#NASSAU, The Bahamas – Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell, told Parliamentarians Monday that his Ministry and its Departments and Divisions have undertaken a myriad of measures to provide assistance to those Bahamians as the country continues its fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Minister Campbell said
officials have endeavored to use every avenue to remain accessible not only to
their regular clients, but also to persons within the community of persons with
disabilities, the elderly, those in the tourism sector who find themselves on
reduced workweeks as a result of the closure of the tourism sector, and, “those
who are generally in need.”
The Ministry of Social
Services and Urban Development, is comprised of the Department of Social
Services, the Department of Rehabilitative Welfare Services, the Department of
Gender and Family Affairs and Urban Renewal, along with numerous Divisions and
Units.
Minister Campbell said
while the Department of Social Services is responsible for, and has been tasked
with, ensuring that the requisite assistance is provided to persons in need of
assistance, a “team effort” is being utilized.
Minister Campbell said the
Department’s response to COVID-19 also takes into account the needs of the
country’s most vulnerable groups of clients, consisting of its children, senior
citizens and persons with disabilities. He said to facilitate delivery of
services to the country’s senior citizens and persons with disabilities who are
clients, officials have increased the number of vehicles in its fleet “to avoid [their] being exposed to the large number of clients who visit our various
centres on a daily and monthly basis.” Approval was granted and vehicles were
rented in New Providence, in Grand Bahama and in Abaco.
The Department also made
it possible for persons from the community of persons with disabilities who are
not clients of the Department to provide their information to Social Workers at
the Disability Affairs Division via telephone so that they could receive
emergency food assistance where necessary. They will be required to present IDs
when they come to collect these coupons or when the coupons are delivered to
them.
Contact numbers for the
Disability Affairs Division are: 325-2251/2.
Minister Campbell also
announced that persons with disabilities under the age of 16 who normally
receive their services every two months, had their April assistance advanced to
them in the month of March to facilitate whatever preparations they needed to
make. Similar arrangements were also made for persons receiving foster care
subsistence.
“I would like to take this
opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to encourage the community of persons with disabilities
to register online with 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 Disability Affairs Commission can be contacted on a 24-hour cell by Whatsapp at: 376-8328. We have endeavored to use every avenue to remain accessible,
not only to our regular clients, but also to persons with disabilities and
those who are generally in need.”
Minister Campbell told
House Members that officials from the Department of Social Services have also
been working — in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA), the Ministry of Health and various non-governmental organizations — to
promote food safety and security.
“Many of these
organizations are challenged with being able to get hot meals and food parcels
to persons that are home bound, and to persons who frequent their
establishments daily,” Minister Campbell said.
“I want to reassure our
partners that as we reevaluate our positions and as we reconsider the needs of
our people, we are also reviewing our assistance to them and we will do all
that we can to continue to nurture and strengthen those partnerships that we
value so much. I want to assure them that they will hear from us in short
order.”
Minister Campbell said the
Ministry and the Department has also put measures in place to ensure that the
assistance normally given to the seniors home, the children’s homes, the
Williemae Pratt Centre for Girls and Simpson Penn Centre for Boys continue
uninterrupted at this time.
Additionally, Minister
Campbell said, the Department of Social Services continues to provide
assistance to persons in need by assessing them for Emergency, Temporary or
Permanent Food Assistance. He said the Department also continues to assist with
utilities and that financial assistance for medical procedures are ongoing.
“Additional assistance for
rent, and I want to pause there, Mr. Speaker, because coming out of this I
would have heard some concerns about persons who are homeless. Mr. Speaker, the
Department of Social Services has always made itself available to assist
persons seeking rental assistance and so I say here for the record that anyone
who is out there who is serious about wanting assistance in that regard, can
access that very same line item.”
Minister Campbell said many
of the Department of Social Services clients who receive food assistance (at
present the programme is servicing just under 10,000 persons) are armed with
Bank of The Bahamas Pre-paid cards upon which funds are uploaded monthly.
Minister Campbell said the most recent upload took place on March 27 (2020).
