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Bahamas Minister of Education calls for keen attention to changes due to COVID-19

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#Nassau, Bahamas – March 19, 2020 — The Minister of Education, the Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd, urged Bahamians to participate consciously, patiently and with keen alertness to the changing demands that may come as a result of COVID-19 (Corona Virus).

In a Communication to Parliament, Wednesday, March 18, 2020, Minister Lloyd provided an update for the public and persons connected to education including leaders, superintendents, principals, administrators, teachers, students, other staff, parents and stakeholders.

“The reality is that we are in a National Public Health Crisis, evolving as we speak. The Bahamas has never been here before. Each day, the Science Community is learning more and more about the Corona Virus, which means that each day our response will have to adjust to conform to the new realities,” he said.

He acknowledged the stakeholders for their understanding, wisdom, patience and cooperation and expressed the leadership’s care for each member of the team.

Minister Lloyd also announced the following:

Support Staff

  • A rotation system is to be put in place for janitorial and clerical staff. The janitorial staff is to thoroughly clean all campuses using the protective equipment that will be provided.

Security Officers

  • All security officers are to report to work each day for their entire shift. Security officers that have large amounts of vacation time and or holiday days that they may have accumulated are advised to apply to take those days at this time.

Instructions

  • Teachers are to continue to engage students through the media they have established. Where that has not been done, they are directed to attend school, maintaining social distance, and secure the register of their students, while also utilizing sources for educational materials
  • Beginning March 30, 2020, the “live” instruction will be provided by teachers.
  • The Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Virtual School Platform is being upgraded and will be ready Monday, March 23, 2020. Fifty teachers have been trained for this platform which accommodates up to 100,000 students.
  • Over 500 devices have been given to students and teachers to access this program. Students can access this platform with any device that has internet connectivity such as cell phones, laptops, and tablets, etc.
  • The Ministry has approximately 1800 tablets for teachers and 2500 Amazon Fire 7 for students left to be distributed. It also has approximately 10,000 Amazon Fire 7 tablets that are in schools.
  • One-on-One ONLINE learning for after school and weekend personalized sessions are also being expanded which will be ready by Monday, March 23rd, 2020. Teachers will be allowed to use their personal devices for instructions or go to the campus and use those available there.
  • Remote conferencing capability is now being installed so that MOE leaders can communicate with all superintendents and principals in order to disseminate and receive information remotely.

     
  • By Friday, March 20, 2020, the Home Schooling Unit will be providing tips for parents working with their children at home and a list of educational links. The MOE will publish consistently and frequently Public Service Announcements, send out messages through WhatsApp, Facebook and the Ministry’s web site.

    Instructional Materials

    • Utilize existing resources that currently meet quality standards

    • Create instructional resource kits (digital, hard copies, etc.)

    • Publish list of topics in sequence by subject and grade level on MOE Website

    • Produce specific review package for National Examination candidates. To date, 1650 students have been engaged through our virtual learning platforms.
     
  • 19,829 Primary school students will participate in a one-hour daily live session as parents/guardians will be encouraged to follow the posted learning plans to support their children at home.
  •  The MOE will also be airing content via Our TV, ZNS, and radio.

    Lunch Program

    Meal vouchers will be provided for two weeks.  Parents will be required to collect and confirm the receipt of vouchers for their child/children. MOE will engage a number of eateries whereby students could be provided a meal.

    Guidance Counsellors

    Guidance Counsellors will be provided with cell phones so that psycho-social support could be given 8 to 4 for non-academic and psychiatric support.

    Security officers are also maintaining vigilance regarding persons accessing the building who are presenting with flu-like symptoms, and bringing such persons to management’s attention for further attention. It is anticipated that satellite offices will follow suit in these practices

    The Toll-Free numbers below would be available by this Friday:

    1. 300-2320

    2. 300-2319

    Proposed Revised Examination Dates

    Considerations are now being made to extend the Examination timetable. More information will be provided at a later date.

    Students have already received Individual timetables, however the large display timetables have not been printed as yet. It is proposed that the new dates, if agreed upon, will appear on the large/display timetables as well as placed in the media and on social media.


    To assist students with final preparations for examinations administrators, parents, guardians and other caregivers will be advised to:
  • Eliminate all non-instructional or non-essential observances in school e.g. Fun Day, field trips, special assemblies, sports days;
  • Provide opportunities for after-school instruction once students return to campus.

