The Big Story

Wendy’s, Marco’s Pizza and Popeyes franchise group “elated” over announcement of relaxed restrictions for vaccinated patrons NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A prominent Bahamian franchise group said yesterday it was “elated” at Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ announcement that indoor dining will be permitted for persons who have been fully vaccinated. Terry Tsavoussis, who along with his brother Chris head Aetos Holdings,...

“Some people have been waiting 13 years for us to return” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The manager of a popular Bahamian eatery said that despite the pandemic, the restaurant has seen a strong customer response to its return into the marketplace. Derek Smith, manager at Café Johnny Canoe, told Eyewitness News: “Business has been going extremely well. We have seen a...

“I have never been exposed to anything like that in my life” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Officers sent to recover the bodies of people who died during Hurricane Dorian in the days after it decimated Abaco and parts of Grand Bahama were met with horrific scenes of carnage, a court heard this week. Sergeant Austin Bowles, a crime scene officer, testified...

PM says scientific data will continue to guide decisions for the island NASSAU, BAHAMAS — North Eleuthera MP Howard Rickey Mackey yesterday appealed for the competent authority to relax the curfew on the island given the low number of cases and to reconsider the RT-PCR COVID testing requirement for Eleutherans to travel to and from New Providence. He said most...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As The Bahamas grapples with another surge of COVID-19 cases, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced yesterday that enforcement of the emergency orders will be “increased and enhanced”. “To address the increase in cases, we need every Bahamian and resident to fully practice all the public health measures," he said during a communication to Parliament. “Throughout the...

PM maintains vaccines are voluntary  PLP leader urges workers to get vaccine NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As several employers in the country seek to make it mandatory for employees to get vaccinated, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday reiterated the government’s position, indicating that the coronavirus jab is not mandatory. In recent weeks, as vaccinations in the country begin to ramp...

PLP leader: If govt had just listened to me, we may not be where we are NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Philip Brave Davis yesterday lambasted the government for what he said was a lack of action and failure to engage a local company to supply vaccines for the country amid the third wave of the coronavirus....

80 percent of samples screened last week contained variant COVID strains “There was not evidence of the variants in the samples up until November 2020” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The percentage of COVID variants among a sampling of positive cases quadrupled between March and April — further evidence of more than one strain of the virus impacting the spread of the...

Minnis: I understand you were overcharged by the former govt but I cannot change that NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis clarified in Parliament yesterday that he had made no pledge to provide rebates to homeowners in the Ardastra Gardens Estate #3 subdivision, whom he asserted had been overcharged for their residence under the previous administration. Minnis, after...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government has apologized to a man who was falsely detained at the Carmichael Road Detention Center as part of a Supreme Court order that determined the government was liable and will have to pay costs and damages to be determined to the plaintiff. Joseph Amihere was named as the plaintiff. He was mistakenly believed to be...

Sands: New travel requirements great for the economy NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) voiced its support of travel protocol changes announced by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday, noting that the decision will have a “decisive positive impact” on visitor arrivals. BHTA President Robert “Sandy” Sands, in response to the government’s decision to remove the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX) has announced that four investment funds administered by the Winterbotham Trust Company Limited have successfully completed the BISX Mutual Fund Listing Process. According to BISX, these funds are Gables Resources Fund Ltd, Quest 21 Investment Fund Ltd, Latam Parc Opportunity Fund Ltd and Envision Special Fund Ltd. As a result, the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government must treat the issuance of Crown land grants, particularly as it relates to the Family Islands, with the “urgency and respect” it deserves, East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest said yesterday. Speaking briefly on the issue of Crown land grants in the House of Assembly, Turnquest, the former deputy prime minister and former minister of...

ABACO, BAHAMAS — The prime minister’s decision to push back the curfew on mainland Abaco by two hours was branded a “big deal”, especially for small businesses on the hurricane-ravaged island. Abaco Chamber of Commerce President Ken Hutton. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, during a COVID-19 communication in Parliament yesterday, announced that the 8pm to 5am daily curfew on mainland...

“Today, I still give although that money is gone, and people believe I still have it“ Proposed bankruptcy settlement could see more than $7K apiece given to defrauded Fyre Fest victims NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Maryann Rolle, 67, the owner of the Exuma Point Bar and Grille, said of the more than $200,000 she and her husband, Elvin, have received through...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has announced eased travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers as the government seeks to expand its vaccination program across the archipelago. He announced that fully vaccinated individuals — after receiving the second dose of the vaccine — will be immediately exempted from RT-PCR testing when traveling domestically. He also announced that effective...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Health officials indicated yesterday that more contagious variants of the coronavirus likely arrived in The Bahamas since last month and have contributed to some extent to the increase in COVID cases, which has been labelled a “surge” and the “early phases of a third wave”. “The emergence of variant strains of COVID-19 is of significant concern,” National...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The National COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee is reviewing options for a new travel regime that could see travel requirements for fully vaccinated individuals in The Bahamas eased, according to committee Chairperson Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis. “The competent authority will announce the various revisions or changes to the policy for travel, but if you are fully vaccinated — and...