Sir Arlington Butler received the Meritorious award for long an outstanding service to the Olympic and Commonwealth Games Federation.  The Commonwealth Games Federation meetings are taking place in Glasgow, Scotland. Bahamas has a 51 member team at the event competing in track and field, swimming, judo, boxing, wresting and cycling.  Read More →

A BP BREAKING REPORT >>>> File Photo Nassau, Bahamas – Bahamas Press is reporting another tragedy this morning after the body of a woman was found burnt beyond recognition in a house fire yesterday evening. We can report police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a body burnt beyond recognition in a house fire on Thursday evening. According to reports, shortly after 6:00pm, Police received a report of a house fire on Collins Avenue. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they met a house engulf in flames. Firefighters extinguished the fire and upon examining the interior of the home found a body suspected to be that of a female burnt beyond recognition. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. BP has not yet found out the identity of the victim – but we will be investigating… We report yinner decide!  Read More →

GOLF CLASSIC – Former NBA superstar, Mychal “Sweet Bells” Thompson is pictured centre with staffers from the Ministry of Tourism’s Grand Bahama office during a cocktail reception at the Grand Lucayan Resort on Monday night, marking the opening of the two -day Mychal “Sweet Bells” Thompson/Fred Higgs Golf Challenge. LUCAYA, Grand Bahama – The smooth green surface of the Reef Golf Course is playing host to a major golf tournament set to be an annual event. The first Mychal “Sweet Bells” Thompson / Fred Higgs Golf Challenge got underway on July 22nd, attracting a large number of competitors including former outstanding Bahamian basketball players and company executives. The event is being sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and the Bahamas Golf Federation along with the support of the Bahamas Basketball Federation. The tournament was officially opened during a cocktail reception at the Grand Lucayan Resort on Monday, and the two-day classic will close out on Wednesday. Former National Basketball Association star, Mychal “Sweet Bells” Thompson was in Grand Bahama for the opening. The 59 year old retired superstar played both the power forward and centre positions for the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Trail Blazers made the Nassau born athlete their number one pick in the 1978 NBA Draft, making him the first foreign player to be drafted first overall. He helped the Lakers win back to back titles in 1987 and 1988 before retiring in 1991. He is currently listed as the Lakers radio colour commentator. The name Fred “Freddie” Higgs has become synonymous with golf not just in The Bahamas but throughout the Caribbean region. The late Mr. Higgs served in a number of administrative positions in the golfing community and had a deep passion for the sport.  Read More →

Breaking News >>> Don’t we have any brought-uppsy? Bahamians in Glasgow acting like they don’t know how to follow the law – Scotland – Four members of the Bahamas cycling team were escorted off a busy motorway by police during rush hour traffic. The four athletes were spotted on the M80 near Stepps in North Lanarkshire at around 8am on Thursday. Police received a number of reports from concerned drivers and officers quickly caught the Caribbean sportsmen. They were then escorted off the busy motorway onto a safe route. It comes just a day after four members of Sri Lanka’s Commonwealth Games cycling team sparked a police response after going for a ride down one of Scotland’s busiest stretches of motorway. The four Glasgow 2014 athletes were spotted cycling down the M74 before police intervened near the exit for Motherwell and Hamilton and advised them of the rules of the road. A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Four members of the Bahamas Commonwealth Games cycling team were seen on the M80 between junction two and three. “Police received reports of cyclists on the stretch of road and officers apprehended the four individuals. “They were escorted off the motorway and onto a safe route.”  Read More →

