The Big Story

Vaccinations will position Bahamas to “blow open the borders and let the good times roll again”, says D’Aguilar NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday stressed that the tourism industry is dependent on Bahamians getting vaccinated, arguing that the economy will not improve until the country’s tourism sector rebounds. D’Aguilar, who was making his contribution to the mid-year budget...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Disney executives said yesterday that the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed its Lighthouse Point project by “a year to a year and a half”, with the development now slated to open in the first half of 2024. Disney executives, while addressing members of the media yesterday on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the South Eleuthera project, noted...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Following a breakout season, including five Southeastern Conference (SEC) wins and three top-25 wins, Ole Miss University has inked coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin to a new four-year contract. McPhee-McCuin is now under contract through 2025. Along with the new contract, the university has added additional financial commitments to McPhee-McCuin’s coaching staff. “When I took this opportunity three years...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas is now in a position to demand the proper respect and appropriate compensation for its ancestral knowledge, said Minister of the Environment and Housing Romauld Ferreira yesterday. Ferreira made the comment during his presentation to the mid-term budget debate as he pointed to the recent passage of the Biological Resources and Traditional Knowledge Act. “What...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Police seized 13 bags of suspected marijuana around 7am today, from a home on Fire Trail Road East. Police seize suspected marijuana at a home on Fire Trail Road East on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Acting on police intelligence, officers from the DEU along with the K-9 unit executed a search warrant of the home where they...

At least seven Caribbean countries have begun vaccinating citizens NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis assured yesterday that The Bahamas has not fallen behind other countries in the region that have rolled out vaccination programs in the last few weeks and already vaccinated thousands of citizens. “We are not falling behind,” Minnis told Eyewitness News. “We are doing...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of National Security Marvin Dames said yesterday there is “no place” in the armed branches of law enforcement for rogue officers who act in contravention of the law and act improperly against the people they swore an oath to serve and protect. He was referring to an officer being placed on administrative leave pending an investigation...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Royal Caribbean Cruise Line yesterday decided to extend the suspension of sailings for its global fleet through May 31. While cruise executives say they have no definitive timeline on when they will resume sailing from US ports, yesterday’s announcement indicates that any return to this destination will not be over the next few months. In its latest...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — “I’m Haitian. This is not my land. My decision is not to stay here,” said 49-year-old Mary Pierre, a mother of two who moved to The Bahamas 15 years ago with her husband to begin a better life, but now wishes to return to Haiti. She spoke with Eyewitness News with the assistance of a Creole translator....

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme Dr Nikkiah Forbes said yesterday that she expects local coronavirus measures to soon reflect the level of “flexibility” offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its first COVID-19 vaccine guidelines. In an interview with Eyewitness News, Forbes said the guidelines are very clear on what...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A Bahamian digital payments provider yesterday acknowledged that more must be done to educate Bahamians on the use of digital wallets as this nation moves aggressively towards a cashless environment. Jeffrey Beckles, Island Pay’s managing director, while addressing a REV/Cable Bahamas Think Beyond Webinar Series on the benefits of digital transformation, noted: “I think digital wallets are...

Pineridge MP also cautions opposition leader against "counting your eggs before they hatch" NASSAU, BAHAMAS — In a sweeping rebuke of the Minnis administration, the prime minister and the opposition, Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine said the electorate is “disgusted, disgruntled and discouraged” with party politics in The Bahamas and predicted that it is about to change “right before your very...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Police have launched an investigation into allegations three young men were brutalized by a senior officer while in custody. The alleged incident was purportedly recorded by one of the victims, and in it, a man who refers to himself as Assistant Superintendent of Police Derrick Ferguson can be heard slapping and berating others. In an audio recording...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — With less than a few days before the government expects to begin vaccinations, senior doctors remain on the fence over the ultimate decision to take the vaccine, said Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA) President Dr Sabriquet Pinder-Butler yesterday. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has announced The Bahamas is expected to receive its first tranche of COVID-19 vaccines...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As the search continues for missing pilot Clifford Livingstone Dean and his passenger, Stephen Sawyer, relatives of the passenger yesterday urged residents, particularly those on Acklins, to join the search to find the men. The single-engine aircraft is believed to have crashed in waters off Salina Point, Acklins, last Friday. The men departed New Providence and were...

Minnis says lack of female representation "not good for our democracy"  NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis admitted yesterday that a lack of female representation in Parliament and Cabinet is "not good" for the country's democracy, insisted that the Free National Movement (FNM) will be putting forth more women in the upcoming general election. Minnis made the comment...

Thompson blasts PLP’s economic plan as “self-serving populist politicking” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of State for Finance Kwasi Thompson yesterday blasted the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) pledge to reduce value-added tax (VAT) from 12 to 10 percent for 12 months as “irresponsible”, stating that such a move would lead to dramatic revenue falloff in excess of $100 million. Thompson said...

Pinder intends to be vaccinated NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nassau yesterday called coronavirus vaccination a “common good” that will protect individuals’ health, promote public health and save Bahamian lives. In a letter to members of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nassau, Archbishop Reverend Patrick C Pinder said: “I wish to take this opportunity to assure you...