Category Archives: Bahamas

Ministry of Education urging parents to bring their students back to school11% of public school enrollment still has not accessed learning platform

NASSAU, BAHAMAS More than 800 public school students who were missing from classes throughout the pandemic have been located as the education recovery task force continues its work to close the education gap caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Education Research and Planning section initially identified 8,000 students who were inactive on the virtual learning platform.

These included both high school and primary school students.

There were concerns among educators and government officials that those students would fall through the cracks and it would remain challenging to get them back on course.

The lists of names were sent schools, which then cross-referenced whether those students had been active on other platforms being used by teachers.

Additionally, some students did not have access to electricity, the internet or devices but who were picking up physical materials directly from the school, which was also cross-referenced.

Once those students were identified, the number of students unaccounted for was cut down by half.

As of the week of January 17, the Ministry of Education could not account for some 4,513 students, which represents some 11 percent of public school enrollment.

The Ministry of Education Research and Planning task force identified and located 843 of those 4,000 students, went to their homes and spoke to their parents to find out the issues.

The group then provided recommendations, follow-up actions and additional support through agencies such as the Department of Social Services.

Some students also returned to school when face-to-face learning was restarted this year. The number of such students isstill being compiled by the Ministry of Educations Research and Planning section.

The first walkabout conducted by the task force occurred in Freetown, which saw the highest percentage of students missing from school with 19 percent of students missing during the pandemic.

The southern New Providence district, which includes schools such as Anatol Rodgers, CV Bethel and AF Adderley, also saw large numbers of students missing.

With schools continually updating their data with the ministry, the expectation is for those numbers to continue to dwindle.

Once students are identified and return to the classroom, they will be given a diagnostic review for education officials and teachers to understand the extent of learning loss from being out of school.

The ministry is also compiling data on students who were scheduled to graduate during that time period to provide assistance on additional options at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) and the National Training Agency (NTA).

While the task forces work continues, the Ministry of Education is urging parents who may have students who have not attended virtual classes or have not been registered to bring them in no matter the problems they may be having.

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EDUCATION RECOVERY UNDERWAY: 800 absentee students returned to classrooms; another 4500 to go - EyeWitness News

Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in the Bahamas

The COVID-19 pandemic in the Bahamas is part of the COVID-19 pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).[3] The outbreak was identified in Wuhan, Hubei, China, in December 2019,[4] declared to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020,[5] and recognised as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020.[6] It was confirmed to have reached the Bahamas on 15 March 2020 with the announcement of the first case.[1]

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).[7] The case fatality rate for COVID-19 has been much lower than for other coronavirus respiratory infections such as SARS and MERS, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[8][9]

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COVID-19 pandemic in the Bahamas - Wikipedia

NASSAU, BAHAMAS One Young World, the global forum that connects the worlds most impactful young leaders, will hold its first-ever Bahamas caucus, entitled Climate Action: Roadmap to Climate Recovery in the Caribbean, at the University of The Bahamas on February 17, 2022.

The hybrid event is co-sponsored by the Office of the Prime Minister and the University of the Bahamas.

Shanaye Smith, One Young World ambassador, Bahamas, said: One Young World appreciates that Prime Minister [Philip Brave] Davis recognized the importance of strengthening and deepening international partnerships in fighting climate change.

Late last year, he addressed some of the Caribbeans One Young World ambassadors and invited them to host an event here.

Its fitting that this caucus will address climate change mitigation as The Bahamas, being a small island developing state, is one of the most vulnerable nations to the effects of climate change.

The climate action caucus aims to facilitate collaboration surrounding climate change mitigation with international stakeholders.

The one-day event will bring together One Young World ambassadors and Bahamian climate leaders to connect, collaborate and share key strategies that can be implemented in The Bahamas and Caribbean to diminish the effects of climate change.

Established in 2009, One Young World connects the youngest and most talented people, ensuring that their concerns, opinions and solutions are heard and considered by those in power.

Their annual One Young World Summit brings together the brightest young talent from every country and sector, working to accelerate social impact.

Each year, delegates from more than 190 countries are counseled by influential political, business and humanitarian leaders such as Justin Trudeau, Paul Polman and Meghan Markle, amongst many other global figures.

Davis will be the keynote speaker at the Bahamas caucus. He will also be joined by One Young World Co-founder David Jones.

To register to attend virtually, visit oneyoungworld.com.

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One Young World to hold first-ever Bahamas caucus on February 17 - EyeWitness News

FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg met with Junkanoo leaders on Grand Bahama on Saturday, February 12, to hear their concerns and to see how best he could address those concerns and work together to take Junkanoo to a whole new level.

