44

MOH Says It’s Prepared With National Vaccination Strategy

Minister of Health the Hon. Renward Wells - January 8th, 2021

In its first national press conference for 2021, the Ministry of Health unveiled a number of initiatives aimed at curbing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country.

The latest COVID-19 statistics revealed there were 7,969 cases throughout The Bahamas, as was disclosed during the press conference held Friday, January 8, 2021. Total COVID-19 hospitalizations continued on a downtrend and stood at 11, from 15 on January 1st.

The Hon. Renward Wells, Minister of Health, announced several measures in the continued fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, among those being the procurement of vaccines.

“Now that COVID-19 vaccines have been produced, the Government of The Bahamas is working on all fronts to secure the vaccines. Currently, there are three authorized COVID-19 vaccines on the world market -- Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna, and Oxford University-AstraZeneca,” Minister Wells announced.

“Through the COVAX Facility and with the assistance of the World Health and Pan American Health Organizations, The Bahamas has presumptively secured enough doses to vaccinate 20% of our population once available,” Minister Wells, said.

Adding that, “The Government of The Bahamas assures its citizens and residents that the vaccines chosen for use will be safe and appropriate for distribution throughout our islands.”

To facilitate this distribution of a National COVID-19 Vaccine, Minister Wells also announced that a Strategic Plan has already been approved by Cabinet.

“A COVID-19 Vaccine National Consultative Committee has been established, by the Prime Minister, to safely introduce the COVID-19 vaccine in The Bahamas,” he said.

This committee will give advice to the Ministry of Health’s National Immunization Coordinating Committee (NICC) and the National Immunization Technical Working Group (NITWG). “Be assured, Government’s objective remains the same -- to continually provide free vaccines, to all who wish to benefit from the protection that vaccination offers.

“Again, let me state the policy of the Government of the Bahamas: The COVID-19 Vaccine will be given without charge to the Bahamian people and uptake of this vaccine, by the Bahamian people, will be completely voluntary,” Minister Wells said.

According to the Minister, when a safe and effective vaccine is available in the country, the public will be informed and invited to receive the vaccine in specific groups, at no cost.

He also assured that the Ministry of Health’s Surveillance Team continues to monitor in-country virus trends, in anticipation of a possible third wave and maybe with a new variant in the mix, and he thanked the public for adapting to the new ways of interacting.

“As the world continues to fight COVID-19, the methods may differ, but the commonality remains the same – the application of the preventative measures. Your continued adherence to these measures now, can and will determine our national circumstances later,” he said.

Dr. Pearl McMillan, Bahamas Chief Medical Officer, who also gave a presentation during the press conference, stated that a Covid-19 vaccine is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2021, however, a definitive timeline for the vaccine’s arrival or significant details of the roll-out protocol were not provided. Additionally, although Minister Wells Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pearl McMillan.

said in his presentation that a vaccination strategy has been completed and approved by Cabinet, the document, as of January 10th, had not yet been released to the public.

During the question and answer session following the presentations, a notable concern emerged - the relatively high number of visitors or returning travelers to the country not complying with the 5th Day test requirement. Of those visitors/returning travelers eligible, 41% or 21,000 people did not do the required rapid antigen test, according the health officials.

Comments made were that the Ministry would need to work even more closely with its Tourism partners, with more access to the data, to ensure that people were getting testing. The partnership between the two Ministries was described as robust, and there was full anticipation that closer collaboration would take place, said officials. 113 travelers were said to have tested positive, and 26,000 have tested negative, since the new protocols took effect.

P41

mota 2020 revieW

technology, the Ministry of Tourism conducted virtual events around the world bringing all suppliers and trade partners together to share and discuss COVID-19 protocols and updates. Additional virtual events included: the first-ever virtual Bahamas dive pavilion for dive operators during DEMA, the largest dive supplier show in the world; webinars for private aviators espousing the coming pre-clearance initiative in South Florida and Facebook Live events featuring culinary experts, award winning mixologists and other local craftsmen. Lastly, the team worked hard to strengthen relationships with air partners in an effort to facilitate the return of international flights. The Ministry also launched a dive and boat ambassador program which includes top influencers in the industry who will support and assist us in promoting the destination. Highlights for Romance 2020 include successful participation to TravAlliance Fall show for Destination Weddings and Honeymoon Segment and official review of The Bahamas’ Romance Magazine which will be fully launched during the Ministry’s Romance Forum in March of 2021.

