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UNDP introduces new Country Programme for the Bahamas at regional ‘Partnership Roundtable’ series debut in Nassau

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Invites local, regional and international partnerships for sustainable development

 

 

#TheBahamas, May 5, 2023 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has unveiled a number of development solutions aligned to The Bahamas’ national priorities and opened the door for further cooperation on new solutions, under its 2022 – 2026 Country Programme.

UNDP Resident Representative, Denise E Antonio, urged local, regional, and international organizations, as well as donor countries, to partner with the UNDP in enhancing existing initiatives and creating new innovative solutions that align with the developmental goals and aspirations of the Bahamian people.

UNDP introduced its five-year Country Programme in Bahamas along with its development services to government officials, civil society, diplomatic corps, and development partners during the debut of UNDP’s sub regional Partnership Roundtable series on Monday 17th April 2023, at The Balmoral.

The new Country Programme will prioritize development solutions that focus on social resilience and inclusion, citizen safety and security and rule of law, climate change resilience, and sustainable natural resource management over the next five years. These priorities were developed following consultations under the regional Multi Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework led by the United Nations Resident Coordination team.

“We are committed to supporting the goals and aspirations of our host countries. Our role is to provide technical assistance and to leverage our resources, networks, facilities, and partnerships to support national priorities. Our Country Programme pillars serve as a framework to guide our collaborative efforts with countries towards achieving sustainable development outcomes,” she said.

In a keynote address delivered by the Honourable Jamahl Strachan, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Strachan said that the Region looks to the UNDP to serve as an interlocutor, and to provide that advocacy support in the meeting halls of the international financial institutions regarding the acceptance of a multi-dimensional vulnerability index.

He also applauded the UNDP for the creation of the Mobile App for persons with disabilities as well as for the significant support rendered to the UNDP Abaco Hurricane Shelter/Community Centre Project.

“UNDP’s universal presence, commitment to transparency, world-leading operational standards, and global knowledge networks and expertise enable us to bring significant value to any partnership we form,” said Linda Maguire, Deputy Regional Director for UNDP in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Under the 2022 – 2026 Country Programme, UNDP is actively supporting the government in the implementation of several initiatives in The Bahamas including projects that aim to strengthen public debt management frameworks promote innovative financing tools for women and youth; establish a hurricane shelter in Abaco; and prepare Bahamas for the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. UNDP is also partnering with communities and NGOs to advance climate change adaptation and mitigation through the UNDP-implemented Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme. Ms Antonio expressed her gratitude to UNDP’s current donor partners including Government of India, the Joint SDG Fund, GEF and UN agencies. 

UNDP has collaborated with various local partners, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Works, Disaster Reconstruction Authority, Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation, and National Council for Persons with Disabilities, on both past and current development solutions. Under the previous country programme (2017-2021), UNDP worked alongside government and civil society to support The Bahamas’ recovery, relief, and resilience agenda in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.

The Bahamas is one of 42 countries served by UNDP’s Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean. The UNDP Multi Country Office in Jamaica serves Jamaica, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. On 12th July 1974, the Government of The Bahamas became the first among the UNDP Multi Country Office’s five partner countries and territories to formally establish an agreement with UNDP.

 

Photo Captions

Header: Following the UNDP‘s Partnership Roundtable, evet organizers and invited guests mingled. They include, from left From left, event moderator Krissy Hanna, Vice Chancellor, Bahamas Alrae Ramsey Institute of Foreign Service; Chinese Ambassador Dai Qingli; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for Bahamas, Jamaica, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands, Denise E Antonio; Linda Maguire, Deputy Director, UNDP in Latin America and the Caribbean;  Jamahl Strachan, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Honourable Vaughan Miller, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources; Kirk Cornish, Member of Parliament for North Abaco; Thomas Hartley, British High Commissioner ; Phedra Rahming Turnquest, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources; Phyllis Baron, Country Representative, Organization of American States (OAS)

1st insert: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for Bahamas, Jamaica, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands, Denise E Antonio.

2nd insert: Jamahl Strachan, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

3rd insert: Linda Maguire, Deputy Director, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Latin America and the Caribbean.

