Pictured: Prime Minister Perry Christie, right, receives an open letter in support for tourism from the United Nations World Tourism Organization Secretary General Taleb Rifai in a ceremony at Government House during the Small Island Developing States conference held February 19-20, 2014, in Nassau. (BIS Photo/Derek Smith)

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas received an open letter of endorsement and support from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as a regional leader in tourism.

The letter was presented to Prime Minister Perry Christie by UNTWO Secretary General Taleb Rifai in a ceremony at Government House, during the Small Island Developing States conference held earlier in the month in Nassau.

In accepting the letter, the Prime Minister called on the region to continue to share its resources with each other in order to create the feeling of one destination and one Caribbean.

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PENNINGTON, N.J., Feb. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Cruise Critic, the world’s leading cruise reviews site and online cruise community, has announced the winners of the 2014 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards. The awards reflect the best-of-the best in the industry, based entirely on ratings shared in member reviews posted to the Cruise Critic website.

This year’s big winner was Disney Cruise Line, taking home 13 first-place awards, including Best Ship for Disney Fantasy — for the second year in a row — and Disney Wonder, in the Large and Mid-Size categories, respectively. Disney Fantasy, Disney’s newest ship, won nine first-place awards, including Best Cabins, Best Dining and Best for Families. Disney Fantasy is known for having “Magical Portholes,” offering real-time sea views in inside cabins, extensive kids’ club facilities for all ages and unique dining options such as the interactive Animator’s Palate.

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Dr Beneby address attendees of International Stem Cell Society Conference in Freeport, Grand Bahama, February 22. (BIS Photo/Vandyke Hepburn)

On the final day of the three-day International Stem Cell Society Conference in Freeport, Grand Bahama, February 22, Dr Glen Beneby contributed to a panel discussion on overcoming cultural bias, addressing education gaps, strengthening of the research infrastructure, and the global transformation for stem cell research and regenerative medicine.

He said that The Bahamas has now entered the mainstream of healthcare research and therapy with the effective implementation of the Stem Cell Research and Therapy Act 2013.

Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville was also a part of the panel discussion.

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February 26, 2014 (The Gleaner) — The Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) confirmed on Monday that two related foreign companies owned by Jamaicans but registered and operational overseas are preparing to list on the local exchange.

One of those operations, restaurant company, Margaritaville Turks Limited (MTL), issued its prospectus on Tuesday ahead of a float of 21.156 million shares set for March 3-31.

The other entity under consideration is Margaritaville Caribbean Limited (MCL), which is incorporated in The Bahamas, according to JSE General Manager Marlene Street Forrest. MTL is a 100 per cent direct subsidiary of Margaritaville Caribbean.

This is an excerpt from Jamaica Gleaner as it appeared on February 26, 2014. For updates or to read the current version of this post in its entirety, please click here.

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Minister of Financial Services Ryan Pinder said recently that full membership and compliance in the World Trade Organization (WTO) is necessary if Bahamian producers want to compete on an even field with other international producers.

“Bahamian exporters would find themselves having favourable access to more than 100 countries, giving them an expansive foreign marketplace,” Minister Pinder told participants in the recent Bahamas Bureau of Standards’ First National Standardization Forum and Formation of Technical Committees Workshop, held at SuperClubs Breezes.

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Basketball star with Miami Heat, Alonzo Mourning, says that he is looking to buy a second home in The Bahamas sometime in the near future.
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BISX is pleased to announce its BISX All-Share Index and trading statistics for the twelve month period ending December 31, 2013, with comparison to the same period of 2012.

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Minister of Financial Services Ryan Pinder told participants in the recent Bahamas Bureau of Standards’ First National Standardization Forum and Formation of Technical Committees Workshop that the benefits of the standards bureau are critical to The Bahamas’ national development.

“A standards system can enhance the reputation of locally made products by assuring buyers that such products meet specified levels of quality and safety, thereby permitting domestic producers to compete more effectively not only in their own market, but also in the regional and international marketplace,” Minister Pinder said at the forum held at SuperClubs Breezes on Cable Beach.

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Airports Council International (ACI) recently announced Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) as the recipient of the 2013 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Award for Best Improvement By Region: Latin America-Caribbean category.

The award recognizes the extensive improvements made to the airport during a three-phased, $409 million redevelopment.

Vernice Walkine (left), president and chief executive officer at Nassau Airport Development Co (NAD), received official word of the ACI survey results last week.

“This award shows that our efforts to totally transform LPIA into a modern and functional facility are being noticed. To be recognized for what we’ve been able to accomplish in four short years of construction will help motivate our team to move from building amazing terminals to managing them at a world-class level.”

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Pictured: Fred Lounsberry, CEO, Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board speaking at the Small Island Developing States Conference on 20 Feb 2014. (Photo Harry Cutting/©Dupuch)

The head of the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board has highlighted the importance of using the Internet to understand what the tourism market wants, enhance the visitor experience and market The Bahamas to a new audience.

Chief executive officer of the tourist board, Fred Lounsberry, said 45 per cent of bookings to The Bahamas were done online, with customers also using the web to research their trip, plan activities and read reviews about the destination.

Speaking at the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) conference held in Nassau last week, Lounsberry said: “It is all about the Internet. It is an online world.”

“We have to be active, up to date and technologically on top of it. Your website is fundamental to marketing. Mobile devices are the future; there is no question about it.”

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