The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Twenty-one people are suing the prime minister and attorney general for damages, claiming that the state of emergency and emergency orders have breached their constitutional rights. The writ, filed by Attorney Wayne Munroe on Tuesday, seeks declarations that there was no state of emergency within the meaning and contemplation of Article 29 of the constitution, in The...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest yesterday said consideration has been given to the continuity of government if Cabinet ministers were impacted by COVID-19. Turnquest and Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis went into self-quarantine after the Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre, which houses their offices, was closed for deep cleaning and sanitization due to exposure to...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS –  Minister of State for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson yesterday said reconstruction of the Rand Memorial Hospital is expected to be completed next month. Thompson made the revelation in a statement hitting back at criticisms from the Progressive Liberal Party over the government’s mitigation efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus on Grand Bahama. “The situation in...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Mario Simms, 84, said he was overjoyed to reopen his restaurant in Long Island on Monday as the lockdown was lifted by the prime minister. But despite the resumption of commercial activity on the island, Simms said business remains dire. He owns the Blue Chip Restaurant and Bar. Simms said only one customer patronized his restaurant today...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis blasted the government today over its failure to deliver a comprehensive plan to address the country’s "rapidly contracting" economy as COVID-19 crisis deepens. According to Davis, the government has largely ignored the strategies put forward by the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) COVID-19 task force. In response, the Office of the Prime Minister...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Motorists yesterday experienced gridlock traffic within the most densely populated areas as thousands of Bahamians and residents across New Providence took to the streets for essential services today. Officer in charge of the police traffic division Superintendent Marino Hinds told Eyewitness News the congestion was due to the large number of people traveling to utilize a small...

Prime minister and deputy prime minister report feeling 'well' in quarantine NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest yesterday said the likelihood that he or the prime minister were directly exposed to COVID-19 is “minimal at best”. Turnquest and Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis went into self-quarantine after the Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre, which houses their offices, was closed for...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — With its first case of COVID-19 recorded this week, some residents of Inagua believe the recent easement of restrictions on the island could soon be reversed. The first confirmed case was recorded on Tuesday; however, details on the infected individual remain unclear as the Ministry of Health has yet to provide case details. Kenrick Major, owner of...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Royal Bahamas Defence Force has arrested two people who were caught with gear or crawfish while the season was closed in the past two months. The season opened on August 1 and closes March 31. In a statement yesterday, the RBDF said it remains on high alert to protect the "much sought after" resource. "The Royal...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The number of COVID-19 cases has surged past the 1,000 case milestone with 47 new cases reported by health officials today. This brings the total number of cases to 1,036. Of the new cases, 40 are in New Providence, five are in Cat Island, and one case each in Abaco and Exuma. Coronavirus cases continue to climb...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — All healthcare and ancillary support staff will be placed on a shift system as the government struggles to support current payroll demands and staff shortages due to COVID-19. The directive for all supervisors to roster staff was contained in a Ministry of Health minute paper sent out to all manager and supervisors yesterday. It advised that the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) has temporarily closed its corporate offices after a staff member tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The confirmed case was reported yesterday, according to a statement released today. Operations at the Third & West Terrace complex in Centerville will resume at 9am on Monday after deep cleaning and sanitization. "The PHA implemented...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — An amendment to the latest emergency order has further eased restrictions for people living on islands with no lockdown in effect, including the resumption of social gatherings, daycare, and indoor dining. The latest lockdown order was lifted for Inagua, Mayaguana, Crooked Island, Acklins, Long Cay, Long Island, Chub Cay, Rum Cay and Ragged Island. Those islands are...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Ministry of Health's headquarters on Meeting and Augusta Streets have been closed for deep cleaning this afternoon after a staff member tested positive. According to a statement, the Cabinet Office said the employee had not been to work for the past two weeks. "The Cabinet Office announces for general information that the Ministry of Health Headquarters ...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Cabinet Office has announced the closure of several parts of the Ministry of Works for cleaning and sanitization following exposure to COVID-19. The Administrative Building, Northern Compound and the Security Office will be closed, according to the statement. "The Ministry of Health has initiated contact tracing to determine the level of exposure to employees and visitors...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — More than 3,500 new registrants have applied for the National Food Distribution Program since the prime minister's address on Sunday, according to the task force's chairman Susan Larson. In an interview with Eyewitness News yesterday, Larson indicated that there has been a huge influx in people seeking food assistance over the past two days. "There are 31,300...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of National Security Marvin Dames revealed yesterday that there have been over 50 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Royal Bahamas Police Force and 12 confirmed cases in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, to date. Of those cases, Dames said 17 are active in the RBPF, and nine are active in the RBDF. The national security minister...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas Bar Association (BBA) yesterday renewed calls for an open, fair, transparent, and meritocratic system of judicial appointment, citing the government's "continued failure" to demonstrate its commitment to the Rule of Law. The statement comes as the Official Opposition claims the appointment of former Supreme Court Justice Carolita Bethel to the Court of Appeal did not...