Category Archives: Bahamas

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Minister of Education and Technical and Vocation Training Glenys Hanna-Martin said yesterday that the Bahamian peoples resilience and dogged determination has allowed the nation and its people to endure the painful ravages of history.

However, she said it is that invincible resolve that will see The Bahamas, through Gods grace, victorious all on fronts, in every way.

Hanna-Martin was addressing scores of students at Sybil Strachan Primary School and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, who toured the school as day two of the visit to The Bahamas to mark the Queens Platinum Jubilee.

Numerous members of the Davis Cabinet were also in attendance.

[BIS]The minister said that during debate in Parliament this week on an amendment to the National Heroes Act, there was bipartisan support of the necessity to more aggressively and purposefully and permanently memorialize and monumentalize those persons who have been so pivotal to the formation of our national identity and our unified progress as a Bahamian people.

She continued: People such as our great leaders, who throughout the course of history, fought for our freedom from oppression and tyranny; those who extended our unique cultural voice; those who dedicated their lives to the full progress of our people in every sphere of existence

Quoting Marcus Garvey, Hanna-Martin said a people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.

It is important to note that while the journey of our people has been most difficult, we celebrate that it has been and continues to be the strength, the resilience, and the excellence and dogged determination of successive generations which has allowed us to endure the painful ravages of history, but to emerge as a new people, crafting our own sacred destiny.

Key to this emergence is the education of our people.

And while pre-1967 access to education for the masses was restricted and in most instances, inaccessible, where there being only one public secondary school in the country to service the entire population, today, there is universal free access to education at scores of school nationwide.

She continued: As I have stated, our journey as a people has not been without difficulty or challenge, but or resolve is invincible, and with Gods grace we will be victorious all on fronts, in every way.

Hanna-Martin said as the royals conclude their tour of New Providence and travel to Abaco and Grand Bahama, the couple will get a glimpse of The Bahamas rich culture and witness the indomitable spirit of its people.

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Hanna-Martin tells royals The Bahamas will be victorious on all fronts - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The royal visit slated for next week sends sets The Bahamas back 100 years, Reverend Sebastian Campbell said yesterday.

The official royal visit, slated for March 24-26, will see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge represent Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as part of celebrations to mark her Platinum Jubilee.

That The Bahamas is even paying for this quote on quote royal visit; I am very sad about that and I dont think that is the right direction this country should be going in, he told Eyewitness News, when contacted for comment.

We are still a long shot from taking this country to where it ought to be and that is a republic following such countries such as Barbados [Dominica, Guyana, Trinidad etc]

Having a royal visit will only put us back probably another 100 years in mire of this colonial mindset.

He continued: I think the time is long overdue; and continuing to bring these colonial figures into a country will continue to play with the minds of our people that this is where we ought to be; this is where we ought to stay.

I call on the Davis-led government to think about what we are doing to play with peoples minds and call them to build on the progress started by people like Sir Lynden Pindling, Arthur Hanna, Paul Adderley etc.

I pray God that this will be the last one that we see, the last colonial visit of these colonial figures.

This should not turn into a kind of bitter personal thing against these two individuals; we should be polite and welcoming given the constitutional position. But at the same time, those who are in favor of changing the constitutional position should continue to work and lets move toward that position if thats what the Bahamian people want Fred Mitchell

Campbell, who chairs the National Heroes Committee, said a cross-section of Bahamians fought for a long time to abolish colonial orders in The Bahamas.

He said he thought those orders would become a thing of the past when The Bahamas implemented national orders under the Christie administration.

But Queens orders and honors continued under the last administration.

The past government brought on colonial orders competing with the national orders and we had thought that the time for colonial orders had gone, Campbell said.

Unfortunately, Minnis-led government justified the colonial orders being offered at the same time as the national orders, and that would cause Bahamians always to think of foreign being better than that which is local.

Campbell pointed out that prominent figures such as Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has been supportive of The Bahamas becoming a republic.

He called on parliamentarians to publicly express their view on the colonial mentality that we have in our country and how many of them support the visit of the colonial figures in the next day or two.

