Bahamas News
Paradise Island Proposal has two Major Investors Taking Sides
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#TheBahamas, April 6, 2023 – There have been debates in the media on the Royal Caribbean International’s (RCI) $100 million project and Atlantis has been at the forefront as of recently, speaking out against it. In what seems to be a response to the unrest over the past couple of weeks surrounding the project, Royal Caribbean has revealed that in the coming weeks, they will share not only the economic benefit of the project but also its impact on the environment; they say that they are moving through the Government’s strict environmental processes and that in the pending review, Bahamians will be privy to their innovative and industry-leading plans.
According to Audrey Oswell, President and Managing Director at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, they have been paying keen attention to the project since it was proposed in 2020.
However, it wasn’t until recently that they opted to “join the debate” and publicly speak out on some of their concerns.
This is due to the environmental concerns of Paradise Island upon the execution of the project.
In a memo to employees at the resort, Oswell pointed out that the possible impact of the project on the Paradise
Island’s beaches, marine life, and water supply could be catastrophic if the necessary environmental controls are not carefully planned and executed.
As stated by Oswell, Atlantis prioritises environmental care.
“As the leader of tourism for The Bahamas and long-time stewards of the ocean and its marine life, caring for the environment has become part of our DNA. It is at the core of who we are and what we do.”
Not only that, but Atlantis is also at risk according to Oswell who highlighted that whatever happens on Paradise Island could negatively impact the guests and employees.
Atlantis and environmental groups have been concerned about whether the project’s review, and approval process will follow all the necessary protocols to ensure that the marine environment doesn’t suffer. Information on how the project will unfold and its impact (the plans), has not been available.
Oswell said that in 2021 they attended a public presentation on the project alongside other interested entities, and they submitted some questions to RCI and the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP), regarding the project but no responses were forthcoming.
RCI and the Government, in early March, hinted that the project was close to approval and this led to Atlantis Resort and “others in the Nassau/Paradise Island community,” to speak out in surprise and concern, acknowledging those lingering unanswered questions.
In response to this, Phillip Davis, Bahamas Prime Minister expressed that the review process which includes the evaluation of the environmental impact assessment ‘was still underway, and would be thorough.”
Hoping that the Government will keep its word, many wait in eager anticipation, the release of RCI’s plan for the Royal Beach Club project at Paradise Island.
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#TheBahamas, August 5, 2023 – An American woman has been arrested in The Bahamas, accused of conspiring with two men, one of them alleged to be her lover, to murder her estranged husband.
The woman, 36 year old Lindsay Shiver and the two men, 28-year-old Terrance Bethel, the alleged lover and 29 year old Faron Newbold, were taken into custody last week following police investigation of a reported burglary at
Grabbers Bar and Grill restaurant on Great Guana Cay.
The police looked into their cell phones and found WhatsApp messages detailing the assassination plot to kill her husband.
The couple, who built a life in South Georgia have three children and are home owners on the island in the Abacos.
News outlets throughout the US have reported on the scandalous story, including that a nasty court battle over the couple’s reported, $5 Million dollar fortune and three children was underway. Shiver, an entrepreneur is a former beauty Alabama queen, her husband a former football player was an insurance executive.
According to US media, the husband, Robert, recently filed for divorce from Shivers after a decade of marriage upon discovering she had an alleged extra-martial affair with Bethel whom she met in The Bahamas.
While the husband claims infidelity on the part of his wife, the wife claims he was abusive.
The suspects Shiver, Bethel and Newbold appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley on Friday July 28th. Their next court date is set for October 5th.
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#TheBahamas, August 5, 2023 – The Bahamas is now facing an unfortunate reality as sexual assault has become and is a growing issue since 2023. Women and girls are said to be living in fear for their safety from these perpetrators.
The Royal Bahamas Police force has reported on instances of assault in press releases found on their Facebook page.
One report spoke of a 50 year old they were searching for after he burglarized a home and sexually assaulted an elderly woman, 82 years old. She was reported to be asleep when he woke and assaulted her.
This took place on Tuesday July 11th, 2023 at the home in the Centreville area of Nassau.
There is another incident that took place on July 17th, 2023 which the police are seeking in catching the suspect as they investigate. It involves a man believed to the perpetrator in for an armed robbery and sexual assault.
According to preliminary data, he approached the victim, a female, with a firearm, robbed her and sexually assaulted
her. He proceeded to enter the house and robbed a male and escaped. This happened in the Cowpen Road area; also in Nassau.
The assaults continue to grow in number as the police reported that they were investigating two other incidents that took place on July 24th.
The first had to do with a female, 30 years old who reported she was driving on West on Marshall Road when two men approached her after she slowed down near Faith Avenue. One of the males with a firearm, forced her from her vehicle and took her to nearby bushes where they sexually assaulted her after which they escaped.
The second incident involved à 32 year old woman who was sexually assaulted by a male known to her. It is reported that she was walking in the Fleming Street area when she accepted transportation from the suspect, who drove her to a dirt road off Gladstone Road where he presented a firearm and proceeded to rape her.
Furthermore, another assault, this time involving a 9 year old girl, was reported. As revealed by preliminary information, the victim was playing with friends outside where she lives on Saturday July 29th, 2023 when the suspect, a 42 year old male of Summerset Estate, driving a white Nissan Skyline, arrived and gestured to her to enter the car.
She entered the car after which he took her to an unknown location, threatened her and sexually assaulted her. She was later found somewhere in Spikenard Road; this also happened in Nassau.
Fortunately, he was caught and arrested for abduction and sexual assault on Sunday July 30th by officers affiliated with the Drug Enforcement Unit.
There are other reports of sexual assault throughout The Bahamas as well as rape and attempted rape during the earlier parts of the year, dating back to as early as February.
CAPTION: Women Leaders, including Ann Marie Davis, wife of the Prime Minister filled the gallery of The Bahamas Senate this week as members of the upper chamber debated the Protection Against Violence Bill 2023. The debate came just as the country experiences a spike in sexual assaults against women and girls. Photo by Patrick Hanna, BIS.
#TurksandCaicos, August 5, 2023 – On August 3rd, 2023, Premier Misick met with the Leader of the
Opposition of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the Honorable Michael Pintard. The discussion was highly productive, and they delved into matters of mutual concern between their neighboring nations. Hon. Pintard was accompanied by other opposition members, including Senator the Honorable Darren Handfield and Mr. Joshua Sears.
Group photo caption:
From Left to Right: Mr. Joshua Sears, Senator Hon. Darren Hendfield, Premier Hon. Charles Washington Misick, Bahamas Leader of the Bahamas Hon. Michael Pintard and Deputy Premier Hon. Erwin J. Saunders.
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