Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.
By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT
tsmith-cartwright@tribunemedia.net
WITH the state of emergency and current emergency order set to expire at the end of this month, Attorney General Carl Bethel said Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is now consulting with the medical community to decide the way forward.
Among other restrictions, due to the emergency order New Providence currently has a nightly curfew in place from 10pm to 5am, but there have been complaints recently that the curfew is not being enforced.
Videos have circulated on social media showing clubs in full swing after curfew hours with no social distancing nor mask wearing being conducted.
A popular promoter ran into trouble two weeks ago when a party was held at a property leased to him with hundreds of people bunched together enjoying themselves without practising any COVID-19 protocols. He was fined some $92,000 by police for breaking the emergency orders.
“Cabinet has not made a determination and I raised the issue and the Prime Minister has indicated that he wishes to have some serious discussions with the medical community to get their advice,” Mr Bethel said.
“He is not prepared to commit to any particular course of action until he has done so.
“I understand that sometime this week he will probably be doing that and we look forward to whatever the recommendations of the medical community are. I did make the point before and it bears repeating, that Bahamians, we all know what the protocols are, but we may still need (to adhere to) them.
“So, one way or the other, whether it’s by way of a statute or by way of perhaps some amendments to pre-existing laws, if we could facilitate that, we will do whatever we have to do, in order to protect the Bahamian people.”
Mr Bethel said the competent authority will just go with the best advice as the way forward.
“It’s just a question now of what the best advice is from the medical community as a whole.
“For those who like to say ‘the competent authority’ and make all sorts of aspersions, there is no question that he has always consulted with his colleagues in Cabinet on every decision.
“He is now also on this decision, intensively consulting with the medical community and the COVID-19 Task Force that was appointed way back in March last year.”
Mr Bethel was also asked to respond to recent tension in the House of Assembly, sparked by criticisms from independent House Speaker Halson Moultrie.
A week ago, Mr Moultrie abruptly adjourned Parliament after chiding and criticising the Minnis administration for COVID-related matters and treatment of staff at the House of Assembly.
On Wednesday, Mr Moultrie went as far as calling government members, “disrespectful and dishonest” in their handling of the COVID exposure in Parliament.
Some political observers are of the opinion that by his actions, Mr Moultrie is agitating for Parliament to be prorogued, forcing an election. The Attorney General was asked if he feels this is what Mr Moultrie is trying to do.
“I wouldn’t wish to get into any reflections on the conduct of any member of another chamber other than that of which I serve,” he said. “That’s against our rules. I don’t like to speculate on what other people’s intentions are. You know they say, God alone knows the heart of a man and if God knows the heart he knows the man.”
Pressed further, Mr Bethell said: “I have nothing to say about his behaviour. He is the Speaker of the House; he has his functions under the Constitution. He is a constitutional officer and I would be the last person in the world to make any kind of reflection upon what the Speaker does in the discharge of his office and his constitutional duties.”
Comments
JokeyJack 3 years, 6 months ago
"Some political observers are of the opinion that by his actions, Mr Moultrie is agitating for Parliament to be prorogued, forcing an election."
No maam !!! The Speaker is agitating for a toilet to be installed in his office. He has been asking for over a year. How long should he wait for a toilet? What is the normal wait time for such matters? This has to do with nothing else. He will keep turning up the volume, until government pays a plumber or one comes by and installs one for free. He feel he has sufficiently begged the Cabinet Office (which is not a part of the independent legislative branch) for the funding, and also for a few extra dollars in case he might need a new pencil. However, he finds himself in the position of a beggar, going with hat in hand to the Cabinet office - a beggar just like the rest of us - therefore a man of the people in the truest sense of the term.
carltonr61 3 years, 6 months ago
That Seychelles islanders after near 100% vaccination in order to open to tourism had to close down due to massive Covid infections the reset system is in reset.
carltonr61 3 years, 6 months ago
https://www.rt.com/uk/523182-ema-astraz…
AZ stop murdering our people.
John 3 years, 6 months ago
It will only be logical and common sense to extend the orders at least until the end of July and at least for 90 days for comfort. Firstly, recent activity demonstrates that there are people Ian’s corporations in the community who are prepared to willfully and flagrantly violate the emergency orders to the danger and detriment of others. Those who are charged with upholding the orders and enforcing penalties must be able to execute their duties with the surety that the law is not only on their side but without question. Secondly some of the penalties and protocols will fall away once the emergency orders are discontinued. With the light at the end of this long, dark , pandemic tunnel being clearly in sight, can the country afford to backpedal at this juncture? And yes, whilst the 10:00 pm curfew is not being strictly enforced, the present enforcement level works to the benefit of law enforcement officials and the general public. Some persons do not get off until 9:00 pm. They may have to call a ride. Then the person driving must then seek to get permission to be on the streets. This clogs the system and sometimes persons with legitimate reasons to be on the streets cannot get clearance. On the other hand rather than police having to totally shut down and man the streets. If they come across persons who have no legitimate reason to be out beyond curfew, then can still issue tickets. And as soon as the numbers start to go back down, ( they are still averaging in the 50’s). Government can consider reducing the curfew hours to 12 am to 5 am and eventually mob the curfew altogether.
carltonr61 3 years, 6 months ago
After 416 days your mind must be sick.
carltonr61 3 years, 6 months ago
Seychelles experience with population vaccination has put them in a bad situation and we should reevaluate total vaccination as it has failed miserably. Lockdowns have proven worst than Covid. With 300,000 suffering from financial, mental, emotional challenges, we are destroyed as a people. The promised 10,000 deaths was a lie to place us in control fear.
carltonr61 3 years, 6 months ago
We still waiting for the 10,000 Covid deaths. scaremongering for power and billions for grandchildren.
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