Bahamasair on-time but losing passengers
The National Flag Carrier reported a 14.4% drop in international passenger numbers and a 15% drop in domestic bookings during the second half of 2009. That translates to a drop from 278,000 to 238,000 in international bookings and a drop from 178,000 to 151,000 on domestic bookings. Click the headline for more on that story. On a positive note for the airline, 75% of Bahamasair flights were on-time during the same period. Also, the airline was able to save more than 1.2 million by doing its own maintenance on the Dash-8 fleet.

Bahamas signs agreements with Sweden, Norway, Spain
By the end of the week, The Bahamas should have met the standards required by the OECD as it signs agreements with Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Spain. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development said The Bahamas must have 12 Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs) signed by the end of the month.

'Companion flies free' to Family Islands
A source at the Ministry of Tourism have told The Guardian that Bahamians will soon be able to get an free ticket when they travel to the Family Islands. The source said the 'Companion Flies Free' program is already offered to US travelers. The offer is expected to be in place before the end of the month.

Businesses have one month to apply for $40,000
Businesses are urged to apply for thousands of dollars in grants in a program designed to encourage Caribbean exports. The Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) begins accepting applications today for two types of grants, one for up to $6,826 dollars and one for up to $40,956. Priority will be given to companies involved in new sectors such as health and wellness, information and communication technology (ICT) and professional services Unlike a loan, businesses that are awarded the grants will have no obligation to repay the money. Click here
to download the applications.

Bahamians should set their clocks one hour ahead when Daylight savings time begins at 2am on March 14. The schedule will continue until November 7.

The judicial investigation of the Elizabeth by-election begins today, laying the ground rules and setting a date for the start of the case. Former Member of Parliament and Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest said he could not remember a time when an seat in the House of Assembly had been vacant for more than a few weeks.

The Elizabeth Estates seat has been empty since Malcom Adderley resigned two months ago.

There is no record of an election like the recent two-vote win in Elizabeth. Cat Island MP and lead attorney for the Progressive Liberal Party, Philip 'Brave' Davis said as far as he knows no candidate has ever invoked Section 69 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, which allows the court to decide on protested votes if there are enough to change the outcome of the election.

Read more in The Nassau Guardian here.

Balmoral to launch $15m phase two
Developers of the $100 million Balmoral community are launching stage two having already sold all the units available. The $15 million expansion will start in the next three months.

Buyers invest $84m in government
The Central Bank has sold $84.1 million in Treasury bills that will mature in three months. Investors buy the T-bills at a discounted rate, betting that the government will pay them the full price when they mature. Treasury bills are considered one of the safest investments.

Air Canada makes first trip to Exuma
Air Canada begins nonstop air service from Toronto to Exuma this Sunday and is expected to bring as many as 93 visitors on what will be a weekly flight. Airline executives decided to start the flight to coincide with the new Sandals Emerald Bay Resort which recently got a $20 million makeover.

$1m boost for family island famers
To make sure fruits and vegetables from the family islands reach customers in the best condition, the government is installing coolers and upgrading storage areas in Nassau and Grand Bahama. Agriculture Minister Larry Cartwright said , "When you put produce on the boat in Cat Island and Long Island, they go in the heated hatch of the boat - the storage hole - by the time it gets to Nassau it's all bruised and battered".