Monthly Archives: July 2020

The Bahamas officially reopened to the public with a handful of new coronavirus guidelines.

When you pack your sunscreen and bathing suit, make sure you have your mask ready as well.

Phase 2 allows for international travel. Earlier this month, the country allowed international boaters, yachters and private aviation as part of Phase 1.

Bring your COVID-19 test: If you plan on visiting the Bahamas, you must present a negative COVID-19 swab test upon arrival. The results must be no more than seven days old.

Youll need a health visa: Travelers will be required to complete an electronic health visa prior to departure and present proof of confirmation at their destination.

Temperature checks: At airports and seaports, all visitors will undergo temperature checks conducted by health care personnel. Any travelers who show COVID-19 symptoms will be transferred to a separate area for further testing and evaluation.

Masks are required: Visitors will be required to wear face masks in any situation where it is necessary to enforce physical distancing guidelines. In addition to airports and sea terminals, travelers must wear masks in taxis, while checking in at hotels, standing in line at attractions and before being seated at restaurants. Failure to comply with the countrys mask guidelines could result in a $200 fine or one month imprisonment.

Flights resume: JetBlue has resumed daily service between Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Nassau, while American Airlines has resumed flights twice a day between Miami and Nassau.

Curfew in effect: The Bahamas will continue its mandatory curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., so travelers must return to their housing accommodations during that time. Visitors will be allowed to move freely throughout their hotel and resort properties during curfew.

What about Atlantis: One of the most popular hotels, Atlantis has resumed operations. While the casino slot machines will be open 24/7, table games and sports betting will have revised hours.

Later phases: Beginning Monday, the Bahamas will enter Phase 3 of its reopening, which allows for attractions, excursions and tours to resume. Phase 4, which begins July 27, will allow vendors and jet ski operators to reopen.

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What to know before heading to the Bahamas - Boston Herald

Update #88

NASSAU, Bahamas, July 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ministry of Health wishes to advise the public that travelers must complete a Bahamas Health Visa application and present a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test with a sample taken within ten (10) days of arrival.

Effective immediately, all travelers will be required to complete an electronic Bahamas Health Visa application before departure from the place of embarkation. This can be found at travel.gov.bs. Travelers are required to upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test and provide contact information.

The Government of The Bahamas will accept the negative COVID-19 RT-PCR (swab) test if the sample was taken within (10) ten days of arrival. Tests over ten (10) days old will not be accepted.

An automated response will be provided once the application is completed. The only persons approved to travel are those who have received a green color-coded response, as proof of approval. This confirmation must be presented upon arrival in The Bahamas. The Health Visa application process will take twenty-four to forty-eight (24-48) hours and should be completed with adequate lead time.

Failure to comply with the stated requirements will result in denied entry. It is recommended that all travelers interested in visiting The Bahamas review requirements applicable to each member of their traveling party at http://www.bahamas.com/travelupdates before booking a trip.

For more information, or to view the Tourism Readiness and Recovery Plan, please visit http://www.bahamas.com/travelupdates. You may also contact the Ministry of Tourism COVID-19 travel hotline at (242) 502-0829 Monday to Friday, 8 AM 6 PM, or email at [emailprotected].

PRESS INQUIRIESAnita Johnson-PattyBahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation[emailprotected]

SOURCE The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation

http://www.bahamas.com

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Government of The Bahamas - Ministry of Health Testing Protocol for Incoming Visitors - PRNewswire

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Minister of National Security Marvin Dames said yesterday the government remains concerned about the threat of undocumented migrants infected with COVID-19 entering The Bahamas illegally.

Dames, who was responding to questions from Eyewitness News, said the defense force has increased its presence in the southern Bahamas and other key entry points.

Last Wednesday, two new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Grand Bahama a 20-year-old undocumented migrant and a Grand Bahamian woman.

Eyewitness Newsunderstands the undocumented migrant is a Haitian national, who had been living in Eight Mile Rock since March.

Its something that we are aware of, Dames said.

Every week as a Cabinet we discuss the COVID problem at length.

I think you can see the result of that to date so far. We have been one of those countries throughout the world that have actually been leading in our preventive measures to fight against this pandemic.

He continued: We understand ours is a very porous border. Were an archipelago stretched over some 100,000 square miles of sea and so were on heightened alert.

I just visited with the commodore not too long ago and then had a very good briefing. We have our presence out in the southern Bahamas and those key entry points into our borders. Were not only concerned about [Haiti], were concerned about every country. Were concerned about every citizen, every foreign person coming into this country. We have to ensure and we have put measures in place.

Haiti, which the Pan American Health Organization labeled a humanitarian crisis in relation to the pandemic, has become a COVID-19 hotspot in the Caribbean.

