#242NewsBahamas Newsletter Edition: October 1st 2020 |
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$1 COVID-19 Quick Result Test Strips for Home and Work Use Will End The Need for Lockdowns in the Bahamas Permanently
This week, our Editorial is a guest editorial by Mark Da Cunha on the need for inexpensive quick result COVID-19 tests for use at home and at work.
Dear Readers,
The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has created a public health and economic crisis leading to psychological suffering and economic pain for all Bahamians. The key to stopping the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus– the cause of the COVID-19 disease in humans – is mass testing of every Bahamian to identify those who are contagious and quarantining them until they are no longer contagious. The motto is: test for the virus, isolate infected individuals, repeat.
The problem is that the Bahamas is not doing complete population testing. We are not testing everybody, but only a select portion of a country's population at any given time, leaving the vast majority of individuals at any given time untested. To compound matters, many of those undiagnosed individuals infected with the COVID-19 virus who are contagious show no symptoms (are asymptomatic).
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Gov't Releasing $45m For Extended Covid Support
The deputy prime minister last night confirmed the Government will allocate $45m to the continuation of its COVID-19 support initiatives after the move was approved by the Minnis Cabinet.
K Peter Turnquest, in messaged replies to Tribune Business questions, said both the Government-funded unemployment benefit and various private sector assistance initiatives will be further extended beyond today's intended expiry.
Acknowledging that the tourism industry's delayed return meant the extension was inevitable, Mr Turnquest said the unemployment benefits scheme "will feature adjustments" and be vetted to ensure Bahamians who have returned to work are excluded from welfare support.
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Minister Dames Officially Commissions the RBDF Ship’s Bridge Simulator
During the Commissioning of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Ship’s Bridge Simulator, on September 24, 2020, Minister of National Security the Hon. Marvin H. Dames said that the simulator was built under the $232 million Sandy Bottom Project, that was signed in 2014.
“The Alphatron / NAUTIS Full Mission Bridge Simulator was built by Alphatron Marine and V-Step for DAMEN in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and installed at HMBS Coral Harbour in January 2018,” Minister Dames said at the ceremony held in the Training Auditorium of HMBS Coral Habour.
Among those present were Permanent Secretary Marco Rolle; Commander Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Raymond King; RBDF’s Search and Rescue Coordinator, who also serves as Sea Training Officer, Commander William Sturrup; and other members of the RBDF Executive Command Team.
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Grand Bahamian Mychal Connoly Launches And Stands Out Building Million Dollar American Brands
Back in the 1980s, before the term "kidprenuer" was coined, Mychal Connoly was a pint-sized businessman in Back A Town, Grand Bahama trying to figure out a way to earn more money to buy himself some of the top toys on the market. His grandmother Nora Connolly had a tuck shop in her home and suggested he sell some candy since it wasn’t selling as well as she hoped. He took the candy to Freeport Primary and realized that kids wanted different brands and flavors. He took that insider info back home, begged her to buy the candies and before long, Miss Nora’s tuck shop was the hot spot for children to get the best treats.
“I tripled her sales in the space of three weeks simply because I realized what the customers wanted,” he smiles thinking of his beloved grandmother. “I was nine-years-old and I didn’t realize it but I had a successful marketing plan and executed it so well, she had enough to generate a steady income.”
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GBPA introduces Revitalization and Economic Expansion of Freeport (REEF) Working Committee to Establish a Plan for Freeport’s Economic Future
In response to the Prime Minister’s request for new and innovative ideas to revitalize the Bahamian economy, and as a reaction to the economic challenges brought on by Covid-19 and Hurricanes Matthew and Dorian, the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) Limited launched a working committee entitled the Revitalization and Economic Expansion of Freeport (REEF). REEF’s key priorities are to stimulate, activate and lead growth and change by engaging with the people of Grand Bahama and the Government of the Bahamas to support and implement its initiatives.
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Bahamas Makes Significant Strides In Fight Against Financial Crime: Update On The Bahamas’ National Identified Risk Framework
The onsite review by the Financial Action Task Force’s International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) of the Americas was slated to take place before mid-September 2020 and would have been a deciding factor at the October 2020 FATF Plenary, on whether FATF deems The Bahamas as having addressed action items on its agreed Action Plan to resolve identified strategic AML/CFT/CFP deficiencies identified in the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force Mutual Evaluation Report (CFATF MER) published in July 2017. Unfortunately, the onsite review is yet to occur due to COVID19 travel restrictions. The work has been done and it is our belief and expectation that the country should be released from the FATF’s ‘Compliance Document’ or ‘Grey List’ which is published three times per year following the FATF plenaries of February, June, and October.
