Monday, May 11
Father of three shot dead
A ROUTINE visit to his popular snack store, South River Wholesale, ended in tragedy for owner Sario Baker on Friday after he was fatally shot, leaving his wife and family heartbroken just days before Mother’s Day.
Rick Fox's Partanna 'chose not to build' despite multi-million dollar financing, says ex-staff
Ex-employees of Rick Fox’s climate-resilient construction venture are asserting The Bahamas was “not even in the rear view mirror” after sealing its early 2024 deal with the Government as it “chose not to build” despite assembling multi-million dollar financing.
PM promises sweeping reforms on election eve
THE PLP and FNM neared the end of their campaigns with contrasting election-eve appeals over the weekend
PRD: FNM voter register claims "inaccurate"
THE Parliamentary Registration Department has strongly rejected what it called “inaccurate and misleading” claims by the Free National Movement concerning the voter register, refuting assertions that election rules are being changed just days before the general election.
Legal challenge stalls Marsh Harbour land ownership resolution
The Government’s plans to regularise land ownership for scores of downtown Marsh Harbour residents and businesses have stalled after descendants of the original Crown Land grantee to the 242-acre ‘Key tract’ launched a legal challenge to the property’s compulsory acquisition.
BEYOND THE BORDER: Your student visa was approved! Yayy! What’s new on how to keep it
International students in the United States under F-1 (academic) and M-1 (vocational) non-immigrant classifications are subject to the most technically rigid compliance requirements in US immigration law.
Bahamas Health Ministry on hantavirus alert after cruise outbreak
HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said officials are tracking a global hantavirus alert after an outbreak aboard a cruise ship killed three passengers.
New healthcare facility to address long-standing "gaps" in follow-up injury care
HEALTH officials on Friday opened a new Public Hospitals Authority rehabilitation and wellness facility they said would close long-standing gaps in follow-up care for people recovering from injuries, living with disabilities or managing chronic conditions.
Suspect charged with attempted murder and multiple break-ins, remanded to prison
A MAN accused of attempted murder and a string of shopbreaking offences was remanded to prison on Friday.
Couple plead not guilty in $11K air-conditioning theft case
A MAN and woman were accused of stealing $11,435.80 from an air-conditioning company last year.
Courts rejects late appeal against conviction for unlawful sexual intercourse with 13-year-old girl
THE Court of Appeal has dismissed an application by Vakeito Melkeva Ferguson to extend the time to appeal his conviction for unlawful sexual intercourse with his girlfriend’s 13-year-old daughter, ruling that the proposed appeal had “no realistic prospects of success”.
American woman, 88, dies after mobility scooter accident
AN 88-year-old American woman died on Saturday after she reportedly drove a mobility scooter off a pier at a Grand Bahama resort.
BEWU boss: 'This is our contract. It has nothing to do with politics'
DAYS before the general election, more than 800 junior line staff at Bahamas Power and Light received a $3,500 lump-sum payment last week as part of a “cost of living supplement” included in their industrial agreement, according to union leader Kyle Wilson.yle wilson
Bail granted for man alleged to have aided escape of armed robber in Eleuthera
A MAN who allegedly helped an armed robbery suspect escape in Eleuthera last week was granted bail on Friday.
Rick Fox accuses Rubis of refusing to accept his payment for gas for Bahamian mothers
FNM Garden Hills candidate Rick Fox yesterday accused Rubis of refusing to accept his payment for gas for Bahamian mothers as part of what he called a Mother’s Day initiative — a misunderstanding the company said stemmed from a lack of proper notice needed to prepare for the exercise.
BUT warns members industrial action could be imminent
THE Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson warned members that industrial action could be imminent if unresolved issues in negotiations with the government are not satisfactorily addressed.
PM pays tribute to 'Fallen Four' at wreath laying ceremony
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis paid tribute to The Bahamas’ ‘Fallen Four’ at a wreath laying ceremony yesterday.
Man granted bail after alleged double break-in
A MAN accused of breaking into a man’s house twice in just over a month was granted bail yesterday.
WORLD VIEW: The Caribbean’s limits in absorbing other states’ deportees
Migration policy is a matter of sovereign control.
Sunday, May 10
Repeat child molester gets 13-years prison for latest attack
A REPEAT child molester was sentenced to 13 years in prison yesterday for having sex with a nine-year-old boy he lured into his home shortly after being released from prison for raping a five-year-old boy.
