The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd announced yesterday that some 300 contract workers in his ministry will become permanent and pensionable by the end of the budget year. During his presentation to the budget debate, Lloyd acknowledged "vexing concerns" of employees from the delays in confirmations, reclassifications and regularization to permanent and pensionable (PnP) in his ministry.  "We...

Lloyd: Teachers and family members of the victims "going through certain dramatic reactions" NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The survivor of a school stabbing at Government High School (GHS) last month is currently under suicide watch as the incident takes a mental toll on students, teachers and family members, said Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd yesterday.  Kenm Paul, a 15-year-old GHS student...

Humes: I would just ask “my dear prime minister” to give me a little bit more respect NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Fort Charlotte MP Mark Humes said yesterday that Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ references in Parliament to Free National Movement (FNM) candidate Drumeco Archer as the next member of Parliament for Fort Charlotte was “disrespectful” to him as the incumbent,...

“We have to decide as Bahamians if we are a democracy or a theocracy” US Embassy stands by its decision to raise Pride Flag despite BCC challenge NASSAU, BAHAMAS — There was mixed feedback across the country yesterday following the Bahamas Christian Council's (BCC) statement against the decision of the US Embassy in Nassau to raise the Pride Flag in...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday announced a value-added tax (VAT)-free holiday for “critical hurricane supplies and equipment” beginning sometime next month as he encouraged Bahamians to prepare for the current hurricane season. “I remind Bahamians and residents to begin their hurricane preparations,” Minnis said as he led debate of the 2021/2022 budget in the House of...

“We have a debt crisis approaching and this administration appears to be ignoring it altogether; ostrich economics will not help” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Opposition Shadow Finance Minister and Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Deputy Leader Chester Cooper yesterday slammed the 2021/2022 budget as “sheer fantasy”, as he blasted the government’s expenditure plans as “shameless and dangerous electioneering”. Cooper, during his contribution...

PHA says logistics for re-entry of nursing students to be completed in short order NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A handful of nursing students from the University of the Bahamas (UB) demonstrated in Rawson Square yesterday over the inability to graduate due to what they said was the government’s failure to allow them to gain clinical service experience needed to graduate. Grace...

Adventure of the Seas to set sail next week, homeporting in The Bahamas and running through August NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Royal Caribbean is seeing very strong bookings on its Bahamas cruise offering, which is set to begin in just over a week, according to a senior official with the cruise line, who noted that customer demand will determine the future...

The New Duff owner aims for unique duff treats to compete with intl franchises “We believe that the product can go global; we just need the right partner working along with us” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Owner of The New Duff Kendrick Delaney said that having grown from a bicycle cart to a food trailer and now a storefront bakery over...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas Christian Council said last night that while it supports the rights of each Bahamian to determine their own sexual preference, it does not believe that foreign governments, who are guests in The Bahamas, should “leverage their influence” to promote a lifestyle that contravenes with the “ideology of our country”. “The Bahamas is a sovereign democratic...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Abaco’s gross domestic product (GDP) fell nearly 60 percent in 2020 from a five-year high of just under $600 million in 2018, according to data released by the Department of Statistics, with the island’s Chamber of Commerce president noting that post-Dorian reconstruction will likely be the island’s primary economic driver in the medium term. According to the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Despite the mammoth task of conducting the country's census, Acting Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson said yesterday that the government will be able to complete the 2021 Census of the Population and Housing, indicating the process will officially begin mid-summer. Speaking to Eyewitness News on the matter, Johnson explained that the initial part of the census process will...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a 25 percent contraction in the gross domestic product (GDP) for New Providence, which alone accounted for nearly 75 percent of the country’s $9.9 billion output. The National Accounts Section of the Department of Statistics, in its first-ever GDP report outlining an island-by-island performance covering the years 2015...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Copa Airlines has announced that as of June 5, it will restart flights from Panama, connecting with the main cities of Latin America, to Nassau, Bahamas. Flights will initially operate Saturdays and Mondays and, as of June 17, will operate Sundays and Thursdays. The Panamanian airline is returning to The Bahamas after having suspended its flights just...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — More than $68 million will be injected into social services in the upcoming fiscal year as the government seeks to continue to support vulnerable sectors, including unemployed Bahamians and others who have been hit hard by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Social Services will receive $81.4 million in the upcoming budget, compared to the $60.3...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Private sector arrears were reduced by just under $16 million in April, with non-performing loans (NPLs) contributing to this development with a nearly $12 million contraction, the Central Bank has reported. The Central Bank, in its Monthly Economic and Financial Developments report for the month of April, noted that commercial banks saw their credit quality indicators improve...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Acting Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson said yesterday the “substantial bump” in gaming revenue projected for the upcoming fiscal year is based on the expected imposition of the patron tax. Johnson, who appeared as a guest on the talk show The Hit Back with host Nahaja Black, said the forecasted $41 million in gaming revenue outlined in the...

NGO says govt must now focus on wider issues, namely women representation in leadership NASSAU, BAHAMAS — While applauding the government for removing value-added tax (VAT) on feminine hygiene products, the Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWiL) Bahamas Chapter said yesterday there must be a continued focus on women’s issues in The Bahamas, including addressing the disproportionate representation in leadership. “Research...