Saturday, July 31
Gardiner and Russell qualify for 400m semifinals
IT was an easy run for national record holder Steven Gardiner of Abaco, but a gallant comeback for Grand Bahamian Alonzo Russell as the two Bahamians advanced out of the heats of the men’s 400 metres on Sunday morning at the 2020 Olympic Games.
Six test positive for COVID-19 after Bahamas cruise
Six passengers who sailed on a Royal Caribbean ship tested positive for COVID-19 near the end of their cruise and were immediately quarantined, the company said Friday.
Gaither falls short of final place, Colebrooke seventh in his heat
TYNIA Gaither’s bid for a spot in the final of the women's 100 metres and Samson Colebrooke's attempt to get out of the first round of the men's 100m heat fell short on Saturday night at the 2020 Olympic Games.
Gaither advances to 100m semis
As the track and field competition got started for Team Bahamas at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday, Grand Bahamian sprinter Tynia Gaither was the first to advance to the semi-finals.
Friday, July 30
Charlton and Seymour into 100m hurdles semis
A pair of fourth place finishes in their respective heats propelled national record holder Devynne Charlton and former national record holder Pedrya Seymour into the semifinals of the women’s 100 metres hurdles on Saturday at the 2020 Olympic Games.
Union hoping for PM and Deputy PM to 'step in'
AFTER allegedly staging a sick-out this week, Bahamas Electrical Workers Union is now looking to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to assist with propelling its needs forward.
Calls for fine for owners of beetle-carrying vessel
THE docking and offloading of dunnage from a cargo vessel in Freeport with a shipment of wood infested with an invasive beetle have raised concerns among Bahamians who are calling for a huge fine to be levied on the owners of the vessel.
Two in court on drug charges
A 23-year-old and a minor were charged in the Magistrate’s Court on two counts of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.
Mexican tourists plead guilty to assault
THREE Mexican tourists went before the Magistrate’s Court on Friday, each having to pay $100 after pleading guilty to assault. After making the payment, they will be granted an absolute discharge.
132 new cases of COVID-19
THE latest Ministry of Health COVID-19 Dashboard has recorded 132 new infections in The Bahamas with 94 of them being in New Providence.
EDITORIAL: Are we really protecting our environment?
IT seems mindboggling.
DIANE PHILLIPS: Words matter, so choose them carefully
AS a writer, I love words, simple, honest words that say what they mean. Words like doggonit. I mean, you know exactly what that means. You can feel a fist pump the table even as you say the word.
A COMIC'S VIEW: What does Opposition really want?
THIS week, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis delivered a national address on Covid-19 that left some opposition politicos very upset.
Retail relief at no new restrictions
BAHAMIAN retailers are breathing a sigh of relief after no new COVID-19 restrictions were announced by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis during his national address.
Davis: PM has no plan to tackle surge
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis faulted Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ latest national address yesterday, saying the administration lacks a thoughtful and comprehensive plan to address the latest surge in COVID-19 cases.
20 new cars to help crack down on crime
THE United States government donated 20 Ford Police Interceptor hybrid SUVs worth $1.1m to the Royal Bahamas Police Force yesterday.
Realtors ‘embrace’ demand for cryptocurrency purchases
Bahamian realtors yesterday revealed they are developing strategic alliances to “embrace” cryptocurrencies already being used as a means of payment for local property transactions.
IMF chief: Bahamas ‘leading revolution’
The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) top executive yesterday hailed The Bahamas for “leading the revolution” by becoming the first nation to launch a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).
Nightclub owner gets 60 days to pay $734k taxes
A prominent Bahamian businessman has been given 60 days to pay $734,222 in outstanding real property taxes on his West Bay Street nightclub property or see it sold by the government.
Insurer hits rating peak; two Dorian claims left
A Bahamian insurer yesterday revealed that just two Hurricane Dorian-related claims are left to be settled after its highest-level “financial strength” and credit ratings were reaffirmed by the industry’s top assessor.
‘Cannot stop the economy again’
Bahamian businessmen yesterday voiced relief that the prime minister did not unveil a COVID-19 lockdown or further restrictions in his Wednesday night address, asserting: “You cannot stop the economy again.”
High jumpers Thomas, Wilson eliminated on day 1
NATIONAL champion Donald Thomas and Jamal Wilson were both eliminated from the men’s high jump on day one of the track and field competition at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Kai goes to Hornets
Kai Jones’ NBA journey will begin in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the 20-year-old prospect made history when he became the third active Bahaman-born player in the league.
Baby dies in pool tragedy
A ONE-year-old child is dead after drowning in a swimming pool on Wednesday night.
Follow the rules - we’re watching
COMMISSIONER of Police Paul Rolle has appealed to Bahamians to abide by health protocols during the Emancipation Day holiday weekend.
SHIP WITH INVASIVE BEETLE OFFLOADS HERE: Vessel infected with Asian insect sailed to Freeport after US ban
Environmental activist Joseph Darville is outraged over the docking and offloading of a cargo ship allegedly laden with a shipment of wood infested with an invasive beetle that destroys crops.
Elections
Over in the USA many are questioning the mental and physical condition of President Joe Biden as the 46th President of that nation, to hold elective office. It does not appear to matter that he defeated former President Donald Trump in the Electoral Collage and by popular vote. Here in The Bahamas we have seldom, if ever, publicly questioned the the mental or physical abilities of our leaders, especially those who become Prime Minister.
The Press Box column: Michael Strachan
THE Bahamas’ very own Michael Strachan, the talented rookie wide receiver with the Indianapolis Colts, is making waves and turning heads in Colts training camp.
Olympic glory - from whence it started
IT was on August 3, 1992 in Barcelona, Spain when Frank Rutherford clinched the first track and field medal for the Bahamas at the Olympic Games. His bronze medal in the men’s triple jump helped to propel so many athletes to attain that lofty goal of ascending on the podium of the greatest sporting event in the world.
Miller has ‘muscles’ set on Mr Olympia
SINCE earning her professional bodybuilding card in 2017, Lakeisha Miller has been battling through a series of injuries, but is now looking forward to her first international appearance later this year.
Encouraging the next generation of engineers
FORTY Bahamian students participated in a STEM based programme offered by Bahamas Engineering and Technology Advancement (BETA) Camp this summer in hopes of learning more about the engineering field.
Book to feature in Miami Afro-Bahamian celebration
“The Orange Blossom 2.0”, a book by Cesar Becerra, will have a special place in Miami’s 125th anniversary celebration as it highlights the Afro-Bahamian Community.
Man accused ex-girlfriend in series of degrading posts
A MAN uploaded degrading posts of his former girlfriend online because he believed she was responsible for the murders of his friends, a court heard yesterday.
Officer testifies in marijuana case
A police officer yesterday testified of finding a quantity of marijuana at a man’s residence last month.
$2,500 fine for man who bought stolen electronics
A man who admitted purchasing an assortment of electronics which were stolen from a woman’s home was yesterday fined $2,500.
Teen admits stabbing stepfather in argument
A TEENAGER who admitted stabbing his stepfather about the body during an argument was yesterday sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Safe shopping
I am happy to read in The Tribune that Mr Rupert Roberts is seriously planning to make his SuperValue foodstores as safe as possible as he and his customers ride out this pandemic killer.
Facts first
It seems the narcissistic talk show hosts and their oddball groupies have become experts on COVID vaccines.
Thursday, July 29
Anthonique Strachan wins runoff to compete in 200m
IT came down to a runoff between Anthonique Strachan and Grand Bahamian collegian Brianne Bethel to settle the dispute as to who of the four qualifiers will occupy one of the three lanes for the Bahamas in the women’s 200 metres at the 2020 Olympic Games.
EDITORIAL: Prime Minister says it’s up to us
THERE was a lot of anticipation ahead of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ national address last night – but did he deliver?
STATESIDE: Problems for the pollsters - they just can’t get it right
Public opinion polling here in The Bahamas is neither high art nor exact science. In fact, if we weren’t bombarded with references on American television stations to the latest “breaking news” from some poll or another in the US, we might not pay any attention at all to this often influential, lucrative but decreasingly reliable method of determining public attitudes on social, political and economic issues.
FRONT PORCH: A season of sadness, dying and regret
“Infodemic: An excessive amount of information about a problem that is typically unreliable, spreads rapidly, and makes a solution more difficult to achieve.”
Social Services staff protest
SCORES of Social Services employees demonstrated across the country in a show of frustration yesterday, citing unfair practices, poor working conditions and unresolved workplace grievances.
Nurses’ anger at delay in honorarium payment
BAHAMAS Nurses Union president Amancha Williams yesterday voiced her anger at the delay of honorarium payments to COVID healthcare workers, calling it “deceptive and wicked”.
Judge issues plea for Schooner Bay peace
A Supreme Court judge has made an impassioned plea for peace to prevail in an Abaco community that has been beset by a long-running dispute between its developer and several homeowners.
DPM pledges 80% slash over building permit turnaround
The deputy prime minister yesterday pledged to slash building permit turnaround times by up to 80 percent with the implementation of Building Control’s long-awaited digital approval system.
Digital building permits hailed as ‘long overdue’
The Bahamas Society of Engineers (BSE) president yesterday hailed as “long overdue” plans to slash building permit turnaround times by going digital, branding the 60-80 percent reduction target as “achievable”.
Sand Dollar targets ‘further milestones’
The Bahamian digital currency’s roll-out will hit “further milestones” next month, the Central Bank’s governor says, with consumers gaining the ability to switch funds between their bank accounts and mobile wallets.
Davis: We’re on brink of catastrophe
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Leader Phillip “Brave” Davis says the country is on the brink of a public health catastrophe.
BPL workers call in sick
A SIGNIFICANT number of Bahamas Power and Light employees called in sick yesterday, prompting executives to assure customers that supply would continue uninterrupted.
CAC Bodybuilding: Federation selects 7-member team Bahamas
THE Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation has selected five males to their seven-member team for the Central American and Caribbean Championships next month in San Salvador, El Salvador, with two others pending.
Bahamas Golf Federation team hopes to bring home Hank James trophy
THE Bahamas Golf Federation will send its junior national team to the Dominican Republic from Thursday, July 29th through August 4th to compete in the Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championships with hopes of bringing home the overall Hank James trophy.
DANIEL FERGUSON: Procurement e-portal not being maximised
I wish to now elaborate more on the electronic portal that is the Bahamian government’s e-procurement supplier registry.
Ministry aiming to go digital
THE Ministry of Works has launched its Electronic Plan Review and Inspection System designed to digitise the current paper-based permitting and inspection process.
Kai Jones: ‘I think I fit all the qualities of the new age big’
Kai Jones’ lifelong NBA dream will come to fruition in mere hours and the 20-year-old highly touted prospect said his approach will remain the same, irrespective of which organisation calls his name to welcome him into their franchise.
Olympic dispute over Team Bahamas’ list of entrants for women’s 200 reaches ‘a tipping point’
THE dispute surrounding Team Bahamas’ list of entrants for the women’s 200m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics has reached a tipping point just days before the athletics competition gets underway in Tokyo.
Digitisation of little use if poverty gaps remain
The Bahamas needs to address its social gaps before full digitisation of the economy can take place, an information and communications technology (ITC) executive warned yesterday.
Fiscal Council chief: ‘No short-term fix’
The Fiscal Responsibility Council’s chairman yesterday said there was “no short-term fix” for the government’s multi-billion dollar debt and deficit challenges, describing it as a “difficult situation”.
BPL discloses staff pay as union relations sour
Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) last night said line staff earned average “cash compensation” of almost $58,000 during its 2020 financial year as industrial relations at the utility appeared to further sour.
Regional insurer in acquisition deal
A pan-Caribbean insurer with a Bahamian subsidiary yesterday confirmed that Peak Reinsurance Company has agreed to acquire 100 percent of the group subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
ART OF GRAPHIX: The ‘heavy hitter’ for editing video
Adobe Premiere Pro is the heavy-duty hitter that can be used for anything from short films to feature films. I think you would be hard-pressed to know a creative who has not heard of Adobe Premiere Pro. It is one of Adobe’s flagship programs that likely sits just behind Photoshop in terms of popularity. Adobe is to graphics and video what Microsoft is to data.
17 Rand nurses call in sick
SEVENTEEN Rand Memorial Hospital nurses in Grand Bahama called in sick yesterday affecting wards and inpatient services.
China donates $78,000 worth of medical supplies
THE Bahamas received a donation of $78,000 worth of medical supplies from the Chinese government yesterday, the sixth such batch of donations since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘Die’ Stubbs murder sentence is slashed
THE Court of Appeal yesterday reduced the 45-year murder sentence of Stephen “Die” Stubbs by ten years.
Man ‘cut ex-girlfriend’s wrist with box cutter’
A MAN cut his former girlfriend on the wrist with a box cutter during a drunken rage, a court was told yesterday.
Former ministry employee withdraws fraud appeal
A FORMER Ministry of Finance employee who was found guilty of defrauding the ministry of more than $250,000 has withdrawn his appeal that sought to challenge his conviction.
Man told to pay $500 marijuana fine
A MAN caught with a quantity of marijuana earlier this month must pay $500 to avoid spending three months behind bars.
Commentators in the media can save lives
It is difficult to read or listen to the media commentators in The Bahamas these days. They are a mixture of editors and other types of “thought” leaders.
A tsunami of lies about vaccines
The government’s policy of allowing tourists who are at least two weeks past their double or single dose covid vaccine regimen to enter without covid testing is being savaged on social media as the supposed vector for our third wave of the disease.
A bunch of clowns
Was it just a coincidence that your Monday’s editorial featuring the BPL bosses was almost right next to the cartoon of three clowns?
A rational perspective
There was a letter in Wednesday’s Tribune referring to how to get a reluctant population here in the Bahamas to take the vaccine. Maybe some rational thought would assist?
Wednesday, July 28
PM urges residents to ignore misinformation on vaccines
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis pleaded with residents to ignore misinformation during a national address last night and to recognise that the COVID-19 vaccine is the only way out of a pandemic that continues to disrupt societies around the world.
ALICIA WALLACE: Time to get serious again and follow the protocols – just like we did a year ago
Here we are again, COVID-19 case numbers rising, tightened restrictions and numerous questions about the effectiveness of the measures put in place by the government. No one wants to be restricted like this, but most of us understand we all need to cooperate in order to help save lives by reducing the spread of the virus.
EDITORIAL: No easy task for the Prime Minister
WHEN Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis addresses the nation tonight, he faces one of the greatest dilemmas of his administration.
Another delay in payment for frontline workers
FRONTLINE workers employed in the public sector are in for a disappointment as they will not see the much anticipated COVID-19 honorarium in their pay cheques this month as once again, the government has delayed it.
Dames: Dept has not used whiteout on voter cards
NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames has defended the integrity of the voter registration process while denying claims that the Parliamentary Registration Department has used “whiteout” to make changes on Bahamians’ voter cards.
Governor: Public finance rebuild ‘ambition’ critical
The Central Bank’s governor yesterday said the government’s “fiscal consolidation ambition” is critical to protecting the external reserves and currency peg, as well as enabling the country to meet its debt payments.
Liquidator blasts own creditors committee
A Bahamian broker/dealer’s liquidator has resumed battle with his own creditors committee by blasting their criticism of his $1m-plus fees as “significantly lacking in substance, truth and accuracy”.
Attorney: Amend laws for mandatory vaccine
A Bahamian attorney yesterday urged the government to reform health and safety at work laws to allow employers to mandate that staff get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Govt defending ‘sole source’ Customs app
A top Ministry of Finance official yesterday defended the decision to accept a “sole source” bid for the app that now allows persons to file their Customs declarations electronically prior to arrival in The Bahamas.
Unions fearing ‘chilling effect’ if orders extend
Trade union leaders yesterday warned that any extension of the COVID-19 Emergency Orders will have “a chilling effect” on the Bahamian workforce with 60 percent of hotel union members still furloughed.
Survey: About one in five thinks country is going right way
ONLY 23 percent of Seabreeze residents and 22 percent of St Barnabas residents believe the country is going in the right direction, according to a new survey that shows the majority of residents in those constituencies are also unsure about who they will support in the next general election.
Bastian 36th overall in 200 breaststroke
It wasn’t the type of performance he expected, but swimmer Izaak Bastian will leave Tokyo, Japan, with a life-long experience as a 2020 Olympian.
Lacarthea’s Olympic dream killed by COVID
HIGH school sensation Lacarthea Cooper was all packed and ready to make the trek to Tokyo, Japan, as a part of the Bahamas women’s 4 x 400 metre relay pool when her COVID-19 test results shattered those dreams.
Police probe body find in liquor store
THE body of a man with an injury was found in a liquor store on First Street, the Grove, on Monday night, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
Coroner’s court has still to reconvene
THE Bahamas has not had an inquest into a police-involved killing in at least 17 months, despite having one of the highest rates of police-involved killings in the world.
