01182023 NEWS, SPORT AND BUSINES

ARREST AFTER BABY’S DEATH

29-year-old man held following infant being found unresponsive

By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.net

POLICE are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of an infant girl who became unresponsive while in the care of a family friend on Monday.

A 29-year-old man is in police custody after injuries were noticed on the baby’s face. Police described the incident as alleged infanticide, however an investigation is ongoing and an autopsy will be

performed to determine the baby’s cause of death.

Yesterday, police press liaison officer Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings urged parents to ensure they are leaving their children in safe hands.

The incident occurred around 11am on Monday, police said.

Preliminary reports indicate that the infant was in the custody of a family friend while her mother was at work.

PREGNANT MOTHER OF BELLA IN JAIL AWAITING SENTENCE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A PREGNANT mother was sent to prison yesterday to await sentencing for allowing her boyfriend to beat her four-year-old daughter to death in 2021.

This comes a day after this same boyfriend was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the child’s

murder after taking a plea deal in court.

Ostonya Walker, represented by attorney Dorsey McPhee, stood before Justice Renae McKay on charges of exposing a child to grievous harm and child cruelty.

On November 5, 2021, Darion Smith, 34, beat Walker’s daughter D’onya

FATHER OF THREE KILLED ON WAY TO WORK

By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.net

A FATHER of three was shot and killed in his car yesterday morning while on his way to work.

The incident occurred at Gibbs Lane and Infant View Road.

While the victim was not identified by police, Margueritte Burrows, the victim’s mother,

identified him as 33-yearold Dominique Berry. “As a mother this is tragic, as I would imagine, it would be the case to any other mother. This just continues. It’s shocking. It’s a sad thing to happen to any other family and now today I’m experiencing it,” Ms Burrows said at the scene, as screams from the deceased’s family echoed in the background.

Press

“Shortly after 7am, police were notified via our ShotSpotter technology of gunshots being discharged,” CSP Skippings said.

“Preliminary reports thus far suggest that the victim

GIRLFRIEND OF MURDER VICTIM ‘BROKEN’

By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE girlfriend of a 24-year-old man who was killed in Abaco on Monday said she is “broken”, adding the victim was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Alexes Denoye told The Tribune yesterday that John Joseph had a bright future ahead of him.

According to police,

Joseph was shot around 6.30pm when he arrived at a home in Bahama Coral. He was approached by a gunman who shot him multiple times.

The suspect then fled the area in a black Japanese vehicle.

Paramedics responded and pronounced Joseph dead at the scene.

PMH ‘CRISIS’ AS NO ROOM FOR PATIENTS

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE president of the Bahamas Nurses Union is sounding the alarm about a “crisis” in Princess Margaret Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department (A&E), telling this newspaper the area has no space to keep some patients. She revealed yesterday that 41 admissions were waiting in A&E.

liaison officer, Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings told reporters shortly after 7am police were notified of the incident.

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis met US Vice President Kamala Harris at The White House yesterday to discuss a number of issues facing The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean region. According to the Office of the Prime Minister, the United States reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening partnerships with our country and with the Caribbean.

Coalition gives govt ‘14 days’ to act on migration

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

MEMBERS of the Coalition of Independents protested outside the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday over what they term to be an immigration crisis in the country.

Lincoln Bain, COI leader, presented a letter that gives 14 days to implement a list of suggestions to tackle illegal immigration in the country. He attempted to deliver this letter at the Office of the Prime Minter (OPM) yesterday. However, he claimed he was refused to be let in and, after talks with officers, police volunteered to serve the document instead.

The group said failure to implement the suggestions will lead to Bahamians being called to “occupy” Parliament Square.

“I want to make it abundantly clear, we are not against Haitians, we’re not against any race of people,” Mr Bain said outside the barricades erected outside OPM. “We are against illegal immigration no matter who does it. We don’t care if they are Chinese, Americans, Europeans, but right now we are being flooded with illegal immigrants

from Haiti and we cannot support this.

“We have come today to make a demand of the government to deal with the situation. Members of Parliament have now complained yet the government is doing nothing. What discussions are they having in Cabinet about what should be going on right now?” he asked.

He also said: “After 14 days we’re going to make a clarion call to all of the Bahamian people to join us on Parliament Square. We are going to apply from now to the Cabinet Office to occupy Parliament Square, our square, if they fail. And Bahamas, I am calling on you to come out and be ready to refuse to go home until something is done.”

In the letter, it is stated that the people are “disturbed by the everworsening immigration crisis in The Bahamas” and successive governments have failed to address this vexing threat to national security for more than 50 years.

“...The illegal immigration problem does not stand alone, it is commingled with gun and drug trafficking and other serious crimes. This is contributing heavily to our devastating crime

crisis. We further appeal to your sense of humanitarian justice. Children are being forced to live in these squalid conditions without basic, fundamental needs such as electricity and plumbing. This is a violation of their human rights and breaks our laws of child neglect. If we allow this to continue, we are as liable as the illegal immigrants who seemingly birth children in this condition for strategic advantage,” the COI letter noted.

“Concerned citizens of our great nation, therefore, must submit the following short-term solution to get this crisis under control. We give the government 14 days to implement these suggestions. Should the government fail to do so the Bahamian people will be called to occupy Parliament Square like the illegal immigrants are occupying our land.”

Among other things, the letter called for a naval blockade to be set up at the country’s southern marine border; insist that Haiti assist with the cost of arresting and repatriating its citizens here illegally; and appeal to the courts to have all new structures built in shanty towns demolished.

MEMBERS of the Coalition of Independents protesting outside the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday.

Photos: Austin Fernander

LINCOLN Bain speaking at the protest.

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As chairman of CARICOM, the Prime Minister believes it is important for the United States and other partners in the hemisphere to support Haitian-led

PM presses case for climate change action

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

PRIME

Yesterday, Mr Davis, chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), appeared on Atlantic Council Front Page to discuss his vision for CARICOM and the US-Caribbean relationship following his meeting in DC with US officials.

Mr Davis urged those at the forum to ponder answers to what will be done to address the matter of climate change.

He noted that while time “runs out” for preventative action, small island developing states must come to terms with the vulnerability with which they are faced.

In suggesting climate resilience as the “obvious” answer to climate woes, he also acknowledged that the financial toll taken by rising sea levels and frequent storms serves as a threat to funding climate resilience initiatives.

He said: “What we need is more access to climate change -specific funding to mitigate the damage being inflicted each day. We can talk about developing our economies and promoting security all we want, but any talk of sustainable regional development must include a discussion of substantial investments in a climate-resilient future for the Caribbean.

“Climate justice must be more than a buzzword. To avert future economic crises, to protect against future death and destruction, and to prevent a climate change-generated migrant crisis, real action must be taken to equip all nations within our Caribbean community for climate resiliency,” he added.

Mr Davis also noted that climate resilient infrastructure works hand in hand with regional energy security, as it is a shared goal for the good of the region and the world to move towards cleaner fuels and renewable energy.

Despite acknowledging the lack of resources as a major hindrance, Mr Davis is confident that more action must be taken to equip all nations within the Caribbean for climate resiliency.

“We must work closely with US and international funding agencies to generate the necessary capital investments to make a future powered by renewable energy possible.”

Mr Davis continued: “As for US-Caribbean engagement of this issue, greater investments in the Caribbean Energy Security Initiative is a good place to start to provide the necessary financial and technical support.”

Along with climate resilience, Mr Davis said there is a need for more resilient agri-food systems as 57 percent of English-speaking Caribbean countries face food security issues.

However, the lack of access to funding has

BRIEF DISRUPTION IN AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE

AIR traffic controllers returned to work after a brief disruption yesterday.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, the Department of Aviation was made aware of a disruption to air traffic services yesterday after 7am, attributed to an ongoing issue around the screening of air traffic controllers by the Airport Authority.

The statement said “after an immediate intervention and consultation with stakeholders”, all air traffic

services resumed normal operations after 8am.

A meeting has been proposed this week with the Air Traffic Controllers Union, Airport Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority to address yesterday’s incident as well as other outstanding matters.

“We are committed to the tenants of ongoing industrial harmony, compliance with national and global security practices and avoiding any disruption to our domestic and international travelling public,” the ministry said.

contributed to the Caribbean being unable to take “big leaps” forward in agriculture.

Despite embracing innovation in the Caribbean, Prime Minister Davis said financial inclusion has emerged as a major issue across the region.

At the forum, the FTX controversy was also brought up.

Prime Minister Davis noted that the downfall of

the cryptocurrency giant is “nothing new”.

During his appearance at Atlantic Council, Mr Davis told the moderator, Jason Marczak, that there were similar instances of such issues before and The Bahamas had cooperated.

“The difference here is that we were in a different space, the crypto digital space,” Mr Davis said yesterday.

“Unfortunately, we do

have a legislative regime that was in place. Our regulatory body worked very closely with the US regulatory bodies in various matters to collaborate very often in matters of concern that has cross border issues and so when the FTX issue arose, it was because of the regulatory regime that allowed us to move quickly to preserve assets for participants in the FTX business.”

He credited The

Bahamas for having a “more modern” regulatory regime in comparison to the United States, adding that it “saved the day” for many investors.

However, Mr Davis noted that he is looking forward to The Bahamas collaborating with the United States government, as there has been a commitment to provide grant funding and loans to address a number of matters.

Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis said that resiliency and funding are the answers to the climate woes of the Caribbean.

The Prime Minister and the Vice President emphasised the importance of strengthening efforts to combat illegal maritime migration and reducing the

flow of guns illegally entering The Bahamas from the United States.

Mr Davis also raised the importance of reinstating pre-clearance facilities in Grand Bahama, a critical step to support the island’s economic recovery. The discussion widened to cover a number

regional issues, including food and energy security, and efforts to combat climate change.

efforts to stabilise that country and find a path forward out of the crisis, his office said.

PICTURED, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis with Vice President Kamala Harris. Photo plus front page photo: Eric Rose/BIS

PMH ‘crisis’ as no room for patients

“There’s a crisis in A&E and still we’re dealing with patients,” Amancha Williams said. “We’re still dealing with emergencies that are coming in.

Accidents, people coming rushing from their house in a state needing medical attention and so we’re still dealing with those.

“We still have patients (with) broken limbs - whatever we have them still in the Department of A&E which is a small department due to the fact that they’re renovating. We have no space (for) these 41 patients and we’re depriving them of good care.”

When contacted for a response, Dr Aubynette Rolle, Public Hospitals Authority managing director, was transparent on the number of admissions and

limitations with bed space.

“We are in a critical state. So this morning we did have quite a bit of admissions, some 47 in total, and as a result it caused a complete backup in the emergency room. Because you know we are doing infrastructure renovation, we had limitations with bed space,” she told The Tribune

“So we do have a partnership with Doctors Hospital as well, but we had issues in terms of transferring the patients in and out. We’ve been able to open up one of the ones (wards) which is Female Medical One that has the capacity to accommodate up to 24 patients.”

She added: “So we’ve started that process of moving patients there. We’ve also spoken with Doctors Hospital with our partners to review getting patients. So we now have patients transitioning out

to go to Doctors Hospital West as well and then also we’ve been moving to see if we could get some of the infrastructural works done.

“So we are really making some inroads and there’s been delays simply because of the inadequate amount of beds. So as fast as we get trolleys coming in we have a lot of sick persons and in speaking with the clinicians this morning, we have seen an uptick from November, all of those patients with the non-chronic communicable diseases. Those are the patients that we now see coming to the emergency room. So it’s a crisis going on. It’s not only at PMH. It’s all over, but we’re trying to handle it as much as possible,” Dr Rolle said. Yesterday, the BNU president said she has reached out to PMH officials, but has not got a plan about dealing with the situation.

“I’ve called and I have not gotten a plan - and I expressed to them the concerns of the nurses and the doctors and that they’re tired and they are waiting to sit out. They are waiting to sit out because there is nothing happening and their plan A is not working,” Ms Williams said.

“We’re still taking in patients from various Family Islands on emergency flights. So we must be up and running because we are the capital. We must have a functioning hospital that could accommodate our great demand and that’s what I’m saying to you - it’s really in a crisis. We’re not meeting the demands of the country,” Ms Williams said.

Dr Rolle conceded that medical staff may be at the point of exhaustion, but believes all partners are on board.

“Remember, now they

had to make a shift so they’re not in their normal space as well because of the renovations going on in the urgent and emergent care project. So they have shifted to the GPC side, which is much smaller than the average emergency room floor and we also have to appreciate that the nurses and the physician have been working continually from COVID,” she explained.

“They have not had a break and so with this uptick, they are very exhausted. I’ve had an opportunity to speak with persons on the ground. I’ve also had an opportunity to speak with the medical team. I’ve met with the executive and I also had a conversation with the principal nursing officer along with my team from here this morning. So I spent quite a bit of time letting

them know what are the plans, what are the strategies, and I think all partners are on board.”

Last July, a major jump in hospital admissions left the Princess Margaret Hospital “bursting from the seams”, forcing health officials to have some patients relocated to Doctors Hospital West to receive medical care.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said the situation became apparent due to a major influx of non-COVID patients seeking care at the hospital.

In December, Dr Darville announced a formal agreement that allowed the transfer of Princess Margaret Hospital patients to Doctors Hospital West. The partnership is expected to last 14 weeks while renovations at PMH are continuing.

PRAYERS HELD FOR CB MOSS

A

Last

a

tomorrow at 7pm.

The services are being arranged by the Rev Philip McPhee, the Rev Robert Colebrooke and the Rev Glen Miller.

Rev Moss remains in a medically induced coma at Doctor’s Hospital.

Rev Moss is also the head of the Bain Grants Town Advancement Association, which is responsible for several large-scale community initiatives, including the National Heroes Day Awards and a special convention to end child abuse and trafficking.

He is also the head of the Coalition to Save Clifton, which campaigned for the Clifton Pier area of New Providence to be preserved for the people. Eventually, the Clifton Heritage National Park was established.

BELL ROUNDS ON CRITICS OVER IMMIGRATION

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

IMMIGRATION Minister Keith Bell yesterday branded comments from critics that the government is not doing enough to address the illegal immigration problem in the country as completely “disingenuous”.

Mr Bell spoke to the press as a group of people, led by Coalition of Independents leader Lincoln Bain, protested outside the Prime Minister’s office yesterday, demanding that the Davis administration take action to address what they call an “immigration crisis”. Responding to

yesterday’s demonstration, Mr Bell said he was satisfied that this administration was doing “as much as it possibly can” at this point and called upon Mr Bain and his supporters to be mindful of what they say in public as it could create a false narrative.

“I would say to Mr Bain and to all Bahamians that all of us, as Bahamians we ought to speak with one accord and when we act, we ought to act with sincerity and we ought to be genuine in what we do, and we ought to ensure that we act for and in the best interest of the Bahamas and for Bahamians,” Mr Bell told reporters before attending yesterday’s

Cabinet meeting.

“I am satisfied that in The Bahamas the government is doing as much as it possibly can at this stage. There are a number of matters which are under active investigation, or are being actioned, not just by the Ministry and the Department of Immigration, but by the Ministry of Works and by the Ministry of National Security.

“And I think it does those officers a disservice and I think it’s really disingenuous of Mr Bain and his cohorts to indicate that nothing much has been done on and to represent matters that I have discovered are in fact, not the case.”

The minister pointed to recent “nonsense” claims

made by Mr Bain on social media about there being a shanty town situated on Paradise Island.

Mr Bain went live on Paradise Island earlier this week, knocked on a woman’s door at night and questioned her, alleging that she was squatting in the home.

However, Mr Bell called the claims completely false.

“The individuals were born in The Bahamas and they have made an application,” he continued. “I will say a whole lot more about it, but as Bahamians, we have to ensure that when we speak about matters related to immigration, there is a domino effect. It cuts across other areas.

“So, for instance, you’ll recall a number of years we would’ve had several other challenges on Paradise Island for which The Bahamas have had. It took us a number of years to recover and so, now you’re talking about this ‘shanty town’ on Paradise Island, which as we all would appreciate, could impact our country economically.

“And so again, I want to caution Bahamians that don’t just simply grab up everything you see on social media, but it is absolutely rubbish, nonsense that a shanty town exists on Paradise Island.”

Asked if he believed the country was facing an immigration crisis, Mr Bell

said there’s no doubt that it’s a major problem, but noted the country needs to be more focused on its response to the vexing issue.

