Mr. Speaker:
Late last evening health officials
confirmed two additional cases of
individuals who tested positive for
Covid-19 on New Providence.
These individuals were identified
through contact tracing.
The Ministry of Health’s surveillance unit has aggressively undertaken contact tracing activities for the initial case reported.
These contact tracing investigations have revealed that household members of the COVID 19 positive patient traveled to jurisdictions with known community transmission – Canada, Trinidad and Dubai.
These household contacts have
been quarantined and samples
taken for testing.
Other contacts, including healthcare providers, are being investigated to determine their level of exposure and risk.
A total of 30 contacts of the
COVID-19 positive patient have
been identified.
The Minister of Health will provide
more details in his communication.
Mr. Speaker: The Covid-19 pandemic is a threat not seen in the lifetime of most people alive today.
The world is at war with this virus.
As Prime Minister, as a medical doctor, I will do everything in my power to protect the Bahamian people. Over several decades I have seen, treated and comforted thousands of patients.
Some were in life-and-death circumstances.
The most difficult and painful days
in my life, were when a mother or child
or both were lost.
I took a medical oath to save lives.
But that oath only really became real when my heart broke and I couldn’t stop the tears after I lost a
patient or when I saw a mother crying because she lost her baby.
This made me even more
determined to save every life I could.
This is the same resolve and
determination I am bringing to this fight
today.
As a doctor there were times when I had to take extraordinary measures
to save mothers and new-borns coming into the world.
As prime minister it is my mission,
my determination, my responsibility to
save and to protect every life I can
during this crisis.
We are going to defeat this threat!
Mr. Speaker: We are at war with this virus. As prime minister and as a medical doctor I will lead this fight with all of my strength and determination.
We will act decisively in order to save lives and lessen the suffering of our people.
Toward this end:
Exercising his powers under the Constitution of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the Governor General
has issued a proclamation of emergency.
The proclamation of emergency
took effect on Tuesday, March 17,
The Proclamation will give the
Government necessary and
emergency powers to aggressively
combat the Covid-19 emergency.
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I wish to state the new emergency
measures we are enacting are to save
lives and to protect our country.
These measures are in the
Emergency Powers (Covid 19)
Regulations, 2020, we are tabling
today.
Mr. Speaker:
We live in an open, free democratic
society.
Our freedoms and right are protected by and enshrined in our Constitution.
Our Founders included in the
Constitution the legal provision to allow
the Governor General to make
proclamations of emergency.
The measures we seek to invoke through these regulations derive from the authority bestowed by our supreme civic law.
Mr. Speaker: The regulations allow for the following new authority for state.
Where a health officer has reasonable grounds to believe a person is or may be infected or contaminated with Covid-19, and the health officer considers there is a risk the person might infect or contaminate others, the health officer may order such a person detained for screening and assessment.
Following such an assessment a health officer is empowered to impose on or in relation to that person any other restriction or requirement the health officer considers necessary to remove or reduce the risk of infecting or contaminating others.
A decision to impose such a restriction or requirement may only be taken if the health officer considers the restriction proportionate to what is sought to be achieved by imposing it.
Where such a restriction or requirement is imposed on or in relation to a child, an adult responsible for the child must ensure the child complies with the restriction or requirement, insofar as the person is reasonably able to do so.
A health officer may require a
person be kept in isolation, if the
health officer: • has reasonable grounds to believe a person is or may be infected or contaminated with Covid-19;
• and the health officer considers that it
is necessary and proportionate to do
so in order to reduce or remove the
risk of the person infecting or
contaminating others.
We need the power to order people into isolation to stop the spread of this virus.
Mr. Speaker: Broader social distancing of the public is key to limiting Covid-19’s spread.
Through these regulations the
Prime Minister may by order cause to
be revoked or suspended all permits
for the use of public open spaces in
any particular area, or an entire island,
or the country as a whole in the
interest of public health safety.
The Prime Minister may by order prohibit the assembly of two or more persons in a public place in any area specified in the interest of public health safety.
The Prime Minister may by order, impose isolation on all individuals within a particular area, island or the entire country in the interest of public health safety. Where isolation has been imposed, the Prime Minister may:
• require the closure of all educational or religious institutions in the area specified;
• require the closure of any business
or organisation that caters to the public
in the areas specified, unless
permitted otherwise by the order;
• prohibit the visitation by persons at
all residential care establishments;
• prohibit the visitation by people at all correctional facilities;
• require every person to confine him
or her self at his or her place of
residence and enclosed property,
unless otherwise specified by the
order;
• permit the travel of persons to a grocery store, gas station, pharmacy, doctor, hospital or such other place as may be specified in the order.
Mr. Speaker: These regulations also provide for curfews during the emergency proclamation period if deemed necessary.
The Prime Minister may by order
require every person within any area
specified to remain within doors
between such hours as specified in the
order.
