The end of the month was marred by the arrival of Hurricane Sandy, which tore through the archipelago, forcing schools and offices to close and causing extensive damage to homes and infrastructure on some of the islands.

The category 2 storm tragically claimed the life of British investment banker Timothy Fraser-Smith (left), 66, chief executive of Deltec Bank & Trust, who fell from the balcony of his home in Lyford Cay October 25.

From Jamaica (pictured top), across Cuba and into Bahamian waters, Sandy damaged islands to the south, the west and northwestern parts of the archipelago, as well subjecting the capital to high winds and torrential rains. The storm left The Bahamas to head out over the Atlantic before striking the US northeast coast at the beginning of the week. Here is a summary of the news and press posts as the event unfolded.

Wednesday afternoon:

• Schools and Government offices to close for Sandy
• Hurricane Sandy: PM statement
• Tax Symposium cancelled
• Hurricane Sandy makes landfall in Cuba
• Hurricane Sandy approaching Nassau – video
• Washington to NYC at risk from Hurricane Sandy

Saturday afternoon:

• Lynden Pindling International Airport open
• Rare NYSE, Nasdaq closing Monday for damaging storm
• Hurricane Sandy aftermath – photos
• British banker killed in hurricane
• Disney assess damage at Castaway Cay
• PM visits islands hit by Hurricane Sandy – video
• NYSE suspends trading for second day
• Santiago still without power
• Cruise cays hit by Sandy
• PM mulls reviewing Disaster Preparedness Act – video
• No storm damage at Nassau container port – video
• PM assesses hurricane damage on GB – video
• Government to offer assistance to hurricane victims – video

Other links:

• Sandy cuts off 50% of tourism market
• Hurricane Sandy closes NYSE trading floor
• Hotels ‘recoup’ almost 50 per cent of Sandy no-shows
• PM communication on aftermath of Hurricane Sandy