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House of Assembly Covid-19 Communication by Bahamas Prime Minister, Dr. Hon Hubert Minnis – April 27, 2020

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Mr. Speaker:
The House meets today to approve a
Resolution extending emergency powers in
The Bahamas because of the COVID-19
global pandemic.

I also wish to provide the House and the
Bahamian people with an update on a range of matters in my Government’s ongoing, full
and comprehensive response to the
pandemic.

Mr. Speaker:
The House meets today to approve a
Resolution extending emergency powers in
The Bahamas because of the COVID-19
global pandemic.

I wish at the outset to offer the
condolences of the country and my personal
condolences to those who have lost loved
ones to this deadly virus.
They remain in our hearts and prayers.

Mr. Speaker:
The Resolution before the House: (a.) approves the continuance of the
Proclamation made on the 17th day of
March, 2020 until the 30th day of May, 2020;

(b.) affirms the continuance in effect of
the Emergency Powers (Covid 19)
Regulations, 2020 made on the 17th day of
March, 2020 until the 30th day of May, 2020;

(c.) affirms the continuance in effect of
the Emergency Powers (Covid 19) (No. 2)
Order, 2020 made on the 23rd day of March,
2020 until the 30th day of May, 2020;
(d) affirms the continuance in effect of
the Emergency Powers (Covid 19) (Special
Provisions) Order, 2020 made on the 30th
day of March, 2020 until the 30th day of 2020

Dr. Hon. Hubert A. Minnis – Bahamas Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker:
I know that some will be disappointed by
the extension of the Emergency Orders,
including workers and businesses who are
hurting.
But I assure them, and I assure all
Bahamians and residents, that this short
term sacrifice and pain is absolutely needed:

  • to reduce the spread of the virus;
  • to protect the health and safety of those
  • we love; and
  • to revive our economy as quickly as
    possible.

Mr. Speaker:
We must always be people of gratitude
because therein lies a source of spiritual
strength and generosity.

On behalf of the people and the
Government, and on my own behalf, we will
never cease nor tire, from expressing our
profound gratitude to the health care
professionals at every level who battle daily
against this virus.

These men and women place
themselves at risk day after day to save lives
and to heal their fellow citizens and
residents.

They are heroes who never expected to
be called to such a duty, but who are
nonetheless serving us all in one of our
greatest hours of need.

Members of the Royal Bahamas Police, Photo by BIS

We owe gratitude also to all the men and
women in our law enforcement branches,
who help to ensure law and order, especially
during these challenging times.

I salute all public officers who continue to
perform their duties in every government
ministry and agency.

I salute also private citizens, and those
businesses who have demonstrated
generosity of spirit and an unwavering
commitment to the common good.
This includes those business enterprises
that continue to sustain and to support staff
members and workers during this terrible
and devastating economic downturn.

Xray Machines donated to Grand Bahama Health Services with help of the Grand Bahamas Port Authority

I appeal once again to those businesses
and citizens with a capacity to do so, to
continue to support their workers and
employees. This is a time for national solidarity!

Mr. Speaker:
As we said at the beginning of the spread
of COVID-19 in The Bahamas, among our
best measures for fighting this outbreak are
measures such as: staying at home, physical
distancing, and other vital measures such as
curfews and lockdowns.

Contact tracing, and the temporary
quarantine and isolation of those exposed to
the virus are also vital measures to arrest the
spread of the virus and to save and to protect
lives.

I join the Minister of Health in recognizing
the outstanding and valiant work of the
Surveillance officers at the Ministry of
Health.

In our fight against COVID-19 we should
not only praise our health care professionals
and law enforcement officers.
As a sign of our gratitude, we join them in
the fight against the virus by staying at home
and by wearing our masks and practicing
discipline and social distancing.
We must all do our part.
This is a time for solidarity.

I wish to remind Bahamians and
residents that the shopping schedule of the
last two weeks remains.
The weekday curfews and weekend
lock downs will continue until health officials
advise otherwise.

I thank those businesses, employees and
all who have complied with the regulations.

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Mr. Speaker:
As of 25th April 2020, there are almost
800 individuals in quarantine.
To optimize the intent of the quarantine
and isolation period, and to simultaneously
enhance the support and monitoring of those
in quarantine, the Ministry of Health has
undertaken the exploration of a number of
solutions that are fit-for-purpose.

It is envisaged that through the simple
action of downloading an App, quarantined
and isolated individuals could use their
cellphones in a manner similar to a walkie
talkie.
With the touch of a single button they
may:

With the touch of a single button they
may:

  • Connect instantly with care agents
  • Send an emergency assist alert for rapid response and
  • Talk to Family and Friends in a secured space.

