Tuesday, January 31
PLP leader hits back
THE pressure of the upcoming general election seems to be getting to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and showing him in a new light, his challenger claimed yesterday. In an exclusive interview with The Tribune, PLP leader Perry Christie branded the Prime Minister’s latest comments as
Volunteer Bahamas issues alert
VOLUNTEER Bahamas officials yesterday warned the public to be vigilant after several churches and civic organisations were targeted by con artists. Darron T
Trial date for woman in $40,000 fraud case
A SUPREME Court trial date has been set for a woman accused of defrauding a community development initiative of more than $40,000. Valderine Watkins, who once worked as a secretary in the
Family identify body of alleged cruise suicide victim
Family members of a man who reportedly jumped to his death on a cruise ship remained silent as they waited to identify his body. Standing outside of Princess Margaret Hospital's Rand Laboratory, the family refused to
PM urges five more years
ANOTHER five years in office for the Free National Movement would mean further social, economic and infrastructural advancements, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said. Revealing the party's Manifesto 2012-2017 pl
Breezes welcomes tourism delegates
Breezes Bahamas played host to delegates of the recent Caribbean Marketplace 2012. The event was one of the biggest tourism events in the whole region, highlighting the opportunities available to those operating in the tourism market. Delegates travelle
Cleared of murder charge
FREEPORT - After a week-long trial, Dareo Smith was acquitted of murder in the Supreme Court on Monday. Senior Justice Hartman Longley told Smith, 19, that he was discharged of murd
The pain of the game
THERE was one minute left in the third quarter of the 2012 National Football Conference (NFC) championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants, when 49ers corner
Empowering women for nation building
IT HAS been 50 years since women in the Bahamas first exercised their right to vote. Since then, women have represented themselves in the top class of every sector in societ
NAGB director bringing new markets for Bahamian art
NAGB director bringing new markets for Bahamian art By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter AS THE new director of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB), Amanda Coulson plans to stimulate a market for Bahamian art home and abroad. With 20 yea
'Triangular Meet' all set for Freeport
By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net Nearly two decades of athletic and academic tradition between schools of the Anglican Diocese continues this year with the organisation's bi-annual signature event. The Anglican Central Educat
Local riders turn heads on final day of Tour of the Bahamas
THE final day of the 9th annual Tour of the Bahamas was a productive day for local riders while the winners from the most high profile visiting team dominated in the Pro division. Bahamian resi
Caribbean firm to take over top tour destination
A leading New Providence tourist attraction is set to be transformed into a "first class destination" via an investment worth "millions" of dollars, Tribune Business can reveal, with its Bahamian owners set to sel
Families earning under $5K yearly increase by 83%
The number of Bahamian households surviving on less than $5,000 per year has increased by an "alarming" 83 per cent in the past four years, Department of Statistics data shows, indicating the recession has most im
PLP VETERAN: NO SURPRISE AT ACCUSATION
A FORMER PLP chairman expressed no suprise at Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham's statement on alleged corruption among some candidates chosen by oppo
Privatisation can 'hold Bahamas to ransom'
A leading activist yesterday urged the Government not to privatise the energy and water industries on the grounds that foreign buyers could "hold the Bahamas to ransom", adding that this nation had "not begun to s
Nassau hotels to 'hoist' ADR
The Nassau/Paradise hotel industry is aiming to "hoist" average daily room rates (ADRs) in 2012 to drive further room revenue increases, as nights sold and room revenue in December
DRY CLEANING EMPLOYEE ACCUSED OF STEALING GOODS
A MAN accused of stealing nearly $19,000 in goods from a local dry-cleaning company where he worked was granted bail yesterday in Magistrate's Court. Roscoe Rox, 36, was granted $10,000 b
25,000-acre dispute solution 'critical to 'thousands of jobs'
Resolving a long-running dispute that has tied up 25,000 acres of prime real estate is "critical" to potentially creating "thousands of jobs" and reversing Long Island's depopulation, a Court of Appeal ruling havi
FNM candidate plots rude awakening for Bran
FNM candidate for Bamboo Town Cassius Stuart claims the constituency is part of his party’s “bedrock” and that incumbent Branville McCartney is in for a “rude awakening” come election time. Mr Stuart, the former Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) leader, also spoke about
Regulations delay key medical bill
HEALTH care providers yesterday said they were still awaiting word on when the proposed Medical Care Improvements Bill would be implemented, the minister responsible for the sector
Phil's: 'Enough to go around' in food retail
THERE'S "enough to go around" in the food retail business for everyone to turn a profit, according to Phil Lightbourne, owner of the Gladstone Road-based food retailer/wholesaler Ph
MAN CHARGED WITH $4,000 THEFT
A MAN was arraigned in Magistrate's Court yesterday in connection with the theft of nearly $4,000 from a service station where he worked. Delano Marc, 20, of Augusta Street, appeared befo
EMBASSY LAUNCHES ESSAY CONTEST
THE US Embassy in Nassau is calling for students to take part in the 6th annual Dr Martin Luther King Jr Civil Rights Essay Contest. The purpose of the contest is to encourage students throughout the Bahamas to explore the life of Dr King and reflect on h
Bastian hits out at poor representation
INDEPENDENT nominee for Mangrove Cay and South Andros, Whitney Bastian, said the constituency has received "lacklustre parliamentary representation" over the past five years. As the former South Andros MP from 2002 t
Monday, January 30
Euro, rich-poor gap proved key at Davos
Euro, rich-poor gap proved key at Davos Europe's crippling debt crisis dominated the world's foremost gathering of business and political leaders, but for the first time the growing inequality between the planet's haves and have-nots became an issue, tha
Why a foreign deal?
