to Mexico prior to yesterdays playoff round.

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Team Bahamas suffers another lopsided loss - Bahamas Tribune