Friday, December 31
520 new cases of COVID-19
There were 520 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Thursday – a new record for a single day – bringing the total number to 24,996.
Man charged with murder and attempted murder in Freeport
A 21-year-old Freeport man was charged with murder and attempted murder in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Oil sheen spotted at estimated site of sunken gas tanker
AN oil sheen has been spotted from aerial observations at the estimated site of a sunken gas tanker, the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources said on Friday.
Two in custody after armed robbery, sexual assault at home
Two men have been arrested after an armed robbery and sexual assault at a residence in the western district of New Providence on Thursday.
Cruise ship with COVID cases denied entry to Ocean Cay
HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville confirmed on Friday the cruise ship MSC Seashore was denied entry by the government to Ocean Cay because of a number of COVID-19 cases on board.
DIANE PHILLIPS: Sharing and caring isn’t hard – and makes life oh so much better
IN sailing, there is something called the groove. It is not a place, well, technically, it is, but it is more a feeling. It’s when the wind is in your face, the sails are set and trimmed perfectly, main and jib in tight, going upwind heeling at 30-35 degrees, water rushing under you and the boat feels like it is powering itself, just flying along, which is really an oxymoron because the one thing sailing is not is fast.
A COMIC'S VIEW: Naughty’s New Year’s resolutions
How lost were we thinking 2021 would be so much different and better then 2020.
WORLD VIEW: Deeper integration of CARICOM countries cannot wait
THE destruction by tornadoes of Kentucky, a south-eastern State of the United States of America (US), on December 12, has lessons for the countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as 2022 dawns amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and weakened economies.
11-year-old girl injured in shooting
An 11-year-old girl is in hospital after a shooting in Redland Acres yesterday.
COVID resets the clock on Arawak Cay operations
FISH Fry at Arawak Cay will go back to late hour service in the New Year as demand picks up.
VAT change prompts hirings
Super Value will bring in new staff to help with its Value Added Tax (VAT) re-pricing for the January 1 switch to 10 percent from 12 percent.
Residents still have questions over Love Beach approval
Love Beach residents said they were not formally notified of The View Love Beach project being approved and found out about the approval “through the grapevine.”
CPSA voices concern over mass gatherings
WITH hotels allowed to continue with plans to host events in the upcoming days, the vice president of the Consultant Physicians Staff Association said more information is needed about these gatherings and the conditions in which they are happening.
Vaccinations in progress at Susan J Wallace Centre
VACCINATIONS on Grand Bahama are in progress at the Susan J Wallace Centre and people who are immuno-compromised are encouraged to get vaccinated.
Minnis denies encouraging the govt to investigate Parks and Beaches
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has denied his successor’s claim that he encouraged the Davis administration to investigate the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority because he was concerned about how it was operated.
923 police officers promoted this month
MORE than 920 Royal Bahamas Police Force officers of all ranks received promotions this month.
207 new cases of COVID-19
TWO hundred and seven cases of COVID-19 were recorded on Wednesday, bringing the nation’s confirmed virus toll to 24,476.
Robbery ‘ruled out’ in Griffin slaying
THE motive behind businessman Leon Griffin’s murder does not appear to be armed robbery, Royal Bahamas Police Force Commissioner Paul Rolle said yesterday.
ROLLE’S CONCERN AT LACK OF INQUESTS: Commissioner concedes absence of hearings on police killings is problem
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the near two-year absence of inquests into police-involved killings is unacceptable, a sentiment Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle echoed during a press conference yesterday.
No tough measures on Davis’ play sheet
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis says he is not considering a serious shutdown of economic activity in the country despite record increases of COVID-19 cases.
Murder toll for year stands at 119
THE country recorded 119 homicides so far in 2021, a 75 percent increase when compared with the 68 that occurred during the same period in 2020.
Smugglers’ accusation investigated
POLICE Commissioner Paul Rolle said the Royal Bahamas Police Force is investigating a claim that an officer was allegedly involved in a $25 million cocaine operation.
Man shot in the hand during car chase with police
POLICE said a man was shot in the hand during a car chase in Grand Bahama on Wednesday.
There is a bright light within us
What makes humanity so special? Yes, special. We are agents of destruction and creation too. We look at our universe often in a survivalist manner, applying the rules of Darwinism to much that we do.
Are political parties ‘not for profit entities’?
Yes, carnival.....accepted the “tradition” party in-office has a business arrangement with the Carnival Company, but does the political party have a Business Licence? Has it a VAT Tin number?
23 officers test positive for COVID-19
COMMISSIONER of Police Paul Rolle revealed that currently 23 police officers have recently tested positive for the coronavirus, including three in Grand Bahama.
Knowles-Tener gets ready for NFL Draft
After he completed his collegiate eligibility, Rondre Knowles-Tener now has his sights set on the National Football League and that journey began in earnest with a showcase of some of the best prospects from Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) programmes.
COVID-19 forces Atlantic University sport to a halt
BAHAMIAN student athletes were looking to return from the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) winter break and resume their basketball seasons next week, but the COVID- 19 pandemic has forced the conference to postpone all competition.
Shaunae Miller-Uibo Tribune Sports’ Female Athlete of Year
WITH another sterling 400-metre gold medal performance at the COVID-19 delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games a year later, Shaunae Miller-Uibo was in vintage form as she got her name stamped on another Tribune Sports’ Female Athlete of the Year.
Thursday, December 30
STATESIDE: Has anyone out there got an answer?
IF YOU’RE Joe Biden you really need a tough skin and determination in the face of daunting adversity these days. The American President seems beset with intractable problems, insoluble divisions in his own party and economic and political trends that do not bode well for a rise anytime soon in his slumping popularity.
FRONT PORCH: In a time of despair came the hands that brought hope
In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the great historical pandemics, shattered then shuttered the global and national economy. International tourism came to a dramatic and unprecedented halt. Much worse than in the 2008 Great Recession, the Bahamas economy collapsed within months.
‘My son was gunned down after death threat’
THE mother of a man who was shot dead in Wilson Track on Tuesday night said he had recently been threatened by a friend.
EDITORIAL: One test for travellers, another for citizens?
MEASURES to combat the rise in COVID-19 cases are clicking into place – but they seem a bit mixed up.
AG’s office to investigate gas tanker sinking liability
THE Office of the Attorney General will investigate the environmental liability attached to a collision at sea that resulted in a gas tanker sinking off the coast of New Providence.
Union says delay in face-to-face school is ‘understandable’
THE president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers said it is “understandable” the government has delayed the face-to-face component for the reopening of schools next month.
Up to $50k a week planned for free test programme
HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville said government hopes to spend no more than $40,000 to $50,000 per week on its pilot free COVID-19 testing programme in New Providence.
Year ends seeing first shoots of growth
THE Central Bank of The Bahamas said that the economy will “register marginal growth” for 2021.
Love Beach project was passed on appeal
THE View Love Beach development was initially rejected by the Town Planning Committee only to be later approved by an appeals board.
Giving back as a sign of thanks
A Bahamian catering partnership is giving back to the community to help in the fight against COVID-19.
Small is beautiful as wedding planners gear up
DESTINATION weddings have the Bahamas Bridal Association’s members busy straight through to the early months of next year, its president said yesterday.
Tributes paid to Dennis Knowles
THE Grand Bahama community is saddened over the loss of well-known Freeport businessman Dennis Knowles, who died early this week.
Fusion finding its way out of a hole
AS Fusion Superplex’s financial woes persist, its chief executive officer, Carlos Foulkes, told The Tribune that officials were grateful for the holiday surge in business and equally hopeful this would allow the facility to break even this month.
Fire hits hospital ER room
SOME patients had to be evacuated from Princess Margaret Hospital’s Emergency Department early yesterday morning after a patient who had been placed in an isolation room started a fire.
Attorney fined for contempt
A Bahamian lawyer was fined $35,000 and ordered to pay an additional $20,000 in legal costs after she was found guilty of contempt of court.
‘Why we tightened the net for entry’
MINISTRY of Health officials noticed a significant increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases from travellers about three to four weeks ago, acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Phillip Swain said yesterday.
VIRTUAL CLASS ONLY - FOR NOW: Face-to-face learning in public schools postponed
HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville said the resumption of face-to-face learning in public schools has been postponed by at least two weeks as officials grapple with the fourth wave of COVID-19.
Man fined $5,000 for bid to tamper with jury
A 26-year-old man was fined $5,000 yesterday for asking a female juror to declare the man whose trial she was judging as innocent.
Anglicans should not canonise Bishop Tutu
South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu died on Boxing Day in Cape Town at the ripe age of 90. The recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, Tutu, along with Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk, was instrumental in dismantling the Apartheid system implemented by the White South African National Party, after its ascent to high office in 1948.
Dilemma of reopening the schools
As the proud parent of a University of The Bahamas student, like other parents; students and teachers we are all anxious that in-person tuition become the norm again in the shortest time possible. Many students, unfortunately, do not have access to electricity or computers. This greatly curtails their ability to be taught online. There is little doubt that this will negatively impact their grade averages and results of examinations if and when they are held.
CUBAN MIGRANTS REPATRIATED
THIRTY-NINE Cuban migrants were repatriated to Havana, Cuba from New Providence yesterday.
Jamaican pair arraigned over $600K marijuana haul
TWO Jamaican men were arraigned on several drug-related charges yesterday in connection with last week’s seizure of over $600,000 worth of marijuana that was found in Inagua.
Man denies breaking into school to steal $100 of food
A 22-year-old man who denied breaking into a local school and stealing food was yesterday granted bail before his trial.
COVID-19 surge forces NCAA Div. I Basketball programmes to postpone scheduled openers
The surge of COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant has forced several NCAA Division I basketball programmes to postpone their scheduled conference openers.
Steven Gardiner Senior Male Athlete of Year
IN a year where we’ve had some extraordinary performances by players on their various international teams, Steven Gardiner managed to prevail above them all with his Olympic gold medal to earn The Tribune Sports’ 2021 Male Athlete of the Year.
International basketball players head into break with wins
TAVARIO Miller helped his club extend their win streak, David Nesbitt scored a season high, and Jaraun Burrows led his club into the break with another season high to highlight Bahamian basketball players in various leagues across Europe and South America.
This year’s Bahamas Bowl most-watched edition of event in four years
THE 2021 Bahamas Bowl was the most-watched edition of the event in four years.
Wednesday, December 29
ALICIA WALLACE: Testing is key but we need to make it affordable to work
BETWEEN December 23 and December 25, 580 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded. This should come as no surprise given the gatherings that usually takes place during the holidays and the few restrictions that were in place. There should have been better measures to protect against rampant spread of COVID-19, especially given what we already know about the Omicron variant.
EDITORIAL: Hospitals not overwhelmed - but we can’t count on that
THE fourth wave is upon us – of that there is no doubt now.
Pastor ‘appalled’ at spate of violence
COMMUNITY youth leader Pastor Darrin Rolle has expressed grave concerns over the spate of shooting deaths and gang-related violence in Grand Bahama and in New Providence.
‘We need to know more about sinking of tanker’
ACTIVIST Joe Darville has called for more information from authorities about the potential environmental impact a sunken gas tanker will have on the seabed.
PMH suspends elective care
PRINCESS Margaret Hospital has commenced prevention protocols due to the rapid increase in new COVID-19 cases, suspending elective surgeries as of today.
Physicians concerned about hundreds of new cases
CONSULTANT physicians are concerned about the hundreds of COVID-19 cases recorded in recent days, a representative has told The Tribune.
Investigator tells of libel probe steps
A FINANCIAL crime investigator recounted yesterday how he conducted a number of inquiries at several agencies after being informed of a libel complaint made by former Water and Sewerage Corporation Executive Chairman Adrian Gibson.
Junkanoo goes virtual
MARIO Bowleg, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, said it will cost $300,000 to host a virtual Junkanoo parade in New Providence this year.
CIBC walkout in bid to force bank to address staff issues
CIBC First Caribbean is now “looking to talk” after employees walked off the job to protest not having a collective agreement in place.
Smith open to investors for his PI project
A Bahamian entrepreneur said he has the funding to complete his $2m Paradise Island Lighthouse project despite just last week seeking investors.
Reserves slide continues trend with four percent fall
External reserves slid by four percent in November, continuing a trend, according to the Central Bank of The Bahamas.
How the bounce-back was working before the fourth wave
The Central Bank of The Bahamas’ (CBOB) Monthly Economic and Financial Developments (MEFD) report for November, said tourist arrivals increased by nearly 3,400 percent from 2020.
Cheques to be eliminated in three years
THE Central Bank of The Bahamas is looking to eliminate cheques by the end of 2024.
Love Beach residents ‘in the dark’ over controversial project approval
RESIDENTS of Love Beach say they are in the dark over the reported approval of the controversial “The View at Love Beach” project and don’t know what exactly the government has approved.
$25m cocaine smugglers say officer aided them
TWO Venezuelan men who were caught trying to smuggle $25m worth of cocaine into the country last week were sentenced to five years in prison yesterday.
Gibson jumps to back general manager in probe
WATER and Sewerage Corporation general manager Elwood Donaldson was scheduled to go into early retirement in late September but was asked by the Davis administration to remain with the water provider for a smooth handover to new appointees of the corporation.
HOSPITAL RATE LOW IN SURGE: Cases still soaring but officials holding their breath on admissions
HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville said officials are happy that COVID-19 hospitalisation rates are low despite skyrocketing cases, adding this will affect decisions about whether additional restrictions should be introduced.
How to get infected in 3, 2, 1...
When you flaunt basic disciplines and protocols of COVID what do you expect.....infection.
Minnis no longer the scapegoat
The December 2019 SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Wuhan, China has exacted an immense social, physical, economic, psychological and political toll on Bahamians.
DISCHARGE OVER GROCERY THEFTS
A 40-year-old man who was caught trying to steal several household items from a local grocery store last week was granted a conditional discharge yesterday.
MAN ‘TRIED TO SHOOT COP ON CHRISTMAS DAY’
AN Abaco man was remanded to prison yesterday after being accused of trying to shoot a police officer on Christmas Day.
MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER ATTEMPT
A MAN was charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s court yesterday with attempted murder.
FIVE ACCUSED OF HARBOURING FUGITIVE
FIVE men were charged before the Freeport Magistrate’s Court with harbouring a fugitive.
NEW PROVIDENCE MAN ON GB SHOOTING CHARGE
A NEW PROVIDENCE man has been charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s court with attempted murder.
Ayton inks new deal with Puma
While joining the growing list of players affected by COVID-19 health and safety protocols in the National Basketball Association, Phoenix Suns’ centre Deandre Ayton also benefitted from a lucrative deal off the court.
McKay Jr eager to make his return
AFTER enjoying some good old Bahamian cooking in the company of his family and friends over the Christmas holiday, freshman forward Gregory McKay Jr is rejuvenated to return to Limestone University in Gaffney, South Carolina, to continue his collegiate season with the Saints men’s basketball team.
Rhema Otabor Junior Female Athlete of Year
OTABOR’S 2021 season featured milestone accomplishments in the javelin at both the collegiate and international levels.
‘The competition was fierce because we had a good show from many of our top junior veterans’
AFTER two exciting weekends of action during the Christmas break, the Southwest Tennis Club Holiday Tournament came to a resounding conclusion on Monday at the Flamingo Gardens Community Centre tennis court.
Tuesday, December 28
Local healthcare sector can be leader in new climate change reality
WHEN we think of climate change, the resilience of our health system and its facilities may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, it is one of the most critical aspects of ensuring that the Bahamas is able to adapt to the inevitable changes that climate change will bring.
‘Self-care makes for better men and better communities’
A FOCUS on self-care for men will not only benefit the individual man, but the community as a whole, according to local life coach Eddi Russell.
Obesity can be linked to low testosterone in some men
THE male hormone testosterone plays an important role in regulating sex drive, fat distribution, muscle mass, endurance, bone density, red blood cell production and sperm production, in addition to many other bodily functions.
Bahamian women share dating goals for 2022
WITH 2022 almost upon us, many people are plotting and thinking about what goals they want to accomplish in the new year. For some, this may mean exercising more, getting organised financially, travelling more (if the pandemic ever ends), taking a professional development course or getting aligned spiritually. However, several Bahamian women are turning their attention to a different area: dating.
A ‘Mommy on a Mission’ seeks to inspire and support all women with podcast
WITH the aim of providing a safe space for women where they can engage in and enjoy unscripted, relatable and candid conversations about pertinent issues, Jillien Mortimer started her podcast Mommy on a Mission early last year.
