NEMA tells residents to respect the storm

Rum Cay is currently experiencing tropical storm force winds of 39-73 miles an hour and this will last until 11:30 a.m. Thursday.  Hurricane force winds of 74-125 miles per hour started around 4:30 p.m. and will continue until 2 a.m. Thursday.  However, the eye of the hurricane will pass directly over Rum Cay 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

On the island of San Salvador tropical force winds have already started and will continue until noon tomorrow.  Hurricane force winds of 74-90 miles per hour are expected to begin around 7 p.m. tonight and will continue until 1 a.m. tomorrow

South Cat Island has already started experiencing tropical storm force winds and that is expected to last until 3 p.m. Thursday.  Hurricane force winds of 74-130 miles per hour are expected by 9 p.m. tonight and will last until 5:30 p.m. tomorrow.  The eye of Hurricane Irene will past directly over the area from 11:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.

North Cat Island is currently experiencing tropical force winds that will last until 5 p.m. Thursday.  Hurricane force winds of 74-130 miles per hour will begin 11:30 p.m. tonight and will continue until 9 a.m. Thursday.Irene is around 95 miles south of the south tip of Eleuthera while it is around 217 miles southeast of Nassau.

Forecasters say Irene is still showing signs of getting stronger and are expecting it to strengthen to a Category 4 storm by tomorrow.

The hurricane is moving steadily northwest at about 12 mph with maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph with higher gusts. The latest minimum central pressure reported is still at 954 mb or 28.26 inches.
On the forecast track sees the core of Irene moving across the southeastern and central Bahamas through tonight and over the northwestern Bahamas on Thursday
Last night officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) made an urgent appeal for residents in Lovely Bay and Chester's, Acklins to heed warnings by island officials to immediately evacuate low-lying areas and areas prone to flooding.Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 50 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles.
Forecasters are warning of extremely dangerous storm surge that could raise water levels by as much as 7 to 11 feet above normal tide levels over the Central and Northwest Bahamas; and by as much as 5 to 8 feet in the Southeastern Bahamas.
"The surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves," said forecasters. Extreme caution should be exercised in flooded areas where downed power lines may result in serious bodily harm.

Rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are expected in The Bahamas.
The combination of the storm surge and the expected heavy rains of Hurricane Irene will create severe flooding in coastal low lying areas, said forecasters who are urging people living in those areas to seek higher ground.  NEMA also has alerted that all national shelters are open.
All residents must respect the storm and find proper shelter.  Those already under the effect of the storm are advised not to go out into the streets and wait out the storm in a safe, secure place.  If you do not feel safe where you are or feel that your location could be compromised, please go to your nearest shelter.
This is a national emergency and all residents of The Bahamas must fathom the gravity of this situation.  Please stay tuned to national broadcasts for the best possible information for your island. NEMA will continue to monitor the storm and keep the public inform of its development and movement.
Follow these links for an update on shelters:

http://www.thenassauguardian.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12382&Itemid=27http://www.thenassauguardian.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12377:2011-list-of-emergency-shelters&catid=3:news&Itemid=27
Forecasters urged all residents whose homes are not stable to contact their local administrators to locate suitable shelters closest to them. Warnings also that extreme caution should be exercised in flooded areas where downed power lines may result in serious bodily harm.
Small craft operators must remain in port.

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The good and the bad in TV news

