The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A fire that destroyed Claridge Primary School’s library on Tuesday morning will not impact operations on campus and the resumption of education, according to Director of Education Marcellus Taylor. Director of Education Marcellus Taylor. “At this point, the cost to repair is unknown,” Taylor told Eyewitness News. “Fortunately, as the fire was contained to the school's library,...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas is expected to receive some 40,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccines by the end of August, said Health Minister Renward Wells yesterday. Speaking to reporters outside the House of Assembly, Wells noted that while negotiations are still ongoing to secure a large donation of Pfizer vaccines, the government has made a down...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — An auditor general’s report into the usage of a $250 million disbursement from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revealed that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) received close to $70 million in subventions or 28 percent of the rapid financing instrument (RFI) total. The report tabled in Parliament yesterday noted that $69.91 million of the $250 IMF RFI was disbursed...

Storm set to bring rainfall and moderate winds to southeast Bahamas this week NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Tropical Storm Fred strengthened in the Atlantic yesterday afternoon, becoming the sixth named storm of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season. A tropical storm watch is in effect for the southeast Bahamas, including Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins and Crooked Island, Samana Cay, Long Island and Ragged...

New bill will begin being distributed in 2022 Hanna’s family thanks nation for “allowing AD Hanna to serve” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The face of former Governor General and Deputy Prime Minister the late Arthur D Hanna will replace the image of Queen Elizabeth II from the Bahamian $100 bill, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced yesterday. The announcement comes a...

Six maternal deaths since March 2020 All delivery mothers on maternity ward confirmed COVID-positive NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As he underscored the challenges of pregnant women throughout the COVID-10 pandemic, former Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said nearly 100 pregnant women contracted COVID-19 during the pandemic. While appearing as a guest on The Hitback with Nahaja Black on Monday, Sands said...

“We said it would be up to $5,000, not that everyone would have gotten $5,000” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Health Minister Renward Wells stressed yesterday that a long-promised honorarium was “not for every healthcare worker”, noting the government had allocated some $3 million for that payout. Minister of Health Renward Wells. Wells told reporters yesterday: “The honorarium was not for every...

No injuries reported; investigations ongoing NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A blaze after midnight at Claridge Primary School on Claridge Road damaged the school’s library. Claridge Primary School. Director of Fire Services Superintendent Kenrick Morris said the Fire Department received reports of the blaze around 12.40am and firefighters responded within seven minutes. He said the fire was contained within minutes of the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Private-sector businesses are looking forward to the full resumption and operational capacity of businesses, according to Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation (BCCEC) Chairperson Khrystle Rutherford-Ferguson. Following Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ Monday night address, during which he announced emergency orders will end by November, Rutherford-Ferguson said: “My members would love to operate their businesses without...

FNM ratifies 7 women of 39 candidates to PLP’s 6 and DNA's 5 NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Carl Culmer said his party will continue to promote women into high office and other important roles in society if given another mandate to govern. Culmer, who was responding to questions from Eyewitness News surrounding the number of ratified...

Curfew adjusted on four islands, including New Providence NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced last night that the government will seek one final extension of the emergency orders for three months, following which The Bahamas will come under a new legislative regime by way of the Public Health Preparedness and Management Bill. The current state of emergency...

Latest COVID-related deaths include individuals between 20-74 years old NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Health officials confirmed 12 COVID-related deaths between July 20 and August 7, bringing the number of COVID deaths in the country to 307, with another 38 under investigation. Those deaths have come amidst an uptick in COVID-19 cases over the past month. The latest confirmed COVID-19 fatalities included...

TUC president calls alleged redundancy pay breach “criminal” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Morton Salt has terminated 24 long-standing employees at its Inagua facility, citing the “long-term viability” of the operation as the reason for the staff reduction. This comes as the company, which was recently purchased by California investment firm Stone Canyon Industries, laid off 40 percent or 120 employees at...

Roberts says what's not short in supply has gone up in cost “We’re fighting to hold back increases every day but this is a challenge” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Super Value’s owner Rupert Roberts has warned consumers to brace for as much as an eight percent increase in the cost of grocery items heading into the Christmas period. Super Value owner...

“It is likely to get worse before it gets better” Former minister of health attributes COVID spike to unconfirmed presence of delta variant NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Former Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said yesterday that the current models showing the infection rate for the country suggest there could be as many as 1,000 new COVID-19 cases per day. Sands, who...

Southeast islands assure they’re prepared and shelters have been readied NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Meteorologists are closely monitoring a tropical wave that is expected to develop into Tropical Storm Fred later this week and bring heavy rainfall and strong winds over the southeast Bahamas. The projected storm is not expected to make landfall, but the southeast islands fall within the outer...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Well-known QC Wayne Munroe said yesterday the government must either “pay up” or “reinstate” 24 people who were terminated from the Gaming Board in 2017. The attorney said he is prepared to initiate contempt proceedings if the government fails to comply. Thirty former Gaming Board employees took legal action in 2018 after receiving termination letters between November...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — While it remains to be seen when the Marijuana Bill will be finalized and tabled in Parliament, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said Bahamians will be able to “smoke in time”, though he could not provide a time frame. Responding to questions from Eyewitness News about when the Marijuana Bill could be tabled, Minnis said: “You want...