Michael Halkitis Communication by The Honourable Michael Halkitis Minister of State for Finance The Value Added Tax Bill 2014 July 23, 2014 Nassau, Bahamas Mr. Speaker, The tabling of the Value Added Tax Bill in this Honourable House is an historic moment in the history of our nation. Following many years of study and discussion, at times heated and contentious, we are finally taking up the challenge, and shouldering the responsibility, of bringing our system of taxation up to the proper and appropriate standards of the 21st century. Before getting into the details of our tax reform programme, VAT Bill, I would like to take a few moments initially to provide some background information on the context in which this reform has been developed. For it is clearly the case that the proposed reform of our taxation system is but one, though a central and critical, component of the Government’s broader agenda of economic and fiscal reform and modernization. Indeed, I would remind Honourable Members that we were elected by Bahamian citizens to implement our proposed programme of fundamental change in order to develop a stronger and more prosperous Bahamas of the future. We fully recognize that the challenges that confront us are numerous and complex. Our plan of action is commensurate with those challenges. It offers new and innovative solutions for the wide range of economic and social challenges facing the nation. We simply cannot afford to continue with business as usual. Fiscal reform is thus critical. As many have acknowledged, our tax structure is clearly outdated and inadequate for the needs of a modern Government. Taxes and duties on international trade, in the form of import and export duties, excise taxes, stamp duties and tourism taxes, constitute some 60 percent of total Government Recurrent Revenues. Unlike most countries, we do not impose personal or corporate income taxes, nor do we have a broad-based consumption tax. In essence, the Government’s revenue base is excessively narrow and suited to another era when the economy was far less complex. The economy of today is, as in most advanced societies, heavily oriented to the provision of services but our tax structure is simply out of tune with that reality. By predominantly focusing on goods, our tax system is also decidedly unfair as the burden of taxes is not shared equitably by citizens of varying means. Reform of the tax system and its administrative apparatus have been talked about in this country for a number of years but follow-up has been sporadic and unfocused. The time has come for decisive action. Important reforms are now underway to improve the administration of existing taxes. Comprehensive programmes are in place to effect the modernization of both the Customs Department and the Real Property Tax Office to bring their operations up to the standards of best international practice. We are also phasing in the establishment a new Central Revenue Administration to consolidate the collection of a number of taxes and fees in a more efficient and effective manner. The proposals for a fundamental reform of our tax structure, including the introduction of a Value Added Tax, which appeared in the White Paper of last year are another important element of our programme of change. We are confident that, when fully implemented, they will result in stronger growth of our economy and more job opportunities for our citizens. We fervently believe that a reformed tax system will provide for more equitable taxation. Just as importantly, the new tax structure will secure adequate revenues for the effective administration of Government and the pursuit of our key economic and social objectives. As I indicated earlier, the subject of tax reform has been under review and discussion in The Bahamas for a very long time and across administrations. In the process, we have benefited from the experience of numerous other nations around the world that have reformed their tax systems over the past decades, as well as from an extensive international academic literature on the benefits and key desirable features of a VAT. Senior staff and advisors at the Ministry of Finance have also honed our reform proposal on the basis of in-house research and visits to other nations in the region. After carefully considering the vast amount of information at its disposal and the range of potential new revenue options, the Government decided that a broad based consumption tax in the form of a Value Added Tax is the most suitable option to enhance the revenue yield of the tax system. Having said that, I will stress again that, beyond its desire to address revenue needs, the Government is fully mindful of the potential effect on lower income Bahamians and is committed to mitigating the impact of our tax reform programme on the most needy in society, through the financial enhancement of its various social assistance programmes. This is a practice that has been adopted in other countries that have introduced a VAT and it is one that we believe is most appropriate in the Bahamian context. Moreover, the Government of the Bahamas is reviewing its entire system of consumer protection to ensure that unscrupulous individuals do not use the process of tax reform as an excuse to adopt predatory practices. The Government is committed to enhancing these protections whether through legislative measures and the provision of additional resources. The other revenue enhancement options that were considered as a central element of tax reform include: • an income tax; • payroll taxes; and • a sales tax. Research has found that income taxes are clearly more detrimental to economic growth than a VAT. The OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) has