Dear Editor,
 
Many Bahamians are now saying that NB12 is the best newscast in The Bahamas.  I have heard persons from Grand Bahama praising the private news organization for airing stories that don't even appear on the ZNS Bahamas Tonight newscast.  This is an indication that NB12 is one step ahead of ZNS in getting information.  I give NB12 credit for this.  I have seen NB12 feature important stories from New Providence that never see the light of day on ZNS. While it is true that ZNS has done an admiral job in covering the news from the Family Islands, NB12 seems to be doing a better job of covering the news in New Providence.
NB12 is very professional and fast-paced.  The reporters are very articulate and good-looking.  In fact, the reporters on NB12 are better looking than the reporters on ZNS.  I have heard several Grand Bahamian men brag about how beautiful the reporters are from that private news organization.  I would be lying if I said I prefer ZNS TV news to NB12.  I don't.  In fact, I find myself watching NB12 rather than ZNS TV news.  Reporters like Candia Dames and Juan McCartney are very good at their craft.  It could be argued that both are the best in the business.
I have noticed that NB12 reporters always make it a point to say that they are the best in the business in bringing news to the people.  No one can deny that they are very good in this regard.  Moreover, the actual television newscast is very professional; and the video production is high quality.  If I didn't know better, I might assume that I was watching a U.S. TV newscast when I tune in to NB12.  ZNS TV newscasts, on the other hand, often look like old video footage from the 1980s.  I think NB12 has outdone ZNS in this area.
Nevertheless, despite its upside and professionalism, I still don't think that NB12 is the best TV newscast in the business right now.  I give the slight edge to ZNS for the simple reason that ZNS TV news airs on holidays and weekends.  I have noticed that NB12 doesn't air on weekends.  I had switched the TV channel to NB12 at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 14, which was the Discovery Day holiday, and saw a program on called, 'Islands of the World Fashion Week'.  During that same time, though, The Bahamas Tonight newscast was on.  When the weekends come, NB12 shuts down like most government agencies in this country.  ZNS TV news, however, despite its shortcomings, is on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.  When I want to watch the news on a Saturday or Sunday evening I can turn to NB12, but it's off the air.
Furthermore, the newscasters and reporters on ZNS are also very professional and articulate.  I have been critical of ZNS throughout the years, but I still give them credit for having very good reporters.
In addition to airing its newscast on the weekends and holidays, ZNS continues to run circles around the other media houses when it comes to covering an approaching hurricane.  This was evident when Hurricane Irene slammed into The Bahamas this past August.  I believe that ZNS TV news has outdone its competitors in this area.  Most Bahamians tune in to ZNS to get the latest information on an approaching hurricane.  I think ZNS has at least two meteorologists on staff.  As far as I can tell, I don't know if NB12 has any meteorologists.
Until NB12 decides to broadcast on weekends and on holidays, it cannot honestly consider itself the best in the business at this stage.  The ZNS Bahamas Tonight newscast is still the number one rated newscast in the country right now.  NB12 is indeed good, but it still has a ways to go before it can be crowned number one.
I hope whoever calls the shots at NB12 reads this letter and gives serious consideration to airing the news on weekends.  NB12 has been on the air now for several years.  It is high time that it starts broadcasting on weekends and on holidays.
 
Yours, etc.,
KEVIN EVANS

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Irene's fury heads to northwest bahamas

Hurricane warnings remains in effect for the entire Bahamas

A 11 p.m edt, the center of hurricane Irene was located near latitude 23.8 degrees north and longitude75.4 degrees west or 18 miles northwest of Stella Maris, Long Island, 25 miles south-southwest of New Bight and Cat island. Irene is 65 miles southeast of bannerman town, eleuthera and about 135 east-southeast of Nassau. Irene is moving toward the northwest at near 12 mph. This motion is expected to continue through tonight.

A turn toward the north-northwest and then north is expected throughout thursday.

On the forecast track, the core of Irene is moving parallel to the west coast of Cat Island. As Irene moves on this track, cat island and Eleuthera will remain in the extremely dangerous path of the hurricane.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 120 mph with higher gusts.

Irene is still a category 3 hurricane. Some fluctuations in the intensity are likely in the next few hours which could bring Irene to a category 4 hurricane by Thursday. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the centre and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 255 miles from the centre.

Storm surge and battering waves are now impacting Long Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, eat island and exuma. These surges and waves will impact Eleuthera early Thursday morning.

