The Bahamas
Bahama Islands News, Articles and Information
February Point awarded ‘Best Waterside Development of the Year ...
February Point on Great Exuma in The Bahamas has been voted the ‘Best Waterside Development of the Year 2006' by Caribbean World magazine.Promoted by Black Pearl Ventures, the exclusive residential resort of February Point nestles in a paradise location with each of its waterside villa offering stunning vistas of white sandy beaches and azure blue seas.
On receiving the prestigious Award, British-born Guy Newman of Bahamian property promoters, Black Pearl Ventures, said, “It is a fabulous honour for February Point to be voted ‘Best Waterside Development of the Year' by Caribbean World and its readers.
“Both unspoilt and private, The Exumas offers the best of island life and at February Point it is accessible from each and every villa via your own private jetty.
All-new Ford Mondeo to feature in 'Casino Royale'
The all-new Ford Mondeo makes its screen debut in the new James Bond movie 'Casino Royale', which opens in cinemas around the world from mid-November. These pictures are the first seen of the new model except for the Wagon (estate) version that was launched at the Paris Motor Show recently. There is a story behind the fact that cinema goers will be the first to see the new 2007 Ford Mondeo in action at the hands of the new James Bond, actor Daniel Craig. Although an Aston Martin remains James Bond's car of choice, the new Mondeo is the first car to appear in the film as Bond uses it to drive to a hotel after arriving in the Bahamas on the trail of a terrorist cell. "We're delighted to be part of this exciting new Bond project," said Stephen Odell, Ford of Europe vice president for marketing sales and service.A new, uninsured reality
According to meterological data collected by the website hurricanecity.com, Grand Bahama is the second most frequently hurricane-hit land mass in the world, following Grand Cayman. Since 1871, Grand Bahama has weathered a hurricane on average once every 2.45 years, and Andros, Abaco and Bimini are close behind in the top 10 list. Hurricanes are a reality in the Bahamas, and so, too, are increasingly expensive premiums for hurricane insurance. Since 2004, insurance rates in Grand Bahama have jumped 20-40 percent, according to several insurance providers. The cost of hurricane insurance, according to Patrick Ward, CEO of Bahamas First General Insurance, has a lot to do with the cost of reinsuranceinsurance for insurance companies. Each year reinsurers put up billions of dollars in capital in a gamble against the likelihood of a catastrophe, and when disaster strikes, they pay dearly.
Peacekeeping force for Haiti on the agenda, says Manning
Prime Minister Patrick Manning said yesterday that Caricom has not ruled out a peacekeeping force in Haiti to restore democracy in that country. He made these comments while speaking at a news conference during the tea-break of the Lower House in Parliament yesterday. Manning, however, stressed that the peacekeeping force would not be a military intervention. He said : "Caricom does not agree that there should be some intervention militarily in Haiti with the view of some kind of constitutional arrangement. That in itself would be extra-constitutional." Manning returned home on Thursday from the Bahamas where he and other Caricom leaders met with opposition parties from Haiti with a "view of some kind of understanding and some way forward". He said the members of the opposition parties went to Nassau without any mandate but only for discussions.Winn-Dixie Emerges From Chapter 11 Protection
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Jacksonville-based Winn-Dixie has emerged from bankruptcy. Almost two years ago the grocery chain filed for Chapter Eleven protection after it suffered huge financial losses caused by competitive pressures.The new Winn-Dixie is much smaller than the troubled company that filed for bankruptcy -- which had at the time 920 stores in eight states and the Bahamas and 79-thousand employees.
Now it has only 522 stores in five states -- including Mississippi -- and employs about 55-thousand. The company also sold warehouses, manufacturing plants and corporate jets.
The reorganization plan projects the company will return to profitability beginning in its next fiscal year that starts in June.
Winn-Dixie has reported losses of over one (b) billion dollars over the past three years.