Category Archives: Bahamas

CONOR McGREGOR has returned to Ireland from his holiday in the Bahamas - and immediately returned to the Black Forge pub.

The UFC star enjoyed a break in the Caribbean with his family as he continues to rehab from his broken leg suffered last summer.

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While in the Bahamas, the former two weight world champion got to spend time with pop superstar Justin Bieber.

He revealed to his fans on Instagram that he had returned to Dublin via a private jet yesterday.

And immediately the former two weight world champion was sharing snaps of him enjoying himself in the Black Forge pub.

McGregor was celebrating with a trophy and a group of friends as he captioned the post 'yup the squad, championays.'

He was also presented with a trophy which featured a glass football at the top along with the caption 'the chairman'.

McGregor was spending several nights partying in the Black Forge before his trip to the Caribbean.

Fans of the UFC star revealed their concern for the Dubliner after a series of posts on social media from the Crumlin boozer.

He had promised to fans that he would cut down on his drinking as he nears a return to the Octagon.

But a rambling Instagram post in the early hours of the morning had fans fearing he had a gone 'off the rails'.

He wrote: "Eating and drinking on the gaf. Whiskey is a mad mans drink my mother always says hahahaha whos runs it ma? Thanks for the early house my Grandfather! And the whiskey. And the gargle. 5 more minutes Ma. My Mothers blood line! The Moores.

"I have spirits around this whole premise watching over every single patron that enters. Support. Protection. Guidance. Spiritual connection from above. Chaos. Ya ya yaaaaa hahahahaha I dont just make spirits, I have spirits! Ghosts on a string.

"What a pub i after making hahahahahahaaj ah stop lord have mercy father save my soul give me two and a double and use the thing with the bubble back us all our father God Jesus Christ. Please, thank you! We deserve the best! God, we deserve this, thank you God has our back! 100%."

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Conor McGregor returns to Ireland from Bahamas on private jet and immediately heads to Black Forge pub t... - The Irish Sun

Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

NASSAU, The Bahamas--The Bahamas has been invited to visit Saudi Arabia to experience its developments and the aggressive plans its government has for investment, as a blueprint for where The Bahamas could take its own development. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper on Tuesday, February 15, who added that both countries will soon develop a diplomatic relationship.

Speaking to reporters outside of Cabinet, Cooper said government officials met with a delegation from Saudi Arabia on Monday headed by the Saudi minister of tourism and explained that tangible possibilities exist for both countries in various areas such as tourism and aviation.

We have been invited to visit Saudi Arabia to see some of their developments and their aggressive plans, said Cooper. We have been introduced to the Saudi Arabia development fund. We are hoping to be able to work along with them in terms of financial and technical assistance on many of our infrastructure projects, including airports, sporting facilities and other infrastructure works.

Cooper said Saudi Arabia is currently lobbying to host World Expo 2030 and explained that The Bahamas has offered its support of the countrys bid to hold the event.

The Bahamas has been looking closely at the Middle East for economic opportunities ever since government took a delegation to Dubai for World Expo 2020.

Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting recently announced that he would be speaking to a global panel on food security in Dubai at the end of the month.

The Bahamas Non-Resident Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the State of Qatar Tony Salim Joudi said recently that the UAE needs new markets to invest in and contended that The Bahamas could become such a market.

Joudi said The Bahamas has many untapped and under-tapped markets to present as export opportunities to the UAE. ~ The Nassau Guardian ~

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DPM: The Bahamas invited to Saudi Arabia to experience its development - The Daily Herald

Theres a new way to enjoy a luxurious trip to the Bahamas without paying for any of it, with a new sweepstakes courtesy of The Bahamas, the Caerula Mar Club and luxury home fragrance brand Homesick.

The Ultimate Bahamas Escape sweepstakes offers one lucky winner and a guest a free four-day, three-night stay at the Caerula Mar Club on South Andros, Bahamas.

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The winner and guest will also receive a $500 credit to apply towards airfare and a limited-edition Homesick Bahamas candle, valued at $2,234. The winner will be chosen on February 28, 2022 and will be notified by email.

Applicants can enter the sweepstakes provided they are eighteen years old or older. They can fill out the application using their email, their first and last name and their mobile phone number. Applicants must also agree to the official rules and conditions to enter, which includes email communications from Homesick, The Bahamas and Caerula Mar club.