Mandatory vaccines ruled out
HEALTH Minister Renward Wells has said the government is currently not considering making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for healthcare workers even though recommendations have been put forward as vaccine hesitancy among the group remains a challenge.
Three workers ‘killed by fumes’
THREE men died yesterday in an industrial accident in Freeport after possible chemical exposure while cleaning a tank filled with scrap metal.
You can’t win with that, PLP
I have read the leader of the official opposition – the Hon Philip “Brave” Davis’ latest press release today – captioned: Guidance to PLP Candidates. It’s good to know that PLP candidates and campaigners were informed that they cannot be on the campaign trail if they are not vaccinated. This is in adherence with the latest COVID-19 emergency orders. In the meantime, he said that the PLP is examining avenues for legal recourse. Apparently, the PLP doesn’t agree with the new emergency orders – restricting campaigning to vaccinated personnel only.
Minnis must be careful
The Free National Movement (FNM) administration of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis once again finds itself in a rather awkward situation with the Bahamas Christian Council (BCC) and the entire Christian community.
No decision yet on emergency extension
THE government has not yet decided if it will extend the current state of emergency beyond next month, Health Minister Renward Wells said yesterday.
Tributes to Havard Cooper Sr
THE Grand Bahama community is mourning the loss of well-known Grand Bahamian Havard Cooper Sr.
Conch shell killer gets sentence reduced by ten years in appeal
THE COURT of Appeal has quashed the 30-year sentence of a man who was convicted of bludgeoning another man to death with a conch shell over five years ago.
A year in jail for teen who stashed loaded gun
A TEENAGER who admitted to stashing away a loaded pistol was yesterday sentenced to a year in prison.
Pair granted bail in prostitution trial
TWO men who denied conspiring to exploit a woman through prostitution were yesterday granted bail ahead of their trial.
Burglary accused given bail
A MAN who denied breaking into a woman’s house to steal an assortment of cash was yesterday granted bail ahead of his trial.
19 migrants plead guilty
NINETEEN migrants found onboard a vessel at sea were charged with illegal embarkation in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court this week.
Tuesday, July 27
Medal-winning athlete battles ‘period poverty’, seeks to uphold women’s dignity with new nonprofit
To help those who are unable to afford menstrual hygiene products, a Bahamian college student has set up a new nonprofit organisation called Flow Sisters.
Are you getting bent out of shape?
There’s more than one meaning to our column heading this week, but in this instance, I am using the phrase literally and want to talk to you about poor posture and its harmful effect on the body.
Low testosterone levels in men linked to more severe COVID-19 cases
A fourth COVID-19 surge in reported cases, hospitalisations and deaths has our small nation’s healthcare system on the brink of disaster. The more contagious Delta variant and vaccination hesitancy among young adults, in particular, has led to an increase in younger COVID-19 patients being admitted to hospital with severe cases of the virus, when compared to the three previous pandemic surges.
Christabelle nails a career in carpentry
Carpentry is usually not a profession associated with women, but Christabelle Izevbizua has been interested in woodwork and building things since she was in junior high school. And now, she has taken that years-long passion and created her own business platform, inclusive of workshops for aspiring young carpenters.
Female athletes challenge ‘sexist' of uniform regulations
While sports like beach volleyball, beach handball and gymnastics are extremely popular, many of the female athletes competing in them hope the focus will remain on their performance rather than their skimpy regulation attire.
EDITORIAL: BPL is failing its customers
IT’S summer – and the power is going out.
PETER YOUNG: Tokyo breathes a sigh of relief - but will it last?
After all the opposition, controversy, setbacks and scandals surrounding the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, some people regard it as a minor miracle that these Games are finally under way despite much of Japan being under a state of emergency because of COVID.
FACE TO FACE: Pioneers in making us look a million dollars
Hollis Roberts-Delancy is a pioneer in beauty, cosmetics and spa services in The Bahamas. For decades, she has been transforming both men and women - not just through the way they look, but also how they feel about themselves. She has found a special formula for her clients, combining her effervescent personality with world-class spa techniques. The result - clients with great attitudes and gorgeous skin, hair and bodies.
Bahamian in human smuggling swoop
A Bahamian man and a Haitian man are in US custody in connection with an alleged human smuggling operation last week that resulted in the apprehension of 19 illegal migrants at sea.
Community shocked by death of Sandra Moore
TRIBUTES continue to pour in following the sudden death of Mrs Sandra Moore, which has left her family and the Grand Bahama community in shock.
Reid questions reasons for closing down summer camps
PASTOR Carlos Reid has questioned the rationale for cancelling summer camps and their associated activities after new restrictions that came into force Monday said the programmes are prohibited.
Davis: Follow rules while we test law
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis has urged supporters to follow new COVID-19 restrictions, while the party examines avenues for legal recourse against government.
‘Every bed full’ as COVID surge goes on
PUBLIC Hospitals Authority Managing Director Catherine Weech said officials are making makeshift arrangements to handle COVID-19 patients because “every bed is full”.
Munroe: Mandatory vaccinations illegal
ATTORNEY Wayne Munroe, QC, questioned yesterday how government would justify the enforcement of a mandatory vaccination rule for healthcare workers, telling The Tribune that to do so would not be legal.
Union: Our members not causing power problems
BAHAMAS Electrical Workers Union president has stated that his members are not to blame for any of the supply problems that have hit the power supplier in recent days.
Moultrie ‘worst Speaker in history’
A FORMER Cabinet Minister has accused the current House Speaker of being the worst in Bahamian history.
Captain held after ‘threats to his crew’
POLICE are questioning a boat captain after his vessel was brought into New Providence on Sunday by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force for allegedly threatening his crew.
Lucayan seeks $3m over water ‘damage’
The government-owned Grand Lucayan yesterday said it is seeking almost $3m in compensation from the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) for “the exorbitant loss and damage” caused by poor quality water.
Unpaid tax, utility bills to factor into credit track record
The Central Bank’s governor yesterday warned that unpaid tax liabilities and utility bills will factor into Bahamians’ credit scores once the nation’s first Credit Bureau begins issuing reports to lenders.
Marinas seek ‘home port’ equivalent over yachting
The Bahamas will enjoy “the equivalent of cruise ship home porting” if the government follows through on pledges to develop a fully-fledged yacht registry, Tribune Business was told yesterday.
Tourism ‘90% unaffected’ by COVID-19 tightening
Tourism industry executives yesterday voiced optimism that the industry’s recovery will not be impacted by the government’s tightening of COVID restrictions, with one asserting it will be “90 percent unaffected”.
BPL chair asserts Shell negotiations ‘making progress’
Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) has made “significant progress” in negotiations with Shell North America for the latter to supply New Providence’s baseload electricity needs, its chairman said yesterday.
COVID halts U.S. Embassy project
CONSTRUCTION at the US Embassy’s new site on Shirley Street has stopped following suspected COVID-19 cases there, according to US Embassy Public Affairs Officer Daniel Durazo.
Churches concern at service time limit
BAHAMAS Christian Council president Bishop Delton Fernander said it was surprising that a one-hour limit on religious services was implemented in the latest Emergency Powers Orders which took effect yesterday.
New hires may need vaccine to secure job
SUPER Value’s president Rupert Roberts says while COVID-19 vaccines won’t be mandatory for employees, the food store chain is considering only hiring fully vaccinated people in the future.
You may have heard this before from BPL . . . PLEASE BEAR WITH US
BAHAMAS Power and Light chairman Dr Donovan Moxey has called for consumers to “bear” with the company following several recent power outages in New Providence, insisting the electricity provider is doing “ everything” it can to improve service.
Allen’s honour is deserved
The Hon Algernon SPB Allen has been awarded the Order of the Bahamas as a companion by the Governor General, the Hon Cornelius A Smith. He was among a number of other distinguished Bahamians who were given various other awards in this year’s National Honours Awards. While I congratulate him and his family, I am somewhat disappointed that Algernon (as I am privileged to know him) was not knighted by Her Majesty the Queen for his stellar services for and on behalf of a grateful Bahamian nation.
BPL chief hails $15m storage ‘game changer’
Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) chief executive yesterday hailed its planned $15m battery storage facility as a “game changer” for energy costs, efficiency and supply reliability.
OLYMPICS: JOANNA EVANS 18TH OVERALL
The delayed 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, has been a momentous experience for Grand Bahamian swimmer Joanna Evans.
Travel agencies in summer rebound
Travel agencies yesterday said COVID-19’s persistence is making them cautious about business prospects for the remainder of 2021 despite a recent pick-up in activity.
Suspect in bathroom escape bid
A SUSPECT pretended he had to use the bathroom in an attempt to escape a local police station, an officer testified yesterday.
Marine ‘pulled gun on ex’
A MAGISTRATE yesterday ruled that a Royal Bahamas Defence Force marine who was accused of pulling a gun on his former girlfriend and her new lover has a case to answer.
Man ‘hit love rival with cutlass’
A MAN “chapped” his former girlfriend’s new lover in the back of his head with a cutlass, a court was told yesterday.
Man denies drug and gun charges
A MAN who denied growing marijuana plants and being in possession of an unlicensed firearm was yesterday granted bail ahead of his trial.
Scrap the Health Visa
Those of us who operate travel agencies in my part of the northeastern United States recently held a virtual conference about the reopening of more tourism after the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Roker signs with Acunsa Gipuzkoa in Spain’s LEB Gold League
AZARO Roker’s first step on his professional basketball journey will begin in Spain.
Ellison Hanna II earns opportunity to enter professional baseball ranks
ELLISON Hanna II earned an opportunity to enter the professional baseball ranks with the Missoula PaddleHeads of the Pioneer League.
Fania Johnson: ‘I’m hoping this is the pro card, year for me’
FANIA Johnson is hoping that the third time around will be the charm for her at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships.
Ashley Sturrup honoured to represent Bahamas at CAC Bodybuilding Championships
ALTHOUGH she considers bodybuilding a hobby, attorney Ashley Sturrup said she’s honoured to be able to make the team to represent the Bahamas at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships.
Monday, July 26
EDITORIAL: The debate over mandatory vaccination
Should vaccination be mandatory?
WORLD VIEW: In praise of a black Caribbean woman
CARICOM should be proud of the success of a Caribbean woman who was at the centre of the effort to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America and the Caribbean.
INSIGHT: Public mistrust of the Health Ministry’s leadership continues to prove a fatal mistake
IT CAN be easy for people to believe the times are not perilous. Perhaps it’s the freedom to travel to places that are either faring better in terms of vaccinations, or whose people are apt to take more risk. It may also be the fatigue of living under such strict confinement for 16 months wears you down to the point of carelessness.
INSIGHT: ‘Look at me! Can’t you see the Grim Reaper beside me?’
A gang “general” has given The Tribune an insight into the background behind the recent spate of killings which have left the blood of young men running in our streets.
BPL Abaco restoration ‘advanced’
BAHAMAS Power and Light Company is at the advanced stage of their restoration efforts in Abaco post Hurricane Dorian, according to chief operating officer Ian Pratt.
Hospital in expansion talks amid criticism for conditions
THE Public Hospitals Authority yesterday announced it is “in talks” with international partners to expand the Princess Margaret Hospital’s Special Pathogen Unit amid criticism over the alleged housing conditions of COVID-19 patients at the medical facility.
Davis says govt lacks plan to protect country
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis has accused the Minnis administration of failing to provide leadership or a plan to protect the country as newer strains of COVID-19 affect public health.
Church: We don’t endorse FNM use of property for politics
THE Archdiocese of Nassau has distanced itself from a photograph of Free National Movement supporters at its Cat Island property, saying it does not authorise the use of its property for partisan purposes.
Super Value chief calls for ‘brutal’ COVID enforcement
Super Value’s president yesterday urged the authorities to “brutally enforce” COVID-19 health protocols as he revealed the supermarket chain has “had more cases in the last month than ever before”.
Ex-MP wins 2% of claim over his ‘most humiliating episode’
An ex-PLP MP has won just two percent of his $84,420 legal claim against the government for what he described as “the most humiliating episode of my professional career”.
Aviation faces ‘curve ball’ from COVID restrictions
The Bahamian aviation industry was yesterday said to have been thrown “a curve ball” by the government’s tightening of COVID restrictions having regained just 40-50 percent of pre-pandemic business.
Taylor Industries owners give ex-staff $150k boost
The Supreme Court has approved a transaction that will see Taylor Industries’ former owners make a $150,000 payment that could significantly boost recoveries for former staff of the insolvent retailer.
The importance of the Olympic Games
ActivTrades
THE Summer Olympics finally got on the way last Friday, in Tokyo after a year’s delay caused by the pandemic.
Was Sammy shot by mistake?
THE former girlfriend of a man who was shot and killed in the Carmichael area on Friday night believes he was a victim of mistaken identity.
More BPL blackout misery
BAHAMAS Power and Light Company has blamed an issue at its Blue Hills station for an electricity outage that hit numerous communities yesterday.
National address to detail new measures
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is expected to address the country at 8pm Wednesday regarding his administration’s continued fight against COVID-19.
NURSES - DON’T TRY TO FORCE JAB ON US: As hospitals buckle under surge of cases, mandatory vaccines meet opposition
CHIEF Medical Officer Dr Pearl McMillan’s assertion that mandatory vaccines for healthcare workers is under consideration was yesterday criticised even though vaccine hesitancy particularly among medical workers continues to be a challenge.
Minnis has failed - but he’s not alone
Let me state from the outset that I don’t tote water for the Free National Movement (FNM) or Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. Minnis is obviously the whipping boy of the media and opposition forces, over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020.
Fake polls and reality
We the people gave Minnis and the then opposition FNM a massive victory in May, 2017. We were allured by the many, now bogus, promises made by them plus we were dead tired of brother Christie. Since being elected it is to be admitted that back-to-back events, the hurricanes and now the ongoing pandemic created grave difficulties for the incoming government. It is how it reacted to and dealt with the effects that has now turned many Bahamians off with the PM and his halting administration.
Hopefuls seek to muscle way onto the team
WITHOUT an actual show to fall back on because of the restrictions imposed by Covid-19, the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation staged a screening for competitors wishing to make the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championship team.
Jones: Let’s set our sights on Paris
WHILE Team Bahamas is in the midst of competition in swimming and athletics at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Kai Jones became the second Bahamian NBA player to lend his voice to the growing sentiment that Bahamas basketball could join the other disciplines at the Paris 2024 Games.
Munroe makes debut in Dominican Summer League
KRISTIN Munroe made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League over the weekend and gave the Los Angeles Angels an early look at the productivity he hopes to bring to the organisation.
Tributes paid to Sandra Moore
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Free National Movement and the Progressive Liberal Party have led tributes to Sandra Moore, the wife of FNM founding father Maurice Moore who died yesterday.
DEREK SMITH: Anti-financial crime regime must be alive
Since The Wolfsberg Group’s original issuance of its anti-money laundering (AML) principles for private banking in October 2000, and its subsequent statements over the past decades - including more recently its statement of effectiveness in December 2019 - many jurisdictions have taken steps to enact more effective regimes to combat financial crime and terrorism financing.
Top restaurant’s manager laments COVID measures
An executive with a prominent restaurant says the tighter COVID restrictions “don’t make any sense” as he lamented the earlier curfew, indoor dining prohibition and discrimination in favour of hotels.
Resort owner backs ‘mandatory’ vaccine
A Family Island resort owner wants the government to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory as the only way to combat the misinformation and conspiracy theories circulating on social media.
Merchants: Vaccine only way to revive economy
Increasing the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations is the only way to restore the Bahamian economy to full strength, merchants are arguing, as the Government tightens restrictions to combat the latest case spike.
Sectors lament going back to ‘the old norm’
Industries impacted by the government’s tightening of COVID-19 restrictions have lamented the return to “the old norm” and warned that small businesses will increasingly struggle to survive.
Sunday, July 25
Izaak Bastian makes his Olympic debut
COLLEGIAN Izaak Bastian said he’s getting the hang of being an Olympian, although his debut at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, Japan was a little more than he had anticipated.
Joanna Evans second in heat – misses out on final
CO-flag bearer Joanna Evans made a splash in her signature event at the 2020 Olympic Games, but it was short of her getting into the final.
Friday, July 23
URCA demands Cable Bahamas pull political ad
THE Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority has ordered Cable Bahamas Limited to immediately cease and desist from broadcasting a political advertisement of Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis that has been showing on its channels.
Man fined for violating bail conditions
A MAN who claimed he violated his bail conditions because he left his residence to “cool down” after getting into an argument with his girlfriend was on Friday fined $2,500.
Second man charged in connection with shooting death
A SECOND man was Friday charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of another man at a local car wash over the Independence holiday weekend.
Comedian 'used megaphone to encourage crowd to throw mace out'
A POLICE officer on Friday claimed that local comedian Wellington Roberts, Jr, used a megaphone to encourage a crowd of people to “throw the mace out of the House of Assembly” during a protest at Parliament last year.
Third batch of AstraZeneca vaccines delayed until next month
THE third batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility has been delayed until next month, Health Minister Renward Wells said Friday.