The Bahamas southern neighbor has experienced a large scale outbreak of cases and had more than 13 deaths over a two-day period.

The total death toll was last reported at 139 and there have been nearly 7,000 cases since March 19.

Pressed on the threat of imported cases from undocumented migrants, Dames said: I am certain as I said before, we will look at that as we have been looking at every incident prior to it.

We keep updated charts on trends and whats happening, and how things are happening and what we can do to mitigate and to address, and focus on the issues because at the end of the day we want a nation thats safe from this very, very devastating virus.

We cant afford it to overrun our communities. We cant afford it to inundate our hospitals.

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Defense Force increases presence in southern Bahamas - EyeWitness News

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Top 10 Islands in the Caribbean and the Bahamas - KCTV Kansas City

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A Bahamas-based contractor yesterday argued that this nation should re-examine introducing an investor citizenship initiative to help counter COVID-19s negative impact.

Costa Berdanis, Tarcon Constructions president, told Tribune Business that such a scheme would expand the benefits of foreign direct investment (FDI) beyond the real estate sector that is the direct focus of the permanent residency programme.

I think citizenship by investment is one of the things we can do to get some revenue coming in here, he explained. The thing is it is not like we cant put a limit to the number of how many we can invite to do so, and we can screen who we want.

We have an attractive system here. We have a good banking system that a lot of Caribbean countries dont have, which is first world banking, and a lot of people are more attracted to come here.

Mr Berdanis continued: Right now we have a residency programme for $750,000 that is solely linked to real estate, so the benefit doesnt really trickle down to everybody.

If you had a citizenship programme to rebuild the country, a person would come in and make a donation. Out of that $750,000, lets say $300,000 went to rebuild schools and roads, and the other $450,000 went to helping combat the coronavirus, help the National Insurance Board and some of the national issues - all of the things that would benefit the majority of the people rather than the minority.

I think this is a viable thing, but I know the United States doesnt like us selling our citizenship. But, at the end of the day, we have to take care of ourselves here and it is a thing that people want and we can limit it.

So-called Investor Citizenship initiatives have been mulled and floated in the past, most recently by Sean McWeeney QC, a former attorney general and key advisor to ex-premier Perry Christie. The idea was ruled out, though, by both that administration and the current government, with ex-financial services minister, Brent Symonette, placing the focus on speeding up permanent residency applications.

Investor Citizenship would grant citizenship to a limited group of individuals, once they met certain criteria, including a high multi-million dollar investment threshold. Those qualifying would have to invest in Bahamas-based developments and companies that created local jobs, with the initiative targeted at a small group of billionaires and multi-millionaires with the resources to move the economy.

The programme would essentially be targeted at the worlds wealthiest individuals, meaning the likes of Joe Lewis and the Izmirlian families. The billionaires, both of whom reside at Lyford Cay, have ultimately invested billions in the domestic economy, and created thousands of local jobs, via Albany and Baha Mar respectively (notwithstanding subsequent events at the latter).

Investor citizenship programmes have been adopted by countries such as Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Malta, the Netherlands, the UK and Spain, either allowing direct citizenship by investment or offering routes to citizenship for wealthy investors.

Concerns have been raised, however, over the transparency and accountability surrounding such programmes, which have also drawn the attention of regulators and law enforcement agencies in nations such as the US on the grounds that citizenship is being bought.

However, Mr Berdanis added: I have a lawyer friend right now in Canada who has millions of dollars from persons bundled up that just want to get residency, and they dont want residency for criminal reasons.

Lets say that these people are right now in Hong Kong, and they may be worth up to $3m or more. They want to have a back-up plan if China further puts a clamp down on them. I know there are a few groups that are pushing the Government on this citizenship by investment initiative, as there are a few Canadian firms that are inquiring and I think a couple of law firms are.

Mr Berdanis added: From the immigration aspect, we can benefit from it greatly. Portugal is benefiting, and a friend of mine has built 16 high-rise hotels for people that are making investments. Once they get a group like Hyatt or the Marriott, they would have the management to give these hotel brands a return, and those folks dont even occupy those places as they just get their residency. If they need a place they can go to have an escape, they have it.

Mr Beranis ultimately said he doesnt see a downside to it here, adding that the Government can always experiment with the initiative. He added that The Bahamas dont have to go huge, but if you give out 1,000 citizenship by investment certificates you can spread it out among all of the lawyers so they can equally have the business.

We have so many undeveloped islands that we can do private residency on if you are concerned about these people living amongst us on New Providence. Diversification has always been a good thing. We have so many empty islands that we can experiment with but they just dont touch them.

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Bahamas urged to re-examine 'citizen investors' - Bahamas Tribune