Leaders from all of the Junkanoo groups on the island were in attendance.

Bowleg pointed out that he was not sure if Grand Bahama had set up a board, but said the Cabinet appointed a board because Grand Bahama was taking too long to do so.

However, one of the things Bowleg said he wanted to correct right away was the issue of having two Junkanoo committees, a practice that had taken place in the past.

That cant happen, because were one Bahamas, explained Bowleg.

To me, it makes no sense to have a national committee in Grand Bahama and a national committee in Nassau. Were not two separate countries. So, I did away with that right away.

There is only one National Junkanoo Committee and Grand Bahama has its representative on that committee, which is supposed to be your chair and two others.

The local Junkanoo leaders said they were awaiting the legal work to establish their committee and promised Bowleg they would deal with the issue as early as this coming week.

Speaking on behalf of the entire body of Junkanoo groups on Grand Bahama was Thomas Curry Jr, leader of the Platinum Knights Junkanoo group, who presented the minister with a list of concerns expressed by all in Grand Bahama.

Among that list of concerns was the issue of a virtual Junkanoo parade and the fear that the event would not happen for the Grand Bahamian groups.

However, Bowleg informed them that in the last conversation he had with the director of culture, she was waiting on Grand Bahama to give her a date to have the virtual Junkanoo recorded.

There was also the issue of seed-funding for Junkanoo on Grand Bahama. It was pointed out that because the economy on Grand Bahama is struggling, trying to find funding and sponsorship for a Junkanoo parade is almost impossible.

Local groups are hoping to get more funding from the government through seed funding, with Bowleg directing them to provide something in writing that he can present to Cabinet in that regard.

Groups also expressed concern aboutfair assessment of groups from Grand Bahama when it comes to Junkanoo groups representing The Bahamas on an international stage.

Curry said he would like to see some Junkanooers from Grand Bahama have the opportunity to travel abroad with a national group to perform.

In fact, the leaders on Grand Bahama would like to be able to perform on Bay Street so that the Junkanoo groups on the island can gain the respect of their peers in Nassau.

Minister Bowleg agreed and suggested future possibilities along that line, but said Grand Bahama establishing a committee should come first.

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Culture minister meets with Grand Bahama Junkanoo leaders to hear their concerns - EyeWitness News

Sweeting maintains nothing gets done as well as meeting people face-to-faceMinister to lead delegation of 19 representatives and officials

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting will bring remarks at the inaugural Food for Summit and Expo in Dubai from February 23-24.

Minister of Environment and Climate Change HE Miriam Al Mheiri of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who also has responsibility for agriculture, invited the minister to speak and participate in a world leadership panel on food security.

The summit and expo is expected to bring together over 100 countries that have a focus on food security.

It is being hosted in conjunction with United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The event is a part of Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods week at World Expo 2020.

We want to mix with persons not just across the world but with persons who have intimate knowledge on how we can modernize the industry.

Minister of Agriculture Clay Sweeting

The minister is expected to lead a delegation of 19 people from various departments in his portfolio, including the Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority (BAHFSA), Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI), Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation (BAIC), the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Marine Resources, among other ministry officials.

We are looking to gain a lot of knowledge and interact and hopefully explore the possibilities where we can work along with other governments to aid in our fight for food security, Sweeting said.

We want to mix with persons not just across the world but with persons who have intimate knowledge on how we can modernize the industry, see technological advances in the sector and to really network with persons that have beaten the challenges of food security.

We have a challenge with technology, modernization and getting persons involved in the sector.

Weve seen that a lot of farmers are of age and the transfer of knowledge is not happening. Weve missed a generation or possibly two.

We are looking at engaging younger persons and finding ways for them to become successful farmers.

Sweeting also highlighted the worlds challenge of rapid inflation of worldwide prices.

A global challenge right now is pricing and small countries such as The Bahamas are significantly impacted, more than larger countries, he said.

I think it is important that we grow where we live and that is one of the major challenges. So, if we are able to grow here in The Bahamas, then we are able to fight this global challenge of food shortage and the cost of food as well.

Sweeting said he is eager to foster relationships with other countries for food security.

Nothing gets done as well as meeting people face-to-face. We are growing relationships with people across the world in the sector and you are able to have some hands-on technology training and some hands-on knowledge of what we can do, he said.

Israel has done a wonderful job of providing food for their people. Dubai is in the middle of the desert and they are doing pretty well there, and so, we are hoping to find some way to bring that technology home.

He also said the ministry is working feverishly to execute a national food strategy.

We are working on it now and looking for something that would last long-term, he said.