“The focus here is not whether or not we are in a crisis, whether we have a challenge, whether we have a problem, the issue with illegal migration, irregular migration coming from Haiti is an age-old problem,” he said.

“It’s a major challenge in the country, there’s no doubt about it, but the focus in my view ought to be and must remain what it is we are doing about it. That is the focus and that is where we intend to keep that focus.”

RECORD NUMBER OF REPATRIATIONS LAST YEAR

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE government repatriated 4,748 migrants last year, which was the highest number of repatriations ever, Labour and Immigration Minister Keith Bell said yesterday.

Of this figure, the majority were Haitians, followed by Cubans.

“Three thousand three hundred and forty-nine persons were repatriated to Haiti and 1,001 persons were repatriated to Cuba,” Mr Bell added.

“We would have repatriated persons to as far as Afghanistan, Egypt, Ecuador, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Romania, South Africa, Trinidad, Uganda, Turkey, Venezuela.”

Mr Bell said due to the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, officials have seen an influx of people coming to the country from Cuba.

“You would have seen the numbers just recently. We’d have had three or

four interceptions,” he continued. “In addition to that, we know that there are major challenges in Haiti, we know that the capital in Haiti (Port au Prince), there is gang warfare and violence over there.

“And as a result, a number of persons are trying to get their family members out of Haiti and I would have indicated to the media that we would have, I received in excess of 500 applications for consideration for permits to reside.

“That is where persons of Haitian descent are here in The Bahamas and they are asking for us to bring their relatives out of Haiti given the circumstance and we have not in most circumstances, approved any of those permits to reside and it is unfortunate that Haiti has found itself in that challenge.

“It is a matter that is being addressed at an international level.”

Mr Bell also said the Department of Immigration will be clamping down

on any foreigner found working outside the scope of their work permit.

He said action will not just be taken against workers, but also the employers.

“What I have asked for all of the persons on social media, and all of the persons on these Family Islands, and all the persons here in New Providence is to ensure that the information gets to the right individuals and the department that we can act on it,” the minister added.

“We can put all the information out there on social media, but unless it gets to the individual who can act on it, obviously you would appreciate that the element of surprise is most important.”

He also said: “And as I’ve indicated, anyone who is found working outside the scope of their work permit, whether it’s here in New Providence or in the Family Islands, their work permit will be revoked and we’re looking to bring action not

just in (to the) individuals but also the employer.”

This comes amid increasing concern about growing shanty towns in the country.

Last year, a multi-agency committee, composed of representatives from various government ministries and law enforcement agencies, was formed in response to the illegal developments.

Asked yesterday when people could expect to see action from the committee with respect to shanty towns, Mr Bell replied: “I’ve communicated with the Minister of Works who is currently out of country and I am satisfied that the action is being moved ahead.

“I on my part, believe that and I have tasked immigration to commence going back into these areas and begin documenting so that we can identify who are the Bahamians living in there, who are persons who are undocumented and where we find irregular illegal migrants to take them into custody immediately and deport them.”

SERIES of prayer services are being held this week for the Rev CB Moss, pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church, after he collapsed during a Majority Rule Day service.

night,

prayer service was held at Mount Olive church - with further services tonight and

THE PRAYER service for the Rev CB Moss at Mount Olive Baptist Church last night. `

Photo: Moise Amisial

Arrest after baby’s death

It is further reported that the family friend believed the baby was asleep, but after a short while, noticed the infant was unresponsive.

The infant was then taken to hospital for medical assistance. Hospital

staff attempted to render medical assistance, but confirmed the child had died.

Injuries were observed on the baby’s face leading police to arrest the 29-yearold man.

CSP Skippings spoke to reporters yesterday about the baby’s death, urging parents to be cautious and

to take good care of their children.

“I always say you have to ensure that the person is responsible, notwithstanding that accidents can happen. But if you have young children in your care and custody, you need to be checking them on a consistent basis.

“Don’t assume that the

FATHER OF THREE KILLED ON THE WAY TO WORK

was travelling west along Infant View Road when he was reportedly cut off by another vehicle. It is reported that the culprits fired gunshots at the victim in his vehicle and subsequently he died as a result of the injuries,” CSP Skippings said.

EMS personnel were called but pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

Asked if the victim was known to police, CSP Skippings said he was known, however, police had not had interactions with Mr Berry for a long time.

“He was actually working and doing extremely well in the past few years,” she said.

Ms Burrows admitted her son had a troubled past but had changed his life over the years, adding he was a construction worker and was on his way to work when he was killed.

“Like I say, in his younger days in all honesty he had a past. But for many years he’s reformed, he’s refined to be an excellent father. I am astonished to see how good he is to his children.

“I just rode with him yesterday and he dropped me to work, picked me up and took me to the store. I just saw a different person yesterday,” Ms Burrows said.

The mother spoke to reporters while other relatives wept in the background and were inconsolable.

“It’s a sad day in this country, it just continues, and it appears that there is no end to this,” she said.

This is the country’s seventh murder for this year according to The Tribune’s records.

On January 16, a man was shot dead in Abaco.

Preliminary reports indicate that the deceased had just arrived at a residence in Bahama Coral, when he was approached by a lone gunman who subsequently shot him multiple times about the body. The suspect then fled the area in a black Japanese vehicle, making good his escape.

EMS responded to the scene and confirmed the adult male had no vital signs of life.

On January 15, a man who was known to police in connection with a previous murder was shot dead in the Flamingo Gardens area.

On January 6, two men, including one who was on bail for murder, died after separate shooting incidents.

The first incident occurred around 2.30am that day.

According to police, a male victim was at a bar on Washington Street and

Robinson Road when he was approached and subsequently shot multiple times by an unknown man.

The suspect, who was wearing dark clothing and a ski mask, fled on foot.

Police said the victim died on the scene.

A few hours later, police were investigating a shooting incident in Nassau Village.

Police said a 29-year-old man was at his residence on Lawson Street, Nassau Village, after 1pm, when he was approached and subsequently shot multiple times by two men who got out of a small Japanese-type vehicle.

The victim was taken to hospital by EMS personnel, but later died, police said.

Police said they arrested a 30-year-old Nassau Village resident shortly after the shooting who is currently on bail for murder and is being monitored electronically.

The deceased was also being monitored electronically and on bail for murder, police said.

On January 2, a couple was shot dead as they slept. The incident took place in a home in Montell Heights. Police arrested two suspects shortly after the incident.

Investigations into the latest murder are continuing.

GIRLFRIEND OF MURDER VICTIM ‘BROKEN’

Ms Denoye described her boyfriend as a “family man” who had a heart of gold.

She said she was told the deceased was dropping a friend home the night he was killed.

“And I always told him that his heart is way too big. So, I said, look at it like the wrong place wrong time.”

She pointed out that life for the victim wasn’t easy due to struggles they both faced because of their Haitian background.

“We grew up in a shanty town, well we grew up in separate shanty towns. And we didn’t let that get the

best of us. We said at the end of the day we’re going to come out of this situation, which we did.”

Ms Denoye lost her mother a few years ago and is now grappling with another tragedy.

“My mom was the biggest chunk that left me. Now

I am burying a loved one. This was always one of my biggest fears.

“That was the person who I woke up to and laughed (with). And now that we’re not going to have any more karaoke in the car. I’m not going to hear that contagious laugh anymore,” she said, holding back tears.

She described Joseph as the love of her life and

said they often spoke about having a family.

During their five years of dating, Ms Denoye said the victim had successfully become a boat captain, adding they had shared hard times together in the past.

“He would actually buy a plate of food and we’ll break it in half. And he would say ‘you know what we don’t have enough cash so we’re going to split this.’”

She still hasn’t come to terms with his death.

“I feel like he’s definitely on one of those trips that he actually usually takes on the boat. It still feels like a dream like someone could pinch me,” she said.

PREGNANT MOTHER OF BELLA IN JAIL AWAITING SENTENCE

“Bella” Walker to death while she was in his custody.

It was previously reported that the child was irresponsive when she was taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital. Officers said initial investigations revealed Bella, a resident of Major Subdivision, sustained

several injuries to her body, from which she later died.

Police said the four-yearold’s official cause of death was blunt force trauma.

The case prompted national outrage.

Following Smith’s acceptance of the plea deal for the murder charge and Walker’s separate plea of guilty to her own charges, the latter was told that sentencing

arguments will commence on March 1. On this date the judge will be presented with Walker’s probation report.

While Walker’s attorney indicated to the court that her client is expecting to give birth in March as well, the accused was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until then.

MAN ACCUSED OF RAPING WOMAN

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday in connection with the sexual assault of a woman that took place last week.

Philip Rolle, 24, stood before Senior Magistrate Derence A Rolle Davis on a charge of rape.

It is alleged that on January 11 in New Providence, Rolle had sex with a

28-year-old woman without her consent.

In court, Rolle was not required to enter a plea as it was an indictable offence. He was informed that his matter would proceed to the Supreme Court by a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

The accused was further told that although the magistrate lacked the jurisdiction to grant him bail he had a right to apply for it through the higher court. He is expected to receive his VBI in March.

child is just sleeping, especially if you know that child has been exhibiting some signs of congestion. Not to say that that is what happened in this particular incident. But if you notice that the child is not feeling well, you want to try and take that child to the doctor immediately.”

She said that it is important to “pay attention to the darlings of our nation”, noting that anything can happen.

CSP Skippings stressed that parents should also ensure children are getting the medical assistance needed to aid in their well being.

“So, let’s just try to make

sure that we constantly check on them. If they’re not well, take them to the physician. Don’t try that homemade ‘bush medicine’ that we as Bahamians like to try, let’s take them to the doctor. Let’s find out what is wrong with them so that they can get the necessary medical assistance.”

FOUNDATION GIVES TO CHARITIES

MORE

people and groups who

Easy PayDay Foundation

their great work and the perseverance they display in being a helping hand.”

Non-profit to receive donations included Children’s Emergency Hostel, Bilney Lane Children’s Home, All Saints Camp, The Salvation Army, Persis Rodgers Home for the Aged, Nazareth Home for Children, Great Commission Ministries and Hands For Hunger.

Nancy Marie Wells, 79

of #7 Seabreeze Lane, New Providence who died on Monday, January 9, 2023 will be held at Calvary Bible Church, #62 Collins Avenue, New Providence, Bahamas on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Offciating will be Pastor Rob Elliot.

She was predeceased by her husband: Irvin Clifton Wells.

She is survived by her son: Webster Wells; daughter: Stacey Saunders; grandchildren: Christie Saunders, Gregory Saunders, Zanielle Wells and Jared Wells; great grandson: Logan Saunders; brother: Edward Jensen; daughter-in-law: Olivia Wells; son-in-law: Keith Saunders; numerous other relatives and friends.

There will be NO VIEWING

Arrangements by Vaughn O. Jones Memorial Center Mount Royal Avenue & Talbot Streey Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

than a dozen non-profit organisations with focuses ranging from fighting hunger and homelessness to caring for children and the elderly recently received financial support from the Easy PayDay Foundation.

Davinia Munroe, Easy PayDay communications officer, said the foundation is committed to identifying and supporting those who go above and beyond to make significant strides for numerous individuals, families, communities and The Bahamas at large.

She said: “Charities across the country are directly assisting vulnerable

would otherwise have no support. The

applauds

Photos: Ashley Albury/Serena Williams Media and Public Relations

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

Published daily Monday to Friday Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES

(242) 322-1986 Advertising Manager (242) 502-2394

Circulation Department (242) 502-2386 Nassau fax (242) 328-2398 Freeport, Grand Bahama (242)-352-6608 Freeport fax (242) 352-9348

Prime Minister presses climate change message

IT was a busy day for Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday.

First, he had an appointment at the White House in Washington, DC, where he met US Vice President Kamala Harris.

The talk was of building partnerships, and taking on illegal migration and the flow of guns.

There was also discussion of more detailed topics, such as bringing back pre-clearance facilities for travellers from Grand Bahama.

Often, these meetings can seem as if they might not achieve very much, but being able to air suggestions at that level unlocks the door at levels below. It is very much a diplomatic effort that can benefit the country.

Also mentioned during the visit were efforts to fight climate change – and that is a battle in which we suffer the wounds, but we must call on others to wage the war.

The countries contributing the most to climate change are the ones we need to turn the tide, and having the ear of the White House is important in that we can be there to remind, we can be there to point to the damage suffered from hurricanes, we can be there to point to the projections that say large parts of our country will be underwater in years to come.

Climate change was again on Mr Davis’ agenda when he appeared on Atlantic Council Front Page to discuss his vision for CARICOM and the USCaribbean relationship.

Mr Davis is the chairman of CARICOM at present, so his voice also carried the weight of other member nations.

He talked of the need to build resiliency to climate change – and of the crucial need for funding.

He said: “We can talk about developing our economies and promoting

security all we want, but any talk of sustainable regional development must include a discussion of substantial investments in a climate-resilient future for the Caribbean.”

He’s right. Flood walls need to be paid for. Shifting to climate-friendly technologies has a cost. Building infrastructure doesn’t happen without money to make it happen.

He added: “Climate justice must be more than a buzzword. To avert future economic crises, to protect against future death and destruction, and to prevent a climate change-generated migrant crisis, real action must be taken to equip all nations within our Caribbean community for climate resiliency.”

If we don’t, then when the waters rise, where will the people go? We will see a new wave of migrants – and some of them might be ourselves.

If we fail to prepare for the disasters that may be on the way, economies may crumble. If we needed a warning for what that would look like, the shutdowns and joblessness during the COVID pandemic has been an unwelcome preview.

This is also a warning that has been sounded by successive Prime Ministers of our country, both PLP and FNM. The colour of the shirt has not mattered, the warning has remained the same – we face an existential threat.

So Mr Davis is right to keep drumming home that message. Have we heard it before? Yes. But we need to keep hearing it. More to the point, those in nations with the capability to do something about climate change to stop it getting worse need to keep hearing it.

There are other issues it would be useful to hear from Mr Davis during his CARICOM tenure. But yesterday, he struck the tone that was needed. We hope people are listening.

Will Fred take his own advice?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

IS IT too much to Hope that the Hon Fred Jetson Mitchell will take his own advice, and, as a mature person in public life fly off into the sunset and leave the governance of the nation to

a younger generation?

I am quite willing to share my porch with him, and, while I tend to my knitting, he can régale me with stories of the many foreign leaders he met, while I wonder how many remember him.

He will also have time to bone up on his Constitutional Law and ponder the meaning of Conflict of Interest.

JEANNE THOMPSON

Nassau, January 17, 2023.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

While continuing to beat a horse after it has succumbed is a waste of time I know. But it is said that a dripping tap, left long enough, can drill a hole through a concrete block.

As one rounds the bend at Montagu Bay, you can have no idea of the beautiful seascape from the road however as BAMSI must think your soul can be nourished looking at its gaudy sign instead (pictured). And Commonwealth Brewery is of like mind, feeling that your soul will be far better nourished if you drink whichever of their beverages they have on offer on any particular day.

But if you are inquisitive and get out from the shadow of these billboards the seascape is magnificent with between ten and fifteen visiting sailboats at anchor in a gorgeous and tranquil Montagu Bay.

I am absolutely amazed that these businesses would have such little respect for the Bahamian public that they would park these Godawful ugly Billboards right in our faces. And one must wonder what the Minister of Parks & Beaches under both PLP & FNM must think of the Bahamian Public to allow such an insult to them. Do we have no dignity left?

BRUCE G RAINE Nassau

January 17, 2022

Price f xing after the pandemic

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE SOFTWOOD industry is continuing to cut back production, while the prices of those products it produces domestically continue to rise to levels not seen in many years. The pandemic has stopped production of soft wood products, then started up again only to shrink a once massive industry. Multiple producers are limiting production while the demand for soft wood products continues to grow throughout the world.

Claims that market uncertainty is the driver of this curtailing of production in Canada and the USA. In British Columbia this decline in production amounts to over $100 million. Further reasons this decline is happening maybe the high cost of fiber (raw trees). What once cost $125 has doubled and tripled in cost. The forests these raw materials are found in have become grounds of displaced uncertainty. Weather patterns and events have become more pronounced due to the effects of climate change. Labour hour losses in the harvesting of said product, have increased to unrealistic levels making some harvesting unprofitable. So the industry claims. When the pandemic began essential industries such as the soft wood industry continued to produce their needed products. I am an estimator for a large manufacturer, purchasing many board feet of both soft and hardwood products. I was told the industry was becoming addicted to the high prices they could pass onto retailers and

LETTERS

builders, that there was no real shortage of product which could be found in large warehouses throughout the continent. All the industry was waiting for was increased demand at the increased costs to retail customers and the building industry.