Osaka lights cauldron at Tokyo opening ceremony
(AP) – Tennis star Naomi Osaka has lit the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Games, ending the flame’s long journey from Greece to these delayed Olympics.
New COVID-19 restrictions announced
THE recent surge of COVID-19 cases in the country has sparked a reimplementation of harsher restrictions in New Providence and Grand Bahama along with North and Central Eleuthera, Health Minister Reward Wells announced Friday.
BPL Skyguard Severe Weather Alert 23rd July: Nassau
STARTS: 07/23/2021 8:30 PM EDT EXPIRES: 07/24/2021 12:30 AM EDT
EDITORIAL: How many times must these cases go to court?
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before.
DIANE PHILLIPS: Fix the tax policy and the eyesores will fix themselves
ON Wednesday of this week, Prime Minister Hubert Minnis used the occasion of the opening of Margaritaville at The Pointe to pledge attention to downtown Nassau, promising to take urgent action to rid the historic city of derelict buildings.
A COMIC'S VIEW: Do I have to spell it out for you? Check your facts
I’M convinced that the internet has more “fake news” spreaders and “conspiracy theorists” per capita here in The Bahamas than anywhere else in the world.
ORG calls on govt to fix election date - and give timeframe for vote
AMID frenzied speculation about an early election, the Organisation of Responsible Governance wants the government to formally declare its intention for a fixed election date and/or the anticipated timeframe of the next general election.
Culmer: PLP is politicising the pandemic
THE Free National Movement’s chairman has called out leaders of the official opposition for “politicising” the pandemic and pushing the race card instead of encouraging Bahamians to better themselves.
Robbers snatch Miller’s payroll
FORMER Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller says he was robbed yesterday of $2,700 when he went shopping at an Oakes Field grocery store.
Mega resorts disclose ‘bright’ COVID revival
The Bahamas’ two mega resorts yesterday branded their post-COVID recovery as “very bright” with Baha Mar revealing that “business on the books” for early 2022 is ten percent ahead of 2019 levels.
Bahamas hits 80% airline ‘sweet spot’
The Bahamas has hit the airline “sweet spot” with more than 80 percent of incoming seats to the destination filled during June 2021, it was revealed yesterday.
Tourism urged: Do more to counter COVID inaccuracy
A senior tourism official yesterday questioned what the industry is doing collectively “to counter” COVID-19 disinformation on social media as he revealed the “uneven” Family Islands recovery.
Nassau’s airport in US PreCheck first
The Bahamas’ main aviation gateway has been selected as the first airport outside the US to run a 90-day “pilot” for fast-tracking security clearance for returning American travellers.
‘Thousands of vaccines’ to counter near-bottom status
The Bahamas will likely receive “hundreds of thousands” of COVID-19 vaccine doses this quarter, it was revealed yesterday, amid concerns the nation is near-bottom in the Caribbean in inoculation rates.
Abaco outbreak - ‘we dropped our guard’
LOCAL officials are urging residents in Hope Town, Abaco, to keep their guard up amid a reported COVID-19 outbreak on the island that has prompted the closure of several businesses in recent days.
Lloyd states schools will reopen this September
EDUCATION Minister Jeff Lloyd said officials have not yet made a decision as to how schools will reopen in September due to uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
WHY ARE THEY STILL DETAINED? Govt in court again over Chinese tourists held by Immigration
ATTORNEY Fred Smith has filed a writ of habeas corpus to compel the government to explain why four Chinese nationals are being kept at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.
Bahamian baseball prospects making an impact at rookie level
Several Bahamian baseball prospects have had immediate impacts on their clubs in the opening weeks at the rookie level in Minor League Baseball.
‘Fantastic Four’ star for RoadRunners in Florida
It was the best of times in the worst of times. Amongst all of the chaos surrounding Covid-19, the Roadrunners Track and Field Club rallied together to close out this year’s 2021 season with a bang.
IAN FERGUSON: Adapting leadership to fit every situation
Situational leadership is best described as an adaptive leadership style. This strategy encourages leaders to take stock of their team members, weigh the many variables in their workplace and choose the leadership style that best fits their goals and circumstances. The old concept of leader as “boss” has completely left the building.
DPM: Sunrise collapse to drive Code upgrade
The deputy prime minister yesterday said Florida’s tragic Sunrise condominium collapse had exposed the need to both update The Bahamas’ building code and for a greater crackdown on illegal construction.
Minister: ‘Faulty logic’ to use EIA regulations retroactively
A Cabinet Minister yesterday said some persons are guilty of “faulty logic” in seeking to apply Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations retroactively to existing subdivisions or developments.
Robotics and renewables join high school curriculum
The Ministry of Education is adding robotics and sustainable energy as topics to its high school curriculum in a bid to further reduce workforce skills gaps in industries The Bahamas wants to develop.
Morgue overfull at hospital
THE morgue at Princess Margaret Hospital is operating beyond capacity sparking an appeal from officials yesterday for the collection of remains.
Schoolteacher murder appeals are adjourned
THE Court of Appeal yesterday adjourned the substantive hearing of the appeals of three men who are seeking to challenge the convictions and sentences they received after they were tried for the robbery and murder of a schoolteacher in 2015.
Man says he took puppy in tit-for-tat revenge theft
A 34-year-old man who said he took his cousin’s puppy after he allegedly stole his pet dog was yesterday discharged with a warning.
Stay out of trouble for a year - or go to prison
A 21-year-old man who was caught with $20 worth of marijuana must stay out of trouble for a year to avoid spending three months behind bars.
Unvaccinated treated like scapegoats
When the coronavirus began to spread across the world in the first quarter of 2020, we heard the word asymptomatic so frequently that even those who had never known the word before can now comfortably use it in a sentence correctly. That word has fallen into disuse and now unvaccinated is the only word being touted by the media. There is not a news bulletin aired without unvaccinated being mentioned. The unvaccinated are being likened to asymptomatic I presume. The hospitalised are mainly unvaccinated. The dying is unvaccinated.
South Africa
I am deeply disappointed that South African National Congress is failing to tackle the challenges and crises in South Africa. ANC is a political party which is well managed and has strong leadership unlike the Zimbabwean ZANU PF political party. I am urging ANC and its leadership to address the deep issues that is threatening the peace and economic prosperity of South Africa urgently.
Bahamian swimmers eager for Olympic start
WHILE they await the reminder of Team Bahamas’ arrival in Tokyo, Japan, swimmers Joanna Evans and Izaak Bastian are eager to get in the pool and start competing at the 2020 Olympic Games on Saturday.
BFA Women’s National team squad selected
FORMER national team member Chelindria Thompson is excited to lead the revitalisation of the Bahamas Football Association women’s national team programme as the new head coach.
Thursday, July 22
EDITORIAL: Cases rising and workers overwhelmed - what next?
THE surge in COVID-19 cases is hitting our health services hard.
STATESIDE: Two crises in America’s backyard it’ll do very little about
BAHAMIANS pretty much understand the US only seriously engages in the Caribbean once in a while, and usually in a posture reactive to a rapidly deteriorating security situation. Well-known examples of American military intervention over many decades are to be found in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Grenada and Cuba.
FRONT PORCH: People will die and the pandemic rage on unless people wake up and take the vaccine
Last week Friday, the highly-regarded US Centre for Disease Control Director Dr Rochelle Walensky offered: “There is a clear message that is coming through: This is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated”, which is becoming a term of art in the medical field.
Adjournment request in missing Cuban case
THE attorney of the Cuban woman said to have drowned at sea after the boat she was on capsized yesterday requested an adjournment in her habeas corpus application to invoke an Article 28 jurisdiction to supplement the “lack of discovery” in the government’s returns.
Govt bid to stay ruling on citizenship denied
THE Court of Appeal has denied the government’s application to stay the effect of its ruling affirming Supreme Court Justice Ian Winder’s landmark decision on citizenship rights in The Bahamas.
Forbes: Vaccine coverage must be the priority
THE country’s top infectious disease expert says vaccine coverage in the country needs to be prioritised as less than 40,000 Bahamians have been fully vaccinated and COVID-19 cases surge again.
No evidence of delta variant in The Bahamas
A PAN American Health Organization official said there is evidence the Alpha variant of COVID-19 has infected Bahamians, but there is no evidence the highly contagious Delta strain is here.
Munroe: Voter requirements for transfers are unnecessary
THE Progressive Liberal Party yesterday doubled down on its criticism of the voter registration process, saying the new requirements for voters transferring constituencies are unnecessary and counterproductive.
Tributes to Saunders after fatal car crash
TRIBUTES have poured out on social media for Clay Saunders, former chairman of the Free National Movement Freetown constituency association, who died in a car accident earlier this week.
Luxury goods retailer locked in $34m battle
A local luxury goods retailer is locked in a furious $34m legal battle with an overseas supplier who is asserting that the dispute threatens “to ruin the name of The Bahamas” if not resolved.
Fisheries eye post-season cut-off over crawfish sales
The fisheries industry is discussing whether to impose a deadline beyond which crawfish cannot be sold after the March 31 season close, Tribune Business was told last night.
Fidelity on target to hit 75% pre-COVID return
Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) top executive yesterday said trends to end-June place it on target to hit year-end projections of generating around 75 percent of pre-COVID returns from its ongoing operations.
Tourism teams with OAS to assist small business
The Tourism Development Corporation (TDC) has teamed with regional bodies to provide access to technical and financial assistance for Bahamian small and medium-sized businesses.
My govt car? I’m looking to buy it
AFTER being accused by the opposition of being “deceptive”, John Pinder, the Free National Movement’s candidate for Fox Hill, said while he has retired as director of labour he still has his government vehicle because he intends to buy it.
Demolition coming for downtown derelicts
THE government intends to address the issue of too many derelict buildings in downtown Nassau through legislation and other legal means, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday at the official opening of the Margaritaville Resort at The Pointe.
‘OVERWHELMED’: Nurses’ leader says staff struggling with stream of new COVID patients
AN increase of COVID-19 hospital admissions is overwhelming public sector nurses who are already strained by “poor” working conditions, Bahamas Nurses Union president Amancha Williams said yesterday.
PMH forced to restrict services as cases surge
PRINCESS Margaret Hospital has suspended all elective surgeries and only emergency cases are being allowed in response to an influx of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.
FNM poll gives approval lead for PM over Davis
THE Free National Movement commissioned an internal poll that it says shows Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis leading Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis in approval ratings.
Gas station operators warn on taxing times
Bahamian gas station operators yesterday said they have received no answer from the government despite “crying out for assistance” on improved profit margins and a lower tax burden.
BPL union seeks to raise deal pressure
The union representing Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) line staff yesterday sought to increase pressure for a new industrial deal it argues is critical to combat the rising cost of living.
Drug smugglers fail in challenge
THE PRIVY Council advised the dismissal of the appeal of alleged drug smugglers who sought to challenge their extradition to the United States to stand trial for a host of drug trafficking offences.
Man accused of threat to kill Bastian
A 30-year-old man who claimed he threatened to kill diplomat Sebastian Bastian and harm his business partner because their employees were harassing him was yesterday remanded to prison pending an evaluation.
Child abductor given probation
A SUPREME Court judge recently sentenced a woman who in 2019 abducted four boys and attempted to kidnap a fifth one to three years’ probation.
Taking flight?
The Minister of Health, the Hon Renward Wells (FNM-Bamboo Town) said the other evening at Holy Trinity Activities Centre that once the PM rings the bell that the FNM party is ready to take flight. I view Wells as a reasonably intelligent individual perhaps not the Einstein that he reputed to be by self-promotion, but a modicum of common sense.
Ban oil drilling
For the first time in over 14 years there are no active foreign oil drilling licenses in Bahamian waters. We applaud the government for refusing to renew Challenger Energy Company’s (aka Bahamas Petroleum Company) licenses because they have failed to pay their basic fees. Yet we are still vulnerable to the risks of oil drilling in our waters from future corporate misadventures. With no possible legal barriers remaining, the time is NOW to lead boldly and ban future drilling for oil while charting a course for a sustainable blue economy.
Ayton: This is just the beginning
Deandre Ayton’s memorable 2021 postseason run came to an end as his Phoenix Suns missed an opportunity to make franchise history in the NBA Finals.
BJ Murray makes it official with the Chicago Cubs
Just over a week after he was selected in the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft, BJ Murray made it official with the Chicago Cubs.
Willis Mackey Jr signs with Mulhouse Basket Agglomeration in France
Willis Mackey Jr has relocated to a new club in France’s Nationale Masculine 1 (NM1) League.
Deyton Albury to join Chipola Community College
Junior national team standout Deyton Albury is ready to take the next step on his basketball journey and will join the programme at Chipola Community College.
Wednesday, July 21
ALICIA WALLACE: Playing games over the date of the election is another abuse of power
We want a fixed election date. The Free National Movement promised a fixed election date. It was one of its 2017 campaign promises. It, along with many others, has not received any attention from the Free National Movement administration. It is, to most of us, no surprise that we are here today, speculating on the date of the next general election, fully aware that it can be called any day.
‘We don’t have enough doctors in the system’
THE Bahamas Doctors Union president has said that there are doctor shortages within the public healthcare system while calling on the government to reveal that some 40 recently graduated interns have “been sent home” and a handful of physicians were “terminated.”
COVID hits passport office
FOLLOWING a COVID-19 outbreak at the Passport Office, Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield said officials are now looking at alternative sites to facilitate the collection of passports.
No state of emergency? Then no restrictions
ATTORNEY Wayne Munroe said the Minnis administration cannot implement COVID-19 restrictions of any kind if the state of emergency is allowed to expire.
Wells says constituencies report not being held back
HEALTH Minister Renward Wells denied yesterday that he and Marco City MP Michael Pintard have acted to ensure the Constituencies Commission does not release its report until Parliament is dissolved for an election.
Davis accuses govt of voter suppression
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis has accused the government of voter suppression based on claims that Hurricane Dorian victims are expected to file police reports at their home islands as a prerequisite for voter registration.
Airbnbs ‘choke off’ local rental market
Exuma’s Chamber of Commerce president yesterday warned that the island’s soaring vacation property success was “choking off” Bahamian access to affordable rental units.
Port chief hits back on ‘chill’ at Lucayan
The Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) president yesterday slammed as “disingenuous” the attack on its water provider subsidiary by the Grand Lucayan’s chairman.
Customs assurances ‘win-win’ for everyone
Grand Bahama’s Chamber of Commerce president hailed yesterday’s meeting with Customs as “a win-win for everyone” after it pledged not to violate Freeport’s founding treaty or existing court orders.
Super Value fighting price hikes ‘as long as we can’
Super Value’s president yesterday pledged to hold-off food price increases as long as possible, but reiterated that eight to ten percent rises by Christmas “is not a prediction but a fact”.
Policy reforms need for $200m IDB guarantee
The Bahamas must implement several policy reforms to develop its “blue economy” in return for obtaining a $200m guarantee that will underwrite the government’s planned $700m foreign currency bond.
Wynn in new bid to secure property
WITH just under a year to the completion of his Cable Beach development, Paul Wynn is challenging the government to put one of its dilapidated buildings out to tender to remove the eyesore from the area of his investment.
Pinder: I’ll beat copycat Mitchell to Fox Hill seat
JOHN Pinder, the Free National Movement’s candidate for Fox Hill, yesterday officially retired from his post as director of the Department of Labour.
‘DON’T PANIC’: Dames urges would-be voters to stay calm and ignore election guesses
A RUSH of people seeking to register to vote on Monday forced Parliamentary Registration Department centres to extend satellite office hours to accommodate the surge.
‘PM has no choice but to go early’
HOUSE of Assembly Speaker Halson Moultrie believes the Minnis administration is between a rock and a hard place with really no other choice but to call an early election.
Holiday weekend blamed for surge
HEALTH Minister Renward Wells said yesterday the recent spike in COVID-19 cases can be attributed to Independence Day festivities.
Farmers, fishermen place hopes on Govt insurance
Farmers yesterday said they are pinning their hopes on government-led insurance schemes to aid the sector’s recovery from future hurricanes because private companies “wouldn’t even entertain” the concept.
HUBERT EDWARDS: A matter of life and debt
In the final of a four-part series, Hubert Edwards says The Bahamas has much to do in developing a growth platform to pay down its debt . . .
Ayton and the Suns miss out as Bucks win championship
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo ended one of the greatest NBA Finals ever with 50 points and a championship Milwaukee waited 50 years to win again.
Pintard talks with world kitchen
A Bahamian Cabinet minister was among the featured speakers at a seminar that focused on strengthening food and agriculture resilience in the wider Caribbean region.
Shark Week episode to feature New Providence
South-west New Providence will feature heavily in a Shark Week episode set to be screened during the second week in July, reaching potentially up to 88m homes in 224 countries.
Man denies stealing from car
A 38-year-old man who denied breaking into a woman’s car and stealing $2,000 worth of items was yesterday granted bail ahead of his trial.
