During the 2021/2022 budget contribution of the Minister of Health, the Honourable Renward R. Wells, advised the general public that approval was given for the pay-out of $1,040,600.00 in honourarium and death benefits to a limited number of front line nurses, physicians and medical service workers involved in the COVID-19 response for the period 19th March – 19th June, 2020.

The Minister of Health in his budget presentation also advised that The Bahamas Government approved in the 2021/2021 budget an additional $3M in honourarium to compensate other health care workers “who later joined in the fight.”

The public is advised that after the announcement that $3M was approved by the Government to pay other frontline and non-front line workers who later joined the fight, the Ministry of Health had to carefully scrutinize the proposed list of names recommended for an honourarium. Re-calculations had to be completed based on the proposed names for consideration, and a verification process ensued to ensure all health care workers recommended were compensated according to the set specifications. This caused some delays.

Consequently, the Ministry of Health announces that all front-line and non-front line workers who assisted with the National Response to COVID-19 during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in The Bahamas will be paid by cheque on or before the second week of August, 2021.