EDITOR, The Tribune. Real Property Tax - IDB and Japanese provide a $765,000 grant to improve collection. Firstly the obvious is the obvious... if you ain't got the spare cash to pay Real Property Tax, that's it.. Japanese or whoever. One of the problem
Leaders hit out as vote nears
LEADERS of the governing and opposition political parties hit out at each other and their rival parties last night during and after the Free National Moveme
Airport officials downplay delays
REPORTS of excessive flight delays at the Lynden Pindling International Airport yesterday were downplayed by officials of the Nassau Airport Development company. Vernice Walkine, vice-president of marketing and communications at NAD, denied the reports, contending that it was
Death on cruise ship was 'suicide'
THE second alleged suicide aboard a cruise ship for the year occurred on Friday. Police are investigating the death of a 26-year-old male cruise ship passenger from South Carolina who reportedly jumped
Man dies after being shot in home raid
By CELESTE NIXON Tribune Staff Reporter cnixon@tribunemedia.net A 49-year-old man died in hospital last night after being held up and shot in his home earlier that day. According to police reports three men, one armed with a handgun, entered the victim'
Cyclists out in full force
More than 100 cyclists from as far away as California descended on the ninth annual Tour of the Bahamas - the nation's premier cycling event - this weekend in Nassau. Local and foreign competitors competed for up to $16,000 in cash prizes and awards. Spor
Bahamas Baseball Federation marks 10th anniversary
THE Bahamas Baseball Federation continues the celebration of its 10th anniversary with the highlighting of a decade of successful accomplishments. The Federation continued its series of little
Relays set stage for exciting track and field season
THE Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations' second meet on its 2012 calendar has set the tone for what promises to be an exciting track and field season and a battle between two perennial
J R Cadot a force on the glass for Horned Frogs
By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net Early into the 2011 season, it appeared as if his senior season and second in NCAA Division I basketball would be a breakout year for J R Cadot - he has slowed since with recent setbacks - but
'Mixed bag': Auto sales 50% off peak
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading auto dealer believes the industry will "eventually" recover to levels comparable to its 2007 peak, despite 2011's new car sales being almost 50 per cent down on that banner period in what was described a
Renewable energy firm 'sidelined' by BEC on tender
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A renewable energy provider has told Tribune Business it felt "sidelined" by the Bahamas Electricity Corporation's (BEC) decision to close its open bidding process and then subsequently sign an agreement with Ocea
Wind farm targets 2013 'commission'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A renewable energy provider is looking to "commission" its Eleuthera wind farm by early 2013, having invested $250,000 in completing the first project phase involving the construction of a Meteorological tower. Th
AML chair: three food retail players likely to survive
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamian food retail market will ultimately be dominated by just three major players, AML Foods' chairman telling Tribune Business in the wake of Robin Hood's demise that consolidation was "inevitable". Dionis
Murder trial under way
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net FREEPORT - The murder trial of Dareo Smith is underway in the Supreme Court. The 19-year-old is accused of the stabbing death of Tamaro Johnson at a popular Freeport nightclub, in 2011
Miller confident on Robin Hood replacement
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Robin Hood's landlord yesterday told Tribune Business he is extremely confident about finding a replacement tenant for the closing retailer, describing the Summerwinds Plaza location as "second to none" and "the b
Historic caves are reopened
Freeport, Grand Bahama - Two historic underwater caves within the Lucayan National Park have been reopened. Ben's Cave and Burial Mound received more than $23,000 in structural upgrades as a result of donations to the Bahamas National Trust. BNT branch
Bahamas could get marketplace again in 2013
By NATARIO MCKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas could play host to the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association's (CHTA) Caribbean Marketplace summit again next year, the organisation's president, Josef Forstmayr told
Racing to bring an end to polio
HUNDREDS of Rotarians and supporters turned out for the End Polio Bed Race at the Marathon Mall on Saturday. Organised by Joanne Smith and Paul Cartwright of the East Nassau Rotary Club, the event raised about $10,000 for Rotary International's global cam
Chamber chief in jump start concern
By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net WITH the recent launch of the Government's Jump-Start programme expected to foster entrepeunership, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employer's Confederation's (BCCEC) chairman h
Murderer who was spared death sentence admits guilt
By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net CONVICTED murderer Earnest Lockhart, whose death sentence was overturned by the London-based Privy Council in August, admitted recently that he was guilty and remorseful of a shooting dea
PLP deputy says FNM is getting desperate
OPPOSITION party deputy leader Philip “Brave” Davis contends that Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and the Free National Movement are getting desperate for votes as the 2012 general election approaches. The MP for Cat Island based his claims on
Christie: We'll tackle hard issues
OPPOSITION Leader Perry Christie said the PLP is prepared to tackle the nation’s most critical issues, including crime. He stressed that crime has skyrocketed under the FNM government, resulting in great costs and
Grand Bahama PLP hopefuls unveiled
FREEPORT – The Progressive Liberal Party officially introduced its five candidates to Grand Bahama on Friday at the Grand Lucaya Resort, where PLP leader Perry Christie unveiled plans to revitalise Grand Bahama’s economy. Mr Christie stressed that
Policeman in attack probe
By CHESTER ROBARDS Tribune Senior Reporter crobards@tribunemedia.net POLICE are investigating one of their own for an alleged attack on a woman at the straw market on Tuesday, that left the woman with bruises to her face, according to reports. Quinn McCa
FNM unveils candidate list at rally
THE Free National Movement officially launched its 2012 election candidates last night at the Wyndham Nassau Resort and Crystal Palace Casino. Supporters gathered in the packed hall
PM's office opened
SIR Cecil Wallace-Whitfield has been hailed as an integral part of a generation of great men and women who led the struggle for Majority Rule and equality in The Bahamas. Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham underscored Sir Cecil's legacy during the official
Friday, January 13
DEPUTY PM TO QUIT
DEPUTY PM TO QUIT By CELESTE NIXON Tribune Staff Reporter cnixon@tribunemedia.net DEPUTY Prime Minister Brent Symonette, scion of one of the country's most prestigious political families and a pillar of the FNM for more than 20 years, has announced the
CHRISTIE: FNM WILL HAVE TOUGH TIME
By LAMECH JOHNSON ljohnson@tribunemedia.net PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leader Perry Christie says the FNM are “late” in revealing their candidates vying for seats in the general elections and will have a difficult time convincing the people to vote them back into office.
LAING: ECONOMY WILL GROW THIS YEAR
By KHRISNA VIRGIL kvirgil@tribunemedia.com DESPITE an economically trying 2011, the Bahamas' economy is expected to experience some growth this year, State Minister of Finance Zhivargo Laing said.
