Lighthouse Pointe, Memories and the Port Lucaya Marketplace were among the places visited by Prime Minister, Dr Hubert Minnis, while on Grand Bahama October 27.

Accompanied by Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Grand Bahama, Kwasi Thompson, the Prime Minister was taken on a tour of the Memories resort by general manager, Veronica Clarke and Graham Torode of Hutchison Lucaya Ltd.

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TORONTO, Nov. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Access Industries has appointed Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the world’s leading luxury hospitality company, to manage the celebrated Ocean Club on Paradise Island in The Bahamas as of November 30, 2017. Upon this change in management, the property will be known as The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas.

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Pictured: Secretary General of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Sergio Mujica addresses a one-day seminar sponsored by the Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ), October 27, 2017. (BIS Photos/Kristaan Ingraham)

Secretary General of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Sergio Mujica was in The Bahamas October 27 for a one-day seminar sponsored by the Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ).

Minister of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration Brent Symonette delivered welcome remarks and said that the government welcomes the concept of standardization and is cognisant of its importance in meeting international compliance.

“We must find ways to diversify our economy and we can only compete effectively if we have standards that are accepted worldwide,” said Minister Symonette.

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Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (MOT) representatives traveled to Halifax, Nova Scotia during a recent Bahamas Tourist Office (BTO) Canada sales mission to promote The Islands Of The Bahamas and attract Canadian visitors to the destination.

High Commissioner Roselyn Horton joined Paul Strachan, senior director of MOT-Canada, as they met with key travel trade media, local travel agents, the Federation of International Basketball Association Group (FIBA), and students of Arcadia University, Dalhousie University, St Vincent University, and St Mary’s University.

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Pictured: Syneisha Bootle, maritime specialist with Callenders & Co. law firm, at the LJM Maritime Academy Conference last week. (Photo courtesy Callenders)

A Bahamian maritime lawyer has told international experts and cadets gathered for a conference in Nassau last week that The Bahamas has the potential to be the Western Hemisphere leader serving as a maritime one-stop shop, calling the possibilities for The Bahamas “infinite.”

Callenders law firm attorney Syneisha Bootle was addressing the two-day LJM Maritime Academy Conference 2017 at Melia Nassau Beach.

“The Bahamas is the 7th largest ship registry in the world, the most popular flag for cruise ships and is one of the largest contributors to the International Maritime Organization,” said Bootle. “And the country, particularly the island of Grand Bahama, is perfectly positioned to become a hemispheric leader rivalling thriving maritime-based economies like Malta.”

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Sandals Resorts International has invited over 6,000 travel agents across the US and Canada to attend a series of promotional events.

The events are designed to showcase not only the Sandals and Beaches brands and their various and upcoming innovations, but also the wider Caribbean destination, which is up and running and awaiting visitors.

The 21 city trade-show-styled presentations and dinners will run September 25-December 6.

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The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism is gearing up to launch its newest romance competition Say Yes in The Bahamas Wedding Proposal.

The social media competition, which commences October 30 and ends on December 15 is a joint initiative created by the Romance Department of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism in conjunction with US photography company Paparazzi Proposal, to showcase the ultimate wedding proposals offered in the destination.

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Pictured: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest addresses delegates at the 12th Annual Northern Conference of The Bahamas Association of Compliance Officers (BACO) one-day conference, October 25, 2017 at Pelican Bay Resort. (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

Opening the 12th Annual Northern Conference of The Bahamas Association of Compliance Officers (BACO) in Freeport yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest said that the strength of Grand Bahama’s economy is vital to the nation’s overall growth.

“People don’t necessarily understand how important Grand Bahama is to the entire health of this country, because it is still the second largest economy,” he said.

“If (Grand Bahama’s economy) fails, it will cause enormous pressure on the rest of the country,” added the Minister.

In his address to compliance officers, Minister Turnquest said his government feels it has an obligation to do what it can to ensure that Grand Bahama succeeds.

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Industry leaders gathered this morning to discuss the changing compliance landscape and its implications for The Bahamas, with Attorney General Carl Bethel warning: “The demands [of compliance] are expanding and we are going to have to really change the way we do business if we are to succeed.”

Speaking at Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLRO) Day this morning, the Attorney General said compliance, once viewed as a “necessary evil”, has now expanded its scope to become an integral part of every institution’s culture and the jurisdiction’s reputation as a whole.

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