The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A “crazy high” price hike of as much as 50 percent on certain building materials and supplies amid the pandemic could persist until summer, according to one local retailer who told Eyewitness News he has “never seen the prices like this”. Anthony Roberts, City Lumber Yard general manager, said: “The prices are not escalating like they were....

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Following an independent non-governmental organization (NGO) recently grading The Bahamas a “D” average on its safety for LGBT travelers, local human rights activists and groups are saying there is more work to be done politically and socially on the matter. Asher&Lyric, an NGO that conducts and publishes private research and studies on various topics, recently created a...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamian environmental groups said yesterday they are starting a thorough technical review of Disney’s recently released 500-page environmental impact assessment (EIA) for its proposed Lighthouse Point development. Environmental groups said in a statement yesterday that last October, they wrote to Disney and the minister of the environment calling for a commitment to a 90-day public consultation period...

NASSAU BAHAMAS — Judah Forbes is a 28-year-old producer who is moving from behind-the-scenes and stepping into the forefront as an up-and-coming rap artist. Forbes recently released the cover art for his first album, called “I’m Not A Rapper”, which embodies his swift journey of becoming a rapper and music artist. In an interview with Eyewitness News, Forbes, who goes...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nassau’s position on the COVID-19 vaccine bodes well for The Bahamas as it begins administering its first batch of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines to healthcare professionals. “I am happy that the Catholic Church has come forth and given their official announcement," Minnis told Eyewitness News. "The archbishop...

Country analysis notes VAT “regressive and disadvantages the poor” and more equitable taxation system is needed NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A move towards a more equitable and redistributive tax system in The Bahamas is “overdue”, a recent United Nations analysis on this nation has found. The United Nations Common Country Analysis (CCA) on The Bahamas suggested that not levying income tax...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The COVID-19 vaccination appointment system will officially open for eligible groups on Wednesday. During a Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) town hall meeting today, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Delon Brennen outlined the current national vaccine deployment plan. Brennen noted that delivery of vaccinations will begin on New Providence and Grand Bahama as of Wednesday to those eligible...

HARBOUR ISLAND, ELEUTHERA — Two women are dead and a man is missing at sea after their boat collided with a ferry boat sometime after 9pm last night. The victims and five other people they were traveling with onboard a 17-foot Boston Whaler were all thrown into the water when the vessel reportedly collided with a 28-foot Bertram. The Bertram...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Police are investigating the deaths of two men on Abaco in separate incidents on Sunday — one a suspicious death, and the other a fatal shooting. The body of a white man was found unresponsive with an injury to the back of the head on the dock of the Bakers Bay Marina shortly before 2pm. In a...

Minnis, Wells and Dahl-Regis also among those vaccinated NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Ruth Bastian, a nurse of more than 45 years, became the first person in The Bahamas to be vaccinated with the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine yesterday as the government rolled out its vaccine program to healthcare professionals at Loyola Hall on Gladstone Road. Attendees clapped as Bastian was vaccinated...

110 people vaccinated as of yesterday afternoon NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday made another case for Bahamians to take the COVID-19 vaccine that was rolled out to healthcare professionals yesterday morning, insisting it is an “essential” part of resuming business and social life in The Bahamas. The prime minister, his wife, Patricia, and Minister of Health...

Govt would suspend vaccine program if additional doses do not arrive by month's end NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Head of the National COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis said yesterday that while vaccine hesitancy in The Bahamas poses a “real concern”, she believes there are more who wish to be vaccinated that those who do not. She said she believes...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar said the travel block on Haiti has been extended for 30 days following concerns among healthcare professionals about a number of cases of COVID-19 originating from that country. In the latest emergency orders, the competent authority extended the travel ban on travelers from Haiti for another 30 days, beginning March 13. The...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Taxi Cab Union President Wesley Ferguson said yesterday that 40 percent of drivers remain out of work with the cruise industry currently at a standstill, noting that the cruise industry’s interest in using Nassau as a homeport could provide a major boost to some taxi cab operators. According to Ferguson, with visitor arrivals numbers climbing steadily in...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Amid questions in some quarters of the public about an off-duty officer, who shot and killed a man last Friday, carrying a firearm, Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle said the officer was assigned “special duties” and had a personal issue firearm. According to police, the officer, who was a patron of Four Squares Restaurant and Bar, observed...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A man riding a jet ski collided with a vessel in waters near Athol Island as a group of boats traveled toward Montagu to make port yesterday afternoon. Asked about the circumstances that led to the collision, including whether there was a planned excursion, Police Press Liaison Assistant Superintendent Audley Peters said the facts were not yet...

Report highlights “large impact” of pandemic on women, who comprise majority of tourism-based workforce NASSAU, BAHAMAS — In order to increase productivity in The Bahamas, its economy requires modernization and diversification, with the potential exploration of new and different industries and sectors, a recent United Nations report has noted. According to the United Nations Common Country Analysis (CCA) on The...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A digital payments solutions provider is projecting that by year’s end the number of users on its platform will surpass 100,000, as it now focuses on enhancing the value to merchants and consumers. Nicholas Rees, chairman and co-founder of Kanoo, told Eyewitness News: “We're seeing tremendous growth with new users signing up by the minute now since...