PETER YOUNG: A message straight from the Queen’s heart
THE Queen’s message to the people is a staple of Britain’s Christmas tradition. In the run-up to this year’s festivities, many anticipated her speech to the nation on Christmas Day would be particularly personal since the past months have been a notably difficult and sad time for her including the loss of her husband, falling ill herself for a short period and the much-publicised troubles within her family. And so it proved to be – of all the Christmas Day messages she has delivered, this may have been the most heartfelt and personal one yet.
FACE TO FACE: Don’t be sad, we’re all in this together
THIS Christmas has been different from any we have ever seen in The Bahamas. We have lost more people this year than any other in recent history. The pandemic has claimed the lives of 713 Bahamians, many of them succumbing to COVID-19 in 2021. Then, there are those still recovering from the loss of loved ones due to Hurricane Dorian.
Union donates to Rand Memorial
THE Grand Bahama Dock & Allied Workers Union, Freeport Container Port made a special presentation of Christmas gifts to the Lula Knowles Paediatrics Ward of the Rand Memorial Hospital on Friday.
Mitchell pays tribute to ‘voice for freedom’ Tutu
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has expressed sadness at the death of anti-apartheid campaigner Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Shiver’s got it licked
A Bahamian-made ice cream producer is bouncing back after major COVID-19 related setbacks nearly saw the close of her business.
Smith revels in RCCL’s Lucayan setback
A Bahamian entrepreneur said Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) is on a losing streak in The Bahamas now, should re-evaluate their future.
Another year and still the lights are going out
A former Chamber of Commerce director has hit out at the recent spate of blackouts in the nation’s capital charging little has changed at Bahamas Power & Light (BPL).
Kovats hits back on Treasure Cay plans
THE Treasure Cay resort potential buyer has responded to concerns surrounding his intentions for the property and the island saying “there is no time for ‘White Crab, Black Crab’ games.”
Where to in 2022?
ActivTrades
THE stock market year 2021 will be remembered as a good one - despite some setbacks.
Man shot dead by off-duty officers
OFF-DUTY police shot and killed a man who officers said “brandished” a gun at them outside a nightspot in the Fire Trail Road area on Sunday.
UPDATED – Two dead in holiday shootings
A young man was shot dead and another was injured and taken to hospital following one of two double shootings on Christmas Day in Grand Bahama.
Two Jamaican men held after $600k drug capture
TWO Jamaican men were arrested on Christmas Eve in Inagua after they were found with more than $600,000 worth of suspected marijuana.
PAYING THE PRICE: COVID numbers explode to highest of pandemic in wake of mass events
THE country recorded 580 new cases of COVID-19 over a three-day period from December 23 to 25, with Christmas Day alone accounting for 330 infections.
Women leading the way
THE year 2021 has been a banner one for many Bahamian women who managed to make tremendous strides in both their personal and professional lives despite the difficulties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Time to act on bail and guns
One wonders how many more high-profile murders it will take before Bahamian politicians wake up, stop wringing their hands and start wielding the power that is in them to fix the immediate problem.
Desmond Mpilo Tutu
In Fire Forged and Purified [Desmond Mpilo Tutu, October 7, 1931 to December 26, 2021]
Fraudster’s five-year sentence reduced
A CONVICTED fraudster has had her five-year sentence reduced to 12 months by the Court of Appeal.
Evans CAC Female Swimmer of Year
Fresh off her stellar performance at the 15th edition of the FINA World Championships in Abu Dhabi this month, Grand Bahamian Joanna Evans got the news that she was selected as the Central American and Caribbean Female Swimmer of the Year.
Wendell Miller - Junior Male Athlete of the Year
VERSATILE sprinter Wendell Miller concluded his time on the junior circuit with a season of milestones, highlighted by a new junior national record in his signature event.
Monday, December 27
Gas tanker hit by super-yacht sinks off New Providence
A GAS tanker sank off the coast of New Providence on Friday after it was “rear-ended” by a 207-foot super yacht.
Sunday, December 26
Man injured in police involved shooting
A man was injured in a police involved shooting in Abaco on Saturday.
Friday, December 24
PMH update on Emergency Department assistance
ONLY people needing emergency medical attention should seek assistance at Princess Margaret Hospital's Emergency Department, the facility advised on Friday.
Police yet to make arrests in Leon Griffin murder
POLICE on Friday continued to investigate the murder of Leon Griffin, husband of former Cabinet Minister Melanie Griffin and former Bahamas Taxicab Union president.
DIANE PHILLIPS: The grinches who stole Christmas
TODAY is Christmas Eve. At least technically it is Christmas Eve. For all those who had plans to gather with family tonight or tomorrow and had to cancel those plans, thanks to the grinches who stole Christmas, it doesn’t feel like Christmas Eve.
A COMIC'S VIEW: Twas the night before Christmas
‘TWAS the night before Christmas when all through the House;
GB electricity decision next week
A FINAL decision on the electricity rate increase application proposed by the Grand Bahama Power Company will be made when the Grand Bahama Port Authority wraps up its 45-day public consultative process on December 31 – a week from now.
Amendment to the SERZ Order extended
Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey has advised the public of the recent extension to the Amendment to the Special Economic Recovery Zone (SERZ) Order for Building Supplies.
Airport: We’ve got the manpower
WITH Lynden Pindling International Airport experiencing heavy traffic this holiday period, an airport representative said they are satisfied immigration officials have the manpower to process passengers quickly and safely disperse crowds.
Schools still plan to reopen - but situation being watched
EDUCATION Minister Glenys Hanna Martin says her ministry is still moving full steam ahead with the plan to reopen schools next month.
‘We need to tighten restrictions’
WHILE opinions differ, more Bahamians are calling for restrictions to be heightened in case of a possible fourth wave of COVID-19.
Central Bank wants to see ‘prepare for worst plans’
The Central Bank of The Bahamas has called for recovery plans for all supervised financial institutions (SFIs) to help enable them to fully restore operations after a crisis situation.
Cost of change from playing ‘VAT politics’
The “era of Value Added Tax (VAT) politics” is making things difficult, one large food store chain executive said.
Revolution here in Fin-Tech market
The Bahamas Investments and Securities Business Association’s (BISBA) president says Fin-Tech will “catapult” the financial services industry in 2022.
Concerns mount over Treasure Cay future
Opposition to suitor for the Treasure Cay resort mounts as more residents strike out in opposition to Dr Mirko Kovats, with one being a backup bidder for the resort.
Venezuelan men held as drugs haul found
POLICE arrested two men from Venezuela who landed at the Crooked Island Airport after 11pm on Wednesday with suspected cocaine.
Prime Minister in isolation and his wife infected after family event
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis went into quarantine at around 11.30pm on Wednesday after he was exposed to COVID-19 from a close relative, but has so far maintained a negative status after multiple tests.
Revised health rules released
THE government released revised health services rules last night to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
‘Police will shut down gatherings that don’t follow COVID protocols’
NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe laid out the policy people must adhere to with respect to hosting gatherings over the next few days.
UPDATED: Leon Griffin, husband of Melanie Griffin, shot dead in suspected robbery
LEON Griffin, the husband of former Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin, died last night after being shot in the head in a suspected robbery outside the family’s home.
COVID’S A REAL GRINCH: New testing rules for travellers and size of gatherings, Free medical masks and field hospitals plan as case total soars to 140
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday announced tightened measures for The Bahamas, including a shorter testing window for inbound travellers and a change in the number of people who can attend indoor and outdoor gatherings.
Police promotion letters issued
PROMOTION letters were given out in the Royal Bahamas Police Force yesterday, police press liaison officer Assistant Superintendent Audley Peters confirmed.
Man in court over $100,000 of cocaine
A 24-year-old man was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday on several drug related charges in connection with a recent seizure of $100,000 worth of cocaine.
Spencer Newman wins title
For the first time since 2017, Spencer Newman got to hoist the men’s championship trophy as the winner of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s 2021 Giorgio Baldacci Open Nationals.
Woman with stolen watch doesn’t get time in jail
A 23-year-old woman who was recently found with a stolen watch was put on probation for two years yesterday.
Govt acted lawfully on Carnival
I thank you for the opportunity to respond to a letter that appeared in the editorial sections of the print media on the 21st and 22nd of December 2021 under the pen of SLB and the title “Incompetence and lack of transparency over carnival”.
Zimbabwe fears
It's extremely disheartening to keep on witnessing negative sentiments and lack of concerns by the Zimbabwean government about citizens who are continuously leaving Zimbabwe in search of better economic conditions in other foreign countries, particularly South Africa.
Kai Jones back in NBA G League
KAI Jones has fluctuated between the Charlotte Hornets’ main roster and the G-League affiliate Greensboro Swarm for much of the season.
Romad Dean and Lions finish 3rd
ROMAD Dean and his Crestwood Prep Lions (Ontario, Canada) finished third at one of the most prestigious winter tournaments on the prep basketball circuit in the United States.
6’10 Fredrick King ‘next big man’
FROM humble beginnings in Mangrove Cay, Andros, to the National Basketball Association’s Global Academy, Fredrick King is the next Bahamian big man that the international basketball world is marvelling about.
‘Happy 74th birthday Eddie’
STILL grieving the loss of his mother, vintage Eddie Ford was able to enjoy a light-hearted moment in his life as he celebrated his 74th birthday on Wednesday night.
Players, coaches get together to relive memories of a major feat
Bahamas women’s national basketball team members go undefeated to win gold at 1992 CARICOM games
IT’S not every day you see players and coaches get together to relive the memories of a major feat in their lives.
Thursday, December 23
STATESIDE: Hope out of heartbreak in a country so often at odds
It’s the day before Christmas Eve and all across the land...
FRONT PORCH: Love’s Pure Light
THIS Christmas column is dedicated to a dear priest friend, a source of mercy, of laughter, and of everlasting friendship, who continues to discover and to share new light and life.
EDITORIAL: The rising numbers of cases don’t lie
IN all the talk about COVID-19, there is one thing that is inescapable – the numbers.
Mitchell again criticises civil service
FOREIGN Affairs and Public Service Minister Fred Mitchell has again criticised the state of the civil service, saying “poison pills” have been left behind by the Minnis administration leaving the public sector wrought with “passive aggressive resistance” that needs to be fixed.
PM announces stricter COVID measures
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis on Thursday announced stricter measures in response to rising cases of COVID-19, including a shorter testing window for inbound travellers.
Investors flocked to take up port’s shares
Nassau Cruise Port Ltd (NCP) was “oversubscribed” with over 3,500 investors for a $25m Bahamas Investment Fund (BIF) equity offering.
Retailers finally have something to cheer
“Christmas Eve will tell the tale” for one retailer as this Christmas sales season is certainly better than last year, but it is still not quite at 2019 levels.
Exemptions order extension welcome - ‘but we need more’
Abaco Chamber of Commerce president Ken Hutton says the extension of the Special Economic Recovery Zone (SERZ) order for Abaco needed to be for three years, not one.
Despite failed hotel acquisition investor remains committed
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) remains committed to Grand Bahama through its 40 percent stake in the Grand Bahama Shipyard, despite having to step aside from the Grand Lucayan Resort acquisition.
‘We need more enforcement of protocols’
THE head of the Consultant Physicians Staff Association has suggested more enforcement of COVID-19 protocols is necessary in view of reports of large events being held recently.
Bishop sends Christmas message of peace
THE Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands, Rt Rev Laish Boyd, has sent a message of peace for Christmas.
Prime Minister encourages honest reporting at Press Club
DURING a courtesy call on Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, president of the Press Club Anthony Capron asked the nation’s leader to assist the group in sourcing a space for its headquarters.
Process to verify IDs underway
FOLLOWING revelations about the administration of contracts at the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority, officials were yesterday in the process of trying to verify contractors so money owed can be paid.
‘Linking Lucayan to port project was best deal’
FREE National Movement Leader Michael Pintard said when negotiations between Royal Caribbean/ITM Group were bogged down after Hurricane Dorian, the sale and acquisition of the Grand Lucayan hotel was put in jeopardy.
Joyelle’s murder: Three win appeal
THE Court of Appeal has overturned the convictions of three men who were accused of murdering Joyelle McIntosh, a Queen’s College elementary school teacher whose killing in 2015 shook the country.
ROLLING THE DICE WITH OUR LIVES: COVID cases leap 200% as Sands warns: we’re ‘gambling at our peril’
FORMER Health Minister Dr Duane Sands has said the country continues to “gamble” with COVID-19 “at our peril” as the Ministry of Health reported 79 new infections on Tuesday.
Drug arrest
A MAN was arrested at Lynden Pindling International Airport on Tuesday for drug possession.
Unity benefits the Caribbean
A Commonwealth is a nation, state and or other political unit, founded on law and united by compactor tacit agreement by the people for the common good.
Making hard decisions with compassion
This past week the Hon Philip 'Brave' Davis, QC, MP, our beloved, for now at least, had to make the tough decision to say no to the hosting of Carnival this year. The rationale which I fully agree with was that there were too many risks of the event being a possible super spreader of the deadly COVID. Health and medical personnel had also warned about such possibilities. Educators were also concerned that with the proposed reopening of class rooms in January that children and young adults ran yet more risks of infecting other students or becoming infected themselves.
New Day or same as usual?
Did the Carnival issue cause the New Day to become "same as usual"? Carnival arrives…set up on Clifford Park.
Conditional discharge over one gram of marijuana
A 28-year-old man found with one gram of marijuana earlier this month was granted a conditional discharge and ordered to attend counselling yesterday.
‘I saw injury to the face of mother’
A POLICE officer testified in court yesterday how he noticed injuries on a woman who alleged she was hit in the face by her child’s father.
Food store worker on $50k theft charge
A FORMER food store employee was charged in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with stealing over $50,000 from her employer.
Housebreaking accused remanded
A 21-year-old man accused of breaking into a woman’s house earlier this month was remanded to prison yesterday.
Man accused of setting fire to home
A 31-year-old man was remanded to prison yesterday charged with setting fire to another man’s home last month.
Tennis ace Sydney wins Baldacci Open Nationals
Sydney Clarke is your Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s 2021 Giorgio Baldacci Open Nationals women’s champion.
Doctors make donation to home for the aged
PERSIS Rodgers Home for the Aged received a $2,500 donation from the Consultant Physicians Staff Association yesterday.
Stuart and Demons have lofty expectations
DAUNTE Stuart and his Northwestern State Demons head into the 2022 season with lofty expectations based on several noteworthy publications.
McPhee-McCuin, Rebels win 12 straight
YOLETT McPhee-McCuin continues to lead her Ole Miss Rebels to milestones on their strong start to the season.
NCAA Div 2: Bahamian players on streaks
SEVERAL Bahamian basketball players at the NCAA Division II level took respective win streaks into a brief winter break.
Great Bahamas Shoot Out Pool Tournament in epic showdown
THE stage was set for an epic showdown yesterday as the Great Bahamas Shoot- Out Pool Tournament came to a close following four successful weeks of intense competition.
First Annual Potcake Golf Tournament ‘huge success’
PEDIGREES may have their Westminster Kennel Club show, but it was the Bahamian Potcake – that special breed of dog with the narrow head and a keen sense of how to cross the street on its own terms – that stole the show during the 1st Annual Potcake Golf Tournament.
Wednesday, December 22
EDITORIAL: A decision at last - but no solution for Grand Lucayan
WELL, so much for the Grand Lucayan deal.
Darville hints at changes over large gatherings
THERE could be changes to COVID-19 protocols for large gatherings along with an adjustment at our borders for travellers, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said yesterday.
Fox Foundation gives to those in need
A massive crowd came to the Sports Centre grounds yesterday as the Fox Foundation gave away $250,000 worth of food vouchers to those in need.
New grading puts fuel into recovery
A TOP hotelier said “tourism momentum will increase” with the Centres for Disease Control lowering the country’s travel advisory to Level 2 from Level 3.
Kovats emerges as potential buyer for Treasure Cay
THE government will “look into” the concerns raised about the investor seeking to buy the Treasure Cay resort.
Failure to get Lucayan deal over the line not unexpected
A lack of “commitment” to complete by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line for the purchase of the Grand Lucayan Hotel was behind government’s decision to pull the plug on the deal and one Freeport businessman agrees.
Lawyer group donates to hospital
THE Grand Bahama Chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) presented Christmas gifts to the Lula Knowles Paediatrics Ward at the Rand Memorial Hospital last Friday.
Living Waters aims to build community centre
LIVING Waters Kingdom Ministries is building a youth and community centre with a target completion date of 2023.
Murder suspect shot dead by police
A 28-year-old wanted murder suspect was shot and killed yesterday morning by police in Grand Bahama, ending a two-week island-wide manhunt.
Purchase of new J&J vaccines is unlikely
HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said it is very unlikely the government will purchase additional doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, noting challenges with uptake by the public.
Former Atlantis staff to get $500 payment
SOME disengaged Atlantis workers can expect to receive a $500 stimulus payment from the National Insurance Board on Christmas Eve.