This App will be designed to help
individuals in home quarantine and isolation
to stay within the boundaries prescribed by
the Surveillance team.
This may further empower these
individuals to do their part to protect their
mother, father, sister, brother, neighbor and
fellow citizens, and reduce the risk of
exposure to and spread of COVID-19 within
the country.

I underscore that this App will collect
anonymous data to ensure that the privacy
of those using the App is respected.
Health officials have repeatedly noted
that a number of those who should remain in
quarantine or isolation at home are not doing
so, which could result in greater spread of
the virus.

I note that the Emergency Orders have
been amended to enforce strict fines for
those who break quarantine protocols.
Those who break quarantine will fined up
to $20,000 or five years imprisonment or
both.

Mr. Speaker:
We know from other jurisdictions how
rapidly COVID-19 spread in other countries
or locales because individuals who were
COVID-19 positive returned to their home
countries without being quarantined.

We cannot risk doing this in The
Bahamas because this could lead to a wider
outbreak of the virus.
I know that this has placed a burden on
some Bahamians overseas.
I understand the frustration and worry of
their families here at home.
We are working to try to resolve this
matter in the best interest of all concerned
and the best interest of the country.
In keeping with the protocols of other
countries, the Government is finalizing plans
to secure a mandatory quarantine facility to
accommodate the return of a number of
Bahamians in the United States to New
Providence.
At present there are 200 Bahamians who
want to return home.
Mr. Speaker:
To emphasize the need to reduce
community spread of this deadly virus I wish
to share with the House the Assessment by
health officials of the Analysis of confirmed
COVID-19 cases by Dr. Danny Davis, an
Associate Professor at the University of the
Bahamas.

The Government’s COVID-19 Coordinator
Dr. Dahl-Regis provided notes
regarding the impact of the restrictive
measures put in place to mitigate the spread
of Coronavirus 19 throughout the islands of
The Bahamas.
She noted: The Ministry of Health tested all symptomatic and suspect cases of Covid-19 as recommended by the World Health Organization.

“During the period prior to the curfew restrictions, the country recorded increase number of cases every other day, then daily. Following the first lock down period there was a decrease in new cases. According to the exponential curve, at least 23 cases were averted with the imposition of the restrictive measures. Additionally, lives were saved.

Dr. Dahl-Regis forwarded the Report
from Dr. Davis, noting that: “Models were developed with his support and a team from PAHO, the Ministry of Health and other international statisticians and mathematicians, Dr. Davis’ report notes:

“Building on the assertion that the
difference between the predicted curve and
the actual value is attributed to social
distancing measures, it follows that social
distancing resulted in an estimated reduction
to 23 new cases by Day 27 (April 9, 2020). This is a 36% reduction in the number of new COVID-19 cases. The aforementioned estimated the reduction of 23 translates into an
estimated reduction of four deaths over this
past week. This death reduction estimate is based on the country’s fatality record of eight (8) deaths per 41 confirmed cases. Without the social distancing measures, we estimate the country would have recorded 12 deaths by Day 27. These unrealized deaths represent a 33% reduction in the case load for the doctors and hospital resources, and demand for beds. Mr. Speaker:
My Government will do all that we can to
protect the vulnerable in our society.
This is a time for national solidarity.

As previously announced, the
Government is appointing a National Food
Committee, which will consult widely with
many stakeholders in numerous fields.
The major objective of the National Food
Committee is to steer the coordination and
collaboration of the public sector, private
sector and NGOs to increase food
distribution nationally and fairly.
This includes, in the immediate term,
distribution of food for vulnerable individuals
and communities.
We must ensure that the poor and those
struggling through the current economic
downturn because of the pandemic have
suffecient nutritious food.
We must also ensure that those affected
by Hurricane Dorian also continue to have
food.
I wish to emphasize that many more
Bahamians are vulnerable to food insecurity
as a result of COVID-19.
This includes, but is not limited to:

  • the newly unemployed;
  • self-employed individuals whose
    businesses are adversely affected;
  • senior citizens unable to leave their
    homes because of the virus;
  • school children who do not have
    sufficient food;
  • some patients and those who provide
    them with care at home;

Mr. Speaker:
The National Food Committee will
coordinate with various food sector agencies
and groups for the distribution of food to the
vulnerable.

These agencies and groups include, but
are not limited to: the Ministry and
Department of Social Services, the Ministry
of Health, the Ministry of Education, the
National Emergency Management Agency,
the Disaster Recovery Authority, domestic
and international NGOS, civil society groups,
philanthropic organizations, and private
citizens and businesses.

The National Food Committee will help to
determine the need for engagement of food
workers, both formally and informally, to help
with the preparation and distribution of food.

