New Category : Bahamas Local Stories
LET'S TALK SOLAR ENERGY
Wed, Jun 2nd 2021, 12:00 AM
By: Jhanae Winter
The need for cleaner energy sources is greater than ever, as the Earth is facing a global crisis. For years there has been a quest for renewable energy sources to replace the over dependency of other dangerous and damaging forms of energy. From the 1970s Solar energy received a lot of attention because of its ability to generate electricity along with new opportunities for economic and environmentally friendly developments in countries in equatorial regions. The Sun is a vital source of energy to the Earth. Its heightened level of solar radiation is what produces solar energy. Once properly utilized, solar energy has the ability to supply future energy demands in either an active or passive way, through different solar systems. The two main solar systems used today are solar radiation that can be converted either into thermal energy or into electrical energy. As prices drop, this gives a new perspective for increase in alternative energy sources. A {report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) states, several renewable energies have been found to be cheaper than fossil fuels including solar energy, even without subsidies. This form of energy was once hard to acquire and couldn't be seen as a competitive energy source because of its cost. However, presently the price for solar energy is steadily declining and reports dictate it is on the decline. Reasons for the price decrease can be attributed to the growth of the solar market in countries like the United States and China. Based on these two powerful countries and its impact on other countries' investments, technological advancement of solar energy along with energy policies and incentives all contribute to the cheapness of this energy source. The more investment and technologically advanced renewable energies such as these are introduced, the cheaper they become. This will lead to the possibility of canceling out the use of fossil fuel entirely and increasing the use of solar energy for generating power. Solar Energy in The Bahamas Development and Progress The Bahamas has an abundance of sun and can take advantage of this with solar energy in an attempt to make it a cleaner country. Over the past few years, the government of the Bahamas has taken the global environmental crisis more seriously and decreasing the country’s carbon footprint. Over 10 years ago the solar industry in the Bahamas was still in its infancy stage. However, according to {National Renewable Energy Laboratory the the government made its first move towards solar energy in 2008 when they “incentived solar technologies by reducing the import duties from 42% to 10%”. There are now over 10 solar companies in the Bahamas, with hundreds of residences and businesses with solar panels or solar infused building materials. The Free National Movement administration is making more strides to integrate the use of solar energy in the Bahamian society. In 2018 a {Tribune news article Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis said he wanted all homes in the Bahamas to be a power station of its own, utilizing solar energy regardless of where the home is located. The article also said the project’s purpose is “to construct multi-million-dollar solar plants in West Grand Bahama, and East Grand Bahama.” Additionally, in 2019, in an {Eye Witness news article it was announced that a few government schools and the Office of the Prime Minister building will also have solar panels on the ground. The article also stated that the same efforts would extend to the Family Islands, in particular Ragged Island that hasn’t successfully recovered from hurricane damages years before. The Prime Minister also told the {Tribune, the governments’ goal for solar energy is to reduce the amount of electricity generated traditionally, with 30% of power coming from renewable sources by 2030. Why solar power could work in the Bahamas The fact that solar energy prices have plummeted drastically over the past years and is reported to decrease even more. This increases the chances of solar energy in The Bahamas and the spread of it throughout the country. Countries such as the Bahamas have high electricity costs because of its geographical location and land mass. Like many nations according to {Curbed, The Bahamas depends on “imported diesel fuel that have high costs for infrastructure, as well as plentiful solar resources.” Therefore, the switch to solar energy would be the most logical. Along with those, there are also economic benefits connected to solar energy. According to a Nigerian article, {Exploring the Economic and Environmental Benefits of Solar Energy, solar energy not only creates forms of employment but other smaller industries that can generate income. The {Tribune reported that the solar energy projects can create between 50-85 jobs. Although there are many advantages for increasing solar energy, realistically there are still challenges the government and consumers will face and should be wary of such problems. Solar energy is a competitive alternative energy source competing with fossil fuels because of its accessibility and plummeting prices on the market. It is on the rise because of its infinite resources, consistent investments and technological advancements. As with everything there are positives and negatives yet, solar energy has great potential to be a better and effective renewable source. However, it is not an independent source and cannot act completely on its own. One of its main weakest factors is intermittency levels that can affect power efficiency. Nevertheless, as new inventions and emerging technologies are divulged into this energy source, changes can be made in the future. As the future is brighter for renewable energy it gives developing nations such as the Bahamas the ability to reduce its carbon footprint and be environmentally conscious.For years there has been a quest for renewable energy sources to replace the over dependency of other dangerous and damaging forms of energy.