These professionals announced that those of us who are waiting to start their home renovations and builds need not wait. The costs within the retail environment will remain high until these prices become the accepted price levels. Then prices will continue rising. An addict cannot maintain the level of a substance they use, with their bodies getting used to the high they receive, they need a greater high. The soft wood industry along with their retail partners are controlling and managing prices but denying retailers product that already exists.

This is called price fixing. You saw this done many times before, fixing prices industry wide in the form of bakery(bread) goods, electricity and even automobiles. Before the pandemic a dodge van costed @ $25,000-35000. Now they are prices @$50,000+ industry wide.

Should you have plans to build a deck, building or structure made of wood, purchase or order materials now at the present price available. Prices will go higher with scarcity of product.

Long time ago, the soft wood industry made a

2”x4” plank costing retailers say $10.00 each , which then received a 30-300%+ markup. Now that same item costs 30-45.00 each and rising. Retailers made a bundle, and the soft wood industry realised they too should increase prices, using the pandemic as an excuse to do so. Many industries have done just that, increasing prices while using supply chain problems and inflation as excuses.

Do you enjoy eating avocados? Well there is a glut within that sector, where over production with limited markets(EU stopped importing) drove prices for avocados down. A bag of 6 sold for as little as $1.99 in Ontario. After one month that same bag’s costs have increased x3-4 times and more. The economic reasons for cheap avocados had not changed. Therefore retail greed-inflation is the reason prices have increased.

There are real reasons for prices to increase drastically at times as mentioned but retailers are presently targeting both businesses and individuals, hoping to reap the rewards of their price and sales increases, knowing their business model will have to change once they have entered the upcoming recession many fear is coming. The recession these retailers have helped to instigate. Remember, if families have limited funds, ultimately they will limit or stop buying what they do not need.

STEVEN KASZAB Nassau, January 13, 2023.

Lobster hunting

EDITOR, The Tribune.

WE HEARD probably now nearly a year ago that the popular US fast food restaurant chain had been granted a franchise for The Bahamas and a group was going to cloud fund the project. If I recall some $1.8m plus was announced had been placed.

Weeks went past, no further news - further weeks

no news then following social media mention that a location had been selected the promoters confirmed a location had been found and an MOU signed, but did not want to disclose the location - then further silence.

I had hoped by now we could enjoy a Red Lobster meal rather than waiting for my infrequent visits to Miami or Orlando

but no - still silence. No location even speculated - no proposed opening day.

Disclaimer, not an investor, but I would be disturbed if I were. Doesn’t this sort of investment fall under Bahamas Securities Commission preview?

JEROME WELLS

Nassau, January 17, 2023.

letters@tribunemedia.net

LEARNING LOSS ASSESSMENT STARTS NEXT MONTH

By LETRE SWEETING lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Education announced the start of the learning loss assessment tests for next month in partnership with a private international learning analytics company.

The ministry has partnered with Renaissance Learning Incorporated to provide the tests in cycles of assessments and remediations from February to June at all public schools.

The assessments are set to affect some 40,000 students.

The announcement took place at a press conference yesterday.

Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin said the learning loss tests will be used to measure the loss of knowledge and skills, or reversals in academic progress in Bahamian public

school students following the pandemic in an effort to keep attendance at the high rate it is at today.

“The testing that we’re going to be talking about will allow us to specifically and strategically target responses and interventions, which will ensure a higher success rate,” Mrs Hanna Martin said.

“In this effort to pursue data, we did a survey with the department of statistics to find out why many of our children were not online. And we got to make a survey about and we were able to understand specifically what the issues were impacting young people and children, which caused them not to be able to

access the virtual learning,” she said.

Mrs Hanna Martin also mentioned several ways her ministry has been preparing data for this learning loss initiative.

“We also knew that many children and young people were not attending school in the thousands and thousands. We did walkabouts nationwide, every island, every community. As a result of that, we were able to get data from that experience,” she said.

“We were able to find out in each community, how many children were not attending, and we were able to understand the most vulnerable schools and communities with the data. We then appointed attendance monitors, who took to the streets to help us ensure attendance in schools as a counteract to the learning loss caused by

the pandemic,” Mrs Hanna Martin said.

“I’m pleased to say that today we are measuring 94 percent attendance in our schools nationwide. We are also undertaking research projects, which are helping us to understand and battle how our children are learning data,” she said.

“I would like to say that over the last seven days, we have engaged stakeholders nationally, we’ve met with thousands, literally thousands of stakeholders, administrators, unions, teachers, parents, the intent of this very important exercise is to test, measure and design acceleration programmes,” she said.

“This will allow our teachers in the classroom to have the empirical data as to where each individual child is placed and to designate remediation or acceleration programmes

based upon the outcome of those tests,” Mrs Hanna Martin said.

Acting Education Director Dominique McCartney-Russell said that preparation for the initiative has already started.

“In the next two weeks, we want to ensure that they know how to assess the children. And once that is completed in February, we’re going to start with the assessment,” she said.

“We are going to seek to provide at least two assessments, each session will be about 20 minutes. And that remediation will be applied. And that remediation will come from Renaissance but Renaissance will also provide strategies for our teachers. So we will assess, remediate, assess, remediate. We’re hoping to complete this particular process by the end of June,” she said.

EDUCATION Minister Glenys Hanna Martin yesterday.

ATTENDEES at yesterday’s briefing on the learning loss assessment

programme being launched.

Photos: Moise Amisial

Embracing the spirit but losing the message?

By Alicia Wallace

ON January 13, a large bronze sculpture dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King was unveiled in Boston. Twenty feet long and 26 feet wide, titled “The Embrace”, it is meant to depict the Kings hugging, inspired by a photograph of the two after Dr King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

This description makes it seem like a great way to honour the couple and their civil rights leadership.

As videos from the unveiling circulated on social media, it became clear that the sculpture is not immediately recognisable as an embrace, much less the Kings.

Many shared that the sculpture looks like a different kind of embrace, sexual in nature.

The idea itself seemed like a good one. Both people would be

represented, and the sculpture would show their love for one another.

As the photograph captured that moment, the sculpture would make it even more tangible, and seem to make their love for one another and pride in their work universal. Perhaps it could inspire others.

There are numerous messages to take away from such a work of art. That there is usually someone, often a woman, in the background whose work may go unnoticed, but makes the visible work possible.

That partnership is important. That we share in one another’s wins.

Unfortunately, nothing like that comes to mind when most people look at the sculpture, and it is not because of dirty minds. It is because the idea is not the same as what was brought to fruition. It does not have the intended effect.

One of the most troubling aspects of the sculpture is that there are no heads, so there are certainly no faces.

It is difficult to tell that it is depicting people — two people — so it is certainly not easy to determine who those people are.

Why would a sculpture in honour of civil rights leaders have parts of their bodies, but not their heads?

How did no one involved in the process challenge the idea that the heads of two black people who dedicated their lives to the civil rights movements be absent from the work?

Here is an issue of race, and a part of history and a context, that was not

Recommendations

1. Petty Crimes. Long-time friends and hosts Caera O’Sullivan and Griff Stark-Ennis share largely inconsequential disagreements and deliver a verdict. Try the episode titled “Bridezillith” for a story about a woman who was very nicely asked to be a bridesmaid by her brother’s fiancée and does not end up having a great time. This is the kind of podcast you may want to listen to when you need to step outside of your own reality and/ or be entertained by a “problem” no one should have the time to worry about.

2. Lizzo on Hot Ones. This interview series is fun to watch. Celebrities sit at a table, across from the interviewer, eating wings with hot sauces of elevating heat levels. They answer questions between bites, so it is very difficult for them to hide how they handle the heat. Lizzo talks a big game, determined to win. They

are times when she has to pause in her answers, but she assures viewers that she will make it to the end.

3. Women’s Wednesdays: Femicide. At 6pm, tune in to the conversation, facilitated by Equality Bahamas, with Mexico-based independent journalist Chantal Flores (who investigates the impact of enforced disappearance on women in Latin America and the Balkans) and Dr Nadeen Spence who is on the National Strategic Action Plan against Gender Based Violence, the National Gender Advisory Council, and the Partnership for Jamaica. They will talk about femicide in Latin America and in the Caribbean, the way news media reports on femicide, and action at the national level to end femicide. It will be live-streamed at Facebook.com/ equality242.

considered.

Black people continue to face violence today, from individuals and institutions, from harassment to lynching.

It does not make sense for Dr Martin Luther King Jr and Coretta Scott King to be headless in a sculpture depicting their embrace, honouring their work toward racial justice.

The artist wanted people to see the “universal” spirit of the piece. He kept it open so people could walk into it and be in the embrace. They could also look up and see the sky.

These are all interesting ideas. They simply do not, at this time, outweigh the appearance.

‘One of the most troubling aspects of the sculpture is that there are no heads, so there are certainly no faces.

this for? Who will make use of it? Who will find reasons to dislike it? Who will have platforms to talk about it and influence other people’s positions on it? Find out not only if they like the idea, but if they can see it being executed and being received as it is intended.

It is difficult to tell that it is depicting people — two people — so it is certainly not easy to determine who those people are. Why would a sculpture in honour of civil rights leaders have parts of their bodies, but not their heads?’

Maybe this will change over time, as people see it, already knowing what it is meant to depict. For now, some find it funny while others find it very upsetting.

There are takeaways from this situation. The first is that it is important, no matter how brilliant a person or idea, to get feedback from others. Who is

Ask them to share what they would add or take away to make it better. Get real feedback that is not only honest, but useful. You have to be able to act on the information you are given.

The second takeaway is that what is proposed and modeled may not have the same appearance or effect when it is produced at a different scale and experienced from a different vantage point.

Holding a model or looking down at one on a table is not the same as looking up at the completed work. The relative size is wildly different, as is the perspective.

It is important to think more deeply and creatively about ways to model, pilot, and test in ways that help us

to predict what the actual outcome and responses will be.

The third takeaway is that even the best intentions can have negative effects. It is not enough to want, to desire, to wish, or to try to produce something good, useful, beautiful, or effective when the outcome is harmful.

More important than intent is investment. How much time and other resources are put into planning? How much is invested in testing? What are producers prepared to do if the product is not effective?

At the end of the process, a confusing or offensive sculpture is made no better by a plaque that says, “We tried,” or “We meant to…”

Maybe “The Embrace” will spark great conversations. Maybe generations and generations of people will take photos inside it. Maybe people will stand in the middle, look up at the sky, and be inspired.

With art, there are many possibilities. For a sculpture meant to honour the Kings, however, more than their arms — easily mistaken for other body parts — should have been included, and their heads should have been included. To make their embrace a universal symbol was certainly a choice we can debate, but to reduce two black civil rights leaders to a headless gesture is a move that should have been strongly challenged, and could have spared everyone the confusion and offence.

PASSERS-by walk near the 20-foot-high bronze sculpture “The Embrace”, a memorial to Dr Martin Luther King Jr and Coretta Scott King, in the Boston Common, last week, in Boston. The sculpture, consisting of four intertwined arms, was inspired by a photo of the Kings embracing when MLK learned he had won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

Photo: Steven Senne/AP

DR Martin Luther King Jr and Coretta Scott King.

BEST OF CES 2023: PET TECH’S SMART COLLAR, LITTER ROBOT

By ADRIANA MORGA Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP)

—

From a litter box that automatically cleans itself to buttons designed to allow your dog to communicate with you, this year’s CES tech show in Las Vegas featured a range of products aimed at gadgetloving pet owners.

Big and small companies representing everything from the food to the automobile industries put their latest products on display at the show, which wrapped up last week Sunday.

While some of the products are already available for purchase in the U.S., others, like Ilume’s smart dog bowl, are not yet.

But whether you’re hoping to keep your dog on an optimum diet, or you want to avoid the unpleasant work of cleaning your cat’s litter box, there are a lot of gadgets out there aimed at making pet owning easier.

Here are some of the pet tech products showcased at CES:

A FITNESS TRACKER FOR YOUR DOG

If you wonder what your dog is doing while you’re not home, French startup Invoxia has a product for you. The company’s smart dog collar monitors your pet’s activity and sleep, sending the data to your phone.

The latest version unveiled at CES, which has a GPS tracker, includes more advanced heart health monitoring.

The collar is $149 in the U.S., with a monthly $8.25 subscription for an app that monitors the data and shares it with your veterinarian.

‘TALKING’ PETS

Have you ever wondered what your dog would say if it could speak to you?

FluentPet promises the

next best thing — buttons the company says you can train your pet to push if it’s hungry, needs to go outside or wants to play.

The buttons come in a hexagon-shaped plastic mat the company calls a hextile. Hextiles can be connected to each other to form a bigger collection of buttons.

“We find that actually, when dogs kind of know that they’re being understood because they have the precision and specificity of the buttons, then they complain less because they’re no longer wondering whether they actually communicated what they wanted to,” said Leo Trottier, FluentPet CEO.

At CES, the company announced FluentPet Connect, a new app that notifies owners when their dog presses a button and collects data on how the

buttons are used.

Fluent Pet’s starter kit comes with hextiles, a speaker and six buttons for $159.95. The app does not require a subscription.

AN APP TO ID YOUR PET

If you ever wished that you could have a simple way to find your pet when it’s lost, this South Korean app is offering a solution. Powered by AI technology, Petnow helps you create an electronic identification for your dog or cat. For dogs, the app uses a nose print. For cats, it captures their entire face. Petnow’s purpose is to reunite owners with their pet after they have been lost by making it easier for other people to identify them.

The app lets users create a profile for their pet and, in case of an emergency, report their lost pet through

the app. The mobile app is free and available for both Apple and Android mobile devices.

SELF-CLEANING LITTER BOX

If you get tired of cleaning your cat’s litter box every day, Whisker offers a solution. Litter-Robot is an automatic self-cleaning litter box for your cat. Because it’s an automatic machine, Litter-Robot reduces the odors inside your home. The litter box is Wi-Fi enabled, which lets users keep track of the waste and litter levels through an app. Whisker also presented its FeederRobot, an automatic cat feeder, at CES. LitterRobot can fit up to four cats and doesn’t need a special type of litter. The latest version of Litter-Robot costs $699 and the accompanying app is free.

A SMART FOOD BOWL FOR YOUR DOG

If your dog had a very active day at the dog park, he might need more food than the days he naps on your couch all day. Ilume, an Australia-based company, created a smart dog bowl and collar duo to help you find the amount you should feed your dog each day. Through their smart collar, Ilume assesses the caloric needs of your dog and then sends the information to the bowl. Users only have to press a single button on the bowl and it will indicate the correct amount for the day. Ilume also has a free app so pet parents can see the exercise and health data collected from the smart collar. Ilume is expected to launch soon in Australia, with hopes of expanding to the United States in the near future.

TECHTALK

EU INAUGURATES FIRST MAINLAND SATELLITE LAUNCH PORT

KIRUNA, Sweden (AP) — The European Union wants to bolster its capacity to launch small satellites into space with a new launchpad in Arctic Sweden.

European officials and Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf inaugurated the EU’s first mainland orbital launch complex on Friday during a visit to Sweden by members of the European Commission, which is the 27-nation bloc’s executive arm.

The new facility at Esrange Space Center near the city of Kiruna should complement the EU’s current launching capabilities in French Guiana.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said small satellites are crucial to tracking natural disasters in real time and, in the light of Russia’s war in Ukraine, to help guarantee global security.

“Today, we know that the brave Ukrainian forces effectively use small satellites to track the movements of Russian troops,” she said.

The first satellite launch is expected next year.

The total number of satellites could reach 100,000 by 2040, compared with the current 5,000 operational satellites, according to the Swedish Space Corp., or SSC.

“This is a giant leap for SSC, for Sweden, for Europe and the rest of the world,” SSC chief executive Stefan Gardefjord said.

“Satellites are decisive for many functions of the daily lives of today’s modern world, and the need for them will only increase in the years to come with space playing an even more important role,” he said.

