Minister of State for Finance and for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Kwasi Thompson has announced that Grand Bahama and Abaco residents wishing to replace their motor vehicles that were destroyed during Hurricane Dorian, will still be allowed to do so under the VAT and Duty-free concessions.

However, those vehicles will have to be purchased before January 31, 2021.  This is an extension to the concession, which expired on December 31st, 2020...

Parliamentarians attended the Annual Parliamentary Church Service, Monday morning, January 25, 2021 at the Church of God of Prophecy East Street Tabernacle.  Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis is pictured centre. 

(BIS Photos/Ulric Woodside)....

The House of Assembly Select Committee on Natural Resources made its first site visit this past week in North Andros.

“Grand Bahama remains in a rebuilding phase and will be in that rebuilding phase for some time to come,” said Minister of State for Finance and for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Kwasi Thompson. “But we are pleased with the pace with which these projects are progressing.”

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis on Friday officially opened the London Creek Bridge, marking an important part of the effort to regenerate natural creek systems across the island.

he Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to advise members of the public that, in a virtual meeting held today, 22 January, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Darren A. Henfield, MP, received the Copie d’Usage of H. E. Zvi Tal, Israeli Ambassador-designate to The Bahamas. In a brief meeting held after the Minister received the Copie d’Usage, both sides acknowledged the longstanding friendship and cordial relations between The Bahamas.  Matters of mutual interests were discussed...

The Minister of Labour, Senator the Honourable Dion Foulkes welcomed the Ministry of Labour’s incoming Acting Permanent Secretary, Ms. Gina Thompson while thanking the outgoing Permanent Secretary, Mr. Reginald Saunders for his service on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at the Ministry’s head office located in Charlotte House on Shirley and Charlotte Streets. Minister Foulkes wished Ms. Thompson, an outstanding and dedicated leader in the public service all the best in her new appointment...

The Ministry of Education in conjunction with Leno Trust received more assistance in reaching the goal of "placing a tablet in each child's hands," Thursday, January 21, 2021 with donations of 106 tablets and $10,000 to children with special needs, from ALIV and the Bahamas Delta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.  Ms. Nicole Pratt, president of the chapter, and Mr. Damian Blackburn, chief officer, ALIV, both expressed their organizations' interest in assisting children with special needs. Minister of Education the Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd (pictured at podium) said education is everyone's business, and you only get out of it what you put into it.  (BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)...

The Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) and Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre (SRC) confirms that currently there are six (6) female clients at the Geriatric Hospital who have tested positive for COVID-19.

See enclosed Remarks by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis at the Alternative Dispute Resolution Symposium, January 21, 2021.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Good morning.

It is my pleasure to bring opening remarks for today’s virtual symposium hosted by the Ministry of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration under the theme, “Alternative Dispute Resolution and The Bahamas: Charting a New Course”...

Commissioner of Correctional Services Charles Murphy and his Executive/Command Team members led Minister of National Security the Hon. Marvin Dames, Acting Permanent Secretary and Under Secretary Cheryl Darville, Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Raymond King and other RBDF officers and other stakeholders, on a tour of a number of the capital development projects, at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS), on January 14, 2021.  Among the works currently being undertaken there included upgrades to the Maximum and Medium Security Wings...

The Office of the Prime Minister wishes to advise that beginning Sunday, 24 January 2021 pharmacies, gas stations and laundromats will now be permitted to operate between the hours of 6am and 9pm, on the islands of New Providence and Abaco.

The Director of the Department of Gender and Family Affairs in the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, Dr. Jacinta Higgs, is urging those Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in The Bahamas that haven’t already done so, to complete the process towards being registered as Non-Profit Organizations in order to position themselves to be better able to receive grant funding at the national, regional and international levels.

The invitation is also extended to Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).

The call comes on the heels of a collaboration involving officials from the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development...

The Department of Gender and Family Affairs, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, has launched an online survey entitled: 'Family Safety Survey - COVID-19 Bahamas,' in line with the department’s objectives of “keeping our families safe.”

Last evening, I was alerted to a video that is in circulation purporting to be children being abused at one of our Children’s Homes. As a matter of fact, it was suggested that it was the Children’s Emergency Hostel.

As a result of that, I caused some preliminary inquiries to be done and those inquiries suggested to me that it was necessary to launch a full investigation and so that investigation commenced this morning. I want to make it clear, that in no way, form, or fashion, do we support any form of abuse and/or violence against children and/or adults – be they girls, boys, men and/or women.

As the Minister responsible for the eight Children’s Homes, with approximately 150 children throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas...

Officials at the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, have partnered with counterparts at the Office of the Attorney General to register almost 600 Non-Governmental Organizations  (NGOs) throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas as Non-Profit Organizations.

Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell, Tuesday assured members of the Bahamian public that no stones will be left unturned during the investigation into alleged child abuse at one of the country’s eight Children’s Homes.

Minister Campbell said an initial inquiry was launched by the National Child Protection Council.

“The investigation into this matter will go wherever it has to go to ensure that it is clearly understood that we will not accept any kind of abuse towards our children,” Minister Campbell said...

The House of Assembly’s Select Committee on Natural Resources makes its first Site Visit, January 19, 2021 in North Andros.

An exciting new collaboration has developed between the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) and non-profit Saving the Blue! Andros Island is a hidden gem in the Bahamas Archipelago with expansive marine ecosystems, including mosaics of mangrove-fringed creeks, vast sand flats scattered with seagrass beds, and the third largest fringing coral reef in the world that connects these nearshore habitats to the deep pelagic zone known as the tongue of the ocean. However, despite hosting nearly pristine habitats, almost nothing is known about the sharks and rays that occupy its waters.
Throughout the past two weeks, students and faculty from BAMSI joined researchers from Saving the Blue to conduct scientific surveys...

The Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) has resumed its full operation at the PMH Rand Lab (Morgue), from Monday - Friday 8am-4pm, inclusive of autopsy and identification services.