Category Archives: Bahamas

NASSAU, BAHAMAS As it observed the 27th International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said The Bahamas is committed to achieving equality for all.

The government and people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas join the global community in the observance of the 27th International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women under the theme Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect! The declaration for the elimination of violence against women was adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 1993 and it calls on states to protect women and girls against human rights violations, read a statement by the ministry.

All too often, and in many instances daily, women face domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual violence and harassment.

It added, The Bahamas is working actively to strengthen protection measures for women and girls and to eliminate gender-based violence in our communities. We are committed to achieving the goal of equality for all.

The Ministry also noted The Bahamas plays an active role in the elimination of violence against women, particularly in the General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) as a member of the UN.

The Bahamas is the first ever elected and only CARICOM member state of the HRC, its statement read.

Based on its longstanding commitment in this endeavor, The Bahamas was successful in its recent bid for re-election to the Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) for the term 2021-2024.

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Foreign Affairs: Bahamas committed to equality Eye Witness News - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The House of Assembly passed a resolution last night to extend the public state of emergency in The Bahamas to January 31, 2021.

During debate on the resolution, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis made the case that the extension was necessary to have the legal authority to use certain measures when necessary to save lives, noting that there could be a third wave of the virus in The Bahamas.

Again I emphasize, we utilize these emergency powers only when necessary, Minnis advised Parliament.

Quite often, a number of the emergency measures are not utilized.

For example, there are no measures in islands like Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island and many others.

When cases spike, governments do not have the liberty of a long period of time to act.

We do not have weeks, Mr Speaker, to act.

Instead, governments must act quickly and decisively in order to avoid the spread of this deadly virus.

Minnis pointed out there are numerous Family Islands with few restrictions due to their respective epidemiology.

He said when cases emerge, the government will respond with appropriate measures based on the advice of health officials.

According to the prime minister, when those measures succeed in lowering cases, restrictions will be reversed, allowing residents to live a more normal life.

He underscored that the two-month extension was shorter than some jurisdictions.

For example, Barbados has extended its public state of emergency to March.

The government needs these powers because of how quickly this virus continues to spread, he said.

One highly infectious individual could spread the virus in a closed room of 50 people to nearly every individual in that room.

The infected people would then go home environment, family members and in that household.

They may then all go on to spread it to others.

One case could lead to an outbreak.

Hundreds and hundreds of people could get sick.

Minnis added it was highly irresponsible, reckless and unreasonable to suggest that the government should not use emergency powers.

Addressing the opposition, which has not supported recent extensions of the public state of emergency, Minnis said if the government followed the advice of the opposition, the country would be in dire straits.

The opposition was absent in the House of Assembly during the last vote to extend the emergency orders to the end of November, and opposition senators opposed the extension in the Upper Chamber.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Renward Wells, who seconded the resolution, said the number of COVID-19 cases in The Bahamas has been decreasing, but the nation was not out of the woods.

Over the last week, there have been fewer than 30 cases.

On Wednesday, there were 13 cases, pushing total cases to 7,482 since mid-March.

Hospitalized cases have trended down to 19, from 122 in October.

Wells said: That is a remarkable success considering where we were.

The Bahamas recovery rate stands at over 77 percent, with 5,789 recoveries.

The countrys positivity rate dropped below the recommended five percent on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

He said: Our collective efforts are flattening the COVID-19 curve.

Additionally, the minister advised there were no cases in the Intensive Care Unit at the Rand Memorial Hospital, while one case was in ICU at Doctors Hospital.

Another three cases were moderately ill at the hospital.

The Bahamas has not recorded a COVID-19-related death since November 19.

Total deaths from the virus stand at 163.

Wells said the government and Ministry of Health continue to shore up the healthcare sector and have expanded testing and contract tracing over five islands in the last two months.

