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NEMA fully activates – Alert #17 – All Bahamas under warning

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Bahamas, September 7th, 2017 – Nassau – Captain Russell, Director of NEMA fully activated the National Emergency Operations Centre at 6pm Wednesday, September 6, for the close monitoring of the powerful Hurricane Irma projected to impact the Islands of The Bahamas.
Representatives of the Emergency Support Function groups assembled at the Gladstone Road headquarters, where they will be hunkered down during the storm to receive and relay critical information to the public.
The Bahamas Department of Meteorology issued a warning for the entire Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. This means residents should rush to complete all necessary preparations, as they would feel hurricane conditions within 36 hours.
Storm surges and extensive to severe flooding can be expected as Irma is forecast to produce rainfall amounts of 8 to 12 inches. Residents are being advised to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and, or seek the nearest hurricane shelter.
 
Irma is forecast to remain a powerful category four or five hurricane during the next couple of days.
The latest alert on Hurricane Irma was issued by the Met Department on Thursday, September 7 at 6am. See details:
 
ALERT #17 ON HURRICANE IRMA ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY THURSDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER, 2017 AT 6AM EDT.
 
THE EYE OF IRMA MOVING WEST-NORTHWEST OFF THE NORTHERN COAST OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
 
A HURRICANE WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.
 
A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS CAN AFFECT THE AFOREMENTIONED ISLANDS WITHIN 36 HOURS.
 
AT 5AM EDT, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRMA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 20.0 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 68.3 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 210 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, 330 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MATTHEW TOWN INAGUA AND 670 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEW PROVIDENCE.
 
HURRICANE IRMA IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST AT ABOUT 17 MPH AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE WITH SOME DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.  ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER SHOULD PASS NORTH OF THE COAST OF HISPANIOLA LATER TODAY, BE NEAR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS BY THIS EVENING, AND THEN BE NEAR THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS BY FRIDAY
 
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 180 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  IRMA IS A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE.  SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY ARE LIKELY DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, BUT IRMA IS FORECAST TO REMAIN A POWERFUL CATEGORY FOUR OR FIVE HURRICANE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
 
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 50 MILES FROM THE CENTER AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 185 MILES FROM THE CENTER.
 
RESIDENTS IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS SHOULD BEGIN TO FEEL THE EFFECTS OF HURRICANE IRMA BY 10AM TODAY, THESE CONDITIONS SHOULD SPREAD INTO INAGUA BY 4PM THIS AFTEROON AND INTO MAYAGUANA, CROOKED ISLAND, ACKLINS AND RAGGED ISLAND BY TONIGHT.  THEREFORE, RESIDENTS IN THESE ISLANDS SHOULD HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED ALL PREPARATION FOR HURRICANE IRMA AND ARE STRONGLY URGED TO REMAIN INDOORS DURING THE PASSAGE OF IRMA. 
 
RESIDENTS IN LONG ISLAND, RUM CAY, SAN SALVADOR, THE EXUMAS AND CAT ISLAND, COULD BEGIN TO FEEL THE EFFECTS OF HURRICANE IRMA BY NOON ON FRIDAY.
 
RESIDENTS IN NEW PROVIDENCE, ELEUTHERA, ANDROS, BERRY ISLANDS, BIMINI, GRAND BAHAMA AND ABACO SHOULD RUSH TO COMPLETE ALL PREPARATIONS FOR HURRICANE IRMA.
 
EXTENSIVE TO SEVERE FLOODING CAN BE EXPECTED AS IRMA IS FORECAST TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES.
 
THE COMBINATION OF DANGEROUS STORM SURGE AND LARGE DESTRUCTIVE WAVES CAN RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 15 TO 20 FEET ABOVE THE NORMAL TIDE. RESIDENTS LIVING NEAR THE COAST ARE ASKED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND INLAND.  
 
SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS THROUGHOUT THE BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY SEEK SAFE HARBOUR FOR THEIR VESSELS.
For more information contact: Lindsay Thompson, Public Information Officer, NEMA at (242) 322-6081. 322-6085. 361-5569. Email: nemabahamas242@gmail.com. Website: www.bahamas.gov.bs. Facebook: NEMA-Bahamas
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Next U.S. Ambassador?  Walker Pledges Business-Driven Approach as U.S. Looks to Counter China in The Bahamas

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

The Bahamas, September 16, 2025 – For the first time since 2011, the United States is on the cusp of sending an ambassador to The Bahamas — and the nominee, former football star turned entrepreneur Herschel Walker, is promising to bring his business instincts to the diplomatic table.

Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week, Walker underscored that his background in food-service companies and small business leadership has prepared him to think practically about investment. “I know how to run a business, how to create jobs, how to make payroll. Those lessons translate into building relationships and building trust,” Walker said.

Walker, who was nominated by President Trump in December 2024, faced the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 11. As of now, he has not yet been confirmed; his nomination remains under review, pending a committee vote before it can move to the full Senate. If approved, he would become the first U.S. ambassador to The Bahamas since 2011.

For years, U.S. officials have stressed security and counternarcotics cooperation with The Bahamas, including through “Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos.” But in areas like infrastructure, medical care, and long-term investment, Washington has often been absent.

Hospitals and clinics remain under-resourced, and hurricane recovery has been slow in many islands. Chinese state-backed firms, by contrast, have shown up with financing packages and construction deals — a presence that has raised alarms on Capitol Hill.

“Only 50 miles off our shore, The Bahamas is too important for us to ignore,” warned Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders during Walker’s hearing. They called China’s inroads “strategic, not charitable,” suggesting Beijing’s long game is about ports, proximity, and political leverage.

Walker positioned himself as a nontraditional but pragmatic envoy. He argued that his business career, rooted in private sector success, equips him to champion American investment in The Bahamas.

He pledged to:

  • Promote U.S. companies interested in medical and infrastructure projects.
  • Support an environment that encourages American investors to see The Bahamas as more than just a beach destination.
  • Highlight opportunities for partnerships that improve public services, healthcare, and resilience against hurricanes.

“I’ve built businesses. I know what it takes to attract investors and create opportunity. That is exactly what I intend to bring to our relationship with The Bahamas,” Walker said.

The Bahamas is not just a tourist paradise. It’s a frontline state in migration, drug interdiction, and hurricane response. More than six million U.S. visitors travel there annually, making stability and safety a U.S. domestic concern as much as a foreign policy one.

And yet, with the ambassador post vacant for 14 years, the U.S. has often looked detached — opening space for China’s ambitious Belt and Road agenda. The fear is that infrastructure deals signed today could give Beijing leverage in the region tomorrow.                                                                                                                                                                                                                Walker’s confirmation would symbolize a course correction, signaling Washington’s intent to re-engage not only in security but in the economic future of The Bahamas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Not everyone is convinced Herschel Walker is the right man for the job. His nomination revived controversies from his 2022 Senate run, including past allegations, public gaffes, and doubts about whether he has the diplomatic polish the post demands. Some senators and analysts questioned whether celebrity and business experience were enough for a role requiring nuance in foreign policy and geopolitics.

Critics argued that The Bahamas, sitting just 50 miles from Florida and facing intense Chinese interest, deserves a seasoned diplomat rather than a political ally.

Walker confronted those doubts head-on. “People have underestimated me all my life — in academics, athletics, and business,” he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “And I have always proven them wrong, through discipline, determination, and by outworking everyone.”

He admitted he had never served as an ambassador but countered that his career prepared him in other ways: building businesses, managing payrolls, and connecting with people from all walks of life. He framed his business background as a strength, promising to use it to encourage U.S. investment in healthcare, infrastructure, and hurricane resilience projects in The Bahamas.

Rather than sparring with critics, Walker leaned on confidence and persistence: “I know how to build trust and find common ground. That’s what this relationship needs.”

If confirmed, Walker would have to balance his role as diplomat with expectations of being a commercial cheerleader for U.S. firms. His emphasis on entrepreneurship suggests a willingness to push U.S. businesses toward opportunities in healthcare, ports, and post-storm reconstruction — areas where Bahamians say they need the most support.

For Bahamian officials, the question will be whether Washington is prepared to back words with financing. U.S. private sector dollars, paired with aid and development partnerships, could help shift the tide against Chinese influence.

For Walker, the test will be whether his business acumen can translate into diplomatic wins — giving Bahamians alternatives to Beijing, while deepening the U.S. role in the Caribbean.

Analysis: If Walker delivers, this appointment could mark a turning point: a U.S. strategy that recognizes that in the Caribbean, investment is diplomacy.

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Conflicting Reports as Grand Bahama Awaits Its New Airport: What to Believe?

