05162017 business

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TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017

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Realtor’s ‘staggering’ Q1 sales volume rise

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A leading realtor yesterday revealed his firm had seen a “staggering” year-over-year increase in 2017 first quarter sales volumes, with the new government’s election provided “a great opportunity” to further grow the Bahamian market.

George Damianos, Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty’s president, told Tribune Business that his company was “up considerably more” than the 23 per cent sales volume increase it enjoyed for the 2016 full year.

While the general election had no obvious impact on international buyer demand, Mr Damianos said the FNM’s victory gave the Bahamas a chance to send a worldwide message that it was “open for business”.

He called for the Dr Hu-

Election ‘great opportunity’ to further boost market Damianos: Bahamas can show ‘open for business’ Urges new Govt to emulate 28-day approval promise bert Minnis-led administration to emulate the last FNM government, which pledged a 28-day approvals turnaround for foreigners purchasing real estate worth $1.5 million or more, by introducing similar proinvestor policies that grew the overall market.

“We’re doing fine,”Mr Damianos told Tribune Business of his own See pg b4

New Govt told: ‘Jump immediately’ on BPL

By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

‘No time to delay’ with summer and Baha Mar

A former Cabinet Minister yesterday warned the new administration that it will have to “jump immediately”on Bahamas Power & Light (BPL), given the increased summer energy demand and commitments to Baha Mar’s new owner.

Phenton Neymour, a former minister of state for the environment, who had responsibility for BPL’s predecessor entity, the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC), urged Dr Minnis’s government to make a “quick assessment” of BPL’s operational and financial position.

He added that with the summer months fast approaching, and Baha Mar moving ahead with its phased opening, the Government has “no time whatsoever” to delay on the issue.

“It is indeed critical that they jump immediately on the BPL issue,” Mr Neymour said. “We need an assessment on their position, not only operational but See pg b5

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Govt asked: Do all GBPA licensees get 20-year tax breaks?

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

GB Chamber chief seeks ‘fine bit of detail’ clarity

The Government was yesterday urged to clarify whether it will grant Freeport businesses an automatic 20-year extension of their expired tax breaks, amid general acclaim for its pledge to “roll back” the Christie administration’s impositions.

‘Breath of fresh air’ needed on ‘Disincentive Act’

Mick Holding, the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s president, told Tribune Business that the reaffirmed promise by K P Turnquest, the Deputy Prime Minister, was “excellent news” for the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s

(GBPA) 3,500 licensees.

However, he said “a little bit more detail” was required on the new administration’s intentions, and especially whether it planned to place See pg b6

Family Guardian’s parent yesterday reported a 103 per cent year-over-year increase in 2017 first quarter net income, after an 11.5 per cent drop in total benefit payouts offset a $1.7 million revenue contraction.

L. Edgar Moxey, FamGuard Corporation’s chairman and chief executive, told shareholders that

Says ‘hoping for better’, and warns: ‘Nothing’s free’ Hopes Sands will lead ‘positive changes’ to NHI

Phenton Neymour

Benefits fall 11.5% to offset $1.7m revenue fall the decline in annuity deposits for the three months to end-March 31 was a ‘double edged sword’ that worked in the company’s favour.

Although the fall in annuity deposits drove the revenue decline, its also

lessened the amount of reserves that had to be set aside to pay future policyholder benefits, positively impacting expenses.

“Total revenues decreased by $1.7 million over the same period in 2016,” Mr Moxey wrote. “However, this was primarily due to a reduction in annuity deposits during the quarter.

“As is the custom for annuities, deposits fluctuate from period to period See pg b4

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The Medical Association of the Bahamas (MAB) president yesterday urged the new government to be “more honest and open” over healthcare reform than its predecessor, which he accused of “ramming NHI down our throats”.

Dr Sy Pierre told Tribune Business he was “hoping for better” from the Dr Hubert Minnis-led administration, with both NHI and the use of doctors’ names without their permission set to be addressed at last night’s MAB annual meeting.

While the new government has yet to fully detail See pg b5

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MAB chief: Don’t repeat NHI ‘ram down our throats’ Urges new Govt to be ‘more open and honest’

FamGuard sees 103% increase in Q1 profits

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

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PAGE 2, Tuesday, May 16, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Aliv reaps the rewards from graduate trainees The graduate trainee programme initiated by the Bahamas’ second mobile operator continues to provide it with a high-quality, productive Bahamian workforce.

Michael Treco, who gained a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from the University of the Bahamas, has spent three months using his existing skills to aid Aliv while also acquiring new proficiencies.

He currently assists with

Aliv’s core network, the heart of the mobile provider’s network, which involves operations and maintenance. He has future plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in the same discipline.

Aliv’s graduate trainee programme consists primarily of engineering graduates or graduate trainees from the University of The Bahamas. It aims to foster careers and high-performing talent capable of meeting the industry’s challenges.

Mr Treco said he was in-

spired to pursue a degree in engineering because he has always had a passion for technology. Engineering allows him “to get up close” to different types of technology, while creating and experimenting with it.

Mr Treco said he joined the Aliv graduate trainee programme because it provides those involved with extensive on-the-job training in telecommunications, while allowing participants to obtain various certifications.

“So far, I have contributed to the team by working on projects for Aliv’s roaming service, plus helping to do various operations to help maintain the integrity of the newest cellular network in the Bahamas,” Mr Treco said.

“I have grown in many ways, mainly in learning to handle different tasks and how to improve my time management. At this point I see no obstacles in my career pursuits, as Aliv provides a lot of opportunities

to its staff, and there is never a feeling of stagnation – just progress.”

Aliv’s graduate trainee programme prepares participants for specific business and technical roles such as service and applicant engineers, finance, marketing and sales partners through rotational assignments, projects and intensive course and leadership training.

The graduates will also have an opportunity to engage in distance learning via See pg b6

Michael Treco, graduate training programme participant.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 16, 2017, PAGE 3

‘Critical’ to implement anti-corruption reform

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

It is “critical” that the nw government follow through on its transparency and anti-corruption reform pledges, Transparency International’s Bahamas representative said yesterday, arguing that achieving these objectives will eventually cut the fiscal deficit.

Lemarque Campbell, of Citizens for a Better Baha-

mas (CBB), told Tribune Business: “Allegations of corruption within the previous administration played a major part in the outcome of the election.

“Given this, it is very critical for the incoming administration to follow through on its pledges for transparency and anti-corruption reform. The Government needs to be proactive in releasing information to the public. The election has proven that the citizens are now demanding for a more

open government.”

The 2017 general election saw the Free National Movement (FNM) secure a landslide victory, winning 35 out of the 39 constituencies. “Not only has corruption been a societal ill plaguing this country for decades, but it also has a detrimental effect on our economy,” added Mr Campbell.

“To be quite frank, there should be no reason why government departments and ministries cannot ac-

count for millions of dollars that go missing. The formula is quite simple; mitigate corruption and in turn we shall eventually see a decrease in the fiscal deficit.”

Mr Campbell continued: “This administration must ensure that they enact the necessary legislation to facilitate this transition towards an open government. In doing so, we need a strong Freedom of Information Act, one that is not only passed but actually enacted and enforced; a trans-

parent public procurement process, to ensure a level playing field for investors competing for government contracts; whistleblower protection, to provide civil servants with a safe avenue to report corrupt practices within the various government ministries and departments; and political campaign finance reform, to regulate contributions and spending during elections.”

Mr Campbell said that given the fact that the Bahamas has a very high In-

ternet penetration, the Government should consider the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in establishing the necessary anti-corruption reforms.

“For example, all government contracts that are put out to tender should be accessible for everyone to see via a centralised website, which includes the details of every company submitting a bid along with the terms of the proposed contract,” he added.

Chamber chief backs lending relaxation end

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net The Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive yesterday backed the Central Bank’s decision to end the seven-month relaxation of lending guidelines post-Hurricane Matthew.

Edison Sumner told Tribune Business that “the timing is right”, given that the Central Bank had to balance aiding storm recovery with discipline in monetary and fiscal policy.

Unveiling the reinstatement of its commercial bank lending guidelines, the Central Bank announced yesterday: “In October 2016, the Central Bank of the Bahamas announced the temporary relaxation of lending guidelines to domestic banks to facilitate access by households and businesses to credit for relief purposes in the aftermath of Hurricane

BTC unveils new Samsung products The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has unveiled the Samsung S8 and the Samsung S8 Plus, adding to its wide range of Samsung devices.

Matthew.

“The Central Bank wishes to advise that as of today’s date this accommodation officially comes to an end, and the previous guidelines governing equity requirements and debt service ratios has been fully reinstated for all credit facilities.”

Within a week of Matthew’s early October passage through the Bahamas, the Central Bank informed commercial banks that it was relaxing both borrower debt servicing ratios and equity contributions to better facilitate access to much-needed credit in the storm’s aftermath.

The 15 per cent equity (downpayment) contribution that the Central Bank recommends all borrowers

make, prior to receiving a loan, was waived entirely over those seven months.

And the maximum debt service ratio recommended by the Central Bank was increased by at least 10 percentage points - from 40-45 per cent to 55 per cent.

This has now come to an end, and Mr Sumner acknowledged that the Central Bank’s swift action had enabled homeowners and businesses to recover more quickly from the devastation inflicted by Hurricane Matthew.