The Blueprint for Change has provided some linkage of what we are supposed to do there.

The National Development Plan from the Christie administration also provides a 20 to 30-year plan of what we are supposed to do in all sectors, inclusive of agriculture, and so, we are just building upon that.

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BACK TO DUBAI: Agriculture minister to speak at UAE summit this month - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The Court of Appeal has reaffirmed the murder and attempted murder convictions of Pedro Davis, who was convicted of the October 2016 killing of Renaldo Clarke.

Justices Sir Michael Barnett, Maureen Crane-Scott and Roy Jones presided over the matter.

Davis shot Clarke in the head and fired at Ronald Super Dean-Auradin on October 21, 2016.

During the trial in the Supreme Court, Dean-Auradin said he knew Davis and saw the man shoot Clarke before firing at him.

A second witness, Michael Newland, who was in a vehicle with Davis, testified to witnessing the same event that he saw Davis shoot Clarke in the back of the head.

Davis appealed his conviction on the ground that the judge erred in law and failed to withdraw the case from the jury and acquit him due to the poor quality and tenuous nature of the evidence of identification, and that the verdict was unsafe.

But the appellate court said the grounds of poor-quality evidence could not succeed.

In his ruling, Sir Michael said the evidence of the two eyewitnesses was critical.

There was evidence from two eyewitnesses that it was the appellant who shot the deceased and shot at Super, the ruling said.

The challenges to their credibility were matters for the jury.

The inconsistencies in their evidence, as suggested by the appellant, were matters for the jury properly instructed.

It was a matter for the jury to decide whether or not they believed the two eyewitnesses or parts of one or the others evidence, or even if they believed the two eyewitnesses.

The fact is that there was evidence for a jury to consider and which, if properly directed, could reach a guilty verdict.

The ruling said the evidence was a case of recognition, not identification.

On the grounds of the judge not directing the jury to the actual evidence laid at the trial as to lighting conditions and distances, Sir Michael said this was unfortunate.

But he said the direction given to the jury was sufficient to draw their attention as to the need to be careful in assessing the evidence of Newland and Dean-Auradin identifying the appellant as the shooter.

The evidence given by the witness, once believed, entitled the jury to convict, read the ruling.

The directors or lack thereof given by the judge was not a material error.

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COA dismisses appeal of Davis' murder conviction Eye Witness News - EyeWitness News

Benjamin: Workers should have been given option to test weekly insteadBCPOU alleges foreign workers brought in to replace contract workers

NASSAU, BAHAMAS A handful of Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) contractual workers who did not wish to become vaccinated against the coronavirus did not receive new contracts due to the companys vaccination policy that took effect January 1, 2022.

When contacted, BTC CEO Andr Foster said that in an effort to safeguard its customers and colleagues, the company added a vaccination policy as one of its requirements for non-full-time employees and more than 90 percent of contracted workers complied, allowing them to receive new contracts.

While the CEO did not say how many contracted workers were impacted, Eyewitness News understands more than a dozen contractors wished to remain unvaccinated, with some obtaining letters from their pastors to abstain for religious reasons.

We are proud to share that BTC has engaged seven local firms and several independent Bahamian contractors who have been working with the company to support its objective to deliver a superior broadband experience throughout The Bahamas, Foster said.

Combined with BTCs existing internal construction expertise, the local construction contractors represent a total workforce of over 60 Bahamians building The Bahamas network of the future.

The supplemental international contractors bring the total amount of teams on the ground to over 70 people and represents the largest active telecommunications construction currently in the country.

In an interview with Eyewitness News, Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) President Sherry Benjamin said the contractual workers were let go on February 1.

While the BCPOU does not represent those workers, Benjamin said she met with Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis last week Friday in hopes that he would intervene.

[Davis] is saying he is a supporter of vaccination and he wants me to encourage my people to get vaccinated. I am not going to encourage anybody to get vaccinated because I think it is their personal choice.

BCPOU President Sherry Benjamin

She said those workers should have been allowed to take COVID tests weekly in lieu of vaccination.

That still did not happen, she said.

He (the prime minister) is saying he is a supporter of vaccination and he wants me to encourage my people to get vaccinated.

I am not going to encourage anybody to get vaccinated because I think it is their personal choice.

Benjamin also expressed concern about the company bringing on foreign laborers to replace those contract workers.

These persons have made a choice that they will not get vaccinated, and if the law says you should not discriminate against anybody based on their creed, which is their belief, I dont see why these people are being allowed to get away with it, she said.

According to the BCPOU president, letting go of the contract workers, who had been full-time before a previous policy change, will result in a shortage in BTCs skill bank of technical workers.

