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‘FUNDS NEEDED FOR COVID FIGHT’
NAUGHTY: THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY OF NEW CABINET
- SEE PAGE EIGHT
Darville warns that health system needs money in a hurry By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said there is a need for emergency funding for the public healthcare system as it grapples with the COVID-19 crisis. Dr Darville was appointed health and wellness minister during a swearing-in ceremony at Baha Mar on Monday.
Since the appointment, Dr Darville told reporters he has visited several healthcare facilities and held numerous meetings with health officials to get a better idea of the country’s fight against COVID-19. “My initial assessment is we have a lot of work to do and there’s definitely a need for emergency funding,” he said yesterday.
LEWIS FIRST TO HINT AT RUN FOR LEADERSHIP By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
CENTRAL Grand Bahama MP-elect Iram Lewis said if he has the support, he would possibly challenge the leadership post of the Free National Movement when it becomes available at a convention in November. However, he said such a run is not priority at this time. Mr Lewis told The
HERE COME THE JABS
SEE PAGE FOUR
Tribune his main concern is getting back to work in his constituency to hold frank discussions with his council and constituents on what led to the FNM’s overall defeat at the polls last week. Mr Lewis was among three former Cabinet ministers who retained their seats in the election. In addition to him there was former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and SEE PAGE THREE
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell and US Chargé d’Affaires Usha Pitts sending off vaccinations to the Family Islands yesterday. See PAGE FOUR for the latest on the COVID fight. Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
DAVIS: VAT CUT COMING ‘FIX OUR DEBT OR WE’LL - ONCE THE DUST SETTLES BE A NATION FOR SALE’ By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.met
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said his administration will work on implementing campaign promises such as increased minimum wage and reducing value
added tax to ten percent “as soon as the dust settles”. Speaking to reporters yesterday, he noted the administration has to put certain things in place. “As soon as the dust settles,” Mr Davis said. SEE PAGE FIVE
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
REALTOR Mario Carey yesterday voiced fears The Bahamas will become “a nation for sale” unless it quickly gets its $10.4bn national debt and associated economic and fiscal
crises under control. Mr Carey said this nation might be forced to sell-off key national assets and patrimony unless it rapidly reckons with a growing debt mountain that is presently bigger than the Bahamian economy.
FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
CULMER BLASTS ‘GUSSIE MAE’ CABINET FREE National Movement chairman Carl Culmer criticised the Davis administration’s “Gussie Mae” Cabinet, which he says contradicts the Progressive Liberal Party’s promises of fiscal prudence. Twenty-two Cabinet ministers are a part of the Davis Cabinet while seven members of Parliament were sworn in as parliamentary secretaries yesterday, prompting concern from the FNM.
FNM chairman Carl Culmer. “Today, several more individuals joined the already crowded field of PLP MPs that have been appointed by the prime
minister to either serve in the Cabinet or as parliamentary secretary,” Mr Culmer said in a statement. “Despite their bogus pandering to the less fortunate and an already struggling middle-class during the most recent electoral campaign, and multiple promises of fiscal prudence and conservatism, I note another ‘Gussie Mae’ PLP Cabinet has been formed.
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE THREE
DIANE PHILLIPS: PRIME MINISTER, KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE
- SEE PAGE NINE