Category Archives: Bahamas

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A top Ministry of Finance official has dismissed assertions by a top Caribbean economist that The Bahamas is at risk of a sovereign debt default as early as 2021 as "outside the realm of fiscal possibilities".

Marlon Johnson, the acting financial secretary, told Tribune Business that the position voiced by Marla Dukharan, the former Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) chief regional economist, had "extremely little chance of happening".

Ms Dukharan, now an RF Merchant Bank & Trust director, had echoed comments she gave previously this year in also asserting to a webinar given by that institution last week that The Bahamas was likely to find itself in an International Monetary Fund (IMF) structural adjustment programme next year due to the drying up of its tourism-related foreign currency inflows.

Speaking after the Ministry of Finance rejected her views, branding them "unreasonably alarmist", Mr Johnson said Ms Dukharan had not provided any data or evidence to support the claim that The Bahamas would miss a scheduled payment on the Government's $9bn-plus debt.

"There is extremely little chance of that happening," he told this newspaper of a Bahamian sovereign debt default. "For all practical purposes it isn't within the realms of fiscal possibility. There are enough fiscal levers that the Government can make use of, and short-term adjustments government can make, to address it.

"Our foreign reserves still remain at high levels, so we are in position to meet our obligations now and for the foreseeable future." Mr Johnson also queried why, if The Bahamas faced the dangers outlined by Ms Dukharan, foreign investors bought a further $225m worth of government bonds at an interest rate 125 basis points lower than the rate they demanded less than two months earlier.

"The Ministry isn't particularly concerned regarding international investors and the like," he added of Ms Dukharan's comments. "They have their information, and assessment of that information, that undergirds their sentiment towards the Bahamas' market.

"They've just expressed that in the fact the Government successfully was able to obtain additional financing at rates lower than they were several months ago. The proof of the pudding is that private investors don't share the sentiment that a default is imminent otherwise they would not have provided credit to the country."

Mr Johnson, saying this proved The Bahamas maintained its access to international financial markets and was "not even close to some of the jurisdictions more stretched than we are", said neither the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and credit rating agencies - Moody's and Standard & Poor's (S&P) - had raised concerns about an imminent Bahamian sovereign default in their recent assessments.

"The important thing is to ensure Bahamians understand notwithstanding what is happening there is commitment on the part of the Government to remain fiscally prudent and take whatever action is necessary to protect the country from a fiscal standpoint," Mr Johnson said.

However, Ms Dukharan's comments serve as a timely warning of what might happen - short term or further out - if The Bahamas does not swiftly bring its fiscal deficits and $10bn-plus national debt under control once COVID-19 has passed.

The Ministry of Finance, in its statement, admitted that The Bahamas is "not out of the woods", but argued that the economy is "not in the danger zone". It said: "Some countries in the region have debt levels of 100 percent of GDP and beyond. The Bahamas is nowhere near that level, even though its debt level ratios have increased because of the pandemic.

"The Government has confidence that the economy will rebound, and is seeking to ensure that this rebound is resilient and durable. In keeping with the Resilient Bahamas budget plan, the Government is practicing expenditure restraint wherever possible, and has indicated its willingness to take measures to protect the countrys fiscal health.

"These measures range from addressing the reform of state-owned enterprises to release fiscal space to cover other priority needs of the Government; to bringing more efficiency in the delivery of government services and processes; to reducing waste in expenditures and ensuring efficiency in revenue administration and the adequacy of our tax system to support the operations of the Government."

The Ministry continued: "The country does have high exposure to externalities because of its openness and heavy reliance on tourism, but notwithstanding the pandemic, the tourism model is still viable and has proven itself to be resilient.

"This model has brought with it strong foreign and local investment activity, through the creation of hotels and other facilities, which offers both important short and long term employment opportunities, and serves as a catalyst to other high value activities, such as the second homes market and linkages with the financial services sector.

"Indeed, there remains an active pipeline of ongoing significant domestic and foreign commercial investment projects which support a strong and sustained economic recovery as we emerge from the pandemic."

Read the original post:

Sovereign default 'outside the realm' of fiscal possibility - Bahamas Tribune

By ohtadmin | on December 04, 2020

NASSAU, Bahamas, Dec. 3, CMC A petition that has been launched as part of a campaign to Stop Disney-Last Chance for Lighthouse Point has collected close to 400,000 signatures.