• Authentic Storytelling - An award-winning content marketing campaign featured local Bahamians speaking to the country’s culture, cuisine, art and other unique offerings that make The Bahamas stand out from other island getaways. • Blogger Program - In addition to an authentic storytelling program, the Ministry of Tourism also developed a robust blogging program on Bahamas.com where local influencers and writers shared their stories of travel and culture in The Bahamas in hopes of inspiring wanderlust and connecting with future visitors. • Local Content Shoots - In an effort to keep new creative content flowing on Visit The Bahamas social channels, the Ministry enlisted local talent and camera crews to shoot content aimed at enticing users to want to learn more about the destination.

Safety & Security Minister Dames Commits To Invest

During his Official Remarks at the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s New Year’s Church Service on January 3rd, 2021 Minister of National Security the Hon. Marvin H. Dames said that his government understood that safety and security undergirds the success of any society, and that was one of the principle reasons that it committed to invest in law enforcement, even before coming into office.

“We will continue to work assiduously toward building capacity and capabilities within the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) and other law enforcement agencies; and modernizing them to face the challenges of the 21st century Bahamas,” Minister Dames said, during the event held in the Rose Garden, on the grounds of the RBPF Headquarters.

Among those present at the Service included Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert A. Minnis; Governor-General His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Cornelius A. Smith; Permanent Secretary Marco Rolle; Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ismella Davis-Delancy, and Senior Executive Leadership Team of the Police Force; Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Raymond King; senior representatives and members of the Uniformed Branches; Police Force Chaplain Father Stephen Davies; President of the Bahamas Christian Council Bishop Delton Fernander and Senior Council Members; National Overseer for the Church of God of Prophecy in The Bahamas Bishop Franklin M. Ferguson; Chairman of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Committee and former Police Commissioner Paul Farquharson; National Neighbourhood Watch Council Chairman Keno Wong; and numerous officers, stakeholders and civilians.

Minister Dames added that his Government remains committed to the continued improvements within the RBPF. He said: “We will continue to furnish you with the necessary resources that will aid in your crime-fighting efforts – as you have already been benefactors of 21st century policing technologies including body and dash cameras; increased CCTVs; Marco’s Alert billboards; vehicles; ShotSpotter and software upgrades to aid with greater levels of efficiency and productivity.”

“Conversely, technology has also made it easy to Above: Minister of National Security, the Hon. Marvin Dames at the Annual RBPF Church service held on Sunday, January 3rd, 2021, on the grounds of Police Headquarters in New Providence.

record, share, post, and capture moments at the blink of an eye, so I remind you that the public is watching,” Minister Dames added. “Officers, I am quite aware of the realities of your profession. It is no secret, I once served as a police officer. Therefore, I encourage you to always remain vigilant, taking nothing and no one for granted, while being respectful of those you have sworn to protect.”

Minister Dames noted that success in any profession must start with investment in people. “Our Government firmly believes that if we put people first everything else will fall into place and success would be inevitable,” he said. “Hence, after completing our manpower audit of the RBPF, we immediately began to invest in the professional training and development of our police officers, consistent with global standards.”

“We will intensify our efforts during 2021, with the view of preparing the next generation of police leaders, at all levels of the organization. Our ultimate goal is to build an organization that all Bahamians can be proud of and that is the envy of the world. We are well on our way!”

