NASSAU, BAHAMAS — While acknowledging The Bahamas relies on public and private facilities to double as hurricane shelters due to a lack of dedicated shelter facilities, Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction Permanent Secretary Carl Smith expressed concerns about the number of unregulated settlements across the archipelago and those not following the proper building code in […]
Tag: Family Island news
Water Woes: Harbour Island residents frustrated over perennial water system failure
“I don’t think it’s fair after a long day of work you should come home to no work and unclean and unhealthy water” – Nesbitt Street resident HARBOUR ISLAND, ELEUTHERA — After nearly two years of inconsistent water service on Nesbitt Street Harbour Island, Kendera Bethel said she and other residents who experience limited water […]
Cat Island festival & regatta to resume; other islands could follow suit
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis recently announced that the Cat Island Rake n’ Scrape Festival and Regatta would resume this year. Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting, who was on hand for the prime minister’s announcement in Cat Island, said his ministry is excited. “Regattas, homecomings and […]
THE FIGHT CONTINUES: Grand Bahamians demand better living conditions
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A multitude of Grand Bahamians chanted “enough is enough” and said the cost of living is too much to handle as they protested outside the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) on Friday. A meeting is scheduled for tomorrow with Philcher Grant, chief operating officer of public affairs at the GBPA, to address […]
TAKING A STAND: GB residents and business owners protest economic state of second city
GBPA given 30 days to respond NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Hundreds of residents and business owners on Grand Bahama yesterday staged a march and demonstration in protest over the state of the economy on the island. Demonstrators marched through downtown Freeport towards the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) headquarters wearing shirts that read “take a stand” […]
HEALTHCARE MOBILIZATION: 270 staff to be dispatched to Family Islands
Darville notes extensive work still needed to bring Family Island facilities up to par and improve PMH NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Ministry of Health has been given approval for an excess of 270 staff to be dispatched to the Family Islands in an effort to improve healthcare systems on those islands, said Minister of Health […]
UNDERWATER PANDEMIC: Fast-spreading coral disease poses serious threat to Bahamas’ vital reefs
Darville: This silent invader is contagious as the coronavirus and as deadly as Ebola for corals NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Waterkeepers Bahamas President Joseph Darville has warned that a fast-moving underwater disease is currently sweeping throughout The Bahamas, decimating coral reefs and destroying fish habitats at an alarming rate. [pullquote] It is impossible to exaggerate the […]
PROGRESS REPORT: PM Davis receives 67 percent approval rating for first 100 days in office in new survey
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Philip Davis received a 67 percent approval rating, according to a recent survey on the Progressive Liberal Party’s first 100 days in office. The survey, which was conducted by Bahamian research and polling firm Intel Cay, polled 1,064 participants online and is still ongoing. It was conducted between December 20th, […]
VINDICATED: PM says his hunch in opposition about Kanoo travel visa contract was “manifested” by auditor general’s report
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Philip Davis said yesterday that he feels vindicated after an auditor general’s report revealed several discrepancies with The Bahamas travel health visa (BTHV) prorate launched under the Minnis administration. While in opposition, Davis and the Progressive Liberal Party were continuously critical of the program and called on the government to provide […]
BACK TO THE ROOTS: Big plans for farming industry reboot on Long Island after years of decline
Govt holds town hall meeting with farmers to address concerns; BAMSI looking to set up local base Barefoot Creek Ranch says operations way down over the past 12 years LONG ISLAND, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) is expected to open a new satellite office on Long Island as it seeks […]
IGNITING CONVERSATION: North Abaco fire chief participates in landmark climate change hearing
“I think The Bahamas should participate more but have a more independent say so we could target more stuff” COOPER’S TOWN, ABACO — When Kirk Murray is not fighting fires in his local community, he is igniting meaningful discourse about a hot-button issue plaguing the Caribbean region at large: climate change. Within his purview as […]
Free COVID testing pilot expanded to North Eleuthera
Dr Cargill: We strongly believe that free mass testing for all is a core component in this fight against the coronavirus “We are all in this together to save lives” ELEUTHERA, BAHAMAS — A team from Bay Street Medical (BSM), led by Dr Tyneil Cargill, visited North Eleuthera last week to conduct free COVID testing […]
THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING ‘NO’: Advocacy group calls for rejection of GB power company’s rate increase proposal
“We have been advocating for years for electricity costs to be lowered on the island” FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA — A Grand Bahama advocacy group yesterday argued that any proposed rate increase for the island’s power company should be rejected, noting that the economic and social condition of the island is “the worst it has ever […]
NO APPROVALS HERE: Govt opposes power rate hike on GB; Cabinet committee to review matter
“The government of The Bahamas will not support any rate increase on any portion of the customer base on Grand Bahama Island at this time” Moxey: The application for rate increase is just that — an application NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government has established a Cabinet committee to review and address the Grand Bahama Power […]
TOUGH SELL: Advocacy group slams GBPC’s rate increase proposal as “insensitive” and “out of touch”
GBPC says rate hike undesirable but necessary to maintain operations Coalition of Concerned Citizens prepared to protest “at a level we have never done before” FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA — An advocacy group has slammed the Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC) as being “insensitive” and “out of touch” over a four percent rate increase application. The […]
‘IT COMES TO STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY’: Inagua hurting over continued loss of residents to COVID-19
“On the island, everybody feels the death of the person… If it hasn’t impacted you yet, it will impact you in some way” Inagua resident believes lockdowns could have helped prevent surge NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Residents on Inagua are mourning the sixth person from the island to succumb to COVID-19 symptoms, with relatives and family […]
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY: Former health minister says decisions today have led to Family Island surges
“This is when you have political pronouncements taking place before a campaign and then after you would have won a government” NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Former Minister of Health Renward Wells said yesterday that the Davis-led government has to take responsibility for the repercussions of its decisions to ease restrictions. Wells dismissed Foreign Affairs Minister Fred […]
HEFTY HURRICANE CLEANUP BILL: Roughly $17 million spent on Abaco debris management to date
“We have to find ways to monetize this debris and move it from Abaco because if there is another storm, debris will be everywhere” MARSH HARBOUR, ABACO — Nearly $10 million has been spent on debris management and $7.3 million on community cleanup on Abaco, according to Aviation Director Algernon Cargill. Cargill had been appointed […]