The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Under the theme of "How to Grow the Economy Multiple Times", the inaugural Investor Ecosystem Seminar was held at Baha Mar. While due to COVID restrictions only 100 guests were in attendance, thousands of Bahamians attended the sessions via Zoom and Facebook. D’Arcy Rahming Jr. D’Arcy Rahming Jr, ArawakX chief technology officer, said: “People now know that they...

Long Island administrator believes cases stemmed from fishing tripNASSAU, BAHAMAS — Another 14 people were claimed by the coronavirus this month, pushing total COVID-19-related deaths to 622, the Ministry of Health reported yesterday. There have been 55 COVID-related deaths this month alone, thought infections continue to trend downward. Among the latest deaths were eight men and six women from New...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Leslie Hendrick Bodie, 50, was given a conditional discharge when he appeared in a Magistrate’s Court just over two weeks ago charged with stealing by finding $872 “mutilated” Bahamian notes in September. While the arraignment took place on September 30, the case went viral on social media yesterday, but conflated the sum as more than $800,000. According...

Thompson expects to face “thousands of individuals who are going to need assistance with the massive loss of life we have been experiencing in the last 12 months”NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The moratorium on forensic admissions at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre (SRC) is “probably the right thing to do” to avoid another crisis of overcrowding at the facility, according to renowned...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Former Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana’s (BNCM) Cochair Simeon Hall said yesterday that he is confident that the Davis administration will move forward on marijuana legislation. The commission's mandate came to end in July 2021 and it submitted its final report to the Minnis administration. Cabinet approved the formation of the commission in July 2018 to gauge public opinion...

“The former government put it in their legislation 40 percent of what the farmers can produce, the hotels, restaurants and food stores will purchase” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Caron Shepherd, the aptly-named leader of the Bahamas Argo Entrepreneurs Group, a newly-formed association of local farmers, has made it her mission to sow the seeds of change for a more food-self-sufficient and...

Rolle submits govt will move forward with all promotions and other exercises will be "approved without fail" NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Davis-led administration’s review of promotions doled out under the FNM government is “foolish” as the procedure was conducted in accordance with the Public Service Commission, according to former Public Service Minister Brensil Rolle yesterday. The government has announced that...

“Apart from the financial burden this imposes, the psychological burden is immense” Davis says his administration will bring relief to Abaco despite fiscal challenges NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said his administration is reviewing the seven-year wait requirement for missing individuals to formally be declared dead, asserting it “cannot be right” for relatives to wait that long...

Minnis: We don't agree with it Mitchell suggests opposition of trying to “pollute the issue” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government’s plan to rescind a Minnis administration policy that did not allow public officer pension entitlements has been met with significant hit back from the opposition. However, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Public Service Fred Mitchell has defended the decision, insisting...

Man stuck in Haiti since March: We have been damaged, neglected and abandoned NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As the government seeks to arrange for permanent residents and citizens of The Bahamas who remain stuck in Haiti to return home, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell said the government is not minded to retain the existing travel ban on Haiti, but the matter remains...

“For more than 100 years, we have provided dedicated service to the country and been a good corporate citizen” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) said yesterday that its decision to adjust interest rates on savings accounts and term deposits to zero percent is in response to local market and economic conditions. A widely circulated image of the...

“We have to find ways to monetize this debris and move it from Abaco because if there is another storm, debris will be everywhere” MARSH HARBOUR, ABACO — Nearly $10 million has been spent on debris management and $7.3 million on community cleanup on Abaco, according to Aviation Director Algernon Cargill. Cargill had been appointed deputy chairman of the Disaster...

“Testing was clearly tied to the opening of the economy” DHHS plans to open 30-bed hospital on GB next fall NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Doctor’s Hospital has conducted just under 700,000 COVID-19 tests and found that positivity rates were three times lower for people engaged in weekly employer-mandated testing programs, according to a top executive. Doctor’s Hospital Chief Financial Officer Dennis...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Structural inequities in health and disparities in coronavirus vaccine availability in the region have resulted in unequal distribution of infections and deaths, according to a Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC) report. “The unequal distribution and global asymmetry between developed and developing countries mean that, as of September...

“We can’t get anything done in six months” Hutton says construction, housing and banking remain challenges to Hurricane Dorian recovery on Abaco MARSH HARBOUR, ABACO — Abaco needs a three to five-year extension on concessions related to Hurricane Dorian recovery, according to its Chamber of Commerce president, Ken Hutton. Hutton, who was addressing the 17th annual Abaco Business Outlook, noted...

Govt reviewing 150 house-building proposals for Abaco Davis said his govt focused on “the ongoing suffering of the people” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Abaco Chamber of Commerce Director Krista Albury said yesterday Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis’ announcement that the government is reviewing a housing proposal for 150 homes is a “breath of fresh air”. “I am hopeful at this point,...

Regulator says interest rate changes are incentive for depositors to shift funds to higher-yielding placements in banking system “The Central Bank does not ordinarily comment publicly on such business decisions, neither would it be appropriate to do so” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Central Bank said yesterday that it is actively committed to developing a government savings bond scheme that would...

87 murders recorded in the first nine months of 2021 Retaliation and conflict are most common motives for murders NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Overall crime decreased by two percent between January and September this year when compared to the same period in 2020, according to statistics released by Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle yesterday. During a quarterly press conference with members...