Darville relaxed despite COVID outbreak on ship
HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville says he’s pleased with the COVID-19 protocols put in place by the cruise line industry, while confirming a ship that docked at Coco Cay in The Bahamas suffered a virus outbreak among passengers on board.
WALKING AWAY: Govt pulls plug on Grand Lucayan deal and is now seeking other investors
THE agreement between the government and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines/ITM Group for the acquisition of the Grand Lucayan resort has been cancelled.
Siblings accused of stealing
A 28-year-old man accused of stealing over $9,000 from Commonwealth Bank last year was granted bail ahead of his trial yesterday.
Go tell it on the mountain
In my late teen age years I discovered the literary works of the late James Baldwin, a prolific African American writer and novelist. He wrote many books that became best sellers. One of his classics was: “Go tell it on the Mountain”. It described the path to emancipation by many black Americans back in the day. What he described therein was/is akin to conditions obtaining in The Bahamas today.
Fight for our country
Many persons know me as a youth advocate through my work as national director of the Governor General’s Youth Award. Post retirement, I have also come to identify as an environmentalist.
Facebook con artist jailed for four years
CONVICTED con artist Shane Mackey will spend four years in prison for defrauding several people of more than $30,000 in connection with a Facebook Marketplace scam that occurred earlier this year.
Six months in jail for $60 grocery thief
A 36-year-old man who stole over $60 worth of supplies from a local grocery and retail store earlier this month and gave officers a fake name was sentenced to six months in prison yesterday.
Firearms import suspect remanded
A 36-year-old man was remanded to prison yesterday after he was accused of conspiring to import several firearms in the country over a nearly three-year period. Larry Burrows appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt charged with 15 counts of conspiracy to import a firearm. Police said the accused, along with others, agreed to import several firearms in The Bahamas between November 2017 to September 2020. During yesterday’s hearing, Burrows denied the offences and the matter was adjourned to January 17 for a bail hearing. He was remanded into custody until that time.
Clarke vs Mackey in final
With a limited field of players in the women’s draw, top two seeds Sydney Clarke and Elana Mackey - both back home from college - made quick work of their opponents in their respective semi-final matches, advancing to today’s final of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s 2021 Giorgio Baldacci Open Nationals.
NACAC age group team honoured
CALLING it a “Christmas gift,” Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ president Drumeco Archer gladly accepted the wrapped package of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Championship title they received from the eight-member team that competed in Nicaragua over the weekend.
‘It’s definitely good to be home in this warm weather’
AFTER getting her feet wet during their collegiate indoor season a week ago, University of Kentucky’s junior quarter-miler Megan Moss said she was so delighted to be able to come home to celebrate the Christmas holidays.
Sydney Clarke makes her donation
ALTHOUGH she came home with her mind focused on participating in this week’s Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s Giorgio Baldacci Open Nationals tennis tournament at the National Tennis Centre, collegian Sydney Clarke didn’t want to pass up another opportunity to make her charitable gesture to the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel.
Tuesday, December 21
PETER YOUNG: How long can Boris survive with the body blows raining down?
AFTER writing last week about the trials and tribulations of beleaguered Prime Minister Boris Johnson, I hesitate to return to the current political turmoil in Britain.
FACE TO FACE: And the award goes to . . me!
DECEMBER got off to an amazing start for me. I had an unexpected surprise that has really inspired me to press on with my personal mission of “Getting Good News in the News”. I was chosen as the “Media Advocate of the Year” and received an Icon Award during celebrations for Disability Awareness Week.
EDITORIAL: Good news - but omicron is on its way
FIRST, the good news – and there’s quite a lot of it to be seen.
Groceries and toys distributed to those in need
DUDLEY Seide, the founder of Reach Out Ministries, distributed some 700 grocery packages and Christmas toys to needy residents in Grand Bahama over the weekend.
Christmas bonus approved for BPL staff despite discrepancy
KYLE Wilson, Bahamas Electrical Workers Union head, said government has agreed to give staff of Bahamas Power and Light a Christmas bonus despite a discrepancy in the registration of the parties’ industrial agreement.
Mitchell says FNM ‘couldn’t see forest for the trees’
FOREIGN Affairs and Public Service Minister Fred Mitchell said the Free National Movement lost the goodwill of the Bahamian people early in its term and the party “couldn’t see the forest for the trees” and just went downhill.
Fernander appointed deputy commissioner
GOVERNOR General Sir Cornelius A Smith swore in Clayton Fernander yesterday as Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
Senor Frogs ‘seeing a lot of business’ since reopen
A popular downtown eatery has brought back only 40 percent of its staff since reopening from its COVID-19 imposed closure in March, 2020.
BREA president taking stand against foreign realtor companies
THE Bahamas Real Estate Association’s (BREA) president yesterday said she wants “law and order” in this country and made a stand on co-brokering with foreign agents as she justifies the need for BREA to have Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with foreign real estate associations.
Taxicab Union warns against price gouging
Bahamas Taxicab Union (BTCU) yesterday cautioned against price gouging in the sector, encouraging visitors to check the rates prior to getting into a taxi.
NAD meets passenger arrivals projections
SIR Lynden Pindling International Airport met its projected 6,000 passenger arrival for this past weekend and expects this to maintain this volume throughout the remainder of the holiday season, a top executive at the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) said yesterday.
Mum-of-two dies in head on crash
A FAMILY has been left devastated after a young single mother was killed in a head on collision in Abaco on Sunday.
CDC lowers our travel risk rating
THE United States’ Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has lowered The Bahamas’ COVID-19 Travel Risk Advisory Rating from level three to level two, according to the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
Davis to address COVID concerns
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis will give a “national update” on Thursday on the government’s response to the fight against COVID-19.
ATLANTIS 6,000 BACK AT WORK: Staff return to full hours as surge in bookings arrives
ATLANTIS Paradise Island has 6,000 staff members back to work for the holidays as the resort is reporting full occupancy well into the New Year.
Coach Yo leads Rebels to 11th straight win
COACH Yolett McPhee- McCuin’s Ole Miss Rebels are one of the hottest teams in all of NCAA Division I basketball and streaked to their 11th straight win.
Great Commission Ministries to hold giveaway for needy on Boxing Day
ON Boxing Day, Bishop Walter Hanchell and Great Commission Ministries on Wulff Road will host a free food give-away for the needy.
The problems facing Freeport
International Bazaar – Freeport – aren't two unions on the property?
Incompetence and lack of transparency over carnival
There are still so many questions on the Christmas Carnival mess the government is refusing to answer. After he read a statement on the Carnival, Press Secretary Clint Watson refused to answer questions. This is not the kind of transparency and accountability the PLP promised.
Clean-up horror story
To all who care about beaches,
Murder probe as body found in parking lot
POLICE are investigating a homicide that occurred on Sunday night after a man’s body was found in the parking lot of an apartment building.
Discharge for obstruction
A 32-year-old man who obstructed an officer while she was executing her duties earlier this week was granted a conditional discharge yesterday.
Man accused of damaging car
A woman testified yesterday about how she made a complaint to police after being informed by a friend that her car had been damaged.
Behind bars after stealing $60 of groceries
A 36-year-old man who admitted to stealing over $60 worth of supplies from a local grocery and retail store was yesterday remanded into custody pending sentencing.
Murder suspect remanded to prison
A 25-year-old man accused of murdering a man earlier this year was remanded to prison yesterday.
Giorgio Baldacci Open Nationals underway
It was an easy day in the office for some of the top players as day one of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s week-long Giorgio Baldacci Open Nationals got underway yesterday at the National Tennis Centre.
Bridgewater helps his team win Coupe de Provence title
DOMINICK Bridgewater helped his Sapela Basket 13 club to the Coupe de Provence title in France’s NM2 League.
Lacarthea Red-Line Athletics’ Athlete of the Year
FOR her achievement in making every junior national team as the top high school sprinter in the country this year, as well as the Olympic Games, Lacarthea Cooper was awarded the Red- Line Athletics’ Athlete of the Year honours.
Stingers runners-up at Dynasty Hoops Classic in Orlando
THE Sunland Baptist Lutheran Stingers junior and senior boys’ basketball team made their trip to Orlando, Florida, a memorable one at the Dynasty Hoops Basketball Classic over the weekend.
Monday, December 20
WORLD VIEW: Reform the OAS or oversee its irrelevance
OUR world exists today in troubled circumstances, governed by outmoded charters and laws that are no longer fit for purpose and do not respond to human needs.
INSIGHT: Making Grand Bahama’s story available for all to read
The Groves family is continuing its philanthropic legacy in The Bahamas with the soft launch of a new digital Grand Bahama Museum – the first in the Caribbean region.
THE KDK REPORT: No cage too small
There’s a stark difference between being captured and imprisoned and being born into captivity. The major difference is in the mindset of the prisoner. A man once free and then locked up oscillates between anger and depression, drowning in the loss of the freedom he once enjoyed. Someone born into it, however, simply cannot appreciate this loss with the same level of desperation and comprehension.
INSIGHT: Is Beaches and Parks Authority report a scandal or a distraction?
IN the middle of swirling questions about the government’s handling of the Christmas Carnival fiasco, what does the current administration do? Make accusations about the former administration, of course.
Teen accused of murder bid
A 17-YEAR-OLD boy was charged in the Magistrate’s court on Friday with attempted murder in Abaco.
EDITORIAL: Accusation and counter-accusation over contracts
IT would seem any suggestion of bi-partisanship in politics is long gone.
Rest in peace, Bella
D’Onya Bella Walker, the four-year-old who died while staying with relatives in New Providence on November 5, was finally laid to rest by her paternal relatives in Grand Bahama on Saturday.
Majority of 52 week programme workers placed in private sector
Two thirds of the remaining unposted 52 week programme workers in the public service have been successfully placed in the private sector while the remainder are undergoing training.
FOCOL Holdings announces new promotions to its executive ranks
FOCOL Holdings Limited has announced three top level promotions in its executive establishment.
AG: Several tools added to deal with international requests for exchange of information
The Attorney General has provided an insight on the government’s case management system to help facilitate the management of responses to international requests for exchange of information.
Man in hospital after parking lot shooting
A GRAND Bahama man was treated in hospital after he was shot yesterday.
Parliamentarians urged to maintain highest standards
MEMBERS of Parliament were urged to uphold the highest standards in the delivery of their duties during a three-day post-election seminar held at SuperClubs Breezes.
Pintard - who have you given work to?
FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard said the Davis administration has breached the reporting requirements of the Public Procurement Act.
UPDATED: SHUT THEM DOWN – All contracts with Beaches and Parks are scrapped in response to ‘control failures’
THE Bahamas Public Parks and Beaches Authority will terminate all current contracts after external investigators found numerous lapses in its functioning and internal controls.
COVID cases continue to ramp up
IT is possible that an uptick in COVID-19 cases is associated with the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and travel, according to local infectious disease expert Dr Nikkiah Forbes.
Officer’s son victim of Arawak Cay stabbing
THE teenage son of a police officer died after he was stabbed during an altercation at Arawak Cay on Saturday night.
When will contractors get money they’re due?
FREE National Movement Leader Michael Pintard said the Davis administration should be clearer about when contractors who had agreements with the Bahamas Parks and Public Beaches Authority will be paid monies owed to them.
Team Bahamas NACAC Age Group champions
On the strength of a gold medal from Keyezra Thomas, a silver from Keely Deveaux and a pair of bronze from Jamiah Nabbie and Kenny Moxey Jr, the Bahamas emerged as the overall champions of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Age Group Championships.
How income tax works
A letter appearing in your column of Friday the 17th of December, written by a Kim Sawyer, displays a common misunderstanding of the nature of the Bahamian economy.
Freeport’s airport
Now that the GB Port Authority and Hutchinson Wampoa have conveniently extricated themselves from the loss-making joint ownership of the Grand Bahama Airport, it falls upon the Government to undertake the massive task of rebuilding.
Dignitaries and COVD rules
Is there a hidden new protocol for COVID, which is only for our so-called dignitaries and spouses?
Swimmer Joanna Evans advances to two finals
Joanna Evans continues to make Bahamian history in the pool at the FINA World Swimming Short Course Championships (25m).
Middle Tennessee tops Toledo 31-24 to begin bowl season
THE Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders out-classed the Toledo Rockets in a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback to hoist the 2021 Bahamas Bowl college football championship trophy at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on Friday.
Team Isaacs wins Don’t Blink Home Run Derby overall title
THE 2021 Don’t Blink Home Run Derby in Paradise featured new team and individual champions as the event overcame inclement weather concerns and made a successful return to the shores of The Bahamas.
Ministry congratulates Olympic swimmer Joanna Evans
The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, in a press release yesterday, congratulated Bahamian Olympic swimmer Joanna Evans on placing 7th in the women’s 400 metre freestyle and 8th in the 200m freestyle events in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Trading inflation
ActivTrades
THE acceleration in the rise of consumer prices of the last 8 months continues to spread.
Friday, December 17
Baby Bella Walker brought home to Grand Bahama
THE remains of Baby Bella Walker arrived in Grand Bahama from New Providence on a private charter aircraft on Friday afternoon – a solemn final journey home for the four-year-old who captured the heart of a nation.
PM announces 16 new Queen's Counsel appointments
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has announced 16 new Queen’s Counsel appointments, which include Attorney General Ryan Pinder and former Senate President Sharon Wilson.
American man pleads guilty to drug charges
AN elderly American man pleaded guilty to two drug related charges in a Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Bahamas receives 48,000 COVID vaccine doses from PAHO/WHO, Canada and Colombia
The Bahamas received 48,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines under a collaboration between the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the Governments of Canada and Colombia.
DIANE PHILLIPS: You never know when the phone might ring
MY father died 55 years ago today. I still remember the phone call delivering the news. I was packing to visit him in Florida, leaving in the morning to catch the first flight from Louisville where my then husband and I were living for six months.
Middle Tennessee tops Toledo in Bahamas Bowl
(AP) — Freshman Nick Vattiato threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns, including a 59-yard scoring pass to Jarrin Pierce with 6:24 left, and Middle Tennessee beat Toledo 31-24 on Friday in the Bahamas Bowl.
A COMIC'S VIEW: Supply chain Christmas list is a little short
CHRISTMAS is in the air, it’s obvious if you look around town though that the pandemic is still having its effects.
Rawson Square lights up for Christmas
Video showing the finishing touches being put to Rawson Square's spectacular Christmas decorations this week.
EDITORIAL: Safety first is the right approach over carnival
THE Christmas Carnival will not open.
Equinor: We’ll talk to BNT over oil fears
EQUINOR said it intends to make a detailed presentation to the Bahamas National Trust following a report that there continues to be high concentrations of oil in and around its plant following Hurricane Dorian.
Man in hospital after Eight Mile Rock shooting
A man is in hospital after being shot in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama on Thursday night.
UB Nursing school to relocate to make way for disease unit
THE University of the Bahamas’ Nursing School faculty is to relocate immediately from the Grosvenor Close Campus to make way for a temporary infectious disease unit to service a possible fourth wave of COVID-19 early next year.
Five hours of brain surgery to save Megan
FIFTEEN-year-old Megan Higgs, who suffers from hydrocephalus, underwent almost five-hours of surgery to remove a life-threatening cyst from her brain.
‘Slippery slope’: Don’t exploit private aviation
The Bahamas must “nurture rather than exploit” a booming private aviation market that can become increasingly “fickle” if hit with increased taxes, a prominent industry executive is warning.
Innovation Centre will benefit 1,500 students
The Bahamas’ first and “only” Centre of Entrepreneurship and Innovation will develop a business and technology incubator designed to benefit 1,500 students, it has been revealed.
Insurers ‘trying to hold line’ on rate increases
Bahamian insurers yesterday warned businesses and homeowners that premium prices are again coming under “upward pressure”, with one pledging: “We’re trying to hold the line.”
Court backs regulator’s FBI ‘bait’ broker wind-up
The Securities Commission’s intervention to “nip in the bud” conduct by a Bahamian broker/dealer once used as FBI “bait” was yesterday vindicated by a Supreme Court judge.
Race against time to help four-month-old baby girl
A MOTHER is in a race against time to raise money to pay for lifesaving surgery for her four-month-old daughter.
ZNS anchor stripped of $27,500 Scotia award
A ZNS TV anchor has been stripped of the $27,500 damages she won from Scotiabank (Bahamas) after the Court of Appeal found there was “no basis in law” to hold it responsible for her loss.
Pintard looks to expand numbers at conference
FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard says he hopes the party agrees to increase its number of voting delegates at the next convention.
SAFETY FIRST: Carnival to stay shut after govt persuaded of COVID spread risk
THE government has again denied a request from operators of the Christmas Carnival, citing the fast-spreading omicron variant of COVID-19 and a need to mitigate risks from the virus as children prepare for face-to-face learning next month.
