Waste, ‘political attitudes’, bar IMF’s hospital user fee plans
AN ex-health minister says “wastage”, combined with zero political appetite, means the IMF’s call for the imposition of hospital user fees on those “with greatest capacity to pay” is likely a non-starter.
Gov’t set to refinance $2.4bn in six months
THE Government has to refinance almost $2.4bn in maturing debt during the six months to end-June 2024, it has been revealed, with its euro-denominated liabilities almost doubling in percentage terms.
‘Just have to trust’ gov’t over deficit
BAHAMIANS “just have to trust” the Government’s assertion that the public finances are still on track to meet their full-year targets despite the early outturn, a governance reformer says.
BTC to give 300 consumers one month’s credit on outage
The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) will give the 300 customers impacted by an eastern New Providence network outage a credit equal to one month’s service fee.
‘Passing mark’ could spark Bahamas’ blacklist escape
A CABINET minister has signalled The Bahamas could escape the European Union’s (EU) tax blacklist within weeks after it received a “passing mark” over a key issue that prevented its removal in late 2023.
Personal income tax not on gov’t ‘agenda’
A CABINET minister has affirmed that the introduction of a personal income tax is “not on our agenda” - not even for the top 10 percent of earners as recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Tax reporting woes ‘behind us in a week’
A CABINET minister has pledged that the woes with the Government’s online tax reporting portal “should be behind us in the next week” with “some stark improvements” already occurring.
Halkitis: Economic zones were not achieving goals
ECONOMIC Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis said the Davis administration discontinued the Economic Empowerment Zones programme, which provided some tax exemptions to inner city residents and businesses, because it was not achieving its objectives.
A final farewell to Dr Elwood Donaldson
Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) and Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) pallbearers carry the body of former Member of Parliament and Ambassador Dr Elwood Donaldson into Zion Baptist Church for his state-recognised funeral on Friday.
Ballet on the beach
FOR two nights only this week, some of the world’s most iconic ballet dancers from one of the most revered ballet companies will headline two dynamic shows of grace and precision set on the Great Lawn of Old Fort Bay Club for ‘Iconique’ Dinner Ballet Gala.
Tributes to ‘precious gem’ Sweeting
ANDREA Sweeting, president of the Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group and a long-time cancer advocate, died on Saturday in Florida. She celebrated her 75th birthday on February 7.
‘Full cooperation’ expected in tourist rape investigation
NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said he expects full cooperation and honesty from all parties as police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations investigate a claim that two American women were sexually assaulted in Grand Bahama earlier this month.
GOVT PUSH BACK ON CRIME FEARS: Alerts ‘have had impact’ but campaign planned to protect reputation
OFFICE of the Prime Minister communications director Latrae Rahming said the Davis administration acknowledges that travel advisories and global reports about crime in the country have affected the tourism industry, with the government preparing to launch an aggressive campaign to promote and protect the country’s reputation.
Vanderpool breaks his indoor national record in pole vault
IT was another indoor national record-breaking performance for pole vaulter Brenden Vanderpool as he duplicated the same feat at the same venue he established the previous mark last month.
Roadrunners: More athletes qualify for the CARIFTA games
THE Roadrunners’ Diana Lynn Thompson Classic saw more athletes on the track and field attain the CARIFTA qualifying standards on Saturday at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium.
Devynne Charlton powers to world indoor record
Devynne Charlton got the start she expected and the finish anticipated in what she called the “perfect race” as she powered to a world indoor record in the women’s 60 metres hurdles yesterday at the Millrose Games.
The middle class under pressure
Much has been made of Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis’ recent trip to Uganda in which he took part in the Non-Aligned Movement Summit. It was probably a representative for the Davis camp who took photos of him feeding chimpanzees while in Uganda, apparently not realising the backlash it would cause.
Losing hope
As the country grapples with the increase in murders on our streets or the recent crime “spurt” as defined by the Minister of National Security, the strategy of the government to address the crime problem remains unclear.
St John’s College Giants haul away three titles
THE St John’s College junior and senior girls hauled away two more championships on Friday to secure their second and third title of the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) basketball season.
A birthday bash to remember
IT was a birthday celebration, highlighted by a pair of Masters Softball League games and entertainment that included rake-n-scrape, marching bands and a Junkanoo rush-out, that left the Rev. Dr. William Thompson flabbergasted.
