Bahamas News
Scary! Residents across Bahamas and Turks and Caicos report feeling Haiti earthquake tonight
#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Saturday October 6, 2018 – It all started with one concerned resident feeling certain that she had just experienced an earthquake tremor as she watched television tonight at her home in Providenciales; it was at 8:17 pm that her home shook and then she reached out to Magnetic Media for answers.
The question sent us on a hunt for an answer and that answer was found imm
ediately at the US Geological Survey’s website where earthquakes are recorded and reported instantly. There it was, information on an earthquake at 8:11 pm in Ti Port de Paix, Haiti with shock waves emanating from the town in the north of Haiti that reached both archipelagos.
Diagrams supplied by the USGS were startling, to say the least.
Once we issued the news story over to WhatsApp groups within the Turks and Caicos and Bahamas, including some in Jamaica and Barbados, more reports of ‘feeling’ the earthquake came pouring in – from both countries and yes, from Haiti.
In Providenciales: Cooper Jack, Juba Sound, Glass Shack, Millennium Heights, down town Provo and Blue Hills had residents who say they felt the earthquake. In Blue Hills, residents actually ran outside at the shock of experiencing the tremors. There were fluctuations in internet service in Grace Bay and Wheeland; both Providenciales communities.
One other island of the Turks and Caicos had a report that their ‘dinner table shook’; it came from Middle Caicos.
Harbour Island, Bahamas had one person reporting that their phone was shaking and from Inagua, which is more southeast and nearer to Haiti, there were many more instances of the earthquake spreading on social media. Here are comments from voice notes received on WhatsApp from one of our contacts in The Bahamas:
“Inagua people did y’all feel the earth shake just now. You all need to turn our radios and televisions on to see what’s going on, cause I sure we just had a tremor just now.”
“Sure as that, I was sitting to the desk and I thought my china closet was gonna tumble over for a moment.”
“Just received some information, sound like that was from Haiti. So we feel that serious over here so it probably was a big one over there.”
“…we did, we all did.”
Soon after, there was official information from the Bahamas Department of Meteorology, as Turks and Caicos Home Affairs Minister, Delroy Williams confirmed the 5.9 magnitude earthquake as a frightening reality for both chain of islands.
“THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY HAS ISSUED AN ALERT OF AN EARTHQUAKE 8:45 EDT SATURDAY, 06TH OCTOBER, 2018.
AN EARTHQUAKE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THEIR ADJACENT WATERS. AT 8:35 PM AN EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 5.9 ON THE RICTOR SCALE OCCURRED IN THE MONA PASSAGE BETWEEN HAITI AND CUBA. NO TSUNAMI WARNINGS HAVE BEEN GIVEN AT THIS TIME. THIS SYSTEM IS BEING CLOSELY MONITORED FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AT THIS TIME.”
Trevor Basden, Director at the Department of Meteorology in The Bahamas moments later added: “Captain Russell (NEMA) has advised that this earthquake was felt in Matthew Town, Inagua.” He added, “DDME TCI has advised me that earthquake also felt in Providenciales, TCI.”
Cuba, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic were also expected to feel the quake; but we have no reports from those countries at this time.
It is early yet, still sources in Turks and Caicos say there is disturbing news from Haiti that there was damage to homes in Ti Port de Paix, which was the part of Haiti struck directly by the 5.9 magnitude earthquake.
NASSAU, Bahamas — More Bahamians are accessing HIV and sexually transmitted infection-related healthcare through National Health Insurance, a trend the NHI Authority says should be viewed positively.
NHIA stressed in an August 6 statement that its 2025 figures measure healthcare utilisation, not newly diagnosed infections. They include beneficiaries screened, treated, monitored or receiving follow-up care, including people diagnosed previously.
“Increased utilisation of these services should be viewed as a positive development,” NHIA said.
The Authority pointed to “greater enrolment and use of NHI, improved access to screening and testing, continued treatment and monitoring of existing conditions, and increased willingness to seek medical care.”
The development comes amid a mixed three-year HIV picture. New diagnoses rose from 130 in 2023 to 156 in 2024, before declining to 142 in 2025.
NHIA said increased utilisation demonstrates that more beneficiaries are accessing needed healthcare and actively managing their health, reinforcing the importance of screening, early diagnosis and continued treatment.
