The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham was admitted to Doctor’s Hospital on Tuesday with the coronavirus, but is expected to make a full recovery, according to former Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands, who was authorized to speak on Ingraham’s behalf. Ingraham, 73, has not needed a ventilator, though his age remains a factor with recovering from the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday he has to be advised by his team before he decides to “ring the bell” for the upcoming general election. As he jested with MPs across the House floor during his presentation of the mid-year budget, Minnis joked about the growing speculation that he intends to call an early election....

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Assistant Director Dr Jarbas Barbosa indicated yesterday The Bahamas can make the “best decision” with distribution of its first tranche of AstraZeneca vaccines. His comments came as the World Health Organization’s (WHO) COVAX Facility advises countries on the timeframe in receiving their first, second and third allocations of vaccine doses. Minister of...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Interrupting an exchange between Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells and Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis on the rules of Parliament, Speaker of the House of Assembly Halson Moultrie announced yesterday the rules will be interpreted to end the practice of successive governments refusing to be answerable to the Bahamian people about the expenditure of their money. He...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Carnival cruise line executives said yesterday they are encouraged by the strong demand for cruises, while noting they are still not in a position to say when they will resume sailing. Carnival Vice President, Global Ports and Caribbean Government Relations Marie McKenzie said: “We have canceled all sailings through a certain date. That is an indication of...

PLP leader says the way former PM ran Cabinet isn’t how Minnis should run his NASSAU, BAHAMAS — While the last Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration failed to hold their ministers accountable, PLP Leader Philip Brave Davis said yesterday that should he be elected as prime minister, he would hold his ministers and MPs accountable if they exhibit inappropriate conduct...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Minnis administration has eliminated nearly 80 percent of the $360 million in arrears it inherited when it assumed office in 2017, according to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. During his mid-year budget statement for the six months ending December 2020, Minnis noted: “The government continued its commitment to reduce the $360 million in arrears it inherited...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Although he will no longer serve as Minister of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction, Iram Lewis said yesterday he is extremely confident the ministry will be left in good hands. Lewis will now fill the post of minister of youth, sports and culture after Seabreeze MP Lanisha Rolle resigned on Tuesday. A statement from the Cabinet Office...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Richette Ross, a former employee of Canadian fashion mogul and Lyford Cay estate owner Peter Nygard, said yesterday she and the over 100 women who filed a class-action lawsuit alleging the billionaire raped, abused and paid off many of them, are more than “Jane Does” and more than the “sexual injustice” they allegedly suffered. Nygard was indicted...

Govt has to raise taxes, curb expenditure or “seriously grow the economy” to cover revenue shortfall, notes finance expert NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A top banker yesterday cautioned against “mortgaging” this nation’s future amid significant borrowing and increases in government expenditure brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. During his mid-year budget statement yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis noted the year-over-year...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government yesterday took another step toward acquiring Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA), with one tourism stakeholder expressing optimism over the potential impact on the island and its tourism segment. Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Michael Pintard yesterday tabled a bill for an act to amend the Airport Authority Act “to provide for the acquisition, operation...

Bannister: Not everyone will survive the full five-year term Johnson: Resignations are "sometimes necessary" NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Several Cabinet ministers defended the Minnis administration and its stability following the resignation of Lanisha Rolle as minister of youth, sports and culture yesterday. Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd. Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd told reporters he has no concerns about the Free National...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) today called the prime minister’s presentation of the mid-year budget a “bleak picture” of the country’s current economic status. During the budget statement in Parliament, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis assured that despite the twin economic catastrophes of Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bahamian dollar remains “as strong as it...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis assured that despite the twin economic catastrophes of Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bahamian dollar remains “as strong as it has ever been”. Minnis, who today presented in Parliament the mid-year budget statement for the six months ending December 30, 2020, acknowledged the pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on...

Bastian claims it’s “ordinary” and had been planned before Rolle resigned NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Office of the Auditor General is currently reviewing the expenses of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the National Sports Authority (NSA). In an interview with Eyewitness News yesterday, Auditor General Terrance Bastian confirmed the audit will be reviewing expenditure and relevant contracts...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Former Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes said he will take Oxford’s AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available in The Bahamas, and encouraged Bahamians to follow suit. When asked if he planned to take the vaccine, which is expected to arrive in-country by the end of the week, Foulkes told Eyewitness News: “Yes, absolutely. “Once we get...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and Democratic National Alliance (DNA) are calling on Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis to clarify the reason Seabreeze MP Lanisha Rolle has resigned from her Cabinet position. The Cabinet Office confirmed the prime minister’s acceptance of Rolle’s resignation as minister of youth, sports and culture, indicating certain matters brought to his attention...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Not since the release of the 1984 Royal Commission Report have there been so many resignations from Cabinet under one administration, according to a University of The Bahamas (UB) history professor. Dr Chris Curry, associate professor of history at UB, told Eyewitness News the developments are “not a good look” for the Minnis administration. “The last time...