Heavy downpours will result in widespread flooding in many of the low lying islands, particularly those islands to the north and east of the centre of the hurricane.

Extreme caution should be exercised in flooded areas near downed powerlines.

Residents in Long Island, Exuma, Rum cay, San Salvador and Cat Island, Acklins, Crooked Islands, Mayaguana and Inagua should remain indoors until the all clear advice is given. Residents in Eleuthera, New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco should brace themselves for possible tropical storm and hurricane conditions during the next few hours.

Residents are advised to use the streets in New Providence and other streets in islands in the warning areas for emergency purposes only, as most will become impassable due to strong winds and localized flooding

Small craft operators in the northwest, central and southeast Bahamas should remain in port.

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Retro-Retrospective Peace and Nature

Wednesday 3rd April 2013  5:30 PM

You are cordially invited to the viewing of Retro-Retrospective Peace and Nature An Exhibition by Nicola Hepburn Show Dates: March 8th - April 6th, 2013 Opening Night Reception: Friday March 8th, 2013 Time: 5:30pm - 9:00pm “RETRO-RETROSPECTIVE: PEACE AND NATURE” Artist's Statement "Retro-Retrospective: Peace and Nature," is a showing of paintings from the past, some of which have already been shown, joining with those of the present, which have not been shown before. That is the meaning of "Retro-Retrospective" where this exhibition is concerned. "Peace and Nature" is a reflection of "Entropy", a metaphor of man's relationship with the universe. Overall, the concept of this exhibition is to show my continued affinity for "World Peace" and its connection with "Nature." NICOLA HEPBURN Biography Nicola Hepburn has a B.A. from Boston College in English Literature, and a M.Sc. from Boston University in Marketing Communication. She has worked for The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas' Gift Shop, selling admission tickets to the museum and retail sales of Bahamian craft objects. She also worked during the inaugural year of The Bahamas International Film Festival as an Advertising, Sales,and Marketing Assistant. For this event she organized an extensive database, put together press kits, and served as a messenger. Nicola has worked as a writer, and has written for What's On, The Tribune, The Nassau Guardian, The Bahamas Handbook, The Financial Digest, Destinations Bahamas, and The Punch. She has also assisted publishers and writers of The Illustrated London News, The Spectator, Vogue, and Country Living, in London, England. Most recently, Nicola has focused on being an artist, and has had shows at Jitter's Cafe, Compass Point, Cafe Europa, and The Ladder Gallery at NPCC. Her style is primarily as an abstract expressionist, with oil and acrylic paints as her mediums of choice. Her canvases are filled with raw emotion and energy. For a period of time Nicola has been through dark depression, and is now moving into the light. Painting has been very painful at times, but also nourishing to the soul. On this note, Nicola Hepburn invites you to view her current art exhibition, "Retro-Retrospective - Peace and Nature" at The Ladder Gallery of The New Providence Community Centre, Blake Road. The show dates are from March 8th to April 6th, 2013, with the opening reception on Friday, March 8th at 5:30pm-9:00pm. Please come and support another one of our country's talents. Thank you for your time and attention.

