Bahamas News
Extreme Week for Caribbean – Coronavirus scare, Quake, Twister & Quarantine!
#CARIBBEAN, January 31, 2020 — A week of extremities experienced across the Caribbean and for Caribbean students resident in Wuhan, China, which is the epicenter of the now global health emergency and deadly Coronavirus.
Emerica Robinson is one of those students and has told The Bahamas Tribune newspaper that she has been quarantined in the neighbouring city, Nanjing; visited by the police and doctors at her residence and is under watch for the next 14 days to monitor whether she shows any sign of having the virus.
Robinson is a Bahamian student attending university in Wuhan and says she has no plans to return home to The Bahamas, will stay put and will do as doctors have prescribed, which is to check her temperature twice a day and to report each test result to the hospital.
The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs had confirmed there are five Bahamian students at university in Wuhan. Bahamas Health Minister, Dr. Duane Sands, yesterday reported that two of them are quarantined and as of Thursday, The Bahamas will quarantine anyone who has been to mainland China in the past 20 days.
At least two critical press conferences have been held in the Caribbean – the first was in Jamaica where the University Hospital of the University of the West Indies was on lock down following the transfer of a patient to the facility.
Word got out that the person, who had recently returned from Asia, was suspected of having coronavirus.
Dr. Christopher Tufton, Jamaica’s Health Minister led a press conference to explain the action taken out of ‘the abundance of caution’ and eventually informed that there was no coronavirus case in Jamaica.
Mere minutes after this press conference wrapped up on Monday, there was a 7.7 magnitude earthquake recorded – it struck at 2:10pm in waters off Jamaica. The USGS said the earthquake affected Jamaica, Cuba, Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, Haiti and Honduras.
The tremors caused The Bahamas to close government offices along Shirley Street in Nassau.
Lots of cell phone video of the moments during and after the earthquake was shared on social media by residents of Cayman. Some people captured the actual shaking, others recorded the gaping sink holes left behind on main thoroughfares, golf course, beach, in backyards and neighbourhoods, proving that the monster quake was anything but imagined.
By Thursday, a line of squally, stormy showers moving off South Florida and over the Abacos resulted in a tornado, confirmed The Bahamas Department of Meteorology.
A mangled mobile home, which was unoccupied at the time of the tornado seemed to be the main victim of the twister which moved through Marsh Harbour, “like a freight train” in the early hours of Thursday.
It appeared the tornado lifted and crashed the vehicle to the ground; it was completely destroyed.
Marsh Harbour, which is the capital of Great Abaco, is still trying to recover from deadly and disastrous Hurricane Dorian.
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.
-
Education1 week agoDr. Candice Williams Appointed First Vice-President of Regional Higher Education Association
-
News1 week agoPAY FIRST. QUESTION LATER.
-
Health5 days ago47,459 MEASLES CASES, 44 DEATHS ACROSS AMERICAS
-
News5 days agoELECTRICITY BILL SHOCKER: PELICAN ENERGY WARNED GOV’T
-
News5 days agoDevelopments Outside Providenciales Get Cabinet Attention
-
Bahamas News5 days agoMore Bahamians Accessing HIV, STI Care Through NHI
-
News5 days agoCabinet Decides to Slow Down Commercial Crown Land Grants
-
News20 hours agoBeaches Turks & Caicos shares dining etiquette training at Provo youth summer camp