Wednesday, August 31
VIDEO: Amazing basketball trick shot from Atlantis bridge
COLLIN Sexton, one of the hottest young basketball prospects in the United States, pulled off an amazing trick shot in the Bahamas recently by hitting a basket 220 feet below from the Royal Towers bridge at Atlantis, Paradise Island.
Pinder tells of seeing son dead in driveway
UNION leader John Pinder said yesterday the memory of seeing his son dead in the driveway of their Hillside Park home will haunt him forever.
Govt ‘not considering aragonite applications’
ENVIRONMENT Minister Kenred Dorsett said yesterday that his ministry is not considering any applications for aragonite mining in Andros at this time.
Sands ends bid to win Bain and Grants Town
MORE than a month after he announced that he was suspending his election campaign in the Bain and Grants Town constituency, Free National Movement member Leonard Sands announced that he has officially ended his candidacy.
Roker blasts leadership as ‘tainted’
FORMER Cabinet minister Loftus Roker yesterday characterised the country’s political leaders as a “tainted bag of apples,” contending that the nation was now paying the price for years of unchecked corrupt practices by elected officials.
Fitzgerald surprised at Baha Mar concerns
EDUCATION Minister Jerome Fitzgerald said yesterday he is surprised by the “level of unhappiness” some Bahamians have expressed at news that the government has struck a deal with the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM) to pay creditors and employees of Baha Mar and to restart work on the resort.
Four more Zika cases confirmed in New Providence
THE number of confirmed Zika cases in New Providence has doubled to eight, with Health Minister Perry Gomez reporting four new cases throughout the capital yesterday.
Canon John Clarke remembered
THE funeral service was held yesterday for Canon John Colin Clarke, who died on Saturday, August 20, at Doctors Hospital.
‘Teddy’ longs for day when Bahamas can play international baseball again
BAHAMAS Baseball Federation president Theodore ‘Teddy’ Sweeting said he longs for the day when the Bahamas can regain its rightful place as a member of the international baseball fraternity.
Taking the tri-being approach to life - winning the mind, body and soul
HE has been one of the country’s top bodybuilders for quite some time. But now Leonardo ‘Nardo’ Dean is trying to do all he can to encourage more persons to live a “healthier” lifestyle.
Exuma and Andros suggested for extra MP seats
PRIME Minister Perry Christie suggested that Exuma and Andros are two islands for which the establishment of additional House of Assembly seats should be considered.
What happened to Olympic team celebrations?
WHAT happened to the team celebrations for the 2016 Olympic Games?
Ministry concern over spate of early retirement applications
THE Ministry Education, Science and Technology is concerned over the “unexpected” applications for early retirement from over 100 public school teachers this year, Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald said yesterday.
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 match schedule released
WITH eight months until the kings of the sand are crowned at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017, the pathway to glory has now been drawn with the release of the tournament’s match schedule.
60th Annual Cat Island Regatta In Honour of Godfrey Kelly
THE 60th Cat Island Regatta was held in honour of Co-founder Godfrey Kelly in New Bight from Friday, July 29th to Sunday, July 31st.
SPORTS NOTES
PARADISE ISLAND GOLF TOURNEY
IAAF approves the Bahamas World Relays in 2019
It seems as if the International Amateur Athletic Federation will make the World Relays its home in the Bahamas for the next few years.
Abortion laws
I read with sadness comments attributed to Dr. Duane Sands in which he shared his belief that the law against abortion in The Bahamas should be amended to permit abortions in cases where microcephaly has been identified.
More fogging to stop Zika
ZIKA - is the Ministry of Health, the Minister serious?
From college to university
Among the essentials for any development—whether of a product, or of a country, or of an institution, such as The College of The Bahamas—is history.
FNM chairman hits out at ‘delusional’ Roberts
FREE National Movement Chairman Sidney Collie yesterday criticised his adversary Bradley Roberts for the latter’s defense of the “secret” Baha Mar deal.
‘Baha Mar committee is a sign of ad hoc governance’
LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday criticised the formation of a committee to oversee payments to Baha Mar creditors, insisting that this was evidence the Christie administration lacked the ability to plan well, instead relying on “ad hoc” governance.
Massachusetts officer claimed pay while on Bahamas holiday
A VETERAN Massachusetts police officer is facing federal charges for what authorities are calling a double-dipping scheme that defrauded the city of Quincy out of more than $10,000.
Mitchell launches bid to secure Fox Hill victory in 2017 election
FOX Hill MP Fred Mitchell last night launched his re-election campaign, pledging to spend the majority of his time, if victorious in the 2017 general elections, combating social ills in the constituency.
Ex-contractors chief ‘surprised’ if Baha Mar firms made whole
A former Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president yesterday said he had “no doubt” that Baha Mar’s main contractor would use its seat on the creditor payout committee to ‘beat down’ the value of local claims.
Mortgage Corp bonds eyed to address 2-3k housing waiting list
The Ministry of Finance will meet with the Central Bank this week to discuss whether the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation (BMC) can issue more bonds, with between 2,000-3,000 qualified applicants still on the waiting list for low-cost government homes.
Trade unions branded ‘abusive, destructive’
A well-known Freeport businessman has branded Bahamian trade unions as “abusive and destructive”, and called on the Government to “stop sticking its nose” into private enterprise.
Bahamian group in new landfill proposal
A Bahamian consortium of waste service providers has submitted a new proposal to take over management and remediation of the New Providence landfill, as the Government bids to decide the facility’s future direction “in the next few weeks”.
Baha Mar creditors to get ‘about $100m’
The China Export-Import Bank is releasing “about $100 million” to pay out Baha Mar’s Bahamian creditors, Tribune Business was told yesterday, amid continuing distrust over the deal struck by the Christie administration.
A for amazing students
SCORES of eager students, parents, guardians and educators tuned in to the ‘A’s for Excellence’ random prize drawings as they were broadcast live on the Custom Computers Facebook page on Saturday.
TOUGH CALL: Our glorious renewable energy future is just hot air
If you visit the Stronger Bahamas Facebook page, a recent post proclaims our intention to cut greenhouse emissions by 30 per cent within 15 years and insists that the government is “delivering” on its promises.
Teen killing suspect may give his defence
A TEEN accused of murder may be called on today to give a defence to allegations that he had direct involvement in the fatal stabbing of schoolmate Adonai Wilson.
Proceedings halted six years after murder
MORE than six years after a man was charged with murder, prosecutors presented the Supreme Court with a written directive from the attorney general requesting that proceedings against him be discontinued.
Ex-Kerzner executive takes over at Atlantis
Atlantis’s owner yesterday said it had appointed a former Kerzner International officer to replace Paul Burke as the Paradise Island -based resort’s top executive.
Minister ‘surprised’ at 1,000 Bahamian firms owed over Baha Mar
A Cabinet minister yesterday said he was “surprised” that more than 1,000 Bahamian companies are unsecured creditors of the Baha Mar project.
Minister targets yearly financial law upgrades
Legislation affecting the financial services industry must be reviewed on an almost yearly basis if the Bahamas is to remain competitive, a Cabinet minister said yesterday.
Minister: No Andros mining plan received
The Government has received no formal proposal for aragonite mining in North Andros, the Minister of the Environment and Housing said yesterday.
Tuesday, August 30
08302016 EDITION
Tuesday, August 30th.
Witness says she saw knife handed over before killing
A JURY yesterday heard a girlfriend’s account to police of how her boyfriend’s shoving match with Adonai Wilson escalated a day later when the 18-year-old murder accused allegedly handed his cousin a knife that had been in his pocket before Wilson was stabbed.
Christie not concerned by Sears leadership bid
PRIME Minister Perry Christie said yesterday he is “not at all” concerned about former Attorney General Alfred Sears’ bid to challenge him for the leadership of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP).
Woman accused of stabbing her boyfriend to death faces court
A MAN and a woman were separately arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with two recent killings in the capital.
48 hours of rain
RESIDENTS in the northwest and central Bahamas can expect light to moderate rainfall over the next 48 hours as the country continues to experience “tropical moisture” from the outer bands of a departing tropical depression, a senior meteorological official said yesterday.
FNM to review Junkanoo Carnival
FREE National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said should the FNM be elected to office following the 2017 general election, the party would “definitely” review the benefits attached to Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival.
Union leader's son, 27, shot dead while playing video games
THE 27-year-old son of National Congress of Trade Unions president John Pinder was shot multiple times and killed late on Monday night while playing video games in his Hillside Park home.
Baha Mar buyer 'not yet known'
PRIME Minister Perry Christie hinted yesterday that the government does not yet know who the prospective buyer for the stalled $3.5 billion Baha Mar resort is.
One dead, one hurt by shots fired at Nassau home
ONE man was killed and another injured on Monday night as gunshots were fired at a home in Hillside Park, off Bernard Road.
Lobster fishermen praise Defence Force for protection against poachers
INCREASED protection of Bahamian waters from poachers by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) has “played an instrumental role” in helping to make what many fishermen are saying is the best lobster season for 20 years.
POLITICOLE: Baha Mar secrecy is a test of faith too far
After the dramatic press conference, at which Prime Minister Perry Christie sat flanked by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) gang of 16, the Bahamian public was later advised that, in spite of their need to know the details of the Baha Mar deal, given the far-reaching, negative impact it has had since its first delayed opening, the documents would be sealed to public inquiry and scrutiny for commercial reasons.
Tripartite Council co-chair says talks before job losses welcome
THE National Tripartite Council’s co-chairman said yesterday that he has no problem making it mandatory for employers to formally consult the government before making employees redundant.
Women vs men in a healthy ‘Battle of the Sexes’
WITH the belief that it takes a village to build a healthy nation, members at the Club One Fitness Centre are trying to create fun events to get Bahamians to be more active.
‘Freedom Kids’ to have fun day at Radio House
IN an effort to raise awareness of cancer and sickle cell disease in children, the Cancer Society of the Bahamas is joining forces with 100 Jamz to host a special fun-filled day for young adults and kids battling these illnesses.
Flossing on trial
Recently, a scientific study came out which suggested that groups of studies that had been conducted could not prove the benefits of daily flossing.
Use of Kinesio taping in physiotherapy
The Rio 2016 Olympic Games have come to a close. The world as watching closely as our own Shaunae Miller and men’s 4x400m relay team won medals for the Bahamas.
MICHELLE MILLER MOTIVATIONALS: Are you truly ruling your destiny?
True freedom is having the audacity to rule your destiny. Such a freedom doesn’t just land in your lap. Personal liberation is not given – it must be taken. This means that you only become free by breaking free.
BUN IN THE OVEN: Back-to-school – Kid-friendly lunch box ideas
Thank goodness school is back in session! Whew, is it just me, or does summer feel like the longest time ever?
Exploring the meaning of womanhood
THREE best friends are set to reveal and restore the beauty of womanhood with the debut of their very first stage play entitled “She Shall Be Called Woman”.
New Providence Old Timers Softball regular season action
RESULTS of games played at the Archdeacon William Thompson Softball Park:
SPORTING MISCHIEF & MAYHEM: Odell Beckham Jr hits the top note among my fantasy studs and duds
THIS week my Fantasy Football focus continues with a look at some must keep ‘Fantasy Studs’ and some to avoid like the plague - ‘Fantasy Duds’.
Jones and Sun pull off 84-80 upset over defending champion Lynx
JONQUEL Jones and her Connecticut Sun returned from the league-wide Olympic break, continuing the momentum they gathered in late July.
Shaunae tops IAAF rankings
Following the completion of the 2016 Olympic Games, the International Amateur Athletic Federation has released its current rankings and a number of Bahamians are featured in the top 10 in their respective events.
Praise to police for protecting waters from poachers
INCREASED protection of Bahamian waters from poachers by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) has “played an instrumental role” in helping to make what many fishermen are saying is the best lobster season for 20 years.
Freeport worker faces court over $2m drug haul
A Freeport Container Port employee was flown to New Providence and arraigned in connection with a drug seizure of $2m worth of cocaine discovered at the Container Port about two weeks ago in Grand Bahama.
Trial over 2010 killing is delayed once more
THE start of the trial of three men accused of a murder that occurred six years ago has been delayed by an ongoing case.
BCP suspends election bid to re-evaluate
A fringe political party has announced the “indefinite” suspension of its national campaign, with its leader citing the party’s need to “evaluate” its “viability in the campaign for the governance of the nation” in the lead-up to the next general election.
Miller: Unions preventing quality utility supplies
TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller yesterday said union demands have “priced the government out of the business” of supplying quality utility services throughout The Bahamas.
YOUR SAY: Abandoned homes near treatment plant
IN THE basin that surrounds the Chesapeake Waste Water Treatment Plant sit ten residences and two incomplete structures, all mostly duplexes.
‘Only acceptable resolution is giving staff back their jobs’
TRADE Union Congress President Obie Ferguson said the only resolution he is willing to accept in the ongoing Sandals labour dispute is the reinstatement of all the former employees made redundant earlier this month.
Roberts: Izmirlian has no credibility
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts yesterday criticised Sarkis Izmirlian, Baha Mar’s developer, accusing him of having “absolutely no credibility” and insisting that he could not be trusted on matters related to the shuttered $3.5bn West Bay Street resort.
Support Sears
Shake, rattle and roll, the signature dance move of Perry Gladstone Christie. Is that what it takes for you to hold on to a man for three terms, why the country you live in makes no significant improvements?
Web shops
The government has released regulations concerning web shops and I wish to share with you a few of them, along with some information I have researched in Abaco:
Sick and tired of promises
I am not a lawyer, or an outstanding businessman, I am a simple Bahamian trying to wrap my head around the roller coaster ride that has been the Baha Mar fiasco.
Miller revelations ‘show need for Baha Mar clarity’
FREE National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said yesterday that Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller’s recent comments about a purported payout guideline for Bahamian creditors owed by Baha Mar is an example of why the Christie administration must be more forthcoming with details of the new deal to remobilise the resort.
NewCo2015 seeks 25% higher charges for call termination
The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has begun battle with its new mobile rival more than a month before the latter launches, with the two differing sharply over its initial termination rates.
BOB non-compliant with 80% of regulatory ratios
Bank of the Bahamas shareholders are being asked to “throw good money after bad”, with the BISX-listed institution now non-compliant with four out of five key Central Bank capital ratios.
$30m ‘game changer’ target for Freeport
A realtor is hoping innovative marketing will enable him to succeed where others have failed in selling Freeport’s $30 million Xanadu Beach Resort, describing a successful deal as “a game changer” for the city.
CCA’s Baha Mar creditor committee ‘conflict’ slammed
The Opposition’s deputy leader yesterday slammed the ‘conflict of interest’ created by the inclusion of a senior China Construction America (CCA) executive on the committee that will handle Baha Mar creditor payouts.
Govt given road map to $2bn pension cuts
The Government could reduce its combined civil service and public corporation pension liabilities by more than $2 billion come 2032, provided it enacts reforms to prevent a major financial and social crisis.
Union is ‘hoping’ for Sandals meet Friday
Trade union and Sandals representatives are expected to meet with Prime Minister Perry Christie on Friday in a bid to resolve ongoing disputes, with one union leader describing it as “‘very important day”.
Union leader dismisses Sandals Judicial Review
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) president has dismissed a Judicial Review launched against a trade union by Sandals Royal Bahamian, arguing that it has no impact on its position as the recognised bargaining agent for the resort’s line staff.
Unions team to drive employment reforms
The Bahamas’ two leading trade union bodies have joined forces to develop a draft Bill proposing changes to the Employment Act and the Industrial Relations Act.
Baha Mar details a ‘moving target’
The Opposition’s deputy leader yesterday said the agreement to pay Baha Mar’s creditors and complete its construction appears to be a “moving target”, adding: “The Bahamian people are on the hook for something”.
Monday, August 29
Mitchell warns Fox Hill residents over Zika virus
AFTER public health officials indicated that one of the four confirmed cases of the Zika virus is a patient who is a resident of the Fox Hill area, MP Fred Mitchell urged residents to take the necessary precautions to prevent mosquito bites.
Anger at CCA appointee to committee
SARKIS Izmirlian’s company BMD Holdings has criticised the appointment of China Construction America (CCA) executive Tiger Wu to a committee that will oversee payments to Baha Mar creditors.
‘Much less’ spent on Carnival this year - but no word on date for report release
TOURISM Minister Obie Wilchcombe confirmed yesterday that the government spent “much less” on this year’s Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival but declined to reveal whether the second instalment of the annual festival managed to ‘break even’.
Answers are promised over letter of intent scandal
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis has said the FNM will “very soon” answer everyone’s questions regarding the controversial Stellar Waste to Energy letter of intent, which led to Bamboo Town MP Renward Well’s departure from the governing Progressive Liberal Party.
Miller: People fixated on concessions
TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller said yesterday he finds it “incredible” that people have become fixated on the concessions contained in the new deal to complete and open the shuttered $3.5bn Baha Mar resort, as he defended the government and castigated Bahamians for “complaining” too much.
Government hopes Baha Mar workers will be paid by end of September
THE government yesterday expressed “hope” that the claims of former Bahamian workers at Baha Mar will be settled by the end of next month, with all other claims to be dealt with by year-end.
Tropical Depression forms south west of Florida Keys
DESPITE threatening to develop last week as it crossed the Atlantic and passed to the west of The Bahamas, a tropical depression was reported by the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami to have formed finally on Sunday evening south of the lower Florida Keys as it heads into the Gulf of Mexico and turns back towards the northeastern Gulf Coast of the United States.
BoB rocked by new $24m loss
Bank of the Bahamas suffered another $24 million loss for its 2016 financial year, shareholders have been told, as the BISX-listed institution asks them for a further $40 million in equity capital.
Carina Ferguson crowned bikini champion
The Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation crowned a few new champions during their 2016 Bahamas National Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships at the Melia Hotel on Saturday night.
PONY players represent Bahamas in Caribbean World Series Qualifiers
THIS summer, players from PONY (Protect Our Nation’s Youth) Baseball Bahamas took part in the Caribbean Zone World Series Qualifying Tournaments, thanks to donations from corporate sponsors like Domino’s Bahamas.
Stanhope finishes 22nd overall in world juniors single sculls
WITH a time of 8 minutes 51.43 seconds in his semi-final rowed in difficult conditions, Bahamian William Stanhope finished 22nd overall in the world junior championships single sculls in the Netherlands.
WORLD VIEW: Trump’s Mississippi miscalculation
On June 26, 2011, 47-year-old Craig Anderson was on his way to celebrate his birthday when he was attacked and murdered by ten white teenagers in a parking lot in Jackson, Mississippi.
Tottenham expands its outreach programme to Bahamas
ENGLISH Premier League powerhouse Tottenham Hotspur is set to expand its grassroots outreach programme to the Bahamas.
Bahamas’ top players to represent Great Britain at World Baseball Classic qualifier
INEFFICIENCY at the local administrative level still prevents the Bahamas from fielding its own national team for International Baseball Federation (IBAF) sanctioned events. However, Bahamian players continue to find avenues to compete internationally.
‘Golden Girl’ Shaunae Miller happy to be home
THE threat of impending weather posed a major setback in the celebrations planned for Olympic champion Shaunae Miller. However, the Bahamas’ latest “Golden Girl” was just happy to be home.
Plea to data commissioner by activists
ATTORNEYS for Save The Bays have appealed to the acting data protection commissioner to “immediately” investigate the formal complaints the group has made against the Progressive Liberal Party MPs who disclosed the group’s private emails in Parliament.
Grant proud of work over past two decades
CENTRAL Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant said he is extremely proud to have survived two “political tsunamis” in May 2002 and May 2012 when the Free National Movement lost the general elections, and thanked his constituents for their support over the past two decades.
INSIGHT: Radio Ga Ga – URCA slammed for issuing licences like 'confetti'
Tribune Radio Ltd (TRL) has hit out at the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), calling the agency’s “excessive and ill-advised” issuance of over 40 FM broadcast licences and its subsequent plans for a retroactive shuffling of a station’s position on the FM (frequency modulation) dial as an “outrageous and irrational abuse of power”.
YOUR SAY: ‘Baha Mar deal a distraction from bad news’
LAST Monday evening, when we heard that the Prime Minister was holding a press conference to announce that the government had struck a deal to restart construction of the Baha Mar resort, I like many of you became hopeful that we would finally hear the details of a deal that would see Bahamians get back to work immediately.
INSIGHT: Water torture - the drip, drip of Baha Mar dealings
Surprise, surprise. After 20 months of waiting the Government has announced a Chinese carve up of the stalled Cable Beach mega resort, Malcolm J Strachan says . . .
Moody’s: Reduced Govt spending ‘key’ to fiscal success
Reduced spending is “key” if the Government is to hit its 2018-2019 surplus target and succeed in its consolidation efforts, Moody’s has warned, as it expressed concern over the “rising risk” posed by public corporations.
BoB ‘can’t be serious’ over $40m rights offer
Sceptical shareholders yesterday said Bank of the Bahamas “cannot be serious” over the share price and one-week timeline for its $40 million rights offering.
Sarkis slams CCA presence on Baha Mar committee
Sarkis Izmirlian last night slammed the inclusion of a China Construction America (CCA) executive on the committee that will determine how much Baha Mar’s unsecured Bahamian creditors will receive, arguing that it was “not in their best interests”.
Corporations facing $1.6bn pension hole
The Government-owned corporations will have a collective $1.6 billion deficit in their employee pension plans by 2032 unless urgent reforms are enacted, a report obtained by Tribune Business reveals.
Bishop: Wrong to pray for Baha Mar failure
BISHOP Simeon Hall has hit out against some “politically motivated clergymen” and others who, he said, are praying for Baha Mar’s failure because of their disdain for the Christie administration.
‘Minnis can go to court for Baha Mar details’
HITTING out at critics of the secrecy surrounding the Baha Mar deal, Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts challenged Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis to petition to the Supreme Court to have the documents unsealed if he “gave a damn” about the details.
