Bahamas News
Bahamas DPM says, ‘The country is moving in the right direction’
#Bahamas, February 23, 2018 – Nassau – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Peter Turnquest said based on the performance in the first half of fiscal year 2017/18, the country is moving in the right direction.
“Compared with the first six months of Fiscal Year 2016/17, the fiscal performance has turned in a $92.3 million or 61.4 per cent reduction in the overall deficit—to $198.0 million, from $290.3 million in Fiscal Year 2016/17,” the DPM said in a ‘State of the Economy Report,’ hosted by the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation at Atlantis, Paradise Island, February 21, 2018.
He said gains in revenues of $24.8 million are supported by a $67.5 million or 43.6 per cent reduction in spending; comparisons with the budget show revenues running at some 41 per cent of the target and adjusted recurrent and capital spending, at 44.7 per cent and 33 per cent, of their respective targets.
“We believe that the measures taken, and those in the pipeline, have the ability to help restore fiscal discipline and place the finances on a sustainable path for the benefit of all Bahamians. However, we would acknowledge that these measures alone will not get us to where we want and need to be.
“Most importantly, we must grow our economy and do so in a sustained way; additionally, if our fiscal plans are to be sustainable, they need to be reinforced by other administrative and legislative initiatives designed to bolster credibility, in a transparent and accountable manner.”
The DPM explained that last year, he introduced to the public, the public financial management reform measures underway to deliver more efficient and effective allocation and use of public funds, by addressing cumbersome processes and inconsistent and outdated practices in our public financial management activities.
“An important element of the Public Financial Management reform agenda focuses on bringing greater transparency, fairness and efficiency to bear on public procurement activities.”
He said public procurement is big business for governments, and equally as big are the temptations and opportunities for corruption, collusion, fraud and manipulation.
“For The Bahamas, more than $1.475 billion or an estimated 13 per cent of Gross Domestic Product was spent in FY2016/17 to acquire goods and services —underscoring the imperative for the Government to obtain value for monies spent.”
The DPM said the first stage in these reform efforts was marked by the recently launched pilot phase of the Government eProcurement portal—a single access point—where all announcements, documents and information about tender participants, summary of bid evaluation reports, and notice of procurement awards will be published.
“All suppliers interested in doing business with the Government have been invited to register their businesses by uploading all of the requisite documents via the portal.”
He said work is also well advanced on finalizing the draft public procurement legislation that will bring the regulatory framework closer in line with international standards and best practices. Some of the areas covered in the legislation are the establishment of a public procurement department; a public procurement board, and a public review tribunal to provide persons with an avenue for recourse.
“The most critical element of this procurement reform will be the requirement that all tenders and bid offers be published publicly online and that all successful bid offers accepted by government also be awarded. This, ladies and gentlemen, changes the game for all stakeholders.”
The DPM explained that these same principles of transparency and competition are behind the Government’s recent decision to engage the services of the Caribbean Development Bank to formulate a Public, Private Partnership. Having clear and transparent policy guidance for all stakeholders will ensure that the Government is identifying the right private sector partner and carrying out the required analysis of all risks, while easing the burden on public resources.
DPM Turnquest said, “These reforms are long overdue, but once completed will increase the ease of doing business with the Government, make procurement processes more transparent and competitive, and are generally supportive of the Government’s overall goal of restoring the public’s trust in its management of public funds.
By: Llonella Gilbert (BIS)
Photo Caption: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Peter Turnquest brings remarks at the ‘State of the Economy Report’ hosted by the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) at Atlantis, February 21, 2018. Looking on from left are CEO, BCCEC, Edison Sumner and Chairman, BCCEC, Mike Maura, Jr.
(BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
DEAR EDITOR,
Sometimes the best ideas come from experiences far away from home.
It was while I was living in Europe that I saw how excited people were about England’s iconic double-decker buses. It was a symbol of culture – and visitors looked forward to the ride as an experience in itself rather than just a method of transportation.
That sparked a thought: What if we brought that same excitement to The Bahamas, but made it uniquely Bahamian?
In November 2024, that thought became 2 Storeys Tours. I wanted visitors to see Nassau in a way they had not been able to before. That meant they could come straight off a cruise ship and onto a double-decker to see what makes our country what it is – to see our beautiful waters and to discover what makes us Bahamian.
We wanted to create something memorable, something visitors would associate with their Bahamian vacation, just as people associate double-decker buses with England.
The bus may catch your attention, but The Bahamas is what makes the experience unforgettable.
We also believe tourism should create opportunities for Bahamians.
We started less than five years ago with one very used double decker bus.
Now thanks to cruise ship business, we have quadrupled the size of our little fleet. We now have four shiny new red and blue buses, so we can say Welcome Ashore in style.
Depending on the season, between 70 and 80 percent of our business is cruise-passenger driven. Even during the slower season for hotels, the cruise ships arrive filled with people looking to explore historic Nassau and we are giving them the closest to a bird’s eye view as they can get. And they love it.
Turning an idea into a functioning business has been an exciting journey, but certainly not without challenges. From planning and preparation to finally seeing our buses on the road, the experience has taught us patience, perseverance, and the importance of believing in a vision.
We are proud of how far we’ve come, and even more excited about what lies ahead.
Building partnerships helped us to get to where we are today – building them further will take us to where we can reach tomorrow.
Our ambition is to make 2 Storeys Tours a recognised and trusted name in Bahamian tourism. We want to continue improving our tours, developing new experiences, embracing environmentally responsible tourism, and building meaningful relationships – and eventually take the 2 Storeys Tours experience beyond Nassau to other islands.
Above all, we want to build something that lasts.
