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Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
The PhilFactor: Arlene hitting Mexico
The PhilFactor: Arlene hitting Mexico: "Arlene has a chance to grow into a hurricane before it makes landfall over Central Mexico on Thursday. It is getting better organized as upp..."
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
thebahamasweekly.com - Exuma had a low voter turnout due to inclement weather
thebahamasweekly.com - Exuma had a low voter turnout due to inclement weather
Exuma, The Bahamas – Low voter turnout in Exuma, the Exuma Cays and Ragged Island was a cause of concern for local government and parliamentary registrar officials, while conducting the June 23 elections in the nation’s fourth heavily populated district.
“The poll workers were dispatched to the polls at 7 o’clock this morning. They did their pre-balloting at 7:30 and the polls opened at 8 a.m. So far, I have inspected all of the polling divisions and the process has been going along pretty smoothly,” said Ivan Ferguson, senior deputy administrator of the Exumas, and Ragged Island.
“I have had no complaints at all and I anticipate no complaints before the poll closes at 6 p.m. this afternoon.”
The slow early morning response for local government supporters was attributed to inclement weather, but was expected to pick up as the weather cleared.
“We have had inclement weather this morning and I believe that may have affected the turn out today,” said Mr. Ferguson.
“The inclement weather began at about 5:30 this morning and never stopped or subsided until about quarter to 8 and that may have affected the turn out. But it’s sunny now and I believe you will see more people at the polls to vote.”
Exumians seem to be content with their local representatives and have not challenged candidates in the five areas.
“The elections here have been somewhat low-keyed. There seems to have been very little interest in voting in certain polling divisions,” said Mr. Ferguson.
“In Exuma, there has been uncontested polling divisions in five areas and so, that is an indication of the lacklustre support that we have had for local government elections in this district.”
Exumians had brief concerns about which register would be used for the local government elections, however officials quickly established that the current register was ready to be used for this election. The new voter cards would not be distributed until the close of the local government elections to avoid confusion.
“At the outset, concerns were raised about the register that would have been used during this election. There seems to have been some confusion about the register that would have been used. But that was clarified,” said Mr. Ferguson.
“They were told that they can vote on the current register because two registers cannot be enforced at the same time. And, the new voter cards cannot be distributed at this time, while the current register is still in force, it was corrected.”
Exuma’s local government officials are pleased with the decision handed down by the central government during the 2011 Budget Communication. They are committed to adhering to transparency and accountability measures of public funds, imposed by central government.
“The local government practitioners have no choice but to follow the lead as it relates to expenditure of public funds. We’ve always expressed the importance of transparency and accountability,” said Mr. Ferguson.
“As the principle financial officer for local government, I shall insist on transparency and accountability, as it relates to the expenditure of public funds.”
Friday, June 24, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Bahamian Inland Lakes
Most of the Bahamian lakes are linear or crescentic in shape, and this is easily identifies
their origin in depressions between ridges. Inland lakes are shallow, usually only a few
feet deep, and rarely more than three to four meters deep. They typically have swampy
islands of mangroves within them and along the perimeters. Gradually, the swamps
expand and as a result the lakes decrease in size, so that all the lakes eventually mature
into swamps. All the major Bahamian islands have such marshy areas that were once
lakes and which usually flood when the water table rises in the rainy season. Inland lakes
are not sources of potable water in The Bahamas.
Geologically two types of lakes predominate throughout The Bahamas, ridgeland and
rockland lakes. Ridgeland lakes will form whenever the land between two ridges falls
below the level of the water table. Lakes in The Bahamas are usually small in size. A
second type of lake is a shallow, saucer-like depression in the rockland. Presumably
rockland lakes were formed while the rockland was still below sea-level, and in some
cases tidal currents may have been responsible. In general, rockland lakes are less
common throughout The Bahamas than ridgeland lakes.
their origin in depressions between ridges. Inland lakes are shallow, usually only a few
feet deep, and rarely more than three to four meters deep. They typically have swampy
islands of mangroves within them and along the perimeters. Gradually, the swamps
expand and as a result the lakes decrease in size, so that all the lakes eventually mature
into swamps. All the major Bahamian islands have such marshy areas that were once
lakes and which usually flood when the water table rises in the rainy season. Inland lakes
are not sources of potable water in The Bahamas.
