On Sunday May 21st, art lovers and supporters of Lupus 242 gathered on Paradise Island to paint, sip, socialize and support a worthy cause. Organized by attorney and avid art collector Miranda Adderley, the event was designed to allow Bahamian artists to share their talents all while giving back.    

Visual artists Tayler Rolle and Laneir Curtis collaborated to create a custom piece of a butterfly emerging from a flower for guests to paint during the fundraiser. The butterfly is the official symbol for lupus awareness and participants used vivid purple and orange hues to complete their individual paintings.  

“The artists were pleased to design their own version of the butterfly which represents lupus and the butterfly journey that a lot of lupus patients and their families go through,” Adderley said. “This event gave both Tayler and Laneir an opportunity to showcase their work to a different audience and to use their art as a way to raise awareness and support the great work being done by Lupus 242.” 

Shonalee Johnson, Vice President of Lupus 242, expressed thanks to all who contributed to the event’s success.  

“This art brunch was fun, creative and inspiring for all who attended. Special thanks to Miranda for organizing this event and for her consistent support of our cause. We would also like to thank the artists for being generous with both their time and their talent. It is appreciated.”  

Since its inception in 2012, Lupus 242 has focused on raising awareness and providing education and support to its members. This month, the group held a series of events including a POP-UP Run and P.O.P (Put On Purple) For Lupus Fridays. The final event was a Health Talk on Saturday May 27th at UB with Rheumatologists Dr. K. Neil Parker and Dr. Anishka Rolle along with HR Specialist Lashanta Smith who spoke on Managing Lupus In The Workplace. 

On Sunday May 21st, art lovers and supporters of Lupus 242 gathered on Paradise Island to paint, sip, socialize and support a worthy cause. Organized by attorney and avid art collector Miranda Adderley, the event was designed to allow Bahamian artists to share their talents all while giving back.      Visual artists Tayler Rolle and Laneir Curtis collaborated to create a custom piece of a butterfly emerging from a flower for guests to paint during the fundraiser. The butterfly is the official symbol for lupus awareness and participants used vivid purple and orange hues to complete their individual paintings.     “The artists were pleased to design their own version of the butterfly which represents lupus and the butterfly journey that a lot of lupus patients and their families go through,” Adderley said. “This event gave both Tayler and Laneir an opportunity to showcase their work to a different audience and to use their art as a way to raise awareness and support the great work being done by Lupus 242.”    Shonalee Johnson, Vice President of Lupus 242, expressed thanks to all who contributed to the event’s success.   “This art brunch was fun, creative and inspiring for all who attended. Special thanks to Miranda for organizing this event and for her consistent support of our cause. We would also like to thank the artists for being generous with both their time and their talent. It is appreciated.”     Since its inception in 2012, Lupus 242 has focused on raising awareness and providing education and support to its members. This month, the group held a series of events including a POP-UP Run and P.O.P (Put On Purple) For Lupus Fridays. The final event was a Health Talk on Saturday May 27th at UB with Rheumatologists Dr. K. Neil Parker and Dr. Anishka Rolle along with HR Specialist Lashanta Smith who spoke on Managing Lupus In The Workplace. 

CLINT Watson is expected to step down as press secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister to become the new general manager of ZNS, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

One source said the change would be confirmed as early as Thursday. #In January, Mr Watson told reporters he was working with the state broadcaster as it goes through an “improvement and upgrade” in its news department. #He would replace current ZNS acting general manager Andrew Burrows. #The reason for the leadership shift has been the subject of speculation among some. #One ZNS board member, who declined to speak on the record because of the sensitive nature of the matter, said the Davis administration wants someone at the helm of ZNS who has a close relationship with Mr Davis and administration members and who could help ensure the government’s message reaches the public. Some board members are said to be concerned about the station’s declining status in The Bahamas and want to see it reformed for the digital era. #Mr Watson served as director of news at Eyewitness News before joining the Davis administration. Before that, he was a reporter and editor at ZNS. # As press secretary, he helped formalise the role, making it a more public position and accessible to reporters. # Previous press secretaries had rarely engaged reporters or taken questions from the press –– though Anthony Newbold did so for a short time at the start of the Minnis administration. # Under Mr Watson, pre-Cabinet interviews with ministers have also become more formal, though some reporters have complained that the new process gives them less access to ministers than before. # The OPM now hosts a weekly press briefing. It is unclear who will host the briefings when Mr Watson leaves. # In February, the OPM announced that Keishla Adderley was appointed deputy press secretary.