The petition was launched by environmental activists to protest against Disneys plans to construct a multi-million-dollar cruise destination in South Eleuthera.

Were looking to reinvigorate the campaign and continue pushing out the fact that we do need answers to our questions, re-Earth president, Sam Duncombe told The Tribune newspaper.

Disneys pages on Lighthouse Point talk about how theyre going to be respectful to the environment and on one hand, they push out a lot of good information but then theyre not walking the walk when it comes to their own development, said Duncombe.

The environmental watchdogs are concerned about the negative implications that the project could create for the areas environment and want more sustainable development options for South Eleuthera and its residents.

We are deeply concerned about Disneys plans for a massive cruise ship port at Lighthouse Point that threaten this unique natural place treasured by generations of Bahamians and visitors from around the world. This is not the place where an environmentally-responsible corporation would choose to develop a massive cruise ship port, Duncombe said.

In 2019, the government and Disney Island Development Ltd signed a Heads of Agreement for the construction of a US$250Mto US$400Mcruise port and entertainment facility at Lighthouse Point.

The deal allows for the conveyance of 190 acres of land along with the southernmost point of the property a $6.29m value to the government for the establishment of a national park.

Some 120 Bahamians are expected to be employed directly during the construction of the project, which will begin after the Environmental Impact Assessment which was submitted last Decemberand Environmental Management Plan has been approved by the government.

Public consultation must also be completed, and all other necessary government permits and approvals granted.

Giving an update on the process during a Ministry of Environment press conference in September, officials said they were still in the process of finalizing the document, noting it will be released to the public soon.

Continued here:

Petition launched to protest Disney's plan for cruise destination in the Bahamas - NYCaribNews

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Human Rights Bahamas (HRB) is petitioning for the immediate and unconditional release of some seven asylum seekers who have been detained by the Department of Immigration after fleeing violent sectarian conflict in Cameroon.

According to HRB, the Cameroonians are from an English-speaking region in the northwest of that country, which since 2017 has struggled to resist forcible assimilation by the much larger French-speaking majority and government. The conflict has reportedly claimed 3,000 lives and displaced more than half a million people.

HRBs advocacy comes on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling that awarded Kenyan Douglas Ngumi just under $642,000 in damages after he was unlawfully detained for more than six years at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

The asylum seekers have not been charged with or convicted of any crime in The Bahamas and the government has no legal justification for holding them indefinitely, some for more than a year and a half, read a statement.

All have been interviewed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and are in the process of having their political refugee status officially confirmed. Human Rights Bahamas is demanding their immediate and unconditional release. We intend to sue the government on their behalf for false imprisonment, assault and battery and breaches of their constitutional rights.

The Bahamas Constitution prohibits unlawful arrest and arbitrary detention; it also guarantees freedom of movement and due process for anyone detained, including access to legal representation and the right to be brought before a court of law as soon as possible and either charged with a crime or released.

According to the HRB statement, the detained asylum seekers are Patrick Awara Tarh, 37; Violet Acha Werengie; Carine Valerie Nguesap, 42; Anye Celestine Ngang; Ndi Tinong; Elvis Forwang; and Perpetua Forwang.

Other detained asylum seekers are Ahmed Mbia Mambingo and Werengies toddler, Sama Eliana Itoh.

Tarh arrived in The Bahamas in May 2019 and was detained shortly thereafter, HRB stated.

As a member of the interim government for the region of Ambazonia, also known as South Cameroons, his life was under severe threat from the French-speaking armed forces. On February 11, 2018, his cousin Ashu Anti Mbi was hunted down, killed and buried in a mass grave, allegedly by government forces.

Two of Mbis brothers were subsequently killed when their town was burned to the ground by troops along with several other communities in the disputed region. Patrick fled after many of his political colleagues were arrested and jailed and he was warned that his activities were under surveillance.

There is an active warrant for his arrest in Cameroon.

Werengie fled Cameroon for Nigeria after being tortured, raped and almost killed by four armed government troops, an ordeal from which she emerged pregnant, the HRB statement continued.

