#NASSAU, The Bahamas – May 13, 2020 – Employees across the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development are continuing to fulfill the needs of their regular clients while working to address the influx of new requests for social assistance as a result of the presence of the COVID-19 Pandemic in The Bahamas.
These include employees from the Department of Social
Services, the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, the Department of
Rehabilitative Welfare Services and Urban Renewal, in addition to key Divisions
and entities such as the Disability Affairs Division, Community Affairs
Division, Community Support Services Division, and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and its
Secretariat.
Employees continue to work on
the frontlines of the Government of The Bahamas’ overall response to the
COVID-19 Pandemic along with the other government agencies that have been
declared essential services.
(Social
assistance refers to government programmes that provide a
minimum level of income support to individuals and households living
in poverty. These programmes lend support either in the form of
direct cash transfers or through a variety of in-kind benefits, for example,
food coupons and certain other subsidies.)
Department representatives are called upon to provide
assistance to regular clients in areas such as disability allowance, foster
care assistance, food assistance for families, older persons and persons with
disabilities, and assistance with payments of utilities (electricity and
water), among others.
Personnel are also on call around the clock to provide access
for persons in the event any domestic violence and child abuse matters occur,
while others are working within communities to help address anger management
and temperament issues.
Staff assigned to the various
residential facilities for children and senior citizens, in addition to the juvenile
facilities, are also at work ensuring that these facilities continue to operate
at an optimum level. Rental cars that are used for deliveries during the day
are also being used to transport staff in need of transportation, to the
various facilities in order to accommodate their shifts.
The Department of Social Services continues to provide
regular food assistance to its regular clients, in addition to Emergency Food
Assistance for walk-in clients seeking food assistance as
a result of the presence of the COVID-19 Pandemic in The Bahamas.
Those latter persons are provided with a $50 Food voucher to
address their immediate need, and are later assessed by social assistance
providers to be placed on the Temporary Food Assistance Programme upon which
the client can be placed for up to three years.
Social Services personnel, who have been allowed to work
from home in order to follow the social distancing guidelines – have joined
colleagues at the centres in ensuring that assessments on the many new
applicants as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, are done as quickly as
possible.
The Department’s regular clients who
receive food assistance through The Bank of The Bahamas VISA Prepaid Card, have
funds uploaded to the approximately 8,000 cards each month for recipients
throughout The Bahamas.
The Department has also been managing the
provision of special food assistance to the thousands of persons in the tourism
industry who were placed on a reduced work hours with effect from March 1, 2020
as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic; and has been working in
partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency, the Ministry of
Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, and various non-government organizations
to promote food safety and security.
Meanwhile, team members from the Urban Renewal Department continue
to have a presence in the communities within which Urban Renewal Centres have
been established. Teams have distributed food packages to senior citizens
utilizing curbside distribution policies, all while ensuring that the Ministry
of Health’s protocols were strictly followed in the collection, preparation and
distribution of those food packages.
(Plans are underway for similar deliveries in Grand Bahama,
Abaco and the Family Islands in order to be consistent with Minister of Social
Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell’s mandate “of not
being just New Providence-centric.”)
Additionally, Dr. Eric Fox, an Anger Management and
Temperance Expert and Consultant with the Urban Renewal Commission, who has
done tremendous work in the inner-city communities over the past 32 years,
continues to perform those services within the various communities — utilizing
various forms of social media and other communication to remain “in close
contact” with graduates and participants of his programme.
The Executive Director of Teen Challenge, Dr. Fox has also
reached out to those members of the public at-large who may need his
assistance, while adhering to the personal distancing protocols.
The Ministry has also made provisions
for the community of persons with disabilities who are not clients of the
Department to provide their information via telephone to the Social Workers at
the Disability Affairs Division so that they can receive Emergency Food
Assistance. They are required to show their ID’s upon collection. Persons with
disabilities can contact the Disability Affairs Division at telephone:
325-2251/2 for assistance.
