The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Prime Minister Philip Davis said yesterday that the global financial group Rothschild & Co which the government hired has an independent advisor on its multi-billion dollar debt portfolio is still working with the government having been contracted for a year. Prime Minister Philip Davis when asked about the issue yesterday explained, “We are not restructuring out debt. What...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- The country’s external reserves declined by $30 million in January according to the Central Bank, with outflows increasing by just over 21 percent. The regulator in its monthly economic and financial developments report for January noted that during the review month  external reserves reduced by $30 million to $2,564.7 million, although this was still lower than the previous...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Princess Margaret Hospital's probe into the death of mother-of-three Kenise Darville last month has been completed with the facility allegedly taking responsibility for "irregularities" in her treatment. Kenise Darville Her husband, Jerad Darville, told Eyewitness News that he met with officials last Thursday but does not yet have a written report. He said he felt the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A special CARICOM mission set off for Haiti today to meet with politicians and security officials ahead of a planned stakeholder meeting in Jamaica in the coming weeks. Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell confirmed the mission including The Bahamas, Trinidad, and Tobago and Jamaica will be joined by Canadian and American officials. Mitchell underscored facilitators had...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A 49-year-old man was killed after he was struck by a jet ski while swimming in waters near the shoreline of Paradise Island. According to police, the accident took place shortly before 6pm on Saturday, February 25. "According to initial reports, the victim was swimming near the shoreline in waters on Paradise Island when he was struck...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — FNM Deputy Leader Shanendon Cartwright yesterday called the prime minister's recent Mid-Year Budget Communication "uninspiring, off the mark, and void of any meaningful projections" as he underscored the plight of thousands of struggling Bahamian families. In a statement, the St Barnabas MP said the Davis administration has failed to prioritize the poor and vulnerable in society. "The...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Davis Administration is moving to address the state of more than two dozen airports across the country and has announced the March 1 launch of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to engage qualified private sector entities to design, redevelop and maintain them.  Under the PPP Program, the ownership of the airports will be retained by The...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas National Reparations Committee (BNRC)has once again called on the British Royal Family to heed its call for reparations, stating that now is the time for reparations and time for reparatory justice. The call came amid the visit of Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, and Forfar and his wife Countess Sophie of Wessex. During their...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis said yesterday that “steady progress” is being made on the issuance of business licenses, with just over 13,000 having been approved and issued to date.  During a weekly press briefing of the Office of The Prime Minister, Halkitis noted that last week the number of business licenses issued increased from 3,000 to...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis yesterday expressed confidence that the government will meet its revenue projections as he addressed Opposition criticism that government projections were overly optimistic.  During a weekly press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, Halkitis said that it is a “very good sign” that 44 percent of government revenue has already been...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Philip Davis KC yesterday said VAT receipts grew by nearly $24 million for the first half of the fiscal year 2022/2023.  During his address in Parliament on the mid-year fiscal results, Davis said that his administration’s decision to reduce the Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate from 12 percent to 10 percent has yielded positive results for...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Government revenue at the mid-point of the fiscal year 2022/2023 has exceeded revenue projections by close to $80 million, according to Prime Minister Philip Davis, KC. Davis, while delivering a mid-year review of the government's fiscal performance, said that the country is “better now than it was 17 months ago.” “I  have a simple message for the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The United States Department of Transportation has rejected a discrimination complaint by Airlines for America that the Bahamian government employs unfair practices when charging overflight fees to US airlines. Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, with responsibility for Tourism, Aviation, and Investments said: “The DoT recognized the sovereignty of The Bahamas to charge these fees and collect them....

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Former Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes yesterday called on France and the United States of America to “step up to the plate” to restore stability in Haiti as The Bahamas was "much too small" to open its borders. During an interview with Eyewitness News, Sir Arthur stressed the country could not accommodate undocumented Haitian immigrants as hundreds...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Health minister Dr Michael Darville yesterday cautioned "there is no need to create panic" as he responded to claims leveled by former Health minister Dr Duane Sands, who alleged an upsurge in respiratory illness cases. In an audio clip, Sands accused the government of being silent about a severe viral illness that has caused an overflow in...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — After losing his home in the recent Carmichael shantytown fire, a blind Bahamian resident said that he agreed with the government’s initiative to demolish illegal communities. David Mortimer, 68, told Eyewitness News that he had once lived in an affordable efficiency before relocating to Carmichael Road, but the land was sold. He said was forced to move...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Health Minister Dr Michael Darville disclosed that the government has no intentions to reinstate the mask mandate despite a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases. Darville addressed a recent Covid outbreak on the island of Exuma and gave a report on conditions in Abaco as he responded to questions ahead of a Cabinet meeting yesterday. He told reporters...

PM unveils national framework policy for Immigration NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Philip Davis last night warned Bahamians and registered migrants residing in shanty towns that they will be required to relocate as he unveiled his administration’s national framework policy on immigration. Davis furthered that documented migrants living in unregulated communities will be asked to relocate at their expense or...