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Walker Confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas: A Partner in America’s Extended Family

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By Deandrea Hamilton | Magnetic Media

 

The United States and The Bahamas share more than proximity — they share a bond of history, trade, and culture that Washington’s newest diplomat calls “part of America’s extended community.”

Now, for the first time in 14 years, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau will again be led by a Senate-confirmed ambassador. Herschel Walker, the Heisman-winning football legend turned entrepreneur, has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as America’s official envoy to The Bahamas.

Walker, who will oversee one of the Caribbean’s most strategically positioned U.S. missions, told senators during his confirmation hearing that The Bahamas will play a key role in upcoming U.S. 250th Independence celebrations. “The Bahamian people,” he said, “will be included in this milestone year, because our stories are intertwined — through family, trade, and friendship.”

While his nomination was unconventional, his priorities are anything but vague. Walker vowed to counter growing Chinese influence in the Caribbean, calling Beijing’s investments in Bahamian deep-water ports “a direct threat to U.S. national security.” He pledged to work closely with Bahamian authorities to ensure American interests remain the region’s cornerstone.

“There’s a rise in drug smuggling in The Bahamas, and this is a real danger to the United States,” Walker said, referring to the Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) partnership. He promised to strengthen intelligence sharing, joint patrols, and law enforcement coordination to disrupt trafficking routes that have grown increasingly sophisticated.

But Walker also emphasized opportunity over fear — signaling that his ambassadorship will not only focus on security, but on strengthening The Bahamas as a gateway for U.S. investment, trade, and tourism.

“I will advise the American business community of the vast investment opportunities that exist in The Bahamas,” he said. “And I will make sure the Bahamian government maintains an environment where U.S. companies can invest confidently — because America must prove it is still great as an investor.”

For a small island nation sitting less than 50 miles off the coast of Florida, this renewed diplomatic attention carries weight. Since 2011, the post of U.S. ambassador had remained vacant — a gap that many observers say weakened direct ties, delayed joint security initiatives, and allowed other powers to move in.

Walker’s confirmation — approved 51 to 47 — ends that silence. And with it comes the expectation that this former Olympian and business owner will translate his discipline, charisma, and resilience into diplomatic results.

Critics question his lack of foreign policy experience, but Walker counters with confidence: “Throughout my life, people have underestimated me. I’ve always proved them wrong — by outworking everyone.”

As he prepares to take up residence in Nassau, Walker says his mission is simple: rebuild trust, deepen cooperation, and remind both nations that their futures are tied not just by geography — but by shared purpose, mutual respect, and the enduring ties of community.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

 

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PAY STANDOFF: Prime Minister Cancels Talks as Unions Warn of More Protests

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By Deandrea Hamilton | Magnetic Media

Monday, October 13, 2025 — Nassau, The Bahamas – What began as a calm holiday meeting has spiraled into a full-blown standoff between The Bahamas Government and two of the country’s most powerful public sector unions — the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) and the Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) — after the Prime Minister abruptly cancelled follow-up talks set for Tuesday, blaming public comments made by union leaders.

The announcement of the cancelled meeting came late Monday, just hours after a tense sit-down at the Office of the Prime Minister, held on National Heroes Day, where both BUT President Belinda Wilson and BPSU President Kimsley Ferguson accused the government of dragging its feet on salary increases and retroactive pay owed to thousands of public officers.

Wilson, never one to mince words, said the Prime Minister’s “technical officers” — the very people responsible for executing his instructions — were failing to carry out his directives regarding payment timelines.

“The Prime Minister’s issue,” Wilson said, “is that he has persons working for him who are not following his instructions. If those officers would follow through on what he told them to do, we wouldn’t be here today.”

Wilson added that the BUT and other unions are demanding retroactive pay dating back to September 2024, and that all increases be applied and paid by the October payday, not December as previously stated by the Prime Minister.

“Senior civil servants already received their retroactive pay — thousands of dollars — backdated to September of last year,” Wilson charged. “We’re saying the small man deserves the same. This isn’t a gift. It’s money already earned.”

Her comments came after the government publicly insisted that the salary adjustments would be implemented by December 2025, just ahead of Christmas — a timeline unions flatly reject as too slow.

