Opposition denounces new state of emergency proclamation in the Bahamas
New proclamation comes as preemptive measure for the coming holidays
The main opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has called out the Bahamian government for its alleged “abuse of power” following its proclamation of another state of emergency in the coronavirus-stricken nation.
“We will refuse to allow the matter to be debated tomorrow in the House and will not waive the notice requirement,” said opposition leader Philip Brave Davis in a statement cited by The Tribune. “The issue of the proclamation is an abuse of power. Civil liberties have been suspended long enough and we say the suspension must end and go no farther.”
Bahamas’ Governor-General C.A. Smith read out the proclamation Tuesday night, extending his emergency powers to end of the year. This is his third proclamation of a state of emergency since the pandemic began.
According to the Tribune report, the new proclamation was issued a week after Prime Minister Hubert Minnis sought the Parliament’s approval to extend the country’s state of emergency that was set to expire on November 30. Minnis requested that it be extended to until December 28.
Attorney General Carl Bethel told The Tribune newspaper that a new proclamation was issued because the government “wished to avoid debate on a new proclamation in the middle of the Christmas holidays.”
The Bahamas has been under a state of emergency since March 18, shortly after the country recorded its first COVID-19 case.
Today, The Bahamas has 7,469 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 163 deaths, according to the World Health Organisation.
Dominica confirms eight more positive cases of COVID-19
Meanwhile, the Commonwealth of Dominica reported that the country now has a total of 12 patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2.
In a press briefing, Dominica’s chief medical officer, Dr. David Johnson, said that the eight cases were detected in the last week. One of the 12 patients are currently in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Johnson also revealed that most of the cases are from high-risk countries. He noted that to control the contamination a new set of strict protocols have been enforced.
For the full briefing, watch it here: