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Wake Up! 'There Will Be No Tourists'

March 20, 2020, 7:03 am
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Dionisio D'Aguilar, Minister of Tourism and Aviation

By YOURI KEMP
Tribune Business Reporter
ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A Cabinet minister yesterday urged Bahamians to "grasp the simple yet inconceivable reality that there will be no tourists" visiting this nation for at least two to three months.

Dionisio D'Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, sought in his House of Assembly address to drive home the brutal reality that "the lifeblood of our country" will dry up due to the absence of thousands of stopover and cruise passengers as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Arguing that The Bahamas was "facing an economic calamity that will almost certainly exceed that of Hurricane Dorian", Mr D'Aguilar said the combination of international travel bans, airline cancellations and border closures - especially those impacting its main visitor markets of the US and Canada - will result in hotel occupancies "rapidly trending down to zero" to become "the new norm".  Read more >>
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Bahamas Paradise CEO Confirms Government Charter Talks

March 20, 2020, 7:11 am
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Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line CEO Oneil Khosa has confirmed discussions with U.S. authorities on potential ship charters.

“We have also been asked about the availability of our ships,” said Khosa, talking to Cruise Industry News. “We have told the government we will make them available.”

Bahamas Paradise has two vessels, the Grand Celebration and Grand Classica, which had offered two-night cruises from Palm Beach until operations were paused last week.

Ships could be used for temporary housing due to the coronavirus outbreak, while other sources have suggested the concept of surge hospital capacity aboard a cruise vessel.  Read more >>
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Receiver Takes Over Nygard Firms

March 20, 2020, 7:19 am
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Peter Nygard

By NEIL HARTNELL
Tribune Business Editor
nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Peter Nygard’s global fashion empire has been plunged into financial crisis after court-appointed receivers this week took over its affairs following recent sex trafficking allegations against the tycoon.

The claims against the Lyford Cay resident, which he has vehemently denied, were cited by the Nygard Group’s lenders as a key factor behind their decision to successfully petition the courts for the appointment of a receiver over business interests has has spent decades building.

Two US-based financiers, White Oak Commercial Finance and Second Avenue Capital Partners, are alleging in court papers that Mr Nygard’s fashion empire breached the conditions of a $40m loan agreement by failing to promptly disclose the lawsuit where ten girls made allegations of rape and sexual assault against him.  Read more >>
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WHO, China leaders discuss next steps in battle against coronavirus outbreak

March 20, 2020, 7:26 am
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By Deandrea S Hamilton

#BEIJING, CHINA – WHO PRESS RELEAST – January 28, 2020 — The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, today met President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing. They shared the latest information on the novel coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV) outbreak and reiterated their commitment to bring it under control.

Dr Tedros was joined by WHO Regional Director Dr Takeshi Kasai and Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme Dr Mike Ryan, and also met State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and Minister of Health Ma Xiaowei.

The National Health Commission presented China’s strong public health capacities and resources to respond and manage respiratory disease outbreaks. The discussions focused on continued collaboration on containment measures in Wuhan, public health measures in other cities and provinces, conducting further studies on the severity and transmissibility of the virus, continuing to share data, and for China to share biological material with WHO. These measures will advance scientific understanding of the virus and contribute to the development of medical countermeasures such as vaccines and treatments.  Read more >>
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Small business face “tsunami” COVID-19 blow

March 20, 2020, 7:43 am
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Mark Turnquest

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The COVID-19 pandemic will likely have a tsunami-like impact on the Bahamian small business sector, a local consultant said yesterday.

Mark Turnquest, principal of Mark A Turnquest Consulting told Eyewitness News, that small businesses were facing at least “three months of hurt”.

“This is going to be like a tsunami,” Turnquest said.

“This is like a hurricane times ten. Most of these small businesses don’t have any sort of disaster management programme and no one expected this situation. You also have to consider that tourism is a major component of the country’s economic mode and that is being negatively impacted right now.”  Read more >>
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Atlantis closes casino

March 20, 2020, 7:50 am
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The Atlantis resort on Paradise Island.

Atlantis’ casino will close effective today for four weeks, The Nassau Guardian was told.