Front-of-package warnings help consumers choose healthier food, PAHO report says

(Some 44% of deaths in the Americas are caused by diseases linked to unhealthy diets)

Stark front-of-package warnings against foods excessive in fats, sugars, and sodium are the best way to help people avoid the unhealthiest purchases, a new PAHO report shows. PAHO reviewed six different categories of front-of-package food labeling systems to determine which perform best to help consumers correctly, quickly and easily identify products that are excessive in nutrients associated with the top three causes of death in the Americas – overweight/obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The front-of-package warning labels work better than

P44

HealtH WarningS on foodS

food and drink products that are in excess of free sugars, salt, total fat, saturated fat and trans-fatty acids. The country subsequently was recognized by the United Nations Interagency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases. In previous years, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay adopted front-of-package warnings, and Brazil has taken a step in that direction. In Canada and Colombia, warnings have been proposed for mandatory use. The Caribbean is in the final stages of adopting warnings as part of regional standards, while Argentina is in the process of adopting comprehensive, robust legislation, which requires products to display warning labels, prevents such products from being advertised and bans them from schools. other kinds of nutritional labeling such as healthy food endorsements. (To see the other nutritional labeling systems, go to page 8 in Front-of-package labeling as a policy tool for the prevention of noncommunicable diseases in the Americas at this link: https://iris.paho. org/handle/10665.2/52740) “Overweight and obesity rates have exploded in the Americas,” said PAHO Director Carissa F. Etienne. “The front of package warning labels can guide healthier choices, save lives, improve the quality of life in the Region, and protect our human rights and those of our children. This is an urgent public health situation and we simply cannot wait.” Some 44% of deaths in the Americas are caused by high blood pressure, high sugar levels, and obesity and overweight. Poor diets are driven largely by the widespread availability and marketing of processed and ultraprocessed food and drink products that are excessive in sugars, fats and sodium. “Front-of-label warnings protect the rights of consumers to have truthful, extensive, simple, easily understood information about what the products are and what they contain,” said Ernesto Acevedo, Deputy Secretary of Industry, Commerce, and Competitiveness for Mexico. He said Mexico adopted the labeling because of epidemic obesity that has affected health, the economy, and social and economic inequity. Earlier this year, Mexico implemented the black octagonal warning labels that follow PAHO’s best practices recommendations, including the PAHO nutrient profile, a tool to classify

In the Mexican regulation and in those under discussion in Argentina and the Caribbean, the PAHO nutrient profile criteria is being used to determine which products should have a warning. This allows consumers’ purchase decisions to align with WHO recommendations.

“The majority of populations in our Region and worldwide still lack access to simple information about whether a product is excessive in sugars, sodium, saturated fats, trans fats or total fats,” said Anselm Hennis, Director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at PAHO. “The solution is a clear, quick and easy warning label on the front of the package providing understandable information.” He added that such labeling is even more important now, as underlying conditions linked to poor diet can lead to life-threatening complications from COVID-19.

Covid-19 Vaccine In Children - Bahamas

Ministry of Health States Their Position

On Wednesday, January 6th, 2021, the Bahamas Ministry of Health released a statement clarifying their position on the mandatory administering of the Covid-19 Vaccine in children.

The statement began, saying, “The Ministry of Health wishes to address an article stating ‘Govt Discussing Mandatory COVID Vaccine for Students’ which emanated from an impromptu press briefing by the Minister of Health, Tuesday, January 5, 2021. The Ministry wishes to clarify that no one under the age of 18 years of age, including children in The Bahamas, will be administered the COVID-19 vaccine.”

It continued, “Although the Government of The Bahamas has been proactive in securing mechanisms that will give the Bahamian people access to this much-needed vaccine, the Ministry of Health underscores that administration of the COVID-19 vaccine is entirely voluntary. In other words, only those who wish to receive the vaccine can avail themselves of it.

“The Ministry further states that it will continue to comport with best practice and international standards on medical and public health matters. This extends to the age recommendations for the COVID-19 vaccine administration. From current knowledge, the approved age range for the Vaccine is 16 years and older; and • Moderna is 18 years and older

“The Ministry notes the global scientific clinical trials currently underway to determine/study the safety and efficacy of this vaccine in persons 12 to 17 years of age.

“We assure the Bahamian people that COVID-19 vaccination among children will not be offered within this sub-population until evidence suggests it is safe to do so, and with the consent of parents and guardians.”

