# NuseReal

US government's latest Bahamas travel warning for Nassau and Freeport. — 17 November 2024 (LINK)

— "The majority of crime occurs on New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) islands. In Nassau, practice increased vigilance in the 'Over the Hill' area (south of Shirley Street) where gang-on-gang violence has resulted in a high homicide rate primarily affecting the local population. Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence," the State Department said.

Andros, the Bahamas' largest island, is a little-known tropical Caribbean haven with exclusive hotels — 28 October 2024 (LINK)

Grand Bahama 5 years after Dorian: what has been done: rebuilding of homes in High Rock, Pelican Point, and McClean's Town. Through the East Grand Bahama revitalization project, new homes were constructed, and homes were repaired — 5 September 2024 (LINK)

Carnival’s new cruise port is revitalizing Grand Bahama’s economy — cruisehive.com — 8 May 2024 (LINK)

— Celebration Key, a private port 20 miles east of Freeport, Grand Bahama, involves more than 180 local workers and 29 Bahamian-owned construction companies. With a recent $100 million investment to extend the pier to accommodate two additional ships by 2026, the port is expected to create over 700 permanent jobs across various sectors, such as retail, food and beverage, and shore excursions. Carnival promises that at least 75% of the businesses operating within the port will be owned by Bahamians.

Carnival Cruise Line’s new destination in the Bahamas, Celebration Key, is to open in July 2025. Eighteen ships sailing from 10 different homeports are scheduled to call — cruiseindustrynews — 22 April 2024 (LINK)

Carnival Corporation announced that it has purchased 5,000 palm trees, all grown locally in Grand Bahama from seed, 40% from small-scale community growers, to beautify Celebration Key — thestkittsnevisobserver — (LINK)

Bahamas: 'PAY UP': PM claims "very strong case" for $357 million demand from GBPA — ewnews.com — 8 April 2024 (LINK)

GLOBAL GENEVA INSIGHTS piece: Reviving the Bahamas island of perpetual hope (LINK)

West End, Grand Bahama: the most dangerous, shark-infested beach in the Caribbean — www.islands.com — 21 March 2024 (LINK)

Kamalame Cay. luxury private island destination situated off the coast of Andros, finds success with SandDollar payroll — ewnews.com — 14 March 2024 (LINK)

— "It prevents mishandling and theft, enhancing security when it comes to financial transactions. I can still use the banks where I have my payroll system set up and make the transfers just by adding the SandDollar wallet account number — it looks no different from a regular bank account number. The fees still exist, but it makes it easier for my employees to receive their funds here in Andros, where we don't have a commercial bank at all. Those who have opted to receive SandDollar receive salary payments in two to three hours as opposed to the following day for those who do not use that option."

Record 7 cruise ships visit Nassau in one day — they brought 20,009 guests to Nassau: 300 million dollar investments have been made to the port area in the last years — cruisehive.com — 12 March 2024 (LINK)

2 Carnival cruise passengers say they were drugged, raped at resort in Bahamas: 'We thought we were being safe' — wbay.com — 9 February 2024 (LINK)

Bahamas resort disputes sexual assault victims' claims — newsnationnow.com — (LINK)

— Toxicology results confirmed traces of benzodiazepines in their systems. Resort: Security camera footage doesn't match their claims

Gold Rock Beach on Grand Bahama and five other Bahamian once again recognized among top 25 Caribbean natural attractions — bnt.bs — 21 February 2024 (LINK)

— In 2018, it was voted Best Beach in the Caribbean by readers of USA Today; and in 2023, the Lucayan National Park itself ranked seventh among USA Today's top ten attractions in the Caribbean, no doubt in part due to Gold Rock Beach's allure. Gold Rock Beach suffered major erosion to its shoreline in 2019 after Hurricane Dorian. Since then, the BNT has led several efforts to restore this iconic attraction to its former glory and help protect it against future storms.

The 17 most expensive Caribbean islands: includes Grand Bahama — luxurycolumnist.com — 18 February 2024 (LINK)

Royal Caribbean continues to cancel popular Blue Lagoon shore excursions after last November's accident — cruisehive.com — 9 February 2024 (LINK)

— Travelers will want to be alert to their surroundings and stay safe in their explorations, however, in light of the elevated travel advisory for Nassau due to increased levels of crime and other safety concerns. The Level 2 Travel Advisory specifically noted water activities as needing additional caution.