Below-average hurricane season forecast for 2026
THE Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be below average this year, with one international forecast projecting 13 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
Ingraham accuses PLP of buying votes in Abaco
FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham accused the Davis administration of trying to influence Abaco voters by wiping electricity arrears for residents of Grand Cay and Moore’s Island, telling FNM supporters the Progressive Liberal Party was “trying to buy some votes”.
Man jailed for breaking into stall and stealing alcohol
A MAN who admitted breaking into an Arawak Cay stall and stealing $400 worth of property last month was remanded to prison yesterday.
Friday, May 8
DIANE PHILLIPS: More than 50,000 repaired shoes – a cobbler’s half century view from East Steet & Wulff Road
Tyrone Wilson was nine years old when he began working with his dad, the shoemaker for the working Bahamian.
Pollwatch Bahamas launches interactive election map
POLLWATCH Bahamas has launched an online election platform that lets users forecast results in all 41 constituencies as the country enters the final week before voters go to the polls.
Health warning issued as heat index expected to reach 108°F
RESIDENTS across The Bahamas are being urged to take precautions as dangerous heat conditions are expected to push heat index values as high as 108°F beginning today and lasting into early next week.
Davis urges Grand Bahamians to ‘choose progress’ over FNM
Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis urged Grand Bahamians to “choose progress” as he defended his administration’s record and criticized the opposition during a PLP rally in Pineridge on Thursday.
Pintard accuses PRD of altering election rules
OPPOSITION leader Michael Pintard yesterday accused Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson of seeking legal advice on whether potentially thousands of people whose names are not on the register could vote using regular ballots in Tuesday’s general election, saying such a move would alter election rules days before polling day.
Minnis blames Bahamians for immigration crisis
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said The Bahamas’ ongoing immigration challenges are being fuelled not only by illegal migration, but by corruption within the country’s own systems, arguing that Bahamians have exploited vulnerable migrants seeking a better life.
Unfulfilled promises hurt PLP in Long Island race
LONG-TIME political observers believe FNM stronghold Long Island could be more competitive this election cycle, but a senior PLP campaign figure on the island doubts his party can take the seat.
Murder suspect fined $2,500 for 111-day bail breach
A MAN awaiting trial for a 2019 murder in Chippingham was fined $2,500 yesterday after admitting he breached his bail conditions for 111 days.
Munroe: Ingraham has no record to talk about on immigration
NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe accused the FNM yesterday of using former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham to prop up Michael Pintard’s leadership.
Fiancée defends accused in child molestation trial
A WOMAN yesterday said she could not believe allegations that her fiancé molested her nine-year-old sister in 2024.
Herbalist brings plant-based diet to Paradise Island market
Herbalist Derica Clarke is her own walking testimony to the power of healthy living.
ERIC WIBERG: Lights and wrecks of Ragged Island, the Jumentos, and Long Island
HMS Spey took on a local pilot at Crooked Island and then doubted him.
Thursday, May 7
Darville pledges to pass laws for families abandoning patients
THE Davis administration would pursue legislation to hold families accountable for abandoning relatives in hospital if re-elected, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said yesterday, sharpening the government’s response to a problem he said is clogging public hospital beds and delaying care.
Ingraham targets Sebas Bastian's potential to rise to prime minister
Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham yesterday said he had no intention of campaigning against Prime Minister Philip Davis seeking a second term, but changed his mind over concerns about the Progressive Liberal Party’s future leadership.
FRONT PORCH: A free and fair general election?
BAHAMIANS were angry at the blinding confusion and insufficient health protocols at the Advance Poll held in 2021 during another deadly COVID-19 wave.
Petty promises 300 crown land deeds
PLP candidate Sylvanus Petty said the government plans to distribute more than 300 Crown land grants in North Eleuthera, making the pledge at a campaign rally Tuesday night amid scrutiny over how Crown land is being handled during the election season.
Mitchell blames 'poor communication' for advance poll box confusion
PLP chairman Fred Mitchell has warned that poor communication from election officials caused “regrettable confusion” over the movement of advance poll boxes this week, saying the party is being unfairly blamed whenever problems arise in the electoral process.
USCG appeals for tips on missing woman
A MONTH after Lynette Hooker disappeared from the boat she shared with her husband in Abaco, the US Coast Guard is appealing for information and seeking to speak with the owner of a sailboat believed to have been moored nearby.
