Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Philip Davis is taking personal interest in ensuring that homes in Grand Bahama and Abaco receive the much-needed repairs in a timely manner.

The Prime Minister visited Abaco and Grand Bahama over the weekend -- Friday, August 9, and Saturday, August 10, respectively, to personally meet with residents who suffered damage to their homes during hurricanes over the years, but who are to date still in need of assistance to have their homes repaired.  He reassured them that their wait is coming to an end.

While on Grand Bahama, the nation’s leader spoke briefly about a relaunch of the government’s Small Homes Repair Programme during a press conference held at the Ministry for Grand Bahama.

“I want to express my own profound appreciation to the people of Grand Bahama for your patience and steadfastness,” Mr. Davis said earnestly. “We know that it’s been an ordeal, because many of you have had your homes assessed two or three times.

“This initiative is important to me because it was during the by-election for West Grand Bahama in November of last year, I was truly moved and disturbed that in many of the homes where I visited, people pointed out to me that nothing had been done to their homes despite requests, assessments and promises since hurricanes Matthew, Jeanne, Francis and Wilma.

“That was truly shocking to me. I was moved from then to make sure that these things get done. There’s been a lot of bureaucratic red tape and hurdles, and I’m just cutting through the tape to get things done.”

Prime Minister Davis highlighted the complexities involved in governance, noting the many essential priorities that the government must address, such as funding for healthcare, support for doctors and hospitals, and ensuring quality education through proper teacher compensation. He emphasized that the Government of The Bahamas is committed to meeting the diverse needs of the nation, recognizing the importance of balancing multiple critical areas.

Prime Minister Davis assured the residents of Abaco and Grand Bahama that their concerns have always been on the government's agenda. While there may have been challenges in addressing every issue as quickly as desired, he reaffirmed that their needs are of utmost importance and have never been overlooked. The Government of The Bahamas remains dedicated to ensuring that all communities receive the attention and support they deserve.

He further reiterated that his Administration faced a financial and economic crisis when he took office.

“A lot of things had to be corrected to help the country get back in a better financial position. I’ve corrected some of those structural deficiencies and I’ve decided, because of what I’ve been hearing from the people in Abaco and Grand Bahama, to lead the relaunch of the small home repairs programme. That’s because this programme is important to me, to this government and you folks have waited long enough to get results. So, I want to ensure that these homes are properly repaired,” he stated.

Following the press conference, some forty contracts were signed by residents and contractors on GBI for repair works to be carried out expeditiously.  Likewise, contracts were signed by residents of Abaco.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Philip Davis is taking personal interest in ensuring that homes in Grand Bahama and Abaco receive the much-needed repairs in a timely manner. The Prime Minister visited Abaco and Grand Bahama over the weekend -- Friday, August 9, and Saturday, August 10, respectively, to personally meet with residents who suffered damage to their homes during hurricanes over the years, but who are to date still in need of assistance to have their homes repaired.  He reassured them that their wait is coming to an end. While on Grand Bahama, the nation’s leader spoke briefly about a relaunch of the government’s Small Homes Repair Programme during a press conference held at the Ministry for Grand Bahama. “I want to express my own profound appreciation to the people of Grand Bahama for your patience and steadfastness,” Mr. Davis said earnestly. “We know that it’s been an ordeal, because many of you have had your homes assessed two or three times. “This initiative is important to me because it was during the by-election for West Grand Bahama in November of last year, I was truly moved and disturbed that in many of the homes where I visited, people pointed out to me that nothing had been done to their homes despite requests, assessments and promises since hurricanes Matthew, Jeanne, Francis and Wilma. “That was truly shocking to me. I was moved from then to make sure that these things get done. There’s been a lot of bureaucratic red tape and hurdles, and I’m just cutting through the tape to get things done.” Prime Minister Davis highlighted the complexities involved in governance, noting the many essential priorities that the government must address, such as funding for healthcare, support for doctors and hospitals, and ensuring quality education through proper teacher compensation. He emphasized that the Government of The Bahamas is committed to meeting the diverse needs of the nation, recognizing the importance of balancing multiple critical areas. Prime Minister Davis assured the residents of Abaco and Grand Bahama that their concerns have always been on the government's agenda. While there may have been challenges in addressing every issue as quickly as desired, he reaffirmed that their needs are of utmost importance and have never been overlooked. The Government of The Bahamas remains dedicated to ensuring that all communities receive the attention and support they deserve. He further reiterated that his Administration faced a financial and economic crisis when he took office. “A lot of things had to be corrected to help the country get back in a better financial position. I’ve corrected some of those structural deficiencies and I’ve decided, because of what I’ve been hearing from the people in Abaco and Grand Bahama, to lead the relaunch of the small home repairs programme. That’s because this programme is important to me, to this government and you folks have waited long enough to get results. So, I want to ensure that these homes are properly repaired,” he stated. Following the press conference, some forty contracts were signed by residents and contractors on GBI for repair works to be carried out expeditiously.  Likewise, contracts were signed by residents of Abaco.