When contacted, Mitchell said as a minister of the government he could not offer a view on the visit other than what has been expressed historically and my position has not changed.

In December 2021, Mitchell said he was committed to seeing The Bahamas become a republic.

Yesterday, Mitchell said given The Bahamas constitutional position, the visit consists with that.

The minister said there was no complaint about the cost of the visit as if you want a monarchy, then this is what a monarchy costs, so that is the way it is.

But he encouraged activists to continue work to see constitutional changes.

This should not turn into a kind of bitter personal thing against these two individuals; we should be polite and welcoming given the constitutional position, Mitchell said.

But at the same time, those who are in favor of changing the constitutional position should continue to work and lets move toward that position if thats what the Bahamian people want.

[PICTURE: Rebecca English]In a statement last night, the government said it looks forward to the visit.

It said the itinerary for the visit was designed to achieve specific objectives and taken advantage of the opportunity to shift the way in which we wish to be seen on the world stage, given the likely international press.

Prince William and Kate Middleton will visit New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco with a series of events and showcases, including a taste of The Bahamas cultural event that will take place in Parliament Square.

The royals touched down in Belize on Saturday, but not without some protest forcing changes to their schedule.

According to Reuters, an event planned on the eve of the Duke and Duchess departure was scraped after a few dozen villagers staged a protest.

Link:

A ROYAL NO: Rev. Campbell says royal visit sets The Bahamas back 100 years - EyeWitness News

About the tour

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are undertaking anofficial visitto the Realms of Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen on the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee.

The visit is taking placebetween Saturday 19th March and Saturday 26th March, beginningin Belize where Their Royal Highnesses will visit historic Mayan sites and celebrate the rich culture of the Garifuna community as well as exploring the countrys biodiversity.

The Duke and Duchess will then travel to Jamaica where their visit will include engaging with the Jamaican Defence Force and celebrating the seminal legacy of Bob Marley and other ground-breaking Jamaican musicians alongside some of tomorrows stars.

The Duke and Duchess visit will end in The Bahamas where they will spend time with communities across a number of islands and experience a world famous junkanoo parade. The response to COVID-19 will also feature in The Duke and Duchess programme.

Their Royal Highnesses are keen to understand more about the impact that the pandemic has had across the Caribbean, and how communities have pulled together to respond to the challenges they have faced. Throughout their visit, The Duke and Duchess will take the opportunity to commemorate Her Majestys Platinum Jubilee.

On arrival in Belize, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were welcomed to the country by the Governor General and government officials.

Their Royal Highnesses then travelled to Belize City for a meeting withPrime Minister Johnny Briceoand his wife, Rossana.

On the second day of the tour, The Duke and Duchess visited a cacao producer to learn more about Belizes world-famous Maya chocolate making.

Their Royal Highnesses then travelledto Hopkins, a small village on the coast which is considered the cultural centre of the Garifuna community in Belize.

Acknowledging Belizes world-famous marine environment, The Duke and Duchess also spenttime learning from conservation specialists about marine protection and the incredible restoration efforts of Belizes precious barrier reef being led by communities across the country.

On their second full day in Belize, The Duke and Duchess visitedCaracol an ancient Mayan archaeological site deep in the Chiquibul Forest.

Their Royal Highnesses learnt about the history of the site during their tour and has the chance to take in the incredible Caana or sky palace which remains the tallest man-made structure in Belize to this day.

The Duke then took a trip trip down memory lane when he and The Duchess spenttime with BATSUB (British Army Training Support Unit) in the jungle. This is a military unit which delivers tropical environment training to troops from the UK and international partners.

In 2000, His Royal Highness spent a period of time with BATSUB under the guidance of the Welsh Guards.

During their time with BATSUB, The Duke and Duchess heardabout the close cooperation between the British Army, and conservation organisations such as Friends for Conservation and Development working to protect the Chiquibul Forest, which is part of The Queens Commonwealth Canopy.

To end the day, Their Royal Highnesses attendeda reception hosted by the Governor General of Belize at the Mayan ruins at Cahal Pech, near San Ignacio.

This special reception was held in celebration of The Queens Platinum Jubilee and broughttogether community leaders, well-known Belizeans and members of the Government.