Restrictions eased

Yesterday, the prime minister also announced that group exercise will be permitted with immediate effect for groups of 10 on New Providence and Abaco from 5am to 9pm, Monday through Friday, and 5am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Minnis said the COVID-19 restrictions on Eleuthera have been working and the curve is starting to bend.

He advised that a team from the Ministry of Health will travel to Eleuthera today to assess the COVID situation, and based on their assessment the island could possibly be liberated as of Monday.

The prime minister said he will make an announcement next week.

He also advised that cases have declined on Exuma, with only three cases reported on Monday.

He said more will be said about the island soon.

Eased restrictions were imposed on both islands following respective surges of cases.

This included a weekday curfew and weekend lockdown, which remain in place.

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PM: Govt needs these powers Eye Witness News - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Bamboo Shack and Bethel Brothers Morticians yesterday made donations of 100 tablets and $5,000, respectively, towards providing Bahamian children with access to tablets needed for online learning in the age of COVID-19.

Elaine Pinder, Bamboo Shack proprietor, announced a donation of 100 tablets along with the use of the popular restaurants point of sale system (POS), allowing customers to donate whatever amount they choose when they pay for whatever meal they ordered [and] making the meaning of an order of cracked chicken or conch more rewarding.

It added, While staying in the Nassau Street neighborhood, Owen S-M Bethel from Bethel Brothers Morticians made a $5,000 cheque presentation for tablets to be given to students at Albury Sayle Primary School.

Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd expressed his gratitude for the donations and made the call for all of corporate Bahamas to join in.

I cannot sleep at night knowing or thinking that 10, 12, 15,000 of our students are being left behind, Lloyd said.

There is unimaginable consequences for our society not only today, but years in the future in their personal lives, in this community as well as nationally. We immediately realized that in the Ministry of Education we could not do it alone.

We simply do not have, as a government, the resources to put a device in the hand of every single child and to make available internet capability.

Thank you, Jesus, because with an aggressive, passionate, accelerated push, Leno came onboard and instantly donated $60,000 right off the bat and began the invitation to all of the clients and corporate citizens to join in and provide support for our students.

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Bamboo Shack, Bethel Brothers Morticians join in on tablet donations - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS A new minister of finance could be named as early as next week, according to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, who said he plans to meditate on the selection while visiting Cat Island.

I would announce very soon, he told reporters on Exuma when prompted on the matter.

What I can say is that I most certainly wont remain in [the] Ministry of Finance.

I can say that much with certainty.

Tomorrow, I am traveling to Cat Island and I would meditate and discuss with some of my colleagues and by the time I come back sometime next week, we would have to make announcements moving forward.

East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest resigned as deputy prime minister and minister of finance amid mounting pressure and calls for him step down over allegations of his involvement in defrauding two companies of around $30 million.

Minnis accepted the resignation.

Turnquest said he resigned with total fidelity and adherence to the tenets of our democracy and the Westminster conventions.

He said as a result of the unfounded and untrue claims, he stepped down in the best interest of his constituency and party, to protect his family and to ensure the private dispute which he said took place prior to him taking public office, did not become a distraction to the government or the important national work ahead.

Turnquest has expressed confidence that his reputation of transparency and accountability will be vindicated once the allegations against him have been ventilated through the courts.

He has pledged to say more at the appropriate time about the allegations and the actors that have perpetuated it.

Turnquest was the third Cabinet minister in the Minnis administration to resign.

Elizabeth MP Dr Duane Sands resigned in May after accepting responsibility for a breach of protocol amid the countrys border closure.

In June 2019, St Annes MP Brent Symonette resigned as Minister of Financial Services, Trade and Industry and Immigration.

Free National Movement (FNM) Vice Chairman David Thompson has said he believes the prime minister is the best minister to deal with finance at this time.

He said the Office of the Prime Minister is able to marshal resources of all of the government ministries and agencies, [and] have a command, knowledge and plan for our country fiscally going forward.

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PM to meditate on new finance minister pick, decision by next week - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest said he remains focused on the work of the Bahamian people amid calls in some quarters for his resignation.

