Last evening, I was alerted to a video that is in circulation purporting
to be children being abused at one of our Children’s Homes. As a matter
of fact, it was suggested that it was the Children’s Emergency Hostel.
As a result of that, I caused some preliminary inquiries to be done and
those inquiries suggested to me that it was necessary to launch a full
investigation and so that investigation commenced this morning. I want
to make it clear, that in no way, form, or fashion, do we support any
form of abuse and/or violence against children and/or adults – be they
girls, boys, men and/or women.
As the Minister responsible for the eight Children’s Homes, with
approximately 150 children throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas...
“We must intensify public health interventions to limit exposure to this virus”
Washington,
D.C., January 19, 2021 (PAHO)— The Region of the Americas must
intensify public health interventions on social distancing, limiting
gatherings, wearing masks and hand washing to limit exposure to the
COVID-19 pandemic, Pan American Health Organization Director Carissa F.
Etienne said today.
“Our region, and our world, is failing to
control coronavirus. In far too many places public policies are not
congruent...
As the Royal Bahamas Defence Force continues to enforce the
Commander Defence Force, Commodore Raymond King’s strategic objective of
strengthening relationships with stakeholders and the community at
large as a socially corporate citizen, members of Entry 46/Woman Entry
16 recently joined forces to feed a community.
During a rainy
and cool atmosphere on Saturday January 16, 2021, near the Grants Town
Corps center, past and current members came together to be a blessing to
the Bain and Grants Town Community...
Officials at the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, Ministry
of Social Services and Urban Development, have partnered with
counterparts at the Office of the Attorney General to register almost
600 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) throughout the Commonwealth
of The Bahamas as Non-Profit Organizations.
The
collaboration resulted in the successful registration/approval of 580 of
the 900 NGOs, Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) and Community-Based
Organizations (CBOs) that made application. The process is ongoing...
The Bahamas is already experiencing the impacts of climate change and is
approximately 30 years away from irreversible effects if holistic
interventions are not undertaken, a University of The Bahamas (UB)
climate change expert has warned. It is a reality that, if left
unchecked, could mean hundreds of millions of dollars in losses and
other detrimental human impacts for a country that would literally be
fighting to keep its head above water.
“In comparison to the rest of the Caribbean, we are heads and shoulders
above other countries in terms of people and land at risk to sea level
rise,” said UB’s Director of the Climate Change Adaptation and
Resilience Research (CCARR) Centre Dr. Adelle Thomas. “[The year] 2050
is not that far away.”
Dr. Thomas, a human environment geographer, made her remarks during a
panel discussion on “National Emergency Management Perspectives and
Options”...
The House of Assembly’s Select Committee on Natural Resources makes its first Site Visit, January 19, 2021 in North Andros.
The
Committee Members expected to make the trip include: Michael A.
Foulkes, MP, Chairman, Shonel Ferguson, MP, Picewell Forbes, MP, Vaughn
Miller, MP, Reece Chipman, MP, Shanendon Cartwright, MP, Carlton Bowleg,
MP (Area Representative and Committee Guest) and Rashad Flowers, Asst.
Clerk, House of Assembly...
An exciting new collaboration has developed between the Bahamas
Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) and non-profit Saving
the Blue!
Andros Island is a hidden gem in the Bahamas Archipelago with
expansive marine ecosystems, including mosaics of mangrove-fringed
creeks, vast sand flats scattered with seagrass beds, and the third
largest fringing coral reef in the world that connects these nearshore
habitats to the deep pelagic zone known as the tongue of the ocean.
However, despite hosting nearly pristine habitats, almost nothing is
known about the sharks and rays that occupy its waters.
Throughout the past two weeks, students and faculty
from BAMSI joined researchers from Saving the Blue to conduct scientific
surveys...
The Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) has resumed its full operation at
the PMH Rand Lab (Morgue), from Monday - Friday 8am-4pm, inclusive of
autopsy and identification services.
Hospital Management would
like to thank the public for its understanding and patience during the
temporary suspension of autopsy and identification services last week...
Grand Bahama is now home to the first of all CIBC FirstCaribbean branches in the country to offer Smart ABM technology.
In
addition to other upgrades, the bank’s new, state-of-the-art Pioneer’s
Way branch in Freeport features three ultramodern ABM machines and a
drive-thru ABM...
The public health crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted
in the loss of lives, jobs, livelihoods and much more. The economic
hardship faced by our people due to restrictive measures implemented by
the government is a direct consequence of the shutdown of our number one
industry – tourism. This pandemic has highlighted the importance of
diversifying our economy and prioritizing food security.
Against
this backdrop, the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) acknowledges the
importance of addressing the economic crisis and the role of an opened
economy...
BPC, the Caribbean and Atlantic margin focused oil and gas company
today repeats that, as previously disclosed publicly, in accordance with
strict legal requirements and as stipulated by the Government of The
Bahamas, it has in place all insurances required for their exploratory
well, Perseverance #1...