Moxey urges peaceful conduct ahead of next week’s vote
NEWLY appointed Bahamas Christian Council (BCC) president Mario Moxey has issued a strong appeal for political candidates to be mindful of their conduct as election nears.
Darville launches mobile blood bank to ease PMH shortages
HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville said yesterday’s introduction of a mobile blood bank marks a major milestone for the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), the Princess Margaret Hospital, and other tertiary healthcare facilities in New Providence.
Police probe suspected Village Road suicide
A MAN believed to be in his mid-40s was found hanging from rafters with cable wires around his neck in what police suspect was a suicide.
STATESIDE: OAS to monitor Bahamas elections
WE’RE in the late stages of a general election campaign here in The Bahamas, and word came yesterday from the Organisation of American States (OAS) that the organization has already “deployed our Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) to The Bahamas ahead of the elections.
BECAWU loses appeal attempt and faces $15k in court costs
THE Court of Appeal has refused an application by the Bahamas Educators’ Counsellors and Allied Workers Union (BECAWU) to extend the time to appeal a Supreme Court decision in an ongoing dispute over union recognition.
Judge rejects BCP election injunction
A JUDGE dismissed an application for an injunction to halt the May 12 general election after Bahamas Constitutional Party leader S Ali McIntosh raising concerns about the integrity of the voters’ register.
Man found guilty of conspiring to import firearms and ammo
A MAN was unanimously found guilty yesterday of conspiring to import nine firearms and more than 500 rounds of ammunition into The Bahamas in 2024, but was narrowly found not guilty of importing the same weapons.
Teens remanded after alleged armed carjacking at the beach
TWO teenage men accused of stealing a woman’s car at gunpoint while she was near Yamacraw Beach with her young godchild last week were remanded yesterday.
Man accused of Eleuthera bar gun threat gets bail
A MAN accused of threatening to kill another man with a gun at an Eleuthera bar earlier this week was granted bail yesterday.
Woman allegedly assaulted by father of her child
POLICE are investigating after a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted while meeting her child’s father at an abandoned building near East Bay Street.
Wednesday, May 6
Davis calls FNM unfit while Pintard promises honesty
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard sharpened their attacks on each other in the final stretch of the campaign, with Mr Davis accusing the opposition of being unfit to govern and Mr Pintard promising “humble” and honest leadership if the FNM wins next week’s general election.
Union claims foreign nurses fast-tracked over Bahamians
BAHAMAS Nurses Union (BNU) President Muriel Lightbourn has raised alarm over what she describes as unequal treatment in the hiring process for nurses, claiming qualified Bahamian nurses remain unemployed while applications from foreign workers are being fast-tracked.
Govt buys GB Power - promises 37% cut
THE government has acquired all outstanding shares of the Grand Bahama Power Company in a deal Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said will cut electricity bills for Grand Bahama customers by an average of 37 percent, a major intervention announced one week before the general election.
ALICIA WALLACE: Countdown to election
WE ARE now less than one week away from the 2026 general election.
Calls for bridge fix after father dies in Exuma crash
PRESTON McKenzie was supposed to fly to New Providence to reunite with his wife and children. Instead, his body was found inside his overturned car in waters near the Barraterre bridge in Exuma, a death his family says should force urgent attention to the bridge’s poor lighting, limited guardrails and lack of proper warning signs.
Super Value owner back home after health scare
NINE weeks after being airlifted to a US hospital after been struck down with pneumonia, Super Value owner Rupert Roberts has finally arrived home in New Providence with a message to all Bahamians: “Take care of your health.”
Bell attacks Rick Fox over failed Abaco housing project
HOUSING Minister Keith Bell has accused Free National Movement Garden Hills candidate Rick Fox of failing to deliver on an Abaco housing project tied to his company, sharpening a dispute over who is responsible for delays in a promised development once touted as a major boost to affordable housing.
Fire crews tackle two blazes including fire near FNM HQ
FIREFIGHTERS responded to two separate blaze incidents within 24 hours, including a Tuesday afternoon fire involving derelict vehicles off Mackey Street and a late-night residential fire in Imperial Park that left one man with minor injuries.
Man who admits to separate knife, cutlass assaults sentenced to six months in prison
A MAN who admitted to separate knife and cutlass assaults was sentenced to six months in prison yesterday.
Man who broke into church and stole laptop sentenced to one year in prison
A MAN who broke into a church on Fire Trail Road West last Sunday and stole a laptop was sentenced to one year in prison.
