NASSAU, The Bahamas - The Government of The Bahamas is about to implement its Resilient Recovery Policy aimed at timely rebuilding process after a disaster, the Minister of State for the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction the Hon. Iram Lewis revealed.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Senator the Hon. Carl W. Bethel explained that early in 2020, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) agreed to an onsite review of The Bahamas’ Money Laundering/Combatting the Financing of Terrorism/Countering Financing of Proliferation Regimes to verify the progress to address the Action Items agreed in September 2018 with the FATF International Cooperation Review Group of the Americas (ICRG).

See enclosed remarks by the Hon. Chief Justice Sir Brian Moree at ceremonies marking the Opening of the Legal Year, January 13, 2021 in Rawson Square:

My Lords, My Ladies, other Judicial Officers, Mr. Attorney,  President of the Bahamas Bar Association and members of Bar Council, Counsel and Attorneys, guests, and others who are viewing these proceedings by live stream or watching on television – Good afternoon. Recognize Court of Appeal.

See enclosed Remarks by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs the Hon. Carl Bethel at ceremonies marking the Opening of the Legal Year, January 13, 2021:

I wish to thank Archbishop Patrick Christopher Pinder, and Bishop Delton Fernander, and all those Reverend Gentlemen and Ladies of the Clergy who have prayed for our country at the advent of this New Year, and for commemorating the Opening of the Legal Year.

The Office of the Prime Minister Grand Bahama is pleased to note that Grand Bahama Island was recently listed as one of the ‘21 best Caribbean islands to visit in 2021’ in the world’s leading Caribbean News website, Caribbean Journal. 

Consistent with the Commander Defence Force, Commodore Raymond King’s command philosophy and priority of enhancing the morale and welfare of serving members and veterans, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force paid final respect respects for former comrade, the late Able Mechanic Eugene Weir. 
Following a memorial service at Bethel Baptist Church, Meeting Street on Saturday January 8, 2020, the cremated remains of Able Mechanic Weir was taken aboard a Defence Force vessel and his ashes was spread at sea...

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Carl W. Bethel stated that the COVID-19 pandemic, unfortunately, had a turbulent effect on the Registrar General’s Department.

In recognizing and rewarding the efforts of excellence in the workplace consistent with the Commander Defence Force, Commodore Raymond King’s strategic intent of talent management, crew members of HMBS NASSAU of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s Squadron Department were dually recognized for their services during a brief ceremony at HMBS CORAL HARBOUR.

The spirit of Junkanoo was upheld this year despite the parade cancellations made necessary by the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 40 diehard Junkanoos from all over The Bahamas grabbed their paste, crepe paper, tricks and embellishments and of course a KFC bucket, to create stunning headpieces for the KFC Nassau Junkanoo Buckets promotion.

See enclosed remarks by Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis at Bahamas Business Outlook 2021, today:

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on 12 January, issued a statement expressing deep disappointment and concern regarding actions taken by Venezuela pertaining to its long-term border dispute with Guyana, including intimations of the creation of a strategic area of national development called “Territory for the Development of the Atlantic Façade”...

On 13th January, 2021, six (6) adult Haitian males and one (1) adult Haitian female appeared before Magistrate Debbie Ferguson to answer to the charge of Illegal Landing, contrary to Section 19 (1) of the Immigration Act.   

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Senator the Hon. Carl W. Bethel stated that in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Court of Appeal introduced remote hearings by the Zoom digital platform to dispose of criminal and civil cases, and has drafted a Practice Direction which sets out how digital hearings would occur.  The court’s website was also upgraded to allow access to audio transcripts.

“Also, in response to the COVID-19 shutdowns, the Court of Appeal (Amendment) Rules, 2020 were executed to allow the court to conduct videoconference hearings,” the Attorney General said in his remarks at the ceremony to mark the beginning of the 2021 Legal Year, January 13, 2021 in Rawson Square.

The leading investment management firm in The Bahamas has done it again. Colina Financial Advisors Ltd. (CFAL) has received the 2020 Acquisition International (AI) Global Excellence Award for Best Investment and Advisory Firm Award (Caribbean). This is the second time that CFAL has received this prestigious award, which it also won in 2018.

BPC, the Caribbean and Atlantic margin focused oil and gas company, strongly refutes the claims by various environmental groups in press articles today that the Company did not have enough funding to complete the Perseverance #1 well at the point of rig mobilisation.  As a matter of fact, Perseverance #1 has been fully funded, including a significant contingency, since the date of mobilisation as is clearly stated in the press release issued to the London Stock Exchange by BPC on 12 January 2021...

The recognition and relentless efforts of excellence in the workplace continue to showcase throughout the various departments in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. Remaining consistent with the Commander Defence Force, Commodore Raymond King’s strategic intent of talent management, the marines of the Search and Rescue Department were recently recognized for their stellar performance.

During the extraordinary times of 2020, many people around the globe were faced with incredible hardships that had profound life changing events. In the past 15 months, enduring the aftermath of the destruction caused by Hurricane Dorian and the havoc of the COVID-19 pandemic, dampened spirits for most Bahamians.

Ceremonies marking the Opening of the New Legal Year took place this morning, January 13, 2021 in Rawson Square.   Pictured are Chief Justice Sir Brian Moree, Supreme Court Justices, and officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force assembling on Bay Street.  

(BIS Photos/Kristaan Ingraham)

The Postmaster General wishes to advise the public of the following:

The Post Office Department’s box rental period for the year 2021 began on Tuesday, December 1, 2020. 

Please see enclosed the New Year's National Address by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis, January 12, 2021:

Good evening, and a belated Happy New Year.