“Those conditions were reasonable to give persons impacted by the hurricane the opportunity to get repairs done, and get their lives back in order,” the Chamber chief executive told Tribune Business.

Mr Sumner said the Central Bank’s policy action had worked “in tandem” with the Government’s post-Matthew exigency order, which had allowed businesses to sell

The two products are now available nationwide at BTC’s 60-plus retail stores.

Loukishia Cooper, manager for device management, said: “The Samsung Galaxy series is definitely top of the line Samsung devices.

“Bahamians love Samsung, basically because of the functionality and the strong quality that the brand offers. We’re practically a Samsung nation.”

She added: “The brand is very strong in our market.

All of our devices come directly from the manufacturer. I think consumers are excited about it. Customers have been calling in since Samsung launched in the United States, and our customers have been waiting and pretty excited.”

BTC had been testing the Samsung Galaxy S8 device for several weeks, and will be the first mobile carrier in the Bahamas to have the new device for sale.

Central Bank ends seven-month postMatthew ease

products at discounted prices to storm-hit persons via VAT and Customs duty exemptions. Border taxes paid on pre-existing inventories were also recoverable.

The Chamber chief suggested that the end to the Central Bank’s lending relaxation could have been “better co-ordinated” with the exigency order, which still has two months to run.

However, Mr Sumner acknowledged that the Central Bank was likely seeking to “tighten up on fiscal discipline in the country”, given the expanded deficit, as well as ensure responsible lending in the absence of a Credit Bureau.

edison sumner

PAGE 4, Tuesday, May 16, 2017

FamGuard sees 103% increase in Q1 profits From pg B1 and, despite the decline in the total dollar amount for the quarter, the company continued to experience a strong demand by policyholders as the number of deposits remained in line with deposits during the three months ended March 2016.

“The decline in deposits was also offset by a corresponding reduction in benefits on annuity deposits, as reserves for future policyholder benefits for these products decreased in direct correlation.”

Annuity deposits were down by 51.8 per cent yearover-year for the 2017 first quarter, dropping from $4.075 million last year to $1.966 million this time around.

However, this also resulted in FamGuard’s increase in reserves declining by 61.3 per cent year-overyear, falling from $4.618 million to $1.788 million.

And a drop in group health claims resulted in total benefit payments dropping by almost $2.4 million - from $20.767 million in 2016 to $18.381 million.

Realtor’s ‘staggering’ Q1 sales volume rise From pg B1 company’s year-to-date performance. “We can’t complain. We’ve had a great first quarter. We welcome this new change and new government, and there’s no reason why we can’t continue on the trend we’re on.”

Damianos Sotheby’s saw its sales volume for 2016 increase by 23 per cent for the full year, but Mr Damianos added: “We’re up considerably more than that for the first quarter of this year.

“Some of the numbers are staggering, but we’re just very thankful to be in the right place at the right time and that things have broken through for us early this year. If they continue, that’s wonderful, but we have to be realistic about this stuff and take it as it comes.”

Mr Damianos declined to disclose the extent of the sales improvement, but told Tribune Business it rep-

resented a major jump on prior year comparatives.

Damianos Sotheby’s specialises in higher-end properties, and its president said the company was showing real estate “right up to the election”, indicating that uncertainty over the outcome had little to no impact on foreign buyer demand.

Mr Damianos, though, argued that “the real estate industry has a great opportunity here from the new government” to signal increased interest in attracting more high net worth individuals and families to domicile in the Bahamas as their primary residence.

“I’m optimistic this will have an impact on the real estate market,” he told Tribune Business. “I’ve not heard any plans or commitments [from the new government] other than saying they’d like to streamline doing business in the Bahamas and making it more userfriendly.

THE TRIBUNE

“The decrease is attributed to lower medical claims from our group health business and a reduction in the reserves for future policyholder benefits on annuity deposits,” Mr Moxey confirmed. “Total expenses are in line with that of the prior period and show a positive variance of 1.7 per cent year-to-date.”

As for the revenue side, he added: “Gross premium income increased by 3.1 per cent, and ended the three month period at $25.6 million, with all three divisions of the company reporting positive variances.

“Investment income contributed $3.1 million to total revenues, a decline over

the prior year due to the continued fluctuation in equities and the impact of the 50 basis point reductions on variable rate investment assets which are tied to Prime.”

FamGuard’s net equity rose to over $116 million, while net income for the three months to end-March more than doubled, rising from $775,379 to $1.574 million.

Its main competitor, Colina Holdings, also reported relatively strong 2017 first quarter results, with net income relatively flat yearover-year at $5.6 million.

Profits attributable to ordinary shareholders were down slightly, at $4.6 mil-

lion compared to $4.8 million.

The BISX-listed insurance holding company paid out $4.6 million in dividends to its ordinary and preference shareholders during the first quarter, with the majority - some $4 million - going to the former category.

“Total gross premium revenues totalled $32.5 million compared to $33 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016,” Terry Hilts, Colina Holdings’ chairman, told shareholders.

“Gross policyholder benefits were higher than prior year experience, totalling $23.7 million for the three

months ended March 31, 2017. Fluctuations in mark to market adjustments have resulted in a decrease to $5.4 million in net investment income for the first quarter of 2017, compared to $6.9 million for the same period in the prior year.”

Mr Hilts added: “Total assets stand at $744.6 million, compared to $726.6 million as at December 31, 2016...... We will continue our long-term strategy to direct new investments in high quality, fixed-income securities to ensure that invested assets remain the largest proportion of our total assets which, at March 31, 2017, comprised 75.8 per cent of total assets.”

“We’re optimistic. We’ve already heard some very good things out of this new government, committing to give answers to approvals applications in short order and keep things moving.”

Mr Damianos suggested the new government follow the lead of the 2007-2012 Ingraham administration, which pledged that residency and Investment Board applications would be processed within 28 days for foreigners purchasing Bahamian real estate valued at more than $1.5 million.

“That was wonderful,”Mr Damianos told Tribune Business of the investment threshold for accelerated permanent residency consideration. “They did live up to it with the customers we had.

“It was great we were able to that there would be a definitive answer to people wanting to become a resident of the Bahamas.

We’re hoping for something similar from the new government. It would definitely send the signal out to the world that things have come

open here, and a new government is here.”

The former Christie administration went in the opposite direction in its final years by seeking to increase the investment threshold for any permanent residency consideration from $500,000 to $1 million.

It eventually backed off following opposition from both realtors and developers, worried that it sent the wrong signal to potential investors and undermined the Bahamas’ ability to compete for foreign direct investment (FDI).

Illustrating the benefits of foreign real estate investment in the Bahamas, Mr Damianos said he yesterday met with an architect and one of his Lyford Cay clients, who employed 17 persons just through ownership of his property.

“This is the spill over from these residents and investments, and people wanting to have another residence and second home,” Mr Damianos added. “It’s fulltime employment. It’s nothing but positive.

“He’s not competing against anybody, but is pumping money into the system. The more of this we can get; that’s how we have to look at it.”

The Damianos Sotheby’s chief said there were “a lot of interesting things in the world that the Bahamas can benefit from”, pointing to the onerous tax burden levied on wealthy families in developed nations.

He recalled a conversation with a client who informed him that inheritance tax rates in their home country were 45 per cent, meaning that the generational transfer of wealth would lose “a big chunk” to the tax authorities.

This, Mr Damianos, said created opportunities for the Bahamas to attract

more residents and real estate buyers.

“If the Government saw that, and there was a bit more effort, we’d attract more of those people,” he told Tribune Business.

“What would help our market would be a more user-friendly government process with these people getting established in the Bahamas. It would help a lot to get these foreign investors, second home owners or people wishing to relocate to the Bahamas.

“They don’t have to do anything but act on things and get them done. The system is in place, and all they have to do is act and get it done. There are people who come here and don’t qualify no matter what they spend, but those that qualify, act on it and get it done.”

NOTICE

NOTICE

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act (as amended), NOTICE is hereby given that NEPTUNE INVESTMENTS HOLDINGS LTD. has been dissolved and has been struck from the Register with effect from 18th April, 2017.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act (as amended), NOTICE is hereby given that RRP Investments Limited has been dissolved and has been struck from the Register with effect from 6th March, 2017.

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@100JAMZ242 Beecham D. Braynen and Lynn Kelly LIQUIDATORS c/o EFG Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd 1 Bay Street 2nd Floor, Centre of Commerce P.O. Box SS-6289 Nassau, Bahamas

Lynn Kelly and Beecham Braynen LIQUIDATORS c/o EFG Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd 1 Bay Street 2nd Floor, Centre of Commerce P.O. Box SS-6289 Nassau, Bahamas

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No.45 of 2000) In Voluntary Liquidation Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, (No.45 of 2000), Beaune Global Fund Ltd. (the “Company”) is in dissolution.

The date of commencement of the dissolution is May 16, 2017. Daniela De Castro Martins is the Liquidator and can be contacted at Rua Leocadia Cintra, 100 Apt. 141, Bloco A, 02120-010, São Paulo – SP, Brazil. All persons having claims against the above-named Company are required to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator before June 15, 2017.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act (as amended), NOTICE is hereby given that Spartacus Investments Ltd. has been dissolved and has been struck from the Register with effect from 14th February, 2017.

