Freeport Bahamas
Bahama Islands News, Articles and Information
Caribbean Tourist Industry to Dodge US Law
Freeport, Bahamas, Oct 22 (Prensa Latina) The 29th Conference of the Caribbean Tourist Organization will discuss strategies to counter a US new law consider damaging for the business.
The US will start on January 8 checking passports of nationals returning from the Basin since the US markets supplies most tourists to the Caribbean.
Congress recently postponed for June 2009 the enforcement of the Travel Initiative for the Western Hemisphere for cruise and other tourists.
The World Travel and Tourism Council and Caribbean Hotel Association said the new law would slash 188,000 jobs and annual losses of 2.6 billion dollars, important for such small economies.
Such effects sparked reactions that CTO General Secretary Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace termed hurricane category six due to economic losses and its discriminatory nature.
Easier clearance for airport users next month
From left, Director General of Tourism, Carolle Guntley, and Minister of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, Aloun Assamba, respond to questions posed by the media during the Caribbean Tourism Conference in Freeport, Grand Bahamas, in The Bahamas yesterday. - Photo by Janet SilveraFreeport, Bahamas:
As of next month, new procedures at both the Norman Manley and the Sangster International airports will allow for a smoother flow of visitors through customs, says Minister of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, Aloun N'Dombet Assamba.
"Passengers with 'No Goods to Declare' (green line area) will walk through the customs hall without having to be checked or interviewed by a customs officer," the minister announced to journalists at a press briefing at the Caribbean Tourism Conference (CTC-29), which kicked off in Freeport, Grand Bahama in The Bahamas yesterday.
Deep Concern, Opposition comments on internal conflict at GBPA
The official opposition Free National Movement (FNM) yesterday expressed deep concern about the escalating internal conflict at the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), declaring that this comes at a time when Grand Bahama is faced with serious economic hardships, unemployment and business failures."Grand Bahama is in desperate need of restoration and stable, focused and productive leadership," the FNM said in a press statement. "While the FNM will not comment on any specific issues before the courts at this time, we are fully aware that it is the responsibility of the government of The Bahamas to look after the interests of the Bahamian people in all matters and to formulate policies in pursuit of those issues.
Noting that the FNM "will continue to keep abreast of all developments in Freeport to the extent that our position permits," the statement added, "Upon our return to office the FNM will give urgent attention to all matters affecting Freeport and the entire island of Grand Bahama.
St. Paul's event ends season
In terms of the competitors, and even in terms of crowd support, the Bahamas Karate Federation (BKF) had to be quite pleased with the turnout at the final karate show of the year in Freeport, Grand Bahama on Saturday October 14.According to federation Vice President, and Chief Instructor of the Bahamas Karate Academy (BKA), Elrick McKinney, more than 150 young students in over a dozen local clubs took part in the one-day extravaganza, and friends and family turned out in large numbers to support the athletes.
"The support from the crowd in Freeport was tremendous. There were clubs from Abaco, three clubs out of Freeport, and the others were from Nassau. All of the kids were excited, and they looked forward to competing and closing the year out on a strong foot.
An abundance of talent
Two events took place in Freeport, Grand Bahama, over the weekend that convincingly demonstrated that there is an abundance of superb entertainment talent in The Bahamas. The production of "That's Chicago" that was staged at the Regency Theatre by the Freeport Players' Guild from Thursday through Sunday showcased some incredibly gifted actors and singers and professionally it could favourably be compared with a hit Broadway production. That's far from being an exaggeration. Indeed, on leaving the theatre after the gala performance on Friday night, one individual has heard to exclaim jubilantly, "Broadway has come to Freeport!" Much of the credit for this is due to the excellent jobs done by Director Jackie Dack, Choreographer Lois Seiler, Producer Eric Russell and Musical Director Kim Gration.