The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of Foreign Affairs Darren Henfield confirmed yesterday that the government of The Bahamas has reached out to the government of Venezuela via diplomatic channels after learning Bahamian pilot Oran Munroe, who was reported missing over a week ago, was taken into custody for questioning by Venezuelan authorities. “We are making inquiries,” Henfield told Eyewitness News. Minister...

“Why do you have us locked out of the country? People can go to the US and we can’t get back home” Foreign Affairs minister says govt working on a solution NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A Bahamian citizen and two other men, including a permanent resident of 16 years, said yesterday they feel abandoned by the government of The Bahamas after...

Reopening of schools still being discussed, says PM NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As the new academic school year approaches, around 50 percent of parents appear to be unfavorable toward vaccinating their children against COVID-19, an Eyewitness News survey indicates. The Pfizer vaccine, which The Bahamas is expected to be a beneficiary of via the United States, has been approved for emergency...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A man believed to be in his early 20s was shot and killed in the Seabreeze area shortly before midnight on Wednesday, according to police. Superintendent Michael Johnson from the Central Investigation Department said officers responded to reports of gunshots being heard in the area. When officers arrived on the scene, they found the body of a...

“The investor community has continued to recognize The Bahamas is a best-in-class destination for business” Ministry of Finance to announce new changes that simplify the business license process even further NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government has reassured the investor community that it has taken concrete steps to improve the procurement process and address deficiencies that impede the ease of doing...

McMillan: Let us act as though the delta COVID variant is here NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As new data emerges that the delta variant is "highly transmissible" even among vaccinated individuals, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Pearl McMillan urged those who have been fully vaccinated to keep up with public health measures and wearing masks. Asked whether health officials were concerned...

“Let’s remember why healthcare workers were the first group to prioritized in any national plan” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As the government considers the recommendation of health professionals for mandatory vaccination of their colleagues on the frontlines, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Assistant Director Dr Jarbas Barbosa said the regional body has no intention of making a recommendation on the matter....

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The current voters’ register stands at 193,281 voters, with just over 18,901 voters added to the register since the 2017 General Election, according to Parliamentary Commissioner Lavado Duncanson. In an interview with Eyewitness News, Duncanson advised that as of yesterday, there were 134,474 voters registered on New Providence; 30,613 on Grand Bahama; and 28,194 on the Family Islands....

Former PM Christie: He was a nationalist of unsurpassed conviction and integrity Former PM Ingraham: A great Bahamian patriot NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The death of Arthur D Hanna, former governor general and deputy prime minister, who was memorialized as a "patriot supreme" and "nation-builder of the highest order", marks the loss of the last survivor of the original Majority Rule...

Wilson: Vaccination decision should remain with teachers and parents NASSAU, BAHAMAS — With schools across the nation scheduled to reopen in a matter of weeks and as coronavirus cases surge, Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) President Belinda Wilson said yesterday schools should open on schedule, but must do so safely. Several models were used amid the height of the pandemic...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Pearl McMillan said efforts have continued amid the pandemic to increase the supply of medical respirators and ventilators as hospitalized cases reached 109 on Monday. When asked whether there were sufficient respirators, including ventilators, McMillan said: “It’s not just respiratory equipment, you know… It is about the human resource capacity for critical...

Rolle: We will have to wait and see what kind of impact new travel restrictions may have NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Exuma Chamber of Commerce President Pedro Rolle said the island’s tourism sector is on an uptick, with the past two months appearing to be the best for the year. “Things are going good right now in Exuma. We certainly have...

Virgin rep says company looks forward to expanding Caribbean portfolio  NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Virgin Atlantic has added a twice-weekly service from London’s Heathrow airport to The Bahamas beginning this winter, the airline has announced. According to the airline, the new services are aimed at responding to the pent-up demand for Caribbean destinations. The twice-weekly services from Heathrow to Nassau begin...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Central Bank has extended the moratorium on the consideration for payment service providers and money transmission businesses through September 2022. The regulator, in its recently released 2020 Financial Stability Report, noted: “Amidst the heightened pandemic risks and accelerated modernization trends in the payments system, the Central Bank extended the period of moratorium on the consideration of...

"It's not in the rules, but all Parliaments really should be open" NASSAU, BAHAMAS — House Speaker Halson Moultrie announced yesterday that he will hold an “open Parliament” every Wednesday until members return as expected on September 22 or until Parliament is dissolved. During a press conference in the Majority Room of the House of Assembly, Moultrie outlined several concerns...

PM advises vaccination centers will expand next week with shored-up supplies NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The more than 33,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines that arrived in The Bahamas yesterday morning will allow an “aggressive” expansion of vaccination sites and appointments, which have been limited in recent weeks due to lack of supplies. Yesterday’s shipment of doses was the third tranche...

Current state of emergency set to expire on August 13 “I recognize this can be frustrating, but this is the nature of a pandemic” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday that whether the state of emergency and emergency powers set to expire on August 13 will end was still being discussed. But he assured the government...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The nation mourned the passing of Arthur Dion Hanna yesterday, with condolences pouring in from every sector of society. Hanna was a long-time politician who previously served as a member of Parliament, Cabinet minister and governor general. He is the father of current Englerston MP Glenys Hanna-Martin. He was 93 years old. In a statement issued last...