RUGBY NASSAU CUP ON THE LINE THIS WEEKEND
By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net The Nassau Cup is on the line as two Bahamas Rugby Football Union powerhouses square off this weekend in the second game of a double header to decide the top team in the capital this se
FULL SLATE OF FNM CANDIDATES UNVEILED
By CELESTE NIXON Tribune Staff Reporter cnixon@tribunemedia.net IN the name of progress and "renewal", Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham last night announced the FNM's full slate of candidates which includes a number of new faces. Following the ratification
CREW MEMBER JUMPED FROM CRUISE SHIP IN SUICIDE BID
By DANA SMITH dsmith@tribunemedia.net A SUSPECTED suicide, a non-fatal stabbing, four ammunition-related arrests, and a firearm discovery all happened this week, according to police. The suicide victim, a 25-year-old crew member of the Royal Caribbean Cr
MAN CHARGED WITH STABBING MURDER
MAN CHARGED WITH STABBING MURDER BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net FREEPORT - William Leslie Forbes was charged with murder in Eight Mile Rock Magistrate's Court on Thursday Forbes, 36, is accused of the stabbing d
CARIBBEAN MAGAZINE NAMES MILLER 'FEMALE RISING STAR'
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE accolades continue to pour in for quarter-miler Shaunae Miller, yet through it all, she remains humble. On December 31, Miller was named as Caribbean Track Life International Online Maga
RICHARDSON SIGNS WITH THE ORIOLES
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net IT'S been a journey of hills and valleys for the country's latest player to play in the Major League Baseball. Originally drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 27th round of the 2001 amate
ARAWAK SHARES OFFER 'MAY BE ILLEGAL'
ARAWAK SHARES OFFER 'MAY BE ILLEGAL' By KHRISNA VIRGIL kvirgil@tribunemedia.net THE terms of the government's Arawak Port Development share offer to civil servants could be illegal, according to independent candidate for Garden Hills Paul Moss. In an ef
CARTWRIGHT LOOKING FORWARD TO MLB CAMP
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net HE was looking to make his breakthrough in Major League Baseball last year, but an Achilles injury prevented Albert Cartwright from rising through the ranks in the Philadelphia Phillies orga
DNA 'READY FOR UPCOMING ELECTION'
DNA 'READY FOR UPCOMING ELECTION' By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net FREEPORT - Calling on the government to "ring the bell," DNA Leader Branville McCartney says his party is ready for the upcoming general elections
Will Bahamians be truly protected?
EDITOR, The Tribune. The Chief Justice's "warning" on the government's plan to introduce an amendment to the Bail Act, has cemented the public's opinion that changes have to be made, either to the constitution or to appointments to the offices of judici
VISION OF THE FUTURE
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net NOT since the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture demolished the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium in 2006 to make way for the construction of the new Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadi
Wednesday, January 11
MEGA RESORT THREAT CLOSER
MEGA RESORT THREAT CLOSER By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Staff Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net LEGISLATION to bring three Las Vegas-style casino mega resorts to South Florida - and in direct competition with Bahamian hotels - has been passed by a US Sena
HUNDREDS OF DEAD FISH WASH ASHORE
