The Ministry of Health confirms today that there is one additional
confirmed case of COVID-19 in Grand Bahama. This brings the total
number of confirmed cases to fifteen (15). Currently, there are three
(3) confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Grand Bahama and twelve (12)
confirmed cases in New Providence.
The
latest confirmed case is a fifty-seven (57) year old female with no
history of travel and no known direct link to previous cases. The
person is hospitalized and remains in stable condition...
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation is following guidance
from the Bahamas Ministry of Health and other government agencies
pertaining to the country’s Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-19.
Please visit the Bahamas Ministry of Health’s website for the latest
information on COVID-19 cases in The Bahamas. Current and future
patients are to be isolated in quarantine following the guidelines
outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO)...
With many countries of the Americas now reporting community transmission
of COVID-19, there is still a short window of time for governments to
slow the spread of the virus, reduce the impact on health systems and
save lives, said the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director,
Carissa F. Etienne, during a media briefing today.
As of 31
March 2020, three months after the first case of COVID-19 was reported
in China, there have been 188,949 confirmed cases in the Americas and
3,561 people have lost their lives.
On the 24th March, 2020, the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
announced its decision to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a result
of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Further
to this announcement The Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) advised the
Ministry of its support for and compliance with this decision...
Pursuant to Order 5 (1) (m) of the Emergency Powers (Covid 19)(No. 2)
Order, 2020 I HEREBY exempt the following businesses from the provisions
of Order 5-
laundromats and wash houses from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m...
Pursuant to Order 5 (1) (m) of the Emergency Powers (Covid l 9)(No. 2)
Order, 2020 I HEREBY exempt the following businesses from the provisions
of Order 5 -
The Department of Road Traffic from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. for the purpose of facilitating the registration and licensing of
motor vehicles...
With the current curfew in place due to COVID-19, our new norm can be
trying our nerves! The new measures like working from home, social
distancing, and staying in are contributors for conflicting feelings or
situations.
What happens if you are in a household and not everyone gets along in
harmony? Or, you get along and are enjoying the break away from a toxic
work environment or co-worker – how will you handle the stress when you
return to the job? People tend to avoid situations they do have not
control over.
Conflict specialist and mediator, Caryl Lashley, a Barrister with more
than 40 year’s-experience has been working for decades with clients in
the areas of mediation and conflict resolution...
Bahamasair wishes to advise the public that in accordance with the
recently revised Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No.2) Order, the airline’s
operations will remain suspended.
Operations
inclusive of Airport and City Ticket Offices on New Providence and Grand
Bahama will remain closed to the public until further notice...
The Government has had to make special provisions to assist the Offices
of Family Island Administrators, as they work to support tirelessly to
support local communities with implementing the COVID-19 Emergency
Orders.
“With airports closed, movement restricted, and income
streams being disrupted, many Family Island communities are feeling
isolated and afraid. I want them to know that the Government is making
the necessary resources available to assist in the execution of the
COVID-19 Emergency Orders,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Finance, the Hon. Peter Turnquest announced while presenting an update
on the Government’s stimulus measures in response to COVID-19...
Based on the advice given by Public Health officials, the Ministry of
Education made the difficult decision to suspend the physical face to
face instruction that takes place on our school campuses. While this
action was necessary to make every effort to reduce the spread of
COVID-19, the Ministry was and is still committed to executing its
mission of providing quality education to the students of The
Commonwealth of The Bahamas...
The Free National Movement issued the following statement regarding
Monday’s resolution by Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis to extend the
state of emergency to April 8:
“As the severity of the COVID-19
situation grows, elected leaders around the world are enacting responses
in effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Our Prime Minister,
Dr. Hubert Minnis, has acted swiftly, effectively and thoughtfully,
serving as a calming presence to all Bahamians as we deal with this
growing, global pandemic together...
Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis gave keynote remarks at
the Royal Bahamas Police Force Handing Over Ceremony of the Office of
Commissioner of Police, March 30, 2020 at Police Headquarters. He
commended Commissioner Anthony Ferguson on his "extraordinary service to
our country and to the Bahamian people." The Prime Minister then
introduced incoming Commissioner-Designate Paul Rolle, who established
the Force's first Cyber Crime Unit, and assured him of full support...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance stated that last week the
Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) rolled out the Government’s $20
million COVID-19 response, targeted to provide loans to small
businesses, ranging from $5,000 to $300,000. Approved loans will have a
payment grace period of four months.
Partnering financial
institutions will facilitate the actual loan processing-- to include the
vetting of the required information, the approvals, the issuing of
funds, and the collection of payments after the four-month moratorium,
DPM Turnquest explained as he announced an update on the Government’s
stimulus measures...