One source said the change would be confirmed as early as Thursday.

In January, Mr Watson told reporters he was working with the state broadcaster as it goes through an “improvement and upgrade” in its news department.

He would replace current ZNS acting general manager Andrew Burrows.

The reason for the leadership shift has been the subject of speculation among some.

One ZNS board member, who declined to speak on the record because of the sensitive nature of the matter, said the Davis administration wants someone at the helm of ZNS who has a close relationship with Mr Davis and administration members and who could help ensure the government’s message reaches the public. Some board members are said to be concerned about the station’s declining status in The Bahamas and want to see it reformed for the digital era.

Mr Watson served as director of news at Eyewitness News before joining the Davis administration. Before that, he was a reporter and editor at ZNS.

As press secretary, he helped formalise the role, making it a more public position and accessible to reporters.

Previous press secretaries had rarely engaged reporters or taken questions from the press –– though Anthony Newbold did so for a short time at the start of the Minnis administration.

Under Mr Watson, pre-Cabinet interviews with ministers have also become more formal, though some reporters have complained that the new process gives them less access to ministers than before.

The OPM now hosts a weekly press briefing. It is unclear who will host the briefings when Mr Watson leaves.

In February, the OPM announced that Keishla Adderley was appointed deputy press secretary.

The opening of the new Nassau Cruise Port has given Graycliff the opportunity to put all of its offerings under one roof for tourists to enjoy, General Manager of The World of Graycliff Clement McIntosh told Guardian Business Friday.

The new Graycliff storefront opened with the port Friday and includes not only the brand's chocolates, wines and cigars, but also other Bahamian-made products.

"The idea behind The World of Graycliff is that it encompasses everything that is Graycliff, from our chocolate factory, to cigars to our wines," McIntosh said.

"Everything here is Bahamian-made or Bahamian-owned. It's everything that we embody."

Guests who enter the store are first greeted by an enormous tree that features grape leaves to represent the brand's wines, tobacco leaves to represent the brand's cigars and cacao pods that represent the company's chocolate factory.

Right below the tree, Graycliff features live cigar rolling.

The new cruise port has myriad Bahamian brands including My Ocean, Bamboo Shack, and 700 Wines and Spirits.

While the facade of each store within the port is fairly uniform, each brand has added their own unique flair to the interior aesthetic.

My Ocean features a centerpiece of what looks like driftwood, framing a chandelier of a multitude of their own handcrafted ceramic pieces.

They even feature a one-of-a-kind mural on the wall behind the cashier's counter.

Though the ribbon has been cut on the new cruise port, some of the stores are still continuing to outfit their spaces.

Nassau Cruise Port has yet to find a tenant for its high-end restaurant that anchors the far western point of their property.

Executives say they are searching for the right fit for the restaurant while continuing with their theme of having Bahamian-owned brands within the footprint of the port property.

Last week, the authentically local craft marketplace area opened with cruise guests enjoying the vendor offerings pre-opening.

Those vendors, most of whom came from the port's original building, Festival Place, said they are happy to be back at the port following construction and are happy with the flow of cruise visitors they have seen already.

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The new Nassau Cruise Port — a $300 million investment developed through a public-private partnership entered into in 2019 — signals a new beginning for Nassau, promising a prosperous and sustainable future for all Bahamians, Prime Minister Philip Davis declared on Friday evening as a crowd of tourism industry and other stakeholders who had gathered for a night of festivities looked on.

