business@tribunemedia.net
MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2017
$4.10 Aliv takes 100 site options as BTC ‘Plan A’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net Aliv will “revert to Plan A” and execute 100 mobile network site options if it cannot reach agreement with the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) within a reasonable time period. Damian Blackburn, Aliv’s top executive, told Tribune Business that the new mobile operator and BTC were “very close” to sealing agreements essential for its network roll-out and nationwide service delivery. Besides agreeing commercial terms for permitting Aliv to ‘roam’ on BTC’s network, the two mobile rivals also have to conclude a deal on ‘co-location’ and facilities sharing. The latter involves BTC and Aliv sharing the same mobile tower sites and other network facilities, particularly on the Family Islands. And the third, and final, ‘piece of the jigsaw’ from Aliv’s perspective is a transmission agreement that would see BTC’s subsea cable network carry its call traffic. Mr Blackburn, in an interview with Tribune Business, hinted that Aliv’s
‘98% of way there’ on key agreements with BTC Rival’s top executive hints at talks impatience New player eyes ‘material’ network finish in 2017
Aliv’s top executive has thrown down a challenge to the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), saying he sees nothing in its product offerings worth imitating. Damian Blackburn, signalling the intensifying competition between the new mobile operator and its incumbent rival, told Tribune Business: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and so far we’ve seen no need to imitate them.” Mr Blackburn’s comments came as he laid out Aliv’s plans for seizing a 47 per cent mobile market share within three years, saying that the company
$4.16
$4.16
Unions: Fine stubborn employers $5,000 daily By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net Trade unions want companies to be hit with a $5,000 per day fine if they fail to start industrial agreement talks within 45 days, with one leader urging employers to accept “full responsibility” for the worker-friendly reforms being imposed upon them. The latest batch of Employment and Industrial Relations Act reforms recommended by the unions, which have been seen by Tribune Business, would - if passed - affect all employees in a unionised workplace regardless of whether they are members of the bargaining
Want enforcement teeth on 45-day agreement talks TUC chief: Employers can only blame themselves Seek 90% dues deduct from nonunionised workers Obie Ferguson unit. The joint March 23 proposal from the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and National Congress of Trade Unions (NCTU) calls for the imposition of ‘agency
shop’ conditions, where salary deductions equivalent to 90 per cent of union dues are taken from non-union members in the same workplace to cover ‘collective bargaining’ costs.
Obie Ferguson, the Trades Union Congress’s (TUC)president, told Tribune Business that “a certain number of employers” had only themselves to blame for the Government’s renewed bid to impose statutory controls on workplace relations. He accused the private sector of “raising hell” only after bringing problems upon itself, pointing to the failure of both the Sandals and Melia resorts to honour what he described as conventional practice governing employer-union relations. Mr Ferguson also questioned why Bahamian employers were “so See pg b6
FNM candidate confesses to $10k, 15-year tax debt Damian Blackburn patience had already been stretched in negotiations with BTC to tie down these agreements, and their commercial terms. See pg b4
Top Aliv exec: BTC has nothing worth copying By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
$4.14
Nth Eleuthera nominee pledges to pay in full today ‘Completely forgot’ 2013 Customs settlement Case raises question on Customs enforcement
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
The FNM’s North Eleuthera candidate yesterday took “full responsibility” for his failure to settle a 15 year-old debt worth $9,500 to Bahamas Customs, and pledged to pay the full amount outstanding today. Rickey Mackey told Tribune Business he had “com-
pletely forgotten” about the settlement agreement he made with the Customs Department in mid-2013, relating to $12,789 in outstanding import duties owed by his company since June 2002. Mr Mackey made one $3,197 payment to the Public Treasury, via RBC’s Harbour Island branch, in April 2013 but left around $9,500 due and owing until exposed by his political op-
ponents this weekend. Bradley Roberts, the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) chairman, told his party’s campaign rally at Hatchet Bay: “The FNM candidate for North Eleuthera, Howard ‘Rickey’ Mackey, to-date owes the Bahamas government thousands of dollars in Customs duties which he committed in writing to pay, but has failed to do so.” See pg b5
New mobile firm throws down gauntlet to incumbent Says Bahamians just had taste of what it can offer Believes entrance will grow mobile market had to-date given Bahamians just a taste of its capabilities. He told this newspaper that Aliv was focused on developing services, and applications, “to make the See pg b6
Employers wait anxiously on labour law revisions By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net Bahamian employers were last night anxiously awaiting the revised draft labour law reforms, the Chamber’s chairman acknowledging that the private sector needed to provide “empirical evidence” earlier in the consultation process. Gowon Bowe told Tribune Business that the private sector, including the Chamber and the hotel industry, had fulfilled their obligation to submit recommendations and data to the
Chamber chief: Hard data was needed earlier Private sector has ‘to accept’ won’t get everything Stresses need for ‘equilibrium’ on amendments Government by the agreed deadline, and were now awaiting the final revised See pg b7
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THE TRIBUNE
Repeal Freeport incentives regime, candidate urges The Free National Movement’s (FNM) Marco City candidate has called for Freeport’s new investment incentives regime to be repealed, arguing that the city’s economy will “get even worse” if it remains. Michael Pintard, addressing the Rotaract Club of
Freeport Grand Bahama’s first political forum, said the city’s main problems had been caused by “successive governments” interfering with the Hawksbill Creek Agreement. He added that the requirement for investors to obtain approval from both
the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) and central government in Nassau had driven away millions of dollars in investment from Freeport. As an example, Mr Pintard pointed to the sale of the Port Lucaya Marketplace from the GBPA’s
Bourbon Street Ltd to UK investor, Peter Hunt, as one deal that was held up for months by the wait for central government approval. “The FNM intends to set up a one-stop shop, so that if you are a Bahamian and wish to invest in Freeport, you won’t have to get an
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approval in Freeport then have to go to a politician motivated by political consideration to hold up your project for six months or one year until you are no longer interested,” Mr Pintard said. “I will fight for your rights to be protected, not just from GBPA (if they are excessive in any of their decisions), but from the central government of the Bahamas. Many Nassau focused politicians are interfering on what we can do here.” As for the the Grand Bahama (Port Area) Investment Incentives Act 2016, Mr. Pintard said: “If you think things are tough now, if we do not repeal the legislation just passed, things are going to get even worse. “What the Government has done quite quietly is they have put in place a piece of legislation that will seriously damage Freeport.” The main concern of the GBPA’s 3,500 licensees was whether those companies not planning to expand are being ‘locked in’ to maintaining existing employment levels for five years by the new Act. The application form attached to the Grand Bahama (Port Area) Investment Incentives Act 2016’s regulations divides GBPA
licensees into two categories: Those planning a business expansion within the next 12 months, and those who “expect to operate as a going concern and maintain current staffing levels for at least the next five years”. The latter category appears innocuous, but when the application form is read with the Act, it effectively “locks in” GBPA licensees to maintaining employment levels for a five-year period regardless of whether there are further market or economic downturns outside their control. Should a licensee be forced to downsize in those five years to survive, the Act’s section six, ‘Failure to fulfil obligations’, would appear to come into play. This allows the Minister for Investments to strip Freeport businesses, partially or in full, of their tax breaks, and even enables them to demand payment of taxes that should have been paid if no concessions were granted. The Act enables the Minister to “reduce or revoke in full” the tax breaks granted, and even “demand payment in respect of any money that would have been payable had no concessions under the Act been conferred”. In effect, it demands retroactive or ‘back’ taxes.
