LocalMay 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 8:31 am Eyewitness News

Local

UN experts urge The Bahamas to halt plans to demolish 600 homes in Abaco shantytown

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — United Nations human rights experts today called on the Bahamas to halt planned demolitions this week of approximately 600 homes at two informal settlements known as the Farm and the Farm Road in Abaco. In a statement released this morning, the experts cited health and humanitarian concerns that “the community of largely […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — United Nations human rights experts today called on the Bahamas to halt planned demolitions this week of... read more »

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 8:31 am | Eyewitness News

LocalMay 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:58 am Royston Jones Jr.

Local

FINAL COUNTDOWN: Govt set to demolish more homes in The Farm today

Some Farm residents with nowhere to go say they will “wait and see” what happens ABACO, BAHAMAS — After placing final eviction notices on remaining shantytown homes in The Farm, Abaco, earmarked for demolition, the government is expected to tear down those unregulated structures today. The notices affixed to homes yesterday in English and Creole […]

Some Farm residents with nowhere to go say they will “wait and see” what happens ABACO, BAHAMAS — After placing... read more »

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:58 am | Royston Jones Jr.

LocalMay 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:56 am Sloan Smith

Local

DORIAN INQUEST: “I never heard from her again; I think she’s dead”

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The sister of a woman believed to have been swept away during the deadly Hurricane Dorian in 2019 said yesterday that the last time she spoke to her then-27-year-old sister was hours before the storm ripped through Abaco. Dr Mpatrizzia Naclene Gozito testified in an inquest into 34 people presumed dead and […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The sister of a woman believed to have been swept away during the deadly Hurricane Dorian in... read more »

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:56 am | Sloan Smith

BusinessMay 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:53 am Natario McKenzie

Business

SQUARING IT OFF: Govt settles $52M in arrears payments in nine months ending March

Paying off inherited past-due arrears had been govt’s justification for VAT rate hike $26M in payments remaining in schedule NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government settled $52.3 million in payment arrears in the nine months ending March 2021, according to the Ministry of Finance. The ministry, in its nine-month report on budgetary performance for the period […]

Paying off inherited past-due arrears had been govt’s justification for VAT rate hike $26M in payments remaining in schedule NASSAU,... read more »

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:53 am | Natario McKenzie

LocalMay 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:50 am Sloan Smith

Local

“ELECTION IS IN THE AIR”: PLP leader insists early election is coming

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Philip Brave Davis yesterday accused the Free National Movement (FNM) of “obfuscating” the intentions of the prime minister and the party regarding the upcoming general election. In a memo sent out on April 29, the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) advised its heads of departments to submit […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Philip Brave Davis yesterday accused the Free National Movement (FNM) of “obfuscating”... read more »

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:50 am | Sloan Smith

LocalMay 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:49 am Royston Jones Jr. 4

Local

A CALL FOR PRAYER: Bishop Hanchell diagnosed with stomach cancer

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Renowned religious leader Bishop Walter Hanchell, president of Great Commission Ministries and chairman of Citizens for Justice, has been fighting cancer following a diagnosis in early March. In Parliament on Wednesday, Englerston MP Glenys Hanna-Martin called on the nation to pray for Hanchell. “I’m inviting the nation to pray for this man, […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Renowned religious leader Bishop Walter Hanchell, president of Great Commission Ministries and chairman of Citizens for Justice,... read more »

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:49 am | Royston Jones Jr. | 4

BusinessMay 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:47 am Natario McKenzie

Business

$5.2 million in payment fraud complaints in 2020, says Central Bank

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Some $5.2 million in payment fraud complaints were made in 2020, the Central Bank of The Bahamas has revealed, with debit cards amounting for nearly 70 percent of those cases. The bank and trust company regulator’s 2020 annual report revealed that the total number of reported fraud cases processed by commercial banks for […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Some $5.2 million in payment fraud complaints were made in 2020, the Central Bank of The Bahamas... read more »

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:47 am | Natario McKenzie

LocalMay 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:45 am Royston Jones Jr.