MLB ON TRACK TO EXPAND ROBOT UMPS TO ALL TRIPLE-A BALLPARKS

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball is on track to expand its experiment with robot umpires to all 30 Triple-A ballparks this season.

By TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer

(AP)

The E-Ray is a gas electric hybrid, the first all-wheel-drive version of

car

storied

front wheels running on an electric motor the traditional 6.2-liter V8 powering the back.

Aimed at affluent buyers who want new technology in the top-line Chevrolet sports car, the $104,000 E-Ray jerks your head back as it goes from zero to 60 mph (97 kilometres per hour) in 2.5 seconds. General Motors says it can cover a quarter mile in 10.5 seconds.

Although those figures are slightly faster than its race track-ready brothers, the Z06 and Z07, it’s civil enough for the daily commute even though its rear tyres are almost wide enough to compete in the Indianapolis 500.

Tadge Juechter, the Corvette’s executive chief engineer, said people would ask for the best version of the car, only to wind up a “track monster” that they’re trying to drive every day. “For the same money you can get all-wheel-drive, and comfort, security, and the livability that comes with a car like this,” he said. “We’ve really divided the family into pure track and to everyday utility.”

The E-Ray, which is being unveiled exactly 70 years after the first

Corvette was introduced in New York back in 1953, is a step toward an allelectric version of the car that will come out at at unspecified date.

Although GM may be over-selling the practicality, the E-Ray does come with all-season tyres so it can be driven year-round, and the allwheel-drive system is configured so it’s confident in the snow, up to just 4 inches due to its low ground clearance.

“This is going to propel the Corvette to a new set of markets,” said Mark Wakefield, global co-leader of automotive for the consulting firm AlixPartners.

As performance cars go, the Corvette always has been more practical than most, with storage space in the hatch and the front trunk, said Sam Abuelsamid, e-Mobility analyst for Guidehouse Research. “It is actually surprisingly liveable,” he said, conceding that someone buying a sports car costing over $100,000 probably has another vehicle in their garage for

the daily drive. Unlike most hybrids, it’s not really made for efficiency, although will get a little better city mileage than a standard Stingray at 16 mpg. But because of higher mass and air drag, it will do worse than the standard Corvette’s 24 mpg on the highway. The electric motor adds 160 horsepower to the 495 generated by the V8, for a total of 655. Both systems come on at once for maximum acceleration.

Engineers say its technology sets the stage for the all-electric Corvette. When the latest generation of ‘Vette came out four years ago with the engine in the middle, engineers designed it so there could be hybrid and electric versions in the future.

This version of the Corvette, code named “C9,” may be the last one to have a gasoline engine, in light of GM’s plans to sell only electric passenger vehicles by 2035, Abuelsamid said. But he sees this version evolving at least through the end of the decade.

MLB used the Automatic Ball-Strike system at five Triple-A stadiums for parts of last season and will go ahead with the wider use this year if owners approve of it next month. MLB’s intent was first reported by ESPN.

MLB started the experiment in the independent Atlantic League in 2019. A challenge system was tried last year at Low-A in which a pitcher, batter or catcher had the right to appeal a human umpire’s decision to the computer call.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said he liked the challenge system but said the sport’s competition committee was not going to consider the robot umpires for the major leagues for 2023.

“There are difficult issues surrounding the strike zone that affect outcomes on the field, and we need to make sure we understand those before we jump off that bridge,” he said in June.

DUCKY demonstrates FluentPet dog communication buttons during the Pepcom Digital Experience before the start of the CES tech show in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

DETROIT

— The fastest Corvette ever made comes out later this year, and it’s not powered solely by a howling V8.

Chevrolet’s

sports

with the

THE 2024 Corvette E Ray is displayed in Milford Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Munroe: Zero tolerance towards rogue officers

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said yesterday that he has a zero-tolerance approach towards “rogue” officers.

He spoke at a memorial service held at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in remembrance of Corrections Corporal Dion Bowles, who was killed in the line of duty on January 17, 2006.

During his remarks at the memorial, Mr Munroe honoured the 13-year prison veteran for the “ultimate sacrifice” he made for the nation as he lost his life while protecting colleagues on night duty in the maximum-security facility.

“Today we pause to remember Corrections Corporal Dion Bowles who made the ultimate sacrifice for this nation. As this nation prepares to celebrate its 50th year of independence, freedom is a precious gift whose benefits we all enjoy every day,” he said yesterday.

“However, too often we give little thought to the price paid for it. On a day like today, we are forced to reflect on the tremendous sacrifice made by our fellow countryman and others like him (Corporal Bowles).”

While acknowledging the risk associated with law enforcement, Mr Munroe highlighted the “great lesson to be learnt”, adding that the Davis-Cooper administration has undertaken precautionary measures to prevent such an “atrocity” from reoccurring.

“We have increased manpower, upgraded the security system, commenced ongoing training for staff members, revised and, where necessary, established progressive policies and procedures to assist officers while performing their duties,” Mr Munroe said.

He also added that the government is currently in the process of constructing a new high-medium security facility that will serve to address the

long-standing issues of overcrowding, along with remodifying the “harsh” living conditions.

“These implementations are crucial and timely, as I believe that we all share the notion that experience is the greatest teacher,” said Mr Munroe.

He also offered words of caution to all corrections officers due to the “inherent risk” the job entails.

He also urged “rogue” corrections officers whose “unscrupulous” acts present an opportunity for a potentially dangerous situation to occur to desist.

He said: “I condemn and denounce any officer engaged in unscrupulous activities by exposing the housing facilities to illegal contraband.

“I urge you to desist immediately as it can have dire consequences for you and your colleagues.

“Do not allow yourself to be tangled in a deceptive and dangerous spider web as the consequences are

far greater than the compensation.”

He added: “As the Minister of National Security, I have a zerotolerance approach towards rogue officers.”

This comes after cell phones, shanks, drugs, Wi-Fi boxes and other contraband were confiscated by law enforcement in a joint operation at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services earlier this week.

In concluding his remarks, Mr Munroe urged the nation to take a moment to reflect on the sacrifice of Corporal Bowles and all other fallen heroes.

“To Corrections Corporal Dion Bowles’ widow, children, and extended family, on behalf of the government of The Bahamas, we want to thank you for Corporal Dion Bowles’ invaluable service, and despite the circumstances surrounding his untimely death, we want to assure you that he is a hero and his legacy will live on,” he said yesterday.

SEX CASE SUSPECT REMANDED IN JAIL

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday accused of abetting the sexual assault of a woman during a home invasion earlier this month.

Dennis Ingraham, 26, faced Magistrate Samuel McKinney on charges of abetment to rape, abetment to burglary and two counts of abetment to armed robbery.

Ingraham faced further charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition, possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply and unlawful possession.

According to police reports, it is alleged that around 5am on January 10 three men armed with handguns broke into a married couple’s residence on Marshall Road. While there it is said that the suspects tied up the couple as well as their visiting relatives and stole a variety of items.

These include $3 cash, a Samsung cell phone, a silver

wedding band, two ATM cards, a Movado watch, sunglasses and a black Kindle tablet.

It is during this same home invasion that one of the suspects raped the woman homeowner before they all fled the scene.

On January 10, it is further alleged that Ingraham was found by police with a black High Point .40 pistol with the serial number erased. During his arrest it is said authorities confiscated five live rounds of .40 ammunition and 1 3/4 oz of Indian hemp.

Due to the gravity of the offence, Ingraham was not required to enter a plea in court. After the magistrate confirmed his identity, the accused was informed that his matter would proceed to the Supreme Court by a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

The accused was further told that as the magistrate lacked the jurisdiction to grant bail he had the right to apply for it through the higher court.

Ingraham will be served his VBI on March 13.

INDECENT EXPOSURE CHARGE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted bail yesterday after being accused of being found naked as he trespassed on Margaritaville on Christmas Eve.

Osteen George, 41, appeared before Magistrate Algernon Allen, Jr, on charges of indecent

exposure and trespassing. It is alleged that around 1.30am on December 24, while trespassing at Margaritaville resort on Marlborough Street, the accused willingly and indecently exposed himself in a public place.

In court, George pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was granted $1,000 bail and his trial was set for February 24.

MINISTER of National Security Wayne Munroe.

Photo: Moise Amisial

African activists cast doubt over climate talks’ credibility

MOMBASA, Kenya Associated Press

CLIMATE activists in Africa are expressing anger toward the United Nations climate agency, accusing it of allowing corporations and individuals with dubious climate credentials to greenwash their polluting activities by participating in its annual climate conference.

The criticism follows Thursday’s announcement that oil executive Sultan al-Jaber will lead the next round of UN climate talks, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates beginning in late November. The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance termed the move as the “lowest moment” for the UN

agency. The UN’s climate body hasn’t commented on the appointment.

Activists say they are increasingly concerned about oil and gas representatives thwarting the conference, where countries try and agree on ways to cut planet-warming activities. An analysis of the provisional list of last year’s conference participants found 636 people linked to fossil fuel companies were set to attend, a 25% increase from 2021.

Campaign groups on the continent are calling on blocs of climate vulnerable nations to reject any move by the UAE that gives fossil fuel actors control of global climate discussions.

“This is the textbook definition of impunity

and conflict of interest,” Mithika Mwenda, PACJA’s executive director said in a statement on Monday on al-Jaber, where he also called for the president-designate to step down. “It is hard to see al-Jaber leading objective, science-backed negotiations in the interest of the most vulnerable.”

Mwenda added that he feared the talks would be taken over “by vicious fossil companies whose illintentions are to derail the transition” to clean energy.

Memory Kachambwa, the executive director of the African Women Development and Communication Network called al-Jaber’s appointment “an insult to the collective wisdom of everyone committed to addressing the climate

crisis”.

Several other climate and environmental groups have expressed concern over the announcement while others welcomed the move. On Sunday, US climate envoy John Kerry told The Associated Press that al-Jaber was a “terrific choice” for the role as he understands the need to transition to clean energy.

Activists have also raised concerns about the lack of climate cash being delivered to the continent. Campaigners note that while fossil fuel subsidies and investments in oil and gas are growing in Africa, funding for adapting to climate change and transitioning to renewable energy is still lacking.

Last year, nations agreed

that countries vulnerable to climate change should receive money from developed countries who are most responsible for burning up the planet. The details of the fund are being worked out this year.

African climate activists have ramped up their criticism of industrialised nations and multilateral development banks in the last eight months for their funding of fossil fuels, which campaigners say undermines the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times.

The International Monetary Fund revealed that subsidies for dirty fuels had reached $5.9 trillion

globally by 2020. Fossil fuels investments in Africa continue to outstrip renewables and jumped from $3.4 billion in 2020 to $5.1 billion in 2022, according to environmental group Urgewald.

Meanwhile, several climate funding promises, such a $100 billion-a-year pledge to developing countries to help them tackle climate change, have been repeatedly missed.

The International Energy Agency found that Africa’s renewable energy investments need to be doubled if it’s to meet its climate targets. Africa is home to 60% of the world’s solar resources but only 1% of global installed solar power capacity, the agency reported.

CHINA RECORDS FIRST POPULATION FALL IN DECADES

BEIJING Associated Press

CHINA’S population shrank for the first time in decades last year as its birthrate plunged, official figures showed yesterday, adding to pressure on leaders to keep the economy growing despite an ageing workforce and at a time of rising tension with the US.

Despite the official numbers, some experts believe China’s population has been in decline for a few years — a dramatic turn in a country that once sought to control such growth through a onechild policy.

Many wealthy countries are struggling with how to respond to aging populations, which can be a drag on economic growth as shrinking numbers of workers try to support growing numbers of elderly people.

But the demographic change will be especially difficult to manage in a middle-income country like China, which does not have the resources to care for an aging population in the same way that one like Japan does. Over time, that will likely slow its economy and perhaps even the world’s, and could potentially keep inflation higher in many developed economies.

“China has become older before it has become rich,” said Yi Fuxian, a demographer and expert on Chinese population trends at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

A slowing economy could also pose a political problem for the ruling Communist Party, if shrinking opportunities foment public discontent. Anger over strict COVID-19

lockdowns, which were a drag on the economy, spilled over late last year into protests that in some cases called for leader Xi Jinping to step down — a rare direct challenge to the party.

The National Bureau of Statistics reported yesterday that the country had 850,000 fewer people at the end of 2022 than the previous year. The tally includes only the population of mainland China, excluding Hong Kong and Macao as well as foreign residents.

Over one million fewer babies were born than the previous year amid a slowing economy and widespread pandemic lockdowns, according to official figures. The bureau reported 9.56 million births in 2022; deaths ticked up to 10.41 million.

It wasn’t clear if the

population figures were affected by a widespread COVID-19 outbreak following the easing of pandemic restrictions last month. China recently reported 60,000 COVID-related deaths since early December, but some experts believe the government is likely underreporting deaths.

The last time China is believed to have experienced a population decline was during the Great Leap Forward, a disastrous drive for collective farming and industrialisation launched by then-leader Mao Zedong at the end of the 1950s that produced a massive famine that killed tens of millions of people.

China’s population has begun to decline nine to ten years earlier than Chinese officials predicted and the United Nation projected,

said Yi, the demographer.

At 1.4 billion, the country has long been the world’s most populous nation, but is expected to soon be overtaken by India, if it has not already.

China has sought to bolster its population since officially ending its onechild policy in 2016. Since then, China has tried to encourage families to have second or even third children, with little success, reflecting attitudes in much of east Asia where birth rates have fallen precipitously. In China, the expense of raising children in cities is often cited as a cause.

Zhang Huimin bemoaned the “fierce competition” young people face these days — a fairly typical attitude toward starting a family among her age group.

“Home prices are high and jobs are not easy to find,” said the 23-year-old Beijing resident. “I enjoy living by myself. When I feel lonely, I can take pleasure in staying with my friends or keeping pets.”

Yi said that his own research shows China’s population has actually been declining since 2018, indicating the population crisis is “much more severe” than previously thought. The country now has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world, comparable only to Taiwan and South Korea, he said.

That means China’s “real demographic crisis is beyond imagination and that all of China’s past economic, social, defence and foreign policies were based on faulty demographic data,” Yi told The Associated Press.

A GIRL wearing a face mask rides on a man’s shoulders as they walk along a tourist shopping street in Beijing in October.

Photo: Mark Schiefelbein/AP

It’s official: Janero signs with Marlins

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Two years after he started playing baseball as a “late bloomer” at age of nine, Janero Miller said it was always his dream to become a professional player.

Last night, he accomplished that dream when he signed his first contract with the Miami Marlins organisation.

Before a large crowd of family members, team-mates from the International Elite Baseball Academy and friends in the foyer of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, Miller made it official with the Marlins, who were represented by their director of international operations Adrian Lorenzo and international crosschecker Adrian Puig.

Miller, decked out in a aqua suit with white shirt and tennis, depicting the colours of the Marlins’ outfit, thanked God for getting him to this point in his life.

“My biggest contributor was my mother Crystal (Swain). She made so many sacrifices for me,” he said. “When she got off at midnight, she would still get up and got me to practice for 6:30am. She was there for every game and many practices. She told me that I could do it during times that I felt like giving up.

“I also appreciate my dad (Astlolin Miller), who taught me how to be a

good man and how to be responsible. You brought me my very first baseball equipment and it felt like it was gold.

“Mr Burrows (Lyrone), I also want to thank you for being a father-figure to me and that includes contributing to all of my needs.”

Miller also thanked his family, especially his grandmother, aunts and uncles and everyone who participated in the fund-raising events to assist him in his venture into baseball.

He also thanked Commonwealth Bank, Bank of the Bahamas, ICS Security, Oxford Law Chambers,

Jubilee Gardens Youth Auxiliary Committee, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Bahamas Baseball Association, for assisting him financially in achieving his dreams.

He recognised all of the coaching staff and administrators of I-Elite, but was even more appreciative of Albert Cartwright and Geron Sands, whom he called role models who pushed him beyond his limits. And he expressed his gratitude to Lorenzo and the Marlins for giving him the opportunity to play at a higher level and continue on his dream.

“This is just the beginning for me,” said Miller, who encouraged his fellow I-Elite players left behind to “work hard and stay focused. The results won’t be there immediately. You have to trust the process. Never give up.”

In releasing her son to the Marlins, Swain said she was overwhelmed as her “everything” left her.

