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Bahama Islands News, Articles and Information
Gomez slams 'Agreement'
The Hawksbill Creek Agreement, which established the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) as Freeport's governing agency, was "born in corruption" and should be revisited, attorney Damian Gomez said yesterday.Mr Gomez, a former Progressive Liberal Party senator who resigned last month in order to position himself for an anticipated Supreme Court appointment, also said that he was "disturbed" by the government's silence in the face of the recent controversy surrounding the port and called on the Christie administration to address the issues "quickly and radically."
He compared the Hawksbill Creek Agreement to the Berlin Wall and communism, insisting that it should be replaced.
In 1955, the government of The Bahamas and the GBPA - a private company founded by the late Wallace Groves - signed the Hawksbill Creek Agreement as a mechanism to encourage foreign investment in Grand Bahama through various tax exemptions.
Rebuilding without insurance
Grand Bahamians who had the foresight and finances to get hurricane insurance were able to recuperate at least some of their losses following the three hurricanes that hit the island in 2004 and 2005. But according to statistics provided by the Freeport office of the Department of Social Services, only eight percent of the more than 1,600 houses assessed for structural damage in Grand Bahama following 2005's Hurricane Wilma were covered with hurricane insurance. Statistics were not available for the total number of people in the Bahamas with hurricane insurance. Bahamians without insurance, for the most part, suffered their losses out-of-pocket, if they could afford to do so. One year after the last hurricane, it is clear that many could not. A walk from Pinder's Point to Mack Town, or a stroll through Eight Mile Rock reveals a scarred landscape and many roofs that have remained in a state of disrepair.
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.
As the hurricane season draws to a close need for more shelters ...
Grand Bahamians hope that on November 30 they will be able to a breathe a sigh of relief at having survived the 2006 hurricane season unscathed. Many residents cite the active hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005 as having been a wake-up call about the need for preparedness.Many government officials, too, acknowledge that lessons were learned in the recent hurricanes, and say that The Bahamas is better prepared today than ever before should a hurricane strike. But if a hurricane were to strike this year, one crucial aspect of hurricane preparedness shelters remains in a severe shortage.
According to Lilian Quant-Forbes, assistant director of the Freeport Department of Social Services and Community Development, there are currently 12 shelters in Grand Bahama, with enough space to house a few more than 3,000 people.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 - Floating hotels for Barbados
Barbados will have 14 cruise ships docked in its port, six of which will be permanently berthed as floating hotels, during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, says that country's Minister of Tourism, Noel Lynch.The eastern Caribbean island, which will host the World Cup finals in April 2007, has secured the cruise ships to complement its existing 8,000-room stock.
Minister Lynch was speaking at a press briefing at the start of the Caribbean Tourism Conference (CTC-29) being held in Freeport, Grand Bahama, in The Bahamas from October 20-25.
"We are expecting about 20,000 fans for the finals. Of that number, our ports will accommodate some 12,000 and the land-based entities the other 8,000 people," he told The Gleaner.
According to the minister, the ship accommodation was sold out immediately to the Asian market, "The Indians, particularly, have eaten up all of the rooms," he said.
Bahamas women's conference receives worldwide TV boost
The Bahamas recently received major television exposure through the promotion of the upcoming "First Ladies First: The Quiet Whispers" women's conference on the Trinity Broad-casting Network (TBN), the world's largest religious network and America's most watched faith channel.Andria Hall, former CNN News Anchor and President of the New Jersey-based SpeakEasy M.E.D.I.A. communications firm which will produce the Caribbean conference from November 30 through December 3, 2006 in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island recently appeared on TBN's "Praise the Lord" programme, and is encouraging people of faith to visit Freeport to experience God in a deeper way.
Hall wants to encourage women to serve God in both traditional and non-traditional venues by strengthening their faith and sharpening their leadership skills.