Pickpocket offered women rides then took their cash
AN HABITUAL offender who stole money from two elderly women after offering to give them rides had her case adjourned to September pending an evaluation from the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre.
Police references can now be collected from mall post office
POLICE character references, also known as police records, are now available for collection at the centralised collection centre in the General Post Office at the Town Centre Mall.
Reaching immunity
Looking at the latest Bahamian vaccination statistics, we are falling far short of herd immunity, which is also defined by the WHO as “the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through previous infection.”
Sovereign Wealth Fund
There has been a lot of chatter in the news and on talk shows about our national treasure and the need for a Sovereign Wealth Fund, and it has become tiresome listening to all the banter around Aragonite.
Taureano ready for his return
AFTER taking time off to recuperate from his devastating loss last year to Jaime Munguia for the World Boxing Organization’s Inter-Continental middleweight title, Bahamian professional fighter Taureano ‘Reno’ Johnson said he’s getting ready for his return to the ring.
Ready to make a splash in Tokyo
IT’S the second time around for Grand Bahamian Joanna Evans and, like she did in her initial appearance in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016, she’s hoping to make a splash in the pool at the 2020 Olympic Games.
Red-Line team in action in Florida
THE Red-Line Athletics Track Club took a 32-member team, accompanied by 20 parents to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Club Championships over the weekend in Satellite Beach, Florida where they turned in some credible performances.
Tuesday, July 20
EDITORIAL: A curious turn of phrase about the pandemic
IN acknowledging the spike in COVID-19 cases recently, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday chose some curious wording.
INSIGHT: He’s no longer centre stage but the bite’s still there
As far as former Cabinet Minister Loftus Roker is concerned, “anything” is better at governing The Bahamas than the current Minnis Administration.
PETER YOUNG: The Rainbow Nation’s dream descends into violence
Observers and admirers of the modern South Africa will have been shocked and dismayed by the current images of looting, violence and general mayhem being beamed around the world on TV screens for all to witness. This has been sparked by the jailing of the nation’s former President Jacob Zuma for contempt of court.
FACE TO FACE: She’s at the top of her field on the world stage - but it has not been without a battle
Face to Face is a very special place in the newspaper for me, because it gives me a chance to highlight wonderful people. In some cases, I am truly amazed to find treasures existing in a country where people so often complain. I come across experts in fields where we still bring in foreigners to do the job. So, in meeting Dr Patrice Juliet Pinder, it proved to me that we must seek out and highlight these outstanding Bahamians doing extraordinary things all around the world.
Man still missing despite 100-hour search by RBDF
THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force said it has spent 100 hours searching for a man missing at sea after he fell off a jet ski during a collision with a boat on July 11.
Decaying body found in home
POLICE discovered a man’s partially decomposed body in a home on Horseshoe Drive yesterday morning in what they have classified as suspicious death.
One more death and 38 new cases confirmed
THE Ministry of Health reported 38 new COVID-19 cases and one additional death yesterday.
‘Focus on COVID fight’
A SENIOR doctor believes the country should be devoting all of its resources to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic as cases rise and hospital resources remain critical.
Finalists named for UB president
THE University of The Bahamas’ Presidential Search Committee has selected its top three finalists for the position of UB president.
Claims of physical attacks at DNA party meeting
WITH rumours of an early election circulating, the Democratic National Alliance is having its share of problems as members are claiming to have been physically attacked during a party meeting.
PLP criticises advertisement targeting Davis
THE Progressive Liberal Party yesterday hit out at a “defamatory and abusive” television advertisement against party leader, Philip “Brave” Davis, that has been showing on a number of Cable Bahamas channels.
190,000 people registered to vote so far
MORE than 190,000 people had registered to vote as of yesterday morning, about 17,000 more than the number of people registered for the 2017 general election.
Grand Lucayan feels the ‘chill’ with no A/C
The Grand Lucayan’s chairman yesterday blamed the resort’s recent closure to overnight guests on an inferior water supply that “rotted our chillers” and left it without air conditioning.
Austerity measures inevitable whoever wins next election
A former finance minister yesterday argued that the next government will have no choice but to impose austerity measures as the prime minister branded tax increase claims “a flat out lie”.
GB Chamber chief eyes Customs ‘compromise’
Grand Bahama’s Chamber of Commerce president yesterday voiced optimism that “a compromise” can be reached via the partial implementation of Customs’ Click2Clear system prior to the September 1 target.
Auto dealers take ‘blows all around’
The Bahamas Motor Dealers Association’s (BMDA) president yesterday said the industry is taking “hits all around” with his own new vehicle inventories now just 25 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
Minister unaware of CCA’s reported Pointe, Hilton sale
A Cabinet minister yesterday said he was unaware that China Construction America (CCA) had any plans to sell its $200m Pointe project and the adjacent British Colonial Hilton.
Rush to register
VOTER registration centres in New Providence experienced long lines and wait times yesterday as people rushed to register before the next general election.
Customer robbed as he made bank deposit
A MAN was robbed in broad daylight while making a bank deposit in the Harbour Bay Shopping Plaza yesterday.
Bahamians recognised with Queen's New Year’s and Birthday Honours
TWENTY-SIX Bahamians were recognised during a ceremony at Baha Mar yesterday with Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s and Birthday Honours for their contributions to national development.
‘Don’t listen to him - only I know the election date’
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis stressed yesterday only he knows the timing of the next general election, not Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis nor anyone else.
PM CONCEDES COVID SPIKE IS ‘CONCERN’ ...but Minnis says only unvaccinated people are still in pandemic
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said while the spike in COVID-19 cases is concerning, the pandemic is currently only affecting unvaccinated people. His comment came after the country recorded 100 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, the most in a single day since October.
A matter of life and debt
In the third of a four-part series, Hubert Edwards warns that in the absence of greater growth The Bahamas will be borrowing for some time to come . . .
‘Nowhere to go’ on climate woe
A leading environmentalist yesterday urged The Bahamas to confront the impact of climate change head on, adding that it needs to address the potential impact “sooner rather than later”.
Trying to stop arrest ends up costing $525
A WOMAN who tried to prevent her teen relative from being arrested must pay $525 to avoid spending a month behind bars.
Two men face court on murder charges
TWO men were charged with murder yesterday in connection with two separate incidents that occurred over the Independence Day holiday weekend.
Court lawyer to represent man who killed godmother
A MAN seeking to challenge the sentence he received for strangling his 49-year-old godmother and leaving her dead in a bathtub will receive a court-appointed lawyer for his appeal application.
Abaco man shot by police
AN Abaco man “who pointed an unidentified object” at an officer was shot by police yesterday.
Early elections - is it best time?
Please permit me to comment on recent news reports concerning the possibility that the Prime Minister may call an early election with some suggesting that it may be held as early as August 2021.
Character references
I just went to Quakoo Street Police station to put in for a character reference. I was shocked and annoyed to hear that all character references must be picked up from Thompson Boulevard due to COVID.
COVID windfall
A private healthcare institution was in The Tribune bragging about its $7m-plus revenue intake from the 100,000 COVID-19 tests it conducted in 2020. When told that her impoverished subjects lacked bread, the 18th century French Queen Mary Antoinette is alleged to have replied that they should be given cake. Sharp-witted Bahamians will immediately wonder why I mentioned Marie Antoinette.
READY TO MAKE A SPLASH IN TOKYO: Joanna Evans gets her second Olympics underway on Saturday
IT’S the second time around for Grand Bahamian Joanna Evans and, like she did in her initial appearance in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016, she’s hoping to make a splash in the pool at the 2020 Olympic Games.
Izaak Bastian prepares for Olympic debut
IZAAK Bastian said despite the normal Covid-19 restrictions that he’s had to endure for the past year at Florida State University, everything is going as expected for his debut at the 2020 Olympic Games.
Jazz Chisholm on injured list
An apparent shoulder injury will force Jazz Chisholm Jr to make his second stint on the Miami Marlins’ 10-day Injured List this season.
Thomas and Fox shine in minor league baseball
Tahnaj Thomas made his return to the mound for his first start in nearly a month and Lucius Fox Jr continued his efficiency on the basepaths to highlight the play of Bahamians in minor league baseball over the course of the week.
Monday, July 19
EDITORIAL: A matter of politics and the pandemic
THE worlds of politics and the pandemic are coming crashing together this week.
WORLD VIEW: Cuba could help US normalise relations
ALL may not be lost in the efforts to improve relations between the government of Cuba and the Biden Administration in the US, despite the rhetoric – most of it emanating from the Cuban government in the wake of protests by thousands across the island.
INSIGHT: The Great Betrayal
The Bahamas Court of Appeal is to be praised for an exemplary display of courage and independence in delivering its landmark ruling confirming the right of all unwed Bahamians to pass citizenship to their children at birth in the Shannon Rolle case. This should resolve generational inhumanity and injustice for thousands of Bahamians.
INSIGHT: Just look at the COVID numbers - these are dangerous times
WHILE many countries have been rolling back restrictions in recent weeks, many are becoming worried this may be a short-lived reprieve if cases of the Delta variant continue to spread quicker than people are becoming vaccinated. As for The Bahamas, COVID-19 is still spreading at a disconcerting rate with a spike in COVID-related deaths since April. The Ministry of Health confirmed there were 17 additional deaths in the country during this period, increasing the suspicion the Delta variant is here already.
INSIGHT: Why hasn’t this project which could transform our country been put on the fast track Dr Minnis planned?
BAHAMAS Aviation, Climate & Severe Weather Network (BACSWN) is delighted to announce that following its recent designation as ‘Meteorological Weather Authority’ for International Civil Aviation; alongside, instructions contained in the Cabinet Conclusion — provided by Hon. Dionisio D’Aguilar to Eileen Dupuch-Carron, CMG, LLb, on February 14, 2020 — it has commenced the process of filing notice with the FAA, ICAO and IATA of its intention to stand-up, fund and staff our nation’s first ‘Meteorological Watch Office’ with “the necessary technical and operational expertise to maintain a continuous 24/7/365 real-time watch over the weather conditions affecting any flight or vessel operations within the 183,00 sq miles The Bahamas’ sovereign archipelagic baselines, territorial seas, contiguous and exclusive economic zone (EEZ).”
Man dies while jogging
A MAN collapsed and died while jogging in Winton Meadows on Saturday, police said.
Humane Society of Grand Bahama calls for support
AFTER the twin nightmares of Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Humane Society of Grand Bahama is appealing for donations, saying the progress it has made in helping to reduce the number of unwanted and abused animals roaming the streets is in jeopardy.
17 new deaths announced as COVID surge continues, 100 new cases on Saturday
THE Bahamas recorded 401 COVID-19 cases from July 11 to July 17, including 100 cases on Saturday alone, the highest number of cases recorded in a day since last October.
Two girls stabbed
TWO girls were stabbed during an argument in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama, on Friday, police said.
Property tax amnesty gains ‘north of $27m’
The Government has reeled in “north of $27m” via its ongoing real property tax amnesty, a top official has revealed, with calls from additional delinquents for more time prompting a three-month extension.
Customs ‘will operate within the law’ on GB
The Ministry of Finance’s top official has pledged that Customs will make whatever adjustments are necessary to ensure its Click2Clear system “operates within the law” in Freeport and wider Grand Bahama.
AML’s Charles Saunders plan ready by early 2022
AML Foods will have “mapped out” plans to develop a new shopping centre off Charles Saunders Highway, anchored by its Solomon’s “neighbourhood” food store concept, by early 2022 at the latest.
Tourism chief ‘praying’ for vaccination uptick
THE Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) president yesterday said he is “praying” more persons become vaccinated at the next available opportunity as it is the “only way to combat COVID spikes”.
Speaker in new clash over report sign-off
HOUSE Speaker Halson Moultrie committed a “clear and flagrant breach of the Constitution” when he submitted a report on Friday to Governor General C A Smith that contained only his signature and no one else’s from the Constituencies Commission, committee member Marco City MP Michael Pintard said in a statement.
Sands fears for staff as cases spike
WITH daily recorded new COVID-19 infections back in the triple digits, former Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands says the country’s third wave appears to be accelerating.
‘ELECTION COULD BE CALLED THIS WEEK’: Davis claims ‘all the signs there’ that PM about to pull trigger
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis and House Speaker Halson Moultrie expect Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis to dissolve Parliament and announce an early election this week, perhaps as early as tomorrow.
GB ‘back to 18th century’ over Customs meltdown
GRAND Bahama’s private sector is lamenting that it has been “sent back to the 18th century” through having to clear all imports manually for the next month-and-a-half.
Used cars sales driving rise in inflation
ActivTrades
On July 13, the United States Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) released the latest batch of consumer price data, revealing a jump in inflation of 5.4 percent in June, compared with the same period of 2020.
Our leaders and foreign investment
It’s now official. None other than Minister of State for Finance Kwasi Thompson (champion of the investment-begging Commercial Enterprises Act) has conceded that The Bahamas actually dwarfs all of its colleagues in the latest UN report on Foreign Direct Investment.
Raise age of consent
I read in The Nassau Guardian that the legal consent age for sexual intercourse is 16. A 16-year-old cannot vote in The Bahamas. One must be at least 18. Engaging in an intimate relationship with the opposite sex is, in my opinion, a far weightier matter than casting your ballot.
Radio owners challenge broadcast ‘dumb down’
RADIO station owners are challenging the decision by regulators to seek two more FM broadcasters given that the market is already saturated with players “dumbing down” content and struggling to survive.
Zimbabwean refugees
It is traumatizing and shocking that the United Kingdom has been falsely convinced by Zimbabwean president Mnangagwa that the human rights situation in Zimbabwe has dramatically improved and therefore asylum seekers can be deported to Zimbabwe.
Ayton posts double double in loss
DEANDRE Ayton recorded his 14th double double of the postseason but the Phoenix Suns lost their third consecutive game of the NBA Finals and now face elimination for the first time in the 2021 Playoffs.
‘The protocol measures are extremely complex’
As the chef de mission for the Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico, in 2014, Cora Hepburn said she’s more prepared for the task of heading Team Bahamas in the same capacity for the 2020 Olympic Games.
‘Fairly good turnout’ at 10th annual Ed Armbrister Baseball Summer Camp
ORGANISER Michael Butler said he was quite impressed with the outcome of the 10th annual Ed Armbrister Baseball Summer Camp, which paid tribute to the late Major League Baseball Player.
Jasrado Chisholm Jr suffers left shoulder contusion, exits game
EN route to making another spectacular defensive effort, Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr suffered a left shoulder contusion and was forced to exit in the first inning of the Miami Marlins’ 7-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday.
Freedom Farm back in Babe Ruth’s Cal Ripken Baseball Major/70 World Series
FREEDOM Farm Baseball League is set to make its return to the Babe Ruth’s Cal Ripken Baseball Major/70 World Series and Greg Burrows Sr has been appointed to an executive role in the tournament’s organising committee.
Sunday, July 18
Bucks edge Suns 123-119 to take 3-2 lead in NBA Finals
PHOENIX (AP) — Jrue Holiday seized his chance to give the Milwaukee Bucks the lead in the NBA Finals.
Friday, July 16
STATESIDE: Republicans ripping up the rulebook to rob millions of their right to vote
Sometime in the next ten months, Bahamians will go to the polls and choose a new House of Assembly. The recent commemoration of our national Independence Day served as a reminder of our sovereignty and associated traditions of free elections.
PM tight-lipped on election call
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis sidestepped a question Friday about whether he is preparing to lead the country to an early general election, telling reporters he always prepares for events a year in advance.
$1,000 or three months in jail for marijuana charge
A 21-year-old man who was caught purchasing marijuana must pay $1,000 to avoid spending three months in jail.
Man pleads guilty to housebreaking and stealing
A MAGISTRATE is to determine the fate of a man who admitted to breaking into a woman’s house and stealing an assortment of cash earlier this year.
Police officer 'found firearm, drugs at man's home'
A POLICE officer on Friday testified as to how he found a firearm and a quantity of drugs at a man’s residence last year.
McAlpine to run as independent candidate
PINERIDGE MP Frederick McAlpine announced Friday his decision to run as an independent candidate for the constituency in the upcoming general election.
EDITORIAL: Worried about low supplies? Make sure you book when doses arrive
IT would be easy to overreact to the news that people can no longer get the first of their COVID-19 jabs as supplies run low.
DIANE PHILLIPS: Beach access – whose right is right?
THE toughest political issues – the ones that wake a sleepy village and thrust it into frenzied activity or turn the somnambulant into the firebrand – are those that impact our own backyard.
Govt monitoring situation in Cuba
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is monitoring the situation in Cuba after protests there but noted there have been no reports of Bahamians on the island requiring assistance amid the unrest.
‘Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line stranded us in Florida’
RICHARD Brown said he cannot express how disappointed he is in Bahamas Paradise Cruise Lines for leaving him and his wife stranded in Florida, ruining their vacation to The Bahamas.
