Stories
Lightbourn not back with Minnis ‘in this lifetime’
MONTAGU MP Richard Lightbourn pushed back yesterday against “baseless” tabloid and social media reports that claim he is dissatisfied with Loretta Butler-Turner’s performance as leader of the Official Opposition and is seeking to reunite with Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis.
Memories staff ‘paid less than they were entitled to’
THE Memories Resort in Grand Bahama started the payout process for hundreds of former hotel workers on Wednesday at the Bain Building, in downtown Freeport.
Freedom of Information Bill is passed despite Rollins broadside
THE House of Assembly passed the revamped Freedom of Information Bill last night, hours after Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins launched a scathing critique of the legislation, saying the Christie administration’s track record during this term in office is proof of the government’s “bogus” attempt to portray it as transparent and accountable with its last minute push to pass the law.
Young man found dead in South Bahamia home
POLICE in Grand Bahama are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a young man on Thursday in the South Bahamia area.
$5m budget for Carnival as govt cuts contribution
TOURISM Minister Obie Wilchcombe said yesterday it is time for the government to stop “investing money” into Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival and “hand over” the yearly celebration to a “private entity”.
New St Barnabas seat after boundary shift
VOTERS can expect a new constituency named St Barnabas and the renaming of the Montagu seat to “Freetown”, according to the draft order tabled by Prime Minister Perry Christie last night.
CH Reeves Raptors win title
The CH Reeves Raptors continued their dominance of the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association’s Junior Track and Field Championships, winning the title yesterday.
Broker/dealer holds off Commission’s provisional wind-up
A Bahamian broker/dealer that admitted to misusing almost $4 million in client monies without permission has temporarily held-off the Securities Commission’s bid to place it into provisional liquidation.
On Da Hook
KEEP checking the Bahamas Sport Fishing Network (BSFN) expert page for fishing reports throughout the Bahamas: this will be helpful in tracking the “hot spots” and providing advice on gear and fishing methods being used.
Port Lucaya retailer set ‘to pull the plug’
A jewellery retailer is “preparing to pull the plug” on his 25-year presence in the Port Lucaya Marketplace, after Memories’ pull-out became the latest in a series of “devastating” blows for businesses in the area.
Redundancy ‘cap’ raise by 2/3 to ‘cripple’ firms
Removing the Employment Act’s ‘cap’ on redundancy pay will “cripple and/or bankrupt most businesses” in the Bahamas, the Chamber of Commerce has warned, resulting in mass lay-offs and company closures.
Bahamas remains in cruise ‘driving seat’
The Minister of Tourism yesterday downplayed the impact from Norwegian Cruise Lines switching 25 sailings from the Bahamas to Cuba, expressing confidence that this nation will remain in the “driver’s seat” as a top Caribbean cruise destination.
CR Walker in the lead going into final day
GOING into today’s final day of competition in the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association’s Senior High School Track and Field Championships, the CR Walker Knights are on a quest to repeat as champions.
500 YEARS OF ROBOTS
Inspired by his belief that human beings are essentially terrified of robots, Ben Russell set about charting the evolution of automatons for an exhibition he hopes will force people to think about how androids and other robotic forms can enhance their lives.
TECH TALK
• Howard Webb, the retired English referee who worked the 2010 World Cup and Champions League finals, will move to New York and manage Major League Soccer’s development of video technology for on-field officials.
Skiing aims to catch up fast with new TV graphics at worlds
When Lindsey Vonn competes in the opening event at next week’s world skiing championships, television viewers will get their first look at some new on-screen technology.
Deputy PM: Johnson attacked judiciary to start career in politics
DEPUTY Prime Minister Philip Davis yesterday accused former Bahamas Bar Association President Elsworth Johnson of attacking the Bahamian judiciary in a bid to jumpstart his political career as a candidate for the Free National Movement.
Holocaust survivor urges an end to prejudice
Nico Scavella joins 650 students for a rare opportunity to hear haunting tales of World War Two persecution and prejudice . . .