Whether it’s rooting on a team at a nearby sporting event, drifting down a lazy river with loved ones or enjoying the pool with friends at a beachfront villa, there are plenty of playful adventures awaiting this summer.

Global sporting events fuel travel excitement 
As the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 draw closer, guests from around the world are looking to secure a front row seat at the event. While Paris, is the most searched city worldwide on Airbnb this summer, cities like Lille, Versailles, and Lyon are trending thanks to the strategic decision to host Paris 2024 throughout France.  Listing page views during the Games period have been on average 11 times higher in the French host cities and their surroundings compared to the previous year

Families seek outdoor space and beachside stays 
Having more space to be outside is a priority for families this summer, with searches for outdoor amenities like pools and BBQs increasing by 30% for family travel. With amenities like chef’s kitchens and private outdoor areas, Airbnb is the preferred choice of many families. Almost three in five guests say being able to fit all their family in one place is a major deciding factor when booking, according to a recent survey. And 71% say that amenities such as kitchens, workspaces, and backyards are important when booking. 

This summer, families are looking to Airbnb to hike, swim and soak up incredible views. Some of the top categories booked for families this summer have a waterfront theme, including Beach, Amazing Pools, and Lake categories. Here are some of the top trending destinations near the water for families this summer:

- Çeşme, Turkey 
- Krk, Croatia 
- Jeju, South Korea
- Cebu City, Philippines 
- Melbourne, Australia
- Puerto Escondido, Mexico 
- Nassau, Bahamas 
- Durrës, Albania 
- Miramar Beach, FL, United States
- Marquette, MI, United States

New features for group travel
During its summer announcement, the platform indicated that more than 80% of Airbnb bookings are group trips. Therefore, it introduced new features that make planning these types of trips easier than ever: 

- Shared wishlist- You can now easily share your favorites with others on your trip, inviting them to add accommodations, write notes and vote on listings. When you share postings with others, the app creates a favorites list with these accommodations.

- New Messages tab tab - the redesigned Communications tab now allows everyone on the trip to send messages to the host through a group. The simplified design consolidates all guest, host and customer support messages in one place, making it easier to search through messages. Reactions allow guests and hosts to respond with emojis, and AI-suggested quick responses help hosts instantly answer frequently asked questions. 

- Trip invitations- once you've booked a trip, you can invite others to join the trip through digital postcards of your destination, illustrated by artists from around the world. Everyone who joins the trip will receive all the details of the booking, including full address, wifi password and check-in instructions.

Airbnb also introduced Icons, a new category of incredible experiences offered by big names in music, film, television, art, sports and more.