Fearing the fate of other escapees in Nigeria, who had been kidnapped and taken back to French Cameroon and imprisoned, she fled to The Bahamas in early 2020, and has been detained without charge for 11 months, separated from her toddler. She is currently in Fox Hill prison.

Nguesap, a French language teacher in a primary school in Southern Cameroons, was allegedly victimized and tortured during one of the French-speaking military attacks on populated civilian areas. As an eyewitness to alleged crimes against humanity, she was well aware of the governments policy of silencing anyone with evidence. Fearing for her life, she went on the run, the statement read.

HRB said Ngang is a registered member of the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC), one of the oldest nationalist groups of the struggle for Ambazonian independence.

Tinong is from Batibo, an area particularly hard-hit by the fighting, and fears for his life as many close relatives have been victims of targeted killings by government forces, the statement continued.

The Forwang siblings, also from Batibo, have been released from the Detention Centre for health reasons but remain under immigration surveillance and must check in with the authorities on a regular basis. They fear being detained again at any time on the whim of immigration officers.

The Bahamas became a signatory of the United Nations Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees in 1993.

On December 10, 2018, the country became one of the 153 signatories to the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), which emphasizes the safety, dignity and human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, regardless of their migratory status.

More here:

Human Rights Bahamas calls for the release of Cameroon asylum seekers detained in The Bahamas - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The Bahamas recorded 30 new cases of the coronavirus since Thursday.

A total of 16 cases were recorded on Thursday; five cases on Friday, all of which were on New Providence; and nine cases on Saturday.

The new infections on Saturday included six on New Providence and three on Grand Bahama.

Grand Bahama has continued to record new cases, albeit at a slowed rate.

While the number of new infections on Thursday was more than double the six new cases recorded the day prior, it remains to be seen if there has been any reversal in the downward trend of new cases in the country.

Health officials have said that with The Bahamas tourism reopening on November 1, cases were expected to increase.

With the exception of Thursday, new infections have remained in the single digits in recent days.

There have been a total of 7,579 cases.

Of the total infections, 1,359 remain active.

A total of 5,998 cases have recovered.

This represents a recovery rate of 79 percent.

A total of 163 people have died of COVID-19, representing a case mortality rate of just over two percent.

Twenty-four deaths remain under investigation.

As of yesterday, 12 cases remain hospitalized.

A total of 44,688 COVID-19 tests have been performed.

This includes testing in the private sector.

On Saturday, 186 tests were performed, including eight repeated tests.

Four of the tests had inconclusive results.

This places The Bahamas positivity rate at just over five percent, within the recommended range for the country to reopen.

The positivity range has ranged between just over one percent and five percent over the last week.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is expected to address the nation today at 5pm.

A state of public emergency in The Bahamas remains in place until January 31.

Continued here:

30 more cases over three days Eye Witness News - EyeWitness News

Nassau, The Bahamas | December 7, 2020

Starting on December 9, 2020, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance operations at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) in Nassau will introduce Simplified Arrival.

Simplified Arrival uses facial comparison technology to make inspection easier and faster for travelers, and more secure and efficient for CBP officers and everyone involved in the process. Simplified Arrival also has public health benefits; by reducing the need to capture fingerprints or handle documents, the new technology helps limit the spread of disease and infection:

Security and Privacy

CBP is committed to privacy and has taken steps to safeguard the privacy of all travelers. CBP has employed leading industry technical security safeguards and has limited the amount of personally identifiable information used in the facial biometric process.

Moreover, CBP uses facial comparison technology simply to automate the document checks that are already required at all U.S. ports of entry, and only at specific times and locations where travelers are already required to present proof of identity. New photos of U.S. citizens will be deleted within 12 hours, and photos of foreign nationals will be stored in a secure DHS system.

Facial comparison technology enhances CBPs ability to facilitate lawful travel and secure the border and expand on the benefits of CBP preclearance through LPIA. This process provides travelers with a touchless process that further secures and streamlines international arrivals while providing CBP officers time to focus on travelers intent instead of administrative tasks.

