Vol.1No.3

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The Islands of The Bahamas

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Vol 1 No. 3

New Approaches Nets Big Gains for Mental Health Officials at SRC By Matt Maura

Environment Minister Calls for Engineers To Support The 2010 Forestry Planning & Subdivisions Act

Bahamas Hosts Australian High Commissioner By Lindsay Thompson Bahamas Information Services

Bahamas Information Services By Gena Gibbs Bahamas Information Services

NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Hon Brent Symonette, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration met with His

NASSAU, The Bahamas — An ongoing “aggressive” approach by officials at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre to promote mental health awareness

Excellency Philip Kentwell, High Commissioner of Australia to The Bahamas, during a Courtesy Call on Monday, December 6, 2010.

among Bahamians while improving the infrastructure at the facility, have led to a reduction in the stigma attached to mental illness, Minister of Health, Dr. the

The meeting was held in the boardroom of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where talks focused on a number of issues such as climate change, technical

Hon. Hubert A. Minnis said Monday. Dr. Minnis said as a result, more persons are “seeking and receiving the

assistance, investment opportunities amongst other multilateral matters. The Bahamas and Australia formed relations on January 7, 1974, based on

necessary help to assist them in overcoming their mental health challenges.” “Over the past year, a number of initiatives have been launched to improve

shared membership in the Commonwealth and other historical, social and cultural links.

facilities, staffing and services which, when combined with the positive promotion of mental health awareness, have had positive impact,” Dr. Minnis said.

Both countries are members of the United Nations and cooperate in other international fora to address a range of transnational challenges.

“When persons hide mental illness, they deny those persons needing help, or in a number of instances deny themselves, access to help. We are beginning

The Bahamas and Australia signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement in Washington D.C. on March 30, 2010. In the area of climate change, Australia has been supporting efforts in areas

AWARDED — Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre’s Employee of the Year, Esther Gray, is presented with gifts by Dr. Hubert Minnis, Minister of Health (left) and Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes on Monday, December 6, during the Governor General’s first official visit. (BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson)

to see more and more positive results insofar as persons with mental illnesses, seeking the necessary help,” Dr. Minnis added. The Health Minister said all persons have the potential to develop mental illnesses. He said, as such, the Centre implemented a series of programmes addressing this particular issue. The new initiatives have allowed members of the general public to interact with psychiatric medical and nursing staff in an attempt to “bridge the chasms in knowledge, attitudes and practices.” Mental health fairs have also been organised in an effort to create awareness. “The Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre is The Bahamas’ national resource for psychiatric, geriatric and substance abuse services whose goal is to provide comprehensive care, with the ultimate aim of assisting clients to attain and maintain their optimum level of functioning and become productive citizens of the society,” Dr. Minnis said. “I am pleased to say that the performance of the staff here embodies this goal and their interactions with patients have resulted in those patients leading productive lives in their communities, their neighbourhoods and on their jobs. “We will continue to improve our services, facilities and infrastructure so that these clients can have the best quality care that can take them on the road to wellness,” the Health Minister added. Dr. Minnis said staff focus remains threefold: treatment, prevention and rehabilitation, as they continue to administer optimum care to patients. This commitment to patient care, he said, has facilitated the accomplishment of the goal of adequate assessment and holistic care. “Efforts to reintegrate patients from the Family Islands into their communities have been reinforced, and this year the multidisciplinary team conducted clinics in Long Island and Exuma,” Dr. Minnis said.

Environment Minister, Dr. Earl Deveaux reminds an audience of at least 100 engineers and contractors that the 16.5 percent population boom recorded in the 2010 Census will increase the demand on the price of energy, the need to expand capacity on multiple islands, while embracing innovation. (BIS Photo/ Gena Gibbs).

Nassau, The Bahamas – Regulatory amendments to the 2010 Planning and Subdivisions Act and the 2010 Forestry Act will translate into increased employment and profits for Bahamian engineers, contractors and other construction professionals during 2011. “While there is a significant body of reports and studies to underpin my

His Excellency Philip Kentwell, High Commissioner of Australia to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, left, paid a courtesy call on the Hon. Brent Symonette, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, on Monday, December 6, 2010, at the Goodman’s Bay Corporate Centre. (Bis photo/Derek Smith)

such as sea-level rise and coral bleaching domestically and in the South Pacific region, which are similar concerns for The Bahamas and the rest of the Caribbean region. Australia is also seeking the cooperation of The Bahamas in areas such as this.

remarks, two pieces of legislation recently enacted by Parliament will have the most dramatic impact on your work, the Planning and Subdivision Act for 2010 and the Forestry Act 2010. Both of these Acts are scheduled to take effect in January 2011,” said Environment Minister, Earl Deveaux. “The Planning and Subdivisions Act expands the regulatory framework for the sustainable growth and development of The Bahamas. I urge you to study the legislation and help us to implement it for the benefit of all Bahamians.” Minister Deveaux explained how diligent management of how resources are used would ensure the intensity of land use is reduced, along with the cost of development, through following the guidelines in the Act. “Environment is the source of our way of life. The cost arising from its use must be bound to the benefits now and to the future. Sustainable use for unborn generations, have to be achieved,” said Dr. Deveaux. “The pressure from increased population however, greater tourism, and the accumulative impact of use, will effect the long term quality of the environment. Consequently, we must ensure that we secure in law and nurture in practice the use of the fragile resource.” He stressed the execution of the Act in practice would naturally manage the impact of growth on the environment and prevent unnecessary costs to correct mistakes in building and development.