Bahamas News

BAHAMAS: National Alert Messaging System Pilot Period Expires

Published

9 years ago

January 25, 2018

#Bahamas, January 25, 2018 – Nassau –The Government of The Bahamas wishes to advise the public that the ‘Alert Bahamas’ pilot period expired in December 2017. The pilot solution was provided by Unified Messaging Systems Americas (UMS) on a pro-bono basis as part of the Sustainable Nassau initiative, and led by the Office of The Prime Minister with technical assistance from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The solution was first introduced to the public in September 2017, and provided the opportunity for NEMA, Bahamas Information Services, the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Department of Meteorology to disseminate critical information to the public via multiple communication channels (SMS messages, email, and Facebook), comprising a national alert messaging system. The Government of The Bahamas extends its gratitude to its partners (UMS, IDB, BTC and Aliv) for their generous participation in making this pilot possible.

On 12^th December 2017, during a mission of the Sustainable Nassau IDB team, representatives of the participating agencies and project partners met to discuss the lessons learned from the project. There was consensus that the experience will enable the Government to be in a better position when developing appropriate terms of reference for a longer-term solution. The pilot implementation also provided insight into the enabling structures and frameworks that would be necessary to facilitate the effective implementation of a national alert messaging system.

The Government also thanks the public for its tremendous support and for the feedback provided over various platforms. Over three thousand persons registered on the citizen portal at www.alertbahamas.com to participate in the pilot and received messages from all four participating agencies. The wider national community and visitors would have also received hurricane and tropical storm warnings from NEMA.

A satisfaction survey targeted at persons registered on the portal was conducted, and revealed that registrants were generally happy about the opportunity to participate in such an initiative, and were very encouraging of a longer term solution. A number of useful recommendations were also provided that will be taken into consideration by the Government as it explores options for procuring a permanent solution. The results of the satisfaction survey are available on the Alert Bahamas web portal (www.alertbahamas.com).

It should be noted that login and registration capabilities have been deactivated on the web portal, and all personal information registered during the pilot period has been securely discarded in accordance with the UMS privacy and data protection policy and data protection requirements of The Bahamas.

On behalf of the Government, the Office of the Prime Minister again thanks all stakeholders and participants.

Release: BIS

Photo caption: Representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Office of the Prime Minister, Unified Messaging Systems, Bahamas Telecommunications Company, Be Aliv Limited, National Emergency Management Agency, the Bahamas Information Service, Royal Bahamas Police Force, and the Department of Meteorology during a mission of the Sustainable Nassau IDB team (held on 12^th December 2017) to discuss the lessons learned from the Alert Messaging Pilot project. Not pictured: Data Protection Commissioner.

Bahamas News

Royal Bahamas Police Force – ARRAIGNMENT NOTICE

Published

2 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

The Bahamas, August 27, 2026 – The Royal Bahamas Police Force wishes to inform members of the public that several individuals are scheduled to appear before the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 27th August 2026, at 12:00 noon.

The individuals and charges are as follows:

An 18-year-old female is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:

Three (3) counts of Murder
Three (3) counts of Attempted Murder
Three (3) counts of Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life
Three (3) counts of Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm
Two (2) counts of Possession of Ammunition
Armed Robbery
Abetment to Armed Robbery
Stealing
Receiving

The charges stem from three separate shooting incidents and an armed robbery that occurred on Friday, 21st August 2026, and Saturday, 22nd August 2026.

The first shooting occurred in the area of Soldier Road and Baillou Hill Road, resulting in the death of a 51-year-old male.

The second shooting occurred in the area of Joe Farrington Road, resulting in the death of a 52-year-old male.

The third shooting occurred in the area of Gladstone Road, resulting in the death of a 36-year-old male.

The armed robbery occurred at a business establishment in the area of Carmichael Road and Baillou Hill Road.

A 21-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on one charge of:

Murder

The charge stems from a shooting incident that occurred on Tuesday, 21st July 2026, in the area of Samson Street, Nassau Village, which resulted in the death of a 28-year-old male.