Whether it’s rooting on a team at a nearby sporting event, drifting down a lazy river with loved ones or enjoying the pool with friends at a beachfront villa, there are plenty of playful adventures awaiting this summer. Global sporting events fuel travel excitement  As the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 draw closer, guests from around the world are looking to secure a front row seat at the event. While Paris, is the most searched city worldwide on Airbnb this summer, cities like Lille, Versailles, and Lyon are trending thanks to the strategic decision to host Paris 2024 throughout France.  Listing page views during the Games period have been on average 11 times higher in the French host cities and their surroundings compared to the previous year Families seek outdoor space and beachside stays  Having more space to be outside is a priority for families this summer, with searches for outdoor amenities like pools and BBQs increasing by 30% for family travel. With amenities like chef’s kitchens and private outdoor areas, Airbnb is the preferred choice of many families. Almost three in five guests say being able to fit all their family in one place is a major deciding factor when booking, according to a recent survey. And 71% say that amenities such as kitchens, workspaces, and backyards are important when booking.  This summer, families are looking to Airbnb to hike, swim and soak up incredible views. Some of the top categories booked for families this summer have a waterfront theme, including Beach, Amazing Pools, and Lake categories. Here are some of the top trending destinations near the water for families this summer: - Çeşme, Turkey  - Krk, Croatia  - Jeju, South Korea - Cebu City, Philippines  - Melbourne, Australia - Puerto Escondido, Mexico  - Nassau, Bahamas  - Durrës, Albania  - Miramar Beach, FL, United States - Marquette, MI, United States New features for group travel During its summer announcement, the platform indicated that more than 80% of Airbnb bookings are group trips. Therefore, it introduced new features that make planning these types of trips easier than ever:  - Shared wishlist- You can now easily share your favorites with others on your trip, inviting them to add accommodations, write notes and vote on listings. When you share postings with others, the app creates a favorites list with these accommodations. - New Messages tab tab - the redesigned Communications tab now allows everyone on the trip to send messages to the host through a group. The simplified design consolidates all guest, host and customer support messages in one place, making it easier to search through messages. Reactions allow guests and hosts to respond with emojis, and AI-suggested quick responses help hosts instantly answer frequently asked questions.  - Trip invitations- once you've booked a trip, you can invite others to join the trip through digital postcards of your destination, illustrated by artists from around the world. Everyone who joins the trip will receive all the details of the booking, including full address, wifi password and check-in instructions. Airbnb also introduced Icons, a new category of incredible experiences offered by big names in music, film, television, art, sports and more.

During his Contribution on the Bail (Amendment) Act, 2024, in the House of Assembly, on January 31, 2024, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis stated that he supported the Bill, in order to insist that the Bahamian people “have the right to be safe in their homes and in their neighborhoods, and to require that those who violate the conditions placed upon them in the name of justice are held accountable."

He noted that the main objectives of that Bill were straightforward.

“First, we are inserting a new section, 9A, which requires those being placed on bail to adhere to certain conditions upon which bail may be granted, and provide for the revocation of bail when those conditions are breached,” Prime Minister Davis pointed out.

“When your bail is contingent upon certain conditions and you breach those conditions, then the bail itself is subject to being revoked,” he added.

Prime Minister Davis said that all persons placed on bail will be entered into what’s called a recognisance of bail, which will, in addition to capturing their personal information, clearly lay out the conditions placed on the person being granted bail, so that they are fully aware of what those conditions are.

Prime Minister Davis added that those conditions represented a standard of conduct that should be expected of anyone placed on bail.

Some of those conditions, he said, included the following: showing up to court at the appointed time and not leaving proceedings without permission; not interfering with witnesses; and not committing any offences while placed on bail.

He added that they may also include the following: reporting to a police station at a specified time; wearing a monitoring device; surrendering passports and other traveling documents; and keeping the peace and being of good behavior -- as well as any other conditions prescribed by the Chief Justice.

“These conditions, to my mind, reflect common sense, and are clearly within the interest of the public good,” Prime Minister Davis said.

“Anyone who breaches these conditions should be held accountable.”

He noted that one of the core principles of the effective administration of justice was that penalties must be sure and swift if they were to be an effective deterrent.

Prime Minister Davis said: “So, if anyone thinks they are going to just duck out of coming to court; commit additional offences; tamper with the monitoring devices placed upon them; or breach the conditions imposed on them in any way, then I have news for them: It’s a new day for justice and accountability in The Bahamas.”

