#FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – July 23, 2020 — As the island of Grand Bahama prepares for a two-week lockdown, Minister of State for Grand Bahama, Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson urged everyone to protect themselves, their families and have faith in God as Grand Bahama is in a “serious situation.”
During a
press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday, July 23,
Senator Thompson provided pertinent information for residents, while also
encouraging everyone to stay safe.
Describing
the lockdown as “one of the most difficult periods in Grand Bahama” Minister
Thompson said Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis’s decision to do
so was “correct and balanced.”
He said, “I
urge Grand Bahamians to take these measures seriously and to fully comply. We
are facing a very serious situation in Grand Bahama and we need to do all we
can to get the situation under control.
“Many are
infected and sick and unfortunately, lives have already been lost. I want to
send out the strongest possible message. Protect yourself and protect your
families.”
For this to
happen, he continued, residents must comply with regulations.
Addressing
the long lines of people rushing to the food stores, Minister Thompson said
they will remain open and so there is no need for people to rush out as there
is enough food.
During the
lockdown, the Minister urged residents not to leave their homes unless it is an
emergency, even if it is to go to the food store, gas station or pharmacy.
Those exempt
are construction workers for hurricane repair and preparation purposes,
essential Government services, and industrial companies for maintenance of
their equipment and for essential and emergency services.
The
government quarantine facility will be manned by NEMA officials and the Royal
Bahamas Defence Force.
Addressing
the food assistance programme, Minister Thompson said the joint effort between
the Government of The Bahamas, the Grand Bahama Port Authority, the Grand
Bahama Chamber of Commerce, and the Grand Bahama Christian Council, has issued
some 4,535 vouchers which he believed would assist 18,000 Grand Bahamians.
To receive
assistance, he explained, people are asked to register online at www.feedgrandbahama.com and fill out the necessary form. There is one voucher per
household and after the applicant has been verified and approved, they will be
assigned a distribution center and notified of when the voucher will be ready
for collection. The participating food stores are: Solomon’s, Sawyer’s Fresh
Market and Express Food Mart.
Said
Minister Thompson, “Residents should remain in their homes for their safety and
the safety of their families. We managed this before, and we are confident that
if we comply with the regulations, we will be able to manage this and to
control this again.”
For those
needing information during the lockdown, they may reach the Office of the Prime
Minister’s Information Centre via Whatsapp at 727-2473; email opminfocentre@bahamas.gov.bs; help desk available from 9am to 5pm
727-8119, 727-0993, and 727-0826. The
Information Centre may also be reached through the Office of the Prime
Minister’s Facebook page facebook@opmgbi which is being manned.
Minister
Thompson closed by sending an encouraging message out to residents, “We’re
facing a very difficult time. We are going to be facing a difficult time in the
next two weeks. I want to encourage Grand Bahamians. They are strong. They are
a resilient people. They have fought through hurricanes, they have fought
through a difficult economy, they have fought through COVID-19. We’ve done it
before, and we can do it again.”
He encouraged residents to be patient, take care of themselves, their families and they ought to be their brother’s keeper during this difficult time.