Ferguson: ‘No More Excuses’

Following Wilson, BPSU President Kimsley Ferguson delivered a fiery statement of his own, telling reporters the unions would no longer tolerate delays or mixed messages from the Davis administration.

“The Prime Minister was receptive — but we’re not accepting excuses,” Ferguson said. “If the Prime Minister’s having a memory lapse, we have the Hansard from Parliament to remind him exactly what he promised public officers.”

Ferguson went further, warning that if Tuesday’s meeting failed to produce results, unions would “visit the House of Assembly” and intensify their campaign for immediate payment.

“Public servants, ready yourselves,” he declared. “We are prepared to stand together — all across The Bahamas — until our needs are met.”

Now, with the Prime Minister cancelling tomorrow’s talks altogether, that threat appears closer to becoming reality.

Government Bungles Response

Observers say the administration’s handling of the matter has been confused and contradictory, with conflicting statements on payment timelines and poor communication fueling frustration among teachers, nurses, and general public officers.

The government has maintained that the funds are allocated and will be disbursed before year’s end, but unionists insist they’ve heard it all before — and this time they want results, not promises.

The Prime Minister’s decision to cancel the meeting, rather than clarify or de-escalate tensions, has drawn sharp criticism across social media and among rank-and-file civil servants who see the move as punitive and dismissive.

Slowdown and the Threat of Another Mass Protest

Across several ministries, departments, and schools, reports are already surfacing of a go-slow in the public service, as workers express solidarity with the unions’ demands.

Many believe another mass demonstration is imminent, similar to the one staged last week Tuesday when thousands of workers gathered outside the House of Assembly on Bay Street as Parliament reopened after summer recess.

That protest brought parts of downtown Nassau to a standstill as union members sang, marched, and even sat in the street — a powerful show of defiance that now threatens to repeat itself unless the government moves quickly to resolve the impasse.

A Political Flashpoint

What began as a straightforward salary dispute has now evolved into a test of credibility and competence for the Davis administration. With a restless public sector, rising inflation, and unions unified across professions, the government risks not only another protest — but a full-blown industrial crisis heading into the year’s end.

For now, the unions are standing firm: they want retroactive pay from September 2024 and full salary adjustments by this October. Anything less, they warn, could push the country’s workforce from a slowdown into open confrontation.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Nassau Cruise Port Marks Sixth Anniversary with Exciting New Additions for Visitors and The community

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[Nassau, Bahamas, October 8, 2025] Nassau Cruise Port (NCP) proudly celebrates its sixth corporate anniversary by unveiling a series of transformative additions that further enhance the guest and community experience. The anniversary comes at a pivotal moment in the growth of the port, with the opening of a new swimming pool, an expanded marina, and a state-of-the-art ferry terminal that will support transfers to the Royal Beach Club, which is currently under construction on Paradise Island.

Since its $300 million redevelopment, Nassau Cruise Port – the largest transit cruise port in the world – has welcomed millions of visitors and become one of the most vibrant cruise destinations in the world. This anniversary not only reflects its commitment to delivering world-class facilities, but also its dedication to creating meaningful connections between visitors and the Bahamian community.

“This milestone represents much more than the passage of time,” said Mike Maura, Jr., CEO and Director of Nassau Cruise Port. “It reflects our promise to continually elevate the guest experience, contribute to the local economy, and provide opportunities for Bahamians. During our first year (2019) of operating the Nassau Cruise Port, Nassau welcomed approximately. 3.85 million cruise guests, and 2025 will see well over 6 million cruise visitors visit Nassau. Our focus on driving cruise tourism and the $350 million investment in our downtown waterfront is a testament to our vision of making Nassau a premier cruise and leisure destination.”

The new pool offers a refreshing retreat for visitors enjoying Nassau’s waterfront, while the expanded marina will accommodate additional yachts, boosting tourism and local commerce. The ferry terminal expansion enhances passenger flow and supports convenient, seamless transfers to the Royal Beach Club, strengthening Nassau’s position as a hub for Caribbean cruising and leisure.

As part of its anniversary celebrations, NCP will host a series of internal and external activities to celebrate its team and to highlight its ongoing investments in the Bahamian economy, including job creation, local vendor opportunities, and cultural showcases at the port.

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