Daniela De Castro Martins Liquidator

Beecham D. Braynen and Lynn Kelly LIQUIDATORS c/o EFG Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd 1 Bay Street 2nd Floor, Centre of Commerce P.O. Box SS-6289 Nassau, Bahamas

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No.45 of 2000)

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No.45 of 2000)

In Voluntary Liquidation

In Voluntary Liquidation

Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, (No.45 of 2000), Dijon Global Fund Ltd. (the “Company”) is in dissolution.

The date of commencement of the dissolution is May 16, 2017. Daniela De Castro Martins is the Liquidator and can be contacted at Rua Leocadia Cintra, 100 Apt. 141, Bloco A, 02120-010, São Paulo – SP, Brazil. All persons having claims against the above-named Company are required to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator before June 15, 2017.

Daniela De Castro Martins Liquidator

Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, (No.45 of 2000), Colmar Global Fund Ltd. (the “Company”) is in dissolution.

The date of commencement of the dissolution is May 16, 2017. Daniela De Castro Martins is the Liquidator and can be contacted at Rua Leocadia Cintra, 100 Apt. 141, Bloco A, 02120-010, São Paulo – SP, Brazil. All persons having claims against the above-named Company are required to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator before June 15, 2017.

Daniela De Castro Martins Liquidator

NOTICE Pursuant to the provisions of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act (as amended), NOTICE is hereby given that RRA Investments Limited. has been dissolved and has been struck from the Register with effect from 5th December, 2016.

Beecham D. Braynen and Lynn Kelly LIQUIDATORS c/o EFG Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd 1 Bay Street 2nd Floor, Centre of Commerce P.O. Box SS-6289 Nassau, Bahamas

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 16, 2017, PAGE 5

MAB chief: Don’t repeat NHI ‘ram down our throats’ From pg B1 its policies, especially its approach to the NHI scheme inherited from the Christie administration, Dr Pierre called for it to focus on sustainable solutions that the Bahamas can afford.

“I’ve got to sit down and see what they’re saying,” the MAB president said of the new government and its healthcare approach.

Asked what he wanted to see from the FNM administration, Dr Pierre replied: “Obviously, that things are transparent and truthful, and that they let people know what the country can and can’t afford, because nothing’s for free.

“We just want more honest and open discussion as opposed to ramming things down our throats. Dr Sands, he was always saying what was wrong with the NHI plan of the previous government, so hopefully he’ll make positive changes.”

Dr Duane Sands, a leading critic of the Christie administration’s NHI plan, was sworn in as minister of health yesterday evening.

“I’m hoping for better,” Dr Pierre added. “People are talking about should it be primary care, should it be catastrophic care, should it be specialty care....

There’s a lot of things to sit down and discuss.”

Dr Minnis suggested during the election campaign that an FNM government would re-focus NHI on catastrophic health insurance, providing coverage for Bahamians afflicted by ‘life or death’ illnesses and injuries that require immediate, but extremely expensive, treatment.

Such occurrences fre-

quently force Bahamians into situations that “destroy a family’s finances” or require them to fund-raise through cook-outs and the like.

The FNM has been contemplating a catastrophic health insurance scheme for longer than Perry Christie’s NHI plan, having first examined such an undertaking during the waning years of the 1997-2002 Ingraham administration.

Dr Sands gave Tribune Business an insight into the new government’s likely approach just before the election, when he said it “wants to focus more on a catastrophic model for the insurance aspect of NHI”.

The Christie administration instead focused on primary care, allocating $100 million to the roll-out of this initial NHI phase.

While around $40 million of this came from existing healthcare spending that was ‘re-purposed’, the $60 million came from other taxes - likely Value-Added Tax (VAT).

The new government’s efforts to reform and refocus NHI will likely be complicated by the fact that more than 10,000 Bahamians have already enrolled as patients/beneficiaries, including some 9,000 in New Providence and 2,600 in Grand Bahama.

The NHI Secretariat, a creation of the former government, continued enrolling Bahamians, and matching them to primary care doctors, even following last Wednesday’s general election, holding sign-up drives in Freeport on Friday and Saturday.

Dr Sands’ appointment as

New Govt told: ‘Jump immediately’ on BPL From pg B1 financially.

“We also need to jump on the management contract with them. We need an assessment at Clifton Pier, the status on each generator, and the same with Blue Hills. They need to know rental generators are on order, how many are operational at this time, the cost of using them, and look at whether they are meeting the current demand.

“Some days they are tripping, so I know they are struggling. We need to know whether they have sufficient units to meet increased demand in the summer and with Baha Mar.” The Christie administration’s April 25 Heads of Agreement with Baha Mar’s new owner, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE), commits BPL to “address reliable and consistent supply of electricity on the island of New Providence, which will include the ability to meet the requirements of the project”.

This involves the installation “of all supporting infrastructure necessary to support secure and dependable electricity supplies to the project, without the need for unusual load-shedding or other interruption in electricity supply to the project”.

This must be completed

by December 31, 2017,

which could well prove a tall order for the Government and BEC/BPL, given that both are cash-strapped, and based on the utility’s past performance.

Mr Neymour added yesterday of BPL: “We have to look at their financial situation, whether the Government will need to provide them with support, and assess their status in the Family Islands.

“There has to be a quick assessment. This administration has no time whatsoever because before you know it summer will be here and gone. We have to ensure we don’t have as challenging a summer for the Bahamian people.”

BPL and its private sector manager, PowerSecure, endured a tough summer 2016, which was marked by frequent power outages and load shedding due to problems with aged generation equipment and transmission and distribution (T&D) bottlenecks.

The need to supplement BPL’s power plants with rental generation capacity was lost in the transition to

minister of health was largely applauded by private sector healthcare professionals yesterday, one doctor describing him as “certainly on our side as it relates to health”.

The doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity, added: “He’ll be a good person to represent both sides, the Government and then all the providers, physicians, pharmacists, physiotherapists and administrative staff in the healthcare system.”

Many healthcare industry players have welcomed the general election result, after growing increasingly resentful of the Christie administration’s efforts to impose a ‘one-size fits all’, government-run system on the Bahamas via NHI. “Let’s come up with a sustainable plan that’s affordable, sustainable and able to improve the overall health of the country,” the doctor told Tribune Business.

They pointed out that NHI, as it exists, would not alleviate the two-three day wait for a bed that many patients at the Princess Margaret Hospital presently endure.

“I hope this will be an opportunity for us to craft something that will be sustainable, affordable and can have an impact on catastrophic care and also chronic disease management,” the doctor added.

“I have no desire, as do many of my colleagues, to be involved in the current [NHI] model as is. We need change, we need reform to be able to have a positive net result on every aspect of our country.”

They said of the new government: “It’s up to them to do it. They have the ability to do it. It’s a matter of stepping up and making it hapthe new management company, and summer 2017 will prove whether past problems have been satisfactorily addressed.

Mr Neymour also warned the incoming administration against ‘the blame game’, saying: “You’re now the Government.

“We have a new administration now. We cannot blame the Christie administration for everything.

The FNM must recognise that the Bahamian people elected them because they wanted change and action, not talk. The people want a higher standard of governance; that must be recognised.”

PowerSecure signed a five-year management services agreement with the Government to run BPL on February 9, 2016,but its $900,000 business plan has never been disclosed.

The Government has also yet to refinance BEC’s $650 million legacy debt and other liabilities via the promised rate reduction bond (RRB), and the new administration will also have to assess the bids to provide BPL with improved generation capacity that were solicited by its predecessor.

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pen. They need to come out hard and heavy, and take the opportunity while people are receptive to them being leaders of the country.”

The FNM has pledged to retain the NHI scheme and make it better, and Dr Sands indicated in a preelection interview with Tribune Business that the

new government will focus on upgrading the quality of care and infrastructure in the public sector - both at the clinics and hospitals.

Health infrastructure improvements will occur in “bite size nuggets”, Dr Sands said, adding: “We can’t afford $800-$900 million in one go.

“We can afford chunks

of $50-$70 million at a time.

That way you minimise disruption but have continual improvement in healthcare delivery.”

He also pledged to reduce wastage and inefficiency, and ensure the Bahamian people get ‘value for money’ on healthcare, while also delivering improved treatment and quality outcomes.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Govt asked: Do all GBPA licensees get 20-year tax breaks?

From pg B1 all licensees on a ‘level playing field’ with the GBPA and Hutchison Whampoa.

“I think we need a little bit more detail as to what exactly that means, and whether

all licencees will automatically be granted 20 years,” Mr Holding told this newspaper.

“If that’s the case, that’s excellent news. It sounds very promising, but I’m very

interested in that fine bit of detail. This doesn’t spell that out.”

Mr Holding was speaking after Mr Turnquest told Tribune Business on Monday that the Dr Hubert Minnis-led administration would eliminate with the requirement that GBPA licensees now apply to the Govern-

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ment for renewal of key tax breaks and incentives.

The newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister branded this mandate, imposed by the former administration’s Grand Bahama (Port Area) Investment Incentives Act 2016, as “a job killer” because it undermined business and investor confidence by introducing government “subjectivity” into the process.

“It’s very encouraging what’s been said, it’s very positive what’s being said, and it’s very good for the business community, but does that mean 20 years?”

Mr Holding reiterated. “Is that effectively what the Deputy Prime Minister means?”

The legislation introduced by the former administration, in a bid to exert greater Government control over Freeport’s governance and investment/taxation affairs, discriminated heavily in favour of the GBPA and Hutchison Whampoa, and their affiliates.