reviewed over 90 studies in this area and concluded that the principal drawback of the personal income tax is that it acts as a disincentive to work effort, innovation and entrepreneurship. It also discourages saving as interest income, dividends and capital gains are subject to tax. Likewise, the corporate income tax on profits discourages investment and innovation. The study produced a ranking of tax instruments in terms of their growth “friendliness”. Property taxes and consumption taxes such as VAT are the most growth friendly. Personal income taxes are significantly inferior while corporate income taxes have the most negative effects on GDP per capita. These negative effects, of course, grow in magnitude with the degree of progressivity of the income tax. As such, it is clear that the income tax works at cross-purposes to one of the major goals of tax reform, i.e. promoting a stronger economy and job creation. A VAT, as a tax on consumption, does not deter work effort and entrepreneurship, nor does it discourage investment and innovation. It also encourages savings which, in turn, supports enhanced investment in the domestic economy The imposition of tax on income can also lead to an onerous compliance burden for individual taxpayers. Employers, for their part, must withhold income taxes from the monthly wages and salaries of employees and then remit these to the government. Individuals must then file an annual tax return, declaring income from all sources and submitting all receipts required to support claims for whatever deductions are permitted. Private sector enterprises must do the same in respect of corporate income taxes. The May Budget Communication contained a review of the evolution of the tax reform proposal since the release of the White Paper. I will briefly return to the key points in that evolution at this time as I believe that is important to a full understanding of how we have arrived at the specific elements of the current proposal. That, in turn, will be useful for the promotion of an enlightened debate on the Bills that we will have before us. The public launch of the tax reform process began with the release of the White Paper on Tax Reform early in 2013. Public discussions began around the White Paper in both New Providence and the Family Islands. These then intensified to include the business community, churches, school, community and civic groups, and audiences within the public sector. From the private sector the Ministry of Finance also enlisted key business groups and the Christian Council to form part of an Advisory Committee for implementation of the proposed changes to the tax system, to ensure that alongside one on one consultation, the views of industry were being constantly channeled to the Government. Following the release of the White Paper, the Ministry of Finance engaged in the process of drafting the legislation and regulations, which formed the basis of more in-depth consultations upon their release last November. With the release of the draft legislation the Ministry of Finance received significant feedback from private stakeholder groups. In addition, there has been increasing outreach to the Family Islands. The full range of these meetings and discussions has led to significant clarifications and in many cases positive responses to the proposals put forward by stakeholders. As the Minister of Finance stressed in May, our tax reform deliberations have also been most usefully instructed by the advice received from the team of New Zealand experts that visited our country. These experts had discussions with a wide range of stakeholders as well as with officials and Ministers. Through this process, they outlined what had made their fiscal reform process in their country so successful and offered observations and recommendations to us. As these inputs have proven critical to the evolution of our reform proposal, I will review them again briefly at this juncture. The success of the New Zealand VAT, and there are important lessons for us here, was very largely due to: ➢ an extensive education programme aimed at both the business sector and the wider public, with the programme largely driven by respected members of the private sector; ➢ a Government commitment to minimize the compliance costs involved with the new tax, particularly by having virtually no exemptions; and ➢ a Government commitment to offset the effect of VAT on the cost of living by reducing income taxes and, for families not paying income tax, introducing a form of negative income tax or cash transfer system. As was explained in the Budget Communication, the government has accepted the New Zealand recommendation to enlist the private sector in the public education campaign. A three person Task Force will oversee this process and will be tasked to assist in explaining the reform process to the business community and the wider public. I will now briefly review the key features of the Bill. There will be one