This week, a team from the University of The Bahamas schools of Communications and Creative Arts, English and Social Sciences partnered with members of Organization for Responsible Governance, Hands for Hunger, and the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) to put on "The Future [...]
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For entrepreneurs looking to fund their small business idea, Sign Island’s Small Business Expo will feature a Pitch Competition that will award $3,000 in cash and prizes to the most innovative business idea.

A small business itself, Sign Island is giving back to the Bahamian entrepreneurial community through a two-day event on Saturday October 6 and Sunday October 7 at the Elizabeth on Bay Plaza, downtown Nassau.

Nearly 20 small businesses will be exhibitors at the Expo, showcasing their diverse menus, services and products.

Entrepreneurs are also being invited to pitch their small business idea with hopes of making the final cut and present to think tank group, Shift the Culture, at the Expo.

The person or company with the best pitch will win $1,500 in seed money and $1,500 phone voucher from Aliv Telecommunications Company.

Sign Island president, Kweku Symonette, said it was important for their company to give back to the small business community and the clients that have made their first year a success.

“To commemorate our first year in business, we wanted to show our appreciation to our loyal customers” said Symonette, “but rather than give discounts or gift bags we thought it better to provide a platform where our clients and other small business owners could network and acquire new customers and opportunities.”

The Expo also features a vehicle wrapping demonstration, networking with industry experts and panel discussions that would include the brightest minds in the country.

Panelists like renown photographer, Scharad Lightbourne, financial wizard Delphino Cassar Gilbert II and, creative director and stylist, Lavonne Alexis will explain how they’ve utilize technology to expand their business over the years, and offer tech hacks for others. 

Environmental scientist Kelli Armstrong, actuarial mathematician Zemi Stewart and corporate maven, Janay Pyfrom-Symonette will also discuss the rise of women in STEM-related industries and what this revolution means for the future of The Bahamas.

These speakers have excelled at small venture and brand building, and are setting the bar high for future entrepreneurs.

“We wanted to get speakers with diverse backgrounds, who, in some ways, see solutions to our national economic differently.

We got the greatest young minds to discuss world trends that have huge impact on our economy and possibly change the future of marketing, sales and how we conduct business,” Symonette said.

There is no entry fee for submitting a business idea to the Pitch Competition. Those interested in submitting a proposal, should contact Sign Island or visit their website signislandexpo.com to learn more.

Issued at 0900 UTC SAT SEP 29 2018

536
WTNT23 KNHC 290832
TCMAT3

SUBTROPICAL STORM LESLIE FORECAST/ADVISORY NUMBER 12
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL

AL132018
0900 UTC SAT SEP 29 2018

THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.

SUBTROPICAL STORM CENTER LOCATED NEAR 35.2N 50.3W AT 29/0900Z
POSITION ACCURATE WITHIN 25 NM

PRESENT MOVEMENT TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST OR 230 DEGREES AT

6 KT

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE 991 MB
MAX SUSTAINED WINDS 40 KT WITH GUSTS TO 50 KT.
34 KT.......220NE 150SE 150SW 200NW.
12 FT SEAS..420NE 360SE 720SW 480NW.
WINDS AND SEAS VARY GREATLY IN EACH QUADRANT. RADII IN NAUTICAL
MILES ARE THE LARGEST RADII EXPECTED ANYWHERE IN THAT QUADRANT.

REPEAT...CENTER LOCATED NEAR 35.2N 50.3W AT 29/0900Z
AT 29/0600Z CENTER WAS LOCATED NEAR 35.4N 50.0W

FORECAST VALID 29/1800Z 34.4N 51.3W
MAX WIND 45 KT...GUSTS 55 KT.
34 KT...180NE 150SE 150SW 180NW.

FORECAST VALID 30/0600Z 33.8N 52.2W
MAX WIND 45 KT...GUSTS 55 KT.
34 KT...150NE 120SE 120SW 150NW.

FORECAST VALID 30/1800Z 33.5N 53.3W
MAX WIND 50 KT...GUSTS 60 KT.
50 KT... 50NE

0SE 40SW 50NW.
34 KT...150NE 120SE 100SW 150NW.