While all the former’s licensees were forced to apply for renewal of their real property tax, capital gains and income tax exemptions, Freeport’s quasi-governmental authority and two largest investors received a ‘blanket’ renewal for 20 years.

Mr Turnquest’s pledge was also hailed by a former GBPA in-house attorney, who slammed the Christie administration’s legislation as the “Disincentive Act’, arguing that it told investors: “You’re better off doing business anywhere other than Freeport.”

Carey Leonard, now an attorney at Callenders & Co, described Mr Turnquest’s comments as “excellent news”, and a potential first step towards providing Freeport’s private sector with much-needed certainty.

“It would give us all time to see where we’re going to go, and talk to the Government,” Mr Leonard said of

From pg B2

MARKET REPORT MONDAY, 15 MAY 2017

t. 242.323.2330 | f. 242.323.2320 | www.bisxbahamas.com

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX: CLOSE 1,889.62 | CHG 0.07 | %CHG 0.00 | YTD -48.59 | YTD% -2.51 BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 4.38 17.43 9.09 3.56 4.70 0.13 6.76 8.60 6.10 10.60 15.27 2.72 1.60 6.00 10.00 11.00 10.00 6.90 12.01 11.00

52WK LOW 3.20 17.43 8.19 3.50 1.64 0.12 3.80 8.20 5.69 8.50 11.00 2.18 1.31 5.80 7.50 8.56 7.15 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 2.05 3.92 1.95 169.70 141.76 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 4.05 8.60 6.00 10.51 11.50 2.30 1.55 6.00 9.75 9.00 9.95 6.90 12.01 10.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 100.00 100.00 100.40 100.00 100.00 100.00 10.00 1.01 LAST SALE 100.00 100.00 100.00 108.90 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

CLOSE 4.38 15.85 9.09 3.54 1.77 0.12 4.05 8.60 6.00 10.51 11.50 2.38 1.55 6.00 9.75 9.00 9.95 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 0.08 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 100.00 100.00 100.40 100.00 100.00 100.00 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

108.90 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

0.00 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 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 2.05 3.92 1.95 168.44 141.76 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 -135.0 14.2 14.0 23.4 104.5 23.3 19.4 20.0 18.8 9.4 12.1 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

YIELD 1.83% 6.31% 0.00% 5.93% 0.00% 0.00% 2.22% 3.49% 3.67% 3.43% 4.26% 2.52% 3.87% 4.00% 4.10% 0.00% 3.32% 2.03% 5.33% 0.00% 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% 0.84% 4.46% 0.01% 3.70% 0.37% 2.61% 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 28-Feb-2017 28-Feb-2017 24-Feb-2017 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

the application process’s potential end. “I see from looking at the manifesto the new government intends to take a fresh look at the legislation, so we may be able to have some input.

“It cools everyone down, there’s no panic, everybody can think sensibly and hopefully we can come up with something that benefits Grand Bahama. What we needed was a pause, and everybody to think through what will be the consequences. That’s what the Minister is aiming to do.”

Describing Mr Turnquest’s concerns over the application process and wider Act as “absolutely right”, Mr Leonard added: “I call it the Disincentive Act. I absolutely agree with what he’s doing, and it really is a breath of fresh air, quite frankly. It’s giving us time to take a good, sensible look at how we move forward.

It gives us all time to take a deep breath.”

The major concerns with the new Act and associated application process involve uncertainty over the length of time for which the tax breaks will be renewed, and the fact this appears left entirely to the discretion of the Investments Board and responsible minister.

There is also the fear that GBPA licensees not planning to expand their business are effectively ‘locked in’ to maintaining their existing employment levels for five years in return for the renewal of their real property tax, capital gains and income tax exemptions.

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 responsible for investments to strip Freeport businesses, partially or in full, of their tax breaks, and even enables them to demand retroactive payment of taxes that should have been paid if no conces-

Aliv reaps the rewards from graduate trainees Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, and the University of Manches-

The deadline for receipt of all applications is Monday, May 22, 2017.

Only persons shortlisted for an interview will be contacted.

THE TRIBUNE

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

ter in London, England.

Successful trainees at ALIV work in departments including sales, marketing, engineering, information technology (IT) and finance.

“This programme enables participants to discover and explore numerous career options while allowing ALIV to build a strong team by sourcing the best in Bahamian talent,” its chairman, Franklyn Butler, said.

“Through these programmes, participants de-

sions were granted.

“We have no idea what we need to do to qualify,” Mr Leonard said of GBPA licensee concerns. “There are no criteria. You put in the application and hope somebody gives you them [tax breaks].

“This whole thing about the jobs and employment.

I understand they [the former Christie administration] wanted to increase employment, but this is not the way to go about it.

“It’s a way of saying you’re better off doing business anywhere other than Freeport. That’s why I call it the Disincentive Act. It was really a disincentive to doing business in the Port area,” he added.

“There was no certainty in it, and that’s one of the greatest killers for business.

You’ve got to have certainty.”

Mr Leonard said that by following through on the Deputy Prime Minister’s pledge, the new government could achieve “small steps that lay the foundation for greater things to come later on”.

“I moved here 19 years ago because I felt Freeport was the future economic engine of the country,” he told Tribune Business. “The potential is still here. It’s just a matter of figuring out how to get all the engines running in the same direction at the same time.”

Dr Minnis yesterday foreshadowed a shake-up in the structure of government, which seemingly includes doing away with the Ministry of Grand Bahama. He instead appointed Kwasi Thompson as minister of state for Grand Bahama within the Prime Minister’s Office.

The change is likely to come as little surprise, given that many had come to view the Ministry of Grand Bahama as merely adding an extra layer of cost and bureaucracy to government.

velop skills that equip them to be leaders in their respective fields. It is a part of Aliv’s culture to create meaningful and inspiring experiences, and we believe that the graduate trainee programme provides these experiences for the youth of the nation.”

To be eligible for the programme, a candidate must have a Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a related technical field - finance, marketing, economics or business - and at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale or global equivalent, plus strong communication, interpersonal and influencing skills.

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, FRANTZ PIERRE-NOEL of Shirley Street intend to change my name to FRANTZ RégALA. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-742 Nassau Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the publication of this notice.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that ESTNELL POLYCARPE of Nassau Village, Nassau, 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 9th day of May, 2017 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that ROSE KARINE CHARITE of Fire Trail Road, Nassau, 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 9th day of May, 2017 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that MORALUS JOSEPH of #30 Silver Gate Dr., P.O. Box CR-54939, Nassau, 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 16th day of May, 2017 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 16, 2017, PAGE 7

Oil's well: Rising energy stocks help send S&P 500 to record NEW YORK (AP) — A spurt in oil prices on Monday revived energy stocks, which have been among the year’s worst performers, and helped push the broader market back to record highs.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index climbed 11.42 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,402.32, edging past its prior record set last week.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 85.33 points, or 0.4 percent, to 20,981.94, the Nasdaq composite gained 28.44, or 0.5 percent, to 6,149.67 and the Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks rose 11.15 points, or 0.8 percent, to 1,393.92.

Energy stocks helped lead the way after the price of oil jumped on expectations that the global glut of crude may ease.

A wide group of oilproducing countries has already cut production in hopes of supporting the

price of oil, and Russia and Saudi Arabia said they want to extend the cuts through the first three months of 2018. Benchmark U.S. crude rose $1.01, or 2.1 percent, to settle at $48.85 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, rose 98 cents to $51.82 a barrel.

The price of oil has swung sharply in recent years, from more than $100 three years ago to less than $30 last year, as concerns wax and wane that supplies will overwhelm demand.

Monday’s rise for crude helped oilfield services provider Halliburton jump $1.37, or 3 percent, to $46.51 for one of Monday’s biggest gains in the S&P 500. Energy companies across the index rose 0.6 percent.

Companies that produce metals and other basic materials, along with financial stocks, were also strong.

The day’s rally contin-

ued a calm push higher for stocks in recent weeks.

Markets around the world have been making modest, methodical gains as investors shrug off a long list of potential concerns.

South Korean stocks rose Monday even after North Korea launched a missile over the weekend and its leader promised more missile tests. The worldwide “ransomware” cyberattack continued to spread on Monday, which sent cybersecurity stocks like FireEye and Symantec higher, while politicians in Washington wonder whether Republicans’ odds of implementing tax cuts and other pro-business policies have diminished.

For the most part, signs of a strengthening global economy and improving corporate profits have been enough to allay investors’ fears and push markets to new heights. Profits have

a man walks to work on Wall Street, near the New York Stock Exchange, in New York. Shares edged higher Monday, May 15, 2017, in Europe and Asia, despite worries of disruptions from the “WannaCry” ransomware cyberattack over the weekend. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

at BMO Global Asset Management. “I don’t think we see any dark clouds on the horizon, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a 5 to 10 percent drawdown from now to year-end.”

Adams expects corporate profits to keep improving, which should help support stocks, but he points to several events that could jolt markets. Besides the uncertainty about what will happen on the Korean peninsula or in Washington,

upcoming elections in the United Kingdom, France and potentially Italy could also upset what’s become a lazy ride for markets.

In Europe, France’s CAC 40 rose 0.2 percent, Germany’s DAX index gained 0.3 percent and the FTSE 100 in London rose 0.3 percent.

In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 stock index slipped 0.1 percent, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index added 0.9 percent. South Korea’s Kospi index rose 0.2 percent.