Looking back, it’s incredible to think that an observation while living in Europe could lead to a business right here at home.
What began as an idea became a business with a purpose, and we’re only getting started.
Our inspiration came from abroad. Our passion comes from home. And our future is proudly Bahamian.
By: KEEVON MAYNARD
President, 2 Storeys Tours
Bahamas News
Federal Investigation into Florida Turnpike Tragedy that Killed Three Children of Bahamian Mother
NTSB examining roadside assistance driver’s actions, SUV speed and seat belt use after six people perish in fiery collision
ORLANDO, FLORIDA — October 29, 2026 — Federal investigators have joined the investigation into a horrific Florida Turnpike collision that claimed six lives, including all three children of a Bahamian mother, as questions intensify over what caused the deadly crash.
The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has confirmed that it is opening an investigation into the October 23 accident, which occurred around 9:31 p.m. near mile marker 252 in Orange County.
The agency’s involvement brings federal scrutiny to a tragedy that has devastated several families and prompted an extraordinary
outpouring of sympathy and disbelief.
Among those killed were siblings Charles Milton, Jakara Milton and Dalvena Green, the three adult children of Marshall Clarke-Milton and her husband, Charles Milton Sr.
The siblings were traveling with three others to Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, reportedly on their first trip together.
They never arrived.
FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS EXAMINE WHAT WENT WRONG
The NTSB confirmed to FOX 35 Orlando that its investigation will examine the training and performance of the roadside assistance driver, the actions of the SUV driver, including speed, and whether the occupants were wearing seat belts.
The agency investigates serious transportation accidents to identify safety failures and recommend measures that could prevent similar tragedies.
Its involvement does not establish wrongdoing by either driver.
The Florida Highway Patrol is conducting a separate investigation into the collision.
According to the preliminary police account, a Road Ranger roadside assistance truck had been parked in the highway median before its driver received instructions to assist a disabled box truck on the opposite shoulder.
As the Road Ranger moved across the northbound lanes, it collided with a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse carrying six adults.
Both vehicles left the roadway and caught fire.
All six occupants of the SUV died at the scene. The Road Ranger driver survived with minor injuries.
MOTHER CHALLENGES EARLY ACCOUNT
Witnesses reportedly told investigators that the SUV was traveling at high speed without its headlights illuminated.
However, those observations have not been established as the definitive cause of the collision.
Clarke-Milton has challenged suggestions that her children or their companions were responsible, urging investigators to examine the evidence before reaching conclusions.
She wants investigators to establish the SUV’s actual speed and determine whether its headlights were operating.
The family’s concerns underscore the importance of the continuing investigations, particularly given the movement of the roadside assistance vehicle across active highway lanes.
ALL THREE CHILDREN LOST
For Clarke-Milton, the investigation unfolds against an almost incomprehensible personal tragedy.
She lost all three of her children simultaneously.
In an emotional interview with FOX 35 Orlando, the grieving mother described the terrible feeling that overcame her when she could not reach them.
“My heart sank,” she said, recalling the moment she feared her children were involved.
The siblings were among six people whose lives ended during what should have been an enjoyable evening together.
The other victims included Timothy Williams and Shawn Palmer. A sixth person’s identity had not been publicly confirmed in the latest reports reviewed.
The family’s heartbreak has resonated across The Bahamas and beyond, with expressions of sympathy accompanying calls for answers.
SEARCH FOR ANSWERS CONTINUES
The Florida Highway Patrol has indicated that a crash report is expected within approximately ten days of the accident.
The NTSB’s investigation will examine broader transportation safety concerns, including the operation of roadside assistance vehicles and the circumstances surrounding the collision.
For the grieving families, the findings cannot reverse the tragedy.
But they may establish what happened on that stretch of Florida’s Turnpike and whether anything could have prevented six people from losing their lives.
For one Bahamian mother, the loss is especially devastating.
Three children left for an evening of entertainment. Not one came home.
Nassau, The Bahamas, October 22, 2026 — The National Computer Incident Response Team of The Bahamas (CIRT-BS) has issued a cybersecurity advisory warning businesses, government institutions and other organisations about the growing threat posed by Akira ransomware, a cybercriminal operation capable of stealing sensitive information, disrupting networks and demanding ransom payments.
Active since March 2023, Akira operates through a Ransomware-as-a-Service model, with affiliates exploiting weaknesses in computer networks to gain unauthorised access.
Once inside, attackers can steal confidential data, disable recovery systems and encrypt files, preventing organisations from accessing critical information.
Particularly concerning is Akira’s use of double extortion, threatening to publish stolen information unless victims pay. Some attacks involve data theft without encryption.
The October 22 advisory identifies vulnerabilities involving Cisco and SonicWall firewalls, VPN services, Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol, Veeam backup systems and outdated Windows and Linux operating systems. VMware ESXi and Nutanix AHV environments are also potential targets.
Attackers may exploit unpatched software, stolen login credentials and inadequately secured remote-access applications, including AnyDesk and RustDesk.
Warning signs include unexpected administrator accounts, unusual remote logins, unauthorised software installations, suspicious backup activity, mass file changes and ransom notes.
CIRT-BS recommends immediate security updates, multifactor authentication, restricted remote access, stronger network monitoring and secure backups maintained separately from operational systems.
Organisations should also remove unnecessary internet exposure of remote desktop services, limit administrative privileges and regularly test backup restoration.
The advisory does not identify any confirmed Akira attack against a Bahamian organisation but highlights vulnerabilities that could expose institutions to serious financial and operational disruption.
Cybersecurity incidents can be reported to CIRT-BS at soc@cirt.bs or through its official website.