Safety first
Re: Ground broken on $2.3m BTVI classroom building (August 26)
Cabbage Beach
WE ARE lucky enough to have visited The Bahamas many times over the years, but during that time we have watched Cabbage Beach deteriorate from one of the most beautiful beaches in the world into a very compromised stretch of seafront.
Chinese way of business
A wise person once told me that if you are to understand the purpose of a thing you have to pay attention to the results, good or bad, positive or negative, and if you are really looking you will see.
Christie criticised for not interfering with private enterprise
WITH THE spectre of another Moody’s downgrade of this country’s credit worthiness – after being dropped to a notch just above “junk” – the Christie government quickly grabbed onto the completion of Baha Mar as the lifeline from its economic woes. It had hardly dodged that bullet when it was faced with union bullies threatening to “shut the country down”.
Reggaeton star among those left uninjured in Eleuthera plane crash
NINE people, including Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin, walked away unharmed after the small private Learjet 55 aircraft they were in crashed in bushes a short distance from the end of the North Eleuthera International Airport runway on Friday afternoon.
PM reassures contractors over Baha Mar payments
Prime Minister Perry Christie last week summoned Bahamian contractors to a meeting at his office to urge them “not to mind the noise in the marketplace” about Baha Mar creditor compensation.
Hotel union backs gratuities inclusion in wage definition
The hotel union’s president says it has “long wanted” the Employment Act to include gratuities in its definition of wages, given that the former was a substantial proportion of the take home pay for many employees.
WILDCATS GET 12-6 WIN OVER THE OPERATORS, TRUCKERS ROLL OVER THE ELITE WARRIORS 10-3
THE Sunshine Auto Wildcats and the Commando Security Truckers continue to stake their case for the women’s and men ’s pennants as the New Providence Softball Association continued its regular season action Saturday night in the Banker’s Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.
Development Plan talks to intensify
The National Development Plan (NDP) Secretariat plans to have more intense public outreach on the goals it is seeking to achieve, according to the Government’s lead official on the initiative.
Patience a virtue on Baha Mar deal
Whilst I respect the views of Fred Smith QC, as quoted in your Business edition of August 26, I disagree that any court would require the veil of Baha Mar secrecy to be lifted, particularly as the Constitution protects, in Article 15, the rights and freedoms of others and the public interest.
SPORTS NOTES
THE Bahamas Rugby Union is scheduled to hold a series of women’s 7s events over the next few months as the team prepares for the Caribbean Championships in November.
Saturday, August 27
J Balvin escapes unhurt from Eleuthera plane crash
REGGAETON star J Balvin has escaped unscathed after the small private plane he was in crashed into bushes on takeoff from North Eleuthera airport on Friday.
Friday, August 26
FNM deputy demands government explain cancellation of major GB sports event
FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest has called on the government to break its “shameful silence” and give a public explanation of what led to the cancellation of a major sports event in Grand Bahama.
Wilchcombe: Govt has taken right approach to Baha Mar deal
TOURISM Minister Obie Wilchcombe said he believes the government has taken the right approach in negotiating the new deal to complete Baha Mar, pointing to the need to get the resort’s rooms filled with a view to attaining sustainable overnight visitor growth.
FNM continues call for Baha Mar details to be made public
THE Free National Movement (FNM) on Friday persisted with its call for the Christie administration to release additional details about the recently struck Baha Mar deal.
Several arrests over Abaco boat thefts
Police have busted a boat theft ring in Abaco, arresting several men who are known repeat offenders and suspected of stealing over a dozen vessels on that island.
Jury in student murder trial excused
The jury in the Supreme Court murder trial of high school student Adonai Wilson was excused on Friday due to lengthy legal discussions between the Crown and the defence counsel.
Tropical wave 'not as wet and windy as originally predicted'
TROPICAL wave 'Invest 99L' will not produce as much rain and wind over the southeast Bahamas as was originally predicated, Deputy Director of the Department of Meteorology Basil Dean said Friday.
Govt: No citizenships offered
IN response to mounting concern over the concessions offered to Chinese investors to remobilise Baha Mar, the government denounced claims that inducements of citizenships and private islands were offered to kick-start construction efforts at the stalled $3.5bn Cable Beach property.
FNM leader calls for more clarity over deal
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday called on the Christie administration to reveal whether it has granted “automatic citizenship” to “hundreds of Chinese nationals” as part of the recently announced deal with the Export-Import Bank of China to open the shuttered $3.5 billion Baha Mar resort.
Teens sorry for part in killing of schoolboy
TWO teens sought forgiveness yesterday from the parents of Adonai Wilson moments after they admitted involvement in a scuffle that led to the 16-year-old’s stabbing death.
PM: No secrecy over Baha Mar
PRIME Minister Perry Christie said yesterday there is “nothing secret” about Baha Mar and that lawyers have instructed him not to divulge relevant details because of the sensitivity of the matter and the amount of money being transacted among parties.
Woman held after fatal stabbing of boyfriend
A WOMAN is in police custody after she was accused of stabbing her boyfriend to death during a heated argument early yesterday morning.
Heavy rain and storm warning for residents in southeast Bahamas
RESIDENTS in the southeast Bahamas were expected to experience pockets of heavy rain and thunderstorms last night, as a tropical wave called Invest 99L continues to move through the islands.
Potholes still plague road junction
LARGE holes in the road at the intersection of Cowpen Road and Maria Drive remain a problem for motorists six weeks after being reported by a resident to the Road Maintenance Department in the Ministry of Works.
Road Traffic still supplying details on missing money
ROAD Traffic Department Controller Ross Smith confirmed yesterday that officials are still actively supplying evidence to police in connection with the auditor general’s findings of multi-million dollar losses at the department.
Mother accused of cocaine trafficking
A 31-year old Bahamian mother of two has been arrested and charged in connection with cocaine trafficking offences in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Clubs and Societies 08262016
Kiwanis Club of Nassau AM. - Members of Kiwanis Club of Nassau AM paid a courtesy call on Minister of Social Services and Community Development Melanie Griffin at the ministry on Friday, August 5.
Quincy Poitier to join Concord University Mountain Lions
ONE local basketball player will see his game make the transition to another level in the collegiate ranks this fall.
Jr swimmers making splash at Pan Pacifics in Hawaii
A BUSY season for the Bahamas’ top junior swimmers continues this week at the 2016 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.
Bahamas medal celebrations begin today
THE celebrations for Team Bahamas begin today as the country finally has an opportunity to show its appreciation to its Olympic heroes.
Steven Gardiner shines with silver in the Diamond League
The Athletissima Diamond League Meet hosted many of the top names in track and field, including a pair of Bahamians, looking to build on the momentum from the Rio Olympic Games.
Ground broken on $2.3m BTVI classroom building
A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute (BTVI) yesterday to mark the construction of a $2.3m structure that will house the school’s first ever set of smart classrooms.
Man granted bail after two years in custody awaiting murder trial
A MAN, who spent more than two years in custody awaiting trial on a murder charge, was granted bail in the Supreme Court yesterday.
A COMIC'S VIEW: Christie’s Baha Mar deal leaves a sour taste in the mouth
To the average Bahamian who follows major events in the country, this was a confusing week.
Governance group concerned at lack of transparency
THE Organization for Responsible Governance has raised concerns about Prime Minister Perry Christie’s recent announcement of a deal with the Export-Import Bank of China to remobilise Baha Mar, noting that the agreement has not been transparent leaving many to question the long-term viability of the project.
'Govt should have delayed until details could be disclosed'
BAHAMAS Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation Chairman Gowon Bowe suggested that if the government was not prepared to fully disclose all of the details regarding the new deal to open Baha Mar, officials should not have publicised movement on the negotiations until they were prepared to fully act transparently.
D’Aguilar: Baha Mar deal may hit Atlantis ‘viability’
A key Sarkis Izmirlian ally yesterday expressed fears that Atlantis’s “commercial viability” could be undermined if the Baha Mar agreement paves the way for China to dominate the Bahamian hotel industry.
CCA denies lawsuit tie to dismissal of contractor’s wife
Attorneys for China Construction America (CCA) yesterday denied that a Bahamian contractor’s decision to launch legal action against it over alleged Baha Mar debts sparked the firing of his wife that same day.
Union chief tones down strike threat
A trade union leader last night toned down threats of industrial action to rival the 1958 General Strike, following a nearly three-hour meeting with the Prime Minister over the Sandals situation.
QC ‘urges’ FNM: Fight Baha Mar secrecy in courts
The FNM and Baha Mar creditors were yesterday urged by a well-known QC to use Judicial Reviews and other legal methods to challenge both the Government’s agreement with the Chinese and its sealing by the Supreme Court.
Hotels endangered by ‘huge’ gratuities hit
The hotel industry fears that proposals to include gratuities in the Employment Act’s definition of wages will have an “astronomical” impact on its cost base, and could drive some properties “out of business”.
Country’s economy now stands alongside worst performing in the world, warns FNM deputy leader
FREE National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest yesterday lamented the country’s creditworthiness being downgraded to one notch above ‘junk’ status by an international credit rating agency, as he said the country is “now in the class of the lowest performing economies in the world”.
Smith blasts FNM for failure of accounts committee to report
FORMER Cabinet minister George Smith said yesterday the Public Accounts Committee has “failed miserably” in the execution of its duties.
November 10 date set for transition to university
THE College of The Bahamas will fully transition into the University of The Bahamas on November 10, ushering in a complete paradigm shift in the culture and fabric of The Bahamas, according to Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald.
The govt and tax compliance
DURING the last Budget presentation, the Government snuck a provision through that businesses would have to apply for a Tax Compliance Certificate in order to be paid by them for goods and services.
Need for Baha Mar clarity
On the matter of Baha Mar. It is encouraging that, according to the Government, the project appears to once again be funded and that works will recommence. If this is accurate, the Government is to be commended for working to ensure that all Bahamian creditors will be paid a sizable portion of amounts owed to them.
Black box reveals captain’s order to abandon doomed El Faro freighter
THE captain of the doomed freighter El Faro ordered his crew to abandon ship about ten hours after leaving Jacksonville, Florida, and becoming caught in a hurricane last year, audio from the sunken ship’s “black box” shows.
Participation in Dubai’s Expo 2020 ‘part of foreign policy outreach to Middle East’
The Government’s participation in the Expo 2020 in Dubai is part of the Christie administration’s foreign policy outreach to the Middle East, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, who noted that the aim is to ultimately attract foreign capital and market the nation as a tourist destination.
Tourism: No Zika cancellations yet
The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) yesterday said it had received no reports of booking cancellations as a result of the Zika outbreak, despite travel and health advisories issued by this nation’s two key visitor markets.
Men awaiting murder trial appear for hearing
THREE men awaiting trial on a murder charge appeared in the Supreme Court for a status hearing yesterday.
Businesses braced for stormy weather
Businesses and residents in the southern Bahamas are bracing themselves for the possibility that a strong tropical wave expected to pass over The Bahamas becomes a serious threat, with one private sector representative telling this newspaper: “We don’t want to find ourselves in a situation as with Joaquin”.
IAN FERGUSON: Employee coaching key to firm’s health
Coaching is used in a variety of ways to help employees solve their problems. No workplace is without its share of issues, and no individual is immune from personal and professional roadblocks.
Thursday, August 25
Two police officers injured as suspect crashes car into vehicle
TWO police officers are recovering in hospital after a suspect crashed a stolen vehicle into a police cruiser while attempting to evade arrest.
Man shot during argument outside home dies in hospital
A MAN who was shot multiple times during an argument in front of his home died in hospital early yesterday morning.
Hundreds queue in hope as Sandals interviews jobseekers
HUNDREDS of job-seekers assembled at Christ the King Anglican Church in Ridgeland Park West yesterday as Sandals Royal Bahamian’s job fair moved into its third day of interviews.
Munroe says Baha Mar secrecy will stop sabotage
DEFENDING the Christie administration’s selective disclosure of details concerning Baha Mar, attorney Wayne Munroe said yesterday that temporarily sealing court documents related to the project is important to prevent the original developer, Sarkis Izmirlian, from sabotaging the deal either directly or through his “cronies”.
FNM: Why hide Baha Mar deal?
FREE National Movement Shadow Minister of Labour Loretta Butler-Turner castigated the Christie administration yesterday over the decision to seal the court documents relating to the new deal to open the shuttered $3.5bn Baha Mar resort, branding this as “deceptive” and “reprehensible” on all levels.
Developer hits out at lack of specifics
BAHA MAR’S original developer, BMD Holdings, joined the Free National Movement and others yesterday in criticising Prime Minister Perry Christie’s Monday announcement about Baha Mar for lacking specifics.
Heavy rain is expected as tropical wave reaches nation
A STRONG tropical wave is expected to dump three to four inches of rain and cause severe flooding as it passes over the Bahamas beginning today, Deputy Director of the Department of Meteorology Basil Dean warned yesterday.
Activist hits out at cay’s hurricane preparedness
A local environmental advocate has questioned the soundness of Blackbeard Cay’s hurricane disaster and recovery plan, charging that a “global tragedy” could occur if the nine dolphins kept at the Balmoral Island facility are washed “out to sea” because of a hurricane.
‘We’re no longer the best owner’ for Bahamian bank
A Swiss financial group has sold its 85 per cent majority stake in Nassau-based Private Investment Bank (PIB), conceding that it “might no longer be the best owner” for the institution.
New mobile player hits ‘record’ pace
The Bahamas’ second mobile operator yesterday boasted that it was moving at “record” pace to roll-out its network, having already built more than 90 per cent of its planned cellular towers in Grand Bahama.
NHI insurance tender ‘skewed’ against locals
The Bahamas Insurance Association’s (BIA) chairman yesterday argued that the bid document for the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme’s public insurer is “skewed” in favour of foreign companies.
Unions threaten ‘shut down’ over Sandals
The Bahamas’ two leading trade unions bodies joined forces yesterday to warn they will “shut the country down” with a repeat of the 1958 General Strike, unless the Prime Minister meets with them in the next 48 hours to resolve the Sandals situation.
CCA ‘fired my wife when I served writ’
The only Bahamian contractor known to have taken legal action against China Construction America (CCA) for Baha Mar non-payment yesterday said he was left “heartbroken” when it fired his wife “the same day” the writ was served.
Murder suspect to submit alibi claim
A MAN awaiting trial on a murder charge said he would submit an alibi to the Office of the Attorney General within 21 days.
Pair accused over $2m cocaine haul
TWO men were arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with the recent seizure of nearly $2 million worth of cocaine by law enforcement.
Education is the real solution
I would like to add to the discussion about crime. Crime cost The Bahamas millions annually in security cost, health, law enforcement and other related impediments. So far, the approach to combating crime in The Bahamas and the Caribbean has been combative instead of preventative.
Down the rabbit hole once more
“AbracaDAbra!” shouted the Emperor perched atop a golden podium securely mounted on the armoured tank.
Praise over Baha Mar rang hollow
Monday’s announcement that the government has reached an agreement with the China EXIM Bank to complete the construction of the Baha Mar resort was welcome news to the thousands of Bahamians directly impacted by the project’s collapse almost 18 months ago. I would go so far as to say that it was also welcome news to many more Bahamians who are seriously concerned about the dire state of the local economy.
Bahamians doubtful of PM’s Baha Mar promises
SOME wag once advised that a good rule of life is that “whenever someone says ‘trust me’ run.”
Pinewood residents reassured over case of Zika virus in the community
PINEWOOD Gardens MP Khaalis Rolle last evening chaired a community forum in his constituency, attempting to sooth concerns over the potential spread of the Zika virus throughout the area.
Youth and man suspected of armed robbery denied bail
A MAN and a juvenile were remanded to prison yesterday after they were arraigned in connection with a recent gunpoint robbery at Potter’s Cay Dock.
Pro baller Kentwan Smith signs with BCA Nokia in Finland
KENTWAN Smith received the opportunity he was waiting for all offseason long as he signed with a new club in a new country to continue his pro basketball career.
Cooper hopes to survive 1st round of Bengals roster cuts
THIS weekend represents a pivotal game for Alex Cooper as he fights for a roster spot with the Cincinnati Bengals this NFL preseason.
Buffalo Bulls run over COB Caribs, 81-67
AFTER two victories in Canada over the weekend, the University at Buffalo men’s basketball team moved its foreign tour south to the Bahamas.
Bahamas 'can qualify' for the Olympics in basketball
National basketball team stalwart Juraun “Kino” Burrows believes that the Bahamas is on the path for his sport’s first ever Olympic qualification in 2020.
A YOUNG MAN'S VIEW: How Perry Christie has sold out the country over Baha Mar
Prime Minister Perry Christie’s “non-announcement” announcement on Baha Mar, where he asserted that construction at the stalled $3.5 billion resort will resume in September, was nothing short of insulting, vacuous and a political red herring meant to distract a disconcerted populace from yet another downgrade by the credit rating agency Moody’s.
Atlantis begins first stage of $20m transformation
THE Atlantis resort on Paradise Island has launched its first phase of a $20m transformation at what is currently known as the Coral Towers.
Six stores found in breach of overpricing
SIX stores on Grand Bahama were found in breach of selling overpriced breadbasket items during an inspection by Price Control Commission officers in Freeport.
On Da Hook
WHETHER diving for crawfish, deep dropping for Snapper or spearfishing, the fishing has been good again this week in The Bahamas.
Scholarships worth more than $500,000 awarded by foundations
LYFORD Cay Foundations has announced it has awarded 35 scholarships for 2016/2017, valued at $529,000, for students pursuing Bachelors and Master’s degrees as well as Technical and Vocational Training programmes at institutions in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Europe.
Atlantic Medical Fun Run Walk attracts 1,400 entrants
MORE than 1,400 persons participated in Atlantic Medical’s annual ‘fun run walk’ that was held in April. For the past 18 years, Atlantic Medical is still committed in giving back to the community.
Diocese mourns death of Canon John Clarke
THE Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks Caicos Islands is mourning the loss of Rev Canon John Colin Clarke, who passed away unexpectedly on Saturday at Doctors Hospital. He was 75.
Dozens of residents still using wells near Rubis service station
DOZENS of people living near the Rubis Service Station on Robinson Road are still using wells despite ongoing fears that the ground water remains contaminated from a massive gasoline leak that has been festering since late 2012, the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association has said.
Major issues affecting insurance industry ‘largely ignored’
Bahamas Insurance Association (BIA) chairman Emmanuel Komolafe said yesterday that, while changes to the insurance legislation are being driven by the push to roll out National Health Insurance (NHI), it is “disappointing” that other major issues impacting the industry and requiring revisions to the Insurance Act and Regulations have been largely ignored.
Bahamas ‘losing out’ on film opportunities
This nation has been “losing out” on the opportunity to tap into the multi-billion film industry having failed to offer incentives necessary to attract big budget productions, Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) founder and Executive Director Leslie Vanderpool said yesterday.
No agreement details until Baha Mar sold
The Opposition’s deputy leader yesterday questioned what was “so sensitive” in the agreement for Baha Mar’s construction completion that required the court file to be sealed, amid indications full details will not be revealed until the project has been sold.
Wednesday, August 24
Southern Bahamas islands warned weather system will bring flooding
TRANSPORT and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin has urged residents living in areas affected by Hurricane Joaquin last year to pay attention to weather warnings, as severe flooding is expected in those islands from Thursday morning.
First flight for giant helium-filled airship
A BLIMP-shaped, helium-filled airship considered the world’s largest aircraft flew for the first time last week with a short but historic jaunt over an airfield in central England.
China’s quantum satellite a major step in space race
CHINA’S launch of the first quantum satellite last week will push forward efforts to develop the ability to send communications that cannot be penetrated by hackers, experts said.
PM announcement ‘similar to BTC 2 per cent deal’
DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney has accused Prime Minister Perry Christie of executing his usual “song and dance” routine in his announcement that construction at the $3.5bn Baha Mar resort is expected to resume by September.
Man accused of invading homes and raping victims
A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday after he was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court concerning three home invasions and sexual assaults.
FNM says Baha Mar deal is ‘smoke and mirrors’
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis accused the Christie administration yesterday of using its time-worn tactic of “smoke and mirrors”, hitting out that “secrecy and lack of transparency” have clouded the deal to complete the Baha Mar project.
PM's Baha Mar agreement lacks "any specifics" and "definitive guarantees" says resort developer
BMD Holdings said on Wednesday that the Prime Minister’s comments this week regarding the future of Baha Mar leave the Bahamian people without any specifics about a definitive buyer, the price that the China Export-Import Bank (CEXIM) is contemplating for the resort and any definitive guarantees that any unsecured creditors will receive any of the monies they are owed.
Family in tears after man found shot dead in Freeport
A MAN was shot dead in Freeport on Tuesday, pushing the homicide count on the island of Grand Bahama to 13 this year.
Tourism chief to show efforts in fighting Zika
A DAY after health officials confirmed three additional cases of the Zika virus in New Providence, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said his ministry has ramped up its marketing machinery to convey the message that The Bahamas is doing all it can to guard against the spread of the virus.
PM is defended over Baha Mar
AMID questions surrounding which “world-class hotel and casino operator” will acquire Baha Mar and the concessions awarded to bolster the deal to open it, Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, QC, said there is no need for concern, adding that Bahamians should “trust” that negotiations are being handled by the “capable hands” of Prime Minister Perry Christie.
GOLDEN KNIGHT CHRIS BROWN: ‘This is definitely the last time the Bahamas will see me run at the Olympic level’
AFTER successfully leading the Bahamas’ men’s 4x400m relay team back to the medal podium at the Olympic Games, veteran quarter-miler Chris Brown said he looks forward to making an impact in the next phase of his career.
‘It was phenomenal . . . It was just a thrill to watch her compete’
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Every time Pedrya Seymour stepped onto the track at the Olympic Stadium to compete, she looked up to the skies to acknowledge her deceased brother, Keron Dean, whom she dedicated her season to.