“I am aware that there are
a number of persons whose cards have expired in the interim. Those concerns
have been expressed and are being addressed. I want to thank the staff at the
Bank of The Bahamas who are working with us to renew those cards as soon as
possible.”
Minister Campbell said the
Department has also been charged with providing special food assistance to
those persons who – as a result of the closure of the tourism sector — found
themselves on reduced workweeks.
“This for us is uncharted
territory. We initially established an email address asking persons to email us
so that they can get the subsistence. In light of the fact that we were — while
wanting to assist found it necessary to promote physical distancing — within a
week, up to Saturday past, we had more than 3,000 persons throughout The
Bahamas apply to that email address. I want those persons to know that they
will begin getting responses starting today and I am advised, and I know that
my team is listening and will not make a liar out of me, that as early as this
Wednesday, coupons will be ready and persons will be contacted and advised (a)
how they can collect those coupons or (b) how the coupons may be delivered to
them.”
Minister Campbell said he would
have also been advised that there is some concern that some of the measures put
in place to protect citizens from the COVID-19 Pandemic “may have put some
persons in some environments that ought to be safe but are not necessarily safe
because it is in those home environments where some persons are abused and
possibly worse.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to say to the abusers that no time is a good time to commit acts of abuse. This is a time when they should reflect on the errors of their past and try to make amends and so I trust where some mistakes would have been made in the past, those perpetrators would repent of their ways and seek to build those bridges that they would have broken down.
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CIBC Caribbean today announced that its Bay Street branch will close permanently on 31st May 2024.
CIBC Caribbean’s Managing Director, Dr. Jacqui Bend, in making the announcement said: “We regret this development; however, our bank recognizes that our clients’ needs are changing, and we remain committed to meeting these evolving needs. We are even more focused within the climate of evolving technology advancements on creating product options that focus on security, convenience, and ease of doing business.”
Dr. Bend noted that there will be no job losses as a result of this closure and employees will be redeployed to other branches.
She observed, “Additionally, the closure of the Bay Street branch represents a continuation of the work previously started to repurpose our branch network to serve our clients more efficiently across the region.”
Dr. Bend said the decision to end operations at Bay Street was made with the knowledge that clients will continue to be adequately serviced by a strong branch presence that already exists in The Bahamas. She said the bank has written to its Bay Street clients informing them of the closure and has outlined their future banking options.
“We understand that the closure of Bay Street may be inconvenient to our some of our clients, but we hope that this will be tempered by the knowledge that they have many more avenues available to conduct their banking that are also convenient, safe and practical, using our mobile or online banking platforms or our other branch locations.”
April 29, 2024 – Freeport, The Bahamas – In line with its mission to create a stronger, more connected Freeport economy, the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA) is pleased to share details of the upcoming Freeport Business Expo: Tourism Edition, taking place on Thursday, May 2, 2024 at the Grand Lucayan Convention Center in Grand Bahama.
“As the GBPA continues its work to attract investors to Freeport, we offer this showcase of local and international businesses offering services and opportunities to potential and existing licensees,” stated Ian Rolle, GBPA President. “This Expo will not only connect unique international service providers with Bahamian entrepreneurs aiming to introduce new tourist attractions, but also bring together financing institutions to support Bahamian-owned start-ups and existing businesses in the industry.”
The emphasis on tourism at the 2024 Expo ensures that those in tourism-focused businesses are certain to benefit. The event will offer opportunities to meet potential business partners, gain insight on financial opportunities, engage with leaders in workshops and one-on-one sessions, and get answers on starting a Freeport business and obtaining a GBPA license.
“We regularly host community business expos,” said Glendia Sweeting, Manager of Quality Assurance and Special Projects. “But we recognize the significant benefit of an expo focused on enhancing tourism business offerings through connecting international service providers and Bahamian entrepreneurs. We have more than thirty local and national exhibitors taking part on May 2nd, along with several international service providers.”
Multiple investment projects currently in progress and planned in the city of Freeport is creating anticipation for existing and potential entrepreneurs and this expo is geared towards preparing them for these opportunities. “Grand Bahama is going to experience a significant growth spurt in the next one to three years. I would strongly encourage everybody who wants to get involved in business to look at Grand Bahama as one of the top choices, especially over the next three years,” said Mr. Rolle.
