FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, November 26, 2019 — It was an exciting day for Grand Bahama on Tuesday, November 26, as the island welcomed its first official international flight to the Fixed Based Operators (FBO) at Grand Bahama International Airport since the passing of Hurricane Dorian. Representatives from The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation (BMOT
A), Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, Grand Bahama Airport Company, Bahamas Customs and Immigration and the Royal Bahamas Police Force all assembled on the tarmac Tuesday afternoon to welcome the inbound Bahamasair Boeing 737 Jet. The capacity flight departed Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Tennessee bringing 138 passengers, all of whom are on island for the 21st Annual Tabernacle Falcons Thanksgiving Basketball Classic.
During a meeting with United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Ms. Mariko Kagoshima about relief and reconstruction efforts on Grand Bahama and Abaco, Prime Minister Minnis welcomed the offer of assistance by the United Nations for Haitian residents affected by Hurricane Dorian.
The Prime Minister and Ms. Kagoshima discussed what role the UN can play to help Haitian residents displaced by the hurricane and relief initiatives being spearheaded by UN agencies, including: UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), PAHO (Pan-American Health Organization), WFP (World Food Programme) and the IOM (International Organization for Migration).
During the meeting held on Monday 25 November, Prime Minster Minnis emphasised that undocumented residents will be treated humanely.
He noted that all residents affected by Hurricane Dorian were provided with shelter, food and other social assistance regardless of immigration status following the storm, and repatriations were suspended for a period of time.
NASSAU, The Bahamas – Representatives from women’s and other organizations across The Bahamas gathered “downtown” in Parliament Square Monday for the Launch of 16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls.
Mrs. Patricia Minnis, Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister, cuts the orange ribbon signaling the official start of 16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls in The Bahamas during the Launch, Monday, November 25, in Parliament Square. (BIS Photo/Matt Maura)
The 16 Days of Activism Campaign begins annually on November 25, a day that is observed globally as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls and ends on December 10, which is observed as Human Rights Day.
Representatives of the Zonta Club of New Providence, the Zonta Club of Nassau, S.M.A.R.T. Women, the National Women’s Advisory Council (NWAC), Princess Court Ministries, Teen Life Skills Services, Women of Strength, Kiwanis Club of New Providence, the National Congress of Trade Unions and its Women’s Association, and many other stakeholders and partners attended the Launch along with officials from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development and the Department of Gender and Family Affairs/Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, as they “took over” Parliament Square for the Launch.
NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Government of The Bahamas has committed to doing all in its power to end Gender-Based Violence in the Commonwealth by the Year 2030, Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell, said Monday.
Representatives from female organizations across The Bahamas at the Launch of the 16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, held Monday (November 25, 2019) in Rawson Square. (BIS Photo/Matt Maura)
Addressing the 2019 Launch of the Sixteen Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls held in Rawson Square, Minister Campbell said the commitment was made by himself on behalf of the Government of The Bahamas while attending the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD) 25th Anniversary Meeting.
Minister Campbell, was accompanied to ICPD 25 by the Hon. Brensil A. Rolle, Minister for the Public Service and National Insurance, and Mrs. Elaine Sands, Gender-Based Violence Expert in the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development. The Conference took place November 12-14 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Bahamas Tourism Officials were in Toronto Thursday afternoon.
The best way to help the Bahamas is to visit the Bahamas. And to send your clients there.
The message from Bahamas Tourism officials in Toronto was extremely clear at a Thursday lunch.
“We’re battered. We’re bruised. But we’re not broken. And we’re already on the rebound.”
When Hurricane Dorian slammed into the northern islands of the Bahamas on September 1, it unleashed 48 hours of catastrophic damage. Tourism officials on Thursday showed videos of the hurricane’s wrath to journalists and travel trade types.
That damage, however, is only part of the story. Some hotels in the northern Bahamas have already re-opened. But the bigger issue is that MOST of the Bahamas weren’t affected by Dorian at all.
Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar jokingly called reports of the Bahamas demise “fake news.”
On a more serious note, the minister noted that the island nation is almost 1,000 kilometers long. The hurricane was only 125 km’s in diameter and only hit the most northerly islands in the archipelago. Popular tourist spots such as Paradise Island and Baha Mar on Nassau weren’t affected. Ditto for Exuma Cay, Eleuthera, Cat Island, Bimini and other popular destinations for visitors. The famous swimming pigs of Exuma barely batted an eyelash when Dorian arrived.
Bahamas Tourism in Toronto, Nov. 21, 2019.
D’Aguilar said more than 50% of the Bahamas Gross Domestic Product comes from tourism and that two of three jobs in the island nation are tourism related.
“About 90% of the tourism infrastructure was not impacted” by Dorian, he said. “We’re still ready to welcome visitors and still able to deliver the tropical getaway they’re dreaming of.”
Officials said Canadian visits were up 14% in 2018 and that Canadian tourism numbers were up 10% in 2019 when the hurricane hit. Inquires slumped right after the storm, but interest in visiting the Bahamas is picking up nicely.
“There’s no better time to go to the Bahamas than now,” D’Aguilar said. “The best way to help the Bahamas is to the visit the Bahamas.”
The Bahamas has a number of distinct regions and attractions, ranging from those famous swimming pigs on Exuma to the quiet and solitude of Long Island. I was lucky enough to spend a few hours on Eluethera about 14 months ago and found it a magical island with surprising geography and super-friendly locals.
The famous swimming pigs of Exuma, The Bahamas.
The Bahamas also are easy to reach, with three-hour, non-stop flights from eastern Canada.
Efforts to strengthen relationship between Bahamas and Canada expected to yield positive results with media blitz in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto
Vancouver, Canada ( November 18th, 2019)- The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation delegates lead by Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Dionisio D’Aguilar, as well as numerous industry partners took media outlets and tour operators in Canada on a whirlwind tour of the Islands of the Bahamas, solidifying the messaging of the Bahamas being a viable destination for the Canadian tourists, despite the impact of Hurricane Dorian. “Following Hurricane Dorian, we felt that it was absolutely critical to come and let the Canadian market know that we are open for business and to introduce The Bahamas to new aspects of the Canadian market,” remarked Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Director General, Joy Jibrilu, “as far west as Vancouver, there is huge potential to market the country.”
NASSAU, The Bahamas – His Excellency Luis Almagro, Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, officially visited Hurricane Dorian impacted areas of East Grand Bahama and North Abaco on Saturday, November 9, 2019. He was officially led on tour by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Peter Turnquest; Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Darren Henfield; and Permanent Secretary, Jack Thompson, Disaster Coordinator for Abaco. Pictured l-r: His Excellency Almagro, Minister Henfield, and Minister Turnquest.
Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis will travel to Brussels, Belgium, on Monday 11 November 2019 to take part in the official opening of the Embassy of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and Mission to the European Union, the Cabinet Office has announced.
At the official lying-in-state of Former Senator, veteran Broadcaster and Diplomat, the late Dr. Calsey Johnson, Governor General His Excellency the Most Hon. Cornelius A. Smith paid last respects and signed the Book of Condolence, at the Senate, on Thursday, November 7, 2019.
(BIS Photos/Letisha Henderson)