Preclearance Requirements for Travelers Have Not Changed

Preclearance travelers must still fulfill the requirements listed at https://bs.usembassy.gov/preclearance at the discretion of the individual CBP officer reviewing their application for admission to the United States. We kindly remind all passengers that CBP officers evaluate every application for admission to the United States on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with existing laws and regulations. In other words, each persons travel situation is unique, and is evaluated as such.

Get the Facts, Spread the Facts

We also encourage all travelers to get the facts only from trusted, verified sources, and spread the facts to their friends and family. Ignore unsubstantiated rumors of unexpected changes to the preclearance process on social media or unverified news reports.

By durazoda | 7 December, 2020 | Topics: Events, News, Press Releases

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New Facial Biometric Technology Will Make CBP Preclearance at LPIA more Efficient and Secure - US Embassy in The Bahamas

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Central Bank's governor has echoed warnings that Bahamians should brace for new and/or increased taxes as he dismissed suggestions the Government may soon default on its debt.

John Rolle, in guarded, technical language, said The Bahamas has "significant space for public finance reform and taxation" as he rejected assertions by Marla Dukharan, the former Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) chief economist for the Caribbean, that a sovereign debt default by The Bahamas could occur as early as 2021.

However, in negating comments that Ms Dukharan offered no empirical evidence to support, the Central Bank governor effectively warned Bahamian households and businesses that they will likely soon have to pay for the debt and deficit blow-outs caused by the combination of COVID-19 and Hurricane Dorian.

Calling for the Bahamian people to better understand and recognise the fiscal and economic difficulties facing the country, as it grapples with a $1.327bn fiscal deficit, national debt forecast to hit $10bn by mid-2022 and a gross domestic product (GDP) that may shrink by up to 20 percent this year, Mr Rolle warned the country had little choice but to adopt austerity measures in the "medium term".

"We must accept that The Bahamas has the resources and capacity to repair the Governments balance sheet," Mr Rolle said in a statement rejecting Ms Dukharan's assertions. "The Bahamas is not at the level of debt distress, nor is the burden of public debt such that it would make a sovereign default a credible likelihood in the near-term.

"The Bahamas has significant space for public finance reform and taxation should it become more urgent than is already apparent. The Bahamas is far off from having exhausted its fiscal options, and sophisticated creditors of the sovereign are conscious of this.

"Moving forward, though, there is a need for greater recognition and embrace by domestic stakeholders of the credible, non-default, range of options that are available to the sovereign. These options would impact the taxpayer well before creditors are harmed."

Translated, Mr Rolle is warning that new and/or increased taxes, as well as greater enforcement and compliance, will be required to boost the Government's annual revenues, lower the deficit and bring the fiscal ratios back in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act to avoid any possibility that current debt levels will create the problems Ms Dukharan referred to.

"As there continues to be support for fiscal stabilisation, based on deficit financing, over the recovery path from the pandemic, I encourage stakeholders to balance their discourse with the recognition that the Government will indeed require more means to repay the extra debt taken on," Mr Rolle continued, :"and to recognise that as taxpayers we are all expected to help repay these obligations in one form or the other that does not involve default.....

"The Bahamas will have to do more to reduce the public debt burden in the medium-term. The debt burden leaves The Bahamas exposed to increased hardships from severe hurricanes and other shocks, as the sovereign will continue to need more flexibility and space to repair infrastructure, give relief to private businesses and provide social safety net assistance, after such setbacks.

"National consensus must continue to be developed around both taxation and expenditure management that pay down the debt burden within the medium-term fiscal consolidation plan."

Mr Rolle's position echoes that set out in the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Article IV report on The Bahamas just last week, which warned that the Government must impose harsher austerity measures on the Bahamian people to hit its 50 percent debt-to-GDP target by 2030.

The Fund argued that the Government's medium-term fiscal framework was inadequate to bring its finances back in line with the goals set out by the Fiscal Responsibility Act. That law requires the Government to bring the debt-to-GDP ratio, which measures the amount it owes as a percentage of the Bahamian economy's size, to a maximum of 50 percent and maintain it there.

However, the combined fall-out from COVID-19 and Hurricane Dorian has sent this ratio racing off in the opposite direction, with the IMF forecasting it will exceed 85 percent this fiscal year. The Fund - using heavily coded language - said the Government needed to go further with austerity plans once The Bahamas has rebounded from the pandemic to bring order to its own finances.