A 32-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:

Murder
Attempted Murder

These charges stem from a shooting incident that occurred on Wednesday, 24th December 2025, in the area of Graham Drive, Yellow Elder, which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old male.

RBPF, PACD

Bahamas News

Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday

Published

3 weeks ago

August 20, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

Turks and Caicos, August 20, 2026 – The planned participation of the Bahama Brass Band in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ inaugural Constitutional Holiday celebrations on August 30 has sparked public debate over culture, heritage and the historical contributions of Turks and Caicos Islanders abroad.

Organizers defended the invitation, saying the band’s inclusion is intended to highlight the deep historical ties between the two countries and honor Turks and Caicos men who helped establish and develop the institution in Grand Bahama.

According to the organizers, the Bahama Brass Band began in 1955 in Pine Ridge, Freeport, with Turks and Caicos Islanders, including the late Deacon Reuben Hall Sr. of Middle Caicos and Jenkins Williams and Mervin Hendfield of North Caicos, among those who helped build its foundation. The band eventually grew to more than 50 men.

The organizers also pointed to the participation of Turks and Caicos men in The Bahamas’ Independence celebrations on July 10, 1973, arguing that their contributions became part of Bahamian history while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.

Supporters say bringing the band home represents an opportunity to honor those pioneers, showcase their regional influence and expose younger generations to an important part of Turks and Caicos history.

However, concerns raised publicly described the invitation as potentially disrespectful to local culture and heritage. Organizers acknowledged those concerns, apologizing to anyone who felt overlooked or offended, while maintaining that no disrespect was intended.

The committee said the event should ultimately unite rather than divide, presenting the band’s history as evidence of the reach and resilience of Turks and Caicos heritage.

PHOTO CREDIT: Bahamas Brass Band

Bahamas News

CBC Supports Opportunities for Young Bahamian Basketball Players

Published

3 weeks ago

August 20, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Dasani products, proudly sponsored the fifth annual, Caribbean Hoopfest.

The tournament brings together Bahamian high school basketball teams and visiting teams from the United States for a competitive showcase at the Kendal G. L. Isaacs Gymnasium. Following its inaugural year at the Kendal G. L. Isaacs gym and last year’s event at Loyola Hall, the tournament returned to the Kendal G. L. Isaacs gym this year.

During the weekend tournament, CBC kept athletes well hydrated with in-kind donations of Dasani Water, Powerade and Minute Maid Juices.

During the tournament’s final day, CBC provided additional support by offering Sprite No Sugar samples and inviting attendees to participate in its Spin the Wheel for a chance to win exciting prizes.

CBC was proud to support this incredible event, which provides young Bahamian athletes with valuable exposure to U.S. basketball scouts and coaches. This opportunity gives them the chance to earn scholarships, continue their education, and pursue their basketball careers in the United States.

Event organizer, Donald Francois shared his appreciation for CBC’s support.

“I want to express our sincere appreciation for Caribbean Bottling Company, who has been a tremendous supporter and an important part of the success of our program. Without CBC’s support, Caribbean Hoop Fest would not be able to function at the level it does today. And without Caribbean Hoop Fest, we would not have been able to provide the opportunities that have helped young Bahamian athletes gain exposure and pursue educational opportunities in the United States,” he expressed.

Since the program’s inception, several Bahamian student-athletes have been selected for scholarship opportunities, highlighting the tournament’s growing impact on the development and advancement of young basketball talent in The Bahamas.

They are: Kelvin McDowells – Guard, Wodson Antoine – Power Forward, Justin Lafleur – Guard and Sean John – Guard.

After another successful edition of the tournament, Francois shared what he hopes he and Caribbean Bottling Company can achieve in the future.

“Our vision is bigger than basketball. We want to use the platform of Caribbean Hoop Fest to educate, develop, and create opportunities for young people and their families throughout the Bahamas. With individuals and organizations committed to our mission, we believe we can continue to grow the program and make an even greater impact,” Francois said.

For more details on community support, events and new products visit Caribbean Bottling Company at www.cbcbahamas.com today.