The Big Story

NASSAU, BAHAMAS-  A Central Bank commissioned anti-money laundering (AML) report has revealed that Bahamian banks and trust companies have a strong compliance culture, with only 14 percent of unsolicited approaches from dubious new clients generating a response from local firms.  The Central Bank yesterday released an AML compliance report prepared by Evaluasi, a specialist firm known for its AML research, involved...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Free National Movement (FNM) Deputy Leader Shanendon Cartwright yesterday reiterated criticisms of government’s decision to amend the medical insurance policy for security branch members, calling the move “shortsighted.” Speaking on the issue during yesterday’s Parliamentary session Cartwright said, “I still believe  it is shortsighted because when members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Defence Force and Corrections officers serve,...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS– Bahamas Waste recently added a new special edition Independence-themed sanitation truck to its line of vehicles. The truck is the latest addition to the company’s fleet of 60 sanitation trucks which have in the past, featured a variety of local community causes from Breast Cancer Awareness to Covid Safety. The truck bearing both the official Independence Logo design...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – MIYA Bahamas, a leading provider of comprehensive water management solutions, are working to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders and advocates for water conservation. With a well-established reputation for promoting sustainable water management practices, the company is leading the charge in empowering young people to take action and make a positive impact on our planet's most...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Police say that a 27-year-old man who is on bail for murder and armed robbery is in custody in connection with recent sexual assaults in the Bacardi Road area. The suspect who is a resident of Lincoln Boulevard was arrested around 2:30pm on Tuesday at his residence by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) without incident.  Officers...

NASSAU,  BAHAMAS-  7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), and the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) recently conducted a five-week, joint combined exchange training (JCET) to enhance cooperation between the two countries’ armed forces. With transnational criminal organizations relying on existing pathways for their illicit smuggling operations, helping The Bahamas strengthen its security forces is one...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- In 2022, the number of cases of  reported cases of payment fraud relative to cheques, debt and credit cards declined by just over 24 percent however the value of such transactions increased by just under $19 million according to recent data released by the Central Bank. According to the Central Bank in its annual report and statement of...

LA ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA: His Excellency Sebastian Bastian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to Central America, presented his Copies d’Usage to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guatemala, His Excellency Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores, on the sidelines of the 9th Summit of Heads of State and/or Government of the Association of Caribbean States...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Just under $90 million in dormant bank accounts were in the custody of the Central Bank at year-end 2022 according to the regulator. The Central Bank in its annual report and statement of accounts for 2022 noted that at December 31st, December 2022, it maintained custody of 41,878 dormant facilities, with balances totalling $89 million. These it noted...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Police on New Providence are investigating the circumstances surrounding an alleged sexual assault of a 38-year-old female over the weekend. Police say that shortly after 10 am on Saturday while walking in the area of Bacardi Road, the victim was approached by a male who exited a small gray vehicle. This male then produced a firearm, forced...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — One of Chicago’s premier restaurants celebrating Latin cuisine is launching its second location on Paradise Island, which according to its principals will involve a $10 million investment and create some 120 jobs for Bahamians.  Carnivale broke ground yesterday on its 15,000-square-foot mix of indoor and outdoor spaces at Paradise Landing, the marina community developed by Sterling  Global....

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Government is presently considering a proposal to offer an expedited work permit approval and renewal process, Labour and Immigration Minister Keith Bell revealed yesterday. Between January and March, the government collected $20.6 million in work permit fees the Minister revealed.  Bell, who addressed The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation Power Breakfast at the Margaritaville...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Government and the private sector must come to the table to develop a reverse brain drain strategy, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) chair urged yesterday. “We know that this is an issue. We also know that there are countries around the world, even within the region, that have implemented a reverse brain drain...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — There are approximately 1,600 citizenship applications that will be impacted in some way by the Privy Council’s landmark decision on citizenship last week, according to Labour and Immigration Minister Keith Bell. "I think Bahamians are warming up to what the impact of the decision really is,” Bell said. “The impact of the decision is there is no...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The value of commodities imported into The Bahamas in 2022 totaled $3.8 billion - just over 10 percent more than the 2021 total. The Bahamas National Statistical Institute in its 2022 Foreign Trade Figures providing data on the volume and nature of trade between The Bahamas and its trading partners noted that estimates on external or foreign...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Atlantis executives yesterday denied pressuring the resort’s employees to oppose Royal Caribbean International’s (RCI) $100 million beach club development, stressing that their sole focus was on ensuring that the development undergoes environmental due diligence and the natural beauty of Paradise Island remains protected. Resort executives issued a statement yesterday as the Department of Labour has launched an...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS-   Embattled FTX founder Sam Bankman Fried is seeking to have all but three criminal charges against him dismissed as his lawyers contend that they violated the agreement under which he was extradited from The Bahamas to the United States back in December.  Bankman-Fried’s lawyers in court filings with the Southern New York feral court argued that charges...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Royal Caribbean International has announced that it will hold an additional public consultation in conjunction with The Bahamas’ Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) on June 8th to answer questions regarding its $100 million beach club development.  The company in a statement noted that now that it has received ‘approval in principle’ from the National Economic...