Those who wish to apply can do so here.

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How to Win A Luxury Trip to the Bahamas - TravelPulse

Minister of Health Dr. Michael Darville and U.S. Charg dAffaires Usha E. Pitts walk onto the tarmac to receive the shipment of 32,400 Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines from the United States. (U.S. Embassy Nassau

The United States has delivered a third shipment of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses to The Bahamas, continuing its support of the Bahamian people in the fight against the pandemic. This donation, through the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), adds to the 263,250 vaccine doses delivered to The Bahamas in 2021. U.S. Charg dAffaires Usha E. Pitts, Minister of Health the Honourable Dr. Michael Darville, and other health officials were on the tarmac to receive the delivery.

[This donation] means The Bahamas will be able to continue their vaccination campaign, which is so important as we are still working through this pandemic. And we all know that if you want to get back to normal, the way to get there is through widespread vaccination, said U.S. Charg dAffaires Pitts.

Minister Darville noted that about 50% of eligible Bahamians have been fully vaccinated, and that like many other CARICOM countries The Bahamas is still working to persuade hesitant people to receive the vaccine. Charg Pitts encouraged Bahamians who still have doubts about the importance of vaccination to seek advice from someone knowledgeable who they trust, who can share facts, and who can address their concerns.

The pandemic is not over. Vaccination remains the most powerful weapon we have against this pandemic, and The Bahamas is well equipped to continue the fight.

Even as Omicron recedes across some parts of the world, we have reason to be concerned about future variants. No one country can do this alone and no country can end the pandemic at home without ending it around the world. Thats why, as recently as Monday, February 14, Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted a virtual COVID-19 Global Action Meeting to discuss the COVID-19 Global Action Plan (GAP) and rally international support around the GAPs six lines of effort to end the pandemic. Read more about the conference athttps://www.state.gov/the-covid-19-global-action-meeting/

The arrival of this third tranche of Pfizer vaccines to The Bahamas is just one part of the United States commitment to fighting COVID-19 across the globe. The United States has now delivered over 295,000 of the 379,000 doses the Biden Administration pledged to The Bahamas in August of last year and has donated 415 million of doses worldwide.

By U.S. Embassy Nassau | 16 February, 2022 | Topics: Press Releases

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U.S. Embassy Delivers 32400 Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Doses to The Bahamas - US Embassy in The Bahamas

Listing of the Day

Location: Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco Island, the Bahamas

Price: $12 million

This seven-bedroom beachfront villa is one of 32 residences to be built at the private, 500-acre resort-style community Abaco Club on Winding Bay.

Known as The Cays at The Abaco Club, the first phase of this new waterfront development will include 12 villas and the new Bay Club clubhouse. Sales launched this winter, with construction slated to begin in the summer, followed by delivery 18 months later.

Its prime beachfront property, which is getting rarer and rarer and more expensive, on the shores of Winding Bay, said Matt Nixon, chief marketing officer of Southworth Development. Stage two will include another 12 villas along with some wellness facilities.

More: A Lavish $15.8 Million Oceanfront Mansion in the Bahamas Is Headed to the Marketand Crypto Buyers Are Welcome

Developed and managed by Southworth, the Cays will feature master planning by Vita, Inc. and interiors by the design firm AvroKO. The homes will range from beachfront studio lofts to seven-bedroom villas.

For the 12 founding homeowners, in a program called the 12 Cays, the developer is offering a range of perks, including preferred pricing, priority marina boat slip selection and credit toward club accommodations during villa construction.

One of the best and greatest points of differentiation with other projects in the Bahamas will be through design, Mr. Nixon said. AvroKO is one of the premium design firms.

The villas are fully customizable and will be sold furnished, Mr. Nixon said. The owners will have options for the design choices. We will do it end to end, or you can bring in your own designer.

More: Bahamas Villa Asking $12.25 Million to Auction Without Reserve

This is designed for the client who wants to come just with their travel bags, he added. We can do the shopping for you, we can bring in a chef for you. Its designed to be as turnkey as possible.

The villas can be put into the clubs rental program when they are not being used by the owners.

Stats

The 5,500-square-foot, three-story villa has seven bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and one partial bathroom.

Amenities

Club amenities include an oceanfront pool and spa, a fire pit, golf, tennis, water sports, fine dining, a recently renovated fitness center and new pickleball and basketball courts.