“I’m elated for him. He’s been working so hard. He’s very disciplined. He’s just an amazing person and I’m so very proud of him,” she said. “I will miss him. He’s my only child. It’s s process that I have to go through

because it’s only been the two of us.

“But I know he’s going on to bigger and better things, so I’m expecting some great things from him. He’s going to the Marlins, his favorite team, so I know he will do very well.”

Lorenzo said just looking at the amount of people who showed up to support him in his signing is an indication of how special he is.

“Crystal, having heard everything, you’re raised a wonderful young man. Congratulations. I really mean that,” Lorenzo said.

IC TENNIS: TEAM USA SHUT OUT BAHAMAS 5-0

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE United States Robins’ team pulled off another impressive victory, this time shutting out the Bahamas 5-0 in a couple of hard-fought tennis matches.

Ivan Hooper, who played on Team Bahamas in the past, admitted that it was high level competition that they encountered from the United States.

“There were some very tight matches,” said Hooper, who teamed up with Sue Kimball in their 6-3, 6-3 loss to the American team of Jeff and Ann Clark in the mixed 120+ doubles. “We still have some matches to go, so hopefully we can regroup and get better, but more importantly, have some fun.”

It wasn’t all fun for veteran tennis player John Antonas, who played with Alejandro Mesples, losing 6-3, 6-0 to the American pair of Robb Bunnen and Rob Castorri in their men’s 125+ doubles.

He noted that he had to play through some nagging injuries that prevented him from performing as best as he could.

“I haven’t been playing tennis competitively for about 10-15 years. I decided to come back, and I went away to play in Washington,” he said. “I got injured with a lower back injury and I tried to play in the Senior Nationals (last year) and I had to quit in the semifinals. “I thought everything was

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT was a double treat for Breyias Dean and Daniel Gaitor as they both signed their professional contracts with the Miami Marlins organisation yesterday at the Crypto Isle in the former Luciana Restaurant.

The duo, wearing their blue suits, did the signing with Adrian Puig, the international crosschecker and Adrian Lorenzo, the director of international operations for the Marlins, along with Greg Burrows Jr of Max-D Sports.

For Dean, a former student at Charles W Saunders high School, he called it a lifelong dream being fulfilled.

“This feels great just to accomplish one of my goals,” he said. “It was a sense of relaxation and satisfaction knowing that I was finally able to achieve something that I was trying to achieve for so long.”

In signing with Gaitor at the same time was a plus for Dean, who said he’s delighted for the double threat because they both played together for a long time and they know each other very well.

“I’d like to thank my father (Marvin Dean) who was there training me, even before I got to MaxD,” said Dean, who considers himself to be a go-getter, at age 17.

Gaitor said having a chance to play professional baseball makes him a happy camper.

“I want to say a shout out to the people who came out to support me tonight, to the people at Freedom Farm, who really helped me. I really appreciate them,” he said.

“I was filled with joy. I was really happy when they told me I was going to sign this contract.”

Gaitor, a 17-year-old former student at Albury Sayles Primary, HO Nash Junior High and Bahamas Global Academy, thanked Burrows Jr, who helped to get him to where he is today.

He said he’s excited to sign with Dean as well.

“We’ve been together for a while,” Dean said. “Most of the boys in MaxD play together, so me and Breyias already have that bond. Hopefully it will be the D

and B show when we get to training camp.”

Burrows Jr said he’s extremely proud because it’s the second year in a row that MaxD has been able to sign some of their players.

“I’m looking forward to seeing these two guys move up the ranks very quickly and make an impact in the organisation,” he said.

“They are going to go to training camp and make their presence felt. Daniel is a speed guy with power, a centre fielder and Breyias is a very powerful kid, who has the potential to put up 30 home runs a season, so I’m looking forward to seeing them grow into themselves and become the players they are expected to be.”

Having worked with the players for a number of

years, Burrows Jr said it’s always s great feeling when they reach this point where they get to play at the next level, whether it’s in college or at the professional ranks.

Puig called it a special day for baseball in the Bahamas.

“One of the best parts of the job is when you get to celebrate, giving the young men an opportunity to fulfil their dreams, change their lives, change the lives of their families and so it’s really special to be here to support the Bahamian baseball community.”

In both players, Puig said they are getting some exceptional players.

“Breyias is as guy that I had my eyes on for almost three years. He’s always been a very big kid. Over the years he continued to

grow, but he’s never lost his athleticism,” Puig said. “He continued to gain strength and he’s worked extremely hard on the defensive side of the ball, which is difficult for a guy his size. He’s shown a lot of offensive capabilities for us with a lot of power. He’s a great kid with a great work ethic.

“Daniel is a guy I started to see after Breyias. Daniel is a guy who every time we go to see him play, he’s been a big performer. He’s another very physical Bahamian athlete, switch hitting centrefielder who can run. He does a little of everything, He has the ability to be a very good player.”

Lorenzo said it’s another exceptional day, his third signing , but it’s even more special because of the process both players had to go

through to get to this point in their careers.

“From this day on, they are professional baseball players so they have to be true professionals in every sense of the word,” Lorenzo said. “They have already gotten off to a great start, but around the second week in Florida, they will report to the Dominican Republic to enrol in their academy, which the Marlins just opened.

“They will play in the Dominican Summer League and then after that, the way they carry themselves will dictate where they will go after that. If they put themselves in a position to be ready for the next level, then they will go to Jupiter to play in the Florida Complex League should they check all of the boxes to play.”

Marvin Dean, the father of Breyias, said it’s hard to put his reaction into words because he’s been there just about every step of the way, coaching his son at MaxD and building that bond with him.

“To see him make this first step to fulfil his dream is just amazing,” said Dean, who was accompanied by his wife, Bernadette. “For me, the first thing for him to succeed is God. The next step is his family, after that is his career and helping others. As long as he keeps those principles in place, the sky is the limit.”

Dean’s signing came on his sister’s birthday. He sent out a shout out to Marvia, who is one of the top female basketball players in the island nation.

SHOWN, from left to right, are Geron Sands, Albert Cartwright, Janero Miller, Adrian Lorenzo and Adrian Puig at yesterday’s signing.

Photo courtesy of Trevere Saunders

SHOWN, from left to right, are Greg Burrows Jr, Daniel Gaitor, Adrian Lorenzo and Adrian Puig. Photo courtesy of Trevere Saunders

BAHAMAS CHESS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HEADING FOR AN EXCITING SHOWDOWN

THE 2023 Bahamas Chess National Championship is heading for an exciting showdown as competitors try to stop NM Valentine Cox from attaining a sweep of the big event.

NM Cox is in the top position after Round-5, winning all his games thus far.

Young Avian Pride, the youngest competitor and lowest ranked player in the competition, shocked seasoned player and the highest titled player in The Bahamas, FM Cecil ‘Carver’ Moncur.

Avian pulled off a win against FM Moncur in Round-3. The Championship, which takes place

over two full weekends, is being hosted by Colina.

The 2023 Bahamas National Chess Championship is a FIDE rated tournament.

It is set up as a 9 round Swiss format with Game in 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. The chief arbiter for the 2023

Championship is international arbiter (IA), Andre White.

Mr White is assisted by deputy chief arbiter, Angel Pride.

Round 6 of the 2023 Bahamas Chess National Championship kicks off at 6:30pm on Friday, January 20. Remaining rounds for 2023 Bahamas Chess National

Championship Schedule - Round 6 - Friday, January 20 (Start Time: 6:30 pm)

Round 7 - Saturday, January 21 (Start Time: 9am)

Round 8 - Saturday, January 21 (Start Time: 2pm)

Round 9 - Sunday, January 22 (Start Time: 9am)

Hurts ‘full go’ for Eagles for divisional playoffs vs Giants

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP)

— As the Eagles weathered a smidgen of adversity with a late-season losing streak, 76ers coach Doc Rivers stepped in to steady unease that Jalen Hurts & Co. were spiralling toward an early postseason exit.

“They’re going to be in the Super Bowl. Relax,” Rivers told reporters. “It’s a guarantee.”

Bold statement, Doc.

Rivers laughed as he made the prediction “with my limited football knowledge,” but he knew enough to understand the team with the best record in the NFL played across the street.

But how far the Eagles go — and no one in the organisation would be so foolish as to make such a bold prognostication as guaranteeing a Super Bowl berth — depends predominantly on Hurts.

And Hurts knows all eyes — and maybe a few rough shots on his banged-up shoulder — are on him.

“I’ve got a bounty on me every week I go out there,” Hurts said yesterday. “I’m going to go out there and just play my game.”

Fans are clamouring to know if Hurts has

recovered enough from a sprained right shoulder to play at full strength in an NFC divisional round game Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field against the New York Giants.

“Full go,” coach Nick Sirianni said yesterday.

Hurts was not even listed on the Eagles’ injury report.

Hurts and the Eagles (14-3) enjoyed the spoils of earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC and spent the week scouting — and snacking — while the Giants edged out a 31-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

The Giants were one of four potential opponents the Eagles could have played this week and their game last weekend was on the big screen at Philadelphia’s complex while Sirianni reviewed a potential game plan against their NFC East rival.

“We were preparing for the games and did a lot of work on the Giants that day,” Sirianni said. “We got it right there.”

In a city that boasts a robust food scene, Sirianni turned some heads when he revealed he ordered stuffed-crust pizzas from Pizza Hut for his coaching staff as they watched the game. Eagles fans might enjoy some gastronomic

second-guessing of a coach who has otherwise largely made all the right calls this season.

The Giants should know as well as any team how often Sirianni and the Eagles seemingly had everything go right. The NFC East champion Eagles already defeated the Giants twice, 48-22 on December 11 at MetLife Stadium and 22-16 on January 8 in the regular-season finale in Philly. Hurts, who returned for the finale after missing

two games because of his bad shoulder, mostly ran a vanilla offence against the Giants’ second-teamers.

Make it 3-0, and the Eagles will host the NFC championship game.

The Eagles went 14-1 in games Hurts started.

“He’s better today than he was two weeks ago,” Sirianni said. “He’s continuing to get better and he feels good.”

Hurts could have added protection against the Giants, with All-Pro right

With Brady’s future uncertain, Bucs will explore options

By FRED GOODALL AP Sports Writer

TAMPA, Florida (AP) —

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent the past three seasons doing everything they could to try to help Tom Brady be successful.

If the seven-time Super Bowl champion retires or decides to sign with another team in free agency this winter, it will be important to have a plan to replace the 45-year-old quarterback.

Coach Todd Bowles acknowledges as much, although he’s not providing much insight into how the Bucs are thinking.

And while there’s no definitive timetable for Brady to let the team know how he’s leaning, ideally the Bucs would like to have a better idea by the start of free agency in March.

“You want to have plans going into it. So we’ll do our due diligence, meet with the parties involved and come up with a plan one way or the other,” Bowles said yesterday, less than 24 hours after a 31-14 playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys ended Brady’s third season with the Bucs.

Tampa Bay enters the offseason with more than 20 players on the verge of becoming unrestricted free agents, including Brady and linebacker Lavonte David, who’s been an important component of a defence that helped the Bucs win the Super Bowl two years ago.

David reiterated that while he’d like to remain with the Bucs, he won’t rush a decision.

“Of course, you never know what could happen. I don’t worry about it too much, though,” the 11thyear pro, a team captain, said. “It’s not up to me. I’ll take time to just reflect, get my body right and see what I’m going to do from there.”

Brady had little to say about his future after throwing for 351 yards, two touchdowns and a costly red zone interception in the lopsided loss to the Cowboys.

He briefly retired last February only to change his mind and return for a 23rd season.

“You always want every year to end great. Unfortunately, in sports it doesn’t

work that way,” Brady said. “There are 32 teams in the league, and they’re all very competitive, and only one of them is going to feel really good at the end of the year.”

Although the Bucs (8-10) found a way to hold off Carolina, New Orleans and Atlanta to repeat as NFC South champions for the first time in franchise history, they also became only the fourth team to make the playoffs with a losing record during a non-strike season.

Bowles conceded there could be significant changes to the roster this offseason. He stressed, however, the Bucs are not in need of a massive overhaul.

“You never want to rebuild, you always reload,” the coach said. “No matter if you have new guys or not, you want guys who can come and play and compete so you can win the division.”

Count centre Ryan Jensen among the Bucs who would like to see Brady remain with Tampa Bay, which had missed the playoffs 12 consecutive seasons before the five-time Super

Bowl MVP signed with the Bucs in 2020.

Jensen missed the entire regular season with a knee injury suffered on the second day of training camp. He was activated hours before Monday night’s playoff loss and started against the Cowboys.

“It just is what it is. It’s part of the business. We love Tom, we’d love to have him back,” Jensen said. “I love playing with him. He’s a good friend, he’s helped me a lot this year, with getting my injury healed, and pushing me and motivating me throughout this year.”

Tight end Cameron Brate caught an 8-yard TD pass in the closing minutes Monday night.

“It might be the last touchdown I catch. We’ll see,” Brate said. “I kept the ball.”

SPUTTERING

OFFENCE

Brady broke his own NFL record for most completions in a season with 490 while throwing for 4,694 yards and 25 touchdowns vs. 12 interceptions. Those are impressive numbers until you consider he

tackle Lane Johnson expected to return for the first time since he suffered a torn adductor in a Dec. 24 loss at Dallas. The only starter who might miss a playoff game is cornerback Avonte Maddox (toe), who has not played since he was hurt in the Dallas game.

Johnson was a limited participant in a walkthrough practice yesterday and Maddox did not participate. With the Phillies just three months removed from their unexpected run to the

World Series, championship expectations have gripped the area. Just 80 miles north of the city in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts moved its “Alice in Wonderland” mural unveiling up a week to February 5, saying “the Philadelphia Eagles have a pretty good shot of making it to the NFL championship game.”

The Eagles hope they’ll make a pretty important date just west of Phoenix.

The Eagles have made a statement all season that they’re the team beat on the road to the Super Bowl. Sirianni and Hurts wore black sweatshirts with the slogan “It’s A Philly” thing — several Eagles had the merchandise in their lockers — in a nod to the ethos ranging from inside the locker room to the street vendors hawking knockoff T-shirts that has enveloped Philadelphia.

“It’s a swagger,” Hurts said. “It’s kind of in the air of its own when you talk the passion in this city, the support in this city. The love for the Philadelphia Eagles in this city is truly a Philly thing. It’s a special city, it’s a special time. We know we have the support of our city through everything and let’s show up on Saturday.”

completed a then-record 485 passes in 2021 when he led the league in passing with 5,316 yards and 43 TDs. A bigger issue, though, was the Bucs had trouble getting into the end zone, struggling to sustain drives and ranking 25th in scoring offence (18.4) after averaging more than 30 points per game in Brady’s previous two seasons with Tampa Bay.

RESILIENT DEFENCE

The team’s offensive line woes were well documented as the season progressed, often overshadowing the struggles of a top 10 defence that lost its best pass rusher — linebacker Shaquil Barrett — to a season-ending Achilles injury in late October and endured constant lineup changes the entire season because of injuries that sidelined tackles Akiem Hicks and Vita

Vea, cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean, and safeties Antoine Winfield Jr and Mike Edwards for stretches of the season.

NEXT STEPS While Bowles didn’t identify specific areas the Bucs need to address, he did note the team would like to get more production out of the pass rush moving forward. There was a concerted effort the past two years to retain key veterans Brady helped recruit to Tampa Bay. If the quarterback doesn’t return, look for that trend to change.

“We’ll prioritise the guys that we really want to keep and guys that we’re willing to wait and see go out there” to test their worth in free agency,” Bowles said.

“I think every team is going to have the same problem, so we’ve got to be prepared either way.”

EAGLES quarterback Jalen Hurts practices at the NFL football team’s facility in the NFL football team’s facility in Philadelphia on January 12.

(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

DR Kenville Lockhart (left) and Avian Pride (right) studying the board.

BUCCANEERS quarterback Tom Brady (12) leaves the field after an NFL wild-card football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday nioght. The Dallas Cowboys won 31-14.

(AP Photo/John Raoux)

CM Byron Smith contemplates his next move. NM Valentine Cox (right) watches as Shawn Barker (left) looks to make his next move.