‘No decision’ on protocol if emergency powers end
TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday the government has not yet decided how it will handle protocol for visitors should Emergency Powers Orders end next month.
Developer’s fears on home construction ‘horror stories’
Construction materials shortages and COVID-19 will combine to create “horror stories” for Bahamians in the process of building their own homes, a prominent developer predicted yesterday.
AML Foods targets $12m sales at new Freeport site
AML Foods is targeting $12m in annual sales from its new Solomon’s Freeport location, its top executive revealed yesterday, despite it being two-thirds the size of its former Queen’s Highway site.
Customs system in GB ‘beyond repair’
Bahamas Customs yesterday said its electronic system for clearing goods on Grand Bahama is “beyond repair”, warning that the island’s cross-border commerce will return to manual process until September.
Radio over-saturation ‘will always be concern’
A top regulator yesterday said concerns about the Bahamian radio broadcasting market being over-saturated “will always be around even if we had 50 percent of the stations we have now”.
‘Shell billions show corporate tax need’
A Bahamian financial services provider yesterday argued this nation should not use global demands for a 15 percent minimum corporate tax rate “as a marker” after Ireland refused to budge from its lower regime.
17 new COVID related deaths reported
MINISTRY of Health officials have reported 17 new COVID-19 related deaths including several cases that were previously under investigation and are now reclassified.
‘It’s not in FNM's interests to call early election’
PINERIDGE MP Frederick McAlpine said he does not think it is in the Free National Movement’s best interests to call an early election.
PLP voices concern on voting changes
THE Progressive Liberal Party yesterday said the Parliamentary Registration Department published information in local newspapers about registering new voters and transferees that is “wrong in law”.
Miller won’t run as independent MP
FORMER Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller has confirmed he will not run as an independent candidate in the upcoming general election, insisting this vote is far too important not to support the Progressive Liberal Party.
FNM signs off on final candidates
HEALTH Minister Renward Wells said “of course” the country could soon hold a general election in view of the current state of COVID-19 in the country, even if Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis were to call an early election as early as today.
SECOND DOSES ONLY - FOR NOW: Supply shortage forces temporary halt in issue of first-time vaccines
FACED with “low” Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine supplies, the National COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee has decided to offer only second dose jabs in New Providence and Grand Bahama.
Celebrity artist is an icon
THE Celebrity Artist, Jamaal Rolle, who is also the daily cartoonist for The Tribune, is to be named as a cultural icon in a ceremony tonight.
China’s rise is peaceful and unstoppable
At the recent celebrations for the centennial anniversary of the Communist Party of China attended by 70,000 people and watched by fellow Chinese all over the world, General Secretary Xi Jinping confidently announced that China has fulfilled its first centenary goal of turning China into a moderately prosperous society by putting an end to absolute poverty. This is a historic achievement for a century-old party, who was born in the throes of a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society.
Murder spree a boon for defence attorneys
Nassau is currently under-siege by a violent group of gangs engaging in a reckless game of tit-for-tat, which has spilled over into communities that were once thought to be safe.
Employer to still pay for staff COVID tests
A prominent Bahamian merchant yesterday backed away from requiring employees to pay for their own COVID-19 tests and said it will comply with an Act that requires it to foot the bill.
No obligation to act on all EIA feedback
A senior government official yesterday said there was no obligation to require investors to alter projects based on feedback from Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consultations.
A deserved honour
It is heartwarming to see my friend Algernon Sidney Patrick Benedict Allen receive a well-deserved honour. The honour given can hardly compensate for his charity. His selflessness is his calling card. The ease he displayed in freely giving is a rare quality. I am positively sure that many would quickly jump to their feet in applauding Allen’s contributions to this country. He is selfless. Few have helped more people than he.
College rivals are now business partners
THEY were college rivals, but now Bahamian quartermiler Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown is teaming up with American Bryan Swarn as business partners to bring an alternative to team uniforms to the Bahamas.
Cleare, Miller ink deals with new clubs
A PAIR of national basketball team players are on the move early in the offseason after they inked deals with new clubs in new countries.
‘Give a date for Straw Market’
STRAW vendors are once again calling for the government to provide a timeline on the re-opening of the Nassau Straw Market, saying it’s “unfair” that other tourism businesses are allowed to operate while their place of employment remains closed.
IAN FERGUSON: Companies need annual check-up
Companies throughout the world use the start of the year’s third quarter to begin the process of planning for a new calendar year. They engage in talent development for their staff, formulate strategic business plans, create company goals and objectives - all in the hope of enjoying a more productive and profitable new year.
HUBERT EDWARDS: A matter of life and debt
There is every expectation that The Bahamas’ current economic crisis will eventually come to an end. These things always do. What is not as clear is when, and how, it will be corrected.
GB businesses placed in ‘unsustainable’ situation
Grand Bahama businesses yesterday asserted that cross-border commerce is in an “unsustainable” situation with Customs’ system for the electronic clearance of goods inoperable for more than three weeks.
Man filmed fighting policeman jailed for eight months
THE 23-year-old man who was filmed fighting an officer who attempted to arrest him over a traffic violation was yesterday sentenced to eight months in prison.
Suspect in arms case is denied bail
A 24-year-old man who denied importing firearms and ammunition into the country was remanded to prison overnight pending a bail hearing.
Man ‘stabbed his landlord in neck’
A TENANT stabbed his landlord in the neck multiple times during a confrontation last month, a court was told yesterday.
Bail granted for customs broker in $2.5m fraud case
A CUSTOMS broker who denied stealing from and defrauding Cable Bahamas of more than $2.5m over a 12 month period was yesterday granted bail ahead of her trial.
Marine honoured
MARINE Seaman Jerard Forbes has been recognised as the Marine of the Quarter for the Military Aid to Civil Authority (MACA) Department.
More NCAA offers roll in for Prince Strachan
PRINCE Strachan continues to pick up additional NCAA offers this offseason, setting the stage for what is expected to be an active recruiting process in his senior year.
Thursday, July 15
Man shot dead in Elizabeth Estates
A MAN became the country’s latest murder victim after he was killed outside a home in the Elizabeth Estates community on Thursday.
EDITORIAL: A welcome compromise in citizenship case
THE compromise offered by the government during the ongoing legal case over citizenship may not be the end of the story, but it’s a welcome stepping stone along the way.
FRONT PORCH: Ours is a story which goes beyond a mere 48 years - and is still being written
MANY Bahamians enjoy Priscilla Rollins’ song, “Independence Morning, It’s like a Baby Borning”, a catchy tune which has delighted audiences since 1973. Ms Rollins captures much of the enthusiasm and excitement of a new day for the country. But the Bahamian nation is much older than 48 years. We are centuries older.
'We must change how we deal with crime’
LOCAL community activists are calling for a shift in the way the country deals with crime following a recent spate of murders.
Hospital changes to social distance protocols at morgue
PRINCESS Margaret Hospital has put in place “more effective social distancing measures” at its morgue as part of COVID- 19 prevention requirements.
Two more COVID-19 deaths confirmed
THE country’s COVID-19 death roll has risen to 256 after two new deaths were confirmed.
PAHO: Don’t reopen fully when cases are on the rise
A PAN American Health Organization official has warned countries against fully reopening economies while COVID-19 cases are rising.
RBDF: Submersibles and drones used in search for missing jet skier
THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force has revealed that aerial and submersible drones as well as RBDF divers are being used in search activities for a missing jet skier.
‘State of emergency’ over Customs’ woes
Freeport was yesterday said to be “in a state of emergency” as Customs’ electronic system for clearing imported goods remained offline for the 23rd consecutive day with no word on when it will be restored.
Kerzner crowdfunding bid is ‘full systems go’
An equity crowdfunding platform spearheaded by the late Sir Sol Kerzner’s son yesterday said it is “full systems go” on bringing “transformational” change to the way Bahamian businesses are financed.
Freeport’s bonded regime faces ‘precarious situation’
Freeport faces “a very precarious situation” after Customs’ top official made clear the agency’s determination to disregard the city’s founding treaty as well as prior Supreme Court rulings.
Employer liable to pay COVID test fees
The National Tripartite Council’s vice-chairman yesterday warned “a lot of employers are going to be very upset” to find they cannot mandate non-vaccinated staff pay for their own weekly COVID-19 tests.
No retrial in Exuma murder acquittal
THE Court of Appeal yesterday directed the acquittal of a man who was accused of robbing and killing another man in Exuma seven years ago.
Minnis buoyed by polls - so will he go early?
THE Free National Movement is expected to ratify four candidates for the next general election tonight amid anticipation from FNM insiders that Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis - buoyed by favourable polling numbers - may call an early election very soon.
Govt olive branch on citizenship cases
THE government has offered not to detain or deport any person from The Bahamas who claims to be entitled to citizenship under Article 6 of the Constitution pending the Privy Council’s ruling on the Court of Appeal’s recent citizenship decision as long as the Court of Appeal simultaneously stays the effect of its ruling.
Former postal chief tells of passbook ‘discrepancy’
A FORMER Acting Postmaster General testified yesterday that the passbook copies Bahamian businessman Rudolph “Rudy” King submitted when a discrepancy was found in his account did not appear to be genuine.
Independence Day murder suspect faces court
A 28-year-old man was charged with murder yesterday in connection with a shooting incident that left a man dead on Independence Day.
Bucks even series
Deandre Ayton’s postseason double digit scoring streak ended at 13 games and the Phoenix Suns squandered a nine-point fourth quarter en route to a game four loss in the NBA Finals.
DANIEL FERGUSON: When competitive bids do not apply
Iwant to educate the Bahamian people about the process which allows the Government to forego competitive bidding processes in emergency situations, which allows them to request one bid for goods, works and services.
Realtors urged to be vigilant in fraud fight
The Bahamas Real Estate Association’s (BREA) president yesterday urged realtors to be more vigilant in combating fraud and increase their awareness of Know Your Customer (KYC) principles.
Small loans provider extends limits 50%
A Bahamian small loans provider yesterday said it has expanded its lending facility by 50 percent to help consumers rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shoppers’ grocery buys change little
Super Value’s president yesterday said consumer habits have changed little despite the rising cost of food as they opt for their “national brands”.
Got a disability? Govt wants you to register
OFFICIALS have made a plea to the disabled community to participate in the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development’s ongoing voluntary registration of persons with disabilities.
Mixed verdict over Independence sales
Merchants yesterday gave a mixed assessment of Independence Day sales with one claiming there was a lot of “enthusiasm” while another blamed low consumer turnout on COVID-19’s lingering impact.
Cabinet minister in panel on more resilient food systems
A Bahamian Cabinet minister will next Monday participate in a panel discussion on building more resilient food systems in the Caribbean.
Tourism to re-establish its BASE
The Tourism Development Corporation (TDC) yesterday said it was moving to establish an association that will represent the interests of tourist-related businesses throughout The Bahamas.
Crystal offering ‘resident special’ on local cruises
Crystal Cruises says it is introducing a Bahamas Resident Special for locals wanting to join its seven-night, week-long home porting voyages around the archipelago.
Customs broker faces $1.8m fraud accusation
A CUSTOMS broker was arraigned yesterday over allegations she stole and defrauded more $1.8m from Cable Bahamas over a 12-month period.
30-year sentence stays for trying to kill ex-girlfriend
A MAN who was convicted of trying to murder his ex-girlfriend has been unsuccessful in appealing his 30-year prison sentence.
This is war
Tribune front page reads.“Killings product of our failure”.
Soaring sales but where are the taxes?
Once again headline after headline of soaring sales purchased by the elites, yet the government refuses to tax this insane wealth but actually has the audacity to put a cap on it.
Soaring sales but where are the taxes?
Once again headline after headline of soaring sales purchased by the elites, yet the government refuses to tax this insane wealth but actually has the audacity to put a cap on it.
Jones and WNBA All-Stars beat US Olympic team 93-85
A BUSY WNBA All-Star night for Jonquel Jones featured an MVP calibre performance in an historic win for Team WNBA and a second place finish in the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest.
BOC: We will remember Roscow as a part of our Olympic delegation
THE Bahamas Olympic Committee paid its respects to the life and work of its former vice president and National Sports Hall of Fame member Roscow Davies.
Bahamas basketball Olympic qualifying: ‘Buddy’ has high hopes
AS Bahamian basketball increases in global notoriety, Chavano “Buddy” Hield said he has high hopes for the country’s senior men’s national team programme to reach the pinnacle of the sport and achieve Olympic qualification.
McFall commits to Slippery Rock
FRESH off his Bahamas senior men’s national team debut, Jonathan McFall announced his transfer destination to continue his collegiate career.
Bahamas Roadmasters ready to chase the unicorn at 125th Boston Marathon
WITH more than 30 of its members registered for the 125th Boston Marathon, Bahamas Roadmasters Running Club is ready to chase the unicorn (official symbol of Boston Marathon).
ART OF GRAPHIX: Video marketing makes for much better viewing
Some marketing executives are caught in the conundrum of trying to decide whether to embark on a video advertising campaign or wondering why they are not already doing it.
‘Celebrate Den’: Flamingos Women’s Golf Club 242 hosts Independence Day 9 Hole Tournament
THE Flamingos Women’s Golf Club 242 hosted its Independence Day 9 Hole Tournament “Celebrate Den” on Saturday at the Bahamas Golf Federation’s Nine Hole Sporting Complex.
Wednesday, July 14
EDITORIAL: Minister Dames and the crime problem
A bloody weekend has put our murder rate in the spotlight again – with five men killed between Thursday and Monday.
ALICIA WALLACE: Planning for the future - but do we really have one?
Independence is always an interesting time in The Bahamas. On the weekend, someone joked that on July 9, people complain about the country. On July 10, The Bahamas is the best place on earth. By July 11, the complaints are back.
Diplomats return home from Haiti
FOUR Bahamian diplomats who were stationed in Haiti are now safely back home after the shock assassination of Haitian President Jouvenal Moise last week, said Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield.
Airlines fined thousands for visa failures
CHIEF Superintendent of Police Zhivago Dames said commercial airlines have been fined thousands of dollars for letting passengers enter this country without the required documents, such as the travel health visa.
‘My grandson went to the store - and was shot dead’
A GRANDMOTHER is in mourning after her grandson was shot dead in Ridgeland Park on Saturday.
Drifting catamaran rescued by RBDF
THREE occupants of a disabled vessel are grateful for the assistance of members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force after they were safely escorted to harbour in the southern Bahamas early yesterday morning.
Dames defends efforts in search for missing man
NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames yesterday defended the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s search and rescue efforts for a missing man following a boating accident over the weekend.
Union chief: Workers not feeling tourism’s rebound
The hotel union’s president yesterday said industry workers were yet to feel the benefits from tourism’s post-COVID resurgence with “no higher than 40 percent” of his members recalled to work to-date.
Carnival’s GB port to double arrivals to 1m
Carnival’s Grand Bahama port will double the passengers it brings to the island to one million within three years of completion, economic forecasters have predicted, while boosting annual visitor spend by $68m.
Cruise port eyes 1m visitors by end-2021
Nassau Cruise Port’s top executive yesterday said it could welcome one million visitors over the five months to year-end 2021 even if vessels call with just 60 percent average occupancy.
Baha Mar builder seeks Bahamian judicial assistance
Baha Mar’s main contractor has launched its own bid to secure Bahamian judicial assistance in a bid to unearth evidence that will support its counter-claims against former owner Sarkis Izmirlian.
‘Full accounting’ demanded by oil opponents
Oil exploration opponents yesterday submitted their third Freedom of Information Act request in a bid to obtain greater transparency over the Government’s dealings with the ex-Bahamas Petroleum Company.
PI resort ends tests for fully vaccinated guests
A Paradise Island resort says fully vaccinated guests will no longer have to produce negative COVID test results as it extends its ‘fourth night free’ promotion through until August 31.
Remembering ‘gentle giant’ Charles Sweeting
TRIBUTES have poured in for former Queen’s College principal and president of The Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church Reverend Charles Sweeting, who died last week.
Pfizer’s vaccine here by August
HEALTH Minister Renward Wells said the country is expected to receive its first doses of the Pfizer vaccine through the World Health Organisation’s COVAX Facility soon, with additional doses of the brand anticipated to arrive in the country later this year.
‘Mother’ Pratt: It has been rough
FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia “Mother” Pratt says she’s happy to be recuperating at home after surviving horrific COVID-19 symptoms in hospital. “It’s been rough, oh it’s been rough, but praise God, I made it,” Mrs Pratt, 75, said yesterday.
‘KILLINGS PRODUCT OF OUR FAILURES’: Dames blames decades of neglect for murders but assures public ‘You’re safe’
DESPITE a recent spate of murders over the holiday weekend, National Security Minister Marvin Dames said Bahamians have no reason to feel unsafe, insisting police have the crime situation under control.
Crystal drops Cat Island on docking
Cat Island business owners said Crystal Cruises was unable to select the island as a port-of-call during its seven-night Bahamas voyages because the water near the public dock was too shallow.