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ premier wines and spirits distributor is proud to announce the launch of Monument Beverage Co., its newest 100% locally produced ready-to-drink alcoholic cocktail.
Monument, “Made to Celebrate”, perfectly encapsulates everything the brand represents. Created and distributed by CWS, Monument is
inspired by culture, crafted with excellence and bursting with innovation.
This unique beverage celebrates island living with three bold flavors, Ginger Lime, Peach Passion and Melon Fizz. All of which can be enjoyed at an ABV of five-point-two percent.
The brand’s creativity really shines through each can’s packaging. Bold colored stripes, cherished native flora and fauna and of course, national monuments can all be found on each can.
The beverage’s two year plus development is a testament to CWS’ dedication to quality and innovation. Countless hours of tastings, reformulations, focus groups and package design reviews all paid off with the creation of Monument.
Karla Wells-Lisgaris, Chief Commercial Officer of Caribbean Wines & Spirits and Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola and Dasani products, shared what this authentically Bahamian made product launch means for the company.
“When we were conceptualizing Monument, we wanted to create a product that not only tasted like The Bahamas but would be an ode to the
nation as well. With those two thoughts in mind, I, along with a team of experts, created three incredible flavors we believe really connect with and celebrate the essence of island living,” she said.
“Additionally, being that Monument is the first product to be 100% manufactured by Caribbean Wines & Spirits, we really wanted to ensure that both the flavors and packaging honored our rich heritage. On each of the cans, you can find various monuments such as the Nassau Public Library in New Providence, the Garden of the Grove in Grand Bahama and the Hatchet Bay Silos in Eleuthera; all of which pay homage to our diverse Bahamian heritage.” Wells-Lisgaris concluded.”
The historic monuments found throughout our islands are more than places we pass every day; they are reminders of who we are, where we’ve come from and the stories that connect us as Bahamians.
Monument is perfectly formulated with quality ingredients, and each can celebrates a collection of these cultural icons from across The Bahamas.
Whether chilling solo beachside, gathered around a family table or backyard a grill with friends, make Monument your sip of choice. Monument is made to celebrate, visit www.cwsbahamas.com today for more details.
NASSAU, Bahamas —– Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola and Dasani products, is proud to crown Lady
Kayla of Exuma as this year’s annual Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup winner.
CBC created the Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup to further the advancement of sailing and Bahamian culture through monetary and social support. The competition judges the skipper’s performance across three regattas, The Best of the Best, the National Family Island and Long Island Regattas.
The winning sloop led by Kianno Hutchinson and Joss Knowles showcased their skillmanship in the E-Class category across each round of competition. In addition to winning the trophy, the skippers were awarded a $5,000 donation, an $8,000 stipend to the junior sailing club of their island and a limited-edition Lady Kayla Bahamas Goombay Punch commemorative can, which will be released soon.
Jonathan Thronebury, Marketing Director of CBC shared the significance behind The Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup.
“The Bahamas Goombay Punch is more than a beloved local brand; it’s a vibrant part of our cultural fabric. Just like sailing, our national sport, it carries a rich legacy that spans generations. Recognizing this shared history, we’re proud to support initiatives that celebrate and advance Bahamian culture,” he said.
Hutchinson and Knowles shared what this win meant for them.
“I felt super proud when I realized we won. I am grateful and thankful to God, for good coaches and Joss. It was really an honor winning the
Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup,” Hutchinson expressed.
“I am very honored to have been able to compete in the Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup, I think it is a great concept and idea for a competition and really adds a new motive throughout the regattas. The whole championship was super competitive, and every single race was a fight. Alvington McKenzie was extremely competitive and had us until the Long Island regatta, which made it a very fun and tough competition. Very excited to have been the winner of a super close championship,” Knowles revealed.
Lady Kayla’s owner, Dallas Knowles, shared the team’s winning strategy.
“In sailing consistency is key and our guys in Lady Kayla are some of the best in the business at staying near the top. In the end, that was enough to secure their first Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup win. We are so proud of Joss and Kianno for what they have done in Lady Kayla. Thank you to Caribbean Bottling Company for such an amazing and forward-thinking initiative,” Knowles shared.
The Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup is proud to continue its impact on sailing and community building through clean and fair competition.
For more updates on the Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup and Caribbean Bottling Company visit the website www.cbcbahamas.com today.
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