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Moderator Tamar Moss, Chris Gouthro & Co; Keturah Babbs, vice-president of The Rotaract Club of Freeport; Deborah Delancy, assistant district governor for Rotary on Grand Bahama; and James Andrew Burrows, president of the Rotaract Club of Freeport. Photo/David Mackey
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, March 27, 2017, PAGE 3
Top banker urges open policy on Immigration By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
The Bahamas will remain a “very attractive” private banking jurisdiction as long as its Immigration policies allow institutions to bring in external resources and skills when necessary, a top executive says. Vittorio Corano, chief executive of Cornèr Bank/ CornèrTrader, told Tribune Business that jurisdictions such as the Bahamas also “have to adapt” to the changing financial services landscape. Speaking at a reception to mark the opening of a new office for its online trading platform, CornèrTrader.com, at the Old Fort Bay Town Centre, he said many of the bank’s clients in western New Providence had wanted Cornèr Bank to have a closer physical presence. “We realised that there was a lot of interest from various communities in western New Providence. A lot of clients said they wouldn’t mind us being clos-
Corner chief: Don’t close to bringing in skills Warns that financial industry ‘has to adapt’ er,” said Mr Corano. “In the private banking sector, the business is completely changing. Traditionally, we come from that segment. The fact of having added the online trading, which cost really a fraction in terms of brokerage compared to private banking, comes from various considerations.” He explained: “Either we brought it or someone else would have, and secondly a lot of people want to be empowered. They don’t want to call a bank; they want to trade off their mobile phone, they want speed. “Having a private banking mentality, where you still cater to the client and have a technology which is top notch, really separates
from many other online brokers. You have a bank with 60-plus years of history.” CornèrTrader offers clients direct access to the market by allowing them to trade currencies, stocks, options and futures through a number of channels, including desktop, web and portable devices. The bank has 27 employees in the Bahamas. Mr Corano said that with the financial services industry constantly evolving, “you have to adapt. There is nothing else you can do. “The clients of 20 years ago are not here any more. They have changed. There is a great demand for transparency, which has changed the world. A lot of people have decided to relocate. “For one kind of clientele you lose, there is a new type of clientele coming. You need to address your offer to this new type of clientele. Clearly, there are still a lot of banks on the old model. How long they can stay like that I don’t know.” Mr Corano added: “I think that the Bahamas remains a very attractive destination as long as it
‘We must get Grand Bahama moving’ By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
The Minister of Tourism says he remains optimistic over the future of Grand Bahama’s tourism sector, while acknowledging that the island needs more than just hotels for the industry to rebound. Speaking with Tribune Business, Obie Wilchcombe said Grand Bahama was in the process of being re-branded after Hurricane Matthew removed 1,500 rooms from the island’s hotel inventory, with Memories now totally closed. At the Grand Lucayan, just 200 rooms are open at the Lighthouse Point section, with Breaker’s Cay also entirely closed following the Category Four storm. Those closures have not only negatively impacted stopover tourist arrivals
Minister: Island needs more than a hotel Promises it will be ‘re-branded’ and employment, but also the wider Grand Bahama tourism economy, especially overnighting cruise passengers and businesses at the Port Lucaya Marketplace. Hurricane Matthew also arrived amid efforts by Hutchison Whampoa’s property arm, Cheung Kong Property Holdings, and its HVS Capital Corporation adviser, to sell the Grand Lucayan. Mr Wilchcombe said of the sales process: “Negotiations are going well. The Prime Minister’s Office has been engaged in dialogue
back and forth with China, with Hutchison Whampoa, the owners of the property in Grand Bahama, but I’m very optimistic.” Earlier this month, while addressing the Grand Bahama Business Outlook conference, Prime Minister Perry Christie said he had held talks with the preferred buyer for the Grand Lucayan resort complex, describing the discussions as “very positive” after it improved its offer to Hutchison Whampoa. Mr Christie did not name the ‘preferred buyer, but this is likely to be the Wynn Group, a Canadianbased real estate developer, which has also been interested in constructing a $65 million condominium complex at Goodman’s Bay in New Providence “I think we are going to be able to lay out a very See pg b5
doesn’t close too much in terms of bringing in external resources and skills. For certain clients you need skills. You have skills in the Bahamas, but every now and then you need skills from the outside.”
