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.
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.
$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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Deputy PM criticises FNM plan to privatise BPL
DEPUTY Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis was critical yesterday of the Free National Movement’s intention to privatise Bahamas Power & Light, likening it to the party’s controversial decision to sell the Bahamas Telecommunications Company during the Ingraham administration.
FNM wants to find land for Junkanoo theme park
THE Free National Movement has proposed to “identify” Crown land for the establishment of a Junkanoo theme park in a bid to “foster, protect, and promote the cultural expression” of the Bahamian people if it is elected to office this year.
PLP accused of ‘gerrymandering’ constituencies
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday accused the Christie administration of “gerrymandering the constituencies,” one day after House Speaker Dr Kendal Major confirmed that the long-awaited Constituencies Commission report had been completed.
Former Bar Association President to run in Yamacraw for the FNM
FORMER Bahamas Bar Association President Elsworth Johnson has suggested that the country’s judicial system is heavily saturated by “political interference” as he vowed, over the coming days, to disclose the “irregularities” present in this branch of government.
Fitzgerald: Single sex schools plan outdated
EDUCATION Minister Jerome Fitzgerald yesterday criticised Free National Movement South Beach candidate Jeff Lloyd’s proposal to implement a pilot programme to separate the education of boys and girls in classes and schools, calling the plan “outdated”.
Minnis condemns the ‘laziness’ of the media
WHILE emphasising the important role the press plays in well-functioning democracies, Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis offered a blizzard of criticism of the national media during a speech at the Bahamas Press Club’s monthly meeting last night.
FNM will seek to privatise BPL
THE Free National Movement says it will privatise the Bahamas Electricity Corporation, now called Bahamas Power and Light, if it is elected to office this year and will ensure that the utility provider is owned by Bahamians through majority shareholding.