From the 1970s Solar energy received a lot of attention because of its ability to generate electricity along with new opportunities for economic and environmentally friendly developments in countries in equatorial regions.
The Sun is a vital source of energy to the Earth. Its heightened level of solar radiation is what produces solar energy.
Once properly utilized, solar energy has the ability to supply future energy demands in either an active or passive way, through different solar systems. The two main solar systems used today are solar radiation that can be converted either into thermal energy or into electrical energy.
As prices drop, this gives a new perspective for increase in alternative energy sources. A report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) states, several renewable energies have been found to be cheaper than fossil fuels including solar energy, even without subsidies.
This form of energy was once hard to acquire and couldn't be seen as a competitive energy source because of its cost. However, presently the price for solar energy is steadily declining and reports dictate it is on the decline.
Reasons for the price decrease can be attributed to the growth of the solar market in countries like the United States and China. Based on these two powerful countries and its impact on other countries' investments, technological advancement of solar energy along with energy policies and incentives all contribute to the cheapness of this energy source.
The more investment and technologically advanced renewable energies such as these are introduced, the cheaper they become. This will lead to the possibility of canceling out the use of fossil fuel entirely and increasing the use of solar energy for generating power.
Solar Energy in The Bahamas
Development and Progress
The Bahamas has an abundance of sun and can take advantage of this with solar energy in an attempt to make it a cleaner country. Over the past few years, the government of the Bahamas has taken the global environmental crisis more seriously and decreasing the country’s carbon footprint.
Over 10 years ago the solar industry in the Bahamas was still in its infancy stage. However, according to National Renewable Energy Laboratory the the government made its first move towards solar energy in 2008 when they “incentived solar technologies by reducing the import duties from 42% to 10%”.
There are now over 10 solar companies in the Bahamas, with hundreds of residences and businesses with solar panels or solar infused building materials.
The Free National Movement administration is making more strides to integrate the use of solar energy in the Bahamian society.
In 2018 a Tribune news article reported Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis said he wanted all homes in the Bahamas to be a power station of its own, utilizing solar energy regardless of where the home is located. The article also said the project’s purpose is “to construct multi-million-dollar solar plants in West Grand Bahama, and East Grand Bahama.”
Additionally, in 2019, in an Eye Witness news article it was announced that a few government schools and the Office of the Prime Minister building will also have solar panels on the ground. The article also stated that the same efforts would extend to the Family Islands, in particular Ragged Island that hasn’t successfully recovered from hurricane damages years before.
The Prime Minister also told the Tribune, the governments’ goal for solar energy is to reduce the amount of electricity generated traditionally, with 30% of power coming from renewable sources by 2030.
Why solar power could work in the Bahamas
The fact that solar energy prices have plummeted drastically over the past years and is reported to decrease even more. This increases the chances of solar energy in The Bahamas and the spread of it throughout the country.
Countries such as the Bahamas have high electricity costs because of its geographical location and land mass. Like many nations according to Curbed, The Bahamas depends on “imported diesel fuel that have high costs for infrastructure, as well as plentiful solar resources.” Therefore, the switch to solar energy would be the most logical.
Along with those, there are also economic benefits connected to solar energy. According to a Nigerian article, Exploring the Economic and Environmental Benefits of Solar Energy, solar energy not only creates forms of employment but other smaller industries that can generate income.
The Tribune reported that the solar energy projects can create between 50-85 jobs. Although there are many advantages for increasing solar energy, realistically there are still challenges the government and consumers will face and should be wary of such problems.
Solar energy is an alternative energy source competing with fossil fuels because of its accessibility and plummeting prices on the market. It is on the rise because of its infinite resources, consistent investments and technological advancements.
As with everything there are positives and negatives yet, solar energy has great potential to be a better and effective renewable source. However, it is not an independent source and cannot act completely on its own. One of its main weakest factors is intermittency levels that can affect power efficiency.
Nevertheless, as new inventions and emerging technologies are divulged into this energy source, changes can be made in the future.
As the future is brighter for renewable energy it gives developing nations such as the Bahamas the ability to reduce its carbon footprint and be environmentally conscious.
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Just go to therapy Bey!