By DANA SMITH dsmith@tribunemedia.net FISHERMEN were left stunned after hundreds of fish were washed up dead or dying on to the shores of Montagu beach, yesterday. Octopus, parrot fish, grey snappers, and barracuda were among the species found dead by fi
BRIDGING GAP TO THE YOUNG
By DANA SMITH dsmith@tribunemedia.net A NUMBER of prominent people gathered at RM Bailey Senior High School for the Bridging The Gap symposium, an event organised by the school in honour of Majority Rule Day. Event organiser and RM Bailey guidance counse
PLP DENIES PACT CLAIM
By CELESTE NIXON Tribune Staff Reporter cnixon@tribunemedia.net THE PLP labelled the claim that it collaborated with the FNM in keeping the details of the Atlantis sale from the public "a nonsense assertion". Denying reports that the PLP has remained sil
MAN CALLS FOR LENIENCY, SAYING HE DID NOT INTEND TO HARM ANYONE
By LAMECH JOHNSON ljohnson@tribunemedia.net AFTER pleading guilty to firearm and ammunition possession, a Farm Road man begged the Magistrate's Court for leniency, saying he did not intend to cause harm with the weapon. Before his sentencing yesterday m
BASTIAN BLASTS BRAN IN DNA ROW
By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net BAMBOO Town MP Branville McCartney appointed himself leader of the DNA despite suggestions that he was elected internally, former party member Whitney Bastian has claimed. In an interview
RUSSIA CONCERNED ABOUT NUCLEAR IRAN
RUSSIA CONCERNED ABOUT NUCLEAR IRAN Russia expressed regret and concern Tuesday about Iran's launch of uranium enrichment up to 20 per cent at an underground facility, but urged all parties involved in the nuclear standoff with Tehran to avoid hasty move
No worse time for job layoffs
EDITOR, The Tribune. Just when you think the economy in Grand Bahama couldn't get any worse, it has. Like many Grand Bahamians, I was very disappointed to hear the heartrending news that Hutchison Whampoa had terminated 70 of its employees at the Freepo
DNA MARKS ANNIVERSARY WITH CALL FOR CHANGE
THE Democratic National Alliance used the occasion of the 45th anniversary of Majority Rule to emphasise the importance of change. In a statement issued yesterday, the DNA said it acknowledges what Sir Lynden Pindling and many like him realised as they fo
21,000 SIGN UP FOR NEW VOTER REGISTRATION
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net FREEPORT - Just over 21,000 persons were registered on the new voter register as of Tuesday in Grand Bahama, where five voter's card distribution centres have been activated. Assistan
ROBBER CAUGHT ON CAMERA
By KHRISNA VIRGIL kvirgil@tribunemedia.net DO you recognise this man? If so, you could help police catch a brazen robber who burst into a West Bay Street gas station armed with a gun. Police want to question the man in this photo, a still frame from th
EXTRA CLASSROOMS FOR SCHOOL
EXTRA CLASSROOMS FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS and teachers at C H Reeves Junior High School will soon have several extra classrooms at their disposal. The government has awarded a $345,932 contract to Bruce Rahming Construction for a two story, eight-classroom bu
WANTED MAN CAPTURED
WANTED MAN CAPTURED By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net WANTED murder suspect William Leslie Forbes was captured on Tuesday afternoon by police some 24 hours following the brutal stabbing death of 31-year-old Natacha
Tuesday, January 10
PM: ARAWAK AN OPPORTUNITY
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Staff Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Hubert Ingraham yesterday urged Bahamians to take advantage of the landmark initial public offering of the Arawak Port Development (APD).