Gibson makes the cut, Kane falls short in Puerto Rico

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IN his second trip to the 2023 Latin American Amateur Championships, Richard Gibson Jr finally got the international breakthrough he was looking for, making the cut in the four-day tournament in Puerto Rico.

His team-mate, teenager Healthcliffe Kane Jr, fell short of making the cut after he shot his first two rounds of 77-78 for a total score of 155. The pair, however, had the pleasure of serving as the caddie for each other at the Grand Reserve Golf Club.

The duo, according to Bahamas Golf Federation president Lynford Miller, got the invitation in the championships, which saw Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira swept to a recordbreaking victory with a 23-under-par total of 265 for a new course record and an invitation to the 2023 Masters Tournament.

Out of a field of 108 players, Gibson Jr finished tied for 19th with Justin Hastings of the Cayman Islands, Yadhu Urs of Saint Lucia and Ian Aldarondo Hernandez, who all shot three-under-par 285. Gibson Jr shot rounds of 73-71-71-70.

“I feel awesome about my performance,” said Gibson Jr, the operation assistant at the Royal Blue Golf Club at Baha Mar. “Going into this year, I asked God to show me a sign to let me know if I should continue to chase my dreams. This was my

JANERO

FROM PAGE 12

“Janero, the hard part starts from here. This was the easy part. So I want to congratulate you.”

Puig said he got to know Knowles about a year and-a-half and from the moment he saw him, he was impressed with the switch hitting, centre fielder, who runs a 6.5, has power and he pitches too, is left fielder up to 92.

“The difference is the type of kid this is and I say kid now, but when I talk Adrian (Lorenzo), I say this is a grown man. He’s not a 16-year-old kid or a 17-year-old kid. I genuinely mean it, I am so impressed. Janero, the moment you get to our Dominican Academy, I expect you to be a leader there and I expect you to be a leader every course of the way. I know you will fulfil that.”

Lorenzo said when he started coming to the Bahamas and working with

greatest achievement by the grace of God.”

The 31-year-old Gibson Jr said the competition was extremely tough between the players from the Latin American and Caribbean countries and so he was delighted to be right up there with the leaderboard.

He noted that Kane Jr played his best in the first two rounds, but he didn’t make the cut.

“He asked me to caddie for him and I’m glad that I did,” Gibson Jr said. “He also caddied for me in my last two rounds. There were some holes that I debated on, and he had encouraged me to go for it.

“It was a par-four on hole number three where they moved the tees up and made it drivable and I was debating it and he said, ‘just hit it, even if you miss right because most of the shots I missed were from the right.’ I trusted

Sands and Cartwright, he knew that the Bahamas would become a market for the Marlins to pursue and it’s working out that way with the number of players they continue to sign every year.

Sands noted that he spent countless hours late in the night working with Lorenzo and the Marlins to get the deal completed for Miller. He also thanked the Marlins for their belief in I-Elite Academy.

“Janero is one of the most athletic baseball players that I’ve ever developed,” Sands said.

“He’s a switch hitting centrefielder that can 92 miles per hour off the mound, can run a 6.5 60m and can hit a ball 400 feet from both sides of the plate.”

Additionally, Sands said Miller is a leader on and off the field, an excellent student, who is very caring and mature. “It’s been an absolute pleasure to mentor and develop Janero Miller from the age of 11,” he said.

him and I hit it right in the middle and made the putt for eagle. It was a pleasure having him on my bag.”

Before he left for the trip, Gibson Jr said he was advised by a number of golfers that if he can get off the tees properly, he could make the cut. So said, so done as he claimed that he did it perfectly.

“For the most part, I got off the tees perfectly and was able to shoot good numbers, so I just need to get better at that and just cease the opportunities when it comes,” he said. “The thing about golf is you could always do better.”

Later this year, Gibson Jr said he has a few more international tournaments to participate in this year and so he’s hoping that he can correct the mistakes he made and improve on his scores posted over the weekend.

Although he didn’t make the cut, Kane Jr said he was pleased to play again for Team Bahamas.

“I had some mental issues that I had to deal with on the passing of my grandfather,” he said. “But I’m happy that I didn’t go by myself. I think Richard helped me a lot to get through the rounds.”

Kane Jr, a 19-year-old graduate of an online school, said he was happy that Gibson Jr made the cut because it proved that he has the ability to compete against his peers in the region.

“I hope to play more events and hopefully my coach can help me to get in some more swing work,” Kane Jr said. “I know I can play at this level too.”

Miller, in looking at the results from the tournament, said the players are getting better every year they play.

“Our athletes are now being developed using a programme we started about two or three years ago and so the results are starting to show,” Miller said.

“Hopefully next year, we will have more players ranked and invited to go and show more great performances.

“There were a lot of players from Latin America and the Caribbean, who played in this tournament. I think there were just two Cayman Islands players from the Caribbean who was ahead of Richard, so we know they can play. One of the Cayman players won this tournament last year.”

Devaughn Robinson, who is currently playing in the Korn Ferry’s Great Exuma Classic this week in Exuma, was the last Bahamian to make the cut before he turned pro.

LIVERPOOL BEATS WOLVES 1-0, KEEPS ALIVE FA CUP TITLE DEFENCE

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer

LIVERPOOL kept alive its FA Cup title defence yesterday and earned an immediate chance to avenge one of its most humiliating Premier League losses.

A 1-0 win at Wolverhampton in a third-round replay set up a trip in the last 32 to Brighton, which routed Liverpool 3-0 on Saturday in a defeat that Reds manager Jurgen Klopp ranked as the worst in his 22-year coaching career.

Harvey Elliott scored the winner in the 13th minute, running from inside his own half and unleashing a shot from 30 metres that sailed over Wolves goalkeeper José Sá and into the middle of the net.

Klopp wanted his team to get “back to basics” after the humbling loss at Brighton three days earlier and fielded a weakened lineup, leaving out stars like Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker and Andrew Robertson.

Liverpool was largely untroubled at Molineux as Wolves became the ninth Premier League team to get eliminated. Everton, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Brentford, Newcastle, Chelsea and Aston Villa were knocked out in their first match in the famous old competition this season.

Cartwright said the past few years, he was talking to Miller about this day and now it’s finally here.

“It’s a proud moment to see Janero take this next step in dreams to get to the big leagues,” Cartwright said.

“It’s also a sad moment for me because of the last few years, Janero has been under my wings.

“There have been so many obstacles that we had to go through with Janero being a pitcher and a position player.

He had to put in double work to get to this point and we thank his mom and his family for trusting I-Elite to get this done.”

Cartwright noted how Miller contracted COVID19 during a trip to Florida, but he had to wait about two days before he told Swain and Miller that he had it.

He said he was just glad that he survived it and now he can embark on the next journey in his life with the Marlins.

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer

MIAMI (AP) — Everything is about to be new for Jean Segura. He’s got a new team, he’s wearing a new number and the Miami Marlins are asking him to play a new position.

The Marlins’ third baseman — a position he played very sparingly in his first 11 major league seasons — put on a Miami jersey for the first time last week when he was formally introduced at the team’s ballpark. Segura agreed to a $17 million, two-year deal with the Marlins after spending the last four seasons with the reigning NL champion Philadelphia Phillies.

He’s appeared in 1,328 games. He’s started at third base in only 21 of them, all those coming in the 2020 season with the Phillies. Almost the entirety of his career has been at either shortstop or second base. “I mean, I’m fine wherever

the team wants me to go,” Segura said.

“I’ve been playing middle infield my whole career. I played a little bit in ‘20, third base, and I felt great there. It’s another challenge and I love it. I love the challenge. I’m one of those guys that loves action.”

Segura gets a $6.5 million salary this year and $8.5 million in 2024, and the deal includes a $10 million team option for 2025 with a $2 million buyout.

He gets a hotel suite on road trips and will contribute 1% of his salary to charity.

Segura wore No. 2 for the Phillies; in Miami, that’s taken by second baseman Jazz Chisholm, and Segura didn’t even think about asking for a switch.

He’ll wear No. 9 for the Marlins, a number he wore earlier in his career as part of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Segura batted .277 in 98 games for the Phillies last season, then hit .214 in the

postseason and got to the World Series for the first time.

“I waited 11 years to get to that moment, and I just thank God for giving me the opportunity to get there,” Segura said.

“Nothing better than that. Once you’ve tasted it, you want to go there every single year.”

A lifetime .285 hitter, Segura has batted .305 at the Marlins’ ballpark.

(AP

“I think Jean was always on our radar,” Marlins general manager Kim Ng said.

“We obviously have seen him quite a lot, having been in the same division with him for a number of years.

“He’s a really nice combination of power, speed, some positional versatility. He’s got playoff experience now and we just thought he would be a good fit,” said Kim Ng.

USA

FROM PAGE 12

healing up again and I had some issues again when I came out here and played. I have to solve this issue. Once I solve it, I will probably play more competitively.”

Team Bahamas, captained by Neil Mactaggart, were blanked 5-0 by the USA Robins in the first match played. Later in the day, Barbados knocked off the International team 3-2.

Here’s a look at the results of the matches played on day two of the tournament yesterday: USA Robins def. Bahamas 5-0

Men’s 105+ doubles - Jeff Clark/Jeff Snow (USA) def. Bahamas W/O.

Women’s 105+ doublesMiriana Hollman/Margaret Lumia (USA) def. Kelly Kerr/Sue Kimball (Bahamas) 6-4, 6-3.

Men’s 125+ doublesRobb Bunnen/Rob Castorri (USA) def. John Antonas/ Alejandro Mesples (Bahamas) 6-3. 6-0.

Mixed 105+ doubles - Rob Castorri/Mariana Hollman (USA) def. Neil Mactaggart/Kelly Kerr (Bahamas) 6-3, 6-4.

Mixed 120+ doublesJeff/Ann Clark (USA) def. Ivan Hooper/Sue Kimball (Bahamas) 6-3, 6-4. Barbados def. International team 3-2

The FA Cup likely represents Liverpool’s only chance of a domestic trophy this season, with Klopp’s team having exited the League Cup and plunged to ninth place in the league — 19 points off leader Arsenal.

It was a first clean sheet in an away match in a domestic competition since September and came against the lowest-scoring team in the Premier League, with Wolves having only netted 12 goals in 19 league games this season.

“It feels like ages ago we had a feeling of winning and playing well,” Klopp said. “We had to fight hard at the end which we controlled for long periods. It is great and the reaction we wanted to see.”

Brighton will host Liverpool in the fourth round on January 29.

WEDNESDAY GAME Leeds hosts second-tier Cardiff in a third-round replay today.

Men’s 105+ doubles - Roger Edghill/James Tasker (Barbados) def. Cory Francis/Alex Murback (International) 6-3, 6-0.

Women’s 105+ doublesDale Kozicz/Kathy Mueller (International) def. Tracy Johnson/Marie-Jeanne Symmonds (Barbados) 6-0, 6-1.

Men’s 125+ doublesRaymond Forde/Peter Symmonds (Barbados) def. Gerry Kanuka/Kit Spencer (International) 7-6 (5), 5-7, 12-10.

Mixed 105+ doubles - Roger Edghill/ Marie-Jeanne Symmonds (Barbados) def. Cory Francis/Kathy Mueller (International) 7-6 (5), 5-7, 12-10).

Mixed 120+ doublesGerry Kanuka/Dale Kozicz (International) def. James Tasker/Marie Gentile (Barbados) 6-4, 6-2.

Today’s schedule 9am - USA Bluebirds s International team

1pm - Bahamas vs Barbados

Thursday 9am - USA Robins vs Barbados.

1pm - USA Bluebirds vs Bahamas.

Friday 9am - USA Robins vs USA Bluebirds

1pm - Bahamas vs International team

RICHARD Gibson Jr in action.

HEATHCLIFFE Kane Jr in action.

JANERO Miller with his mother Crystal Swain.

MIAMI Marlins baseball infielder Jean Segura talks with the news media in Miami. Segura recently signed a two-year deal with the Marlins.

Photo/Lynne Sladky)

James goes on scoring tear after

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— At a time in life when all but the world’s greatest athletes are slowing down, LeBron James has picked up speed.

James turned 38 years old on Dec. 30, deep in his 20th season in the NBA. He celebrated by scoring 47 points on his birthday in Atlanta, and the secondleading scorer in league history has been on a vintage roll ever since.

James is averaging 37.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 8.6 assists for the Los Angeles Lakers in his seven games since turning 38. He has three 40-point performances in that stretch, including a seasonhigh 48-point effort in a 140-132 victory over Houston on Monday night.

Older golfers take pride in shooting their age. James is nearly scoring his age against the best basketball players in the world — and even amid everything else James has done to redefine the parameters of greatness, his current surge is something special.

“He’s just been in an incredible rhythm, and it’s showing,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said.

James is closing in on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA career scoring record while sometimes carrying the short-handed Lakers until Anthony Davis recovers from his latest major injury, and he’s doing it all despite constant reminders of the advancement of time.

With increasing regularity, James is playing against the sons of players he faced earlier in his career, including Rockets youngsters Jabari Smith Jr. and Kenyon Martin Jr. on Monday.

“Hey, you played against my dad your first NBA game ever,” Smith Jr. told James on the court in an exchange captured by NBA TV.

“It made me feel extremely old when Junior told me that,” James said with a grin. “I think he even said it, like, ‘You probably feel old.’”

Both Smith Sr. and Martin Sr. were in the crowd to watch their sons — and James’ son, 18-year-old Bronny, goes to the same Los Angelesarea high school at which Martin Jr. played. James has also played against one of Bronny’s former high school teammates, Memphis’ Ziaire Williams.

“It’s just a unique thing that I’ve been able to withstand the test of time for as long as I’ve been playing, to be able to compete now versus father-and-son combinations,” James said.

There are concessions to the advances of time, but they’re more about injury than age: James sat out two games since turning 38, both to rest a body with accumulated nicks including a sore left ankle.

One night before he lit up the Rockets, James scored his 38,000th career point in a 113-112 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday that left James uncharacteristically brusque and frustrated in his postgame interview. He went on Twitter on Monday to voice his disappointment with the officiating in the Lakers’ recent games, calling it “frustrating as hell man.”

James admitted he was “extremely tired” Monday, and he easily could have sat out against the lowly Rockets on the back end of back-to-back games. Instead, he decided he couldn’t take a night off with the Lakers (20-24) on a three-game losing streak and sitting 13th in the 15-team Western Conference without Davis and injured rotation players Lonnie Walker and Austin Reaves.

So James played 36 minutes and scored 20 of his 48 points in the fourth quarter while continuing

his career-long history of performing superbly in back-to-back situations.

“Body was sore from the battle that we had (Sunday) versus Philly,” he added. “I guess once I step on the court for warmups and the crowd fills in, it’s my job to go out and play the best way I can.”

James’ scoring spree is yet another reminder his career may not even be close to finished.

The victory over Houston was the 1,400th game of James’ NBA career. That’s the 11th-most in NBA history, and if he

stays reasonably healthy, he’ll be within range of Robert Parish’s record of 1,611 games played at about the time his current Lakers contract expires in 2025.

That mark doesn’t include James’ 266 career postseason games, and it’s too early to tell whether he’ll be able to add to that playoff total this spring. The Lakers are outside the playoff picture for the second straight year, a fact that frustrates James tremendously.

Yet when Davis is healthy, the Lakers appear

to be a postseason contender. That notion keeps James going, along with the innate fire in a player who has been driven to succeed from his first step onto an NBA court in Sacramento nearly two full decades ago.

“Ever since we made the trade for AD to bring him here, our whole thing was about health,” James said. “That’s not changed. We haven’t had the best luck of health, I would say, especially this year. I can’t tell you what I want out of this ballclub (without good health).”

HOLIDAY SCORES SEASON-HIGH 37, BUCKS BEAT RAPTORS 130-122

By TOM KERTSCHER Associated Press

MILWAUKEE (AP)

— Jrue Holiday scored a season-high 37 points and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Toronto Raptors 130122 last night.

The Bucks, playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo for the fourth consecutive game, shot 19 for 39 (49 percent) from 3-point range.

Fred Van Vleet led Toronto with 39 points. Gary Trent Jr added 28 points and Pascal Siakam had 23.

Play got chippy and action was halted at 6:40 of the fourth quarter with Milwaukee leading 113-110 because of an altercation involving several players neat the Bucks’ basket.

Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez was whistled for two technical fouls and ejected. Technicals were also called on Toronto’s O.G. Anunoby and Jamaal Magloire on the play.

