Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources the Hon. Michael Pintard said The Bahamas today is importing roughly $1 billion worth of food; $650 million in terms of fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers as well as protein and some $400 million in terms of value added products.

A swearing-in ceremony was held at Magistrate’s Court #9, February 25, 2021 for six Family Island Administrators.  Chief Magistrate, JoyAnn Ferguson-Pratt conducted the ceremony.  The new Administrators are: Millie Dawkins (Mayaguana), Bradford McKenzie (Acklins), Dale K. Gelin (Cat Island), Kathy V. Smith (City of Freeport), Margaret Symonette (District of Central Eleuthera) and Deborah Mosey-Rolle (Exuma).  Also in attendance was Director of Local Government, Ms. Brenda Colebrooke...

Mrs. Patricia Minnis, of the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister (OSPM), led a team including Bahamas Academy students to distribute food in the community of Gambier on Wednesday afternoon. 

(BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)...

The Board of Trustees (BOT) of University of The Bahamas (UB) has launched the recruitment phase of the search for a new president by releasing a leadership profile for the position entitled, "The Presidential Opportunity at University of The Bahamas".

See enclosed Mid-Year Budget Statement by Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis in the House of Assembly today:

Mr. Speaker,

The General Public is hereby advised that any unauthorized entry on any Government or Crown Lands throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas for the purposes of mining, clearing vegetation, construction or commerce is illegal and offenders will be fined and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law...

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Carl Bethel, and Permanent Secretary Cecilia Strachan welcomed Renaldo Cartwright, Founder of Marijuana Bahamas (standng centre) during a courtesy call, February 24, 2021 at the Attorney General's Office to discuss the marijuana/cannabis industry legislation being drafted. 

(BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)...

Statement from Minister of Financial Services, Trade &
Industry and Immigration on Fraudulent Emails:

It has come to my attention that fraudulent messages from someone purporting to be me, with the name “Elsworth JohnsonMP,” have been forwarded to a number of Bahamians. These emails claim that businesses/brands have gained access to an international grant and that a “payment fee” will be required to access this grant.

I wish to warn Bahamians that these messages are fake and likely an attempt to trick citizens...

I thank the Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis for his confidence in recommending my appointment as Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture.

I thank my predecessor in office, the Hon. Lanisha Rolle for the work she did at the Ministry.

I also wish to thank my colleagues at the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction, the Disaster Reconstruction Authority and NEMA for their support during my tenure as Minister of State...

Grand Bahama Health Services’ Executive Management Committee accepted a cheque in the amount of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00) during a presentation event on Friday February 19, 2021.  

For five-year-old Jay McCoy, the sound of the Bahamas Waste garbage truck making its way through his neighborhood is always less about the trash and definitely all about the experience. The home-schooler was declared the winner of the recent Bahamas Waste (BW) #SnapAndWin promotion helping parents secure a VIP collection service from the waste management company.

All hands were on deck at Eva Hilton Primary School, Tuesday, for the first day of ‘in-person learning’ using the hybrid method. Representatives of Urban Renewal, the Parent-Teacher Association, the School Board, teachers and administrators assisted with the transition as students returned to the Gregory Street campus.

“For the first day we were able to get through quite smoothly,” said Principal Jermaine Butler... 

In keeping with the Commander Defence Force, Commodore Raymond King’s strategic intent of enhancing responsiveness to the security environment nationally and regionally, approximately seventeen Marines successfully completed the Crisis and Disaster Risk Management course. Conducted at the HMBS CORAL HARBOUR from February 15-19, 2021, the course was designed to heighten the skillset of the men and women when deployed nationally or regionally during times of disaster...

The Cabinet Office notifies for general information that the Hon. Lanisha Rolle has tendered her resignation as Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture.

Today at approximately 11:54 AM, the Department of Immigration working in accordance with UNHCR guidelines, repatriated fifty-seven (57) Males and seven (7) Females from Lynden Pindling International Airport to the Port-au-Prince, Haiti onboard a Bahamasair flight. 

As per Statutory Instrument No. 43 of 2021, the public is hereby informed that from Thursday 25th February 2021 the suspension on alcohol sales is lifted, however persons are not permitted to consume liquor on the licensed premises. This means that bars and restaurants will only provide takeaway (grab and go) services.

The purpose of the protocol is to continue restrictions on social gatherings and assist the Ministry of Health in contact tracing efforts as Saint Lucia continues to manage the COVID-19 pandemic...

The Bahamas Customs & Excise Department has officially launched its electronic submission portal for cruising permit applications on the Click2Clear platform. The Cruising Permit Module is expected to dramatically improve the processing time for boaters when clearing Customs at the various ports of entry across The Bahamas. Boaters can now complete and submit declaration forms and make payment in advance of arrival...

Bahamas Girl Guides Association (BGGA) salutes one of its own this week, Dr. Merceline Dahl-Regis on receiving the highest Queen’s Honour presented to date in 2021, Commander of St. Michael and St. George, CMG.

In keeping with the Commander Defence Force, Commodore Raymond King’s strategic intent of developing a professional and high-performance workforce focused on excellence and succession planning, Retired Petty Officers Dwayne Gray and Terrance Culmer were presented with accolades during a farewell reception at HMBS CORAL HARBOUR on February 19, 2021.

The negative fall-out from the COVID-19 Pandemic has caused regional and global countries and entities alike to “Change/Switch Lanes” in terms of their delivery of products and/or services, Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell said.