The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas is considering legal action after its broadcast of the 2022 Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade was reportedly blocked by its service provider for more than two hours. BCB Executive Chairman Picewell Forbes said the “conscious and deliberate action” by Rev Cable Bahamas and its company Aliv to place a message redirecting viewers...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — While the government does not expect the national increase in the minimum wage to force layoffs in the private sector, Prime Minister Philip Davis said his administration is asking business owners to bear with them until the country regains its economic stability. The cost of doing business locally continues to climb with several local businesses sharing concerns...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A governance reformer has warned the “biggest risk” to the country’s economic development in 2023 and beyond remains the current stock of debt and the management thereof. Hubert Edwards, head of the Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG) economic development committee, noted that concerns over a US recession are real and could hold major implications for this nation....

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The environmental impact assessment (EIA), was not completed up to the time for the official groundbreaking of a multi-million dollar coastal resort in south Long Island, and with the report, that is essential for full-fledged construction to begin still pending, residents remain eager to take part in the commerce it will bring to the island's crippled economy....

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas has become only the second jurisdiction in the region to be largely compliant with all 40 of the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) recommendations. Prior to the re-rating, the two recommendations that this nation was only partially complaint on were Recommendation 8, which deals with non-profit organizations; and Recommendation 15, which deals with new technologies...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation, Chester Cooper said that they have preempted a number of projects in the tourism sector to stimulate growth in tourism as the country heads into the new year. However, economists are still predicting a global recession that will impact The Bahamas. Cooper said that they have strategized...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The proverbial clock is ticking toward the Human Rights Council meeting in May 2023, and the country's deadline to report on advancements in society based on the United Nations universal periodic review (UPR), remains a concern for human rights groups as one of the items is marital rape. Despite Prime Minister Philip Davis' declaration that"rape is rape"...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Saint John's College' class of 1968 donated $160,000 to the school on Friday. Among graduates are several nation builders including the former Youth, Sports, and Culture minister Neville Wisdom, Archdeacon James Palacious, and Prime Minister Philip Davis. The donation will go toward the installation of solar lights that will save the school $30,000 in annual electricity bills,...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A day after his high-profile extradition to the United States former CEO and founder of FTX Sam Bankman-Fried was released on a $250 million. Bankman-Fried was extradited to the United States Wednesday night where he faces eight federal charges, including wire fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering, related to the collapse of his crypto exchange, which sank into...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Petroleum dealers could be forced to lay off staff early in the new year if the government does not adjust their margins on gasoline and diesel, according to Bahamas Petroleum Dealers Association vice President Vasco Bastian. In an Eyewitness News interview, Bastian noted that petroleum retailers have all year been pushing for an adjustment to their margins...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Bahamas Feeding Network Executive Director James Palacious said that their organization has been able to consistently donate parcels to dozens of NGOs, but has resorted to putting some new ministries on a waiting list as they continue their mission. Inflation and a looming recession have become growing concerns for local food NGOs, some of whom stated that they...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas’ visitor arrivals numbers this year are 11 percent ahead of the record 2019 performance, according to tourism officials. Tourism Director General Later Duncombe during a downtown walkabout yesterday noted that the country’s visitors arrivals for the next three months are also trending ahead of 2019.  “Christmas is a special season for everyone and I think...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was extradited to the United States last night bringing an end to the days-long speculation over whether he would continue to fight extradition to face charges for wire fraud and related offenses over the collapse of the crypto exchange. Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, who is responsible for the Extradition Act,...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) yesterday announced that it is providing US$43.3 million loan to the Bahamian government for the construction of a brand-new comprehensive school and the rehabilitation of two others in East Grand Bahama. In a statement yesterday, the bank said that its board of directors had approved the loan to accommodate students whose schools...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — In the wake of Sam Bankman-Fried's official transfer from the custody of The Bahamas to the United States, The US Embassy released a statement boasting of the "strong partnership" displayed between the two nations. "The United States and The Bahamas share a long history of law enforcement cooperation. This cooperation includes everything from daily joint patrols of...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — With Junkanoo tickets sold out well over a week ahead of the annual Christmas/Boxing Day parade, Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture, Mario Bowleg said that they expect to see overcrowding as many people tend to stand up and watch the parade if they did not get tickets in time. With this factor having been considered Bowleg...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — First Caribbean International Bank (Bahamas) has reported a $70.2 million net income for its 2022 financial year, a $12 million drop-off from the previous year. FCIB (Bahamas) managing director Jacqui Bend in a review of the bank’s results for the year ended October 31 noted that for the fourth quarter a net income of $22.1 million was...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The artic blast that is expected to impact the south Florida cost will not be felt in full force here in the Bahamas, according to Bahamas Department of Meteorology officials, who confirmed that temperatures will not be as frigid as expected. A photo was circulated last week that purported to be a weather forecast indicating icy temperatures...