Today, 18-year-old Stanhope gets set for World Rowing Jr Championships
WITH the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, over and done with, another athlete is ready to represent the Bahamas abroad.
Myron L Rolle Foundation to host 2nd Play 4 Progress
THE Myron L Rolle Foundation is scheduled to host the 2nd edition of its Play 4 Progress initiative under the theme “From Sports To Life, Shaping Our Next Leaders.”
Olympic champion Shaunae on top of Diamond Standings for 400
IN 2004, Tonique Williams-Darling achieved the lofty goals of an Olympic title and the IAAF Golden League Jackpot in the 400m.
Bishop accuses Sandals of ‘gross injustice’ over jobs
BISHOP Walter Hanchell yesterday slammed Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort for recently making more than 600 employees redundant, accusing the resort of committing a “gross injustice” by using the workers as “pawns” in its feud with the Bahamas Hotel Maintenance and Allied Workers Union.
Four students named as scholarship recipients
THE Tara Xavier Hepburn Foundation has named four scholarship recipients for 2016 - Presley Godet, of A F Adderley Junior High School, Ashley Treco, of L W Young Junior High School, Vashanti Storr, of S C McPherson Junior High School, and D’angelo Smith, of St John’s College.
Church abuse is the focus of new book by author and educator
LOCAL educator Melony Thompson is celebrating the launch of her book, Odessa and the Professor, which tells the story of church abuse through the use of scripture.
RE Cooper award winners are announced
THE names of the first R E Cooper Sr National Meritorious Award winners - people who have quietly enriched and helped the community in The Bahamas - have been announced.
Walk for the Cure confirmed to return in October
THE regional CIBC FirstCaribbean cancer fundraiser that brought over 10,000 participants together in 17 countries last year returns to The Bahamas in October, it was announced yesterday.
Security company opens new Freeport offices
CANDID Security Limited opened its newly constructed corporate offices in Freeport demonstrating its success and growth over the past 19 years in Grand Bahama.
Bahamas team gets hacking at Code 2.0 event
A TEAM from the Bahamas took part in the second CODE Hackathon at the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organisations (CANTO) annual Conference and Trade Expo in Puerto Rico.
Tech Talk
• TWITTER has announced two new settings that will allow users to control what they see in their feeds and what notifications they receive.
Murder trial for killing of student to resume Thursday
A JUDGE presiding over the trial concerning the murder of a Doris Johnson Senior High School student assured a jury that proceedings will continue on Thursday after announcing that their presence would not be needed for another 48 hours.
College to stay open despite problems with accreditation
SOJOURNER-Douglass College officials yesterday said its Bahamas campus will “stay open” despite its accreditation woes, with the college’s president saying officials hope to remedy the problem within the next year.
Govt optimistic despite downgrade by Moody’s
STATE Finance Minister Michael Halkitis yesterday insisted that the government remains optimistic about the Bahamas’ economic future, despite Moody’s Investor Service downgrading this country’s sovereign credit rating one notch, from Baa2 to Baa3.
‘Ball in our lap’ to avoid further Moody’s action
The Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive yesterday said responsibility for avoiding a further credit rating downgrade “falls squarely in the Bahamas’ lap”, as he accused Moody’s of having long planned its latest action.
Contractors not joining ‘celebration bandwagon’ over Baha Mar deal yet
Bahamian contractors yesterday said they were “not joining this bandwagon of celebration” over the Government’s Baha Mar agreement just yet, amid suggestions contracts held directly with the former developer may not be honoured.
Bran ‘concerned’ taxpayers to fund Baha Mar payouts
The DNA’s leader yesterday said he was “very concerned” that Bahamian taxpayers will ultimately be landed with the multi-million dollar bill for compensating Baha Mar’s creditors via the tax incentives granted to the Chinese.
Moody’s backs IMF over $100m fiscal deficit overshoot
Moody’s yesterday backed the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) prediction that the Bahamas’ 2015-2016 fiscal deficit is set to overshoot the Government’s estimate by around $100 million.
Baha Mar creditors: Over 90 per cent to be paid
Baha Mar’s secured creditor agreed to fund the $3.5 billion project’s completion because potential purchasers have told it they will not buy an unfinished mega resort, with more than 90 per cent of local creditors set to be paid.
Mark Humes calls his fellow FNM Rollins a ‘rabid animal’
FREE National Movement newcomer Mark Humes issued a scathing rebuke against Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins yesterday, likening the outspoken MP to a “rabid animal”.
Rapper says he was detained by police over song he wrote criticising prime minister
THE composer behind a song and music video posted on social media last week in which Prime Minister Perry Christie and his family are negatively referred to, has been released from police custody after being detained over the weekend.
Demetrius Pinder’s mother hits out at Olympic selection
THE mother of “Golden Knight” Demetrius Pinder said her son is very distraught about being denied his chance for a second Olympic medal running for Team Bahamas in the men’s 4 x 400m relay in Rio de Janeiro.
The scandal of Sandals job cuts
The Sandals mess and the oblivious impotency of the Minister and the Director of Labour has an employer simply putting in the face of Law and no one seems to care.
Chase for College payment
I have a problem with the College of the Bahamas involving money and do not know who else I can turn to about this.
Baha Mar ‘will add 2,200 badly needed rooms’
Baha Mar, when opened, will add 2,200 “badly needed” hotel rooms according to Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, noting that the development will provide a ‘tremendous spark’ in the tourism and travel industry.
Ex Baha Mar director: Govt going ‘all in’ with Chinese is a bad move
An ex-Baha Mar director said yesterday that while getting the stalled Baha Mar development going again is positive news, going “all in” with the Chinese would be a bad move long term.
Government ‘relieved’ at Moody’s rating
State Finance Minister Michael Halkitis said yesterday the Government is “relieved” that credit ratings agency Moody’s had decided to only downgrade The Bahamas’ rating by a single notch, from Baa2 to Baa3, noting that economic developments over the next 12-18 months should improve the nation’s outlook.
Tourism Ministry ups marketing efforts amid Zika concerns
Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said yesterday that his ministry was ramping up its marketing efforts to curb the tourism fall-out from Zika fears, with Canada already having issued a travel advisory on the nation.
Tuesday, August 23
BPL says power cuts suspended after 48 hours of "challenges"
BAHAMAS Power and Light Company Limited (BPL) said on Tuesday evening that it has suspended outage rotations in New Providence following two days of "challenges".
New show focusing on women aims to transform local TV industry
Being a modern-day woman in the Bahamas can get complicated. And no one knows that better than comedienne Tracy Ann Perpall.
NEMA: Get ready for 'peak season for storms'
THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has cautioned the public to "remain in a state of readiness" heading into the peak of this year's Atlantic hurricane season, with international weather agencies warning that this could be the "most active" season in almost five years.
‘Wells was sacrificed in letter of intent row’
FORT Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins went back on the offensive yesterday accusing the Christie administration of sacrificing Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells in the letter of intent controversy in a bid to protect senior party members who orchestrated the signing.
Sandals workers line up to reapply for old jobs
DESPITE being some of the 600 plus employees made redundant at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort last week, several former workers yesterday expressed no bitterness in having to reapply for their old jobs.
UPDATED: Four confirmed Zika cases in New Providence
THE number of confirmed Zika cases in New Providence has increased to four, officials announced yesterday during a press conference at the Ministry of Health.
Minnis calls for disclosure of "smoke and mirrors" Baha Mar deal details
DR HUBERT Minnis, Leader of the Free National Movement (FNM), has called the Prime Minister's announcement of a deal over Baha Mar another example of "smoke and mirrors to hide the broken promises made by the PLP", pointing to a lack of specific details and accusing the government of "suspicious" deals with the Chinese.
UPDATED: Latest on Tropical Storm Gaston, tropical wave
TROPICAL Storm Gaston is getting stronger as it moves over the far eastern Atlantic and is expected to become a hurricane by Wednesday, according to US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) forecasters.
Baha Mar work starts next month
CONSTRUCTION at the stalled Baha Mar resort is expected to resume in September in a move to have the $3.5 billion resort project open no later than the end of winter in 2017, Prime Minister Perry Christie announced last night.
Moody’s downgrades the Bahamas’ credit rating
MOODY’S announced yesterday that it has downgraded the Bahamas’ credit rating by one notch mainly because of the country’s “low medium-term growth” prospects and limited fiscal space compared to similar countries.
Tributes paid to veteran educator
VETERAN educator Tracey W Strachan, who served as headmaster or principal at many schools throughout the Bahamas, died on Saturday morning after a short illness, his family has announced. He was 81.
Celebrations for Rex Major
MASSIVE celebrations in five islands will be held to honour Pastor Dr Rex Major who has affected the lives of many people over the past 60 years of his ministry.
Call for bidders to run public insurer for NHI
WHILE officials are still uncertain of when the National Health Insurance regulations will be finished or when the primary care phase will be rolled out, the government yesterday released a global request for proposals to invite bidders to manage NHI’s public insurer.
$24m catastrophic fund ‘will be in addition’ to present provisions
NATIONAL Health Insurance Project Manager Dr Delon Brennen yesterday rejected criticism that the government’s $24m catastrophic fund is insufficient to cover those who fall under the specialised care category, as he stressed that the fund will be used in addition to the provisions already in use in the country’s public health system.
Insurers: Treat NHI adviser with a ‘pinch of salt’
Bahamian insurers yesterday hit back at the rosy National Health Insurance (NHI) picture being painted by the Government’s chief consultants, arguing that their comments should be “taken with a pinch of salt”.
Tourism ‘wipe out’ concern over Zika
The Opposition’s deputy leader yesterday warned that the outbreak of the Zika virus in the Bahamas could “wipe out our tourism industry altogether”, with Canada already having issued a travel advisory on this nation.
Moody’s downgrade branded ‘bittersweet’
Moody’s decision to slash the Bahamas’ sovereign credit rating, but maintain it at investment grade, was yesterday described as “bittersweet” by the Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) leader.
Creditors hail PM for ‘not blinking’ in Baha Mar talks
Bahamian contractors and other Baha Mar creditors yesterday hailed Prime Minister Perry Christie and his government for “not blinking” in negotiations with China for payment of multi-million dollar sums owed to them.
Bahamas ‘dodges junk status bullet’
The Bahamas yesterday “dodged a bullet” after Moody’s chose not to downgrade its creditworthiness to ‘junk’ status’, and instead upgraded its outlook on this nation to ‘stable’.
POLITICOLE: Bahamian traits - Smith’s lust for power and Shaunae’s desire for glory
I sincerely hope the press conference given by Dion Smith, Deputy House Speaker, was about more than publicly lending Perry Christie support. It seems an awfully trifling reason to engage the media, unless you have a hidden message or agenda … or maybe not so hidden … to deliver far and wide.
Rollins accuses Butler-Turner of trying to undermine him
SEEKING to defend his courtship of the Long Island constituency, Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins yesterday accused area MP Loretta Butler-Turner of seeking to undermine him in his own constituency during her leadership campaign ahead of the Free National Movement’s national convention.
PLP stalwart councillors upset at treatment, warns Alfred Sears
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party stalwart councillors are dissatisfied with being treated merely as tools to maintain Prime Minister Perry Christie’s incumbency, only to be discarded and excluded after convention, according to party leader hopeful Alfred Sears.
Resort ‘had to close’ for renovation
THE noise of construction work around the pool areas of Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort and the ungainly images of the construction work will be so disruptive that guests could not be expected to remain in the vicinity while repairs take place, Sandals’ Construction Project Manager James Wilson said yesterday.
Travel advisory against Bahamas ‘expected’
HEALTH Minister Dr Perry Gomez said he fully expects a travel advisory to be issued against The Bahamas in the coming days, after the country confirmed three more cases of the Zika virus in New Providence.
Error in notice to mariners
INASMUCH as the “powers that be” seem unable to keep our traffic lights in New Providence functioning, we should not be too surprised when The Ministry of Transport and Aviation, (Port Department), publishes a notice in your newspaper under the heading “ Aids-to-Navigation on the Little Bahama Bank”, following which, it proceeds to list five navigation lights.
The secret of giving?
The Press now prints large notices of amnesties for late payment of Stamp duty on deeds and documents, and notices of land acquisitions to construct homes for the poor.
Lottery to fund NHI, smell stink
There has been some suggestion that the government is toying with a National Lottery as a means to funding National Health Insurance. This is extremely interesting.
Prime Minister Christie to be congratulated on Baha Mar news
LATE yesterday afternoon Prime Minister Christie took the “Shaunae Miller” Olympic dive to the micro-phones to give the Bahamian people the first bit of concrete news as to the future of the shuttered Baha Mar resort.
Christie is not to be blamed
IN light of Sandals’ decision to temporarily close the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort to facilitate urgent repairs and renovations and in the process make over 600 workers redundant, many Bahamians have launched an attack on the Government and in particular Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Perry Christie.
Hair expo launches American natural hair brand in the Bahamas
Scores of Bahamian naturalistas gathered last Saturday to attend a special hair and wellness expo tailored especially to their needs.
Culture and gender
Gender, the way it is defined and lived, and gendered relations are usually determined by culture. As research shows us, the way we live in a place usually relates to the environment and the history, as well as the economics and geography of the place.
Back-to-school with a smile
It’s that time of year again, where parents are making a list of items their children will need to go back to school. Books, pens, pencils, school uniforms and shoes are just some items on the back-to-school list, but one item often forgotten is a dental check-up.
New seminar promotes alternative medicine for healthier living
FOR a decade of his life, Janson E “Dr J” Saunders searched long and hard for a cure the numerous ailments that plagued his body. This journey consisted of numerous doctor visits, constant trips to health institutions abroad and taking medications several times a day.
MICHELLE MILLER MOTIVATIONALS: Are you sitting small or standing tall?
Let’s be honest, a massive number of people are living a life of sitting small rather than standing tall. Not because they can’t stand tall, but because they don’t know how.
BUN IN THE OVEN: Taming the tantrum
You walk into a store to find a beautifully put together young mother with her toddler shopping in the store. All seems well until the little person starts throwing a fit.
Sisters team up to write inspirational children’s book
Under the name “Brooke & Lee”, two sisters, Adria McCardy and Kristi Collie, are aiming to give new meaning to evangelism.
‘There was more testing done on athletes this year than ever before’
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — She has been a long time advocate for anti-doping in the Bahamas. So it was no surprise to see Dr Pattie Symonette helping out in some capacity at the 2016 Olymic Games.
‘This will hurt the Bahamas’ ability to host future football-related events’
FOR the first time since the proposed International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Championships was cancelled, the Local Organising Committee for the event spoke out on the development.
Bahamas walks away with Per Capita title
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — The 2016 Olympic Games have come and gone. Just like that.
Murder suspect is remanded to prison
A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday after he was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court on an attempted murder charge.
Man accused of illegal firearm ownership
A MAN denied owning an illegal firearm when arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Jury excused for third day amid discussions in murder trial
MONDAY marked a third day that a jury hearing evidence in the trial concerning the murder of a Doris Johnson Senior High School student was excused from the proceedings for another 24 hours.
Sanigest work defended
Permanent Secretary to the National Health Insurance (NHI) Secretariat Peter Deveaux-Isaacs yesterday defended the Government’s former NHI consultant Sanigest Internacional, noting that much of its work was being incorporated into the work of KPMG.
Former staff interview for jobs at Sandals
Former Sandals employees were at the Sandals job fair at Christ the King Anglican Church in Ridgeland Park West yesterday to interview for their previous positions, with some questioning the reason for the recent redundancies while others appeared to have no ill will toward their former employer.
Public insurer ‘critical’ to NHI roll-out
THE National Health Insurance (NHI) Secretariat yesterday defended the establishment of a government owned and privately managed public insurer.
BFSB launches industry awards
The Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) yesterday said it had opened nominations in five categories for the 2016 Financial Services Industry Excellence Awards.
Monday, August 22
Prime Minister's statement on Baha Mar agreement in full
It gives me great pleasure to announce that earlier today, the Government of The Bahamas, and the Export-Import Bank of China, signed an agreement under which the Baha Mar resort will be completed, and sold to a world-class hotel and casino operator.
BREAKING NEWS: Baha Mar construction to resume in September under new agreement
PRIME Minister Perry Christie announced Monday night that the government and the Export Import (EXIM) Bank of China have entered into an agreement to have Baha Mar completed and sold to a “world-class hotel and casino operator”, with construction expected to resume in September.
Renewed American focus can bring regional tourism dividends
On June 13 the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the US-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016. The act requires the Executive Branch to submit a multi-year strategy for US engagement with the Caribbean region, including plans for promoting greater economic development. Significant bipartisan interest exists in a similar bill in the Senate.
Govt ‘unable’ to stop job losses
LINKING Baha Mar to Sandals, Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis attacked Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday for his “inability” to prevent job losses for Bahamians.
Neko Grant confirms he will not seek re-election
AFTER 24 years in frontline politics, Neko Grant, FNM MP for Central Grand Bahama, announced that he will not be seeking re-election, but will remain a member of the Free National Movement.
Five more Zika cases in Florida is a warning sign
THE five additional reported cases of the Zika virus in Florida on Friday “raises the bar” on how the Bahamas government will have to combat the feared virus, Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez said yesterday.
Turnquest: FNM will be ready despite party finance shake-up
FREE National Movement (FNM) Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said the party will be ready to contest the next general election even if it has to do so with new people in place who are responsible for raising necessary funds.
Call for full answers in letter of intent row
FREE National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest renewed calls yesterday for the Christie administration to fully disclose the letter of intent controversy that ensnared Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells and contributed to his decision to leave the Progressive Liberal Party.
The medal men
THE Bahamas finished the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on a high note on Saturday when they claimed a bronze medal in the final track event, the men’s 4 x 400m relay.
Forecasters monitor potential storm system heading for the Bahamas
THE National Hurricane Center (NHC) is forecasting that a tropical 'wave' moving west-northwestward in the central Atlantic Ocean could develop into a cyclone as it tracks towards the southeastern and central Bahamas this week.
Sears shrugs off MP support for PM
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leader-hopeful Alfred Sears yesterday called the paltry level of endorsements from sitting members of Parliament for incumbent leader Prime Minister Perry Christie to stay on as party leader a “distraction”.
Making Hstory: Bahamas defeats USA 5-4, expects jump in world rankings
THE Bahamas defeated the United States of America in beach soccer for the first time in the country’s history.
‘Bronze Boys’ shine
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — They didn’t successfully defend their title from London, England, but the Bahamas still got on the podium in the men’s 4 x 400 metre relay on Saturday night as the athletic competition for the 2016 Olympic Games came to a close at the Olympic Stadium.
Fort Charlotte branch announces support for Sears leadership bid
THE Progressive Liberal Party’s Fort Charlotte Constituency Branch has announced its support for Alfred Sears in his bid to become leader of the governing party.
A birthday message for the PM
Prime Minister, God graced you with another birthday.
INSIGHT: All Bahamian lives matter - a solution
Terry Goldsmith, who has extensive experience in working with this country’s youth, calls for a national initiative - which would include curfews and gun amnesties - to fight the lack of respect and lawlessness dogging The Bahamas today.
INSIGHT: And then there were none
Neko Grant’s announcement that he will not stand for re-election next year means it is now only a matter of when and how the FNM’s ‘Dissident Six’ will meet their political demise, says Malcolm J Strachan . . .
Elderly man found in suspected suicide ‘showed no signs of being unhappy’
A RELATIVE of an elderly man found hanging from a tree in the yard of his Palmdale home last week hailed him as a “very loving” man who “didn’t show any signs of being unhappy” leading up to his death.
‘I wanted to put on my spikes and go out there and run with those girls’
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Veteran sprinter Pauline Davis-Thompson has always been very passionate when it comes down to expressing her views on the sport of track and field.
Gambling our health away
I read that certain people are proposing a further adding of a National Lottery the proceeds to go to funding NHI.
Freedom of speech, not to abuse
I have never been more un-proud of who we are becoming when I see the blunt disrespect for the Prime Minister, his family and the office he holds.
Put brakes on Baha Mar until after 2017 election
IN Thursday’s Tribune, a letter writer tried to strip Prime Minister Christie of his legacy — Baha Mar.
Police searching for robbery suspects
POLICE are seeking the public’s help in locating the suspects responsible for two separate armed robberies.
Bahamian arrested after 51kg cocaine seized
POLICE arrested a Bahamian man at the Lynden Pindling International Airport on Sunday in connection with the seizure of 51 kilos of cocaine. According to police, shortly after 8am, K-9 officers on duty at the LPIA Jet Aviation Centre assisted by officers from the Airport Division conducted a search of a chartered aircraft that had just landed. Officers found two large bags containing 51 kilos of cocaine.
Minnis urges govt to pay police overtime
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis has called on the government to give police officers overtime pay owed to them as he urged Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade to meet with the Police Staff Association on the matter.
CCA ‘stonewalling’ via Sarkis lock out
Baha Mar’s main contractor was claiming as recently as two months ago that it could not produce documents for a New York court case because Sarkis Izmirlian had “locked it out” of the project site.
‘What a tangled web we weave’
The Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) leader says the Bahamian people “cannot let go” the Renward Wells ‘Letter of Intent’ (LOI) because they are “the biggest losers” from the saga.
Bahamas cleaner seeks $173k over Baha Mar work
A cleaner has become the first Bahamian contractor to sue China Construction America (CCA) for breach of contract over the Baha Mar project, alleging it has been paid just 3 per cent of what is owed.
Chinese home amid Pointe’s permit wait
The Pointe’s Chinese workforce has been sent home until the downtown Nassau development obtains the necessary permits to begin construction of its 200-room condo hotel and associated amenities.
‘Wonderful start’ for bad mortgage acquirer
Sir Franklyn Wilson’s group has “gotten off to a wonderful start” with its ‘bad mortgage’ restructuring venture, which helped drive a $65 million year-over-year decline in banks’ non-performing home loans during the 2016 first half.
