Bahamas News
Grand Bahama Utility Company Limited is making steady headway towards return of potable water throughout the island after the impact of catastrophic Hurricane Dorian
#Freeport, GB, November 11, 2019 – Bahamas – .The Grand Bahama Utility Company Limited (GBUC) confirms steady progress towards our full return to potable water on the island of Grand Bahama. Prior to the onset of Hurricane Dorian, tap water provided to the community of Grand Bahama was below 600 ppm (salt particle content per million parts of water), which bettered by a large margin the 1,000 ppm World Health Organization (WHO) standard for consumption. In certain other jurisdictions, 1,500 ppm is considered an acceptable level.
In addition to the damaged pumping stations, which were brought back on line within 5-7 days of the storm to restore the island’s running water ‘distribution’, the wrath of Hurricane Dorian compromised the island’s ‘supply’ of fresh salt-free water in Wellfields 1, 3, 6, comprising some 220 wells in total, which account for 35%, 5% and 60% (respectively) of water being supplied throughout the island. Wellfields 1 & 3 were flooded with 4 ft. of sea water, while Wellfield 6 was flooded with 21 ft. of sea water for a period of 36 hours during and after the treacherous storm. The flooding destroyed the entire vertical infrastructure including utility poles, wires, electrical components, control and motoring systems.
Utility Engineering Manager, Remington Wilchcombe said, “Once the flood water had subsided at Wellfields 1 & 6, our team immediately enacted an action plan to restore water supply. An assessment was conducted to determine the impact to the systems. One of the wells tested at 25,000 ppm, which is close to the salinity of sea water at 35,000 ppm. Results a few days later revealed that the average reading per well was 8,000 ppm in both Wellfields 1 & 3 and 9,000 ppm in Wellfield 6.”
Post assessment, mechanics were recruited to bring back-up systems into service. Once back-up systems were restored, the GBUC was able to begin rationing fresh water reserves into the system 5 days after the storm.
Simultaneously, the GBUC began working with Sanitation Services Company Limited to conduct clean-up efforts within the Wellfields. Simultaneously, Grand Bahama Power Company Limited was conducting repairs and working to regenerate the power systems at Wellfields 1 & 6. Additionally, industrial partners including the Grand Bahama Shipyard, Bahamas Industrial Technologies Ltd., Martin Marietta Aggregates – Bahama Rock, and Freeport Container Port, were all contributing resources to the restoration by providing technical service and physical support in manpower and equipment to return the plant to service.
Early September tests indicated the average salinity reading per well had improved with Wellfield 1 down to 6,000 ppm, Wellfield 3 at 2,500 ppm, and Wellfield 6 reduced to 7,000 ppm. By September 30th, the average salinity reading per well had improved with Wellfield 1 at 4,000 ppm, Wellfield 3 reduced to 2,000 ppm, and Wellfield 6 still showing the highest salinity content of 6,000 ppm.
Mr. Wilchcombe stated, “In an effort to ensure the speediest process for restoring potable water, we enlisted international services to perform a first phase Hydrological Study to provide further testing and recommendations relating to the movement, and physical and chemical composition of the water.” Water & Earth Sciences, Inc. conducted a Resistivity Test, which assesses the level of salt water existing in the water lens. The results confirmed that 99% of the Wellfields were inundated with sea water, which compromised the water quality. Further, it was determined that all of the Wellfields had varying layers of salt water, brackish water and fresh water.
A second assessment was conducted by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which included the areas of Freeport City and East End. The results confirmed findings provided by Water & Earth Sciences, Inc. noting that the Wellfields had significant sea water incursion.
A third assessment was conducted by Dr. Yakov Livshitz from the Hydrological Service of Israel, which again included the areas of Freeport City and East End. First, their team visited the island to gather samples for testing to determine the porous nature of the limestone. The results were analyzed and a follow-up visit ensued. Second, a detailed assessment to locate fresh water lenses in the current Wellfields was carried out. Flow rates were tested to determine the time frame and restoration rate. Finally, a survey was conducted to find additional fresh water lenses outside of the Wellfields to extract or supply fresh water. As a result, fresh water was found in some high elevated areas. However, the capacity is not known at this time.