It’s time to reevaluate our relations
Dear Minister Darren Henfield, For most of our 48 year history, The Bahamas has been relying on two of our strongest allies, which is the US and China. We always gave them our hopes and expectations, but what have we gotten from our cooperation?
The losers of the next general election
Who’s going to lose the next general election in our country – The Bahamas? We, the Bahamian people, as usual.
DEREK SMITH: Don’t simply ‘check box’ for passports over KYC
The fraud industry is booming. A few months before COVID-19 appeared, the Financial Cost of Fraud Report 2019 stated: “Fraud is costing businesses and individuals across the world $5.127tr each year.” Moreover, the results of a survey completed by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) noted that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, experts have observed an increase in multiple types of fraud. Both historically ,and recently, financial institutions and designated non-financial business and professions (“DNFBPs) are targets of fraudsters.
Gov’t seizes on leading small island FDI status
The Government yesterday seized on The Bahamas’ status as 2020’s top small island state for foreign direct investment (FDI) as “perhaps the strongest indicator of confidence” in this nation. The Ministry of Finance, in a statement, said this nation had bucked the trend of declining FDI inflows at the COVID-19 pandemic’s height via a 47 percent or $286m year-over-year increase in such receipts compared to 2019.
Bimini businesses are mixed on COVID test
Bimini businesses yesterday gave mixed reactions to the Government’s requirement that persons travelling to and from the island must take an RT-PCR COVID-19 test in a bid to contain the latest outbreak.
Project manager creates ‘professional community’
A project manager yesterday said she created a “community” dedicated to professionals in her sector in response to a “great need” for better networking among Bahamians.
Long Island Chamber chief hails ‘incredible’ cruise visit
Long Island’s Chamber of Commerce president has hailed the impact of Crystal Cruises’ first-ever visit to the island as “incredible”.
San Salvador ‘impressed’ with Crystal visit
A San Salvador business owner yesterday said she was “impressed” by how Crystal Cruises guests were treated when they visited the island last week.
Bishop Ellis criticises Crystal Cruise protests
PROMINENT Mount Tabor Church pastor Bishop Neil Ellis has criticised Harbour Island residents whose protests prevented Crystal Cruises from anchoring its ships there as part of its home porting experience in The Bahamas.
Post office clerks testify on Rudy King transactions
TWO post office clerks yesterday testified that they conducted transactions for Bahamian businessman Rudolph “Rudy” King that required authorisation from their supervisor.
Woman denies helping to launder money
A 46-year-old woman who denied helping another person launder nearly $50,000 into a foreign country was yesterday granted bail ahead of her trial.
Man accused of setting fire to church
A 22-year-old man was denied bail yesterday over allegations he set fire to a local church.
Public alert over real estate scam
THE general public has been put on high alert by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to be on the lookout for a real estate scam artist.
It’s time to reevaluate our relations
Dear Minister Darren Henfield, For most of our 48 year history, The Bahamas has been relying on two of our strongest allies, which is the US and China. We always gave them our hopes and expectations, but what have we gotten from our cooperation?
Zimbabwe needs reform
Elections in Zimbabwe will be held in two years to come and the world is now beginning to think about the credibility of these elections.
MLB Draft: Cubs select BJ Murray
Michelle and Bertie Murray Jr could not have enjoyed a better 30th wedding anniversary yesterday than to be at the side of their son, BJ Murray, when he was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 2021 Major League Draft.
Tennis ace Justin Roberts gets set for Men’s 25K in Ecuador
HAVING gotten over the jitters of playing on his first Davis Cup team for the Bahamas, touting professional tennis player Justin Roberts is now eager to get back on the international circuit.
High jumper Donald Thomas picks up big victory in London
ON the road to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, later this month, Donald Thomas picked up a big victory on Tuesday in the men’s high jump at the Gateshead Diamond League meet in London, England.
National Hall of Fame icon Roscoe Davies dies at 81
NATIONAL Hall of Fame icon Roscoe Davies, considered a true “professional”, a “gentleman and a scholar” and one to “emulate” on and off the field in every sporting discipline community activity he was involved in, passed away on Tuesday.
Five face court for murders
FIVE men were yesterday charged with murder in the Magistrate’s Court in connection with five separate incidents - including one man accused of five murders.
Tuesday, July 13
EDITORIAL: No end in the search for justice
THERE are too many murders in our country. One would be too many, but our murder rate puts us among the highest in the world.
PETER YOUNG: Desperate Haiti may have only one chance - US boots on the ground
With the nation of Haiti gripped by terror and chaos and said to be on the verge of civil war following the assassination of its President last week, there has been wide international condemnation of this horrific act.
FACE TO FACE: Tito’s tigers on the track chasing Tokyo Olympics glory
ST Augustine’s College Alumni Association (SACAA) president Cherelle Cartwright rang me, all excited after seeing Brent Stubbs’ sports article announcing all five members of the 4x400 metre relay Olympic team for The Bahamas are St Augustine’s College (SAC) alumna.
PM: Only way to end pandemic is vaccine
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has again appealed for Bahamians to get vaccinated against COVID-19, saying it is the only way to end this pandemic.
Realtor: ‘Best sales in 99-year history’
A prominent realtor has revealed his firm is enjoying “the best year in our 99-year history” with the high-end Bahamian property market “going gangbusters” following its post-COVID lockdown emergence.
Unions target summer 2022 for unification
TRADE union leaders this weekend voiced optimism that the “complete unification of the labour movement into one single body” will be achieved in time for The Bahamas’ 49th Independence celebrations.
Cable: Resolving consumer concerns ‘drilled into ethos’
CABLE Bahamas’ top executive has pledged that resolving customer complaints is “our number one priority” and has been “drilled into the ethos” of all employees ahead of a regulatory probe into its TV services.
Banks eye $700m ‘bridge’ for Gov’t
BAHAMIAN commercial banks are in discussions over providing up to a $700m syndicated loan to the Government to bridge the gap until it places its international bond financing later this year.
Power and prestige from the race into space
As World War II came to an end and the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union grew, the space race became one of the main stages where the two superpowers competed for an intangible that often plays a crucial role in capturing the hearts and minds of domestic citizens, as well as those of government officials around the world.
Algernon Allen tops honours list
SIXTEEN Bahamians have been chosen to receive a national honour this year, with former Cabinet minister Algernon Allen named as a special awardee.
BPL union says some progress on ‘issues’
THE union representing Bahamas Power and Light workers said it has been assured by BPL’s executive management that several of their longstanding issues will soon be resolved after meetings were held between the two parties on Friday.
Two dead in weekend accidents
TWO pedestrians are dead after separate traffic accidents in New Providence and Grand Bahama over the weekend.
COVID claims life of five-month-old girl
COVID-19 related deaths have climbed by two to 254, with officials reporting that the country’s youngest victim is a five-month-old girl who died from the virus on June 26.
Ayton’s foul trouble limits the Suns in Game 3 loss
Deandre Ayton struggled in limited, foul plagued minutes of his Phoenix Suns’ game three loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Finals, but acknowledged the support from the Bahamian public as one of his many motivating factors in his team’s chase for the first Larry O’Brien trophy in franchise history.
Neutrality boost if ‘get ahead of G-20’
THE Bahamas can become a “neutral” venue for deal structuring and other major transactions “if we can get ahead of the curve” on the latest tax avoidance crackdown, a prominent banker argued yesterday.
‘Vigilante’ attack
A MAGISTRATE is set to determine the fate of a 21-year-old man who claimed he assaulted another man because he believed his father was a sex offender.
Cheque fraud alert
POLICE are warning members of the business community to be on alert due to a recent spate of fraudulent cheques being circulated.
Media helps promote fake narratives
Once again, The Bahamas looks likely to be forced to do the right thing for its population only after being bullied into it by outsiders.
Health visa is a barrier
Alarm bells are ringing at the travel agencies which I operate in Columbus and the southern Ohio area. We are not getting bookings for The Bahamas. After years when your country was a major destination for our clients, even in July and August, there appears now to be little interest.
Jones selected for MTN DEW 3-Point Contest
THREE-time WNBA All-Star Jonquel Jones will have a busy All-Star weekend as she prepares to vie for the title of the league’s best long-range shooter.
Bahamian minor leaguers get their first assignments
SEVERAL Bahamian baseball players received the first minor league assignments of their professional careers this week.
NACAC: Bahamas finishes third overall
ON the strength of a meet record-breaking performance from Nathaniel Zervos and double gold medal feats by Camille Rutherford, Tarajh Hudson and Wanya McCoy, the Bahamas finished third at the North American, Central American and Caribbean’s Under-18 to Under-23 Championships.
Miller-Uibo wins 200m in Monaco
IN a big test as she prepares to get the medal that has eluded her so far at the Olympic Games, Shaunae Miller-Uibo had enough real estate to reel in two of her arch rivals to win the women’s 200 metres at the EBS Herculis meeting in Monaco.
SUSPECT FACES FIVE MURDER CHARGES: Accused due in court for killings as police detain other gunmen
A MAN accused of five murders will face court today over a series of killings dating back to 2018.
Monday, July 12
Suns' NBA Finals lead now 2-1
MILWAUKEE (AP) — When Giannis Antetokounmpo crashed to the court just two weeks ago with what appeared to be a serious knee injury, there was no guarantee he'd be back this season.
Sunday, July 11
Man dies after being struck by vehicle
A man died after being struck by a vehicle on Saturday night.
Two dead after separate shooting incidents
Two men are dead after separate shooting incidents on Saturday.
Saturday, July 10
'There is hope for a better future' – Prime Minister's Independence remarks
2021 Independence Remarks from Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.
Friday, July 9
Man dies after Flamingo Gardens shooting
A MAN died in hospital after he was shot outside his home in Flamingo Gardens on Thursday night.
Police: Social gatherings only for those vaccinated
POLICE have issued a reminder ahead of Independence Day that social gatherings for people who are not vaccinated are not allowed under current emergency order restrictions.
Independence celebrations get underway in Grand Bahama
THE 48th Bahamas Independence anniversary celebrations kicked off on Friday, with flag-raising ceremonies throughout the island of Grand Bahama and a display of national colours and pride.
PCR tests needed for Bimini are not available
BIMINI residents are bashing the competent authority’s decision to require PCR tests for travel to and from their island because the tests are not available there.
Man charged with armed robbery
A MAN was remanded to prison on Friday after he was charged with armed robbery.
Second man charged with murder and attempted murder of man and woman
A SECOND man was charged on Friday in connection with the murder and attempted murder of a man and woman last month.
EDITORIAL: Cable Bahamas issues under the spotlight
COMPLAINTS work. THAT’S one lesson to take from the lead story in today’s Tribune. Regulator URCA had been given the task of investigating the restructuring of Cable Bahamas’ REV TV cable packages. They have approved the restructuring – but in the process they received complaint after complaint after complaint about service interruptions and other issues.
DIANE PHILLIPS: Villain or folk hero – our mixed emotions about the Barefoot Bandit
MONDAY, July 11, will mark 11 years to the day that international fugitive Colton Harris-Moore was captured in Harbour Island, Eleuthera. The capture ended a brazen two-year crime spree during which the teen, better known as the Barefoot Bandit, stole airplanes, boats, broke into businesses and homes and evaded police in three countries while taking the world along for a ride, post after Facebook post.
A COMIC'S VIEW: How the rest of the world is dealing with marijuana
As we continue to wait on the final version of the Marijuana Bill, I continue to research the subject and it’s impact globally - all in an effort to see what new measures are being taken around the world as countries continue to legalise and decriminalise marijuana, either medicinally, recreationally or in some cases both, to see the positives we can incorporate in our still not final Bill that will benefit both the administration and citizenry moving forward.
BPL worker: I don’t even have anywhere to live in Abaco, so why am I being sent there?
A FRUSTRATED Bahamas Power and Light employee has complained about staff being told they have to return to their home island of Abaco, where conditions are not suitable.
59 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed
ANOTHER 59 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, pushing the nation’s case count to over 13,000.
D’Aguilar: The rebound continues
FOUR hundred and forty thousand stopover visitors have spent an estimated $875m in The Bahamas during the first six months of 2021, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday.
Haitians in The Bahamas urge unity after killing
THE assassination of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse has triggered mourning among Haitians in The Bahamas and around the world, with some local activists urging unity during this trying time.
RBDF sends condolences after death of pilots
THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force yesterday expressed condolences to the families of Jason Allen and Lavan Paul, two former marines who died in a plane crash in Abaco on Monday.
Tourism’s ‘perfect storm’ missing out on 15-20%
The hotel industry’s top executive yesterday said that despite “the perfect storm” driving the sector’s recovery he remains concerned about the 15-20 percent of visitor source markets that have yet to re-open.
Govt’s $1.851bn borrowing at ‘lower cost’ to taxpayers
The Ministry of Finance’s top official yesterday voiced optimism that the government’s $1.851bn borrowing this fiscal year will come at a lower cost to the Bahamian people based on “market soundings”.
Bahamas First rebounds over $5m motor drop-off
Bahamas First’s top executive yesterday said it has made solid progress in recovering the $5m fall-off in motor premiums suffered in 2020, but added: “We don’t want to count our chickens before they hatch.”
COVID ‘bummer’ for Bimini revival
A prominent Bimini dive operator yesterday revealed significant cancellations as a result of newly-imposed COVID restrictions, which he branded “a bummer” for hopes of an economic “shot in the arm”.
RBDF to deploy extra vessels
AMID growing social unrest in Haiti following the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, local law enforcement officials plan to deploy additional vessels out at sea to prevent “any potential mass migration” of Haitian nationals to the Bahamas.
Artists to stage independence showcase
AFTER some backlash, officials have scheduled a two-day event at the end of the month to showcase performances by local artists in celebration of the country’s independence, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Iram Lewis announced yesterday.
TV PROVIDER FACES PROBE ON SERVICE: Watchdog URCA to hold investigation into Cable Bahamas’ breakdowns
Regulators last night pledged to investigate Cable Bahamas’ TV service quality and said they were “majorly concerned” by the length and frequency of outages suffered by customers.
Reverse osmosis units arrive in Grand Bahama
THE first shipment of reverse osmosis units has arrived in Grand Bahama for construction of a new three-million-gallon RO plant being built at a cost of $5m by the Grand Bahama Utility Company.
Union seeking industrial agreement with BTVI
AFTER being recognised as the bargaining agent for Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute, the Union of Tertiary Educators of The Bahamas is looking forward to soon signing an industrial agreement with the institution.
Man caught on film fighting policeman awaits sentence
A 23-year-old man who was filmed fighting an officer who attempted to arrest him over a traffic violation was yesterday remanded to prison pending a magistrate’s sentencing.
Man who denies pointing gun at officers given bail
A 26-year-old man who denied pointing a firearm at two police officers earlier this month was yesterday granted bail ahead of his trial.
Court upgrade contracts signed
TWO contracts worth over $596,000 were signed yesterday between the Ministry of National Security and two local contractors for telecommunication and electrical upgrades to court buildings as part of its modernisation process of the judiciary.
Dr Darville is the right man for Tall Pines
The upcoming general elections will see many of those who are currently in the House of Assembly voted out with a vengeance.
How many had the vaccine?
Regularly your paper shows an updated table on the number of persons tested for COVID. including new cases and also the total number of COVID deaths.
Bahamian minor leaguers making a name for themselves
LUCIUS Fox returned to AAA, Chavez Fernander continued his successful transition to AA and D’Shawn Knowles made the most of a correctly overturned call to highlight performances from Bahamians in Minor League Baseball this week.
The Press box: Lakers need a ‘buddy’
THE Los Angeles Lakers have work to do in order to get themselves back into title contention next season.
Shepherd Signs with pioneers
JANUS Shepherd will have the opportunity to further both his academic and athletic career at the collegiate level.
Rolle presents cheque for King’s Sons Basketball Camp
ROYAL Bahamas Police Force Commissioner Paul Rolle said he was so impressed with the work that Dr Apostle Carlos Reid is doing in the community that he had to take time out from his busy schedule to make a contribution to the King’s Sons Basketball Camp.
Reginald ‘Reggie’ Forbes retires from SAC
ONE of the longest tenures in high school sports came to an end as Reginald ‘Reggie’ Forbes retired from St Augustine’s College last week.
Davis triumphs in Canadian show jumping classic
BAHAMIAN show jumper Marcus Davis wrapped up an intense June campaign of training and competition in the best way possible – standing alone atop the podium, at the Angelstone Headwaters Cup Tournament in Ontario, Canada.
Thursday, July 8
EDITORIAL: What really went on in Treasure Cay?
THERE are very obviously missing pieces in the story of what happened that led to the plane crash in Abaco that killed two pilots.
STATESIDE: An old warhorse rides into town with the same unchallenged message
Cal Thomas came to town the other day.
FRONT PORCH: Curiosity and discernship in leadership
AMERICAN journalist and author David Simon, better known as a writer and producer of The Wire, captures the role of curiosity in human endeavour: “The why is what makes journalism an adult game. The why is what makes policy coherent and useful.