Neighborhood Notes

These new villas are in the heart of the club, Mr. Nixon said. Everything is extraordinarily walkable. Weve tried to make the club as self-contained as possible.

Its just a few minutes to the racquet courts and the golf course, which he described as the best in the Bahamas.

Its about a 20-minute drive to the Leonard M. Thompson International Airport in Marsh Harbour, he said.

Agent: Kristi Hull, director of sales, The Abaco Club on Winding Bay

View the developers site.

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A Bahamas Beachfront Villa so Turnkey Theyll Bring in the Chef for You - Mansion Global

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis yesterday deemed this nations participation in COP26 a success, noting that it put us on the map as never before.

The climate change summit was held in Glasgow, Scotland, from October 28, 2021, to November 14, 2021.

Davis, who was delivering a presentation to Parliament yesterday on The Bahamas participation in COP26, noted: It is no exaggeration to say that our participation greatly enhanced the profile of The Bahamas, and the increased attention from the international media and other world leaders shows the wisdom of our decision to participate.

In the past, The Bahamas was on the outside looking in. While rules were being developed and innovative climate finance funds were being accessed, we were not benefitting fully from these activities.

Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis

Davis noted that during COP26, The Bahamas significantly stepped up its representation on various UN Climate Change committees.

In the past, The Bahamas was on the outside looking in. While rules were being developed and innovative climate finance funds were being accessed, we were not benefitting fully from these activities, said Davis.

He noted that in Article 6.4, dealing with carbon markets, Bahamian Charles Hamilton was elected to serve as the Caribbean and Latin Americas representative; and on the Kyoto Protocol Compliance Committees Facilitative Branch, Bahamian Dr Lisa Benjamin was elected to serve as the Caribbean and Latin Americas representative.

These two Bahamians will ensure that mitigation issues of importance to The Bahamas remain on the table and are actioned through proposed global finance and programmes, the prime minister said.

According to the prime minister, as a result of our participation at COP26, The Bahamas also drew international attention to the impacts of Hurricane Dorian, including its effect on our gross domestic product (GDP).

For years, we have advocated that GDP was not an accurate indicator of a countrys unique vulnerabilities or economic stability, Davis said.

I made the point back in September when I addressed the UNs General Assembly and did so again in Glasgow.

Every countrys economy is vulnerable to environmental shocks. In recent years, our annual hurricane season has demonstrated the extent of that vulnerability.

However, Hurricane Dorian unprecedented in its size, duration and ferocity showed how these single events could completely cripple our country.

Against this backdrop, the use of GDP to determine the level of financial assistance offered to our country is not reasonable.

Therefore, our delegation consistently made interventions throughout COP26 that drew attention to this stark reality.

Davis further noted that at the recent global meeting of countries in January, the Global Environment Facility indicated it will be moving away from using GDP as a primary economic indicator.

Currently, the funding available to The Bahamas through the Global Environment Facility for 2022-2023 is approximately $7 million, Davis added.

The Global Environment Facility is now proposing to use two indices an Economic and Environmental Vulnerability Index, or EVI, and a Human Development Index, or HDI.

EVI indicators would capture economic and environmental shocks, while HDI indicators would consider the countrys health and living standards.

This is a major win for The Bahamas and other Caribbean Small Island Developing States, or SIDS. These new indicators are better suited to convey our countries realities and are likely to increase the mobilization of climate finance.

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ON THE MAP: PM touts COP26 participation success in placing Bahamas in beneficial global position - EyeWitness News

(File) Vijay Mallya leaving the High Court.

On 18 January, the high court in Londonhad given Swiss bank UBS the right to take possession of Vijay Mallya's trophy London home which overlooks Regents Park. The possession order for the over 30-bedroom property came in response to the bank's contention that Mallya had failed to repay the mortgage of 20 million pounds that was provided keeping the house as security.

Less than a month after that ruling, a favourable order by the Supreme Court of Bahamas on Friday (11 February 2022) has meant that UBS will get access to enough funds to redeem the mortgage and any associated interest.

The order, of whichthis writer has an exclusive copy, approves the inclusion of Vijay Mallya's mother and children as beneficiaries of the three Balaji Trusts, registered in Bahamas, which have more than enough money to cover the UBS mortgage.