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

September 16, 2025 – Grand Bahama’s wait for a modern international airport has taken another dramatic turn. Just days after reports surfaced that the $200 million redevelopment had collapsed because partners failed to secure financing, the government is now insisting the project is alive and well — with funding in the “final stages” and construction on the horizon.

Earlier This Week: Airport Deal in Dire Straits

The week began with grim headlines. Deputy Prime Minister and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper confirmed that private partners in the much-heralded consortium had not produced financing. “Regrettably, the funding had not happened,” he admitted, sparking widespread fears the deal had crumbled.

Those admissions triggered a storm of skepticism in Freeport. Back in February, the government had declared the airport deal “finalized,” naming Aerodrome Ltd., Manchester Airport Group, and BHM UK as partners. They promised demolition within 30 days, designs in 45 days, and a new terminal by year’s end. But now, more than four months later, not a single milestone has been delivered.

For residents and business leaders, the collapse narrative confirmed their worst fears: that Grand Bahama was once again being strung along with empty promises. Long-stay tourism — the kind that sustains hotels, restaurants, taxis, and shops — depends on a functioning airport. Without it, the island’s economy remains hobbled.

Today: Government Pushes Back

But late Thursday, the government issued a forceful rebuttal. “The redevelopment of Grand Bahama’s International Airport remains a central priority for this administration and is key to the island’s economic renewal,” the statement read. Officials stressed that they are “in the final stages of securing funding and concluding agreements on airport management.”

The statement went further, clarifying the role of Manchester Airport Group, the UK’s largest airport manager. MAG, it said, was never meant to provide financing but remains a core partner in shaping the airport’s development and management. Bahamian contractors, the government insisted, are part of the team tasked with delivering the facility. “Our focus is on results,” the release concluded. “Grand Bahama will have the airport it needs to grow, attract investment, and strengthen its role as a gateway to The Bahamas.”

Who Should Grand Bahama Believe?

The conflicting narratives — one of a deal in “dire straits,” the other of a project in “final stages” — have left Grand Bahama residents struggling to know what to believe. Is the airport project truly on life support, or is the government simply playing its hand close until funding details are nailed down?

Skeptics point out that this is hardly the first time the airport has been declared a priority only to see little follow-through. Promises in 2023, in February 2025, and again in summer 2025 all failed to produce visible progress. Each missed deadline has chipped away at public trust.

Supporters of the government counter that large infrastructure projects are inherently complex, with legal negotiations and financing arrangements often dragging longer than planned. They argue that the continued involvement of Manchester Airport Group is evidence the project is still credible.

The Bigger Picture

Grand Bahama’s airport troubles are intertwined with the stalled $120 million Grand Lucayan hotel sale, which also remains without visible progress 129 days after it was announced. Business leaders insist both projects must move together if the island is to see real recovery. A luxury resort without a modern airport is as unviable as an airport without hotel rooms to fill.

For now, the people of Grand Bahama are left in limbo. This week they were told the airport deal had failed. Today, they’re being told it’s moving forward. The only certainty is that, nearly a year after the latest round of promises, not a single crane has touched the sky.

As one resident put it: “We don’t need more statements. We need to see bulldozers.”

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U.S. Coast Guard Trains Bahamian Partners in Water Survival Skills

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The Bahamas, September 10, 2025 – Rescue swimmers from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama visited Nassau to train Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) and Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) members in water survival skills as part of Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) earlier this week.

“Training alongside our USCG partners ensures our personnel are best prepared for the unique challenges of joint operations” said Superintendent Wendy Pearson, Commander Drug Enforcement Unit.

The multi-day exercise, centered on the USCG’s Shallow Water Egress Training (SWET), enhanced the safety and preparedness of Bahamian partners who routinely operate aboard USCG helicopters during OPBAT missions. The exercise provided hands-on instruction for 31 participants and strengthened interoperability between U.S. and Bahamian agencies engaged in counter-drug, search and rescue, and maritime security operations throughout the region.

“We were excited and proud to have the opportunity to share our expertise with our Bahamian partners. Not only did RBDF and RBPF perform exceptionally well, they exceeded the standards we set for the event,” said Petty Officer Second Class Cole Johnson, USCG.

OPBAT is a cooperative multi-agency international operation supporting The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands to stop illicit drug smuggling through the region. U.S. Embassy Nassau Chargé d’affaires Kimberly Furnish stated, “Since 1982, OPBAT has worked to stop the flow of illicit narcotics through the Caribbean, destined for the United States or other jurisdictions.  This is international cooperation at its best.”

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