Trade groups appeal to Beijing to postpone cybersecurity law

data about Chinese customers within the country would add to the cost and difficulty of doing business by requiring them to set up duplicate storage operations.

Restrictions on use of security technology in an earlier Chinese antiterrorism law and rules for banks prompted a similar outcry from business groups that said they would prevent most use of foreign products.

BEIJING (AP) — A coalition of 54 global business groups appealed to Chinese authorities Monday to postpone enforcing a cybersecurity law they warned violates Beijing’s free-trade pledges and might harm information security.

The appeal by groups from the United States, Japan, Britain and other countries adds to complaints Beijing is improperly limiting access to its markets for technology products, possibly to support its own fledgling suppliers.

In a letter to Chinese regulators and the ruling Communist Party’s cybersecurity committee, the groups said the Cybersecurity Law due to take effect June 1 might violate Beijing’s trade commitments and make theft of information easier.

It would limit use of foreign security technology and require data about Chinese citizens to be stored within the country.

Signers included the Business Software Alliance, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and trade groups for insurers, technology suppliers and manufacturers from Britain, Japan, Australia, Mexico and South Korea.

Many of them were among 46 groups that made a similar appeal in 2016 for changes in the cybersecurity law, which weren’t made.

“We are deeply concerned that current and pending security-related rules will effectively erect trade barriers,” said the letter. “China’s current course risks compromising its legitimate security objectives (and may even weaken security) while burdening industry and undermining the foundation of China’s relations with its commercial partners.”

The groups appealed to Beijing to postpone enforcing the law until it can be made consistent with Chinese market-opening commitments and World Trade Organization rules.

The complaint coincided with a trade forum in Beijing that began Sunday at which Chinese President Xi Jinping appealed to foreign leaders from two dozen countries in Asia, Africa and Europe to resist political pressure to limit trade.

Xi’s government has promoted itself as a champion of free trade in response to calls in the United States and Europe to limit im-

NOTICE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No. 46 of 2000) GOLDEN RACE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED IBC No.151321 B (In Voluntary Liquidation) NOTICE is hereby given that as follows: (a) That GOLDEN RACE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED is in Dissolution under the provisions of The International Business Companies Act 2000. (b) The Dissolution of the said Company commenced on the 12th day of May, 2017 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted and registered by the Registrar General. (c) The Liquidator of the Company is Sterling (Bahamas) Limited of 2nd Floor, Saffrey Square, Bank Lane and Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas. (d) Any person having a Claim against the above name Company are required on or before the 12th day of June, 2017 to send their name, address and particulars of the debt or claim to the Liquidator of the Company, or in default thereof they may be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such claim is approved.

Sterling (Bahamas) Limited Liquidator NOTICE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No. 46 of 2000) ABERDARE PTC SERVICES LTD IBC No.171782 B (In Voluntary Liquidation) NOTICE is hereby given that as follows: (a) That ABERDARE PTC SERVICES LTD is in Dissolution under the provisions of The International Business Companies Act 2000. (b) The Dissolution of the said Company commenced on the 12th day of May, 2017 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted and registered by the Registrar General. (c) The Liquidator of the Company is Sterling (Bahamas) LTD of 2nd Floor, Saffrey Square, Bank Lane and Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas. (d) Any person having a Claim against the above name Company are required on or before the 12th day of June, 2017 to send their name, address and particulars of the debt or claim to the Liquidator of the Company, or in default thereof they may be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such claim is approved.

Sterling (Bahamas) Limited Liquidator

ports. Despite that, China’s trading partners complain it is the most-closed major economy and business groups say Beijing is further reducing access to markets for technology and other products in which it is trying to develop its own suppliers.

been rallying not only in the United States but also in Europe and other areas that have been struggling for years.

The recent run of calmness is a sharp turnaround from the start of last year, when twitchy investors were quick to sell on worries about the global economy.

“We do really see this prevailing sense of complacency,” said Jon Adams, senior investment strategist

Communist leaders say China needs the data controls to prevent terrorism and anti-government activity. But officials of Chinese industry groups quoted in the state press have said previous restrictions on use of foreign security technology also were intended to shield the country’s fledg-

Legal Notice

NOTICE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No. 45 of 2000)

DALLAS INTERNATIONAL INC. In Voluntary liquidation

“Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000), DALLAS INTERNATIONAL INC. is in Dissolution.”

The date of commencement of dissolution is the 20th day of April, 2017.

Mr. Viktor Dereviakin Apt. 7, Merzlyakovskiy per. 15 Bldg. 3, Moscow Russia Liquidator

ling providers from competition.

Trade groups have previously said planned Chinese data storage rules do nothing to improve security and create market barriers for foreign providers.

They say the requirement for foreign e-commerce and other companies to store

NOTICE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No. 46 of 2000) GOLDEN RACE LIMITED IBC No.151322 B (In Voluntary Liquidation) NOTICE is hereby given that as follows: (a) That GOLDEN RACE LIMITED is in Dissolution under the provisions of The International Business Companies Act 2000. (b) The Dissolution of the said Company commenced on the 12th day of May, 2017 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted and registered by the Registrar General. (c) The Liquidator of the Company is Sterling (Bahamas) Limited of 2nd Floor, Saffrey Square, Bank Lane and Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas. (d) Any person having a Claim against the above name Company are required on or before the 12th day of June, 2017 to send their name, address and particulars of the debt or claim to the Liquidator of the Company, or in default thereof they may be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such claim is approved.

Sterling (Bahamas) Limited Liquidator

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 16, 2017, PAGE 9

b o dy an d min d

Painting the butterfly

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net

L

ast Friday, the team at Big Picture Paint and Sip Studio at Sandyport partnered with the Lupus 242 support group in an effort to spread awareness of the chronic autoimmune disease in a fun and artsy way.

“This was our first time hosting the event and it feels great to be able to support Lupus 242 in this way and continue to increase awareness,” said Big Picture Paint and Sip Studio founder Gennyne Hepburn.

For her it was important to mark the studio’s one-year anniversary not only with customer giveaways, but also with a giveback event for a local charity.

“We chose Lupus 242 because it is a group that I have personally supported in the past. The painting experience tends to be therapeutic and unique for the vast majority of people that come to our studio at Sandyport.

Therefore, it would be the ideal activity for those who have and are being impacted by lupus, either personally or indirectly,” said Ms Hepburn.

According to Lupus 242, the chronic autoimmune disease affects an estimated 5.5 million persons worldwide. Studies show that lupus is caused by several factors including genetics, environment and hormonal imbal-

Big Picture Studio and Lupus 242 team up to raise awareness

ances in the body. Lupus is often hard to diagnose with symptoms ranging from severe pain, fatigue and unexplained flare-ups impacting random parts of the body especially internal organs.

There is no known cause for the disease and presently statistics on the number of persons in the Bahamas living with lupus are limited. May is recognised as Lupus Awareness Month around the world.

A purple butterfly was chosen as the subject to paint at the event. Organisers explained that the butterfly is recognised as the official symbol of lupus and purple is the colour attached to the cause.

“It was only fitting for event participants to paint one of our original designs titled ‘Purple Butterfly’. Here at Big Picture we guide you through the process of transforming your blank canvas into a memorable work of art. We encourage our guests to paint, sip, mingle, and have fun while supporting a nice cause. No prior painting experience is required,” said Ms Hepburn.

She also said it is the studio’s hope that last week’s participants were able to build new relation-

The purple butterfly was the subject chosen for last Friday’s paint and sip party. ships and take home a painting that will remind them of the cause and the effort to find a cure for lupus.

“It is our hope to continue a partnership where our company can host an annual fundraiser in support of the charity. We’re all human. We need to be there to support others with unique life-changing experiences. We all have the opportunity to make an impact on our communities, and so if a paint and sip party at

Big Picture Paint and Sip Studio can do that, we’re in,” said Ms Hepburn.

To support the cause, persons can purchase Lupus242 T-shirts, wristbands or car bumper stickers. Proceeds go towards local awareness initiatives and global research. For more information on the group and upcoming events, visit www.facebook.com/ lupus242, e-mail lupus242@outlook.com or call 525 9967.

“We’re all human. We need to be there to support others with unique life-changing experiences.”

Poor sleep may lead to obesity and diabetes duced levels of leptin (the chemical that makes you feel full) and increased levels of ghrelin (the hunger-stimulating hormone).

I recently wrote about improving sleep for people with diabetes and other medical conditions. But what about preventing some of those conditions in the first place?

There is no shortage of information to help us lower our risks of obesity and diabetes. Yet what is less well understood is the link between sleep and these lifethreatening conditions.

One in three of us experiences poor quality sleep, stress and work often being the culprit.

You may not even be aware that you are sleep deprived. There is a simple test to determine if you are suffering with sleep deprivation.

The sleep latency test In a clip from “The Truth About…Sleep”, a documentary aired last week by the BBC, Michael Mosley shows us how to do a test which reveals whether you’re sleep-deprived. Named the “Sleep Latency Test”, all you need is a watch, a metal spoon and a tray.

To perform the test, go to bed in the middle of the afternoon and lie in a comfortable position, noting the time. Hold the spoon over the tray, which should be on the floor to the side of the bed, and try falling asleep. Once you’ve fallen asleep, your hand will drop the spoon and hit the tray, which should wake you up. When that’s happened, note the time and how long it took you to fall asleep. If it took you 15 minutes to get to sleep you’re OK; if it was 10 or under, you’re a little sleep-deprived, but if it took you less than five minutes to get to sleep, then you may have “severe sleep deprivation”, said Mosley.

