See enclosed Remarks by Minister of the Public Service and National Insurance the Hon. Brensil Rolle in his National Report, October 15, 2020:
Permanent Secretary, Chairman and Members of The National Insurance
Board, Director of National Insurance Board and the Executive Management
team of the Ministry of the Public Service and the National Insurance
Board, ladies and gentleman of the media and my fellow Bahamians, Good
afternoon...
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to advise Bahamians traveling
abroad to take sufficient funds with them in the event they run into
additional expenses as a result of restrictions and protocols put in
place because of COVID-19. Bahamians are increasingly approaching
Bahamas Embassies and Consulates Overseas requesting financial
assistance related to COVID-19 testing, quarantine, accommodations,
airline ticket changes, etc. The Ministry wishes to advise that our
Overseas Missions do not have sufficient discretionary financial
resources to accommodate and maintain persons who find themselves
stranded because of a lack of funds...
A culture of preparedness is the key component in any viable climate
action plan for The Bahamas, according to an environmental advocate, who
argues that The Bahamas must increase its preparedness to play the long
game and adopt a “prevention is better than cure” mentality to thwart
an existential threat.
“The ultimate goal is to create a
culture of preparedness for climate change so we can decrease our
vulnerabilities and build capacity to mitigate negative impacts from
events, not just a culture of preparedness to respond post-disaster when
we have already lost what we know could have been protected,” said
Kelli Ashley Armstrong, Project Manager at BRON Limited...
The Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE)
has signed a Letter of Agreement (LoA) to be the lead energy partner in
the co-development of state-of-the-art, tailored climate information
and services for the energy sector in CARICOM Member States.
The
Centre signed on to the agreement which first went into force in 2016,
making the Caribbean the first region globally to officially create and
implement a commitment between climate-sensitive sectors and a climate
services provider to build climate resilience at regional and national
levels...
Caribbean company Naledo overcame fierce competition to win the
‘New Food Product of the Year’ award at Food Matters Live 2020, a
prestigious international food event in the UK.
Belizean-based
Naledo manufactures the world’s first wildcrafted, whole root turmeric
paste as well as fresh juices blended with turmeric...
The environmental transformation at the New Providence Ecology Park
(NPEP) has fostered a bird sanctuary at the site, with the now
revitalized Park serving as a home and breeding ground to dozens of bird
species.
On a recent visit to NPEP, birders Elijah Sands and
Chris Johnson of the Bird Club of New Providence spent several hours
identifying, counting, and photographing the Park's diverse bird
population.
"This site was once considered an environmental
hazard. The fires that would occur and the scenes were always the topics
of major national discussions...
Scotiabank Bahamas has announced that its Thompson Blvd Branch will be
closed to the public for the next two weeks. Early Thursday (October
15), the Bank was informed that a staff member attached to the branch
tested positive for COVID-19, this being less than 24 hours after it
closed its Carmichael Road branch for a similar reason.
“Like all
of The Bahamas, our operations continue to be affected by the ongoing
COVID-19 health crisis...
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force Rangers section was pleased to
contribute to the community they are based in, as they recently assisted
the Coral Harbour community during a clean-up effort on October 3,
2020.
The young leaders took the time to trim the edges of the
sidewalks and remove unwanted debris from along the main Coral Harbour
thoroughfare. They were assisted by the RBDF Rangers Instructors, led by
Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Dwight Rolle. Accompanying the Rangers was
President of Coral Heights East, Ms. Kim Deveaux...
US Embassy Charge d'Affaires a.i., Mr. John McNamara (left), paid a
courtesy call on Minister of National Security the Hon. Marvin Dames at
the Ministry, October 15, 2020.
Each year, on 14 October, World Standards Day is celebrated
as a means of paying tribute to the collaborative efforts of the
thousands of experts, globally, who develop the technical agreements
that are published as International Standards. “Protecting the Planet
with Standards” is the theme and focus for World Standards Day 2020.
Globally,
current patterns of energy production and consumption are unsustainable
and threaten the environment, through local pollution and global
climate change. Emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels...
Ministry of Health confirms today that there are one hundred ninety-four (194) additional confirmed cases of COVID-19.
As
stated in Update #196, the long holiday weekend led to delayed
reporting from a number of laboratories. Hence, the one hundred
ninety-four (194) additional COVID-19 cases today is an additive effect
of the cases recorded and reported during the period 7th - 13th October,
2020. The Ministry of Health will continue to work with reporting
laboratories to ensure timely submissions of COVID-19 reports...
The Cabinet Office announces for general information that the
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), located on Gladstone Road
and NEMA’s Way, will be closed effective Wednesday 14 October 2020 for
deep cleaning and sanitizing due to a staff member having tested
positive for COVID-19.
NEMA headquarters will reopen on Monday 19 October 2020...
The Honourable Darren Henfield, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
delivered a Statement on behalf of The Bahamas at the 20th Commonwealth
Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) held virtually on 14 October
2020.
Ministers exchanged views on a
range of issues, including the existential threat posed by Climate
Change for Small Island Developing States, the Commonwealth’s global
COVID-19 recovery plan and matters relating to social tensions and
racism. Ministers also pledged support for the Commonwealth’s ‘Say No
More’ initiative which is geared towards the elimination of
discrimination against women and the reduction of gender-based violence...
