The Big Story

Three families, four businesses and a church impacted by most recent blaze NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A burnt and unrecognizable body was found in the ashes of a fire on Seventh Terrance and Fritz Lane yesterday morning, police said. According to reports, fire services responded to reports of a blaze around 3am and arrived to find the top portion of a...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Government is ready to move ahead this week with the third phase of an operation to demolish structures in an Abaco shantytown, with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works Desmond Bannister declaring: “Our people are mobilized and ready to do what they need to do.” “When we finish there, were are going to go in...

“If there are outages, they will be short and isolated, but we don’t anticipate widespread outages” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works Desmond Bannister yesterday revealed that Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) suspects it recently received a “contaminated” batch of fuel that has caused “challenges” with its engines. Speaking with reporters ahead of a Cabinet...

Minister Dames: It's a normal occurrence; don't read too deeply into it NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) yesterday advised its heads of departments to submit the names of marines expected to vote in the advanced polls in the upcoming general election. In a memo sent out on April 29, the law enforcement agency said the move...

Forbes says stricter protocols may have to be considered going forward NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme Dr Nikkiah Forbes suggested yesterday The Bahamas must take action or risk a further increase in coronavirus infections. Forbes’ comments come as the country tries to mitigate a third wave of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic first...

"If we expect in every incident that the government will make us whole, that is not realistic" Campbell suggests homeowners consider insurance options NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of Social Services Frankie Campbell yesterday assured that the families recently impacted by Sunday's fire on Jennie Street are being assisted by his ministry. On Sunday, a massive fire ripped through 10 structures on...

“Loss of use” damages to be retried in the Supreme Court NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Court of Appeal has refused to give leave to SkyBahamas to appeal to the Privy Council level over nearly $500,000 it was ordered to pay Southern Air Limited following an aircraft collision in 2009. Attorney Wayne Munroe, QC, represented Southern Air. Marco Turnquest and Chizelle Cargill...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Family Guardian’s president said decline in medical claims due to a decrease in utilization because of COVID-19 restrictions, along with the strategic responses by management to control operating expenses, helped offset the pandemic’s impact on the company’s 2020 financial performance. The Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX)-listed insurer recorded a 34 percent improvement in its net income. Its...

D’Aguilar: Travelers using fake vaccination cards are a concern NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday that while tourism arrival numbers are trending in a positive direction, they are still 30 to 40 percent below pre-pandemic levels. D’Aguilar, who was addressing reporters ahead of a Cabinet meeting yesterday, noted: “The good news is that the number of foreign...

"It would be impractical for us to go to a scene without water" Morris: The issue was water pressure from WSC NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Police Fire Chief Superintendent Kenrick Morris yesterday defended the response of fire services to a massive fire on Jennie Street on Sunday, which left dozen of residents homeless and displaced. Morris said despite concerns expressed from...

“So far, only the stopover market has benefited from tourism restart” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Total foreign arrivals fell by nearly 80 percent in March, extending the nearly 60 percent decline in the same period last year, the Central Bank has reported. According to the Central Bank’s Monthly Economic and Financial Developments report for March, total foreign arrivals fell by 79.2...

But he notes govt will have “significant” financing needs going forward NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The country’s foreign reserves to date stand at a “comfortable” $2.26 billion, the Central Bank revealed yesterday, noting that demand for foreign exchange, mainly for imports of goods and services, has dropped by 14 percent. According to Central Bank Governor John Rolle, foreign reserves contracted over...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The current voters’ register stands at 189,288 voters, with just over 500 voters added to the register since the beginning of April, according to Acting Parliamentary Commissioner Lavado Duncanson. In an interview with Eyewitness News, Duncanson advised that as of May 1, 2021, there were 131,074 voters registered on New Providence; 30,214 on Grand Bahama; and 28,000 on...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A man was granted bail in the Magistrate's Court after pleading not guilty to intentional libel against Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Philip Brave Davis. Oswald Poitier, 45, of Second Street, Cockburn Town, was arraigned before Magistrate Samuel McKinney and charged with one count of intentional libel. The prosecution alleged that sometime prior to November 16, 2020,...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — House Speaker Halson Moultrie advised yesterday that "all issues have been resolved" between him and members of the executive, following a contentious House meeting last week over the failure to respond to a COVID-19 exposure in the Lower Chamber. Parliamentarians met briefly yesterday for the first sitting of the House of Assembly since Moultrie abruptly adjourned parliamentary...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Private sector appetite for credit was “sharply scaled back” over the second half of 2020, with loan requests dropping by nearly 60 percent due to the economic downturn as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Central Bank. Central Bank Governor John Rolle, while commenting on the regulator’s Monthly Economic and Financial Developments report for...

“With over five million cruise visitors, we have a captive audience to showcase all that is Bahamian to them” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Ministry of Tourism and Aviation (MOTA), along with the Tourism Development Corporation (TDC), has facilitated the formation of the new Bahamas Cruise Committee. The Cruise Committee will work with the cruise lines that make ports of call...

"Should WSC not meet their obligations, Aqua Design Bahamas will cease production on May 8, 2021" NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Aqua Design Bahamas, the operator of reverse osmosis plants that supply potable water to several Family Islands, has advised it will delay the closure of its plant amidst a dispute with the government over its contract. Last week, the company advised...