Two men acquitted of allegedly pointing a firearm at police
TWO men were acquitted yesterday of allegedly pointing a gun at police in Garden Hills in 2018, an encounter in which one of the defendants was shot and injured.
Man's 25-year rape sentence reduced by one year
A MAN has had his 25-year rape sentence reduced by one year after the Court of Appeal found that the trial judge failed to acknowledge his remorse after conviction.
Tuesday, May 5
Pintard pledges help for families seeking answers on Dorian missing
NEARLY seven years after Hurricane Dorian tore through Abaco and Grand Bahama, Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard said his administration would help families still searching for answers about loved ones who vanished in the storm.
Abaco residents angry over wiped power bills
ABACO residents who lost homes, possessions and years of stability after Hurricane Dorian accused the Davis administration of insulting storm-ravaged mainland communities by wiping electricity bills for Grand Cay and Moore’s Island residents two weeks before the general election, while others remain without comparable relief.
Taxi driver wins unlawful arrest suit
A SUPREME Court judge has found police liable for unlawfully arresting, handcuffing and detaining a licensed taxi driver who was taken into custody near Prince George Wharf for “loitering and soliciting”, even though those were not arrestable offences.
Govt moves to wipe Miller's $30m loan
DOCUMENTS suggest the government has authorised a deal that would use lease payments allegedly owed to Leslie Miller’s Summerwinds Plaza companies to clear his more than $30.5m Bank of The Bahamas bailout debt and millions in real property taxes.
Bail denied in mother’s death
A MAN accused in the fatal shooting of a young mother while she and her three-day-old child were inside a car on Finlayson Street last January has had his latest bail appeal rejected.
Mitchell denies poll chaos but admits unacceptable waits
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell rejected claims that last week’s advanced poll descended into chaos, even as he conceded that voters faced unacceptable waits and said election officials failed to properly calculate the number of booths, rooms and workers needed.
Police searching for two men who went missing during Exuma boat trip
POLICE are searching for two men who went missing during a boating trip near Exuma on Sunday.
RBDF seize $6.4m worth of marijuana after high seas chase
A JOINT operation with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and its US counterparts led to the seizure of an estimated $6.4m worth of suspected marijuana yesterday after a high seas chase that ended 38 miles southwest of Andros.
Over 600 airport workers to benefit from new $10m industrial agreement
MORE than 600 union members across New Providence and the Family Islands are set to benefit from a new five-year industrial agreement valued at approximately $10 million, following months of negotiations between the Airport Authority and the Bahamas Public Sector and Health Professionals Union.
Man remanded over fatal shooting of young father
A MAN accused of fatally shooting a young father outside his home on Mekel Close South Road in March was remanded to prison yesterday.
Woman charged in near-fatal attack
A WOMAN accused of aiding and abetting in the near-fatal shooting of a bus driver and another man on Baillou Hill Road last week was remanded to prison yesterday.
Defence claims gun planted
CLASHING closing addresses were made in the firearm trial of two men, with prosecutors arguing that the pair pointed a gun at police and the defence claiming officers shot at the unarmed men in Garden Hills in 2018 for no reason.
Jaida Williams: Bahamas feels 'like a second home'
ANYTIME she gets an opportunity to skip over from her hometown in Miami, Florida, Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball assistant coach Jaida Williams said she takes advantage of it.
Monday, May 4
FNM denies role in billboard mocking the prime minister
A BILLBOARD mocking Prime Minister Philip Davis over a supposed wet spot on his pants drew fierce political backlash over the weekend, with Progressive Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell calling it a “serious personal attack” and urging that it be reported to police and removed.
Turtlegrass resort forced to terminate over 50 staff
A key opponent of the $200m Rosewood Exuma project yesterday revealed it has been forced to terminate 53 staff amid its own planning approvals dispute with the Government as impacted workers pledged to “go to Rawson Square and fight for our jobs”.
Fox apologises to team but not to the PLP
FREE National Movement Garden Hills candidate Rick Fox apologised to his family and campaign team for his conduct during a recent advanced polling confrontation, but said he would not apologise to the Progressive Liberal Party.
PM: New airport to drive Cat Island trade, tourism
The Prime Minister says the opening of Arthur’s Town airport will bring “more people, more trade and more opportunity” to Cat Island as the Government advances its strategy of deploying infrastructure investment to drive economic growth across the Family Islands.
