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Gas retailers plea for govt change of heart
THE vice president of the Bahamas Petroleum Dealers Association is pleading with government to reconsider its position on not granting retailers a margin increase, calling on Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis to have a “change of heart”.
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‘A step back’ over fiscal watchdog independence
Governance reformers yesterday voiced fears that proposed legal reforms are “a step back” for the independence of a key fiscal watchdog and also weaken accountability “enforcement teeth”.
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Davis’ change of view on RCI ‘due to revised plans’
PRESS secretary Clint Watson said Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis’ earlier position on Royal Caribbean International’s proposed Royal Beach Club project when he was in opposition was “based on what the circumstances were at the time”, claiming Mr Davis changed his mind after the cruise line revised its initial development plans.
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Govt ‘sympathetic’ to gas retailers plight but not minded to grant margin increase
ECONOMIC Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis yesterday said the government is “not minded” to do anything that will increase the cost of fuel at the pump, but added that the Davis administration is “sympathetic” to the concerns raised by members of the Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association.
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‘Time has come’ for conversation on corporal punishment in schools
AFTER a police officer allegedly beat several Bimini Primary School students, Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said “the time has come” for a conversation about corporal punishment in schools.
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Business licences: More than 10,000 issued within past week
MORE than 10,000 Business Licences have been issued within the past week, a Cabinet minister said yesterday, as he sought to reassure the private sector that “steady progress is being made” in processing their applications.
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Information Commissioner says Pintard did not write to him
INFORMATION Commissioner Keith Thompson blasted opposition leader Michael Pintard for making “futile” requests under the Freedom of Information Act, adding the law has not as yet been fully enacted.
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DPM: Bahamas poised for ‘accelerated tourism growth’
THE deputy prime minister yesterday said “all signs indicate The Bahamas is about to enter a period of accelerated growth” in tourism with some $2bn worth of investment projects “in the pipeline”.
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Foulkes calls PM claim ‘untruth’
FORMER Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes yesterday dismissed Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis’ claims that the opposition left the 1972 independence conference in London, saying it’s a “persistent” untruth.
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WHY THE NO-SHOW AT PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE? Pintard wants answers as Attorney General advises PS to stay away
FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard is “concerned” that Permanent Secretary Luther Smith was a “no show” before the Public Accounts Committee yesterday.
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Rental sector ‘being targeted’ by govt
PROPERTY owners are disgruntled with the Davis administration’s plans to increase tax earnings from the vacation rental sector, claiming they are being targeted by the government.
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EDITORIAL – Haiti policy: What happens next?
THE question “what happens next?” is very useful when examining public policy.
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Report: Dire warning for The Bahamas if temps rise by 1.5 degrees celsius
THE country faces the threat of intensified tropical cyclones, sea level rise and declining freshwater resources if global temperatures exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius, a new report has warned.
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Economic optimism ‘should be tempered with discipline’ says Halkitis
WHILE acknowledging the increase in government revenue, Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis said optimism in the country’s economic growth should be tempered with discipline.
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Counting the cost of repatriation, Bell says it’s ‘putting a strain on the gov’s purse’
THE Bahamas government has spent $350,000 on repatriations so far this year, according to Immigration Minister Keith Bell.
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Amendments to Procurement Act good, but there’s still opportunity for strengthening
THE executive director of the Organisation for Responsible Governance (ORG) supports government’s plans to reform the Public Procurement Act, saying that there is still opportunity for strengthening.
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Munroe: Investigating officer on alleged student beatings
A POLICE officer who allegedly beat students at the Bimini Primary School has been transferred, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said yesterday, adding that police will investigate the incident if there’s a report of a criminal offence.
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BTC chief in promise on service ‘black hole’
The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) top executive last night pledged to deliver “a best-in-class experience” for all users after complaints that clients were left “in the lurch” by poor customer service.
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‘PM MUST EXPLAIN U-TURN OVER RCI’: Pintard wants PM to be ‘complete and frank’ on the sudden change
FREE National Movement Leader Michael Pintard has called on Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis to give a full explanation for his about turn regarding the recent approval of Royal Caribbean International’s $110m beach club project on Paradise Island.
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George Smith: PM did not deliberately mislead
FORMER Progressive Liberal Party Cabinet minister George Smith yesterday came to the defence of Prime Minister Phillip Davis for comments he made last week about the 1972 constitutional conference, saying he did not believe that Mr Davis would deliberately seek to mislead Parliament.