If you are experiencing sleep deprivation, the risks go beyond bad moods and lack of focus. Reg-

• Prevents diabetes Studies have suggested that people who usually sleep less than five hours a night have an increased risk of having or developing diabetes.

Missing out on deep sleep may lead to type 2 diabetes by changing the way the body processes glucose – the high-energy carbohydrate that cells use for fuel.

Getting sufficient sleep contributes to your overall well-being. ular sleep deprivation puts you at risk of serious medical conditions, including obesity, heart disease and diabetes – and it shortens your life expectancy. Medical experts agree that it’s clear that a solid night’s sleep is essential for a long and healthy life.

Are you getting enough?

Most of us need around eight hours of good-quality sleep a night to function – but it varies.

What matters is that you understand how much sleep you need and then try to achieve it.

Health conditions, such as sleep apnea, can cause poor sleep. But in most cases it’s down to bad sleeping habits.

The occasional night of poor sleep may make you feel tired and irritable the next day, but it won’t harm your health. After several sleepless nights the mental effects become more serious. Your brain will fog, making it difficult to concentrate and make decisions.

You’ll start to feel down, and may fall asleep during the day. Your

All things bright and beautiful

Garvin Tynes Primary School held a special assembly last Friday to observe Autism Awareness Month. The assembly, under the theme “All Things Bright and Beautiful”, was attended by parents, students from the autism center at the school and the other students at Garvin Tynes.

BTC worked along with the school during the month and created a special public awareness video on autism.

“BTC has been with us from the very beginning of our initiative and we are forever grateful,” said Principal Carolyn WrightMitchell.

BTC’s Vice President of Project Management and Engineering, Jonathan Ford had the opportunity to speak at the assembly.

BTC and Garvin Tynes partner for autism awareness

Mr Ford encouraged the students to believe in themselves and he also reassured them of their academic value and purpose in our country.

“You matter. You have value.

Just do it,” he said He also stated BTC’s unwavering commitment to the children of our nation.

BTC provided autism awareness shirts for its adopted school, Stapledon School and Garvin Tynes. The company has also adopted five schools in New Providence and scores of schools throughout the Family Islands.

risk of injury and accidents also increases.

If your lack of quality sleep persists, it can affect your health.

You will be more prone to serious medical conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Here are some ways in which a quality sleep can boost your health: • Improves immunity If you are susceptible to catching colds and flu, your bedtime may be at fault. Prolonged lack of sleep can disrupt your immune system, making it harder to fend off bugs.

• Aids with slimming Yes, less sleep can lead to increased weight! Research has shown that people who sleep less than seven hours a day tend to gain more weight and have a higher risk of becoming obese than those who get seven hours.

It’s believed to be because sleep-deprived people have re-

• Fends off heart disease Chronic sleep deprivation seems associated with increased heart rate, an increase in blood pressure and higher levels of certain chemicals linked with inflammation, which may put extra strain on your heart.

• Boosts mental health Chronic sleep debt may lead to long-term mood disorders like depression and anxiety.

In a sleep habit survey of people with anxiety or depression, most of them had slept for less than six hours a night.

• Increases libido Research shows that men and women who don’t get enough quality sleep have lower libidos and less of an interest in sex. Men who suffer from sleep apnea – a disorder in which breathing difficulties lead to interrupted sleep – also tend to have lower testosterone levels, which can lower libido.

• Improves fertility Difficulty conceiving a baby may be one of the effects of sleep deprivation, in both men and women. Regular sleep disruptions can cause trouble conceiving by

Bettyjoe Cooper reducing the secretion of reproductive hormones.

Making up the ‘sleep debt’ If you don’t get enough sleep, there’s only one way to compensate – repay that sleep debt.

It won’t happen with a single early night. If you’ve had months of restricted sleep, you’ll have built up a significant sleep debt, so recovery may take several weeks.

Starting on a weekend, try to add on an extra hour or two of sleep a night. The way to do this is to go to bed when you’re tired, and allow your body to wake you in the morning (no alarms).

Expect to sleep for upwards of 10 hours a night at first. After a while, the amount of time you sleep will gradually decrease to a normal level.

Avoid caffeine or energy drinks as a short-term solution. They may boost your energy and concentration temporarily, but can disrupt your sleep patterns even further in the long term.

• Bettyjoe Cooper is a self-published author and the founder of Brand New Mattress Co, a retailer of bedding products located in the Hummingbird Plaza, Coral Harbour Road, Nassau. Call 698-4609 for more information.

BTC VP Jonathan Ford and Principal Carolyn Mitchell along with moderators Jayvn McKenkie and Ann-Tia Pradell from the Garvin Tynes Centre.for Autism.

(Photo/Rossano Deal)

PAGE 10, Tuesday, May 16, 2017

The potential for change

In the week after the resounding change in national direction engendered by the general election it is important to take stock of where we are and where we want to see ourselves go, and to see how best we can get there.

Can we plan better for future development? This is especially significant when we consider the paradigm that has developed in the United States in the attempt to repeal so-called Obamacare.

In many ways, the situation that has developed under Trump is indicative of seriously disabling inequalities. These inequalities have played themselves out in very interesting ways, especially as regards gender and class. Perhaps as a nation we need to focus on the developing situation there that threatens to undermine so much of the progress made over the last two generations towards women’s empowerment, for example.

We have an opportunity now to create positive change for the country and its citizens that can remove some of the mechanisms that keep people in positions of poverty and disabling inequality.

When the gender equality referendum failed to receive the support of Bahamian voters in 2016, a clear and loud message rang out across the length and breadth of the Bahamian archipelago: we do not think that women have a problem in accessing rights.

There were serious efforts to send up red herrings in the community that would intentionally bias the public and so ensure the failure of the referendum. The biggest red herring that caught everyone by the ‘short and curlies’ was of course the fact that the government was trying to make same sex marriage legal, and because no one trusted the government, notwithstanding whatever they did or said that might placate the

public, the public was sure they were being duped.

We had been duped badly already by the opinion poll on gambling that many numbers folk saw as threatening their winnings in the numbers houses.

Today, there seem to be more numbers houses than churches or barrooms, and some of them seem to have ‘legally’ taken on the role of banks, which undermines trust and economic stability, and erodes equality even further in an already deeply unequal society.

However, because of social programming that says we must defend a particular agenda, we bought into the idea that samesex marriage was beating down the door to our country. Meanwhile, we turned back a move towards less inequality through majority rule and the women’s suffrage movement.

Some people even offered that it did not matter that women were in fact second-class citizens. To be sure, again, by virtue of being Bahamian we are all second-class citizens, especially when it comes to economic opportunity, unless we own millions and benefit from access to cheap capital and financing. The Bahamian economy unequally and blindly empowers non-Bahamians through a legal framework that chooses to shower foreign direct investment with benefits. Again, men benefit more than women, even in this sector.

Thinking about medical care, learning from the US In the wake of Trumpcare’s success, we must consider how wom-

en and the working classes are disenfranchised by a system that uses a serious legally enshrined bias to remove their access to many types of medical service or even their access to affordable medical insurance because few of them understand the policy speak documents are coded in.

According to a part of the new deal, if a woman is raped she can be denied access to affordable medical assistance because rape can be construed as a pre-existing

THE TRIBUNE

ous stock of who benefits from NHI and how it will impact single women, single mothers and the elderly, many of whom happen to be women? Given that women form the majority of heads of households/families in the country, how will this group be empowered or disempowered by NHI? Will it be as gender biased as VAT is?

We have underscored and reinforced how clearly VAT disempowers single mothers in the nation. By making women pay

“We have underscored and reinforced how clearly VAT disempowers single mothers in the nation. By making women pay more for everything from cheap, poor-quality, low-nutritional-value food that is sold at a premium prices, as well as paying VAT on medical care, health insurance, school fees, clothing, clinic visits, we are severely compromising their ability to survive.” condition. Apparently there is also a challenge to women’s access to family planning as this could also be seen as a pre-existing condition. This is a lesson that the US and those afflicted there will need to examine on their own. The questions that arise from such a mammoth failure of democratic process that truly seeks to empower all people equally is, can a similar ill be visited on our small country?

As we prepare to dive into the deep end of National Health Insurance (NHI) that will undo a number of systems that are already in place, are we asking how this step into the unknown will directly and indirectly impact the majority of those we consider to be less equal in our society?

Have we stopped to take seri-

more for everything from cheap, poor-quality, low-nutritional-value food that is sold at a premium prices, as well as paying VAT on medical care, health insurance, school fees, clothing, clinic visits, we are severely compromising their ability to survive.

Given that women earn less than men and are more often than not the sole provider in the home, we understand that the intention, even if ‘unintentional’ of the government was to severely hinder their upward progress.

The other group who is almost equally as damned by the system are the elderly, who are usually living off a pension or national insurance benefits that cannot sustain an ant, but on which they must survive because they are given no other options.

Dr Ian Bethell-Bennett Given this reality, can we now step back and reexamine the seriously damaging economic policies that arguably improve the fiscal health of the state, but do so by destroying the nation than by empowering it? Many of these policies are so ‘intentionally’ gender biased and obviously target massively unequal groups, it is hard to think that this ‘targeting’ was not seen in the original plan.