He continued that the Bill also amended section 12 of the principal Act.  Of note there, Prime Minister Davis said, was the replacement of subsection 4 with new standards, ensuring that — in the interest of swift justice — anyone arrested while on bail will be brought before a Magistrate within 48 hours of their arrest or even sooner, if possible.

He said: “The amendments of sections 12A and 12B establish the fact that the breaching of conditions of bail is to be regarded as an offence and that offence should be punishable, upon conviction, – and let me repeat that so it’s clear for everyone – the offence will be punishable, not when accused, but upon conviction, to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years.”

“So, in subsection 9A, we see an expectation that no offences are committed while on bail, and section 12 now establishes breaches in bail as an offence,” Prime Minister Davis added.  “Notably, in establishing these breaches as offences, we are also removing the option of paying fines.”

He stated that those who blatantly breach the conditions of their release will no longer have the option of paying a fine and “going about their business”.

“In the interest of public safety, breaching the conditions placed on the granting of bail will be regarded, as I said, as an offence,” Prime Minister Davis said.

He added: “Let’s be clear. We still fully respect the presumption of innocence for the accused, as well as the discretion of judges in the granting of bail. We believe these changes to the law balance our respect for the discretion of the Judiciary with the urgent need to address the violence in our communities.”

The fact was, Prime Minister Davis said, many of the people who killed or who were killed while on bail were often violating the terms of their bail prior to those violent incidents.

“We have individuals accused of murder who are supposed to have restrictions placed on their movement, traveling to and fro as they please,” he noted.

“Such blatant disregard for the conditions placed on them by the courts, as well as their disregard for public safety, should be met with a strong response -- not a slap on the wrist,” Prime Minister Davis added.

“Because we all know what often happens when they refuse to comply with the conditions of their bail.”

Prime Minister Davis stressed that that had nothing to do with the presumption of innocence. Regardless of the crime committed, he noted, every one before the courts was still presumed innocent.

“Unfortunately, the streets don’t see it that way,” he said.  “A lot of men who have been presumed innocent by our judicial system have broken the conditions of their bail, paid their fine and walked back out freely, only to be executed in the court of street justice.  The evidence is there.”

“This senseless cycle of violence, one tragedy after another, has led to too much loss – not just the loss of life, terrible enough, but a loss of faith in our justice system,” Prime Minister Davis added.

He pointed out that concerns about the proposed amendments were misplaced.

Prime Minister stressed that judges retain full discretion to consider whether the person applying for bail was considered a flight risk, or a danger to the community, or are themselves in danger, in the original decision to grant bail.

“There is also the consideration of whether that individual will be tried within a reasonable time,” he added.  “Again, the discretion of the court in the granting of bail remains.

“However, the granting of bail should now, and has always included conditions.”

Prime Minister Davis stated, the amendment did not interfere with judicial discretion.  Instead, he said, it encouraged people placed on bail to observe the conditions rather than just treat them as an inconvenience.

He said: “So, for example, the young man who is considering removing his ankle monitoring device must do so, now, with the knowledge that this breach of the condition of his bail will result, and (or) could result, in his immediate arrest and detention. He will be brought before the courts, and upon being given a fair hearing, if found guilty, his freedom will be restricted.”

Prime Minister Davis said that the person in his anecdote would also have to pay the consequences for the offence of breaching the conditions of his bail.

“Where before he may have paid a fine – without, potentially, even an interruption of his freedom – he must now move forward with the understanding that if he breaches the conditions of his bail, his bail will likely be revoked, he will pay the penalty for that offence, and it is quite likely the judge may not grant him bail again,” he added.

“Those who are granted bail can no longer take their freedom for granted, and gamble with their lives and the lives of those around them.”

Prime Minister Davis pointed out that, in 2023, over 40% of murder victims were on bail for murder-related charges; and that they were not the only victims. 

“Gang violence is putting innocent Bahamians at risk: passengers who ride in their vehicles, children in their homes, family members – even innocent passersby walking or driving have had their lives tragically cut short,” he stated.