Along with so many other Bahamians, I was saddened to hear of the
passing of Mrs. Zelma Dean, a veteran educator, who was also deeply
committed to national and community service.
A former teacher,
school administrator and Director of Education, Zelma Dean had a deep
appreciation of the role of education in national development, including
the cultivation of responsible and engaged citizens.
She was among a generation of educators who touched the lives of thousands of students and who burned with a passion...
The Board of Trustees of University of The Bahamas (UB) has appointed a
Presidential Search Committee (PSC) to establish the process by which
the new President of the University will be selected and hired.
Appointed in November 2020, the PSC has secured the services of the
firm, AGB Search, as the search consultant. AGB Search has conducted
over 200 searches for Presidents and Chancellors of colleges,
universities, university systems, and related associations and
foundations...
The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Ministry of Education
in conjunction and collaboration with Bahamas Golf Federation and
Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy recently placed golf on the curricula of
government and private schools on three levels as a means to open
another door for future generations. The announcement as made at a
press conference on Friday, January 15, 2021 at Courtyard Marriott. As a
result of this effort the four entities will hold the inaugural 2021
Bahamas Interschool Golf Championships the week of March 22 according to
golf coach Georgette Rolle of Fourteen Clubs Golf Academy. Director of
Sports Tim Munnings (centre right in group photo) and Director of
Education Marcellus Taylor (centre left in group photo)...
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) notes the recent announcement of
the appointment of a COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee (Committee)
by the Prime Minister.
It is disappointing that appointments to
the Committee was not inclusive of key stakeholders within the
healthcare industry. This shows the lack of respect and regard for
Bahamian professionals in general and the local physician community in
particular.
See enclosed official remarks, Canada-Bahamas Virtual Business Mission (with The High Commission of Canada) delivered January 15, 2021 by the Minister of State for Finance and for Grand Bahama, Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson:
Good Morning.
I welcome the visiting
delegation for this Canada-Bahamas Virtual Business Mission. The Bahamas
and Canada have a longstanding tradition of cooperation and trade...
BTC gifted five community organizations with monetary support to
help make the holidays a little brighter for those in need during the
holiday season. The Children’s Emergency Hostel, Hands for Hunger,
Elizabeth Children’s Home, FOAM and Reach out and Touch Ministries in
Grand Bahama all received donations.
BTC CEO,
Garry Sinclair said, “The pandemic has affected us all this year, and as
a corporate citizen we believe that it is our responsibility to support
our customers and our communities particularly when they really need it
most...
Governor General His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Cornelius A. Smith
delivered the Old Testament reading during 209th Annual Session Official
Worship Service of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the
Americas (MCCA) Bahamas/Turks and Caicos Islands Conference held at
Rhodes Memorial Methodist Church on Sunday morning, January 17, 2021.
The Ministry of Finance hosted over 450 participants last
week in two informational webinars on the reporting process for the
Commercial Entities (Substance Requirements) Act 2018 (“CESRA”).
In
a strengthened effort to support businesses in meeting their reporting
obligations, the Ministry designed a three-part webinar series for
business stakeholders to learn more about the legislation, the reporting
process, and to address the various challenges businesses have been
experiencing...
“We must intensify public health interventions to limit exposure to this virus”
The House of Assembly’s Select Committee on Natural Resources makes its first Site Visit, January 19, 2021 in North Andros.
The Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) has resumed its full operation at
the PMH Rand Lab (Morgue), from Monday - Friday 8am-4pm, inclusive of
autopsy and identification services. 
The public health crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted
in the loss of lives, jobs, livelihoods and much more. The economic
hardship faced by our people due to restrictive measures implemented by
the government is a direct consequence of the shutdown of our number one
industry – tourism. This pandemic has highlighted the importance of
diversifying our economy and prioritizing food security.
BPC, the Caribbean and Atlantic margin focused oil and gas company
today repeats that, as previously disclosed publicly, in accordance with
strict legal requirements and as stipulated by the Government of The
Bahamas, it has in place all insurances required for their exploratory
well, Perseverance #1...
Along with so many other Bahamians, I was saddened to hear of the
passing of Mrs. Zelma Dean, a veteran educator, who was also deeply
committed to national and community service.
The Board of Trustees of University of The Bahamas (UB) has appointed a
Presidential Search Committee (PSC) to establish the process by which
the new President of the University will be selected and hired.
Appointed in November 2020, the PSC has secured the services of the
firm, AGB Search, as the search consultant. AGB Search has conducted
over 200 searches for Presidents and Chancellors of colleges,
universities, university systems, and related associations and
foundations...
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) notes the recent announcement of
the appointment of a COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee (Committee)
by the Prime Minister.
See enclosed official remarks, Canada-Bahamas Virtual Business Mission (with The High Commission of Canada) delivered January 15, 2021 by the Minister of State for Finance and for Grand Bahama, Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson:
