The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The short-term rental market showed improvements during the month of April, supported by domestic demand, with total room nights sold increasing by nearly 40 percent. According to the Central Bank’s Monthly Economic and Financial Developments report for April, data provided by AirDNA showed improvements during the review month, supported by domestic demand. “Specifically, total room nights sold...

Henfield: This is not about migration or illegality; this is about saving lives “We still don't know how many lives were lost in The Mudd” ABACO, THE BAHAMAS — As he toured the storm-ravaged areas of Hurricane Dorian with a United Nations (UN) delegation over the weekend, Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield defended the government's position against shantytowns as a...

"Stop this senseless, heartless and illegal action that is being driven by xenophobia and discrimination" ABACO, BAHAMAS — A group of residents from The Farm shantytown on Abaco demonstrated on Saturday against the ongoing demolition of their homes, calling for the United Nations (UN) to take urgent action on their behalf to stop the government from continuing with its plans....

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — According to the Ministry of Health’s vaccine tracker released yesterday, there have been 55,037 doses of vaccines administered in The Bahamas to date, with 8,659 people being fully vaccinated with two doses. Some 46,378 people have received one dose of the vaccine and are still awaiting the second dose required to become fully vaccinated. On New Providence,...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As coronavirus restrictions continue to delay some court hearings, over 100 matters are still awaiting inquest at the Coroner’s Court, according to recent reports. Her Majesty’s Coroner oversees certain kinds of deaths to determine the identity of the deceased and the circumstances and medical cause of death. The Coroner’s Court report for July 2019 to June 2020 saw...

Sands: Duty reduction “a great gift” but has “net zero effect”  “You would almost have to make construction duty-free for there to be an increase in activity” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A former Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president said yesterday that while the government’s continued duty reduction on building supplies is a “good gesture”, it would be of little benefit to...

Tourism officials laud steadily improving arrival numbers “The recovery we are seeing is encouraging” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA) President Robert “Sandy” Sands said yesterday that the continuing trend of this nation’s tourism numbers growing week-over-week, in addition to the popular US Memorial Day weekend, has proven a “positive combination” with a number of hotels reporting...

Brathwaite says banks garnishing severance pay would be “very unusual”, but notes he cannot speak for every institution NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Clearing Banks Association (CBA) President Kenrick Brathwaite yesterday assured that all banks to some degree have been working with struggling borrowers who needed reprieve during the height of the pandemic. Brathwaite, while speaking with Eyewitness News, noted some banks...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Following a mission held over the weekend, the United Nations (UN) said it had positive discussions held the Bahamas government around development cooperation, the environment, migration, disaster preparedness and response, the economy and recovery from COVID-19. United Nations Resident Coordinator Garry Conille (left) greets Minister of Foreign Affairs Darren Henfield on Abaco on Saturday, May 29, 2021....

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — While Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said last week that he hoped to bring the marijuana bill to Parliament this week or soon thereafter, he was unable to say yesterday when the bill could be tabled in the House of Assembly and made public. According to a recent draft of the Medicinal Cannabis Bill, which was leaked...

UN delegation to visit Abaco next Conille: We’re pleased with the level of transparency given and level of discussions had with govt to date NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Following a tour of the Carmichael Road Detention Center yesterday, United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator for Jamaica, Bahamas, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos and the Cayman Islands Garry Conille said he was pleased with...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Amid calls from some quarters for increased security measures on school campuses, Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle said yesterday that officers in schools act as a “deterrent” and an “alternative”, striking the right balance of police presence and avoiding becoming a police state where armed officers flood schools. Last week, an 11th grade student at Government High...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A former finance minister yesterday warned that the country is on an “unsustainable” path of borrowing foreign currency to pay foreign currency debt, telling Eyewitness News that more focus should have been placed on plugging this loophole. James Smith told Eyewitness News: “This was an extraordinary year given the pandemic and the impact it had on the local...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Coined the “Accelerate Bahamas” budget, the government’s fiscal plans for the upcoming period will see sizeable increases across its ministries and agencies, tax increases in certain sectors and a continued surge of funds to the nation’s social safety net, as The Bahamas turns its sights on preparing for economic growth amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, government expenditure...

Haitian man and woman from Dundas Town in police custody over matter NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Individuals who claimed to have witnessed a woman and child being struck by a speeding vehicle shortly after 5pm on Abaco on Tuesday said the driver did not stop "for a second" after nearly killing the pair. A graphic video of the incident was widely...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Another $43 million added to the budget for the Ministry of Public Service and National Insurance will see increased expenditure allocations for social benefit, increased cost of rent for its office building, and recently announced hiring programs and salary adjustments. The ministry’s budget will see an increase from $263.2 million to $306 million in the upcoming period....

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of State for Finance Kwasi Thompson said yesterday that the government is expected to extend its unemployment assistance program to September. The unemployment program was set to end in June after a 15-month run. “It really was designed to be maybe a three or four-month measure, but unfortunately…the pandemic kept going. It is still continuing and...

“We have a position and a strategy that we believe are sustainable” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A top finance official said yesterday the country’s widening fiscal deficit is no reason for “alarm” as it is temporary and not structural, though he admitted it is cause for “caution and concern”. Acting Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson, while addressing a post-budget press conference yesterday,...