Monday, February 28
WORLD VIEW: The world will pay a high price for Russian aggression
THE invasion by the Russian Federation of the sovereign state of Ukraine has been roundly condemned by most countries of the world.
INSIGHT: Why do projects wither on the development grapevine?
MASTER winemakers know that producing a grand vintage depends on more than just the raw materials. No matter how lush the soil, how old and precious the vines, how ideal the weather in a given year, if you wait too long to harvest, the grapes will wither and die on the vine. In wine as in life, timing is everything.
INSIGHT: Who is letting these people ride rings round our planning laws?
A PECULIAR story caught the eye last week. A planning row has sprung up over two “swimming with the pigs” attractions in Adelaide Village.
THE KDK REPORT: The sum of many
A COMMON saying, widely attributed to ancient African cultures, asserts that it takes a village to raise a child. This responsibility is made infinitely more onerous when just a single parent is involved in the process.
EDITORIAL: Pintard says sorry, but for what exactly?
SORRY, as the song goes, seems to be the hardest word.
Davis to speak on Ukraine issue
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis is attending a senior regional conference this week where he will raise issues related to the impact of Russia’s invasion on Ukraine and China’s presence in the region.
‘Phased return to normal’ for PMH
THE Princess Margaret Hospital has commenced a phased return to normal hospital services while continuing to ensure the safety of patients and staff in the current COVID19 environment.
Cooper says administration is ‘government of transparency’
DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper said “this government of transparency” is committed to political reforms with a legislative agenda that includes the implementation of campaign finance legislation and electoral reforms.
Judge urges Condo Act reform over PI blunder
An architect’s blunder has ensnared a multi-million dollar Paradise Island project in multiple legal battles and prompted a Supreme Court judge to call for the Condominium Act’s reform.
Boat charter fee payers in $20m ‘consumable’ boost
Visiting yachts/boats who paid their charter fees via the Association of the Bahamas Marinas (ABM) portal spent $20m on “just consumable” purchases in the local economy, its president says.
‘Impossible to build tourism’ with $3,000 Miami one-way fare
A Freeport hotelier says it is “impossible to build a tourist destination” on Grand Bahama when airline ticket prices fluctuate between $3,000 and $150 within a timespan of barely several days.
BPL fuel hedge renewal ‘more crucial than ever’
A top hotelier yesterday said the oil price impact from Russia’s war on Ukraine meant it was “more important now than ever before” that Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) fuel hedge be renewed.
Europe’s energy dilemma
ActivTrades
Thanks to the mild winter, the European Union (EU) has enough natural gas right now. Nevertheless, some countries could face difficulties. If gas imports from Russia were not possible for years, the consequences would be more dramatic, and demand would have to be reduced.
Govt will try to cushion gas rises
THE Davis administration plans to expedite any plan to buffer increased gasoline prices that may come as a result of the Russian Ukrainian war, according to press secretary Clint Watson.
Family reeling from shooting death
A RELATIVE of one of two men killed in separate incidents on Thursday said the family is reeling from the tragedy.
Pintard: Sorry for mistakes we made
FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard has apologised to Bahamians who were hurt by decisions of the Minnis administration, saying: “We did not get everything right.”
World Junior Tennis Pre-qualifier: Under-14 boys 2nd overall, girls 6th
AFTER taking an unblemished record into the final, the Bahamas boys’ under-14 team fell a little bit short against Guatemala in the Pre- Qualifying World Junior Tennis tournament in El Salvador.
Swimmers qualify for CARIFTA
SWIMMERS qualified for the CARIFTA Games during the Blue Waves 2022 Invitational at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex where the Barracudas Swim Club emerged as the overall winners on Saturday.
Woodside and Capers extend winning streak
DIANGELO Woodside and his Cape Breton Capers concluded the home portion of their Atlantic University Sport regular season and extended their win streak to five games.
Not a good way to start day when IMF comes knocking
IN this segment, we will explore The Bahamas’ current standing with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), who they are and why they are important. When the IMF comes knocking, it is not always a good way to start the day. But does this mean that the Bahamian government is out of time to meet its debt obligations, control spending and reduce borrowing?
Haitian candidate on Ukraine
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered military forces and missiles in Ukraine. A few hours later, a Haitian political leader Werley Nortreus has said he wants the Caribbean nations to stay away from Ukraine's ongoing crisis to protect the Caribbean territories.
Bahamas split games in FIBA World Cup qualifying
Team Bahamas split the pair of games in the second window of FIBA Americas World Cup 2023 qualifiers.
Protect the property owners
I completely agree with Sam Duncombe when she raises the question: “Why are we paying taxes when our homes are not protected …?”
Hopefully the end of NATO
Since 1989, NATO has had no good reason to exist.
The terror remembered
Long ago in Hungary my father John lived a life of challenges. Never had he experienced freedom or the ability to express himself fully as Magyar Land was oppressed by The Soviet.
Super Value ‘safeguards’ on Ukraine flour fall-out
Super Value’s principal yesterday said it had sought to “protect the country” from further harm caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine through ordering extra supplies of flour.
DPM: ‘Lots more to do’ to improve governance
The deputy prime minister says the Davis administration condemns corruption on all its forms, adding: “It makes us weaker as a society”.
Friday, February 25
Shanendon Cartwright elected FNM deputy leader, Dr Duane Sands voted in as chairman
SHANENDON Cartwright and Dr Duane Sands won the headline races at the Free National Movement’s convention on Friday, completing the party’s leadership team as it recovers from last year’s overwhelming general election loss.
Govt to ramp up social services initiatives amid Ukraine concerns
AS government plans to ramp up its social services initiatives in anticipation of implications due to the ongoing war, officials want to ensure that the ministry responsible for assistance has a sufficient budget to help people in need.
Auditor General's Office looking into Minnis administration's pandemic spending
AUDITOR General Terrance Bastian says his office is in the beginning steps of looking into the former Minnis administration’s pandemic spending, particularly the food programme.
FNM leader believes public 'disappointed' by govt's marital rape issue response
FREE National Movement Leader Michael Pintard says he believes the public has been “disappointed” by government’s response to the issue of marital rape.
A COMIC'S VIEW: A scandal in opposition, business as usual in power
THE more things change, the more they stay the same.
DIANE PHILLIPS: Ty’s Place - every dish served with love, hope and heart
DOWN a narrow no-name road off Village Road at the end of the pavement lies a 120-year-old Bahamian cottage. The sign above the veranda says Ty’s Place. If you’ve ever been there, you will never forget the day and the experience. If you’ve never been there, tomorrow is not too soon.
EDITORIAL: Ukraine conflict will affect us all
OVER the past two nights, the world has looked on in horror as Russia invaded Ukraine in a war in Eastern Europe long warned against, but now taking place.
‘Minnis has no standing to accuse us of hypocrisy’
TOURISM, Investments and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper said former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has “no moral standing” to accuse the Davis administration of “hypocrisy” regarding its decision to give a no-bid contract to Colina Insurance Limited for services under the Bahamas Travel Health Visa programme.
Campbell criticises layoffs of Urban Renewal staff
FORMER Social Services Minister Frankie Campbell yesterday condemned the government’s decision to lay off several employees from Urban Renewal in what he described as a “political” act.
A promise finally delivered
FOUR months after Olympic gold medalist Ramon Miller went public with his years-long struggle to attain infrastructure for utilities at his home on government gifted land, he was elated yesterday to see work crews start the ground work in the area.
Customs chief placed on leave in shake-up
The Davis administration has initiated a shake-up of the Customs Department that has resulted in its comptroller, Dr Geannine Moss, being placed on administrative leave.
Baha Mar president seeks COVID protocol ‘pull back’
The Bahamas’ two mega resorts yesterday blamed Omicron for disrupting their “booking pace” and costing them critical group business as they called for COVID restrictions to be further eased.
Tourism demand up over 50% in vital US markets
The Bahamas’ key visitor source markets are “all up double digits” on tourism demand, it was revealed yesterday, with New York and Florida ahead by 56 percent and 40 percent respectively.
RBC racing to replace card amid fraud fears
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) last night said it was racing to replace its “magnetic strip” debit cards in The Bahamas after fears were raised that they are vulnerable to fraud.
Dates for Royal visit revealed
THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit The Bahamas from March 24-26 as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Cabinet Office announced last night.
Ukraine invasion ‘serious concern’ for local tourism
Tourism executives yesterday warned that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a “serious concern” for The Bahamas’ post-COVID recovery as the sector pushed for further easing of health restrictions.
FNM ‘made mistakes’ in office
MEMBERS of the Free National Movement last night conceded that mistakes were made during the party’s last term in office but said the FNM needs to dedicate itself to winning the trust of Bahamians if it intends to again ascend to government.
PM: Former administration only partially built five of 53 planned homes
THE former administration only partially built five out of more than 50 homes planned for the Central Pines subdivision in Abaco, after homes in the area were wiped out by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said yesterday.
CRISIS COULD SEND GALLON PRICE TO $8: Mitchell adds his voice to warnings of costs in Putin’s brutal invasion
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell predicted the price of gasoline could soar as high as $8 a gallon this spring due to expected inflation from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Four consul general posts revealed
DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper announced yesterday the appointments of four Consuls General who will serve in the United States.
24 new cases confirmed in two days
THE Ministry of Health recorded 24 new cases of COVID-19 over a two-day period and one additional death.
$800 fine for ammunition possession
A MAN was fined $800 after pleading guilty in court yesterday to possession of ammunition.
‘Lively’ meeting sees amendments to FNM constitution
FREE National Movement delegates passed several amendments to the party’s constitution after a “heated” debate at its convention yesterday, with one amendment posing serious consequences for members who publicly endorse other parties’ candidates.
Researching a living wage
I’m Lesvie Archer, principal investigator behind the living wages study. Public interest in the study's findings is exciting and I'd like to contribute by sharing some short, but interesting facts:
Contractors at ‘great risk’ in Act’s absence
An ex-Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president yesterday said enforcing legislation to protect the industry was “foremost” among its concerns as operators are at “great risk” without it.
Bahamas ‘first’ to serve aviation security model
The Bahamas was yesterday said to have gained “a competitive advantage” through an aviation security “first” that will serve as a model for the US government’s international roll-out plans.
IAN FERGUSON: Ways to maximise your online selling
Taking your business online, and using a website that allows customers to access your goods and services, is no longer a highly technical challenge. Globally, most companies that have a physical store have already made strides in incorporating online sales into their business mix.
BCAA basketball seasons wind down
THE NCAA Division II season is near its conclusion and several Bahamian student athletes look to close out the regular seasons on a strong note as their teams prepare for the postseason.
Bahamian students return to AUS basketball in Canada
BAHAMIAN student athletes returned to the court in Canada’s Atlantic University Sport (AUS) basketball following a winter break and a suspended season due to COVID-19 protocol health restrictions.
Second annual National Schools Golf Championships March 21-25
AFTER the success of its inaugural event last year, the Bahamas Golf Federation is eager to get the second annual National School Golf Championships underway next month at the BGF’s golf club at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.
Umpire Sears assembles team of candidates ahead of elections
WHILE he waits for the election of officers next month, umpire in chief Thomas Sears has assembled a team of candidates to join him in taking over the reigns of the Bahamas Softball Federation.
Undefeated, so far: Bahamas’ under-14 boys turning heads at North, Central America and Caribbean pre-qualifying tournament for World Junior Tennis competition
Coach Bradley Bain liked what he saw from his undefeated boys team at the 2022 North, Central American and Caribbean Under-14 Pre- Qualifying World Junior Tennis tournament in El Salvador.
Officer testifies in $1m drug trial
A POLICE officer testified yesterday in the drug trial of three men who were allegedly caught in waters off South Andros with more than $1m worth of marijuana.
Shenseea should be banned
A US-based online news site recently reported that The Bahamas leads the world in rape cases per capita. According to the site, the rate is pegged at 133 per 100,000 people. In the Caribbean country of St Vincent and the Grenadines, the rate is 112 per 100,000; while in Jamaica it is 51 per 100,000.
Man faces court on drug charge
A MAN appeared in court yesterday to face a drug charge after failing to appear for his standing firearm charges trial.
Cooper claims criminal libel by Archer
DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper has made a complaint with police against Omar Archer, accusing him of criminal libel.
Thursday, February 24
STATESIDE: Putin’s dream of a Russian empire rising again could be a costly fantasy
THE American Secretary of State and the Ukrainian Foreign Minister held a joint, televised news conference earlier this week after Russian troops and artillery began what looks very much like the start of a general invasion of Ukraine. Both spoke solemnly and articulately as they fielded questions from American and European reporters.
FRONT PORCH: The Lure and Exercise of Political Power
What Lord Acton actually said in a letter to an Anglican Bishop is: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Acton, an English Catholic, was a politician, historian and writer with extraordinary insight into political power.
EDITORIAL: Look farther afield to help fix nursing issues
THE president of the Bahamas Nurses Union, Amancha Williams, says that nurses are calling it quits and seeking work elsewhere.
PAHO: Bahamas careful in implementing measures
PAHO director of health emergencies Dr Ciro Ugarte says The Bahamas has been “careful” in the way it implements measures to fight COVID-19.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Russia attacks Ukraine; peace in Europe 'shattered'
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending troops and tanks from multiple directions in a move that could rewrite the world's geopolitical landscape. Ukraine's government pleaded for help as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.
Inflation drives 5% price rise at high-end project
A Bahamian developer yesterday disclosed he has increased prices on the multi-million dollar units in his latest project by 5 percent in response to soaring construction materials costs.
Small businesses brace for 25% consumer spend drop
Bahamian small businesses were yesterday said to be bracing for up to a 25 percent drop-off in consumer demand compared to pre-COVID levels as inflation chips away at buying power.
Switching banks like ‘giving birth’
The Bahamas must make it easier for customers to switch banks and thereby boost competition, a senior banker agreed yesterday, as he likened the current process to “giving birth”.
BTC revenues $17.4m off pre-COVID levels
The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) 2021 full-year revenues were $17.4m below pre-COVID levels despite representing a 4.9 percent year-over-year gain on 2020.
Bahamas at ‘critical point’ in gaining COVID balance
The Bahamas has reached “a critical juncture” in its battle against COVID-19 where it must balance saving lives and preserving livelihoods, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is warning.
Call to report cruise discharge findings
A LEADING environmentalist hopes the findings of government’s probe into Carnival Cruise Lines’ alleged discharge of sewage and food waste in Bahamian waters will be published now that Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis - a vocal proponent of the investigation when he was in opposition - is leader.
Young boys urged to ‘know your purpose in life’
YOUTH, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg encouraged young boys attending the 15th annual Reach Out Youth Organisation’s Boys to Men Conference in Freeport to find their passion and do it to the best of their ability.
Clean up going well?
FIRE at a debris site in Abaco sparked concerns yesterday that more of the waste will burn and potentially endanger the health of residents as temperatures heat up moving into the summer.
‘Low vaccination rate must be addressed to stop spread’
A PAN American Health Organisation official has warned that low vaccination coverage in many Caribbean countries must be urgently addressed to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Action needed to halt nurses exodus
BAHAMAS Nurses Union president Amancha Williams says as many as 60 nurses have left the public healthcare system since the start of the year because of low staff morale and unresolved labour issues.
Infant left dead in three-car collision
AN INFANT is dead following a traffic accident in New Providence yesterday.
Turnquest: Country is going backwards
FREE National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest last night castigated the government’s performance in office, saying the country is already seeing “signs of regression” over the last six “short” months since the party was elected to government.
HYPOCRITES: Minnis attacks Davis govt for giving no-bid contract - having blasted FNM on same issue
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said the Davis administration’s decision to give a no-bid contract to Colina Insurance Limited for services under the Bahamas Travel Health Visa programme “was more than hypocritical”.
Greater funeral attendance no major boost for homes
Increased funeral attendance at churches will not produce a major boost for funeral homes, it was revealed yesterday.
EuroLeague: Jonquel Jones leads the Foxes to undefeated season
JONQUEL Jones led UMMC Ekaterinburg to an undefeated regular season and the top overall seed in FIBA EuroLeague Women’s play.
Lashann Higgs scores season high 20 points
LASHANN Higgs had her most productive outing of the season since she made her return to the Liga Femenina Endesa - the top division of women’s basketball in Spain.
BFA returns, hosts Love of Soccer Valentine’s Cup 8v8 tournament
THE Bahamas Football Association has returned to competitive local soccer play with the hosting of the Love of Soccer Valentine’s Cup 8v8 Tournament that started this weekend at the Roscow AL Davies Soccer Complex.
ITF tennis: Bahamas in the win column
THE Bahamas continued play at the International Tennis Federation’s North Central American and Caribbean Pre- Qualifying World Junior Tennis Tournament yesterday in Santa Tecla, El Salvador.
National basketball team named
The Bahamas Basketball Federation has named its senior men’s national team roster for the second window of the FIBA Americas World Cup 2023 qualifiers.
RAISING AN NBA PLAYER: Mother of Kai Jones – the Bahamas’ latest professional basketball player – shares the ups and downs of a single mom bringing up two sons with athletic aspirations
On Thursday July 29, 2021 in New York City, Kasprintina Ellis experienced the moment where all her work as a dedicated and devoted mother finally paid off.
Man accused of possession of drugs
A MAN was charged in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with possession of drugs with intent to supply.
Woman accused of drug smuggling
A Magistrate’s court yesterday determined whether there was sufficient evidence for a woman to face charges of smuggling drugs into the country.
Corrections officer guilty over intent to supply drugs
A BAHAMAS Department of Corrections officer was yesterday found guilty of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.
Freeport woman guilty of mini mall blaze
A 26-YEAR-OLD Freeport woman accused of setting fire to a business establishment pleaded guilty to arson in the Supreme Court in Grand Bahama early this week.
$75,000 gift to Humane Society
FTX Digital Markets yesterday donated $75,000 to the Bahamas Humane Society.
Forgetful when it suits them
It amazes this writer just how conveniently forgetful our politicians are when it suits them … I recall with the sale of the Hotel Corp property on Cable Beach to Arison and the building of The Crystal Palace, Carnival were granted, as I recall, a large amount of Government land in Andros and required to grow produce…I believe the Hon Loftus Roker insisted and proposed this.
Is PM Davis serious?
The Law requires statutory fiscal reporting by I believe February 24th… who cares why comply with the Law… we will accommodate the FNM so they can scream at the Government at their convention!
Democracy needs you
OVER half a century ago on a chilly morning in March, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Though change may be slow and difficult — whether on racial justice, democratic reform, or economic equality —progress is possible when like-minded people, institutions, and governments join forces to bend the moral arc toward justice.
Civil service increments delay on finance sick-out
A Cabinet minister says the next round of increment payments to civil servants will not happen on schedule because of the finance officer sick-out that cost the Government some $7.5m.
Taxi call-up app to launch next month
An app that will allow Bahamian consumers to call for a taxi from anywhere, and at any time, will be launched next month, the Taxi Cab Union’s president said yesterday.
Extend remote working to mitigate energy cost surge
Businesses were yesterday urged to mitigate the impact of rising energy and fuel costs by allowing the remote working practices that flourished as a result of COVID-19 to continue.
‘Missed generations’ now threaten farming
The Bahamas has “missed generations of farmers” by failing to attract young entrepreneurs to agriculture, a Cabinet minister said yesterday, warning that this threatens the sector’s sustainability.
Wednesday, February 23
ALICIA WALLACE: Now we live in the Zoom world let’s make sure we get the most out it
WE have all attended far too many Zoom events over the past few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
EDITORIAL: Inconsistency over no-bid contracts?
IN the build-up to the last election, the company given the contract to handle the Travel Health Visa payments, Kanoo, was very much in the spotlight.
Legislation ‘quickly’ to deal with land ruling
ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder said his office is looking to quickly pass legislation that will remedy the consequences of a new Privy Council ruling so the matter does not become a “vexing problem” for Bahamians.
‘Govt must not be held hostage by employees’
A SICKOUT by finance and accounting officers last week will prompt officials to examine the organisational structure of government to ensure no group of employees can hold the state “hostage”, State Minister for the Public Service Pia Glover-Rolle said yesterday.
Smith and Rahming appointed as ambassadors
DR Elliston Rahming was announced ambassador to the Republic of Cuba while Stan Smith was appointed Ambassador Designate and Permanent Representative of The Bahamas to the United Nations yesterday.
When the shark bites back
A 51-year-old man was rescued by the United States Coast Guard on Monday after he was bitten by a shark while fishing aboard a vessel near Bimini.
‘First-of-its-kind’ deal for $111m fraud victim
A Cayman judge has hailed a “first-of-its kind solution” that will enable a Bahamian financial institution and its clients to recover almost 70 percent of their $111m claim against “a serious fraud”.
Bank fees: CIBC and Fidelity are cheapest
CIBC FirstCaribbean charges the lowest fees for student and retiree savings accounts, the Central Bank revealed yesterday, with Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) largely leading the field on adult facilities.
Planning row erupts on ‘swimming with the pigs’
Residents were yesterday demanding that planning authorities close two New Providence-based “swimming with the pigs” attractions that have “totally changed our neighbourhood”.
Realtor: Subdivision checks not assured
A former Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA) president yesterday said not all attorneys ask for proof of subdivision approval before giving title opinions on property purchases.
Bahamas calls for diplomatic solution to Ukraine tensions
THE Bahamas government is appealing to all sides involved in Ukrainian- Russian tensions to seek a diplomatic solution that respects the rules-based system of international law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
13 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed
THE Ministry of Health and Wellness has reported 13 new cases of COVID-19.
Ukraine crisis may see gas price at $6 a gallon
Bahamian consumers and businesses were yesterday warned to brace for gasoline prices to hit $6 per gallon next month after the Ukraine crisis sent oil prices soaring to seven-year highs.
PM hints at legal move on marital rape this term
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said it is possible the issue of marital rape could be dealt with legislatively by his administration during this term in office.
Burglary leaves charities still struggling to cope
REV C B Moss says higher food costs have made it challenging to continue providing meals to people in need through the Feeding Bain and Grants Town Project.
Davis govt also gave out no-bid contract
THE Ministry of Tourism under the Davis administration gave a no-bid contract to Colina Insurance Limited to provide insurance services under the Bahamas Travel Health Visa programme.
Pair ordered to take drug counselling classes
TWO men were ordered to attend drug counselling classes yesterday after they were found on separate occasions with small quantities of marijuana.
AML Foods targets $250 entry level wage growth
AML Foods yesterday said it will increase entry level wages to $250 per week by next year while aiming to retain 75 percent of its existing workforce.
DPM: Health travel visa’s speed ‘no excuse’ on lapses
THE deputy prime minister yesterday argued that the speed with which the Health Travel Visa had to be put in place to re-open the tourism economy was “no excuse” for governance failures.
Increasing numbers for BLTA Play Tennis programme
DURING the first month of the spring edition of its developmental programme, The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) has employed a consistent and structured approach.
Carifta Games: Two qualifying performances are revoked
TWO CARIFTA-qualifying performances, posted in the under-20 boys’ shot put at Roadrunners Track Club’s Dianna Lynn Thompson Time Trials over the weekend at Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium, have been revoked.
Devynne Charlton pulls off big victory, Nairn erases his national record
DEVYNNE Charlton, preparing for the World Athletics’ Indoor Championships next month, pulled off a big victory yesterday at the Orlen Copernicus Cup in Torun, Poland, while LaQuan Nairn erased his own Bahamas national record at a meet in Arkansas over the weekend.
Red-Line athletes post personal bests at annual meet in Kentucky
SOME top 10 performances were posted and personal best times achieved by athletes from the Red-Line Athletics, Swift Athletics and Star Trackers Track Club as they participated in the 28th annual Kentucky High School Indoor Track & Field Meet over the weekend in Lexington, Kentucky.
U-14 girls triumphant: Bahamas nets 2-1 win over Suriname at ITF North Central American Caribbean Under-14 Pre- Qualifying World Junior Tennis Tournament
After watching the thrilling victory of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association boys’ team on Monday, the girls prevailed with a 2-1 decision over Suriname yesterday at the International Tennis Federation’s 2022 North Central American and Caribbean Pre-Qualifying World Junior tennis tournament.
Officer says woman kicked him in groin
A POLICE officer yesterday claimed he was kicked in the groin by a woman he attempted to arrest.
Man tells how he was scammed in scheme
AN Eleuthera man yesterday testified about how he was scammed out of several thousand dollars after falling victim to a vehicle fraud scheme nearly four years ago.
Environmental education
The lack of proper environmental education in Bahamian school systems is preposterous.
Bahamians continue to use Obeah
I was fascinated by a February 22 front page Tribune article titled “Sacrilege.” The article was about the alleged desecration of several graves at the Spikenard Graveyard off Cowpen Road.
Boys to Men Conference starts today
THE 15th annual Reach Out Ministries Boys to Men Conference will kick off today at the Tabernacle Baptist Academy, the first in a series of school visits throughout Grand Bahama.
Man found dead after Abaco crash
A MAN was found dead in Abaco mangroves early Monday morning following a traffic accident.
Tuesday, February 22
PETER YOUNG: A man for all seasons
DESPITE the sadness of the occasion, how inspiring it was to be present at the funeral service for Sir Godfrey Kelly in Christ Church Cathedral on Friday. A large congregation remembered and paid solemn tribute to a great Bahamian who had touched the lives of so many of his compatriots over the period of his own long life and who will be so widely missed.
FACE TO FACE: A job offer we can be thankful wasn’t declined
HE held on to a letter from the Bahamas Government for nearly three weeks before responding. His response would ultimately change the course of his life forever. The young, bright attorney was headed to the country to do circuit court in Montego Bay, Jamaica when he got the invitation to work for the Bahamas Government.
No approval from ministry for concert by Shenseea
HEALTH officials are not aware of plans for an upcoming advertised concert and have not given any approval, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said yesterday.
EDITORIAL: Repair these broken graves
THE scenes at the Spikenard Graveyard are horrific.
Mid-year budget to miss deadline after House suspension
THE mid-year budget review - required by law to be tabled in Parliament by the last Wednesday in February each year — will not be tabled on time due to a “mutually agreed suspension” of the House of Assembly.
‘One or two cases’ of COVID in schools
EDUCATION Director Marcellus Taylor revealed that there have been “one or two cases” of COVID-19 in schools recently which were “largely contained”.
‘Mechanisms are in place’ for 72 hour antigen tests
HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville said mechanisms are in place to ensure people take a rapid antigen test 72 hours after travelling from abroad or from New Providence or Grand Bahama as required by new rules.
Shotspotter ‘not necessary’ in Freeport
NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said the ShotSpotter technology could come to Grand Bahama if there is a consistent occurrence of gun violence on the island.
Munroe pledge on Grand Bahama police resources
DURING his first official visit to Grand Bahama yesterday, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe pledged to seek resources to improve the conditions of police facilities and for proper working equipment for police on the island.
Auto dealers to seek price control freedom
The Bahamas Motor Dealers Association’s (BMDA) president says the industry plans to address “the very outdated policy” of price controls with the Government, adding: “We need to let it go.”
Bahamas First profiting in year-end turnaround
Bahamas First yesterday revealed it overturned a near-$1m loss for the first nine months of 2021 with a strong finish that left annual profits just 10 percent down on prior year levels.
Planning law reform urged for better buyer protection
Attorneys yesterday argued that The Bahamas’ most important planning law should be reformed to provide greater protection for buyers of lots in unapproved subdivisions.
Hotels chief calls for COVID mask rethink
A prominent hotelier yesterday urged the Government to consider relaxing COVID mask mandates in resorts and other tourist amenities where the majority of persons are fully vaccinated.
Bahamas urged: Be ‘more like’ Florida in COVID ease
A Bahamian restaurant proprietor yesterday argued that this nation needs to be “more like” Florida and eliminate all COVID-19 protocols if the sector is to fully recover from the pandemic.
Man killed in crash
POLICE in Abaco are investigating a traffic accident on the island that left a man dead.
New talks on mothballed Star Academy
EDUCATION Minister Glenys Hanna Martin says officials are in discussions with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church over the future of STAR Academy on the church’s property at Wulff Road.
'I’m your man - no, it’s me’
ST ANNE’S MP Adrian White says while he’s been underestimated within the Free National Movement, he expects to be elected the new deputy leader and return stability to the party.
Court ruling points to major land issue
QUICK action by parliament might be needed to address the consequences of a new Privy Council ruling that says conveyances of land without subdivision approval since January 2011 are null and void, according to attorney Christina Galanos.
SACRILEGE: Graves left broken and open despite efforts to prevent desecrations
A LOCAL funeral official is calling for better maintenance of public cemeteries in the country, noting cases where graves are being desecrated due to construction works and “witchcraft” among other things.
Coach Yo and Ole Miss Rebels win second straight game
YOLETT McPhee- McCuin’s Ole Miss Rebels will conclude a busy regular season schedule with three games over the course of the next seven days.
NCAA Division I Baseball: Daunte Stuart delivers go ahead RBI
THE NCAA Division I baseball season is officially underway and All-Southland Conference selection Daunte Stuart got off to a promising start on opening weekend.
Annual KPMG Youth Winter Championship rocks Montagu
THE annual K.P.M.G Youth Winter Championship was hosted by The Nassau Yacht Club and Bahamas National Sailing School (B.N.S.S.) with sailing in Montagu Bay February 19-20.
Ending clause on contract?
GAZETTED a RFP for a proposed New General Post Office – me hopes AG office has advised if there are early ending clauses for Town Centre Mall (Brent Symonette) because we don’t want to be paying millions of penalty money for breaching the lease early?
Junior national team off to great start in pre-qualifier
The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s junior national team got off to a great start on day one of the North Central American and Caribbean Pre- Qualifying World Junior Tennis Tournament yesterday in Santa Tecla, El Salvador.
Researchers need to do GB prices homework
Our News Bahamas recently interviewed a University of The Bahamas (UB) official who conducted a research study on the cost of living in New Providence and Grand Bahama.
Conditional discharge for man in drugs case
A MAN who appeared in court on drug charges was given a conditional discharge yesterday.
Cable Beach Post Office
I am driven to write to you in light of the utter chaos and madness that affects the post office box-renting public at the Cable Beach Post Office.
Mother in tears as son is jailed for weapons charges
A MOTHER broke down in tears in court yesterday when her son was sentenced to five years in prison on weapon charges.
