The Big Story

49 nurses leave PMH either to pursue opportunities abroad or to retire Health minister says govt considering whether to bring foreign nurses in NASSAU, BAHAMAS — While he assured that bed capacity in the country is “not an issue”, Minister of Health Reward Wells yesterday said there is an ongoing challenge with workers in the healthcare sector. Speaking to reporters...

Education minister: We have done a “tremendous” job and he knows it NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd yesterday hit out at educator Zane Lightbourne over criticisms of the ministry's work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Lightbourne, who is the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate for Yamacraw for the upcoming general election, appeared as a special guest on Straight Talk...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) has fired back at a US-based non-profit that recently asserted the Bahamian government has full legal authority to deny the Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) request to review its licenses. BPC said in a statement yesterday it is “entirely spurious for foreign environmental groups to offer unsolicited legal advice on a matter of which...

What happens to displaced shantytown residents? Bannister says that’s not his problem “It's not my responsibility to take care of those residents” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government demolished 10 illegal housing structures in the Farm shantytown on Abaco over the weekend, as it continues its third phase of eradicating such dwellings throughout the country. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of...

Unionist: Atlantis redundancies a long time coming NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Atlantis’ decision to make 700 employees redundant was yesterday branded as “unfortunate” by some Cabinet ministers, with Labour Minister Dion Foulkes assuring that the government would do all in its power to ease the burden and assist those impacted. Atlantis President and Managing Director Audrey Oswell in a letter yesterday...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas could begin receiving overflight fees by mid-July, according to Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar. Minister of Tourism and Aviation Dionisio D'Aguilar. Speaking ahead of a Cabinet meeting yesterday, D’Aguilar said: “We will be receiving our information from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). The FAA will gather that information during May, give it to us...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas First Holdings Limited yesterday said strong top-line revenue growth for its first quarter was offset by higher claims, resulting in a nearly 14 percent decrease in net underwriting income. The group, which provides insurance and related services in The Bahamas and the Cayman Islands, yesterday announced its unaudited consolidated financial results for the three months ended...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Citing the pandemic's impact on global travel and lingering uncertainty over recovery, Atlantis announced today it will make 700 employees redundant. In a letter, Atlantis President and Managing Director Audrey Oswell underscored significant losses incurred by the pandemic had forced the resort to drastically cut costs in "nearly every corner", including its 7,300-strong workforce. Atlantis President and...

Cases decline just over four percent week-over-week AG advises ordinary COVID legislation still in draft phase NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamians could return to “normal life” with the potential discontinuation of the public state of emergency in August, according to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, who tabled a resolution in Parliament that seeks to extend the orders to August 13. The prime...

Dock vendors bemoan significant drop in sales amid conch poisoning cases NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority’s (BAHFSA) Food Safety and Quality Unit has asked that all conch vendors discontinue the preparation and sale of raw/fresh conch dishes immediately. The disclaimer comes amidst increased reports of conch poisoning in recent weeks. At the end of...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS­ — Attorney General Carl Bethel said yesterday the government must make the “hard decision” to determine whether discontinuation of the public state of emergency and implementation of ordinary COVID legislation with “half of the powers” would be sufficient to fight the new wave of COVID in The Bahamas. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis tabled a resolution in the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Ministry of Education has advised that face-to-face classroom instruction from all primary, junior and senior high public schools will be suspended from May 25 to June 3 in order to facilitate national examinations. Online learning will continue during this time, however. In a recent press statement, the ministry acknowledged that it is cognizant of the dynamic...

Moultrie rules to uphold opposition leader’s suspension NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis said his privilege was breached over a week ago when Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly Don Saunders requested the sergeant of arms to remove the Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP from the Lower Chamber as he sought to defend his...

“Homeporting of cruise lines could help significantly in increasing the amount that cruise visitors spend in the country” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Homeporting of cruise lines in The Bahamas could significantly increase cruise passenger spend, according to an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report that noted it takes 28 cruise visitors to equal the spend of one stopover visitor. The IDB, in...

“It is no longer enough to depend on the lure of splendid beaches” IDB report says “evolution” of tourism demand will be critical for Caribbean economic recovery NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas is the sixth most tourism-dependent economy in the world, according to the latest version of the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Tourism Dependency Index. According to an IDB Caribbean...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Former Deputy House Speaker Dion Smith yesterday condemned the recent actions of current Deputy Speaker Don Saunders, insisting he did not follow the rules when he had an officer escort opposition leader Philip Brave Davis out of the Lower Chamber earlier this month. On May 5, a shouting match between Saunders and Davis resulted in Davis being...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bank of The Bahamas (BOB) saw a nearly $7 million net operating income for the nine months ending March 31, offset by $8 million in credit loan and impairment losses, the BISX-listed lender has reported. BOB, in its third-quarter results for fiscal year 2021, noted that for the nine-month period ended March 31, 2021, it recorded...

GG cites low vaccination percentage and ongoing third wave as justification Emergency orders, including curfew, have been in place 14 months and counting NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The governor general has issued a new proclamation declaring a continued state of emergency in The Bahamas due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The proclamation of emergency, which came into effect on May...