A spokesperson for the hotel said that the hotel will remain open.

“We still have guests and we are taking each day as it comes,” the spokesperson said.

In an email to casino staff, Atlantis Senior Vice President of Human Resources Karen Carey wrote, “Regrettably, you will be affected by this closure and will be temporarily laid off during this period.  Read more >>
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Jamaican man beaten, thrown off minibus after sneezing

March 20, 2020, 7:59 am
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A 38-year-old farmer from Bethel Town, Westmoreland, said that he was beaten and thrown off a bus on Monday, after he sneezed multiple times and was accused of carrying the deadly COVID-19.

Garnet Blair told THE STAR that his body is swollen and sore all over, from the sound thrashing he got from the angry mob.

“Mi caa believe seh nobody caa sneeze inna Jamaica again,” Blair said in a trembling voice.

He said that after carrying goods to the Charles Gordon Market in Montego Bay, he took a mini bus back home.

“The bus reach a Chester Castle when mi kinda feel stuffy. So mi sneeze, an all of a sudden mi see every body start look pon mi, and a pull weh from beside mi,” he said.

Blair said that he told them that he had always been troubled by sinus problems, but after he sneezed twice more soon after, hell broke loose.  Read more >>
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More than 300 Fusion employees to take unpaid leave during COVID-19 shutdown

March 20, 2020, 8:07 am
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Fushion Superplex

By Ava Turnquest

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A nationwide partial shutdown over the next 11 days will mean that popular entertainment venues like Fusion Superplex will have to close their doors.

Chief Operating Officer Carlos Foulkes told Eyewitness News that close to 400 workers will be asked to take unpaid leave.

Foulkes said COVID-19 fears and the need for social distancing would directly impact the entertainment venues business.

“Our business itself is a public assembly business,” he said.

“The closing of our business cannot be done partially it is either open or not. We will take instruction from the government. We look to them for guidance on the next step.

“If that results in a closure order we will obliviously be forced to follow the government’s instructions. In theory I do not oppose it. I understand what we are facing and if the authorities believe this is the best course of action that will result in us putting the staff on unpaid leave”.  Read more >>
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Rbpf Distributes Covid-19 Policies

March 20, 2020, 8:11 am
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By EARYEL BOWLEG
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Royal Bahamas Police Force has distributed its COVID-19 policies to officers, according to Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson.

He said the RBPF’s plan is in line with the government’s policies and has been handed to the minister of national security.

Commissioner Ferguson said: “We have distributed all of the policies that we have, that is placed directly in the hands of the acting deputy commissioner who has circulated (them) throughout the force. Next week there about, we (are) supposed to have somebody from the surveillance unit of Ministry of Health….being invited to come in and actually talk to our officers to make sure that we remain safe.

“You know we are a frontline group of men and women and so it is very, very important that we understand and get a full appreciation for how to protect ourselves first in order to serve the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.”  Read more >>
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Massive Bangladesh coronavirus prayer gathering sparks outcry

March 20, 2020, 8:19 am
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Thousands of Muslims in Bangladesh attend a prayer session amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus (AFP Photo/)

A massive coronavirus prayer session with tens of thousands of devotees sparked an outcry in Bangladesh Wednesday as the South Asian nation reported its first death from the global pandemic.

Local police chief Tota Miah said some 10,000 Muslims gathered in an open field in Raipur town in southern Bangladesh to pray "healing verses" from the Koran to rid the country of the deadly virus.

"They held the Khatme Shifa prayers after dawn to free the country from the coronavirus," Miah told AFP.

Organisers claimed the number of worshippers was 25,000.  Read more >>
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Water Sports Sector Near Total Shutdown

March 20, 2020, 8:34 am
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By YOURI KEMP
Tribune Business Reporter
ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Water sports operators yesterday revealed the industry is almost completely shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Kamar Chandon, general manager of KC Watersports Bahamas, told Tribune Business: “They shut down the cruise ships and stuff, so we are closed down for business until further notice.