single VAT rate across the board (other than the zero rate for exports) that has been substantially reduced to 7.5 per cent from the originally proposed 15 per cent. We judge the lower rate to be desirable from both an economic and social perspective. Of course, a lower rate will yield somewhat less revenue than we had originally expected. As such, across-the-board reductions in tariffs and excises will not feasible. There will, however, be selective reductions in certain areas. Along with the significantly reduced rate, the list of exemptions has been pared substantially. Specifically, no goods will be exempted. As for services, the list of exemptions has been tightened to include only the following: • Financial services, i.e. credit and deposit/savings products. This covers all forms of lending and savings products issued by banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions. • The sale or rental of a dwelling. • Education services, specifically explicit tuition-funded courses in pre-school, primary and secondary school; and in programs of study leading to the award of graduate or undergraduate degrees at the tertiary level. • Thesale of vacant land; • A lease of land to the extent that such land is principally used, or intended for use, for accommodation as a dwelling which is erected or to be erected on such land. • Any services by a ministry, department, statutory body, agency, local government council, or other entity of Government, in connection with a taxable activity where the consideration for such services is — o (a)nominal in amount; or o (b) not intended to recover the cost of such goods or services. • Services rendered by a daycare business, including the provision of after-school care. • Services provided directly by a facility to persons in need of care, being persons who are — o aged; o indigent; o infirm; o disabled; o handicapped. • Health care, specifically for public services provided to “public patients” receiving free care at public facilities including children of school age or younger, the indigent, aged, government employees and other persons identified by the Minister of Health. • Religious services by an institution of religious worship. • Services by a recognized charity to the extent that such services relate directly to the charitable function of the charity. The registration threshold for VAT will now be universal at turnover of $100,000 per year. As well, we will allow group registration for related groups of companies, thus eliminating the need to recognize input and output taxes on intra-group transactions. There will be three filing periods for VAT; businesses with annual taxable sales exceeding $5 million will file monthly. Businesses below that threshold and with taxable sales exceeding $400,000 will be allowed to file quarterly. Other registrants would be allowed to file on a semi-annual basis and use more simplified cash accounting methods when compiling their VAT returns. This cash rather than accrual basis of accounting among small registrants would also eliminate working capital concerns over the treatment of bad debts. A simplified VAT return using a “flat rate scheme” is proposed for businesses with turnover below $400,000. VAT due to Government would be calculated either as a fixed percentage of cash sales, with no need to account separately for input taxes paid; or the business would be allowed to calculate both input and output taxes on the basis of cash receipts or cash payments. As well, businesses that qualify, including those that currently enjoy fiscal incentives on imports, may be allowed to defer payment of VAT until the return for the respective period is filed. We will also implement less complex procedures for tax credits against bad debts and streamline the refund process, having regard to the need to be vigilant against fraudulent claims. Mr. Speaker, We firmly believe that the legislation that will be read for a first time today sets out a solid, world-class policy and administrative framework for fiscal reform that will be successful in moving our nation to a system of taxation that is both economically efficient and adequate to serve the needs of modern governance and to promote economic growth and prosperity. We look forward to a healthy and constructive debate on this Bill in the days ahead.  Read More →

POLICE IN ANDROS ARREST A MAN AND WOMAN FOR UNLAWFUL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE file photo. Nassau, Bahamas — POLICE in Andros took into custody on Wednesday 23rd July 2014, a 23 – year old man of Calabash Bay, Andros for Unlawful Sexual Intercourse along with a 24 – year old woman of Calabash Bay Andros for Failing to report an alleged Sexual Intercourse of a minor. The man and woman were arrested shortly after 6:00am at their home in Andros. The duo has been transported to New Providence, where Detectives from the Sexual Offences Unit at CDU are continuing investigations into this incident. POLICE INVESTIGATE DEATH OF A WOMAN POLICE are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 45 – year old woman who died suddenly at a home located at 6th Street, Coconut Grove around 10:30pm on Wednesday 23rd July 2014. Investigations are ongoing. POLICE IDENTIFY HOMICIDE VICTIM POLICE have identified the man shot and killed at Sunset Park on Tuesday 22nd July 2014, as Michael Dominick McIntosh 21, of Jacaranda Street, Pinewood Gardens.  Read More →