KERZNER CHIEF: 'NO JOB LOSSES'
KERZNER CHIEF: 'NO JOB LOSSES' KERZNER International's president today confirmed Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham's statement that no employees will be laid off as a result of the ownership transfer of the Atlantis resort from Kerzner to Brookfield Asset M
Monday, January 9
18-YEAR-OLD WOMAN KILLED IN CAR CRASH
By CELESTE NIXON Tribune Staff Reporter cnixon@tribunemedia.net AN 18-year-old woman became the first traffic fatality of 2012 after crashing her car into a wall early yesterday morning.
DNA LAUNCHES ELECTION BID
By CELESTE NIXON Tribune Staff Reporter cnixon@tribunemedia.net THE Democratic National Alliance officially launched its 2012 election campaign at the party’s headquarters yesterday.
VICTIM SHOT DEAD OUTSIDE HIS HOME
By CELESTE NIXON Tribune Staff Reporter cnixon@tribunemedia.net A 32-YEAR-OLD father was shot and killed over the weekend becoming the country's second murder of the year. Mario Stuart, cousin of FNM front runner for Bamboo Town Cassius Stuart, was
CANDIDATE HITS OUT AT 'SUBSERVIENT' MPS
CANDIDATE HITS OUT AT 'SUBSERVIENT' MPS By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net FORMER Member of Parliament for South Andros Whitney Bastian hit out at the "subservient nature" of sitting members of Parliament yesterday. Mr Ba
MINISTER CALLS FOR MORE CCTV
MINISTER CALLS FOR MORE CCTV By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net NATIONAL Security Minister Tommy Turnquest yesterday confirmed the appointment of two new Assistant Commissioners of Police. Mr Turnquest also revealed the s
Santorum's near win
EDITOR, The Tribune. US Republican presidential nominee Rick Santorum is surging in the polls because he is militantly pro-life, morally consistent and politically courageous - just what America needs. The foundation of America's problems is not the econ
Thinking out of the box
EDITOR, The Tribune. We hear so much from the politicians and the Downtown Development Board about their high-flouting plans for the City of Nassau however the worst offenders in messing the city up seem to be government. Who did the years-old tree on t
NO BAIL FOR VIOLENT CRIME SUSPECTS
NO BAIL FOR VIOLENT CRIME SUSPECTS By LAMECH JOHNSON ljohnson@tribunemedia.net THREE men, two charged with murder and the other attempted murder, are behind bars at Her Majesty's Prison waiting to be brought before the courts in the next three months. T
SCHOOL RENAMED AFTER EDUCATOR
SCHOOL RENAMED AFTER EDUCATOR BELOVED Andros educator Reverend Bertram Newton was the first to be honoured in the month-long renaming schedule for several public schools in the country. Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham traveled to Andros on Friday, to offi
'911 AND 919 CALLS UNANSWERED'
MEMBERS of the public claim they repeatedly called emergency services Friday, but no one answered the phone. Two unrelated persons said they tried dialling both 911 and 919, but the lines just rang and rang for several minutes. Despite calling each number
Canada taking Commonwealth lead
By Sir Ronald Sanders THE Government of Canada has placed itself in the front of the drive to reform the 54-nation Commonwealth. The 62-year old organization should be all the better for Canada's initiative. At the end of last year, Canada's Foreign Min
GOVT LIKELY TO SELL 40% PORT EQUITY STAKE
By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Hubert Ingraham yesterday said he expects the Government to eventually sell its 40 per cent stake in Arawak Cay Port Development Company (APD), allowing the Nassau Co
GROWTH FOCUS 'LATITUDE' VIA AML'S $10M PREF RESTRUCTURE
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor AML Foods says its latest preference share restructuring has given it "a tremendous amount of latitude" to focus on growth opportunities, having raised a further $4.28 million in capital and reduced dividend (inte
AML TO INVEST $3-4M IN NEW FRANCHISE DEAL
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor AML Foods is planning to invest $3-$4 million over the next five years in building its new Carl's Jr franchise to a five-store chain, a business projected to generate an annual $15 million top-line at full build-o
