Fast Facts: Nassau |
Nassau is the capital, largest city and the commercial center of the Bahamas, a country of over 700 islands in the Atlantic Ocean just east of Florida. Nassau is located on New Providence Island, and, along with the casino and resort-focused Paradise Island, hosts a population of is just over 210,000 people.
The Sand Trap was a bar, where in 2016, a few US Embassy personnel got into a brawl with some locals. The bar closed down shortly afterwards, so isn't even there anymore. A list follows with the areas that have proven crime-ridden in recent months, such as the Sand Trap, Fish Fry and Nassau areas referred to by locals as “Over the Hill’ by locals and “should be avoided after sunset.”. New Providence Island, principal island of The Bahamas, West Indies. It is located between Andros Island (west) and Eleuthera Island (east). The island has a length of 21 miles (34 km) and a width of 7 miles (11 km) and is mostly flat, with swamps and several shallow lakes. Embassy placed The Sand Trap off-limits to personnel following a gang-related murder. The venue is on the north side of West Bay Street at the intersection with Saint Albans Drive. Exercise caution in the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay in Nassau, and in areas of Nassau referred to as “Over the Hill,” especially after sunset. Jan 02, 2019 The letter also recommended guests “not venture too far from tourist areas,” and identified as “particular areas of concern” the Sand Trap, the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay, “and areas of.
The mainstay of the economy of Nassau is tourism (60% of GDP), and to a lesser extent, financial services (15%). Nassau is the largest cruise port in the Bahamas, attracting over 3 million cruise passengers each year. Measured by GDP per capita, the Bahamas is the third richest country in the Americas, after the US and Canada.
Nassau has a tropical marine climate, with year-round daytime temperatures ranging from the low to high 80s F. The dry season begins in November and lasts through May while the rainy season commences in June and extends through October, with the heaviest rains taking place from June through August.
When you're visiting Nassau, it's important to get into the spirit of the place. Bahamian food can be very interesting, there are some beautiful reefs to explore, and to an extent, like Las Vegas, what happens in Nassau stays in Nassau. After all, you'll more than likely be heading out to an Out Island in short order, so enjoy the place for what it is.
U.S. officials tell staff Sand Trap 'off limits'
November 24, 2016
AMERICAN officials have declared that the St. Albans Drive nightspot, Sand Trap, is “off limits” for its employees and their families, citing the shooting death of a woman there last week and an “ongoing association with known criminal elements”.
Part of a series of security messages released yesterday, the United States Embassy “strongly” recommended U.S. citizens to avoid “frequenting this establishment”.
Another advisory warned American citizens to avoid tomorrow’s ‘We March Black Friday’ civic demonstration.
The Embassy also issued a warning reminding its citizens in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos of the annual increase in crime during the holiday season.
For the Sand Trap, the statement described the establishment as the “launching point” for jet ski operators, a group the Embassy has repeatedly taken issue with in recent years. It claims that operators are “minimally regulated by government and also associated with criminal activity such as assault”.
A woman was killed and two people, a woman and a man, were hospitalised following a drive by shooting at the Sand Trap off West Bay Street around 8pm on November 14.
The shooting took the country’s murder count to 90 for the year.
Drainage Sand Trap
Speaking to crime trends, the United States Embassy reminded US citizens in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos of the annual scourge in crime in these countries around the holiday season.
“This notice is intended to provide security information to help ensure a safe holiday season,” the statement said.
It continued: “Vigilance plays a key role in the early detection of danger. If you observe anything you perceive as suspicious or dangerous the best option is to move away immediately and call the police at 911 or 919 in the Bahamas, and 911 or 999 in Turks and Caicos.”
The Embassy said that perpetrators of residential crimes typically conduct “pre-attack surveillance”, insisting that the trend underscores the need for an increased awareness of common activities which can directly impact personal security.
Embassy officials warned its residents to think prudently about after dark travel, stressing that they avoid unlit areas where persons could hide and ambush unsuspecting persons, listing the Arawak Cay area as such a spot.
U.S. residents were also urged to keep wallets and purses close to their bodies while shopping or at restaurants around the Bahamas. The statement read: “Avoid carrying large amounts of cash, use an ATM/credit card when possible and check your credit card statements regularly for potential fraud or unauthorised charges. “
It continued: “Avoid using ATM machines located in isolated areas and consider using ATM machines located in locations that have security coverage. Be particularly aware of your surroundings when making withdrawals.”
“Keep your car doors locked and your windows rolled up, as you drive. Keep valuables out of sight when parked (including cell phones, laptops, cash, GPS, or other valuables). Utilise a car alarm or steering wheel locking device.”
“Do not display or wear expensive jewellery that may make you a target for criminals.”
“In crawling traffic or in a stopped line of cars, leave at least a half a car length between your vehicle and the car in front of you. If you believe you are being followed, drive immediately to a safe location such as a police station, a gas station, or a hotel. If travelling in an unfamiliar area use a GPS or map app on your cell phone to know where you are when driving.”
Embassy officials also recommended to its residents, that if confronted by armed criminals, that they should value their lives over any vehicle or valuable.
“Remember your vehicle or valuables are not worth your life or anyone else’s life. Try to remain calm, clearly display your hands and do not make any sudden moves that could be interpreted as resistance,” the warning added.
Nassau Sand Trap Area
By Ricardo Wells, Tribune Staff Reporter
Plumbing Sand Trap
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Nassau Sand Trap Near Cruise Port
News date : 11/24/2016 Category : Environment, Health, Tribune Stories