Geron Turnquest, General Manager of the GBUC said, “A second phase Hydrological Study must be carried out to validate and confirm the capacity of the fresh water lenses that were found for the development of new Wellfield locations. The most feasible approach, currently underway, is to bypass various higher salt content wells in Wellfield 6 with additional fresh water reserves further East, and to revive and develop Wellfield 4, which has been out of service for a number of years.”
In light of current efforts to reduce water salinity to WHO standards, the GBUC has also discussed the possibility of a Reverse Osmosis (RO) System. Mr. Turnquest added, “We have considered the possibility of introducing a large-scale Reverse Osmosis System. But we are advised that this presents challenges. Despite it being an expensive investment that will impact the cost of water to the consumer, it will also take a minimum of three to four months to develop. By this time, we aim to have resolved this salinity issue with new measures in place. An RO system on this scale would only be needed if the possibility of having no fresh water exists.” That said, smaller backup RO systems in small modular units are very likely be part of our plan to provide drinking water in the event of a future hurricane.
Assessments to date reveal a continuing decline in salinity levels. Wellfield 1 is now 2,400 ppm, Wellfield 3 is now ‘potable’ at 500 ppm, and Wellfield 6 is 3,600 ppm. Ian Rolle, President of the Grand Bahama Port Authority says, “The GBUC is committed to resolving the issue of salinity levels as a result of the tidal surge. The actual water pressure and the volume pumped per day is back up to pre-storm levels which is reassuring. Key infrastructure works are in progress and we continue to confer with the experts to bring about the best and speediest return to our pre-storm highest quality fresh water”.
Residents have been advised through public notices that the water can be used for sanitary purposes only and not for consumption. GBPA Chairman Sarah St George added, “We wish to emphasize that the water is clean and bacteria free. While we work to restore potable water, we have established a partnership between GBPA, GBUC, NEMA and several NGOs to provide free drinking water to local communities at water distribution sites island-wide. We are grateful to our NGO partners Isra-Aid, Samaritan’s Purse, Mercy Corps, Siemens, Resolve Marine, Water Mission, International Medical Corp, Operators without Borders, and ADRA. As salinity levels decrease naturally through rainfall and new wells come on line, we look forward to restoring a potable water supply through the island of Grand Bahama in the near future. We thank everyone in the community for their patience and understanding. We are on the right path to bringing our water back to its erstwhile pristineness.”
Release: Grand Bahama Port Authority
Photo Caption: “Dr. Yakov Livshitz Senior member of the Hydrological Service of Israel visited Grand Bahama and toured our well fields with the GB Utility Team to gauge salinity levels and the pace of aquifer recovery. His initial findings were very encouraging.” (Pictured from left: Remington Wilchcombe, Utility Engineering Manager and Dr. Yakov Livshitz)
Bahamas News
Next U.S. Ambassador? Walker Pledges Business-Driven Approach as U.S. Looks to Counter China in The Bahamas
Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
The Bahamas, September 16, 2025 – For the first time since 2011, the United States is on the cusp of sending an ambassador to The Bahamas — and the nominee, former football star turned entrepreneur Herschel Walker, is promising to bring his business instincts to the diplomatic table.
Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week, Walker underscored that his background in food-service companies and small business leadership has prepared him to think practically about investment. “I know how to run a business, how to create jobs, how to make payroll. Those lessons translate into building relationships and building trust,” Walker said.
Walker, who was nominated by President Trump in December 2024, faced the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 11. As of now, he has not yet been confirmed; his nomination remains under review, pending a committee vote before it can move to the full Senate. If approved, he would become the first U.S. ambassador to The Bahamas since 2011.
For years, U.S. officials have stressed security and counternarcotics cooperation with The Bahamas, including through “Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos.” But in areas like infrastructure, medical care, and long-term investment, Washington has often been absent.
Hospitals and clinics remain under-resourced, and hurricane recovery has been slow in many islands. Chinese state-backed firms, by contrast, have shown up with financing packages and construction deals — a presence that has raised alarms on Capitol Hill.
“Only 50 miles off our shore, The Bahamas is too important for us to ignore,” warned Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders during Walker’s hearing. They called China’s inroads “strategic, not charitable,” suggesting Beijing’s long game is about ports, proximity, and political leverage.