Monday, February 21
WORLD VIEW: US security bill does not reflect interests of Caribbean nations
THERE has been a troubling development in relations between the US and the 14 independent nations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
THE KDK REPORT: Our winter’s parade
SPREAD across the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, the chain of islands that encompass The West Indies are ripe with cultural observances. Locally here in The Bahamas, Junkanoo is by far our most celebrated and globally acknowledged ethnic tradition. For those unfamiliar, Junkanoo is a street parade held historically during the winter, on both Boxing and New Year’s Day.
INSIGHT: Do we have the will to tackle domestic violence?
THE spectre of crime loomed large over The Bahamas last week.
‘Illegal’ wooden structure at Junkanoo Beach must go
THE Ministry of Works and Utilities said it will serve a notice to have an “illegal” wooden structure erected at Junkanoo Beach removed.
U.S. lends a hand to restore Elbow Reef Lighthouse
THE United States is partnering with the Elbow Reef Lighthouse Society and the Elbow Reef Foundation to restore the iconic Elbow Reef Lighthouse in Hope Town, Abaco.
June honour for Sir Sidney
THE government is planning a weekend of public observances in honour of Sir Sidney Poitier, scheduled for Father’s Day weekend.
Census to be completely digital
THE upcoming census will begin on April 5 and will be completely digital, officials said yesterday.
Former Senator Patricia Coakley dies
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has expressed sadness over the death of former Senator Patricia Coakley, who he described as a loyal member of the Progressive Liberal Party.
Warm welcome for American Queen Voyages
AMERICAN Queen Voyages made its inaugural visit to Grand Bahama on Saturday, bringing some 200 passengers.
Amoury Company steps in to protect Humane Society
THE Amoury Company has completed the final stages of installation and equipping the Bahamas Humane Society with a video cloud surveillance system including 30 cameras, and a year’s monitoring free of charge — a donation of $25,000.
A dangerous stand-off
ActivTrades
The last couple of years certainly have not been boring, at least in the sense implied by this old Chinese proverb: May you live through interesting times.
PI investor ‘pressing on’ with $3m raising
The Bahamian entrepreneur locked in a legal battle with the Government over his Crown Land lease on Paradise Island is “pressing on regardless” with efforts to raise $3m to fund his ambition.
Ex-Bacardi plant in ship repair potential
A multi-million dollar New Providence boat/yacht repair facility is just one of the investments that can be unlocked by a property “that doesn’t exist anywhere else in The Bahamas”.
Minister ‘disavows’ $7m warning to civil servants
A Cabinet minister was yesterday said to have “disavowed” a Ministry of Finance statement that warned that last week’s sick-out by finance officers could cost their fellow civil servants some $7m.
Bahamian firm seeking to recover $77m from fraud
A Bahamian financial institution is awaiting a $77m recovery after falling victim to an alleged fraud involving an investment fund whose “chairman” is a Freeport accountant.
FNM to spend $200k on in-person convention
THE Free National Movement will spend more than $200,000 to host its convention and fill key party positions at Atlantis this week, scratching previous plans to have a virtual event.
Finance officers’ sickout may affect staff payouts
THE government lost an estimated $7.5m in revenue after finance and accounting officers throughout the public service withdrew their services from Monday to Friday of last week in what the Ministry of Finance has called an illegal “coordinated sickout”.
Relaxing the rules - but let’s play safe
THE government has relaxed restrictions on social gatherings, indoor dining and churches in response to the continued decline of COVID-19 cases.
Rising tennis stars impress, Mortimer Jr wins title
AFTER a gruelling day of competition in the preliminary rounds, Dentry Mortimer Jr had enough left in the tank to prevail with the under-14 singles championship title over his Island Tennis Bahamas training partner Khai Rees.
Kanoo ‘confirmation’ one day before Visa’s launch
A Bahamian digital payments provider says it received “written confirmation” from the Ministry of Tourism to open an account for the Health Travel Visa just one day before tourism’s re-opening.
No COVID slowdown for dodgy financial dealings
COVID-19 did not slow down questionable activities within the Bahamian financial services industry, it has been revealed, with suspicious transaction reports increasing by 26 percent in 2020.
Wholesaler: ‘Nothing came out’ of PM meet
A Bahamian wholesaler says last week’s meeting with the Prime Minister yielded little in terms of concrete measures to combat surging inflation as the situation is outside The Bahamas’ control.
Making the CARIFTA mark
Versatile sprinter/ hurdler Antoine Andrews qualified in his second event for the 2022 CARIFTA Games, while Leonardo Taylor and Leon Williams joined a list of throwers reaching the qualifying mark for the trip to Kingston, Jamaica, over the Easter holiday weekend.
Fraudster pleads guilty
A 21-YEAR-OLD who fraudulently obtained money from a local bank last year after depositing a forged cheque pleaded guilty to the offence in Magistrates Court Friday.
NCAA swim: Student athletes make a splash
SEVERAL Bahamian student athletes set school records, new personal bests and earned spots on the medal podium at their respective NCAA swimming conference championships.
Acquittal for man over 2009 murder and kidnap
THE Court of Appeal has declined to order a retrial in the case of a man whose convictions for murder, kidnapping, robbery and housebreaking were overturned in relation to an incident that happened in 2009.
Rape is rape
Not surprising our politicians look for a flavour of the month issue and try desperately to make browny points from it when in reality the issue is stupid.
Grow more
I am writing an open letter to the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, Clay Sweeting. I read an article in the paper about how the pandemic has affected Barbados. Now their government has started to give out large portions of Crown land to those persons interested and needing to do backyard farming as a way to sustain, and feed themselves.
Arabian nights
The Davis administration has taken a bold and innovative approach to international geopolitical relations and tapping into non- traditional sources of funding and investment possibilities.
Governor General
Reading the Constitution as to the Office of Governor General, Article 32, it is interesting it provides for the appointment, but seemingly does not stipulate once appointed how long is the tenure of being Governor General.
DEREK SMITH: Anti-financial crime regime strengthens Bahamas’ hand
More than $30bn in sanctions have been levied against financial institutions by regulators across the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America since 2008 for violations of anti-money laundering, Know Your Customer (KYC) and other laws and regulation.
Anfernee Seymour signs with Dirty Birds in Atlantic Pro Baseball League
VETERAN outfielder Anfernee Seymour is headed to another professional baseball league for the 2022 season. Seymour signed with the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic Professional Baseball League.
These are a few of my favourite things
A piece of jewellery flashing the area code of The Bahamas and the colours of the Bahamian flag is just one of ten things NBA star Deandre Ayton can’t live without.
Sunday, February 20
Two rescued after plane crashes near Treasure Cay
TWO people were rescued Sunday after their plane crashed in bushes near Treasure Cay, Abaco.
Friday, February 18
Final respects paid to Sir Godfrey Kelly
FINAL respects were paid to Sir Godfrey Kenneth Kelly, KCMG, on Friday at Christ Church Cathedral.
Community service for woman who stole from children's father's bank account
A MAGISTRATE on Friday chastised a woman who stole more than $900 from her children’s father’s bank account.
Woman accused of assaulting son's former girlfriend
A WOMAN accused of assaulting her son’s former girlfriend was on Friday granted $1,000 bail before her trial.
DIANE PHILLIPS: The lighter side of soppy
VALENTINE’S Day came and went. Did you notice? No, neither did we. It was probably because it was on a Monday and a Monday that followed the Super Bowl no less. I mean, how much excitement can one body handle?
Jones named as new ambassador to the US
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis officially announced the appointment of Wendall Jones as the new ambassador to the United States yesterday.
Boy in hospital after being hit by car
A BOY is in hospital after he was hit by a car shortly after 3pm on Wednesday, police said.
Davis urges youths not to give up on climate fight
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis urged young leaders attending the One Young World caucus at University of the Bahamas not to give up on the fight against climate change.
Concern over $80k annual lease for unused DRA office space
PIA Glover, State Minister for Public Services, expressed concerns about a non-executed lease of over $80,000 a year for office space for the Disaster Reconstruction Authority in Grand Bahama.
Accused officer back on duty
A POLICE officer accused of being involved in a drug smuggling incident in Crooked Island in December has returned to active duty.
Rolle talks of ‘renewed focus’ as domestic violence cases rise 19%
DOMESTIC violence cases increased by 19 percent last year compared to 2020, Police Commissioner Paul Rolle revealed yesterday.
Human trafficking still ‘big concern’ despite decline
WHILE there was a 16 percent decline in human trafficking incidents in 2021 when compared to the previous year, the issue continues to be a “big concern” for authorities, according to Royal Bahamas Police Force Commissioner Paul Rolle yesterday.
Chamber chief urges rethink on minimum wage and breadbasket
Grand Bahama’s Chamber of Commerce president yesterday urged the Government to eliminate VAT on “breadbasket” food items to counter soaring inflation and delay a minimum wage increase.
Kanoo ‘100% vindicated’ over Health Travel Visa
A Bahamian digital payments provider yesterday said it had been “100 percent vindicated” by the Auditor General’s findings on the role it played in the Health Travel Visa initiative.
Used car dealer absorbing 50% of price hikes
A Bahamian used car dealer yesterday revealed just 50 percent of the price hikes he has experienced on Japanese vehicles have been passed on to local consumers.
Judge paves way for new Water Corp union election
The Supreme Court has paved the way for new elections at the Water & Sewerage Corporation’s line staff union after dismissing a fresh challenge to the decision not to certify the original poll.
Fidelity’s ‘ace in hole’ on $25m profit target
A BISX-listed bank has an “ace in the hole” when it comes to hitting its $25m profits target for 2022, its top executive revealed yesterday.
Sweeting: We need a national food strategy
MARINE Resources and Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting says there is a need for the country to develop a national food security strategy especially now with rising inflation coupled with the threat of climate change.
Govt in talks to import Saudi oil
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has started discussions with the Saudi Arabian government on how the country can import fuel from the Middle Eastern country, according to Press Secretary Clint Watson.
‘Get vaccinated’ urges govt press secretary
PRESS Secretary Clint Watson issued another appeal for Bahamians to get vaccinated yesterday, saying unvaccinated residents must not come to the false conclusion that the pandemic is over now that cases are declining.
Drug candies put students in hospital
SEVERAL students from Akhepran International Academy were taken to hospital yesterday after eating suspected marijuana-laced candies.
‘More investigations’ after visa audit
AFTER an Auditor General’s report into the Travel Health Visa programme found that contracts were not executed in accordance with the law, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said further investigations on those findings will continue.
Rolle: I’m trying to remove officers’ warrior mentality
POLICE Commissioner Paul Rolle says the Royal Bahamas Police Force takes its relationship with the public seriously and stressed his commitment to remove the “warrior mentality” from officers as they interact with people.
Urban renewal staff let go ‘at contract end’
SOCIAL Services and Urban Development Minister Obediah Wilchcombe said his ministry is restructuring staffing at Urban Renewal in the wake of complaints about mass layoffs in the department.
MURDERS UP 63%: Figures also show increase in crimes against the person
THERE was an 18 percent increase in crimes against the person in 2021 compared to 2020, Royal Bahamas Police Force Commissioner Paul Rolle said yesterday.
Sprinter Joel Johnson hopes to make a comeback
HE was off to a blistering start up until 2018 when he got sidelined by the injury bug. Four years later, Joel Johnson is hoping to make a comeback. His aim is to re-emerge as one of the top male sprinters in The Bahamas.
Hatchet Bay gets packing
A Cabinet Minister yesterday said the packing house in Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera, will be re-opening today.
Consumers urge action to ease inflation’s effect
Consumers yesterday called for the Government to increase the minimum wage and remove VAT from breadbasket items to ease the pain inflicted by inflation-busting price hikes.
Retailers switch to bulk buying in inflation fight
Bahamian retailers yesterday said they are employing bulk buying and various other strategies to mitigate rising inflation and goods prices.
IAN FERGUSON: Why companies benefit from hiring consultants
Consultants can provide expertise and an objective eye in helping to guide a business, with different consultants specialising in various industries and areas. These include strategy and management, operations, human resources, finances, funding opportunities, IT, tourism, hospitality and sales and marketing.
UB ladies’ softball team displays strong showing in the inaugural games
PEMPROKE PINES, Florida - The University of The Bahamas women’s softball team dropped the team’s first four games in Mingoes history against The St Thomas University Bobcats and the Florida Memorial University Lions over the weekend.
National basketball team standouts face off in France’s NM1 League
A PAIR of Bahamian national basketball team standouts faced off In France’s NM1 League.
Top jr golfer Heathcliffe Kane ties for 1st place
One of the top junior golfers in the island nation, Heathcliffe Kane took his game on the road and earned a first-place finish on the international stage.
Keep masks
COVID related – Ministry of Health please - please do not follow the US and remove the mandatory masks as yet. Be sensible and lets wait till Easter hopefully by then a considerably improved COVID condition.
Bank service
I am disturbed and even more disgusted by the way customers are treated at the Commercial Banks in our country, especially the ones that are in the South Western District of New Providence.
PLP food tax attack on poor
The PLP fooled the Bahamian people on the campaign trail. They said they would lower VAT. That sounded good. No one likes paying taxes. Everyone wants taxes lowered.
Sir Godfrey PLP slight a disgrace
It WAS disgraceful to listen to the PLP in the House of Assembly saying they somehow just forgot to give Sir Godfrey Kelly the honours he deserved in death. I don’t buy their apology. I think it was a deliberate slight.
Woman speaks to police after pedestrian’s death
A WOMAN driver who allegedly struck and killed a male pedestrian on Prospect Ridge on Monday morning turned herself into police yesterday.
Thursday, February 17
STATESIDE: Options on the table - which one will Putin decide to take?
What’s going to happen with Ukraine? The ominous Eastern European crisis has people on edge all over America and especially, throughout Europe. It’s been over 75 years and three generations since Europe has been wracked by a major armed conflict. No one seems to have much of an appetite for what Vladimir Putin is now threatening. Analysts predict if his Russian army (and navy) conduct a full-scale assault on Ukraine, potentially hundreds of thousands of civilians will be killed. There would of course be many other costs as well.
FRONT PORCH: Mixed signals and confusion when bold action is needed
Outlawing marital rape is a clear and easy moral call. It is about upholding the innate dignity and corresponding equality of women, including spouses, mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and colleagues.
EDITORIAL: A rush to criticise, but slow to exonerate
YOU may remember the political row surrounding the health travel visa and the selection of payment processing company Kanoo to handle payments for the visa.
$1.3m a month to support 11,300 people in need
SOCIAL Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe said his ministry is spending $1.3m each month on social assistance for 11,300 people and he expects this number to grow.
Ministry considering loosening testing restrictions
HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said the Ministry of Health’s Emergency Operations Centre is looking at “loosening” the country’s border testing restrictions.
US delivers 32,000 Pfizer doses
THE United States delivered 32,400 Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses to The Bahamas yesterday.
Minimum wage proposals ready for parliament ‘very soon’
IMMIGRATION and Labour Minister Keith Bell said officials anticipate that legislation for a new minimum wage will be ready to present to Parliament “very soon”.
MARCO Alert final testing ‘in coming weeks’
THE Ministry of National Security in partnership with Bahamas Telecommunications Company yesterday conducted the final testing of the MARCO Alert system, with full rollout of the platform expected “in the coming weeks”.
