The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Pyramid, Ponzi, and other financial schemes will for the first time be criminalized as “long overdue” legislation will bring non-bank financial and corporate service providers in line with international standards and best practices. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance K Peter Turnquest lead debate yesterday on the Financial and Corporate Service Providers Bill, 2020. The legislation...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Tropical Storm Eta could impact the northwestern Bahamas as a strong tropical storm or possible Category 1 hurricane this weekend, according to meteorologists. In an interview with Eyewitness News, Chief Climatological Officer Geoffrey Greene said while the modeling was uncertain, the storm was moving closer to the western Bahamas, including Bimini, Grand Bahama and Abaco. National Hurricane...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Baha Mar today announced a phased reopening to guests beginning December 17 with enhanced safety and health measures in place. The resort indicated that the phased reopening will commence with the Grand Hyatt. International travelers will be required to meet the entry protocols in place to visit The Bahamas. In addition to the entry requirements and protocols established...

Higher than normal "level of uncertainty" regarding forecast track, says hurricane center NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The northwestern Bahamas and South Florida is in Hurricane Eta’s extended forecast cone as the Category 4 storm pounds northeastern Nicaragua with catastrophic winds, flash flooding and life-threatening storm surge. The storm is projected to lose strength as it passes through Central America, passing over...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The country's COVID-19 positivity rate stood at 22 percent on Monday. This comes after Minister of Health Renward Wells stated the rate has been at 12 percent over the last two weeks. In a video, Wells said over the last two weeks the positivity rate dropped from 31 percent to 12 percent - which he said was...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS  — While there have been fewer officers seen stationed at checkpoints on New Providence during curfew, dozens of mobile patrol cars are patroling areas through the night, said Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle yesterday. Rolle was responding to questions from reporters regarding the level of manpower at checkpoints during the curfew and weekend lockdowns. He noted that police...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Speaker of the House of Assembly Halson Moultrie has again expressed disappointment with the government’s resistance to move parliamentary proceedings to a larger venue or allow virtual proceedings amid the coronavirus pandemic. “It is putting more parliamentarians at risk because that resolution has provided for the opportunity to meet in a hybrid form with face to face...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Following a recent study by the University of The Bahamas regarding the sexual knowledge of Bahamian college students, Equality Bahamas is once again urging the government to implement sex education based courses throughout schools in the country. Researchers concluded that individuals respondents "may not have a full understanding of their own agency, and certainly suggest an imperfect...

COP says police will monitor beaches to enforce protocols NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Despite restrictions on some islands throughout The Bahamas, Tourism Director General Joy Jibrilu said yesterday that officials are confident that tourists will be able to enjoy their stay in the country. Speaking to Eyewitness News on the ministry's efforts to safeguard tourism in the country, Jibrilu insisted that...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government yesterday announced that it has signed a partnership agreement with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for a ‘historic’ national cybersecurity project. The ITU is the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) arm of the United Nations. The National Cybersecurity Project will provide technical support to The Bahamas through the assessment of the country’s current cybersecurity capabilities...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A Central Bank survey of bank lending conditions has revealed that demand for credit declined sharply across all markets during the first half of 2020, as application volumes fell to “historically low levels”. The regulator noted that during the first half of 2020, demand for credit was largely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “During the review period,...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Taxicab Union (BTU) president Wesley Ferguson said that while business levels are currently “nothing to get excited about”, taxi drivers are optimistic that business will pick up around Thanksgiving and carry over into the new year. Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) vice-president of marketing and communications Jan Knowles told Eyewitness News the facility did not expect...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Following a few weeks of reopening success, the Tin Ferl pop-up vendor community has reported it was burglarized during the most recent weekend lockdown. According to a statement, customers and vendors were shocked and saddened to find three food trucks were broken into with thousands of dollars of equipment, inclusive of three generators and food & beverage...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of State for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson was reinstated to his position today, after being sworn in by Governor-General Cornelius A. Smith. Last month, the Cabinet Office announced that Thompson had resigned from both the Senate and Cabinet temporarily. Senator Dwight Sawyer was sworn in to act in his place. The shuffle was done to facilitate...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of Health Renward Wells yesterday defended the recent decrease in the number of coronavirus cases, insisting that testing has not decreased in the country. Eyewitness News reported on Monday that while COVID-19 infections halved in the last two weeks, testing declined by nearly 70 percent over the same period. In a recorded address, Wells said: "The Ministry...

Beaches connected to hotels to remain open during weekend lockdowns NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The latest emergency orders implements a fine of $1,000 for individuals in New Providence and Grand Bahama who do not submit to a second COVID-19 test five days after entry into the country. The Emergency Powers (COVID-19 Pandemic)(NO.10) Order, 2020, outlines varying restrictions for the islands of The Bahamas and...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Court of Appeal yesterday quashed the manslaughter conviction of Shawn Knowles, who was found guilty of killing three people, including a pregnant woman in July 2011. In January 2016, Knowles and his co-accused Timothy Saunders were charged with the murders of Edward Braynen, Chackara Rahming, and Erica Ward, who was pregnant. A day after the killings, Knowles was...

Haitian man says he escaped because he got scared "I may be lost" NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A 31-year-old Haitian man who escaped from the Carmichael Road Detention Center last month was charged in a Magistrate's Court and sentenced to six months in prison, after which he is expected to be deported to Haiti. Jack Gerlin, of Lexington Avenue, was arraigned before...