The Big Story

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...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas Pharmaceutical Association (BPA) has filed an injunction against the Bahamas Pharmacy Council (BPC), the minister of health and the attorney general for allegedly failing to comply with the Pharmacy Act, 2009 and fee changes. The association contends that Minister of Health Renward Wells failed to comply with the Pharmacy Act, 2009. The injunction, filed just...

"Cases come first and deaths come after"NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Former Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said yesterday that The Bahamas is “not in a good place" as it continues to see a climb in new COVID-19 infections. With a significant increase in cases over the past few weeks, officials have confirmed The Bahamas is experiencing a third wave of coronavirus infections. In...

"My home could have been saved" NASSAU, BAHAMAS —Several families have been displaced after a massive blaze razed six homes and damaged four others at Jennie Street off Balfour Avenue for several hours yesterday. Police advised that shortly after 3pm, the Fire Department responded to reports of a structural fire and met three structures engulfed in flames. As firefighters and...

Parker-Edgecombe urges Bahamians and residents to take hurricane advisories seriously “Precautionary measures taken now could save life and property in the future” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe said yesterday it is “critical” that each Bahamian and resident take the necessary precautions and prepare now in the event a storm hits during...

Albury: The PM is taking the right approach “Businesses and individuals that do not follow the protocols need to be dealt with” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A Bahamian businessman has urged greater compliance and enforcement of COVID-19 protocols, warning that reimposing restrictions to combat the third wave of the virus in the country would be economic suicide. Ben Albury, Bahamas Bus...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS —  Attorney General Carl Bethel yesterday named retired Supreme Court Justice Keith Thompson and former Assistant Director of Legal Affairs (ADLA)Shane Miller as the first Freedom of Information Commissioner and Deputy Freedom of Information Commissioner, respectively. The announcement is a major step towards the enforcement of the Freedom of Information Act, which successive governments have tried to implement....

Meteorologists predicting 17-18 named storms, eight hurricanes and three to four major hurricanes  NASSAU, BAHAMAS — With hurricane season fast approaching, meteorologists are predicting another busy one this year. The season runs from June 1 to November 30, but some meteorologists have been lobbying for the season’s start date to be moved up to May 15. Last year, there were...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — “You failed us, we’re going to fail you,” said Bahamas Nurse Union (BNU) President Amancha Williams, making clear that the nurses will act a bloc to ensure the kind of representation it wishes to see in the next general election. “We are going to say to everybody, go and register," Williams told Eyewitness News in a recent...

D’Aguilar notes Downtown Nassau a “ghost town”; tourism industry “anxious” for cruises to return Maura: Our bread and butter are transit passengers but homeport passengers the icing on the cake NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Nassau Cruise Port’s top executive hailed as “great news” reports that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) could allow cruise ships to resume passenger...

Major: HOA COVID exposure "grossly unfortunate" and ought not to have happened "The government need to practice and start by leading by the rules and the laws that it established." NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government missed the opportunity to introduce a safer, hybrid method for parliamentary proceedings throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, said former House of Assembly Speaker Dr Kendal Major....

“Economic recovery will be led by the private sector, in partnership with the public sector” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group’s Country Office Bahamas recently launched its 2021 Bahamas Business Leaders Series with a virtual meeting attended by CEOs of leading local companies. The discussion centered around identifying and fostering opportunities for economic growth and recovery as...

Elderly aunt and uncle told niece “they would be fine” at home in last moments together before Dorian struck No help arrived for daysNASSAU, BAHAMAS — The niece of Juanita Lowe and Leroy Lowe, a brother and sister who were last seen the day before Hurricane Dorian hit, claims she saw a photo of her aunt's body on a flatbed...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Speaker of the House of Assembly Halson Moultrie said yesterday that the COVID testing of parliamentarians and staff members of the House of Assembly at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday morning was a “purely political” exercise intended on the government’s part to save face after it “poorly handled” a positive case of a House staffer...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A Jamaican man, who overstayed his time in The Bahamas by over a year, said he did not return to his home country because he "fell in love with The Bahamas" Oswell Anthony appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney. He arrived in The Bahamas on June 2, 2019, and was to leave the country on July 16, 2019. When...

Speaker’s stance was “noteworthy” and “absolutely correct” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Former House Speaker Dr Kendall Major described the “very strange” and “unprecedented” adjournment of Parliament as “very unfortunate to democracy”. In an interview with Eyewitness News yesterday, Major said: “What occurred in Parliament very strange set of circumstances and very unfortunate to democracy. “I think the speaker’s principle stance was...