Local

Dames: Sex offenders register within two months

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Infrastructure, resources and personnel could be in place to fully establish The Bahamas sex offenders registry within two months, according to Minister of National Security Marvin Dames. According to the Sexual Offenders Regulations 2019, the minister would make a disclosure to the public to “heighten their awareness of the presence of the […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Infrastructure, resources and personnel could be in place to fully establish The Bahamas sex offenders registry within... read more »

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:45 am | Royston Jones Jr.

LocalMay 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:44 am Sloan Smith 1

Local

CONTRARY TO LAW: Davis says he was not consulted about FOI commissioner pick as mandated

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government did not consult the official opposition when it chose and appointed the new Freedom of Information (FOI) commissioner, according to Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis. On Sunday, Attorney General Carl Bethel named retired Supreme Court Justice Keith Thompson and former Assistant Director of Legal Affairs (ADLA) Shane Miller as the […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government did not consult the official opposition when it chose and appointed the new Freedom of... read more »

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:44 am | Sloan Smith | 1

LocalMay 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:43 am Sloan Smith

Local

CLOSER TO CLOSURE: Coroner to issue decision on Dorian missing next week as first round of inquest wraps up

Court decision may allow some family members to get death certificates nearly two years after tragic storm Just 25 human remains of 59 recovered have been identified, pathologist notes NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Her Majesty’s Coroner yesterday heard the final testimonies in the first part of an inquest into people presumed to have died during Hurricane […]

Court decision may allow some family members to get death certificates nearly two years after tragic storm Just 25 human... read more »

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:43 am | Sloan Smith

BusinessMay 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:42 am Natario McKenzie

Business

RESILIENT FUTURE: Bahamas must work towards building back better, says governance reformer

Aubry: This is prime time for Bahamas to look at economic diversification, digitization and expenditure NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As the country continues to battle the challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic, a governor reformer said yesterday that this nation must craft policies for a resilient future. Matt Aubry, the Organization for Responsible Governance’s (ORG) […]

Aubry: This is prime time for Bahamas to look at economic diversification, digitization and expenditure NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As the... read more »

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:42 am | Natario McKenzie

LocalMay 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:39 am Eyewitness News

Local

RBDF Mother’s Day special feature: Woman Marine Dinah McDonald

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As a marathon runner sets their pace and focuses on the journey ahead, Woman Marine Dinah McDonald uses such characteristics as mental strength, fortitude, speed, physical strength, endurance, flexibility, balance and coordination to pace herself in the greatest race of her life: being a military mom. As a long-distance runner, McDonald is […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As a marathon runner sets their pace and focuses on the journey ahead, Woman Marine Dinah McDonald... read more »

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:39 am | Eyewitness News

LocalMay 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:37 am Eyewitness News

Local

After tough, complicated pregnancies, miracle babies bring joy

OB/GYN says TVCIC procedure offers hope to the hopeless GRAND BAHAMA, BAHAMAS — It took nine years, five pregnancies and a minimally invasive but technically challenging medical procedure for Cherise Butler to deliver her first miracle baby with husband, Yorick Sr. Each pregnancy conceived naturally, two years apart, was a roller coaster ride of hope […]

OB/GYN says TVCIC procedure offers hope to the hopeless GRAND BAHAMA, BAHAMAS — It took nine years, five pregnancies and... read more »

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:37 am | Eyewitness News

LocalMay 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:34 am Eyewitness News

Local

PHA announces new appointments at Sandilands and PMH

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) yesterday announced the appointment of Jessica Cartwright as acting hospital administrator of Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre (SRC) and Charlene Davis as principal nursing officer (PNO) at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), both with effect from April 6, 2021. A former educator, Cartwright earned her Master of Health Administration (honors) […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) yesterday announced the appointment of Jessica Cartwright as acting hospital administrator of... read more »