BOB defeats ‘irregular’ $6m default judgment
Bank of The Bahamas yesterday emerged victorious in one of its two “highest risk” legal battles after a $6m default judgment against it was found to have been “irregularly” obtained.
Health Travel Visa ‘worked bloody well’
A former tourism minister yesterday asserted that the Auditor General’s findings proved the Health Travel Visa had “worked bloody well”, adding: “There’s not a penny missing.”
BISX-listed insurer in 37% profit jump
A BISX-listed insurance group yesterday unveiled a 36.8 percent year-over-year profit increase for 2021 as its top executive said it was "time to be cautiously optimistic" after two years of COVID.
Retailer: Price rises ‘hurting our hearts’
The Retail Grocers Association’s president yesterday warned that many merchants would be “forced out of business” by any move to impose across-the-board controls on their margins.
Auditor General hails Health Visa’s ‘vision’
The Auditor General’s Office has hailed the Ministry of Tourism’s “vision and implementation” of the Health Travel Visa despite finding multiple concerns over how the scheme was administered.
‘BAMSI in disrepair’
DESPITE an increase in the budget for the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute, certain portions of the facility fell into disrepair, according to Agriculture Minister Clay Sweeting yesterday.
‘Major win’ for Bahamas on GDP rule change over natural disasters
AFTER Bahamian representatives at COP26 insisted that using gross domestic product was not a realistic means in determining countries’ need for financial assistance following natural disasters, the Global Environment Facility has indicated the decision to move away from using GDP as the primary economic indicator.
Pledge summit was UN event, not ours’
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis says when people mock the 2020 Hurricane Dorian pledge conference, they are in fact knocking the work of the United Nations Development Programme, not his administration.
Travel visa scheme has auditor’s approval
THE Office of the Auditor General commended the Ministry of Tourism for its implementation of the Bahamas Travel Visa Programme, an initiative the Progressive Liberal Party criticised last year.
Davis: We’ll intervene to offset rising costs
IN a meeting with stakeholders yesterday, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis indicated his administration’s “readiness to make critical policy interventions” to offset rising costs brought on by global inflation.
Union puzzled why deal needs Cabinet sign off
THE union representing National Insurance Board employees has renewed calls for the government to finalise its outstanding industrial agreement which it says expired over two years ago.
Four police charged over suspect’s death
FOUR police officers were charged with manslaughter yesterday in connection with the shooting death of Danrico Alexander Carey.
What about minimum hours worked?
Your editorial Wednesday, as well as other news items, including Peter Goudie on the Tribune Business page are all abuzz with talk of “Minimum Wage” and whilst there is no doubt that there are many justifiable cases, I wonder why we never see any news items or discussion about minimum hours or basic work ethic.
Underground abortion industry
Bahamian evangelical Christians must play close attention to the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) impending policy announcement on abortion.
Ammunition and drugs found
GRAND Bahama Police discovered illegal ammunition and dangerous drugs this week in the Freeport and Eight Mile Rock areas.
US pair accused of false declarations to officers at airport
TWO Americans were accused of making false declarations to US officers at Lynden Pindling International Airport.
Ayton erupts for 23
Buddy Hield scores 15 in win over Wizards
Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns head into the All-Star break with the NBA’s best record, while Chavano “Buddy” Hield and the Indiana Pacers snapped a seven-game losing streak.
Tallulah Falls girls win regional tournament title
SEVERAL Bahamian student athletes led the Tallulah Falls varsity girls’ basketball team to the Regional Tournament title.
Hoopfest in Paradise seeks to bring elite prep basketball programmes to Bahamas
THE Hoopfest in Paradise initiative seeks to bring elite programmes from the American prep basketball circuit to The Bahamas over the upcoming winter holiday.
Wednesday, February 16
ALICIA WALLACE: The signs are there - you just have to be able to read them
THIS week started with Valentine’s Day and there were countless roses, chocolates, greeting cards and romantic gestures going around.
EDITORIAL: Excess markup exacerbates price rises
APPARENTLY, Bahamian consumers are on the wrong end of a markup system not designed to benefit them. Who could have guessed?
Four in ten Bahamians now fully vaccinated
A LOCAL infectious disease expert said about 40 percent of the population are fully vaccinated but cautioned against rescinding COVID-19 safety protocols too soon.
Glover-rolle urges sick out staff to go back to work
AFTER some government employees reportedly engaged in a “sick out” because of overdue promotions, State Public Service Minister Pia Glover-Rolle yesterday urged them to go back to work, adding her office had just received recommendations from their ministry for the promotions exercise.
Cabinet discussing abortion legal change
HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville says the question of whether abortion should be decriminalised is an issue Cabinet has started discussing.
Training to take the step into workplace
THE National Training Agency will teach practical and soft skills to more than 100 Bahamians registered for its 19th cohort, aimed at helping them into the workplace.
Video: Abandoned building goes up in flames
A major fire in the Downtown area on Tuesday night was captured in a video posted online.
Tourism’s ‘very big deal’: 13% of visitors are back
Tourism executives yesterday hailed the re-opening of markets that accounted for up to 13 percent of this nation’s pre-COVID visitor base as “a very big deal for The Bahamas”.
Bahamas in $7.5bn combined loss from Dorian and COVID
COVID-19 and Hurricane Dorian will inflict a combined $7.5bn loss on The Bahamas, a United Nations (UN) agency is forecasting, “inhibiting social and economic development for years to come”.
Nearly 20% of small firms asked for bribes
Nearly one in five small businesses on Dorian-devastated Abaco and Grand Bahama have reported being asked to pay a bribe to obtain government services, a UN agency’s report has revealed.
‘Right church, wrong pew’ over second GB marina
A Grand Bahama investor yesterday said he has yet to receive a satisfactory offer for his second marina asset, revealing: “They’re in the right church, but sat in the wrong pew.”
Minimum wage proposal to Gov’t ‘within a month’
Recommendations on a minimum wage increase could be submitted to government “within a month”, Tribune Business was told yesterday, although a liveable version is “way down the road”.
Hilton could reopen in two months
TOURISM, Investments and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper says the British Colonial Hilton has attracted a major international brand to support the property since announcing its closure earlier this year.
Restrictions remain as fourth wave dying out
WHILE COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations have declined since the start of the fourth wave, Health Minister Dr Michael Darville says the health system remains challenged and suggested no loosening of restrictions is imminent.
HOW FAIR ARE PRICES WE’RE HAVING TO PAY? As inflation rises, stores facing question of how much margin they make
A FORMER Price Control Commission chairman says the inflation on goods has been compounded by a markup system that is not consumer friendly.
‘Abaco is in great need’
AN Abaco pastor says there is a great need for social assistance on the island as people struggle to feed themselves amid increased food costs due to inflation.
Two men fined after being found with drugs and cookies
TWO men were fined in court yesterday after being found with a quantity of marijuana earlier this week.
Rising young tennis player signs his letter of intent
Anthony Burrows Jr secures scholarship to pursue college degree, play for Tigers
ANTHONY Burrows Jr, one of the rising young tennis players in the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association, is not just excited that he has secured an athletic scholarship, but he will become the first member of his family to pursue a college degree.
Sporting media treated to Super Bowl party at Atlantis
ONCE again, members of the Bahamian sporting media were treated to a Super Bowl party at the Atlantis resort in a show of appreciation for their support of sporting activities held during the course of the year.
Rising tennis star Khai Rees turning heads
KHAI Rees began the local 2022 amateur campaign as a winner in two divisions, setting the stage for what he hopes will become a year of milestones.
Baseball ‘will not be the same without’ Jeff Albury
THE Bahamas Baseball Association and the Junior Baseball League of Nassau will not be the same without its long-time Commissioner Jeff Albury.
Sydney Clarke, Jacobi Bain pleased with their performances
AS the collegiate tennis season progresses, Bahamian players Sydney Clarke and Jacobi Bain produced some outstanding performances for their respective teams over the weekend in two different locations in the United States.
Buddy Hield catches fire, cans 36 in loss to Bucks
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a season-high 50 points, two off his career best, and pulled down 14 rebounds to lead the Milwaukee Bucks past the skidding Indiana Pacers 128-119 last night.
Bail for man in theft trial
A 26-year-old man accused of stealing and several fraud related offences was yesterday granted bail before his trial.
Cop who beat his wife told to take anger management
A POLICE sergeant was yesterday ordered to attend anger management classes after he was found guilty of beating his wife over cheating allegations.
DPM optimistic Hilton’s closure only two months
The deputy prime minister yesterday voiced optimism that downtown Nassau’s British Colonial resort may only be closed for two months until a new brand partner is found to replace Hilton.
Double standard
The alcoholic beverages are flowing, the basketball court has been taken over by their volleyball net, the pavilion is full, and it is not available to our children and residents.
Pension form and invasion of privacy
A friend sent a copy of the “Pension Continuing Eligibility Form 2022” which he recently received from NIB.
Emancipate your mind, Bahamas
I have been reading with despair about events happening in our beloved country and seeing the blatant lack of care for we, the people, who continue to be blinded and duped by partisan “politricks” instead of demanding accountability, transparency, and truth!
‘We must fight to keep down cost of living’
FREEPORT civic leader Pastor Eddie Victor believes “there needs to be a collective fight to keep down the cost of living on Grand Bahama”, especially now with rising inflation.
Tuesday, February 15
PETER YOUNG: Why not more carrot less stick over Ukraine?
THE endless swirling information in the international media about what might happen next in Ukraine remains as intense as ever. Is the world drifting towards war in eastern Europe because of Russian aggression?
The classroom that can go anywhere
A MOBILE outdoor classroom on board a brand-new fully electric vehicle was launched last week by the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) as part of their ongoing efforts to make marine environmental education safe, fun and engaging.
EDITORIAL: Royal visit a litmus test for The Bahamas
THERE will be a Royal visit to The Bahamas next month, with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge due to arrive in the country.
Grand Bahama straw vendors: We are hurting
STRAW vendors on Grand Bahama said they are hurting and appealed to the government to resume the bi-weekly stipend that was discontinued in December.
Revised building code ‘this year’
WORKS and Utilities Minister Alfred Sears said the government will this year bring a revised building code to Parliament and will undertake consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders shortly.
19 new confirmed COVID cases
THE Ministry of Health and Wellness recorded 19 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the nation’s confirmed virus toll to 32,950.
Storr: Cabinet to advise on domes
DISASTER Reconstruction Authority executive chairman Alex Storr said the authority will advise Cabinet on how best to repurpose domes in Abaco that were never used, adding the DRA no longer supports sending the domes to Family Islands for storage purposes.
Duke and Duchess to visit The Bahamas
THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit The Bahamas next month.
Cat Island sailing community pays its respects to Sir Godfrey Kelly
TRIBUTES have been paid to Sir Godfrey Kelly from the sailing community, with the president of Cat Island Sailing Club hailing him as a “giant of a man”.
$20m project aims to ‘bring life back’ to Grand Bahama
A $20m resort community is aiming “to bring life back” to Grand Bahama following the devastation inflicted by Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19 as it prepares to break ground this week.
BTC to be ‘attacker’ in market share fight
The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) top executive says it plans “to become a real attacker” in the battle for market share with ambitions to build-out its new network by end-2023.
BTC: No contract worker termination over COVID policy
The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) chief executive has denied that any contract workers have been terminated with “over 90 percent” complying with its COVID policies.
Architects: What about our role in Dorian rebuild?
The Government was yesterday urged to engage qualified architects and urban planners from the private sector to improve the resilience and pace of post-Dorian reconstruction.
Dog attack owner faces court
A 27-year-old man was charged in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with a dog attack that left a woman in hospital last month.
Pedestrian dies in hit and run crash
A MALE pedestrian is dead after a hit and run incident in western New Providence yesterday morning, police said.
Charity seeing 20% hike in food prices
AN increase in food prices at the grocery store has had an adverse affect on one local charity.
MARINA SALE A HUGE BOOST FOR FREEPORT: US developer buys Port Lucaya for 200 condo/hotel project
A well-known Freeport marina is “under contract” to be sold as part of a deal involving construction of a new 200-unit condo hotel, Tribune Business confirmed yesterday.
$3,000 fine for marijuana possession
A 50-year-old man was fined $3,000 yesterday after pleading guilty to drug possession with intent to supply.
National Family Island Regatta cancelled for third straight year
For the third consecutive year, the National Family Island Regatta has been cancelled due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, National Regatta chairman Danny Strachan has confirmed.
Expectations loom large for infielder Daunte Stuart
FOLLOWING a breakout campaign as a sophomore, expectations loom large for Daunte Stuart headed into the upcoming 2022 campaign as one of the top players in the Southland Conference.
Romad Dean on the rise in OSBA
ROMAD Dean continues his series of impressive performances in the second half of the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association season.
Travis Munnings eliminated from Eurocup qualifier contention
TRAVIS Munnings and Sporting Lisboa Benfica have been eliminated from FIBA EuroCup playoff contention but remain strong contenders locally in Portugal’s Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB).
Disaster chair: No one ‘deliberately negligent’
The Disaster Reconstruction Authority’s (DRA) ex-chairman yesterday said he does not believe any of its staff were “deliberately negligent” as allegations continue to swirl around its performance.
A sailing legend
I was saddened to learn of the passing to Sir Godfrey Kelly, co-founder of the Cat Island Regatta which started in Knowles, Cat Island in 1956. I first came to know Sir Godfrey when I served as President of the Cat Island Sailing Club Association, organisers of the regatta.
Securities sales
The performance of The Central Bank sale of Securities recently is exceptionally significant not because the securities were over-subscribed but only 25% of a $34m offer caught interest of those who purchase.
The Bahamas Golf Federation congrats ‘young chef Chris’ establish
NORMALLY only the performances of the players are celebrated on the golf course, but today the Bahamas Golf Federation is recognising the achievement of rising young star Christopher Knowles in the classroom.
Bahamas Interscholastic Equestrian League regular season ends
THE Bahamas Interscholastic Equestrian League regular season came to a close last weekend, with riders from grades 4-12 in schools across New Providence marking the league’s first year as Region 13 of Zone 4 of the US-based Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA).
Equestrian Millie Vlasov displays strong performance in Spain’s Andalusia Sunshine Tour
On path to represent Bahamas at the CAC Games in 2023
EQUESTRIAN Millie Vlasov is firmly on the path to representing The Bahamas at the 2023 CAC Games after her strong performance in the first weekend of the Andalusia Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain.
Pair accused of importing firearms remanded to prison
A MAN and a woman accused of importing several firearms, including a prohibited weapon, into the country were remanded to prison pending their bail hearing.
Pharmacist warns on drug prices inflation
Pharmaceutical drug prices may go up by 4 percent this summer due to a combination of increased global demand and rising supply chain costs, it was revealed yesterday.
Two charged over murders
A MAN and a teenager were remanded to prison yesterday after being charged with two separate murders.
Jailed for indecent assault on 14-year-old
A 39-year-old who admitted to touching a teenage girl’s private parts last year was yesterday sentenced to one year in prison.
Davis’ LA Rams media strategy
With the Cincinnati Bengals set to face the Los Angeles Rams at the $5 billion SoFi Stadium in Super Bowl LVI, politically astute NFL enthusiasts in The Bahamas can see faint parallels between the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government and the team representing the NFC.
