Coronavirus

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis yesterday announced the enactment of emergency COVID-19 measures to criminalize “the deliberate creation of fake news”. The Governor General signed a proclamation order declaring a public state of emergency on Tuesday. The proclamation triggers emergency power regulations tabled in the House of Assembly. As he announced the particulars of those measures during...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A nationwide partial shutdown over the next 11 days will mean that popular entertainment venues like Fusion Superplex will have to close their doors. Chief Operating Officer Carlos Foulkes told Eyewitness News that close to 400 workers will be asked to take unpaid leave. Foulkes said COVID-19 fears and the need for social distancing would directly impact...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — While the residential construction segment may be a bit more resilient amid the COVID-19 fall-out, a former Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president yesterday warned that the sector would face a grim outlook if the fall-out from the virus persists beyond three months. Leonard Sands told Eyewitness News: “When you look at new construction, those persons generate about...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The COVID-19 pandemic will likely have a tsunami-like impact on the Bahamian small business sector, a local consultant said yesterday. Mark Turnquest, principal of Mark A Turnquest Consulting told Eyewitness News, that small businesses were facing at least “three months of hurt”. "This is going to be like a tsunami," Turnquest said. "This is like a hurricane...

COVID-19 order takes effect 9am Friday Airports will remain open, non-essential intl. and domestic travel discouraged Weddings and funerals must be kept under 10 people Drive-thrus will remain open during day, construction work will cont. All trained nurses, officers on vacation, retirement asked to report to work NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has announced a nation-wide partial...

Mitchell says the government must assure public it will not abuse powers NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman and Senator Fred Mitchell called on government senators to justify the use of emergency powers given widespread public compliance to COVID-19 prevention measures. However, his request was met with silence during the brief Senate session this morning. Mitchell, the leader...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS— Grand Bahama's YMCA has shuttered its facilities, inside and outdoors, in a bid to comply with social distancing measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. The facility was closed on Monday, and is tentatively set to re-open on March 30. A press release read: "The YMCA has a presence in 120 countries.  Its focus worldwide is: “For youth...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – While the government’s COVID-19 regulations may not be unprecedented globally, the Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG) insists that the measure must be monitored closely to guard against abuse. The Governor General signed a proclamation order declaring a public state of emergency on Tuesday. The proclamation triggers emergency powers regulations tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday, including...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — ALIV has begun company-wide social distancing measures but branded outlets will remain open as the provider monitors COVID-19 developments. Chief Commercial Officer Gravette Brown said: “Our frontline teams that provide service in the ALIV branded stores and that answer our 611-customer service line continue to provide service as normal. “At this time, all ALIV locations across the...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Straw vendors and jet ski operators yesterday welcomed the the government’s $200 weekly unemployment benefit assistance as tourism industry stakeholders brace for continued fall-out over the global COVID-19  pandemic. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance K Peter Turnquest told Parliament yesterday the government is allocating $10 million to provide for a temporary unemployment benefit. The aid...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Copies of the Governor General's unsigned proclamation order, draft COVID-19 regulations and resolution flooded social media on Tuesday evening. Yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis laid responsibility for the leak at the feet of parliamentarians as he lashed out at what he described as a "complete breakdown of trust". "I was very disappointed when I woke up...

Opposition calls on govt. to consider Cuban anti-viral drug in COVID-19 fight NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis today cautioned the government on the use of executive powers during state of public emergency. Davis called for an “aggressive” random testing regime and targeted containment as the nation fights the threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19). “Our party intends to...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS - Attorney General Carl Bethel confirmed yesterday that the Governor General's proclamation order for a public state of emergency, and COVID-19 regulations are already in effect. The order, which gives the government emergency powers to manage the national spread of the virus, took immediate effect on March 17, 2020 and will be in force for 14 days. The Bahamas...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) yesterday announced a three month payment deferral on credit facilities for its personal banking clients in the Caribbean impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic. The bank announced yesterday that effectively immediately, “most RBC Personal banking clients in the Caribbean will benefit from an automatic three-month payment deferral on credit facilities”. The statement continued:...

GBPUC Limited outlines its COVID-19 Contingency Plan NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Grand Bahama Utility Company Limited (GBUC) has developed a COVID-19 Contingency Plan and is executing preventive safety measures at local water depot distribution sites island-wide. Philcher Grant, Director of Group Corporate Affairs & Government Relations said: “Over the last few weeks, the GBUC team has been working hard to...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis would not indicate today when emergency laws that would give the government wide-sweeping powers for mandatory detention, isolation and curfew, could be activated. Governor General CA Smith issued a proclamation order for a public state of emergency over the health threat on Tuesday. Article 29 of the Bahamas Constitution provides for a...

QC commends govt. on emergency legislation package amid health threat, but says Bahamas should learn from Jamaica NASSAU, BAHAMAS — While commending the government for bringing the necessary package of emergency legislation to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, former Attorney General Alfred Sears, QC, said it is misguided to make the prime minister the competent authority during a period of...

Education minister announces virtual learning regime to mitigate school shutdown MOE to provide meal vouchers for students NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of Education announced this morning that education officials have been in discussions with the Cambridge examination board about the possible extension of the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary (BGCSE) and the Bahamas Junior Certificate (BJC) exams. The exams formed...