The Prime Minister may by order prohibit a person from residing in or entering any area specified in the order if such person is suspected of acting or of having acted, or of being about to act, in a manner prejudicial to:
• the public safety;
• the supply or distribution of any
necessity of life;
• or, the preservation of the peace.
Mr. Speaker: These regulations give the Prime Minister, when it is deemed necessary for the emergency, the power to requisition any building, ship, aircraft or article in the country.
If such requisition is ordered, at the conclusion of the requisition it shall be ensured that there is prompt and adequate compensation in the circumstances to the owner or occupier of such building, ship, aircraft or article.
Mr. Speaker:
The regulations give the Governor
General authority to requisition
essential services for the period of the
emergency proclamation or a period
therein.
Where any essential service is requisitioned the Governor General shall by instrument in writing appoint some person as controller of the service.
“Essential services” mean any
service established, maintained or
operated by the Government, or by
any public or private enterprise, or
otherwise, for:
• the collection, storage, purification or
distribution of water for use by the
public;
• the collection, storage, treatment and disposal of sewage or garbage or refuse;
• the manufacture, storage or
distribution of gas for use by the
public;
• or, the removal, handling or burial of
deceased persons or disposal of dead
animals.
Mr. Speaker: Through these regulations and in the interest of protecting public safety and health, the Prime Minister in consultation with the Minister of Finance may by order waive the application of any rules or law governing the procurement of goods and services.
The Minister of Finance shall within six weeks of the expiration of the proclamation of emergency lay a report before the House of Assembly detailing:
• the total expenditure of the goods
and services procured;
• the suppliers of the goods and
services procured;
• the reasons for the use of the
suppliers of the goods and the
providers of the services.
The Prime Minister also may by order waive or vary the payment of any fees for the testing and medical services rendered at any public hospital or healthcare facility in relation to Covid
Mr. Speaker:
There has been a problem in The
Bahamas for some time with the
creation and spread of malicious fake
news.
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We live in a free and open society
where citizens have a right to express
their opinions.
A free press plays a vital role in
protecting our freedoms.
I am pleased that the political party
I have the privilege of leading freed the
broadcast media from state control.
Sadly, today, the malicious creation of misinformation for the purpose of creating harm, chaos, violence and disorder is deeply worrisome.
There are people who create such
misinformation and disinformation for
malicious reasons.
The spread of malicious fake news
has the potential to: cause violence;
runs on financial institutions and/or
critical food and medical supplies.
Such fake news may cause widespread panic that prevents citizens from following directions designed to protect their lives during a crisis.
Under these regulations, no person shall publish or cause to be published, posted or re-posted over any media platform, inclusive of social media, any purported news or report or purported statement of fact, knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect the same is: untrue or false; or may incite public fear, panic or ethnic hatred.
Mr. Speaker:
We do not know what new
problems may emerge during this
emergency period.
Out of an abundance of caution, a provision exists in these regulations by which the Governor General may authorize international or regional military or police forces as may be requested by the Government to serve as peace officers and assist in:
• the storage, safe keeping or
distribution of relief supplies;
• the provision of any essential
services;
• and the maintenance of public order.
Mr. Speaker: I have outlined the major components of these regulations.
Some of these provisions may be
invoked. Some may not.
We have brought forward these
regulations to have the legal powers
necessary at hand to respond quickly
and decisively to this crisis.
Mr. Speaker: We must all play a major role in the days and weeks ahead.
We must stay united.
The Government is using the full
capacity of the law and state to win
this fight against the virus.
Each Bahamian can be part of the battle by rejecting the spirit of negativity that has infected too much of our public conversation.
Do not join them.
I am so proud of our health
professionals, who labour long hours
to care for the sick and to ease the
suffering of those in pain.
They spend long hours at work away from their families trying to keep us safe.
Let us value their sacrifice. Let us thank them for their service.
Let us pray that God gives them
extra wisdom, energy and
understanding to lead us to better
outcomes.
If we keep a unity of spirit and
purpose during this crisis we will come
out of it better as a people.
Bahamians built this archipelago with their hands generation by generation.
Each time we have faced a crisis,
our unbreakable Bahamian spirit has
come to the fore.
We have worked together.
We have helped each other.
There is no fight we cannot overcome when we stand together, united across this blessed and beautiful archipelago.
Mr. Speaker:
We can and we will co-operate with
others in fighting this deadly invader.
As one people we must make the
best use of what we have.
We must once again rely on the resilience, the imagination, the love and the faith which have defined us and sustained us over many generations.
Now is not the time for panic but for
discipline.
Now is not the time for selfishness
but for sharing.
We must remain calm.
We must be civil with one another
as we, together, face this challenge.
It is going to be difficult, but all things come to an end and so this crisis will also end.
Mr. Speaker:
I wish to end with these words of
hope from Psalm 46:
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 43 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 44 8 Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Magnetic Media is a Telly Award winning multi-media company specializing in creating compelling and socially uplifting TV and Radio broadcast programming as a means for advertising and public relations exposure for its clients.
