PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Senior Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis called assertions that the government’s emergency powers are unnecessary “highly irresponsible, reckless and unreasonable”.
He was speaking in the House of Assembly during debate yesterday on an extension to a new emergency proclamation issued by Governor General C A Smith this week. The government is seeking Parliament’s approval to extend the country’s state of emergency to January 31, 2021.
“The measures we seek to extend today merely allow us to have the legal authority to act in case we need to use certain measures,” Dr Minnis said. “This does not mean that all of these measures are being used at a given time.”
Dr Minnis — who noted that countries like Barbados have extended their state of emergency into March next year — did not announce any changes to COVID-19 restrictions during his speech.
“The government needs these powers because of how quickly this virus continues to spread,” he said.
“One highly infectious individual could spread the virus in a closed room of 50 people to nearly every individual in that room. The infected people would then go (to a) home environment, family members and... they may then all go on to spread it to others. One case could lead to an outbreak. Hundreds and hundreds of people could get sick.
“When cases spike, governments do not have the liberty of a long period of time to act. We do not have weeks to act, instead governments must act quickly and decisively in order to avoid the spread of this deadly virus.
“If a government waits too long to act, many more people get sick; many more people are hospitalised and more people die.
“If the country followed the advice of the Opposition, The Bahamas would be in the same dire straits as those places which opposed lifesaving emergency measures.”
Dr Minnis said health officials have advised him that cases of COVID-19 in New Providence have stabilised since stricter emergency measures were implemented several weeks ago.
“To ensure that this trend continues and out of an abundance of caution, we believe that the relaxation of measures at this time may be premature and may risk an increase in cases,” he said.
He said health officials have also advised that restrictive measures are working in Eleuthera and the policies in Grand Bahama should also remain in place for the time being.
“On Monday past no new confirmed cases were reported on Eleuthera,” he said, adding that next week he will announce whether restrictions on mainland Eleuthera should continue or not.
“Within days of the restrictive measures being put in place, health officials were able to isolate all positive cases on Eleuthera and quarantine the contacts of positive cases.
“The curve is starting to bend. Health education initiatives are working.
“A team from the Ministry of Health will travel to Eleuthera this coming Friday, November 27, to conduct a follow-up assessment of the COVID-19 situation. Restrictions will remain in place for the rest of this week.”
Comments
joeblow 3 years, 12 months ago
Now all that is left is to write a book on how to grossly mismanage a pandemic!
Kalikgold 3 years, 12 months ago
Most countries don't have it figured out joe, being a 3rd world nation I think Bahamas is actually doing pretty good. If the people don't want to follow the rules then you can't fix stupid
joeblow 3 years, 12 months ago
... leaders make decisions. Decisions have consequences. We learn a lot about leaders by weighing the consequences of their decisions. Consider this letter to the editor at the guardian recently:
https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamas-b…
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 12 months ago
this was too important to leave hidden behind the link @joeblow
All three countries were successful in suppressing the first outbreak between March and May. And all three reopened on July 1. Here are the results:
March to June:
Bermuda – Cases 146 – Deaths 9 Barbados – Cases 97 – Deaths 7 Bahamas – Cases 104 – Deaths 11
Since July 1:
Bermuda – Cases 53 – Deaths 0 (None since May) Barbados – Cases 140 Deaths 0 (None since April) Bahamas – Cases 6,610 – Deaths 133
UN 3 years, 12 months ago
I wish he would confirm his zero tolerance for corruption by finally contacting the woman who sent him a letter many months ago. We’re all so 2-faced (and she’s the crazy one).
Other countries: Invasion of Privacy (1 yr jail term). Stalking and Hacking (5 years each). Add fraud too? Outnumbered by criminals. It explains why men charged with bribery were able to walk free (dey jus like us, we expectin’ a gal to give us $ too).
whogothere 3 years, 12 months ago
Give it up Minnis, the truth is out covid fatality risk is the same as the flu, case fatalities rates are crashing around the globe. PCR tests are over sensitive and picking up non infectious Fragments of has been cases, and well the Bahamas doesn’t t have single person in the ICU now. Your emergency powers are like a teddy bear for a child scared of dark. Grow up - the boogie man ain’t there - common sense and democracy will do....focus on getting a new finance minister and steer us out of the colossal economic mess you ve made...
TalRussell 3 years, 12 months ago
Whilst Mr. Minnis's is somewhat right to assert that the government’s emergency powers are necessary, I am departin' company when it comes down to the part about the PopoulacesOrdinary at large POAL's, being highly irresponsible, reckless, and unreasonable when was chiefly the fault his 35 House-elected governin' redcoats MPs that brought about how it was to came behind as to the why the POAL was to feel and do the crazy things they're now being accused of doin',
Shakehead once for upyeahvote, if rich 35 very rich redcoats can do crazy things, why not shake twice if not willing expect it to be reasonable for the colony's middle-classes poverty poor, to do some crazy too?
ted4bz 3 years, 12 months ago
Y’all thought this CV19 thing would go away with 2020 eh? .. Well let me tell you more to cushion the shock of what the extensions are for. You all are going to be locked down for weeks at a time shortly after the Electoral College certifies Biden’s victory of an election blanketed in fog. That can’t happen without the extensions, the extension is necessary, so chill. CV19 is not the only thing that kills, poverty kills also! CV19 is a package and the fear mongering, smokescreen, lockdowns, poverty, vaccination and absolute control are all parts of that package as well. You all bit into this CV cake, and now, you will have to finish all of it. You can’t have one part without the other...
birdiestrachan 3 years, 12 months ago
"The PM bats off critics" what a strange use of words.
The Bahamas is divided by water. our population is not the same. so he is wrong to compare the Bahamas to other Countries. what suite other countries may not suite the Bahamas.
The Bahamas is in for some troubled times and much of it lies with the PM mismanagement,
The PM even had Rum Cacy lockdown. What was there to lockdown?.
John 3 years, 12 months ago
Yes Minnis is doing the right thing. The pandemic has to be managed to the end and the emergency orders must continue, at least until March. And the 9:00 curfews should continue for non essential workers and non employed people at least until December 31st. Just look at the number of murders that are happening since the curfew has been extended and weekend lockdowns have been lifted. And Ine will be shocked with the number of robberies that are occurring daily, especially non New Providence. Imagine holiday shopping where it is normal bf or persons to walk into a business establishment masked.
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 12 months ago
thats so right, if we keep everybody locked up forever the number of robberies will go down drastically. The only thing we might have to watch out for is skyrocketing suicides and family members killing each other
licks2 3 years, 11 months ago
And dumb statements like this one!!
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 12 months ago
"highly irresponsible, reckless and unreasonable"
that describes the decision to open July 1 that led to 160+ dead people. can't be more reckless and irresponsible than that. They were giggling in the house in late spring as they barreled through reopening phases, relishing the fact that nobody could stop them because they had all the power, and there was Brave asking over and over again, what's the rush?
licks2 3 years, 11 months ago
Doc, just take a look at the majority of these dumb posts and it will show that you are on the right track. . .ignore these chickens dem. . .they een gat a clue!!!!
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