NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas government has warned nationals travelling to the United States to be careful about their possession as they embark upon shopping expeditions in the North American country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this “is the traditional season for Bahamians to shop before back to school and while shopping may not be paying particular attention to their documents and possessions.
Bahamas
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – Foreign Minister Frederick Mitchell says the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) had detained 17 Cubans at Cay Lobos on Sunday and that the Perry Christie administration is seeking to repatriate them swiftly to Havana.
“We have advised the Cuban government that they are in the centre and we want them repatriated swiftly to Cuba in accordance with the provisions of our agreement with Cuba,” Mitchell said, adding that the Cubans, whom he did not give much information about, had been brought to the capital.
NASSAU, The Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas has recorded a decrease in serious crimes since the start of the year.
This includes a 24 per cent decrease in the number of murders “despite the recent reports of murders that we have heard about.” There has also been a 16 per cent drop in Crimes Against Property.
Nottage said the downward trend in crimes for the first two months of 2013 follows a pattern of decreases in crimes – including Murder and Armed Robbery – to close out the year 2012.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – Health authorities here have announced a voluntary recall of Loratadine Syrup which is manufactured in India. A statement from the Ministry of Health said that the syrup is manufactured by Health 2000 Inc. and the batch numbers are being recalled are LB-1202 and LB-1212, manufactured in May 2012 and having an expiry date of April 2015. “The syrup is being recalled due to the fact that the product appears cloudy on inspection. It should be clear when consumed.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas government has indicated that it will most probably hold a referendum on oil development during the latter part of 2015, if present exploration efforts prove that there is sufficient oil to economically transform the country “for many generations to come”.
“Estimates suggest that exploration data, sufficient to answer the question of whether we have petroleum reserves in commercially viable quantities, would probably not be available until the latter part of 2014 or early 2015.
BAHAMAS - The inability of American lawmakers to agree on budgetary measures threatens small Caribbean economies, asserts a former finance minister.
"A US fiscal cliff can be an economic cliff for small states," contends Zhivargo Laing, a noted Caribbean economist and former finance minister for the Bahamas.
"Small Caribbean economies rely significantly on trade with the US, either through tourism or some other economic activity," he added "and especially share concerns about US economic and fiscal prospects."
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC - The Ministry of Transport and Aviation says a Haitian “sloop” confiscated during a recent drug enforcement operation had sunk in the harbour of Inagua on Sunday, spilling more than 200 gallons of a mixture of oil and diesel fuel into the water.
It said that incident occurred during the night when the 75 foot wooden vessel sank in adverse weather conditions.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC - National Security Minister Bernard J. Nottage says five Cuban nationals have been arrested after they were found on board a 40 foot vessel fishing in Bahamian waters. “This is the first arrest of a Cuban vessel in Bahamian waters since the signing of the Maritime Delimitation Agreement with Cuba in October 2011 and the enactment of regulations against shark fishing in July, 2011as per the Fisheries Resources (Jurisdiction and Conservation) Act,” Nottage said.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC- Law enforcement officials say they have apprehended nearly 100 illegal Haitian immigrants after landing at Landrail Point in Crooked Island. Police said that they have so far detained 92 people and “along with residents are continuing their search for the remaining immigrants”. The police did not say how many others were had entered Crooked island illegally after the “Haitian sloop” landed at Landrail Point late on Tuesday.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas government says it will not increase taxes despite inheriting nearly US$100 million in unpaid bills by the previous government. Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Michael Halkitis, speaking during the debate on the 2012/2013 Mid-Year Budget Statement on the six months ending December 31, 2012, said the unpaid bills include more than US$63 million in unpaid cheques and US$23 million in expenses from the 52 weeks jobs programme.