Among those in attendance were former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis and former Minister of Tourism Dionisio D'Aguilar, who were instrumental in engineering the deal that gave birth to the new facility, which includes new and expanded berths to accommodate the largest class ships and mega yachts, retail and food and beverage offerings, a Junkanoo museum, an art gallery and an entertainment space, all faithfully wedded to an authentically Bahamian theme.

The facility also encompasses an arrivals terminal, outposts for the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Defence Force, a 1,000-foot-long ground transportation area, a hair braiders pavilion and a signature restaurant.

Over the next few months, the cruise port intends to install a 1.5 megawatt solar facility.

"The completion of this project signals to the world that Nassau will continue to be a vibrant and thriving destination ready to offer unforgettable experiences to all who step ashore," said Davis ahead of a ribbon cutting to mark the official opening of the facility.

Global Ports Holding spearheaded the transformation of the port and will be the port operator under a 25-year management agreement.

Nassau Cruise Port Ltd. includes three entities, Global Ports Holding (GPH), the Bahamas Investment Fund (BIF) and the YES (Youth Education and Sports) Foundation. The majority of the shares for the new port are owned through the BIF and YES Foundation.

GPH Chairman Mehmet Kutman said a bipartisan effort got the project to completion.

Kutman thanked both the current and former prime minister as well as D'Aguilar for their support.

"This is what I call bipartisan Bahamian support," he said. "Without you, prime minister, this wouldn't have happened. Yes, they carried the shovel, they gave the shovel to you, but without your support, we would not have gotten off the ground, especially during the pandemic."

Davis said the port will not only enhance the economy but also serve as a catalyst for the wider development of downtown Nassau.

"The opening of the Nassau Cruise Port signifies the first steps in the reimagination of downtown Nassau," he said.

"The objective was to curate a world-class, authentically Bahamian experience, so visitors who step ashore will be immersed in our heritage, creativity, and excellence.

"We envision this area becoming not just a bustling cruise destination but also the entertainment center of New Providence, inclusive of commercial and residential offerings."

The prime minister said the port's transformation will breathe new life into the heart of Nassau.

"As we move forward with our ongoing plans for redevelopment, we will redefine how visitors and locals interact with the downtown area in fundamental ways," Davis said.

"Bay Street and the surrounding area should be grounded in the Bahamian experience in ways that demonstrate the best elements of our culture, people, and way of life."

Nassau Cruise Port is a testament to this vision, he said.

Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper said a renaissance in the cruise visitor experience is underway. He described the new port as a model for how cruise ports should be developed.

"This is truly an amazing cruise gateway," said Cooper, who added that upwards of five million cruise visitors are expected annually.

"...Not only is Nassau Cruise Port now the busiest cruise port in the region, but this new Bahamian landmark development has transformed the gateway to our capital into a visual masterpiece and rivals the great waterfronts of the world."

He thanked D'Aguilar for his work in getting the project off the ground.

"But as they say, some plant seeds, and others nurture them and bring them to fruition, so that all of the Bahamian people can eat," Cooper said.

"As the regional leader in cruise tourism, the government of The Bahamas was determined to provide an infrastructure suitable to the reputation and designation of this destination as the world famous Port of Nassau."

Cooper also thanked Nassau Cruise Port CEO Mike Maura Jr. for his vision and for his execution to make the project reality.

Maura said the cruise port investment has already positioned Nassau for greater growth.

"While the pandemic slowed the aggressive growth of the industry, there is no question that cruising is back with record-breaking forecasted growth," Maura said.

"Just a short while ago, Nassau welcomed 28,554 passengers in a single day. Nassau's 2023 and 2024 confirmed bookings are evidence of this rebound with 4.2 million passengers forecasted for 2023 and 4.6 million passengers forecasted for 2024."

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