The Committee will make
recommendations on the delivery of food for
vulnerable individuals.

This will be done in consultation with the
Ministry of Health and the Head of the
COVID-19 Health Taskforce.

Mr. Speaker:
The Committee will communicate with
wholesalers and retailers to confirm the
status of food supply chains to the country,
and make recommendations on how to keep
these supply chains viable.

The Committee will put together a digital
food distribution plan to make sure that every
Bahamian in need is provided with food.
Let me add that the Government will
promote and strengthen industries in pork,
poultry and beef, and is committed to
protecting local industries.
Further, the Food Committee will also
make recommendations on the
enhancement of delivery services and the
kinds of digital platforms required to boost
home delivery.

Mr. Speaker:
I am pleased that Mrs. Susan Holowesko
Larson, M.B.E., has agreed to serve as
Coordinator of the Committtee. Mrs.
Holowesko Larson has an impressive record
of public service.
She is a Co-Founder of Ride for Hope
Bahamas and the Bahamas Hope
Foundation, which raises hope and
resources for Bahamians fighting cancer.
She is also a Co-Founder of Bahamas
Strong, which was established last year in
response to the unprecedented destruction
caused by Hurricane Dorian. She helped to spearhead the country’s
private sector response to Dorian as well as
the initial coordination of the international
NGO community.
With her longstanding business
experience and commitment to public
service, I am pleased that she has agreed to
serve in this new capacity.
The members and stakeholders
represented on the Committee will soon be
announced.

Mr. Speaker:
Last week, I advised that the
Government would implement a program to
assist individuals who have rental
obligations but whose income has been
impacted by the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic.

Today, I wish to announce the details of
this program and how it is to be
administered.
This program is limited to residential
rentals.
It is only for those whose employment or
income has been affected by COVID-19.
Individuals will have to provide
documentation to their landlord to qualify for
this program.

Those who qualify for this program will be able to defer ± or in other words to postpone ± a portion of their rent payment for the next
three months.

Landlords will be required to defer 40
percent of rent due per month for this three
month period, beginning with the month of
April, 2020.

Landlords will not for the three-month
period be able to evict tenants who were in
good standing prior to April.

Landlords will not be able to disconnect
the electricity or water for tenants who were
in good standing prior to April.

This means for example, that if an individual’s rent is $800 per month, they will be required to pay $480 per month over the next three months. The remainder will be deferred or postponed.

At the end of the three-month period,
individuals will have 12 months to pay back
the deferred amount.

This means that individuals will have to
pay the unpaid rent back to the landlord, but
will have a full calendar year to do so.

I note again, that landlords will not be
able to evict any tenant who was in good
standing as of March of this year.

That means that there should be no
evictions between now and the end of June
unless the tenant had been already legally
eligible for eviction before April.

I want to be very clear:
This is not permission for individuals not
to pay their rent.
I advise those who are still able to pay
their full rent to do so.

Mr. Speaker:
It is important to recognize also that
landlords depend on rental payments for
their own income and often, to pay off their
bank mortgages on the rental properties.
This is why those rental payments can be
deferred but they cannot be eliminated.

I am pleased to advise that the
commercial banks have indicated they are
open to deferring the mortgage payments on
rental properties to the extent that landlords
are affected by this program.

To qualify for this program, a renter must
meet the following criteria:

-­‐ They must be renting residential property
inside The Bahamas;
-­‐ They must be paying a monthly rent of
$2,000 per month or less;
-­‐ They must be no more than one month in
arrears with rent;
-­‐ They must be a Bahamian citizen or legal
resident;
-­‐ They must be able to demonstrate that
their employment or income stream has
been affected by the COVID-19
pandemic.

Renters will have to provide the evidence
necessary to show that their income has
been impacted by COVID-19 and they will
have to sign an agreement to repay the
amount deferred.

This will be mandatory for all landlords for
their qualifying renters.
In due course, I will present the revised
order to give effect to this program.

Mr. Speaker:
It is my hope that renters and landlords
can work together through this
unprecedented time to implement this
program with full cooperation by both sides.

Landlords may with the agreement of the
renter decide to provide a bigger deferment
amount. Qualifying renters can decide that they
want a smaller deferment, or no deferment
at all.

I am asking landlords and renters to
approach this with understanding and with
patience. Many renters are on unemployment
assistance and will not have the means to
pay full rent. Many landlords have mortgage
obligations to meet with the banks for these
rental properties.
They and other landlords also depend on
rental income to take care of themselves and
their families.
The government’s policy is intended to recognize that all parties ± including the banks which hold mortgages ± have a stake
in this matter

I am asking for a sense of national
solidarity, personal and collective
responsibility and goodwill by all.