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It's been a busy week at the shelter already! Gearing up for our calendar contest - voting starts today (Thurs Oct 1st) and runs through Oct. 15th.
On Monday our Dr. D helped a mama goat who was having trouble birthing her second kid. Unfortunately, the baby was stillborn, but the first kid is doing just fine and our staff enjoyed some baby goat cuddles while Doc was helping Mama.
On Tuesday we had a large red slider turtle surrendered. Nutmeg has been a pet of an elderly woman for years so we couldn't just release her into one of the local ponds. She needed a special home where she could continue to be a pet yet with the potential to eventually be released yet still looked after.
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GB Minister Happy Power Company Agreed to Delay Proposed Rate Increase
Minister of State for Grand Bahama, Senator the Hon. Kwasi Thompson said he is pleased that the Grand Bahama Power Company has made the determination to delay its proposed Storm Recovery and Stabilization charge from October 1st this year, to 2021.
During a press conference in the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday, September 25, 2020, Minister Thompson acknowledged that the power company has done a good job at building and rebuilding the infrastructure throughout Grand Bahama following the passing of Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Since that time, the power company announced its intentions to institute a Recovery Charge to consumers.
“However, after having dealt with the first wave of COVID-19, they were asked to delay it, which they did,” Minister Thompson pointed out.
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Godfrey Kenneth Kelly Knighted at Government House
Godfrey Kenneth Kelly has been presented the Insignia of Knight Commander, the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, KCMG. Governor General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Cornelius A. Smith, ON, GCMG, made the presentation during an Investiture Ceremony held at Government House, September 28, 2020.
Sir Godfrey is the second person to be knighted at a local investiture, in The Bahamas.
The Governor General congratulated Sir Godfrey and thanked him for his many contributions to the country.
“On behalf of Her Majesty, the Queen, I wish to offer my congratulations to you. May God continue to bless you and your family,” he said. “ You have provided stellar leadership during your career and have provided exemplary service to our country, and for that we thank you.”
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Who We Worship and Why
Psalm 29; Revelation 4:1-8
Having read Psalm 29, what would you say it’s about? What would you say is the subject? What is the theme?
There are no doubt a variety of answers to that question, from lay people and Biblical scholars alike. My own opinion, when I read this psalm, is that it seems to me to be primarily about worship. That’s right worship.
I realize that may not be what you thought of, but I think I can make a pretty good case that worship is exactly what David, who wrote this psalm, wants us to think about. I believe he wants us to consider carefully who we worship and why. Let’s take a closer look at this psalm, and I’ll show you what I mean.
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Julien Believe Set To Hit The Virtual Stage For Regional Concert Of Hope
A virtual gathering of people will now take the place of the thousands that usually gather in person for the annual “Walk for the Cure” that seeks to raise awareness and aid for Breast Cancer causes in The Bahamas and across the region.
COVID-19 has forced regional bank CIBC FirstCaribbean to take its flagship fundraiser online for the first time in its nine-year history.
Local megastar Julien Believe is a part of the lineup for the first ever Virtual Walk for the Cure and Concert of Hope. He joins well-known artists from across the region such as Caribbean Queen of Soca Alison Hinds of Barbados, past Road March winner Patrice Roberts out of Trinidad and 2019 St. Vincent Soca Monarch Skinny Fabulous.
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Obesity Becoming a Serious Concern in the Battle Against COVID-19
Over the last few months we’ve learned that health conditions like heart disease, cancer, and COPD are serious risk factors for severe illness from COVID-19. Recently, there has also been a trend of patients that are much younger being hospitalized, prompting The World Health Organization (WHO) to release a statement urging younger individuals to take more precautions.
Yet another trend has emerged - the concern over obesity in relation to the coronavirus. According to a recent study, after age, the next strongest predictor of suffering complications from COVID-19 is severe obesity - which may compromise the management of severe COVID-19 due to challenges in diagnosis and treatment caused by the physical effects of obesity.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity is associated with serious health risks. Severe obesity further increases the risk of obesity-related complications, such as coronary heart disease and end-stage renal disease.
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Sandyport 4 bedroom Gem!
This lovely well-appointed ‘gem’ of a home in Sandyport is available for rent. Built-in 2010 featuring 4 bedrooms 3.5 bathrooms and 2,800 sq. ft. of living space, together with unobstructed picturesque canal views it is perfect for the modern family looking for executive living. The house has a well-designed open floor plan, which is perfect for both family living and for entertaining friends and family. On the ground floor, there is a guest room with a large shared bathroom. The hallway opens up to a large kitchen with stainless steel appliances and stunning quartz countertops which perfectly complements the living and dining areas. Easily accessible through hurricane doors is an outside covered patio for leading to a compact rear area and 35’ dock.
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