Walker positioned himself as a nontraditional but pragmatic envoy. He argued that his business career, rooted in private sector success, equips him to champion American investment in The Bahamas.
He pledged to:
- Promote U.S. companies interested in medical and infrastructure projects.
- Support an environment that encourages American investors to see The Bahamas as more than just a beach destination.
- Highlight opportunities for partnerships that improve public services, healthcare, and resilience against hurricanes.
“I’ve built businesses. I know what it takes to attract investors and create opportunity. That is exactly what I intend to bring to our relationship with The Bahamas,” Walker said.
The Bahamas is not just a tourist paradise. It’s a frontline state in migration, drug interdiction, and hurricane response. More than six
million U.S. visitors travel there annually, making stability and safety a U.S. domestic concern as much as a foreign policy one.
And yet, with the ambassador post vacant for 14 years, the U.S. has often looked detached — opening space for China’s ambitious Belt and Road agenda. The fear is that infrastructure deals signed today could give Beijing leverage in the region tomorrow. Walker’s confirmation would symbolize a course correction, signaling Washington’s intent to re-engage not only in security but in the economic future of The Bahamas. Not everyone is convinced Herschel Walker is the right man for the job. His nomination revived controversies from his 2022 Senate run, including past allegations, public gaffes, and doubts about whether he has the diplomatic polish the post demands. Some senators and analysts questioned whether celebrity and business experience were enough for a role requiring nuance in foreign policy and geopolitics.
Critics argued that The Bahamas, sitting just 50 miles from Florida and facing intense Chinese interest, deserves a seasoned diplomat rather than a political ally.
Walker confronted those doubts head-on. “People have underestimated me all my life — in academics, athletics, and business,” he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “And I have always proven them wrong, through discipline, determination, and by outworking everyone.”
He admitted he had never served as an ambassador but countered that his career prepared him in other ways: building businesses, managing payrolls, and connecting with people from all walks of life. He framed his business background as a strength, promising to use it to encourage U.S. investment in healthcare, infrastructure, and hurricane resilience projects in The Bahamas.
Rather than sparring with critics, Walker leaned on confidence and persistence: “I know how to build trust and find common ground. That’s what this relationship needs.”
If confirmed, Walker would have to balance his role as diplomat with expectations of being a commercial cheerleader for U.S. firms. His emphasis on entrepreneurship suggests a willingness to push U.S. businesses toward opportunities in healthcare, ports, and post-storm reconstruction — areas where Bahamians say they need the most support.
For Bahamian officials, the question will be whether Washington is prepared to back words with financing. U.S. private sector dollars, paired with aid and development partnerships, could help shift the tide against Chinese influence.
For Walker, the test will be whether his business acumen can translate into diplomatic wins — giving Bahamians alternatives to Beijing, while deepening the U.S. role in the Caribbean.
Analysis: If Walker delivers, this appointment could mark a turning point: a U.S. strategy that recognizes that in the Caribbean, investment is diplomacy.
The Bahamas, September 10, 2025 – Rescue swimmers from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Aviation Training Center in
Mobile, Alabama visited Nassau to train Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) and Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) members in water survival skills as part of Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) earlier this week.
“Training alongside our USCG partners ensures our personnel are best prepared for the unique challenges of joint operations” said Superintendent Wendy Pearson, Commander Drug Enforcement Unit.
The multi-day exercise, centered on the USCG’s Shallow Water Egress Training (SWET), enhanced the safety and preparedness of Bahamian partners who routinely operate aboard USCG helicopters during OPBAT missions. The exercise provided hands-on instruction for 31 participants and strengthened interoperability between U.S. and Bahamian agencies engaged in counter-drug, search and rescue, and maritime security operations throughout the region.
“We were excited and proud to have the opportunity to share our expertise with our Bahamian partners. Not only did RBDF and RBPF
perform exceptionally well, they exceeded the standards we set for the event,” said Petty Officer Second Class Cole Johnson, USCG.
OPBAT is a cooperative multi-agency international operation supporting The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands to stop illicit drug smuggling through the region. U.S. Embassy Nassau Chargé d’affaires Kimberly Furnish stated, “Since 1982, OPBAT has worked to stop the flow of illicit narcotics through the Caribbean, destined for the United States or other jurisdictions. This is international cooperation at its best.”