FORECAST VALID 01/0600Z 33.2N 54.0W...TROPICAL CYCLONE
MAX WIND 50 KT...GUSTS 60 KT.
50 KT... 50NE

0SE 40SW 50NW.
34 KT...150NE 120SE 100SW 150NW.

FORECAST VALID 02/0600Z 32.3N 55.0W
MAX WIND 60 KT...GUSTS 75 KT.
50 KT... 50NE 30SE 40SW 50NW.
34 KT...120NE 120SE 120SW 150NW.

EXTENDED OUTLOOK. NOTE...ERRORS FOR TRACK HAVE AVERAGED NEAR 150 NM
ON DAY 4 AND 175 NM ON DAY 5...AND FOR INTENSITY NEAR 15 KT EACH DAY

OUTLOOK VALID 03/0600Z 31.0N 55.5W
MAX WIND 65 KT...GUSTS 80 KT.

OUTLOOK VALID 04/0600Z 32.0N 56.0W
MAX WIND 70 KT...GUSTS 85 KT.

REQUEST FOR 3 HOURLY SHIP REPORTS WITHIN 300 MILES OF 35.2N 50.3W

NEXT ADVISORY AT 29/1500Z

$$
FORECASTER AVILA

Issued at 1100 PM AST Fri Sep 28 2018

020
WTNT43 KNHC 290252
TCDAT3

Subtropical Storm Leslie Discussion Number 11
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL

AL132018
1100 PM AST Fri Sep 28 2018

Convective banding has been consolidating to the south of Leslie's
center since the afternoon, but recent scatterometer data indicate
that the maximum winds have decreased to 40 kt and the area of
gale-force winds has decreased in size. The convective structure
suggests that Leslie may be taking on some tropical characteristics,
but since wave vapor imagery still shows the cyclone embedded within
a complex deep-layer low, Leslie is still being designated as
subtropical.

Leslie is moving west-southwestward, or 255 degrees at 10 kt.
Leslie is entrenched between several mid-tropospheric highs located
to its east and west, and these features are expected to push
Leslie slowly southwestward for the next 3 days. The track
guidance is tightly clustered during this period, and the NHC
forecast is very similar to the previous one. After day 3, Leslie
is likely to meander on days 4 and 5 in weak steering, and the
updated official forecast has been adjusted southward and eastward
at the end of the forecast period to account for the latest model
solutions.

Global model fields indicate that Leslie has migrated to the
northwest of its parent upper-level low, which is putting it under
a regime of moderate north-northeasterly shear. For the next 48
hours, this shear is expected to continue, and phase-space diagrams
suggest that Leslie will be straddling the line between shallow and
deep warm core. As a result, only modest strengthening is
anticipated during this period, and the official forecast maintains
Leslie as a subtropical storm through 48 hours. However, the
transition to a tropical storm could occur any time during the next
day or two. After 48 hours, Leslie should definitely be deep warm
core, and more significant strengthening is expected, with the
cyclone forecast to reach hurricane intensity by day 4. This
scenario is shown by the various intensity models, and the NHC
intensity forecast is very close to the HFIP Corrected Consensus
aid and the Florida State Superensemble. If the statistical-
dynamical models are correct, Leslie could be stronger by the end of
the forecast period than is indicated in the NHC forecast.

Large swells generated by Leslie when it was a stronger
extratropical low have already reached Bermuda, will soon reach the
Lesser and Greater Antilles, and should reach portions of the east
coast of the United States later this weekend. These swells could
cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 29/0300Z 35.7N 49.4W

40 KT 45 MPH
12H 29/1200Z 34.9N 50.8W

45 KT 50 MPH
24H 30/0000Z 34.0N 52.0W

45 KT 50 MPH
36H 30/1200Z 33.5N 53.0W

50 KT 60 MPH
48H 01/0000Z 33.1N 53.9W

50 KT 60 MPH
72H 02/0000Z 32.2N 55.4W

60 KT 70 MPH...TROPICAL CYCLONE
96H 03/0000Z 30.5N 56.0W

65 KT 75 MPH
120H 04/0000Z 31.5N 56.5W

70 KT 80 MPH

$$
Forecaster Berg