With no idea on how long he will be closed, Mr Chandon added: “It depends. We are waiting on the ‘OK’ from Sandals, and if they decide they are going to close down then everything is just shut down, but 30 percent of our business comes from the cruise lines.”

“The hotel doesn’t support my business enough, because mostly their guests are pre-booked, so they take excursions with the bigger companies and go out like to Exuma and things like that.”

Mr Chandon, though, continued: “In terms of the government closing [things] down, it’s a good move. The government has to try because otherwise the virus will multiply and get worse, so you have to get it under control. I feel like you have to take a loss to get a gain in the long-term.  Read more >>
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Disinfecting wipes are being flushed down toilets and causing major pipe problems

March 20, 2020, 8:48 am
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By Harmeet Kaur, CNN

(CNN)Disinfecting wipes are helping people combat the spreading of germs amid the coronavirus pandemic.

But some experts say the wipes, arguably the supply that's been used to clean surfaces in homes the most, are harming sewers.
Why? Because people are flushing wipes down toilets, rather than dumping them in the trash.

Now, public agencies around the nation are urging people to solely throw their wipes in the trash, warning that not doing so could cause blockages and damage to sewer systems.  Read more >>
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Gov’t will have to reconsider deficit targets due to COVID-19

March 20, 2020, 8:55 am
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Marlon Johnson

By Paige McCartney

Government will have to reconsider its deficit targets all depending on how much of an impact the outbreak of COVID-19 has on the Bahamian economy, Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson said yesterday.

Johnson said looking ahead, the new budget cycle which the Ministry of Finance was in the process of constructing was based on economic assumptions that no longer exist.

“This whole COVID-19 brings a whole new ball game to this. And even when the crisis subsides, our expectation is that the recovery will still take some time because people still have to get comfortable enough to travel, they have to feel comfortable that this jurisdiction is safe with safe passage. So, some of our economic projections for next year will likely have to be muted,” he told Guardian Business yesterday.  Read more >>
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Inmates meet rubber bullets

March 20, 2020, 9:09 am
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 Officer’s jaw broken as prisoners riot...


PRISON officers used non-lethal weapons to subdue more than 250 inmates yesterday after some of them broke through a wall and set fire to a roof in the Remand Section of the Golden Grove Prison in Arouca as they attempted to escape.

Some of the rioting inmates said they feared the spread of the COVID-­­­19. (source)
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$4.4bn Economic Blow: 'Playbook Out Window'

March 20, 2020, 9:16 am
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Finance Minister Peter Turnquest

By NEIL HARTNELL
Tribune Business Editor
nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The coronavirus and Hurricane Dorian are threatening to deal The Bahamas an “unprecedented” $4.4bn blow, with the deputy prime minister revealing yesterday: “The playbook is out the window.”

K Peter Turnquest, speaking to Tribune Business after revealing that the COVID-19 outlook is “tilting” towards projections of a $1bn loss for the four months to end-June 2020, described the pandemic as “hopefully a once-in-a-lifetime event” that was impossible for government planners to anticipate.

Agreeing that The Bahamas had never before in its history experienced such economic and fiscal stress, Mr Turnquest said the Ministry of Finance remained confident that - for the moment - the government can handle a projected $147m COVID-19 related fiscal hit from the additional $508m in net new borrowing recently approved by Parliament to finance Hurricane Dorian reconstruction.  Read more >>
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Aruba Launches Aggressive Measures Against Coronavirus

March 20, 2020, 10:17 am
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 By Caribbean Journal Staff

Aruba, one of the Caribbean’s most popular destinations, has launched a series of aggressive measures to contain and prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

The Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba has officially restricted all non-residents of Aruba from entering the island (although non-residents have been allowed to leave the island).

On Thursday, Aruba stepped up its Coronavirus fight, mandating that all establishments close at 8 PM every day through March 31, 2020.

That includes exceptions for restaurants offering drive-through or delivery, both of which will also close at 10 PM.  Read more >>
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RBPF Public Notice

March 20, 2020, 10:27 am
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Police wish to advise the general public that pursuant to the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (NO.1) Order 2020 that is in effect between 9am March, 20th to 9am March, 31st  the Royal Bahamas Police Force has established the information hotline number 311 and email: covid19@rbpf.bs for official correspondence purposes.

