EyeWitness News

LocalOctober 18, 2019 at 7:15 am Sloan Smith

Local

Public Works minister: $12m to cover Dorian structural damage

It will take $12.1 million to cover the structural damage sustained to both Abaco and Grand Bahama during the passage of Hurricane Dorian, revealed Minister of Public Works Desmond Bannister yesterday. The cost includes assessments for buildings on the two storm ravaged islands where there was significant damage to commercial buildings, mixed-used buildings, and public […]

It will take $12.1 million to cover the structural damage sustained to both Abaco and Grand Bahama during the passage... read more »

October 18, 2019 at 7:15 am | Sloan Smith

LocalOctober 18, 2019 at 3:55 am Sloan Smith

Local

Henfield: Create a czar for Green Climate Fund

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield yesterday questioned the benefit of the United Nation’s Green Cimate Fund and its capacity to aid Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in fighting climate change. The Green Climate Fund is a financial mechanism set up by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to support developing countries in responding to […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield yesterday questioned the benefit of the United Nation’s Green Cimate Fund and its capacity... read more »

October 18, 2019 at 3:55 am | Sloan Smith

BusinessOctober 18, 2019 at 3:50 am Natario McKenzie

Business

Old Bahama Bay reopens marina

Condo hotel and other amenities on track for November 1 opening NASSAU, BAHAMAS- A major Grand Bahama resort yesterday announced the reopening of its marina after more than a month of clean up and restoration in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. In a statement, Old Bahama Bay president John MacDonald said: “It has been a month that has […]

Condo hotel and other amenities on track for November 1 opening NASSAU, BAHAMAS- A major Grand Bahama resort yesterday announced... read more »

October 18, 2019 at 3:50 am | Natario McKenzie

BusinessOctober 18, 2019 at 3:47 am Natario McKenzie

Business

DPM urges Commonwealth Secretariat to address SIDS climate crisis.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest yesterday urged the Commonwealth Secretariat to extend its work to better address challenges faced by Small island Developing States (SIDS) in light of the climate crisis. Turnquest addressed a meeting of Commonwealth Ministers of Finance in Washington, DC yesterday. He expressed gratitude on behalf of The Bahamas for […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest yesterday urged the Commonwealth Secretariat to extend its work to... read more »

October 18, 2019 at 3:47 am | Natario McKenzie

BusinessOctober 18, 2019 at 3:41 am Natario McKenzie

Business

Procurement reforms key to combat corruption

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A governance reformer yesterday hailed the government’s proposed procurement reforms as ‘step in the right direction’, citing it as potentially a key piece of legislation to combat corruption. Matt Aubry, Organization for Responsible Governance’s (ORG) executive director, said: “We are happy and excited to see this bill come forward. We had been anticipating it for a while. […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A governance reformer yesterday hailed the government’s proposed procurement reforms as ‘step in the right direction’, citing it as... read more »

October 18, 2019 at 3:41 am | Natario McKenzie

BusinessOctober 18, 2019 at 3:40 am Natario McKenzie

Business

Economic reforms can be enacted outside of WTO

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Whether the government can commit to enacting needed economic reforms apart from acceding to the World Trade Organization (WTO) remains to be seen, according Darron Pickstock, a former Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) representative said yesterday. Attorney Darron Pickstock said: “The WTO process is at a standstill.Obviously, the government has other priorities […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Whether the government can commit to enacting needed economic reforms apart from acceding to the World Trade Organization (WTO)... read more »

October 18, 2019 at 3:40 am | Natario McKenzie

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LocalOctober 18, 2019 at 3:00 am Sloan Smith

Local

West End Airport could have been opened sooner

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Englerston MP Glenys Hanna-Martin yesterday lashed the government for not moving quick enough to open the West End airport following Hurricane Dorian. The former Transport minister insisted this “egregious” mistake failed to get aid to the island sooner, during the debate on the disaster preparedness bill. A shouting match erupted between the […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Englerston MP Glenys Hanna-Martin yesterday lashed the government for not moving quick enough to open the West... read more »

October 18, 2019 at 3:00 am | Sloan Smith

LocalOctober 18, 2019 at 2:02 am Eyewitness News

Local

Harbour Island gas station fire razes childhood home

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Harbour Island businessman Michael Higgs was in Nassau when flames from a nearby gas station fire engulfed the childhood home where he lived with his wife and daughter. However, his 15-year-old daughter was in the shower when she heard and felt the first “boom” rattle the house. Another “boom” sounded shortly thereafter, […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Harbour Island businessman Michael Higgs was in Nassau when flames from a nearby gas station fire engulfed... read more »

October 18, 2019 at 2:02 am | Eyewitness News

LocalOctober 17, 2019 at 3:02 pm Eyewitness News

Local

UN observes International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – United Nations Secretary General António Guterres underscored nearly two-thirds of children lack social protection coverage as the intergovernmental body marked the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This year also represents the 30th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognizes the right of every child to living standards […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – United Nations Secretary General António Guterres underscored nearly two-thirds of children lack social protection coverage as the... read more »

October 17, 2019 at 3:02 pm | Eyewitness News

LocalOctober 17, 2019 at 2:32 pm Eyewitness News

Local

Family Guardian partners donate $129k to charities, hurricane relief

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Family Guardian Insurance partners Sagicor and Equisoft recently donated more than $100k to Bahamas charities. In two separate donations, Sagicor Financial Corporation supported the Bahamas Down Syndrome Center and provided school supplies for distressed families in New Providence. Sagicor is a leading financial services provider in the Caribbean, with over 175-years of […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Family Guardian Insurance partners Sagicor and Equisoft recently donated more than $100k to Bahamas charities. In two... read more »

October 17, 2019 at 2:32 pm | Eyewitness News

LocalOctober 17, 2019 at 3:57 am Sloan Smith

Local

Cooper: Is Abaco’s water table at risk?