QC SAYS CUSTOMS LATEST FREEPORT MOVE 'DEMENTED'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading QC has questioned the Government's sanity in allowing Customs to further attack Freeport's 'bonded goods' economy, arguing that their latest actions risked taking the Bahamas' second city back to the "wa
BAHAMAS TO BECOME 'CRUISE NO.1' IN 2012
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas is expected to "exceed" and surpass Cozumel as the Caribbean's leading cruise destination if it maintains its current growth rate, the minister of tourism said, with 2011 stopover visitors to this nati
'LOT OF ABUSE' IN WELFARE SYSTEM
By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net The Bahamas' social security system has been subjected to "a lot of abuse", the minister responsible has admitted, acknowledging that welfare assistance was not always being given t
DEGREES OF QUALIFICATION
By Ian Ferguson The debate over whether businesses need to employ the highly qualified over the highly experienced has been going on for generations. Industry has for sometime sent very conflicting messages to young people, and some dialogue surrounding
Thursday, January 5
BISX TO 'KICK OFF'MICRO LISTING TIER
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX) is looking to "kick off" its long-planned micro listing facility during the 2012 first quarter, Tribune Business can reveal, with investment bankers anticipatin
Marathon to 'easily exceed' 2,000 resort room nights
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Marathon Bahamas organisers yesterday said hotel room nights generated by visiting athletes and their relatives would "easily exceed 2,000", with "one of the nation's leading sports tourism events" providing a muc
DNA chief: Atlantis deal requires 20% annual profit rise
By NATARIO MCKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net THE management agreement between Kerzner International and Atlantis' new owners requires the Paradise Island resort to increase profits by up to 20 per cent each year, Democratic N
DEAL FOR TWO NASSAU HOTELS FALLS THROUGH
By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net PLANS for the sale of two Nassau hotels have fallen through due to "financing issues", a source close to the situation confirmed to Tribune Business yesterday. Canadian investors R
IDB: BAHAMAS' $1BN INFRASTRUCTURE GAP
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas has medium-term infrastructure needs of $1 billion, an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report has revealed, blaming the Government for "under investment" in the sector that has failed to keep up
Wednesday, January 4
AIRPORT BACK TO NORMAL
By KHRISNA VIRGIL kvirgil@tribunemedia.net FOLLOWING a frustrating weekend of costly delays at the Lynden Pindling International Airport, flight arrivals and departures are back to normal, Nassau Airport Development officials confirmed. NAD's spokespers
BAIL DENIED OVER BREACH
By LAMECH JOHNSON ljohnson@tribunemedia.net TWO men on bail, one from the Supreme Court on a murder charge, spent the night behind bars at Her Majesty's Prison accused of breaching bail conditions. The denial of overnight bail and a remand ruling again
LONG ISLAND FOR LORETTA
By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net MONTAGU MP Loretta Butler-Turner has been nominated as the FNM candidate for Long Island, replacing current MP Larry Cartwright, The Tribune has been unofficially informed. Sources suggest
DNA PREDICTS ATLANTIS JOB CUTS
By CELESTE NIXON Tribune Staff Reporter cnixon@tribunemedia.net DNA leader Branville McCartney is predicting employees at Atlantis will be laid off within the next six months. Almost 8,000 Bahamians depend upon the resort and the One&Only Ocean Club for
POLICE: HOW WE WILL CRACK DOWN ON CRIME IN 2012
POLICE: HOW WE WILL CRACK DOWN ON CRIME IN 2012 TACKLING crime remains the top priority for the Royal Bahamas Police Force this year, according to their 2012 manifesto released last night. While the new mandate is admittedly similar to last year's plan,
'NO SENSE IN VIOLENCE'
'NO SENSE IN VIOLENCE' By LAMECH JOHNSON ljohnson@tribunemedia.net CHIEF Magistrate Gomez condemned the high levels of crime during the arraignment of several men charged with crimes committed at the New Year's Day Junkanoo Parade. His comments on the i
MAN ON SEX CHARGES
