Pintard defends budget increase for BAMSI
AGRICULTURE and Marine Resources Minister Michael Pintard defended the 2019/2020 budget increase for the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) noting the institution's purpose is to conduct research.
$699m VAT collection lower than expected
THE Minnis administration collected $699.3m in value added tax in the 2018/2019 fiscal year, a 21.5 percent increase over the previous fiscal year, according to Deputy Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest yesterday.
Pintard defends extra funding for consultants
MINISTER of Agriculture and Marine Resources Michael Pintard yesterday defended the 2019/2020 budget increase for consultancy agencies, domestic and international travel and the Bahamas Agricultural & Industrial Corporation (BAIC).
Parliament cell phone ban after protest goes viral
HOUSE Speaker Halson Moultrie has ruled that visitors will be prohibited from carrying cell phones into the gallery after videos of a disturbance in Parliament last week went viral on social media.
Lanisha’s ministry: We need to talk
THE Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture is committed to taking all necessary steps toward resolving the reported tensions between Minister Lanisha Rolle and the Bahamas Olympic Committee, according to a senior ministry official.
VAT fuel waiver beat households target
AN estimated 79,000 households have benefitted from the Minnis administration’s concession that eliminates value added tax on Bahamas Power and Light bills under $300.
Social media demand for US visas goes ‘too far’ - Mitchell
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman and Senator Fred Mitchell yesterday suggested the US State Department’s updated visa requirements “seems to go too far,” as he criticised the Minnis administration for failing to speak up for Bahamians.
PM urged to step in on new Lanisha row
THE relationship between the Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) and Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Lanisha Rolle has become tenuous, with members now demanding she either sit down for formal talks or be removed as minister.
‘Gaffe should cost CA Smith new role’
OPPOSITION Leader Philip Davis yesterday called on the Minnis administration to abandon former Cabinet minister and diplomat CA Smith as their choice to become the next Governor General.
Davis: Is travel budget a campaign fund?
THE financial allocation set aside for travel and several other in-house expenses at the Office of the Prime Minister in the 2019/2020 budget could be viewed as the government’s attempt to finance campaign-related activity, Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis has suggested.
Dames: Budget cut but things are getting better
WITH respective elected officials set to begin debate today on the Minnis administration’s 2019/2020 budget, one Cabinet official says it will be evident that things are “getting better”.
Bethel accuses PLP of hypocrisy over NIA Act
THE National Crime Intelligence Act 2019 passed in the Senate yesterday despite the Official Opposition’s attempts to have the upper chamber accept various amendments to portions of the legislation.
D'Aguilar: It's critical that hotel talks are successful
THE hotel workers union is maintaining the proposal it received from industry stakeholders outlined a “zero percent” gratuity provision — despite Atlantis recently stating the industry has “never suggested” eliminating 15 percent gratuity from employees.
Wilchcombe wants GB seat in next election
FORMER Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe has applied for the Progressive Liberal Party’s nomination in the West Grand Bahama constituency in the 2022 general election, according to PLP chairman Fred Mitchell.
Budget's winners and losers
THE Department of Social Services’ uniform assistance programme will receive considerably more money in the upcoming fiscal year in an apparent effort to curtail the anger government received last cycle for allotting what many saw as insufficient to cover the needs of dependents. Government estimates that $462,000 will go toward the social assistance benefit.
