The Annual Parliamentary Christmas Luncheon was held today in the Windsor Ballroom of the British Colonial Hilton, attended by Cabinet Ministers, MPs, and Senators.  The festive luncheon, with the theme, 'Christmas in Parliament,' was hosted by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Assembly.  Photos show parliamentarians in the light mood of the season; in the group photo, Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Hubert Minnis is pictured in the first row, centre. 

(BIS Photos/Yontalay Bowe)...

The House of Assembly today passed a Bill to further assist Bahamian businesspersons.  Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Hubert A. Minnis said, today, his government is making it easier for Bahamians to enter into and sustain their business enterprises.  During the final sitting of the House of Assembly the Prime Minister made a motion on Bill for an Act to Amend the Business Licence Act, 2018, which passed: Bahamians with businesses generating revenue of $100,000 or less would be exempt from business licence fees among other provisions under the Act...

Visitors from abroad recently had the pleasure of being hosted to a Ministry of Tourism & Aviation Bahamahost luncheon at the home of Mr. Henry Lightbourne. 

(BIS Photos/Kemuel Stubbs)...

The year just keeps getting better for new, young author Sierra Blair – her latest release appearing in the iconic Atlantis resort, a courtesy call with the Governor-General and now days away from her 15th birthday, high praise from high-ranking education officials during a one-on-one sit down and courtesy call at the Ministry of Education.

His Excellency Cornelius A. Smith was sworn in as Deputy to the Governor General by the Hon. Mme. Justice Vera Watkins, Acting Chief Justice, on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at Government House. 

(BIS Photos/Letisha Henderson)...

Minister of National Security the Hon. Marvin Dames lauded the 100 Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS) graduates, on December 6, 2018, and congratulated them on successfully completing their respective Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) training courses.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Lanisha Rolle joined Acting Permanent Secretary Rhoda Jackson, Executive Director of Culture Rowena Poitier-Sutheralnd, Deputy Director Dereka Deleveaux-Grant and Senior officials of the Cultural Affairs Division in launching Cultural Heritage Month, at the beginning of December, at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas. 

Also present were Director of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas Amanda Coulson and her fellow staff members, cultural stakeholders and the general public.  Minister Rolle read the Cultural Heritage Month Proclamation...

Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, the Hon. Michael Pintard, and Ministry officials, hosted the 'Best of the Best Regatta' & Star Sailors League Finals at Montagu Bay from December 3 through the weekend.  The event drew hundreds of enthusiastic spectators who watched Bahamian sloop sailors and Olympic sailing champs -- thrilled to test the winds and the waters at Montagu Bay in the time of their lives...

The Government’s efforts have resulted in improvement in the Tourism sector in Grand Bahama during the year to date 2018. According to the Central Bank of the Bahamas latest Monthly Economic and Financial Developments, October 2018 which was published Monday December 3rd, 2018 tourism stop-over visitors showed and overall increase of 7.4%. The report showed improvement in Grand Bahama year to date, recovering from the huge decrease in 2017 of 39.5%.  The report indicated that in Grand Bahama “Despite the ongoing challenges in room capacity after the closure of several hotels due to hurricane damage...

Governor General, Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Marguerite Pindling hosted Cabinet members to an Annual Christmas Luncheon at Government House on Monday, December 10, 2018.  The Governor General is pictured welcoming the Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Hubert Minnis, having a chat with him, and also greeting Cabinet members.  In the group photo, seated, the Governor General is pictured centre, with Prime Minister Minnis, centre left, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Peter Turnquest, centre right.  Also seated, from left: Minister of Education, the Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd; Minister of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration...

A voice note by former PLP Member of Parliament, Mr. V. Alfred Gray, has been brought to my attention.

In his very irresponsible statement, Mr. Gray alleges that the Government has proposed a Contractors Association Bill for Parliament; and in his words that the Ministry of Works is “putting together who can qualify for contractors and who can’t, and you can only qualify if you have a four storey building under your contractor’s belt.”

The allegations made by Mr. Gray are untrue and entirely without foundation...

“The Government will stay the course with its fiscal strategy to boost economic growth, strengthen the fiscal balance and increase transparency and government accountability,” said K. Peter Turnquest, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

The 8th of December 2018 marks the Forty-Sixth Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, the four independent CARICOM countries and Cuba.  That historic act of 8 December 1972 has grown over the years into a strong fraternal relationship between all of the Member States of the Caribbean Community and Cuba.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most. Hon. Hubert A. Minnis reassured key stakeholders in tourism that his government is committed to maximizing the economic benefits of the country’s primary industry.

Minister of National Security the Hon. Marvin Dames and U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Bowers took part in the official handover ceremony of more than $430,000 in equipment and gear to the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) at the Police College, on December 6, 2018. According to the Embassy the donation was made possible through the U.S. Department of State’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Section. The donation included 293 ballistic vests, plates, uniforms; a high-powered Leica Macroscope; Police College training equipment; and Safe Boat Maintenance Equipment to various units in the RBPF. Also present were Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of National Security Eugene Poitier, Acting Commissioner of Police Emrick Seymour, National Commandant of the Police Training College Dr. Chaswell Hanna...

Minister of the Environment and Housing the Hon. Romauld Ferreira, Spouse of the Prime Minister Mrs. Patricia Minnis, and Director of Environmental Health Services Melanie McKenzie joined environment stakeholders, on December 7, 2018, in bringing the “Be A Hero” cleanup campaign to Gambier Primary School, in Gambier Village.  According to a press release, The Ministry of the Environment and Housing, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Education, began the initiative in October, seeking to foster a greater sense of pride in cleaner, safer environments...

Executive Director of Culture Rowena Poitier-Sutheralnd, Deputy Director Dereka Deleveaux-Grant and Senior officials of the Cultural Affairs Division of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture joined Junkanoo Parade planning stakeholders in a walkthrough of the 2018-2019 Junkanoo Parade route, in Downtown Nassau, on December 6, 2018.  It was an opportunity to investigate aspects of the route, such as which areas needed better lighting, sanitation facilities and more security initiatives or police presence. 

(BIS Photos / Eric Rose)...

Championship Day during the Best of the Best Regatta, Montagu Bay. 

(BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)...

Minister of Health Dr. the Hon. Duane Sands said the Public Hospitals Authority Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre continues to make strides and history with first time accomplishments including a focused intent of dispelling the myths of mental illness.

PHA, Paramedic Supervisor with the National Emergency Medical Services (NEMS) Fredrick Johnson III joined nearly 6,000 participants from more than 50 countries at the EMS World Expo, held this year in Nashville, Tennessee. The 5-day expo which combines workshops and conference sessions over five days is the largest emergency medical services dedicated event in the world. The Expo aims to  provide the training that increases the quality of patient care; with a focus on progressive curriculum and technology.  Johnson who met fellow EMS professionals from Denmark, Calgary, California, and Iowa among others said he was overwhelmed with the offerings, “Gaining a wealth of knowledge pertinent to the diverse field of EMS was extraordinary,” Johnson said...