Who can afford an income tax?
This past week on many of the Talk Shows callers were promoting Income Tax as their choice to pull our revenue out of the hole it is in.
FOAM to feed 500 in giveback
LOCAL advocacy group Families of All Murder Victims expects to feed 500 people today during a giveback event in observance of the festive season.
Bank hands $5,000 to young achievers
COMMONWEALTH Bank yesterday donated $5,000 to Junior Achievement Bahamas to assist the organisation in meeting its goal of making all of their programmes available to every kindergarten, primary and high school student in the country.
Stadium - but seats stay empty
So the Sports Authority are better served with a bunch of bankers than business people who have some sense of how to manage a marketable facility. Didn’t the PLP pre-2017 sign a very costly management-marketing contract with a California Sports Marketing Co, and got nothing.
Carnival capers
Amazing how quickly it is back to normal after an election with all those pious promises of Better Better New Day... nothing at all if we are to take the obvious from the carnival saga.
Banking service
See public, make public comment as to how a company-service acts inappropriately, like that Canadian bank and their refusal to spurt out $20.00 bills from their ATM machines… see a lot of negative comments and guess what, even the bosses in Ottawa listened.
Coconut Grove suspect in court
A 21-year-old man was remanded to prison yesterday after being accused of murdering a man and attempting to kill another earlier this month.
Firearms suspect held
A MAN who is suspected of trafficking firearms from the United States to The Bahamas since 2016 was apprehended by the Royal Bahamas Police Force yesterday.
Man accused of incest
A 26-year-old man was charged in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday with incest and indecent assault.
Ramsingh-Pierre appointed
ALL the work that Catherine Ramsingh-Pierre would have done over the years in Bahamas Equestrian has paid off as she was appointed as the Group IV representative to the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) solidarity committee.
$300 fine over marijuana
A 27-year-old man who was found with five grams of marijuana earlier this week was yesterday ordered to pay $300 or risk spending a month behind bars.
‘Jazz’ breaks ground, starting in Pinewood
The Pinewood Sports Complex is set to receive a major upgrade due to several groups of investors and Bahamian Major League Baseball (MLB) player Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm.
Higgins sails for Bahamas at Youth World Championships
HARBOUR Island native Joshua Higgins is representing the Bahamas this week in one of the most prestigious events on the world sailing calendar in Oman.
Don’t Blink Home Run Derby in Paradise rocks with kids’ camp
THE Don’t Blink Home Run Derby in Paradise opened its busy schedule of events with a new initiative and a staple of previous editions. Don’t Blink Home Run Derby in Paradise rocks with kids’ camp
Southwest Tennis Club’s Holiday Invitational set for Flamingo Gardens
IN their bid to provide some excitement in the community this Christmas season, the Southwest Tennis Club is scheduled to hold its Holiday Invitational Tennis Tournament, starting this weekend at the Flamingo Gardens Tennis Courts.
Flamingos Women’s Golf Club 242 hosts its inaugural 18 hole scramble golf tournament at Baha Mar’s Royal Blue Golf Course
THE development of women’s golf is making headway led by the Flamingos Women’s Golf Club 242.
Teams set for Home Run Derby in Paradise
The teams for the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby in Paradise have been set for Team Fox and Team Isaacs as they prepare to decide the 2021 title.
Bahamas Bowl kickoff set for noon today live on ESPN
MIDDLE Tennessee and Toledo players have heard the “Something has to give” cliché all week long as the two teams prepare to play in the annual Bahamas Bowl today with a noon kickoff on ESPN.
Thursday, December 16
STATESIDE: ‘Tis the season to... keep on worrying for the world
THERE was a time, not so very long ago, when it seemed like the second half of December provided a respite from news about the troubles in the world. Part of this was due to the fact that in many countries, including the US, the politicians were on vacation somewhere warm and the media journalists who covered them knew the Christmas season was one of the few times of the year – August was usually another of them – when a family vacation could safely be booked.
FRONT PORCH: Ongoing struggle to emancipate colonised minds
“The most important area of domination [is] the mental universe of the colonised, the control, through culture, of how people perceive themselves and their relationship to the world.” – Jason Hickel
EDITORIAL: A glimpse of sunshine at last
WITH every cloud, there comes a silver lining – but what a cloud we’ve been living under.
Ministry insists: There has been no attack on any public servant
IN the face of claims that some island administrators were being victimised, the ministry with responsibility for local government has said no public servant has been attacked.
Disputes probed over staff dismissed by Minnis govt
LABOUR Director Robert Farquharson says the Department of Labour is reviewing trade disputes related to 65 employees of Urban Renewal in Grand Bahama who were dismissed under the Minnis administration.
PAHO official: Don’t use doses for boosters now
A PAN American Health Organization official has said the organisation does not recommend using vaccine supplies for booster shots at this time, saying the doses should be used to increase vaccination coverage.
‘Only open schools when safety measures in place’
AS public schools prepare to reopen for hybrid instruction with face-to-face learning next month, a Pan American Health Organization official said this can be done once adequate safety and health measures are in place.
BOB to expand branch network
Bank of The Bahamas yesterday revealed it plans to buck the industry’s downsizing trend by opening two new branch locations on New Providence by September 2022.
Bahamas provider probed on $77m securities fraud
Regulators are investigating a Bahamas-based financial and corporate services provider that allegedly helped to conceal and transfer proceeds generated by a $77m securities fraud.
Nassau airport loss up 8-fold to $37.4m
The Nassau Airport Development Company’s (NAD) net loss rose more than eight-fold to $37.396m for the year to end-June 2021, exposing the full extent of COVID’s devastating travel impact.
Welcome back, you did the nation proud
TOURISM Minister Chester Cooper revealed yesterday that Miss Bahamas Universe Chantel O’Brian will be offered a job at his ministry starting Monday.
Six more deaths blamed on COVID
COVID-19 deaths have increased by six, bringing the overall count to 714.
Nurses’ concern at hospital security
BAHAMAS Nurses Union president Amancha Williams says one nurse was injured and others have been left mentally shaken after a fight broke out between patients in the Emergency Department of Princess Margaret Hospital.
Carnival left to wait on approval decision
HEALTH officials were still in meetings last night and up to press time no decision had been made on a new application from operators of the Christmas Carnival who are still seeking to open despite being denied permission by the Ministry of Health last week.
THE GREAT RETURN: Airport to be swamped with arrival of 6,000 passengers on Saturday
The Bahamas’ major aviation gateway is confident it can escape another debt default waiver as it readies for “numbers we’ve not seen for two years” with 6,100 arrivals anticipated this Saturday.
Man ‘panicked’ and gave wrong name
A 24-year-old man who gave police the wrong name earlier this week was yesterday ordered to complete 100 hours of community service to avoid spending a month behind bars.
BTC helping spread Christmas cheer
BTC HAS announced its corporate donations to 18 organisations for the holidays to help them to spread Christmas cheer to families across the Bahamas. Among the organisations are five children’s homes and eight groups committed to feeding those in need.
A changing world and The Bahamas
The world is changing rapidly and the way forward for countries like The Bahamas needs to be reinvented. As a nation, we are impacted by global warming and need to find ways to both protect and take advantage of this challenge.
Lunatics are still running the asylum
Reference my letter dated 25/03/2021 captioned The Lunatics are running the asylum.
McAlpine hoodwinked by voters
I recently came across a Facebook post by a former Free National Movement (FNM) MP in which this individual was mocked by a slew of rude commenters.
$2.5m trial for woman accused of defrauding Cable Bahamas adjourned
A magistrate yesterday adjourned the trial of a woman who was accused of stealing from and defrauding Cable Bahamas of more than $2.5m over a 12-month period.
Discharge after stealing car part
A 31-year-old man who admitted to stealing a car part from a woman’s vehicle last year was granted an absolute discharge yesterday.
Spend $500 on another man’s card? Pay up $5,000
A 22-year-old man who admitted purchasing over $500 worth of items using another man’s bank card was fined over $5,000 yesterday.
Attempted murder conviction quashed at Court of Appeal
THE Court of Appeal has quashed the 2017 attempted murder conviction of a juvenile who was sentenced to 35 years in prison, ruling the Supreme Court judge in the case was wrong to let the trial continue in the young man’s absence.
Supplies business celebrates decade of Freeport operation
GRAND Bahama Industrial Supplies has reached a ten-year milestone in Freeport, rebuilding its operation from scratch after suffering severe flood damage two years ago during Hurricane Dorian.
Prime Minister’s Trophy up for grabs
Final practice sessions are in the books, and the return of the Bahamas Bowl is just hours away from kickoff as teams vie for the Prime Minister’s Trophy.
‘Fantastic Four’ in FINA World Swim Championships
BAHAMAS Aquatics is expected to field a four-member team to compete at the 2021 FINA World Swimming Championships (25m).
Wide receiver Prince Strachan commits to Boise State Broncos
PRINCE Strachan ended his recruitment during the early signing period and announced his commitment to the Boise State Broncos.
Deandre Ayton: ‘That’s what 45 minutes feels like, I’ve never played 45’
DEANDRE Ayton returned from a non- COVID-related illness with a season high scoring effort to help the league-leading Phoenix Suns avoid consecutive losses for the second time this season.
HUBERT EDWARDS: Reigniting the debate on Bahamian taxation
The Bahamian taxation debate is reigniting. The country faces a narrow, and not so clear, path, but will have to confront its taxation regime soon.
Charter operator to ‘plead case’ to new NAD Board
A private charter operator is hoping to meet with the new Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) Board so he can plead the case for his lease to be reinstated.
Construction urged: Stay ‘optimistic’ on 2022 work
The Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president yesterday urged the industry to remain “optimistic” about its recovery prospects with several major projects due to start next year.
ART OF GRAPHIX: Graphic gains from audience conversion
Graphic design is more than just aesthetics; it is a form of communication between your business and your audience. Businesses use graphics at every stage of the marketing process to inform, engage and eventually persuade prospective customers to make a purchase or take action.
Wednesday, December 15
ALICIA WALLACE: Let’s try not to judge - just be happy and kind this holiday season
The holidays are quickly approaching and we are all preparing in different ways. For the past few weeks, traffic has gotten heavier and it has taken more planning and time to get from one place to the next.
EDITORIAL: Will there be an end to victimisation?
VICTIMISATION is a word often thrown around in political debate – but the FNM is seemingly ready to take that beyond talk and into court.
Olympian’s home will be linked to utilities
YOUTH, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg says Cabinet has given approval for infrastructure to be placed at Olympian Ramon Miller’s home on government gifted land, where he has lived off the grid for several years.
Pintard: Tell us how Carnival mess happened
FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard says the Davis administration should provide a chronology of events related to the Christmas Carnival debacle, one that details the communication missteps between ministries such as the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance.
Minister talks climate change on Brazilian TV
A BAHAMAS government minister recently appeared on TV in Brazil to talk about climate change and the farming industry.
Ministry of Health project aims to tackle climate issues
THE Ministry of Health and Wellness in an effort to address climate change has developed a project set to improve climate resilience in the country’s health system.
Cooper says Minnis should ‘enjoy his retirement’
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis should “enjoy his retirement”, a Cabinet minister said yesterday, while dismissing the Killarney MP’s criticisms of the discontinuation of the travel health visa for Bahamian citizens and residents returning home from abroad.
‘Glaring deficiencies’: Sky chief defeats $33m ruling
A Supreme Court judge yesterday cited “glaring deficiencies” as he overturned a default judgment against Sky Bahamas’ principal over an alleged $33.4m “bogus loan conspiracy”.
Carnival transparency need is ‘quite obvious’
A governance reformer yesterday said there was “quite an obvious need for transparency” around the relationship between the Christmas Carnival and whichever political party is in power.
Chamber chief’s fear on minimum wage ‘timing’
The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s president says the private sector is not opposed to the concept of a minimum wage increase but, rather, the timing.
Holiday determination aids staff cost control
A senior hotelier yesterday welcomed the Government’s decision to clarify which two days will be designated as “holidays” this Christmas for better enabling the industry to control labour costs.
Police shoot man in buttocks
A JUVENILE who led police on a car chase yesterday morning was shot in the buttocks by officers.
Motorcade to welcome home Miss Bahamas
MISS Bahamas Universe star Chantel O’Brian speaking to The Tribune from a plane last night on her return to Nassau said she believes her achievements at the competition were for a “purpose” and not mere luck.
FNM prepares dossier on lost jobs and contracts
THE Free National Movement may take legal action against the government on behalf of people who have lost their jobs or had contracts cancelled under the Davis administration.
Follow protocols and Carnival could just open
WITH the Christmas Carnival operators awaiting an answer on their resubmitted application from health officials to open, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said he has asked an opinion from his legal section on whether it actually requires an approval.
Pintard reminds team - I’m our voice
FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard said the only people who can communicate the direction of the FNM on national issues are himself and those the party selects to convey messages that are agreed upon by the party and its parliamentary caucus.
Sky Bahamas principal wins ‘tolerable victory’
Sky Bahamas’ boss yesterday said he “hopes and prays this never happens to anyone else” after a default judgment against him over an alleged $33.4m “bogus loan conspiracy” was overturned.
Bahamas Bowl: Dearmon says Blue Raiders are ready for challenge
RETURNING for their second appearance at the Bahamas Bowl, Middle Tennessee’s offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Brent Dearmon said the Blue Raiders are ready for the challenge ahead of them this year.
Practice makes perfect: Rockets, Blue Raiders participate in ‘intense’ training sessions
AFTER settling overnight, the Toledo Rockets got down to business with their first practice yesterday at the Roscoe Davies Developmental Centre in preparation for Friday’s seventh Bahamas Bowl game against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.
Sydney: ‘I’m in top shape to do some damage this year’
WHILE she’s excited to be back home, Bahamian collegian tennis player Sydney Clarke said she’s looking forward to having another eventful trip during her Christmas break.
DPM blames airlines over health travel visa confusion
The deputy prime minister yesterday blamed the airline industry’s “slow communication” process for difficulties being encountered by Bahamians in boarding flights to return home.
BTVI chief: Construction courses to ‘boom’ in ‘22
The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute’s (BTVI) president yesterday said he is focused on preparing students to exploit opportunities from foreign direct investment (FDI) projects.
Retailers report strong start to Christmas sales
Bahamian retailers yesterday disclosed that sales for the industry’s vital Christmas season have gotten off to a strong start despite the global supply chain crisis.
Political parties
You can’t take politicians or political parties seriously, particularly when they say they have the interest of the public at heart.
Fox Hill incident
Once again the families of the four persons killed on the 27th December, 2013, in Fox Hill are forced to endure another Christmas season without any resolution or closure on the murder of their family members.
Who gets to use Hon?
Always thought you had to be a Minister in a Ministerial appointment today or a Minister who had been a Minister to two-terms, but it seems on election as ab MP today upstarts are using Honourable/Hon as a prefix to their names.
Food for the homeless thanks to Rotary Event
THE Rotary Club of Grand Bahama distributed hot breakfast and food care packages to the homeless community and a local homeless shelter in Grand Bahama on Saturday.
Eight women, 17 men in BLTA Giorgio Baldacci Open Nationals
THE field is complete for the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s 2021 Giorgio Baldacci Open Nationals with a total of eight women and 17 men entered in the week-long tournament scheduled to begin on Monday at the National Tennis Centre.
Man jailed for stabbing his child's mother with fork
A 36-year-old man who admitted to stabbing his child’s mother in the head with a fork was sentenced to nine months in prison yesterday.
Ecstasy in his luggage costs American $1,000 fine
AN American tourist who was found with ecstasy pills in his luggage at Lynden Pindling International Airport was yesterday fined $1,000.
‘Pay $1,000 for receiving stolen car parts’
A 29-year-old man was yesterday ordered to pay $1,000 to avoid spending three months behind bars after admitting to receiving stolen car parts earlier this year.
Minister says PHA responsible for hospital security
NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe has responded to calls for more law enforcement presence at public health facilities after a patient attacked another patient at the Princess Margaret Hospital on the weekend.
Tuesday, December 14
Chantel ready to celebrate after historic Miss Universe finish
AFTER a historic finish in the top ten and snagging the “Carnival Spirit” award at the 70th Miss Universe pageant over the weekend, Bahamian beauty queen Chantel O’Brian is now eager to unwind and relax…with some sky juice that is.
In fight to end gender-based violence, Zonta turns Englerston and Family Islands “orange”
Women of the Zonta Clubs in Eleuthera and Abaco brought the “Orange the World” campaign to life on their islands, spreading the word that people everywhere should say “No!” to gender-based violence.
PETER YOUNG: After scandal and blunders is the clock ticking loudly for Boris?
In Britain, it is said politicians as a species need to have the skin of a rhinoceros to thrive or even survive in the hurly-burly of their chosen occupation.