Fri, May 21st 2021, 12:00 AM
By: Jhanae Winter
Therapy is a resourceful method to assist Bahamians in dealing with the challenges of life, but many are missing out because of cultural perspectives. Going to therapy is still considered taboo in The Bahamas, even during conversation. This view has influenced the decision of many Bahamians when it comes taking therapy in one form or the other. Teletherapist and School Psychologist, Jewel Taylor said: “I believe people are reluctant because of fear, judgement and being belittled. People think that mental health isn’t important because you can’t see or touch it. They don’t see the need to seek help because it isn’t tangible.” The irony of it all is that mental health can easily be deemed the most important part of one’s health. In fact The World Health Organizsation in 2007 acknowledged mental health as the most significant feature of health. UB alumnae, Andrea Darville went to therapy in her junior year at the university, while majoring in media journalism. At the time, her responsibilities as a successful entrepreneur and serving various leadership roles at UB consumed her and she sought therapy as a way to regain balance of her academic, social and career life. Andrea said, “I took into consideration the cultural stigma attached to seeing a therapist. This thought did cross my mind. I also processed that there was a possibility that I would be judged or labeled as being crazy.” The decision to go to therapy was not as easy as it should have been for a person like Andrea who views mental health as a “compass to navigate life”, she said. Instead of being ashamed, she stood in her truth and refused to let cultural practices dictate her life. She remained transparent and shared her advice from the sessions with family and friends. She ignored what others would say because “when it comes down to doing what’s best for me, this decision is mine to make”, she said. Many Bahamians question going to therapy because they don't think they need to “air out their dirty laundry.” or don't see the point in speaking with a stranger about their problems when this “stranger” has never gone through them, said Jewel. In a Tribune article, RBPF statistics revealed suicides rose by 38% in 2020 compared to 2019. In 2019, the United Nations reported that the rate of suicide among men in The Bahamas is more than five times higher than women. This aligns with the cultural norms in the Bahamas as it is less common for a man to ask for help or even seek professional help. The power that therapy has is more than what people give it credit for. Andrea is not diagnosed with any mental illness, disorders nor does she have any mental challenges. She became bombarded with life and needed to take back her power so she could be the best version of herself in every way. For her, going to therapy was very helpful and she obtained her desired results. “I believe that with the right information I can make better decisions and the sessions I had gave me just that: power over my life and all the affairs pertaining to me,” she said. Along with cultural perspectives many Bahamians don't engage in therapy simply because they don't see the value in spending an exorbitant amount of money for such services. Like many things in the medical world, some therapy services can be quite expensive. But this is not true for all services. “I would provide recommendations for free therapy services. There are therapists and mental health agencies that provide counseling services for free”Jewel said. The affordable options are available for those who need it but the choice is still up to the individual. Andrea is a perfect example of this. Attending UB gave her access to free therapy sessions, so finances was not an issue for her. “Fortunately as a university student, therapy and counseling was a service offered freely so I took full advantage of this. I believe I got the best therapist for me at that time”, she said. Therapy is not a “one fits all” thing, what works for one may not work for the other. This is because everyone's problems and perspectives on life differ tremendously. Therapy is not for “crazy people”, but for everyone and anyone one who wants to better their life. Just to name a few, therapy helps with self-love, emotional expression, creating healthier coping mechanisms, identifying negative thoughts and behaviors, fostering and building strong relationships, Jewel said. To eradicate the stigma of therapy, sessions should be mandatory for all students. In the workplace, employees should have benefits that cover professional help and the government should campaign for mental health in May, collaborating with the private sector to have fairs, seminars and webinars about mental health, according to Andrea.Therapy is a resourceful method to assist Bahamians in dealing with the challenges of life, but many are missing out because of cultural perspectives.
Going to therapy is still considered taboo in The Bahamas, even during conversation. This view has influenced the decision of many Bahamians when it comes taking therapy in one form or the other.
Teletherapist and School Psychologist, Jewel Taylor said: “I believe people are reluctant because of fear, judgement and being belittled. People think that mental health isn’t important because you can’t see or touch it. They don’t see the need to seek help because it isn’t tangible.”
The irony of it all is that mental health can easily be deemed the most important part of one’s health. In fact The World Health Organizsation in 2007 acknowledged mental health as the most significant feature of health.
UB alumnae, Andrea Darville went to therapy in her junior year at the university, while majoring in media journalism.
At the time, her responsibilities as a successful entrepreneur and serving various leadership roles at UB consumed her and she sought therapy as a way to regain balance of her academic, social and career life.
Andrea said, “I took into consideration the cultural stigma attached to seeing a therapist. This thought did cross my mind. I also processed that there was a possibility that I would be judged or labeled as being crazy.”
The decision to go to therapy was not as easy as it should have been for a person like Andrea whose mental health is extremely important to her.
However, she ignored what others would say because “when it comes down to doing what’s best for me, this decision is mine to make”, she said.
Instead of being ashamed, she stood in her truth and refused to let cultural practices dictate her life. She remained transparent and shared her advice from the sessions with family and friends.
"I can remember proudly saying to them 'I have a therapist,' she said.
Many Bahamians question going to therapy because they don't think they need to “air out their dirty laundry.” or don't see the point in speaking with a stranger about their problems when this “stranger” has never gone through them, said Jewel.
In a Tribune article, RBPF statistics revealed suicides rose by 38% in 2020 compared to 2019. In 2019, the United Nations reported that the rate of suicide among men in The Bahamas is more than five times higher than women.
This aligns with the cultural norms in the Bahamas as it is less common for a man to ask for help or even seek professional help.
The power that therapy has is more than what people give it credit for.
Andrea is not diagnosed with any mental illness, disorders nor does she have any mental challenges. She became bombarded with life and needed to take back her power so she could be the best version of herself in every way.
For her, going to therapy was very helpful and she obtained her desired results.
"One of the greatest lessons I gained through therapy is this, 'The best decisions are made with a wise brain. This means taking your emotions to feel and using logic from your brain together as a guide. Together you don’t just think but you feel it’s the right thing to do', she said.
Along with cultural perspectives many Bahamians don't engage in therapy simply because they don't see the value in spending an exorbitant amount of money for such services.
Like many things in the medical world, some therapy services can be quite expensive.
But this is not true for all services.
“I would provide recommendations for free therapy services. There are therapists and mental health agencies that provide counseling services for free”Jewel said.
The affordable options are available for those who need it but the choice is still up to the individual.
Andrea is a perfect example of this. Attending UB gave her access to free therapy sessions, so finances was not an issue for her.
“Fortunately as a university student, therapy and counseling was a service offered freely so I took full advantage of this. I believe I got the best therapist for me at that time”, she said.
Therapy is not a “one fits all” thing, what works for one may not work for the other. This is because everyone's problems and perspectives on life differ tremendously.
Therapy is not for “crazy people”, but for everyone and anyone one who wants to better their life.
Just to name a few, therapy helps with self-love, emotional expression, creating healthier coping mechanisms, identifying negative thoughts and behaviors, fostering and building strong relationships, Jewel said.
To eradicate the stigma of therapy, sessions should be mandatory for all students. In the workplace, employees should have benefits that cover professional help and the government should campaign for mental health in May, collaborating with the private sector to have fairs, seminars and webinars about mental health, according to Andrea.
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Pandemic was a "preventable disaster" says UN independent experts
Thu, May 13th 2021, 12:00 AM
By: Jhanae Winter
The Panel of experts “found weak links at every point in the chain of preparedness and response” criticizing the WHO and world leaders in a report, published wednesday. The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response said, “The World Health Organization was under-powered” and “global political leadership was absent.” Preparation was inconsistent and underfunded and the alert system was too slow and too meek, the report said. This was seen as countries like Wuhan responded quickly to abnormally high cases of pneumonia in late December 2019. But the reactions from the International Health Regulations were too slow to generate the quick response needed to counteract a rapidly growing respiratory pathogen, according to the panel. Other nations adopted a “wait and see” approach instead of engaging in strategic containment plans that could have slowed down the pandemic, because of this precious time was lost, the report said. February 2020 was a “lost month” because governments did not use the opportunity to get ahead of the epidemic and prevent the spread, the panel said. The WHO should have declared a global emergency much sooner than it did and lacks the power to investigate and act swiftly when confronted with potential outbreaks, the independent experts said. One of the findings from the report said, “years of warnings of an inevitable pandemic threat were not acted on despite the increasing rate at which zoonotic diseases are emerging.” The unpreparedness from countries exposed and widened the social inequalities with a “disproportionate socio- economic impact on women and vulnerable and marginalized populations, including migrants and workers in the informal sector,” the report says. There needs to be new and strategic approaches to preparing and responding to pandemics on an international scale to prevent future pandemics, the panel said. The experts called for certain measures to be put in place to end the Covid-19 pandemic. Richer countries should provide 1 billion vaccines to low income countries by September 2021 and over 2 billion by mid-2022, according to experts. “The World Trade Organization and the WHO should get “manufacturers to agree to voluntary licensing and technology transfer for COVID-19 vaccines”. Likewise WHO needs “to immediately develop a roadmap” with clear objectives that outline countries and global attempts to end the pandemic, the report said. The panel recommends all countries to “apply non-pharmaceutical public health measures systematically and rigorously to curb Covid-19 transmissions.” The world must learn from this pandemic and plan ahead. “COVID-19 has been a terrible wake-up call. So now the world needs to wake up, and commit to clear targets, additional resources, new measures and strong leadership to prepare for the future”, the experts said.The Panel of experts “found weak links at every point in the chain of preparedness and response” criticizing the WHO and world leaders in a report, published wednesday.