Monday, February 14
WORLD VIEW: Don’t be fooled into thinking Ukraine crisis won’t have any impact on us
GLOBAL tension is rising concerning Ukraine, the second largest country in Europe after Russia which it borders. Ukraine was a part of the defunct Soviet union, declaring its independence in 1991 when the Union dissolved.
THE KDK REPORT: From dawn to sunset
The proprietor of my after-school day care loved to watch soap operas. It was such a constant fixture of my childhood that I learned the theme song for each show long before I could properly tie my laces.
INSIGHT: The same old blame game over government business
THE row over contracts at the Disaster Reconstruction Authority is exactly the kind of depressing finger-pointing that leaves so many people disillusioned with politics in The Bahamas.
Ministry to be relocated from Downtown Freeport
MINISTER of State for Public Service Pia Glover-Rolle has revealed the Ministry of Public Service Office will be relocated from downtown Freeport to more suitable and adequate accommodation.
University president to be announced ‘in short order’
ALLYSON Maynard Gibson, chairwoman of the University of The Bahamas’ board of trustees, said an announcement of the new university president will be made “in short order”.
Uncertainty over govt policy on contract terminations
THE Davis administration’s policy on termination clauses for contract workers is unclear, with former Minnis administration officials saying they met a number of fixed contracts when they took office after the 2017 general election.
Bowleg tells youths ‘your future is in your hands’
YOUTH, Sports, and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg officially opened the Fresh Start programme in Grand Bahama on Friday, telling the 50 participants that success starts at the bottom.
Many schools ‘are already 100%’ face-to-face learning
MANY schools nationwide are now already instructing students “100 percent face-to-face,” according to Minister of Education, Technical, and Vocational Training Glenys Hanna Martin.
Signing for UN framework
THE Davis administration held a ceremony on Friday for the signing of the United Nations’ Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF).
Davis move on gender equality
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said officials are looking at the country’s “domestic” laws to see how they can level the playing field to ensure there is gender equality.
Former PM pays tribute to Sir Godfrey Kelly
FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham is among those offering condolences to the family of Sir Godfrey Kelly in the wake of his death last week, remembering the former politician as a man of “dignity and good humour”.
FOCOL’s $24m fossil fuels ‘game changer’
FOCOL Holdings temporarily increased its bank overdraft by 247 percent to finance “a game changer in our transformation” to beat reduced fossil fuels usage, its chairman has revealed.
BOB chief: ‘Formula we don’t really want’
Bank of The Bahamas’ managing director says a shrinking loan book, combined with rising deposits and cash, is “a formula you don’t really want” for sustained long-term profitability.
PM denies union’s Cable pre-election pledge fears
A trade union leader yesterday voiced doubts that the Prime Minister will live up “a pre-election commitment” to bring BISX-listed Cable Bahamas to the negotiating table.
Build, build, build, stop!
ActivTrades
ERNEST Hemingway once wrote that bankruptcies happen gradually, and then suddenly. Such words seem appropriate to describe the fate of Evergrande, one of China’s largest real estate developers, which appears set to default on debt interest repayments.
Gov’t targets early Club Med re-open
The Government was yesterday said to be working with Club Med in a bid to ensure its San Salvador resort re-opens earlier than late 2022 and sparks “a 180-degree turn” in the island’s economy.
Ten more victims on COVID toll
THE Ministry of Health and Wellness reported 10 new COVID-19 deaths over the weekend, three of which were previously classified as deaths under investigation.
Young dad killed by a single bullet
NEW Providence police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of a man in the Cowpen Road area on Saturday.
‘MALICIOUS LIES’: Forbes-Smith hits back saying she’s victim of abuse and fake stories
FORMER Disaster Reconstruction Authority Managing Director Katherine Forbes-Smith said a claim on social media that she sold a generator intended for Hurricane Dorian victims for personal profit is a “bold-faced, malicious lie.”
Investment not photo ops
Photo-op Minister for Foreign Affairs and a CARICOM official designated on the folly of CARICOM to try to obtain reparations from the United Kingdom.
LA Rams win second Super Bowl
Kupp’s late TD lifts Rams over Bengals 23-20
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — In a venue built for champions, the Los Angeles Rams carried off the crown jewel: a Super Bowl trophy.
Six-year-old tells court of abuse at hands of man
A SIX-YEAR-OLD girl gave testimony in the Magistrate’s Court on Friday about the alleged sexual abuse she endured from a man on trial for unlawful sexual intercourse.
University to hold youth caucus
ONE Young World, the global forum that connects the world’s most impactful young leaders, will hold its first Bahamas caucus at the University of The Bahamas on Thursday.
Oil explorer relegates Bahamas to ‘non-core’
AN OIL explorer has downgraded The Bahamas to a “non-core” jurisdiction and closed its office in this nation after its first exploratory well failed to strike commercial quantities of ‘black gold’.
The latest ‘armed robber’ generation
READINESS, response and recovery cannot be left to chance. The delivery of a comprehensive security protection programme demands planning, co-ordinated implementation and consistent oversight.
Jonquel Jones leads BIH to FIBA World Cup qualification
JONQUEL Jones was a one-woman wrecking crew en route to leading her Bosnia and Herzegovina programme to a FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 qualification.
FUN TIME: BLTA ‘Play Tennis Bahamas’ springs into action
THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) “Play Tennis Bahamas Programme” Spring Session opened to a strong start. Young children ages 5-16 enter this introductory session with a goal to learn tennis and have some fun.
‘Buddy’ Hield embracing new role, fresh start with the Pacers
AFTER being involved in a trade for the second time in his NBA career, Chavano “Buddy” Hield has appeared ready to embrace a new role and a fresh start with the Indiana Pacers.
Athletes compete in meets across the United States
JUMPERS LaQuan Nairn, Charisma Taylor, Kaiwan Culmer, Daejha Moss, Kyle Alcine and Shaun Miller Jr propelled a series of Bahamian professional and collegiate athletes’ performances in various meets in the United States over the weekend.
Foreigner takeover
It’s happening now on Mount Pleasant Village Park. Foreigners have taken it over all day long - without permit!
Farewell, Sir Godfrey
I have only ever had two bosses.
BOC saddened by loss of Sir Godfrey Kelly
THE Bahamas Olympic Committee is saddened at the loss of a great man and athlete, Sir Godfrey Kelly.
Friday, February 11
Ministry to offer on-the-spot vaccinations after walkabouts
THE Ministry of Health and Wellness’ social mobilisation unit will set out for a third weekend on a walkabout in key communities to offer on-the-spot vaccinations and educational resources to its residents.
Man accused of assaulting mother of his child
A MAN was arraigned in court on Friday accused of assaulting the mother of his child.
Two face charges of unlawful sexual intercourse
TWO men were arraigned in separate cases on charges of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor on Friday.
Two arrests after suspected marijuana found on boat at Potter's Cay
TWO men were arrested after police found $65,000 worth of suspected marijuana on board a boat docked at Potter’s Cay on Thursday.
Disaster Reconstruction Authority set for forensic audit after 'gross incompetence'
DISASTER Reconstruction Authority Executive Chairman Alex Storr said UHY Bain & Associates, an accounting firm, will forensically audit the authority after an operational review found many signs of mismanagement.
DIANE PHILLIPS: The far-reaching Olympic moment that should have us quaking in our sandals
NO matter how much Nathan Chen defies gravity and figure skates like he is a swirling missile flying gracefully through the air or snowboarding legend Shaun White continues to dazzle in his fifth and final Olympic appearance, there is one moment that stands out above all others from the 2022 Winter Olympics underway in Beijing, China.
101 nominate for party officer positions in FNM convention
ONE hundred and one people have nominated for party officer positions at the Free National Movement’s upcoming convention.
Elected Freeport councillors inaugurated
NINE elected local government councillors of the City of Freeport District Council were officially inaugurated and presented their certificates on Wednesday evening on Grand Bahama.
Farewell to a titan of the religious community
THE nation bid final farewell to a titan of the religious community at the state recognised memorial of Reverend Dr Charles W Saunders yesterday at Salem Union Baptist Church.
Price controls useless to fight ‘staggering’ inflation
Price controls will “do nothing” and prove useless against the “staggering” cost increases facing all Bahamians after US inflation yesterday surged to a 40-year high, a businessman is warning.
Small business board announced at ‘crucial time in our economic life’
THE new board of directors of the Access Accelerator, Small Business Development Centre were announced yesterday.
IDB’s 37% digital woe ‘totally different’ now
A digital payments provider yesterday said a survey that found 37 percent of Bahamian firms have challenges accessing electronic payments would have “a totally different result” if done today.
Money lenders facing regulatory crackdown
A crackdown that aims to reverse “non-existent” consumer protection from unregulated money lenders will take effect in the 2022 second quarter, the Securities Commission’s top executive says.
Bahamas needs ‘total energy transformation’
The Bahamas’ requires “nothing short of a total energy sector transformation” to revive its economy post-COVID but faces massive “barriers” to achieving this, a multilateral lender has warned.
Baha Mar supervisor loses dismissal fight involving drunk guest
A Baha Mar security supervisor lost his claim for wrongful and unfair dismissal against the mega resort after he videoed efforts to subdue a violent, drunken guest.
Sir Godfrey Kelly dies age 93
SIR Godfrey Kelly, KCMG, 93, died at his Eastern Road home at about 10.30am yesterday shortly after eating breakfast.
13-day-old boy among COVID dead
THREE people, including a 13-day-old infant, have recently died from COVID-19, according to officials from the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
‘I’ve nothing to fear from DRA auditors’
TYCOON Waste Management Company’s Ed Curling was on the defensive yesterday as he issued a full-throated rejection of claims that the work he did to clean up portions of Grand Bahama was overpriced and not up to standard.
FOI trial to start with ten govt agencies
THE Ministry of Finance, the Department of Public Procurement, Bahamas Power and Light and the Ministry of Works are among the ten government institutions that will be initially involved in the launch of the Freedom of Information system.
DAVIS TELLS NEW COPS - BE CAREFUL: PM reminds officers of duty not to harm force’s reputation
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis advised new Royal Bahamas Police Force officers to “be careful” of their actions, adding that they had a duty to keep the force’s reputation intact.
Disaster Authority gets ‘big punch list’
The Abaco Chamber of Commerce’s president yesterday said the newly-appointed Disaster Reconstruction Authority (DRA) board has been given a “big punch list” of issues to take care of.
URCA outlines 2022 regulatory agendas
The Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA) yesterday pledged it will consider further liberalisation of the communications sector once the “market is ready for competition”.
Funeral industry fears on new entrant influx
The Government was yesterday again urged to properly regulate the funeral industry amid fears that untrained persons are being licensed to offer mortuary services.
IAN FERGUSON: Signs workers need new job challenge
Economists indicate that the only form of healthy unemployment is frictional unemployment. That is the process of leaving a job to explore options that are more in line with a worker’s interests and skills.
UB Mingoes ladies’ softball team in ‘light workout’
THE University of The Bahamas Mingoes ladies’ softball team went through a light workout yesterday morning before a team meeting as the squad gets ready for its first ever set of international games.
Dean calls for fitness testing in schools
FOR a number of years, fitness guru Leonardo ‘Nardo’ Dean has been assisting the various local sporting bodies either with advice or training programmes to move their disciplines forward.
Island tennis teams up with Baha Mar to stage tournament
THE newly formed Island Tennis, headed by professional players Philip ‘PJ’ Major Jr and Kevin ‘KJ’ Major, are teaming up with Baha Mar to stage a tennis tournament for aspiring young players next weekend.
NFL wide receiver Mike Strachan returns home
Mike Strachan is spending a part of his offseason back home and is optimistic about both his role in the NFL and his future impact on the development of football in The Bahamas.
University partnership with Saylor Academy
UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas has forged a partnership with Saylor Academy, an open access education provider, to increase pathways to higher learning and professional development.
Attempted murder charge
A FREEPORT man was charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s court yesterday with attempted murder.
Haitian quartet fined for immigration offences
THREE Haitian men and a Haitian woman were fined in court yesterday on immigration charges.
Shame on Clint Watson
On 1st February “Our News Bahamas” posted a newscast on YouTube of media personnel being denied interviews with Government Ministers on their way to Cabinet at The Office of the Prime Minister in the Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Building on Cable Beach.
Stand up against madness
The sporting federations, the Olympic Associations, and fellow sportsmen, now is the time to let your voices be heard before all the benefits of sports are lost and destroyed.
Man denies stealing tools and supplies
A 66-YEAR-OLD man who denied stealing over $2,000 worth of tools and household supplies from a man earlier this week was yesterday granted $5,000 bail before his trial.
Robbery accused: We were beaten by police
TWO men accused of committing armed robberies claimed they were beaten by officers while in police custody.
Thursday, February 10
STATESIDE: There’s a major win here for Biden if he can put Putin back in his box
AS the massive Russian armed threat intensified against Ukraine this week, Tuesday morning’s press headlined President Joe Biden’s resolve to sanction the important new undersea natural gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 linking Germany and energy-hungry Western Europe with Russia’s natural resource riches.
FRONT PORCH: Foundations for Transformation and Hope
During the back-to-back unprecedented national crises of Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic, the domestic and international private sector, including non-profits, foundations, philanthropic individuals and volunteers, played a pivotal role to supply the material needs and offer hope to thousands of Bahamians and residents.
Woman savaged by Pit Bulls to sue after no one charged
ALICIA Barton, the woman severely injured in a Pit bull attack two weeks ago, has retained legal counsel for a civil suit against the dogs’ owner amid her disappointment in the way her incident has been handled by authorities and the justice system.
PAHO: Consider all factors before relaxing rules
A PAN American Health Organization official said countries must consider the current epidemiological situation, hospital capacity and vaccination rates to decide which restrictions may be relaxed and at what level.
No decision on Hubbcat system yet, says Munroe
NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said the government has not decided whether it will renew the contract for the Hubbcat monitoring system when the programme expires this month.
Bell: We’re trying to get Bahamians back to work
AS the country continues its economic rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, Immigration and Labour Minister Keith Bell said his ministry is working on several key initiatives to get more Bahamians back to work.
New US Embassy ‘about 60 percent’ to completion
THE new United States Embassy compound on Shirley Street is about 60 percent complete, according to project director Stephen Ziegenfuss.
Off to a new home in the United States
THE Humane Society of Grand Bahama (HSGB) is preparing to send off 30 animals for adoption in the United States.
Commercial properties: 70% behind on taxes
Some 70 percent of commercial properties are in arrears on their real property tax payments, it was revealed yesterday, although a “high proportion” of Bahamian homeowners are compliant.
Central Bank to explore cross-border Sand Dollar
The Central Bank aims to explore the Sand Dollar’s use outside The Bahamas within the next three years, it was revealed yesterday, with 20 percent of this nation’s adults having no bank account.
Minister slams ‘lackadaisical’ investor compliance stance
A Cabinet minister yesterday slammed the Government’s “lackadaisical” efforts in ensuring investors live up to their Heads of Agreement obligations, adding: “There’s plenty of blame to go around.”
UK resort group to buy downtown hotel
A DOWNTOWN Nassau resort that has defaulted on its debt is due to be sold to a major UK-based hotel group in a deal set to close on February 22, it was revealed yesterday.
