The Big Story

PMH begins vaccine rollout to eligible groups via appointment system NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) Administrator Mary Walker said yesterday that the hospital, which began inoculating eligible groups against COVID-19 yesterday morning, can vaccinate at least 120 people per day. PMH’s staff complement is approximately 1,800. This does not include Emergency Medical Services personnel attached to the hospital,...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas First, the property and casualty insurer, saw a total comprehensive income of $5.3 million to end 2020, with the company’s performance having benefited from the absence of any major catastrophic event during the year. Alison Treco, chair of the board, noted in a report on the company’s fourth quarter financial statements that the group ended 2020...

COVAX Facility secures over 100 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine through 2021 NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Dr Carissa F Etienne yesterday defended the sluggish delivery of COVAX vaccines to Caribbean countries, insisting that the organization hopes every country in the program will receive its first shipment before April 7. During PAHO’s weekly...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Taxi Cab Union President Wesley Ferguson yesterday called on the government to address the “major” issue affecting the industry and issue the new taxi plates as promised. Minister of Labor, Transport and Local Government Dion Foulkes announced in the Senate yesterday that self-drive or SD license plates will now be manufactured in their original white color....

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The capital markets will soon be in reach of Bahamian small businesses and entrepreneurs, according to Minister of State for Finance Kwasi Thompson, who noted that businesses will be able to raise up to $5 million via crowdfunding. Thompson, who was making a contribution to the debate in the Senate on the government’s fiscal strategy, mid-term budget...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has ratified another 13 candidates for office in the upcoming general election, including all three of its incumbent members of Parliament. PLP Leader and Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP Philip Brave Davis; Deputy Leader and Ragged Island and Exumas MP Chester Cooper; and Englerston MP Glenys Hanna-Martin will defend...

Weekly cases on GB have surpassed NP for past two weeks NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Newly confirmed coronavirus cases in The Bahamas have shot up 67 percent in the last week compared to the previous week, a trend that can be largely attributed to an increase of infections on the island of Grand Bahama. The data was gleaned from the Ministry...

Jamaica becomes first country in Caribbean to receive COVAX Facility vaccine allotment NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation (BCCEC) Chairperson Khrystle Rutherford-Ferguson said yesterday it is not a “competition” for The Bahamas to access COVID vaccines, as the focus should remain on “getting it right”. This notwithstanding other countries in the region receiving vaccine doses since...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As two women continue to fight for their lives in hospital following a tragic boating accident on Sunday night that killed three people, authorities said everyone involved in the accident, including the boat captain, was assisting police with their ongoing investigation. Candice McDonald, 20, Leanna Cartwright, 22, and Jay Roberts, 19, were killed after a 28-foot vessel...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A tech-enabled containerized farming company has seen a “phenomenal” response to its offering, according to its founder, who told Eyewitness News “the demand is definitely there”. Lincoln Deal II, founder of Eeden Farms, said: “The response has been phenomenal. Most days, we are combing growing and facilitating tours because the interest level is so high among restaurants...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As the country’s tourism industry slowly rebounds from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, one local real estate professional is predicting that Airbnb/short-term rental owners stand to reap tremendous gains as travel trends shift towards that segment. Matt Sweeting, 1 OAK Bahamas’ chief executive, told Eyewitness News that those operators could potentially triple their profits as anxious...

Forbes notes additional shots may be needed as boosters NASSAU, BAHAMAS — While the government is working to secure additional batches of COVID-19 vaccines, some manufacturers may not be able to provide The Bahamas with doses until 2022, according to Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Delon Brennen. During a Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) town hall meeting yesterday, Brennen noted that bilateral...

Woman who claims she had first-hand experience describes trying to assist victims of the tragedy NASSAU, BAHAMAS — T’Sean Mott, the purported partner of Candice McDonald yesterday described feeling robbed of the chance to marry the woman of his dreams following her tragic death in a boating accident off Eleuthera Sunday night. Mott said in a Facebook post: “Last night,...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas National Trust (BNT) Executive Director Eric Carey said yesterday this nation must determine whether it wants sustainable or mass tourism on the Family Islands, suggesting that the latter is not the way to go. Carey told Eyewitness News: “I had always hoped that the Family Islands would offer authentic experiences and not be places where we...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle said the recent killing of a 10-year-old boy is an egregious and disrespectful act that breaches the code that even criminals are supposed to be bound to — no children ought to be harmed. The boy, identified as Kenron Dean, affectionally called “Guppy” was shot on Finlayson Street and Bola Avenue, Bain...

“We still need to make sure that we minimize the amount of disease that is brought into the country” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Although COVID-19 vaccinations in The Bahamas have started and are expected to ramp up this month, for now, individuals will still need a coronavirus test to enter the country, said Deputy Chief Medical Officer Delon Brennen yesterday. Brennen...

Man missing after accident found dead yesterday morning Victims remembered as pleasant members of society  NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A birthday celebration on Man Island that ended in the tragic deaths of two Eleutheran women and a Harbour Island man following a boating accident has left the island reeling, according to North Eleuthera MP Howard “Rickey” Mackey, who asked for the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle indicated yesterday that while the Complaints and Corruptions Unit has yet to complete their investigation into allegations that a senior officer brutalized a man in police custody last month, it is believed more than one officer was involved in the incident. The officer at the center of the allegations has been placed...