    University of The Bahamas

     
  • Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, UB campuses, centres and business operations including the Oakes Field Campus, Grosvenor Close Centre, and UB-North operations in Grand Bahama will transition to remote operations until further notice.
  • Additionally, Chapter One Bookstore will be closed until further notice. All events scheduled for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester are cancelled or postponed until further notice. This includes Spring 2020 Commencement. A further announcement will be made about Commencement at a later date.

    Remote Instruction
  • Remote instruction and communications will commence on Monday, March 16, 2020 using online applications including MOODLE and Zoom.
  • Faculty and student communications on course content will continue via online channels. A decision will be communicated by Friday, March 20, 2020 regarding laboratory and practicum classes.
  • Teaching practice, kitchen classes and internships are suspended until further notice.
  • Students and faculty needing assistance with remote instruction should contact the IT Helpdesk at 302-4588 or ithelpdesk@ub.edu.bs. Academic Affairs faculty and staff will be permitted to access their offices on Monday, March 16, 2020 to secure their offices.
    Residential Life

  • Students who are residing in university dorms are advised to gather their belongings and initiate arrangements to leave the dorms and return home effective immediately. Students who are not in a position to do so, should contact the Director of Residential Life and Housing at 422-6429 and Dean of Students at 424-8559 for further instructions and assistance

    Administrative Operations

  • Staff are advised that although they are to work remotely, effective Monday, March 16, 2020 they should remain in contact with their supervisors. Staff members who provide essential services including Security, Physical Plant, Information Technology, and Business Office, are advised that they will receive further instructions from their department heads.
  • The public is advised to use all available online resources to complete business transactions where possible during this interim period.

    Bahamas Technical Vocational Institute

  • Effective Monday, March 16, 2020 all face-to-face classes at BTVI have been cancelled until Tuesday, April 14, 2020. Only limited services are available on campus. Updates on the services available are posted on social media and the BTVI website. Many classes have been and are being moved to an online format. Training on the use of online has been made available to faculty. In particular, BTVI will use technology to enhance course content until the end of the term.
  • A series of free online training programs/courses are available to faculty which can assist them in improving their teaching capabilities.
  • Finally, plans are being prepared to properly manage end of term issues such as exams.
    National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of The Bahamas

    As of March 2020, NAECOB will recognize all online programmes completed at institutions that have been accredited by agencies acknowledged by NAECOB.
  • Programmes completed by Institutions not recognized by NAECOB prior to March 2020, will not be accepted.

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Bahamas Warns Travellers as UN says Middle East Conflict May No Longer Be Contained

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The Bahamas, March 18, 2026 – Twenty days into the latest Middle East escalation, the United Nations is warning the conflict is spreading beyond its original battlefield, as the death toll rises and governments around the world issue urgent travel advisories — including The Bahamas.

In a March 17 statement, the UN Secretary-General’s office said the war must stop and called for all Security Council resolutions to be respected, noting with concern that countries in the Gulf continue to be targeted, raising fears of a wider regional confrontation.

The current round of fighting began February 28 with strikes involving the United States, Israel and Iranian-linked forces, followed by missile and drone attacks across Iraq, Lebanon and parts of the Gulf.

International monitors report more than 1,300 people killed in Iran alone, with additional casualties reported in Lebanon, Israel and Gulf states. U.S. officials confirm at least 13 American service members have died since the escalation began, while reports indicate additional senior Iranian military leaders were killed in recent strikes.

Despite the growing violence, several NATO countries including the United Kingdom, France and Germany have not joined offensive operations, instead calling for diplomacy to prevent the conflict from widening.

The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also issued a travel advisory, warning Bahamian nationals to avoid travel to Israel, Palestine, Iran and Lebanon and to reconsider travel across much of the Gulf region due to the risk of sudden escalation, flight disruptions and security threats.

Officials say Bahamians already in the region should remain vigilant and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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The Bahamas Celebrates Andrew Young at 94 – A Legend Honoured with Love at Baha Mar Gala

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The Bahamas, March 18, 2026 – The Bahamas showed its deep affection for one of the world’s most respected civil rights leaders as Ambassador Andrew Jackson Young Jr. celebrated his 94th birthday in grand style at a gala held at the Eccho Art Gallery, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar on March 12, 2026.

The evening was filled with tributes, laughter and cultural pride, reflecting what many guests described as a genuine bond between Young and The Bahamas — a country he has long admired and visited often. Those in attendance said the celebration felt less like a formal event and more like a heartfelt tribute to a man whose life has helped shape modern history.