FACE TO FACE: Nikkiah’s road led to her being in the frontline in the fight against COVID
MANY years ago, a wonderful little food store with family charm and great prices was located on the corner of Market and Quakoo Streets. Utoy’s Food Mart was special. It was owned by Eustan and Mary Forbes.
Bain insists he will appeal after being ordered by court to pay woman $64,000
COALITION of Independents leader Lincoln Bain yesterday repeated his determination to appeal a court ruling that ordered him to pay $64,000 to a woman after finding he did not invest or return the money she wanted him to hold in a trust for her for three years.
EDITORIAL: A Christmas party for the party in power
A NEW twist on the Christmas Carnival saga emerged yesterday – that the request for temporary approval to bring in equipment, apparatus, trailers and supplies for the event came from no less than the Progressive Liberal Party.
Make a difference for others this Christmas
TWO local charities are calling on the public to assist them to make certain that those for whom they care feel loved during the upcoming Christmas season.
First arrivals get their booster vaccinations
WITH booster COVID-19 shots available to the general public 18 years and older as of yesterday, a number of people showed up at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium to receive a third dose of the vaccine.
Carnival operator to seek judicial review if go-ahead not given
BJORN Ferguson, the newly retained lawyer for carnival operator McCafferty Enterprises, suggested yesterday his client would seek judicial review proceedings in the Supreme Court if his application to host the Christmas Carnival event is not granted approval.
The nation salutes Queen Chantel
YOUTH, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg has congratulated Miss Bahamas Universe Chantel O’Brian on making history by placing in the top ten at the Miss Universe pageant held in Israel.
‘We’re not taking VAT change sitting down’
A Freeport manufacturer yesterday warned its competitiveness will be undermined, and presence in The Bahamas endangered, by VAT reforms that have seemingly removed its ‘zero rated’ status.
‘Aggressively advance’ yacht registry, says AG
The Bahamas must “aggressively advance” the building of a yacht registry to capture a greater share of the business that passes through its waters annually, the attorney general said yesterday.
Gov’t ‘running out of time’ on extending Dorian relief
The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s president yesterday voiced concern that the Government is “running out of time” to clarify if the Dorian tax breaks will be extended beyond year-end.
Bahamas oil well creditors accept 84% debt hair-cut
Creditors owed a collective $11.3m for the drilling of an exploratory oil well in The Bahamas have agreed to accept a near-84 percent haircut on this debt, it was revealed yesterday.
‘Don’t rest on laurels’ over yachting registry
The Bahamas must reform its tax structure to become a competitive flag state for yachts, a marina operator urged yesterday, adding: “We cannot afford to rest on our laurels.”
Patient held after attack in hospital
A PATIENT was arrested after he attacked another patient at Princess Margaret Hospital on Saturday.
Olympian’s wait for help drags on
OLYMPIC Gold medalist Ramon Miller says he’s still facing the “dilemma” of needing infrastructure at his Tropical Gardens home two months after his problem attracted national attention.
‘Time long overdue to act on gender violence’
SENATE President LaShell Adderley says the time is now to enforce, amend and enact legislation to curb the scourge of gender-based violence in the country. “Enough is enough,” she said yesterday.
Cooper - like FNM - hopes for Lucayan deal ‘soon’
DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper said the Davis administration is determined to fix the Grand Lucayan resort, adding an announcement on the beleaguered property will hopefully be made soon.
PLP PARTNERED TO STAGE CARNIVAL: Process defended as standard practice in raising party funding
FREE National Movement Senator Maxine Seymour tabled a letter in the Senate yesterday that purports to show that the Ministry of Finance gave the Progressive Liberal Party temporary approval to import “equipment, apparatus, trailers and supplies” for the Christmas Carnival event.
Jonquel Jones is the MVP frontrunner in EuroLeague
Jonquel Jones’ double double streak recently came to an end but she remains the frontrunner to claim another MVP award this season.
Stockstill and Blue Raiders arrive ahead of Bahamas Bowl
HAVING left on the losing end in their first trip here in 2015, Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders’ head coach Rick Stockstill said he’s looking for a more favourable outcome when they take on the Toledo Rockets in this year’s Bahamas Bowl.
Candle, Rockets ‘looking forward to a great week here at Atlantis’
WITH 13 seniors returning from their team that participated in their previous trip here in 2018, head coach Jason Candle said he hopes that his Toledo Rockets can leave the Bahamas this time around with the Bahamas Bowl trophy on their plane.
Man denies deceiving police by giving false name
A 38-year-old man was remanded to prison yesterday after being charged with unlawful possession and deceit of a public officer.
Man accused of raping teenager
A 22-YEAR-OLD man accused of raping a teenaged girl earlier this month was remanded to prison yesterday.
Prince Strachan gets his first official NCAA Division I offer
PRINCE Strachan received his first official NCAA Division I offers of his recruitment process and his first from a Group of Five programme.
Robbery suspects remanded to custody
TWO men accused of robbing a man with a knife earlier this month were remanded to prison yesterday.
Corporate and govt partnership
I was pleased to see and hear about the roll out of a financial motivational lottery for unvaccinated Bahamians who volunteer to receive their first jabs this month. This is wonderful news and a great holiday gift from The Fox Foundation and its Board of Directors/Trustees. It is vital that all Bahamians should be vaccinated against the worst ravages of the ongoing pandemic if we are to successfully reopen the economy.
IMF and taxation
With regard to the article which appeared in your paper on Friday, Mr James Smith is quite correct in saying that we should not be led like blindfolded sheep to the slaughter by the tax-loving, socialist leaning IMF.
Banking services
As we come to close of a very difficult financial year certain of our banks are celebrating operating here for some years. One would have thought as part of their celebration high on their list to do would be: How can we improve customer relations, but, no, hell bent instructed from Ottawa reduce our services make it more and more impersonal and clap our hands and slap our backs – job well done.
U.S. man says visitors gave him marijuana, judge gives him fine
AN American caught trying to travel with marijuana that he claimed was given to him by other visitors while staying at a local resort was fined $500 yesterday.
David Nesbitt scores game high 22 points in Boca Juniors debut
DAVID Nesbitt made his debut for Boca Juniors in the FIBA Basketball Champions League Americas and helped lead the club to a 1-1 weekend in Group D.
University of the Bahamas Athletics courtesy call on Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture
THE University of The Bahamas’ Athletics Department paid a courtesy call on Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg yesterday.
Retailer slams ‘unhelpful’ vendor permit changes
A Bahamian retailer yesterday voiced frustration at additional vendor permit requirements that he branded “unhelpful” to the ease of doing business.
Building suppliers predict supply woes to mid-2022
Building materials providers yesterday predicted that global supply chain challenges will last well into mid-2022 but have prepared for the Christmas season early.
Monday, December 13
12132021 EDITION
Monday, 13th December, 2021.
WORLD VIEW: Democracy Summit missed an essential ingredient
US President Joe Biden declared at the opening of a “Summit on Democracy”, which he convened on December 9, that “democracy needs champions”.
THE KDK REPORT: The enemy within
Every parent has a dream for their child. Some have intricate plans of what schools they should attend and what career they should choose. Others are less rigid, focusing more on the type of person they will develop into and the hope that they can find happiness along the way. The patient highlighted in today’s report is the mother of three children and her dreams for her second child, her only son, were shattered when he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia at the age of 20.
INSIGHT: If this is how we do business, no wonder we’re in such a mess
WHEN Michael Halkitis took office as Minister for Economic Affairs in the new government, there were two things on his mind. The first was to stabilize the country’s finances with a national debt of $10.356 bn at the end of June and a deficit of $951.3m.
EDITORIAL: What will we do about the tidal wave that’s coming?
TWO national leaders spoke yesterday about the omicron variant of COVID-19. One, a current Prime Minister, the other a former one.
One step closer to decision for Prospect Ridge project
THE Ministry of Housing is preparing its last briefing paper to present to Cabinet that will shape the final determination regarding the Prospect Ridge project’s future, according to Transport and Housing Minister Jobeth Coleby-Davis yesterday.
‘Follow protocols to keep numbers low’
A TOP infectious disease expert has cautioned that if The Bahamas is to maintain low case numbers, COVID-19 precautions and protocols must be followed, including avoiding large gatherings this holiday season.
Pushed to ‘brink of collapse’ through 40% cost hikes
An ex-Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president yesterday said many contractors are “on the brink of collapse” due to fixed-price contracts that exclude the impact of 40 percent cost hikes.
Cruise port the ‘canvas for the Bahamian story’
Nassau Cruise Port’s $300m transformation is “creating the canvas upon which Bahamians will tell their story” and entice more visitors to leave their vessels, its top executive says,.
‘Extraordinarily high’: Transport costs now 20% of goods prices
A well-known Bahamian retailer is advising locals “to shop early because prices will not be going down” with transport costs accounting for an “extraordinarily high” 20 percent of product costs.
Urban Renewal lights up Christmas tree
SCORES of residents from inner-city communities gathered at Southern Recreational Grounds on Friday as Urban Renewal hosted its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
Christmas Carnival operators still hope to open
OPERATORS of the Christmas Carnival are still seeking to persuade the government to allow the annual event to operate despite its request being rejected from the Ministry of Health.
Miss Bahamas makes top ten for first time
MISS Universe Bahamas Chantel O’Brian made history last night as she reached the top ten in the international pageant.
Ninety days to switch VAT pricing
Retailers have been given a 90-day transition period to deal with the repricing “nightmare” caused by the VAT rate cut, one saying yesterday: “We hope this is the last change for a very long time.”
Woman, 22, dies as car collides with pole
A WOMAN is dead after her car veered off the road and hit a utility pole in Grand Bahama on Saturday night.
‘SCRAPPING VISA A HUGE MISTAKE’: Minnis attacks decision to remove health visa requirement for locals
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis says the Davis administration has made a “grave mistake” by removing the travel health visa requirement for Bahamians and residents who are returning to the country from international travel.
It’s ham and turkey time again
The administration led by Dr Hubert A Minnis from 2017 to 2012, a mere four years, was akin to a sausage and grits (no butter) administration. His policies and initiatives did not appear to work and few ever felt any beneficial impact. In fact, with his draconian lock downs and infantile curfews, it is my opinion that he literally wrecked the national economy and few were able to eke out a living from March, 2020 straight into September, 2021. All most of you were able to afford, if anything, at all, was a little bit of sausage and a spoon full of grits.
DEREK SMITH: Combating the threat posed by cyber risks
Those who do not know the language of cyber security may think the topic is foreign. Compliance professionals should not forget that conversations about compliance, dripping in apparently infinite acronyms, can also sound foreign to those unfamiliar with the subject.
BDB and foundation in bid to strengthen tie-up
The Bahamas Development Bank (BDB) has moved to strengthen its partnership with the One Eleuthera Foundation as part of its drive to boost Family Island growth.
Bad policy is an understatement
Hubert Ingraham sold BTC for effectively $148m to people who themselves valued it at $1.3 billion . . .
COVID’s ‘captive audience’ aids digital payment growth
A digital payments provider says COVID-19 accelerated the industry’s growth because it created a “captive audience” for its services.
GB tourism revival concern on Grand Lucayan, airport
The Grand Lucayan hotel and Grand Bahama International Airport are vital assets that cannot work without each other to revive the island’s dormant tourism product.
What drives the price of bitcoin?
ActivTrades
Traders of bitcoin are used to sharp price action, such as the one experienced during the first weekend of December, when the digital currency lost around 20 percent of its value.
Vaccination incentives
While I see nothing wrong with the government using financial incentives to encourage people to get vaccinated, I object strongly to them using the exploitative proceeds from numbers gambling to do so.
More than 100 migrants held near Inagua
MORE than 100 suspected illegal migrants were picked by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in waters near Matthew Town, Inagua, last week.
Jazz: ‘I want to win MVP’
After missing out on an historic Major League 20/20 (home run/stolen base) feat this past season that was hampered by an injury, Bahamian Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm said he’s looking forward to improving in his quest to go after the Most Valuable Player award.
Anthaya pops personal best, wins long jump
ANTHAYA Charlton, joining the Bahamian connection for the Wildcats women’s track and field team, couldn’t ask for a better introduction to her collegiate career at the University of Kentucky.
Roadrunners track club awards athletes of the year
MALCOLM Williams and Sabriya Farquharson, two of the athletes of the year, were proud that the Roadrunners Track and Field Club brought back its annual awards and presentation banquet after missing last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Giorgio Baldacci Nationals set for Dec. 20
THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) is scheduled to hold its 2021 Giorgio Baldacci Open Nationals Championship at The National Tennis Centre December 20-23.
Minister: National Sports Authority has a ‘new, energetic board’
THE National Sports Authority has a new board and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg has mandated them to go out around the world and bring the “Sports in Paradise” brand to the various facilities under the jurisdiction for the 52 weeks of the year.
Friday, December 10
Cooper: Minnis administration's plans for 'green island' were 'fanciful speech'
PLANS by the Minnis administration to convert Ragged Island to a “green island” were nothing more than “fanciful speech to get likes on social media.”
New Ragged Island Airport Terminal opened
AS HE opened the new Ragged Island Airport Terminal, Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, Chester Cooper, branded the building a “new day” project.
Ministry giving ‘a little over $100’ to people in need
STATE Social Services and Urban Development Minister Lisa Rahming said on Friday her ministry has been distributing “a little over $100” for those in need of social assistance.
DNA Leader Arinthia Komolafe resigns
ARINTHIA Komolafe announced on Friday her immediate resignation as Democratic National Alliance Leader.
Rand Memorial Hospital 'yet to fully recover' from loss of staff after Dorian
THE Rand Memorial Hospital has yet to fully recover from the loss of physicians and nurses in specialty areas and hospital equipment.
18 new cases of COVID-19
EIGHTEEN new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Health.
Man found guilty of threatening former MP
A MAN who denied threatening former parliamentarian Travis Robinson last year was found guilty by a magistrate on Friday.
Conditional discharge for man accused of causing damage
A 22-year-old man who admitted causing damage to a woman’s phone and television set earlier this month was granted a conditional discharge on Friday.
Woman ordered to reimburse $26,000 stolen from employer
A 44-year-old woman who stole more than $26,000 from her employer over a three-year period was ordered to reimburse the stolen funds and pay a $5,000 fine to avoid spending a year behind bars.
DIANE PHILLIPS: Poster child of the Bahamian brain drain
WHILE all eyes were on Tiger Woods at the Hero World Challenge at Albany last week, something else that was happening in the rarefied air of the sport was nearly overlooked.
A COMIC'S VIEW: What kind of clown show are we running?
REMEMBER last year when the folks behind the “Holiday Carnival” spent thousands upon thousands of dollars to bring in their equipment, transport it to the Fort, set up their rides, hook up the (BPL?) power, secure temporary housing for their staff, and pay for work permits? All while crossing their fingers that the government would grant them approval to operate?
EDITORIAL: We must act to protect our environment
WHEN Hurricane Dorian tore through The Bahamas, the main worry was for the people in its path.
School opening delays ‘a disgrace but not a surprise’
BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson said it is a “disgrace” but not surprising that three schools will likely not be ready to open in January for hybrid learning with face-to-face instruction.
Don’t Blink: Home Run Derby players arrive on Tuesday
Todd Isaacs Jr said they’re just waiting on the arrival of the players on Tuesday to set the stage for the return of the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby in its setting under the title sponsorship of Atlantis.
BNT: We need a rapid response protocol to deal with disasters
THE Bahamas National Trust has recommended the development of a rapid response protocol for responding to disasters in The Bahamas more than two years after Hurricane Dorian brought destruction to Abaco and Grand Bahama.
Hospital to start ‘phased return’ to normal services
PRINCESS Margaret Hospital will start a phased return to normal services amidst the current COVID- 19 environment. It will begin the shift to a hybrid model of care providing for more face-to-face appointments supported by virtual appointments, which began December 6 and continues into January 2022.
‘Don’t let IMF drag us into income taxation’
The Bahamas must not permit the likes of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to “drag us” into imposing income taxes that “don’t make sense”, a former finance minister argued yesterday.
‘Writing’s on the wall’ on income tax reform
The Bahamas must see “the writing on the wall” and get ahead of the worldwide 15 percent minimum corporate tax push by enacting reforms for its own benefit, a top banker said yesterday.
National debt just under economy’s size at 98.4%
The Bahamas’ national debt was just less than the size of the economy at end-September 2021 after increasing to almost $10.5bn over the previous three months, it was revealed yesterday.
Doctors ‘completely confident’: COViD test staff grow by 100
Doctors Hospital is “completely and absolutely confident” it can meet new US COVID testing protocols and higher Christmas/New Year travel demand after a 100-strong staffing expansion.