Churches expecting easing of protocols
WITH COVID-19 cases on the decline, Bahamas Christian Council President Bishop Delton Fernander says he expects the Davis administration will announce a further relaxation of restrictions on churches in the days ahead.
AG: Land reform key to luring investors
ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder has vowed to steer the Davis administration to comprehensive land reform which will help alleviate obstacles to foreign direct investment.
'Red flags’ raised on recovery work
THE Disaster Reconstruction Authority is in the process of investigating several contracts that were issued to manage debris management sites in Abaco and Grand Bahama after “red flags” were detected from comparisons between the large sums of money paid out and the work that was actually done.
Plans to rejuvenate Bay Street
I see rejuvenance of Bay Street, that is the section between the British Colonial hotel and East Street, is again causing interest with “something must be done” although what that may be is not made clear.
Land ownership: ‘Nothing infuriates Bahamians more’
The Opposition’s Senate leader yesterday argued “nothing infuriates Bahamians more” than obstacles to land ownership amid bipartisan agreement that reforms in this area are “a vexing issue”.
Exclude Dorian-hit Bahamians from VAT construction ‘dragnet’
An ex-Cabinet minister yesterday pleaded with the Government to exclude Bahamians from “the dragnet” created by VAT’s reimposition on construction services in the Dorian-devastated islands.
ART OF GRAPHIX: Internet presence critical to survival
Does my business really need a website? The answer is: ‘Yes, it does’. If you are a small business owner, you have probably had someone tell you to get a website. But why should you? There are not many businesses that can survive without an Internet presence, and there is no reason not to have one.
Rowing Machines: Windsor School at Albany puts Bahamas on map
IT was a proud moment for the Windsor School at Albany and The Bahamas in the sport of rowing when a selected six-member team, four of whom are Bahamian, stepped foot inside the gymnasium at the Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas.
‘Golden Girl’ Pauline Davis to release her memoir today
“GOLDEN Girl” Pauline Davis lived out a 10-year plan of writing her own story with today’s official release of her memoir entitled “Running Sideways.”
NCAA basketball: McCoy gets top honour, Bastian sets career high
MALACHI McCoy received a weekly honour as the top player in his conference and Lathaniel Bastian scored a new career high to highlight play from Bahamian student athletes in NCAA Division II basketball.
Jonquel Jones and BIH set for World Cup qualifier in Japan
JONQUEL Jones leads Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) into the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament this weekend in Osaka, Japan.
Could Pacers’ ‘Buddy’ Hield be traded again?
NBA insiders continue to speculate about whether Chavano “Buddy” Hield will be on the move again as a part of another trade before today’s NBA trade deadline.
Migrants held in Bimini
POLICE on Bimini apprehended five illegal immigrants on that island on Tuesday.
Jailed for death threat to woman
A MAN was sentenced to three months in prison yesterday for making death threats against a woman.
Suspect accused of harm to sister
A MAN appeared in Magistrate’s Court yesterday, charged with causing harm to his sister after she attempted to kick him out of their shared home.
Masks on or pay up
MASKS...... Masks..... we are required to wear them so the Health Regulation says....BUT.......
PHA says no dialysis charge
THE Public Hospitals Authority said yesterday that “contrary to rumours circulating on social media,” patients requiring dialysis services are not being newly charged for that service.
Wednesday, February 9
ALICIA WALLACE: Why are we so reluctant to talk about salaries?
OVER the past few days, Bahamian Twitter has been talking about pay. The conversation seemed to have started with the observation that salaries are not included in job postings.
EDITORIAL: Was the DRA’s work worth the salary paid?
THE argument over the salary of the former managing director of the Disaster Reconstruction Authority (DRA), Katherine Forbes-Smith, is missing the point.
Bahamas Kidney Association calls for support
THE Bahamas Kidney Association is in need of support as the group aims to raise public awareness in the ongoing fight against kidney disease which they say is on the rise.
Minister says no preferential treatment as event blocked
AFTER promoters of a Dexta Daps concert failed to secure approval from the Ministry of Health and will not host the event, there has been renewed criticism about how differently the Davis administration treats events held at hotels versus those held off hotel sites.
No decision on extending benefit that already expired
WITH the unemployment assistance benefit ending on December 31 last year a senior official said yesterday the government has not made a decision on whether to extend it.
‘Government must to more to tackle inflation’
CARYLE Bethel, president of the Free National Movement Torchbearer’s Youth Association, says the Davis administration must do more to address inflation.
Celebrating the best
DURING her address at the National Examinations Awards Presentation, Glenys Hanna Martin, Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training, underscored the determination and sacrifice of students who earned outstanding results in the 2021 examinations, despite the impact of COVID-19 on education.
A marriage restored after two affairs and two out-of-wedlock children
BEFORE she was married, Apostle Shantell Ferguson made a personal vow that were she ever to be the victim of infidelity in her marriage, it would be a deal-breaker; she would leave her husband in a heartbeat, no questions asked.
Marina slowdown causing ‘freak out’
The Association of Bahamas Marinas (ABM) president says “it’s kind of freaking me out” that there has been a “noticeable” slowdown in boating/yachting traffic ahead of the Spring season’s peak.
Competitiveness boost on 70% of civil disputes
The Chief Justice yesterday said wide-ranging reforms to the Bahamian courts’ Civil Procedure Rules will “make the jurisdiction more competitive on dispute resolution” in 70 percent of such cases.
Rejected Post Office PPP may be revived
A Cabinet minister yesterday said the Post Office public-private partnership (PPP) entered into by the Christie administration may be revived after a proposal was resubmitted to the Government.
Cruise ship arrests: ‘No cost to the Gov’t’
The Port Department’s acting controller yesterday confirmed that the arrest of Crystal Cruises’ two vessels comes at “absolutely no cost to The Bahamas’ government”.
Old Fort Bay developer loses marina expansion appeal bid
A Supreme Court judge yesterday rejected the bid by Old Fort Bay’s developer for permission to appeal her ruling on its marina expansion as battle with the community’s homeowners continued.
Bowleg defends CARIFTA trials
After CARIFTA trials were disrupted last weekend by COVID-19 officers, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg said he fully supports athletes’ ongoing training efforts and that continued safety protocols will be enforced at future trials.
Food inflation will stay at least a year
BAHAMIANS were yesterday told to brace for a 12-month minimum of higher food costs, noting global trends particularly those in the United States that largely affect The Bahamas.
Islands’ schools back to ‘normal’
MOST schools in Grand Bahama and the Family Islands are ready for the full return of face-to-face instruction, according to the Bahamas Union of Teachers, however schools in New Providence need to individually determine their readiness due to their issues.
SUPER SALARY - DISMAL JOB: DRA blasted over MD’s pay package and recovery work
CENTRAL and South Abaco MP John Pinder says it is “shameful” there remain duties unfulfilled in storm ravaged Abaco while the former managing director of the Disaster Reconstruction Authority took home an “extravagant” salary.
‘Buddy’ Hield traded to Pacers in 6-player deal
In an expected move in the National Basketball Association yesterday, Grand Bahamian Chavano “Buddy” Hield was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Indiana Pacers in a two-team, six-player deal.
High school baseball players get in line for season opener
WHILE there have been a number of local players signing professional baseball contracts over the past few months, a number of international players are looking forward to their high school season opener this weekend at the same school.
Jailed for theft of tools from university
A 38-YEAR-OLD man who stole nearly $2,000 worth of tools and cleaning supplies from University of The Bahamas last year was sentenced to six months in prison yesterday.
Probation for man found with marijuana
A 33-YEAR-OLD man who was caught with a small amount of marijuana earlier this week was yesterday placed on probation for three months.
Woman says constable gave her forged letter
A WOMAN yesterday testified how a police constable charged her $2,500 to help her get a letter of administration for the estate of her deceased husband last year only to discover the document was forged.
AI: Helping the lonely
COVID-19’s influence upon us all has been at times horrific.
Undermining values of Bahamians
DR MICHAEL Darville and Ministry of Health and Wellness officials must be commended for rejecting the concert request of Bahamian promoters of the Reggae Valentine’s Day event featuring Jamaican dancehall artist Dexter Daps.
BSSAA kicks off basketball season
THE Bahamas Small Schools Athletic Association kicked off its 2022 basketball season on Monday at the Hope Centre’s Michael ‘Scooter’ Reid Basketball Courts on Monday with a pair of games played.
World Central Kitchen provides new grants
WORLD Central Kitchen has announced its latest round of funding for nine food production projects in The Bahamas. The recipients of its fourth round of grants are based in Abaco and Grand Bahama.
BBF secures funding for national men’s baskeball team travel to FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifier
WITH just about all of the funding secured, the Bahamas Basketball Federation is now preparing to assemble the men’s national team that will represent the country in the final two games of the second leg of the FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifier.
National School Golf Championships March 21-25
THE Bahamas Golf Federation in conjunction with The Ministry of Education and The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, are expected to host the 2022 National School Golf Championships March 21-25 at the BGF facility.
Tuesday, February 8
PETER YOUNG: Global tensions take the shine off China’s sporting showcase
IN an ideal world politics should be kept out of sport. But, in reality, that is rarely possible since at the national level, in particular, the two are inextricably linked.
FACE TO FACE: Robin’s making waves to help children in need
MILLIONS of people around the world visit The Bahamas and end up falling in love with this country and its people. Many are repeat visitors, captivated by these balmy isles. Some have decided to take up permanent residence and call this place home. But few are the people who come and take a special interest in making a difference in the lives of the Bahamian children who may need their help the most – those in the inner city.
EDITORIAL: Is a liveable wage a realistic goal?
THE goal set by Bernard Evans as he leaves his work as a union negotiator and moves into a government post is a challenging one.
No Ministry of Health approval for Dexta Daps concert
THE Ministry of Health has not given any approval for a Dexta Daps concert to be held this weekend, Office of the Prime Minister Director of Communications Latrae Rahming said yesterday.
ORG hopes media protocols will improve communication
AFTER a new protocol was put in place for the media to interview ministers at Cabinet, a local civic group hopes the mechanism for building some structure allows for more long-term and substantial communication.
Committee planned to handle chambers
THE Senate yesterday passed a resolution for the creation of a standing committee of Parliament to allow for the independent handling, administration and management of both chambers.
Mario Bowleg hopes to redevelop performing arts centre
YOUTH Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg spoke about plans to renovate a local performing arts centre to further foster the growth of Bahamian culture as he voiced his support for the newly formed Cultural Commission.
Tourism’s call: ‘Eliminate’ 48-hour COVID testing
The Government was yesterday urged to eliminate the 48 hour in-country COVID testing requirement for all tourists and make The Bahamas “more competitive” for the peak winter season.
Fund’s record $75m inflow builds RF Bank ‘war chest’
A Bahamian investment bank yesterday said it expects to match last year’s record $75m inflow into its fixed income fund and further build a “war chest” to deploy as possibilities emerge in 2022.
IDB pledged $59m Bahamas savings through guarantee
The Bahamas would save $59m per year via a $200m guarantee from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to underwrite a proposed foreign currency bond issue, it has been asserted.
Sisters-in law’ ‘take leap’ on authentic Bahamian brands
A sister-in-law duo yesterday said they are “taking a leap” by opening a downtown Nassau store designed to place “authentic” Bahamian brands within easier reach of tourists and locals.
Ex-judge and QC fight over who should be paid costs
An ex-Supreme Court judge and top QC are battling over who is entitled to receive $114,793 in costs awarded with Western Air’s successful $1.5m claim against the Airport Authority.
Family displaced by fire takes keys for new home
ONE family received the keys to their new home less than a year after a massive fire on Jennie Street left them and several other people displaced.
‘Don’t jump the gun to ease COVID protocols’
AS COVID-19 case numbers continue to trend downward, a local senior physician has said it may be time for officials at the Ministry of Health to begin discussions about easing restrictions.
Minnis ‘unfamiliar’ on contract terms
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis says he is not familiar with the contract of former Director of the Disaster Reconstruction Authority Katherine Forbes-Smith, adding that the government is entitled to challenge any irregularities it claims to find.
UNION CHIEF QUITS TO WORK FOR GOVT: Evans promises to fight for workers and strive towards a liveable wage
BERNARD Evans has resigned as president of the National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas and will become the chief labour consultant/negotiator for the government.
Bahamas First unveils date-driven approach
Bahamas First has formed a new unit that will provide business intelligence and analytics to its operations in both this nation and the Cayman Islands.
BIG SWING: UB ladies’ softball team ready for first international tour this week
THE University of The Bahamas women’s softball team practiced ahead of the team’s first set of international games set for this week.
Twelve-year-old Finley Lambert sails away with Optimist National Championship title
AFTER returning since it was postponed in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, 12-year-old Finley McKinney Lambert clinched the Optimist National Championship title in the waters of Montagu Bay.
‘We feel they should throw those standards out the door’
WITH very few meets to compete in before the final trials next month, local coaches are calling on the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations to rescind on the qualifying standards for the return of the CARIFTA Games over the Easter holiday weekend in Kingston, Jamaica.
Randall, Archer commit to Conquistadors football
A pair of Bahamian football players are two of the latest in the pipeline from The Bahamas to one of the newest rising collegiate football prep programmes in South Florida.
20-year-old accused of armed robbery
A 20-year-old man who is accused of stealing a woman’s vehicle at gunpoint was remanded to prison yesterday.
$1,000 fine after being found with marijuana and cocaine
A 39-year-old man was fined nearly $1,000 yesterday after police found him with a quantity of marijuana and cocaine last week.
Attempted murder accusation
A 26-year-old man was charged with attempted murder in Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Call to get tough over gun crimes
SENATE President LaShell Adderley has called for stiffer penalties and longer imprisonment terms for gun possession and gun-related crimes as the country looks to curb the scourge of domestic violence.
FNM moving on
It was a pleasure to see the appointment of Michela Barnett-Ellis as Senator on Friday, for many reasons.
Protocol for media
I am both trained as a journalist, but I have been engaged in the media as a radio and television talk show host for a decade and counting, so I am somewhat qualified to opine on the apparent spat between segments of the profession and the Office of the Prime Minister as it relates to access to cabinet ministers to and from meetings of the cabinet.
A lethally reckless judiciary
Last week, a young man convicted of possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition received a sentence of one year in prison and a fine of $5,500.00. This kind of thing has become so normalised in The Bahamas that it hardly receives any notice, either editorially or by government ministers charged with maintaining societal norms.
Pair denied bail over child sex claims
TWO men accused of having unlawful sexual intercourse with underage girls were sent to prison yesterday.
Man in hospital after stabbing
A GRAND Bahama man is in critical condition after he was stabbed on Sunday.
Anti-financial crime study set for end-June finish
A Bahamian anti-financial crime regulator yesterday said the country’s latest national risk assessment is due to be completed by end-June 2022.
Condo hotel targets September opening
A Goodman’s Bay-based condo hotel is “aiming” for a September opening with over 85 percent of the units already sold, the project’s developer said yesterday.
Over 100 taxi drivers gain own franchises
More than 100 taxi drivers will possess their own franchises by March’s end after vehicle plates were issued directly to them by the Ministry of Housing and Transportation.
Governance group names economic committee head
The Organisation for Responsible Governance (ORG) has unveiled Hubert Edwards as head of its economic committee.