NNWC Active During the Festive Season

The network of Eleuthera’s National Neighbourhood Watch Councils throughout the island have continued to stay active within their communities, not only as Crime Watch Groups, but as organizations taking part in a wide cross-section of activities - including community cleanups and beautification projects, recognition of community contributors, assistance for the elderly and less fortunate within the settlements, youth initiatives and much more.

The NNWC in Palmetto Point started gearing up early for the holiday season within that community, and on Wednesday, November 2nd, the Council adorned a community tree with decorations and lights, for which residents and commuters expressed their appreciation.

Gregory Town closely followed with the NNWC there partnering with Local Government on November 3rd in the beautification and enhancement of the Gregory Town community. The initiative involved the construction of several picnic benches which were strategically placed at various recreational locations. In addition, vacant buildings were enclosed in preparation for decorations and lighting which was the first phase in efforts to illuminate the Gregory Town Township with holiday cheer.

On Friday 4th November 2020, the Liaison Officer for Central Eleuthera National Neighborhood Watch Council, W/Sgt. 3258 Albury and team held a T-Shirt day in support of the “We Are One Campaign” which sent a message of love and unity throughout the community. Members were excited about the event and were encouraged to continue their support.

On the final day in November, NNWC Liaison Officers, Inspector Newbold and Sergeant Albury, visited the Governors Harbour basketball court. There, they met with the young boys of the community. During this meeting, they introduced the concept of starting a Boys Club headed by the NNWC. The young boys expressed keen interest in joining the NNWC Boys Club which is slated to be launched in the near future.

As December began, the season of giving continued as the NNWC in Palmetto Point distributed baskets of fresh fruits to the elderly in the community. NNWC members said each person receiving, expressed their heartfelt thanks for the baskets and appreciation.

The first week of the final month was a busy one, as groups geared up for the holidays, with passionate efforts to ensure a festive season despite restrictions and challenges. In Gregory Town, the local NNWC group in partnership with Local Government, on Friday, December 4th continued their collaborative efforts to beautify and illuminate the community. Efforts were focused on the various churches throughout the township, and both locals and commuters applauded the efforts of the group.

On the same day Zonta Clubs Bahamas met virtually with NNWC Liaison Officers to continue their awareness campaign and NNWC Officers pledged to further the partnership in spreading the word of stopping the Violence against Women and Children.

The first Saturday, December 5th saw Palmetto Point’s NNWC President Laura Culmer and her team host a ‘Feed the Community’ free breakfast initiative. Community members who came out expressed their heartfelt thanks and appreciation, and encouraged the Council to keep up the great work. The group continued its commitment to touch the needy in the community on Tuesday, December 8th as they traversed the town, distributing cases of bottled water to residents most in need.

The spirit of the ‘We Are One’ campaign took a physical turn on Thursday, December 10th as the Gregory Town National Neighborhood Watch Council in partnership with the Local Government continued their beautification of the Gregory Town community with a clean-up initiative. Residents were excited and supportive. The work contined on Friday, which included the unveiling of a custom made sleigh, Christmas tree erection and decoration and thousands of Christmas Lights illuminating buildings along the highway and on to the recreation areas. The ongoing efforts captivated residents and commuters alike and filled the

Cleanup and beautification in Gregory Town.

community with Christmas cheer.

A little south of central, in Savannah Sound, liaison officer, Sgt. 3258 Albury accompanied Mr. Denny Rankine (President), Mr. Ryan Culmer (Vice President), and a team of Savannah Sound NNWC members as they got together on Saturday, December 12th for their “We Are One” community cleanup. As they worked, people throughout the township lauded their efforts, encouraging them to continue the great work.

Back in Gregory Town, during the following week, on December 17th the NNWC/Local Govt. partnership continued as they got together and mounted a sign depicting a pineapple as a part of their display to their welcome banner into Gregory Town.