Overall, Team Bahamas did very well
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Two medals, two national records and five appearances in a final has left head coach George Cleare quite thrilled about the performance of Team Bahamas in the athletic competition at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Chamber chief: Don’t vilify foreign investors
The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce’s (BCCEC) chief executive has warned against vilifying foreign investors given this nation’s “shameful” ‘ease of business’ rankings, warning that “it benefits no one to do so”.
Minister: Sandals job fair ‘looks suspicious’
A Cabinet minister has admitted that the structure for this week’s Sandals job fair “looks very suspicious”, given that the 600 employees terminated from its Royal Bahamian property are being forced to reapply for their jobs.
Correction: Lyford Cay ‘Back to School’ guide
IN The Tribune’s 2016 Back to School guide last week . . .
Sandals critics ‘can’t have cake and eat it’
A Cabinet Minister has accused the Government’s critics of wanting to “have their cake and eat it” over the 600 Sandals redundancies, adding that the National Tripartite Council was the body responsible for reviewing labour laws.
Sunday, August 21
Bahamas ends Rio Olympics on the podium
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: The team of Alonzo Russell, Michael Mathieu, Steven Gardiner and Chris 'Fireman' Brown held on to nip Belgium for the bronze medal behind the United States' gold and Jamaica's silver in the final of the men's 4 x 400 metre relay on Saturday night.
Bahamian arrested after 51kg of cocaine found at LPIA
POLICE struck another blow against organized drug trafficking in The Bahamas on Sunday with the seizure of a large amount of cocaine and the arrest of a Bahamian male at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA).
NHC watches two potential Atlantic storms as Fiona fades
WHILE Tropical Storm Fiona was expected to be downgraded to a depression on Sunday night as it moved northwest in the central Atlantic, the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami is monitoring two tropical ‘waves’ in the eastern Atlantic that show signs of potential development this week. One of them could affect the southeastern Bahamas and the Caribbean, according to forecasters.
Ten Haitian migrants detained in Inagua
TEN Haitian nationals are being detained in Mathew Town, Inagua, after they were apprehended on Friday evening in a joint effort involving the Defence Force, Police and Immigration officials and local residents.
Saturday, August 20
Friday, August 19
Men's relay team book place in final
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: The team of Alonzo Russell, Christopher Brown, Steven Gardiner, all back after their appearances in the 400 metres, along with Stephen Newbold, booked their lane in the men's 4 x 400 metre relay final and assured the Bahamas of a chance to defend their title at the 2016 Olympic Games on Saturday night.
National record, but no qualification for women's relay team
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: In the Bahamas' first relay appearance in the Olympic Games, the team of Lanece Clarke, Anthonique Strachan, Carmiesha Cox and Christine Amertil ran a national record, but it wasn't fast enough to get them into the final of the women's 4 x 400 metre relay.
Olympic Games: Men's relay team qualify for final, then move up to second after Great Britain disqualified
Friday in Rio.
Jury told to return on Monday for teen murder trial
LEGAL discussions between Crown and defence counsel in the trial concerning the murder of a Doris Johnson Senior High School student continued for a second day in Supreme Court on Friday.
DNA 'would elect Ombudsman to represent public interests'
DEMOCRATIC National Alliance (DNA) candidate for Pineridge Leslie Lightbourne, a veteran trade unionist, said the party if elected will ensure the implementation of an Ombudsman to represent the interest of the public.
Man denies murdering pastor and broadcaster
A MAN denied murdering a pastor and radio broadcaster during his formal arraignments in Supreme Court on Friday.
9,208 work permits issued in 2015 - 36 per cent to Haitian nationals
OVER 9,000 work permits were issued by the government in 2015, more than 30 per cent of which were issued to Haitian nationals, according to the latest immigration statistics.
Third man charged with Freeport murder
A 32-year-old man has become the third to be charged with the murder of Dexter Bellamy in Freeport, Grand Bahama, earlier this year.
Repatriation of Cuban nationals costs government nearly $20,000
THE recent repatriation of more than 40 Cuban nationals has cost the government nearly $20,000, with the director of immigration highlighting an "unprecedented" increase in the wave of Cuban migrants illegally entering the Bahamas.
Key members of FNM Finance Committee 'resign'
IN A potential power move, several key members of the Free National Movement’s (FNM) Finance Committee have reportedly indicated that they are no longer willing to remain among the body of party members tasked with ensuring the organisation has the funds required to co-ordinate a successful 2017 election campaign, The Tribune understands.
300 Cubans intercepted in past eight months
MORE than 300 Cubans have been intercepted at sea and brought to Grand Bahama in the past eight months as they continue flee their homeland in greater numbers to reach the United States.
Officials deny dolphin and calf separated at Blackbeard’s Cay
A DEPARTMENT of Marine Resources senior official yesterday denied claims by concerned local environmental activists that a mother dolphin and her recently born male calf were allegedly separated prematurely at Blackbeard’s Cay.
Plan to give officers time off ‘will threaten public safety’
POLICE Commissioner Ellison Greenslade’s plan to give hundreds of police officers time off instead of overtime pay is impractical and will threaten public safety, attorney Wayne Munroe, QC, said during a Police Staff Association (PSA) press conference yesterday.
Mitchell seeks to sue Smith for $4.5m in slander claim
MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell has made a counterclaim in the libel civil suit filed against him by attorney Fred Smith, in turn accusing the outspoken QC of slander.
Fiona strengthens over Atlantic but poses no threat to land
THE US National Hurricane Center (NHC) says Tropical Storm Fiona is getting a little stronger as it moves across the Atlantic.
Gibson: FNM is exploiting Sandals job cuts
THE Free National Movement (FNM) is attempting to make the termination of more than 600 Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort employees political, despite sending thousands of people to the unemployment line when the party was last in office, Labour Minister Shane Gibson has told The Tribune.
CCA slammed with fresh $555k Baha Mar demand
Baha Mar’s main contractor has been accused of citing “false reasons” to excuse non-payment of an outstanding $555,000 balance owed to a US firm for work on the $3.5 billion project.
Waste-energy firm warns on ‘Bahamas reputation damage’
The “increasingly frustrated” firm behind the $600-$650 million waste-to-energy plant proposal has warned the Government that its three-year wait for approval “risks damaging the reputation of the Bahamas”.
Govt knew of Wells LOI before signing
Key members of the Christie Cabinet knew in advance that the Government was set to “issue” the controversial ‘Letter of Intent’ (LOI) that led to the downfall of former parliamentary secretary, Renward Wells.
Devil in the detail
NHI - there wasn’t the detail in the debate?
Solving our nation’s problems
There cannot be anyone who would wish or to cause unemployment however there is a reality if more and more people require employment and successive Governments are unable to produce reliable employment then we have to ask those who represent them as their MPs - are you really doing best for your constituents?
Are we enslaved to politics?
Have the two primary political parties actually enslaved those in the lower income range and those single women who have brought into this world three-four and more children?
In fith Olympics, Amertil gets set for 4x4 relay
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — This is the fifth Olympic appearance for quarter-miler Christine Amertil and after running on the 4 x 100 metre team in London, England four years ago, for the first time she will get to run in a women’s 4 x 400 metre relay when the preliminaries take place at the Olympic Stadium tonight.
‘Golden Knights’ to defend their Olympic title without Ramon
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown likes Team Bahamas’ chances of repeating as champions of the men’s 4x400 metre relay. The elderstatesman feels they have assembled a quality group of quarter-milers to go out and get the job done.
Police searching for theft suspect
POLICE are looking for 30-year-old Ramona Newbold, who they believe can help with an investigation into stealing by reason of employment.
Man in hospital in drive-by shooting
A MAN is in hospital after he was wounded in a drive-by shooting on Wednesday night.
Two men and one woman arrested after officers discover gun and drugs
OFFICERS from the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) arrested two men and a woman following the seizure of several pounds of marijuana and a firearm in three separate incidents on Wednesday.
Cable Bahamas ‘close to’ $50m preference goal
Cable Bahamas finished “close to target” on its recent $50 million preference share offering, Tribune Business was told yesterday, even though its local placement agent raised just 25 per cent of its US dollar goal.
Donald Thomas: ‘I walk away kind of disappointed’
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Donald Thomas came into the 2016 Olympic Games with one goal on his mind - to finally win the one medal that has eluded him.
THE FINISH LINE: ‘A snippet of some of my most memorable experiences here’
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Just like that, it’s down to the final two days of competition at the 2016 Olympic Games. Can’t believe that time has passed by that quickly.
Bahamas must become ‘best country we can’
The Bahamas must enact the economic and fiscal reforms to make it “the best little country we can be”, the Chamber of Commerce’s chairman said yesterday.
Marines qualify from instructor course
TWO Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Marines have returned home after successfully completing the Physical Training Instructor’s (PTI) Course.
Graduating in style with military re-enactment
EIGHTEEN young men and women from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Rangers graduated from the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation’s (AMMC) Historical Military Re-enactment Programme at Fort Charlotte this month.
Clubs and Societies 08192016
Bahamas Press Club. - Members of The Bahamas Press Club 2014 paid a courtesy call on Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor General, August 18, 2016, in the Drawing Room of Government House.
Defence Force chief supports renaming nation’s waters
CAPTAIN Tellis Bethel Sr, author of ‘The Lucayan Sea: Birthplace of The Modern Americas’, says telling the important story of The Bahamas is one of 21 reasons to name the waters surrounding the country The Lucayan Sea.
Strachan and Bell ratified to run in 2017 election
THE Progressive Liberal Party last night announced the ratification of two more candidates for the 2017 general election, after Financial Services Minister Hope Strachan and State Minister for National Security Keith Bell received nominations for Sea Breeze and Carmichael respectively.
‘Rise in Minnis popularity’ since party’s convention
FOLLOWING the party’s July convention, Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis appears to have gained popularity among FNMs, according to a local political observer.
A COMIC'S VIEW: Misguided rapper should still beat the police rap
This week, as a controversial song by a Bahamian artist named ‘Mice’ rose to the level of national attention, I found myself thinking on the Voltairean principle: ‘I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.’
2018 trial date set for harbouring suspect
A TRIAL date in 2018 has been fixed for a father and son who deny that they harboured a wanted murder suspect.
Teenager murder trial to resume today
A JURY returns to the Supreme Court today for the expected continuation of trial into the murder of Doris Johnson Senior High School student Adonai Wilson.
Row over song ‘highlights need for hate speech laws’
THE uproar sparked by a controversial song making the rounds on social media demonstrates the urgent need for hate speech laws in The Bahamas, prominent attorney Fred Smith, QC, said yesterday.
Suspected $2m cocaine haul seized by police officers
Bahamian authorities made major drug bust at the Freeport Container Port on Thursday, seizing over $2 million worth of suspected cocaine.
College appoints dean of students at Northern Campus
THE College of The Bahamas Northern Bahamas Campus has appointed Dr Teo Cooper as dean of students for a period of three years from August 1.
Sands: Lottery to fund NHI ‘an interesting conundrum’
THE idea of establishing a national lottery to fund National Health Insurance (NHI) could pose an “interesting” conundrum, according to Senator Dr Duane Sands.
‘Our men, women 4x4 teams had their final shake-outs’
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — With the city celebrating a holiday to support the 2016 Olympic Games, Team Bahamas was in preparation mode on a day off yesterday to get ready for the final two events over the next two days - the always exciting men and women 4 x 400m relays.
Mobile private investor plans ‘still proceeding’
Plans to ‘buy’ the Government out of its current 51 per cent majority ownership in the Bahamas second mobile operator are “still proceeding as planned”, with potential investors set to be approached next month.
IAN FERGUSON: How to constantly improve your skills
Science and technology are progressing at such an accelerated rate that it is virtually impossible to stay competitive without a strategy for life-long learning. The workplace has become a ‘rat race’ as to who can achieve higher levels of productivity and efficiency. The ‘political’ or ‘family connection’, or the graduate degree, may have gotten you in the door, but the push to constantly improve your skills will keep you advancing once there.
Thursday, August 18
Curry powders recalled after lead found in products
A CARIBBEAN distribution conglomerate has announced the recall of several of its curry powders due to the presence of lead, warning people to avoid their consumption to avoid potential “permanent adverse health consequences”.
Court and parliament clash - alarm bells ring
THE current controversy about parliamentary privilege and the involvement of the courts should ring alarm bells for the Bahamian public because this dispute goes to the heart of the nation’s constitutional democracy.
Officers who worked 12-hour shifts to be given time off
THE Christie administration has decided to give time off to hundreds of active police officers who worked 12-hour shifts in 2013 and 2014 and to give financial compensation to officers who worked overtime during that period but have since retired, according to Wayne Munroe, attorney representing the Police Staff Association in the matter.
Anger as dolphin calf ‘separated’ from mother at Blackbeard’s Cay
LOCAL environmental activists are up in arms over the alleged separation of a dolphin mother and her recently born male calf at Blackbeard’s Cay, an “unconscionable” act they claim will adversely affect the health and lives of both creatures.
Bell aims to become security minister
STATE Minister for National Security Keith Bell said he hopes he will be promoted to the senior position and become minister of national security if the Progressive Liberal Party wins the next general election.
Attorney General: We will monitor Sandals closely
THE government will be closely monitoring innovations at Sandals and its rehiring process in a bid to hold the resort accountable to its “promises” after more than 600 workers were fired this week, according to Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson.
Suicide is suspected as elderly man’s body found
AN elderly man was found by his neice hanging from a tree in the yard of his Palmdale home yesterday morning in what police have said is an apparent suicide.
Government slammed over job cuts
LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner has questioned whether the Christie administration was “content” in accepting the termination of more than 600 Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort employees, as she blamed the government’s “incompetence” and “laissez-faire” approach for the country’s unemployment issues.
Foundation proud as three more Tara Scholars graduate
THE Tara Xavier Hepburn Foundation has proudly announced that three more Tara Scholars - Jeffon Stubbs, Demonica Brown and Eleanor Simmons - have successfully completed their high school education, each graduating with distinction.
Defence argues against Attorney General evidence in Misick corruption trial
DEFENCE lawyers in the corruption trial in Turks and Caicos Islands said Attorney General Rhondalee Brathwaite-Knowles should not be allowed to give evidence or produce documents containing any legal advice which she gave to former Cabinet ministers who are currently on trial.
Grand Raffle launched by Red Cross
THE Bahamas Red Cross Society Grand Raffle is an annual tradition that provides much needed funds to assist in meeting the demands for humanitarian services as well as the operational needs of the organisation.
Deputy Speaker not sure if he would have allowed tabling of emails in row
HOUSE of Assembly Deputy Speaker Dion Smith said yesterday he does not know if he would have allowed Marathon MP Jerome Fitzgerald to table the private e-mails of environmental group Save the Bays in Parliament.
Rubis report is complete - but still under review
THE independent review commissioned by the government into the delayed release of a report on the ramifications of a 2012 Rubis gas leak in the Marathon constituency has been completed – but is still under review.
D’Aguilar: Govt 'living in a dream world' over Bahamian contractor payout
THe Government is “living in a dream world” if it believes that Bahamian contractors will be paid the $74m owed collectively for work carried out on the $3.5 billion Baha Mar development, a former Baha Mar director said yesterday, asserting that “no buyer” except the original developer is interested in seeing them paid.
BPL ‘making good progress’ on North Eleuthera service improvement
BAHAMAS Power and Light Company Limited (BPL) said yesterday that it is “making good progress” on its commitment to improve electricity service in North Eleuthera and Harbour Island, stating that it expects “major improvement” in service in reliability before the end of September.
Lottery funded NHI 'a great opportunity' says MAB president
THE establishment of a national lottery could be a way of funding National Health Insurance (NHI), according to Medical Association of The Bahamas (MAB) President Dr Sy Pierre.
MAB president: IPA should not be mandatory
MEDICAL Association of The Bahamas (MAB) President Dr Sy Pierre says that his organisation is not opposed to any physician or group of physicians seeking to form an Independent Provider Association (IPA), stressing however that IPA “should not be mandatory”.
A YOUNG MAN'S VIEW: Give us a sporting chance for more golden moments
The entire Bahamas paused on Monday night to cheer on our nation’s golden superwoman Shaunae Miller as she ran and captured the gold medal in the 400 metres final at the Games of the 31st Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Witness saw teen punch suspect before his killing
A JURY heard evidence from a high school graduate who alleged that she saw 16-year-old Adonai Wilson punch one of three teenagers accused of his murder shortly before the victim was seen lying in a pool of his own blood on Prince Charles Drive.
Sands says govt promising too much for NHI
SENATOR Dr Duane Sands insisted that Bahamians are going to receive “peanuts and beer” from the Christie administration with the introduction of the controversial National Health Insurance plan and not the “champagne and caviar” that has been promised.
It’s time for Christie to move on
It’s quite instructive to read the newspapers from other parts of the Caribbean. Recently, a leader column in the Jamaican Gleaner was praising the new government led by Andrew Holness (age 44) and how his new policies are beginning to bear fruit and I quote: “The prospects for the economy are at a record levels, according to the surveys of business and consumer confidence.”
RBDF boat set for refit
THE HMBS Nassau (P-61), a Royal Bahamas Defence Force Corvette, has arrived at Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam in the Netherlands for an extensive refit. The 17-year old vessel will receive a comprehensive overhaul that comprises full systems and instrumentation replacement.
Government spending
We have a parliamentary Finance Committee, headed by an Opposition MP with Opposition members in the majority. They are supposed to keep Government in check on its spending and reporting and transparency.
‘Golden Girl’ Pauline: It was an honour to present gold medal
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — From one Olympic champion to another, IAAF Councilwoman Pauline Davis-Thompson said it was an honour to present the medal to Bahamian women’s 400 metre champion Shaunae Miller during the presentation in the Olympic stadium on Tuesday night.
‘Team Bahamas has underperformed in Rio’
IT was back in May, more specifically a string of days running from the end of May into the start of June when I first thought to myself that the development of local sports and athletes were suffering as a result of limited funding.
Maybelene Miller: ‘We prayed so hard for this’
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Long before they arrived here for the 2016 Olympic Games, Maybelene Miller said they got a divine intervention that her daughter Shaunae Miller would become the women’s 400 metre champion.
Dee Dee Trotter defends Shaunae’s dip at line
SINCE Shaunae Miller’s incredible victory in the Rio 2016 Olympics women’s 400m, several negatives have flooded social media.
On Da Hook
WITH the lobster season in full swing, a wide variety of fish is being caught in the Bahamas this month.
Man held for drugs possession
A Bahamian male was apprehended for possession of suspected drugs by Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) marines on routine patrol aboard a RBDF fast patrol craft on Wednesday afternoon.
Warrant issued as man charged with murder fails to show up at court
A MAN, charged with murder, failed for the second time this week to show up in the Supreme Court. A warrant is still out for his arrest.
‘What are we doing to tackle climate change?’
NINE months after Save The Bays returned from the climate change conference in Paris that for a moment caught the world’s attention, the environmental advocacy group’s chairman is still seeking answers to critical questions about how the Bahamas is planning to meet a future of rising sea levels that could literally wipe out entire islands and populations.
Three held after boat intercepted
A BAHAMIAN man and two Dominicans were detained by US authorities for alleged human trafficking after a small vessel was intercepted off Fort Pierce, Florida, with several illegal migrants aboard.
Smith backs Christie to stay as leader of PLP
NASSAU Village MP Dion Smith yesterday endorsed Prime Minister Christie for leader of the Progressive Liberal Party, insisting that him remaining in power would be in the “best interest of the party” going into the 2017 general election.
A YOUNG MAN'S VIEW: Of mice and men and political gods
We are steadily becoming a country that is being ruled by persons who appear to have adopted the mindset of dictators, of the infamous Tonton Macoute of Haiti, which was a unit of the Haitian police force that was created in 1959 and used to disastrous effect by dictator François “Papa Doc” Duvalier.
THE ART OF GRAPHIX: Dispelling misconceptions about the art world
There are many misconceptions about the art world.
Wednesday, August 17
Pedrya Seymour finishes sixth in 100m hurdles final
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: Sixth place in the world in the women's 100 metres hurdles. Not bad for starters for Pedrya Seymour.
Pedrya Seymour qualifies for 100m hurdles final with national record
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: Even with a slow start, Pedrya Seymour managed to bounce back in the middle of the race to lower her national record and qualify for the women's 100 metres hurdles final tonight.
Tropical Storm Fiona forms in Atlantic
A DEPRESSION over the central Atlantic Ocean strengthened on Wednesday afternoon into Tropical Storm Fiona to become the sixth named storm of the season.
Mother in tears as she tells of finding son dead
PATRICIA-MAE Wilson fought back tears in the Supreme Court yesterday as she recalled a 24-hour window on December 9, 2015 within which she had sent her son off to his father in good health only to later find him lying face down in the street, having been stabbed.
Diving into the hearts of the 242
CONGRATULATIONS poured in from different sectors of society yesterday, as Bahamians continued to marvel at Shaunae Miller’s gold medal performance Monday night at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
Miller backs resort and tells union to ‘carry their ass’
TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller yesterday railed against the tactics of the Bahamas Maintenance and Allied Workers Union, saying the BHMAWU “held a gun to the head” of Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort executives and is now reaping what it has sown with the “unfortunate” job losses of more than 600 resort employees.
Olympic gold ‘still so surreal’
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Shaunae Miller said it was so surreal for her to finally receive her Olympic gold medal.
President of union to sue Sandals
TRADE Union Congress President and attorney for the Bahamas Hotel Maintenance and Allied Workers Union Obie Ferguson said he will file a writ today in the Supreme Court on behalf of the more than 600 terminated Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort workers for “union busting” and “unfair dismissal”.