The following morning, The Duke and Duchessbid farewell to Belize during the official departure ceremony at the Philip S. W. Goldson Airport as they headed to Jamaica for the next leg of their tour.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge received an official welcome to Jamaica atNorman Manley International Airport, before travelling to the King's House, the residence of the Governor General, for a meeting.

Their Royal Highnesses then wentto Trench Town, the birthplace of reggae music in the heart of Kingston. Here they joined some young football players -including the winners of Jamaicas famous Manning Cup on a local football pitch.

There was also some well known figures insport, including England footballer Raheem Sterling, who was born in Jamaica, and the Jamaican Bobsleigh team who recently competed at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

The Duke and Duchess then visitedthe Trench Town Culture Yard Museum where Bob Marley used to live and interact with other iconic musicians. Here they learntabout the areas social history, its extraordinary global contribution to music, and attendeda celebration of reggae music.

On their second day on the country, Their Royal Highnesses had an official meeting with the Jamaican Prime Minister, Andrew Holness.

They then travelled toShortwood Teachers College to meet students who are training to become early childhood education practitioners.

Over recent years, The Duchess has focused her work to elevate the importance of early childhood development, and the College is a recognised exemplar in its field, conducting research in early childhood education and care while also offering professional development programmes to the early childhood sector.

The Duke and Duchess thenvisited Spanish Town Hospital where they met doctors, nurses and other members of staff to hear about their experiences as part of the frontline response to COVID-19 in Jamaica.

Next, Their Royal Highnessestravelled to Flankers, near Montego Bay to learn about how the Jamaica Defence Force is supporting at-risk young men in vulnerable communities by providing training in driving trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles, in turn supporting them into employment.

To finish the day, The Duke and Duchess then attended a dinner hosted by the Governor General of Jamaica.

On their final morning in Jamaica, Their Royal Highnesses attended the inaugural Commissioning Parade for service personnel from across the Caribbean who have recently completed the Caribbean Military Academys Officer Training Programme.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were greeted in The Bahamas with an official arrival atLynden Pindling International Airport.

Their Royal Highnesses then travelled toNassau for a meeting with the Prime Minister of The Bahamas.

On their first full day in The Bahamas, The Duke and Duchess started the day with avisit to Sybil Strachan Primary School in Nassau where they will drop in on a class to meet pupils and staff, to hear moreabout the impact that COVID-19 on schools.

Next, Their Royal Highnesses spent time with key workers and frontline staff in an informal gathering in the Garden of Remembrance in Nassau. Here they heardabout Bahamians experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how people came together to protect the vulnerable.

The Duke and Duchess also got the chance to see a traditional Bahamian Jankadoo celebration.

Their Royak Highnesses then tookpart in The Bahamas Platinum Jubilee Sailing Regatta.Sailing regattas were one of the many things that were put on pause during the pandemic, and this event celebrated the return of sloop sailing races to The Bahamas.

The event also provideda nod to The Duke of Edinburgh, who was Honorary Commodore, before becoming Honorary Life Member of the Royal Nassau Sailing Club.

The day finished with areception hosted by the Governor General, during which The Duke and Duchess had theopportunity to meet community leaders and notable people from across The Bahamas many islands.

On their final day in The Bahamas, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent time in Abaco and Grand Bahama, learning about the impact of Hurricane Dorian and the regeneration work that has followed - as well as enjoying some some Bahamian cuisine at a Fish Fry:

On the final day of their tour, The Duke and Duchess spent time learning about the devastating impact of Hurricane Dorian, which hit in September 2019, and the reconstruction efforts that have followed.

Firstly, theytravelled to Abaco a chain of islands and barrier cays in the northern part of the country. It was one of the parts of the country that was hit hardest by Dorian, with winds of 185mph leaving devastation in their wake.

Staring the day atDaystar Evangelical Church, Their Royal Highnesses met people and families from across the community to hear first-hand what it was like to be on the island at the point the hurricane hit, and how people have come together to support each other during an incredibly difficult time.

