THE Bahamas is “well positioned” to capture a significant amount of foreign direct investment, according to Minister of State for Investments Khaalis Rolle, who noted that the recent Bahamas International Investment & Business Forum (BIIBF) had generated a “tremendous amount of activity”.

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Pictured: Rendering of Rosewood at Baha Mar Opening 2015 (source: website). As part of the multi-property resort enclave of Baha Mar, Rosewood will offer traditional British Colonial architecture and interior styling, up to 200 beachview rooms and suites, five luxurious beachfront villas, signature dining venues, pools and Sense, A Rosewood Spa®

New York, NY (PRWEB) FEB. 2013 — The Bahamas continues to attract American luxury travelers, according to a new study released by Resonance Consultancy. The report also shows that the island group most wealthy Americans want to visit is just to the southeast, the emerging destination of Turks and Caicos.

The study, conducted in conjunction with the Luxury Institute in New York, surveyed more than 1,200 individuals from households with incomes of $150,000 and higher. The top 10% of American households now control 74% of the country’s wealth and account for nearly 50% of U.S. consumer spending today.

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I am so proud of the concept, menus and décor of this restaurant and am excited to bring my sense of hospitality to guests cruising to the Eastern Caribbean from Miami on Norwegian Getaway.

Miami, FL (PRWEB) FEB. 2013 — Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that celebrity chef and Food Network star Geoffrey Zakarian will create and oversee the opening of his seafood restaurant, Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian, on the line’s newest ship, Norwegian Getaway, which will sail year-round to the Eastern Caribbean from Miami beginning February 2014. To celebrate this exciting announcement, Norwegian partnered with Zakarian for an exclusive lunch on Saturday, February 23, 2013, at Soho Beach House in South Beach, during Miami’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival, further signifying Norwegian Getaway’s strong ties to her Miami home. Geoffrey Zakarian’s new restaurant is located in the ship’s hub amongst three expansive, action-packed decks called 678 Ocean Place and includes innovative outdoor spaces along The Waterfront, the ship’s oceanfront promenade, offering guests an unparalleled experience with a unique connection to the ocean.

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Speaking at the Baha Mar Casino Hotel topping-off ceremony, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said that the marketing of The Bahamas as a tourist resort is about to hit new levels, targeting new markets and high-end clientele. Watch an interview with Wilchcombe here.
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Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell said this week that the Prime Minister Perry Christie’s participation in the CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, held earlier that week, signalled his “re-emergence” in the Caribbean theatre.

“This was the first opportunity he had to attend a Heads of Government meeting since the general elections last year,” Minister Mitchell said.

Minister Mitchell noted that the main issue discussed at the meeting was the question of regional security.

The Bahamas chairs The Council of National Security Ministers and a presentation was made by the Minister of National Security for The Bahamas Bernard Nottage urging certain steps for the development of national security interests in the region, added Mitchell.

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PENNINGTON, N.J., Feb. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Cruise Critic® (http://www.cruisecritic.com), the leading cruise reviews site and largest online cruise community, has released its 2013 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards — the cruise awards based entirely on reviews submitted by cruisers.

This is an excerpt from PRNewswire as it appeared on February 28, 2013. For updates or to read the current version of this post in its entirety, please click here.

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The government is setting its sights on a medium-term strategy that will consolidate the public finances and achieve significant and sustainable reduction in the government’s debt burden, Prime Minister Perry Christie said this week.

While presenting the 2012/2013 Mid-Year Budget Statement on the six months ending December 31, 2012, at the House of Assembly February 25, 2013, the Prime Minister said: “For the sake of prudence, the plan will be monitored closely and, on the basis of evolving developments, will be adjusted as necessary as we move forward.”

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The following is Prime Minister Perry Christie’s statement on the passing of former Governor of The Central Bank of The Bahamas T Baswell Donaldson:

I have been informed of the passing of yet another outstanding Bahamian, Timothy B Donaldson C.B.E, better known as T. Baswell or T.B. Donaldson, who served his country with great distinction and ability over a lengthy period of time, most notably as the first Governor of the Central Bank of The Bahamas and subsequently as the Ambassador for The Bahamas to the United States and Permanent Representative to the OAS; as Chairman of the Securities Commission; and later still as Chairman of the Council of the College of The Bahamas.

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The redevelopment of Reef Village as a Blue Diamond Resort by Hutchison Whampoa and Sunwing Travel Group is set to begin in the next few weeks, bringing thousands of jobs to Grand Bahama, according to Prime Minister Perry Christie. Watch a ZNS news report on the announcement here.
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Aliya Allen, CEO, Bahamas Financial Services Board, speaking at the Bahamas International Investment and Business Forum (BIIBF) held in Freeport, Grand Bahama. (Photo Harry Cutting/©Dupuch)

In the wake of the global economic downturn, there has been a shift towards a culture of responsibility within the international financial services sector, according to Aliya Allen, chief executive officer of the Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB).

“There is a need for an image overhaul. Firms are embracing a new era of responsibility,” she said. “They want to be in a jurisdiction that reflects those values.”

Other client concerns are whether a jurisdiction has a fair legal system, a history of corruption or an unstable economy, said Allen during an address at the Bahamas International Investment & Business Forum (BIIBF) in Freeport last week.

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