An untested writ of summons filed on November 16 alleges Turnquests involvement in a $30 million bogus loan scheme, an allegation the minister has denied.

The official opposition has called on the minister to resign over the scandal or be fired.

Outside the Churchill Building, Turnquest told the media the Bahamian people know him and his reputation as a disciplined person.

I think you guys have known me for at least eight years now, most of you, and I think that you know I am focused on what I do, he said.

I am very disciplined about what I do.

The matters that are circulating out there are unfortunate.

They will be dealt with in the due course of time.

But again, I am focused on working for the Bahamian people while I have the opportunity to do so, and I will do my best to ensure that we get through this crisis (pandemic).

Pressed on the calls for his resignation and whether he will step down, Turnquest said: You know, again, well see what happens. But as far as Im concerned, I am focused on the work of the Bahamian people.

On Monday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said Cabinet will deliberate on the matter and advise the public.

In the writ filed by law firm Scott & Co., Turnquest and Sky Bahamas Principal Captain Randy Butler were accused of defrauding a company.

Turnquest is not listed as a defendant in the matter, but the court documents allege he was a director and manager of Alpha Aviation Ltd. and Advanced Aviation Ltd., while Sky Bahamas and Aviation Oversight were at all material times, owned and controlled and/or managed by Butler.

Butler has also denied the allegations.

When contacted yesterday, Michael Scott of Scott and Co. said there was no conflict of interest.

Scott is the chairman of the government-appointed special purpose vehicle Lucayan Renewal Holdings Limited.

There is no concern because I am representing Kaiser against Randy Butler in a professional capacity

I have no personal dispute with the DPM (deputy prime minister). Why should there be a conflict?

Thats just ignorance on the part of the leader of the opposition and the chairman of the PLP (Progressive Liberal Party), both of whom are lawyers.

Former Minister of State for Legal Affairs Damian Gomez has called on Turnquest to resign, asserting hisresignation as a Cabinet minister would be in accordance with the convention of the Westminster system of government.

He also said the prime minister has an obligation to dismiss the minister in the public interest.

But another senior Queens Counsel has opined that Turnquest has no reason to resign at this stage over what has been labeled as untested and unproven allegations.

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DPM remains focused on work ahead Eye Witness News - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, Bahamas, Nov. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --It's Better in The Bahamas this winter as the country welcomes international visitors to enjoy the sun, sand and sea. From hotel reopenings with exciting deals to the Bahama Out Islands Promotion Board's $500 air credit, The Bahamas is the perfect destination for travelers seeking an escape from the cold this holiday season.

NEWS

Ministry of Tourism Launches Interactive Island Guide In an effort to make planning a safe, much-needed Bahamian getaway more seamless, the Ministry of Tourism introduced an interactive map that provides visitors with an island-by-island guide of the most up-to-date guidelines, including business hours of operations, beach access and more.

Hotel Reopenings Across The Bahamas Atlantis Paradise Island is scheduled to reopen on December 10, 2020, and Eleuthera's French Leave Resort is set to reopen December 15, 2020. Grand Hyatt Baha Mar and Exuma's Grand Isle Resort & Spa are both scheduled to reopen December 17, 2020. Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort will reopen January 28, 2021, while Sandals Emerald Bay will reopen February 1, 2021.

Exuma and Long Island Airport Expansions Exuma International Airport is getting a major upgrade. The project, which is slated to begin next month, will expand the terminal from 2,000 square feet to 60,000 square feet. The country is planning additional airport expansions for Long Island, which is expected to be completed in March 2022. The project will expand the airport's runway from 4,000 feet to 6,500 feet.

PROMOTIONS AND OFFERS

For a complete, up-to-date listing of deals and packages for The Bahamas, visitwww.bahamas.com/deals-packages.