Businesses able to raise $5m through crowdfunding
ELIGIBLE Bahamian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will now be able to raise up to $5m in equity capital to fund their business ventures via crowdfunding, State Minister of Finance Kwasi Thompson said yesterday.
Police officers commended after arrest that went viral
TWO POLICE officers involved in a much publicised arrest have been commended and rewarded by Commissioner Paul Rolle.
PAHO confirms vaccine production delays
PAN American Health Organization officials have revealed that the deployment of COVAX issued vaccines was delayed in June due to a myriad of issues experienced by the group with Oxford-AstraZeneca production sites.
Physicians president’s alarm at lack of health resources
CONSULTANT Physicians Staff Association president Dr Sabriquet Pinder-Butler says it’s “alarming” that Princess Margaret Hospital is at full capacity due to increased COVID-19 cases, but a compounding challenge remains – the lack of human resources in public health.
Man dies from electrocution at dock
A MAN was fatally electrocuted yesterday morning while working on air conditioning repairs on a small yacht docked at the Joseph Alfred Dock in the Bay Street area.
‘Elephant in the room’ for 1m stopover target
A Cabinet minister yesterday said he is targeting one million stopover tourist arrivals for 2021 but acknowledged that COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy remains “the elephant in the room” for this ambition.
‘Huge opportunity’ through no foreign crowdfunding bar
Newly-implemented crowdfunding rules were yesterday hailed as “a huge opportunity” for Bahamian small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) who will be able to source equity capital from foreign investors.
Cruise giant ‘can’t recognise’ rival’s PI crown land lease
A Bahamian entrepreneur yesterday hit out at Royal Caribbean after the cruise giant declined to “acknowledge” his Paradise Island crown land lease that is now locked in a legal battle with the government.
BISX targets 2021 crowdfund launch
The Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX) plans to launch into the crowdfunding space in 2021, its top executive confirmed yesterday, suggesting it will happen “sooner rather than later”.
‘Mother’ Pratt ‘is getting better’
CYNTHIA “Mother” Pratt, former Deputy Prime Minister, is said to be responding well to treatment for COVID-19 in hospital, Dr Lynwood Brown said yesterday.
‘Personal matters’ see DNA's no.2 resign
THE Democratic National Alliance has announced that the party’s Deputy Leader Buscheme Armbrister stepped down effective June 30 in order to attend to “personal matters”.
Border alert after Haiti president killed
THE Bahamas has closed its embassy in Haiti and will beef up border security at home as precautionary measures after Haitian President Jovenel Moise was assassinated at his home yesterday.
PILOTS WEREN’T RATED TO FLY DOOMED PLANE: Questions mount over fatal crash as police confirm jet had been reported stolen
TWO Bahamian pilots who died in a fiery plane crash in Abaco on Monday were not qualified to fly the jet, perplexing investigators who have since opened a stolen aircraft inquiry into the matter.
12-year-old to make spelling bee history
ROY Seligman, a 12-year-old, eighth grade student of Lyford Cay International School, will make history as the first Bahamian to appear in the Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals tonight.
15-year sentence for robbery is quashed
A MAN who was convicted of robbing a gas station of $1,500 over five years ago had his 15-year sentence quashed by the Court of Appeal after the panel ruled the “misrepresentation” of the evidence by the judge during her summation of the case was “fatal” to him receiving a fair trial.
Attorney sworn in as magistrate
GRAND Bahama attorney Simone Brown was sworn in as a stipendiary and circuit magistrate for the Eight Mile Rock Magistrate’s Court this week.
Nine Cubans found on Cay Sal Bank
NINE Cuban migrants discovered on a cay in the Cay Sal Bank in the southern Bahamas were charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court with illegal landing.
U.S. man told to pay $400 or go to jail
AN American man who was found with a small bag of marijuana must pay $400 to avoid prison.
Officer’s security concerns
(Mr Falcon Clarke, an officer of the Department of Corrections, says he sent the following letter “first to the Commissioner then to Minister Marvin Dames. Nothing has been done therefore I am now sending it to the news media”).
Court cases controversy
Under the heading, “Hundreds of court cases could be reheard” a local media recently made a news release that referenced the fact that voluntary bills of indictment (VBI) were signed by persons who were rejected by the Bahamas Bar Association (BBA). It further inferred that this has been going on for some time and has been known and accepted by the powers that be and that the validity of these actions will now be questioned and challenged by a local attorney.
Deandre Ayton delivers historic performance in NBA Finals debut
Deandre Ayton delivered an historic performance in his NBA Finals debut and after he helped the Phoenix Suns to a game one win with his 22 points and 19 rebounds, the third year centre said he will be well-rested and ready to repeat that effort in game two.
Isaacs Jr quickly emerges as offensive team leader
TODD Isaacs Jr has been on an absolute tear at the plate since he made his debut with the New Jersey Jackals of the Canadian-American Division of the Frontier League.
Cycling is growing by leaps and bounds
TWIN presidents Roy Colebrooke and Barron ‘Turbo’ Musgrove have been steering the Bahamas Cycling Federation for quite a while. But they both admit that they have never seen the sport expand the way that it has right now.
Wednesday, July 7
Fashion alert! Jellies are resurrected for 2021 summer
Looking for the perfect Summer footwear? Well, it’s time to look to the past (your past, if you’re over 40) and consider jelly shows, because those colourful plastic shoes we loved wearing as kids are making a huge comeback in 2021.
Versatile teen goes big with her art
AT JUST eighteen years old, Katlyn Rolle has decided to go big with her art, literally.
EDITORIAL: Hesitation may be your last regret
OUR country’s hesitation to get vaccinated is coming home to roost – with Princess Margaret Hospital now at full capacity.
ALICIA WALLACE: Why are we wasting this chance to showcase our talents to the world?
Independence Day is approaching and the planned celebration is going to be different again this year. Due to the COVID-19 safety protocols, it will be an entirely virtual event.
Dames reveals new prison hope
NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames yesterday said his ministry wants to construct a new modern medium security prison able to accommodate up to 500 inmates in an effort to bring about reform to the prison system.
Ambassador hopes China links will grow
CHINESE Ambassador to The Bahamas Dai Qingli yesterday celebrated the July 1 centennial anniversary of the Communist Party of China to give an insight into her country’s position in the world, its aims and relations with The Bahamas.
‘Vaccination rules up to the schools - and perhaps courts’
EDUCATION Minister Jeff Lloyd said any decision to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for students enrolled in private schools will be “entirely up” to the institution itself but warned that such decisions “may be tested in court”.
‘High-end real estate busiest I’ve seen it’
A Bahamian developer yesterday said “the high end real estate market is the busiest I have ever seen it” as he prepares to break ground on a $40m project within the next two weeks.
Real estate chief’s rogue agent alert
The Bahamas Real Estate Association’s (BREA) president yesterday urged law enforcement to act against rogue foreign realtors engaged in property transactions in the Family Islands.
Union chief pledges ‘no public hardship’
Trade unions will “not create hardship for the Bahamian people” if they are “forced” to take industrial action over their multiple workplace grievances, a prominent leader pledged yesterday.
Customs GB approach branded ‘mind boggling’
Hopes were rising in Freeport last night that Customs is close to resolving the near-two week system malfunction that has tripled the length of time required to clear goods imported to Grand Bahama.
UPDATED: PM releases statement on assassination of Haiti President Jovenel Moise
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in an attack on his private residence, according to a statement Wednesday from the country's interim prime minister, who called the killing a "hateful, inhumane and barbaric act."
UPDATED: Plane in Abaco crash was reported stolen
THE airplane involved in Monday’s fatal crash in Abaco “appeared to struggle to get off the ground” at the runway in Treasure Cay before the incident, according to crash investigators.
$90m deal to expand PMH site
A $90m contract was signed yesterday to expand and upgrade infrastructure at Princess Margaret Hospital and the Rand Memorial in Grand Bahama.
‘Mother’ Pratt rushed to hospital with COVID
FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia “Mother” Pratt was admitted to hospital yesterday following a positive COVID-19 diagnosis more than a week ago.
NO-JAB PATIENTS LEAVE PMH FULL: New warnings as vaccine hesitancy fills hospital beds
AN uptick in COVID-19 cases has left Princess Margaret Hospital operating at full capacity, according to PMH administrator Mary Walker.
‘It’s a blessing to have two of us representing the country again’
DONALD Thomas said there was never any doubt in his mind that his performance would have enabled him to make the Bahamas team for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Country needs plan to ‘salvage development’
The Bahamas is facing “a salvage development plan” rather than a National Development Plan, a former Chamber executive said yesterday, as the nation seeks to “pick up the pieces” post-COVID-19.
Ayton and Suns grab Game 1
PHOENIX (AP) — Chris Paul delivered an NBA Finals debut that was well worth his lengthy wait.
Christian Independence is right thing for celebration
I am not sure why secular musicians and irreligious Bahamians are all riled up over the Independence Day Committee’s decision to feature a Christ-centered motif for our upcoming Independence Day celebrations.
Gardiner picks up big win, Miller-Uibo 2nd
Men’s 400 metre world champion Steven Gardiner had to grit it out from behind for a great win yesterday against a noteworthy field of competitors as he prepares for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
PLP: Local entertainers should not be left out
THE Progressive Liberal Party said the government must involve local entertainers in independence celebrations amid complaints about the apparent exclusion of secular artists from the upcoming events.
65 Haitians repatriated
SIXTY-FIVE Haitian migrants were repatriated yesterday.
Judges reject Archer appeal
THE Court of Appeal yesterday rejected Omar Archer’s appeal against a Supreme Court judge’s decision to dismiss his motion for constitutional relief concerning a criminal libel charge brought against him six years ago.
Teenager accused of rape attack
A 19-year-old resident of Grand Bahama was charged with rape, burglary and causing harm in Freeport yesterday.
‘I grew marijuana by accident’
A 32-year-old man who was found with several marijuana plants claimed they accidentally sprouted when he threw the seeds out after smoking.
$1,000 fine for running bar after curfew
A businessman who was caught running a bar after curfew hours earlier this year was yesterday fined $1,000.
Tuesday, July 6
FACE TO FACE: Remembering ‘Sir Coaks’ who put Bahamians front and centre
AS The Bahamas gears up to celebrate another Independence anniversary, I wanted to take the time to take a look back in history at the man who helped to organise our very first Independence celebration cultural extravaganza.
EDITORIAL: Hesitancy among our health workers
IN yesterday’s Tribune, we reported on the concerns of nurses with a number of workers sick with COVID, and one having recently died. Those are valid concerns indeed – so why is it that in today’s Tribune, we hear that there is a hesitancy within healthcare workers to take the vaccine?
PETER YOUNG: Beating the Germans at Wembley, dare we dream of more?
AFTER writing last week about the then upcoming clash between England and Germany at the European football championships, the extraordinary events of recent days demand a return to the subject today.
Police force goes cashless in Grand Bahama
AFTER going cashless in New Providence, the Royal Bahamas Police Force has extended the initiative to Grand Bahama and will no longer accept cash from citizens.
4,000 approved for funding from DRA
NEARLY 4,000 approved homeowners on Grand Bahama and Abaco have been assessed and funded through the Disaster Reconstruction Authority’s Small Home Repair Programme.
Nurses chief: Why do PMH issues take so long to resolve?
THE president of the Bahamas Nurses Union has chided public health officials for the length of time it takes to address issues within Princess Margaret Hospital.
Govt ‘in talks’ with Caribbean country for 20k doses
HEALTH Minister Renward Wells said yesterday the government is currently engaged in talks with another Caribbean country to secure additional 20,000 vaccines to shore up its vaccine supplies, as officials await shipment for the remaining doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX Facility.
Why aren’t more health workers taking vaccine?
A PUBLIC Hospitals Authority official has lamented vaccine hesitancy as an ongoing challenge for the healthcare sector, telling The Tribune more healthcare workers should want the jab having witnessed the effects of COVID-19.
Lewis to meet artists over Independence row
AFTER concerns were raised by several Bahamian performers about this year’s Independence Day celebration, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Iram Lewis said he plans to meet with local artists to address their issues.
Mitchell says cruise rules relaxation ‘discriminatory’
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Fred Mitchell has called the government’s relaxation of travel visa requirements for cruise passengers out of Florida “discriminatory.”
‘Frustration at a peak’ on $90m project delay
An Elbow Cay developer yesterday revealed “frustration has reached a peak” over obstacles impeding a $90m project that could help “supercharge” Abaco’s post-Dorian economic revival.
LNG supplier funded hotel power move
A Bimini resort developer has revealed that its entrance into private power generation was largely financed by its liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel supplier, New Fortress Energy.
Baha Mar owner: We’re being pitted against AG
Baha Mar’s current owner is voicing increasing concern that it will be sucked into a legal battle with the Attorney General’s Office after failing to obtain an injunction to block Sarkis Izmirlian’s document demands.
Cays ‘feel neglected’ over Dorian recovery
Residents on Abaco’s multiple cays “feel neglected” by Hurricane Dorian relief efforts, an Elbow Cay developer charged yesterday, amid perceptions that wealthier residents will “pay for everything”.
‘Can’t rest on laurels’ over 47% FDI rise
The Bahamas “cannot rest on its laurels” despite leading all small island developing states (SIDS) in the amount of foreign direct investment attracted in 2020, a governance reformer warned yesterday.
Davis hits out at Minnis for election games
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis said Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has sought to confuse people about the timing of the next general election more than any other Prime Minister in the country’s history.
Campbell: Sex slur appalled me
SOCIAL Services Minister Frankie Campbell vehemently denied rumours circulating in a viral voice note, stating the defamatory claims of him impregnating the daughter of an alleged sweetheart. He said the claim was not only untrue, but embarrassing to him in his professional capacity.
Two dead in Abaco plane crash
FAMILY and friends are mourning the deaths of two former Royal Bahamas Defence Force marines who perished in a fiery plane crash in Abaco Monday.
New Providence man is latest COVID victim
A 43-YEAR-OLD New Providence man has become the country’s latest victim of COVID-19.
Say no to PLP
Are you aware that many FNM supporters have been ousted from the FNM in the past three decades and counting? We are called FNMs in exile, or FNM-iEx for short. Some among us are in voluntary exile from the party, and others have been forced in to the situation by forces loyal to Pindling’s most illustrious PLP protégé at that time.
Home construction to start in Central Pines
WITHIN the next few days, the Disaster Reconstruction Authority will start construction of five homes in Central Pines, Abaco, one of the island’s popular housing subdivisions.
‘Pay people back and $3k fine’
A 44-year-old businessman who accepted money from two different clients without performing the services he agreed to carry out was yesterday fined $3,000 and ordered to pay back the people he inconvenienced.
Teenager is charged with murder
A TEENAGER was charged with murder and attempted murder in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Pastors rent to numbers house boys
Some weeks back I saw a missive penned by a group of pastors that expressed disapproval of the appointment of a web shop gaming mogul by the Free National Movement government to a diplomatic post.
Destination Bahamas?
I have operated travel agencies in the Maine and eastern Massachusetts area for many years.
BREA chief: Govt must get subdivision correct
The Bahamas Real Estate Association’s (BREA) president yesterday said it was better for the government’s Prospect Ridge housing development be be done properly rather than put deadlines on it.
Govt urged to ‘strike health visa ‘balance’
A leading Bahamian aviation operator yesterday urged the government to “strike a balance” between demanding health travel visas from Bahamians while exempting foreigners from this requirement.
Independence sales ‘picking up steadily’
Retailers yesterday said sales are “picking up steady” for this weekend’s Independence Day celebrations following a 2020 when COVID restrictions meant celebrations were far more muted.
40-member NACAC team named
As one of the elder statesman, versatile Sasha Wells said she likes the make-up of the 40-member team that will represent the Bahamas at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Track and Field Championships.
CONCACAF Gold Cup: Bahamas eliminated
THE Bahamas senior men’s national soccer team continued its recent struggles in international play and was eliminated from the CONCACAF Gold Cup prelims, prior to the group stage.
Ayton’s quest for NBA title begins tonight
DEANDRE Ayton’s quest to become just the third Bahamian player to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy begins in earnest tonight when his Phoenix Suns host the Milwaukee Bucks in game one of the 2021 NBA Finals.
FIBA World Cup 2023 Americas Pre-Qualifiers: Team Bahamas finishes with undefeated record
THE Bahamas senior men’s national basketball team finished the FIBA World Cup 2023 Americas Pre-Qualifiers for Group A with an undefeated record and will advance to the next round in November.
Monday, July 5
WORLD VIEW: The Caribbean should support ecocide as an international crime
SMALL island states and countries with low-lying coast are the victims of ecocide.
INSIGHT: Economic resurgence or a pandemic plunge hinges on our ability to secure vaccines
TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar has been one of the most notable public proponents of Bahamians getting vaccinated. That is understandable, as the appraisal of his performance depends greatly on how well his ministry is at getting heads in beds.