Next on Abaco, The Duke and Duchess celebrated the regeneration work and the return of tourists to the island as they attended a Fish Fry a quintessentially Bahamian culinary gathering place which is found on every island in The Bahamas.

Their Royal Highnesses then travelled from Abaco to Grand Bahama, where they visited the Grand Bahama Childrens Home which provides a loving home environment to vulnerable children who are not able to live with their families.

Since it was established in 1977 by the local community, the Home has cared for over 900 children.

The final engagement of The Royal Highnesses tour was with a visit to the 2021 Earthshot Prize Winner, Coral Vita.

Coral Vita was the inaugural winner of the Revive Our Oceans Earthshot in recognition of their ground-breaking work to give new life to dying coral reefs.

Their Royal Highnesses had a tour of Coral Vitas home on Grand Bahama by co-founder Sam Teicher, seeing for themselves how the coral is grown and hear more about Coral Vitas ambitious plans to preserve threatened ecosystems globally for the future, which are being supported and scaled with thanks to support from The Earthshot Prize.

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas - The Royal Family

While Mr. Hall had apprehensions about starting a conversation with her, Ms. Nichols, who by then had shared her story of triumph over poverty, discrimination and single motherhood with millions, had certain insecurities that made her uninterested in pursuing him.

The mother of a then-teenage son, Jelani, who is now 27, Ms. Nichols had never been married. She hadnt entirely ruled out the possibility of a relationship, but her heart had been broken more than once in the past. At the time, she was also 100 pounds overweight, she said.

Mr. Hall, on the other hand, seemed like a perfect specimen. From the time he graduated from Castleton University in Vermont in 1994, he had worked as a broadcaster in his native Bahamas, where he is currently an anchor at Cable Bahamas in Nassau. He had also been a bodybuilder.

He was this tall, deliciously dark and handsome man, Ms. Nichols said. And I was 224 pounds.

The moment I left him, I began to tell myself, Hes not real, she added.

Down a self-preserving rabbit hole she went. Though Mr. Hall had told her when they met that he had a son from a previous marriage, which ended in divorce in 2009, and was expecting a child from another relationship, which had also since ended, Ms. Nichols concocted a likelier scenario.

He didnt have two children, he had nine, and seven of them were unclaimed, she recalled telling herself. He was not single, he was married and had a girlfriend and wanted me to be his second girlfriend.

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For a Motivational Speaker, It Took Years to Feel Worthy of His Love - The New York Times

NASSAU, March 13 (Reuters) - The Bahamas has ordered its financial institutions to halt all transactions with Russian entities that have been put under sanction by Western nations, the country's financial regulators said in a statement.

The government of the Caribbean nation has vocally condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but appears to remain conflicted over how aggressively it can participate sanctions efforts without damaging its relatively small economy.

Reuters on Monday reported that oil and fuel tankers controlled by Russia's Sovcomflot (FLOT.MM) had been rerouted to the Bahamas after they had been unable to deliver cargoes due to the sanctions. read more

Register

"Regulated entities, that are licensed or authorised to operate from or within the Bahamas, (are directed) not to engage in transactions with sanctioned persons, entities or business linked to Russia and Belarus," reads the late Saturday statement signed by the central bank and four other regulatory agencies.

It was not immediately evident how much Russia-linked money is held in Bahamian financial institutions.

Regulatory agencies, including the central bank, have not responded to requests for details on local banks' exposure to Russian funds.

Register

Reporting by Jasper Ward; writing by Brian EllsworthEditing by Marguerita Choy

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Bahamas orders halt to financial operations with sanctioned Russian entities - Reuters Canada

Reading Time: 5 minutesAh, the beaches. Photo by Kerry Diotte for Troy Media

FREEPORT, Bahamas You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Thats a bit of a trite yet true sentiment.

Travellers have all had their fair share of nasty, cantankerous customs officials.

I know I have. So thats why my very first impression of The Bahamas was a favourable one. The Bahamian official who waved my wife Clare and me through at customs at Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau was friendly AND smiling.

Welcome to The Bahamas. Have a nice stay, he bellowed, accompanied by a friendly wave.

