The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle yesterday defended the citation and fines levied against several people who participated in a wedding ceremony that allegedly breached emergency orders last week. Rolle told reporters that the action taken against the participants at the wedding of Xavier Knowles, a Ministry of Health communications officer, did not represent a "slap on the...

Resort opening pushed to December 10 NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Atlantis has announced that it will begin its phased reopening of the hotel on December 10. The resort's management, including its President Audrey Oswell, met with some workers via Zoom yesterday to advise them of the way forward and when they will return to work. In a clip obtained by Eyewitness...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) executive director Davinia Grant said yesterday that “round two” of the entity’s stand-alone grant program will launch next week. Grant who was addressing a Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA) conference yesterday also noted that the second round of the $5,000 standalone grant programme will be launched November 19. Prime Minister Dr...

Minister Johnson says United Nations has provisions for stateless people Immigration overhaul bill still being reviewed NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government is seeking to wrap up the revised draft Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill, 2018, said Minister of Immigration Elsworth Johnson yesterday. Speaking to reporters outside Cabinet, Johnson noted that officials are feverishly going through the bill, to wrap it up and...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Royal Bank of Canada yesterday announced the launch of Caribbean Acts of Kindness – a new campaign designed to highlight the everyday acts of kindness helping individuals and communities navigate through the coronavirus pandemic. “History shows us that quite often, the darkest times can often bring out the best in people,” said Rob Johnston, Head of Caribbean...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Caribbean Pavement Solutions’ (CPS) planning, design, and execution of Exuma’s road improvement project may be every bit as significant as the construction of the 10 miles of roadworks itself. For the undertaking, CPS unveiled its new $1 million mobile asphalt manufacturing plant which can be assembled on-site and just as swiftly disassembled for transport to another island....

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis announced new emergency measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on Exuma tonight. As he announced a 24-hour weekend curfew and the restriction of all domestic travel from the island, he urged residents to adhere to the measures to mitigate the “exponential spread” of the virus. "I know that this is short...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) has confirmed that a 52-year-old woman died after attempting to commit suicide at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre (SRC). "SRC officials confirm the patient attempted suicide on Sunday, November 8th, 2020 at the Sandilands Hospital," the statement read. "The patient was subsequently transported to the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) by ambulance. She was...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday the mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers from New Providence to other islands was reintroduced because the domestic travel visa has not been prepared. An amendment to the emergency orders signed today reintroduced the quarantine measure for travelers from New Providence to other islands. Those transiting through New Providence within 24-hours...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Travelers from New Providence to other islands of The Bahamas will be required once again to quarantine for 14-days, according to an amendment to the latest emergency orders. As part of its new travel regime, the government discontinued the proposed rapid antigen test and the mandatory 14-day quarantine requirement upon arrival. In the Emergency Powers (Covid 19...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Abaco Chamber of Commerce President Ken Hutton said yesterday the island remains in a “holding pattern” due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as he described the extension of the island’s Special Economic Recovery Zone (SERZ) status as “critical” to its economic recovery. “We are in a holding pattern right now due to the COVID situation,” said Hutton. While...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance K Peter Turnquest said yesterday the government is actively “having another look” at opportunities for the exploitation of the country’s natural resources. Turnquest, who was addressing a Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA) Accountant’s Week conference, said: “We are actively engaged in having another look at that. We have had...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas must be more open to inward investment if it wants to accelerate the pace of its economic recovery, the Economic Recovery Committee Co-Chair suggested yesterday. Acting Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson, who was addressing the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA) conference yesterday in his capacity as ERC co-chair, noted that one of the ERC’s recommendations...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — While the Ministry of Health indicated on Monday night that New Providence had recorded zero cases of COVID-19 — a feat not achieved since July — health officials advised yesterday that four cases were recorded on the island. In a revised COVID-19 dashboard, the ministry also revised the number of cases in Exuma from nine to five....

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government has developed a road map for the transition to accruals-based accounting by the end of fiscal year 2022/2023, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest. While addressing the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA) Accountant’s Week conference, Turnquest said: “The current crisis underscores the need for a resilient and responsive public...

Foul play not suspected  NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The decomposing body of a man was found yesterday in a commercial building on Mackey Street where he lived. The man was identified as Jeff Martin, 58, a father of two. His longtime friend Matthew Mitchell, whose family owns the commercial building, found Martin when he opened the doors of the building. Police...

The closure of restaurants and the weekend lockdowns will cripple small businesses, says chamber president NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce has urged the competent authority to “immediately revisit” the recently announced restrictions for the island, warning that the measures are a major deterrent to tourism and will “cripple” many of the island’s small businesses. In a letter addressed...

Zero new cases recorded in NP on Monday NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas has recorded more than 7,000 cases of COVID-19. The Ministry of Health reported an additional 28 cases on Monday, bringing the total number of cases in The Bahamas to 7,012. Of the new cases, there were 10 in Eleuthera, nine in Exuma, six in Grand Bahama, one...