PM hails Miller gold as historic moment for nation
PRIME Minister Perry Christie said yesterday that Shaunae Miller’s dramatic gold medal winning performance at the 2016 Olympic Games is one of the most extraordinary moments in this country’s history.
TOUGH CALL: Bank reveals extent of crime in The Bahamas
THE Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has just published the most comprehensive report ever on crime and violence in The Bahamas.
Thomas, Barry end up 7th, 11th overall
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Donald Thomas and Trevor Barry were nowhere near their best, finishing seventh and 11th overall respectively, as they made their return to the men’s high jump final at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Pride in Miller
Ever since Britain’s Desmond Bannister broke the 4 Minute Mile in the late ‘50’s, the athletic World has speculated on the finite limits of the endurance and speed of the human body .
Time for a change
There were comments recently made by Obie Wilchcombe to let all and sundry know that it is useless to challenge Perry Christie for the leadership post in the Progressive Liberal Party in a convention. His reasons are that he has the support of the delegates and is able to hold the party together. It is quite unfortunate that those are the criterion that will be used by the delegates to make a choice of party leader.
Focus on parenting
Now that we have accepted that women are free to have as many children as they wish or they can bear, and we have excoriated the hapless Richard Lightbourn for his unwise, unfortunate and offensive remarks at the FNM Convention last week, perhaps we can use some of that passion positively to effect change to a problem which we have been ignoring for decades- responsible parenting.
Minnis: Bahamians must not lose out on Baha Mar
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday renewed his warning to future Baha Mar investors not to engage in any negotiations with the Christie-led government that would disadvantage Bahamians.
Renew Bahamas welcomes hospital confirmation
RENEW Bahamas’ chief executive officer yesterday expressed gratitude to the Public Hospitals Authority for its recent investigation into the dumping of biohazardous medical waste at the New Providence landfill, saying the PHA’s investigation will “encourage all those who interact with hazardous materials to follow the proper procedures and guidelines in the future”.
Hunt still on for missing 89-year-old
THE family of a missing 89-year-old man suffering from dementia is still appealing to the public for help in locating their relative.
Martin: Sandals move ‘a slap in the face’
Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) Nicole Martin has urged the government to make legislative changes to protect workers and their tenure of employment describing the recent move by Sandals to abruptly make some 600 workers at Royal Bahamian resort redundant “disgraceful” and a “slap in the face” to workers across the country.
Sandals union: We will ‘not sit quietly’
The Bahamas Hotel Maintenance & Allied Workers Union (BHMAWU), which is the bargaining agent for the 600 Sandals Royal Bahamian employees, said yesterday that it would “not sit quietly” in the wake of the wake to the resort’s decision to make employees redundant, calling it “a sad day for the labour movement”.
Ex-Baha Mar director: Govt ‘too prideful’ to admit ‘tactical error’
An ex-Baha Mar director said yesterday accused the Christie administration of being “too prideful’ to admit its ‘tactical error’ in backing Baha Mar’s liquidation, arguing that the Government is effectively being held hostage for better terms and concessions.
Power woes continue to plague Harbour Island
Power disruption issues and power surges continue to plague Harbour Island causing ‘major damage’ at the island’s resorts and threatening its tourism industry, although Tribune Business understands that some remedy may be imminent as Bahamas Power & Light seeks to replace existing equipment facilitating power to the island.
Succession of the PM
We must appreciate that in our small country, we have much to learn to and even more to experience.
Govt under fire for failure to protect workers
UNION chiefs yesterday blasted the government for its perceived failure to protect the rights of the hundreds of Sandals resort workers who were made redundant without notice and allegedly forced to sign legal agreements “under duress” in order to receive severance pay.
Govt faces interest bill on damages to Cubans
THE $150,000 in legal costs the government must pay in connection with the illegal detention of two Cuban nationals could increase daily if the Christie administration fails to pay as ordered by the Supreme Court.
TECH TALK
• A Tesla electric car caught fire during a promotional tour in southwest France, but those aboard escaped unharmed.
WHALES ON THE WEB
Webcam viewers from around the globe help with research
A WEBCAM’S audience from around the globe is getting incredible views of 3,000 beluga whales that gather near the western part of Hudson Bay in Canada each summer.
Google’s Duo app joins the crowded field of video calling
Knock, knock, Google’s video chatting app has arrived.
Ford says it will have fully autonomous car by 2021
Ford Motor Co. intends to have a fully driverless vehicle — no steering wheel, no pedals — on the road within five years. The car will initially be used for commercial ride-hailing or ride-sharing services; sales to consumers will come later.
Kelly’s donates kitchen to help children’s home
IN the spirit of giving back, Kelly’s Freeport Ltd generously donated and installed a brand new kitchen at the Grand Bahama Children’s Home.
jazz brings a buzz to downtown Freeport
THE Churchill Square in downtown Freeport was buzzing with excitement on Friday with a ‘Jazz in the Square’ event, the second of four events planned by the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) to promote economic activity in the downtown area.
Martin Luther King associate to give speech
DR Xernona Clayton, the woman who drove Dr Martin Luther King to Memphis just before he died, made a wrong turn on her way to the airport.
Groups offer support ahead of school year
TWO local organisations have donated much needed supplies and food to the Grand Bahama Children’s Home just in time for the new school year.
Tuesday, August 16
OLYMPIC GAMES: Shaunae Miller receives medal; but tough night in 200m, high jump, long jump
If you've managed to catch your breath after all of last night's drama, here is the schedule for Team Bahamas at the Olympic Games today:
Bahamian trio struggle in 200m heats
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: A disqualification by quarter-miler Demetrius Pinder, a sixth place by collegian Teray Smith and seventh by recent graduate and national champion Shavez Hart was all the Bahamas could muster in the preliminary rounds of the men's 200 metres on Tuesday at the 2016 Olympic Gamers.
Crisis dentistry vs preventive dentistry
I was giving a talk recently on “preventive dentistry” and the practice of it. A member of the audience admitted to not practicing preventive dentistry and asked of me what was he practicing.
Cancer survivors and fitness enthusiasts 'fete' for the cure
More than 200 participants recently came out to jump, wave and work up a sweat while raising money for cancer research and awareness.
Breaking the ‘Sickle Cycle’
UNDER the theme, “Let’s Break the Sickle Cycle”, the Bahamas Sickle Cell Association (BSCA) will host its third annual fun run/walk on September 10.
A spotlight on the Bahamas Family Planning Association
There are many local organisations dedicated to various causes whose presence sometimes flies under the radar.
The culture of homes with no income
Let’s talk about the culture of homes with no income, only an unemployed mother, no father but many baby daddies
BUN IN THE OVEN: Recovery after birth
New moms often face many challenges just after giving birth. Every birth journey is different, but all of them are challenging, exhausting and involve some sort of recovery time.
Rebekah Brice finds success with her love for baking
REBEKAH Brice’s passion for baking started at the age of seven as she assisted her grandmother with baking and soon learned how to decorate cakes herself.
The author who walked a 'Broken Path'
Molestation, neglect and homosexuality are just some of the topics Melissa Pratt addresses in her new book “Broken”, which gives a candid look at some of the ordeals the Bahamian author had to overcome in her life.
Pedrya Seymour recovers to land 100m hurdles semifinal place
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: In the aftermath of Shaunae Miller's inspiring gold medal performance, Bahamian national record holder Pedrya Seymour rebounded from a disappointing start to propel into third place in her heat of the women's 100 metre preliminaries on Tuesday morning.
How free is parliament - a case for the Privy Council
IF THERE ever was an argument for the retention of the Privy Council as The Bahamas’ court of last resort it was dramatically illustrated in the House of Assembly in the past few weeks as a confused Speaker allowed certain members to overstep the boundaries of free speech under the guise of parliamentary privilege.
DNA leader: Govt has learned nothing from previous problems
DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney yesterday railed against the government over the mass redundancy action at Sandals resort, stating that it was clear officials have learned nothing from previous matters of this nature.
Sandals staff made redundant will not be given preference for re-hiring
NEWLY redundant employees of Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort will not be given first preference when the resort begins hiring employees for its October re-opening, The Tribune understands.
UPDATED: Gibson blasts Sandals as 600 lose their jobs
LABOUR Minister Shane Gibson said his ministry was given very little notice by Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort of its decision to make more than 600 employees redundant yesterday so it could conduct renovations.
UPDATED: Miller reflects on thrilling 400m final
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — With the bruises and bumps to show, Bahamian Shaunae Miller said the dive across the finish line at the Olympic Stadium was worth the gold she will receive for the Bahamian people.
Teenager attacked by shark says there was no ambulance - but hospital has no record of call
PUBLIC Hospitals Authority officials yesterday said there was no record of a “shark attack emergency call” placed into the National Emergency Medical Services dispatch centre the day an American teenager became the victim of a vicious shark attack.
YOUR SAY: Questions raised about National Health Insurance
SEVERAL nights ago I watched the House of Assembly on TV when members debated the controversial National Health Bill. Health is an emotional, personal thing and the members took full advantage of it.
Charlton family gets chance to enjoy Games Village
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — The Purdue University connection is back together again. And even though only sprinter Carmiesha Cox will be competing, injured hurdler Devynne Charlton is experiencing the Games Village experience at the 2016 Olympic Games as her team-mate.
Murder suspect says he was forced to confess
A MAN arraigned on a murder charge yesterday alleged that police forced him to sign a confession he did not voluntarily give.
$315M tax loss underscores Govt receivership flaw
Opposition Finance spokesman and East Grand Bahama yesterday said that the $315m in lost taxes to the Government as a result of the delayed Baha Mar opening only further underscored the impact of government’s intervention in the resort’s receivership, telling this newspaper: “All is not well”.
Medical association president: Make ‘maximum use’ of healthcare infrastructure
Medical Association of The Bahamas president Dr Sy Pierre yesterday reiterated calls for a sustainable national health insurance funded universal healthcare system, stressing that we must make “maximum use” of the country’s current healthcare infrastructure.
DNA blasts Govt over failure to ‘stand up’ for Sandals workers
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) yesterday expressed “dismay” yesterday after some 600 workers at Sandals Royal Bahamian were made redundant, blasting the Christie administration for failing to “stand up” for the workers and make the resort “fall in line”.
$10,000 reward offered after store hit by armed robbers
NASSAU Pawn is offering a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the recovery of items stolen during an armed robbery at their downtown location last month.
POLITICOLE: What that song really tells us about our nation
I haven’t heard the “vile” song that has led to two Bahamian men being taken into custody for questioning.
Sandals outlines ‘fast tracked’ $4m renovation
Sandals yesterday outlined a $4m renovation to be undertaken during a two-month closure of its Cable Beach property, saying that the work was being ‘fast tracked’ for what is shaping up to be its best winter season ever.
Correction - Medical Association position on NHI
THE Medical Association of the Bahamas has asked The Tribune to clarify its position on National Health Insurance as the heading over an article in Monday’s Tribune –“Endorsement for NHI is slammed as ‘deceptive’” – could have given the wrong impression.
Eight groups sign up to Providers Association
EIGHT organisations have signed on to a proposed Independent Provider Association, Dr Conville Brown said in a statement yesterday in response to criticism from the Medical Association of the Bahamas.
Prime Minister denies public misled over NHI
PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday denied that his government was “misleading” the public by insinuating that “cookouts” will no longer be needed to fund people’s medical expenses once National Health Insurance is introduced.
Primary care phase of NHI by January, says PM
PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday defended his administration’s handling of National Health Insurance and insisted that while the process has been delayed, he hopes the government is able to roll out the primary care phase by January 2017.
The wrong measure of PM’s success
OBIE Wilchombe has predicted that Prime Minister Perry Christie will win the leadership post by a landslide because “he continues to resonate with the party delegates ... and has proven that he has what it takes to keep the party together”.
Lightbourn’s fault is being white
For the past forty years in this country, the complaints have been that too many teenaged girls were having babies, that they had too many children and that they had them for too many different men who did not contribute to their maintenance and took no part in their upbringing.
Misuse of public funds
THE famous French diplomat Maurice de Talleyrand had a terse retort for his boss, Napoleon Bonaparte, when he committed an international blunder by having a popular rival assassinated, nearly starting a war.
Trial over schoolboy’s murder due to begin in court today
THE trial into the murder of a 12th grade Doris Johnson Senior High School student is expected to proceed today in the Supreme Court.
Shipyard worker dies in road crash
AN employee of the Grand Bahama Shipyard is dead following a traffic accident in Freeport on Monday morning.
Keeping island clean is focus of summer camp
THE Keep Grand Bahama Clean (KGBC) committee has officially concluded its annual puppet show summer camp presentations.
Rental generators arrive to end load shedding
THE first set of rental generators secured for Bahamas Power and Light have arrived and Bahamas Electrical Workers Union President Paul Maynard said the utility provider will no longer be load shedding.
No injuries as Flamingo Air plane crash lands
A Flamingo Air plane crash landed at the airport in South Bimini on Monday afternoon after the wheel under the right wing collapsed, The Tribune was told.
Monday, August 15
Break-in suspect shot by police dies in hospital
A MAN died in hospital Friday night hours after he was shot by police after stabbing and injuring two officers as they attempted to foil a home invasion on East Street north.
Jeffery Gibson struggles with injury in 400 metre hurdles heat
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: Bahamian national record holder Jeffery Gibson, hampered by an injury he sustained before coming to the 2016 Olympic Games, said his performance in the men's 400 metre hurdles was not the 26th birthday present that he wanted.
Sands and Collie-Minns bow out in first joint Olympic appearance
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: On his comeback from a near career-ending injury at the last Olympics in London, England, Bahamian national record holder Leevan 'Superman' Sands didn't manage to secure a berth in the men's triple jump final. Nor did Latario Collie-Minns, who was not too pleased with his return to action after he went down at the NCAA Championships after winning the title.
Ty'Nia Gaither advances to 200m semifinal
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: Bahamian double sprint national champion Ty'Nia Gaither shook off her disappointment in the 100 metre preliminaries on the opening day of athletics at the 2016 Olympic Games to make it to the semi-final of the 200m on Monday at the Olympic Stadium,
Charging anyone over a song would be ‘anti-democratic’
THE Grand Bahama Human Rights Association said yesterday that it would be “anti-democratic” to charge anyone in connection with the song that refers negatively to Prime Minister Perry Christie and his family.
Catastrophic fund ‘to only help 25 to 30 people’ - Sands
LEADING surgeon and Free National Movement (FNM) Senator Dr Duane Sands said yesterday that “thousands of Bahamians will continue to die” under the government’s primary care phase of National Health Insurance.
Darville: End contempt efforts over leaked emails
SAVE The Bays Chairman Joseph Darville yesterday urged House of Assembly Speaker Dr Kendal Major to “call off efforts” to have certain members of the organisation held in contempt of Parliament.
Men arrested over song are released from custody
THE two men, who were arrested by police last week in connection with a song that makes negative comments about Prime Minister Perry Christie and his family, have been released from custody and plan to sue the government, The Tribune has learned.
Endorsement for the Independent Provider Association slammed as 'deceptive'
MEDICAL Association of the Bahamas President Dr Sy Coolidge Pierre has denied that the Trade Union Congress and the Bahamas Independent Provider Association has entered into a partnership to advance National Health Insurance discussions, calling the purported agreement “distasteful and deceptive.”
$315m lost in Baha Mar tax
IT is estimated that the government has lost $315m in tax revenue from the beleaguered Baha Mar resort due its opening delays and the court appointed receivership process, according to an economic impact report of the $3.5 billion property obtained by The Tribune.
Apartment to be used by medics as clinic renovated
DESPITE their pleas, health practitioners in Andros have been told to offer services from an apartment complex as proposed renovations to the island’s clinic have stalled.
‘So far, we’ve gotten some pretty good performances’
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — While all of the performances at the 2016 Olympic Games have not been what was anticipated so far from the Bahamas track and field team, head coach George Cleare said he’s confident that it will only get better before the competition ends on Saturday night.
Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands’ comeback story one for the ages
THE Olympic Games isn’t about sports. It’s about nations, about people, about stories. Sports is just our tangential connection to it all.
Still no new leads in two-year probe of British man’s murder
AFTER two years, there are still no new leads in the murder investigation of a British man who was shot to death in Grand Bahama, according to the island’s police chief.
INSIGHT: Where has fight in developing countries gone?
THE ease with which developed countries appoint heads of international and multi-national organisations (sometimes in the guise of an election) is not their achievement alone; it is also the fault of developing countries who let them.
INSIGHT: Ambassador gives the Haitian view on changes in immigration
The Bahamas recently changed its approach to immigration including introducing a belonger’s permit. Haitian Ambassador Jean Victor Geneus spoke to The Tribune’s Ava Turnquest about those changes and how they are failing to tackle the immigration problem . . .
Chamber urges membership tax compliance
The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) has urged its membership to comply with existing tax laws and regulations, noting that where law and regulations are considered unreasonable or ‘overly onerous’, they should raise such matters formally though the private sector representative.
Bowe blasts ‘unconscionable’ overpricing in Family Islands
Price Control Commission (PCC) Chairman E J Bowe said that he found it “unconscionable” that bread baskets items were overpriced by more than $3 in some family islands, asking, “How do they expect people to survive?”
Integrated patient-centred care envisaged for NHI
While enrollees in National Health Insurance Bahamas will have a choice of primary care providers, over time those primary care providers will transition into a network of health professionals creating what is referred to as “Integrated Patient-Centred Care” according to the NHI policy paper.
Public insurer claim a ‘meaningless distinction’
A “privately managed” public insurer as proposed by the Government under National Health Insurance (NHI) is likely a “meaningless distinction” according to Bahamas Insurance Commission (BIA) chairman Emmanuel Komolafe, as he reiterated concerns over political interference and unfair competition.
The mote in our leaders’ eyes
Your front page headline today is quite marvelous and comical. The Speaker of our House of Assembly, in admonishing the Supreme Court to “Mind its own Business”, seems quite oblivious to the self-admitted fact, that had HE MINDED HIS BUSINESS, the Court would not have had to mind it for him.
End this madness
This is an open letter from Save The Bays chairman Joseph Darville to Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Dr. Kendal Major.
Sunday, August 14
Thomas and Barry in high jump final
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: After they both missed out on their opportunity four years ago in Beijing, China, national champion Donald Thomas and Trevor Barry have secured their spot in the men's high jump final on Tuesday night at the 2016 Olympic Games. Unfortunately, Jamal Wilson fell short in his initial bid to join them.
Medical waste came from hospital
THE Public Hospitals Authority announced on Friday that it had completed its investigation into the improper disposal of biohazardous waste at the New Providence Landfill, and has introduced several measures at the Princess Margaret Hospital to mitigate against this infraction.
Leevan Sands and Latario Collie prepare for Olympic triple jump
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: For the past three Olympic Games, Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands has been the lone ranger in the men’s triple jump. Now he finally has some company with NCAA champion Latario Collie having qualified to join him.
Shaunae set for Felix rematch in 400m final
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: Shaunae Miller set up another rematch with Allyson Felix after she trailed the American through the finish line of the women's 400 metres semi-final on a sensational Sunday at the Olympic Stadium.
Saturday, August 13
Gardiner fifth in 400m semifinal
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: National record holder Steven Gardiner's bid for the final of the men's 400 metre in his first Olympic Games slipped just out of his grasp.
Sprinters find it tough in 100m heats
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: Although he had season's best of 10.28 seconds to lead the three Bahamians in the men's 100 metres, national champion Shavaz Hart, nor Adrian Griffith and Jamial Rolle advanced out of the first round.
Shaunae breezes into 400m semifinal
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: Shaunae Miller made her opening round of the women's 400 metres look so easy on Saturday at the Olympic Stadium.
Friday, August 12
Gardiner reaches semis on a night of mixed fortunes for Team Bahamas
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: Men's 400 metre national record holder Steven Gardiner was the only Bahamian to advance out of the first round as the athletic competition got underway on Friday at the National Olympic Stadium.
Five million dollars worth of suspected cocaine seized in Freeport
FIVE million dollars worth of suspected cocaine was discovered at the Freeport Container Port on Friday - the largest drug seizure this year in Grand Bahama.
OLYMPIC GAMES: Steven Gardiner reaches 400m semis amid mixed fortunes for Team Bahamas
Friday night in RIo.
Two in court on armed robbery charges
TWO men were arraigned in Magistrate's Court on Friday, charged with two counts armed robbery.
Couple fined $3,500 each for posting of nude photos
A MAGISTRATE on Friday fined a Filipino couple $3,500 each for their involvement in a criminal defamation case where it's alleged the pair were responsible for the posting of several nude images of the husband’s ex-girlfriend on Facebook.
Two in custody over 'vile' rap song
POLICE have two adult males in custody in connection with a song that negatively references Prime Minister Perry Christie, his family, Members of Parliament and Democratic National Alliance leader Branville McCartney.
Emily Morley finishes sixth in E Final
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: In the rain, Emily Morley closed out of her initial historic Olympic Games experience with a sixth place finish in the E final of the Women's Single Sculls on Friday at the Lagoa Stadium.
UPDATED: Man shot after stabbing police officers
A man was shot by police after stabbing and injuring two officers this afternoon as they attempted to foil an armed robbery at a house on East Street north.
Arianna one step closer to Olympic dream
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace is one race closer to accomplishing her Olympic dream in the women's 500 metres freestyle.
Bishop: Killing pregnant woman should be a double murder
BISHOP Simeon Hall yesterday called on parliamentarians to enact legislation that would allow persons guilty of killing pregnant women to be charged with double murder.
Anger at Turnquest questions over NHI
MEMBERS of Parliament engaged in a heated argument in the House of Assembly yesterday over whether the Christie administration’s National Health Insurance scheme represents a paradigm shift for healthcare or if it will mirror what is already available under the public healthcare system.
Couple to be sentenced over posting of nude photos
A FILIPINO couple will return to Magistrate’s Court today to face sentencing for criminal defamation concerning the husband’s posting of several nude images of his ex-girlfriend on Facebook.