Out Island Black Friday Air Credit The Bahama Out Islands Promotion Board is offering a $500 air credit this Black Friday to help travelers plan their next Bahamian vacation. Credit is applicable when pre-booking an air-inclusive 7-night package at a participating Bahama Out Islands Promotion Board member hotel. Travelers must book by November 30, 2020 and travel by January 31, 2021. Blackout dates apply.

Atlantis First Night Free Package In celebration of the resort's reopening, Atlantis is offering guests their first night free with a two-night minimum stay. Bookable between November 10 22 and valid for stays between December 10 17.

Baha Mar Dream Away and Getaway Package Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is offering guests 20 percent off just in time for the resort's December 17 reopening. Book by December 6, 2020 for stays through April 4, 2021.

Coral Sands Resort Credit - The beloved Harbour Island resort is offering a $100 resort credit inclusive of daily continental breakfast for two and access to all non-motorized water sports when staying for a minimum of two nights. The offer is valid through December 15, 2020.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

Travel Weekly'sMagellan Awards Recognizes The Bahamas' Still Rockin' Campaign The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation's Still Rockin' campaign was awarded the best destination advertising/marketing campaign. In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, the campaign highlighted The Bahamas' 14 major islands unimpacted by the storm, which contributed to the country's record-breaking year of 7.2 million visitors in 2019. The awards also recognized the Ministry's From Bahamas With Love campaign, which was awarded silver in the destination marketing TV commercial category.

ABOUT THE BAHAMASWith over 700 islands and cays and 16 unique island destinations, The Bahamas lies just 50 miles off the coast of Florida, offering an easy fly away escape that transportstravelersaway from their everyday. The Islands of The Bahamas have world-class fishing, diving, boating and thousands of miles of the earth's most spectacular water and beaches waiting for families, couples and adventurers. Explore all the islands have to offer atwww.bahamas.comor onFacebook,YouTubeorInstagramto see why It's Better in The Bahamas.

PRESS INQUIRIESAnita Johnson-PattyGeneral Manager, Global CommunicationsBahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation[emailprotected]

Weber ShandwickPublic Relations[emailprotected]

SOURCE Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation

https://www.bahamas.com

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What's New In The Islands Of The Bahamas This Winter - PRNewswire

By FREDERICK SMITH, QC

Fleeing his native Gambia in fear of extra-judicial execution, Ousman Bojang accepted a friends invitation to take refuge in The Bahamas. Expecting safety and protection in accordance with our international obligations, he was met instead with arbitrary detention, false imprisonment, inhumane treatment and shocking conditions. Then he was released, only to be forced into poverty by a cruel and spiteful government.

As Bojangs quest for justice finally approaches resolution, this 40-year-old father-of-two, formerly a truck driver and engineering student, is hunkered down in a friends derelict car, where he has lived for the past two years in an increasingly desperate struggle to survive. Unable to support himself following his court ordered release in 2017, because the government has refused to give him a work permit.

Bojangs ordeal began in 2015 during a very difficult political period in his country. As a youth leader for the opposition, the United Democratic Party (UDP), he was falsely arrested for organising political meetings. He was held for three days without charge before being released. But, then came a tip that he would soon be rearrested and possibly killed.

It is apparently common for the authorities in Gambia to release political prisoners publicly, then recapture and disappear them quietly while claiming they have gone into hiding. The authorities also falsely accused Bojang of being a homosexual, a crime in his country that carries a minimum sentence of 14 years and makes one a target of violence and even death at the hands of fellow citizens.

He had no choice but to flee, leaving his young family behind, first to Dakar in Senegal and then, upon the invitation of a friend, to The Bahamas where he entered - legally - on a 14-day visa on December 5, 2015. After several attempts to find a UN High Commissioner and apply for political asylum, he presented himself to The Bahamas Immigration Department, but was told they were too busy during the holiday season to help him.

When, after several attempts, he finally got before an immigration officer on December 30 and explained he was in The Bahamas to apply for asylum as he feared for his life in Gambia, instead of being offered help as mandated by international law, he was summarily taken into custody without explanation.

