By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Senior Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Minnis administration’s extension of unemployment benefits has helped to ensure the unemployment rate won’t skyrocket at the end of the month, Labour Director John Pinder said yesterday.
Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced on Monday that unemployment benefits for qualified residents will be extended an additional 13 weeks. The government will provide a payment of a set allowance for eligible workers who have maxed out. The National Insurance Board will administer the programme, but will not distribute NIB funds. The $40 million allocated funds will come from the social welfare allowance in the budget.
Mr Pinder said the announcement has ensured that a number of businesses have “held off” on their plans which would have taken effect soon.
“A lot of people are in extended layoff status and are getting NIB benefits. We would’ve been in plenty, plenty, plenty trouble,” he said. “Baha Mar would’ve had to lay off everybody, Atlantis would’ve probably been forced to lay off a number of people because they only bringing back a portion on July 7. Most businesses that rely on tourism would’ve had to produce separation packages.”
Mr Pinder hopes the economy will pick up by September when cruise lines are expected to return. “After that, if things don’t pick up, then you on your own,” he said.
Royal Caribbean has extended its sailing suspension until September 15 while Carnival Cruise Line has extended its suspension until the end of that month.
Nassau Cruise Port’s top executive warned on Monday that downtown Bay Street is unlikely to see any cruise passengers before the end of the year.
Michael Maura said cruise lines will likely maintain tight control of their passengers’ onshore activities to ensure they remain COVID-free and do not bring the virus with them when they return to the ship. As a result, he suggested that passengers will be directed to specific tours or excursions whose providers have satisfied the cruise lines they have implemented the necessary health and safety protocols during the first phase of the industry’s return.
This, Mr Maura added, will mean that downtown Nassau merchants, restaurants, taxi drivers, straw vendors, hair braiders and all others that rely on the cruise ship industry for their livelihoods will not see “passengers independently wandering” along Bay Street or any surrounding areas prior to year-end.
Meanwhile, the country will open its borders to international commercial travel on July 1.
Comments
thps 3 years, 10 months ago
Is Pinder for real? time and time again persons in leadership have been overestimating the economy.
At a certain point whatever propping up is occurring will end.
Pinder admits as much and hopes by September the cruises come to the rescue.
September is a slow month and the cruises won't sail till September the earliest, and the NCP has already said that nothing is happening until later. Even if they do how would the cruises help the hotels he listed, worse if they come at reduced capacity?
On top of that many of the hotels have said they won't open until October - December.
What gives him, the Director of Labour, any indication that September all will be good.
We should be making decisions on data, not blind hope.
DDK 3 years, 10 months ago
He looks rather well fed and possibly assumes the entire population is living large as are he and his well-salaried cronies...
tribanon 3 years, 10 months ago
I wonder what song John Pinder is gonna sing when the public begins to realize that Bahamian dollar notes might as well be used as toilet paper.
Porcupine 3 years, 10 months ago
The Tribune states, "Mr. Pinder hopes the economy will pick up by September when cruise lines are expected to return. “After that, if things don’t pick up, then you on your own,” he said. This, from a government employee whose sole job is to look out for the Bahamian people? Any manager who had an employee such as this would make sure that by Monday morning, Mr. Pinder would be on his own. Is there something in the FNM water that these jokers are drinking? I just can't see a child making some of these statements coming out of our so-caller "leaders" mouths. They are beyond worthless.
bahamianson 3 years, 10 months ago
Did you hear about BAHA MAR furloughing workers and cutting staff by 20% ? I heard something to that effect this morning on the news.
bogart 3 years, 10 months ago
"A lot of people are in extended status and are getting NIB benefits. We would've been in plenty, plenty, plenty trouble."
Largest ever workers have not been working at their jobs with their Employers a Eriod ago where the Employment deemed ended and govt artifically changed.
The govt guy fails to understand who is signing the cheques that the jobless workers arereceiving and which entity has been signing these benefit cheques ....and...further artifically extended the extended NIB payments to workers no longer going to their 9 to 5 jobs.
Mr. Pinder as so many other govt officials should not miss up with the Nations people money as contributers in NIB in getting unemployment benefits bearing NIB signature and not the workers Company 9 to 5 job etc and bearing Company cheque name for renumeration for work done.
tribanon 3 years, 10 months ago
NIB is now running on fumes. Well over 80% of the assets on NIB's balance sheet relate to amounts loaned in one way or another by NIB to the Bahamas government. And, as we all know, the Bahamas government itself is now running on fumes too. The writing is on the wall and is all too clear to see for those with open eyes.
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