The Tyrant joins the UNEMPLOYMENT LINE – last seen at NIB! Sacked Carl Culmer! Nassau, Bahamas — If our followers remember, it was BP who first broke the news that Carl Culmer was FIRED from BTC. Deep in the passage ways of BTC, BP unearthed this information months ago and told you, our loyal followers. that the Prince Hall TYRANT would soon be joining the unemployment line. The sad news evolving from this story is that no one seems to be perturbed about the dismissal of this man who has worked at BTC for over thirty years. BP investigated and learned that ALL departments in BTC have banned together and are having a MAJOR SEND OFF PARTY for Culmer this weekend. But here’s the thing, Culmer is NOT invited to the party. The party is a celebration of his dismissal from the Corporation. BP received an invitation and will be in attendance. BP explored the reasons why the masses are not sympathetic towards the former Prince Hall Grand Master and was told that Carl was a thorn in the buttocks to work with at BTC because he sought to evoke the presence of living hell in the lives of his co-workers for no apparent reason other than to make their work day miserable. “We are glad that fool is gone,” said a BTC worker. “He was like a cancerous sore to us. We will all be dead drunk in his honor at the party this weekend. He is a wicked, cruel and malicious man. He got his just reward. No one here feels sorry for him and as for me, I hope I never see his stupid @%& again. “We have our sources in NIB who are on high alert for when he shows up to apply for unemployment benefits. We will call the press and have his picture taken for he is an evil man.” Leon Williams, current CEO at BTC was undermine by WUTLESS CULMER! That was just one in a million hateful comments towards Carl Culmer, who seems to be the most hated man in the country at this time. After talking with a few of the brothers who are members of Prince Hall Lodge, it seems as though they share the same sentiments. “Carl Culmer single-handedly destroyed Prince Hall,” the Prince Hall Lodge source said. “We had a beautiful and productive organization until Carl Culmer became Grand Master. He put the brothers in fear with his tyrant-like tactics and enjoys giving out degrees to undeserving brothers so they can fill him in on what people are saying about him after which he punishes those people with foolish rules that he makes up. “Membership is at an all time low, because brothers do not want to be around Carl. He has destroyed our order. If you oppose his foolishness you are automatically expelled for no real reason. Look what he did to Geno Nairn who was a first class Mason. He did the same to Everette Mackey, another pillar in our community. Another one to feel Carl’s spite was popular musician, Fred Ferguson. All these men kicked out for foolish and unlawful reasons. Meanwhile the order is being dragged to the dogs.” Well from the looks of things BP has concluded that Prince Hall members will be celebrating with the BTC workers at the party this weekend. The Bahamas waits to see the next move for this troublesome former Grand Master who might very well take out his BTC anguish on the Prince Hall members. BP went back to BTC to further investigate the happenings and was told that Carl Culmer was the main instrument in the previous sacking of CEO, Leon Williams, under the FNM’s regime. Carl held the blade behind his back and revealed it when Leon Williams was not looking, then lowered it in his spinal column. WHAT IN THE HELL IS THIS?? This is a prime example of the saying, “What goes around, comes around”. We Drink! So Mote it Be!  Read More →

Referendum is now set for Thursday 6th Nov. 2014…. Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Perry Christie July 23rd, 2013 COMMUNICATION TO THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY BY THE PRIME MINISTER & MINISTER OF FINANCE AND MEMBER FOR CENTREVILLE THE RT. HON. PERRY G. CHRISTIE Mr. Speaker: It gives me great pleasure to foreshadow the introduction and first reading later this morning of four (4) separate bills to amend the Constitution of The Bahamas.  These four bills, representing the first round of constitutional reform, are bound together by a common thread: the need to institute full equality between men and women in matters of citizenship and, more broadly, to eliminate discrimination in The Bahamas based on sex. It will be recalled that the Constitutional Commission, in its Report last year, made specific recommendations concerning this matter.  