NASSAU, Bahamas -- In observance of the U.S. Memorial Day Holiday, the United States Embassy will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2013. Please be advised that the Embassy will resume normal business operations on Tuesday, May 28 at 8:00 a.m.

For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens, please contact the U.S. Citizens Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section via telephone: 242-322-1181.

General information on U.S. Consular services, including procedures for obtaining or renewing a U.S. passport or visa, is available on the U.S. Embassy’s website at http://nassau.usembassy.gov.

Dr. Hubert Minnis, Leader of the Opposition
May 22, 2013

Mr. Speaker, I rise to make my presentation on the Homeowners Protection Bill. The purpose of the Bill is stated as being to provide for the protection of mortgagors obtaining loans or mortgages from financial institutions.

Mr. Speaker, we in the official opposition are greatly concerned and highly flabbergasted that the government has today decided to move with a Bill which, while in its intent may be praiseworthy, in fact does absolutely nothing in substance to help the thousands, if not scores of thousands of Bahamians whose mortgages are in substantial arrears and whose dwelling homes are already subject to foreclosure. While there are some provisions dealing with the forgiveness of any outstanding balances after a sale by the mortgage company, if the sale price is lower than the amount of the mortgage, there is nothing to provide any means by which persons who today are in default and subject to foreclosure, might obtain any relief.

This Bill looks to the future. In substance this Bill does not deal with the present. This Bill does little or nothing to help the thousands of Bahamians who were sold false election promises by this government; false promises that if they voted PLP the new government would save their homes and assist with their mortgages. The so-called mortgage relief plan was an abysmal and humiliating failure: humiliating for the thousands of Bahamians in default who trusted this government to fix it; to make things right. It was also a humiliating failure for this government which showed that it could not craft a realistic and effective mortgage relief plan. The government now admits that they were able to assist 4-5 when thousands were looking for assistance and relief.

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN,

The FNM regrets the Government’s rejection of the Leader of the Opposition’s call for bi-partisanship.

With the kind of attitude displayed by Senator Keith Bell, the Minister of State for National Security, it would seem that the country needs regime change in national security if we are to make any meaningful progress.

Every day Bahamians are witnessing unprecedented levels of carnage on the streets of New Providence.  In the face of that harsh and fear-inducing reality, the Christie Administration is trying desperately to persuade Bahamians that they should believe the government and not their lying eyes and everyday reality. The government is trying to convince people that “crime is down” and things are better because the PLP is in office.

Regrettably, the Country has a Minister of National Security that is out of sight and a junior minister that is out of touch. The people are crying out for leadership that is present, in charge and sensitive to their fears, pain and suffering. They are NOT getting it, not seeing it and not feeling it with the current national security leadership.

TREASURE CAY, Abaco -- We're half way through the 2013 Bahamas Billfish Championship. It's still a wide-open quest for the BBC title and the three top contenders are fishing the Treasure Cay Championship. Pandemonium, Makin' Reel Memories, Rum Bum and Cowpoke are registered for the May 27 - May 31 event.

In addition to four action-packed days of fishing, a full calendar of social events and activities are planned for the week.

Tuesday evening, there's the Party Hardy Tomorrow is Lay Day cocktails and dinner at Bahama Beach Club.

Lay day activities start with a BBC 'Best Ball' Golf Tournament. Then at 5:00 there will be crab races and a 'Pot Luck' dinner featuring barbecued ribs and chicken prepared by Capt Chuck Harris (Island Time) over an open charcoal fire.

At 8:00 we head to the Coco Beach Bar for a Colton James Acoustic Concert. Through his music, Colton James, the 'Saltwater Cowboy,' promotes the responsible enjoyment of our oceans. Colton is a fisherman. He is as passionate about enjoying the ocean as he is about protecting it, sharing it and learning about it. During the Treasure Cay Championship, Colton will be a participating angler aboard the 63 Bertram Sharkbait.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- On his return to New Providence on May 21, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government the Hon. V. Alfred Gray gave  a report of his participation in the 7th biannual conference of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum in Kampala, Uganda. He led a delegation of 17 persons, inclusive of 14 Local Government Practitioners from 13 Local Government Districts. 