Additionally, officials at the National
Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and its Secretariat, have also been
diligently working to ensure that the needs of the community of persons with
disabilities are being met.
The Commission has established a 24hr
call and WhatsApp line at 376-8328. The community of persons with disabilities
can also register online through the Ministry’s link on the government’s website:
www.bahamas.gov.bs. They may also email the Disabilities Commission at
Disabilitiescommission@bahamas.gov.bs.
“The Ministry’s response to COVID-19,
through its various Departments and Divisions, takes into account the needs of
our most vulnerable groups of clients consisting of our children, senior
citizens and persons with disabilities, in addition to our regular clients and
those persons who now find themselves in need of social assistance as a result
of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Minister of Social Services and Urban Development,
the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell said.
“We have endeavoured to use every
avenue to remain accessible to not only our community of persons with
disabilities, but those who are generally in need.
“I extend my sincere thanks to my staff who have persevered
through the increased demands of Hurricane Dorian (2019) and have now risen,
yet again, to the challenge of executing their normal duties while providing
special assistance to those in need as a result of the economic fallout from
COVID-19. Many do so amidst fears for their own safety and that of their
families,” Minister Campbell added.
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Defence Headquarters – The United States Northern Command, in partnership with local law enforcement agencies, has officially launched Cyber Shark 25, a pivotal cybersecurity initiative aimed at enhancing collaboration and developing strategies to combat cybercrime. The event commenced today and will run through Thursday, October 24, 2024, at the Training Auditorium aboard HMBS Coral Harbour.
In his opening remarks, the Captain of Coral Harbour, Captain Glenn McPhee welcomed participants from various sectors, emphasizing the critical importance of cooperation in addressing the evolving threats posed by cybercrime. He provided an overview of the course, highlighting its focus on knowledge sharing, skill enhancement, and the establishment of a unified front against cyber threats that transcend national borders.
The event has drawn representatives from various organizations, including the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), the Central Bank of the Bahamas, the U.S. Coast Guard, and various law enforcement agencies from both the Bahamas and the United States. These stakeholders engaged in discussions aimed at identifying innovative approaches to prevent cybercrime and bolster the security of digital infrastructures.
Cyber Shark 25 serves as a vital platform for fostering dialogue and collaboration among experts and practitioners. By leveraging the expertise of both American and Bahamian representatives, the initiative seeks to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of the challenges posed by cybercrime, while also developing actionable solutions that can be implemented across jurisdictions.
As the event unfolds over the next three days, participants will engage in workshops, training sessions, and collaborative discussions designed to enhance their capabilities in combating cyber threats. The insights gained during Cyber Shark 25 are expected to contribute significantly to ongoing efforts to safeguard the cyber landscape for both nations.
Under the leadership of Commander Defence Force, Commodore Raymond E. King, the RBDF is dedicated to exploring advanced technology and fostering innovation. We value the passion and talent within our organization’s human capital, and through these efforts, we aim to unlock their potential. By embracing modern technology and encouraging creative thinking, we empower our personnel to contribute to the ongoing success of the RBDF.
NASSAU, The Bahamas — The Ministry of Energy and Transport, in collaboration with Bahamas Power and Light and Bahamas Utilities Holdings Ltd. held a Commissioning Ceremony for Dual Fuel Turbine Engines, October 15, 2024 at Sun Oil Headquarters, Clifton Pier.
Minister of Energy and Transport, the Hon. JoBeth Coleby-Davis said: “Today, we are commissioning two dual-fuel turbine engines, because of a public-private partnership between BPL and Bahamas Utilities Holdings Limited (BUC).
“The partnership is guided by a Power Purchase Agreement, commonly referred to as a PPA. PPA’s are standard practice in the energy field.
The PPA for this project includes clearly defined key performance indicators and penalties for nonperformance. Provisions have also been included to lock down rates, which will protect Bahamian households and businesses from large cost fluctuations.”