Later the same evening, the Tarpum Bay Branch of the National Neighbourhood Watch Council in the absence of a tree lighting ceremony due to the social gatherings protocol, made a presentation to Mrs.Merlene Clarke of Tarpum Bay. Liaison Officer W/Sgt. 232 Rodgers-Bethel presented a plaque to Mrs. Clarke posthumously on behalf of her late husband Mr.Charles Clarke a pioneer in the community who was very influential and instrumental. His contribution was especially noted during the yuletide season ensuring that Christmas lighting adorned the community of Tarpum Bay. He was also remembered for his dedicated services to Bahamas Power and Light Company and to the island of Eleuthera. Mrs. Clarke was Wife and family of the late Charles Clarke accept posthumous plaque.

elated by the gesture shown and expressed her gratitude to the Neighbourhood Watch for the appreciation displayed towards her husband for his contribution to the community.

During the final week before the Christmas holiday, on Sunday, December 20th, the Tarpum Bay Branch of the National Neighbourhood Watch Council South Eleuthera Branch in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Eleuthera, held a curbside Christmas treat for the children in that community. Also taking part was W/Sgt. 232 RodgersBethel Liason Officer for South Eleuthera along with PC 1311 Brown. During the event the children were given an extra treat and eagerly awaited the arrival of Santa Claus who arrived on the fire truck. The children and parents enjoyed the fun and the kids were delighted as they took photos with Santa. A total of one hundred and eighty children received treat boxes filled with candies and other goodies.

PUBLIC NOTICE - Public Treasury Department Defers 2021 Pensioners Verification Exercise

The Treasurer of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas advises that in compliance with the established Government Covid-19 protocols on social distancing, the Pension Verification Exercise January 2021 for all Bahamas Government Pensioners, has been deferred until July 2021.

NOTE: All pensioners who verified during the January 2020 pension verification exercise will continue to receive their monthly pension for the period January 2021 to June 2021.

Pensioners may contact the Pension Section, Public Treasury Department, Nassau, at telephone numbers (242) 302-0519, 302-0521, 302-0554, 302-0566 or 302-0539 with any questions or concerns that they may have with regards verification or any other Pension matter.

Snapshot

Covid -19 As it was January 11th, 2021 Handy Tip!

DIY Painting & Purse Making Tips

Each month, learn a bit about do-it-yourself painted designs and purse making with valuable tips and expert advice:

TIP 5.

Decide to make a professional product. Neatness does count when sewing for profit. Take the time to change your threads if they do not match your fabrics. Overlooking a three-minute thread change could cost you a sale and brand you as a creator of shoddy or unfinished work.

For daily information visit www.EleutheraNews.com

World Data (https://clustrmaps.com/)

Note: “Today” refers to Jan. 12th, 2021

Grace Period Announced For CESRA Penalty Until January 31st

More than 17,500 entities have successfully completed their 2019 reporting under the new Commercial Entities (Substance Requirements) Act, 2018, which was due at the end of 2020. However, that leaves thousands of companies and other entities that still must meet their reporting obligations under the new legislation.

The Government understands the challenges faced by some entities in complying and has made the decision to suspend late penalties until January 31 for entities that meet their reporting obligations before the end of the month. This follows an extension to the deadline from September 2020 to December that was granted last year.

To facilitate the demand, the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) has allocated dedicated staff to process requests in the reporting portal. While some businesses have experienced delays, DIR is working around the clock to process requests.

“Many businesses continue to make good faith efforts to comply with the new regulations. We all know that COVID-19 has been a very disruptive year and this is the first reporting cycle for the new regulations. The deadline caught some companies off guard for various reasons, and the government is working with stakeholders to facilitate compliance. We will continue to monitor the situation. However, we urge businesses to take advantage of this opportunity to comply with the new requirements,” said Minister of State for Finance Kwasi Thompson.

Since April 2018, the Regulatory and International Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Finance has participated in training workshop and forums dedicated to CESRA requirements with the Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB), the Bahamas Bar Association, Bahamas Maritime Association, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and various financial institutions. Several public notices were also issued following the gazetting of the CESRA regulations in February 2019.

The CESRA regulations were implemented to ensure all corporate vehicles and similar legal structures operating within The Bahamas are engaged in real economic activity.