The Expo opens on Wednesday, May 1st with a welcome reception from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A full day of learning and networking opportunities follows on Thursday, May 2nd. GBPA’s partners in the Freeport Business Expo include:
Grand Bahama Island Promotion Board
Ministry for Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce
Ministry of Tourism
Bahamas Immigration
Bahamas Customs
Five Star Shipping Company
Viva Wyndham Fortuna
Bahamas Air
Grand Lucayan Hotel
Registration for access to the Expo’s exhibitors is free, and all-access passes are available for purchase. Event details and registration information may be found at freeportbusinessexpo.com.
Eleuthera, THE BAHAMAS – A pioneering cohort of 43 Eleuthera residents graduated from the University of The Bahamas’ (UB’s) free Leading Light Programme, sponsored by Disney Cruise Line (DCL) on Friday 19th April, 2024.
The programme, launched in February 2024 and delivered through UB’s Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning (CeLEARN), offers a series of courses to ensure Eleuthera has a proficient workforce capable of delivering unparalleled hospitality leadership as the island experiences a sharp growth in tourism arrivals. The graduation ceremony was held at the Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce Business Hub in Rock Sound, Eleuthera.
The courses focused on tourism and hospitality skills, leadership development and effective communication. They were taught by UB faculty and included guest lecturers such as former Director General of Tourism, Minister of Tourism and Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Vincent Vanderpool Wallace and veteran hospitality professor Dr. Lincoln Marshall.
“This programme represents the mission-driven collaboration and skills-building that University of The Bahamas is committed to fostering, supported by an important industry partner like Disney Cruise Line,” noted UB President (Acting) Janyne Hodder. “Given the importance of the tourism industry to our nation, we know how vital it is that we continually equip our workforce with diverse expertise to uphold our reputation for excellence in hospitality. We are grateful for this collaboration with Disney Cruise Line which has facilitated programme delivery in Eleuthera, enabling UB to broaden access to much sought-after professional development.”
As training and skills development programming grows across the island of Eleuthera, the Leading Light Programme experience was tailored to be free of charge, accessible and conclude with participants earning a UB certification that signals the high standard of education for which the University is recognized. Students came from all walks of life and traveled from as far away as Hatchet Bay in the North, and Bannerman Town in the South to Rock Sound for classes. Programme participants also received a stipend to defray the cost of commuting and other personal expenses.
Nora Smith, a manager at the picturesque Jack’s Bay Club, yearned to increase her skills.
“I would recommend this programme to anyone because The Bahamas is known as a tourism destination. Taking this course in tourism and hospitality, can help me to go far in dealing with tourists daily in my workplace,” she said.
Graduate Javonne Richards appreciated the comprehensive curriculum and the ease of access to the courses that were offered.
“This programme not only fills a gap in our Eleuthera education offerings, but also equips participants with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in dynamic work environments,” he noted.
Director General of Tourism Mrs. Latia Duncombe, who delivered the keynote address at the graduation ceremony, shared three essential qualities for successful tourism professionals: energy, creativity and a welcoming personality.
“Your fresh perspectives and innovative ideas are invaluable to creating unique, unforgettable customer experiences,” said Mrs. Duncombe. “While technology such as Artificial Intelligence, also have a role to play, human interaction remains essential.”
Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs and Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera the Honourable Clay Sweeting commended the partnership that is supporting community growth.
“I am proud of every Eleutheran who came from near and far to take advantage of this opportunity,” said Minister Sweeting. “As Eleuthera’s economy continues to grow, especially in Central and South Eleuthera, I encourage more corporate partners to invest in the local community in innovative ways, like the University of The Bahamas and Disney Cruise Line have, so that we can continue to strengthen our local communities.”
Two additional cohorts will be offered this year, increasing the pipeline of Eleutherans who are optimally skilled as hospitality and tourism ambassadors. Registration for the summer programme will open on May 17 and the second cycle of courses begins June 17, 2024. Fall programme dates are September 23 through November 29, 2024. To learn more about the Leading Light Programme and how to enroll, please email atynes@eleutherahambercommerce.com.