Still scepticism on revival of Eleuthera ‘benchmark’
The Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce’s president has acknowledged that a “level of scepticism” exists over this week’s deal to revive “the benchmark of what was possible in the Family Islands”.
Man dies in hospital after shooting
POLICE are investigating another homicide when a man died in hospital after being shot on Wednesday.
American Corner renewed at University of The Bahamas
US CHARGÉ d’Affaires Usha Pitts and University of The Bahamas President Dr Rodney Smith have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) renewing the American Corner at UB’s Oakes Field campus.
Humane Society holds adoptathon
THE Bahamas Humane Society is having a three-day “adoptathon” for cats and dogs this month to help relieve the “overwhelmed” facility.
Crisis Centre calls for govt to create sex offences court
THE Bahamas Crisis Centre said it hopes the government follows through on the creation of a sexual offences court, noting that it has been calling for the establishment of such a court for years.
‘I’ll stand for FNM chairman’
A candidate vying for the position of Free National Movement chairman in the party’s upcoming convention says the organisation is at a critical point and if it does not have a turnaround, it will be in “serious trouble” come the next general election.
Republic debate not on agenda
MAKING The Bahamas a republic is not on the agenda of the Davis administration, according to Press Secretary Clint Watson.
$25k prize to break vaccine hesitancy
PEOPLE who receive their first vaccination shot between December 13 and December 31 will be eligible to win a $25,000 cash prize.
UPDATED: Health officials block carnival
THE Ministry of Health has rejected a company’s request to hold the Christmas Carnival event this year, according to Press Secretary Clint Watson.
EQUINOR SPILL STILL A THREAT: Study says high levels of oil remain on ground despite recovery work
A NEW report has found that despite 18 months of weathering and remediation at the Equinor site in Grand Bahama post Hurricane Dorian there remains high concentrations of oil in and around the area.
Groves must be turning in his grave
Grand Bahamians were shocked after hearing news of the International Bazaar being in flames for the second time in weeks, which has led to speculations that an arsonist is behind the two fires.
At XULA Gold Rush, Jacobi Bain and partner Ramirez ranked 2nd in doubles
THE Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) 2021-22 preseason NAIA rankings are out and Jacobi Bain and partner Juan Ramirez are ranked second in doubles.
Decision is keeping tourists out
It was with disbelief that I read your article today that Tourism Minister Chester Cooper has declared that the Health Visa for Bahamian residents will be abolished. He says this is because of “too much complications”! What about the same problems facing international visitors wanting to come to The Bahamas?
Zimbabwe rights
Zimbabweans are living in conditions that prevail in war zones such as abductions, torture, death, kidnapping and unlawful arrests. Even though Zimbabweans are not in official war, there is no peace in Zimbabwe. It is really bewildering and strange for Zimbabweans to celebrate International Day of Peace.
Six months in jail for stabbing mother of his child
A 28-year-old man who admitted stabbing his child’s mother about the body during an argument was yesterday sentenced to six months in prison.
Probation order over false report
A 36-year-old man was put on two years probation yesterday and ordered to compensate police after admitting to making a false report to officers last week.
Three arrests over marijuana find
THREE men were arrested in Grand Bahama on Wednesday for possession of 2.5 pounds of suspect marijuana.
Dentry Mortimer Jr teams up to win Lil Mo doubles title
THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association extended congratulations to Dentry Mortimer Jr and his partner Eduardo Menezes for teaming up to win the boys under-16 doubles title at the Lil Mo competition at the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
If re-elected, Miller and Hinsey confident they can take Bahamas Golf Federation to ‘higher heights’
WITH another strong, vibrant team in place, incumbent president Lynford ‘Neil’ Miller and vice president Anthony Hinsey are confident that they can take the Bahamas Golf Federation to higher heights, once they are re-elected.
Thursday, December 9
STATESIDE: Make no mistake, the game’s already begun before the first votes are cast
These days, it often seems like the United States actually has four major political parties, not just the two-party duopoly which has prevailed for much of the past 100 years. While there have been exceptions like Ross Perot in 1992 and Ralph Nader in 2000, third-party candidates have rarely influenced national election results in recent decades.
FRONT PORCH: Where’s our appetite for moving towards a republic?
ON one of his trips to a Family Island to discuss independence for The Bahamas, Sir Lynden Pindling was confronted by an older lady who accepted the country should become a sovereign nation. But she added a warning cum proviso: “We’re going to keep the Queen though!?”
EDITORIAL: Bain case admission deserves a full investigation
SOME remarkable scenes played out in court recenlty – where Lincoln Bain, leader of the Coalition of Independents in the election – was ordered to pay $64,000 to a woman who wanted him to hold it in a trust for her for three years. He neither invested it nor returned it.
January 27 for local elections
LOCAL government elections are expected to be held on January 27, Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting said yesterday, as he urged people with a heart for their communities to offer themselves for office.
Darville: I’ll speak to Sandilands for those in need
HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville said he would speak to administrators at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre to see if something can be done to help individuals who are in dire need of admission to the facility.
No evidence of Omicron here yet
PAN American Health Organization officials say while there is no evidence the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is currently in The Bahamas, the country should not wait until it arrives but instead use preventative tools to stop its potential spread.
Three primary schools likely not ready for January 11
THREE public primary schools will likely not be ready for students when hybrid instruction with face-to-face learning resumes on January 11.
Kanoo still paddling on health travel visa
A Bahamian digital payments provider that was earlier this year ensnared in health travel visa-related controversy yesterday said it has remained on the job despite the change in government.
Cruise port profitability matches ‘lock up’ end
Nassau Cruise Port is forecasting that it will start generating profits by 2024 - a timeline that coincides with the end of a three-year “lock-up” for investors in its 49 percent local shareholder.
‘Fraud convict’ concern over $20m COVID loan
Neither the Government nor the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) knew a worker helping to execute a $20m COVID-related loan project had been convicted for fraud in the US.
Grand Bahama trying ‘to keep the lights on’
Grand Bahama’s tourism industry is focused on “trying to keep the lights on” amid the protracted wait for a game changer that will revive the destination, a well-known hotelier said yesterday,
West End resort slowly regains COVID losses
A Grand Bahama resort is rebounding slowly from COVID-19’s devastation with occupancy rates - despite tripling from 2020 levels - still standing at just under 18 percent for the year.
Bain ordered to pay back woman’s $60k
THE Supreme Court has ordered Coalition of Independents leader Lincoln Bain to pay $64,000 to a woman after finding he did not invest or return the money she wanted him to hold in a trust for her for three years.
White may stand for deputy role
ST Anne’s MP Adrian White says he is considering running for deputy leader of the Free National Movement.
Mitchell turns on ‘slow’ civil servants
FOREIGN Affairs and Public Service Minister Fred Mitchell has lamented the slow response of certain civil servants to instructions given by the new government.
Phased booster rollout is underway
THE Ministry of Health and Wellness as of yesterday rolled out the first phase of its COVID-19 booster shot campaign, meaning people 60 and older can now receive a third jab, according to Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville.
Health travel visa halted for locals
BEGINNING on Monday, citizens and residents of The Bahamas will no longer need a travel health visa to come home from abroad, Tourism, Investments and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper announced yesterday.
When can we get the boosters?
Despite this administration’s promises, we still have no firm details to when we can expect to be able to sign up for these potential life-savers.
‘Confusion’ over carnival opening
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said his successor, Philip “Brave” Davis, and Health Minister Dr Michael Darville are at odds and contradicting each other over the Christmas Carnival.
Should FNM play roulette with Killarney?
It hasn’t been two weeks since Marco City MP Michael Pintard’s ascent to the top post of the Official Opposition Free National Movement (FNM) and there are already calls for Dr Hubert Minnis to stand down in Killarney – one of just seven seats the FNM was able to retain on September 16.
The FNM and our money
Debate on Supplementary Budget through May, 2022… yet again input of so many of the MPs, clearly shows their personal lack of information and facts and really reality.
Suspect on murder charge
AN Eight Mile Rock man was charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court yesterday with murder.
Man accused of trying to steal car part
A 54-year-old man was arraigned in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on one count of attempted stealing.
Man denies indecent assault
A 40-year-old man who denied exposing himself in front of a woman’s ten-year-old daughter was yesterday denied bail before his trial.
Three accused of disorder
TWO men and a woman who denied disorderly behaviour in the presence of a police officer last week were granted bail.
‘It’s a big week for baseball’
The Bahamas Baseball Association is gearing up for one of its busiest weeks ever with the staging of the Caribbean Baseball Confederation (COCABE) executive meeting and awards banquet at Breezes Bahamas Resort & Spa next week.
Professional bodybuilder Jimmy Norius and his wife move to Italy
BAHAMIAN professional bodybuilder Jimmy Norius and his wife Serena, who is hoping to follow in his footsteps by earning her pro card, have moved to Florence, Italy, where they hope to continue their sporting careers.
7th Bahamas Bowl: Blue Raiders and Rockets ‘energised’ about Nassau trip
MIDDLE Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill said despite the fact that their Blue Raiders players are immersed in their final exams this week, they are really excited about making the trip here next week to compete in the seventh Bahamas Bowl college football game against the Toledo Rockets.
PM pledges full support for ‘leapfrog’ on Fintech
The Prime Minister yesterday pledged the Government’s full backing for efforts to help The Bahamas “leapfrog” into the digital assets space.
‘Getting over the hump of becoming rich quick’
A new co-working space for digital entrepreneurs is launching months ahead of schedule at the former Luciano’s restaurant on East Bay Street, its chief executive said yesterday.
Bill will place maritime sector on ‘cutting edge’
A Cabinet minister yesterday said the upgraded Merchant Shipping Bill will enable The Bahamas to better fulfill its international obligations in a maritime sector vital to the country’s economy.
Wednesday, December 8
Man dies after shooting on Spence Street
Police are investigating after a man was shot dead on Spence Street on Tuesday night.
ALICIA WALLACE: Without fundamental cultural change we’ll never really address the horror of rape
ON Monday, it was reported that 30 percent of sexual offence cases were dropped, largely due to the long wait time for trials. Director of Public Prosecutions Garvin Gaskin said: “We’ve had experiences where persons have said just that, ‘I’ve moved on. I’m not going to relive that. I’m now married and my husband doesn’t even know about it’.”
EDITORIAL: Decisions to be made on taxation
THE past week has seen a political back-and-forth over a report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Laroda: 4,000 people receiving unemployment while working
MYLES Laroda, the State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for the National Insurance Board, says almost 4,000 people were receiving unemployment benefits while working.
Bahamas first signs up to $40k university scholarship
BAHAMAS First has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with University of The Bahamas for the issuance of a $40,000 four-year scholarship.
Holiday carnival ‘has not met’ requirements - but manager says approval has been given
HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville said operators of the Christmas Carnival have not met all of the ministry’s requirements to host the event, despite a representative of the event claiming to have received the greenlight.
IMF to Bahamas: ‘Pre-empt’ on corporate income taxes
The Bahamas has been urged by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to “pre-empt” global tax pressures by imposing a corporate income tax designed to suit its own purposes.
Cruise port’s $25m IPO ‘not for the quick buck’
Bahamians were yesterday told the $25m initial public offering (IPO) of a 49 percent stake in Nassau Cruise Port’s operator is “not for someone looking to make a quick buck”.
Cable loses challenge to Brave ‘ad’ blocking
Cable Bahamas’ legal challenge to a regulatory decision forbidding it to broadcast an advertisement that allegedly defamed the Prime Minister was this week dismissed by the Supreme Court.
‘No luxury brands’ for cruise port’s offering
Nassau Cruise Port’s operator yesterday said it continues to target a $400m increase in annual passenger spend while making its retail and food offerings stand out from the crowd.
Workshop advice on safe building design
A WORKSHOP was held yesterday to inform construction and housing industry professionals about designing buildings to survive high winds.
Governor General tours hospital
GOVERNOR General Sir Cornelius A Smith conducted his annual Christmas visit and tour of Princess Margaret Hospital on Monday.
Nassau ‘leads Americas’ on cruise ship port visits
Nassau Cruise Port is handling “more cruise ships than any port in the Americas”, its chief executive said yesterday, adding that “we’re well on our way to climbing out” of COVID’s devastation.
‘Shock Treatment programme does more harm than good’
JUVENILE advocates want the government to reconsider bringing back its Shock Treatment programme, saying it could prove counterproductive.
Incentives planned to use up vaccines
HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville says officials are concerned that the country’s four percent COVID-19 positivity rate has given people a false sense of security that vaccines are not needed and health protocols do not need to be followed.
TERRIBLE POLICY? NOT BY MY GOVT: Ingraham fires back over accusation on Cotton Bay delays
FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has taken exception to remarks made by a local philanthropist and businessman who said an investor was prevented from doing business in The Bahamas because of “terrible public policy” during Mr Ingraham’s tenure.
Almost 4,000 collected NIB benefits while still working
A Cabinet minister yesterday said he has been informed that almost 4,000 persons were illegally collecting jobless benefits during COVID-19 while still employed
‘No decision’ on tighter COVID-19 restrictions
A Cabinet minister yesterday said “no decision” has been taken on imposing tighter COVID-19 travel restrictions ahead of the Christmas/New Year holiday peak period for tourism.
‘Action now’ on Dorian tax breaks extension
Abaco’s Chamber of Commerce president yesterday reiterated that residents need “action now” over the extension of Hurricane Dorian-related tax breaks and other relief.
Immigration Dept role in operation
THE Department of Immigration in Grand Bahama recently played a “pivotal role” in the launch of Operation Turquesa, a global Interpol-led operation targeting suspected facilitators and participants in human smuggling.
We are in trouble
Supplementary Budget - in the bluntest language Hon Philip Davis as Minister of Finance did not really say it, but folks believe me we are in financial trouble…useless not admitting it we are. Denial is precisely that.
What is a Realm?
As Barbados changes its Head of State and becomes a Republic with a President, I thought I would reflect on questions people ask me about the UK’s relationship with The Bahamas. I often get asked what my opinion is about whether The Bahamas should change its Head of State. I usually respectfully reverse this question. This is a decision entirely for The Bahamas, its government and its people. But I thought it might be useful to look at some of the facts that frame our connections.
Officer tells of arrest in trial over alleged libel of Gibson
A POLICE Sergeant gave testimony yesterday at the opening of the libel trial of the man accused of defaming former Water and Sewerage Corporation Executive Chairman Adrian Gibson.
Man accused over Pinder Point killing
A MAN is expected to be charged with murder in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Haitian man admits passport fraud bid
A HAITIAN man who tried to fraudulently obtain valid Bahamian passports for his children pleaded guilty to the offence in Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Five months in jail for stealing $100
A 42-year-old man who admitted to stealing $100 from a tourist last week was sentenced to five months in prison yesterday.
Gibson, Flowers to run in BGF elections
Concerned by the “direction” they see the Bahamas Golf Federation heading in, former executives David Shane Gibson and Craig Flowers are running as president and vice president in the election of officers on January 22.
‘I think this is a very strong NACAC team’
HAVING served as a coach on the last national team to win the North American, Central America and Caribbean Age Group Championships six years ago, Keno Demeritte is confident that this team can duplicate that feat.
Newton presents play tennis at JTI Global Workshop
THE International Tennis Federation (ITF) extended an invitation to president Perry Newton to speak at the 2021 National Junior Tennis Initiative(JTI) Global Workshop.
Tuesday, December 7
PETER YOUNG: Stay calm and carry on - but plans may have to change
HERE we go again. That is likely to be the tired and irritated reaction of most people in the UK in the face of new restrictions after the recent discovery in South Africa of Omicron, the name given to a new strain of COVID-19.
FACE TO FACE: Two women with a vision to help businesses grow
Regina Smith and Kentisha Ward have a vision. They see a future where Bahamians become more self-sufficient and create a nation of producers. They have a dream of reducing hunger by transforming food waste into value added products. They envision reducing the national debt by increasing national exports. Most importantly, they have a vision of food sustainability through entrepreneurship.
AG says locations reviewed for use as specialist courts
ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder said officials are in the process of reviewing appropriate locations for speciality courts to ensure the proper administration of justice.
EDITORIAL: Can we pay for the promises?
PROMISES, promises. Promises have been put on the table by the administration of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis – now let’s see if the government keeps them.
Pinder slams Minnis for not having seen IMF report
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ admission that he did not see the International Monetary Fund’s report recommending a VAT increase to 15 percent was criticised yesterday as evidence that he was “not fit for the job” of leading the country.
Town planners ‘to tackle backlog’
ATTORNEY Keenan Johnson, the newly appointed chairman of the Town Planning Committee, said his team is ready to tackle the department’s backlog, which is priority when the work commences.