"Achieving the Fiscal Responsibility Act targets over the medium term will require additional fiscal effort," the IMF said.

"Given the significant increase in public debt, postponing the achievement of the debt target by another two years in response to the pandemic would be appropriate. However, achieving the debt target of 50 percent of GDP by the beginning of the next decade will require significant additional fiscal effort compared to what is planned in the medium-term budget framework."

The IMF, whose "significant additional fiscal effort" phrase effectively means greater austerity than that planned by the Government, also urged that a road map be developed and released publicly so that Bahamian businesses and households can prepare themselves for what could be especially harsh measures.

"It is advisable to start preparing measures now, and communicate a timetable to implement them as soon as the pandemic-related uncertainty subsides," the Fund added, as it urged the Ministry of Finance to immediately activate its planned debt management office given the sudden increase in the Government's liabilities.

"The Bahamas would benefit from a robust financing strategy," the IMF said. "Central government debt is projected to increase to over 85 percent of GDP this fiscal year. Financing needs will decline only gradually over the medium-term, resulting in elevated risks of debt distress.

"A robust, multi-year government financing strategy should also aim to support the overall foreign exchange position. The new debt management office within the Ministry of Finance should be fully operationalised without delay."

The timing of any new and/or increased taxes is uncertain, with the Government likely to delay until it is certain the economy has recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and with a general election approaching.

Dr Hubert Minnis, in his national address last night, admitted that the Bahamian economy was in "terrible shape" due to COVID-19 with the Government's tax revenues off by as much as 50 percent compared to pre-pandemic.

He added that the soon-to-be-tabled Fiscal Strategy Report would "highlight some of the immediate fiscal adjustments and accelerated reform efforts that are necessary and critical to remain on a stable economic and financial footing over the near and long-term".

Continued here:

Governor warns on future tax increases - Bahamas Tribune

IRELAND: DUBLIN 3

This four-bedroom semi-detached house (below) at 21 Victoria Road in Clontarf, for sale through Karen Mulvaney Property, occupies the largest site on the road. Currently extending to 102sq m (1,097sq ft), there is scope to develop the 100-year-old house into a spectacular family home subject to planning.Price: 750,000Agent: kmproperty.ie

This two-bedroom condominium is in a gated complex with a pool and manicured gardens, and features a dock for mooring boats. Dating from 1970, and extending to 223sq m (2,400sq ft), the bedrooms have uninterrupted views of the water and the property is accessed by a private entrance through a walkway lined with fruit trees.Price: 741,166 ($890,000)Agent: christiesrealestate.com

This three-bedroom wooden house is on a 1.27-acre site at 190 Town Lane East Hampton. The Hamptons, a series of beach towns dotted along easternLong Island, New York, are known for being a summer retreat for the wealthy and famous of New York and represent some of the most expensive property in the Unites States. There is huge scope to extend and room for a pool on the site which is hidden by surrounding trees.Price: 755,170 ($900,000)Agent: sothebysrealty.com

A new development of apartments that overlook the Thames and Linear Park is a joint venture by Ballymore and Eco World. The 160 units, made up of one- and two-bedroom apartments, with three-bedroom penthouses, were designed by Benningen Lloyd and feature a sky deck, orangery, rooftop bar, private cinema and meeting rooms. In addition, new residents have access to two swimming pools, one of which is transparent and floats between the two buildings at a height of 35m.Prices: From 773,000 (695,000)Agent: savills.com

This newly-built three-bedroom villa is located in Denia, Costa Blanca North, an area characterised by fertile land and hilly terrain, making it a perfect spot for walkers. Costa Blanca North is less developed than other areas in Costa Blanca, and the 207sq m property lies close to many local beaches and offers great sea views.Price: 730,000Agent: bullmannproperties.com

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What will 750,000 buy in the Hamptons, Spain, Clontarf, London and the Bahamas? - The Irish Times

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Small and medium-sized businesses will now have even greater access to business support services and finance with the launch of the Accelerate Bahamas initiative, which aims to improve the countrys entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The project will complement the Inter-American Development Banks (IDB) credit enhancement facility that provides US$25 million in partial loan guarantees to financial institutions for loans to SMEs that are unable to meet collateral requirements and that were advised and vetted by the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC).

