The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Attorney for Stephen “Die” Stubbs said yesterday that a new 30-year sentence should be reduced to 15 years to account for two constitutional breaches. The Court of Appeal yesterday asked Stubbs’ attorney Wayne Munroe, QC, and Vernal Collie, who was appearing for the Crown, to supply written submissions on two cases by Friday as they consider...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Access Accelerator Small Business Development Centre and Fidelity Bank Ltd have partnered to facilitate $5 million in loans as a part of the Access Accelerator's MSME Loan Guarantee Programme. In total, the programme has $16 million allocated between three partner financial institutions — $1 million by the Bahamas Entrepreneurial Venture Fund, $5 million by Fidelity and...

Dr Waldon Russell to take up post left vacant by Jeffrey Beckles NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) yesterday announced the appointment of Dr Waldon Russell, DBA, as its chief executive with effect July 5, 2021. The BCCEC said in a statement yesterday Russell’s appointment came after an “exhaustive search” to find the right...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Securities Commission of the Bahamas approved and licensed 69 investment funds in 2020, according to the regulator’s 2020 annual report. According to the commission’s 2020 annual report, it six of those funds were licensed directly by the regulator and 63 were licensed by unrestricted investment fund administrators and filed with the commission. It also noted that...

Minnis: Health experts “alarmed” at Delta spread “I want each of you to be safe from the deadly virus” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Insisting that the Delta coronavirus variant has the potential to collapse the healthcare system and cause a “super surges of cases”, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday urged Bahamians to overcome vaccine hesitancy. During an address at Calvary...

Tourism officials say govt confident in its decision due to vaccination/testing requirements NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar announced on Saturday that the government has “loosened its restrictions” for some cruise ship passengers by not requiring a health travel visa to enter the country. His comments came as Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Serenity luxury ship embarked on a seven-day...

Health minister says positive individuals doing well and being observed COVID testing continuing at PMH and Doctors Hospital NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A recent outbreak of COVID-19 at the National Reference Laboratory was traced back to personnel conducting a vaccination outreach exercise, according to Minister of Health Renward Wells. A total of 11 people contracted the virus at the facility, which...

191,000-plus registered to vote; over 16,000 new registrants  NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday urged Bahamians to register to vote in the “shortest possible time”, suggesting once again that the next general election could be called soon though he has repeatedly dismissed talks of an early election. “My brothers and sisters in Christ, in a few days,...

Bahamas could receive tranche of US-donated Pfizer doses this week NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas is seeking to borrow 20,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from a neighboring Caribbean country, according to Minister of Health Renward Wells. Wells said countries in the region received the green light from the World Health Organization (WHO) to transfer vaccines as and...

IDB projects 40% of Bahamas population to benefit NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $40 million loan to strengthen this nation’s health system, with an emphasis on improving healthcare access to Family Island residents. By enhancing the capacity to provide primary healthcare by reinforcing medical facilities and providing new medical equipment, it will facilitate access...

1 OAK CEO says Prospect Ridge development has “tremendous opportunity” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A local real estate professional said yesterday the government’s western New Providence housing initiative for young professionals could be a “game changer” for those able to qualify, while suggesting it could take three years or more for the development to take shape. Matt Sweeting, 1 OAK Bahamas’...

“We have more than just homeport vessels coming in” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Nassau Cruise Port executives say the port will receive an estimated 60,000 visitors this month as the cruise segment slowly begins to rebound. Its top executive, Mike Maura, told Eyewitness News: “We’re quite busy and excited. “We have more than just homeport vessels coming in. We have MSC...

155 Bahamians employed for $100M first phase PM: Briland Club marina “one of the most beautiful marinas in the Caribbean” HARBOUR ISLAND, BAHAMAS — The Briland Club, a 27-acre waterfront development on Harbour Island, on Friday officially opened its marina as part of a $100 million investment in the first phase of the development, with construction on the developments second...

Govt. "borrowed" 5,000 vaccine doses from Antigua and Barbuda NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced yesterday that The Bahamas will receive its third tranche of 33,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine through the PAHO/WHO COVAX Facility on July 26. The prime minister made the announcement during the opening of the Briland Club Marina on Harbour Island yesterday. The...

BEWU President says he was "pleased" with meeting with DPM  NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU) President Kyle Wilson said after a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Public Works Minister Desmond Bannister, the union has been promised that some of their issues and cocenrs will be resolved within their 14-day deadline. The union met with Bannister on...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Amidst what unionists have labeled as a “boiling point”, National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTUB) President Bernard Evans said yesterday the government has until next week to address ongoing concerns with aggrieved unions before “something is done”. Evans, who addressed a myriad of concerns during an emergency call to arms meeting of union members, said the...

NASSAU, BAHAMS — Elsa, a storm now threatening the Windward Islands of the Caribbean, has become the first named hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season.  Earlier this morning, the National Hurricane Center advised that the tropical storm strengthened into a hurricane after sustained winds of 74 mph with a gust to 86 mph was reported near Barbados. According...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Central Bank Governor John Rolle has issued an ultimatum to Union of Central Bankers President Theressa Thompson to publicly apologize to him over what he claims were comments that defamed his character or “face consequences”. During a press conference yesterday, members of the National Congress of Trade Unions pushed back at Rolle’s “threat”, insisting that they are...