Regional bank CIBC FirstCaribbean is moving to assist countries across the region to purchase much-needed COVID–19 testing kits.
The
bank, through its charitable arm the FirstCaribbean International
ComTrust Foundation, will donate a total of USD$250,000 toward the
purchase of the kits in the countries across its regional footprint...
Due to forces entirely beyond their control, thousands of self-employed
people who rely on the flow of cruise ship and stopover visitors, are
now unable to make a living over the next few weeks Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest said.
“As
such, the Government has partnered with NIB to design a temporary
programme that will provide weekly payments of $200 to persons who meet
the eligibility criteria, for a period of up to eight weeks. That is, an
eligible person can receive up to $1,600 over the eight-week period,”
DPM Turnquest stated as he announced an update on the government’s
stimulus measures in response to COVID-19...
As the Bahamas copes with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are
here to help our customers and provide flexible financial solutions to
meet their individual needs.
As announced
previously, Scotiabank will offer assistance to customers impacted by
COVID-19. To provide consumers with more choice and to ensure alignment
with regulatory guidance across our region, Scotiabank has announced
updates to the details of the Customer Assistance Program (CAP). ..
A former Chamber of Commerce executive and internationally-known
business trainer is encouraging people to use their time at home during
the COVID-19 pandemic to create their own businesses, especially
virtually.
Keshelle Davis has been sharing her business
development expertise in London, Wales, the USA, Canada, Australia, and
her native Bahamas for nearly two decades and says in order to overcome
the changes in the economy, online businesses...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance announced that last week,
the Department of Social Services, the National Insurance Board (NIB)
and the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC), using the additional
resources allocated by this government administration, rolled out social
and economic support programmes.
“This means, Bahamians are
gaining access to much-needed food assistance and financial support to
lessen the economic burden on their households,” DPM Turnquest said as
he announced an update on the government’s stimulus measures in response
to COVID-19 in the House of Assembly, Monday, March 30, 2020...
In the midst of a national emergency sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic,
University of The Bahamas (UB) forged ahead with its research
presentations, five days after transitioning to remote operations and
announcing that previously scheduled events had been postponed or
cancelled.
On Friday 20th March, University researchers, who
would have traditionally presented before a face-to-face crowd, were
instead connected to those listening via an online conferencing
application...
I rise to provide an update on the Government’s
stimulus measures to support our citizens during this challenging time.
The adverse impact of COVID - 19 has touched every single person in the
country, and most significantly, the poor and vulnerable amongst us need
the support of the Government to cope with the impact .
To all
Bahamians I am reminded of the teachings of Isaiah 41 , where we learn
to f ear not, for God is with us. The Good Book states: Be not dismayed
for I am your God, I will strengthen you..
The Ministry of Health confirms today that there is one additional
confirmed case of COVID-19 in Grand Bahama. This brings the total
number of confirmed cases to fifteen (15). Currently, there are three
(3) confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Grand Bahama and twelve (12)
confirmed cases in New Providence. 
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation is following guidance
from the Bahamas Ministry of Health and other government agencies
pertaining to the country’s Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-19.
Please visit the Bahamas Ministry of Health’s website for the latest
information on COVID-19 cases in The Bahamas. Current and future
patients are to be isolated in quarantine following the guidelines
outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO)...
With many countries of the Americas now reporting community transmission
of COVID-19, there is still a short window of time for governments to
slow the spread of the virus, reduce the impact on health systems and
save lives, said the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director,
Carissa F. Etienne, during a media briefing today. 
Pursuant to Order 5 (1) (m) of the Emergency Powers (Covid 19)(No. 2)
Order, 2020 I HEREBY exempt the following businesses from the provisions
of Order 5-
Bahamasair wishes to advise the public that in accordance with the
recently revised Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No.2) Order, the airline’s
operations will remain suspended.
The Government has had to make special provisions to assist the Offices
of Family Island Administrators, as they work to support tirelessly to
support local communities with implementing the COVID-19 Emergency
Orders. 
Based on the advice given by Public Health officials, the Ministry of
Education made the difficult decision to suspend the physical face to
face instruction that takes place on our school campuses. While this
action was necessary to make every effort to reduce the spread of
COVID-19, the Ministry was and is still committed to executing its
mission of providing quality education to the students of The
Commonwealth of The Bahamas...
The Free National Movement issued the following statement regarding
Monday’s resolution by Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis to extend the
state of emergency to April 8:
Regional bank CIBC FirstCaribbean is moving to assist countries across the region to purchase much-needed COVID–19 testing kits.
As the Bahamas copes with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are
here to help our customers and provide flexible financial solutions to
meet their individual needs. 