Newlywed says in viral TikTok she was hounded by Royal Sandals Bahamian staff trying to up-sell her during her honeymoon — businessinsider — 20 January 2024 (LINK)

The Grand Bahama Port Authority's (GBPA) is "deeply saddened" by PharmaChem Technologies imminent closure amid fears it will further depopulate an already-shrinking Freeport — tribune242.com — 11 January 2024 (LINK)

Bahamas cruise diverted to New England and Canada — CNN — 20 December 2023 (LINK)

Carnival Cruise isn't able to make any of Bahamas port visits this weekend, including a replacement port, due to poor weather — cruisehive — 16 December 2023 (LINK)

7 top-rated Bahamas all-inclusive resorts you should book — thetravel.com — 17 December 2023 (LINK)

18 most Instagrammable places in The Bahamas — gamintraveler.com — 12 December 2023 (LINK)

National Security Minister suggests bias in recent UN report on New Providence prison and detention centers — ewnews — 11 December 2023 (LINK)

Why is the Bahamas considered a tax haven? — investopedia — 10 December 2023 (LINK)

Bahamas has made strides to address arbitrary detention but more reforms crucial to progress, say UN experts — ohchr — 8 December 2023 (LINK)

— The experts expressed significant concerns regarding the frequent absence of arrest warrants, the widespread practice of arrests based on insufficient grounds or outdated warrants, as well as extended periods spent by persons in police custody without notification of charges and timely judicial oversight.

"We are alarmed at reports of police violence to extract confessions, without effective redress mechanisms," they said. The experts also expressed concern over disturbing conditions of detention in some sections of the prison and the mixing of detainees awaiting trial and those serving sentences.

The Working Group commended authorities for upholding the presumption of innocence by utilising electronic monitoring devices, as an alternative to detention. However, they noted deficiencies in the bail system. "We urge the authorities to significantly improve access to free legal aid by ensuring free legal representation from the moment of arrest, in alignment with international human rights standards. The Public Defender's Office should be considerably strengthened," the experts said.

The Working Group commended authorities for upholding the presumption of innocence by utilising electronic monitoring devices, as an alternative to detention. However, they noted deficiencies in the bail system. "We urge the authorities to significantly improve access to free legal aid by ensuring free legal representation from the moment of arrest, in alignment with international human rights standards. The Public Defender's Office should be considerably strengthened," the experts said.

Woman tourist from Boston in 40s killed by shark paddleboarding with relative off Nassau: Fatal shark attacks are rare, with only an average of 5 to 6 reported worldwide a year — foxnews — 4 December 2023 (LINK)

German woman missing after shark attack at West End, Grand Bahama — caribbeannationalweekly — 23 November 2023 (LINK)

Govt ready to 'step to plate' and buy the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) — wbay.com — 22 November 2023 (LINK)

35 things to know before visiting Bahamas — gamintraveler — 11 November 2023 (LINK)

Nassau ($347 return), Bahamas, third in best value flights for US tourists after Puerto Rico($295) and Toronto ($348) — skyscanner.com — 8 November 2023 (LINK)

Rich and poor in The Bahamas post FTX — wired — 30 October 2023 (LINK)

Coral Vita raced to save coral reefs as ocean temperatures spiked this summer — fastcompany — 29 September 2023 (LINK)

'TOURISTS TOLD TO STAY AWAY' . . . but cruise denies passengers advised to avoid Port Lucaya because of safety concerns — tribune242.com — 29 September 2023 (LINK)

— "While there is a US State Department Advisory with specific reference to Freeport and Nassau, our shipboard team has not made any announcements about Freeport," a Carnival Cruise Line spokesperson said yesterday. "We are confused by the allegations. As a standard practice, we advise guests visiting destinations to follow well-cited travel advice and stay in main tourist areas, not carry large sums of cash they don't intend to spend, and not wear lots of jewellery. Our guests love visiting Freeport."

On Tuesday, two cruise ships, Carnival Dream and Carnival Sunshine, brought over 7,000 guests to Grand Bahama. A bus took passengers to the Prop Club at the Grand Lucayan Resort. The visitors stayed there all day, visiting the restaurant and beach.