“Many times, these incidents of violence occur when the individual granted bail is engaging in activities that are clearly in breach of the conditions of their bail, or they have previously violated these conditions – only to pay a fine and walk the streets as a free man,” Prime Minister Davis added.

He noted that providing more forceful accountability when those breaches occur will reduce the number of bail-related murders.

Prime Minister Davis stressed that the amendment was “an important step forward to save lives”. But, he added, it was far from the only step his Government was taking to protect the nation’s people.

He referred to “Crackdown 2024”, his Government’s detailed plan to build safer communities, which he shared in the House of Assembly the prior week.

Prime Minister Davis reiterated that Crackdown 2024 was comprised of five pillars.

He said:  “The first pillar is prevention, which focuses on community development, education, social services, and economic opportunities. The second pillar is focused on strengthening policing, including increased police presence, as well as investments in training, technology, and data collection, and enhanced regional cooperation against drugs and weapons trafficking.

The third pillar is focused on prosecution, which includes new specialized courts dealing with specific crimes, and better support systems for victims and witnesses.

“The fourth pillar is punishment, ensuring that criminals are brought to justice and held accountable with harsh penalties for gang and gun-related offences,” he added.  “Finally, there is rehabilitation. Because the vast majority of those incarcerated will be returned to our communities, it is in their interest and ours to help them gain the skills they need to reintegrate successfully into society.”

The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of collaboration and cooperation – collaboration across different branches and agencies of government, and collaboration with the public as well.

“As a part of our efforts, we are expanding school policing, placing more specially trained officers in schools to foster positive relationships with students and de-escalate conflicts and potential violence,” he noted.

“Our ‘Clear, Hold, and Build’ Policing Strategy is a phased anti-gang strategy that focuses on rooting out gang elements, securing these areas, and then investing in community development to prevent the re-emergence of such elements,” Prime Minister Davis added.

He noted that, to deter crime in high-risk areas, his government was significantly increasing police presence through expanded saturation patrols.

“We are introducing advanced facial recognition CCTV systems to assist in monitoring our communities and finding criminals,” Prime Minister Davis said.

“Community policing is also a critical part of our data-driven strategy,” he added.  “Strengthening ties between the community and the police can aid in intelligence gathering, conflict de-escalation, and crime prevention.”

Prime Minister Davis said that his Government was making “key investments” in communication centers, stronger witness protection and support, more money for its Confidential Informant Fund, and the construction of a National Forensics Laboratory to facilitate “swift and effective” investigations.

He added that his Government was also exploring ways it could more aggressively legislate against violent crimes, especially gun crimes, to curtail the levels of violence in the streets.

Prime Minister Davis said:  “Our plan calls for immediate investments in the recruitment of more police officers, not only to increase police presence, but to ensure that we have the manpower to effectively police our communities and establish new units like the Anti-Gang Violence Unit to take action against the proliferation of gangs, as well as the Domestic Violence Unit to protect our women.”

“If we are to succeed in reclaiming our communities, we must effectively address each one of our five pillars.”

He stated that violence was robbing the nation’s young men and the country, as a whole, of too much potential.

“Creating enduring progress will require a nationwide commitment and effort – but this is a fight we must win, to secure a brighter tomorrow for all Bahamians,” Prime Minister Davis noted.  “What matters now is results. 

“I fully support the Bail (Amendment) Bill, 2024, as a critical step in the fight to make our communities and our nation safer.”