Sailors fought to the end to keep El Faro afloat in storm
The former chief engineer of a container ship that sank in Bahamian waters during a 2015 hurricane killing 33 sailors said yesterday that evidence from the ship’s “black box” shows a crew working hard to keep it afloat.
Online registry launched in Berry Islands
RESIDENTS in the Berry Islands can visit the Administrator’s Office to obtain copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates without having to travel to Nassau after the Registrar General’s Department launched online registration and certification at the Government Complex, Bullock’s Harbour, last week.
EDITORIAL: ‘Bring ’em in, suck ’em dry and throw away the husk’
LAST YEAR, we wrote two editorials, each inviting Prime Minister Christie to tell Bahamians whose side he and his government were on in the dispute between Baha Mar developer Sarkis Izmirlian and the Beijing owned EXIM bank and its construction company.
Questions over FOIA
On the eve of the expected passing of the Freedom of Information Act, there is an expectation that we will have access to the information that will validate or discredit what we have been hearing from the present administration about what is going on in our nation; particularly the Baha Mar project and whatever agreements this administration has entered into with the Chinese government and those who operate on behalf of that regime.
French candidate uses hologram on campaign trail
French presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon can’t be in two places at once.
The new voter register
As we seemingly continue to show national disinterest in registering to exercise our most valuable Constitutional power, I refer to the Parliamentary Act, and wonder was there a serious mistake in the process?
Problems in flight for two Western Air planes
INVESTIGATIONS are underway into separate incidents involving two Western Air aircraft that experienced problems while in flight on Tuesday.
Halkitis continues to defend VAT comments at convention
STATE Minister of Finance Michael Halkitis has maintained that when he made his controversial Progressive Liberal Party convention speech where he spoke of value added tax collection and spending, he was speaking within a “broad context” in support of good governance to show the Christie administration’s improved financial footing.
Transcripts unavailable in Bruner killers’ hearing
TRANSCRIPTS were still unavailable yesterday when three men, who were previously spared the death penalty for the murder of American sailor Kyle Bruner, returned to the Court of Appeal for a status hearing.
Tourism expert launches textbook for schools
ANGELA Cleare, a veteran figure in tourism in The Bahamas, has published her second book, designed to be a textbook for schools, on all aspects of the sector.
Customs staff asked to sign payment agreement
UNIFORMED officers of the Department of Customs are being asked to individually sign documents outlining that they want to be paid sums agreed to by the Bahamas Customs and Immigration Allied Workers Union.
Tripartite Council breached own Act
The National Tripartite Council may have breached its own founding Act by failing to get “unanimous” agreement on the controversial labour law reforms before submitting its recommendations to the Government, Tribune Business was told yesterday.
Foulkes gives backing to Johnson bid
FORMER Free National Movement Chairman Dion Foulkes has endorsed Elsworth Johnson, the former president of the Bahamas Bar Association, who was ratified to run in Yamacraw for the party on Tuesday night.
Seven migrants held
BAHAMAS Immigration officers apprehended seven illegal Dominicans discovered at a resort in Freeport, Grand Bahama, on Tuesday.
Moxey misses out on PLP nomination
SENATOR Julian Russell will represent the Progressive Liberal Party as its candidate for Central Grand Bahama at the general election after being selected from among two others by the party’s Candidates Committee.
Parole recommendations not revealed to the public
CABINET has approved recommendations from the Parole and Re-entry Steering Committee concerning rehabilitation of prisoners, National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage said yesterday.
Conviction to stand in firearm possession case
A MAN was told yesterday that he should have offered sworn testimony in his defence if he had, in fact, panicked when a former Defence Force marine, to whom he had given a ride, pulled out a gun and began firing shots and were moments later pursued by police.
Minister backs Junkanoo Carnival’s privatisation
The Minister of Tourism yesterday backed the privatisation of Junkanoo Carnival, adding that the Government would be able to regain its near-$20 million initial investment over time.
Chamber conference aims to push economy ‘in the right direction’
The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) is set to host a conference that will examine the state of the Bahamian economy.
Chamber: Govt ‘listens to us’
The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce’s (BCCEC) chief executive yesterday defended its relationship with the Government, stating: “They listen to us”