Mitchell tells PLPs ‘give more vouchers’
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has urged the Progressive Liberal Party to “give out more vouchers,” becoming the first government official to publicly defend the distribution of Treasury-funded gift certificates in Abaco under the names of election candidates and party officials who do not work for the government.
BEYOND THE BORDER:
WELCOME to a special month-long edition of Beyond the Borders.
WORLD VIEW: A pin, a principle, and the integrity of the Caribbean
THERE are moments in international affairs when a seemingly small act reveals a much larger contest of principle.
PRD defends returning officer after chaotic ballot box clash
THE Parliamentary Registration Department has defended a returning officer after Progressive Liberal Party candidate JoBeth Coleby-Davis blocked a classroom door, yelled that ballot boxes had to be watched, and demanded that the boxes be brought outside during a chaotic confrontation after Thursday’s advance poll.
Expert warns of cyber risks from unofficial voter website
A BAHAMIAN tech professional has warned that a now-removed website that allowed users to search voter information posed serious cybersecurity risks.
Mother of missing teen condemns political use of missing son’s photo
THE mother of missing teenager Devin Isaacs has condemned a circulating social media post that used an old photo of her son in a Progressive Liberal Party shirt, saying the image was taken in 2022 and that her child should not be dragged into election-season politics.
Pintard slams public funds spent on Trump ally lobbyist
THE Office of the Prime Minister has defended the government’s use of US-based public affairs advisers after it was revealed a close ally of President Trump and convicted felon is being paid $1.2 million-a-year to lobby the US on behalf of The Bahamas.
Saturday, May 2
OPM defends US lobbyists
THE Office of the Prime Minister has defended the government’s use of US-based public affairs advisers after a report by the Miami Herald detailed lobbying arrangements valued at $120,000 involving figures linked to Donald Trump.
Friday, May 1
Questions raised over Fox’s conduct in campaign clash
RICK Fox is facing questions over his conduct and temperament after a viral video showed him lunging at a man during a heated campaign confrontation.
Long wait times and scenes of confusion plague advanced poll
LONG lines, hours-long waits and scenes of confusion at yesterday’s advance poll have intensified scrutiny of the Parliamentary Registration Department, raising concerns about whether it is ready to manage the far larger and more complex demands of Election Day.
ERIC WIBERG: Cay Lobos, Old Bahama Channel, Southern Bahamas
THE UNESCO-designated lighthouse at Cay Lobos was completed in 1869.
DIANE PHILLIPS: You asked for it! More highs and lows of the week
IN MY column of March 20, I confessed to shamelessly borrowing a concept from Sunday Today Show host Willie Geist,
Outfielder Pheron Charlton earns postseason award
BAHAMIAN outfielder Pheron Charlton closed out his tenure with the Florida Memorial University Eagles men's baseball team by being named to the Second Team All Sun Conference.
Davis ducks questions on publicly funded PLP gifts
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis refused to answer questions yesterday about the apparent use of more than $200,000 in public funds for gift certificates distributed in Abaco bearing the names of Progressive Liberal Party candidates and officials, a practice critics say was criminal.
‘We just need a change’: Voters vent at advance poll
VOTERS at yesterday’s advanced poll delivered a blunt verdict on the state of the country, with dissatisfaction dominating many conversations and calls for change centred on cost of living, healthcare, immigration and governance.
Ingraham calls fake documents 'alarming' but doubt stolen vote
FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said the rise in cases of people being found with fraudulent documents ahead of the general election are “alarming” even as he stopped short of suggesting the election could be stolen, as others in the Free National Movement have said.
Two Dominican women face charges over fake voter cards
TWO Dominican women were charged yesterday with fraudulently obtaining a Bahamian voter’s card, NIB card and passports, the latest cases as authorities crack down on fraudulent IDs ahead of the general election.
Jamaican man fined $4,000 over forged UK passport
A JAMAICAN man who admitted using a forged UK passport at LPIA last weekend was fined $4,000 in court yesterday.
Bahamian pilot returns home after four years in Venezuela
BAHAMIAN pilot Oran Munroe returned home yesterday after more than four years in detention in Venezuela, ending a prolonged case marked by delays, unanswered questions and sustained diplomatic pressure.
Man granted bail over indecent assault of 11-year-old girl
A MAN accused of indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl in Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera, was granted bail yesterday.
Family seeks answers after Atlantis worker killed on job
A 64-year-old man has died after being critically injured in an industrial accident at Atlantis, with family members raising concerns about conflicting accounts of how the incident unfolded.