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Exumas and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper yesterday urged the government to address claims the proposed Family Relief Centre in Abaco poses a risk to the island’s water table. Several Abaconians have claimed the site where the facility is being erected, near Spring City, is a water reserve. Residents told Eyewitness News Online […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Exumas and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper yesterday urged the government to address claims the proposed Family Relief... read more »

October 17, 2019 at 3:57 am | Sloan Smith

LocalOctober 17, 2019 at 3:54 am Eyewitness News

Local

Dorian death toll rises to 65

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Four more bodies have been recovered in Abaco, police confirmed yesterday. Authorities said two bodies were recovered on Tuesday while the remains of another two bodies were found on the island Wednesday. This brings the total number of bodies recovered in the wake of Hurricane Dorian to 65. Dorian, a Category 5 storm, […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Four more bodies have been recovered in Abaco, police confirmed yesterday. Authorities said two bodies were recovered on... read more »

October 17, 2019 at 3:54 am | Eyewitness News

LocalOctober 17, 2019 at 3:51 am Royston Jones Jr.

Local

Rights Bahamas calls for clarity on missing people

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Rights Bahamas president Stephanie St. Fleur said yesterday her organization has submitted the names of more than 400 people reportedly missing in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. St Fleur said more people should be added to official figures, but noted there has been no feedback from the National Emergency Management Agency on RB’s […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Rights Bahamas president Stephanie St. Fleur said yesterday her organization has submitted the names of more than 400... read more »

October 17, 2019 at 3:51 am | Royston Jones Jr.

LocalOctober 17, 2019 at 3:50 am Sloan Smith

Local

Cooper: Obligation to Ragged Island remains

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Exumas and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper yesterday criticized the Minnis administration over its “abandonment” of Ragged Island. Cooper underscored deep concerns for recovery efforts on islands impacted by Hurricane Dorian during his contribution the debate on the Disaster Preparedness and Response Amendment Bill, 2019. “Given the lack of progress in Ragged Island, two years later, […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Exumas and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper yesterday criticized the Minnis administration over its “abandonment” of Ragged Island.... read more »

October 17, 2019 at 3:50 am | Sloan Smith

LocalOctober 17, 2019 at 3:43 am Sloan Smith

Local

Ferreira confirms 35,000 barrels of oil recovered

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Minister of Environment Romauld Ferreira yesterday confirmed 35,000 barrels of oil has been recovered from the oil spill at Equinor – formally known as Statoil – in East Grand Bahama. Approximately 119,000 barrels of oil were spilled during the passage of Hurricane Dorian. The cleanup effort is the largest in the history of The Bahamas. […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Minister of Environment Romauld Ferreira yesterday confirmed 35,000 barrels of oil has been recovered from the oil spill... read more »

October 17, 2019 at 3:43 am | Sloan Smith

LocalOctober 17, 2019 at 3:38 am Sloan Smith

Local

Relief for Mortgage Corp clients pending

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- The government has directed the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation (BMC) to look into providing relief for clients who were impacted during the passage of Hurricane Dorian, according to Housing minister Romauld Ferreira. Ferreira told Parliament a 15-member team from the Department of Housing was dispatched to Abaco following to storm to do initial assessments in the communities of […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- The government has directed the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation (BMC) to look into providing relief for clients who were impacted... read more »

October 17, 2019 at 3:38 am | Sloan Smith

Countdown to International Food Festival 2019

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LocalOctober 17, 2019 at 3:31 am Eyewitness News 1

Local

Rights Bahamas: UN note on deportations ‘embarrassing’

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Rights Bahamas yesterday fully endorsed the call of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for the government to suspend deportations to Haiti in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. “It is the height of irony that a country newly elected to the UN’s Human Rights Council should have to be dressed down in […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Rights Bahamas yesterday fully endorsed the call of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for... read more »

October 17, 2019 at 3:31 am | Eyewitness News | 1

BusinessOctober 17, 2019 at 3:30 am Natario McKenzie

Business

Policy changes for NIB benefits post-storm

Minister says greater flexibility needed with how NIB responds to disasters NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of Labour Brensil Rolle yesterday foreshadowed several policy changes to the National Insurance Board (NIB) in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. Rolle stressed the changes were necessary to ensure the social safety net of The Bahamas is more flexible in its response to […]

Minister says greater flexibility needed with how NIB responds to disasters NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of Labour Brensil Rolle yesterday foreshadowed... read more »

October 17, 2019 at 3:30 am | Natario McKenzie

BusinessOctober 17, 2019 at 3:27 am Natario McKenzie

Business

Bahamas must pass and enforce ‘genuine’ competition laws

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Bahamas must pass and enforce ‘genuine’ competition laws, according to the country’s chief World Trade Organization negotiator. Zhivargo Laing, a former State Minister for Finance, said 80 percent of the Bahamian economy is open to foreign competition. He spoke during an Inter-American Development Bank Economic Knowledge event on “Enhancing Private Sector […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Bahamas must pass and enforce ‘genuine’ competition laws, according to the country’s chief World Trade Organization... read more »

October 17, 2019 at 3:27 am | Natario McKenzie

BusinessOctober 17, 2019 at 3:25 am Natario McKenzie 1

Business

PM orders Marsh Harbour airport reopen to international air traffic by next week

Aviation director: $5 million plus to be spent on repairs and modernization NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis has issued a directive for the Marsh Harbour airport to be reopened to international traffic by next Friday, according to Director of Aviation Algernon Cargill. Cargill said more than $5 million will be spent to […]

Aviation director: $5 million plus to be spent on repairs and modernization NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis... read more »

October 17, 2019 at 3:25 am | Natario McKenzie | 1