It was just a hint of the kind of warmth we felt from virtually every official and person we encountered in this chain of 700 islands north of Cuba and east of the U.S. state of Florida.

This English-speaking country, officially known as the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies, gained its independence from Britain in 1973.

It has a rich history punctuated by periods of piracy and slavery having been inhabited by the Lucayan people for centuries before Christopher Columbus became the first European to land here in 1492.

The most populous and developed island is New Providence, where the capital of Nassau is located. We flew there via Toronto, Ont. before taking another brief flight to Grand Bahama, where we stayed at a private residence near Freeport.You may even see the occasional shark. Photo by Kerry Diotte for Troy Media

But wherever we walked whether on deserted beaches or beside low-traffic streets almost all the people we encountered smiled and said hi. Its not unlike what youd experience growing up in a small town.

The next phenomenon that quickly becomes obvious to a visitor is that this island nation is still etched with the deep scars both literally and figuratively inflicted by Hurricane Dorian in September 2019.

It was a Category 5 beast that packed winds as high as 295 kmh. The eye of the hurricane stalled over parts of The Bahamas for one full day and unleashed a torrent of death and destruction. It left 70,000 homeless.

According http://www.reliefweb.int, the official death toll was 74, with 282 people still unaccounted for. The government estimates that Dorian caused $3.4 billion in loss and damages.

Just seeing whole sections of trees stripped bare many snapped in half gave a window into the horrendous power this storm packed. Wherever we went on Grand Bahama, we saw more evidence. There are houses levelled to rubble and structures of all sizes that were never repaired or not fully restored. or shellfish, if youre lucky. Photo by Kerry Diotte for Troy Media

Its a reminder that as resilient as this nation is, Dorian still casts a shadow over this part of the world. The economy, much of it dependent on tourism, has never fully recovered. Like much of the world, tourism here is also ever-so-slowly recovering from the ill effects of COVID on the travel industry.

We experienced first-hand the first hint of Dorians lingering effect on Grand Bahama on arrival at the international airport.

The buildings are still damaged, so much so that arriving passengers wait outdoors under an awning for luggage thats brought out in the back of a pickup truck and then set down on the ground. No biggie, really. At least the luggage got to us fairly quickly.

It was just a hint that tourism here especially on Grand Bahama Island is still in recovery mode.

But we saw that as an advantage. We spent most of our days here on glorious white sand beaches framed by unbelievably crystal clear water scenery you thought only existed in the edited reality of Photoshopped travel brochure photos.

We spent much of our time chilling on Fortune Beach, where you can wade for hundreds of metres in the sparkling, clear water. If youre fortunate, as we were, youll see the odd curious stingray or a small harmless nurse shark.

How quiet can it be in Grand Bahamas? Plenty quiet. One day we spent seven hours on Fortune Beach and encountered a grand total of three humans. Thats the kind of solitude you cant find at many other destinations.

When we spent time there in February we walked past the posh, sprawling Viva Wyndham resort and it seemed there were more staff members than guests.

If we did want to socialize just a bit, we were within walking distance to Banana Bay restaurant, a beachfront haunt that features burgers, fish, salad, conch and cold drinks. Further down, past the Wyndham resort, was our favourite quirky local watering hole named Margarita Villa Sand Bar. Its aptly named because tables and chairs inside sit right on that beautiful, powdery white sand.

Given the rare opportunity for such peace and quiet, we chose to stay mainly on our favourite beach, Fortune Beach, where you can swim, snorkel and collect your fill of seashells.

Generally speaking, Grand Bahama Island is much quieter than Paradise Island where Nassau is located. Paradise Island has 70 per cent of the population of The Bahamas.

However, there are numerous attractions on Grand Bahama Island, including opportunities to snorkel, scuba dive, go zip lining, shop and tour a local brewery.

Given that COVID has had a significant effect on tourism, the best advice is to call or e-mail any of these attractions ahead of time. Some might still be closed. Some may have permanently closed. Still others might have reduced hours of operation.

This is the price you pay for the kind of solitude youll find on Grand Bahama Island. In my book, its a price well worth paying for a rare experience.

QUICK TIPS:

For a good summary of the island highlights, click here.

