Resort developers in The Bahamas must be able to adjust to the changing tourism investment model, according to a leading consultancy in the region, saying a failure to do so will not yield long-term success.

A recent report from international property consultancy BCQS International, said resorts in The Bahamas have been successful in their own right and have established a strong reputation globally, but these players, along with future properties, must be cognizant of how the tourism investment market can shift at any time.

"Resort developers must be able to adapt to the changing tourism investment model in order to attract new backing for their projects," said the report.  "In particular, there appears to be a trend away from those concepts relying on residential components as a significant source of financing."

The report, titled "Caribbean Resorts... Opportunity Knocks?" also stated that the market shift away from residential condominiums has triggered a drop in prices, which normally would discourage investors from pursuing such properties.  Coupled with a global economy that hasn't fully recovered, the condominium properties have tougher days ahead.

"Similarly, the global financial crisis and the tightening of credit guidelines has led to the failure of, or stalling of, many resort projects under construction and has prevented many others from starting construction," the report said.  "With lenders focusing more on cash flow and debt service rather than real estate security, and a reluctance to finance projects relying on real estate sales, the days of the condominium resort are numbered."

The BCQS report added that the local government is very active in its efforts to gather new players in the Bahamian market, specifically pointing to the $2.6 billion Baha Mar project where construction has begun.  However, the government  "can only go so far" and developers must become more innovate going forward.

A model that incorporates strength of design, revenue generating potential and value for money will need to be the standard to attract investors - a template that can be effective in The Bahamas, noted the report.  And with the tourism climate shifting, now is the ideal time to transition.

"With the return of the tourists and increasing investment confidence from some of the less traditional sources, now may be the time for visionary developers to find new ways of packaging the traditionally idyllic Caribbean assets of sun, sea and sand." the report said.

The wait to dive into the 50 meter national swimming facility is now over for local swimmers. The doors to the Betty Kelly Kenning Aquatic Centre were officially opened to the Bahamas Swimming Federation (BSF) and the hundreds of swimmers on Tuesday.  Over the next two weeks, the aquatic center will be the home for four United States based colleges. But before the international swimmers could test the waters, Bahamians got to splash around first. The annual Time Trials, currently going on at the facility, will bring the BSF 2011 season to close. In an ironic twist, it will also jump start the busy 2012 season.

This is the first time, since the pool was officially closed in July, that the BSF was granted access. Many in the federation are happy that the wait is over, so the swimmers can get back into the grove of things. The facility is shared by many of the locally based clubs, and starting today members of the Fairleigh Dickinson University (Devils) will get to enjoy the recently renovated 50m pool. The team is scheduled to arrive at 11 a.m. with training sessions starting at 2 p.m. today. The Devils will train twice a day, at 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. and leave on January 4. The school is located in Madison, New Jersey. So far they have competed in 11 swim meets in the Middle Atlantic Conference.

On January 3, St. Catherine's College will arrive in New Providence and start their two-day training session on January 4. They will use the facilities until January 10. St. Mary's College will also have their training session January 4-11. The University of Massachusetts are due in January 6-13.

Work on the facility will continue over the next few weeks, despite it being opened. Just yesterday, electricians were repairing the heating system. It was confirmed, through the BSF, that the filtration system is repaired and that the heating system would have been up and running before the start of the BSF's Time Trial swim meet. The executive said more work is needed, but that won't take place until the new equipment arrives. However, the federation was promised that the timing pad, lane ropes, the recalibration of the system pipes and new infinity start system will be in place before the CARIFTA Swimming Championships. According to the source, once these gadgets are installed meets hosted at the event will run more smoothly and at a high international level. It was revealed that official work to the facility did not start until November. The facility has been closed for more than two months for repairs.

Water from both pools was drained about two weeks ago so they can be cleaned properly. It was said that algae started to grow in the walls, so the draining was necessary in order to have it acid washed and to get rid of the problem. About one million galloons of water are in the pool. The aquatic center houses seven pumps.

Some weapons that have been confiscated by Bahamian police have been found on the streets of other jurisdictions, Superintendent Paul Rolle revealed yesterday.