The Commission has now presented to Cabinet – and Cabinet has approved – the four bills that will be introduced in this honourable House this morning. The Government wishes to record its gratitude to the Constitutional Commission, under the chairmanship of Sean McWeeney QC, for its work in overseeing the preparation of the bills, with the technical support of the Attorney General’s Office and the Law Reform Commission, and for the ongoing role the Commission has agreed to play in relation to constitutional reform, particularly in relation to public education. In this latter regard, I have been informed by Chairman McWeeney that Retired Supreme Court Justice Rubie Nottage, supported by other members of the Constitutional Commission, has agreed to spearhead the public education campaign that will begin very shortly. The Government also wishes to place on record its appreciation of the entirely constructive and commendably statesmanlike contribution the Opposition has made to the preparation and finalization of the bills that will be introduced today.  In this regard, I would especially like to commend the Leader of the Opposition and Member of Parliament for Killarney, Dr. Minnis, and Senator the Hon. Carl Bethel. This kind of bi-partisanship on matters of high constitutional principle augurs well for the ongoing maturation of our democracy. It is the Government’s intention, subject to further consultations with the Opposition, to have the four constitutional bills debated and passed in both Houses of Parliament in the shortest possible time so as to maximize the time available for discussion and dialogue throughout the country in advance of a national constitutional referendum to be held on the 6th November, 2014. Mr. Speaker : Members are aware, of course, that under the Constitution the four bills in question must in each instance be approved by at least three-quarters (3/4ths) of the members of the House of Assembly. The bills must then go to the Senate where they must also be approved by three-quarters (3/4ths) of the members of that legislative body. Following passage in the Senate, the bills must be approved by a simple majority of voters in a national referendum. Only after going through the entire process can the Constitution be altered. Mr. Speaker: Although I shall have more to say on the bills on a later occasion, I should like to give just a brief snapshot of what each bill essentially says so that the public can be guided accordingly. Bill # 1 : The Bahamas Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2014 This bill seeks to achieve gender equality in a very important respect: it seeks to give a child born outside The Bahamas to a Bahamian-born mother and non-Bahamian father the same automatic right to Bahamian citizenship that the Constitution already gives to a child born outside The Bahamas to a Bahamian-born father and a non-Bahamian mother. The bill is therefore simply equalizing the sexes and, in so doing, eliminating an area of discrimination against women that has persisted for the past 41 years. It is important to emphasize, however, that in keeping with the present Constitution, the right to automatically pass Bahamian citizenship to one’s child will continue to operate only where the Bahamian parent is himself, or herself, a native-born Bahamian. This will not change under this amendment. It should also be noted that this change in the Constitution, if approved, will not operate retroactively. However, I wish to announce that my government will, as a matter of administrative policy, grant Bahamian citizenship to all applicants born abroad after July 9th, 1973 (and before the law changes) to a Bahamian-born mother and non-Bahamian father, subject, of course, to the exceptions, and in accordance with the procedures, already prescribed by law. Bill #2 : The Bahamas Constitution (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2014 Bill #2 also seeks to achieve gender equality in another respect under the Constitution: it seeks to enable a Bahamian woman who marries a foreign man to secure for him the same access to Bahamian citizenship that a Bahamian man has always enjoyed under the Constitution in relation to his foreign spouse.  In short, the bill seeks to achieve gender equality in this regard. I hasten to add, however, that this bill contains provisions that are designed to ensure that foreign persons, be they male or female, who enter into bogus marriages with Bahamian citizens, will not be assisted by this constitutional change. More specifically, a foreign spouse who wishes to acquire Bahamian citizenship based on his or her marriage to a Bahamian citizen will not be able to avail himself or herself of the constitutional change if he or she is no longer married to a Bahamian; of if he or she is married but has no intention of living with the Bahamian spouse; or if it can be shown that the foreign spouse only married the Bahamian in the first place in order to access Bahamian citizenship. In all these cases, Bahamian