The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) said Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) unfruitful oil exploration exercise should serve as a “turning point” for this nation to focus on working towards a future that embraces sustainability and renewable energy. The BNT said in a statement that it is reassured to hear that no commercial volumes of oil have been discovered...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — John Watling’s Distillery has announced that it has now reopened its doors to the public following a nine-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Pepin Argamasilla, co-founder of John Watling’s Distillery, “due to multiple requests and in the hope that we will start seeing an uptick in tourism in March”, the distillery will now be...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Former Speaker of the House of Assembly Kendal Major said yesterday that while he privately advised House Speaker Halson Moultrie to do what he felt was in the best interest of deepening democracy concerning his 2015 ruling on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), time will tell whether it improves the democratic function or makes room for the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Speaker of the House of Assembly Halson Moultrie today overturned former House Speaker Dr Kendal Major’s 2015 ruling on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which prohibited the opposition-led committee from carrying out further inquiries into the auditor general’s report ahead of its tabling. In his first act as an independent speaker since resigning from the Free National...

Patrol craft will continue to look out for vessel and men NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The search for three missing fishermen who never returned after leaving Potter’s Cay Dock over a week ago has been suspended, according to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF). However, vessels on patrol around New Providence and its cays, and several other islands, will “all be...

Laboratory staff: “I don’t think they are ready yet” CPSA still “watching the trends” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — At least two groupings of healthcare workers who have been on the frontlines of the fight against the coronavirus since last March have expressed mixed views about being vaccinated, with some expressing a need for more information on the full impact of AstraZeneca...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Caribbean Association of Pharmacists (CAP) President Dr Marvin Smith said the association supports Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ announcement concerning legalizing medicinal marijuana in The Bahamas and stands prepared to lend their expertise. "The Caribbean Association of Pharmacists for a number of years, particularly through the time of my presidency from 2016, has been adamant about our...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Taxi Cab Union (BTCU) President Wesley Ferguson yesterday called on the government to take decisive action over its long-standing concerns as the union has passed the point of negotiation, despite Labor Minister Dion Foulkes suggesting that the issues were being actively addressed. Foulkes told reporters ahead of a Cabinet meeting yesterday: “I had a very productive...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Labour Minister Dion Foulkes said yesterday that given the current economic environment, he would not advise employees to push for redundancy, describing the issue as a “double-edged sword”. Foulkes, who was speaking with reporters ahead of a Cabinet meeting yesterday, said: “That's a double-edged sword. Many businesses temporarily laid off staff. If they offer redundancy or severance,...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamian fishermen have seen a “fairly good” crawfish season, with prices “holding steady”, according to Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance (BCFA) Vice President Keith Carroll. Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance (BCFA) Vice President Keith Carroll. Carroll told Eyewitness News: “I have to commend the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) for the job they do because we have not seen...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Central and South Abaco MP James Albury said yesterday he has decided not to seek renomination from the Free National Movement (FNM) for the next general election for personal reasons, including his “family’s best interest”. The MP met with constituency association representatives yesterday to advise of the decision. When contacted, Albury told Eyewitness News the decision was...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — All five judges of the Court of Appeal will sit to hear an appeal against a historic Supreme Court ruling that children born out of wedlock to foreign women and Bahamian men are entitled to citizenship at birth. The Office of the Attorney General has appealed the ruling in the “public’s interest”. Attorney Wayne Munroe, QC, who represented...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Environmentalists yesterday called for a full moratorium on oil drilling in this nation after Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) revealed that it has abandoned its exploratory drilling after having not found any commercial quantities. Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) executive director, told Eyewitness News that the announcement was a “breath of fresh air” for this...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) Kimsley Ferguson said he has concerns about the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine and will await more empirical data from the Ministry of Health on its efficacy and potential risks before recommending for public servants to vaccinate themselves. In an interview with Eyewitness News, the BPSU president said: “I am concerned if there are...

Free Town MP says he'll win again Munroe says only God knows the future  NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Free Town incumbent Dioniso D'Aguilar will once again go head-to-head against prominent attorney Wayne Munroe, QC, to defend his parliamentary seat in the upcoming general election. D'Aguilar has insisted that he will defeat Munroe for a second time. However, Munroe has warned the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Christian Council President Bishop Delton Fernander yesterday encouraged the government to reconsider the restrictions related to funerals, citing grave psychological impact and lack of closure for grieving families. “There has been no consultation between the government and the church right now,” he said. “The last intervention we made just got us 10-person increase. “But I know...

Fifteen deaths under investigation undetermined for over a month NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas’ recovery rate of COVID-19 cases has surpassed the 80 percent mark for the 26th consecutive day. A month ago, the recovery rate reached just over 79 percent, after remaining in the mid-70 percentile for months. The recovery rate first surpassed the 80 percent mark on January...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Access Accelerator Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) has found a new home in the old Phil’s food store building on Gladstone Road, according to Minister of State for Finance Kwasi Thompson. Thompson made the announcement while appearing along with SBDC Executive Director Davinia Grant as a guest on the Bahamas At Sunrise morning show. The SBDC...