A 25-year-old man was arraigned in Magistrate's Court on charges of having sex with a minor. Ranfurd Johnson appeared before Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez in Court One, Bank Lane. It is alleged that Johnson had sex with a 15-year-old girl between Friday, D
MURDER VICTIM NAMED
By KHRISNA VIRGIL kvirgil@tribunemedia.net POLICE sources say the man whose life was taken in the first murder of the year was 38-year-old Godfrey Davis. Mr Davis, who was to celebrate his 39th birthday on Thursday, was killed just outside his home on St
MEETING HELD TO TACKLE CRIME
MEETING HELD TO TACKLE CRIME By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Staff Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net POLICE and clergymen met yesterday to renew their commitment work together against crime. Bahamas Christian Council (BCC) executives and senior officers ple
BLAZE BURNS FOR EIGHT HOURS
By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net IT TOOK firefighters more than eight hours to extinguish a huge fire that spread to across more than an entire acre at its height. Director of Fire Services Assistant Superintendent Walter
CONSTRUCTION 'JUST AT THRESHOLD' OF REBOUND
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The construction industry is just at "the threshold of recovery" from the global recession, the Bahamian Contractors Association's (BCA) president telling Tribune Business yesterday that estimates of a 3.5 percent
Extra weekend fuel costs hurt airliness
By NATARIO MCKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net THE BAHAMIAN aviation industry was dealt another blow over the New Year's Day holiday weekend, with widespread delays resulting in extra fuel costs, Tribune Business was told yester
Arson at school
EDITOR, The Tribune. THE botched attempt to burn down the Carlton E Francis Primary School is an act that I decry as despicable, treasonous and cowardly. With our current economic climate and our educational system needing all the help it can get, the p
UNION CHIEF LANDS TOP ROLE
THE Bahamas Union of Teachers congratulated its president Belinda Wilson on her appointment to the Commonwealth Teachers' Group steering committee. Mrs Wilson, pictured, will serve on the nine-member committee comprised of trade unionists from the UK, Ind
MINISTER'S OFFER OF AIRPORT TALKS DISMISSED AS 'STALLING TACTIC'
MINISTER'S OFFER OF AIRPORT TALKS DISMISSED AS 'STALLING TACTIC' By DANA SMITH dsmith@tribunemedia.net FOLLOWING the Ministry of Labour's offer to meet with representatives of frustrated airport employees, one union leader dismissed the proposal as noth
Behind the scenes at Junkanoo 2012
By JEFFARAH GIBSON and ALESHA CADET Tribune Features THE frenzied crowds witness the main show on Bay and Shirley Streets, but on Junkanoo morning, there is just as much as excitement, energy, and activity behind the
CHAMBER MUSIC TO START NEW YEAR
CHAMBER MUSIC TO START NEW YEAR FREEPORT, Bahamas - The Grand Bahama Performing Arts Society will open the new year with a Chamber Music Concert featuring four artists on Saturday, January 21st, at 8pm at the Grand Bahama Yacht Club on Midshipman Drive.
Feel that Soca Frenzy
By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter COLD weather prevented some Soca lovers from wearing the customary sexy shorts and revealing tanks, but it did not prevent them from whipping up a party atmosphere at the Soca Frenzy concer
MAJOR EARNS TOP RANKING
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net PHILIP Major Jr was determined to join Iesha Shepherd, Danny Wallace and Erin Strachan as top ranked players in their respective divisions of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association's Junior Inv
The Woman Behind "Floral Arts"
The Woman Behind "Floral Arts" By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer HAVING the opportunity to lighten up people's lives with her beautiful floral arrangements has been apart of Michelle White's life for more than 20 years. As a successful florist, sh
VALLEY BOYS STRIKE BACK
By LAMECH JOHNSON ljohnson@tribunemedia.net DEFENDING champions The Valley Boys have been declared the unofficial winners of the New Year's Day Junkanoo parade for a second straight year, redeeming themselves from a fourth place
Tuesday, January 3
ASIAN MARKETS RISE ON EUROZONE FACTORY DATA
BANGKOK (AP) — World stock markets rose Tuesday, as market confidence grew after the release of manufacturing data that showed improvement in Europe.
