The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of Immigration Keith Bell advised yesterday that the government is considering amending the Immigration Act to allow law enforcement officers to repatriate migrants at sea. Bell made the revelation to reporters outside the House of Assembly when asked about the recent uptick in interdictions. “We have seen a steady flow,” he said. “The idea and objective...

BUT president says govt. "wasting the taxpayer's money with an inadequate, inoperable, inefficient" platform  NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Schools across the country opened on Tuesday to a difficult start with many teachers and students complaining about challenges accessing the Ministry of Education’s Learning Management System. Public schools were set to reopen for hybrid learning on January 11, with students doing intermittent...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government will have to review and discuss what it will do with the draft Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill, said Minister of Immigration Keith Bell yesterday. The bill was initially drafted by the Law Reform Commission, headed by Dame Anita Allen, in 2018 and has since undergone at least three draft versions. The bill would repeal...

Help desk to be established for beaches and parks contract tender NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government has verified some 450 of 1,500 contractors who were severed from The Bahamas Beaches and Parks Authority last month, said chairman of the board McKell Bonaby yesterday. Bonaby, who spoke to reporters in front of Parliament, was providing an update on the investigation into...

Phase 2 will be diagnostic review and action plan NASSAU, BAHAMAS —  An education recovery task force has been established and will have just 14 days to track down some 8,000 students who were inactive on the virtual learning platform throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Minister of Education Glenys Hanna-Martin. Hanna-Martin’s comments came as schools reopen fully virtual for...

Nat'l security minister suggests slain RBDF officer may have been under intense mental pressure Neighbors remember Adderley as good Christian from good family NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Officials are still trying to piece together the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of Leading Seaman Rodney Adderley at the hands of police officers. Leading Seaman Rodney Adderley. Residents in the area remember the...

More than 160 health care workers in quarantine NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville yesterday said officials are reviewing protocols on gathering as local testing has confirmed the presence of the highly contagious omicron variant in country. "What we are concerned about, like every country in the world when we begin to see signs of...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Free National Movement (FNM) chairman Carl Culmer yesterday accused National Security Minister Wayne Munroe of preempting and prejudicing the coroner’s inquest in the shooting death of a Royal Bahamas Defence Force marine by police. Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Carl Culmer. Culmer was responding to comments made by Munroe outside Cabinet regarding the body camera footage of...

Minnis says he believes 1 in every 3 Bahamians has had COVID NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis suggested yesterday that the national address given by Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis over the weekend was devoid of any real enforcement or the government’s plans to tackle the expected increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations. Davis warned that every Bahamian and...

CAT ISLAND, BAHAMAS — Residents in Arthur's Town, Cat Island, were shocked last night when the island started experiencing a hail storm.  The Bahamas Meteorology Department told Eyewitness News that they couldn’t provide any information on the occurrence on the island last night.  Residents from Arthur’s Town reported that they began seeing ice falling out of the sky shortly after...

Marine described as highly qualified, dedicated and committed individual Footage from police body camera said to be "consistent with accounts of officers" NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Leading Seaman Rodney Adderley, who was killed at the hands of police officers on Majority Rule Day, was yesterday described by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) as a highly qualified, humble and quiet training...

Davis warns unvaccinated are at serious risk, but maintains no further social restrictions needed Free testing expanded from 400 to 1K per day NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Every Bahamian and resident in The Bahamas is likely to be exposed to the omicron coronavirus variant multiple times in the coming weeks, according to Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis. “Omicron is so transmissible...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS —Just under 50 percent of the hospitalized COVID-19 cases as of last week were admitted to hospital for other ailments, but learned of their COVID status following their admission at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), according to Dr Nikkiah Forbes, director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme. She said the burden on the healthcare sector remains the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Unless advised otherwise by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education is moving ahead with the resumption of in-person learning in schools within the next two weeks, according to Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis. From left, Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin and Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis. Minister of Education Glenys-Hanna Martin and the prime minister spoke...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Philip Davis charged Bahamians to never allow detractors to diminish or trivialize the country's historical triumph for democracy and freedom at a wreath-laying ceremony to mark the 55th anniversary of Majority Rule. Davis attended the Ecumenical Service in Observance of Majority Rule Day at Living Waters Kingdom Ministries, Warren Street, Oakes Field on Sunday. Parliamentarians...

Woods says union looking into payroll delay issue NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) President Darrin Woods yesterday said the union was in talks with the government over its free COVID-testing initiative, which he described as an “economic relief” for its membership.  As part of the free COVID-19 testing pilot program on New Providence, rapid...

Former and current BCA chiefs positive about industry's future NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The local construction industry is seeing a "modest" rebound, according to a former Bahamian Contractors Association president, who predicted a favorable outlook for the first two quarters of 2022. Leonard Sands told Eyewitness News: “I think we are in a bit of a rebound, modest as it may...

Young wants to increase enrolment levels by driving recruitment $20 produce boxes to make a comeback NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Agriculture & Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) Chairman Tyrel Young said he is looking to revitalize the institute, noting that food security must remain at the top of this nation’s agenda amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. Young, who assumed office November 1,...