But Foster said the company is providing training and upskilling for BTCs independent copper contractors as the company moves towards a fully-fiberized network.

Foster added that skilled fiber technicians interested in joining BTC as independent contractors can reach out to the company on any of its social media platforms or by calling the company.

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VAX POLICY IN FULL FORCE: Several contract workers at BTC let go over vaccination status - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Former Disaster Reconstruction Authority (DRA) Managing Director Kay Forbes-Smith yesterday denied all allegations of misconduct regarding the possession and sale of a generator to the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA).

Smiths comments came after documents purportedly related to the questionable transaction were circulated on social media last week.

Forbes said the accusations are a conscious and coordinated witch-hunt designed to intimidate her into abandoning her lawsuit against the government for a supposed breach of her contract.

I have wrongfully been branded a criminal and my familys private information, including banking details, has been illegally acquired and made public.

Kay Forbes-Smith, former DRA managing director

In a statement on the matter, Forbes-Smith vehemently and categorically denied any allegation that she stole a generator from the government, or acquired a generator intended for the governments disaster relief efforts by any other means.

This false, unfounded, cowardly attack has caused direct harm to myself and my family, she said.

I have wrongfully been branded a criminal and my familys private information, including banking details, has been illegally acquired and made public.

No one should be subjected to this kind of abuse for seeking to have a matter decided by the judiciary, which is the protector of everyones rights under the law.

Forbes-Smith, who currently has a legal case against the government, said she will not be intimidated.

The matter in question will be decided in court based on the merits; it will not be derailed by fake news campaigns or cheap political stunts, she insisted.

In the meantime, I reserve all of my legal rights with regard to those who continue to damage my reputation by spreading false and destructive claims.

Apparent screenshots of an email string from GBPA officials in November 2019, requesting an invoice be created for Forbes-Smith in the amount of $16,000 for a 15-kilowatt generator, accompanied by an invoice, bank slip in the same amount directed to Bank of The Bahamas, as well as several photos of the generator made the rounds.

The circulated documents did not appear to link the generator to the DRA or suggestthe generator was not the personal property of the then Senate president.

She is suing the government for contractual damages to the tune of over $408,000 for an alleged breach of her DRA contract.

According to her writ filed in the Supreme Court, she was employed on a four-year contract with effect from December 3, 2019.

The writ alleged that the DRA, in breach of the contract, terminated Forbes-Smith effective immediately on September 29, 2021, via a letter from the Office of the Prime Minister nearly two weeks after thegeneral electionthat saw the Minnis administration voted out.

This comes as the DRA continues to probe contracts awarded for the cleanup of Abaco and Grand Bahama following Hurricane Dorian.

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WITCH-HUNT: Former DRA director defiant amid misconduct allegations; says she will not be intimidated - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Senate President LaShell Adderley has sounded a clarion call for the issue of domestic violence and gender-based violence to be immediately addressed.

We need to cultivate a culture of zero-tolerance legislation and policies to combat these issues and create a safer Bahamas irrespective of race, class, creed, sex or socioeconomic status, said the president in a communication on Monday, February 7, 2022.

The president underscored that she looks forward to presiding over the Domestic Violence Bill that Lisa Rahming, minister of state for social services, has indicated is in draft form.

[It] will bring hope to victims of these horrendous crimes, Adderley said.

Moreover, the president highlighted the need for greater emphasis to be placed on increasing the number of safe houses throughout The Bahamas to protect the vulnerable and at-risk.

The government, NGOs and corporate Bahamas can form a dynamic partnership to raise funding so that victims of abuse can have a temporary safe haven, she said.

There needs to be increased numbers of safe houses in the capital and throughout the Family Islands. In doing so, victims who are not comfortable in Nassau can be discreetly transported to another Family Island and vice versa.

These safe houses also need adequate funding, security and all other resources required to provide victims with basic needs.

Furthermore, Adderley expressed the need for greater and quicker access to accessible, affordable and competent mental/emotional health services, programmes and counseling for victims and perpetrators.

She also appealed for a crime-fighting strategy to include a robust operation to remove illegal guns from the streets.

Amendment to the current legislation to provide for stiffer penalties and longer imprisonment terms for gun possession and gun-related crimes should be considered, said the Senate president.

The gunman needs to fear the law with the knowledge that there is a huge price to pay for illegal behavior and actions. We need zero tolerance now.

