The Big Story

The government has confirmed that the new industrial agreement currently being negotiated with the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT), will proceed without delay, despite the fact that the union has filed five trade disputes stemming from issues against the Ministry of Education (MOE). Minister of Education Jeff Lloyd confirmed that the laundry list of concerns will not hinder the progress...

LONDON, England – Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is expected to step down as head of the Commonwealth of Nations, but not before urging leaders to secure a more sustainable and prosperous world for future generations. And although the role is not hereditary, it seems, she hinted at passing the baton on to her son, Charles, Prince of Wales, who...

The proposed amendment to the Criminal Evidence Witness Anonymity Act passed in the Lower Chamber Wednesday evening, will strengthen the Ministry of Immigration’s efforts to crack down on human traffickers, according to Immigration Minister Brent Symonette. “As we seek to put fear in criminals as a result of this bill, I want to put fear in people involved in smuggling...

Therapeutic care for children living with autism will now be more accessible thanks to a sizeable donation from the Island Luck (IL) Cares Foundation to the Resource and Educational Source for Autism and other related Challenges in the Bahamas (R.E.A.C.H.) organization yesterday. Island Luck’s Marketing Manager Michelle Fox made the $5,000 donation to R.E.A.C.H. Board Member Marsha Newbold yesterday, underscoring...

Following four grueling matches on Wednesday at the Roscoe Davies Field, the championship matchups for the 2018 Samuel P Haven/ Island Luck (IL) Cares Foundation National High School Soccer Championships are now set. In the senior boy’s division, the Lyford Cay Dragons will go up against Anatol Rogers, while Queen’s College (QC) takes on the Lucayan International School (LIS) in senior girl’s...

The country’s total health expenditure is ranked in the top five in the Caribbean and Latin America, according to Health Minister Dr Duane Sands who said, Bahamians need to make better, healthier choices. “As I recently advised Parliament, with the current trends in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, in addition to the impact...

Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) and Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) officers made another successful drug and ammunition seizure Wednesday. The first discovery occurred on Exuma sometime around 2:30 p.m. yesterday, police confirmed. Exuma Division officers, assisted by RBPF Marine Support Services officers, conducted a search of a bushy area at the rear of a building in the Harts settlement. Authorities...

Minister of State for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson declared Tuesday that the government needs to continue to “spread the message internationally that Grand Bahama is open for business”. Thompson made the statement after representing government at the Commonwealth Business Forum at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2018 in London, England. An integral part of CHOGM, the forum brought...

Local environmentalists are sounding off on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s (RCL) $200 million extensive renovation plan for Coco Cay, with one environmental group having recently described such developments as “bottomless pits”. In a Facebook post, which has since been deleted, Raising Awareness about the Bahamas Landfill (RABL) spokesperson Heather Carey said, “the cruise ship industry does very little to benefit...

One of the country’s newest track and field clubs is looking to make an impact on the sport locally, hosting its first track meet on Saturday, April 28. The DTSP Wolf Pack/Walter Callander Track meet, will feature competitions in sprint races- 100, 200 and 400 metres (m) as well as relays and hurdles. There will also be middle distance races,...

Although Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn has yet to announce whether he’ll look to become a professional basketball player now that his collegiate career is done, one thing he said he hasn’t ruled out is a career in coaching. In a recent interview, Nairn said, he’s open to the idea of orchestrating things from the sideline in the future. During his...

The government is hoping to pass an amendment to the Criminal Evidence Witness Anonymity Act, in an effort to add further protection for witnesses who choose to testify in serious court matters. Parliamentarians began debate on a bill to amend the act in the Lower Chamber Wednesday. “I have met with investigators to discuss legislation and the amendments,” noted Member...

Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin moved a motion in Parliament Wednesday evening, for a select committee to examine all matters related to the controversial Oban Energies project. Hanna-Martin told House members that it must be determine whether there was an intentional misleading of the House of Assembly (HOA), in relation to the project by the government. “The committee must review...

Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest said Wednesday that the country’s reputation “continues to do well” despite brief stint on the European Union (EU) blacklist. In an interview with Eyewitness News outside the House of Assembly (HOA) yesterday, Turnquest said, the removal of The Bahamas from the blacklist restores the country’s good reputation. However, he said, there is still work to...

Financial Services, Trade and Immigration Minister Brent Symonette emphasized that in order for a successful integration into the World Trade Organization (WTO), each sector of the Bahamian economy “must be negotiated with a view to ensuring that we obtain accession terms that are beneficial to our growth and development”. Symonette made the statement at a press conference Monday, when he...

In an effort to “fill the void” left after the government pulled funding from Bahamas Carnival, a group of private citizens have taken over the three-day event, hoping to ensure its success. At a press conference at Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) headquarters Wednesday, Polantra Media Spokesman Sebas Bastian said, the group’s objective is to promote The Bahamas and diversify the...

Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Senator Fred Mitchell revealed Wednesday that he has hard evidence proving Minister of Education Jeff Lloyd misspoke, when he suggested that Mitchell lied to Bahamians concerning the government’s refusal to acknowledge and accept a proposal for infrastructural upgrades to an educational facility in Fox Hill. “Lies, absolute pure lies, lies,” is how Lloyd described Mitchell’s...

After he was falsely accused of appearing in an X-rated video that went viral shortly after being elected into office last year, Centerville Member of Parliament (MP) Reece Chipman gave notice that he plans to move a motion in the House of Assembly (HOA) next week, for a select committee to investigate “fake news”. Chipman categorically denied that he was...