Geologically two types of lakes predominate throughout The Bahamas, ridgeland and
rockland lakes. Ridgeland lakes will form whenever the land between two ridges falls
below the level of the water table. Lakes in The Bahamas are usually small in size. A
second type of lake is a shallow, saucer-like depression in the rockland. Presumably
rockland lakes were formed while the rockland was still below sea-level, and in some
cases tidal currents may have been responsible. In general, rockland lakes are less
common throughout The Bahamas than ridgeland lakes.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
'Too soon' to know if we are entering heat wave
Published On:Wednesday, June 15, 2011
AS temperatures in New Providence peaked at 91° F yesterday for the first time this month, MET officials said it's too soon to know if we are in the beginning stages of a heat wave.
Yesterday's temperature - two degrees above average for June - would have climb another two degrees and continue at that level for a
sustained period to be considered truly
abnormal.
Basil Dean, chief meteorologist, said: "This is the first day that we've experienced it, so we can't call it just yet. It's slightly above the normal average, but you do get those spikes throughout the month.
Summer
"Once you start getting into a stretch of a week and beyond, then for us that could be classified as a heat wave. The summer has not officially started yet, but from an historical point of view, it is normal to get 90 during this month."
Heat waves are classified as five or more consecutive days where the temperature exceeds the average of any month by five degrees.
The mean maximum temperature - a projection which considers meteorological records over the past 30 years - for the month of June is 89 degrees.
However, the maximum temperatures for June have been in the 90s since 1980, according to Mr Dean, with temperatures peaking at 95 degrees in June 2008 and 95.4 degrees in June 2010.
Humidity also contributed to the intense heat experienced yesterday, according to Mr Dean, who said another factor was humans' ability to adapt to changes in the climate.
He said: "What would have made it feel a lot hotter today would be the relative humidity. Southwest winds are bringing a lot of moist tropical air across the Bahamas.
"We go through these cycles every year, cool season and back into the hot season. It appears that we get so comfortable with the cool weather, when those 90s hit you, you soon forget it was only recently very cool.
"One way to judge it is to ask yourself, has there been any record-breaking temperatures? If not, then it's the same heat you would have experienced last year."
The hottest temperature ever recorded for New Providence, 97.7 degrees, occurred during the month of June in 1998.
Source:http://www.tribune242.com/news/06152011_at-heatwave_news_pg5
Source:http://www.tribune242.com/news/06152011_at-heatwave_news_pg5
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The Nassau Guardian
The Nassau Guardian
| Tornado uproots trees, damages buildings |
 A tornado touched down on New Providence Wednesday CHESTER ROBARDS Guardian Staff Reporter Published: Jun 15, 2011 A tornado tore through Southern New Providence this afternoon, snapping limbs and causing minor damage to homes and power lines. Meteorological office officials said “it was a pretty big one.” Deputy Director of the Department of Meteorology Basil Dean said Wednesday’s tornado spawned from a system that developed in the Southern Bahamas and was on the ground for almost a half hour. “We had no reports of hail but we got a few phone calls that indicated that a tornado did touch down,” Dean said. “It lasted for about 30 minutess from the time I sighted it. It was a pretty big one from my vantage point. “It was confined to a relatively small area and good thing it was stationary for the most part.” Neither the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) nor the Royal Bahamas Police Force received reports of injuries due to the tornado, according to a Report from NEMA. “Assessment teams from NEMA went to some of the locations and observed that several trees had snapped and fallen in the streets in the Malcolm Road, East Street area,” he said. “However, there were no reports of injuries to residents or damage to properties. The Royal Bahamas Police control room received no report of any damage or injuries to persons as a result of the weather system. Director of NEMA Captain Stephen Russell said there were unconfirmed reports that the front door to a South Beach home was blown down by the strong wind. Tornadoes, which appear over land, are rarely seen in the Bahamas, while waterspouts, which develop over water, appear much more frequently. One such water spout moved onto land in Grand Bahama last year killing three workers at the Freeport Container Port. Malcolm Allotment resident, Hewette Miller said that while standing outside her home she watched the tornado pick up debris and toss it through the air. Just outside her home the wind snapped a large branch from an Almond tree. “I saw people’s roof tops coming up,” she said. “I saw the debris spinning in the tornado.” “I just saw in the distance the clouds just