The new affordable, reliable antigen diagnostic tests recently approved
by WHO that can be performed anywhere are set to transform the region’s
COVID-19 response by allowing health workers to carry out accurate,
rapid testing, even in remote communities, Pan American Health
Organization (PAHO) Director Carissa F Etienne, said today.
Unlike
previous rapid, antibody tests, which can show when someone has had
COVID-19 but often give a negative result during the early stages of
infection, the new rapid, antigen tests are much more accurate in
determining if someone is currently infected
Scotiabank has advised that its Carmicheal Road branch will be
temporarily closed to the public effective October 15, 2020, following
the confirmation of a positive COVID-19 test among its team members. The
tentative date for re-opening is Monday, October 26, 2020.
“Out
of an abundance of caution, we have taken the decision to suspend
operations at the branch while we provide the necessary support for our
staff members,” said Roger Archer, Managing Director, Scotiabank
Bahamas...
From March 2020, The Government of Saint Lucia through its COVID-19
response efforts established quarantine facilities at five local hotels
and ensured over a four-month period the safe repatriation and
accommodation of 844 Saint Lucian nationals.
To date, the
Government has accommodated a total of 2,261 individuals at its Public
Health Facilities, including repeat travelers. Government’s expenditure
for the national COVID-19 response to date, tallies at over $10 million...
The Tourism Development Corporation (TDC) is pleased to announce that
the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has recognized The Islands
Of The Bahamas as a Safe Travels destination for having met its enhanced
health and safety standards in line with its global Safe Travels
Protocols. Having developed these protocols specifically to rebuild the
traveler’s confidence and to ensure that there is a coordinated public
and private sector approach to the recovery efforts of the global
tourism industry, the WTTC awarded The Bahamas the WTTC Safe Travels
Stamp...
The Commander Defence Force, Commodore Raymond King, presented the
Bahamas National Flag to the wife of the late Marine Mechanic Raynaldo
King on October 13, 2020 at Defence Headquarters, John F. Kennedy
Drive.
Whilst thanking Mrs. Le'Chea Capron-King for her
husband's service and offering sincerest condolences, the Commander
Defence Force used the opportunity to remind her that her husband served
the organization with pride and honor...
Following the announcement of a US$600 million issue of 8.950% bonds on
the international market, the Ministry of Finance advises the public
that it will provide an update on all of the Government’s borrowing
activities consistent with its documented Resilient Bahamas Plan at the
next sitting of Parliament.
The public can have confidence in the Government’s prudent management of
the country’ debt portfolio, and its transformative plans to establish a
new Debt Management Unit and legislative framework.
Bahamian governments have a long-standing track record of engaging top
tier investors and multilateral institutions for which we are
shareholding members...
In the wake of Covid-19, the Ministry of Tourism has transitioned the
BahamaHost Program to a digital platform. The program, in its new
digital format, allows the Ministry to continue to engage attendees in
talent development, skills training, attitudinal training, and customer
relations workshops. For more than 40 years, the BahamaHost program has
been the tourism industry’s premier training program...
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to advise Bahamians traveling
abroad to take sufficient funds with them in the event they run into
additional expenses as a result of restrictions and protocols put in
place because of COVID-19. Bahamians are increasingly approaching
Bahamas Embassies and Consulates Overseas requesting financial
assistance related to COVID-19 testing, quarantine, accommodations,
airline ticket changes, etc. The Ministry wishes to advise that our
Overseas Missions do not have sufficient discretionary financial
resources to accommodate and maintain persons who find themselves
stranded because of a lack of funds... 
Caribbean company Naledo overcame fierce competition to win the
‘New Food Product of the Year’ award at Food Matters Live 2020, a
prestigious international food event in the UK.
Scotiabank Bahamas has announced that its Thompson Blvd Branch will be
closed to the public for the next two weeks. Early Thursday (October
15), the Bank was informed that a staff member attached to the branch
tested positive for COVID-19, this being less than 24 hours after it
closed its Carmichael Road branch for a similar reason.
The Honourable Darren Henfield, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
delivered a Statement on behalf of The Bahamas at the 20th Commonwealth
Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) held virtually on 14 October
2020. 
The new affordable, reliable antigen diagnostic tests recently approved
by WHO that can be performed anywhere are set to transform the region’s
COVID-19 response by allowing health workers to carry out accurate,
rapid testing, even in remote communities, Pan American Health
Organization (PAHO) Director Carissa F Etienne, said today. 
From March 2020, The Government of Saint Lucia through its COVID-19
response efforts established quarantine facilities at five local hotels
and ensured over a four-month period the safe repatriation and
accommodation of 844 Saint Lucian nationals. 
Following the announcement of a US$600 million issue of 8.950% bonds on
the international market, the Ministry of Finance advises the public
that it will provide an update on all of the Government’s borrowing
activities consistent with its documented Resilient Bahamas Plan at the
next sitting of Parliament.
In the wake of Covid-19, the Ministry of Tourism has transitioned the
BahamaHost Program to a digital platform. The program, in its new
digital format, allows the Ministry to continue to engage attendees in
talent development, skills training, attitudinal training, and customer
relations workshops. For more than 40 years, the BahamaHost program has
been the tourism industry’s premier training program...