During his Contribution on the Bail (Amendment) Act, 2024, in the House of Assembly, on January 31, 2024, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis stated that he supported the Bill, in order to insist that the Bahamian people “have the right to be safe in their homes and in their neighborhoods, and to require that those who violate the conditions placed upon them in the name of justice are held accountable." He noted that the main objectives of that Bill were straightforward. “First, we are inserting a new section, 9A, which requires those being placed on bail to adhere to certain conditions upon which bail may be granted, and provide for the revocation of bail when those conditions are breached,” Prime Minister Davis pointed out. “When your bail is contingent upon certain conditions and you breach those conditions, then the bail itself is subject to being revoked,” he added. Prime Minister Davis said that all persons placed on bail will be entered into what’s called a recognisance of bail, which will, in addition to capturing their personal information, clearly lay out the conditions placed on the person being granted bail, so that they are fully aware of what those conditions are. Prime Minister Davis added that those conditions represented a standard of conduct that should be expected of anyone placed on bail. Some of those conditions, he said, included the following: showing up to court at the appointed time and not leaving proceedings without permission; not interfering with witnesses; and not committing any offences while placed on bail. He added that they may also include the following: reporting to a police station at a specified time; wearing a monitoring device; surrendering passports and other traveling documents; and keeping the peace and being of good behavior -- as well as any other conditions prescribed by the Chief Justice. “These conditions, to my mind, reflect common sense, and are clearly within the interest of the public good,” Prime Minister Davis said. “Anyone who breaches these conditions should be held accountable.” He noted that one of the core principles of the effective administration of justice was that penalties must be sure and swift if they were to be an effective deterrent. Prime Minister Davis said: “So, if anyone thinks they are going to just duck out of coming to court; commit additional offences; tamper with the monitoring devices placed upon them; or breach the conditions imposed on them in any way, then I have news for them: It’s a new day for justice and accountability in The Bahamas.” He continued that the Bill also amended section 12 of the principal Act.  Of note there, Prime Minister Davis said, was the replacement of subsection 4 with new standards, ensuring that — in the interest of swift justice — anyone arrested while on bail will be brought before a Magistrate within 48 hours of their arrest or even sooner, if possible. He said: “The amendments of sections 12A and 12B establish the fact that the breaching of conditions of bail is to be regarded as an offence and that offence should be punishable, upon conviction, – and let me repeat that so it’s clear for everyone – the offence will be punishable, not when accused, but upon conviction, to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years.” “So, in subsection 9A, we see an expectation that no offences are committed while on bail, and section 12 now establishes breaches in bail as an offence,” Prime Minister Davis added.  “Notably, in establishing these breaches as offences, we are also removing the option of paying fines.” He stated that those who blatantly breach the conditions of their release will no longer have the option of paying a fine and “going about their business”. “In the interest of public safety, breaching the conditions placed on the granting of bail will be regarded, as I said, as an offence,” Prime Minister Davis said. He added: “Let’s be clear. We still fully respect the presumption of innocence for the accused, as well as the discretion of judges in the granting of bail. We believe these changes to the law balance our respect for the discretion of the Judiciary with the urgent need to address the violence in our communities.” The fact was, Prime Minister Davis said, many of the people who killed or who were killed while on bail were often violating the terms of their bail prior to those violent incidents. “We have individuals accused of murder who are supposed to have restrictions placed on their movement, traveling to and fro as they please,” he noted. “Such blatant disregard for the conditions placed on them by the courts, as well as their disregard for public safety, should be met with a strong response -- not a slap on the wrist,” Prime Minister Davis added. “Because we all know what often happens when they refuse to comply with the conditions of their bail.” Prime Minister Davis stressed that that had nothing to do with the presumption of innocence. Regardless of the crime committed, he noted, every one before the courts was still presumed innocent. “Unfortunately, the streets don’t see it that way,” he said.  “A lot of men who have been presumed innocent by our judicial system have broken the conditions of their bail, paid their fine and walked back out freely, only to be executed in the court of street justice.  The evidence is there.” “This senseless cycle of violence, one tragedy after another, has led to too much loss – not just the loss of life, terrible enough, but a loss of faith in our justice system,” Prime Minister Davis added. He pointed out that concerns about the proposed amendments were misplaced. Prime Minister stressed that judges retain full discretion to consider whether the person applying for bail was considered a flight risk, or a danger to the community, or are themselves in danger, in the original decision to grant bail. “There is also the consideration of whether that individual will be tried within a reasonable time,” he added.  “Again, the discretion of the court in the granting of bail remains. “However, the granting of bail should now, and has always included conditions.” Prime Minister Davis stated, the amendment did not interfere with judicial discretion.  Instead, he said, it encouraged people placed on bail to observe the conditions rather than just treat them as an inconvenience. He said: “So, for example, the young man who is considering removing his ankle monitoring device must do so, now, with the knowledge that this breach of the condition of his bail will result, and (or) could result, in his immediate arrest and detention. He will be brought before the courts, and upon being given a fair hearing, if found guilty, his freedom will be restricted.” Prime Minister Davis said that the person in his anecdote would also have to pay the consequences for the offence of breaching the conditions of his bail. “Where before he may have paid a fine – without, potentially, even an interruption of his freedom – he must now move forward with the understanding that if he breaches the conditions of his bail, his bail will likely be revoked, he will pay the penalty for that offence, and it is quite likely the judge may not grant him bail again,” he added. “Those who are granted bail can no longer take their freedom for granted, and gamble with their lives and the lives of those around them.” Prime Minister Davis pointed out that, in 2023, over 40% of murder victims were on bail for murder-related charges; and that they were not the only victims.  “Gang violence is putting innocent Bahamians at risk: passengers who ride in their vehicles, children in their homes, family members – even innocent passersby walking or driving have had their lives tragically cut short,” he stated. “Many times, these incidents of violence occur when the individual granted bail is engaging in activities that are clearly in breach of the conditions of their bail, or they have previously violated these conditions – only to pay a fine and walk the streets as a free man,” Prime Minister Davis added. He noted that providing more forceful accountability when those breaches occur will reduce the number of bail-related murders. Prime Minister Davis stressed that the amendment was “an important step forward to save lives”. But, he added, it was far from the only step his Government was taking to protect the nation’s people. He referred to “Crackdown 2024”, his Government’s detailed plan to build safer communities, which he shared in the House of Assembly the prior week. Prime Minister Davis reiterated that Crackdown 2024 was comprised of five pillars. He said:  “The first pillar is prevention, which focuses on community development, education, social services, and economic opportunities. The second pillar is focused on strengthening policing, including increased police presence, as well as investments in training, technology, and data collection, and enhanced regional cooperation against drugs and weapons trafficking. The third pillar is focused on prosecution, which includes new specialized courts dealing with specific crimes, and better support systems for victims and witnesses. “The fourth pillar is punishment, ensuring that criminals are brought to justice and held accountable with harsh penalties for gang and gun-related offences,” he added.  “Finally, there is rehabilitation. Because the vast majority of those incarcerated will be returned to our communities, it is in their interest and ours to help them gain the skills they need to reintegrate successfully into society.” The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of collaboration and cooperation – collaboration across different branches and agencies of government, and collaboration with the public as well. “As a part of our efforts, we are expanding school policing, placing more specially trained officers in schools to foster positive relationships with students and de-escalate conflicts and potential violence,” he noted. “Our ‘Clear, Hold, and Build’ Policing Strategy is a phased anti-gang strategy that focuses on rooting out gang elements, securing these areas, and then investing in community development to prevent the re-emergence of such elements,” Prime Minister Davis added. He noted that, to deter crime in high-risk areas, his government was significantly increasing police presence through expanded saturation patrols. “We are introducing advanced facial recognition CCTV systems to assist in monitoring our communities and finding criminals,” Prime Minister Davis said. “Community policing is also a critical part of our data-driven strategy,” he added.  “Strengthening ties between the community and the police can aid in intelligence gathering, conflict de-escalation, and crime prevention.” Prime Minister Davis said that his Government was making “key investments” in communication centers, stronger witness protection and support, more money for its Confidential Informant Fund, and the construction of a National Forensics Laboratory to facilitate “swift and effective” investigations. He added that his Government was also exploring ways it could more aggressively legislate against violent crimes, especially gun crimes, to curtail the levels of violence in the streets. Prime Minister Davis said:  “Our plan calls for immediate investments in the recruitment of more police officers, not only to increase police presence, but to ensure that we have the manpower to effectively police our communities and establish new units like the Anti-Gang Violence Unit to take action against the proliferation of gangs, as well as the Domestic Violence Unit to protect our women.” “If we are to succeed in reclaiming our communities, we must effectively address each one of our five pillars.” He stated that violence was robbing the nation’s young men and the country, as a whole, of too much potential. “Creating enduring progress will require a nationwide commitment and effort – but this is a fight we must win, to secure a brighter tomorrow for all Bahamians,” Prime Minister Davis noted.  “What matters now is results.  “I fully support the Bail (Amendment) Bill, 2024, as a critical step in the fight to make our communities and our nation safer.”