Prices on meals, drinks and accommodations are higher than in Canada, so budget accordingly. The website budgetyourtrip.com reports that the average hotel price is $199 a night, although there are more affordable accommodations on airbnb.ca and vrbo.com.

Youll be using Bahamian dollars there that are equivalent to U.S. dollars. When merchants give change, youll often get a mixture of both currencies.

Check rules surrounding COVID testing. When we travelled, we needed to produce a negative antigen test upon arrival and then get re-tested in two days. We had to fill in a Travel Health Visa in advance with our test results and pay $40 US. Go to bahamas.com to get the most up-to-date information.

Kerry Diotte is a veteran journalist who has worked for newspapers and magazines and in radio and television. To contact Kerry to book him for your destination, click here.

The opinions expressed by our columnists and contributors are theirs alone and do not inherently or expressly reflect the views of our publication.

Troy MediaTroy Media is an editorial content provider to media outlets and its own hosted community news outlets across Canada.

Beach vacation, Christmas vacations, Golf vacations, Things to do in The Bahamas

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How quiet can it be in The Bahamas? Plenty quiet - Troy Media

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Governments decision to partially lift the COVID mask mandate for resorts was yesterday hailed by a top hotelier as placing The Bahamas on the cutting edge of post-pandemic recovery.

Robert Sands, the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Associations (BHTA) president, told Tribune Business that the destination was well poised to exceed our recovery expectations after the Davis administration lifted the requirement to wear masks in hotel lobbies, corridors and casinos, or in the outside grounds, where there was at least three feet distance separating non-family members.

Suggesting that COVID-19 will become a lifestyle going forward and well have to live with it, he conceded that some measures may have to remain in place to protect Bahamians, residents and visitors from the virus.

The furtherance of relaxation of COVID restrictions amply illustrates the Governments commitment to continuing to enable the full and substantial recovery of our tourism sector; our tourism economy, Mr Sands told this newspaper of the mask relaxation.

As competing destinations and key source markets shed their respective COVID restrictions as the number of COVID infections continues to decline or fall, we fully appreciate the Governments efforts to ensure we remain on the cutting edge by removing impediments to travel while maintaining the safety of residents, citizens and tourists.

I believe we are on solid footing, given the trajectory we are on so far, and if we continue on this path we will be well poised to exceed our expectations for recovery of our number one industry, tourism.

Mr Sands spoke out after the Ministry of Health and Wellness, in a statement, confirmed the mask mandate easing for resort properties and their guests. A person is not required to wear a face mask while in a lobby, corridor, or casino of a hotel or while in an outdoor setting where there is at least three feet of space between persons who are not of the same household, it said.

The BHTA president had previously said the COVID mask mandate was receiving significant push back from visitors who are no longer subject to such requirements at home, and of whom around 90 percent are fully vaccinated.

The mask easing does not go as far as the Bahamian hotel and tourism industry would like, the sector hoping it would be eased in restaurants and across all amenities, but Mr Sands said of guest reaction: It is fair to say that the direction we have moved in will meet almost 100 percent with their approval.

I think that the protocols which have been removed will go a long way. I think its only a matter of time when there will be further enhancements, and we and the general public are demonstrating that we are taking COVID seriously and the numbers remain at very low levels or continue to fall.

Ive always said any improvement is positive.... There are still issues that remain in place, but COVID will become a lifestyle going forward. Well have to live with it, and some protocols will be necessary for the protection of the general population of The Bahamas and tourists, he continued.

Its a perfect storm, and all these relaxations will help to ensure The Bahamas retains its number one position as the premier tourism destination of the Caribbean.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness, meanwhile, also cut social distancing requirements inside businesses by 50 percent - from six feet to three feet.

Business establishments shall ensure that all customers and staff maintain physical distancing between themselves and others of not less than three feet while inside or awaiting entry outside the business, it said.

Businesses shall determine the number of persons permitted entry into the business at any one time based on one person for every 30 square feet of floor space which is unoccupied by furnishings, fixtures or machinery and is accessible to the public.