Archdeacon slams Lightbourn and calls for family planning
ARCHDEACON James Palacious said yesterday that while Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn’s proposal for state-sponsored sterilisation as an anti-crime initiative is “completely repulsive,” the country needs to engage in a national family planning programme to prevent the “madness” of multiple children being reared in undesirable circumstances.
Smith: Sears campaign not dead in the water
FORMER Cabinet minister George Smith said Progressive Liberal Party leadership challenger Alfred Sears should not be considered “dead in the water,” saying a leadership race is healthy for democracy.
Father stabbed and left to die
A 58-year-old father of two became the country’s latest murder victim when he was stabbed multiple times and left to die in a public park early yesterday morning.
Emails ‘should not have been tabled’
HOUSE Speaker Dr Kendall Major admitted yesterday that he should not have allowed Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald to read and table the private emails of environmental action group Save The Bays in Parliament.
Arrests made as police hunt for boat theft ring
SEVERAL persons in Abaco who are suspected of being involved in a boat theft ring on that island have been arrested, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Emrick Seymour told The Tribune.
Quarter-milers next up
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — When the athletic competition gets underway today at the National Olympic Stadium, national 400 metre record holder Steven Gardiner will be one of the competitors in action for Team Bahamas.
Quarter-miler Lanece Clarke making most of her spare time
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Although they won’t be competing until next Friday (August 19) when the preliminaries of the women’s 4 x 400 metre relay will take place, quarter-miler Lanece Clarke said she’s making the most of the days she has to spare at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Bahamas opens with 1-0 loss in CONCAF U-15 Girls Championship
THE Bahamas’ junior national team got off to a slow start in the CONCAF Under-15 Girls Championship.
Ministry of Education announces support for homeschooling
THE Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is taking a bold step to regularise homeschooling in the Bahamas.
A COMIC'S VIEW: The ups and downs of the Bahamas political world
I’ve got to keep it short and sweet this week. The NFL season is upon us, and in all honesty I can’t let these ‘jokey’ leaders of ours distract me from beloved Dallas Cowboys this week.
Govt urged to ‘expedite’ Central Revenue Agency
The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation - the chief private sector representative - has urged the Government to ‘expedite’ the establishment of a Central Revenue Agency (CRA) amid growing backlash from businesses over the mandatory Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC).
Govt finalising 'Patients Bill of Rights for NHI
While the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) will be responsible for protecting the rights of patients under National Health Insurance (NHI) it is expected that overtime a fully independent body will be established as a health ombudsman according to the NHI policy paper, with the Government said to be in the process of finalising a “Patients Bill of Rights”.
URCA orders BTC interconnection changes to facilitate NewCo mobile entry
The Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA) yesterday issued its final determination on the amendments to the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) Reference Access and Interconnection Offer (RAIO), setting out terms and conditions to facilitate interconnection services to other licensed mobile operators, namely NewCo.
'No qualifying distinction' between BahamaCare and private insurers
There will be ‘no qualifying distinction’ between BahamaCare and private insurers under National Health Insurance (NHI) according to the recently released NHI policy document.
Monitoring tag removed from man cleared of trafficking charges
A JUDGE yesterday ordered the removal of the electronic monitoring device and return of the passport to an American man acquitted of human trafficking charges.
Human Rights group condemns Montagu MP
A DAY after South Beach MP Cleola Hamilton chastised the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association for not rebuking remarks about female sterilisation from Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, the group released a statement asserting its condemnation of the comments.
Junkanoo bleachers
EVERY year it’s the same thing. At Junkanoo time, the government erects bleachers on Bay Street to the annoyance of the Bay Street merchants.
The Afro-American folly
Memory serves me well over the years that many times Prime Minister Perry Christie has for some uneducated purpose, wasted his time trying to sell to the Afro-American hotel sector.
Has Gomez read his own bill?
There is an old joke and it has never been so true than in recent times: “How do you know when a politician is lying? When their lips are moving!” I have put a quote from Dr Gomez below which was in The Tribune August 11.
Butler-Turner confident of Long Island victory
LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday dismissed concerns over potential challengers to her bid to be re-elected in that constituency. She said that she will retain her Long Island seat in the upcoming general election.
Vanderpool-Wallace chases gold in 50m free today
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil - Today, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace is all set to go for the elusive Olympic Games swimming medal .
IAN FERGUSON: Corruption in business
Presidential and political elections in the United States and around the world have raised awareness of high levels of corruption that exists when individuals with power take advantage of systems where there are loopholes or insufficient checks and balances.
Clubs and Societies 08122016
Cycling Club Bahamas. - The Viva! Bahamas Cycling Invitational event is this weekend. Come down to Jaws Beach parking lot to view the races.
Thursday, August 11
OLYMPIC GAMES: Joanna Evans finishes sixth in heat
Joanna Evans has finished sixth in heat two of the 800m free.Joanna Evans completed her first Olympic Games with a sixth place finish in her heat
Joanna Evans ends Olympic campaign with sixth place in 800m freestyle heat
RIO Janeiro, Brazil – Joanna Evans completed her first Olympic Games with a sixth place finish in her heat of the women's 800 metres freestyle on Thursday.
A YOUNG MAN'S VIEW: Object lessons in how to be a political leader
As we march towards yet another hotly contested general election, it is clear that The Bahamas needs measured, resolute and insightful leadership.
Rollins says government is scrambling to fool the people
FORT Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins yesterday accused the government of scrambling to put together the primary care phase of National Health Insurance in order to “fool the Bahamian people” into thinking the government has delivered on an election campaign promise.
U.S. judge tells Bacon to pursue case in the Bahamas
A NEW York judge ruled yesterday that billionaire hedge fund manager Louis Bacon ought to pursue his $100m defamation case against his Lyford Cay neighbour in The Bahamas rather than in US court.
Hamilton accuses the FNM of being misogynistic
SOUTH BEACH MP Cleola Hamilton said last evening that she believes if there was no public outcry to Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn’s “tube tying” comments, that the Free National Movement would have taken steps to enforce that “outdated” policy.
People ‘can keep existing coverage under NHI’
BAHAMIANS who are satisfied with their existing health insurance coverage won’t be affected by the implementation of National Health Insurance although they may be able to renegotiate their private insurance plans in order to pay a lower price, Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez said yesterday.
Mitchell says Haitian ambassador incorrect over policy on tackling illegal immigration
FOREIGN Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell said yesterday that Haitian Ambassador Jean Victor Geneus’ critique of the Christie administration’s new immigration policy to clamp down on illegal migration was “materially incorrect”.
Lifeless body found in Christie Park, police on scene
POLICE are reporting they are on the scene of a murder in Christie Park, Nassau Street, on Tuesday morning.
Wilchcombe: Christie to win by a landslide
PRIME Minister Perry Christie will win the Progressive Liberal Party’s leadership race by a “landslide” because he not only continues to resonate with party delegates, but he has proven that he has what it takes to keep the organisation together, West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe has predicted.
UPDATED: First Zika case is confirmed
THERE is now one confirmed case of the Zika virus in the Bahamas, Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez announced yesterday.
Citizens should be outraged
A RECENT headline in The Nassau Guardian stated that “All MPs should be outraged”.
Need for accuracy
When Hubert Ingraham opened the airwaves, I presumed that one of the key aspects of opening was to spread accurate information - facts that can be substantiated in a manner not previously available, as solely Government controlled all public broadcasting.
Unions offer support to health plans
AS parliamentary debate on the highly anticipated National Health Insurance Bill started yesterday, several of the country’s foremost medical and trade unions claimed that they have committed themselves to a partnership that seeks to make the NHI vision a reality.
Help for Bain and Grants Town scholars
THE Bain and Grants Town Scholarship Fund has made it possible for four local residents to have the financial backing to complete post-secondary pursuits.
The pride of Eight Mile Rock
THE Bahamas is a distinctly unique country and the settlements that make up the islands and cays are unique in themselves. This makes the Bahamas such an attractive country. The variety you experience from settlement to settlement makes it a never-ending, invigorating experience for all who dare to explore our diverse archipelago.
Snapshot: Leevan Sands on the beat at Rio Olympics
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Although he has been busy getting ready to compete, Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands has been actively involved in social media.
Search for man missing after fishing trip at sea
POLICE are searching for 32-year-old Jamaal Tracey Russell of North Andros, who went missing at sea during a fishing trip about two weeks ago.
Man accused of receiving car stolen at gunpoint
A MAN appeared in the Supreme Court yesterday for a status hearing into his case concerning receiving a car that had been stolen during a gunpoint carjacking.
Murder trial discontinued
MORE than five years after a man was charged with murder, prosecutors yesterday produced a written directive at trial from the attorney general requesting that proceedings against him be discontinued.
$140,000 scholarship for star student
OVER 20 high school graduates were yesterday awarded as winners of the All Bahamas Merit and National Merit Scholarship Award, something Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald called a positive step towards the “development of our nation” by the country’s “bright, young leaders of tomorrow.”
Ten out of 12 murders solved in Grand Bahama, say police
OF the 12 murders in Grand Bahama, ten have been solved and police are assiduously searching for two wanted men – one for last Saturday’s stabbing incident and the other in relation to a fatal shooting on May 29.
Marion Bethel ‘ready’ for responsibilities as husband challenges for PLP leadership
ATTORNEY Marion Bethel, the wife of Progressive Liberal Party leadership candidate and former Attorney General Alfred Sears, said she is “ready” for the responsibility and accountability that comes with her husband’s announcement that he intends to challenge Prime Minister Perry Christie for the party’s top post.
Crawfish season “promising” thanks to Defence Force
ALTHOUGH it is only 11 days into the 2016/2017 crawfish season, preliminary indications suggest that “things are looking promising”, according to Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance (BCFA) vice-president Keith Carroll.
NHI will stem out of country spending on health says Gomez
HEALTH Minister Dr Perry Gomez said yesterday that with approximately $80m being spent annually on health care outside the Bahamas, the introduction of National Health Insurance (NHI) and modernisation of the public health care system should help to curb some of that outflow and allow local health care providers to benefit.
Union chief claims “historic” legal move over Sandals closure
THE 500 and more employees of Sandals Royal Bahamian were yesterday urged by their union representatives to exercise patience as “the law of the land will vindicate them” while blasting the resort for failing to address employees on an impending two-month closure.
‘No contributions or co-payments’ for NHI primary care
THE BENEFITS included under the first stage of National Health Insurance (NHI), primary care, have been outlined in a “policy paper” released yesterday, along with other details of the health care scheme in the first comprehensive overview of the initiative.
Snip the fathers
Re: Lightbourn proposes sterilising mothers (The Tribune, July 29)
Proposed IFAF World Championships cancelled
A MEETING between government entities and several factions representing American football in the country has resulted in the cancellation of the proposed International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Championships.
Wednesday, August 10
Arianna misses out on 100m freestyle semifinal - eyes 50m free on Friday
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: Having won a medal in all of the major international events except the Olympic Games, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace finished just two spots shy of qualifying for the semifinal of the women´s 100 metre freestyle on Wednesday. But she admitted that she has her sights set on her specialty – the 50m free – on Friday.
OLYMPIC GAMES: Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace fails to qualify
A disappointing start for Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace as she finishes seventh in heat 12 of the 100m freestyle.
Davis sidesteps leadership question
DEPUTY Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis was evasive when asked yesterday if he will join Alfred Sears and challenge Prime Minister Perry Christie for leader of the Progressive Liberal Party in November.
Collie: Time for Tennyson Wells to zip his lips
FREE National Movement Chairman Sidney Collie said yesterday it is time for former Cabinet minister Tennyson Wells to “zip his lips” if he is not saying anything “helpful” or beneficial to the party.
Marathon MP says Sears defeat of Christie is ‘highly unlikely’
MARATHON MP Jerome Fitzgerald said the chances of former Attorney General Alfred Sears defeating Prime Minister Perry Christie in the Progressive Liberal Party’s leadership battle are “highly unlikely” as he questioned the rationale behind the former MP’s bid to head the governing organisation.
‘Letter of intent doubts make Wells a bad choice’
DNA Leader Branville McCartney yesterday questioned the Free National Movement’s decision to make Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells leader of opposition business in the House of Assembly despite not knowing the full story surrounding his controversial signing of a $650m letter of intent with Stellar Waste to Energy while a member of the Progressive Liberal Party.
Immigration policy a ‘dead end’
NEARLY two years after the government rolled out its new immigration policy to clamp down on illegal migration, the Haitian ambassador yesterday described a cumbersome, sluggish and disorganised process marred by ethnic profiling, that ultimately created a “dead end” for unregularised persons of Haitian descent in the country.
UPDATED: First Zika case confirmed in the Bahamas
THERE is now one confirmed case of the Zika virus in the Bahamas, Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez announced on Wednesday morning.
No breakdown of exam results
IN the absence of an official Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) examination letter grade breakdown, Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald’s high praise of an across the board improvement in eight test subjects, including mathematics and English, have raised questions over how well students fared in individual subjects this year.
Chef de mission: ‘At this point, things are looking very good for the team’
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Chef de mission Roy Colebrooke said everything is going very well for Team Bahamas at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Track and field team hopes to have ‘perfect storm,’ says head coach
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — The BTC Bahamas team is all set and ready to put on a show when the athletic competition gets underway on Friday at the Olympic Stadium, according to head coach George Cleare, who is predicting some medals at the end of the 10 days of competition.
Smith: Sears is the best person to run the country
LAWYER Fred Smith, QC, said yesterday that former Attorney General Alfred Sears is not only the best man to lead the Progressive Liberal Party but also the best person to run the country.
Woman accused of biting female police officer
A WOMAN was granted bail yesterday after she was accused of attacking a police officer at the scene of a house fire.
Legal parties to visit Nygard property as part of review
PROCEEDINGS concerning whether Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard illegally increased the size of his Lyford Cay property will resume in October with a visit to the site of the alleged expansion.
Damaged underwater cable leaves parts of Bimini without power
BAHAMAS Power and Light officials are in the process of repairing a damaged underwater cable that has reportedly left portions of Resorts World Bimini without power since the weekend.
Residents left without water with island plant in disrepair
DISRUPTIONS to their water supply has left many residents of Eleuthera angry and miserable as they struggle to obtain water to carry out such basic tasks as bathing and flushing toilets.
Who has a right to citizenship?
I always thought if my mother could show that she was born to a Bahamian, and I am her child, then there is zero dispute to my claim to Bahamian citizenship.
Sears is to be congratulated
As a former colleague of Alfred Sears on the College of The Bahamas Council, let me begin by congratulating him for his modern day attempt to challenge the way leadership politics has been and is being conducted in the Progressive Liberal Party.
Questions remain over NHI
I have had many conversations lately concerning the PLP’s new national health insurance legislation. KPMG came out and said they were in favour of the legislation, and I believe they are. After all they were hired to create a framework in which national health insurance and universal healthcare function. The wrong question was asked of KPMG, it should not have been, do they support the legislation, but rather questions like:
Ambassador warns of effect on immigration if election process fails
THE social, political and economic stability of Haiti hinges on the outcome of its upcoming presidential elections, according to Haitian Ambassador Jean Victor Geneus, who yesterday underscored the damning impact another failed bid would have on illegal migration challenges in the Bahamas.
Community centre to be completed by October
THE stalled Fox Hill community centre, once considered a dream, is now expected to be refurbished and completed by October as a result of a $250,000 loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and a private-public partnership launched by the Christie administration yesterday.
$18m contract sealed to improve patient records
AN international healthcare technology provider was awarded an $18m contract by the Christie administration yesterday for the implementation of an integrated health information system to improve the accessibility of patient records at the country’s various public health facilities.
Taking students to court over loans is “last resort” says minister
EDUCATION Minister Jerome Fitzgerald said yesterday that he was “pleased” with the level of participation in the student loan repayment arrangements, noting that legal action “is a last resort and not the first”.
BPL’s request for turnover-based licence fee agreed
THE Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) acceded to Bahamas Power and Light’s (BPL) request that its annual fees to the regulator be based on turnover - with the exclusion of fuel charge - while dismissing the electricity provider’s request for the licence fee to take the place of the annual business licence fee.
Govt involvement a “disincentive” to Freeport investors
OPPOSITION Finance spokesman K Peter Turnquest yesterday asserted that Government’s involvement with the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) would result in neither quick decisions nor efficient business, suggesting that one need “only look as far as BEC and NIB” to see the results of political considerations.
Tax certificate demand forcing “cash only” deals with Govt
A BAHAMIAN auto dealer said yesterday that the Government’s “unreasonable” monthly Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) demand was putting a serious strain on local businesses and creating a “big paperwork backlog”, arguing that the Government’s failure to keep its own fiscal house in order was pushing some businesses into “cash only” arrangements.
Where do we go from here?
Branville McCartney’s offer to disaffected FNM supporters last week was a brilliant move, says Malcolm J Strachan . . .
Morley clinches final berth
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — In just her first exposure to the international circuit, Emily Morley said she feels like a celebrity after all the attention she has received in treading new waters for the Bahamas at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Grand Bahamians finally have 'a seat at the table'
MINISTER for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville said that the passing of the Grand Bahama Investment Incentives Bill will allow in excess of a half a billion dollars to be injected into the Grand Bahama economy.
Vanderpool-Wallace looks to make a splash in 100m free tonight
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — With a day off to relax and reflect on the fantastic performances so far from Joanna Evans, head coach Andy Loveitt said he’s looking forward to the swim team returning to action today in the 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Swim Complex.
Tuesday, August 9
VIDEO: Rower Emily Morley qualifies for E Final
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: Although she's brand new to this, Emily Morley felt that she has accomplished her goal.
POLITICOLE: FNM fiasco betrays the sham of dancing partners
WHO in their right mind is listening to Loretta Butler-Turner?
Turnquest supports email ruling
ALTHOUGH his party has not released an official position, Free National Movement Deputy Leader K Peter Turnquest yesterday expressed support for the court ruling that Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald could not be protected by parliamentary privilege when he tabled the personal emails of members of Save the Bays.
Andros has $1bn potential, says former data commissioner
FORMER Data Commissioner Sharmie Farrington-Austin is calling on Andros to elect her in order to help realise the $1 billion dollar potential that exists for that island.
Anger at police as family search for missing father
THE daughter of a missing 89-year-old man suffering from dementia yesterday expressed disappointment in the lack of “police support” in locating her elderly father.
Employment Exchange Services at Clarence A Bain Building suspended
The Department of Labour has announced that all Employment Exchange Services at the Clarence A Bain Building have been suspended.
Butler-Turner ‘will lose Long Island’ for FNM
FORMER Cabinet minister Tennyson Wells said yesterday that the Free National Movement “will lose” the Long Island seat in the 2017 general election if it presents area MP Loretta Butler-Turner as its candidate, as many supporters have been angered by her recent actions.
Wells named leader of Opposition Business
BAMBOO Town MP Renward Wells has been appointed leader of opposition business in the House of Assembly, replacing Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant who resigned from the post last week in the aftermath of the Free National Movement’s divisive convention.
Roberts: PLP race will not be nasty like FNM’s
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts said the PLP’s leadership race would not be “nasty like the FNM’s” because both Prime Minister Perry Christie and former Attorney General Alfred Sears are “intellectuals” and “professionals”.
$2,000 reward in hunt for Bahamian’s killer in US
AUTHORITIES in Atlanta, Georgia, offered a $2,000 reward yesterday for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for fatally shooting a 24-year-old Bahamian mother in the head last Thursday.
Mitchell slams justice’s ruling on privilege in Parliament
FOX Hill MP Fred Mitchell railed against Justice Indra Charles’ Supreme Court ruling on parliamentary privilege in the House of Assembly last night, suggesting that it was outrageous that parliamentarians could not respond to “rich foreigners” funneling millions of dollars into a law firm “to get a judge” to “agree” with their arguments.
PM: Sears bid is no problem
PRIME Minister Perry Christie said he does not feel threatened by former Attorney General Alfred Sears’ bid to challenge him for the leadership of the Progressive Liberal Party, despite rumblings within the organisation that young supporters and Bahamians want a new direction.
BPL receives first URCA power supplier licence
THE Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has announced that it has issued the first Public Electricity Supplier Licence to Bahamas Power & Light (BPL).
The power of positivity
Over the course of the last few articles, we have been taking the time to dive into toxic emotions by examining what these emotions are, how they physically make us sick, and looking at practical solutions for overcoming them. I trust that us being physically affected by how we feel was made clear in the discussions.
Get down and dirty at Bahamas’ first Mud Run
This Saturday, organisers of the first Mud Run 242 will be encouraging Bahamians to unleash their inner warriors and to “face to mud”.
Blazing a trail in physical therapy
A local doctor has achieved not only a major milestone in her career, but is also about set a new standard for physical therapy when it comes to women’s health here in the Bahamas.
Sterilisation, birth control, violence and gender inequality: Are these related?
Progress is often sold as a package that takes something from someone else.
MICHELLE MILLER MOTIVATIONALS: Are you making informed decisions?
There is making decisions and then there is what many call “informed” decisions.
Amazing body changes during pregnancy
Pregnancy is an amazing time in a woman’s life. There are so many new things happening with her body, both physically and emotionally, and it’s hard to keep up with all that is going on.
A summer shopping fling for back-to-school
Entrepreneur Deanna Wilson is back for the second year in a row with her unique shopping party.
A life lived in service of others
IF Karen Farrington’s constant interest in caring for persons in need at a young age was not an indication that she would one day become a healthcare professional, her fascination with toy doctor sets and pretending to give injections to everyone around her was a sure giveaway.
Meet our Olympians
Chris Brown
‘It was just an unfortunate situation on one of the biggest days of my life’
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Dustin Tynes admitted that his Olympic debut in the men’s 100 metre breaststroke was not what he anticipated.