No foul shots were awarded.

Lopez scored 15 of his 19 points in the third quarter before being ejected.

The Bucks enter a three-day break having gone 2-2 without Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP and league’s fourthleading scorer has left knee soreness.

After a tight first three quarters, Milwaukee never gave up the lead in the fourth, getting nine points from Holiday.

The Bucks led by 10 points after the first quarter and the Raptors led by seven at halftime. The Bucks seized the lead in the third period and carried an eight-point advantage into the final quarter.

UP NEXT Raptors: At Minnesota on Thursday. Bucks: At Cleveland on Saturday.

18 IN PACERS’ 132-119 LOSS TO BUCKS

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer

MILWAUKEE (AP)

— Jrue Holiday and the Milwaukee Bucks responded to the Indiana Pacers’ fast start by delivering a dominant performance down the stretch.

Holiday scored a seasonhigh 35 points to go along with 11 assists for his third straight double-double and the Bucks rallied to beat the Pacers 132-119 on Monday night.

The Pacers had led 76-65 at the break after matching their highest first-half point total of the season.

“I think that we slowed them down just enough,” Holiday said.

“They were running that first half, boy. It was like how Golden State tries to do, how Houston used to do. They ran fast. They run fast, they shoot 3s. They were pretty much getting things in the paint and getting 3s at the same time.”

Neither team was at full strength.

The Bucks played without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for a third straight game due to left knee soreness.

Indiana was missing leading scorer and NBA assists leader Tyrese Haliburton for a third straight game due to a left elbow sprain and a mild left knee bone bruise.

The Pacers still led most of the way, with Myles Turner scoring 30 points after missing three games with back spasms and T.J. McConnell adding a careerhigh 29 points — including 25 in the first half — plus nine assists.

Buddy Hield scored 18 and Bennedict Mathurin added 12 for the Pacers.

Milwaukee eventually handed Indiana its fourth

straight loss by outscoring the Pacers 39-21 in the fourth quarter.

Holiday scored 21 of his points after halftime to lead the comeback.

“He’s just an unreal player on both ends,” McConnell said. “Should be the defensive player of the year for a couple of seasons.

“And his offensive game, he just plays at his own pace, can score at all three levels. He’s just unbelievably good.”

Holiday shot 13 of 19 overall and 5 of 8 from 3-point range.

The Bucks went 23 of 46 from beyond the arc and had their most 3-pointers this season.

Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis said after the game that Holiday deserves to play in the All-Star Game.

Holiday’s lone All-Star appearance came in 2013 with the Philadelphia 76ers.

“Just taking the game over and taking it into his

own hands, that’s what stars do,” said Portis, who had 21 points and 11 rebounds.

“They show up on a nightly basis. And I think he shows up every night for us.”

After falling behind by as many as 13, the Bucks pulled ahead 101-100 on Grayson Allen’s 3-pointer with 10:04 left in the game, the first time the Pacers had trailed since the opening quarter.

Indiana responded with consecutive baskets from Andrew Nembhard and Jalen Smith.

The game went backand-forth from there, as the first 4 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter featured five lead changes.

Jordan Nwora’s 3-pointer with 7:40 left put the Bucks ahead for good with the score 108-107.

Indiana led most of the way thanks to the fast start by McConnell, who entered the day scoring just 6 points per game.

During his 25-point first half, McConnell shot 9 of 9 from the floor, including 4 of 4 from 3-point range, and 3 of 3 from the freethrow line while playing 17 minutes.

McConnell was asked after the game the last time he had been in such a zone.

“Probably high school,” McConnell replied.

Brook Lopez had 19 points, Allen 17 and Nwora 14 for the Bucks.

TIP-INS Pacers: Indiana shot 60.9 percent in the first half but 39.5 percent in the second half.

Bucks: Coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game that a decision hadn’t been reached on whether Antetokounmpo would play Tuesday against the Toronto Raptors.

George Hill played more than 22 minutes and had nine points and six assists in his first appearance since January 6.

JOHNSON HITS CAREER-HIGH 34, SPURS TOP NETS, END 5-GAME SKID

By RAUL DOMINGUEZ Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO (AP)

— Keldon Johnson had a career-high 34 points and 10 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs snapped a five-game skid with a 106-98 win over the injury slowed Brooklyn Nets last night. Jeremy Sochan added 16 points for San Antonio.

Brooklyn lost its third straight. The Nets have dropped every game since Durant suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee. Irving was a late scratch due to a sore right calf.

Johnson was 11 for 26 from the field, including two key baskets in the fourth quarter. He hit a 3-pointer following a missed 3 by Seth

Curry, giving the Spurs an 87-82 lead. One possession after Nic Claxton blocked his dunk attempt, Johnson threw down a one-handed dunk for an 89-82 lead. Ben Simmons had a triple-double of 10 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for Brooklyn in the opener of a fivegame trip. T.J. Warren added 19 points and Claxton had 15 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks and four assists.

A flare-up midway through the second quarter between Markieff Morris and Sochan momentarily sparked the Nets. Sochan held three fingers up near Morris’ face after draining a 3-pointer that gave San Antonio a 39-34 lead with 5:20 remaining in the half.

LAKERS’ LeBron James (6) flexes his arm during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets on Monday nioght in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 140-132. (AP Photo/Jae C Hong)

INDIANA Pacers’ Buddy Hield reacts during the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks. TOP RIGHT:

Hield shoots as Bucks’ Grayson Allen watches during the first half in Milwaukee.

(AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

EU outlines plan for clean tech future boosted by subsidies

By RAF CASERT Associated Press

THE European Union pushed forward on Tuesday with a major clean tech industrial plan which not only should keep the continent in the vanguard of plotting a greener future but also guarantee its economic survival as it faces challenges from China and the United States.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the outlines for her “Green Deal Industrial Plan” that will make it much easier to push through subsidies for green industries and pool EU-wide projects that are boosted with major funding as the EU pursues the goal of being climate neutral by 2050.

“We know that we have a small window to invest in clean tech and innovation to gain leadership before the fossil fuel economy becomes obsolete,” von der Leyen said.

At the same time in Germany, climate protests

resumed Tuesday over the destruction of a small village to allow expansion of a coal mine, as the country strives to boost its energy security amid the cut in Russian gas supply.

Von der Leyen used a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos to say that on top of feeding its own industry, the 27-nation bloc will become much more forceful in countering unfair trading practices, if they come from Washington, or more importantly, Beijing.

“We see aggressive attempts to attract our industrial capacities away to China and elsewhere,” she said.

And as it is trying to wean itself of an overdependence on Russia energy since the war in Ukraine started almost a year ago, the EU doesn’t want to become as dependent on China for rare earth materials, which are critical to the development of battery storage, hydrogen and wind energy.

“We have a compelling need to make this net-zero

transition without creating new dependencies,” von der Leyen said.

Even if the EU has gripes with both Washington and Beijing about being squeezed out of their markets, von der Leyen came down much harder on China in her speech, underscoring she still has

hopes of making amends with the Biden administration — with which the EU sorely needs to stand shoulder to shoulder in opposing Russia.

In Brussels too, where EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis had talks with his U.S. counterpart Catherine Tai, both

went out of their way to play down the EU’s complaints about the $369 billion U.S. Inflation Reduction Act.

“Going our own way is neither efficient nor desirable. Instead, we should create economies of scale across the Atlantic and set common standards,” Dombrovskis said.

Von der Leyen’s plan will now become the key driver for debate among the EU’s member nations before their 27 leaders meet for a Feb. 9-10 summit on the issue. Before such a plan becomes reality, the EU needs to find a balance on the ability of economic juggernauts like Germany and France to splurge state aid and, on the other side, grant funds to small member states, which have no such firepower.

No specific figures were mentioned, but going on what the United States is putting in its U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and how the EU already waved through 672 billion euros ($727.5 billion) in aid to allow member states to deal with

the impact of the war in Ukraine, any EU commitment will be massive.

Many EU leaders saw the U.S. act as an attempt to cut European firms out of the lucrative American market for clean energy technology like electric vehicles and excessively favors a “madein-America” approach that discriminates against European multinationals.

In a letter to EU member states, European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager wrote last week that the U.S. plan “risks luring some of our EU businesses into moving investments to the U.S.”

It underscores a continuing unease in the EU that it will become irrelevant in the economy of the future, as it is squeezed by the U.S. and China.

“As a union, we are not living up to our full economic potential. Our productivity lags behind and fewer and fewer of the biggest firms on the planet are EU-based,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said.

a.m. 2.8 10:46 a.m. 0.0 4:27 p.m. 2.1 10:36 p.m. -0.5 5:11 a.m. 3.1 11:44 a.m. -0.2 5:27 p.m. 2.2 11:35 p.m. -0.7

6:07 a.m. 3.3 12:40 p.m. -0.4 6:25 p.m. 2.4

7:02 a.m. 3.4 12:32 a.m. -0.9

7:21 p.m. 2.5 1:32 p.m. -0.6

7:54 a.m. 3.5 1:28 a.m. -1.0

Sunday Monday Tuesday

8:16 p.m. 2.7 2:23 p.m. -0.7

8:45 a.m. 3.4 2:24 a.m. -1.0 9:10 p.m. 2.8 3:13 p.m. -0.8 9:36 a.m. 3.3 3:19 a.m. -0.8 10:04 p.m. 2.8 4:02 p.m. -0.8

LONG

FIRST Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, left, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attend a session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum is taking place in Davos from Jan. 16 until Jan. 20, 2023.

Photo:Markus Schreiber/AP

Stocks close mixed on Wall Street; Goldman weighs on Dow

By DAMIAN J. TROISE AND ALEX VEIGA AP Business Writers

STOCK indexes on Wall Street closed mixed Tuesday, as investors focus on a busy week of corporate earnings for insight into how much damage inflation is inflicting on the economy.

The S&P 500 slipped 0.2%, ending a four-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.1%, mostly because of a big drop in Goldman Sachs after the investment bank’s results came in far below analysts’ estimates as dealmaking dried up.

Gains in technology stocks helped the Nasdaq composite eke out a 0.1% gain, extending the techheavy index’s winning streak to a seventh day.

The mixed start to the holiday-shortened week follows a solid start to the

year for Wall Street after a dismal 2022. The broader market is coming off its best week in two months, but investor sentiment could quickly turn as companies report their results for the October-December quarter.

Analysts still expect companies in the S&P 500 to report a drop in profits for the fourth quarter from a year earlier. That would mark the first such decline since 2020, when the pandemic was crushing the economy.

More importantly, investors are listening closely to financial updates from companies to get better determine whether inflation will continue squeezing consumers’ wallets and sapping corporate profits.

“We haven’t gotten much forward guidance from companies for the coming year yet, and that’s really what we’ll be focused on,”

said Bill Merz, head of capital market research at U.S. Bank Wealth Management. “And it may be that forward guidance continues to be light in terms of content, because companies simply don’t know.”

Several banks reported encouraging financial results last week, but also said a mild recession is likely on the horizon for the U.S. economy. Among the companies reporting their latest results this week: Netflix, M&T Bank and Procter & Gamble.

Goldman Sachs slumped 6.4% Tuesday after the investment bank reported dismal results.

Big communications companies, health care stocks and industrial firms were among the biggest weights on the market. Netflix fell 2%, Pfizer dropped 3.7% and Emerson Electric slid 6.8% for the biggest

decline among S&P 500 stocks.

Technology sector stocks were a bright spot. Chipmaker Nvidia rose 4.8%.

All told, the S&P 500 fell 8.12 points to 3,990.97. The Dow dopped 391.76 points to 33,910.85. The Nasdaq rose 15.96 points to 11,095.11.

Small company stocks also gave back some of their recent gains. The Russell 2000 index fell 2.75 points, or 0.1%, to close at 1,884.29.

Bond yields remained relatively stable. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 3.54% from 3.5% late Friday. Bond and stock markets were closed in the U.S. for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday.

Inflation and how the Federal Reserve will continue its fight against high prices remains the big concern for investors as they

review earnings results and corporate statements.

“The forward outlook is very opaque at this point, because we’re at a potential turning point in inflation, a potential turning point in (Fed) policy trajectory and it remains to be seen the extent to which the significantly tighter policy headwinds will flow through to the earnings picture in 2023,” Merz said.

Wall Street will get another inflation update on Wednesday, when the government issues its December report on inflation at the wholesale level, which tracks prices before they are passed on to consumers. The government will also release retail sales data for December, which could give investors more insight into how inflation continues to affect consumer spending.

Inflation at the consumer level has been easing for six straight months, and that has given investors more hope that the Fed could soon consider softening its policy on interest rates. The central bank, though, has so far been adamant that it plans to continue raising rates this year and that it sees no rate cuts happening until 2024 at the earliest.

The central bank has raised its key overnight rate to a range of 4.25% to 4.50% from roughly zero a year ago. The Fed will announce its next decision on interest rates Feb. 1.

Investors are largely forecasting a raise of just 0.25 percentage points next month, down from December’s half-point hike and from four prior increases of 0.75 percentage points.

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer

NOTICE

SEQUOIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD.

Incor orated under the International usiness Co anies ct, of the Co onwealth of he aha as.

EMERSON Electric Co. is going public with its $7.6 billion bid for National Instruments, saying the company has avoided serious buyout negotiations since early last year.

National Instruments said it had formed a group to look at the proposal and evaluate options. But Emerson said since that time National Instruments has resisted engaging.

use to ward off unwelcome suitors.

The elements of each poison pill vary, but they're all designed to give corporate boards an option to flood the market with so much newly created stock that a takeover becomes prohibitively expensive.

Notice is hereby given that the above-named Company has been dissolved according to the Certifcate of issolution issued by the cting ssistant Registrar General on the th day of ece ber . . .

Registration u ber In oluntary Li uidation ated this th day of January . .

Peter D. Maynard

Emerson bumped up its cash offer for the maker of scientific measuring equipment and software to $53 per share in November, up from a per-share offer of $48 that it had made back in May.

Shares of National Instruments jumped, closing Tuesday up nearly 11%.

Emerson said that it's tried numerous times to initiate private discussions with National Instruments Corp. since May. The St. Louis company said that when it provided its increased bid in November,

Emerson, which makes process controls systems, valves and analytical instruments, noted that it did meet with National Instruments earlier this month, but that National Instruments shared "limited, high-level" information about its business and was unwilling to provide more detailed information.

Emerson said it was told by National Instruments that would be the extent of its engagement.

Last week National Instruments Corp. said that it was conducting a strategic review and put in place a "poison pill," a financial maneuver that companies

"Although Emerson would have preferred to reach an agreement privately, given National Instruments' announcement that it is undertaking a strategic review, and after refusing to work with us toward a premium cash transaction over the past eight months, we are making our interest public for the benefit of all National Instruments shareholders," Emerson President and CEO Lal Karsanbhai said in a prepared statement.

National Instruments, which is based in Austin, Texas, said in a statement on Tuesday that it will evaluate Emerson's proposal and wants to "pursue a comprehensive strategic review process inclusive of other counterparties rather than negotiate exclusively with Emerson, which (National Instruments) believes would be detrimental to shareholder interests."

Emerson is interested in National Instruments' differentiated electronic test and measurement offerings and technology stack of intelligent devices, controls and software.

Emerson has purchased 2.3 million shares of National Instruments and says that it has approval to increase its stake.

Shares of Emerson ended Tuesday down almost 7%.

NOTICE

HYPERION INVESTMENT GROUP LTD.

Incor orated under the International usiness Co anies ct, of the Co onwealth of he aha as. Registration u ber In oluntary Li uidation

0.1840.12019.53.35% 8.547.01Colina

0.4490.22019.02.58%

0.9390.20012.11.75%

Notice is hereby given that the above-named Company has been dissolved according to the Certifcate of issolution issued by the cting ssistant Registrar General on the th day of ece ber . . .

ated this th day of January . .

Peter D. Maynard

NOTICE

15-Jul-2039 15-Jun-2040

13-Jul-2028 13-Oct-2027 15-Oct-2049 17-Jan-2040 15-Jun-2030

NOTICE

is hereby given that FRIZNER FRANCOIS BEAUCHAMP of Alice Town, Bimini, The Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 18th day of January, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

is hereby given that OCTERVIL JN BAPTISTE of West Ridge, Nassau, Bahamas, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 11th day of January, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

BAHAMAS SAVES OF FT ASSETS FROM ‘DUMPSTER FIRE’

FROM

Referring to the international platform, his team’s release said: “With respect to FTX.com, the FTX debtors have identified approximately $1.6bn of digital assets associated with FTX.com as of the petition date, $323m of which was subject to unauthorised third-party transfers post-petition.”