Geoff Andrews, chairman of the SBDC board, stated, To develop the small businesses, we have to take a holistic approach to the services that we offer. Through this, we will be able to strengthen the training and advisory services provided to our clients while making access to funding easier for Bahamians.

Acting Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson noted technical support and hand-holding are just as critical as capital for small businesses to survive their initial years.

The government is convinced that with all of the talent in The Bahamas and with all the wherewithal, with the right combination of capital and support, that a lot [of] our small businesses can become large businesses and eventually international businesses. There is [no] reason why over time we cannot expect to see a Bahamian company one day listed on the international exchange, said Johnson.

The Accelerate Bahamas project aims to improve the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem in The Bahamas through the provision of high-quality business support servicesand increasing access to finance and advisory services to SMEs through the establishment of a multi-bank fintech platform.

Original post:

Initiative launched to improve entrepreneurial ecosystem and finance access - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, Bahamas, Nov. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Tourism of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas have taken note of the travel advisory issued by the U.S. Department of State, 23 November 2020. The Bahamas is among a large number of countries, including several Caribbean destinations, for which the CDC has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice specific to COVID-19 risk.

Travellers should be aware that The Bahamas joins the United States and countries around the world in aggressive efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. The wellbeing of all persons who live in or visit The Bahamas is of paramount importance, and a number of public health measures, such as mask wearing, physical distancing and hand sanitization, are strictly enforced to protect citizens, residents and visitors alike.

The Bahamas remains open and ready to welcome visitors who comply with travel and entry protocols, and abide by the health and safety regulations that protect the common good. A negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test and a Bahamas Travel Health Visa must be secured prior to travel, and upon entry all persons are required to undergo mandatory monitoring and testing where necessary.

Of note, The Bahamas is not one individual island, but an archipelago with 16 islands available to welcome visitors. This means conditions and instances of the virus, as well as public health measures and restrictions, can vary by island.

Travellers are encouraged to check the status of their island destination, as well as the latest updates, protocols and regulations, by visiting Bahamas.com/travelupdates.

PRESS INQUIRIES Anita Johnson-Patty Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation [emailprotected]

Weber Shandwick Public Relations [emailprotected]

SOURCE Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation

https://www.bahamas.com

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Government Of The Bahamas Statement On US Travel Advisory - PRNewswire

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I have operated a travel agency in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for over 45 years. We have consistently and with enthusiasm sent clients regularly to both Nassau and the Family Islands during all this time. Our family have regularly visited and my wifes family now own a vacation property. It was always easy to book people on the flights from our area with the easy connection through Toronto. The Bahamas was the prime destination for our clients. especially in the winter.

Now everything has changed not only because of the COVID-19 pandemic but your Government making it so difficult to enter that our clients are being forced to go to other southern destinations. Today I have read about the United States travel warnings in your edition. Some of our clients are wary about travel but most of them are willing to travel taking precautions as necessary. However they simply do not have the time to go through all the hassles required for your Health Visa and the unworkable five-day requirement to get to Nassau after the test.

I have discussed these problems with other local agencies. The Bahamas has lost nearly all interest from prospective visitors. People do not have the time to complete the new rules is the main comment. It takes hours to get the test, pick the results up from the health centres, scan them to Nassau and await confirmation about travel. The Health Visa has created so much uncertainty. It is so detrimental for The Bahamas to discourage the regular yearly visitors with the red tape. If they are forced to travel elsewhere they may never return.

The only viable solution to getting tourists back, if they are able to get tests, is to end the uncertainty by dropping the Health Visa and allowing visitors to bring a test result no older than seven days with them. If they do not have a proper test result they cannot board the airplane. If the Government stubbornly adheres to the current rules I feel certain that I will not have any bookings for The Bahamas. From our premier destination it now has the lowest interest. I can only hope that the Government will take these problems seriously or it will be a longterm catastrophe for the important Bahamian tourism sector. I am very concerned about the current developments.

PETER R JACOBSEN

Canada,

November 25, 2020.

Excerpt from:

Too hard to get to The Bahamas - Bahamas Tribune