Rolle, who heads the Central Detection Unit (CDU), told The Nassau Guardian that police have found "one or two cases where firearms were used in crimes elsewhere".

While he did not go into detail, Rolle said police have traced the guns to crimes that were committed outside of the country. Rolle made that relevation as he spoke about the country's high murder count and the gun seizures for the year so far. Up to yesterday, 125 murders had been committed.

"There is still a hell of a lot of good [that police do]," he said.

"Let's not throw the good on the side. As they say, let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. The reality is we have done a hell of a lot of good. There are positive achievements despite the fact that we've had this high level of murder.

"Let's hope next year [things change].  We've [confiscated] 536 firearms and almost 12,000 [rounds of] ammunition.  That is significant."

Rolle noted that there are still too many firearms coming through the Bahamian ports of entry.

"If you were to take the figures of the firearm seizures for the last five years -- that's astronomical. But yet still every other day we are taking guns off the street," he said.

Police confiscated 170 weapons in 2006; 211 in 2007; 257 in 2008; 312 in 2009; and 261 in 2010. National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest said earlier this year that a major contributing factor to the surge in gun related crimes in this region has been the trafficking of narcotics, coupled with the availability of firearms.

"We don't sell firearms here in The Bahamas," Rolle noted.

"And so...most of the firearms with the exception of those in the possession of police or Defence Force or (other) law enforcement, are illegal -- and of course the few citizens who have gotten permission to possess [weapons]. Outside of that, any weapon you find on the street is illegal, which means that there is some criminal element involved in that.

"Either they smuggled it in [or got it on the streets]."

In July, the government got a firearms marking machine in a bid to crack down on the illegal guns in the country. The marking of firearms is a process that permanently marks the weapon with identifiable information like a serial number, name and place it was manufactured or imported.

An Anglican dean has been given the task of looking after the country's historic artifacts. Reverend Patrick Adderley, dean of Christ Church Cathedral, confirmed his appointment as chairman of the Antiquities, Monuments & Museums Corporation (AMMC) yesterday.

The AMMC is a quasi-governmental, non-profit agency with a 12-member board of directors including an appointed chairman.  It is committed to the preservation, interpretation and promotion of national monuments, historical sites, artifacts and ecofacts which acquire national significance, according to the AMMC.

Adderley said he intends to make the financial concerns of the corporation's staff, its resources and its development his top priorities.

"I am trying to familiarize myself with the work and the mandate of the corporation and get to know some of the staff," Adderley told The Nassau Guardian.

"It is a very, very important corporation, as it looks after the historical and cultural heritage of The Bahamas and things which ought to be of concern to us, and some things that we should be really interested in."

He continued, "I hope that I can make a significant contribution.  I am very excited about it and looking forward to doing it.  I see it as a challenge and I am prepared to give it my best effort along with the fine people of the corporation."

Over the years, Pompey Museum amassed a significant collection of rare books on the subject of slavery and related topics, as well as a vast collection of artifacts.  Tragedy struck the museum on December 3, when it was destroyed by fire.  Fears brewed that most of its historic artifacts were lost as a result.  However, AMMC officials confirmed that roughly 90 percent of the artifacts, including slave shackles, a double transportation slave collar and all of the books in the special collection inside the building were saved.

"A lot of the articles were recovered by the staff and they are stored, and a lot of the books were salvaged, but some items need to be refurbished and restored," Adderley said.  "Some of the books are also stored at Centreville House on Shirley Street."

Adderley was ordained a deacon in 1974, was made a parish priest in 1975 and has served in several parishes, including St. Peter's in Abaco, All Saints on Joan's Heights, Christ the King in Ridgeland Park West and St. Christoper in Lyford Cay.

He has also served as parish priest at the Church of The Good Shepherd in Pinder's Point.  In 1983 he was appointed principal of St. Anne's School and held the post for 10 years.  In 1993, he was appointed deputy director for Anglican schools, and currently serves as chairman of the Anglican Central Education Authority.