INSIGHT: Legal letters and libel stir the waters at Central Bank
WEEKS after an interview with the press, a banker’s union boss has been told to apologise for remarks she made or face the consequences.
Smith: Keep food aid going
FEEDING 18,000 families on a monthly basis is a job the government should consider on a long-term basis, according to Bahamas Feeding Network Executive Director Philip Smith.
‘The nurses are sick’
AS the country battles its third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bahamas Nurses Union is reporting that five nurses are out sick and one recently died from the deadly virus.
Minnis hails ‘beautiful’ marina at opening
Briland Club officially opened its marina on Friday, marking a milestone day in the transformation of the tourism product of Harbour Island.
$50m record inflow ‘excellent problem’
An investment banking chief yesterday said record capital inflows of more than $50m received by his institution during 2021’s first four months have created “an excellent problem” it must now solve.
Kanoo eyes Caribbean expansion in six months
The Bahamian digital payments provider at the centre of the health travel visa controversy says it expects to gain permission to launch in two other Caribbean territories within the next six months.
Doctors in $7.747m COVID testing boost
Doctors Hospital enjoyed a $7.747m revenue boost as a result of administering more than 100,000 COVID-19 tests during the ten months to end-January 2021, it has been revealed.
Elsa hits Cuba, but Bahamians cautioned to stay on their guard
TROPICAL Storm Elsa upgraded to a hurricane on Friday, Deputy Director of the Department of Meteorology Basil Dean said.
Independence plan strikes wrong note
SOME Bahamian performers are upset over plans for this year’s Independence Day celebration, which allegedly leaves out a mixture of top local secular acts in favour of a Christian theme.
PM urges public to register for votes
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has called on people to register to vote in the “shortest possible time”.
BPL staff issues still unresolved
AFTER Bahamas Power and Light employees walked off the job last week in protest, government officials have held conciliatory talks with union officials, however, there is still a level of distrust with the company’s management.
‘UNIONS ACTING UP OF LITTLE CONCERN’: Labour chief dismisses sabre rattling as part of pre-election season
The Government’s top labour official yesterday reassured that workplace unrest “ain’t as serious as it appears”, and added: “This is the culture of trade unions in The Bahamas.”
The unlikely journey of gold
ActivTrades
EXCLUDING perhaps the collision of two neutron stars, supernovae are the most dramatic events in the universe’s vast menu of wonders; a cosmic fireworks show that occurs when stars reach the end of their lives by exploding. Such bursts last less than two minutes and can outshine entire galaxies, generating more energy than the sun will do during its entire lifetime.
National champions of cycling are crowned
Lorin Sawyer finally won his first Bahamas Cycling Federation double crown, taking the 47th National Cycling Championships’ male time trials and road race titles to Spanish Wells, Eleuthera.
Boat spotted adrift - and rescue turns to detention
TWO Bahamians are currently being detained allegedly for customs violations after their disabled vessel was towed into Grand Bahama on Saturday afternoon.
Wright dies after long battle with cancer
JACKIE Wright, one of the country’s former minor league professional baseball players, passed away on Saturday after a long battle with cancer.
Davis Cup: Bahamas lose 2-0 to Jamaica, does not advance
IT wasn’t the kind of finish he anticipated, but top seeded player Justin Roberts said he was quite pleased with his debut for the Bahamas on the men’s Davis Cup team.
Merchants ready reporting for VAT hurricane holiday
Building materials suppliers and the Ministry of Finance met virtually on Friday to organise the sector’s VAT reporting during the three-week hurricane preparedness tax holiday that begins on July 9.
Officer tells of finding marijuana in search
A POLICE officer on Friday testified about finding a quantity of marijuana in a home that he and his team executed a search warrant on last year.
Woman threatened relative in texts
A 27-year-old woman who threatened to harm a relative in text messages must stay out of trouble for two months to avoid spending a week behind bars.
Home porting cruise line to bring 16,500 guests
The second cruise line to begin home porting in The Bahamas will bring 16,500 total passengers to this nation over the four months to end-November 2021, a Cabinet minister has disclosed.
Doctors gains $5m IDB COVID loan
Doctors Hospital has received a $5m loan from an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) affiliate to support its working capital needs and meet the “evolving” demands imposed by COVID-19.
Marinas chief: July 4 ‘as strong as 2019’
Bahamian marinas enjoyed a US Independence holiday weekend that “was as strong as 2019”, Tribune Business was told yesterday, with the industry’s mid-market returning following a year-long absence.
Five tax exemptions added to govt portal
The government has announced the addition of five tax exemption and incentive applications to the menu of services available through its MyGateway.gov.bs online portal.
QC: Visa concern ‘not about Kanoo’
A prominent QC has told a Bahamian digital payments provider that “it’s not about you” when it comes to concerns over the need for the COVID health travel visa and it acting as another tax on Bahamians.
Robinson, McCowan help Fever beat Jones and Sun, snap 12-game skid
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Danielle Robinson tied her career high with 19 points, Teaira McCowan had 13 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks, and the Indiana Fever beat the Connecticut Sun 73-67 on Saturday to snap a franchise single-season record 12-game losing streak.
Fried’s pinch-hit single lifts Braves past Marlins 8-7 in 10
ATLANTA (AP) — Max Fried never thought he would get the chance for a game-winning hit. After all, Fried is a pitcher.
Sunday, July 4
Friday, July 2
Suspect shot by police 'in stable condition'
A SUSPECT injured in a police-involved shooting is in stable condition, Assistant Superintendent of Police Audley Peters said Friday.
PM: Bahamas to receive 33,600 AstraZeneca doses before end of July
AS health officials in the country look towards achieving herd immunity, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has announced The Bahamas will receive 33,600 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine before the end of this month.
Police find firearms, ammunition in abandoned building
GRAND Bahama Police discovered firearms and ammunition in an abandoned building in the Lucaya area on Friday.
Senator: Take advantage of VAT Holiday on hurricane supplies
SENATOR Kwasi Thompson, State Minister for Grand Bahama, is urging Grand Bahama residents to take advantage of the VAT Holiday on hurricane supplies purchased locally and abroad.
Elsa becomes a hurricane
TROPICAL Storm Elsa upgraded to a hurricane on Friday, Deputy Director of the Department of Meteorology Basil Dean said.
App development training programme opens in Grand Bahama
THE Fulbright App Development Programme was launched in Grand Bahama on Friday, providing app development training for some 60 young people.
DIANE PHILLIPS: What we should learn from the Surfside tragedy
For days after a 12-storey luxury high rise in Surfside, Florida crumbled, leaving a scene that looked more like a bombed-out city in Syria than an upscale coastal town in America, we were glued to the screen. As the hours passed, the horror of what happened hit harder, loss of life climbed, hope of finding survivors waned.
Govt specifies scoring criteria for Prospect Ridge selection
THE Minnis administration has specified the criteria that will allow people to score highest in the selection process for the Prospect Ridge Community for Young Professionals.
Chinese officials in dialogue with govt over COVID vaccines
CHINESE Ambassador to the Bahamas Dai Qingli said Chinese officials are having ongoing dialogue with the Bahamas government regarding cooperation in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, including providing vaccines.
Baha Mar ‘already exceeded its 2019 occupancy levels’
WITH tourists now flocking to the country’s shores in record post-pandemic numbers, President of Baha Mar Graeme Davis says the resort has already exceeded its 2019 occupancy levels.
Kanoo: Attacks on us threaten Sand Dollar
A Bahamian digital payments provider yesterday argued that “reckless” attacks on it were threatening to undermine efforts to make The Bahamas a world leader in Central Bank-backed digital currencies.
Opponents fear ‘door’s left open’ on oil licences
Oil exploration opponents yesterday voiced fears that a Cabinet minister’s statement on outstanding fees “leaves the door open” for licence renewals if these sums are paid.
Bahamas can’t ‘sideline itself’ over tax reforms
The Bahamas cannot afford to “sideline itself” by remaining aloof from international tax reform agreements, a prominent banker argued yesterday.
Crystal cancels Bimini call over COVID spike
Crystal Cruises yesterday cancelled its July 4 inaugural home porting call to Bimini out of “an abundance of caution” as the government imposed a series of restrictions to contain the latest COVID case spike.
Chinese Embassy, Zonta Club of Nassau donate to Bahamas Feeding Network
THE Chinese Embassy and the Zonta Club of Nassau both donated to the Bahamas Feeding Network yesterday.
Bahamas bounce back has begun
WHILE opening Baha Mar’s luxury water park yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said the resort’s investment is a sign “The Bahamas is coming back” and its recovery and revival is imminent.
‘Mother’ Pratt in COVID-19 recovery
FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia “Mother” Pratt has tested positive for COVID-19.
Kanoo chairman: ‘We have nothing to hide’
A Bahamian digital payments provider yesterday hit back at mounting attacks on its business by asserting that all contracts were won “above board”, it’s chairman adding: “I have absolutely nothing to hide”.
Curfew is reimposed on Bimini
A 7pm to 5am curfew has been implemented for North and South Bimini in response to a COVID-19 outbreak on that island.
Traffickers continue to prey on the vulnerable
A NEW US report has noted people with unresolved status in The Bahamas have a heightened risk of human trafficking.
‘Labour relations hit rock bottom’
UNION executives yesterday expressed disappointment with the state of labour relations in the country which they say are at an all-time low.
Gregory McKay Jr: ‘I just want to go there and get better every day’
AS he prepares to enrol at Limestone University in South Carolina in August, Bahamian Gregory McKay Jr is hoping his trip home will help him to make an immediate impact as a rookie for the Saints men’s basketball team.
Freeport’s Customs crash ‘longest it has ever been’
A Grand Bahama businessman yesterday said he had only suffered a “minor inconvenience” as a result of Customs’ systems being down for the past ten days.
300 attend Sawyer’s Fresh Market job fair
MORE than 300 job seekers in Grand Bahama turned out for a job fair held at the new Sawyer’s Fresh Market location in Lucaya.
Attempted murder conviction quashed, sentence set aside, new trial ordered
THE Court of Appeal yesterday set aside the 35-year sentence of a man who was convicted of attempting to murder three men at a cemetery in East Grand Bahama over three years ago.
Man in tears after being found not guilty of sex with boy
A MAN was brought to tears yesterday after a Supreme Court jury found him not guilty of having sex with a three-year-old boy in November 2019.
Outage in Abaco after ‘control system issue’
A “control system issue” at the Wilson City Power Station in Abaco led to a power outage on the island on Wednesday, Bahamas Power and Light acknowledged in a press release yesterday.
Bahari Bahamas brand pops up in Grand Bahama
BAHARI Bahamas is returning to Grand Bahama with a pop-up shop to launch its new independence collection at the Port Lucaya Marketplace.
A nation in which God is fair game, but the judiciary is a sacred cow
I must confess at the outset that I am not an expert on the Bahamian Constitution.
Tokyo Olympic team named
All four female 200 metre qualifiers, a women’s 4 x 400m relay team and two swimmers have been named to the Bahamas’ 2020 Olympic Games team.
Thirteen young Bahamian sailors shine in the North American Championships
AFTER more than a year of limited practice sessions on the high seas as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 13 Bahamian sailors qualified for the North American Championships in Nayarit, Mexico.
Special memorial service held for Peter ‘Macaroni’ Gilcud
THEY came from a cross-section of society to remember the life and times of the late Hall of Famer Peter Gilcud, a 67-year-old father, grandfather, former basketball player turned administrator and philanthropist as well as one of the leading junkanooers for the Shell Saxons Superstars.
GB sporting community mourning death of coach Wildgoose
MEMBERS of the sporting community in Grand Bahama are still in mourning over the death of legendary basketball, soccer and Special Olympics coach Terry Wildgoose.
Family council vital to business succession
Cable Bahamas’ chief executive says establishing a family council is critical for seamless succession planning in family-owned businesses where communication among all members is key.
Thursday, July 1
EDITORIAL: Unsolved murder at Government House
WHO killed Petty Officer Percival Perpall and attempted to kill two more Marines at Government House in 2019?
STATESIDE: North and South Biden’s got problems on the border
WE are all too familiar with the devastating effects of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic on families here and in every country. Statisticians and historians probably will need years if not decades to calculate the loss and damage.
FRONT PORCH: So much to gain by playing the long game
IT is remarkable how much long-term advantage people like us have gotten by trying to be consistently not stupid, instead of trying to be very intelligent. – Charlie Munger (Warren Buffet’s long-term partner in Berkshire Hathaway).
Prison officer issues ‘not addressed’
MORE than three months after correctional officers demonstrated over long standing issues, they say their concerns have not been addressed, raising the possibility for further industrial action.
Cane toads are back - and on the move
CANE toad sightings have re-emerged in parts of New Providence, officials revealed yesterday.
PAHO cautions over travel amid virus third wave
AS The Bahamas enjoys increasing tourist numbers, officials at the Pan American Health Organization have warned that now may not be the time for travel as most countries are experiencing a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Govt can appeal citizenship - but no ruling on stay
THE Court of Appeal granted the government leave yesterday to appeal a landmark citizenship ruling to the Privy Council, but did not rule on whether to stay the judgement.
Man found shot dead at wheel of car
POLICE are investigating the death of a man who was found slumped forward in the driver’s seat of a running car in the early hours yesterday morning.
Fuel charge to stay same after review, says BPL
BAHAMAS Power and Light said yesterday that after a mandated 12-month review, the fuel charge for BPL customers will remain at about 10.5 cents per kilowatt hour through June 2022.
Freeport escapes next ‘nail in coffin’
Freeport yesterday escaped “another nail in the coffin” after private sector lobbying persuaded the government to delay implementation of Customs’ new system until September 2021 at earliest.
Sebas blocked over Sun Cash takeover
Sebas Bastian’s investment house yesterday saw its bid to seize control of a Bahamian digital payments provider blocked by the Supreme Court.
Cross-border commerce ‘back to prehistoric times’
Freeport’s cross-border commerce was yesterday said to have been sent “back to prehistoric times” as a result of Customs’ electronic system for clearing goods being down for ten successive days.
‘Fiscal hesitancy’ fear for Bahamas
A senior Caribbean financial services executive yesterday voiced concern that The Bahamas and other tourism-dependent states will suffer from “fiscal policy hesitancy” in addressing soaring post-COVID debt.
Newborn injured in PMH unit
THE Public Hospitals Authority yesterday confirmed recent reports of an incident at the Princess Margaret Hospital that affected an infant who was injured during IV therapy.
Money’s tight - so more using stamps
FALLOUT from the COVID-19 pandemic has caused people to tighten their purse strings, Super Value President Rupert Roberts has said, while noting “more and more” shoppers have been relying on the store’s food stamps to shop.
So who did kill officer Perpall?
ABLE Seaman Jevon Seymour is now a free man after a Supreme Court jury yesterday found him not guilty of murdering his superior officer at Government House in 2019.
BPL Skyguard Severe Weather Alert 1st July: Freeport
STARTS: 07/01/2021 7:42 AM EDT EXPIRES: 07/01/2021 1:00 PM EDT
Be alert for possible Tropical Storm Elsa
METEOROLOGISTS are warning to be on the alert for the possible formation of a tropical storm.
US Embassy lowers flag at end of Pride Month
THE US Embassy in Nassau lowered its Pride flag yesterday at the end of Pride month, noting in a statement that it will continue to advance the United States’ commitment to human rights and equal treatment under the law.
Two face court accused over separate murders
A MAN and a teenager were yesterday charged with murder in connection with two separate matters.
Drugs and guns found in Freeport
GRAND Bahama Police discovered illegal drugs, firearms and ammunition at an abandoned building in the Freeport area this week.
Ceremony for Crystal Cruises sailing on Saturday
CRYSTAL Cruises, in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, will host a homeporting inaugural ceremony in Nassau to celebrate the first sailing of the Crystal Serenity on Saturday.
Jury to start deliberations in child sex case today
A MAN accused of having sex with a three-year-old boy will soon learn his fate after a Supreme Court judge gives a summation of the case today before turning it over to the jury for deliberation.
Cubans detained and brought to capital
A GROUP of Cubans migrants were brought into the capital yesterday afternoon after they were apprehended in the southwest Bahamas by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.
We have the right to refuse
Anyone who does not wish to receive the COVID vaccine has a right to refuse it. Government officials and all those who are writing articles and letters in the paper are confused.
Saving our way of life depends on vaccines
Your columnist Simon hit the nail on the head in reference to people who do not get the vaccine. At the moment societies tolerate these people.
Ayton and Suns into NBA finals
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chris Paul led the Phoenix Suns into their first NBA Finals in 28 years, beating the Los Angeles Clippers 130-103 last night to close out the Western Conference finals in six games.
Team Bahamas off to 1-0 start in Davis Cup
His debut on the Bahamas Davis Cup team wasn’t exactly what he anticipated, but Justin Roberts said he was just glad to come out with his first victory in the American Zone III competition yesterday in Panama City, Panama.