The Balaji One Three-Gift settlement, Balaji Two Three-Gift settlement, Balaji Three Three-Gift settlement, are all trusts which are registered in the Bahamas with Black Stone PTC Limited as the trustee. In order to get the court's approval to use the money to pay UBS, Mallya's children and mother - who lives at the property - were to be shown as beneficiaries.

The development provides a window into the complex tangle of trust funds and tax havens which are used by high net worth individuals. The sum effect of the judgment by the Bahamian court is that Mallya will be able to keep the London property. The development also gives evidence of Mallya's ability to turn around adverse situations. Indian agencies secured victory in the extradition proceedingsin British courts to have him extradited, but despite extinguishing all legal options, Mallya continues to be in the UK by virtue of an asylum application.

While it is correct that Mallya (or rather Rose Capital Ventures which owns the London property on paper) had failed to repay the mortgage, during the proceedings it had emerged that the bank had enough security to cover the mortgage amount. However, as it touched upon the complex structure of trusts registered in Bahamas, it required a separate set of proceedings in the courts for the money to be made available.

Mallya had indicated tothis reporter after the January 18 ruling that UBS holds cash in excess of the mortgage, but a Bahamian court order was required to use cash in the Trust.

This week, honourable Madam Justice Donna Newton of the Supreme Court of Bahamas gave the court's assent to Birchwood Hills Inc, owned by Balaji One Three settlement, to enter into a loan and mortgage agreement with Rose Capital Ventures Limited for the "sole and exclusive purpose of repaying the amounts due to UBS".

This is the second instance when Mallya delicately manoeuvred to prevent UBS from taking over the property. In March 2020, Justice Teare of the high court in London had allowed Rose Capital to enter into a mortgage agreement with another company registered in a tax haven. But while that application was opposed by Indian banks who were pursuing Mallya to be declared bankrupt, it does not seem like they opposed the proceedings in the Bahamian court in a similar fashion. Mallya has now of coursebeen declared bankrupt bythe court, and the State Bank of India did submit a letter to the Bahamian court through its solicitor TLT LLP to secure its interest.

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What happens in the Bahamas... Vijay Mallya saves his signature London home - again - Moneycontrol

CDC data shows COVID vax coverage lowest among ages 5 to 17Darville says more vaccines to arrive Thursday

NASSAU, BAHAMAS With vaccine coverage among teenagers in The Bahamas hovering at just over 30 percent, the government intends to decentralize access to vaccines and push pop-ups in hopes of more than doubling that rate.

According to Minister of Health Dr Michael Darville, a total of 11,918 individuals between the age of 12 and 17 have been vaccinated, representing 31 percent of the age group in The Bahamas.

We would like to improve upon that, but they are still classified as juveniles and still under the care of family members, so we are pleading to the adult population mothers and fathers to work to help us to get these kids between the ages of 12 and 17 vaccinated, he said.

We would like for that [figure] to go up to about 70 percent.

Were pushing very hard with the vaccination committee you notice were doing pop-up sites and were starting to go into the private sector to decentralize the vaccination program because we have realized from the research that individuals are more receptive to have a vaccination after being distributed by their personal physician who they have a contact with.

Were going to decentralize and try to get vaccines to private facilities.

COVID-19 vaccination rates among kids have been slow globally.

According to data released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention last Friday, for the 12 to 17 age group in the United States, 66.9 percent have taken a first dose, while 56.8 percent have completed their vaccine series.

A look at the 18 to 24 grouping shows 75.8 percent coverage with the first dose and 61.4 percent fully vaccinated.

Among those 25 to 39 and 40 to 49, those figures are measurably higher respectively.

Pediatric vaccines for those under 12 remain unavailable, though negotiations continue on the global market to acquire them, with positive feedback.

The government has not provided a breakdown of the more than 160,000 fully vaccinated individuals by age.

However, the nearly 12,000 vaccinated among 12 to 17-year-olds represents just under eight percent of total vaccinations in The Bahamas.

While it remains unclear how many doses of COVID-19 vaccines The Bahamas has in country, Darville said the existing supply is not expected to expire until May 31.

More pre-mixed vaccines, which have a longer shelf life, are expected to arrive in The Bahamas on Thursday.

Darville said these doses bode well with the governments plans to move into the private sector with vaccine distribution.