Gun amnesty

Calling his address last night "one of the more distressing national addresses" he has ever given, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham announced an amnesty period for illegal weapons to be turned in, tougher penalties for people found guilty of gun crimes and the addition of two gun courts.
Ingraham advised that for a period of 30 days following the introduction of amendments to the Firearms Act tomorrow, all citizens and other persons are requested to turn in to police any and all unlicensed firearms in their possession.
He said that after November 4, anyone convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm or ammunition will, upon conviction, be imprisoned for a minimum of four years.
"I highlight the fact that the power of magistrates to impose sentences is being increased from five to seven years and that conviction on drug and gun related offenses may attract the maximum sentence of seven years," Ingraham said.
The prime minister added, "It is our firm conviction that removal of the unlicensed firearms from our society will substantially reduce the level of crime and pain in our society.
"Toward this end, the police force is strengthening and expanding the reach and intensity of action by its special task forces dealing with firearms and drug houses."
Ingraham also advised that the penalty for the possession and sale of drugs discovered within one mile of a school will be six years.
In addition to amendments to the Firearms Act and the Dangerous Drugs Act, Ingraham announced that there will be new legislation for the control and regulation of pawnbrokers and second hand dealers (eg. cash for gold and scrap metal operators).
The legislation will add new teeth to police initiatives to identify and shut down drug houses and to closely regulate pawnbrokers and second hand dealers "so as to stop the sale of stolen property", Ingraham said.
Regarding the additional gun courts, the prime minister said this will bring to four the number of courts dedicated to hearing matters of individuals charged with drug and gun crimes.
He also announced that the Department of Customs is increasing the number and frequency of random searches of general imports of household appliances and dry goods, vehicles and or components and parts.
"It will also require improving the tracking of weapons entering the country legitimately on visiting pleasure craft so as to ensure that each and every firearm departs The Bahamas on the vessel on which it arrived," Ingraham said.
The prime minister's national address came amid grave national concerns about the high level of violent crime in the country.  One hundred and four murders have been recorded in The Bahamas so far this year, compared to the 94 that were recorded for all of 2010.
"We are confronted by criminals -- a criminal class of older, seasoned offenders as well as a crop of bloody-minded juvenile offenders and thugs - who seem to believe that they can evade the rule of law with little or no regard for life and other people's property," the prime minister said.
"For some, life is cheap; our common welfare is of no value.  I share your anguish and anger, whether you or a family member or neighbor has been a victim of crime.  This vicious assault on crime affects us all.
"It destroys lives and damages livelihoods."
He said the legislation that will be introduced in Parliament in coming days will "aid in the shared battle we are waging against criminality".

Specialist Police Consultants

Ingraham announced that the government will in the coming months institute special training programs to enhance the investigatory skills of the police force.
"While such training is ongoing and typically takes place overseas, what is now proposed is to mount the courses locally with the assistance of specialist consultants," he said.
The prime minister also said, "A creeping culture of lawlessness has led to a tolerance of petty crimes, small theft and the defrauding of government and others which sometimes opens the doorway to tolerance of even more serious crimes.
"Adding fuel to the fire is the length of time it takes to bring some offenders to trial and or the relative ease with which bail is available to hardened criminals and known repeat offenders who have contributed significantly to the present wave of crime."
Ingraham announced plans to expand CCTV coverage, and noted that CCTV footage is admissable in court.
He said that in February of this year the government paid for two highly-equipped mobile command centers for the police force, and the first of the made-to-order units is ready for delivery.
Ingraham said training in the use of the mobile command center started yesterday.
"These specialty mobile police stations are an essential addition to our crime fighting arsenal," the prime minister said.
Basic features of the units include video recording capabilities, flat screen monitors for viewing, specialized recording equipment and high-tech police lighting, siren and public address systems.

Distressing

Ingraham said the national address last night was distressing not mostly because of the murder count and high incidence of violent crime, as painful as those numbers are.
"It is what those numbers represent that is heart-breaking," he said.
"For all of our good fortune as a country, we have in significant ways lost a sense of ourselves and of what is essential.  One writer reminds us that 'what is essential is invisible to the eye'."
The prime minister added, "While the bonds and threads of community may be invisible to the eye, their absence or presence is plain for all to see.  We know that peace is not merely the absence of violence.  Instead, we know that it is a sign of community and mutual respect.
"So, we long for something more than the outer trappings of material success.  We long for something more, like community and fellowship.  We long for something more, like peace and well-being."