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Senate president calls for zero-tolerance legislation and policies to combat domestic and gender-based violence - EyeWitness News

ByNEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Government was yesterday said to be working with Club Med in a bid to ensure its San Salvador resort re-opens earlier than late 2022 and sparks a 180-degree turn in the islands economy.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Philip Davis, in whose constituency the resort is located, confirmed that both the Government and Club Med are working together in efforts to get the property operational before the latters October 2022 forecast.

Its definitely on the table to get them to re-open earlier than October, they said.

There are things that both sides must do but they are working towards it.

The spokesman added that a government team visited the Columbus Isle property to assess its condition, the situation as it exists on the ground today, and what part the Davis administration can play in facilitating re-opening.

Darrin Woods, the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Unions (BHCAWU) president, told Tribune Business that a recent conference call between the union and Club Meds human resources officials had given him hope that a re-opening before October 2022 was possible.

Theyre maybe looking to open a little bit earlier, he said. I spoke to the human resources people from Club Med, and they indicated that some people were going to see the state of the place to make the necessary provisions for re-opening. I think they may have already gone to Columbus Isle to have a look at whats going on.

Theres no definitive date yet. It may be a little bit earlier than the original October-December 2022. I hope well hear more from them [Club Med] in March once their meetings in Florida take place. If anything is to happen in the secondor thirdquarter, the first quarter of the year is when all the wheels need to start in motion. Were just waiting on a time now.

Club Med terminated 190 staff, including 172 union members, in early January 2021 as it confirmed its decision to shutter the Columbus Isle property due to COVID-19s devastating impact on global travel and tourism. No re-opening date was given at that time, and Club Meds website still has October 2022 as the time when operations will resume.

The closure had a traumatic impact on San Salvadors economy and wider community, as it provided the islands major source of employment as well as spin-off entrepreneurial activities and jobs associated with those.

Asked what a re-opening would mean for San Salvador, Mr Woods told this newspaper: It would be a 180-degree turn right away. That provides employment for at least 170 persons in the first instance, line employees excluding the management team. That will be full-time jobs.

Then there will be people able to pick up ancillary jobs, conduct tours and do the hair braiding and the massages. Youll have a lot of spin-off jobs, and residents will pick up their lives. Persons will be able to get second jobs up there. That will turn the economy around 180 degrees.

Mr Woods said he expected the majority of union members, who have not retired or found a job elsewhere, to return to Club Meds Columbus Isle property once they are recalled. He added that when Club Meds human resources team asked him what assistance they could obtain from the Government for the re-opening, he pointed out that it was the Prime Ministers constituency.

That is going to be high on the list of priorities for the Prime Minister because it is his constituency, the union president said. I told them they will not have to worry.

Club Med,whose ultimate parent is Chinese conglomerate, Fosun International, cited several factors behind its decision to close the Columbus Isle resort during the COVID pandemics 2020 peak. First, it said the propertys remoteness and lack of healthcare infrastructure could endanger guests and staff if an outbreak occurred.

The San Salvador property also catered to a significant number of European guests, and outbound travel from that continent was heavily curtailed by lockdowns and border closures in 2020-2021, meaning that its customer base had largely dried up.

Dionisio DAguilar, former minister of tourism and aviation, in 2020admitted that the Government had a difficult mountain to climb to persuade Club Med to re-open before 2022due to San Salvadors limited airlift and healthcare capacity.

Its devastating for the economy of San Salvador for it to be that long, Mr DAguilar said of the potential two-year closure.Thats a very special situation given the fact the whole propertys focus is on the European market. Its a bit different. Most of our Family Island properties are very American-centric, and its so much easier and closer to come up with a Plan B.

If youre an American in the Out Islands its much easier to get home if you fall sick even though it has to be by private plane. Most people if theyre ill want to go back home, but if youre coming from France and Italy, which is the greatest source of visitors to Club Med, its a long way away. You cant put them on a commercial plane, and you cant put them in our healthcare system as challenged as it is.

He confirmed that the main fears behind Club Meds decision were the inability of San Salvadors healthcare facilities to cope with a major COVID-19 outbreak, which was compounded with the lack of international airlift given that the resort operated just one flight per week in and out of the island from France.

That was not considered sufficient, he added. Theyre working their way through all the resorts in terms of what are the safest locations to open, given that there are not sufficient healthcare facilities on the island, given that there was no robust trans-Atlantic or international airlift, it reached that point where it ranked low in all their resorts in terms of opening.

There wasnt much the Government of The Bahamas could have done in terms of removing those significant obstacles. They [Club Med] would wish for a scenario where COVID-19 is mitigated substantially, receded substantially or a vaccine is in place, would be my guess, before they go to a small remote location.

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Gov't targets early Club Med re-open - Bahamas Tribune