Corner Bank/Cornertrader.com recently held a reception for the opening of their new branch office located in Old Fort Bay Towne Centre, Nassau. Shown in the photo are executives from the Bahamas and Swiss offices. From L to R are: Myriam McKenzie, Michele Clivio, Stefano Donati, Birgit Ludig-Dridi, Christine Russell, Colyn Roberts (retired), Mauro Casu and Luca Salzborn. Photo/Azaleta Ishmael-Newry
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PAGE 4, Monday, March 27, 2017
Aliv takes 100 site options as BTC ‘Plan A’ From pg B1 He emphasised, though, that the new mobile operator had back-up plans in place should its incumbent competitor prove intransigent and impact its target of “materially” completing its network build-out in 2017. “We’re very close to signing an agreement,” Mr Blackburn told Tribune Business of talks between
Aliv and BTC. “There’s a little bit of dancing at the edges on both sides. “Once we sign the agreement, we think that within four to six weeks we can have the roaming working. We’re 98 per cent of the way there on the discussions with BTC, and everything in our own control we are charging forward with.” The Utilities Regulation
THE TRIBUNE and Competition Authority (URCA) last July ruled that Aliv should be allowed to use BTC’s network to deliver its services, especially in the Family Islands, for a period of 24 months until its own infrastructure is builtout. This will, temporarily at least, allow Aliv to operate via a Mobile Virtual Network (MVN) in several parts of the Bahamas, with its customer call traffic carried on BTC’s network. Mr Blackburn acknowledged that Aliv’s pricing structure would be “slightly
different” for those customers using BTC’s network, given that the latter would impose wholesale fees for using its infrastructure - a normal commercial arrangement in the communications industry. Such a fee is not in play on the major Bahamian islands, where Aliv has constructed its own network, and Mr Blackburn added: “We’ll probably have slightly different pricing for those customers because of the wholesale agreements with BTC, compared to the pricing for our live network. “I think it will still be good pricing. We’ll try to keep it as similar as we can, but it will still be slightly different.” URCA, in its ruling last July, ordered that Aliv’s BTC network ‘roaming’ should start “no later than the date” when the second mobile operator launches its services to the Bahamian public. That occurred in late November 2016, and the fact that no such ‘roaming’ agreement is yet in place indicates there has been
non-compliance with the communications industry regulator’s edict. It is unclear whether URCA has taken any action over this, but Mr Blackburn continued to highlight just how much the development of mobile competition, and improved consumer choice, pricing and service, depends on BTC’s co-operation. “We are dependent on co-location,” he explained. “Although we were prepared to build ourselves, and acquired options on 100 sites so that we could, the policy of URCA is that where it is technically feasible to co-locate operations, the preference is co-location. “While we lost a bit of patience trying to agree co-location between last July and early this year, we went out and acquired sites to build, and filed for permission to build with URCA. “BTC indicated that we’d co-locate,” Mr Blackburn added. “If we’re slowed down in the process, we will revert to Plan A, which is to build. URCA has been
giving us approvals where there is no co-location opportunity.” He added that co-location was “a complex engineering process”, where both Aliv and BTC’s personnel needed to work closely together to ensure their electronic radio equipment did not interfere with the other’s network. “We would expect that within a few months of signing a co-location agreement, provided BTC cooperates, that we will have a network operating on sites that are co-located,” Mr Blackburn said. “In the meantime, we are getting on with construction on sites where URCA has given us permission to build. We want to wrap up the Family Islands buildout in 2017 as much as we possibly can. Some 10-20 per cent of sites may be left, but materially it will be completed.” Mr Blackburn added that, in return, Aliv and its 48.25 per cent owner, Cable Bahamas, are prepared to allow BTC to co-locate at their sites on the same terms the latter is offering to its new rival. “Co-location is a normal feature in a lot of markets. It’s not an unusual situation,” he emphasised. “If we’re co-locating on BTC’s sites, they’re going to earn revenues from us.” Mr Blackburn said the third and final piece of cooperation required from BTC is a transmission agreement, which would enable Aliv’s communications traffic from the remoter Family Islands to be carried - for a fee - on the latter’s sub-sea cable network. “We need a transmission deal from BTC on the BSDN,” he confirmed in reference to BTC’s network. “There will be ramped up discussions with them once the co-location and buildout is nailed down. We’ll expect BTC to give replies to our previous proposals. “We’re going to get there. I’m confident. It’s just going to come down to the terms of agreeing the transmission.”
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, March 27, 2017, PAGE 5
FNM candidate confesses to $10k, 15-year tax debt From pg B1 Mr Roberts subsequently publicly disclosed the contents of what appears to be the Customs Department’s entire file on Mr Mackey, including his April 18, 2013, letter seeking agreement on his payment plan. Also revealed are a cheque payment by Mr Mackey, plus numerous receipts, invoices, bills of lading and Customs entries. Mr Mackey questioned how the documents ended up in Mr Roberts’ possession, describing the PLP chairman as “a political hack”. Another issue, perhaps more pertinent for Bahamian taxpayers and the public, is why the Customs Department waited more than a decade to pursue outstand-
ing taxes owed to it. Confirming that he still owed $9,500 to Customs, Mr Mackey told Tribune Business of his settlement proposal and the debt: “I had completely forgotten about it. “I’m not denying it,” he added. “I take full responsibility, and tomorrow [today] I will take care of my obligations to the Customs Department.” Explaining how the duties became outstanding, Mr Mackey said his company, Eleuthera Petroleum, was in 2002 engaged in the fuel business across a wide variety of product lines, including diesel and gasoline, aviation fuel, white fuel and propane. Now focused primarily on propane, he told Trib-
une Business: “At that time, I ran into some difficulties and was going through some financial challenges. I got out of that business, and dropped gasoline and diesel.” Despite Customs duties being outstanding from 2002, it appears that the Department only became interested in collecting the sum outstanding when Mr Mackey tried to import some dumpster cans in early 2013. “Fast forward 11 years, things picked up and I’d ordered some dumpsters at that time. Customs then presented me with the 10 year-old outstanding bill,” Mr Mackey confirmed. “I needed to get the bins off the dock and agreed to do the payment plan. I made one payment. I take responsibility for it. I did not complete.” He added: “I’m not going to try and justify the situation. I will own up to it and
pay. I’m now stepping up to take my responsibility, and will make the payment. I will take care of it.” Mr Mackey’s April 18, 2013, ‘settlement’ letter to Customs promised to settle the duties arrears by July 2013, through four monthly payments of $3,197.30. Only one, the payment for April, was made - some five days after the initial letter. The document, addressed to assistant comptroller, Gary Smith, said: “I, Ricky Mackey of Harbour Island, Eleuthera, owe the Bahamas Customs Department $12,789.20 for Eleuthera Petroleum.” The sums outstanding are broken into two dates $5,118 that was due on June 19, 2002, and $7,671 that was owing from June 26 that same year. Mr Mackey then pleads: “Sir,I don’t really have the total amount, but I am then willing to make four payments of $3,197.30 per
‘We must get Grand Bahama moving’ From pg B3
unique and outstanding tourism plan,” Mr Wilchcombe said. “New Providence, Abaco and Bimini are moving and doing quite well. “We have to get Grand Bahama moving. Grand
Bahama doesn’t need just a simple hotel. It needs a tourism plan. We are rebranding Grand Bahama. Some new brands are coming to Grand Bahama. It’s going to be the future and I feel good about the future.”