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LOW YOUTH COVERAGE: Just over a third of minors aged 12-17 vaccinated against COVID - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The government is expected to introduce legislation to increase the minimum wage soon, said Minister or Labour Keith Bell yesterday.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament on the matter, Bell said: We are currently working very closely with the Office of the Attorney General, where we are anticipating that the legislation will be ready very soon and we will be able to present it very soon in this Parliament.

Pressed on how soon that bill could come, he said: I cannot preempt anything of the Cabinet and certainly the prime minister, and that would be a decision of the Cabinet.

While he could not say whether it will be in the first quarter this year, the labor minister maintained that he is very hopeful and optimistic.

During the Progressive Liberal Partys (PLP) campaign trail, it promised that if elected to govern, it would recommend the countrys minimum wage be increased to $250 per week and reduce value-added tax (VAT) to 10 percent across the board for 12 months.

The Davis administrations Speech from the Throne also promises an increase in minimum wage and phase into a livable wage.

Bell, however, could not indicate yesterday what that livable wage would be.

We call it a livable wage because we anticipate that we will be moving the minimum wage, and again, that is a decision for the Cabinet to determine, he said.

It obviously has [significant] financial implications, so we will have to wait for what the Cabinet determines.

Minister of Labour and Immigration Keith Bell

It obviously has [significant] financial implications, so we will have to wait for what the Cabinet determines.

The countrys minimum wage is currently $210 a week.

The last minimum wage increase was in 2015, during the Christie administration, from $150 per week to $210 per week.

Prior to that, there had been no change in the countrys minimum wage since January 2002.

A 2020 study by the University of The Bahamas Government and Public Policy Institute concluded that a living wage on New Providence and Grand Bahama would be $2,625 and $3,550 per month respectively.

Researchers considered costs of an affordable and nutritious diet; house and utility; education; healthcare; transportation; clothing; recreation; emergency and unexpected event funds; savings and investments; among other things in their calculations.

Trade union leaders, such as Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Obie Ferguson, have called for a minimum wage increaseto between $250 and $300 per week, suggesting that such a rise is justified by cost of living increases and theVAT rate hike to 12 percent.

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MORE MONEY ON THE HORIZON: Minimum wage legislation coming 'soon' - EyeWitness News

We are still having challenges at the Princess Margaret Hospital, the Rand Memorial Hospital and until we are satisfied that a lot of the challenges that we are currently faced [with] are being resolved, we will have to move slowly rather than moving quickly. DR MICHAEL DARVILLE

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Notwithstanding positive signs that The Bahamas is on the tail end of the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister of Health Dr Michael Darville said the government will move slowly regarding restrictions as there remains challenges in the nations healthcare sector.

We are moving in the right direction and we are still in the fourth wave, but we believe that we are at the tail end, he said yesterday ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting.

For us, restrictions are not just numbers.

Restrictions are directly tied into what is happening at our tertiary facilities.

We are still having challenges at the Princess Margaret Hospital, the Rand Memorial Hospital and until we are satisfied that a lot of the challenges that we are currently faced [with] are being resolved, we will have to move slowly rather than moving quickly because the healthcare facilities are absolutely necessary in order for us to be able to reduce the mortality and also the morbidity as a result of COVID.

Last week, Darville suggested the government will begin to further relax COVID-19 restrictions in The Bahamas if cases continued to trend downward and hospitalizations improved.

Both hospitalizations and new infections have continued to trend down.

The Bahamas recorded more than 1,600 cases in a single week in mid-January, compared to 123 infections last week.

Yesterday, the Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA) and Bahamas Nurses Union (BNU) recommended the government incrementally ease COVID-19 protocols with a trial period to determine the impact, suggesting an outright relaxation of restrictions could open the floodgates.

In some international jurisdictions, restrictions have been eased.

In some instances, facial mask requirements have been lifted or scaled back.

To this, Darville said: One hat doesnt fit all.

He said the pandemic must be viewed in the context of The Bahamas situation.

He said there is still a need for infrastructural upgrades in the hospital and to improve manpower among medical professionals as teams remain burned out.

We see other countries dropping all of the restrictions; maybe thats good for them, but The Bahamas must think in terms of the context that were in, and I can tell you and I can tell the Bahamian people that we have a lot of work to do

The minister said until the government has a strategy to address the infrastructural and human resources challenges, were going to have to creep before we walk.

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CREEP BEFORE WE WALK: Health minister says govt will move 'slowly' with loosening restrictions - EyeWitness News