Neither renters nor landlords should seek
to take any advantages at this time.
The details of the program will be
communicated in the coming days.

Mr. Speaker:
Our primary focus right now are:
-­‐ dealing with the health challenges
because of COVID-19;
-­‐ food distribution for the most vulnerable;
-­‐ social and economic assistance; and
-­‐ the maintenance of law and order.

But, we are also planning and preparing for
the way forward and the very next steps so
that we can begin to reopen our economy
and our society more broadly.

Let me emphasize that those who may
have criminal intent in their mind, will be
dealt with swiftly and vigorously.

We will maintain law and order and we are
monitoring gangs and others who are known
to the Police for criminal behavior.

Mr. Speaker:
The House will recall that I formed a broad
based National COVID-19 Coordinating
Committee, comprised of a broad range of
stakeholders.
They have been meeting regularly and
they have been providing advice and
recommendations on a full range of matters
related to the pandemic.
They have been working with medical
professionals and other experts in their
respective areas to develop the draft plans
for what comes next, especially to gradually
re-open the economy in phases.

Mr. Speaker:
The reality is that COVID-19 will be with
us for the foreseeable future even as our number of cases ± and those around the world ± begin to stabilize and even decline.

For the immediate term at least, we will
need protocols and a strategy that will allow
us to re-open our society and our economy
in a way that protects the health and well
being of Bahamians and residents.

The Coordinating Committee has
recommended protocols and a strategy that
we will announce in due course.

We must establish and adhere to a way
of doing things that will allow us to open back
up in a responsible manner.

Such re-opening will be gradual and
deliberate. At each step, proper health and physical
distancing protocols will be mandatory and
will be enforced.

Even as we look and plan to open back up ± we will not and cannot establish a fixed
timetable that says we will do this particular
thing on one date and another on another
date. While the Government establishes plans,
the general timing of the phased reopening
recommended by the Coordination
Committee, will be predicated upon metrics
and guidelines by health officials.

As in other jurisdictions, we must also
have the flexibility to make changes quickly
and to tighten restrictions if the numbers do
not move in the right direction.

Mr. Speaker: Our airport and seaport partners ± as well as the hospitality industry ± are themselves
working with their counterparts around the
world to develop international and regional
standards for the transportation and lodging
of individuals in the COVID-19 landscape.
We will review these standards and
accept those that we feel are appropriate for
The Bahamas.

We will also as necessary implement our
own specific standards where we feel
various regional or international standards
do not match our reality.

We have started to reopen small parts of
the economy to allow Bahamians and
residents to access hardware and auto
parts, among other items.

Any further reopening will be guided by
the advice of our health professionals.
Mr. Speaker:
Yesterday, the Cabinet Office
announced the Economic Recovery
Committee.

The National Coordinating Committee is
a committee representing various national
stakeholders to advise the government
generally.

The Economic Recovery Committee is a
group convened to draft a medium- and
long-term strategic vision for recovery along
with proposed implementation plans.

The Co-Chairs of the Committee are
Acting Financial Secretary Mr. Marlon
Johnson and businessman Mr. Ken Kerr,
CEO, Providence Advisors.
The Economic Recovery group is made
up of individuals with noted expertise and
experience from the private and public
sector.
This group will consult widely, at home
and abroad, with representation from myriad
industries.
This public-private Committee will make
recommendations to the Cabinet on: the
long-term economic recovery of The
Bahamas economy, including job-creation
and stimulating small business recovery and
development in response to COVID-19.

The Committee will focus on restoring the
macroeconomy; restarting a competitive
business environment; economic
diversification; tourism and transport;
financial services and labour.
Public-Private partnerships will be
essential in restoring and rebuilding our
economy.
I have charged the Economic Committee
with thinking boldly and creatively in its
deliberations.

We are in a new era, so we must think in
new ways and think outside of the narrow
confines of what is necessary or possible.

Mr. Speaker:
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused
the worst economic crisis for our country in
living memory.
Due to international borders being
closed, our tourism sector has shut down.
Tourism is the heart of our economy.

The virus and its effects make it difficult
to predict when tourists will return.
We have the most dynamic tourism
economy in the region.
We will do all we can to be ready to
receive and host visitors when they can
travel again.
However, in the interim while travel has
stopped we must explore what else we can
do to make it through in these difficult times.

The purpose of this economic advisory
group is to give practical, innovative and
doable policy recommendations for the way
forward.
We need the minds and hearts of this
committee to contribute ideas that Cabinet
and the Parliament can consider to boost our
economic circumstance.
This is not the time to be timid.
What are needed are ideas that can
generate economic activity and trade, and a
pathway to those ideas that is doable.

This Committee must think quickly, as we
are in the crisis now.
Ideas from all existing sectors should be
reviewed.
Ideas in sectors we are not yet in must
also be pursued.
We must use our individual and collective
Bahamian imagination for greater self
reliance.
We will continue to promote and to
encourage the manufacturing of local
products.

The new face mask industry is doing well,
and by some estimates may be valued
between six to nine million dollars a year.

Mr. Speaker:
I thank Bahamians and residents for their
suggestions and ideas.
As of Sunday, April, 26, we have
received more than 1,700 suggestions that
have been submitted ideas through the
opm.gov.bs Suggestions platform.

We are in the process of sorting these
suggestions, which have poured in from New
Providence, Grand Bahama and the Family
Islands.
The suggestions cover topics ranging
from ideas on how to diversify our economy,
how to address critical issues like food
security, how best to re-open our economy,
how to improve government services, and
many, many more.

We may not be able to reply to every
suggestion, but we will carefully read every
submission and ensure that it reaches the
right agency for consideration.

I encourage Bahamians and residents to
continue to send in suggestions.
We welcome the ideas.
I thank the Bahamian people and
residents for the solidarity they are
demonstrating at this time.

Mr. Speaker:
Most Bahamians are playing their part in
the fight against this virus.
Many are staying at home and following
the guidelines and Emergency Orders.
Many students are learning at home
while their parents are working from home.
Some Bahamians are discovering new
talents and hobbies.
Bahamians and residents are wearing
their masks and practicing physical
distancing.
There are countless acts of love and
kindness and generosity.
We must all continue to play our part to
stem this outbreak and to return, over time,
to a greater sense of normalcy.
Please continue to stay at home.
Go out only when absolutely necessary.
Go out by yourself, not as a group.

As another world leader said: ³Remember: it is not just about adhering to
the letter of the law.
The spirit of the guidelines is to reduce
movement to a minimum, and to avoid being
out and about in the community. This is the
way to protect yourself, your family and everyone else.´

Mr. Speaker:
In all things and at all times let us pray
unceasingly to the God who gives us life and
who is able to give new life and life
abundantly.

I wish to close with the words of a well
known hymn, which may be our shared
prayer and hope.

To the God of New Beginnings we pray: ³Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; ³The darkness deepens; Lord, with me
abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me. Swift to its close, ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see²
O Thou who changest not, abide with me. I need Thy presence every passing hour; What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r? Who like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide
with me. ³I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy
victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me. ³Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing
eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to
the skies; Heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
May God bless and guide our Bahamas.

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Bahamas News

CLAUDIO’S BAHAMAS OPENS AT ATLANTIS PARADISE ISLAND  

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Claudio’s Bahamas, Atlantis Paradise Island

New York’s Beloved Waterfront Restaurant Makes a Splash in The Bahamas with New Atlantis Paradise Island Location

 

PARADISE ISLAND BAHAMAS – (JUNE 18, 2025) – One of the most anticipated new openings at Atlantis Paradise IslandClaudio’s Bahamas brings the legendary energy of its sister restaurant in Greenport, New York, to the heart of the Caribbean. Overlooking the Water’s Edge Lagoon at The Coral, the new eatery blends East Coast heritage with Bahamian vibrancy—serving fresh seafood, seasonal favorites, and timeless island cocktails in a soulful, nautical setting.

Guests can enjoy signature dishes from the original location, a cherished East Coast staple for over a century. Famous menu items include Calamari with preserved lemon aioli; Baked Clams topped with peppers, onions, double-smoked bacon, panko, and parmesan; and Claudio’s Lobster Roll, a fan favorite served on brioche challah with brown butter, celery, lemon aioli, and chives.

Selection of Signature Dishes – Claudio’s Bahamas

To complement the familiar favorites, Claudio’s Bahamas offers a selection of dishes unique to the location, showcasing the vibrant flavors of the islands. Signature dishes include decadent Lobster Mac n’ Cheese, featuring a creamy four-cheese blend and crispy bacon panko topping; Fish Goujons & Fries, made with Nassau grouper in a Kalik batter and served with mint tartar sauce; Crispy Wings tossed in guava goat pepper sauce; Shrimp Loaded Fries with garlic shrimp, avocado mousse, sour cream, and pico de gallo; Sticky Ribs with crispy onions and homemade sticky BBQ sauce; Veal Milanese with lemon-caper butter, parmesan, cherry tomatoes, arugula, and panko; Conch Fritters with sweet peppers, onion, and a spicy sauce; and Conch Chowder, served in a rye bread bowl with potatoes, onions, carrots, applewood smoked bacon, topped with double cream and parsley.