month. This payment will start from the month of April to July 2013. “Sir, right now I have three-roll of dumpster cans that came on C&G just this Wednesday under the name of Eleuthera Petroleum, and they would not be released until I have paid off my outstanding with the Government.” Questions are likely to be raised as to how Mr Mackey’s debt to Customs, and the Government, was allowed to persist across three administrations - two PLP, and one FNM. The lack of enforcement by Customs is also exposed, and it seems likely that Mr Mackey’s dumpsters were released following submission of the payment plan and the first instalment, rather than waiting for all that was due to be collected. Mr Mackey’s debt has only surfaced because it is political campaign season, and the FNM candidate
himself said it was “very serious” how his Customs file had been obtained by Mr Roberts in his capacity as PLP chairman. Mr Mackey accused the governing party of seeking to smear and discredit him as a candidate, and undermine his campaign, knowing that the PLP was unlikely to be successful in its bid to wrest North Eleuthera from the FNM. However, his admission to owing outstanding taxes for almost 15 years has already been seized upon by the Christie administration, and will likely be an unwanted distraction for the FNM and its leader, Dr Hubert Minnis, as they seek to focus voter attention on the Government’s missteps. Describing the leaking of his Customs file as “a vile undertaking” by the PLP, Mr Mackey hit back: “I hope they man up and take responsibility for the situation in this country.”
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Top Aliv exec: BTC has nothing worth copying From pg B1 customer’s life easier” both at home and at work. “We need to carry on with all the tricks we’re coming out with,” Mr Blackburn said, explaining that Aliv’s business model is founded on “quality of service, staying ahead on best practices, offering the fastest speed, no dropped calls, an excellent service and other innovative ways to stay ahead”. Pointing to WhatsApp customer care as one example of innovation, Mr Blackburn said Aliv would constantly seek to provide value-added services to its subscribers, who currently number around 50,000. The second mobile operator, he added, plans to provide customers of its newly-launched corporate services with the ability to
impose credit limits on individual employees’ usage, along with self-reporting functions that can be used by a company’s accounting department. “These are value-added features to make the customer’s life easier,” Mr Blackburn said. “We’ll be very focused on keeping moving in that space.” He added that Aliv’s technology had already changed how the mobile operator itself works, with no paper invoices and documents cluttering its offices. Vendors and others it does business with are asked to send all paperwork electronically, making Aliv a ‘paperless’ business, with its employees communicating primarily via the WhatsApp messaging medium. “We have forced ourselves to work wirelessly,”
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THE TRIBUNE Mr Blackburn said, “and we’re well-placed to bring these services to other people in the workplace, giving this added value, and will repeat for the home.” He emphasised that Aliv was just as focused on “the home space” as businesses, and was looking to enhance Bahamian lifestyles through applications such as wireless temperature and TV controls through smart phones connected to its network. “What you’re seeing now is the basis of what we’re doing,” Mr Blackburn added. “We will evolve from there into more exciting things.” Aliv has even invested in its own hovercraft, which it plans to take to all regattas held throughout the Bahamas, in a bid to reinforce its brand message and continue to the process of acquiring customers. Revealing that Aliv is working to a five-year plan, Mr Blackburn said the company was still in its capital-
intensive phase of building a nationwide network infrastructure and acquiring subscribers to give it meaningful market share and revenues. “We’ve sunk a lot of money into the ground, which is normal and all part of the progression,” he explained of Aliv’s moves to-date. “We’ve invested money in acquiring customers and the switch over [from BTC to Aliv]. There are costs to acquiring subscribers, but once all that happens, the profits and cash flow comes back to pay back people who lend you money to complete the project, and then the returns the shareholders deserve. “A second operator entering a market like this is a five-year plan,” Mr Blackburn continued. “You can’t judge success or default on a quarterly soundbites. It’s a long-term gain.” Aliv began life with $136 million in start-up financing from its two shareholders,
Unions: Fine stubborn employers $5,000 daily From pg B1 concerned” about many of the proposed reforms, arguing that they impacted trade unions rather than companies directly. “I think the employers in the Bahamas - not all of them, but at least a certain number of them - must take full responsibility for these changes coming into being,” the TUC president told Tribune Business. “Years ago, if an industrial agreement expired, the employer and union agreed the terms continued until a new one was negotiated. The proposed Bills are making this statutory, and only because of what transpired in the workplace. “Where we have a union that is duly recognised, the employer should sit down and negotiate a position both can live with. It only becomes a problem if one side is intransigent and refuses to negotiate. Sandals was not negotiating in good faith; the Privy Council said so.” Sandals last summer terminated its near-600 workforce without warning, on the grounds that its Royal Bahamian property needed to close for several months to undergo $4 million of critical maintenance works. The move came as the
resort chain was embroiled in an increasingly bitter dispute with the Bahamas Hotel, Maintenance and Allied Workers Union (BHMAWU), which claimed Sandals was refusing to negotiate an industrial agreement with it - despite it being recognised as bargaining agent for line staff. Within weeks of the August 2016 terminations, Sandals began recruiting a new Royal Bahamian workforce that was largely composed of new hires, leading many to suspect the whole exercise had been about ‘union busting’. “Now they’re raising hell because it’s a requirement in this new Bill that they inform the unions and the employees [of planned redundancies], which is the way it ought to be and used to be, even when there was no legal requirement to notify the union,” Mr Ferguson told Tribune Business. “Most of the things employers are complaining about, I’m rather surprised to see the reaction, as most of this involves the unions. Redundancy is a concern of the employers, but outside that they shouldn’t be so concerned about that.” Mr Ferguson said the trade unions “took advantage” of the employer oppo-
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Compliance Officer The Compliance Officer will be responsible for providing overall support to the Head, Compliance and the Compliance Department. Requirements • A diploma in compliance from the ICA as first option or alternatively an advanced certificate in compliance also issued by the ICA; • At least three years of experience in a related field; • High work ethics and reliability; • Attention to detail; • Ability to plan, and prioritize; • Ability to work in a team structure; • Ability to manage and oversee projects as designated by the Head, Compliance; • Ability to take initiative and propose recommendations to enhance existing or, developing new procedures; • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; and • Self-motivational work attitude and absolute honesty. Send resume to: c/o The Tribune P.O. Box N-3207 DA# 113762 Nassau, Bahamas
the Government-owned HoldingCo, which has the majority 51.75 per cent equity stake, and BISX-listed Cable Bahamas, which holds the remainder. The new mobile operator has also received $50 million in vendor financing from its main technology and electronics supplier, Huawei, and is currently seeking to raise an additional $50 million from a combination of a $30 million bond issue and bank credit. Should the bond offering be successful, Aliv will have raised more some $236 million to finance its network build-out and initial operations prior to turning a profit, which it expects will occur in its 2019 financial year - the third one of its existence. Barry Williams, Aliv’s chief financial officer, told Tribune Business that the new mobile operator’s entrance was likely to grow the Bahamian market overall, rather than shrink it,
given the pent-up demand for new services. “We’ve seen it in other markets where the second entrant comes in,” he said. “There’s a perception that the market actually increases. We fully expect that there is likely to be some increase or expansion of the market just by the fact of us entering into this marketplace. “We’ve not ourselves been taking the position that there will be a shrinkage of the market. We think there’s likely to be growth in the market.” BTC has served notice that it will not give away its market dominance, created by the long-standing mobile monopoly, easily. A statement last week from the company, now controlled by Liberty Global, indicated it plans to introduce new customer product and service offerings in response to Aliv’s market entrance.