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:34 am | Eyewitness News

LocalMay 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:32 am Eyewitness News

Local

Another feather in Gertie’s hat — Bahamian hat designer’s 2021 launch

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamian designer Gertie O’Brien is exemplifying that “the show must go on” with the resumption of her highly anticipated fashion events. Following last year’s decrease in face-to face activities, O’Brien recently marked the start of her 2021 hat show season giving a ‘hats off’ to her dearest long-time supporters. Bold colors, varied […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamian designer Gertie O’Brien is exemplifying that “the show must go on” with the resumption of her... read more »

May 7, 2021May 7, 2021 at 3:32 am | Eyewitness News

LocalMay 6, 2021May 6, 2021 at 4:10 pm Sloan Smith

Local

IMPASSE: Davis says speaker has right to ask questions but PM has right not to answer

Opposition leader says private discussion between Minnis and Moultrie should have been held before the matter was made public NASSAU, BAHAMAS —  Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis yesterday warned that the “administrative impasse” between the House of Assembly speaker and the government could lead to an interruption in the legislative agenda. Davis was responding to […]

Opposition leader says private discussion between Minnis and Moultrie should have been held before the matter was made public NASSAU,... read more »

May 6, 2021May 6, 2021 at 4:10 pm | Sloan Smith

LocalMay 6, 2021 at 2:55 pm Sloan Smith

Local

UNRESOLVED: Moultrie again declares it’s time for the independence of Parliament

Speaker says Parliament having an “Ephesians 6:12 moment” Moultrie clarifies his “war” comments do not mean for young men to take up arms NASSAU, BAHAMAS — House Speaker Halson Moultrie on Wednesday accused the executive branch of the government of dragging the Parliament “like a dinghy boat” as he once again demanded for the independence […]

Speaker says Parliament having an “Ephesians 6:12 moment” Moultrie clarifies his “war” comments do not mean for young men to... read more »

May 6, 2021 at 2:55 pm | Sloan Smith

LocalMay 6, 2021May 6, 2021 at 3:59 am Sloan Smith 1

Local

“PLAYING GAMES”: House Speaker demands PM Minnis answer questions; Deputy Speaker orders Opposition Davis to leave Parliament

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Tempers flared in the House of Assembly yesterday with both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly lashing out at party leaders. A shouting match between Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly Don Saunders and Opposition Leader Philip Davis saw the Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador […]

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Tempers flared in the House of Assembly yesterday with both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the... read more »

May 6, 2021May 6, 2021 at 3:59 am | Sloan Smith | 1

BusinessMay 6, 2021May 6, 2021 at 3:56 am Natario McKenzie

Business

THE SKIES ARE OURS: Bahamas assumes historical management of sovereign airspace

Airlines must pay to fly in Bahamas’ airspace Govt projects $300-350 million intake over next 10 years NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas, for the first time in its history, is assuming management of its sovereign airspace in a move that could yield $300 to $350 million over the next 10 years, according to Tourism and […]

Airlines must pay to fly in Bahamas’ airspace Govt projects $300-350 million intake over next 10 years NASSAU, BAHAMAS —... read more »

May 6, 2021May 6, 2021 at 3:56 am | Natario McKenzie

BusinessMay 6, 2021May 5, 2021 at 3:55 am Natario McKenzie

Business

A WIDE GAP: Fiscal deficit up 250% compared to same period prior fiscal year

Govt social assistance expenditure up 650.3% compared to same period in prior year NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The country’s fiscal deficit in the nine months ending March of this year ballooned nearly 250 percent compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year, widening from $251.3 million to a massive $878.2 million, according to the […]

Govt social assistance expenditure up 650.3% compared to same period in prior year NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The country’s fiscal deficit... read more »

May 6, 2021May 5, 2021 at 3:55 am | Natario McKenzie