spinning and it started to come as if it was ready to touch the ground,” he said. “After that I said it’s time to pack up and roll.” Dean said the usual afternoon convection coupled with high temperatures and light winds caused the isolated cell, which also had the ability to produce dangerous lightening and hail, to form over Southeastern New Providence. The Meteorological office issued a severe weather warning for New Providence from 1:20 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. yesterday and a similar warning for Central Andros and the surrounding waters from 2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Dean said both isolated cells dissipated fairly quickly. Utility workers were out only minutes after the tornado passed to repair phone and electricity lines. Facebook teemed with mobile phone video and photos of the passing tornado. The Nassau Guardian was on the scene when the tornado raced across Baillou Hill Road South moving Southwest. |
The Nassau Guardian
The Nassau Guardian
| Gulfstream Airlines planning Bahamas route expansion |
JAMMAL SMITH NG Business Reporter jammal@nasguard.com Published: Jun 15, 2011
After filing for bankruptcy and subsequently going through a restructuring exercise, Gulfstream Airlines has its eyes set on a 50 percent increase in flights into The Bahamas starting this fall, according to the company’s new CEO. Darrell Richardson said the Florida-based carrier is refocusing its efforts, with a “Take back The Bahamas” campaign in the works. “We have boots on the ground there every day," Richardson said. “Our goal is to make every resort in The Bahamas a sales agent for our company.” The airline is reportedly working on expanding its fleet, and is currently in negotiations with three aircraft makers to acquire 10 turboprop aircraft that seat up to 45 individuals. Its current aircraft do not have lavatories and are too small to accommodate flight attendants. The company isn’t planning on relaunching its routes back into Nassau, saying increased competition in the capital will not make it the best avenue for expansion. It will continue to work on its current Family Island services, which include Andros, Freeport, Treasure Cay, Marsh Harbour, North Eleuthera, Governor’s Harbour, George Town and Bimini. The intended resurgence of Gulfstream comes after it experienced some turbulence last year, when the airline filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in order to restructure its debt and secure long-term financing. Up to $5 million in debtor-in possession financing was arranged with Chicago-based asset-management company Victory Park Capital Advisors. Former CEO David Hackett said at the time that economic challenges influenced the decision to file for bankruptcy. "The impact of our borrowing in the last several years to cope with consistently high fuel costs, and the economic impact of declining traffic, made it too difficult for the company to continue to meet its debt repayment needs," Hackett said at the time. The flight carrier also faced harsh penalties with the Federal Aviation Administration in 2009, as the authority was seeking $1.3 million in civil penalties from Gulfstream for violating rules on pilots’ and dispatchers’ work hour limits and not maintaining equipment properly. Gulfstream offers over 150 daily flights to 18 destinations in Florida and The Bahamas. |
Tornado warning extended for Central Andros
3.30pm - Thunderstorm warnings have been discontinued by Bahamas Department of Meteorology as radar and satellite data indicated the intensity of thunderstorms had diminished at 2.20pm. Scattered showers and thunderstorms can still be expected and people are advised to go about their normal business but remain vigilant.
3pm - There has been confirmed tornado activity in the East Street South area. Some trees were snapped at the base, minor roof damage was done to at least one house, some fences were ripped apart and leaves and plants were scattered across lawns and yards.
There have also been unconfirmed reports of a tornado touching down in the Gladstone Road area as the system moved west, but no information is available on that at this time.
At 3pm the Bahamas Department of Meteorology extended a severe thunderstorm warning to Central Andros and surrounding waters until 4:30pm. At 2:30pm radar and satellite data indicated a cluster of thunderstorms from Fresh Creek South to Behring Point.
Some of the thunderstorms were expected to be severe at times causing strong, gusty winds, dangerous lightning, heavy showers and possible tornadic activity.
Residents in the warning area were being advised to stay indoors and away from windows until conditions improve.
1:30pm – The Bahamas Department of Meteorology has just issued a tornado warning for the island of New Providence and reports reaching The Tribune newsroom indicate that a tornado may have touched down in a residential area off East Street South. The extent of the damage done is not known at this time and the Met Office has not yet confirmed that this was indeed tornadic activity.
At 1:20 radar and satellite data indicated an organised cluster of embedded thunderstorms and heavy showers moving westwards across New Providence.
