From Chris Parker:

UPDATE FOR PRIVATE VESSELS

Under the current 24-hour curfew emergency orders, now extended until April 30, all domestic inter-island traffic by air or boat within The Bahamas remains temporarily banned.

The emergency orders will, however, allow foreign pleasure craft currently anchored or moored in The Bahamas to depart DIRECTLY FOR THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, making only the absolute minimum necessary stops in order to ensure safe passage.

Vessels returning to the United States are permitted to re-fuel at fuel docks, but ARE PROHIBITED FROM DISEMBARKING ANY CREW OR PASSENGERS. All private vessels departing The Bahamas must do so expeditiously, with minimal stops or delays.

FULL LOCKDOWN PERIODS

Please note that vessels will NOT BE ABLE TO RE-FUEL or make use of fuel docks DURING THE FULL LOCKDOWN PERIODS the Prime Minister of The Bahamas announced on April 6 (see below for details). Vessels can still transit through Bahamian waters on a direct route back to the United States, but cannot re-fuel.

We urge any and all U.S. citizens on private vessels to return to the United States as soon as possible, ESPECIALLY BEFORE THE NEXT FULL LOCKDOWN period begins at 9:00pm on Wed, April 8. Do not wait; the time to leave is now. Depart as soon as weather and provisions allow you to do so safely, or be prepared to remain in The Bahamas for an indefinite period of time.

It bears repeating: restrictions to movement in The Bahamas continue to evolve rapidly, and WE CANNOT PREDICT if, when, for how long, or HOW SEVERELY MOVEMENT through The Bahamas MAY BE RESTRICTED further. In every instance, all vessels must follow the directions of the Bahamian authorities.

FULL LOCKDOWN SCHEDULE (when vessels can still move directly towards the US, but cannot re-fuel):

– 9pm on Wednesday, April 8 – 5am on Tuesday, April 14
– 9pm on Friday, April 17 – 5am on Monday, April 20
– 9pm on Friday, April 24 – 5am on Monday, April 27

Once more, private vessels departing The Bahamas must avoid any unnecessary deviation on the way to their final destination. Crew and passengers are PROHIBITED FROM DISEMBARKING and MUST REMAIN ABOARD their vessel. The emergency orders only allow stop-offs for re-fueling or to receive provisions essential for safe transit, such as food and water, outside the full lockdown periods noted above.

BREAKING NEWS: The Government has issued a grocery shopping schedule that goes into effect on Monday, April 6 for the ENTIRE country.

Adults with the last name beginning A through F can go to the store:
??Mondays 6am – noon
??Wednesday 6am – noon
??Thursdays 1pm – 7pm

Adults with last name beginning G through O can go to the store:
??Mondays 1pm – 7pm
??Wednesdays 1om – 7pm
??Fridays 6am – noon

Adults with the last name beginning P through Z can go to the store:
??Tuesdays 1pm – 7pm
??Thursdays 6am – noon
??Fridays 1pm – 7pm

Senior citizens (60 and over) and people with disabilities can go Tuesdays 6am – noon as well as on the days and times assigned to the first letter of their last name.

??Each household is to designate a single person to carry out the grocery shopping
??Shoppers will be required to provide photo id to show proof of their last name
??Physical distancing protocols must be adhered to at all times.

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis will provide further details when the House of Assembly meets at 10am on Monday, April 6.