citizenship applications will be denied. Indeed Mr. Speaker, this is consistent with existing policy and will therefore not come as any great surprise. I should also mention that in common with the other three bills, this bill will not apply retroactively. Bill #3 : The Bahamas Constitution (Amendment) (No.3) Bill, 2014 Bill #3 is of particular interest because it seeks to remediate the one area of the Constitution that discriminates against men. At present, an unwed Bahamian father cannot pass his citizenship to a child born to a foreign woman. This bill seeks to change that. It will give an unwed Bahamian father the same right to pass citizenship to his child that a Bahamian woman has always had under the Constitution in relation to a child born to her out of wedlock. This bill, however, will require proof of paternity by one or other of the methods prescribed by law. I should also mention that a bill for a short consequential amendment to the Status of Children Act has also been prepared and will be tabled either later today or at the next meeting of the House (or) sitting of the House.  However, this bill will not be brought into force unless or until Bill # 3 completes its passage through both Houses followed by approval in the referendum. Bill #4 : The Bahamas Constitution (Amendment) (No.4) Bill, 2014 Finally, Bill #4 seeks to end discrimination based on sex. This involves the insertion of the word “sex” in Article 26 of the Constitution so as to make it unconstitutional to discriminate based on whether someone is male or female. It is for me to caution, however, that this bill makes it clear that the existing exceptions will continue to apply.  In particular, this bill will not make same-sex marriages lawful. Such unions are already treated as void under the Matrimonial Causes Act and the genesis of this particular legal position pre-dates the Independence Constitution. This will not change under the proposed amendments to Article 26. Mr. Speaker: Before closing, I wish to advise that preliminary preparations are already underway for the “Citizenship Commission” recommended by the Constitutional Commission in its Report. I expect to be able to announce the members of this commission in the near future. The purpose of this new commission will be to study and definitively address the status of the numerous persons who were born in The Bahamas, albeit to non-Bahamian parents, and who have never known any home other than The Bahamas.  As the Constitutional Commission has so sagely warned, we ignore this problem at our peril. The focus for today, however, rightfully rests on the four bills that will be tabled very shortly. The changes to the Constitution foreshadowed by these bills will not only help remediate the problem of structural gender inequality and discrimination in our country but will also assist in bringing greater inclusiveness and cohesion to family structures while at the same time ensuring that The Bahamas lives up to its international obligations in these matters. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for your indulgence. __  Read More →

Trenee Gibson [27-year-old] was unemployed and living in Miami… 27-year-old Trenee Gibson Nassau, Bahamas – A young Grand Bahama woman has been caught on the wrong side of the law in the United States. Trenee Gibson, [27-years-old] we understand, has been formally charged  in a Miami Dade Courtroom with fraud somewhere as high as $20,000. She was arrested last night by Miami Dade Officers. Additionally, Gibson has also been charged with Grand Theft in the 3rd degree and Credit Card fraud while using stolen identity just under $100. BP teams on the ground in the US have alerted us that a number of these incidents are occurring. Gibson is now being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on 7000 NW 41 Street Miami, Florida. We understand the young Grand Bahama woman was not studying in the US, but was laying low in that part of the world without a job. Her status in the US is still unknown. Perhaps this is why so many Bahamians are finding it difficult to enter the US these days. She – we know – will be extradited back to the Bahamas and hopefully will head up some Government Union, or maybe run for public office. WHO KNOWS! We report yinner decide!  Read More →

POLICE has launched an island – wide manhunt for two men following a shooting incident that has left a man dead and another detained in hospital last night. According to reports, shortly before 12:00midnight, two men were visiting a female friend at a home located at Sandra Drive, Sunset Park, when two men armed with handguns emerged from nearby bushes and shot them multiple times. The victims were transported to hospital in critical condition, where one of them who was shot to the chest area succumbed to his injuries. The other man who was shot in the leg is detained in stable condition. The suspects are described as two dark males who wore a white shirts and dark pants.  Read More →