However, in a country that used the credit and truck system to continue to disempower the freed blacks after emancipation, we cannot assume that the intention was not to continue to perpetuate the status quo and to render women less equal than men. At every turn the VAT system was gender biased and worked to blindly impoverish women, especially working-class women.

As the new Free National Movement government takes office, can we position ourselves to be able to take advantage of the potential to create positive change?

Let’s learn from the ‘mistake’ made by our neighbours to the north that (un)wittingly disempowers women and the working classes, and choose to change policies that potentially create similar evils here or that work to silence and impoverish large groups of us that are already struggling second-class citizens.

• Dr Ian Bethell-Bennett

Bahamian official applauds approach to treatment of drug use

By MATT MAURA Bahamas Information Services WASHINGTON, DC – The Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission’s decision to take a public health approach to the treatment of drug use and related disorders is one that should be embraced, said Rochelle Basden, deputy director of Psychological Services at Sandilands Rehabilitation as she addressed delegates attending the Third Plenary Session of the 61st CICAD Regular Session last month at the OAS Headquarters in the US capital.

Ms Basden said the public health dimension has gained momentum as nations strive for a more integrated and balanced approach to addressing the world drug problem. “As an archipelagic nation stretching from Haiti in the South to Florida in the North, we share a strong history in drug interdiction with our ally, the United States of America, and Turks and Caicos through the OPBAT Initiative, but we recognise all too well the need for a shared responsibility in addressing the world drug problem,” she said.

“So we put our money where our mouth is and not only aim to curb supply and maintain law and order, but we also recognise the need to treat persons, families

Rochelle Basden, deputy director of Psychological Services at Sandilands Rehabilitation and communities affected by drug use with dignity and respect. We therefore embrace a public health approach to the treatment of drug use disorders and related problems.”

Presenting on the subject “Drug Treatment Services in the Caribbean Region” as part of the Plenary Session that focused on “The Provision of Drug Treatment Services: Challenges and Solutions”, Ms Basden

said public health officials in the Bahamas have for some time held the view that a public health approach should be used in the treatment of drug use and related disorders.

Ms Basden said Bahamian public healthcare officials are using a multi-disciplinary team approach to ensure that comprehensive assessment, individualised treatment, planning and referral to an “appropriate

level” are carried out.

She said in an effort to improve standards across service areas, Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, the Bahamas National Drug Council and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) partnered with Bahamian stakeholders (government and non-governmental organisations) to begin the drafting of standards of care for drug treatment centres in the Ba-

hamas.

“Also, recent training programmes offered by PROCCER and the Colombo Plan received strong support from institutions/ agencies and treatment professionals who participated in the training.”

In 2006, the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), under the Secretary for Multidimensional Security (SMS) of the Organisation of American States (OAS), designed a programme to develop and strengthen member states’ institutions, policies, and strategies regarding treatment and rehabilitation for individuals with problems stemming from drug abuse and related violence.

The Training and Certification Programme for Drug Treatment, Rehabilitation and Violence Prevention (PROCCER) created a training and certification model that may be implemented throughout the hemisphere in response to the need for trained prevention and treatment service providers working in violence and drug addiction.

Ms Basden said in addition to the use of a multidisciplinary team approach, screening, comprehensive assessment, individualised treatment planning, referral, follow up and social reintegration, interventions such as individual, group and family therapy, psycho-

Fitness trainer Regina Smith celebrates a year of enriching lives From pg B12 urally, when I graduated I wanted that to continue.

I loved the energy and the atmosphere of the gym and just observing the different class offerings as it related to each dimension of fitness.

When I left for university and started dancing professionally, Pilates, Alexander technique, weight training and yoga were vital components to keeping the body conditioned for rehearsals and performances. I loved the energy of a gym and I slowly became intrigued and fascinated with the capabilities of the human body as it relates to strength and healing through movement,” she said.

Regina started off as a fitness host at Atlantis’ Mandara Spa and Fitness Centre. There, she was introduced to the ins and out of operations at a commercial gym. It was a rewarding experience for her.

“I eventually left Nassau

to attend Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBAU).

While attending university I completed my personal training certification in addition to the completion of a course in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, athletic training and conditioning.

I also worked as a building manager, lead trainer and fitness event coordinator at the university’s recreation department. On my summer breaks I would come home and work for various commercial gyms in Nassau. The most memorable experiences as a fitness professional has been serving as the lead trainer for the National Insurance Wellness Initiative back in 2011 and the Cancer Survivor Clinic at PBAU in 2013,” she said.

Regina said she hopes that with her expertise she is able to improve the overall well-being of her clients.

“Being overweight, tired, having severe tightness

in muscles and joints, or chronic pain can be challenging and overbearing. I work with clients that have different and distinct needs and goals. There are clients I work with that are focused on weight loss. I also work with an avid runner that’s recovering from IT band syndrome. There is another client that has mild chronic lower back pain who’s working on developing more core strength. It’s always a rewarding experience when I can help a client achieve their weight loss goals, perform daily functional movements with ease, and or achieve their athletic goals.

Knowing that they are experiencing a better quality of life while achieving their goals makes it all worth it,” she said.

Another way she has been able to help people is with a monthly fitness column published in Tribune Weekend.

But the best part of her

Regina Smith’s Energy Fitness Studio journey so far, she said, has becoming an entrepreneur.

“I grew up in a small business household. My father has always encouraged me to step out on my

own and pursue this venture. When I first stepped out with Energy Fitness, I had the last installments from my personal training clients, one ballet barre, no

education, motivational interviewing and enhancement therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, occupational therapy and recreational therapy are used.

“These interventions form the bedrock of the treatment process at the Government facilities,” said Ms Basden.

She said Inpatient drug treatment services are provided within the government-operated psychiatric hospital (Sandilands), a medically managed facility, and include detoxification and withdrawal management; partial hospitalisation programme; treatment for special populations experiencing co-occurring disorders, cognitive impairment, complications of medical and psychiatric conditions, impaired function in older adults; as well as mediumterm, medically monitored, residential treatment in a modified (evolving) therapeutic community setting, and follow-up and aftercare services.

Ms Basden said Bahamian magistrates have been “using their discretion” to offer drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration for a variety of drug-related offences, particularly in the cases of young, first time offenders.

“This process is facilitated through collaboration with the mental health system and Social Services,” she added. mirrors and a stereo system I bought three years ago. I had enough to order a few yoga/Pilates mats. I worked with a family friend to paint the walls and install the ballet barre. I invested previously in a few pieces of versatile mobile exercise equipment and I was just ready to get started. I knew that if I could get that first client in the door and offer them a top quality workout that would be a great start.

I applied the same concept to my barre and other class offerings. The focus was to create a valuable and memorable experience for the clients. If they enjoyed their experience, they would share it with their friends – and so they did. As I went along, I continued to reinvest into the studio. Here we are today, by God’s grace, growing steadily and continually building on what we have and improving,” she said.

“I know I’m only in my first year, but I’m hoping that my story and courage to step out will inspire other young women to step out and pursue their goals of small business ownership.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 16, 2017, PAGE 11 photos/AP

Marchesa

Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier

Marchesa

Bridal trendspotting: black accents, all-over beading, shoes

T

he recent round of spring 2018 bridal shows pointed to a turn back to tradition, sometimes with modern twists, along with plenty of options in silhouettes.

Black accents were plentiful and jewelry seemed to be mostly about the neck. Formal gloves were back and statement shoes went on the rise.

Some highlights:

BLACK FOR BRIDES Vera Wang once went with a collection of black dresses, but there hasn’t been a lot of black in bridal since, said Shelley Brown, fashion director for the wedding site TheKnot.com.

This season, the color seeped back in, mostly as an accent, she said.

Reem Acra was inspired, in part, by the color for her 20thanniversary show in collaboration with Tiffany & Co., playing with black as an ode to Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” at the iconic jewelry house’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue.

“She started the show off with a bunch of black evening gowns that can also be ordered in white.

Throughout the show she had black bows and different kinds of

black accents,” Brown said.

Acra, herself, said of the color: “Black is an accent to the luxury world.”

At Marchesa, there were also a lot of black bows, black earrings and furry, feathery black shoes.

Bridal designer Kelly Faetanini sent a black ostrich-feather ball gown down her runway.

“That trend really jumped out at us because black isn’t usually a color you associate with bridal, but done the way it was done this season, it felt very romantic and elegant,” Brown said. “I think black accents are a classic way to make a statement.”

Black, she said, when done right, can also lend a modern, edgy feel to brides looking to go in that direction.

SHORT VERSUS LONG GOWNS Brown notes a swing back to a more traditional floor-length hemline in gowns after short looks and even pantsuits shared a moment several seasons ago.

“There’s definitely been a return to more classic silhouettes.

We saw a lot more ball gowns, a lot more classic A-line dresses and even oversize-bow details that just felt so traditionally bridal,” Brown said.

While black popped, so did

white in a range of shades, said designer Monique Lhuillier.

“White looks right again. It feels new and timeless at the same time. I really embraced that this season,” she said.

BEADING AND SEQUINS “I noticed a return of all-over beading,” Brown said. “That embellishment has obviously been a bridal staple for a really long time, but I haven’t seen over-thetop beaded dresses in a while and I noticed a lot of those came down the runway.”

