The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of Tourism Dionisio D'Aguilar yesterday urged Bahamians to be honest and fair in regards to their COVID tests. D'Aguilar's comments came after several people were arrested and charged for possessing and uttering falsified coronavirus tests while attempting to travel to the Family Islands from New Providence. Speaking to reporters outside Cabinet, the tourism minister said there...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A Family Island businessman is urging the government to “exercise more empathy” with Family Islanders needing to travel to New Providence, arguing that the cost of an RT-PCR test in addition to other travel expenses is proving a “heavy burden”. His comments come as nine people, including a 17-year-old juvenile, were arraigned in the Magistrate’s Court on...

"Some people have no aftereffects at all; others have to take the day off after immunization" NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As the national COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, stakeholders indicate that while there have been individuals reporting some aftereffects, there have been no major adverse effects identified to date. More than 7,000 people have been vaccinated on New Providence and Grand Bahama...

Teachers, persons with disabilities and hospitality workers become eligible for vaccination on April 7 NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As the government expands its vaccination programme, doses of Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have begun to be administered on Eleuthera. Vaccinations will continue on the island through Thursday beginning with healthcare workers, residents over 60 and staff of the uniformed branches, Prime Minister...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas’ meeting and incentive business is ramping back up with a major law industry conference set to be held on New Providence this fall. The Bahamas will be hosting the 2021 Commonwealth Law Conference (CLC) from September 5 to 9, at the five-star luxury resort Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, where speakers and attendees will be discussing...

No arrests made; suspects urged to turn themselves inNASSAU, BAHAMAS — Police recovered 155 packages of suspected cocaine with a street value of $3.1 million in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, during a joint law enforcement operation yesterday. According to reports, personnel from Operation Bahamas and Turks and Caicos (OPBAT), the US Coast Guard, US Customs and Border Patrol and the Royal...

Easter weekend activities could bring about a surge without adherence to health protocols NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme Dr Nikkiah Forbes said yesterday that a sustained increase in coronavirus cases that could indicate The Bahamas is “on the brink of a third wave” can be attributed in part to failure to adhere to...

Deputy chief magistrate: “When we don't have persons acting in good faith, the entire system will collapse” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Nine people, including a 17-year-old juvenile, were arraigned in the Magistrate's Court yesterday for possessing and uttering forged coronavirus test results. The group is the first to be charged with the offense under the country's COVID-19 regulations. Davis Scott, Requlla...

Bethel: Constitutionality of emergency orders a non-issueNASSAU, BAHAMAS — Notwithstanding the fewer than 300 active cases of the coronavirus in The Bahamas, Attorney General Carl Bethel said yesterday that he does not foresee any easing of restrictions in the near future. The Ministry of Health reported that a recently completed data cleaning exercise using “prevailing scientific data that applies to...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A local environmentalist decried plans for several cruise lines to homeport in this jurisdiction as “the most depressing news in a long time”, urging this nation to undertake a serious review of whether the cruise is “worth our while”. Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar told Parliament earlier this month that three cruise companies have expressed interest in making...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamian commercial banks saw total private sector arrears decline by just over $57 million or 7.3 percent last month, according to the Central Bank. The regulator, in its Monthly Economic and Financial Developments Report for February, noted that bank’s credit quality indicators for the month were “slightly improved” amid reductions in both short-term delinquencies and non-performing loans...

Komolafe: Dames is not worthy of “honorable” titleNASSAU, BAHAMAS —Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Arinthia Komolafe yesterday called for the resignation of Minister of National Security Marvin Dames over recent comments accusing the political party of injuring police officers. Komolafe and others were last week detained and questioned for over five hours at the Central Police Station in relation to...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Draftspersons in the Office of the Attorney General continue to work on legislation that will pave the way to a regularized medicinal marijuana framework in The Bahamas with growing and export provisions, according to Attorney General Carl Bethel. When contacted on the completion of the legislation, Bethel told Eyewitness News: “No, it’s not done. My people have...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The United States Coast Guard detained several Cuban nationals on a small sailboat in waters off Dog Rocks in the Cay Sal Bank on Sunday. Eyewitness News understands more than 10 Cuban nationals were onboard. The US Coast Guard handed over the Cubans to the defense force. The group has since been transferred to the Carmichael Road...

Rolle: It’s not the cruise line; it’s the govt that gave permission without consulting stakeholdersEXUMA, BAHAMAS — Exuma Chamber of Commerce President Pedro Rolle said yesterday that there was vocal support for and against Crystal Cruises coming to the island, telling Eyewitness News: “We have to do what’s best for Exuma.” Crystal Cruises has announced that its Crystal Serenity ship...

ABACO, BAHAMAS — An Abaco resort operator said yesterday that she was anticipating a “bounce back” in June and July, noting that while there are many small resorts and businesses in the Abacos welcoming visitors, the lack of airlift has proven to be a challenge. Molly McIntosh, general manager of the Bluff House Beach Resort and Marina, Green Turtle Cay,...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A set of young men said they have lost trust in the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) in light of recent police brutality incidents. This comes after a string of police-involved shootings and reports of police using excessive force across the island inundated headlines over the past several weeks. 22-year-old Uriah Ferguson said: “When it comes to...

FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA — A Royal Bahamas Defence Force Officer is in police custody after he was found to be in possession of an unlicensed firearm. According to police, officers received some information about a suspicious male dressed in blue jeans with a dark-colored top with a hood while working the Island Wide Special Operation on Saturday. "The male was...