The Big Story

Minnis: Your next government will have key decisions to make NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The next general election will take place in just 28 days, with political parties mobilizing to erect signage across New Providence following Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announcing the date of the snap election yesterday. Commemorating the anniversary of the Free National Movement’s (FNM) defeat of the...

34K doses of Johnson & Johnson arrived in Bahamas yesterday morning NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Rachel Outten, 13, exited the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium with a COVID-19 vaccination sticker after taking her first dose of Pfizer around 10.30am yesterday, joining scores of residents who lined up for the US-manufactured vaccine. Scores of residents line up outside the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium...

Voter's register at 194,320 as of August 18 “He didn’t give a lot of Bahamians a chance to register or change registration because we weren't expecting the election until next year” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Dozens of voters at the Parliamentary Registration Department (PRD) were turned away yesterday just minutes after Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle, in his capacity as provost...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Several of the Minnis administration's key legislative agenda tabled throughout its tenure will fall away as Parliament was dissolved yesterday. Any bills or legislation previously brought forth by the administration will now have to be tabled again if they are re-elected. This includes legislation like the newly tabled Public Health Emergency Bill and the bill to establish...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — In a national address at 11am yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said with the new supply and continued uptake of the life-saving vaccine, The Bahamas is “beginning the process to end the emergency phase of the pandemic”. To this end, he underscored the importance of the United States donating nearly 400,000 Pfizer vaccine doses, 128,000 of...

“Any government coming in is going to have to face an unprecedented scenario” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The COVID-19 pandemic has “increased the stakes” for the need to ensure accountable governance in this nation, a governance reformer said yesterday. Matt Aubry, executive director of the Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG), told Eyewitness News: “Tackling issues such as the country’s massive debt,...

Sir Franklyn: Election should have been called after official mourning period of AD Hanna NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A well-known businessman said yesterday the next administration faces a “very daunting task”, warning that Bahamians should brace themselves for the likelihood of increased taxes to bolster government revenues and a serious effort to reduce government expenditure. Sir Franklyn Wilson. Following Prime Minister...

BPL calls union action illegal; says negotiations "conducted in good faith over the course of months" Human Rights Bahamas demands BPL heed workers' concerns NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BWEU) advised yesterday that its members have had enough and are prepared to discontinue work at Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) until “we get what we deserve”. Workers...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle, serving in his capacity as provost marshal, read two proclamations from the governor general officially proroguing parliamentary procedures on August 18, 2021. Rolle read a proclamation to dissolve this session of Parliament, which began on May 24, 2017, the following day. The provost marshal said the new session of Parliament will be...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has advised the governor general to issue the writs of election in just under a month in a highly anticipated snap election. Today marks when the Free National Movement was elected to office for the first time 29 years ago. Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle, in his capacity as provost marshal, read...

Moultrie: If they want to remove me, the only option is to dissolve Parliament Davis: Ring the bell, PM NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The House of Assembly was yesterday prorogued until September 22 in a shocking turn of events as House Speaker Halson Moultrie was set to host his first “open Parliament” in Parliament Square. Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle, serving...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Struggling with bed space for coronavirus patients and a full Accident and Emergency (A&E) theater, Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) was impacted for a seventh day as droves of workers, frustrated with working conditions and the recent honorarium payments for frontline workers, called in sick. The ongoing sickout has also impacted Grand Bahama Health Services and the Sandilands...

Church representatives declined to comment; mixed reaction from the public NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas Doctors Union (BDU) has come out against an incentive program for vaccination or “vaccine lotto” as the government and the United States Embassy explore similar initiatives to bolster vaccine uptake. Eyewitness News revealed on Monday that the government and the National COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee...

“The emergency orders remain in place because the prime minister remains prime minister” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Attorney General Carl Bethel yesterday affirmed that the public state of emergency and ongoing emergency orders continue unimpeded by the proroguing of Parliament. He noted that the emergency orders are a constitutional function that continue irrespective of Parliament dissolving and even changes in government....

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Court of Appeal yesterday awarded Kenyan national Douglas Ngumi, who was unlawfully detained at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre for nearly seven years, three-quarters of a million dollars —$109,000 more than the Supreme Court awarded. In their ruling, Court of Appeal Justices Sir Michael Barnett, Milton Evans and Jon Isaacs increased the general damages after calculated...

Nearly $70 million in funding granted NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Access Accelerator Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) has seen two companies thus far default on their loans, but its executive director said “it could have been a lot worse”. Davinia Bain, while addressing a Ministry of Finance webinar yesterday, noted that some $68 million in funding has been provided through...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — There is no limit on how many contracts a company can be awarded under the new public procurement system, a Ministry of Finance official said yesterday. Carl Oliver, deputy director of economic planning in the Ministry of Finance, while addressing a webinar hosted by the ministry yesterday, said: “There is no limit on the number of contracts...

US Federal Trade Commission (FTC): “the largest overseas real estate investment scam” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A court-appointed receiver is seeking to recoup some $2 million in connection with an illegal land deal involving hundreds of acres of land on Long Island. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) described it as “the largest overseas real estate investment scam” it has ever...