PM gives notice to extend state of emergency to May 23

As he gave notice in the House of Assembly that the government is seeking to extend the state of emergency to May 23, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis lamented the number of funerals that are in violation of the emergency order and called on Bahamians to put the country first.

He said while the country has been doing well in the COVID-19 fight, Bahamians and residents have let their guards down.

“As we look around, we see the number of funerals in violation of the order, the number of memorials in violation of the order and even Junkanoo groups engaging in rush outs in violation of the order,” Minnis said in the House of Assembly this morning.

“I want to remind the public that we should all be vigilant because it only takes one individual to become infected with the virus to have catastrophic and devastating effects on our society.”

Minnis said he recognizes that it may be painful to limit the number of people at a funeral.

“I only want to remind them that people spread viruses,” he said. “I only ask that they remain vigilant for at least another month because the vaccine will possibly be here soon.

“I want to remind the Bahamian public that I’m not trying to be hard or difficult. I love them very much, but I love even more the country and the future survival of our country and our young people for whom we reserve our country for.”

Last week the government released an amended emergency order allowing an increase in the number of people who can attend a graveside funeral from 10 to 20.

However, Bahamas Christian Council (BCC) President Bishop Delton Fernander said it is insufficient and “despicable”. Fernander himself recently spoke at a funeral that had a large crowd of people and was in violation of the emergency order.

Since March 2020, when restrictions were introduced to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country, families seeking to bury their loved ones have had to maneuver through the hard task of choosing which family members were allowed to attend the graveside service.

Debate on the resolution to extend the state of emergency is expected to start on Wednesday.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/pm-gives-notice-to-extend-state-of-emergency-to-may-23/