Claudio’s Bahamas also offers a stylish, new late-night scene, enhancing the resort’s offering of evening experiences. The beverage program features a global wine list, refreshing beers, and classic Caribbean cocktails. Highlights include a Mudslide with vodka, coffee-flavored liqueurs, sugar reduction, and milk; Sky Juice with dry gin, coconut water, heavy cream, condensed milk, and nutmeg; Captain Claudio’s Bloody Mary-one of the most famous drinks from Claudio’s Greenport, is an eye catching cocktail stacked high with stone crab, shrimp, bacon, olives, jalapenos, vodka, Worcestershire sauce, lime juice, hot sauce, and tomato juice; Frozen Miami Vice, this must-try cocktail, has vodka, strawberry and coconut slush; and Junkanoo Punch, inspired by the festive Bahamian tradition, includes rum, blackberry liquor, lemon juice, grenadine, orange juice, and pineapple juice.

Capturing the spirit of the ocean, the sophisticated nautical design features soothing blue hues, natural wood tones, and expansive, floor-to-ceiling windows. The dining room is centered around an interactive display of colorful fiberglass sailboats suspended from the ceiling. Inspired by an award-winning Bahamian Class E sailboat that competed in regattas throughout the Bahamas, each sailboat is named after classic Caribbean cocktails, like the PainkillerYellow Bird, and the Bahama Mama. Claudio’s Bahamas dining room leads to a large patio and shaded gazebo bar, offering stunning lagoon views and the perfect backdrop for sunset vistas. The restaurant is equipped with multiple large-screen TVs, ensuring guests never miss a live sporting or entertainment event. The outdoor terrace, featuring twinkle lights and a lively DJ on weekends, creates an energetic atmosphere for diners and visitors. With two semi-private dining rooms, Claudio’s Bahamas is ideal for groups of all sizes – from social events to birthday parties, family reunions, and bachelor/bachelorette celebrations.

Bar Area – Claudio’s Bahamas

“As the only resort in the region to offer unmatched culinary experiences, Atlantis Paradise Island continues to lead the way in innovation thanks to our incredible food and beverage team,” said Audrey Oswell, President and Managing Director of Atlantis Paradise Island. “We’re thrilled that Claudio’s, an iconic brand with over 150 years of history, chose Atlantis for its first international location, further solidifying our reputation as a world-class destination for dining and hospitality. This partnership brings together two storied brands that share a deep commitment to excellence in service, entertainment, and guest experience—uniting the best of the best under one roof.”

“We’re excited to introduce Claudio’s renowned East Coast legacy to the Bahamas for the very first time,” said Celeste Fierro, Managing Partner of Claudio’s. “Claudio’s Bahamas is a celebration of heritage and hospitality, where timeless nautical charm meets the vibrant soul of the islands. We can’t wait to welcome guests and invite them to experience the next chapter of Claudio’s right here in paradise.”

Claudio’s Bahamas is open all day for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night dining. Dining is available until 2 a.m., and the bar remains open until 3 a.m.

For more information about Atlantis Paradise Island and Claudio’s Bahamas, please visit atlantisparadise.com@atlantisbahamas and @claudiosbahamas.

CONTACT:

Erika Garcia-Lavyne                                          Lauren Clark

Atlantis Paradise Island                                    Chapman Communications Group

954-224-1972

erika.lavyne@atlantisparadise.com               lauren@chapmancommunicationsgroup.com

 

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Bahamas News

New ‘ReefShape’ Photogrammetry System Puts Bahamian Coral Reefs on the Map — Literally

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PIMS research scientist Will Greene glides over a reef in Andros, The Bahamas, capturing a stream of overlapping images that ReefShape will automatically stitch into a millimetre-accurate 3-D map.

Open-source workflow from Perry Institute for Marine Science researchers enables automated data processing, arming reef managers worldwide with rapid, easy-to-use solutions for large area imaging.

Media Contact:

Written by Lily Haines | PIMS | WhatsApp +1 (613) 791-6045 | lhaines@perryinstitute.org

 

 

June 17, 2025—NASSAU | Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor yet anchor a quarter of all marine life. Protecting them has been the Perry Institute for Marine Science’s (PIMS) mission for more than 50 years—work that spans cutting-edge coral restoration, fisheries research and the Caribbean-wide Reef Rescue Network of coral nurseries.

Now PIMS scientists, working with Arizona State University, have unveiled ReefShape, an automated photogrammetry pipeline that converts thousands of underwater photographs into millimeter-accurate, 3-D and 2-D reef maps in hours instead of days. Their method, published this week in the Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE), gives managers from Abaco to Zanzibar a practical and streamlined way to track bleaching, storm damage and restoration success at the millimeter scale.