Businesses must have distance markers three feet apart, indicating where each customer is to stand on a line awaiting entry or check out...... All restaurants shall ensure that seating is arranged so that there is the spacing of at least three feet between each dining party.

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Bahamas 'on cutting edge' with hotel mask relaxation - Bahamas Tribune

By Shanieka Smith & Deandrea Hamilton

Staff Writer

#TheBahamas, March 12, 2022 Her life demonstrated that you begin in the pit, but you dont have to end in the pit.

Cynthia Mother Pratt, most popularly known as Mother Pratt, a Bahamian born, who grew up in an inner-city called Coconut Grove, came from extreme poverty but modestly walked her way up to becoming the second in command as the Deputy Prime Minister and the first female Minister of Defense for The Bahamas.

Her target with this inaugural book is young people, and her message is that their start does not determine their end.

A gated community, money, or privilege were not Mother Pratts easy climb out of the pit. It was her internal desires, hard work, discipline, humility, and determination. It was not until age 34 that Mother Pratt went to university; she sat, learnt, and graduated with 17 and 18-year-olds.

Nonetheless, I wanted to achieve my goal, she said.

At the time Mother Pratt went to school, students had to leave at age 14 if their parents could not afford the fees. She said she grew up in the lower class; that then and now is a major discouragement for people in similar situations. This was where the inspiration for one of her three literary contributions, From the Pit to the Palace, originated.

I want the masses to know, the world to know, that there is a woman who God brought from the pit, the gutter, so to speak and who emerged to the very top. If it happened for me, it can happen for them, she said passionately.

From the Pit to the Palace, an autobiography of Mother Pratt was published in January 2022. According to Mother Pratt, the book is for everyone young and old.

You have many adults who tend to give up on life because things didnt work out for them. They believe that they are a failure, and that is why the book will explain, and encourage, and enhance, edify, to tell them that there is hope, she expressed.

To reinforce Mother Pratts humble nature and soul message from her autobiography: she still resides in an inner-city after all she has accomplished.

And Dr Cynthia Mother Pratt has accomplished a lot. While her first term in service to people was in the teaching profession and as a sports coach, Mother Pratt and her escalating popularity attracted leaders in the political arena.

They had to almost pry me into first of all getting involved in politics, period, I never was interested; never been to a meeting. But what had happened at the time, I was at the college in Bahamas, I was assisting the director and there with student activities part-time lecturer, and I got a message there from the sitting Prime Minister that he would like to meet with me, she expressed.

There was an invitation extended and suffice it to say, there was a big fat no at the onset, but the Progressive Liberal Party and Perry Gladstone Christie, would not take no for an answer. Persistence paid off for Christie and an attempt, bound to fail from Mother Pratts perspective, turned into a 10-year career in politics, starting in 2002 until she retired in 2012.

A deputy party leader, the first for a woman in The Bahamas; a deputy prime minister who would go on to hold the prime ministers post during a time of illness for Mr Christie and numerous other ceiling shattering accolades. Yet none seemed to change her heart, which was first and foremost for God, then for family.

Mother Pratt has six children: three boys, an adopted son, who is now deceased and one biological daughter. She also has eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Pratts husband, Joseph Benjamin is also deceased.

They [my children] reminded me the other day, they said, mommy, we have never really had you for ourselves as our mom because you were always looking after somebody else. And at one time, I had six children in my house until at one point and my husband got to the point where he says Cynthia, dont bring another one in here, she chuckles as she reminisces.

Global prizes were also not unusual for Mother Pratt, but one presented to her in 2019 is truly cherished as it bears the name of one of historys most valiant freedom fighters. At a ceremony at her church, Prayer and Praise Assembly in Coconut Grove, the little girl from the Grove was awarded the Nelson Mandela Award for her long-standing commitment to community building, and it cemented that a book to chronicle this achievement must be penned. And so it was.

The thing about my growing up is that I was never satisfied with where I was. I always wanted to belong and when I say belong: belong to those who are trying to get to another level. I was not satisfied with one thing; when I got that I was never satisfied because I knew there was something better. And so I knew then there was something pushing me to say you can achieve it, you can do it, says Mother Pratt. She added that she was never afraid to fail.

