Bahamas News
PM Davis Lauds Bahamas-Chinese Relations
#TheBahamas, January 18, 2023 – During his Official Remarks at the Observance of the Chinese Lunar New Year Festival, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis said that, on behalf of the Government
and people of The Bahamas, he was honoured to extend “our warmest congratulations” on the upcoming start of the Chinese Lunar New Year.
“This year will be celebrated under the sign of the Rabbit – a symbol of kindness, a symbol of compassion, and a symbol of sensitivity – and I look forward to the opportunities for success and happiness the Year of the Rabbit beckons,” Prime Minister Davis said, at the ceremony held at Margaritaville Beach Resort, on January 12, 2023.
“This month, both The Bahamas and China welcome the New Year, which represents the start of an auspicious occasion for both our nations: It marks the start of a new 25 years of fruitful bilateral relations between The Bahamas and China, and, of the 50th Anniversary of Independence for The Bahamas,” he added.
Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas, Her Excellency Dai Qingli hosted the ceremonies.
Prime Minister Davis attended with his wife, Mrs. Ann Marie Davis.
Among those present included several Cabinet Ministers; Members of the Parliament and Senate; senior Government Officials; members of the Diplomatic Corps; Commander of the Defence Force Commodore Dr. Raymond King; former Governor-General Dame Marguerite Pindling; members of the Chinese Community Association of The Bahamas, and other member members of the Bahamian-Chinese community; officers and members of the Bahamas China Friendship Association; and other stakeholders.
Prime Minster Davis said that, in acknowledgement of the occasion, he reflected on the “meaningful and far-reaching” engagements between the two nations, which included the following: the deepening of sister-city relations between Grand Bahama and Hunan Province; co-operation towards the refurbishment of the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium; advancing sustainable development through renewable energy projects throughout the country; continued dialogue on other critical national priorities related to health, infrastructure, education, and training for capacity building; and, the installation of The Bahamas’ Ambassador-Designate in Beijing who, he noted, had
already begun her work to enhance “our bilateral relations in China”, along with a new support team.
“Despite the continued global tumult brought about by challenges linked to COVID-19, climate change, and the global economic downturn, the hope and optimism exemplified by the Year of the Rabbit stand to prevail,” Prime Minister Davis said. “I applaud the appointment of President Xi Jinping to an unprecedented third term in office, and the announcement of a new administration to lead China towards a bright future.
“We have no doubt that China will continue on its journey toward enhanced economic development while sustaining its valuable collaboration with the international community in addressing common challenges, particularly in the realms of public health and the environment.”
Prime Minister Davis pointed out that China had made remarkable progress in recent decades, both domestically
and internationally.
“China has enjoyed expansive modernisation, seen the alleviation of poverty for some 800 million persons since the 1970s, and cemented an increasingly consequential role in global politics,” he said. “We have been fortunate to witness and share in these successes with you. We have no doubt that you will continue to achieve great things.”
“The Bahamas and China have a strong and enduring relationship, and we look forward to deepening our ties and co-operation in the years to come,” Prime Minister Davis added. “As we turn our eyes to Sunday, 22nd January, 2023, the official date of the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year, we reaffirm our commitment to working together as partners and friends.”
Release: BIS
(BIS Photos/Eric Rose)
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.
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.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – The Turks and Caicos’ Bahamas Diaspora Office is moving closer and closer to opening day, following the Cabinet’s approval for the signing of a lease agreement.
The lease will be signed with FINCEN ltd in the Bahamas. Several weeks ago, Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration confirmed to our news team that the location had been found and was being finalized; now a lease is
approved at the Cabinet level.
The interest in the TCI from TC Bahamians was evident in the diaspora meetings held in early February. The two meetings held in Nassau and Grand Bahama were completely full and over-subscribed by hundreds.
It’s interest which the Government hopes will translate to real life population growth, bolstering the local population before the native population ‘goes extinct’.
The Opposition PDM is on the record with what it feels is a far more viable solution to a dwindling native population; seek out the country’s own citizens and bring them back home.
Cabinet did not state when the office will open.
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