Speaking in the Diplomatic Lounge at the Lynden Pindling International Airport, Minister Gray said a number of issues were discussed, including women and young people's involvement in local government, and for the first time in history, a Bahamian woman presented a paper at such a conference in the person of North Andros Chief Councillor Ms Vanda Rahming.  Her presentation, during the Working Group Session on 'Engaging Women and Young People in the Democratic Process', documented the status of women and youth and the Local Government Junior Council Programme in The Bahamas.    

Held under the theme, "Developmental Local Government:  Putting Local Government At the Heart of Development", the Conference was designed to equip  Local Government Practitioners with International problem solving techniques. It qualifies The Bahamas for at least two positions on the Commonwealth Local Government Forum's Board and its Executive Committee.  Participants at the conference from 126 countries competed for 11 positions on the Board with The Bahamas securing two.

"Mr Phillip McPhee, Chief Councillor for South Eleuthera and President of the Bahamas Association of Local Government Authorities and President of the Caribbean Association of Local Government Authorities was elected as a member of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum's Board.  Whilst I, as Minister responsible for Local Government, was elected to that 11 member Board.  I think that this is quite a significant achievement for a small country, if only because, it shows in what esteem The Bahamas is held in the international arena as far as Local Government is concerned," said Minister Gray.

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- Their Excellencies Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes and Lady Foulkes were welcomed as they arrived on Grand Bahama Island for a weekend of festivities commemorating the country’s 40th Independence celebrations.

On hand to greet them were numerous government officials and private sector parties, including Sarah St. George, Vice Chairman, The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA) and Vice President, Mrs. Ginger Moxey.

The Governor General will serve as patron and keynote speaker for Friday’s Youth Parade & Rally which is scheduled to leave from the Cornelius A. Smith Complex on The Mall at 10am Friday.  Parade participants will include students from all schools across the island, marching bands and civic groups, and will travel to Independence Park for a post-parade rally.  Special entertainment by the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band, Royal Bahamas Defence Force Band, and notable Bahamian entertainer ‘KB’ headline a fun-filled day of events.

On Saturday, GBPA and the 40th Independence Anniversary Committee will host a special Parliamentarian Luncheon at the Grand Lucayan Resort under the patronage of the Governor General.  Present and past parliamentarians on Grand Bahama will be honoured for their sacrifice of service to the country.  According to Ginger Moxey, who also serves as Deputy Chair for the Anniversary Committee, “We felt that the celebration of the 40th year of our Independence was the ideal platform to celebrate their contribution to the development of Grand Bahama Island, and The Bahamas.”

NASSAU, The Bahamas - - The National Emergency Management Agency is continuing to assess the damage caused by excessive flooding which impacted thousands of residents on New Providence over a 24-hour period.

The communities to be canvassed in the eastern area are Pinewood Gardens, Mt Tabor Estates, Elizabeth Estates, amongst others where a record 15 inches of rain fell between 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 21 to late afternoon on Wednesday May 22, 2013.

Director of NEMA Captain Stephen Russell at a press conference held Wednesday strongly advised residents to turn off their electricity supply if they have standing water in their homes, to avoid electrocution or other mishaps.

On Wednesday a rapid assessment team was dispatched to the flood impacted areas to determine the extent of the damage experienced by residents, and the level of assistance to be given.

The team was lead by Captain Russell and included Bradley King, Acting Chief Engineer and Henry Moxey, Civil Engineer of the Ministry of Works and Urban Development; Trevor Basden, Senior Deputy Director, the Department of Meteorology; Cyprian Gibson, Senior Engineer, Water & Sewerage Corporation; and Wrensworth Stubbs, Department of Social Services.

The Hon. D. Shane Gibson, Minister of Labour & National Insurance wishes to extend his deepest condolences to the family of the late McKinley Jones.

At the time of his death, Mr. Jones was employed as a Labour Consultant in the Department of Labour, Freeport. Mr Jones was also a past President of the Freeport Flight Services & Allied Workers Union

On behalf of the entire Ministry of Labour & National Insurance and in particular the Department of Labour, Minister Gibson's prayer is that Almighty God strengthen his wife, his two sons and the rest of the family in their time of bereavement.