Grand Bahama is set to be pegged as the leader in cutting edge fiber connectivity, with more homes recently passed to receive BTC’s affordable, superfast, and unstoppable fiber.

As of last month, BTC passed an additional 2,000+ homes in the nation’s second city. This is 500 more homes passed when compared to fiber network expansion in October.

“This marks the most homes that we have released in any given month since we started this entire project, so November was indeed a standout month,” said Dominic Petty, BTC’s Executive Senior Manager for the Northern Bahamas.

Continued Petty: “These latest homes passed in November brings us to a 90 percent completion rate of installing fiber in Grand Bahama, so we have 10 percent remaining in order to have Grand Bahama fully fiberized.”

The latest homes passed in Grand Bahama are on Pinta Ave (Bahamia), Yorkshire Dr. (Bahamia), Rum Cay Drive (Bahamia), Heritage, Lunar Boulevard, Regency Park, and Caravel Beach.

“For the new year of 2024, we want to ensure that most of the businesses in Grand Bahama have our fiber services,” Petty said. “We plan to decommission our copper network and migrate customers to fiber in the first half of 2024.”

Meanwhile, Petty said that thousands of customers in Grand Bahama that are connected to BTC’s fiber have shared that they are very pleased with the service and speed that they receive.

“They are very surprised to know how much value we offer, and they are very pleased with the variety of FLOW TV channels that we have, so a lot of our customers now see us through a different lens since they now have fiber. It’s like night and day. It’s a big difference and we are thrilled to bring great service and value to our customers.”

Customers signing up for fiber services will be eligible to participate in BTC’s “Christmas is on Us” campaign and will have the opportunity to win a brand-new Kia Sonet with one year of comprehensive auto insurance.

Grand Bahama is set to be pegged as the leader in cutting edge fiber connectivity, with more homes recently passed to receive BTC’s affordable, superfast, and unstoppable fiber. As of last month, BTC passed an additional 2,000+ homes in the nation’s second city. This is 500 more homes passed when compared to fiber network expansion in October. “This marks the most homes that we have released in any given month since we started this entire project, so November was indeed a standout month,” said Dominic Petty, BTC’s Executive Senior Manager for the Northern Bahamas. Continued Petty: “These latest homes passed in November brings us to a 90 percent completion rate of installing fiber in Grand Bahama, so we have 10 percent remaining in order to have Grand Bahama fully fiberized.” The latest homes passed in Grand Bahama are on Pinta Ave (Bahamia), Yorkshire Dr. (Bahamia), Rum Cay Drive (Bahamia), Heritage, Lunar Boulevard, Regency Park, and Caravel Beach. “For the new year of 2024, we want to ensure that most of the businesses in Grand Bahama have our fiber services,” Petty said. “We plan to decommission our copper network and migrate customers to fiber in the first half of 2024.” Meanwhile, Petty said that thousands of customers in Grand Bahama that are connected to BTC’s fiber have shared that they are very pleased with the service and speed that they receive. “They are very surprised to know how much value we offer, and they are very pleased with the variety of FLOW TV channels that we have, so a lot of our customers now see us through a different lens since they now have fiber. It’s like night and day. It’s a big difference and we are thrilled to bring great service and value to our customers.” Customers signing up for fiber services will be eligible to participate in BTC’s “Christmas is on Us” campaign and will have the opportunity to win a brand-new Kia Sonet with one year of comprehensive auto insurance.