sition to the Bills, and their demand for further consultation, to submit more recommendations of their own to the Government. The TUC and NCTU are now calling for amendments to the Industrial Relations Act, which would force employers to start collective bargaining talks within 45 days of receiving a trade union’s industrial agreement proposal, to be given enforcement teeth. “Impose a penalty of $5,000 a day for failure to negotiate after 45 days,” the joint TUC-NCTU paper of March 23 demands. Explaining the rationale for this, Mr Ferguson said: “We feel there should be some penalties for not negotiating industrial agreements in good faith. “The proposal is that after 45 days, the employer must meet with you to discuss your proposal. What we’re saying is that if they refuse to meet after 45 days, there should be some encouragement to negotiate in good faith.” The trade unions also urge the Government to enable the Industrial Tribunal to hear, and rule on, cases where there is a dispute between employer and union over industrial agreement negotiations. “The best route is to make the Industrial Tribunal, the industrial side of the Supreme Court, thus giving it the authority to enforce its ruling and adjudicate, and determine general disputes where there is a bargaining impasse,” the TUC-NCTU paper said. The unions also want the Industrial Relations Act reforms to make provision for ‘agency shop’, which would
force non-union members to pay sums out of their wages to cover collective bargaining costs incurred by the union. “Amend section 47A to read, where recognition of a union has been granted, then agency shop deductions (90 per cent of dues) shall be deducted from the wages of non-members contained within the bargaining unit,” the NCTU-TUC proposals stated. Mr Ferguson said the unions also wanted the threshold for approving an ‘agency shop’ arrangement, which currently stands at 60 per cent of bargaining unit members, to be reduced to ‘50 per cent plus one’. He also argued that it was “not fair and equitable” for non-union members to receive the same benefits as bargaining unit members without contributing financially to the arrangement/ negotiations. The NCTU-TUC proposal also wants the Employment Act’s definition of ‘basic pay’ to be replaced by ‘wages’, and for the latter’s definition to “include all forms of compensation”. “Where an employer provides a gratuity and noncontributory pension for an employee, the employee is entitled to redundancy pay, the gratuity and noncontributory pension,” the unions urged. “This benefit is now being enjoyed by workers.” Mr Ferguson said the Act currently did not include commissions in the definition of ‘wages’, despite the Privy Council ruling that they did in ex-Imperial Life employee, John Hanna’s, battle with the now defunct insurer.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, March 27, 2017, PAGE 7
Employers wait anxiously on labour law revisions From pg B1 Bills. He disclosed that the Christie administration had promised to respond over the weekend or by this morning, but as at mid-afternoon yesterday, the private sector had heard nothing. Mr Bowe said that “as long as there’s equilibrium”, and a solution that balances the interests of the private sector and workers, both sides could cope with the Employment Act and Industrial Relations Act changes. However, he warned that the business community would not necessarily gain everything it wanted, adding: “We have to accept we will achieve some things, while others we won’t.” “We completed our part of the equation in terms of providing them [the Government] with the information they’d requested, and the data they’d requested,” Mr Bowe told Tribune Business. “They acknowledged receipt, and said they’re taking them into consideration as they complete the Bills for the debate and additional readings. “We’ve asked them to provide us with the final version presented to Parliament, and inform us of the timing.” The private sector previously warned that the Bills, which contain numerous labour-friendly reforms,
would “cripple” and “bankrupt” many Bahamian businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Mr Bowe, though, told Tribune Business that “we did have, if you will, a meeting of the minds” where the Government indicated it would seek to balance the changes with the private sector’s interests. “We expect it to be consistent with what we said to them,” Mr Bowe said of the final Bills’ content. “There was dialogue, give and take, and hopefully it all works out where there’ll be a happy medium as long as there’s equilibrium.” Obie Ferguson, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) president, also told Tribune Business that the Government appeared to “be looking for a balance between the employer and employee”. The Chamber chairman, meanwhile, added that the private sector should have provided the Government with “empirical evidence”, and hard data, on the impact of the labour law reforms “in a more timely manner” - at the start of the debate at the National Tripartite Council (NTC). “We will be looking at how the Tripartite Council works to ensure that greater empirical evidence is factored into the process going forward, as it was into the minimum wage,” Mr Bowe said. “It is worth having a dedi-
cated resources team at the Tripartite Council or the private sector that accumulates empirical data, information so there’s always a source of empirical evidence upon which to make decisions.” Mr Bowe added that while the Tripartite Council “isn’t in its infancy”, it was “creeping as it learns to walk”, and needed to be strengthened as a mechanism to resolve labour-related matters in a collaborative manner. Key among employer concerns is the 67 per cent, or two-thirds increase, in the Employment Act’s redundancy pay ‘cap’. Line staff are currently entitled to a maximum 24 weeks or six months’ redundancy pay under the Employment Act, gaining two weeks for each year they have been employed up to the 12-year ‘cap’. However, the Bill requires the ‘cap’ to be increased to 32 weeks (16 years) immediately upon enactment of the reforms. And, ultimately, the ‘cap’ for line staff redundancy pay is to be increased to 40 weeks some two years after the amendments are passed. As for managerial staff, the existing 48 weeks (12 months/one year) redundancy pay maximum that they are due currently under the Employment Act is to be immediately increased to 64 weeks. Should the proposals pass, the ‘cap’ will ultimately be lifted to 80 weeks after two years. The proposed reforms also impose bureaucratic notification requirements
on Bahamian businesses, whenever they are considering redundancies, and a fine equivalent to 30 days’ extra pay for each terminated employee should these not be adhered to. Employers will have to give relevant trade unions, or employee representatives, a “written statement” explaining the reasons for the redundancies and “facts” behind the move, along with the number and
category of jobs impacted, and the timeframe over which the terminations will take place. “Recognised” trade unions must be consulted “no later than six weeks” before the redundancies will occur in a bid to “mitigate” the impact, and determine the processes and procedures that will be used. The Minister of Labour must be given 30 days’ notice. Meanwhile, the proposed
reforms to section 51 of the Industrial Relations Act deem the terms and conditions of industrial agreements as automatically incorporated into individual workers’ contracts. Other proposed amendments force employers to start collective bargaining talks within 45 days of receiving a trade union’s industrial agreement proposal.
PAGE 8, Monday, March 27, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
GOP struggles to govern despite a monopoly in Washington
Associated Press – The Republican Party of “no” for Democrat Barack Obama’s eight years is having a hard time getting to “yes” in the early Donald Trump era. The unmitigated failure of the GOP bill to replace Obamacare underscored that Republicans are a party of upstart firebrands, old-guard conservatives and moderates in Democratic-leaning districts. Despite the GOP monopoly on Washington, they are pitted against one another and struggling for a way to govern. The divisions cost the party its best chance to fulfill a seven-year promise to undo Obama’s Affordable Care Act and cast doubt on whether the Republicanled Congress can do the monumental — the first overhaul of the nation’s tax system in more than 30 years — as well as the basics — keeping the government open at the end
of next month, raising the nation’s borrowing authority later this year and passing the 12 spending bills for federal agencies and departments. While the anti-establishment bloc that grew out of the tea party’s rise helped the Republicans win majorities in Congress in 2010 and 2014, the internal divide, complicated further by Trump’s independence, threatens the GOP’s ability to deliver on other promises. “I think we have to do some soul-searching internally to determine whether or not we are even capable as a governing body,” said Rep. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota in the bitter aftermath of the health care debacle. Despite a commanding majority in the House, an advantage in the Senate and Trump in the White House, Republicans hardly seem to be on the same team. “There are some folks in
the Republican House caucus who have yet to make the pivot from complaining to governing,” said Republican pollster Whit Ayres. “And this is a White House controlled by a politician who is not really trying to lead a party.” The GOP health care bill exposed philosophical fissures masked by years of rejecting and resisting all things Obama. The legislation’s provision to repeal essential health benefits such as maternity care and emergency services was designed to appeal to hard-line conservatives who don’t think the government should be in the health care business. That unnerved GOP moderates, especially those in districts won by Democrat Hillary Clinton last year, who were worried about tens of thousands of constituents losing Medicaid or older voters being forced to pay more. The irony of the outsider president is both the health care de-
PUBLIC NOTICE
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C. reacts to a reporters question on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 23, 2017, following a Freedom Caucus meeting. Just a few months ago, Republicans were cheering their good fortune, an all-Republican monopoly in Washington and the opportunity to push a conservative agenda to remake the federal government. After the health care vote, it’s clear winning can’t overcome the deep divisions in their ranks. (AP Photo) bate and Trump’s proposed budget cuts to domestic programs from Appalachia to the inner cities reminded many Americans that government can do some good. Pulling the bill on Friday cleared out Washington, giving House Republicans a chance to cool off back home this weekend. Still, some seethed while others couldn’t hide their frustration, hardly a combination
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL
The Public is hereby advised that I, GARREN ZHIRVAGO CHARLES SMITH of intend to change my name to GARREN ZHIRVAGO CHARLES CAREY. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Deputy Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.
The Public is hereby advised that I, GARFIELD GODFREY ROBERTS of New Providence, Bahamas intend to change my name to GARFIELD GODFREY JOHNSON. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Deputy Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-792, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.
NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that THERESA WILLIAM of Thompson Court, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twentyeight days from the 20th day of March, 2017 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that ALEXANDRIA JEAN BAPTISTE of Central Pines, Dundas Town, Abaco The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 20th day of March, 2017 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
MARKET REPORT FRIDAY, 24 MARCH 2017
t. 242.323.2330 | f. 242.323.2320 | www.bisxbahamas.com
BISX ALL SHARE INDEX: CLOSE 1,904.38 | CHG 0.02 | %CHG 0.00 | YTD -33.83 | YTD% -1.75 BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 4.38 17.43 9.09 3.56 4.70 0.12 7.20 8.50 6.10 10.60 15.27 2.72 1.60 5.83 10.00 11.00 9.30 6.90 12.01 11.00
52WK LOW 2.70 17.43 8.19 3.50 1.64 0.12 3.80 8.15 5.56 8.50 11.00 2.18 1.31 5.80 6.79 8.56 7.00 6.35 11.92 10.00
1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00
900.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00
PREFERENCE SHARES
1.00 106.00 100.00 106.00 105.00 105.00 100.00 10.00 1.01
1.00 105.50 100.00 100.00 105.00 100.00 100.00 10.00 1.01
SECURITY AML Foods Limited APD Limited Bahamas Property Fund Bahamas Waste Bank of Bahamas Benchmark Cable Bahamas CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank Colina Holdings Commonwealth Bank Commonwealth Brewery Consolidated Water BDRs Doctor's Hospital Famguard Fidelity Bank Finco Focol ICD Utilities J. S. Johnson Premier Real Estate Cable Bahamas Series 6 Cable Bahamas Series 8 Cable Bahamas Series 9 Cable Bahamas Series 10 Colina Holdings Class A Commonwealth Bank Class E Commonwealth Bank Class J Commonwealth Bank Class K Commonwealth Bank Class L Commonwealth Bank Class M Commonwealth Bank Class N Fidelity Bank Class A Focol Class B
CORPORATE DEBT - (percentage pricing) 52WK HI 100.00 100.00 100.00
52WK LOW 100.00 100.00 100.00
SYMBOL AML APD BPF BWL BOB BBL CAB CIB CHL CBL CBB CWCB DHS FAM FBB FIN FCL ICD JSJ PRE CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA CBLE CBLJ CBLK CBLL CBLM CBLN FBBA FCLB
SECURITY Fidelity Bank Note 17 (Series A) + Fidelity Bank Note 18 (Series E) + Fidelity Bank Note 22 (Series B) +
SYMBOL FBB17 FBB18 FBB22
Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) BGS: 2014-12-3Y BGS: 2015-1-3Y BGS: 2014-12-5Y BGS: 2015-1-5Y BGS: 2014-12-7Y BGS: 2015-1-7Y BGS: 2014-12-30Y BGS: 2015-1-30Y BGS: 2015-6-3Y BGS: 2015-6-5Y BGS: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-3Y BGS: 2015-10-5Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y
BAH29 BG0103 BG0203 BG0105 BG0205 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0303 BG0305 BG0307 BG0330 BG0403 BG0405 BG0407
BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing) 115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
113.70 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
MUTUAL FUNDS 52WK HI 2.03 3.92 1.94 169.70 141.76 1.47 1.67 1.57 1.10 6.96 8.50 6.30 9.94 11.21 10.46
52WK LOW 1.67 3.04 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.41 1.61 1.52 1.03 6.41 7.62 5.66 8.65 10.54 9.57
LAST CLOSE 4.38 15.85 9.09 3.54 1.77 0.12 4.50 8.50 6.00 10.48 11.86 2.18 1.55 5.83 9.75 9.85 9.25 6.90 12.01 10.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 10.00 1.01 LAST SALE 100.00 100.00 100.00 105.23 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
CLOSE 4.38 15.85 9.09 3.54 1.77 0.12 4.50 8.50 6.00 10.48 11.86 2.20 1.55 5.83 9.75 9.85 9.25 6.90 12.01 10.00
CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 100.00 100.00 100.11 100.00 100.00 100.00 10.00 1.01
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
CLOSE 100.00 100.00 100.00
CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00
105.19 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
-0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
FUND CFAL Bond Fund CFAL Balanced Fund CFAL Money Market Fund CFAL Global Bond Fund CFAL Global Equity Fund FG Financial Preferred Income Fund FG Financial Growth Fund FG Financial Diversified Fund FG Financial Global USD Bond Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Secured Balanced Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Targeted Equity Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Prime Income Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Equities Sub Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - High Yield Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Alternative Strategies Fund
VOLUME
VOLUME
NAV 2.03 3.92 1.94 168.44 141.76 1.47 1.64 1.56 1.04 6.96 8.50 6.30 9.80 11.13 9.63
EPS$ 0.029 1.002 -0.144 0.170 -0.130 0.000 -0.030 0.607 0.430 0.450 0.110 0.102 0.080 0.300 0.520 0.960 0.820 0.294 0.610 0.000
DIV$ 0.080 1.000 0.000 0.210 0.000 0.000 0.090 0.300 0.220 0.360 0.490 0.060 0.060 0.240 0.400 0.000 0.330 0.140 0.640 0.000
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
P/E 151.0 15.8 N/M 20.8 N/M N/M -150.0 14.0 14.0 23.3 107.8 21.6 19.4 19.4 18.8 10.3 11.3 23.5 19.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.25% 6.25% 6.25% 6.25% 6.25% 6.25% 6.25% 7.00% 6.50%
INTEREST 7.00% 6.00% Prime + 1.75%
MATURITY 19-Oct-2017 31-May-2018 19-Oct-2022
6.95% 4.00% 4.00% 4.25% 4.25% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.00% 4.25% 4.50% 6.25% 3.50% 3.88% 4.25%
20-Nov-2029 15-Dec-2017 30-Jul-2018 16-Dec-2019 30-Jul-2020 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2018 26-Jun-2020 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2018 15-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2022
YTD% 12 MTH% 4.30% 4.30% 3.82% 3.82% 2.73% 2.73% 3.95% 3.95% 6.77% 6.77% 0.40% 4.04% -1.76% 1.06% -0.34% 2.70% -0.95% 1.55% 4.35% 4.69% 4.13% 4.28% 4.22% 4.64% 6.19% 3.43% 2.77% 2.98% -3.66% -3.90%
NAV Date 31-Dec-2016 31-Dec-2016 31-Dec-2016 31-Dec-2016 31-Dec-2016 31-Jan-2017 31-Jan-2017 31-Jan-2017 31-Jan-2017 30-Nov-2016 30-Nov-2016 30-Nov-2016 30-Nov-2016 30-Nov-2016 30-Nov-2016
MARKET TERMS BISX ALL SHARE INDEX - 19 Dec 02 = 1,000.00 52wk-Hi - Highest closing price in last 52 weeks 52wk-Low - Lowest closing price in last 52 weeks Previous Close - Previous day's weighted price for daily volume Today's Close - Current day's weighted price for daily volume Change - Change in closing price from day to day Daily Vol. - Number of total shares traded today DIV $ - Dividends per share paid in the last 12 months P/E - Closing price divided by the last 12 month earnings
YIELD 1.83% 6.31% 0.00% 5.93% 0.00% 0.00% 2.00% 3.53% 3.67% 3.44% 4.13% 2.73% 3.87% 4.12% 4.10% 0.00% 3.57% 2.03% 5.33% 0.00%
YIELD - last 12 month dividends divided by closing price Bid $ - Buying price of Colina and Fidelity Ask $ - Selling price of Colina and fidelity Last Price - Last traded over-the-counter price Weekly Vol. - Trading volume of the prior week EPS $ - A company's reported earnings per share for the last 12 mths NAV - Net Asset Value N/M - Not Meaningful
TO TRADE CALL: CFAL 242-502-7010 | ROYALFIDELITY 242-356-7764 | FG CAPITAL MARKETS 242-396-4000 | COLONIAL 242-502-7525 | LENO 242-396-3225
for unity and success. Michigan Rep. Justin Amash said he and his conservative colleagues wanted a full-blown departure from the Obama law, rather than what Speaker Paul Ryan, RWis., was offering, but were given little voice. “From the beginning of the process, I think the way it was set up did not bring the disparate parts of the conference together,” Amash said. New York Rep. Chris Collins, an early Trump backer in the campaign, echoed the bill’s supporters in chiding opponents for not seizing the opportunity to deliver on the perennial campaign promise. “I can tell you right now there’s bitterness within our conference, it’s going to take time to heal that,” Col-
lins said. Ryan pledged the House would return to its campaign agenda, including legislation aimed at beefing up U.S.-Mexican border security, increasing spending on the military and public works, while also reining in the budget deficit. The GOP has to move beyond the defeat, with midterm elections next year and the historic disadvantage the president’s party typically faces in holding seats. “We were a 10-year opposition party where being against things was easy to do. You just had to be against it,” Ryan told reporters after canceling the vote. “And now, in three months’ time, we try to go to governing where we actually have to get ... people to agree with each other.”
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that CHARLENE NIVONE of Lightbourne Ave./Rock Crusher, P.O.Box N-10326, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 20th day of March, 2017 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that JOSHUA AUQUEL of Balfour Ave., New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 27th day of March, 2017 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, March 27, 2017, PAGE 9
Blaming conservatives, Trump signals new openness to Dems WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday attacked conservative lawmakers for the failure of the Republican bill to replace former President Barack Obama’s health care law, as aides signaled a greater willingness to work with moderate Democrats on upcoming legislative battles from the budget and tax cuts to health care. On Twitter, Trump complained: “Democrats are smiling in D.C. that the Freedom Caucus, with the help of Club For Growth and Heritage, have saved Planned Parenthood & Ocare!” The Freedom Caucus is a hard-right group of more than 30 GOP House members who were largely responsible for blocking the bill to undo the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare.” The bill was pulled from the House floor Friday in a humiliating political defeat for the president, having lacked support from either the conservative Republicans or Democrats. Trump initially focused his blame on Democrats for the failure and predicted a
dire future for the current law. But on Sunday, his aides made clear that Trump would be seeking support from moderate Democrats, leaving open the possibility he could still revisit health care legislation. White House chief of staff Reince Priebus scolded conservative Republicans, explaining that Trump had felt “disappointed” that a “number of people he thought were loyal to him that weren’t.” “It’s time for the party to start governing,” Priebus said. “I think it’s time for our folks to come together, and I also think it’s time to potentially get a few moderate Democrats on board as well.” As he ponders his next steps, Trump faces decisions on whether to back administrative changes to fix Obamacare or undermine it as prices for insurance plans rise in many markets. Over the weekend, the president tweeted a promise of achieving a “great healthcare plan” because Obamacare will “explode.” On Sunday, Priebus did not answer directly regard-
ing Trump’s choice, saying that fixes to the health law will have to come legislatively and he wants to ensure “people don’t get left behind.” “I don’t think the president is closing the door on anything,” he said. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Democrats stood ready to work with Trump to fix Obamacare if he is willing to drop attempts to repeal the law and not undermine it. He warned that Trump is destined to “lose again” on other parts of his agenda if he remains beholden to conservative Republicans. “If he changes, he could have a different presidency,” Schumer said. “But he’s going to have to tell the Freedom Caucus and the hard-right special wealthy interests who are dominating his presidency ... he can’t work with them, and we’ll certainly look at his proposals.” Their comments came after another day of fingerpointing among Republicans, both subtle and not-so subtle. On Saturday, Trump urged Americans in a tweet to watch Judge Jeanine Pi-
rro’s program on Fox that night. She led her show by calling for House Speaker Paul Ryan to resign, blaming him for defeat of the bill in the Republican-controlled chamber. Priebus described the two events as “coincidental,” insisting that Trump was helping out a friend by plugging her show and no “preplanning” occurred. “He doesn’t blame Paul Ryan,” Priebus said. “In fact, he thought Paul Ryan worked really hard. He enjoys his relationship with
Paul Ryan, thinks that Paul Ryan is a great speaker of the House.” A spokeswoman for Ryan, AshLee Strong, said Ryan and Trump spoke for nearly an hour Saturday and again on Sunday about moving forward on the agenda, saying “their relationship is stronger than ever right now.” In their Sunday conversation, Trump “was clear his tweet had nothing to do with the speaker,” Strong said. The White House faces a tall task in gaining support
for its congressional agenda. Trump, for instance, now lacks the savings anticipated from the health care bill to help pay for tax cuts, while expected legislation to invest $1 trillion in roads and infrastructure and to cut down on illegal immigration will likely need support from Democrats. Priebus said Trump was looking ahead for now at debate over the budget and a tax plan, which he said would include a border adjustment tax and middleclass tax cuts.
THE CENTRAL BANK OF THE BAHAMAS
COUNTERFEIT BANKNOTE DETECTION WORKSHOP Nassau Workshop, Wednesday, April 5, 2017 Training Room, Central Bank of The Bahamas, Frederick St. Entrance Session 1 - Bankers and Law Enforcement
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Session 2 - Business and General Public
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Interested parties should make reservations via the Banking Department at 302-2620 and email banknote.services@centralbankbahamas.com Freeport Workshop, Thursday, April 6, 2017 Pelican Bay Hotel, Sea Horse Road at Port Lucaya Session 1 - Bankers and Law Enforcement
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Session 2 - Business and General Public
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Interested parties should make reservations via Central Bank’s Freeport Office at 352-5963 Registration ends March 31, 2017. All applicants must present a government-issued ID upon arrival. Seating is limited.
(DF55)
White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, right, departs after a Republican caucus meeting on Capitol Hill, in Washington. Speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” yesterday, Priebus made clear that President Donald Trump would be seeking support from moderate Democrats for upcoming legislative battles. (AP Photo)