The Big Story

BHCAWU concerned removal of testing on arrival protocol puts workers at risk NASSAU, BAHAMAS — As the Atlantis Resort prepares for its December 1 reopening, Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) President Darrin Woods said some engineers were expected to return to work this week. Though he could not provide figures, Woods said the return of those engineers was...

Leading economist says Bahamians better served with US administration which approaches COVID “more seriously” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Former Minister of State for Finance James Smith indicated yesterday that the US presidential election set for tomorrow has wide-sweeping implications for The Bahamas’ economic survival amid the coronavirus pandemic. According to the former minister, the Trump administration's handling of the pandemic leaves...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamasair is likely to resume service on its international routes in two weeks, according to Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar. D’Aguilar told Eyewitness News: “We are looking at it right now, to begin recommencement of operations. "We certainly wanted to ensure there was sufficient demand in place before we got the airline back up and running because we didn’t...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Nassau Cruise Port’s top executive said yesterday that it will likely not be until 2022 that cruise traffic volumes return significantly, noting that this nation must now expand and improve on its own protocols around cruise tourism in light of the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) lifting its “No Sail Order”. Mike Maura, the cruise port...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A man was arraigned in a Magistrate's Court yesterday after pulling a cutlass on his neighbours, who he said were making too much noise. Alex Bertram Turnquest, of Crooked Island Street, was arraigned before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain on one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. The prosecution alleged Turnquest assaulted Croatia McKinney-Russell with a cutlass on...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Central Bank Governor John Rolle said yesterday the full recovery of the country’s tourism sector is not expected until 2023. Rolle noted that the pace and timing of the recovery will depend largely on how effectively domestic interventions manage the spread of COVID-19 inside The Bahamas, and the speed of global efforts to contain infections and make...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Nearly 16 percent of private sector credit remained in deferred status as of September, according to Central Bank Governor John Rolle. Rolle, while delivering remarks on the regulator’s Monthly Economic and Financial Developments (MEFD) for September 2020, noted that there remains an interim focus on encouraging forbearance on delayed repayments of loans for borrowers. “However, as banks...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS - The country’s external reserves are currently near $2.3 billion according to the Central Bank, with its data revealing that inflows from foreign investments, tourism and other export earnings contracted by almost one-third over the first nine months of the year. Central Bank Governor John Rolle yesterday noted that through the end of the third quarter of 2020, external reserves...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Police found the decomposing body of a man in a three-bedroom structure in Deadmans Reef, Grand Bahama. According to reports, rigor mortis had already set in when police made the discovery around 6pm. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death, which authorities referred to as a "suspicious death". The man's identity was not...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday announced plans to introduce a penalty of $1,000 or one month in jail for individuals who do not comply with the new policy mandating travelers to the country take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test on the fifth day. Minnis defended the new international travel policy, telling Eyewitness News the country’s COVID-19...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — While new coronavirus cases in The Bahamas last week dropped to around half of the recorded cases in the week prior, the decline of testing for the virus has deepened to the tune of over 70 percent over the two weeks. Eyewitness News reported the drop in cases and testing last Wednesday. At the time, new infections dropped...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis said yesterday the government’s decision to abandon antigen testing of travelers upon arrival in The Bahamas removes an “important protection” and represents an “increase risk to Bahamians”. “Governance requires certainty and a steady hand, not multiple reversals within several days,” Davis said in a statement. “We have a lot of concerns. Opposition...

Brennen: Testing on arrival presents "false sense of security" NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Living with COVID Coalition (LWCC) Chairman Robert Myers has urged the government to reconsider testing travelers for COVID-19 upon arrival in The Bahamas, insisting said the reversal of the decision is “irresponsible” and places the country at increased risk of community spread. In a letter to Minister of...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has lifted its no sail order on cruise lines, a move Tourism Minister Dionisio D'Aguilar described as a “small but big step” to reviving the cruise industry. D’Aguilar was speaking at a press conference regarding the November 1 reopening of the country’s tourism sector on Saturday. He said: “We have...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas has been surpassed in popularity by Turks and Caicos as the top destination of choice in the region, a US travel insurance aggregator has found. Travel insurance aggregator Squaremouth has listed Turks and Caicos as the fifth most popular destination overall. It furthered border closures and travel restrictions have drastically changed where Americans are traveling,...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Nassau’s main commercial shipping port saw its volume decrease by as much as 30 percent less than budgeted volumes between March and June as a result of COVID-19. In its annual financials for 2020, Arawak Port Development (APD) noted it has been one of the organizations specifically exempted from lockdowns due to the nature of its operations...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Speaker of the House of Assembly Halson Moultrie said yesterday he has turned over the keys of the Office of the Speaker to the chief clerk of the House. In an interview with Eyewitness News, Moultrie said Minister of Public Works Desmond Bannister has been assured him an office will be renovated on the ground floor of...

Storm presents no threat to The Bahamas NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Tropical Storm ETA in the Central Caribbean is expected to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane before it reaches the coast of Central America early Tuesday. The weather system developed from a depression into a tropical storm on Saturday. On its forecasted track, the storm presents no current threat to...