Bahamas

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas says it is hoping to use the upcoming Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Marketplace to boost tourist arrivals to the country. Tourism Minister Obie Wilchombe, speaking at a news conference to launch the January 20-22 event, said the overall goal is to increase the number of stopover visitors in 2013 from 1.6 to 1.8 million, surpassing the record 2008 figure that stood at 1.3 million.

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas government says a decision will soon have to be made on whether or not to make Majority Rule on January 10 a public holiday.
Prime Minister Perry Gladstone Christie said Bahamians have tended not to see the importance of celebrating Majority Rule, even though it is arguably the most important event in the country’s history with the exception of the Abolition of Slavery and Independence.

NASSAU, Bahamas — THE government of the Bahamas says it has prepared a two-part referendum that could legalise certain forms of gambling on the islands. National Security Minister Bernard Nottage says voters will be asked whether they support creation of a national lottery and the regulation and taxation of now underground gambling centres. He said in a speech late Wednesday that the referendum will be held on January 28.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) As efforts continue in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to insulate the tourism sector from the downturn in global economies, the Government of The Bahamas, the CARICOM Secretariat and the Latin America and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) have collaborated to convene the First Regional Seminar on Tourism, 31 August-1 September, in The Bahamas.

My colleagues and I are deeply distressed at the news of what appears to be a very powerful 7.0 earthquake that struck our neighbour Haiti this afternoon.
Our information is that the anticipated threat of a tsunami affecting The Bahamas and other neighbouring states has apparently diminished but there may be some high tides as a result of the earthquake.

We have not yet received any reliable reports of loss of life or damage to property but it is to be expected that the impact of such a powerful earthquake would be severe.

NASSAU, Bahamas – The Government has ordered the release of illegal Haitian immigrants detained at the country’s Detention Centre, and has suspended the repatriation of illegal Haitian nationals, due to conditions in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham advised Thursday night.
Mr. Ingraham said_ “The Department of Immigration will release from the Detention Centre those Haitians who are currently there, and give them some temporary status until such time as things have changed.

NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): US Ambassador to The Bahamas Ned Siegel has pledged to continue the literacy programme in the schools that was started by his predecessor John Rood.

Siegel told the Minister of Lands and Local Government, Sidney Collie during a courtesy call on Wednesday, that the US Embassy also plans on taking the programme to the Family Islands.“Today I have my first reading at Woodcock Elementary at 11_45 a.m., and I already have my book picked out and look forward to reading to the second grade,” Siegel said.

CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) CARICOM Secretary-General, Edwin Carrington today expressed pleasure on learning of the return to work of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Hon. Perry Christie, after a recent illness.