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Royal Visit Cost Revealed, Bahamas itemizes $636,000 bill

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By Shanieka Smith

Features Writer

 

#TheBahamas, May 27, 2022 – The Bahamas Government opened up recently about spending for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; the Royal visit in March costing the Commonwealth country in excess of $636,000 for ceremonial events and stay for William and  Kate.

A preliminary financial statement has it that a bulk of the expense was paid in New Providence. According to the breakdown, $566,828.93 was paid out to New Providence businesses and vendors; $50,063.92 to Abaco vendors; and $18,107.15 to Grand Bahama vendors.

At least $76,141 went to ‘Wild Flowers’ for décor for the Royal Ball, school visit, and One Montague. For accommodation and meals, $34,657 was spent. Another $66,440 went to ‘Movi Company’ which provided large jumbo screens and digital and electronic work. Bahama Prints was paid $34,806 for welcome billboards and mesh. The New Providence Junkanoo Corporation was extended $21,000 for the Junkanoo event.

The Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas was paid $29,480 was paid for its broadcasting services, Bahamasair received $37,247 for air charter services, $12,000 went to ‘Janees’ Uniform Shop’ for uniforms for sloop sailors and payment to participants in the regatta event. Smaller vendors also accounted for some of the payments. Data shows that over 100 individuals and businesses were processed for payments.

Local Organizing Committee said it realized “significant assistance” by not having to engage or issue contracts for government buildings upgrades and improvements as the Ministry of Works was “very active and responsive in this area”. In addition, the Department of Environment cleaned main street arteries to ensure a spotless presentation.

Office of the Prime Minister press secretary, Clint Watson explained that the media spotlight and promotions for The Bahamas was immeasurable, reminding that The Bahamas was a chosen destination by the Royals, that The Bahamas has obligations as a member of the Commonwealth and that the UK always stands ready in support in times of crises.

According to the committee, at least $100,000 was saved because of the assistance provided by corporate Bahamas. The committee added that there will not be much need for infrastructural improvement and upgrades in preparation for Bahamas’ annual Independence Celebrations.

“It is difficult to quantify the tremendous benefits of the Royal Visit to The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Over forty international media houses from the UK and international graced our shores and recorded the wonders of The Bahamas and the beauty, charm, and warmth of our people,” said the LOC. It made note that the overarching goal was met through the various activities within education, sports, culinary delights, and meaningful interactions with the Bahamians.

The LOC expressed that a dollar value cannot be placed on the advantages of the recent visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; it said that Bahamians proved that they have made it common knowledge that they entertain Royalty with both class and pride.

Bahamas News

7 million lives at risk because of salt 

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Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

 

March 24, 2023 – Without immediate and widespread efforts at curbing salt intake, 7 million lives will be lost by 2030 according to the World Health Organization.  The warning follows the first-ever Global Report on Sodium Intake Reduction, which revealed that the world would not meet its sodium intake reduction target of 30 percent by 2025 on its current path.

With only 5% of WHO Member States protected by mandatory and comprehensive sodium reduction policies, the rest of the world must immediately implement ‘highly cost-effective sodium reduction policies to protect against some of the most common non-communicable diseases.

No Caribbean country was mentioned in the group of nine countries with comprehensive salt laws, but Barbados is currently set to make effective stringent regulations to govern food consumption and food quality. 

Tedros Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General said: 

“Most countries are yet to adopt any mandatory sodium reduction policies, leaving their people at risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health problems. The WHO calls on all countries to implement the ‘Best Buys’ for sodium reduction, and on manufacturers to implement the WHO benchmarks for sodium content in food.” 

North America and the Caribbean have the highest child diabetes statistics in the world, with the second highest prevalence in adults as well. In Turks and Caicos in particular, over 300 hundred residents have failing kidneys, a number described as ‘alarming’ by experts. Kidney disease is fueled in most cases by diabetes and hypertension. 

The WHO is then advising Governments to do four things:

  • Reformulating foods to contain less salt, and setting targets for the amount of sodium in foods and meals. 
  • Establishing public food procurement policies to limit salt or sodium-rich foods in public institutions such as hospitals, schools, workplaces, and nursing homes.
  • Front-of-package labelling that helps consumers select products lower in sodium.
  • Behaviour change communication and mass media campaigns to reduce salt/sodium consumption.

With these measures in place, the salt reduction target can still be achieved, according to the WHO. 

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FBI and Bahamas looking into woman’s death  

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Dana Malcolm  

Staff Writer  

 

 

#TheBahamas, March 17, 2023 – The FBI is investigating a woman’s ‘suspicious’ death on a Carnival Cruise ship in February.  The unnamed woman and her husband boarded the Carnival Sunshine on February 27th, for a trip to the Bahamas, but she was dead before they arrived in the port in The Bahamas.

The FBI said Carnival’s team had administered life saving measures when the woman was reported unresponsive, but they were unsuccessful.  The body and the woman’s husband were released to the Bahamian authorities when the cruise arrived in the country.  

In a statement shared with US media houses, Carnival Cruises claimed the death has been a natural one.  The Nassau Guardian said a source told them the police findings had concurred with that assessment saying it was a “normal sudden death of a tourist who wasn’t feeling well.” 

The FBI was waiting for the cruise and when it got back to South Carolina on March 4th, they immediately boarded and began to investigate the room based on ‘evidence of a crime.’  The FBI also searched the couple’s car.   

No updates have been shared to contradict the currently established cause of death.   

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Bahamas News

Why Sargassum Matters

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Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

 

 

#TheBahamas, March 17, 2023 – “If you don’t like it, go to another beach!” Is what Aaron John, an Education Officer from The Bahamas National Trust jokingly tells our news team about sargassum blooms; his quip, motivated by the necessity of nature when pit against the notion that there is a real threat when the stinky seaweed makes its annual appearance. 

John can admit, he says, that Sargassum isn’t very pretty but life isn’t all about aesthetics and in this instance that ugly patch serves a purpose. 

“We love our sandy beaches, but in order to keep them we need Sargassum. When storms come, they wash away all the sand off the beach but sargassum acts as a mulch to protect the sand from water erosion. It doesn’t look good, it doesn’t feel good but we need it.”

He said it also provides a habitat for small crustaceans, crabs, and insects that are all necessary to our ecosystem and islanders have  found use for the weed.

“Historically, (in The Bahamas) we have been using sargassum as fertilizer, especially in the family Islands as far back as I know,” he said. “Birds don’t go on the beach unless there is Sargassum and what do they do? they feed – it’s beautiful.” 

He encouraged residents to just leave it be if they came across it.

Sargassum isn’t harmful to humans, except for people with respiratory issues who may find the rotten egg smell triggers asthma. Despite this, it’s not advisable to walk through the weeds which may hide sharp rocks and bottles or vulnerable animals.

Experts say Sargassum blooms began to increase in size around 2011 and have continued to get bigger and bigger since. This year‘s bloom is around 5000 miles long and 300 miles wide and visible from space.

“I know it’s not a general outlook, but I would like to change the perspective on sargassum,” John said, pointing out The Bahamas National Trust is actively working to decrease alarm over the less worrisome events like sargassum as it raises the profile on the environmentally devastating. 

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