She noted, “In many countries, including the United States, PPAs have been successful in positively transforming the energy system, delivering consistent electricity supply, reducing carbon emissions, and providing cost-savings.
“The partnership with Bahamas Utilities Holdings Limited will allow for BPL to increase its generation capacity, with direct benefits for households and businesses in New Providence such as improved reliability in electricity service.
“Currently, the available electricity capacity on New Providence is 256 megawatts. At full capacity, these engines will add 62 megawatts of electricity to the grid.
“The engines allow for dual fuel technology which will enhance operational flexibility, however by June 2025, the engines will run on LNG.
“The LNG fuel will be provided by Shell North America.”
The Minister explained that for over 60 years, Shell has been a pioneer in LNG and today has a leading integrated gas and LNG business, from producing gas, liquefying gas, trading and shipping it, then turning the LNG back into gas and distributing it to customers. Further, she said, Shell is one of the world’s leading LNG suppliers, trading 67 million tonnes of LNG in 2023, around 16 percent of the global LNG market.
Continuing: “The partnership between BPL and Bahamas Utilities Holdings Limited is representative of a strategic solution that has proven to be effective and successful in transforming the energy market.
“As a small island developing nation, we must embrace partnerships to grow and deliver meaningful benefits for the Bahamian people. And if we are to be honest, several of our nation’s most successful projects have been birthed through partnerships – Atlantis, Baha Mar, and Lynden Pindling International Airport all stand as testaments to the value of positive partnerships.
“By partnering with reputable companies – those with international experience and proven track records of success, we firmly believe that a brighter energy future for our nation will be secured.
“And let there be no doubt, that as we partner with international companies, we are also resolute on creating opportunities for Bahamian businesses.
“We are proud that all the successful partners for the renewable projects in New Providence and the Family Islands are at least 51 percent Bahamian owned – and in some instances 100 percent Bahamian owned.”
Minister Coleby-Davis said more of the energy vision and plans will be shared in the near future, and pointed out some significant steps that have already been taken, including: “the passage of the Electricity and Natural Gas Acts, the implementation of the Equity Rate Adjustment initiative at BPL which zero rated the base rate for the first 200 kilowatts of electricity for all residential consumers, the expansion of renewable energy projects in Schools, and the selection of independent power producers to build utility scale renewable energy power in the Family Islands.”
The energy transformation is a journey towards positive and meaningful lasting results, she said, and promise of a brighter energy future, eliciting for households, lower power bills; for large businesses inventory expansion and the hiring of additional staff, and for small and medium sized businesses, improved cash flows and profits.
Sun Princess berthed at the Nassau Cruise Port on October 13th during the next-generation, LNG-powered cruise vessel’s inaugural visit to The Bahamas
The Bahamas – Sun Princess, the newest next-generation vessel operated by Princess Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc, made Nassau, Bahamas its first-ever Caribbean port of call on October 13 and was greeted by local dignitaries including Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper.
The Sphere-class cruise ship is the first vessel operated by Princess Cruises to be fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) as part of Carnival Corporation’s commitment to sustainability. The outward and suspended Sphere Atrium, the namesake of this new class of ship, takes the central Piazza hub of the ship into a new dimension. Here, guests are enveloped with expansive ocean views and an open concept, inspired to deliver the desired lifestyle of relaxed indoor and outdoor living. Like all ships in this brand-new class, it features an eye-catching architectural element known as The Dome, a groundbreaking glass-enclosed structure at the top of the ship which treats guests to expansive ocean views as it channels the relaxed lifestyle of indoor-outdoor living.
Guests were welcomed aboard and treated to tours of the vessel’s unique features, including a sustainability tour demonstrating how the company is leading the way in sustainable cruising by promoting positive climate action. From using LNG to deliver immediate greenhouse gas reductions today, to cutting food waste and removing single use plastic items from its ships, to installing energy-efficient technologies and equipment to lower fuel use, the company is making solid progress toward minimizing its environmental footprint. For more about the company’s commitment to sustainability, please visit carnivalsustainability.com.