Cooper optimistic omicron won’t hurt tourism
TOURISM and Investments Minister Chester Cooper said officials are cautiously optimistic the new variant of COVID-19, Omicron, will not significantly affect the tourism industry and investments.
Halkitis: We must stay vigilant over finances
WITH the new Omicron variant continuing to spread in neighbouring countries, Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis said The Bahamas must remain vigilant and practice discipline to sustain the improving fiscal picture.
Gov’ts 3% growth target below UoB ‘health’ goal
A Cabinet minister yesterday said the Government is targeting a five-year average growth rate that falls short of that recommended to restore The Bahamas to economic and fiscal “health”.
IMF: 12% VAT rate ‘lowest in Caribbean’
The Bahamas’ soon-to-be-repealed 12 percent VAT rate was branded “the lowest in the Caribbean” by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its much-debated report to the Government.
‘Rid yourselves of negative thoughts’ on $200m project
Bahamians were yesterday urged to “rid themselves of any negative thoughts” as to whether the latest $200m effort to revive the Cotton Bay Club is for real.
Minnis: Give PI investor ‘all the help’ necessary
The former prime minister urged his investments chief to give a Bahamian entrepreneur “all the assistance necessary” to ensure his success only to snub him 12 months later for Royal Caribbean.
Scholarship gift from fraternity
A GRAND Bahama student was awarded a $500 scholarship for winning the Kappa Lambda Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s annual essay competition.
Tourism’s fears ‘knee jerk’ COVID reaction
The Government was yesterday urged to avoid “knee jerk reactions” to new COVID variants as hotels voiced fears that “across-the-board” PCR testing could undermine their Christmas trade.
Bella’s father to lay her to rest
A SUPREME Court judge yesterday ruled in favour of murdered toddler D’onya Bella Walker’s father concerning custody of the four-year-old’s body, ending a week-long court battle with the child’s maternal relatives over the issue.
$200m plan to bring Cotton Bay to life
COTTON Bay Holdings Limited will partner with the Ritz Carlton Reserve brand in a $200m project in South Eleuthera that will employ 300 people during construction and 200 people during operation, according to officials.
Brave’s ‘New Day’ for all workers
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has revealed the government has finalised its national policy on labour relations which includes a comprehensive review of the Minimum Wage Act and an increase in the national minimum wage.
Three hurt in Sunday shootings
THREE people, including two women, were shot in two separate incidents on Sunday.
Republic talk
International investors look for safe havens in which to place their funds and conduct business. Before our family began to invest in The Bahamas several years ago we were assured by your Investment Authority and Nassau lawyers that indeed The Bahamas was such a place. Foremost in our thinking and those of other Canadian investors whom we know was that you were, like Canada, a Constitutional Monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II and a local Governor-General and were thus stable and had impartial British style courts.
Postal problems
In a recent conversation with a friend, he mentioned that years ago one could mail a letter in Nassau and it would be received within a week! This bit of nostalgia is even more remarkable because this week I received a 2021 calendar that was post marked March 2021.
Open letter to university president
BELOW is an open letter to Dr Rodney Smith, in response to his communication of October 26, to the University Community.
Auditor General praise
I have total admiration of the Auditor General he is doing his Constitutional best to ensure Government and the governance of our finances are on the straight and narrow... he needs tripling of his staff or financial assistance where through his Office he may retain private sector Accountants to expedite a complete audit of Government in each fiscal year with no waiting...Minister of Finance if there is one thing we need is this.
Teenager accused of murder
A teenager was yesterday charged with murdering a man in Hospital Lane last month.
Holiday cut short after drug find
AN American couple’s vacation in paradise was cut short after they were caught with 24 grams of marijuana last week.
Ayton scores 14 in win: Suns 1st team to 20 victories
PHOENIX (AP) — Chris Paul had 21 points and 10 assists, Jae Crowder added a season-high 19 points and the Phoenix Suns held off the San Antonio Spurs for a 108- 104 win last night.
Johnson looks ahead to next round of FIBA WCup ‘23 Qualifiers
HE was elevated from being an assistant coach to the head coach of the Bahamas Basketball Federation men’s national basketball team for the first round of the first window of the FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifiers.
Minister: GSSSA has presented a proposal ‘and I’ve met with BAISS’
AFTER watching the successful hosting of the Island Luck Cares Foundation senior and junior boys’ basketball tournament over the weekend in Grand Bahama, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg said he doesn’t see why the same can’t be done in New Providence.
Minimum wage increase ‘definitely’ will be studied
THE National Tripartite Council will “definitely be looking” at a potential minimum wage increase, its vice-chair said yesterday, after the Government requested that it study the matter.
‘Decent work’ needs stronger labour laws
A TRADE union leader yesterday said The Bahamas’ latest five-year Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) will demand a “strengthening” of current labour laws.
Monday, December 6
WORLD VIEW: Europe is following the road where China has already led
A television interviewer asked me if I thought Caribbean countries, and other developing territories, would benefit from the “war for influence” the European Union (EU) has launched against the People’s Republic of China.
THE KDK REPORT: A candle in the shadows
In 1992, Mike Tyson, the heavy-weight champion of the world, was charged with rape, tried and found guilty. Mae Jemison became the first African American woman to go to space, the notorious drug kingpin Pablo Escobar escaped from prison and Bill Clinton was elected the 42nd President of the United States. That year is also notable for the Los Angeles riots which erupted following the acquittal of four white police officers on trial for the beating of Rodney King.
INSIGHT: Are we ready to become a republic?
Barbados was the centre of attention last week – as the nation officially became a republic.
EDITORIAL: Decisions, decisions on tackling Omicron
IT IS two years this month since the COVID-19 virus was discovered. That 19 in the name refers to the year in which it was discovered. Since then, we have learned a great deal about the virus itself, but one thing has also become clear – we don’t know what to do about it.
Restoration of Grand Bahama pine forest ‘taking shape’
A TEAM of biodiversity consultants with the Implementing Land, Water, and Ecosystems Management (IWEco) project is seeing evidence of slow restoration taking shape in the pine forest and mangroves in East Grand Bahama.
Gibson hits back at Petty over Water and Sewerage
LONG Island MP Adrian Gibson has hit back at recent remarks made by Sylvanus Petty, the newly appointed chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation, claiming that his successor’s “new role is above his aptitude”.
Sands: Don’t make same mistake
FORMER Health Minister Dr Duane Sands is warning health officials not to make the same mistake with the Omicron COVID-19 variant as they did with the Delta strain, saying this new threat, if not here already, might be in The Bahamas “fairly soon”.
Three rescued but one drowns as tug sinks
THREE men were rescued while the body of a man who drowned was recovered after a tugboat sank off Sandy Point, Abaco early yesterday morning.
Union backs Strachan for university role
THE Union of Tertiary Educators of The Bahamas is supporting Dr Ian Strachan as the next president of the University of The Bahamas.
Govt called on to honour treaties over gender violence
A LOCAL organisation is calling on government to meet its commitments to international treaties and work on ending gender-based violence.
Minister’s ‘open mind’ over BPL refinancing
A Cabinet minister yesterday said he is “keeping an open mind” on the best method to refinance Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) ahead of “a rapid assessment” that begins today.
Unholy fight fails to ‘uncover the truth’
A Supreme Court judge is unsure whether she obtained “the whole truth and nothing but the truth” in an unholy battle over the land upon which a 2,500 seat mega Freeport “cathedral” now sits.
Out Island resorts 10% above Christmas 2019
Family Island resorts are “expecting” business for the November-December period to be 10 percent above 2019 levels, an industry executive saying: “The needle is moving in the right direction.”
Small but mighty
ActivTrades
These are very small parts, sometimes no larger than a grain of rice, that are causing such great turbulence in the world economy.
Condolences sent to former U.S. Ambassador
THE Free National Movement has sent condolences to a former US Ambassador to The Bahamas whose mother was discovered murdered in her Beverly Hills home on Wednesday.
Ministry denies reports of approval given to holiday carnival
THE Ministry of Health and Wellness has denied “false reports on social media” claiming that Health Minister Dr Michael Darville approved the holiday carnival to operate on Clifford Park starting this month until January.
Teenager shot dead by gunman
A TEEN was shot dead in the Pinder’s Point area on Friday, less than an hour after the annual Police Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Police Headquarters in Freeport.
Twenty new COVID deaths confirmed
COVID-19 deaths have surpassed 700, with 20 additional deaths reported by health officials over the weekend. The country now has 705 confirmed virus-related deaths.
‘Travel ban unfair - we need tests’
FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard said countries have been premature and uneven in implementing travel bans on African nations.
No end of term exams for state school pupils
THE Ministry of Education, Technical and Vocational Training said on the weekend that end of term examinations will not be held for students in public schools this semester, a continuation of the policy that began last year.
New Ginn bid targets ‘wonder of the world’
A new contender to acquire the former Ginn sur mer project is aiming to construct a 28-storey “iconic tower” modelled on Alexandria’s ancient lighthouse as its focal point if the deal proceeds.
Freeport Christmas tree switch-on
ASSISTANT Commissioner of Police Theophilus Cunningham turned the switch to light the Christmas Tree at the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Friday at the Gerald Bartlett Police Headquarters in Freeport.
Island House adds Michelin chef for restaurant relaunch
THE Island House resort has brought in a Michelin star chef to kick off the re-opening of its Mahogany House restaurant under a different name.
Republic is a sad move for nation
I am writing in response to Sir Ronald Sanders’ column concerning Barbados. The 30th of November marked a sad day for many Barbados people. A republic came into effect without a referendum or the consent of the population. After nearly 400 years under The Crown we have tossed all our history away for a republic for which there was little demand.
Hovland rallies to win from 6 back
Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland can now add a new milestone to his list of “firsts” - winner of the 2021 Hero World Challenge.
Island House says fully booked to end-January
THE Island House is fully booked for the Christmas season and into the New Year as it moves to re-open its Mahogany House restaurant together with a new cocktail bar.
We owe Grand Bahama an apology for neglect
The island of Grand Bahama has the potential to play a pivotal role in the social and economic development of The Bahamas. For the past few years, governments have laid out their plans to ensure that Grand Bahama rebounds, yet none has achieved a measurable improvement for the island.
Retailer’s $10m spend creates up to 70 job
A Bahamian retailer yesterday said its $10m eastern New Providence investment, which has created 60-70 jobs, attracted more consumer traffic than expected during Saturday’s opening.
New US COVID testing creates ‘added wrinkle’
THE US has created “an added wrinkle” to already-cumbersome COVID travel protocols with the measure that all returning citizens be tested within the 24 hours before their flight departs.
Ferries jobs fair brings in hopefuls
MORE than a dozen job seekers attended a job fair hosted by Bahamas Ferries yesterday.
Follow Barbados’ shining light
The following is an open letter to Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis.
We must repudiate more than Minnis era
Benjamin Disraeli, the 19th Century British Prime Minister, when once asked to clarify the distinction between a misfortune and a calamity, illustrated his response with two scenarios involving his great rival, William Gladstone.
Student athletes make season debuts in NCAA Indoor Track and Field
SEVERAL Bahamian student athletes made their season debuts as the indoor track and field season got underway at various levels of NCAA competition.
Stingrays win senior boys’ division of Island Luck Cares high school basketball tournament
AFTER almost two years since they won the prestigious Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic, the Sunland Lutheran Stingrays returned to action over the weekend by winning the senior boys’ division of the Island Luck Cares Foundation High School Basketball Tournament.
NCAA Division II basketball: McCoy, McFall, Bastian in spotlight
MALACHI McCoy earned conference player of the week honours, Jonathan McFall continued his high scoring and Lathaniel Bastian posted another double double in NCAA Division II basketball.
Team Bahamas named
AFTER two gruelling days of intense competition, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations determined the eight-member team to represent the country at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Age Group Championships.
Bahamas Bowl
MIDDLE Tennessee (6-6, Conference USA), vs. Toledo (7-5, Mid-American Conference), December 17, noon ET
Sunday, December 5
Hovland rallies to win from 6 back and deny Morikawa No. 1
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — The 24-year-old rising star put a nice ribbon on a three-win year in golf by posing with Tiger Woods at the trophy presentation Sunday in the Hero World Challenge.
Friday, December 3
PM presented with Key to the City of Lauderhill, Florida
LAUDERHILL, Florida – Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis attended a dinner reception in Lauderhill, Florida, this week in honour of all those who helped The Bahamas in the aftermath of the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian.
Extended vaccine doses for immunocompromised begin Monday
THE Ministry of Health and Wellness has announced that effective Monday, extended dose appointments (not boosters), will be available in New Providence to those that are immunocompromised.
Ministry relaunches 'Shock Treatment' youth intervention programme
THE Ministry of National Security has announced the relaunch of its Shock Treatment youth intervention programme, which officials allege was shelved for no reason by the Minnis Administration, “leaving troubled children out in the cold”.
Man arrested at airport for marijuana possession
AN American tourist’s vacation in paradise ended before it began as he was arrested at the airport for marijuana possession shortly after his arrival.
Illegal migration case dismissed
A Haitian man who was charged with illegally migrating to the country had his case dismissed when immigration officials failed to appear to testify against him.
Probation for marijuana possession
A man caught with a quantity of marijuana was given probation on Friday.
Man charged with murder
A 37-year-old man was charged in the Magistrate’s Court on Friday with attempted murder.
DIANE PHILLIPS: Art in public places, lifting spirits and boosting revenue, bank on it
THERE’S a new reason to smile while driving along Eastern Road. It’s a painting of a young woman with eyes like giant saucers, glowing cheeks and silken skin, a face of innocence amid a swirl of bubbles.
DeChambeau leads a holiday event shaping up to be much more
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — This holiday event in the Bahamas is taking on a little more meaning for Bryson DeChambeau seeking a small measure of revenge and for Collin Morikawa pursuing a more noble goal of reaching No. 1 in the world.
A COMIC'S VIEW: Our heated parliamentary debates are not so bad
THIS week, thanks to YouTube and a few spare minutes I managed to grab by playing Hide and a Seek with my ten-year-old (note to parents: the laundry room is a great hiding spot), I was able to watch how the Brits get down in their parliament.
Testing for HIV/AIDS declined 55% in 2020
TREATMENT for HIV/AIDS has remained stable during the COVID-19 pandemic but testing for the virus declined by 55 percent in 2020, according to Dr Nikkiah Forbes, director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme.
Central Bank unions file second trade dispute
THE two unions representing Central Bank employees have filed a second trade dispute over stalled negotiations with management related to an outstanding industrial agreement and other issues.
Oscar the COVID canine detective
MAN’s best friend can possibly be a four-legged COVID-19 test sniffing for the virus. This ability has already been unleashed at the Miami International Airport and a Miami Heat game—now a local canine detection company hopes to bring the practice to The Bahamas.
Halkitis hits out at FNM over VAT Bill amendment
MINISTER of Economic Affairs Michael Halkitis accused the Free National Movement of continuing to “peddle its misguided tax policy” by trying to pass a last-minute amendment to the government’s Value Added Tax Bill in the House of Assembly last night.
Securing your business over Christmas holiday
Before you spend your time and money on Christmas festivities, remember to plan for a safe and secure holiday. While the festive season brings joy and excitement, it unfortunately also sees a rise in criminal activities, especially those directed against the business community. Here are our most effective tips for holiday safety and security:
Tourism relief: Biden doesn’t kill Christmas
The Bahamian tourism industry yesterday voiced relief that the US chose not to impose harsher COVID border restrictions that would have undermined the peak Christmas/New Year season.
Bahamas’ $35m airport funding IDB’s worst loan
A Cabinet minister yesterday revealed that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has branded $35m provided to The Bahamas as its “worst performing loan in the region”.
Gov’t ‘burying their head in sand’ on global tax threat
A former Cabinet minister yesterday accused the Davis administration of “burying their head in the sand” to The Bahamas’ “detriment” on global tax moves that threaten to impact this nation.
‘Sacrifices’: Bahamians drag feet on retirement
Too many Bahamians face having “to make sacrifices” because they wait too long to build-up sufficient savings to finance their retirement, a local banker warned yesterday.
Opposition’s last-ditch VAT change bid fails
A Cabinet minister last night slammed the Opposition’s bid to introduce last-minute changes to the VAT Bill as the two sides continued to trade blows over the rate cut and ‘zero ratings’ end.
Darville questions Minnis on hospital upgrades deal
HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville said the Minnis administration negotiated a multi-million-dollar deal for hospital upgrades in which the loan was drawn down before construction began.
Thompson: Economic performance improved from July to September
EAST Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson is adamant that the former Minnis administration’s policies were working, pointing to increased revenues between July to September.
Public Parks and beaches ‘continued to run red lights’ in lead up to election
THE Public Parks and Beaches Authority “continued to run the red lights” issuing contracts that far exceeded its ability to pay in the lead up to the September 16 general election, according to the Authority’s new executive chairman.