Held for 531 days, between December 30, 2015 and June 16, 2017 in terrible and inhuman conditions at both Fox Hill Prison and the Carmichael Road Detention Centre, Bojang was never charged with anything, never convicted or even brought before a court of law.

In sworn evidence, he told of the horrifying treatment and conditions to which he was subjected while in custody. Overcrowding at the Detention Centre was endemic, with his dorm occupied by 300 to 400 people and not enough beds to accommodate them. For the first two weeks I slept on the floor until I found a dirty old mattress which I used after that, he said.

Bojang had little to eat, was forced to drink stinking tap water and had to endure terrifying nighttime drills. Every night we were awakened at around midnight by the Defence Force officers and we all had to stand outside, sometimes for hours, sometimes all night. The defence force officers didnt care whether it was cold or not, he said.

Then, the government sought to rid itself of this asylum seeker in the most shocking and cynical way. On May 25, 2016 they tried to forcibly return him to Gambia back to the very country where he had been persecuted and from which he fled in fear. They did this without a Deportation Order, even though required by law. Instead, they tried to trick Bojang, falsely claiming his family had sent him a ticket home.

The truth is that Immigration hadnt even bothered to secure a ticket for his first leg of his journey, much less a connecting flight to Africa. Instead they just bundled him on a plane to Havana. When the Cuban authorities realised this, they sent him immediately back to The Bahamas.

He was returned to the Carmichael Detention Centre, but soon moved to Fox Hill Prison, as the authorities said a hurricane was coming. The first night I was placed in a small balcony room with no beds with 14 other men. The room had no walls. It was like a balcony with iron bars around. The area was flooded so we had nowhere to sleep. The following night I was placed in a small cell approximately 3x8 square feet with over 20 other prisoners. There were no beds, mattress or blankets. We had to sleep on the concrete floor. The cell was hot and had no windows.

We had two buckets in the cell, one for urine and one for faeces. All 20 of us had to share the two buckets to defecate and urinate. The buckets remained in the cell until the were taken out the following day. I could not eat as the stench in the cell was so bad that it was impossible for me to eat in that condition.

He was kept in prison for four weeks before being sent back to the Detention Centre back to the hot, overcrowded, stinking dorms, clogged toilets and showers filled with up to a foot of dirty water.

On June 16, 2017, after his lawyers applied for Habeas Corpus Bojang was finally taken to court. He was given no notice of where he was being taken or why, and after being manhandled and dragged to a car like a criminal he was shackled to prisoners who he later found out were charged with murder.

Chief Justice Isaacs determined he had been wrongfully imprisoned and granted his immediate release pending a response from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to his application for political asylum. He was not immediately released, but rather unlawfully detained once again, re-shackled to accused murderers, and brought to a police station to spend the next four hours in a cell with nothing to eat or drink.

In January 2018, Bojang applied for a work permit to sustain himself while in The Bahamas and paid the relevant fee. They government has refused to even acknowledge his application for three years, leaving him penniless and desperate.

Ever since he was freed, Bojang has been seeking justice for the violation of his constitutional rights, but this has been delayed and resisted at every turn by the Attorney Generals office. When the matter finally came to trial on November 17, 2020 the only position put forward by the government was to flatly deny that he was ever falsely imprisoned and assert his treatment was humane. They have provided no documents concerning his detention, despite the court ordering discovery..

The Supreme Court concluded trial on November 18, and is considering Bojangs request for damages for false imprisonment and inhumane treatment. On 5 August 2020, Bojang learned that the UNHCR had upheld his refugee status, giving him the right to be protected from forcible return to the Gambia until such time as he is able to return safely and with dignity.

The Bahamas became a signatory of the United Nations Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees in 1993. The main thrust of this agreement is the principle of non-refoulement, which asserts that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. This is now considered a core rule of customary international law.

