In an ongoing attempt to qualify for the World Athletics (WA) World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, this summer, national record holder in the men's decathlon Kendrick Thompson was in competition at the Jacksonville Athletic Club (JAC) Combined Events Qualifier at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, over the past two days. Thompson was superb again, ...

The Central Bank of The Bahamas has warned that although the economic recovery continues, counter-inflation measures in the United States could slow the momentum gained in the past several months.

In response to a forty-year high in inflation, major central banks have tightened their monetary policies, with both the United States Federal Reserve and the Bank of England increasing their benchmark interest rates in recent months, the Central Bank noted.

This is expected to have an negative impact on the global economy in the near to medium term, and could hit The Bahamas sooner than expected.

Elevated international fuel costs could weaken the travel sector’s competitiveness, while the major central banks’ counter-inflation policies could erode the travel spending means of consumers in key source markets. Nonetheless, new and ongoing foreign investment-led projects, along with post-hurricane reconstruction works, are projected to provide continued stimulus to the construction sector,” the Central Bank said.

“In the labor market, the unemployment rate is anticipated to remain above pre-pandemic levels, with any job gains concentrated mainly in the construction sector and the rehiring of tourism sector employees.”

Inflation is projected to reach a high of 7.3 percent according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), much of it imported from the US, which has seen a 7.7 percent increase in recent months.

The last time The Bahamas saw inflation at 7.3 percent was 1991.

“In terms of prices, the domestic inflation rate is expected to be elevated in the near term, underpinned by the increase in international oil prices, higher costs for other imported goods and supply chain shortages, related to the ongoing geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe,” the Central Bank said.

Prime Minister Philip Davis announced several tax cuts planned for the upcoming 2022/2023 fiscal year, which he said are aimed at helping to offset the rising cost of living due to inflation.

Among the cuts is the plan to make roughly three dozen food items duty free, while also reducing the duty rate of some building, electrical and manufacturing materials.

Seven players from Grand Bahama will help make up The Bahamas' Special Olympics soccer team, scheduled to compete in the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games June 3-12. Thanks to a donation from Playtime Sports, these players will do so with brand-new soccer boots. "The stylish, black Adidas Predator soccer shoes with rubber cleats are not ...

Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle said yesterday he will demit office on July 5 after serving in the post since March 30, 2020.

“At some point, the prime minister and the Cabinet or the Cabinet through the prime minister will announce who the next commissioner will be,” Rolle said.

“I just ask you, members of the press, to wait for that and let it be done properly. As indicated, and I don’t like when you get to the end of your tenure and people are making mischief. I say to the senior officers when I met with them, ‘We all serve.’

“We also serve our country and I serve and I am at my pinnacle. I’m actually over time now because I have my 58 weeks vacation. My anniversary was last week.”

Rolle said he wanted to leave in April but decided to stay on because The Bahamas is hosting the Association of Caribbean 

Commissioners of Police’s 36th Annual General Meeting and Conference, which is being held this week.

He described it as his last hurrah.

“When this conference is over, I’ll begin doing my country tour,” Rolle said.

The commissioner said he is very pleased with his time on the force. He said he is also pleased with the performance of officers.

“Of course, y’all can judge me on my performance and whether you think I pass or fail,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to making this transition. I think I’ve done my best and given my best in service. I got grandchildren, now. I’m papa.”

Rolle was asked if he was being forced out as commissioner. He responded by asking who can force out a commissioner of police.

“I said, when y’all asked me in December, that I will leave when I am ready,” Rolle said.

“Persons were making mischief. I know when I joined the police force. I know when it’s time to leave. I don’t need anybody to tell me when it’s time to leave. I just told you that I have 58 weeks vacation and I joined the force on May 16, 1983. We do 40 years.”

Rolle has served as head of the Central Detective Unit (CDU), the commandant of the Police Training Academy and as head of the Anti-Corruption Branch.

During his time at CDU, he “was instrumental in leading the successful conclusion of many serious criminal investigations and placing in excess of 2,400 cases before the Supreme Court”.