The Big Story

“I had asked for $300 to $350 as a minimum wage… conservative if you look at their findings” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A trade unionist said yesterday that findings of a University of The Bahamas (UB) wage study were “no surprise”, adding that the data has given credence to his call for a $300 to $350 per week minimum wage. The...

HRB: Bahamians in “traditional” communities where same issues exist are left alone “Once again, we urge the FNM to stop embarrassing the country on the global stage” NASSAU, BAHAMAS —  Human Rights Bahamas (HRB) yesterday condemned the government for "continuing to manufacture and perpetuate a humanitarian crisis in Abaco", as demolition of shantytowns on the island reportedly moves forward. Last...

GRAND BAHAMA, BAHAMAS — On Friday, police on Grand Bahama intercepted and seized a marijuana cultivation site of marijuana plants valuing some seven million dollars. According to reports, officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit acting on information went to the site, situated between acres of undeveloped land located approximately three miles north of Grand Bahama Highway and northeast of the...

Earthjustice: Denying BPC not only within lawful authority of The Bahamas but also consistent with govt’s public opposition to oil drilling NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A US-based non-profit specializing in environmental law, Earthjustice, has asserted that the Bahamian government has full legal authority to deny the Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) request to review its licenses. The organization, in a letter addressed...

GRAND BAHAMA, BAHAMAS — Authorities were yesterday investigating the death of a police officer who was found in his vehicle in the Deadman's Reef area with a single gunshot wound to the head. According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Ashton Greenslade, the officer in charge of Grand Bahama, an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death but...

Bahamas, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico all seeing increase NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas is seeing a significant uptick in flight bookings, according to a US online travel agency report on US traveler trends. According to the report by CheapOair, The Bahamas and Jamaica have seen the biggest increases in airline ticket bookings of any international destination. The Bahamas...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of Foreign Affairs Darren Henfield said yesterday the government cannot afford to risk the safety of Bahamians or the potential for The Bahamas’ economy to rebound by allowing travelers from Haiti where he said protocols continue to be shirked. On Wednesday, the competent authority extended the travel ban on Haiti for an additional 30 days, beginning...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA) President Dr Sabriquet Pinder-Butler suggested yesterday that not enough is known about the COVID-19 vaccine to adopt policies in The Bahamas that would allow residents to go maskless after being full vaccinated. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear...

Former minister eager to “continue the work I started in the constituency”  NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Former Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said yesterday he is confident he will win the West Grand Bahama and Bimini seat in the upcoming general election. Wilchcombe was among seven candidates to be ratified by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) on Wednesday night during an outdoor...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Court of Appeal has denied Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard’s application for conditional leave to appeal to the Privy Council its decision to dismiss an appeal that sought to quash a judge’s contempt of court order. On February 4 of this year, the applicant filed a notice of motion for conditional leave to appeal to the...

BREEF head: BPC must sort out license fees before applying to renew But BPC new incoming CEO says oil company has “the right to extend” its licenses NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Oil exploration opponents have called for “clarity” of Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) license fees, while “vehemently” rejecting assertions by its chief executive that the company has a right to renew...

HRB suggests incident not isolated but result of predatory culture; Immigration Dept says matter was investigated “Someone has to have the courage to bring it to an end” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Human Rights Bahamas (HRB) yesterday called for the immediate removal of all male officers from the Department of Immigration's “safe house” and demanded a full investigation into claims of...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday dismissed accusations of the Free National Movement (FNM) campaigning on the public’s purse, insisting opponents can simply “check my history”. In an interview with Eyewitness News, the prime minister said: “Go and check my history. Check my history. From day one, I have said and I have demonstrated that every time...

Minister tells migrants not to be afraid to come forward for assistance  Campbell: The Ministry of Social Services is not the Department of Immigration NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Shantytown residents on Abaco who are expected to be displaced following the demolition of their homes can seek assistance from social services, said Minister of Social Services Frankie Campbell yesterday. Campbell was responding...

Hutton says Abaco residents have tried to engage govt to no avail NASSAU, BAHAMAS — With the Hurricane Dorian tax breaks set to expire at the end of June, Abaco’s Chamber of Commerce president said yesterday there is now a great deal of “uncertainty” on the island among residents and second homeowners looking to rebuild. Abaco Chamber of Commerce President...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS —  The majority of respondents surveyed in a recent Public Domain poll supported Bahamians having 100 percent ownership in cannabis cultivation, production and distribution. The survey, obtained by Eyewitness News, was conducted as part of the Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana’s (BNCM) work to gauge the opinions of residents on cannabis and its related concerns. It was conducted between...

AAIA: Probable cause of accident a "catastrophic failure" of a cylinder of the left engine NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A 57-year-old pilot of a Piper Aztec PA-23-250 aircraft with two passengers onboard successfully navigated the small plane, which had its left engine ablaze and inoperable, to shallow waters off Lower Bogue, Eleuthera, where the aircraft was ditched, according to an Air...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The securities industry regulator has secured a Privy Council decision in its favor in a decade-old legal battle with Fundhaven (formerly Accuvest Fund Services) and South America Investment Fund Ltd. In a release yesterday, the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) noted a judgment was issued by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC). The Privy...