Monday, February 7
THE KDK REPORT: A ram in the bush
NONE of us can recall the exact details of the day we were born so our knowledge of that day is limited to what our parents tell us. Despite this, every birthday is a cause for celebration whether someone organises it or we are old enough to do it ourselves. Some, like myself, prefer to travel to celebrate while others enjoy a quiet evening at home with loved ones. Many like to throw parties where food, cake, music and alcoholic beverages are typical expectancies and turning milestone ages like 18 and 50 often triggers the most extravagant events.
INSIGHT: No way forward for a government that lacks answers
IF the government wanted to move on from issues surrounding press access, it didn’t make a convincing case to talk about anything else this week.
EDITORIAL: We must protect the future of fishing
SOMETIMES, we can be our own worst enemy.
Bahamas sees $900m boost from marine areas expansion
The Bahamas has generated a $900m annual economic boost by expanding its Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to cover 20 percent of the country’s coastal environment, studies have estimated.
‘Folly’: Over one-third of fish catches shady
Bahamians were yesterday warned it was “folly” to believe the oceans have an inexhaustible fisheries supply after it was revealed that 36 percent of landed catches are illegal or unregulated.
Minister: Investors only ‘prefer’ short term Gov’t bonds
A Cabinet minister yesterday conceded that Bahamian investors are only interested in short-term government debt after a one-year issue was oversubscribed by 14 percent.
Minister backs Grand Bahama students to excel
EDUCATION Minister Glenys Hanna Martin is optimistic Grand Bahama and Abaco students will excel, despite the double ordeal of Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic.
$500,000 grant for university to develop centre
UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas received a $500,000 grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on Friday for the development of the Centre of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at its Grand Bahama campus.
Huge backlog keeping pressure on hospitals
FORMER Health Minister Dr Duane Sands says the public healthcare system is far from being “back to normal” despite declining COVID-19 infections, citing strained resources and a “phenomenal” backlog of cases involving people seeking non-COVID related care.
Where did pit bulls in deadly attack go?
KIM Aranha, Bahamas Humane Society president, says she’s not only concerned by how authorities have handled a recent dog attack, but is “mystified” at how “quiet” the incident has been treated.
Davis: Press protocols avoid ‘gotcha moment’
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said he doesn’t view the change in protocol for press seeking Cabinet interviews as the media being shut out, rather it was an attempt to add structure and avoid a “gotcha moment”.
‘Humanitarian crisis’ fear over cruise ships’ arrest
Concerns were voiced yesterday over the fate of 900 crew members due to uncertainty over who will cover the costs for two Bahamas-flagged cruise ships arrested in Freeport.
Time trials allowed to continue
With all of the COVID- 19 protocols in place and no spectators in the stands, Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) president Drumeco Archer said they lived up to their end of the bargain in hosting their Star Performers Time Trials Meet at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium on Saturday.
Athletes qualify for the CARIFTA Games
KEYSHAWN Strachan, in rewriting his Bahamian national javelin record, led a list of nine athletes who achieved the qualifying standards for the 2022 CARIFTA Games in Kingston, Jamaica, set for the Easter holiday weekend.
Avoiding the media
Is the post election honeymoon over and Government goes back to avoiding the media and the question?
FNMs must not take risks
I believe that Free National Movement (FNM) foot soldiers are taking unnecessary risks by attacking the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis via irresponsible means.
What baggage?
I am not an FNM and most of my other habits are food ones. I was almost astounded when I read a recent article in The Tribune by Rashad Rolle, a senior reporter at that fine establishment, wherein he quoted Adrian White (FNM-Ann’s Town) as suggesting that both he and Shanendon Cartwright (FNM-St. Barnabas) have “baggage” going into the upcoming FNM convention.
Martin wins long jump, Gaither second in 200m final
GRAND Bahamian jumper Holland Martin and sprinter Tynia Gaither led a list of Bahamians competing in various collegiate meets in the United States over the weekend by snatching a victory and a runner-up position in their respective events.
Five more deaths confirmed
THE Ministry of Health has reported five more COVID-19 deaths and 93 additional cases over a three-day period.
Yolett McPhee-McCuin and Ole Miss Rebels in win column
YOLETT McPhee-McCuin’s Ole Miss Rebels were back in the Southeastern Conference win column powered by another defensive effort.
Deandre Ayton posts his 17th double double of the season
DEANDRE Ayton was off his minutes restriction and had his most dominant performance of the three games he has been back on the floor since his return from an ankle injury.
Three years later . . . Jaguars get their rings
THREE years after their historic triumph, the first two-time winners of the Bahamas National High School Basketball Championships finally received their championship rings to commemorate the occasion.
Merge compliance and risk to avoid surprises
The financial services industry had been implementing governance models designed to make its institutions more effective well before the COVID-19 pandemic began to wreak havoc on the world. Providers and supervised financial institutions have experienced severe changes in their regulatory compliance requirements since then, due to changing risks and increasing costs as a result of health and safety concerns, plus operational difficulties associated with remote work. And supply chain problems are seemingly relentless.
Local broker’s Grand Lucayan role is ‘exactly what we want’
A Bahamian realtor yesterday hailed the involvement of a local broker in facilitating the Grand Lucayan’s sale as “exactly what we want”.
Event planners enjoying gradual business pick-up
Event planners say tourism-led business will lead the sector’s revival amid expectation that trading conditions will continue to improve since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.
Non-bank lenders face enhanced regulations
The Securities Commission’s top executive yesterday said the main law governing the Bahamian capital markets will undergo an “overhaul” this year.
Battle of the videostar
ActivTrades
FACEBOOK’S parent company, Meta (FB), has not had a bad year. Not every company can claim to have increased its sales by 37 percent in one year. The social networks, Facebook and Instagram, as well as the messenger, Whatsapp, generated almost $118bn following $86bn in the previous year. A good $29bn of that remains as profit.
Friday, February 4
Man accused of stealing from church
A MAGISTRATE remanded a man accused of stealing church items to prison on Friday after he claimed he was “forced” by residents in his neighbourhood to commit the act.
Michela Barnett-Ellis receives her instruments of appointment as senator
THE Free National Movement welcomed its newest senator in an official ceremony on Friday.
PM offers congratulations to latest RBDF officers
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis congratulated the latest crop of Royal Bahamas Defence Force officers on their completion of the initial basic training during a Passing Out Parade on Friday.
Man gets one year sentence, $5,500 fine, for illegal firearm and ammunition
A 21-year-old man was sentenced to one year in prison and fined $5,500 on Friday after he was caught with an illegal firearm and ammunition earlier this month.
DIANE PHILLIPS: Dawn Davies – an unassuming collector with wicked sense of humour will leave an indelible mark on the world of visual arts
THE first thing Dawn Davies says when you walk into her home which is less house and more living museum with art everywhere - on walls, tables, in hallways, even on the ceiling - “Among the important art works displayed, I like a bit of whimsy, including the folksy, kitsch and craft.”
A COMIC'S VIEW: Why treat Grand Bahama like an unwanted child?
THIS week has been a busy one in politics. Grand Bahama, my second home, entered the chat. On top of that, many Bahamians are wondering whether “new” taxes are on the horizon. Let’s begin.
EDITORIAL: Union needs to resolve long-standing issues
THERE seems to be a lack of unity at the Bahamas Union of Teachers of late.
Halkitis defends extra stadium investment
ECONOMIC Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis said the Davis administration has agreed to spend an additional $31m to complete the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium because so much money has already been spent on the project.
COVID delays hit target for accounting system
MICHAEL Halkitis says it’s unlikely the government will meet a target and transition to an accrual accounting system by the end of the 2022/2023 fiscal year, citing COVID-19 disruptions.
Candlelit vigil held to remember Claudette
A CANDLELIGHT vigil was held last night in memory of Claudette Capron, right, who was shot on her way to a prayer meeting last month.
Barnett-Ellis appointed to Senate role
FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard has appointed Michela Elaine Barnett-Ellis to the Senate.
Domestic Gov’t bond just 25% subscribed
Concerns were raised last night over investor appetite for the Government’s debt after just 25 percent of a recent $47.326m bond issue was picked up by the market.
Bahamas bank investors see $32m Cayman boost
A Bahamian financial institution’s shareholders have received a $32m boost this week after completing the final step in exiting the Cayman Islands market.
Miller ‘very concerned’ about Disney project impact
ENVIRONMENT and Natural Resources Minister Vaughn Miller said yesterday that while he supports the Disney Lighthouse Point project, he is still “very concerned” about its potential environmental impact on Eleuthera.
Warning over iTunes card scam
THE Financial Crimes Investigation Branch is warning the public to be cautious of an email scam soliciting the purchase of iTunes cards.
Colin Ingraham steps away from FNM race
COLLIN Ingraham, a Free National Movement executive member, said yesterday he is dropping out of the race for party chairman.
Mitchell hears reparations update
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell met with Dr Niambi Hall Campbell-Dean, chair of the Reparations Committee, yesterday to receive an update on work being done by the committee and offer support moving forward.
Gov’t spends almost $400m on COVID aid
The Government spent nearly $400m supporting Bahamian households and businesses during the first 21 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was revealed yesterday.
Minister concedes $1.3bn revenue jump ‘optimistic’
A Cabinet minister yesterday conceded that the Government’s target of increasing annual revenues by $1.3bn in four years is “optimistic”, but argued: “We believe we’ll make it.”
Mangroves planted in Grand Bahama
MORE than 2,000 red mangroves were planted in East Grand Bahama over the weekend in observance of World Wetlands Day, which is celebrated on February 2.
Teachers union in retirees cash row
THE Bahamas Union of Teachers is accused of not paying hundreds of retirees monies owed them for payment of retirement benefits and payment of their money to the pension trust.
Draft bill tackles gender violence
THE Ministry of Social Services has drafted a proposed bill that addresses gender violence issues, including marital rape, according to State Minister for Social Services and Urban Development Lisa Rahming.
Woman dies hours before sentencing for murder
CONVICTED murderer Lynette Charlton died in hospital early yesterday morning, hours before she was set to receive sentencing for killing her former boyfriend in 2015.
Watson defends new press access measure
PRESS Secretary Clint Watson is adamant that his team wants to not only protect the privacy and confidentiality of people visiting the Office of the Prime Minister, but ensure the building’s security is maintained while allowing the press corps to do their jobs in a dignified manner.
Deficit fall to smash target
The Government is poised to beat its full-year $858.6m deficit target by a wide margin after incurring just 28 percent of that sum during the 2021-2022 first half, it was revealed yesterday.
Financial services can give itself ‘pat on back’
FINANCIAL institutions should give themselves “a pat on the back” for slashing the time taken to “cure” regulatory deficiencies to just 11 months, the Central Bank’s top inspector said yesterday.
Miller re-elected president for 2nd straight 2-year term
WITHOUT any opposition, president Lynford Miller and his entire slate of officers were re-elected for their second consecutive two-year team as executives of the Bahamas Golf Federation.
Jacobi Bain and Gold Rush split exhibitions pair
BAHAMIAN collegiate tennis player Jacobi Bain feels that his No.10 ranked Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Rush men’s team have a legitimate chance of being one of the best teams in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics this year.
‘Hoopfest in Paradise’ high school basketball tourney to air live on ESPN
FOLLOWING the completion of the men’s and women’s college basketball games in December, the Bahamas will play host to the first Hoopfest in Paradise Tournament for high school boys’ basketball teams.
Kai Jones posts double double, season high 21
Continues to dominate for the Swarm in G-League
Kai Jones continues to display his versatility with another dominant performance as he continues his latest G-League assignment with the Greensboro Swarm.
Foundation reaches out to help Bahamians
THE I Can Foundation has arrived in The Bahamas and is already making waves in the community, as it fed 200 people in the inner city this past week.
$800 fine for assaulting officer
A COUPLE was fined $800 yesterday after admitting to assaulting a police officer last month and resisting arrest.
Counterfeit claim
A 21-year-old man accused of using counterfeit Bahamian money to purchase a cell phone last month was granted $3,500 bail ahead of his trial.
Two face court over marijuana
TWO men were fined in court yesterday after being found earlier this week with a quantity of marijuana.
28-year sentence for burglary and murder bid is quashed
THE Court of Appeal has quashed a combined 28-year sentence a man received for burglary and attempted murder when he was a teenager, adding that it would not be in the interest of justice to order a retrial.
Freeport gets poor treatment
Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis’s revelation that wealthy Dubai investors are reluctant to invest in Grand Bahama must be greatly demoralising to Grand Bahamians, especially those in the Freeport area.
Ingraham and the hand of Machiavelli
It is no secret that former Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Hubert A Ingraham, a great Bahamian almost on par with our deeply lamented and missed Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, publicly endorsed the Hon Doctor Duane Sands for re-election up at Elizabeth and, eventually, for becoming Prime Minister “some day”. That, of course, was a mere pipe dream.
Thursday, February 3
STATESIDE: Has Putin played a masterful game or been forced into a corner?
THE crisis over Ukraine grinds on. Is the world edging slowly but perceptibly back from the brink?
FRONT PORCH: Repudiating our culture of violence
OVER the past few weeks the country has witnessed a number of murders, including of women, with the death toll steadily climbing.
EDITORIAL: Find the criminals behind human smuggling
JUAN Esteban Montoya Caicedo didn’t know if he would live or die as he clung to the overturned boat he set out aboard from Bimini.
Johnson has no issue with sister supporting rival
ELSWORTH Johnson says he does not fault his sister, former Speaker of the House of Assembly Italia Johnson, for publicly supporting Dr Duane Sands in the Free National Movement’s chairmanship race even though he is also seeking election to that post.
Cartwright dismisses concerns over parks
SHANENDON Cartwright dismissed concerns yesterday about how revelations about the operations of the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority under his tenure could affect his bid to become deputy leader of the Free National Movement.
Some Abaco schools yet to return to face-to-face learning
DIRECTOR of Education Marcellus Taylor has acknowledged some schools in Abaco have yet to return to face-to-face learning amid growing concerns from parents, teachers and students.
Under-40s slow to get vaccine
THERE is a low uptake in vaccinations among people under 40 compared to the older population, according to health data.
Drop in COVID cases - but nation not ready for future epidemics
A LOCAL infectious disease expert has noted a continued downward trend in the most recent COVID cases, but also acknowledged the country ranks among the lowest in preparedness for future epidemics.
‘Glaring deficiencies’: Top architect loses permit fight
A top architect yesterday pledged to fight on after losing a legal challenge to the Government’s decision to halt a building permit application due to “glaring deficiencies and inconsistencies”.
Don’t get ‘shortchanged’ over carbon credits plan
Environmental activists yesterday warned The Bahamas must guard against the prospect of being “short changed” over the sums it could potentially earn from trading carbon credits.
Chamber chief: ‘Don’t get sidetracked’ over investor confidence
The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s president yesterday urged the Government “not to get sidetracked” by the furore over the Prime Minister suggesting investor confidence is “waning”.
Bahamas close to 1m stopover visitor target
The Bahamas was close to hitting the one million stopover target for 2021 set by his ministerial predecessor, the deputy prime minister told the House of Assembly yesterday.
Seven bids for Lucayan
THE offer process for the sale of the Grand Lucayan resort in Grand Bahama has started in earnest and seven serious inquiries of the property have been made, Tourism, Investments and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper said yesterday.
