The Big Story

There were several delays in the Wednesday's session of the ongoing extortion trial of former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Senator Frank Smith, prompting Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt to urge the crown, as well as the defence, to expedite the matter. She acknowledged however, that rushed justice, is no justice at all. The prosecution called on former Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC)...

As The Bahamas seeks to gain full membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO), the government said it will begin WTO private sector consultations in Grand Bahama beginning today. Led by officers of the Ministry of Financial Services, Trade &Industry, and Immigration, the consultations will take place at the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, in Freeport, Grand Bahama, until Friday. According to a...

A three-page essay advocating for amendments to the Education Act, in an effort to address inclusion opportunities for students with disabilities, particularly autism, landed St. Augustine’s College (SAC) student Alexandria Rolle first place in the sixth annual First Care Medical Plan essay competition Wednesday. Corina Neely, president of the insurance company, awarded Rolle her prize. Neely said the competition is...

Members of unions representing employees at Bahamas Power and Light (BPL)  have until June 8 to apply for the voluntary separation packages (VSEP) announced in Parliament yesterday, as the company looks to streamline its operations and prepare for the construction of a new liquified natural gas (LNG) plant at Clifton Pier. Minister of Public Works Desmond Bannister, who has responsibility for...

According to Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard, the government is set to review its current subvention policy for athletes in the coming weeks. At a press conference at the ministry on Wednesday, Pintard said, the government is open to seeking help from the private sector to aid its efforts to compensate athletes competing at the highest level...

The 2018 Run Dirty obstacle course race takes place next weekend in New Providence, with the five kilometer obstacle run specially designed to challenge each participants endurance and willpower. This year’s race takes place on May 26 at 6:00 a.m. at Longwharf. Registration is $35 for individuals and $30 for teams. “This year, one of the major changes to the race is...

After missing 19 days of training camp and all of the Connecticut Suns’ preseason games, Grand Bahama native Jonquel Jones is expected to return to the team in time for its season opener against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Conne. Team coach Curt Miller said, he expects Jones to have...

Plans for the 34th edition of the Frank “Pancho” Rahming Primary School Track and Field Championships were announced Thursday at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. On hand for the special announcement was Director of Sports Tim Munnings, event organizer Mike Sands, and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard. The three-day event will take place May 24-26 at the old...

Two underage females were allegedly sexually assaulted one week apart and police believe that the same man may have committed the crime. Police confirmed yesterday that the first incident occurred last week on May 5 in the area of Bahama Avenue, off Market Street, while the latest incident took place May 15, shortly after 3:00 p.m., on Darling Lane off Wulff Road. Head of...

"God knows I am the telling the truth!" was the pronouncement made by Barbara Hanna, who screamed in court yesterday during an emotional outburst while on the stand in the ongoing extortion case against former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Senator Frank Smith. Hanna, who was the crown's star witness, became noticeably flustered after being asked by Smith’s lead attorney, Jamaican...

Public servants hired under the former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) are now facing more possible layoffs, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest. The pending public-sector cuts are said to be a part of government’s efforts to streamline annual expenditure. Turnquest’s comments came on the heels of a recent report released by the International Monetary Fund...

Eyewitness News has learned that suspected drug lord Austin “Ozzie” Knowles is now being held at a county jail in west Florida. His former attorney Damien Gomez, QC, revealed as much in an exclusive interview Tuesday. “He is in West Palm Beach, Florida at a county facility,” shared Gomez. Gomez, Knowles’ “get out of Bahamian jail’ free card", was responsible...

Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Fred Mitchell called for the resignation of Attorney General Carl Bethel and Education Minister Jeff Lloyd Tuesday, for comments made regarding the highly controversial Oban deal. On a local talk show recently, Lloyd declared that the government had broken the law, according to the Planning and Subdivisions Act, which he pointed out calls for the...

Residents in the Fox Hill constituency Tuesday rejected a proposal for a private cemetery to be constructed in their backyards. Officials from the Town Planning Committee held a public hearing at L.W. Young Junior High School last night to get feedback from residents on the development before deciding if it would approve the project. The 13 acres of vacant land...

Many residents in shanty towns across the nation are reportedly shaken after the government recently announced July 31 as the deadline for all residents in unregulated communities to relocate. It’s all a part of a massive government venture to crack down on shantytowns nationwide. Sources suggest that some shantytown residents are reportedly up-in-arms as the eviction deadline nears. But, Minister...

The government has confirmed its intent to modernize banking for Family Islanders Tuesday in the wake of a shift in the economic climate on the islands, due to the recent pull-out of major banking institutions. Finance Minister Peter Turnquest revealed Tuesday that government is aggressively moving toward digitizing the banking experience for Family Island residents. “The truth of the matter...

President of The Bahamas Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) Nicole Martin said Tuesday that she’s leaving behind a relatively clean slate for the union's next president. ‘When I became president, things were in complete chaos," Martin said as members looking to be elected to the executive team nominated yesterday. “I’ve been in more court sessions than anyone in our unions...