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Last Updated: May 24, 2021 - 11:44:14 AM |
Photo/OPM Communications Unit
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National Address
The Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Sunday, 23 May 2021 5:00 P.M.
Good afternoon.
Thank you Dr. Dahl-Regis, for your presentation, your service, and your ongoing counsel and advice.
Our nation remains grateful to you, for all you have done, and continue to do.
God bless you.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are a small island developing country.
Successive administrations over the years, have worked to provide healthcare resources, to our many communities and settlements, on our many islands.
Because some of our neighbors in the region, only have one or a few islands, they need fewer public medical facilities.
Because of our much larger archipelago, the Government of The Bahamas, operates approximately 95 clinics throughout the country.
As a small country with restrains on our resources, there is limited capacity in the Family Islands, in terms of medical professionals, equipment such as ventilators, and the more sophisticated equipment, that would be found in hospitals in larger cities.
Because of these limits, as a Government, we cannot allow Family Island outbreaks of the pandemic, to get out of control.
In these communities, there are no big hospitals or intensive care units.
There are limited numbers of healthcare professions, due to the small sizes of the populations.
Excessive spread of the virus, would be catastrophic.
Throughout this pandemic, it has been the policy of my administration, to protect our Family Islands.
Fellow Bahamians:
Earlier this week, I announced the lockdowns of Bullocks Harbour, and Great Harbour Cay, in the Berry Islands.
Once we observed noticeable viral spread in these communities, we immediately acted, to institute restrictions to protect these island residents.
As a medical doctor, and as Prime Minister, I will always act aggressively, to protect our people.
My fixed star, is the protection of life.
My healthcare team and I, have studied responses to this virus from around the world.
Some countries waited too late, to introduce restrictions at certain times.
This has allowed small spreads, to turn into tragedies.
We will not allow this deadly virus, to ravage our Family Islands.
My Government has mobilized resources and support, for these communities during this restricted period, including food and economic support.
I am pleased to confirm, that early this morning, the delivery of the Government’s National Food Distribution Task Force arrived in Bullocks Harbour, for the people of Bullocks Harbour, and Great Harbour Cay, during this restricted period.
Thank you, to members of the private sector, that helped us leverage resources for these efforts.
Residents of Cat Island, North and Central Andros, Fellow Bahamians:
In order to protect and to save lives, and to slow and control the spread of the COVID- 19, today, I wish to announce that Cat Island, and North and Central Andros, will be placed under a 14-day lockdown, effective tomorrow, Monday, May 24th at 8 p.m.
The Government, is doing so on the advice of our medical experts and team.
Residents should pay particular attention, to the following provisions included in the Emergency Powers Orders.
Travel, to and from Cat Island, and North and Central Andros, is prohibited during the
lockdown, except for essential workers (Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bahamas Defence Force, healthcare professionals, Bahamas Power and Light technical personnel), mailboat and Seacorp operators, and commercial bank personnel, or as, otherwise approved by the Competent Authority
...to continue see attached
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