Bahamas News
Extreme Week for Caribbean – Coronavirus scare, Quake, Twister & Quarantine!
#CARIBBEAN, January 31, 2020 — A week of extremities experienced across the Caribbean and for Caribbean students resident in Wuhan, China, which is the epicenter of the now global health emergency and deadly Coronavirus.
Emerica Robinson is one of those students and has told The Bahamas Tribune newspaper that she has been quarantined in the neighbouring city, Nanjing; visited by the police and doctors at her residence and is under watch for the next 14 days to monitor whether she shows any sign of having the virus.
Robinson is a Bahamian student attending university in Wuhan and says she has no plans to return home to The Bahamas, will stay put and will do as doctors have prescribed, which is to check her temperature twice a day and to report each test result to the hospital.
The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs had confirmed there are five Bahamian students at university in Wuhan. Bahamas Health Minister, Dr. Duane Sands, yesterday reported that two of them are quarantined and as of Thursday, The Bahamas will quarantine anyone who has been to mainland China in the past 20 days.
At least two critical press conferences have been held in the Caribbean – the first was in Jamaica where the University Hospital of the University of the West Indies was on lock down following the transfer of a patient to the facility.
Word got out that the person, who had recently returned from Asia, was suspected of having coronavirus.
Dr. Christopher Tufton, Jamaica’s Health Minister led a press conference to explain the action taken out of ‘the abundance of caution’ and eventually informed that there was no coronavirus case in Jamaica.
Mere minutes after this press conference wrapped up on Monday, there was a 7.7 magnitude earthquake recorded – it struck at 2:10pm in waters off Jamaica. The USGS said the earthquake affected Jamaica, Cuba, Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, Haiti and Honduras.
The tremors caused The Bahamas to close government offices along Shirley Street in Nassau.
Lots of cell phone video of the moments during and after the earthquake was shared on social media by residents of Cayman. Some people captured the actual shaking, others recorded the gaping sink holes left behind on main thoroughfares, golf course, beach, in backyards and neighbourhoods, proving that the monster quake was anything but imagined.
By Thursday, a line of squally, stormy showers moving off South Florida and over the Abacos resulted in a tornado, confirmed The Bahamas Department of Meteorology.
A mangled mobile home, which was unoccupied at the time of the tornado seemed to be the main victim of the twister which moved through Marsh Harbour, “like a freight train” in the early hours of Thursday.
It appeared the tornado lifted and crashed the vehicle to the ground; it was completely destroyed.
Marsh Harbour, which is the capital of Great Abaco, is still trying to recover from deadly and disastrous Hurricane Dorian.
Bahamas News
National Reference Lab being restored and strengthened to ensure quality and reliability of health data and early warnings of health threats
By Betty Vedrine
Bahamas information Services
NASSAU, The Bahamas — The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) has new leadership. Commander Dr. Raymond King, with 38 years of RBDF service, passed the baton to Captain Floyd P. Moxey during an official ceremony held at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Coral Harbour Base on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Captain Moxey assumed the position of ninth Commander Defence Force.
In attendance were Governor General, Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Cynthia Pratt; Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Philip Davis; Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne Munroe; cabinet ministers, senators, justices and senior government officials.
Prime Minister Davis thanked Commodore King for his long service and said that Commodore King has been an outstanding contributor to
the nation and wished him well in his future endeavors. He commended Commodore King for leading the nation through several crises, including Hurricane Dorian, unrest in Haiti, and the COVID-19 Pandemic.
He welcomed Captain Moxey and said that he epitomized the essence of what a public servant should be.
“Captain Moxey is, in many ways, what public service ought to look like — not glamorous, not boastful, but honest, professional, thoughtful,” said Mr. Davis. “He started out as a marine mechanic in Mangrove Cay, Andros, worked his way up across 40 years of service, mastering technical operations, legal frameworks, and the complex workings of a national security policy.” The Prime Minister said that history was also being made as for the first time ever, the new Commander will be supported by two deputies, both of whom are females.
Outgoing Commander King thanked his staff, colleagues and family for their support over the course of his career. “As I exit the highest office in this distinguished military, I do so with a sense of pride in the work that we have accomplished together,” he said, describing his leadership style as defined by professionalism, fairness, and service to the public.” Delivering a personal tribute was his wife, retired Force Chief Petty Officer Fredricka King, who serenaded him with the hit, “Never Enough” from The Greatest Showman musical.
Commander Moxey noted his work began immediately with addressing the fleet, which is currently running at just 65 percent capacity — far below the 85 percent target.
“Our operations must be intelligence-driven and forward-looking,” he said. To this end, he pledged to boost patrol rotations, set up small boat stations in key locations, and ensure personnel are well-supported and mission-ready.
Plans were also announced to introduce a family support event and expand welfare programmes. An anonymous feedback system, he said, will give marines and staff a safe channel to raise concerns, reinforcing internal transparency and trust.
“To strengthen capabilities, the RBDF will pursue long-term maintenance contracts, adopt a predictive supply model, and invest in training
for pilots, mechanics, and unmanned aerial vehicle operators.” He confirmed that four new safe boats will soon be commissioned, stationed alongside coastal radar systems to expand surveillance coverage.
“The growing instability in Haiti, where gang violence and political turmoil have displaced tens of thousands, has pushed regional governments — including The Bahamas — to bolster border controls and intelligence operations.” Consequently, Commodore Moxey said the RBDF will deepen partnerships with regional allies like the Turks and Caicos Islands, focusing on intelligence sharing and formal agreements to better manage migrant activity.
He added that a new entry of 150 personnel in May will help address manpower needs.
Commodore Moxey is a distinguished Bahamian military professional and legal expert, with over four decades of experience in various agencies including the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Ministry of National Security.
Born in Mangrove Cay, Andros, he joined the RBDF in January 1982. He earned a Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons.) in 2008 from the University of Wolverhampton and a Certificate of Legal Education from the Eugene Dupuch Law School in May 2011. Four months later, he was called to the Bahamas Bar and was subsequently seconded to the Office of the Attorney General.
In 2017, Commodore Moxey returned to the RBDF and became Staff Officer, Legal Affairs. In October 2021, he was appointed Legal Counsel to the Ministry of National Security. He is an active member of Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral. Married to Theresa Sturrup, Commodore Moxey is the proud father of three children — Marcus, Maurice and Theresa, and a proud grandparent.
The ceremony also included Medal Presentations, Three Cheers/Gun Salute for the outgoing Commander and Inaugural Salute to the incoming Commander, the Presentation of Sword and Commander Defence Force Pennant, and a March Past. The RBDF Band provided entertainment.
A reception followed on the grounds.
(BIS Photos/Letisha Henderson)
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