Bahamian PM defends decision to keep beaches closed for independence holiday
Prime Minister of The Bahamas Dr Hubert
Minnis is defending his administration’s decision to keep beaches closed across
sections of the archipelago ahead of its Independence Day celebrations this
weekend.
Dr Minnis, giving an update during Wednesday’s
(July 8) sitting of Parliament, said that while he realises the decision isn’t
the most popular, the national goal is still to protect as many lives from the
novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic currently ravaging the world.
“I understand people’s disappointment of not being able to go to the beach on the weekend. I was once young, also. However, our decisions are for the protection of Bahamians, residents, and visitors to our shores. The decisions taken have been done so soberly, and in conjunction with the health advisors to the Government,” he noted.
The mandate has ordered the closure of all
beaches and parks in New Providence, Athol Island, Rose Island, Paradise
Island, Grand Bahama, and other cays surrounding New Providence, over the July
10th holiday weekend.
Prime Minister Minnis argued that while
many Bahamians have been acting responsibly to observe health measures in the
national COVID-19 response, still, there are some who are acting quite
irresponsibly and with little to no regard—and one mistake could lead to
another localised outbreak.
“This is being done out of an abundance of
caution. During holiday weekends there is a natural tendency for people to have
mass gatherings on beaches and parks. Such mass gatherings are where there can
be a super-spreading of COVID-19,” he asserted.
“Hundreds and hundreds of people in close
contact with each other could quickly spread this virus, which is very easy to
catch. As a Government we want to
prevent what Bahamians are seeing on the news in countries around the world,”
Minnis added.
As of Tuesday, July 7, The Bahamas reported six active COVID-19 cases, with a total of 104 cases officially confirmed. Eleven patients have died from coronavirus-related complications while 89 persons have fully recovered from the illness.