On December 10, 2018, the Bahamas became one of the 153 signatories to the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), which emphasises the safety, dignity, and human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, regardless of their migratory status.

The government claims on its website that it seeks to adhere to these agreements, adding that in the identification and protection of asylum seekers, the Immigration Department maintains a transparent process, which conforms to international standards.

To say that The Bahamas violated both its own Constitution and its international obligations with regard to Bojang would be an understatement of epic proportions. In his and so many other cases related to migration, the government routinely tramples upon its responsibilities, acting as if basic human rights and international law simply do not exist. The harrowing tale of his treatment echos that of countless poor souls who have the bad luck to end up in the hands of Bahamian authorities.

Meanwhile, at the same time that this government continues to abuse Bojang, it is bringing legislation to codify the asylum seeking process into law, whereby anyone unable or unwilling to return to his country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or because he holds a particular political opinion is to be granted asylum and have the right to live and work in The Bahamas. No more and no less than Ousmane Bojang asked for.

His ordeal is about far more than immigration laws or UN standards; it speaks to who we are as a nation. To whether or not we have a fundamental regard for fairness, justice and basic human decency. In essence, laws are only as good as a societys willingness to enforce them.

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INSIGHT: From persecution to prison to poverty a political refugee's five-year ordeal in The Bahamas - Bahamas Tribune

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Joe Giudice Is Headed to the Bahamas in the New Year for Celebrity Boxing! - WSMV Nashville

Commander Sonia Miller of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (left) greets U.S. Embassy Senior Defense Official, Commander Kevn Self (right), upon receiving $20,000 in equipment to aid in the fight against COVID-19 in The Bahamas| November 20, 2020 | Nassau, The Bahamas

On Friday, November 20, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau delivered $20,000 in additional equipment to help the fight against COVID-19 in The Bahamas. U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) donated six custom-made internal partitions for mobile shelters being used to screen COVID-19 patients, allowing them to better isolate patients and prevent the spread of the virus.

U.S. Embassy Senior Defense Official, Commander Kevin Self, delivered the donation to Commander Sonia Miller of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and Captain Stephen Russell, Director of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), at the South Beach Clinic on New Providence.

In September of 2020, the U.S. Embassy donated ten mobile shelters to NEMA to aid in disaster relief, and the Ministry of Health (MoH) expressed interest in using some of the shelters in the fight against COVID-19. Within weeks, the MoH had begun using two of the shelters at the South Beach Clinic to screen patients and conduct testing. However, Minister of Health Renward Wells asked whether it would be possible to create partitions inside the shelters that could help more effectively isolate patients and prevent infection.

Exemplifying the ongoing partnership between the United States and The Bahamas, Commander Self took Minister Wells request to NORTHCOM, who then then worked with Regulus Global (the company that originally manufactured the shelters) to create custom-made partitions for the shelters. When installed, the partitions create three smaller rooms within the larger shelter, keeping patients isolated from one another and preventing the spread of infection.

NORTHCOM provided six partitions, giving Ministry of Health officials the flexibility to meet current and future needs.

By U.S. Embassy Nassau | 24 November, 2020 | Topics: Events, News, Press Releases

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US Donates Additional $20K to COVID Fight in The Bahamas - US Embassy in The Bahamas

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama Minister of State for Grand Bahama, Senator Kwasi Thompson got an opportunity to inform Latin America countries, as well as a number of Caribbean nations about the Bahamas strides thus far in the countrys digital transformation, as well as the plans to expand that transformation as time goes on.

Minister Thompson, who is also responsible for electronic communication and the governments Digitization program spoke at the 14th annual meeting of Red GEALC Sixth Ministerial Meeting of Digital Government, which was hosted by Costa Rica and held virtually.

The virtual conference, brought together ICT Ministers from the Caribbean and Latin America.

During his presentation Minister Thompson pointed out that The Bahamas took on its digital journey with the overarching goal of delivering services and programs that would foster transparency, effectiveness, efficiency and cost reduction.