“We needed a method that’s easy to teach, automatic, and lets us focus on actually saving coral reefs rather than just making maps of them,” said lead author Will Greene, photogrammetry specialist and research scientist at PIMS.

The reef-mapping bottleneck

Photogrammetry—the digital alchemy that converts overlapping photos into lifelike 3D models—has transformed archaeology, forestry and even Hollywood. Yet under water it has remained a specialist’s sport: equipment can top US $20,000, and the software pipeline still relies on hours of manual clicks. In the meantime reefs around the world bleach, crumble or succumb to disease weeks before new data reach managers’ desks.

Headquartered in the United States, PIMS is a non-profit research organisation dedicated to ocean conservation and community engagement around the world. Through its flagship Reef Rescue Network—the region’s largest coalition of coral nurseries—PIMS has already planted tens of thousands of elkhorn, staghorn and fused staghorn corals throughout the Caribbean, restored critical reef habitat, and trained hundreds of local divers, students and tourism operators in reef-monitoring techniques. PIMS also leads research on sustainable fisheries, mangrove and seagrass restoration, and partners with governments to translate science into policy that safeguards coastal livelihoods.

Three simple upgrades

Turning big-picture conservation goals into on-the-ground action—and doing it fast enough to matter—meant re-engineering reef mapping for the realities of a dive boat. Instead of inventing another costly gadget, Greene’s team asked what the absolute essentials were and how to make each one fool-proof. The answer distilled into three simple upgrades that, together, turn a labour-intensive workflow into a backpack-friendly kit:

  1. Permanent corner markers. Four dinner-plate-sized markers drilled into the reef plot corners act as digital anchor points. Software recognises them automatically, snapping every future survey into perfect alignment.
  2. Phone-based GPS logging. A free Survey123 form guides divers to collect surface positions and depth readings of the markers, then formats the data for the processing script—no spreadsheets, transcribing coordinates, or typos.

A fully scripted pipeline. Custom Python code drives Agisoft Metashape processing through a graphic interface, whizzing through image alignment, mesh generation, orthomosaic building, data export and even structural-complexity metrics with no keyboard input beyond run.

From dive to desktop in 1 hour 58 minutes

Using the fully automated ReefShape script, a 200 square meter, 1,300-image reef plot can be processed in under 2 hours on a modern laptop—roughly 400 percent faster than the same dataset handled with earlier, semi-manual workflows. Even on 2018-era hardware, the scripted pipeline still shaved hours off turnaround because most of the speed-up comes from automation and careful workflow optimization, not brute processor power.

Stress-tested during a record heatwave                                                                                                                                                        ReefShape’s coming-of-age moment arrived during the record marine heatwave that washed over The Bahamas in August 2023. Having surveyed Simms Point Reef seven months earlier, the team returned with a camera and retraced their path above the permanent markers. Hours later, side-by-side mosaics revealed that over 90 percent of corals in several species had bleached completely, while a handful of colonies clung to colour.

That immediate feedback lets us prioritise restoration sites and share data with partners before the next storm hits,” says Dr. Craig Dahlgren, PIMS executive director and co-author on the new paper. “It’s like switching from film to livestream.

Democratizing a critical tool

Everything needed to utilize the workflow—recommended camera system, field equipment, a suitable computer and software—comes in around US $5,000 ($8,000 without educational software discounts). The scripts and step-by-step manual live for free on GitHub, and the authors encourage anyone mapping coral, seagrass, mangroves or shipwrecks to fork and improve the code.

The design is deliberately tolerant: while the protocol gives specific instructions for researchers wanting a cookbook-style approach, it works for plots from 25 m² to > 1,000 m², depths down to 30 m, any camera system and swim pattern with sufficient overlap, and on any recent computer. The ReefShape software includes adjustable controls to suit different data collection strategies and researcher needs while remaining streamlined and easy to use, automatically exporting data pre-formatted for analysis in free software packages like QGIS or TagLab.

Why it matters

Coral reefs occupy less than one per cent of the ocean floor yet shelter a quarter of marine speciesand buffer tropical coastlines from storms.

With mass-bleaching events now recurring every few years, conservationists need diagnostics that are fast, cheap and repeatable—tools that turn snapshots into time-lapse. ReefShape, its creators argue, is a step toward that future.                                                                                                                  “Our goal wasn’t another complex method,” says Greene, now completing a PhD at Arizona State University on GIS-driven 3-D reef mapping. “It was to hand every reef manager a simple, comprehensive monitoring tool, then get out of the way so they can use it.

ReefShape was developed by Will Greene, Sam Marshall, Dr. Jiwei Li and Dr. Craig Dahlgren, with funding from the Disney Conservation Fund and the U.S. National Science Foundation. Fieldwork was conducted under permits from the Bahamas Department of Environmental Planning & Protection. Full documentation and code: https://github.com/Perry-Institute/ReefShape.