COMMISSION URGED TO ACT ON $10M PORT PROSPECTUS
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A prominent businessman has again urged the Securities Commission to "become involved" and ensure the prospectus for the $10 million Arawak Cay initial public offering (IPO) is amended to confirm that the 20 per c
POLICE HAVE 'SIGNIFICANT' LEADS INTO MAN'S MURDER
By KHRISNA VIRGIL kvirgil@tribunemedia.net POLICE say they are following significant leads into the murder of a 27-year-old man who was shot dead on Fire Trail Road two days before the new year. Three me
CRITICAL CARE BLOCK ON SCHEDULE
THE team working on the construction of the new Critical Care Block at the Princess Margaret Hospital have reportedly been making significant progress. The contractors say the project is still on budget, and remains on schedule for its June 2013 completio
COMMUNICATIONS REVENUES FALL 7%
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamian communications industry's total revenues decreased by 7 per cent year-over-year in 2010, falling from $460 million to $428 million, as the sector's regulator pledged to introduce "universal service ob
BAHAMAS OUT OF STEP ON 'INFORMATION AGE'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas must retool its economy and workforce to offer an expanded services menu including software development and retirement homes, the Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) chairman sugg
CONSTRUCTION & MANUFACTURING: 8,800 JOBS LOST IN 3-YEAR PERIOD
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas lost a total 8,870 jobs in its construction and manufacturing industries between 2007-2010 as a result of the global recession, a United Nations (UN) Body has reported, with per capita GDP only now beg
TRIPLE MURDER RUMOUR QUASHED
By KHRISNA VIRGIL kvirgil@tribunemedia.net THE Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) last night quashed rumours of a murderous start of the new year after word spread of a possible triple homicide. On January 1, users on two major social media websites discu
FUND 'BELOW PAR' AFTER 50% VACANCY CUT FAILURE
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Property Fund's failure to cut the 20 per cent vacancy rate at its flagship Bahamas Financial Centre by half meant its 2011 performance fell "slightly below expectations", although last May's Bahamian
HAWKS RUN AWAY FROM HEAT IN FOURTH
MIAMI (AP) — Atlanta played zone defense. Tracy McGrady found his zone. And with that, Miami's unbeaten start came to an end.
MAN DROWNS AS BOAT CAPSIZES
BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net FREEPORT: Police are continuing their investigations into the apparent drowning of a 60-year-old man in waters off Eight Mile Rock. According to reports,
STATE FUNERAL FOR SIR CLIFFORD
By KHRISNA VIRGIL kvirgil@tribunemedia.net FORMER Governor General Sir Clifford Darling will be laid to rest on Thursday. The state funeral will take place at the Zion Baptist Church, on East and Shirley streets, at 11am. His body will be interred at the
SPORTS IN BRIEF
VOLLEYBALL NPVA POSTSEASON PLAY THE New Providence Volleyball Association has announced that on Wednesday night at the DW Davis Gymnasium, the Saints and the Crusaders will play a sudden death game to determine who will get fourth place in the men's pl
FEDERATION SIGNS ANTI-DOPING DEAL
THE Bahamas Anti-Doping Commission and the Bahamas Cycling Federation on Friday, December 30, signed a historic agreement. The BADC, established via the Bahamas Anti-Doping In Sports Act of 2009, recognizes the various national federations in the countr
FUTURE BRIGHT FOR CABC
by RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net Champion Amateur Boxing Club concluded another successful year as one of the country's leading boxing clubs and continues to develop future Olympians and world-class boxers. CABC ended 16th
CONCERNS RAISED OVER LACK OF NATIONAL HONOURS FOR BAHAMIANS
By KHRISNA VIRGIL kvirgil@tribunemedia.net CONCERNS have been raised over the government's failure to name any Bahamians as recipients of national honours for 2011. Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, on Monday, December 13, 2010, awarded 24 persons who were
CONCERN OVER 72 JOB LOSSES
BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net FREEPORT: The Progressive Liberal Party candidates on Grand Bahama expressed concern over the firing of 72 employees from Hutchison Whampoa's business opera
RATTLERS RETAKE CLASSIC TROPHY
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WITH the key big men on both teams fouled out, the CI Gibson Rattlers got a 1-2 punch from Lamont Armaly and Kristen Francis to win the Providence Holiday Basketball Classic for the first ti