On her porch is where she shared these fascinating nuggets and cherished memories with us; her front porch in the Grove. An area which she served and represented in parliament, and an area though often considered a shady side of Nassau town, is treasured as her launch pad, a stepping stone and the birthplace of her desire to be more.

The inner city is where we live, but we have to make it what it is. The community does not build us; we build the community, she said.

Dr. Pratt, who is admittedly social media shy adds that if you really want to make something of your life, you need to dig deep, pull your bootstraps up and know that if Mother Pratt could make it, then I can as well.

This former sports coach, who earned the name because she became such a positive force to young people, made it clear that little opportunities present themselves, and it is only fitting that young people grab on to them. The first step, she said, is to believe in yourself.

[Opportunities] are there, but you have to go out and get it. And in other words, God would have given them manna from heaven, but they had to go and get the manna. And that is how youre going to achieve because you must want to change.

I cant make you do it, but you must want it from within and then grab a hold of opportunities when they present themselves because it may not be there tomorrow.

From the Pit to the Palace is now available on Amazon at a cost of $20 dollars. It can also be found in Bahamas-based bookstores.

Undoubtedly, expectedly, the book authored by Mother Pratt will be a raw, real, humourous and inspiring account of a life that continues to be well-lived.

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Initiatives undertaken are proof of Bahamas commitment to addressing climate change, health matters amongst women - Magnetic Media

The Bahamas is forecast to record another bloody year as police reported a four per cent increase in murders for the first quarter of 2022.

Acting Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander told the media today that 28 murders were recorded from January 1 to March 14, 2022, compared to 27 for the same period last year.

This past weekend was one of the bloodiest as five men were murdered.

Fernander revealed most of the shootings were gang-related and came about as criminals engaged in a tit for tat for crimes committed against each other.

He said gang leaders are seeking to recruit young men to carry out their illicit activities.

The acting top cop warned family members of criminals that they simply cannot throw their hands in the air and ignore the actions of their relatives since they may lose their lives.

When they cant get at their target, or if you as family members, if you are with them you also become a target. And if they cant get at their target, they go and they target you the family, Fernander said

So we are asking you as parents to please try to talk to your kids. And if they are involved in the life of crime, turn them into us so that we can sit down with them and have a conversation and try to steer them in the right direction

Illegal fire arms continue to the weapons of choice for criminals and they are hiding them in parcels of food in an effort to evade authorities.

But, Fernander said we are on to them as he sought to assure that police are doing all in their power to prevent illegal guns from making their way into Bahamian communities.

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Murders on the rise: Bahamas record 28 murders in Q1 of 2022 | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis said yesterday the government and the Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA) have agreed on a way forward concerning the property tax valuation issue.

Back in January, The Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA) challenged the legality of the Department of Inland Revenues property reassessment exercise, which reportedly resulted in 10,000 previously unregistered properties having now been accurately assessed and registered. BREA had urged the government to withdraw its 2022 Assessment of Real Property Tax, citing its appraisers were not properly licensed under the act.

Addressing the matter yesterday Halkitis said: There was a meeting about a month ago with the Bahamas Real Estate Association. As we said from the outset that their complaint about the non-Bahamians doing appraisals did not arise. Thats not what we were doing. We had a meeting. I think it was productive and we agreed on a way forward in terms of when we do need appraisals and second opinions, to work with them to get that done.

Going forward we will be pursuing opportunities to work together. Where there are opportunities to have business or have appraisals done and make sure that we have reputable real estate practitioners we will be able to do that, said Halkitis.

For her part, BREA president Christine Wallace-Whitfield said the discussion with the prime minister was positive.

At the end of the day we are just trying to make sure we work with the government and that they understand our concerns, Wallace-Whitfield said.

When we met with the Prime Minister he understood where we were coming from. I think it was a positive discussion. Moving forward persons will have to get their properties appraised and it will be a busy time for licensed BREA appraisers. They are trained and understand the law of the land. Moving forward I think it is very important we all try to work together.

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MOVING ON: Government and BREA agree on way forward following valuation concerns - EyeWitness News