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Volume: 121 No.85, March 22, 2024
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BUILDING AND IMPORT PERMITS BRIBE FEARS IDB survey notes impact of corruption and graft on local private sector By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net FIFTY percent of Bahamian companies seeking construction and importrelated permits say they have either been asked, or expect, to pay a bribe to obtain the required approvals, it has been revealed. The Inter-American Development Bank’s
Nod of approval for new monitor company
(IDB) newly-released 2024-2028 country strategy for The Bahamas, which has been obtained by Tribune Business, said the results from a survey of the private sector showed actual graft as well as corruption perceptions continue to undermine the cost and integrity associated with conducting business in this nation. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
BPL RATES ‘AMONG THE HIGHEST’ CONSUMERS PAY IN THE REGION By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIANS are paying “among the highest” electricity prices in the Caribbean even though the base rate is set “below cost” with tariff charges said to be double the global average. The Inter-American
Development Bank’s (IDB) 2024-2028 country strategy for The Bahamas, which has been obtained by Tribune Business, lays out just how much of a raw deal local businesses and households are receiving the state-owned utility monopolies that supply water and electricity services. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
COMMISSIONER of Police Clayton Fernnder while noting the ‘challenges’ of the prior vendor, showed support for new anfle monitor provider Migrafill Electronic Security, who are expected to take over in a ‘week or so’. Photo: Dante Carrer By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net POLICE Commissioner Clayton Fernander said when Migrafill Electronic Security takes over monitoring people on bail in “another week or so”, it will electronically monitor more than 600 people.
National Security Minister Wayne Munroe told The Tribune last week that the government cancelled its contract with Metro Security Solutions and selected the previous service provider to do the work. “Well, we are all aware of the challenges that we were having with SEE PAGE THREE
GOVT CONSIDERS GIVING BENCH OR JURY TRIAL CHOICE By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder said government might consider changing the status quo of the judicial system so people could choose between bench and jury trials. His comment came after the current and three former chief justices
ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder emphasised the benefits of bench trials last week,
highlighting their efficiency, among other things. Mr Pinder said last week that the Davis administration is unlikely to host a referendum to remove the constitutional right to a jury trial. However, he said yesterday: “I think giving that option in law is a feasible approach, and that’s a proven approach. In
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SEE PAGE FIVE
NAECOB: ONLY 35 PERCENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE REGISTERED By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmnnings@tribunemedia.net ONLY 35 per cent of public schools are registered with the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council (NAECOB), with officials hoping to register all public institutions by June, according to the Ministry of Education acting Director Dominique McCartney-Russell. SEE PAGE FOUR