PHOTO CAPTION:

1st insert: Time-series aligned imagery of Simm’s Point Reef in New Providence before (left) and during (right) the 2023 mass bleaching event. The data were processed automatically in ReefShape, allowing researchers to rapidly analyze the extent and severity of the bleaching event (bottom panel), uncovering different patterns among the various coral species present.

3rd insert: The ReefShape field kit—ready for a single-tank survey. (A) Mirrorless camera with wide-angle rectilinear lens; (B) matching underwater housing and dome port; (C) Bluetooth-enabled “kickboard” GPS for surface positioning; (D) reusable coded corner markers that lock each plot to precise coordinates; and (E) coded scale bars that set the model’s exact dimensions.

Video caption:

Fly-through of a ReefShape 3D model of a coral reef: a centimetre-scale, colour-true reconstruction that lets scientists measure coral growth, bleaching and erosion without getting wet.

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Bahamas News

Perry Institute for Marine Science Celebrates the Opening of the Bahamas Coral Gene Bank at Atlantis Paradise Island

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— The nation’s first coral gene bank will preserve, propagate and replant coral to reverse devastation from rising ocean temperatures and a rapidly spreading disease –

 

PARADISE ISLAND, The Bahamas (June 13, 2025) — The Bahamas has launched an aggressive national conservation initiative to address and reverse the devastating effects of warming ocean temperatures and a disease ravaging its coral reefs. The country’s first coral gene bank is operated and managed by coral experts from the Perry Institute of Marine Science. The biosecure facility opened today at Atlantis Paradise Island to house, propagate, and replant healthy coral on damaged reefs.

“Coral has become increasingly endangered over the years, but the introduction of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease completely changed the game and created extreme urgency to act,” said Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) Executive Director Dr. Craig Dahlgren. “Transmitted among corals through direct contact and water circulation, the disease has spread to all major Bahamian islands and causes a high death rate in corals. Treatments are emerging slowly, but corals need to be rescued and isolated from the disease while these methods are perfected.”

Part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ global Saving Animals from Extinction (SAFE) program, onsite management of the new bank is led by PIMS experts, including a former Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) graduate and student interns from BAMSI and the University of The Bahamas, with support from marine-life experts at Atlantis.

“Our collective vision is not only to preserve coral currently under threat, but also to foster new generations of corals that, when planted, are more resilient to disease and other dangers. Longstanding support and funding from our contributors and supporters, including Disney Conservation Fund, Atlantis Paradise Island, and Atlantis Blue Project Foundation, have been essential in making this national effort possible.”

“Our investment in the Coral Gene Bank builds on Disney’s decades-long commitment to protecting coral in The Bahamas,” said Andy Stamper, Conservation Science Manager for Disney Conservation. “This facility is a vital step toward preserving biodiversity and restoring reef health for generations to come.”

The Bahamas Coral Gene Bank can accommodate up to 200 large, mature coral colonies, in addition to smaller fragments and juvenile corals. PIMS has already rescued and relocated fifteen coral species to the biosecure Gene Bank research facility. Coral fragments collected from the ocean are placed in pristine, on-site aquaria, and once stable, they grow and reproduce quickly with the aid of innovative reproduction techniques such as lunar-cycle simulations.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Header:  A proud moment for coral conservation: Scientists from Perry Institute for Marine Science, Atlantis, and partner organizations stand over the newly established coral gene bank at Atlantis Paradise Island, having just populated its tanks with rescued coral colonies.

 1st insert: One coral at a time—This fragment of a highly susceptible coral species is now safe inside the Bahamas Coral Gene Bank. Here, it can grow and reproduce under expert care, protected from the deadly Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease.

2nd insert: Hope in their hands: Two coral researchers at the Bahamas Coral Gene Bank share a moment of joy after placing healthy coral colonies into their new biosecure home—an act that could help restore entire reef systems.

About the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS):

For more than 50 years, Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) has advanced ocean stewardship around the world. Guided by our vision “Thriving Seas, Empowered Communities,” our scientists pair cutting‑edge research with hands-on conservation to protect coral reefs, mangroves, fisheries, and coastal habitats while supporting sustainable livelihoods. We collaborate with governments, NGOs, schools, and forward‑thinking businesses to turn data into action—whether restoring reefs through our Reef Rescue Network, mapping coastal ecosystems with drone and photogrammetry technology, or training the next generation of marine leaders. By discovering solutions, creating opportunities, and inspiring action, PIMS works to ensure a healthy ocean for people and the planet alike. Learn more at www.perryinstitute.org.

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