Local basketball coach concerned over student visas being rejected
ONE local basketball coach expressed his concerns over the recent trend of the United States Embassy rejecting student visa applications and severely limiting educational opportunities.
Making history, Morley looks forward to her international ranking
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Although this is just her first major international exposure to the sport, Emily Morley feels as if she has progressed tremendously in the two races she competed in so far at the 2016 Olympic Games in the women’s single sculling event.
Canada issues reminder over travel authorisation
THE High Commission for the Bahamas in Canada wishes to remind Bahamians that as of September 30, 2016, the electronic travel authorisation (eTA) will be mandatory.
jamaican-style party celebrates independence
AS their country celebrated 54 years of Independence on Saturday, Jamaicans residing in Grand Bahama commemorated the anniversary with a “Jamaican style” worship service yesterday morning at the New Life Worship Centre on Coral Road. Dudley Francis, a Jamaican engineer and associate pastor of Calvary Temple Church, officiated.
Youth group to host free summer camp for kids
REACH Out Youth Organisation is hosting a free summer camp for kids at its community centre on Banyan Lane for the next three weeks.
PLP chairman doubts Butler-Turner call
PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts has questioned Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner’s recent call for her supporters to back Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, calling on Mrs Butler-Turner to reveal what led her to “remain quiet and shamelessly sing Dr Minnis’ praises”.
Sears brings a glimmer of light
FOLLOWING the shambolic Free National Movement Convention one thing was pellucidly clear: neither the present leader or the aspirant has the wherewithal to lead this country.
Cash and his ridiculous claim
Darron Cash’s suggestion that Dr Minnis ran a campaign based on race is ridiculous and the media, which has been very biased, should make Mr Cash substantiate any such claim.
Thank you for tribute to Cindy
I wish to thank the Ministry of Tourism for recognising the contributions of the late Cindy Williams, during her employment at ZNS. This is especially fitting as ZNS is celebrating its 70th anniversary.
Support for Richard Lightbourn
REF: Recent Statement by MP Richard Lightbourn regarding single mothers giving birth to more than two children.
Travel warning issued over Zika virus
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration has issued a travel advisory connected to the global Zika epidemic, warning Bahamian travellers of a scourge in cases in Brazil and the Wynwood area of Miami, Florida.
A spaceman came travelling
RETIRED NASA astronaut Scott Kelly touched down on the beautiful shores of The Bahamas last weekend to experience firsthand the beauty and culture of the islands he gazed on from space during his time orbiting Earth.
Turnquest slams “investment killing bill”
OPPOSITION deputy leader and East Grand Bahama MP K Peter Turnquest yesterday slammed the Grand Bahama (Port Area) Investment Incentives Bill 2016 as an “investment killing bill”, arguing that it would not bring about the the investment needed on the island.
Solomon’s and Carl’s Jr stores for Yamacraw
AML Foods Limited, one of the country’s largest grocers, announced yesterday it has acquired a five-acre tract of land on Yamacraw Hill Road for $3 million and will develop it into a new 38,000 square-foot Solomon’s branded store in eastern New Providence.
Primary concerns remain for Chamber over NHI financing
THE Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employer’s Confederation (BCCEC) said yesterday that it is “disappointing” that the revised National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill was tabled without feedback from key stakeholders, adding that the financing strategy for NHI remains one of the organisation’s “primary” concerns.
Freeport’s economy “went drastically wrong” says PM
PRIME Minister Perry Christie said yesterday that “something went drastically wrong” with Freeport’s economy over the last 10 years as he defended the government’s “minority equity stake” in the principal landholding companies in the city based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA).
YOUR SAY: Scandal brewing over Baroness Scotland’s work
THE Bahamas has always been a country with a good record of support and standing with the Commonwealth Secretariat.
BIA chief: Health regulators must have clear responsibilities
BAHAMAS Insurance Association chairman Emmanuel Komolafe has stressed that it is “imperative” that the existing regulatory frameworks for the healthcare and insurance industries are leveraged so as to avoid overlapping responsibilities with the proposed National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Monday, August 8
Man wanted in connection with murder
Police are looking for Jaret Kieran Pinder aka “Japanese”, of Freeport in connection with murder.
Olympic Games: Joanna Evans sets new national record in 200m freestyle
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: Another heat and another national record for Joanna Evans.
Boat thieves strike again in Abaco
BOAT thieves have struck again in Abaco, stealing two vessels in one night from boat lifts at a marina and a private home in Marsh Harbour. The culprits had also attempted to steal a third.
Repairs due today to bring end to weekend of power outages
Bahamas Power & Light said yesterday it expects to complete repairs on two of its power-generating engines at the Clifton Pier plant today.
Smith to complain over Moss claims of ‘forum shopping’
MARCO City MP Greg Moss has come under fire from attorney Fred Smith and the president of the Bahamas Bar Association, Elsworth Johnson, for suggesting in the House of Assembly last week that Save the Bays (STB) engaged in “forum shopping” at the Supreme Court.
Butler-Turner urges her supporters to back Minnis
DAYS after saying she “can’t be bought” by the Free National Movement, Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday made her strongest move since the party’s controversial convention to help heal the wounds in the party as she urged her supporters to back Dr Minnis and his leadership team.
Sears bids for PLP leadership
FORMER Attorney General Alfred Sears yesterday announced his intention to challenge Prime Minister Perry Christie for leadership of the Progressive Liberal Party at the governing party’s national convention in November.
INSIGHT: Ingraham’s financial analysis is tragically wrong
There can have been few sadder sights in recent years than the almost nightly displays whereby former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham gets on local TV apparently determined to lose all of the credibility earned over a successful political and governmental career.
INSIGHT: A simmering constitutional crisis ready to erupt
Frederick Smith QC says the separation of powers between executive and judiciary is being threatened by ‘capricious’ parliamentarians over the Save The Bays email row . . .
KPMG says it backs NHI Bill
KPMG, one of the Christie Administration’s lead consultants on National Health Insurance, yesterday supported the administration’s recently tabled NHI Bill, claiming that significant changes have been made to the original draft.
Komolafe queries 'vague' identity of NHI minister
CONCERNS remain over ministerial powers to unilaterally change the corporate governance framework of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) according to Bahamas Insurance Association (BIA) chairman Emmanuel Komolafe, who said that stakeholders are seeking a “robust” governance structure that reduces the possibility of perception of political interference or abuse of power in the management of the NHI scheme.
Scholar Books owner writes 'historic' new chapter with deal
A BAHAMIAN has created one of the largest book publication companies via a partnership with Michigan based Thomson-Shore, one of the biggest book manufacturers and distribution companies.
Call for liberal immigration rules to revive Freeport
FREEPORT is ideally poised to promote itself as location for arbitration and alternative dispute resolution according to well-known QC Fred Smith, who argues further that a more liberal immigration policy could “catapult the Bahamas forward” and provide business opportunities across several sectors.
Central Bank forecasts mildly positive growth
THE Bahamian economy will maintain its mildly positive growth path over the near term according to the Central Bank, which has noted that the fiscal sector outlook will continue to depend on the success of government measures to strengthen revenue collections and restrain expenditure growth.
Stellar sues over proposed $650m energy plant delays
STELLAR Waste To Energy Bahamas Ltd, the company proposing to build a $650 million waste-to-energy plant on New Providence, has launched a legal attack over its failure to obtain a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and other associated documents which would enable the company to proceed with the project, according to court filings seen by Tribune Business.
The single parent society
While Richard Lightbourne’s recent comments regarding mandatory sterilisation of unwed mothers were neither tasteful nor tactful, there is no denying the message he was attempting to articulate however repugnant it might seem for many of us.
Lightbourn’s political Kryptonite
Richard Lightbourn stumbled into a room full of FNMs and bumbled around like an old gelding that couldn’t tell the difference between an abattoir and a stable. Either way, he is political dead meat and he will surely be put out to pasture soon. Only the good people of Montagu can save him now.
Time to face the problem raised by Richard Lightbourn
THERE was understandable outrage in the community to Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn’s recent suggestion in the House of Assembly that to solve today’s social ills legislation should be introduced that unwed mothers of more than two children should have their “tubes tied”. He quickly apologised for his indiscretion.
Hurricane centre monitoring storms
THE National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami is monitoring a disturbed area of thunderstorms and showers over the western Atlantic Ocean northeast of the southeastern Bahamas.
WOMAN DETAINED AFTER FIRE RIPS THROUGH HOME
A WOMAN is in police custody in connection with a fire that caused extensive damage to a home in an inner-city community over the weekend.
Former data commissioner launches 2017 election bid
FORMER Data Protection Commissioner Sharmie Farrington-Austin is not concerned about the naysayers who question her motivation to make a bid for the South Andros constituency as an independent candidate in next year’s general election.
Sprinter Adrian Griffith gets set to turn it up in 100m
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — After going through the process of getting ready for the past four years, Adrian Griffith said the time is now for him to shine in the men’s sprints at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Priest who fought for civil rights to speak at banquet
FATHER George Clements, the world renowned and most decorated priest of all time, is expected to be one of the featured guest speakers at the annual R E Cooper Sr Meritorious Service Award Gala Banquet later this year.
DNA rival urges voters to throw out Fitzgerald
Democratic National Alliance Marathon candidate Emily Williams has urged voters not to re-elect current MP Jerome Fitzgerald given his controversial track record with the Rubis Gas Leak and his most recent legal woes stemming from the disclosure of private emails in parliament which saw him fined $150,000 by a Supreme Court judge.
Minister confident Bahamas will be ready to host 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson has been moving around checking out the various venues at the 2016 Olympic Games and from what he’s seen, he said he’s confident that the Bahamas will be ready to host the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games.
Foot injury expected to keep Lucius Fox sidelined 4-6 weeks
LUCIUS Fox may be a part of the long-term plans for the Tampa Bay Rays, but the fallout from last week’s trade leaves the club seeking additional compensation for the rookie shortstop.
Local flag football community to stage boycott of the IFAF Worlds
THE International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Championships has been shrouded in controversy since it was first proposed, and now the local flag football community intends to stage a boycott of the event.
‘The experience has been awesome at the Olympic Games’
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Although this is his first appearance at the Olympic Games, Jamal ‘Mally’ Wilson said he feels right at home in good company with the rest of the men’s high jumpers from around the world.
Cash refuses to toe the FNM line
DESPITE his clash on live radio with former Free National Movement Chairman Darron Cash, party Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said he fully expects the intra-party friction to “calm down” as the organisation actively seeks to prepare itself for the impending 2017 general elections.
INSIGHT: Business as usual post-Brexit
How is Britain after the momentous vote to leave the European Union? Six weeks on, Peter Young detects a mood of calm and optimism . . .
WORLD VIEW: IMF exposed over selective approach to Europe and Caribbean
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has tormented small Caribbean economies for five decades with austerity measures and fierce conditionalities, has been exposed as adopting utterly different standards towards Europe, especially the countries of the European Currency Union. That is except for Greece which, throughout its economic crisis, the IMF treated like a third-world country.
Southwest opens new route from Fort Lauderdale to Nassau
IF THE Bahamas intends to grow its tourism numbers it must cause for more connectivity with the Florida market, according to tourism minister Obie Wilchcombe who described this as the “low hanging fruit”.
Sunday, August 7
OLYMPIC GAMES: Joanna Evans second in her heat with national record, Monday's schedule
Day two for the Bahamas at the Rio Olympics.
Joanna Evans sets Bahamian national record in 400m freestyle
A national record-breaking performance got Joanna Evans' Olympic debut off to a flying start in the first of her three events at the 2016 Olympic Games on Sunday.
Hurricane Centre watches system near southeastern Bahamas
THE National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami is monitoring a weather system over the western Atlantic Ocean near the southeastern Bahamas on Sunday.
Chris Brown ready for Rio - minus his luggage
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: While he should be focusing on his race strategy against an anticipated field of quality quarter-milers at the Olympics, veteran Chris 'Fireman' Brown is more concerned about his luggage.
Saturday, August 6
Dustin Tynes fails to qualify in Olympic debut
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: The Olympic debut of Dustin Tynes came to an abrupt end as he touched the wall in the eighth and final spot in the men's 100 metre breaststroke on Saturday at the newly built Olympic Aquatic Swimming Complex in the Barra Olympic Park.
Emily Morley thrilled with 'amazing' Olympic experience
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: Emily Morley will probably remember Saturday, August 6 for a long time.
OLYMPIC GAMES: Bahamas in action
Today sees Bahamian athletes in action for the first time at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Man stabbed to death in Grand Bahama
A 22-year-old man was stabbed to death early Saturday morning, police in Grand Bahama have reported.
Friday, August 5
Freeport man charged with stabbing death
A Freeport man was arraigned in the Magistrate’s Court on Friday charged with murder in connection with the stabbing death of a man in the Drake Avenue area of Freeport.
Shaunae Miller leads the Bahamas team in Olympic spectacular
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil: With a strong message of promoting peace around the world, the first Olympic Games to be held in South America officially got underway on Friday night with a fantastic display of artistry during each performance.
BPL warns of weekend power outages
Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) said Friday that Bahamians could expect power outages this weekend because of engine problems at the Clifton Pier plant.
BAIC partners with Defence Force for 'entrepreneurial programme'
THE Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) on Friday announced a partnership with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) in constructing an "entrepreneurial programme" to assist pre-retirement marines in their transition from military duty to "civilian life".
Jamaicans in Grand Bahama to celebrate 54th years of Independence
AS their country prepares to celebrate 54 years of Independence on Saturday, Jamaicans residing in Grand Bahama will commemorate the anniversary with a “Jamaican style” worship service on Sunday.
Central Eleuthera water pressure set to be restored by Friday night
AFTER a week of low water pressure on Central Eleuthera, the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) expects to restore pressure by Friday night.
Two charged in connection with armed robberies
TWO men were remanded to prison on Friday after they were arraigned in connection with a spree of muggings in Nassau last week.
Emily Morley to make Olympic history for the Bahamas
BAHAMIAN rower Emily Morley will make history on Saturday morning by becoming the first rower to represent her country in the Olympics when she takes part in the opening heat of the women’s single sculls at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
‘Barefoot Bandit’ expects early release from prison
AFTER six years in state prison, legal counsel for Colton Harris-Moore, the infamous serial thief better known as “The Barefoot Bandit”, is anticipating an early release.
Turnquest rejects claim of race issue in campaign
POST-CONVENTION fallout continued for the Free National Movement yesterday as Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest clashed with former chairman Darron Cash over the latter’s claims that leader Dr Hubert Minnis ran a racially-divisive campaign.
Grant denies pressure on him to quit position
CENTRAL Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant was adamant yesterday that he was not pressured to step down from the post of Leader of Opposition Business and the Free National Movement’s shadow Works Minister, saying his decision was completely “of my own accord”.
Pair jailed for 18 years for roles in triple killing
TWO men were sentenced to 18 years in prison yesterday for their roles in the fatal shooting that claimed three lives, including a pregnant woman due to give birth to her son, five years ago.
Forbes, Smith and Miller ratified as PLP gets ‘war ready’ for election
THE Progressive Liberal Party last evening moved one step closer to its “war ready” mantra, as the party announced the ratification of three incumbent candidates on Thursday evening.
Medics were ‘blindsided’ by NHI tabling
QUESTIONING the “government’s commitment to consultation and transparency,” United Healthcare Reform Alliance, a coalition of medical and insurance stakeholder groups, claimed yesterday that it was “blindsided” by the government’s tabling of its landmark National Health Insurance Bill in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.
College shuts amid legal row
SOJOURNER-Douglass College’s Bahamas campus has shut down its “academic operations” for the rest of the year, it’s executive director saying campus officials are in talks with another “American institution for affiliation” to have the campus reopened as soon as possible.
Bahamian woman shot dead in Atlanta
A BAHAMIAN woman has been shot and killed in an incident in Atlanta.
Survey reveals ‘alarming’ speeding by drivers
SINCE the installation of several new radar speed monitors in Freeport, city officials have been able to gather some “alarming” but important information concerning the speed habits of motorists in Grand Bahama.
A COMIC'S VIEW: FNM learns harsh lesson in how not to stage conventions
Last week, the Free National Movement (FNM) hosted one of the most uninspired and downright laughable conventions in recent memory. After months of internal squabbling and threats to run - letter in hand - to the Governor-General, the only thing that came out of the convention was a few insane sound bites. Shall we begin?
Moss calls on ‘patriotic Bahamians’
Gregory Moss, leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), is calling on “all patriotic” Bahamians who want to see the country advance and progress to join the fledgling party.
Save the Bays: Is our privacy still under threat?
ENVIRONMENTAL action group Save The Bays (STB) yesterday questioned whether its privacy and personal information were still under threat after Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald claimed that the group had spent nearly $1m on legal fees for their constitutional challenge against him.
Minister’s power reduced in smaller NHI board
THE revised National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill tabled in Parliament on Wednesday appears to reduce some of the powers of the Minister proposed under the draft Bill, most notably cutting the number of people to be appointed to the Authority’s Board.
Chamber chief calls for Civil Service to be cut
IN order to avoid a further weakening in the economy and to mitigate the possibility of overspending and provide greater transparency, the Government should “move with haste” to enact fiscal rules which, by law, will cap spending over the immediate to long term, the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president has urged.
BIA says 'major concerns' remain over NHI
BAHAMAS Insurance Association (BIA) chairman Emmanuel Komolafe said yesterday that although the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill tabled in the House of Assembly on Wednesday appears to have incorporated some stakeholders’ recommendations, “major concerns” remain.
Sandals accused of 'union busting' with threatened closure
TRADE Union Congress (TUC) president Obie Ferguson has accused Sandals Royal Bahamian of the “highest level of union busting”, blasting the the resort for its imminent abrupt closure, which he said was almost treasonous to the Bahamian people.
Former data commissioner announces plan to run as independent candidate
FORMER Data Commissioner Sharmie Farrington-Austin announced yesterday that she intends to run as an independent candidate in the next general election.
Neilly makes no firm commitment over his plans for candidacy in next election
SOUTH Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly was yesterday noncommittal on whether he will offer himself as a candidate for the Free National Movement in the next general election.
Only in The Bahamas!
The audacity of the cronies in our Bahamas is astounding! Only in the Bahamas would a leading physician in the Ministry of Health in conjunction with some politicians have the audacity to be a partner in a physician group which has presented a proposal to provide the government its services as an Independent Practice Association (IPA) to administrate parts of the government’s NHI proposed scheme.
Responsible parenting
NOW THAT we have accepted that women are free to have as many children as they wish or they can bear, and we have excoriated the hapless Richard Lightbourn for his unwise, unfortunate and offensive remarks at the FNM Convention last week, perhaps we can use some of that passion positively to effect change to a problem which we have been ignoring for decades - responsible parenting.
A chance to clarify privilege
The recent landmark ruling by Supreme Court Justice Indra Charles against Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald for leaking private emails in the House of Assembly sounds so familiar.
Bail granted to suspect accused of murder
A MAN awaiting trial on a murder charge was granted bail in the Supreme Court yesterday.
Third suspect accused over invasion of Dr David Allen’s home
A THIRD suspect was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon in connection with the recent home invasion and gunpoint robbery of a well known psychiatrist.
Wrong to apologise
THE haste with which Mr Richard Lightbourn retracted his statements regarding ‘tubal ligations’ was unwarranted and so are the attempts to eviscerate him in the media.
Teen organist to make his debut
TOMORROW evening, 17-year-old David Rahming, the associate organist at St George’s Anglican Church, will perform his first organ and hymn recital.
Emancipation still comin’
SHACKLES are still holding us; Lord, we continue to pray for deliverance, total deliverance. Let’s sift through some of these.
MEDITATION: An inspired people
WHAT is inspiration? Let us consider it from the angle of being more, doing more, having more than you ever thought possible. What would it be like to have inspiration on a daily basis?
New summit aims to elevate and inspire
FOR four full days, Bahamians are invited to take the next step in their personal evolution by attending the first annual iElevate Empowerment Summit.
Spiritual warfare
LUKE 19:45-48 relates to us the familiar story of Jesus after he had thrown the money changers out of the temple. In a deeper sense, this story depicts salvation and the steps Christ takes and is taking to save us. The temple represents you and me (1 Corinthians 6:19). Christ chasing out all who had set up shop in the temple represents him cleansing us from all sin (1 John 1:9).
REVTV steps up its game for Rio Olympics coverage
WHEN the 2016 Rio Olympic Games officially kick off tonight, REVTV customers will have the choice of watching the opening festivities and subsequent competitions on their televisions, computers or from their smartphones and tablets.
Lucius Fox No.7 overall prospect for Rays
AS he awaits his new assignment with the Tampa Bay Rays franchise, Lucius Fox immediately slots into the updated list of top-10 prospects.
D’Andre Vilmar gets offers from Oklahoma Sooners, 49ers and Bulls
AFTER a productive offseason on various AAU summer circuits, the major Division I offers he predicted are starting to roll in for Bahamian high school basketball star D’Andre Vilmar.
Shaunae to carry national flag at Rio Olympic Games
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Chef de Mission Roy Colebrooke said team officials couldn’t come up with a better selection than quartermiler Shaunae Miller to carry the flag during tonight’s official opening ceremonies for the 2016 Olympic Games.
YOUR SAY: Engage the people at all levels and the country will grow
IN AN era when information is at everyone’s fingertips, The Bahamas has created a culture that the people’s business is only for a significant few.
Man charged with murder and robbery
A 25-year-old Eight Mile Rock man was charged with murder and armed robbery in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Thursday, August 4
Minnis: Party was blindsided by Lightbourn ‘tube tying’ comments
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis told parliamentarians yesterday that the party was blindsided by Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn’s controversial proposal for the state-sponsored sterilisation of women.
Probation for bedridden child molester
A JUDGE imposed a six-year probation on a diabetic and bedridden man who pleaded guilty to molesting three underage girls over a five year period.
