The Tribune

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel said the emergency powers and the state of emergency declaration are still in full effect and accused anyone saying the contrary of exposing Bahamians to harm.

“I wish to advise the Bahamian people that there is absolutely no confusion as to the legal status of the proclamation of emergency and the emergency powers regulations or any of the orders made pursuant to the proclamation of emergency made on the 29th of June 2020 by the Governor General,” Mr Bethel said yesterday. “All of these documents. . .were lawfully tabled and constitutionally tabled in the Senate of The Bahamas on the afternoon of the third day of July 2020. After a proclamation summoning the Senate to meet was read, then the Senate opened.”

He also said: “Any person who is suggesting that there is some confusion about this is misguided and intentionally or otherwise is exposing Bahamian people to harm, because people if they are confused will err in favour of doing what they wish to do.”

He said COVID-19 curfews and social distancing measures are still lawfully in effect.

On June 29, Mr Bethel apologised after his office failed to deliver a resolution extending Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ emergency orders in time for a prior sitting of the House of Assembly, causing the Governor General’s original proclamation of emergency to end at midnight that day.

Governor General C A Smith nonetheless signed a new proclamation of emergency on the evening of June 29, in time for the COVID-19 curfew and restrictions to remain in place when the previous proclamation expired.

At the time, opposition leader Philip “Brave” Davis slammed the mistake as an example of incompetence and ineptitude.