The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response said, “The World Health Organization was under-powered” and “global political leadership was absent.”
Preparation was inconsistent and underfunded and the alert system was too slow and too meek, the report said.
This was seen as countries like Wuhan responded quickly to abnormally high cases of pneumonia in late December 2019. But the reactions from the International Health Regulations were too slow to generate the quick response needed to counteract a rapidly growing respiratory pathogen, according to the panel.
Other nations adopted a “wait and see” approach instead of engaging in strategic containment plans that could have slowed down the pandemic. Because of this precious time was lost, the report said.
February 2020 was labelled a “lost month” because governments did not use the opportunity to get ahead of the epidemic and prevent it from spreading into a pandemic, the panel said.
The WHO should have declared a global emergency much sooner than it did and lacks the power to investigate and act swiftly when confronted with potential outbreaks, the independent experts said.
One of the findings from the report said, “years of warnings of an inevitable pandemic threat were not acted on despite the increasing rate at which zoonotic diseases are emerging.”
The unpreparedness from countries exposed and widened the social inequalities with a “disproportionate socio- economic impact on women and vulnerable and marginalized populations, including migrants and workers in the informal sector,” the report says.
There needs to be new and strategic approaches to preparing and responding to pandemics on an international scale to prevent future pandemics, the panel said.
The experts called for certain measures to be put in place to end the Covid-19 pandemic.
Richer countries should provide 1 billion vaccines to low income countries by September 2021 and over 2 billion by mid-2022, according to experts.
“The World Trade Organization and the WHO should get “manufacturers to agree to voluntary licensing and technology transfer for COVID-19 vaccines”. Likewise the WHO needs “to immediately develop a roadmap” with clear objectives that outline countries and global attempts to end the pandemic, the report said.
The panel recommends all countries to “apply non-pharmaceutical public health measures systematically and rigorously to curb Covid-19 transmissions."
The world must learn from this pandemic and plan ahead.
“COVID-19 has been a terrible wake-up call. So now the world needs to wake up, and commit to clear targets, additional resources, new measures and strong leadership to prepare for the future”, the experts said.
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Nassau Cruise Port Primed For Home Port Service With Crystal Cruises “Bahamas Escapes” Launch
Mon, Mar 15th 2021, 05:20 PM
Nassau Cruise Port Ltd. is finalizing plans for the launch of its home port service as it prepares to make history as the starting point of the first ocean-going cruise to set sail in our region since March 2020.
Mike Maura Jr., CEO, confirms the team’s enthusiasm for the launch, stating “We fully support the inventive Bahamas-Crystal Cruises partnership. We believe that the seven-night round-trip “Bahamas Escapes” cruises will be instrumental in inspiring greater confidence in the return to sailing in the western hemisphere and in travel to The Bahamas.
We are very excited to partner with Crystal Cruises to establish Nassau Cruise Port as a home port for ocean-going cruise vessels beginning July 3, 2021. This relationship marks the beginning of service to hundreds of thousands of additional passengers per year for Nassau Cruise Port and will generate an extensive amount of economic activity for hotels, tour operators, taxis, and other tourism stakeholders as this area of our business grows.
We look forward to collaborating with the Crystal Cruises team, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Nassau Airport Development Company, the hotel sector, and other local stakeholders to ensure that the facilitation of the home port experience here is second-to-none and that the customer experience for our passengers is seamless and enjoyable. We also look forward to providing home port services for other cruise brands as more vessels potentially resume voyages in the months ahead. Nassau Cruise Port is positioned in a prime location to serve as a home base for cruise itineraries that will whisk guests away on thrilling adventures across the Caribbean.
We appreciate the hard work and effort that has been invested in bringing this partnership to fruition by the Hon. Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar, Mrs. Joy Jibrilu, Director General of Tourism and Aviation, and the entire Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation team.
While simply viewing an ocean-going cruise ship at the port will generate a sense of excitement and relief for many in our community, we know that our tourism stakeholders – from hotels to tour excursion operators, to retail vendors – will be particularly pleased to see more guests return to our shores, and hopefully, to downtown Nassau soon.
We have been preparing and enhancing our COVID-19 protocols in the anticipation of the restart of cruising for many months, having earned an accreditation as a World Travel and Tourism Council Safe Travels destination in August 2020 based on these measures. We look forward to implementing these protocols safely amid our construction efforts. We will continue to work in partnership with all local and international tourism and health & safety partners to ensure that all stakeholders remain safe as the resumption of sailing begins.
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