BDCS committing names to the sex offender register
THE Bahamas Department of Correctional Services is in the process of committing names to the sexual offender register, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe confirmed yesterday.
Man dies after Coconut Grove shooting
Police are investigating after a man died in hospital following a shooting in Coconut Grove.
GB reefs decimated by disease
NINETY percent of coral reefs off Grand Bahama have been devastated by the lethal stony coral tissue loss disease – SCTLD – which threatens to ravage much of The Bahamas’ corals, affecting livelihoods and making the country less safe from storms.
Prison inmate was murdered
NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe has confirmed “blunt force trauma” as the cause of death of an inmate who died at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services last month.
Cuban couple ‘don’t qualify for asylum’
A CUBAN couple seeking political asylum in The Bahamas after fleeing their home country for fear of persecution claim immigration officials have discriminated against them because of their nationality.
U.S. steps up testing rule for entry into country
THE United States has announced tightened entry requirements for travellers entering the country, requiring a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day of departure regardless of vaccination status.This begins next week.
Minister Bowleg attends opening of 1st Annual IL Cares Grand Bahama Secondary Schools Basketball Challenge
MINISTER of Youth, Sports, and Culture Mario Bowleg expressed his excitement to see contact sports finally back on the move in the northern Bahamas.
The swearing in of Michael Pintard
Marco City MP Michael Pintard is now leader of the Free National Movement (FNM), Her Majesty’s official Opposition. Over the past 29 years, the FNM has been elected to government four times. The FNM, in my opinion, carries as much political weight as the governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). Consequently, the swearing in of Pintard as FNM leader should be considered headline news by the Bahamian media fraternity. But it would appear that Eyewitness News Bahamas does not see it that way.
‘Glaring’ Dorian non-compliance drives Building Code overhaul
The Government is pressing forward with upgrades to the Bahamas Building Code after “glaring” non-compliance was found to have worsened Hurricane Dorian’s devastation, it was revealed.
The Beaches and Parks Commission
This week in the House of Assembly charges were made that the former Chairman of the Beaches & Parks Commission and his team may have spread around assorted contracts in the months and weeks leading up to the general elections.
DPP successfully appeals ruling that Rape accused’s VBI was invalid
THE Director of Public Prosecutions has been successful in appealing a Supreme Court judge’s ruling that stated that a rape accused’s voluntary bill of indictment was invalid as it was signed by a non-Bahamian prosecutor who cannot practice at the Bahamas Bar.
27-year-old is man charged with murder
A 27-year-old man was charged in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with murder.
Drowning in Eight Mile Rock
GRAND Bahama Police are investigating a drowning that occurred this week in Eight Mile Rock.
Hero World Challenge: 3-way tie for lead after day 1
Daniel Berger, Abraham Ancer and Rory McIlroy lead the field by a single stroke and are tied atop the leaderboard following day one of the Hero World Challenge.
Teams all set for Don’t Blink Home Run Derby in Paradise
THE teams for the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby in Paradise have been set for Team Fox and Team Isaacs as they prepare to decide the 2021 title.
Red-line Athletics Track Club hosts annual teaching sessions
IN an effort to ensure that they are caught up to date on the relevant information for their success on and off the track, the Red- Line Athletics Track Club hosted its annual month-long series of teaching sessions for its members.
Williams looks to smash his national marathon record
RETURNING to action on the international scene next weekend, O’Neil Williams said he would like nothing better for Christmas than to smash his Bahamian national marathon record.
Thursday, December 2
STATESIDE: Finding justice is no easy thing in courts where politics rule
American politics and jurisprudence are supposed to be separate.
FRONT PORCH: What’s the actual plan for vaccine booster shots?
A FRIEND recalls a recent exchange with an employee of a utility company who came to read a meter at his home. Asked by the friend if he was vaccinated, the utility worker replied: “No, I don’t believe in that stuff.”
EDITORIAL: What is being hidden from the Auditor General?
THE role of the Auditor General is not an easy one – but it is straightforward in what he or she is supposed to do. The Auditor General is required to examine and inquire into the accounts of government.
Promotions suspended? Not for some at WSC
ALTHOUGH the Davis administration initially said it would suspend staff promotions given under the previous government, the incoming Water and Sewerage chairman has admitted promotions have been recently given to certain staff.
Private companies to take on govt workers
MORE than 40 people who were being paid by the government but could not be placed because of a lack of vacancies in the public sector will be engaged by private companies.
PAHO: Don’t panic over Omicron strain
PAN American Health Organisation officials have urged countries in the region to not panic over the new Omicron strain but instead to focus efforts on redoubling virus surveillance and expanding vaccine coverage in view of the new threat.
Six more confirmed deaths from COVID
THE COVID-19 death toll has risen by six after several unclassified deaths were added to this category on Tuesday.
Pintard: We won’t be spoken to like children
MARCO City MP Michael Pintard was adamant yesterday that the Official Opposition would not be spoken to like children amid a lengthy back and forth with government members of Parliament.
Plans in the works for new Post Office home
TRANSPORT and Housing Minister Jobeth Coleby-Davis told Parliament yesterday there were plans in the works for a permanent home to house the General Post Office.
Mother of former US Ambassador shot dead at Beverley Hills home
MINISTER of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell has sent condolences on behalf of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and the government regarding the shooting death of the mother of a former US Ambassador to The Bahamas.
Pinder tables citizenship proof
CENTRAL and South Abaco MP John Pinder II yesterday tabled a certificate confirming the loss of his United States citizenship, which was approved more than a month before the September general election.
Gibson slams breadbasket VAT rise
LONG Island MP Adrian Gibson has taken the Davis administration to task about its plan to impose 10 percent value added tax on items that were once zero-rated.
Sebas raises $19m for e-commerce purchase
Sebas Bastian raised nearly $19m from investors to finance the acquisition of an e-commerce platform that he yesterday said will become an “Amazon like” presence in The Bahamas and region.
‘Clean up mess in construction’
The Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president yesterday said the industry is optimistic that the Davis administration will take the final steps to “help clean up the mess” in construction.
‘I’ve never seen prices this high’
A senior Sysco Bahamas executive yesterday said they had “never seen prices this high” as the global supply chain crisis continues to impact the country’s post-COVID recovery.
Top golfers tee off in Hero World Challenge
The field of golfers in the 2021 Hero World Challenge had their first opportunity to take the course for this year’s event at yesterday’s Pro-Am, now all attention shifts to the main event when the first of four rounds tees off.
Central Bank hit by staff sickout
A NUMBER of Central Bank workers called in sick yesterday to protest unresolved grievances with management.
‘We’ll be a republic - eventually’
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell says he is still committed to seeing The Bahamas become a republic.
Letting vaccines expire ‘embarrassing’
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said a terrible message will be sent to the international community if Johnson & Johnson vaccines expire at the end of the month before the shots go into arms. He said The Bahamas will likely struggle to get additional vaccines if this happens.
CIVIL SERVANTS BLOCK AUDITOR: Officials holding back documents stopping full probe of finances
The Government’s top financial watchdog has renewed complaints that some civil servants are breaking the law by obstructing his office’s efforts to uncover misuse of taxpayer monies.
$2,000 fine for having 150 in bar
A BAR owner who was initially cited more than $40,000 after officers found at least 150 people congregating at his establishment in violation of the emergency orders earlier this year was yesterday fined $2,000.
Those in need?
The act of giving…simple charity is a wonderful act which must be encouraged and supported, but persons who are far from in need must not take advantage of ‘free this and that’ especially at this time when we still have suffering people in our community.
Wear a mask, PM
Have to give kudos to PM Davis for his advice as to our need to comply and maintain all the COVID protocols - But please do not say one thing and practice the opposite, you lose face, Sir…quickly.
Environment legislation
Thank you for giving me space to express my concerns about a situation that is unfolding that is deeply disturbing. I have heard numerous rumours since the new administration has taken over that the 2019 Environmental Planning and Protection Act and the 2020 Biological Resources and Traditional Knowledge Protection and Sustainable Use Act will be repealed.
Who did VAT cut help?
The new PM’s Press Secretary seems to think he is an elected MP…of course we copy the US with their Presidential-White House Press Officer… flags decor background of White House, etc, etc, only thing missing is the playing of the Star Spangled Banner!
‘Families still in need’
AN official from a local charitable organisation said while the need for food assistance has decreased, there are still about 9,000 families or 36,000 individuals in dire need of help.
Miller warns of plastics smuggling
ENVIRONMENT Minister Vaughn Miller said some businesses are illegally smuggling plastics into the country, prompting the need for greater oversight.
Children’s hostel case adjourned
THE trial of six women charged with child cruelty in connection with the beating of a number of wards at the Children’s Emergency Hostel was adjourned once again yesterday.
Teen denies deadly driving claim
A TEENAGER was charged with killing in the course of dangerous driving yesterday.
Accused told not to go near girls
A 22-year-old man accused of indecently assaulting two young girls has been banned from going within 300 feet of them until his trial.
D-backs add Robinson to 40-man roster
KRISTIAN Robinson’s path to a possible return to the field just became a bit clearer for the 2022 season. The Arizona Diamondbacks added Robinson to their 40-man roster and he will be protected from selection in next month’s Rule 5 Draft.
Double double demon: Ayton cans 24 in win
DEANDRE Ayton’s improvement over his Phoenix Suns’ franchise record streak of 17 wins has been one of the forces to propel the team to the top of the Western Conference standings.
Junior Pan Am Games: Athletes on track
SWIMMERS continued their success in the pool while athletics opened competition at the inaugural Junior Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia.
Washington Nationals claim Lucius Fox off Waivers
LUCIUS Fox is on the move again this offseason and was claimed off the MLB waiver wire for the second time in as many weeks.
Wednesday, December 1
ALICIA WALLACE: For women, not against men
THE Global 16 Days campaign is always an interesting time for us at Equality Bahamas. Since 2017 when we started participating in the campaign, we have observed the responses from members of the public. Most people are content to ignore it or casually observe the activities while others are either excited by it and looking for ways to participate, or enraged by its existence — not that it is necessary, but that the campaign dares to centre women, people who disproportionately experience gender-based violence.
EDITORIAL: Don’t let vaccine go to waste
THERE are 20,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that could end up being thrown away by the end of the year – what an absolute waste that would be.
Deal with Germany seeks to increase tourist numbers
THE Bahamas entered into an agreement with Germany to facilitate direct air travel and the shipment of goods that is expected to increase tourist numbers and foster even better relations with that country.
More travel limits considered
HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville says the government is considering tightening travel restrictions even further as more countries detect the new Omicron variant.
Smith: ‘Marvellous’ if Davis can solve land row
BUSINESSMAN Toby Smith said it “would be marvellous for Bahamians” if the Davis administration can resolve the Paradise Island land disagreement he has with Royal Caribbean before the matter goes to court in March 2022.
‘I’ll do my best as acting PM’
ACTING Prime Minister Glenys Hanna Martin says she plans to do her best serving as the country’s leader during the next few days.
‘15 percent VAT was not considered’
FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday said his administration never considered increasing value added tax to 15 percent and in fact never saw the International Monetary Fund report which said such an increase might be necessary.
Cuban couple seeking asylum held in custody
THE government has been ordered to prove it acted lawfully when immigration officials detained a Cuban couple who sought to seek political asylum in The Bahamas after fleeing their home country for fear of persecution.
Ex-PM’s VAT attack ‘ignorant’ of advice
The former prime minister’s attack on VAT’s reapplication to breadbasket foods and medicines was yesterday branded “naive” and “ignorant of the advice” given to his administration.
‘Total devastation’ if VAT was put at 15%
Super Value’s principal yesterday said increasing the VAT rate to 15 percent would have inflicted “total devastation on the economy” with food prices set to rise 10-15 percent in the New Year.
Banks report ‘fourfold’ fraud attempt growth
The Bahamas can stand “shoulder to shoulder” with any country on the strength of its anti-financial crime regime, the Central Bank’s governor said yesterday, as banks reported a “fourfold” rise in fraud attempts.
Central Bank’s ‘inclusion’ aid for politically exposed
The Central Bank is moving to ensure politically exposed persons (PEPs) are “not excluded” from the Bahamian banking system by making scrutiny of them “more client friendly”.
Governor pledges to tackle private sector’s ‘pain spot’
The Central Bank’s governor yesterday pledged to tackle the “pain spot” suffered by many Bahamian companies over the difficulties encountered in opening bank accounts.
Gibson claims WSC ‘mass victimisation’
THE former executive chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation has accused the Davis administration of “mass victimisation” of the utility’s staff following the September general election.
Families’ grief at double murder
THE families of the victims of a fatal double shooting in Grand Bahama are devastated and also concerned over the recent proliferation of gun violence in the Eight Mile Rock community.
Bella’s mother released by bail order
A MOTHER who was charged with child cruelty in connection with the death of her four-year-old daughter D’onya Bella Walker was yesterday granted bail by the Supreme Court.
Thieves raid aid group’s food store
WITH more people looking to the Feeding Bain and Grants Town Project for assistance as the Christmas holidays approach, the Rev C B Moss said his outreach efforts have suffered a blow as thieves have stolen food and equipment from a storage facility.
Rahming hits back on ‘victimisation’ charge
STATE Minister for Social Services and Urban Development Lisa Rahming has strongly denied allegations that she verbally abused and carried out acts of political victimisation against employees at the social agency, insisting “that’s not who I am”.
VITAL VACCINES MAY BE UNUSED: End of month deadline looms for 20,000 J&J doses public don’t want
TWENTY thousand doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will expire by the end of the year, forcing the government “to do all in its power” to encourage uptake of the jab including offering incentives, according to Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville.
‘They’re ready to come down here and experience everything that The Bahamas has to offer’
WHEN they got the news on Sunday that they will be returning to the Bahamas to represent Conference USA against the Toledo Rockets, associate athletic director Larry Maples said their Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders football team was all “juiced” about the trip.
Decision expected today over Christmas Carnival
OFFICIALS are expected to meet today to decide whether the Christmas Carnival will be granted approval to operate this holiday season.
Vendor on the roof discharged
A magistrate yesterday discharged a coconut vendor who fled to the roof of his grandmother’s Fish Fry stall while handcuffed because he was afraid the officers who arrested him would beat him.
What will it take for FNM win?
What will it take for the FNM to regain Government is obviously the crucial question facing the leadership of that party ... what will it take?
Looking back on Convention
Please allow me space in your column to express my views on the recent one day FNM Convention for the singular position of party leader.
Press Secretary oversteps
The new PM’s Press Secretary seems to think he is an elected MP…of course we copy the US with their Presidential-White House Press Officer… flags decor background of White House, etc, etc, only thing missing is the playing of the Star Spangled Banner!
$7,000 fine for citizenship fraud
A HAITIAN woman who initially denied attempting to fraudulently obtain Bahamian citizenship yesterday admitted to the offence and was fined $7,000.
Woman denies stealing groceries
A WOMAN who denied stealing more than $300 worth of groceries from her place of employment was yesterday granted bail before her trial.
Tiger: ‘It’s exciting to have Hero World Challenge this week’
After taking a year off last year due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, legendary golfer Tiger Woods said he’s all excited about the return to the Hero World Challenge Golf Tournament at the Albany Golf Course this weekend.
Former sloop sailor Lundy Robinson dies
DANNY Strachan, chairman and commodore of the National Family Island Regatta Committee, offered his condolences on the passing of former sloop sailor Lundy Robinson, who passed away on Tuesday morning.
Christmas will come early for 20 Bahamian teachers on December 17
CHRISTMAS will come early for 20 Bahamian teachers on Friday, December 17, when they are expected to be honoured and recognised through a $10,000 grant provided by the foundation created by the College Football Playoff System of the United States of America.
1979 Bahamian Golden Gloves team honoured
THE 1979 Bahamian Golden Gloves team that represented the Bahamas at the Florida/Caribbean Golden Gloves Tournament, Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida was honoured recently by the Retired Boxers Association.
Credit union ‘over grading’ migrates to medium risks
Credit unions’ “over-grading” of the financial crime threat posed by customers has gone too far in the opposite direction with the percentage classified as “medium risks” near tripling in 2020.
Fishermen urged to respect Nassau grouper season end
Bahamian fishermen were yesterday urged to respect the Nassau Grouper’s closed season and focus on other species so that fisheries stocks can replenish.
Cyber Monday yet to catch on for local retail
Bahamian electronics retailers yesterday said “Cyber Monday” means little to them, with several instead believing a pre-Christmas clearance event will generate better economic returns.
Security firms struggling to ‘keep up’ with demand
Bahamian security firms yesterday said they “can’t keep up” with demand for their services ahead of the upcoming Christmas season that typically coincides with a spike in crime.