There was beaded fringe, art deco beading and all-over pearls and sequins, she said, and fewer sexy, nearly nude dresses.

Lela Rose, for instance, showed an off-the-shoulder gown with a wide neckline that was adorned with pearls, along with a gown nearly covered in them.

“You could actually hear it as it moved on the runway,” Brown said. “Pearls are having a readyto-wear moment, too.”

Jenny Packham, Naeem Khan and Pronovias, which recently showed in Barcelona, Spain, along with Justin Alexander, rolled out all-over beading, Brown said. The brand Theia went a step further with looks completely inspired by pearls in shimmery gowns and embellishment.

“They felt even red-carpet appropriate,” Brown said.

ACCESSORISING Statement earrings took a backseat to the neck, Brown said.

“There were a lot of chokers happening,” she said. “Lela Rose had chokers, Hayley Paige, Romona Keveza. There were chokers everywhere. There were a lot of neck accessories happening.”

Generally, there was less statement jewelry than in the recent past, Brown said. Chokers are a ready-to-wear trend that has translated to bridal and all kinds — feathered, black velvet and pearl-encrusted — are included, she said.

And gloves are back for brides, also of all kinds.

Monique Lhuillier showed wrist-length in white lace. Others did elbow-length sheer gloves with embellishment, including Lela Rose. Reem Acra did a lot of elbow-length in black.

“It’s a traditional bridal accessory and can be very formal,” Brown said. “It’s definitely a timeless trend.”

BRIDAL SHOES Yes, brides obsess about their shoes, even when you can barely see them.

Are you living beyond winning and losing?

Whether it is sports, beauty pageants, spelling bees or general elections, there is a high premium placed on winning and losing. So much so that many folks struggle to live beyond these two opposing positions. As such, people spend lots of time obsessively trying to win or frantically not wanting to lose.

While they each carry their own share of emotional capital, the bigger question is, are you living beyond winning and losing?

The answer for many is an emphatic ‘no’ and the reasons are many.

First, let’s agree that life is colossal. And it most certainly goes way beyond the limits of winning and losing. The only challenge is whether or not you have a strong desire to live beyond these limits.

Life, I mean real life, is about being intentional. It’s about moving with intention to experience something bigger and more meaningful. But here’s the catch – and there is always a catch – you cannot experience more meaning if you are not willing to do some inner work on yourself. This inner

work begins with taking an internal inventory of your mindset.

Regardless of where your life is at – be it parked in position of socalled winning or losing – you are the one who parked it there. And you cannot reposition or change your life without first changing your thinking.

You can start by dumping some of those negative and unproductive thoughts. After all, ‘as a man thinketh so is he’.

Your thoughts are the bricks with which you build your life.

The quality of your thinking creates the results you experience.

Living beyond winning and losing is therefore a decision you must make. Winning and losing are also not etched in stone. Instead, they are defined by each of us. What some call winning may very well be considered losing to others.

But let me just say, if you define winning based on the amount of stuff you acquire and losing based on their absence, chances are your life is lived on a hamster wheel where you are anxiously chasing winning and running from losing.

A more frantic, unhappy life cannot be imagined.

Try this on for size – life is not about gaining a pile of stuff nor is it about the absence of stuff. If you are living only to chase stuff and call that winning, you are sadly mistaken. Such a life is not living but merely existing. In spite of the high value placed on getting plenty stuff, in the end it amounts to just stuff. What I learn about stuff is that no matter how much you get, if deep inside you still feel empty, more stuff makes no difference.

I believe that you can only live a better life when you feel better about yourself. To me, you only lose when you lose your desire to live a more meaningful life. Such a life goes way beyond the game of winning and losing.

No doubt, this quality of living is difficult in today’s paradigm of consumerism where people believe more is better. The more you get, the more successful you are believed to be. Yet there are countless stories of the very wealthy who are also the very unhappy.

Real living is about being fully engaged and happy inside your life, regardless of your stuff status.

Growing up in Bain Town, I recall many basic meals, like steamed Spam and white rice. While some may see this meal as ‘poor’, what they miss however is the fact that this so-called poor meal was richly prepared with love.

You see, the food we had to eat was not as important as the joy of eating together as a family. Those meals had so much more meaning.

On the other hand, look at family life today, where expensive meals produce very little family connection. Everyone is usually plugged into their media device.

Is this a position of winning or losing to not have any quality time enjoying meals together?

Leader to leader, commit to doing the inner work to live your life beyond winning and losing. Redefine the way you define yourself to discover your unlimited possibilities.

Indeed, there is no point to gaining the whole world of stuff only to lose your soul. Living with meaning promotes a positive im-

Some designers went all out on shoes this season, Marchesa included. Crowds gathered at the feet of one model in a short look at the Marchesa presentation, which is the type of show where models stand still. She was wearing a pair of black shoes with feathers.

“They were really, really spectacular,” Brown said. “They’re an important accessory. There are definitely more options where your shoes are concerned, but you can kind of make any shoe a bridal shoe. There are even bridal sneakers that have been around for several seasons.”

In her travels as an accessories spotter, Brown has come across plenty of white shoes with lasercut leather and white feather touches that would be perfect for the right bride. But it’s not just about black and white. Pastels, iridescents and metallics have been on recent runways, too, in both dresses and shoes.

Georgina Chapman, half the Marchesa design team with Keren Craig, said from their recent show that, sometimes, shoes for brides are a private affair.

“They want to know they have them underneath there,” Chapman said. “It’s like wearing great lingerie, you know, not many people may see it but you know you have it on.”

LEANNE ITALIE Associated Press

Michelle Miller Motivationals

Michelle M Miller pact. These crucial steps are the central point of living an empowered life. Yes, you definitely can do it!

What do you think? Please send your comments to coaching242@yahoo.com or 429-6770.

• Michelle M Miller is a certified life coach, communication and leadership expert. Visit www. talktomichellemiller.com or call 1-888-620-7894; mail can be sent to PO Box CB-13060

SECTION b

tuesday, may 16, 2017

To the poles...

A special weekend for women to learn how to fish

By ALESHA CADET

“I am hoping the ladies encourage their younger daughters and nieces to learn how to fish, because this is also a job; it is a major industry where money can be made.”

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

L

adies, it’s time to get up, get out and get off da rock, as the third annual ladies fishing weekend kicks off this Friday with several new activities and with exciting experiences in store.

Participants will learn fishing techniques with Captain Anthony DiGiulian of the International Game Fish Associations School of Sport-fishing. A prize will be given for the biggest fish caught and the women will also get to enjoy a mix and mingle at the Plantation Bar and Grill, receive goodie bags with tournament performance shirts, and more.

“This weekend is about teaching women how to fish and exposing them to that particular industry.

It is a very lucrative field, but we are doing it for fun; also providing information about conservation. Conservation and green living is big across the world, and protecting the industry and the fisheries is all a part of this event,” said Alexandria Newbold, founder of the Off Da Rock Ladies Fishing Weekend.

It was while on a trip to Fort Lauderdale about five years ago that Ms Newbold came across an event called Ladies Let’s Go Fishing. She was inspired to launch a similar ladies fishing weekend here in the Bahamas.

“I attended the event in Florida and it was so good. Like-minded women held world records and they were there again, learning just to be in that environment with women doing something like that.

Bahamian women have fun learning to fish during a Off Da Rock Ladies Fishing Weekend.

I incorporated the idea at home because it is such a good thing,” she said.

Her fascination with fishing stems from her childhood years growing up around her father’s boats.

“There was always this thing with what was considered ‘girls stuff’ and ‘boys stuff’, so while my brothers learned how to dive and fish, I was a bit restricted to girly activities,” she said.

But after her first fishing experience, Ms Newbold said she was so enthralled that it became a hobby for her.

“I am hoping the ladies encourage their younger daughters and nieces to learn how to fish, because this is also a job; it is a major industry where money can be made. Later this year we are going to do a number of fun trips in August, November and December, and hopefully it grows from there where we will try to turn it into a business,” said Ms Newbold.

For more information, visit OffDaRockBahamas. com, call 436-6695 or email info@offdarockbahamas.com. Partial proceeds from the Ladies Fishing Weekend will go to the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association.

Fitness trainer Regina Smith celebrates a year of enriching lives

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

On the surface it may seem like the career of a fitness professional merely entails advising people on how to optimise their health.

However, for Regina Smith there is much more to it. At the heart of her job as the owner of the Energy Fitness Studio is enriching the lives of as many people as possible. Regina has spent most of her life in the world of fitness and is about to celebrate her one-year anniversary as a small busi-

ness owner.

The Energy Fitness Studio is a personal training, semi private and small group training studio that also offers group training with a personal touch.

Clients like the intimate class sizes or “boutique fitness”, she explained.

The small groups allow her to work more closely with her clients and give them careful attention so that they can progress safely.

The studio also offers small group classes in Pilates mat, Total Barre, yoga, high intensity interval training, TRX and indoor spinning.

Regina said it has been a reward-

ing experience watching the studio “morph into this vibrant community of people that are dedicated to an active and healthy lifestyle.”

Her interest in all things fitness began as she participated in sports and dance in high school. During her childhood and teenage years she studied various ballet, jazz and modern techniques with Lawrence Carrol and Gabriella Szabo.

“I also played for the junior girls and senior girls soccer team during high school. So I was always involved in movement and conditioning. NatSee pg b10

Fitness professional Regina Smith