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Hurricane Earl Head Towards The West

POWERFUL HURRICANE EARL CONTINUES TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST WITH NO CHANGE IN STRENGTH. ON THIS TRACK EARL IS EXPECTED TO PASS JUST EAST OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS LATER TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

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Retro-Retrospective Peace and Nature

Sunday 31st March 2013  5:30 PM

You are cordially invited to the viewing of Retro-Retrospective Peace and Nature An Exhibition by Nicola Hepburn Show Dates: March 8th - April 6th, 2013 Opening Night Reception: Friday March 8th, 2013 Time: 5:30pm - 9:00pm “RETRO-RETROSPECTIVE: PEACE AND NATURE” Artist's Statement "Retro-Retrospective: Peace and Nature," is a showing of paintings from the past, some of which have already been shown, joining with those of the present, which have not been shown before. That is the meaning of "Retro-Retrospective" where this exhibition is concerned. "Peace and Nature" is a reflection of "Entropy", a metaphor of man's relationship with the universe. Overall, the concept of this exhibition is to show my continued affinity for "World Peace" and its connection with "Nature." NICOLA HEPBURN Biography Nicola Hepburn has a B.A. from Boston College in English Literature, and a M.Sc. from Boston University in Marketing Communication. She has worked for The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas' Gift Shop, selling admission tickets to the museum and retail sales of Bahamian craft objects. She also worked during the inaugural year of The Bahamas International Film Festival as an Advertising, Sales,and Marketing Assistant. For this event she organized an extensive database, put together press kits, and served as a messenger. Nicola has worked as a writer, and has written for What's On, The Tribune, The Nassau Guardian, The Bahamas Handbook, The Financial Digest, Destinations Bahamas, and The Punch. She has also assisted publishers and writers of The Illustrated London News, The Spectator, Vogue, and Country Living, in London, England. Most recently, Nicola has focused on being an artist, and has had shows at Jitter's Cafe, Compass Point, Cafe Europa, and The Ladder Gallery at NPCC. Her style is primarily as an abstract expressionist, with oil and acrylic paints as her mediums of choice. Her canvases are filled with raw emotion and energy. For a period of time Nicola has been through dark depression, and is now moving into the light. Painting has been very painful at times, but also nourishing to the soul. On this note, Nicola Hepburn invites you to view her current art exhibition, "Retro-Retrospective - Peace and Nature" at The Ladder Gallery of The New Providence Community Centre, Blake Road. The show dates are from March 8th to April 6th, 2013, with the opening reception on Friday, March 8th at 5:30pm-9:00pm. Please come and support another one of our country's talents. Thank you for your time and attention.

Kawasaki lawsuit makes waves

A U.S. jury has awarded $3 million to a Bahamian student in a lawsuit originating from a local jet-ski incident -- a case that could change global manufacturing of the watercraft from here on out.
A jury in a U.S. District Court in Savannah, Georgia on August 9 ruled that manufacturer Kawasaki was to pay 26-year-old Megan Sands for injuries she suffered in a jet-ski accident in 2006.
The case, however, may have bigger implications for The Bahamas and the entire industry, argues her Bahamian-born attorney Robert Parks.
"Manufacturers are going to have to pay attention to addressing the problem," he told Guardian Business.
"People in The Bahamas who rent jet skis are now on notice [and] if I go to Cabbage Beach and say I want to rent a jet-ski from in the back of Atlantis, those people are now responsible because they are renting jet-skis with known defects and bad label.
"So hopefully this will have an impact on that part of the industry."
The incident stems back to May 21, 2006 when Sands, whose parents are William and Cheryl Sands, was visiting Nassau and decided to go with her friends to Rose Island.  She boarded from the passenger side and the watercraft operator proceeded slowly along the beach, said a release on the situation.  The watercraft stopped and Sands spent several minutes talking with her friends, before deciding to head back.  However, when the jet-ski operator hit the throttle and lost control of the watercraft, Sands was thrown off the back of the craft and consequently, suffered multiple injuries from the powerful jet of water coming from the stern.
"We sued Kawasaki on several grounds," Parks said in a public statement.  "First, the jet ski as designed was unreasonably dangerous to users, particularly to passengers, because it does not have a rear seat guard to prevent this kind of accident."
While the jet ski carried a warning advising users to wear a wet suit or protective clothing, the jury decided that the general requirement for all personal watercraft manufacturers since the early 2000's was not enough in this case.
"The jury found the warning was inadequate and that the defendant was liable for negligent design," added Parks.  "We