NASSAU, Bahamas – Hundreds of people from around the world turned out in full force for the BTC World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 that took place at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, May 4 -5, 2024.
This is the sixth edition of the relays and the fourth time that The Bahamas has hosted the event, which actually made its debut in The Bahamas in 2014.
President, World Athletics, Sabastian Coe said after three very successful editions from 2014 to 2017, the World Athletics Relays has quickly become one of the World Athletics vibrant competitions, developing a culture of fun and innovation that gives it a unique flavour.
He thanked the Bahamas Government, the local World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 committee and the Bahamian people for agreeing to host the relays. However, his main thanks were to the “world’s best sprinters” travelling from all the continents to compete in preparation for the road to Paris, France, in two months’ time.
During the opening ceremony, the athletes were given words of advice from Carl Lewis, one of only four Olympic athletes to have won nine Olympic gold medals, who is widely recognized as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
He said, “Keep it simple, do not try to do anything extra. Do what your coaches said. Leave on time, leave on time, leave on time.”
The athletes and crowds were treated to the sounds and sights of Junkanoo at the end of the opening ceremony. The Junkanoo performers stuck around for the two days of competitions, playing for the sprinters as they competed on the track.
Teams competed in the Women’s and men’s 4x100m, and the women’s men’s and mixed 4x400m. A total of 14 teams at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 automatically qualified for places at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Both days of competition were important, as day two offered another chance for qualifications for those teams unsuccessful on day one.
In fact, The Bahamas was able to take advantage of the second day of competition.
Bahamians were made proud as the country set a new national record during the mixed 4x400m relays thanks to the efforts of 16-year-old Shania Adderley, a student of Tabernacle Baptist Academy.
The team came first in their heat on Sunday evening after not being able to gain a spot for the Paris Olympics on the first day of competition.
Other sprinters on the team included Alonzo Russell, as well as Olympic champions Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo.
NASSAU, The Bahamas – During his remarks at the Opening Ceremony for the World Athletics Relays 2024, on May 4, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis welcomed the special guests, athletes, officials, and “all lovers of athletics from around the world” to the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium here in the “vibrant heart” of Nassau, Bahamas.
“This weekend, the world’s finest athletes gather on our shores to embark on a journey that is not only about speed and strength but also about dreams and determination,” Prime Minister Davis said. “From the serene beauty of our islands to the historic grandeur of Paris, this event marks a crucial path to the Olympic Games in Paris 2024.”
He added: “Here in The Bahamas, we are no strangers to world-class athletics or the warmth and exuberance that such international gatherings bring. It is a distinct honor to once again welcome the World Athletics Relays back to our islands. This event holds a special place in our hearts, symbolizing a bridge between nations brought together by the universal language of sport.”
Prime Minister Davis noted that that year’s theme, “Paradise to Paris,” captured the essence of that journey.
“It is here, amidst the splendor of our sun-kissed beaches and the rhythmic sway of our palms that the chase towards Olympic glory begins anew,” he stated. “We are thrilled to offer a backdrop of unparalleled beauty, where every sprint, every baton pass, and every victory lap is set against the picture-perfect canvas of our islands.”
He added: “To our athletes, I say this: as you stand on the precipice of your dreams, ready to catapult yourself into the annals of history, know that you are part of a legacy of excellence and determination. This weekend, you are not only competitors but also ambassadors of your countries and the spirit of sport. We are especially proud of Team Bahamas, who carry the weight of their performance and the hopes and pride of our nation. You embody the spirit of The Bahamian people, and we are behind you every step of the way.”
Prime Minister said that to the international visitors, he extended “the warmest Bahamian welcome”.
“Over the next few days, as you revel in the thrill of competition, take a moment to bask in the beauty of our island,” he stated. “Discover why we proudly say, “It’s Better in The Bahamas.” Whether it’s the hospitality of our people, the tranquility of our waters, or the rhythm of our culture, you are in for an experience that captures the heart and rejuvenates the soul.”
“Let us celebrate the unity and friendship that sports foster, cheering every athlete and savoring the spectacle of human potential at its best,” Prime Minister Davis added. “I hope the races are swift, the results are inspiring, and the memories are lasting.
“Welcome to The Bahamas, the paradise where champions chase their dreams to Paris. As your host, it is my immense pleasure to declare the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 2024 officially open. Let the games begin.”
The Bahamas is on its way to greater national food security and being less dependent on food imports with the Ministry of Agriculture’s container farms, two of them, provided by Eeden Farms.
On its Facebook, the ministry informs that the farms, both 40 feet, are able to produce the equivalent of 5 acres of high quality produce annually, resistant to hurricanes and pesticide free.
A container farm is a 21st century farming method that involves growing plants inside customized storage or shipping containers.