Some of these storms can be severe at times, causing strong, gusty winds, funnel clouds, tornadic activity, possible hail, dangerous lightning and heavy rain showers.
http://www.tribune242.com/news/06152011_tornado_newsSource:
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
CANOE Travel - The Caribbean - Absolute serenity in the Bahamas
CANOE Travel - The Caribbean - Absolute serenity in the Bahamas
By Steve MacNaull, Special to QMI Agency
 |
 Ranked best in the Bahamas, if not the whole Caribbean, Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island runs the entire 5-km east coast of the island. (STEVE MACNAULL/Special to QMI Agency) |
There's nothing to do on pretty little Harbour Island in the Bahamas.
And that's exactly why residents and tourists like it.
Or rather love it.
The 2,000 full-time residents are a happy bunch, waving at every passerby and more-than-willing to extoll the virtues of this 5-km long by 1-km wide slice of tropical paradise just off the coast of North Eleuthera.
And 98% of the tourists on the island are repeat visitors.
That means my wife and I, who visited for five days as Harbour Island newbies, are more than likely to be back.
"Harbour Island can be whatever you want it to be," Coral Sands Resort manager Pamela Barry explains to me while we're staying there at a stunning oceanfront cottage.
"Sure, we have guests who hole up in their cottage and venture no farther than the beach."
And what a beach it is.
Consistently ranked the best in the Bahamas, if not the Caribbean, Pink Sands Beach is a wide swath of powdery eye candy that runs the entire length of the east coast of the island.
And the 39-room Coral Sands holds pride of place right smack dab in the middle.
If you're not careful, you'll find yourself gushing about the pink-hued sand's texture and the way it reflects light when covered by the shallow gin-clear waters and light green and turquoise when submerged under deeper water.
The odd cloud isn't a problem in the almost violet sky, But Barry also has suggestions for getting out and about, if so inclined.
With a golf cart for novelty transportation - even though there isn't a golf course on Harbour Island - there are a bunch of things to see and do, none of them heart-thumping or monumental, but all of them memorable and life changing in their own little way.
There's coffee and breakfast to be eaten at Arthur's Bakery, an island institution for it's famous cinnamon buns.
Necessities have to be picked up at Bristol's liquor store (some native Kalik beer and Chilean white wine, perhaps) and the Piggley Wiggley grocer.
Shopping runs the gamut from affordable souvenirs at Dilly Dally (easy to find with all the arrow signs declaring "Dilly Dally up dere") to trendy at ex-model and Princess Diana's bridesmaid India Hick's boutique The Sugar Mill on the main street.
Speaking of the main street, it's called Bay Street and it's one of only a dozen streets on the whole island.
You can't get lost walking or driving your golf cart on Harbour Island because every street eventually leads to where you're going, even if it's via the opposite direction after hitting a dead end.
Harbour Island isn't the bragging sort of place, but it is home to the most photographed place in the Bahamas, the oldest nightclub in the Bahamas and the Cheeseburger in Paradise.
The cheeseburger is rustled up by Ma Ruby, the 77-year-old matriarch at the restaurant of the same name that served Jimmy Buffet and inspired his hit Cheeseburger in Paradise.
Vic-Hum Club has been in business for 56 consecutive years and is the quintessential island dive bar with rusting car licence plate decor and an outdoor dance floor.
The most photographed place is the Lone Tree, a.k.a the Model Tree, at Girl's Bank - a shallow water bay.
The giant piece of driftwood was somehow planted there upright in 1992 by hurricane Andrew and almost immediately photographers and their models - from honeymooning couples to the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue - came a snapping.
The highest our heart rates get is from strolling along the beach and taking Valentine's Marina's snorkel tour to nearby Man Island to drift over coral heads with colourful triggerfish, tangs, parrotfish and the odd sea turtle, stingray and barracuda.
It's not a holiday if you don't gain a couple of pounds.
Easy enough to do at the Coral Sands lunch terrace overlooking the beach and ocean; its nighttime dining room; the restaurant at Runaway Hill (the little inn owned by ex-Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers hockey star Mark Messier); and the two-tier verandah restaurant at Rock House Hotel, considered to be the best on the island.
Island specialties tend to be snapper and grouper fish, done a variety of ways from gently sauteed to blackened.
Some 25% of Canadians who visit the Bahamas now do so in the summer.
With it no longer just a winter destination, Air Canada and WestJet continue daily non-stop Toronto-Nassau flights year-round.
Harbour Island is a short flight via North Eleuthera or ferry ride from Nassau.
Overnight rates at the Coral Sands Resort start at $250 US for a hotel room, $600 US for an oceanfront cottage.
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