Davis: ‘No alarm’ over $1bn rise in national debt
PRIME Minister Philip Davis said there is “no alarm” over the country’s national debt increasing by more than $1bn in the final year of his administration’s term before the election, pointing to economic growth and a lower debt-to-GDP ratio.
Prosecution and defence clash over evidence in Exuma rape trial
PROSECUTORS accused Khethino Cadet of inventing an argument about his son to explain away allegations that he raped and assaulted the child’s mother in Exuma, while his lawyer attacked the police investigation as “hasty and sloppy” and urged jurors to reject the woman’s account.
Attempted murder accused held in prison over libel charge
A MAN already on bail for attempted murder was remanded to prison yesterday after being accused of posting sexually explicit and defamatory images and videos targeting a woman on Facebook and TikTok.
Man accused of exposing himself outside primary school
A MAN was accused of repeatedly exposing himself to two female students outside Carlton E Francis Primary School on consecutive days last week.
Joint law enforcement operation leads to 22 arrests in Abaco
TWENTY-two people suspected of being in the country illegally were arrested in Abaco on Wednesday during a joint law enforcement operation.
Amputee denies gun assault and death threat charges
A LEG amputee was accused of hitting a man in the head with a handgun and threatening to kill him outside his Sequoia Street residence last week.
Parole bill heading for fresh public consultation after years of delays
ATTORNEY General Wayne Munroe said the long-delayed parole bill will soon be released online for another round of public consultation, as Commissioner of Corrections Doan Cleare urged the government to pass legislation he said has been 11 years in the making.
LPIA travellers to get new VIP lounge options next month
TRAVELLERS will soon have access to new upscale lounges at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA), with the facilities set to officially open to the public on October 1.
Bahamian businesses face 230% cyber attacks surge
BAHAMIAN businesses have suffered a 230 percent increase in cyber attacks over the past five years, a technology principal disclosed yesterday, revealing that this nation becomes an immediate target “when we make the news”.
Building permit red tape slash hailed as ‘massive win for all’
A BAHAMIAN developer yesterday hailed the Government’s bid to slash the turnaround time for building permits to just 60 days as early as 2027 as “a massive win for everyone”.
Bahamasair’s ‘Sophie’ AI bot to answer over 80% of calls
BAHAMASAIR is poised to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) with plans to launch ‘Sophie’, its “bot agent”, before year-end to handle the more than 80 percent of reservations department calls not seeking to purchase flight tickets.
Bahamas in tax certificate, Investor Concierge launch
A CABINET minister yesterday sought to boost The Bahamas’ competitiveness as a domicile for wealthy investors to make their home by unveiling plans to launch a Tax Residency Certificate and one-stop-shop for approvals.
Boating fees blamed for Abaco’s 6.4% arrival fall
A SENIOR tourism official yesterday attributed the 6.4 percent decline in year-over-year sea arrivals to Abaco through July to the impact of boating fee hikes as industry operators were urged to rapidly adapt to the evolving artificial intelligence (AI) environment.
Opposition voices $311m 'off books' spend concern
THE OPPOSITION yesterday challenged if the $311m spent from the National Investment Fund represents “off-the-books capital expenditure” structured so as not to blow the Government’s Budget surplus in the election run-up as a Cabinet minister asserted it had followed the law.
$200m Exuma resort opponent fears fall-out for own business Body
A key opponent of the $200m Rosewood Exuma resort yesterday asserted it fears its own high-end business will be damaged if its competitor is allowed to locate a service dock “less than one fotball field” aware from its property.
Construction permit values surge almost $700m in ‘25
Construction starts and completions both increased in volume during 2025, surging by 24 percent and 11.2 percent respectively, although the former’s combined value declined by $17m compared to 2024.
Insurance regulator laments qualified actuaries shortage
INSURANCE regulators yesterday said a shortage of qualified actuaries remains a key constraint on the industry’s growth as The Bahamas seeks to align its supervisory framework with evolving international standards.
Abaco needs co-ordinated workforce growth approach
ABACO’S labour market needs a more deliberate approach to work permits, housing and workforce training if businesses are to fill genuine skills gaps while progressively preparing Bahamians to take over those positions, a Department of Labour official said yesterday.
Road paving constrained by contractors shortage
ABACO’S infrastructure pipeline is expanding across roads, docks and airports, a Cabinet minister said yesterday, while warning that a shortage of road contractors is creating capacity constraints.