Prime Minister Philip Davis, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States Wendall Jones, and U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas Herschel Walker were among the dignitaries offering remarks, along with Andrew Young Foundation President Gaurav Kumar and other international guests.

The event was co-hosted by veteran broadcaster Karyn Greer of WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News and Bahamian journalist Dr. Deborah Bartlett, who both reflected on Young’s lifelong commitment to justice, diplomacy and public service.

Born in 1932, Andrew Young is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures of the American civil rights movement. He worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., served as a key leader in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and later became a U.S. Congressman, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under President Jimmy Carter, and Mayor of Atlanta.

Over the decades, Young has been honoured by multiple U.S. presidents, including receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, from President Bill Clinton. His diplomatic work, civil rights leadership and global humanitarian efforts have earned him recognition across the world.

Guests noted that even at 94, Young remains active, engaged and passionate about international cooperation and human rights, continuing to inspire new generations.

His wife, Carolyn McClain Young, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude for what she called the warmth and love shown by the Bahamian people.

The celebration ended in true island fashion with a Junkanoo rush-out, bringing guests to their feet in a joyful close to an evening that blended history, culture and admiration.

For many in attendance, the message of the night was simple — Andrew Young loves The Bahamas, and The Bahamas loves him right back.

Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.

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Experts Analyze Economic Landscape; Opportunities and Challenges

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Nassau, THE BAHAMAS – From pressures on the independence of the US Federal Reserve and relations with China to the instability facing the global economic landscape and how it all impacts The Bahamas’ economy and prospects, Tuesday’s Central Banking Series hosted by University of The Bahamas (UB) in partnership with the Global Interdependence Center (GIC) peeled back the layers of the most critical factors impacting the world’s economic landscape.

At the one-day summit, top economic strategists, policymakers, academics, and economists gave frank and considered insights on the range of opportunities and challenges. In facilitating the high-level talks, UB’s Government and Public Policy Institute (GPPI) continues to provide the platform for evidence-based dialogue on public policy and reform.

“By convening world-class thinkers, policymakers, and practitioners here in Nassau, we affirm that The Bahamas is not solely a subject of global economic forces, but also a participant in the conversations that shape them,” said UB President Dr. Robert Blaine, III.

In his remarks, Minister of Economic Affairs Senator the Honourable Michael Halkitis acknowledged the ripple effects of financial shifts which put pressure on the Bahamian economy, yet he acknowledged that the economy is on the rise. He expressed confidence in the country’s readiness to adapt, citing a deep talent pool and expanding foreign and domestic investments.

“What makes this period particularly significant is the breadth of investment activity across sectors,” said Minister Halkitis, a UB alumnus. “Tourism development remains strong, but it is not the sole driver of growth. Investments are expanding into renewable energy, maritime services, digital infrastructure, agriculture, logistics and the blue and green economies.”

Economist and Former President and CEO of the Federal Reserve of Richmond, Dr. Jeffrey Lacker offered a sobering view on the independence of the US Federal Reserve, a topic that has attracted much national and international in the face of blistering pronouncements by US President Donald Trump.

Dr. Lacker said the Federal Reserve’s choice of monetary policy instrument and setting of the overnight interest rate that it controls should be “free of executive branch and congressional meddling.”

“And by meddling, what I mean is overtly expressed policy direction, opinions about where policies should go, expressed in a way that carries with it the implied threat of adverse consequences to either the individual or the institution, either in the form of legislative changes or some sort of political harassment,” he said.

“The value of insulating day-to-day, meeting-to-meeting monetary policy from pressure from elected officials with an eye on their next election is widely recognized. Neglecting that pressure, caving into that pressure is a road to short-termism, or short-term stimulus at the cost of inflation later on.”

Other pertinent conversations at the summit focused on digital initiatives for financial inclusion, monetary and fiscal policies and strategies in The Bahamas, and the impact of AI on macroeconomic conditions. There was also a special presentation on the history and value of gold. Students from Government High School were among the audience members gaining knowledge from experts.

“When we determined the theme for this year, being Challenges and Opportunities in a Dynamic Global Environment, we did not know what was going to evolve in recent times,” said GPPI Executive Director Zhivargo Laing, referring to the war that the US and Israel initiated against Iran. “So I would like to think that maybe there was a little bit of insight that was taking place during the course of our discussions. But we are here again for the third time with our partners at the GIC to entertain a deep discussion on just what are those challenges and opportunities in this very dynamic environment in which we find ourselves.”

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