#TheBahamas – April 29, 2020 –The Cabinet Office today announced that Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis has appointed an Economic Recovery Committee.
The public-private
Committee will make recommendations to the Cabinet on the long-term economic
recovery of The Bahamas economy, including job-creation and stimulating small
business recovery and development in response to COVID-19.
John Rolle, Governor, Central Bank of The Bahamas
The
Committee will focus on restoring the macroeconomy; restarting a competitive
business environment; economic diversification; tourism and transport;
financial services and labour.
The
Co-Chairs of the Committee are Acting Financial Secretary Mr. Marlon Johnson
and businessman Mr. Ken Kerr, CEO, Providence Advisors.
The
Committee is representative of a diversity of public and private sector
entities.
In
addition to the Co-Chairs, members of the Committee include:
• Mr.
John Rolle, Governor, Central Bank of The Bahamas
• Mrs.
Wendy Craigg, former Central Bank Governor; Advisor, Ministry of Finance
Wendy Craigg, former Central Bank Governor/Advisor to Bahamas Ministry of Finance
• Ms.
Christina Rolle, Executive Director, Securities Commission of The Bahamas
• Mrs.
Davinia Blair-Grant, Executive Director, Small Business Development Centre
• Mr.
John Delaney, Q.C., Senior Partner, Delaney Partners
• Mrs.
Khrystle Rutherford-Ferguson, Chair, Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers
Federation
• Mr.
Greg Laroda, Chair, Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce
• Mrs.
Suzanne Pattusch, Executive Vice-president, Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association
Suzanne Pattusch, Executive VP, Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association
• Mr.
Nat Beneby, former Managing Director, RBC Royal Bank
• Mr.
Patrick Ward, President/CEO, Bahamas First General Insurance Co.
• Mr.
Edison Sumner, Principal, Sumner Trading Partners
• Mr.
Franklyn Butler, CEO/President, Cable Bahamas Ltd.
• Mr.
Obie Ferguson, President, Bahamas Trade Union Congress
• Mr.
Matt Aubry, Executive Director, Organization for Responsible Governance
Edison Sumner, former President of The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation
“The Committee should be bold and creative in
its recommendations,” said Prime Minister Minnis. “We are in a new era. We need to think and act in new ways in order
to recover as quickly as possible and to build a more dynamic and diverse
economy. We have to enhance the use of
digital technologies and delivery services.”
The
Prime Minister said that just as The Bahamas is seeing the local production of
hand sanitizer, masks and other health care products, the Government will
promote more domestic production, and manufacturing where possible. This includes greater food production.
Matt Aubry, Organisation for Responsible Government, ORG
“I look
forward to the ideas, policies and programs the Committee will recommend to help
The Bahamas to recover and to create jobs and more entrepreneurial
opportunities, including for young Bahamians.” Prime Minister Minnis noted.
The
Prime Minister thanked the Committee members for agreeing to serve and to help
provide a way forward for the country in response to the many challenges
arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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#The Bahamas, January 27, 2023 – In response to concerns expressed, University of The Bahamas released a notification on Thursday 26th January 2023 that effective immediately the Portia M. Smith Building at the Oakes Field Campus is closed until further notice as a precautionary measure.
Immediate steps have been taken to engage the Ministry of Environmental Health to conduct a thorough assessment of the building. In the interim, personnel assigned to Portia M. Smith have been instructed to work remotely to maintain the continuity of operations. A further communication will be issued once the assessment has been completed as we continue to provide timely updates.
Please be assured that the health, safety, and welfare of members of the University community and the general public are paramount and we are working with urgency to address this matter.
#TheBahamas, January 26, 2023 – The Prime Minister has ordered an immediate involuntary departure from Haiti of all diplomatic personnel or as soon as security conditions permit.
Up to this time, there was a voluntary departure order in place and all staff at the embassy chose to stay. Per the new instructions, they are to leave for home as soon as conditions permit. This is only a temporary measure in light of recent developments which require a corporate security and intelligence assessment and restaging.
This morning the Chargè reported that they had been stopped by Haitian police and relieved of their vehicle and weapons. This is part of a protest by the Haitian National Police against their own authorities.
All of our diplomats are personally safe.
There also is a report of 5 Bahamians from Bahamasair who landed at Port Au Prince Airport who were unable to leave the environs of the airport. They are all safe and well. The security situation appears less stable over the past three days in the country, and we are taking steps out of an abundance of caution.
The pattern of security concerns is one of ebb and flow and these withdrawals are sometimes necessary to regroup. The Security Forces in our country have been alerted to these developments. As soon as conditions permit a team will be sent back into Haiti without further announcement.
#TheBahamas, January 25, 2023 – In what is being described by Bahamian officials as one of the largest human smuggling incidents in the region, 394 Haitian migrants were intercepted by the United States Coast Guard near Cay Sal Island on Saturday, January 21.
According to immigration officials in The Bahamas, the migrants will be processed on the island of Inagua and later repatriated.
US Coast Guard spokeswoman Nicole Groll described the condition of the intercepted boat to the Associated Press on Monday. She said, “it was grossly overloaded and very much unsafe.”
The officials did not provide any further information on the matter.
The recent apprehension brings the total number of Haitian migrants intercepted in Bahamian waters since the start of the year to just over five hundred (500) persons.
Due to the worsening humanitarian, a surge in gang violence and deepening political instability in Haiti, thousands of Haitians are fleeing their country in search of a better life for themselves and family.