Bahamas News
Gov’t test results reveal Grand Bahama repatriation passenger is negative for COVID
#TheBahamas – May 13, 2020 – The debacle deepens when it comes to the evolving story of a returning Bahamian who was thought to have COVID-19 when he boarded a repatriation flight from Florida last Friday; now, he reportedly does not have the deadly contagion.
In a media statement issued Tuesday night by The Bahamas Ministry of Health, it is explained the passenger has now tested negative, on two occasions, for the coronavirus.
“The Ministry of Health reports today that the Grand Bahama passenger previously reported as COVID-19 positive has tested negative for the COVID-19 virus.
The passenger was tested twice upon arrival in Grand Bahama by the Ministry of Health’s Surveillance Team.
Both test samples returned a negative result, as confirmed by the fully accredited National Reference Lab in New Providence.”
The Grand Bahama passenger, who is described in media reports as a male, was travelling with three other family members.
On Sunday, The Prime Minister addressed the issue.
“All four of these individuals have been tested again on arrival. We are awaiting the test results.
All passengers wore PPEs during the flight, which decreases the risk of exposure. All passengers on the flight will remain in quarantine and will continue to be monitored,” said Dr. Hubert Minnis, who is also Acting Minister of Health.
It is unstated who confirmed the passenger as positive for Covid-19, but the Ministry of Health says it is now comforted, after having received two negatives from its touted “gold standard” testing method that no one on the flight was inadvertently exposed to the coronavirus.
“Health officials are satisfied that the passenger did not pose a risk to the other passengers traveling on the same aircraft.”
The chaos created by this ‘false positive’ resulted in the Prime Minister halting repatriation flights. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which coordinated the Bahamasair charters from South Florida on May 7, has activated a probe.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is investigating the circumstances surrounding the passenger being allowed to board the flight.”
About 200 residents were returned to The Bahamas on Friday; all are in mandatory quarantine for fourteen days.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 31, 2023 – Earth Day is coming up on April 22, 2023, and the Department of Environment and Coastal resources is hosting a poetry competition for TCI youth to mark the event. 
Students of all ages are encouraged to write a sonnet to celebrate the TCI’s natural beauty; the winning poem will be published in the Times of the Island Magazine.
The deadline for poems to be submitted is April 30, 2023, and students should submit their poem via email to aavenant@gov.tv or in person to any DECR office. Entries must include the student’s name, age and school.
The department promises that there are prizes to be won for the top poets.
April 22 marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement 53 years ago and helps demonstrate support for environmental protection. The theme for this year is “Invest In Our Planet.”
This year‘s theme follows years of missed climate action goals by governments globally, including poor climate
financing. The Turks and Caicos and other small island developing states are particularly at risk environmentally because of the growing threat of climate change.
Currently the country is working through the Environmental Health Department DECR, Fisheries Department, and more to create sustainable fishing, farming, and marine practices that will benefit the country economically, but also protect its natural flora and fauna.
Projects include sargassum research, coral nurseries to rebuild the country’s coral reef, farming in schools, marine spatial planning to create an effective plan for the use of marine resources, participation in the UK Blue Belt program to protect local marine life, and much more.
Bahamas News
Work of NAECOB critical in ensuring high standards in education, says Minister Hanna-Martin
“We’re the Ministry of Education and they’re our schools. We are accountable to NAECOB. They ensure that what is happening on the campuses throughout the nation meets the physical standards and the qualitative standards of education. You would have heard classroom size and teacher/student ratio. We may have challenges, and we do at the Ministry of Education but when these issues are brought to our attention we are obliged and compelled to seek resolution to ensure that the standards are met.
the criteria to offer an educational service in The Bahamas as outlined in the Education Act. She said it is mandatory that all educational institutions/provider offering/proposing to offer an educational service in the Bahamas must be registered according to the NAECOB Act and the Education Act.BIS Photos/Mark Ford
Header: Seated at the table, from left: – Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary; Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin; Dominique McCartney Russell, Acting Director; Cassia Minnis, Registration Officer; Thelma Grimes, Council Chairperson; Howard Newbold, Inspector, Council Member; Shena Williams, Council and Inspector; Dorothy Anderson, Inspector; T. Nicola McKay, Deputy Chairperson; (seated behind) Willard Barr, Council and Inspector.
1st insert: Thelma Grimes, Council Chairperson
2nd insert: Howard Newbold, Inspector and Council Member
3rd insert: The Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training
4th insert: Cassia Minnis, Registration Officer
#TheBahamas, March 27, 2023 – As the 50th anniversary of our nation’s independence approaches, Bahamians everywhere are teeming with excitement and expectancy around the year-long celebrations set by The National
Independence Secretariat.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister joined H.E Leslia Miller Brice, Chair of The National Independence Secretariat to unveil the Calendar of Events for the 50th Independence celebrations.
The calendar comprises a host of events, initiatives and recommendations for celebrations throughout all 33 islands of The Bahamas.
At this jubilant occasion the PM stated, “Celebrating independence is about acknowledging the greatness around us, the greatness within us, and the greatness ahead of us.
We are Bahamians. That identity is special.”
View the newly released calendar of events here:
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