All businesses, corporations and companies requiring permission to commute the streets of The Bahamas during the mandatory curfew, must contact the information hotline number 311 for approval.

All businesses, corporations, companies and hoteliers that are exempted from the emergency order and whose employees are required to traverse the streets of the Bahamas during the mandatory curfew should provide a listing of employees via email covid19@rbpf.bs. Security Companies requiring their employees to be out during this period, must submit a listing to the aforementioned email address. Once the listing is provided there will be no need to contact the 311 information hotline.

All hotel workers, security guards and other essential workers that are required to be on the streets of The Bahamas during the curfew hours, must adorn their uniforms and be in possession of a work identification card.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force COVID-19 Command Center is open twentyfour hours. You may reach the Command Center at 326-871, 326-6346, 356-9455 and/or 322-1051. You may also contact the Command Center via WhatsApp number 806-6852. The public is advised to call 911 or 919 for emergencies and NOT 311.

The Public is hereby further notified that the Character Reference, Firearms Licensing and Chassis Check Offices of the Royal Bahamas Police Force are closed.

Persons being electronically monitored are reminded that in addition to their bail conditions, they are also required to abide by the stipulations of the Emergency Order.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force seeks the public’s cooperation with these changes in order to minimize unnecessary confrontation and possible subsequent arrests and inconvenience as we seek to keep The Bahamas safe and prevent further spread of the COVIF-19 Virus.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force thanks you for your cooperation while this Order remains in effect.

Please visit the Royal Bahamas Police Force Website at www.royalbahamaspolice.org or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rbpforce for Latest News, Daily Crime Reports and additional Crime Prevention Tips.

Mission: Delivering our services as a professional and resourceful Police Force 
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Health care workers are running out of face masks. They’re asking people to donate.

March 20, 2020, 11:21 am
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Facing a supply shortage, medical professionals are urging people to donate any face masks, respirators, and protective equipment they’ve stockpiled to local hospitals. Getty Images/iStockphoto

 By Terry Nguyen

The world is experiencing a shortage of surgical masks and respirators. Countries around the globe are scrambling to bulk up their mask supplies to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus and allow medical professionals to safely treat infected patients. It’s crucial for health care workers, doctors, and nurses on the front lines of the disease to have the proper protective gear to lower the risk of contracting Covid-19, but America’s mask supply is being so rapidly depleted that even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has suggested homemade masks, like bandanas or scarves, “as a last resort” for health care providers in “settings where face masks are not available.”

Public health officials warned about a strain in the supply chain for masks and other equipment in late February, when the pandemic started to spread in the US, which prompted regular people to snatch up medical supplies. By hoarding masks and respirators, civilians have contributed to the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers. (The US government is also partly to blame for overwhelming the health care system by not taking fast enough action to test citizens.)

Hospitals across America are running out of supplies, and medical professionals online are urging the public to donate whatever they’ve stockpiled to local health care facilities. Masks and respirators are typically designed to be worn only once, but in the face of dwindling inventory, some health care providers are asked to re-wear their gear. Alarmed by the lack of protective equipment, doctors, nurses, and health workers are sharing anecdotes about the risk this brings to them and their patients, calling on people to donate what they can.  Read more >>
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Fauci predicts Americans will likely need to stay home for at least several more weeks

March 20, 2020, 12:02 pm
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“I cannot see that all of a sudden, next week or two weeks from now it's going to be over. I don't think there's a chance of that," he said.

By Rebecca Shabad

WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Friday that Americans will most likely have to continue staying at home and practicing social distancing for “at least several weeks" amid the coronavirus outbreak.

“If you look at the trajectory of the curves of outbreaks and other areas, at least going to be several weeks,” Fauci said in an interview with Savannah Guthrie on the “TODAY” show.

“I cannot see that all of a sudden, next week or two weeks from now it's going to be over. I don't think there's a chance of that. I think it's going to be several weeks.”  Read more >>
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Bahamas COVID Hotline Numbers

March 20, 2020, 3:44 pm
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