The Big Story

Public service also reviewing promotion backlog NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of State for Public Service Pia Glover-Rolle said yesterday that the government continues to review the promotions and hiring of more than 500 workers in the six to eight weeks leading up to the General Election. Speaking to reporters on the matter outside the Cabinet, Glover-Rolle noted that there were...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Labour and Immigration Minister Keith Bell told reporters yesterday there was no indication of foul play in a recent migrant death. Bell was commenting on the efforts to repatriate hundreds of Haitian migrants in temporary holding in Inagua. He was asked whether any migrants had died on their route to the Bahamas. Keith Bell. “From all indications,...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — King tide was identified as one of the main culprits behind last month’s downtown flooding, according to BRON Ltd Managing Principal Carlos Palacious.  “King tides are basically a time when we have super, super high tides and it has to do with the alignment of the sun, the moon and the earth; it makes a strong gravitational...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS —  Prime Minister Philip Davis yesterday defended the recent appointment of former Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald as his senior policy advisor and head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit (PMDU).  News of the appointment drew ire among some after a photo of the delivery unit was posted to the PMDU’s social media page last week and then later...

Rule of law should guarantee the presumption of innocence NASSAU, BAHAMAS  — Police have advised that suspects being arraigned will no longer be paraded out in public view, a practice commonly known as the “Bank Lane shuffle”. The historic move comes after years of calls from legal professionals to end the discriminatory practice. Police press liaison Audley Peters advised members...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A former permanent secretary has been appointed to conduct a review of the handling of Hurricane Dorian to determine if a commission of inquiry is needed, advised Prime Minister Davis yesterday. Davis responding to questions about the from reporters following a tour of the Royal Bahamas Police Force facilities, "I have a former permanent secretary of the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Punch founder and editor Ivan Johnson died in hospital yesterday. Johnson, a veteran journalist, reportedly had a heart attack. He was 68. The publisher formerly wrote for The Tribune as the newspaper's chief reporter up to the 1977 general election. He founded the tabloid format Punch newspaper in 1990. Ivan Johnson He received the Pioneer Award...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Philip Davis yesterday confirmed the return of Financial Secretary Simon Wilson after spending the last term getting paid by the government “for doing nothing”. Davis was responding to questions from media on the sidelines of the official launch ceremony of FTX Digital Markets - the world’s third-largest crypto exchange. The prime minister was asked whether...

100,000 individuals fully vaccinated in The Bahamas Vaccinations at the Bahamas Department of Corrections to commence on October 7 NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Health officials confirmed 24 additional COVID-19 related deaths and added some 33 deaths under investigation over the past three days. The number of COVID-19 fatalities currently stands at 557, with another 66 under investigation, since the start of...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS  — A police was shot while on duty at the Linden Pindling International Airport as he attempted to assist a business in making a bank deposit drop, according to reports. Police said the officer was approached by a gunman who shot him before making his escape shortly after 5pm. A video of the officer lying on the ground...

FNM names two women of four Senate appointments NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Philip Davis has come under fire for his Senate picks with only two women being named out of the 12 spots. In a leaked Cabinet letter, dated October 1, Davis advised the Governor-General of his remaining Senate appointments. Joining Minister of Economics and Leader of Government Business...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Sterling Global Financial $250 million mixed-use Hurricane Hole development has completely sold out the residential component of its first phase that is slated for a grand opening next January.  Former Cabinet minister Khaalis Rolle, president of Sterling Advisory Services while on a recent tour of the development with Tourism, Investment, and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper noted that...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Veteran professional photographer Vincent Vaughan has died. Vaughan passed away on Saturday, October 2, 2021, in Dublin, Georgia, USA. He was 74. In a statement, Bahamas Press Club President Anthony Capron said: “It is with heavy hearts that we acknowledge the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Vincent Vaughn. He will be especially missed by the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Around 80 precent of nurses in The Bahamas have become vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to Bahamas Nurses Union (BNU) President Amancha Williams. In mid-August, health officials said just 50 percent of nurses were vaccinated. According to Williams, since the arrival and rollout of the US-manufactured Pfizer vaccine in The Bahamas, there was an uptick of nurses...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard yesterday agreed to be extradited to the United States to face charges related to allegations of sex trafficking and racketeering. In a Winnipeg court, attorney Brian Greenspan, who represents Nygard, said he had consented to his removal. Nygard’s counsel made clear in court that he will not contest his surrender to the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) could be on the verge of making another leap in the fight against crime in The Bahamas, with high-level meetings taking place this week with potential vendors and stakeholders in public safety artificial intelligence technology. During a welcome and oath-swearing ceremony for nearly 100 new police recruits, Commissioner of Police Paul...

UN agencies say international law prohibits mass deportation, conditions in Haiti not conducive to forced return GENEVA, SWITZERLAND — Four United Nations agencies released a joint statement calling on the member states to halt rapid deportations of Haitian migrants without proper assessment of their individual protection needs. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the United...

Party leader receiving death threats over unpaid wages; claims many workers have been “dishonest” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — More than 200 Grand Commonwealth Party (GCP) campaign staffers have submitted $4 million in bills to the political party for work done ahead of the general election, but GCP Leader Simon Smith said yesterday those accounts were grossly and “dishonestly” inflated and accountants...