He noted that a focused approach on what the user/customer says would make their experience better, and programs that would achieve this is the key.

So we focused on streamlining (1) to reduce or remove the movement of paper or documents between customer and government, and agency-to-agency (2) to reduce or remove the need for the public officer to review and approve where it adds no value, said Minister Thompson.

Our challenge was to get public officers to un-think how things are done and to rethink a better way for themselves and their customers.

Our Bahamas Electronic Cabinet Management Information System (BECMIS) is a good example of our focused approach. It is a six-month project with releases in six-week intervals. Users, from clerks in the Cabinet Office to my cabinet colleagues, are involved from the design to testing.

We are successfully battling through the elimination of steps, the rethinking process flow, and redesigning documents. When completed, there will be end-to-end handling of information and proceedings electronically. We will see digital collaboration between agencies and collaboration between cabinet colleagues.

The Minister noted that The Bahamas is excited about its Proof-of-Concept Interoperability Platform which is currently in beta test mode. This platform, he added, is allowing government services to share information from disparate data sources, securely.

Due to built-in verifications and validations, the user provides little to no information for renewal services and in most instances, public officers will only have to review and approve requests or transactions that are an exception, explained Minister Thompson.

To reach this level of automation the IT agency worked closely with the service provider to streamline processes, engaging them from design to testing. The platform in its POC stage will allow for renewal of drivers license, renewal of passport, a request for customers own birth certificate or marriage certificate.

Also in pilot mode is the launch of the Sand Dollar, The Bahamas digital currency. The Central Bank in partnership with authorized Payment Service Providers reaches the banked and the unbanked. The government has also put forward the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges Bill 2020 (DARE) aimed at establishing the framework for regulation of the issuance, sale and trade of digital assets in and from within The Bahamas.

Minister Thompson said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, agencies have accelerated their digital programs, including the Food Assistance program, the Bahamas Feeding Network, virtual school and parks and public spaces are being equipped to provide internet access.

He added that through all of these ICT initiatives there is a strong realization of the need for growing capacity in various specialized fields, in application development and IT operations, but also in business analysis, change management, procurement, and public relations.

What is Project Sand Dollar?

Project Sand Dollar is the initiative embarked by Central Bank of The Bahamas to issue its own digital version of the Bahamian dollar as well as implement the appropriate digital payments system infrastructure to sufficiently underpin the operation of a digital currency ecosystem.

Hurricanes have been ravaging the Bahamas for centuries.

According to travel advice website TripSavvy,a hurricane passes close to the Bahamas every other year on average. In addition, a hurricane makes a direct landfall on the islands once every four years on average. Natural disasters can be a big-time hassle for tourists. Whats worse is that these storms often devastate the Bahamas ability to conduct trade and commerce.

On Sept. 1, 2019 the Grand Bahama Island and Abaco Islands were struck by one of the strongest hurricanes in history. Hurricane Dorian was a category five storm that packed sustained winds that reached 185 miles per hour. In addition to the strong gusts of wind, Hurricane Dorian summoned storm surges that formed water walls as high as 20 feet. According to Hubert Minnis, prime minister of the Bahamas, thestorm system left a generational devastation on the islands.

Although Sand Dollar is a cryptocurrency like bitcoin or Ethereum, it offers unique characteristics.

According to officials, Sand Dollars will be introduced in the form of a digital wallet or e-wallet. Users will be able to access it through a smartphone application. The digital wallet will also offer security features that enable users to safely save payment details as well as passwords for various payment methods.

These functionalities allow users to complete transactions using near-field communications technology. Central Bank Governor John Rolle said Project Sand Dollar can potentially improve the resilience of the country when facing natural disasters.

The central bank governor has said that Project Sand Dollar would offer the following benefits:

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Bahamas To Buy Off Hurricanes With Sand Dollars. - The St. Kitts-Nevis Observer