Realtor concerns over Grand Lucayan’s sale
The Bahamas Real Estate Association’s (BREA) president yesterday said it was “very sad and disheartening” that the Government had seemingly “sidelined” the sector on the Grand Lucayan sale.
Redundant Hilton staff in line for Sandals jobs
LABOUR Minister Keith Bell has announced the Department of Labour is partnering with the management of Sandals, specifically to ascertain how many of the 106 soon-to-be former employees of the Hilton can be hired at the resort’s properties.
Survivor tells of deadly voyage from Bimini with human smugglers
THE siblings living in a small Colombian city hard hit by the nation’s economic downturn and decades of civil conflict first got the idea to reunite with their mother in the United States on the internet.
Wasted money
Minister of State Public Services seems to have a knack to being precise and concise and on the ball.
Race issues in The Bahamas
There is not a single racist bone in my body. As a black Bahamian man many of my ‘best’ friends, personally and professionally have been and are white Bahamians. From my early days as an Articled Clerk in the chambers of the late Lawrence LPJ Trenchard, an expatriate transplanted Englishman, I came to know a ton of white/conchy joe Bahamians.
Property tax
Sometimes it is best not to comment when you have been fan-faring how good the property market is and who record high leveled sales.
Personal income tax
Great attorney Andrew Allen has responded to my response to his original proposal for increased Company Tax and new Personal Income Tax...he seems hell bent and strong that this is the better fiscal and financial policy approach... hang in, Mr Allen.
Man convicted of rape
A 28-YEAR-OLD Abaco man was convicted of rape and other serious offences yesterday at the Grand Bahama Supreme Court.
Bags with cocaine found on boat in the Exumas
A Drug Enforcement Unit officer yesterday testified about discovering three bags with suspected cocaine on a vessel captained by a Dominican and Colombian national in the Exuma chain last year.
118 Haitians repatriated
THE Department of Immigration repatriated 118 Haitian migrants on Tuesday.
‘I stole conch to support my family’
A 35-YEAR-OLD woman who claimed she stole $100 worth of conch last month to make extra money to support her family was discharged with a warning yesterday.
GB airport’s $3.6m losses
SINCE the acquisition of the Grand Bahama International Airport, the government has seen $3.6m in operational losses a year, Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper said yesterday.
Ayton back to work
Phoenix Suns centre Deandre Ayton returned to the starting lineup for the first time since January 16 and the NBA’s No.1 overall seed continued its win streak.
BAAA to stage ‘All-Comers Track Classic’ on Saturday
WITH their regular club meets being called off because of the rise in cases in COVID-19, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations has had to resort to staging a series of time trials or ‘All-Comers’ meets at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.
Nesbitt, Miller play key roles in FIBA Basket Champions League Americas
TAVARIO Miller and David Nesbitt continue to play key roles for their teams as the group stage continues in the FIBA Basketball Champions League Americas.
‘JJ’ cans season high 28pts
JONQUEL Jones celebrated Tuesday’s new contract announcement with the Connecticut Sun with her most dominant performance on the FIBA EuroLeague Women’s circuit.
BLTA ‘Play Tennis Bahamas’ Spring Saturday
THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association ‘Play Tennis Bahamas” Spring Session is set to begin 9am Saturday, February 5 at The National Tennis Centre.
Revenue’s $1.3bn increase ‘will not be easy to achieve’
A Bahamas-based risk management consultant is “cautiously optimistic” the Government will achieve its $1.3bn revenue increase, but conceded: “It’s not going to be easy to reach.”
Small contractors sceptical on Gov’t housing promises
Several small Bahamian contractors have voiced scepticism over being able to win government housing contracts despite the Davis administration’s pledge to give them access.
PM pledges ‘new era of prosperity’
The Prime Minister has vowed to create a “new era of possibility and prosperity” while pledging not to return to how business was conducted before Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19.
$400 fine over marijuana
A 44-YEAR-OLD man was yesterday ordered to pay $400 to avoid spending two months behind bars after police found more than five ounces of marijuana in his home last year.
Wednesday, February 2
ALICIA WALLACE: Don’t be fooled - this crisis hasn’t gone away
WE are still in the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and case numbers are decreasing week by week.
EDITORIAL: The government that doesn’t like questions
IT would seem the elected representatives of the people don’t want to answer to the people any more.
Union: Still issues at BPL for staff
THE union representing Bahamas Power and Light line staff says there are still a number of burning issues that need to be addressed, including challenges with workers’ pensions and medical coverage.
‘You can’t just tell abuse victims to leave - they need somewhere to go’
A DOMESTIC abuse survivor has spoken out about her experience, saying urging other people in similar positions to simply leave their abusers is not good advice alone.
Vendors satisfied with Potter’s Cay plans
AFTER a fire burned six stalls to the ground last year, a Potter’s Cay vendors association representative said she is satisfied with the temporary plans the government has for the area, which should be “out in the next week or two”.
New management hope for Hilton
TOURISM, Aviation and Investments Minister Chester Cooper said the government is hoping the owners of British Colonial Hilton will be able to soon find a new management company to take over the property.
‘Closing the shortfall’: Port off 3% versus pre-COVID
Nassau’s main commercial port has “closed significantly on making up the shortfall” with container volumes just 3 percent off pre-COVID volumes for the 2021 second half.
Abaconians need ownership in $60m Marsh Harbour port
The Abaco Chamber of Commerce’s president yesterday said island residents must gain equity ownership in the $60m public-private partnership (PPP) to redevelop Marsh Harbour’s port.
Receivers take over murder victim’s luxury goods group
Receivers have taken over the luxury goods retail group headed by an ex-PLP Cabinet minister’s murdered husband in a bid to resolve a bitter $34m legal dispute.
Workplace safety hit by inspector shortage
The Bahamas faces “significant constraints” in upholding workplace health and safety laws and standards because there are just seven labour inspectors to cover the entire country.
Milo Butler aims to ‘reignite’ Freeport
The Milo Butler Group is aiming to “reignite” downtown Freeport via a potential $10m investment, with renovations to the former City Markets building set to finish within the next 90-120 days.
Press denied access to Cabinet ministers
MEMBERS of the press were denied direct access to Cabinet ministers yesterday after law enforcement officers erected cones outside the Office of The Prime Minister, limiting media entry into the area.
White plays down ‘baggage’
ADRIAN White says that he and Shanendon Cartwright both bring “baggage” to the Free National Movement’s deputy leadership race, although he does not believe the controversy involving Mr Cartwright and his tenure at the Beaches & Park Authority gives him the upper hand as the FNM’s convention nears.
‘World-class’ airport for Grand Bahama
DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper said the government wants to build a “world-class” airport on Grand Bahama in an effort to revive the island’s ailing economy and improve the quality of life of residents there.
New hospital plan for Grand Bahama
A new hospital is on the drawing board for Grand Bahama, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis confirmed this week during his visit to Grand Bahama.
A young mum’s second chance at life
WHEN Demetria Seymour had to be airlifted to the Cleveland Clinic with heart failure, she had no idea if she would live to see her children grow up.
‘Ban on importing pit bulls is not enough’
A LOCAL dog trainer says the government must crack down on Pit Bull breeding, noting that a mere ban on the import of the dog breed is not enough.
Glenys Hanna Martin sets sights on full in-class learning
EDUCATION Minister Glenys Hanna Martin is hopeful the Ministry of Health and Wellness will allow students to participate in full-time face-to-face instruction as opposed to the hybrid model currently in place.
NEW TAXES ONLY AS ‘LAST RESORT’: Davis hoping improved collection systems will deliver revenue targets
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis says his government does not want to put any further tax burdens on the Bahamian people to achieve its fiscal projections. While in Grand Bahama on Monday, Mr Davis indicated he is optimistic about his administration’s fiscal plans and said any new taxes would be a “last resort” for his administration.
Ministers and masks
I believe it is okay if you have someone in your house positive with COVID if you test negative, but at the least wait five-days then certainly you can venture out taking a further test.
April date for hostel trial
SIX women charged in connection with the beating of a number of wards at the Children’s Emergency Hostel will stand trial in April.
Released after vagrancy charge
A MAN who spent three months on remand after being arrested for vagrancy last year has been released from custody.
Man in assault claim given bail
A MAN was granted bail yesterday in his ongoing trial in the Magistrate’s Court for allegedly assaulting his neighbour.
Sun re-sign reigning MVP Jonquel Jones to a multi-year contract
GRAND Bahamian native Jonquel Jones didn’t waste any time on her future in the Women’s National Basketball Association after she signed the core qualifying offer to remain with the Connecticut Sun yesterday as players began their free agent signing process.
Burrows officiates at fastpitch tourney in Fort Myers
AFTER heading off to officiate in a series of baseball tournaments, Martin ‘Pork’ Burrows finally got a chance to display his skills as an umpire in a fastpitch tournament for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic broke in 2020.
Titans softball in Fastpitch Classic
WITHOUT any local tournaments to compete in, the newly formed Titans softball team got a chance to travel to Fort Myers, Florida, to participate in the USA 2022 Winter Men’s Fastpitch Classic over the weekend.
DPM hopes Hilton close ‘very short’
The deputy prime minister yesterday expressed hope that the British Colonial resort’s imminent February 15 closure “could be very short” if it quickly finds a replacement for the Hilton brand.
GB airport bid to launch in 45 days
The deputy prime minister yesterday said the Government plans to launch the bidding process to transform Grand Bahama International Airport into a “world class” facility within the next 45 days.
Gov’t gives ‘priority focus’ to 30% foreign debt ratio
The Government is giving “priority focus” to reducing its foreign currency debt to 30 percent of total liabilities in a bid to reduce pressure on The Bahamas’ currency peg and external reserves.
Self-patronising society to boost entrepreneurs
The chairman of a newly-formed Entrepreneurs Society yesterday said it aims to “build wealth” via a self-patronising strategy where all 171 small business owners support each other.
Changing rules on entry to nation
I wish to add my voice to the concerns raised in your article yesterday by Robert Sands about entry into The Bahamas.
COVID protocols
COVID protocols... rules are made to be kept, Mr Prime Minister. Feeble excuse.
Ditching trash on our neighbours
Humans are indeed a queer lot. When we clean up our yard, we have no problem pitching our trash over the fence and into our neighbour’s yard. We then admire our yard and frown at our neighbour for living like a pig.
Tuesday, February 1
PETER YOUNG: When we need help there’s one friend ready to dive in from the off
HOW interesting, and even inspiring, it was to read the words last week of Britain’s Armed Forces Minister about assistance to Tonga following the massive undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami that had earlier hit this island state in the Pacific. He was referring to the arrival on the scene of a ship of the Royal Navy, HMS Spey, to help with disaster relief work.
FACE TO FACE: Mammy was the rock on which Meka built her life
WE know the bond between a mother and child can be strong. But sometimes, a child grows up under the wing of a loving grandmother, and the bond can be even stronger.
Carnival to pay extra $1m fine for environment crimes
CARNIVAL’s Princess Cruise Lines Ltd has agreed to pay a $1m fine on top of a $20m penalty it received two years ago after pleading guilty to violating its probation for environmental related crimes.
EDITORIAL: Yet another plan for Grand Bahama
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis wants a plan. Not just any old plan, but a “complete visionary plan” for Grand Bahama.
Initiative to help homeless launched in Freeport
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis announced that a social initiative launched by the Ministry for Grand Bahama involving the restoration of houses for homeless families is underway in Freeport.
Omicron confirmation expected ‘in short order’
HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said he expects his ministry will soon receive the test results of “hundreds” of COVID-19 samples sent abroad to confirm the Omicron variant’s presence even as cases decline in the country.
Pintard: ‘Shockwaves’ over Davis comments on economy
FREE National Movement Leader Michael Pintard said Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis must address statements from Ministry of Finance officials that are “sending shockwaves nationally and giving the wrong signals” internationally about the government’s management of the economy.
AG’s office: Heavenly Terveus was murdered, then killer committed suicide
THE Royal Bahamas Police Force said the Office of the Attorney General has agreed with its conclusion that young mother Heavenly Terveus was killed by her fiancé, who then killed himself.
‘Owner of dogs should be prosecuted’
KIM Aranha, Bahamas Humane Society president, says the owner of the four dogs that mauled Alicia Barton should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
$3.2m acquisition to be donated for GB hospital
Doctors Hospital has teamed with three philanthropists to close the $3.2m purchase of its new Freeport facility and provide services to those who cannot normally afford private healthcare.
Bank governor eases 2022 growth forecast
The Central Bank’s governor yesterday moderated his 2022 economic growth projection to “over 5 percent” with the tourism industry not returning to pre-COVID levels in the year’s first half.
External reserves to end 2022 ‘not far from’ $2bn
The Central Bank’s governor yesterday predicted that The Bahamas’ external reserves will end 2022 “not far off $2bn” and ensure the US dollar exchange rate peg faces “no undue pressure”.
Governor: US rate hikes may 'frustrate' fiscal consolidation
The Central Bank’s governor yesterday warned that US interest rate hikes could “frustrate” the Government’s fiscal consolidation plans by increasing its foreign currency borrowing costs.
Gov't to meet realtors on 'misguided' tax concerns
The Government will meet with the Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA) to address what a senior official described as "misguided" concerns over real property tax revaluations.
Pilot rescued after offshore engine failure
A BAHAMIAN pilot was rescued yesterday morning after his plane crashed in waters off western New Providence shortly after take-off.
Sands - I’d be a loyal team player
DR DUANE Sands says he is the “consummate team player” who would support the vision and agenda of Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard and not try to usurp or overshadow him if elected chairman of the party.
‘We need more than Lucayan to help Grand Bahama’
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said that “a complete visionary plan” must be developed so that the Grand Lucayan resort and tourism can be successful on Grand Bahama.
LUCKY TO SURVIVE: Neighbours save woman from horrific ten minute attack from four Pit Bulls
A 51-year-old woman is nursing severe head, arm and leg injuries after she was nearly killed in a brutal attack by four Pit Bulls on Friday.
Lucayan workers
PRIME Minister Philip Davis is to be commended for showing early in his tenure that the Memorandum of Understanding between his party and the trade union movement is a matter of substance and not just words.
Six on drugs charges
SIX men were taken to court yesterday to face charges in connection with two separate drug seizures that took place on Moore’s Island and Ragged Island last week.
Money laundering accusation
A JAMAICAN man was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of money laundering and receiving.
McPhee-McCuin and Rebels lose two games against ranked opponents
AFTER earning its first Associated Press ranking for the first time in 15 years, the Ole Miss Rebels women’s basketball programme dropped a pair of games against two of the top teams in all of NCAA Division I.
Triple jumper Charisma Taylor off to impressive start
FORMER Queen’s College versatile track and field star Charisma Taylor is enjoying a phenomenal graduate transitional year from Washington State College to a Lady Volunteer at the University of Tennessee.
Shift the narrative
Over and repeatedly we hear people ask: “Why do women stay in abusive relationships?’’ or “Why doesn’t she just leave him?” Although these may seem like valid questions, all these very simple questions have very complicated, multi-layered answers.
Kai Jones cans 13 points with 17 rebounds and three blocks
Dominates in G-League days after making his first NBA three point field goal
Just days after Charlotte Hornets rookie forward Kai Jones made an NBA milestone with his first three-point field goal, he was back in the G-League affiliate Greensboro Swarm with another dominant performance.
