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 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)...

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.

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. 

(BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)...

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”).  

Recently appointed by Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis, the National COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee was formed to advise the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Health on the development of the strategy, policies and activities related to the National COVID-19 Vaccination Plan.

Eleven million dollars has been spent and hundreds of homeowners assisted so far under the Disaster Reconstruction Authority’s (DRA) Small Home Repairs Program for Grand Bahama and Abaco residents impacted by Hurricane Dorian, said Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis.

Minister of National Security the Hon. Marvin Dames told the members of the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS) Trainee Correctional Officers ‘A’ Squad 2020, on January 14, 2021, that he was truly proud of their successful completion of the Correctional Officer Training Programme in light of the current pandemic.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM/IMO) and Citibank, in conjunction with Leno Trust Bahamas, donated 104 devices (100 tablets and 4 laptops) on Friday, Jan 15, 2021 to the Ministry of Education to assist in its goal of ‘placing a device in every child’s hand.’  Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd thanked the institutions for their donation and assistance in allowing the Ministry to educate the children of the nation.  Pictured from left: Margaret Butler, COO, Citibank Bahamas; Jan-Willem Wegdam, IOM Chief of Mission; Minister Lloyd; and Diane Bingham, Leno Trust Managing Director.  (BIS Photos/Kristaan Ingraham)

On Sunday, 28th December, 2020, The Bahamas lost a sporting giant and trailblaizer in the person of Jim Duncombe, affectionaley called – The Swing Doctor.  

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken note of a message being circulated on social media which appears to have originated from the Embassy of The Bahamas in Washington, DC, with advice and recommendations to parents of Bahamian students in the United States capital as regards possible reactions to current political developments in that jurisdiction...

The Hon. Chief Justice Sir Brian Moree stated that the Judiciary in The Bahamas has not escaped the intrusive and disruptive impact of COVID-19.

NASSAU, The Bahamas - The Government of The Bahamas is about to implement its Resilient Recovery Policy aimed at timely rebuilding process after a disaster, the Minister of State for the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction the Hon. Iram Lewis revealed.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Senator the Hon. Carl W. Bethel explained that early in 2020, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) agreed to an onsite review of The Bahamas’ Money Laundering/Combatting the Financing of Terrorism/Countering Financing of Proliferation Regimes to verify the progress to address the Action Items agreed in September 2018 with the FATF International Cooperation Review Group of the Americas (ICRG).

See enclosed remarks by the Hon. Chief Justice Sir Brian Moree at ceremonies marking the Opening of the Legal Year, January 13, 2021 in Rawson Square:

My Lords, My Ladies, other Judicial Officers, Mr. Attorney,  President of the Bahamas Bar Association and members of Bar Council, Counsel and Attorneys, guests, and others who are viewing these proceedings by live stream or watching on television – Good afternoon. Recognize Court of Appeal.

See enclosed Remarks by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs the Hon. Carl Bethel at ceremonies marking the Opening of the Legal Year, January 13, 2021:

I wish to thank Archbishop Patrick Christopher Pinder, and Bishop Delton Fernander, and all those Reverend Gentlemen and Ladies of the Clergy who have prayed for our country at the advent of this New Year, and for commemorating the Opening of the Legal Year.

The Office of the Prime Minister Grand Bahama is pleased to note that Grand Bahama Island was recently listed as one of the ‘21 best Caribbean islands to visit in 2021’ in the world’s leading Caribbean News website, Caribbean Journal. 

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Carl W. Bethel stated that the COVID-19 pandemic, unfortunately, had a turbulent effect on the Registrar General’s Department.

See enclosed remarks by Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis at Bahamas Business Outlook 2021, today:

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on 12 January, issued a statement expressing deep disappointment and concern regarding actions taken by Venezuela pertaining to its long-term border dispute with Guyana, including intimations of the creation of a strategic area of national development called “Territory for the Development of the Atlantic Façade”...