hope that this verdict will put manufacturers on notice that they need to pay far more attention to safety, so that future tragedies can be prevented."
He said Sands, who recently earned a master's degree in counseling at Georgia Southern University, was in a particularly good position to win the case, given the Bahamian citizen was technically a resident in Georgia at the time.
"The American courts, both state and federal," he added, "are getting tougher for any person who is from The Bahamas or from anywhere else to try anything that occurs offshore."

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REDjet expands to Jamaica

With new routes and a continued push for lower prices, REDjet is well on its way to eliminating the "elitism" that has "enslaved aviation for decades", according to Ian Burns, the airline's CEO.
In a presentation last Friday, the company announced two routes from Jamaica has been officially added to the REDjet list, flying to Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.  Burns said it is just one more step towards making intra-Caribbean travel work - a plan that may one day include The Bahamas.
"Quite simply, REDjet's vision is that everyone can fly for under $50 including taxes and charges on any single sector return fare," he said.
"REDjet has been created by consumers for consumers so everyone can fly."
Beginning operations in May 2011, REDjet has enjoyed steady growth within the region.  In July, the airline launched service between Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.
Guyana has also been added to the flight plan, and with the recent addition of Jamaica, St Marten, St Lucia and Antigua are all expected to follow suit before the end of the year.
No announcement has yet been made for The Bahamas.
Burns said the "liberalization" of the skies and the promotion of intra-Caribbean travel will have wide-ranging benefits for the entire region.
"The majority of regions in the world have been freed from elitism through open skies, competition and the development of options for consumers as a result, leading to a dramatic economic growth, social benefits and in particular, growth and benefits to the aviation industry," he added.
According to company statistics, before REDjet arrived, only 4 percent of passengers thought air travel was good value, whereas now, 98.5 percent are satisfied with the airline's value proposition.
REDjet currently operates two aircrafts, and another two are expected to take to the skies around December of this year.
The airline has been an important source of employment in Barbados and beyond, Burns pointed out, employing a total of 76 persons with 60 coming from CARICOM member states.
Another 150 jobs are expected to be created in 2012.
Although the push for low-cost airlines is new to the Caribbean, the concept is quite common throughout much of the world.
In Europe, for example, Ryanair and EasyJet are major aviation players with hundreds of destinations, coexisting with the big airlines while providing a cheaper alternative for millions.
JetBlue, Frontier and Southwest Airlines are established companies in the North American scene. Even in the Middle East, Air Arabia and flydubai now have a strong following among consumers.
Burns said the idea of REDjet is not to compete with the mainstream airlines, but instead, complement them and the overall marketplace.
"While there is nothing wrong in the concept for providing these options for those who want and can afford it, small region airlines just cannot afford to play in this league in which only the global players can financially justify these service," he said.
"Hence [the] travel market is restricted to primarily the top 10% of consumers, and until REDjet arrived, no one was concerned about the majority."

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The True Beauty of Local Artisans - Design Caribbean 2011

Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo - 'Proud, bold and creative' are just three words that can be used to
describe Caribbean artisans and the products they are able to produce. 
Drawing on a range of influences Caribbean culture is a convergence of
African, European and Amerindian heritage. This collective union has
produced a unique environment from which artisans are able to create
something rare and beautiful which appeals not only to their captive
audience of the Caribbean public and buyers but also international
buyers looking for something different and exceptional.

Caribbean Export has adjusted its 14 year old Caribbean Gift and
Craft show to match the ever-changing need to supply products that
encapsulate all of what the Caribbean is about. One of the most notable
comments from the historical Gift Shows is that there have been too many
imports.  Whether from China or India...

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