McCartney: FNM is dead after chaos at convention
DNA Leader Branville McCartney declared yesterday that the Free National Movement is “dead” and has been replaced by the same incompetence and corruption “that has come to define the Progressive Liberal Party”.
Gomez hints at funding method as Health Insurance Bill tabled
HEALTH Minister Dr Perry Gomez yesterday hinted at how the government may decide to fund the National Health Insurance scheme as it expands in scope, noting that other countries have taxed “unhealthy substances” like alcohol and tobacco as well as high salt and high sugar products to fund healthcare.
Hurricane Earl lashes Belize and weakens to tropical storm
HURRICANE Earl was downgraded to a tropical storm early on Thursday after slamming into the coast of Belize with winds of 80mph and moving inland over Guatemala and Mexico with heavy rains.
Sandals silent over plans to close for two months
SENIOR executives at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort remained tight-lipped yesterday over the purported closure of the all-inclusive Cable Beach resort in less than two weeks.
Parliament defiant in face of court ruling in email row
STRIKING a tone of defiance, parliamentarians reacted with outrage in the House of Assembly yesterday to Supreme Court Justice Indra Charles’ historic ruling that Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald infringed on the constitutional rights of Save The Bays’ members when he tabled private emails and discussed financial information allegedly related to the group in the House of Assembly in June.
UPDATED: Neko Grant steps down as Leader of Opposition Business in the House
CENTRAL Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant yesterday resigned as Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly and the Free National Movement’s shadow Works Minister, pointing to his relationship with FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis as the motivating factor.
Hundreds sign up for cash transfer programme
THREE hundred and eighty households in New Providence and North Andros have enrolled for the RISE Bahamas Conditional Cash Transfer Programme since the scheme’s official launch in March, the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development has announced.
A YOUNG MAN'S VIEW: A would-be leader cannot be starfish and fowl at the same time
If the Free National Movement (FNM) is to survive this next round of warfare between Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, her flatterers and those who prop her up, the party must now decide to give her an ultimatum to fish, cut bait or get the heck out of the boat.
Revisit Gaming Act to protect banking sector says Chamber chief
THE Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s president yesterday asserted that the Gaming Act 2014 should be revisited and, if necessary, amended to ensure that the sector does not imperil the country’s already fragile banking sector.
Deandre Ayton and ‘Team Harden’ rout ‘Team Canada’ 123-96 in Adidas Nations
ADD another off-season accolade to the résumé of DeAndre Ayton, playing on the circuit of another shoe and athletic apparel giant.
VIEW FROM AFAR: My joint political initiative is key to reviving Nassau’s glory days
NASSAU’S glory days as a port of call for cruise ships are long gone.
Fogging proving effective in Zika fight, says ministry
DESPITE an “historic” travel warning this week by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, advising pregnant women to avoid a north Miami community, health officials in New Providence continued to promote their “case sensitive” fogging strategy as “effective”.
Residents reject report findings of no industrial risks at Pinder’s Point
Denise Maycock hears Grand Bahamians raise serious doubts over an independent study into long standing environmental and health issues . . .
Nolle prosequi issued in burglary and rape case
PROSECUTORS produced a written directive from the Attorney General’s Office requesting that proceedings be discontinued against a man accused of burglary and rape yesterday.
23-year-old faces court accused of Freeport murder
A 23-year-old Eight Mile Rock man was charged with murder in the Freeport Magistrate Court yesterday.
Two men in critical condition after crashing during police chase
TWO MEN are in critical condition in hospital after they allegedly stole a vehicle, robbed a liquor store and led police on a high-speed chase before slamming the car into an electricity pole and residence on Tuesday night.
Union has legal backing for Melia negotiations
BAHAMAS Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) president Nicole Martin yesterday expressed confidence that the union was in a more firm legal position to proceed with negotiations with the Melia Nassau Beach Resort having secured a long-awaited certificate of recognition, describing it as “one of many steps” to be taken to ensure proper representation for the all-inclusive resort’s employees.
PM proposes new tax concessions approach for Grand Bahama
TAX concessions when used properly should be an inducement to encourage private sector investment, Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday, noting the extended Hawksbill Creek Agreement (HCA) concessions will encourage and facilitate further development and employment on Grand Bahama.
No NHI tax 'at the outset' says Gomez
HEALTH Minister Dr Perry Gomez yesterday affirmed that there is no significant introduction of taxes directly related to National Health Insurance (NHI) implementation “at the outset”, citing the single governance model as fundamental to the health care industry’s reformation and a smooth NHI implementation.
Jury directed to acquit man of robbery
A SUPREME Court jury was directed by a judge yesterday to acquit a man of armed robbery and receiving charges.
Minnis unveils plans to tackle corruption
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday released the details of his much talked about anti-corruption plan, saying it aims to restore transparency and accountability to the country.
We accept apology of Mr Lightbourn
Mr Richard Lightbourn is our MP. He has assisted in the community of Kemp Road consistently and without any issues.
Turning on our women
IT IS so sad when we, as Bahamians, have no respect in desecrating some of our finest ladies in our country.
In defence of Richard Lightbourn
I continue to be surprised by the unfair criticism that is being levelled against Mr Richard Lightbourn for his “tube tying” comments at the recent FNM convention.
Let the games begin
Follow the Rio Olympics in The Tribune in words and pictures as ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’ runs for 17 days in Brazil.Follow the Rio Olympics in The Tribune in words and pictures as ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’ runs for 17 days in Brazil.
Reflecting on our first Olympic track and field medal
As the Bahamas prepares to participate in its 10th Olympic Games as an independent nation, led by its 24-member track and field team, we reflect on that moment over two decades ago when the sport played a pivotal role in changing the country’s Olympic profile forever.
Former sprinter Atkins calls his absence on Walk of Fame ‘shameful’
YET another Bahamian sporting icon took to social media to voice his displeasure at a perceived lack of recognition by the Bahamian government.
Wednesday, August 3
Turnquest: It will not be easy to unite party
FREE NATIONAL Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said yesterday he realises it “will not be easy” to unite the party after last weekend’s convention but he said those with “hurt feelings” need to put them aside “for the good of the party and the country”.
Rollins ‘to run as independent candidate in Long Island’
FORT CHARLOTTE MP Dr Rollins will reportedly be running as an independent candidate for the Long Island constituency in the next general election, The Tribune understands.
MP who joked about abusing woman says Lightbourn is in the Stone Age
TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller yesterday said he was “shocked” to learn of Richard Lightbourn’s “tube tying” comments, as he criticised the Montagu MP, insisting that to make such a proposal revealed the inner workings of an “evil and twisted mind”.
Freeport man "begged for his life" before being stabbed to death
A MAN fatally stabbed in Grand Bahama yesterday begged for his life moments before he was killed, according to neighbours in the Drake Avenue area of Freeport.
Butler-Turner: I can't be bought
LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner yesterday revealed that the Free National Movement) has presented several offers to her, including a promotion to Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Assembly, in an effort to “buy her off” to step away from the plethora of issues she has with the organisation.
Earl forecast to become hurricane and hit Belize
TROPICAL Storm Earl is expected to strengthen into a hurricane before it makes landfall, probably in Belize, forecasters said on Wednesday.
$150,000 fine for Jerome Fitzgerald in Save The Bays emails row
IN A landmark ruling yesterday, Supreme Court Justice Indra Charles declared that Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald was not legally justified when he tabled the private emails of environmental action group Save The Bays in Parliament, and therefore could not be protected by parliamentary privilege.
Fitzgerald says he plans to appeal
EDUCATION Minister Jerome Fitzgerald says he plans to appeal the ruling handed down by Supreme Court judge Justice Indra Charles in the Save The Bays email hacking scandal yesterday.
Pokemon Go changes spark criticism
CHANGES made by developers of ‘Pokemon Go’ at the weekend have brought a storm of criticism from players of what is being described as the hottest mobile game ever.
Samsung’s new jumbo phone unlocks with iris scanner
SAMSUNG’S new Galaxy Note 7 phone can be unlocked by just looking at it.
Tech Talk
• VIRGIN Galactic says it has received an operating licence for its space tourism rocket from the Federal Aviation Administration which will ultimately permit commercial operations.
Dressed for success
High-tech Olympic wear can save vital seconds in Rio
WHEN seconds count, the right clothing matters for Olympic athletes competing in Brazil and competition has been hot between leading manufacturers for the Rio de Janeiro Games, which open on Friday.
2016 Rio Olympics medal projections: Athletics
MEDAL projections in athletics for the 2016 Rio Olympics, compiled from predictions by the staff of The Associated Press who cover each sport:
Coca-Cola goes for gold in Rio Olympics with the global #thatsgold campaign
AS the clock ticks down to the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Coca-Cola has its eyes set on celebrating gold – but not just the gold found on top of the world’s most elite podium.
Artie Johnson All Eleuthera Youth Tennis Camp a great success
THERE was a great showing once again at the 17th Annual Artie Johnson All Eleuthera Youth Tennis Camp, dubbed a great success by tennis organiser Artie Johnson.
Antinique Young all set to begin career at Miami Dade
ANTINIQUE Young, a double high school and night league champion this year, has her bags packed and is ready to travel to Miami, Florida, on August 14 to begin her collegiate career at Miami Dade where Bahamian female basketball players have left a rich history with the Sharks programme under the supervision of coach Susan Summons.
TOUGH CALL: Reviving Downtown is more talk, less action
A recent comment by veteran columnist Nicki Kelly is worth repeating.
Run for Pompey event expected to have bigger turnout
GOING into its second year, more participants are expected to hit the roads for Run for Pompey in October in Exuma, an event which celebrates Bahamian history, culture and sport, according to organisers and tourism officials yesterday.
Fitzgerald explains why he’s backing Christie to stay as PM
A day after identifying himself as one of the “new generational leaders” petitioning Prime Minister Perry Christie to stay on as PLP Leader ahead of the 2017 general election, Marathon MP Jerome Fitzgerald said the FNM’s recent convention inspired him to come forward.
Suspects freed from crash after police chase
Two suspects involved in a police chase crashed into a house on Pineyard Road and had to be rescued from the vehicle.
Suspect in murder case is remanded to prison
A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday after he was arraigned on charges of murder and armed robbery.
Christie has “obligation to deliver” on Baha Mar
OPPOSITION Finance spokesman K Peter Turnquest said yesterday that Prime Minister Perry Christie has “an obligation to deliver” on the Baha Mar project completion having thrust the government into the saga via its push for liquidation, arguing that the Bahamian people should not be left in the dark regarding any developments surrounding the stalled resort.
IDB report reveals Chinese tourism opportunity for Caribbean
CHINA represents a new “source market” for tourism-dependent economies like the Bahamas, with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) suggesting that many changes and investments would have to be made to capture more of this market.
Smith “not about to lay down” in BREA battle
AN ex-Cabinet Minister said yesterday that he was “not about to lay down and play docile” amid an ongoing legal battle with the Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA), with a judicial review looming in the next round of the contentious dispute.
QC: Judgement in email leak “saves financial industry” in Bahamas
AN outspoken QC said that yesterday’s Supreme Court judgement against Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald for breaching the constitutional rights of environmental advocacy group Save The Bays by disclosing and releasing the group’s private emails in Parliament affirmed that the Bahamas is “not a political banana republic”, asserting that it would have been the “kiss of death” for the country’s financial services industry had the judge vindicated the minister’s actions.
Why I support Christie
THERE has been much commentary regarding Prime Minister Perry Christie’s decision to remain as leader of the Progressive Liberal Party and the validity of his statement that he was encouraged to do so by the younger members of his parliamentary caucus.
What next for Minnis?
WHAT really are Hon. Hubert Minnis’ plans for the FNM?
Butler-Turner deserted by fellow MPs
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis has extended the olive branch to Loretta Butler-Turner and her large group of senior supporters as well as members of the media who have been busy undermining him over the last three plus years.
Former Speaker ‘saddened and dismayed’ by MP's comments
FORMER Speaker of the House of Assembly Italia Johnson has joined the growing condemnation of Richard Lightbourn for his comments last week about sterilisation of unwed mothers, describing them as “historically incorrect and extremely insensitive”.
Miller tells Minnis: Don’t let rival back into your bosom
TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller yesterday warned Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis not to allow Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner “back into his bosom,” saying he is “likely to get the heck bitten out him” should she get too close to the party’s leadership.
SuperGreen Solutions: Solar batteries can save money and support the energy grid
Does it make sense to add batteries to your solar system?
Tuesday, August 2
POLITICOLE: Lightbourn raises knotty problems with ‘tubes tied’ comments
While planning what I’d write today, I got a WhatsApp message with an audio file of a very catchy new tune (I’m still bent over laughing), so swiftly created in response to MP Richard Lightbourn’s unfortunate comments made at the Free National Movement (FNM) convention last week, words I’m sure he will be made to regret for all time.
Ministry delay forces hold-up in school repairs
WITH little over a month before the start of the 2016-2017 academic year, repairs to schools across the country face major setbacks due to an unexplained halt in submitting the Ministry of Works’ annual “scope of repairs report”.
Turnquest asks why Carnival report has not been released
FREE National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest yesterday questioned why the Christie administration has not yet released this year’s Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival financial performance report.
Lightbourn under fire for ‘tube tying’ comments
TWO local advocacy groups have condemned Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn’s proposal for the state-sponsored sterilisation of women as “archaic, barbaric and dangerous”, charging that the suggestion is “frighteningly reminiscent” of sterilisation policies used against black people internationally in the 1960s.
FNM chairman: Butler-Turner knew she was going to lose
PARTY Chairman Sidney Collie said Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner did not withdraw from the Free National Movement’s leadership race because the process was “corrupt” but because she knew “the tide was against her” and she could not win.
No murders in July - and police credit team effort
THERE have been no reported murders for the entire month of July, with a senior police officer attributing it to a “consistent” policing effort by members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
Tropical Storm Earl leaves six dead in Dominican Republic
TROPICAL STORM Earl formed on Tuesday morning in the western Caribbean Sea as the strengthening system tracked towards Central America. The fast-moving storm brought heavy rains and strong winds to the Dominican Republic on Monday and caused at least six deaths in the country.
Police make arrest after 46-year-old Freeport man is stabbed to death
POLICE in Grand Bahama are investigating the murder early on Tuesday of a 46-year-old man of Drake Avenue, Freeport, and have a man in custody in connection with the incident.
Rollins: I won't run for FNM
FORT Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins confirmed yesterday that he will not be seeking a Free National Movement constituency nomination in the next general election now that Dr Hubert Minnis has retained the leadership of the party.
Lucius Fox traded to Tampa in Giants’ Moore deal
BAHAMIAN Lucius Fox has been traded to the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a deal which takes left-handed pitcher Matt Moore to the National League West leaders, San Francisco Giants.
Bahamas 'could bring home at least four medals' from Rio
HEAD coach George Cleare said he’s anticipating some outstanding performances from the 26 athletes selected to represent the BTC Bahamas Olympic Team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Haiti's Don Bosco beat Jamaica's Montego Bay United 2-0
THEY didn’t draw the huge crowd that they anticipated, but the hundreds who showed up on Friday night got their money’s worth as Haiti’s Don Bosco Football Club, behind Kerlins Georges’ goal and another from their opponents, blanked Jamaica’s Montego Bay United 2-0 at the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.
Deputy PM’s tribute to Cat Islander
CAT ISLANDER Adlean Armbrister, who has died aged 94, was praised for her bravery and her role in the march to Majority Rule in a tribute by Deputy Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis on Friday.
Nation hailed as weather ready ambassadors by NOAAA
THE Bahamas has been named the first “Weather Ready Nation Ambassadors” by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for its “readiness, responsiveness and resiliency to handle all weather conditions it faces, especially in extreme weather cases, and to its safety and protection program of its people and communities”.
WORLD VIEW: Donald Trump and the lie of ‘truthful hyperbole’
For anyone following the US Presidential campaigns, it has been a volatile voyage with great uncertainty about whether Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton will eventually emerge triumphant.
Mourners pay tribute to pastor Silas Napoleon McKinney at service
THE Governor General and the Prime Minister were among mourners at a state-recognised funeral for Pastor Silas Napoleon McKinney, former President of the Bahamas Conference of Seventh Day Adventists, on Sunday at Hillview Seventh Day Adventist Church, Tonique Williams Darling Highway.
Lightbourn ‘must resign’ after sterilisation proposal
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party women MPs have called for the resignation of Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn over his contentious proposal for state-sponsored sterilisation of women as an anti-crime initiative.
Are KPMG government puppets?
KPMG appears to be pandering to the government’s wishes at every corner. They say what they mean but don’t actually mean what they say. All of their reports, including their Review of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas 2014-2015 Mid-Year National Budget, give opinions that are meagre at best and stated in a way not to upset the government. Their predecessors Pricewaterhouse, when asked to give their opinion on the controversial NHI Scheme, seem to be cast aside and threatened when giving their honest opinion which was not in keeping with that of the government and their plans.
Property Fund ‘nowhere close’ to rental targets
The BISX-listed Bahamas Property Fund says occupancy rates at its two flagship properties are “nowhere close to where we’d like to be”, after it incurred a $1.545 million net loss for 2015.
Regulator won’t ‘price control’ banking fees
The Central Bank will not intervene to cap or “price control” commercial bank fees, its governor has revealed to Tribune Business.
TUC takes Sandals to court over long-delayed industrial deal
PRESIDENT of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Obie Ferguson said that the union had been left with “no other alternative” but to file criminal charges against Sandals Royal Bahamian and its top executives for failing to negotiate an industrial agreement since 2009, a move prompted by the recent termination of union officers employed at the Cable Beach all-inclusive property.
Consumers ‘totally naked’ against banking practices
A former Cabinet Minister believes Bahamians are “completely naked” against sharp banking practices, adding that the problem had become “endemic”.
Whistleblower challenges CIBC evidence ‘credibility’
A Cacique award winner’s bid to avoid financial ruin may receive late help from a former Cabinet Minister, after ‘whistleblower’ evidence cited “inconsistencies” with CIBC FirstCaribbean’s case.
The end game
Mercifully, the debacle of the FNM Convention and the parade of political clowns and grotesque dancers are over and Bahamians are now able to get on with the very serious business and issues at hand. Good governance in a so-called democracy requires a strong opposition and a cadre of civil society partners to keep the government in focus; transparent and, more elusively, transparent.
Damage from web shops
I am strongly opposed to web shops (gambling), not so much from a Christian point of view as from a social perspective.
‘Bahamianisation’ more a curse than a blessing, says QC
IN AN interview with our business editor last week an outspoken QC declared that “Bahamianisation has been more of a curse to The Bahamas than a blessing”.
Eight Cuban migrants detained by RBDF
EIGHT Cuban migrants have been turned over to Immigration officials after they were apprehended in Bahamian waters by members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force on Thursday night, taking the total captured to 34 during July.
Zika virus alert in Miami
MIAMI (AP) - Government health officials warned pregnant women yesterday to avoid a Zika-stricken section of Miami and arrange to be tested for the virus if they have visited the Wynwood neighbourhood since mid-June after the number of people feared infected through mosquito bites in the United States climbed to 14.
PLP chairman blasts Sands, Butler-Turner as cowards
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts declared yesterday that the Free National Movement was not ready to govern, branding Long Island MP Loretta Butler Turner and Senator Dr Duane Sands as “cowards” for quitting the convention leadership race hours before delegates cast their votes.
MICHELLE MILLER MOTIVATIONALS: Do you accept or avoid responsibility?
Some people have the habit of accepting responsibility, while others have the habit of avoiding responsibility. To those in the latter group: you may not realise it, but while it may seem like you’re getting away with something, in the long run you are only short-changing yourself.
Cultural violence and gender
Blue waters, pristine beaches, wonderful hotels and violence is the image of the Bahamas splattered across many tabloids, and the warnings issued by nations to protect their citizens from falling victim to the violence resident in the Bahamas.
Ashley Thompson makes the dean’s list at leading liberal arts college
Choosing a college and adjusting to life on campus, especially when that campus is abroad, is something many young students struggle with after graduating from high school.
Christian author addresses ‘taboo’ subjects
At age 13 it was clear to Bahamian author Leshea “Sapphire J” Jones that she had something to say and something to share.
Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships wrap up
THE 2016 Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships closed out at the Ocean Club resort, Paradise Island, on Friday with the Bahamas remaining in the same position they occupied all week in both the men’s Hoerman Cup and the ladies’ George Teale Memorial Cup.
Juniors take centre court in Under-14 JITIC in El Salvador
OUR very own junior tennis players are competing in the 14 and under Junior International Championships (JITIC) in El Salvador.
SPORTING MISCHIEF AND MAYHEM: ‘Let there be American football’
LAST Sunday was the last Sunday without football for the rest of the year. Yes, the best time of year is five short weeks away.
Bahamas junior boys national teams clash on the pitch
ISIAH Collie, a junior defender at the University of Charleston, led by example as he booted in the lone goal as the Bahamas 2012 junior boys national team prevailed 1-0 over the 2014 junior national team in a prelude match before the showdown between Haiti and Jamaica at the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on Friday night.
National flag football team named
NATIONAL coordinator Mel Ferguson said he’s confident that the men’s team selected will represent the Bahamas very well in September at the World Flag Football Tournament in Grand Bahama.
Maintaining quality requires more people, says Standards Bureau chief
THE Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ) is hoping to increase its staff compliment by at least 15 in the coming months and looking at adding at least 100 plus inspectors in the next three years, The Tribune has been told.
Call for firms to have mandatory redundancy funds
A TRADES union leader and attorney has reiterated calls for Bahamas-based companies to be mandated to establish a redundancy fund.
Monday, August 1
Potential tropical storm development heading west in central Caribbean
THUNDERSTORM activity associated with a strong tropical wave over the central Caribbean Sea about 350 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, is threatening to develop into a tropical storm later on Monday or overnight according to the National Hurricane Centre in Miami.