Tether taps Bahamas' Britannia Bank to process USD transfers after US banks cut ties with crypto — en.ethereumworldnews.com — 30 August 2023 (LINK)

Programme aims to make Grand Bahama tech hub — wbay.com — 21 September 2023 (LINK)

reaction: The govt revealed its hand with the announcement of this "waiver" that allows any Indian national anywhere in the world to fly to the Bahamas to work without a Visa

A man stranded for 3 days on a remote Bahamas island of Cay Sal was rescued by the Coast Guard after he fired flares — yahoo news — 22 August 2023 (LINK)

— Cay Sal is a tiny island which no longer has anybody living on it. It is Bahamian territory, but is closer to Cuba and Florida than any of the major Bahamas islands.

Robbery at a Bahamas bar exposed an alleged murder-for-hire plot on a former Auburn football player — ground.news: 7 media reports — 31 July 2023 (LINK)

Sam Bankman-Fried won't face campaign finance charge due to complication with regard to Bahamas extradition treaty, U.S. DOJ says — www.coindesk.com — 26 July 2023 (LINK)

Bahamas Payment Platform offers cryptocurrency for remittance transfers — coinpedia.org — 25 July 2023 (LINK)

Bahamian Deltec Bank's funds seized by U.S. Secret Service in money laundering and fraud probe — cryptonews.com — 19 July 2023 (LINK)

Former FTX Bahamas exec under investigation for possible violations of campaign finance law (Report) — cryptopotato.com — 13 July 2023 (LINK)

— US prosecutors have reportedly targeted Ryan Salame — ex-CEO of FTX's Bahamian subsidiary — over a possible breach of the law when donating funds to his then–girlfriend's political campaign as a Republican in New York in 2022. Previous sources said that Michelle Bond (the woman in question) has received at least $400,000 in consulting fees from FTX Digital Markets — the entity that Salame ran. According to The New York Times, the American personally donated $1.5 million to the GMI super PAC (a newly-formed committee that supported crypto-friendly candidates), which in turn used some of the funds to popularize Bond's campaign.

The beach named one of the most dangerous in the Caribbean: West End, Grand Bahama, for its sharks — www.explore.com — 8 July 2023 (LINK)

The 16 Most Expensive Caribbean Islands: Find Your Luxury Escape: 2 in Bahamas: David Copperfield's island and Grand Bahama — luxurycolumnist — 19 April 2023 (LINK)

Bahamian Prime Minister doesn't regret FTX: Philip Davis says the country is "open for business" for legitimate digital-assets companies — coindesk — 27 April 2023 (LINK)

FTX Bankruptcy Estate to Claw Back $460M From Modulo Capital — coindesk — 22 March 2023 (LINK)

COMMUNIQUE issued at the conclusion of the Forty-Fourth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, 15-17 February 2023 — caricom — 18 February 2023 (LINK)

— During the Opening Ceremony, the CARICOM Triennial Award for Women was conferred upon Dame Janet Bostwick of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas for her advocacy and actions to bring parity to the status of women and remove the inequities faced by women throughout The Bahamas and the Region.

FTX Transferred $7.7B from Bahamian Estate to US Units Ahead of Bankruptcy Filing, Court Told — coindesk — 16 February 2023 (LINK)

At Bahamas summit, Caribbean leaders to seek international push on Haiti — reuters — 14 February 2023 (LINK)

Bahamas songbird is under threat of extinction — but preserving old pine forests will help save it — theconversation.com — 10 February 2023 (LINK)

Trial date set for August 2024 in Sarkis fraud case against Baha Mar's contractor — ewnews — 10 February 2023 (LINK)

16 Cheapest Islands in the World to Visit: Grand Bahama is 1 — tripsavvy.com — 19 January 2023 (LINK)

First recruits of National Youth Guard begin training in Grand Bahama — ewnews.com — 19 January 2023 (LINK)

FTX Secretly Channeled A $50 Million Loan To Its Bahamian Bank Through An Executive?s Company &mdash forbes ● — 16 January 2023 (LINK)

Coast Guard Stops Boat with 400 Haitians Off the Bahamas That Was Likely Headed to Florida — military.com — 24 January 2023 (LINK)

Freeport Container Port lays-off 20 workers: facility recorded a 37 percent drop-off in business mdash; ewnews.com — 5 January 2023 (LINK)

— "Last year after consultation with the government and the Ministry of Labour the Container Port hired 120 people."

19 Beautiful Destinations With the Best Scuba Diving in the World: includes Grand Bahama and Exuma mdash; travelandleisure — 2 January 2023 (LINK)

Bahamas, beaches, Grand Bahama

10 Beautiful Beaches You Can Find In Grand Bahama — thetravel — 5 January 2022 (LINK)