This likely includes the $100m said to have been paid-out to 1,500 purportedly “Bahamian” clients in violation of the Supreme Court and Chapter 11 freezes.

As for the balance, the statement said this includes “$426m which was transferred to cold storage under the control of The Securities Commission of The Bahamas, $742m of which is in cold storage under the control of the FTX debtors, and $121m of which is pending transfer to cold storage under the control of the FTX debtors.”

Mr Ray and his team also warned that creditors are likely to recover a fraction of what is owed to them,

adding: “The assets identified as of the petition date are substantially less than the aggregate third-party customer balances suggested by the electronic ledger for FTX.com.”

Of the $1.729bn in total cash recovered to-date, the FTX chief said some $153.2m of this sum was “primarily custodial or other restricted cash” belonging to FTX Digital Markets. The Bahamian subsidiary is under the control of Brian Simms KC, the Lennox Paton senior partner, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) accounting duo Kevin Cambridge and Peter Greaves, following their appointment as joint provisional liquidators.

Mr Ray, in subsequent legal filings with the Delaware Bankruptcy Court yesterday, described the task he and his advisers face as “monumental” given FTX’s lack of accounting and corporate records, systems and near-total absence of corporate governance. Nevertheless, he argued that “substantial progress” in getting to grips with the

collapsed crypto exchange has been - and will continue to be - made.

Voicing sentiments that will likely be shared by the Bahamian provisional liquidators, Mr Ray added: “The advisors working at my direction have worked tirelessly and non-stop for the last 70 days to take control over what can only be described as a ‘dumpster fire’ in order to stop assets from being depleted and to take action to realise value related to the debtors’ assets.....

“The negative impact of the irresponsible actions of the FTX founders [Mr Bankman-Fried and Gary Wang] is difficult to measure. Their actions have complicated the basic tasks that a typical Chapter 11 debtor accomplishes either just before or immediately following the filing of Chapter 11 petitions.

“Among other things, the founder’s actions have put customers and assets at untold risk, they have required round-the-clock policing of blockchain and exchanges to identify, locate, recover and pursue

assets, they have required the creation of security protocols to protect located assets, they have required the construction - in many cases from scratch - of reliable financial and accounting books and records, they have required near constant interaction with state and federal regulatory and criminal authorities, and they have required the creation - again from scratch - of best in class corporate governance.”

Mr Ray’s presentation to FTX’s unsecured creditors committee indicated he will abide by the co-operation agreement thrashed out with the Bahamian provisional liquidators following weeks of public acrimony between the two sides. He explained that both parties, together with the unsecured creditors committee, will form a “joint task force” to explore “reorganisation opportunities” for the US and international exchanges.

The sale of FTX’s technology and trading platforms is thought to likely be one of the best recovery sources for the

crypto exchange’s investors.

Another are its Bahamian real estate holdings, which Mr Ray yesterday valued at a combined $253.1m on “a cost basis”, and said will “be marketed in a joint process with the joint provisional liquidators.

Breaking these purchases down, his presentation said FTX’s 15 properties in Albany have a combined value of $166.1m. Besides the Orchid Penthouse where Mr Bankman-Fried once resided, the crypto exchange also acquired units in multiple Albany Marina Residences complexes including the Honeycomb, Tetris, Charles, Cube, Gemini and Coral.

Split out from the Albany Marina Residences, and given a $12.9m valuation, was The Conch Shack. This was the residence used by Constance Wong, FTX Digital Markets chief operating officer, and other exchange staff, and which features four bedrooms, a theatre room, and swimming pools spread across over 9,000 square feet. It is located some 100 metres

UNION LEADER TARGETS LIVEABLE WAGE TALKS WITHIN TWO YEARS

will ever be “a right time” to implement a living wage due to the massive payroll cost increase it will impose on most businesses.

He told this newspaper that much work remains to be done to define what “a livable wage” actually means, noting that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has only just begun to study the issue. And, with many companies still struggling to rebound from COVID and Hurricane Dorian, Mr Goudie argued that The Bahamas must instead prioritise “fixing business” and allow the private sector “to live again”.

The Government, in confirming the latest minimum wage increase, made no secret that it views the move as a stepping stone towards discussions on establishing a so-called livable wage for all Bahamian workers so that families can enjoy a relatively comfortable standard of living.

A University of The Bahamas (UoB) study,

dated September 30, 2020, and authored by Lesvie Archer, Olivia Saunders, Bridget Hogg, Vijaya Permual and Brittney Johnson, concluded that a living wage in New Providence and Grand Bahama for a family of four is $2,625 and $3,550 per month respectively.

However, Mr Ferguson described these figures to Tribune Business as “a guide”, implying that they represent a starting point for talks between the Government, trade unions, employers and other stakeholders on the livable wage concept and what the numbers should actually be.

“I think we want to give the economy a little bit more time to stabilise the situation, and once that is done the Government will be receptive to having dialogue with the social partners to see how best we can do it,” the TUC president replied, when asked when he would like livable wage negotiations to begin.

“We want to do it in collaboration with the social partners. The economy is

moving in the right direction. The Prime Minister and his government are doing what needs to be done to get the economy up and going. I’m certain that once we decide to begin that process the social partners, the employers, will find it more reasonable to talk about a living wage. A living wage is something we want. It’s a must. I can assure you that is the number one item on our agenda.”

Prime Minister Philip Davis KC has frequently talked about “economic dignity” as a concept driving his administration’s labour and economic policy agenda. Although not fully defined publicly, it seems to imply equity, fairness and desire to ensure all Bahamians enjoy a reasonable standard of living, and thus links directly to the socalled livable wage.

As to the timeline for when talks should begin, Mr Ferguson told this newspaper: “The economy was not functioning for at least two years, and we have to look

at getting as many people as possible re-employed. These are factors that have some influence over when we will begin.

“I would certainly say we need about a year, yearand-a-half, maybe two years to make a proper assessment as to what the livable wage should be. The University of The Bahamas gave us some figures, which are more of a guide in my opinion, but we will meet with the employers, meet with the Government, all the social partners, and try and come up with something that truly represents a livable wage.

“It will give us time to make a proper assessment in my view. We don’t want to jump the gun because the economy is doing well now. We want to get the economy stabilised and look at the numbers. We want to do it in collaboration with the employers.”

However, Mr Goudie argued that the concept of a ‘livable wage’ needs

to be properly defined before any such negotiations take place. “I don’t know that there’s a good time, and don’t know when that should be,” he said.

“Nobody really knows, and the ILO is studying the minimum wage and they will be giving us information on it.

“I don’t know that there is a right time because we just increased the minimum wage. The minimum wage here in The Bahamas is the highest in the Caribbean. People can talk all they want about a livable wage but until we get some sort of definition, some type of guidelines, I don’t know if there’s a good time to start these discussions.”

Some observers might argue that The Bahamas’ minimum wage, which was increased by $50 per week from $210 to $260, has to be the Caribbean’s highest because of this nation’s relatively high living costs. However, Mr Goudie said of a livable

from Mr Bankman-Fried’s former penthouse.

Mr Ray’s presentation also valued FTX’s three units in the Venetian Corporate Centre, located on West Bay Street, at a collective $28.8m with the exchange’s five properties at One Cable Beach said to be worth a total $5.9m. Some 12 additional properties, not identified, were valued cumulatively at $39.4m.

However, the Bahamian provisional liquidators previously revealed that FTX had acquired seven units in the GoldWynn project at Goodman’s Bay valued between $563,520 and $1.449m. Further outlays of $17.435m, $9m and $1.8m were made on property at Ocean Terrace, Old Fort Bay and Pineapple House respectively.

“We are making important progress in our efforts to maximise recoveries, and it has taken a Herculean investigative effort from our team to uncover this preliminary information,” Mr Ray added.

wage: “It’s not viewed as very beneficial to the business community trying to recover from COVID and Hurricane Dorian. Abaco and Grand Bahama are still reeling from that, let alone the pandemic.

“Businesses have to just get back on their feet again. Give these guys a chance to live. All you have to do is look at Bay Street. Everything is closed, everything is dirty, everything is gungy. We need to get businesses back, not put them further under. That’s the view of most people. We’ve got to fix our country first, fix business, before we start talking about income.

“We’re in trouble. My view is there’s no good time right now to start discussions about a livable wage because businesses need to become profitable again and make up for what they lost in the pandemic and hurricane. It just doesn’t make sense. How can you increase costs when you are trying to recover from the effects of a recession.”

Bran: Price control switch ends pharmacy ‘beating’

who had lost their jobs and income and had no means of affording them.

“Many people thought a pharmacy made a whole lot of money in the pandemic, but in many cases we had long-standing customers who lost their jobs and needed medications but could not pay for them,” Mr McCartney recalled. “My policy in here was: ‘Let’s do what we can’.

“We were all in an emergency state. For those persons who have supported you for over 25 years and need medications, what are you going to do? Turn them back because they cannot pay? Hell no. We accommodated those people to our detriment.

Those people were there for us when we started many years ago, and when they needed our assistance we gave it to them free of charge.

“Many patients came in who were not working but needed medication. Our policy was to help them come what may. I’m sure we were not the only pharmacy to do that. I’m sure other pharmacies did the same thing to assist their patients in helping them to meet their needs,” Mr McCartney added. “Our first priority was the health and welfare of our customers.

“It’s been rough, very rough, but we are still doing business and intend to move forward and will continue to build. It’s been very difficult because of the

BRANVILLE MCCARTNEY

price control restrictions put in place, but it’s not just price control. There are increasing electricity bills, the increasing cost of product, all around increases in taxes. It has an effect, but we keep moving forward.”

Pharmaceutical price controls have now reverted back to the regime that existed prior to early November 2022 in accordance with the Government’s Order, which mandated that the lower margin structure that expired yesterday would only be implemented for three months until January 17, 2023, in a bid to ease the cost of living crisis.

The three-month regime was agreed by the Government and pharmaceutical industry as a means to settle the dispute that erupted after the former, without any consultation, introduced changes that slashed both retail and wholesale margins in an effort to combat inflation.

The sector and the Davis administration ultimately

traded-off higher mark-ups with an expanded list of price controlled items that increased by ten medications. As a result, for just over two months, pharmaceutical wholesalers and retailers enjoyed one set mark-up across the board, at 20 percent and 40 percent respectively, for all price-controlled items in a move that simplified the structure.

It placed the price control mark-ups for wholesalers at a slightly higher level than the Government was initially proposing, between 15-18 percent, but some five percentage points less than the 25 percent they have enjoyed for the past 40 years. The wholesale industry is now reverting back to that 25 percent.

ROADWORKS HIT BUSINESSES SEEK GOV’T ‘FOLLOW THROUGH’

FROM PAGE A24

to entice consumers back to the Village Road area.

VAT credits, plus Business Licence and real property tax waivers, were also suggested as mechanisms to compensate for the damage inflicted by roadworks that have caused consumers to avoid the area “like the plague” and resulted in up to a 46 percent income losses for businesses.

It is not unheard of, though, for the Government to provide tax breaks and other concessions for businesses impacted by long-running roadworks projects. The last Christie

administration did so for the New Providence Road Improvement Project that impacted multiple businesses in numerous areas of the island more than one decade ago.

Branville McCartney, whose law firm was one of the signatories to the letter, yesterday said that while he did not attend the meeting he understood “that there’s some progress being made in regards to the Government hopefully granting some concessions in terms of the businesses and residents of the Village Road community”.

He added: “I am positively hopeful that the Government will look at

what was done previously on Blue Hill Road when they had the changes with the New Providence Road Improvement Project and do very similar for the persons affected by the roadworks on Village Road.

“Let me put it this way. I am confident the Government is working towards an amicable, fair and reasonable resolution for those businesses and homeowners who have been affected over the past year. I would be most disappointed if the Government were to act otherwise as opposed to being reasonable in the circumstances, most disappointed.”

The completion date for the Village Road roadworks was initially scheduled for September last year, but the deadline was then shifted to December before moving again to January. It now appears as if work may drag on into February 2023.

Mr Fields, in his letter to the Government, wrote that “an economic stimulus package” will be a vital tool in helping the area’s businesses to rebound in 2023. “The sprawling construction and protracted delays have placed a crippling strain on local businesses, which employ hundreds of Bahamians,” he wrote.

“The Government has recognised the importance

of business relief in the past, and the risks of unwieldy roadworks literally putting Bahamians out of business completely. The current losses come at a time when the ordinary cost of doing business continues to rise, on top of the fact that we have all just barely emerged from the full impact of the pandemic.

“Small businesses have recently faced increases in electricity costs, property taxes, wages and inflation. When the work is complete, businesses will also incur high costs to clean up our properties, repair damages, and re-engage customers.”

Mr Fields continued: “Between the open

As for retail pharmacies, the agreed 40 percent was at the top end of the range initially proposed by the Government. The Davis administration had sought a cut to between 35 percent to 40 percent, but the markup was ultimately some ten percentage points less (a 20 percent reduction in percentage terms) than the 50 percent that pharmacies have enjoyed for the past decade. Retailers now go back to 50 percent

In return for the Government keeping the margins at the upper end of its target range, the pharmacy industry also agreed to expand the price-controlled medications by ten items to include cancer and kidney treatment drugs.

trenches, unpaved roads, detours, strained traffic management and dust, customers are avoiding Village Road like a plague. The original target for completion, which was September 2022, and even the revised date of November, would have allowed local businesses to benefit from the holiday bump that most rely upon.

“Each missed deadline has serious implications for businesses, and there is little belief that the latest end-of-month forecast for completion will be met given the lack of clear communication and the conditions on the ground. With no clear end in sight, our reserves are depleted, our business planning efforts have become futile, and we continue to experience tremendous losses.”

Reg. No. 206565 B

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION

hereby given, in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act of 2000, that the above-named Company commenced dissolution procedures on the 17th day of January 2023 and that Sterling (Bahamas) Limited of Suite 205A, Saffrey Square, Bank Lane & Bay Street, P.O. Box N-9934, Nassau, Bahamas has been appointed voluntary Liquidator of the Company. Notice is also hereby given that any person having a claim against the Company is required, within 14 days of the date of this Notice, to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to Sterling (Bahamas) Limited, the Liquidator of the Company, or in default thereof they will be e cluded fro the beneft of any distribution made before such debts or claims are proved. Dated this 17th day of January 2023

CIBC WINS 11TH BANK OF THE YEAR HONOURS

CIBC FirstCaribbean yesterday said it had been recognised by The Banker magazine as ‘Bank of the Year’ in The Bahamas for the 11th time in 16 years.

The bank, in a statement, said the award took into account achievements such as the launch of CIBC FirstCaribbean’s MasterCard Black Credit Card, automated banking machine installations and its first Insights Personal Financing model.

Dr Jacqui Bend, CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Managing Director, said: “The bank will continue its digitisation road map and streamlining activities. There will be a greater focus on growth, maintaining overall credit quality, managing costs, enhancing our client relationships and investing in our employees.”

The Banker, which is part of the Financial Times Group publishing house, employs research staff who compile a list of major

banks across the globe and invite them to participate in the awards. Each bank is required to submit an entry form containing upto-date financial figures and

to answer, in detail, questions about performance technology, innovation and marketing initiatives.

Nikia Chrisite, CIBC First Caribbean’s marketing

manager, said: “At CIBC FirstCaribbean, we pay special attention to our clients, build on our technology base to create a modern digital experience, simplify

REALTOR HAILS BN PROPERTY SALES ‘FIRST’

the way we do business and invest in our people. This recognition by The Banker reflects what is being done to keep CIBC FirstCaribbean as the best choice for

banking services.” CIBC FirstCaribbean also won Bank of the Year in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020.

last year will be matched or even bettered in 2023.

he added that it was “paying attention” to feedback suggesting buyers may adopt more of “a wait and see” approach due to the negative headwinds created by inflation and higher global interest rates.

Meanwhile, Mr Damianos, confirming that the $1bn figure referred just to sales by his company alone, told Tribune Business: “We were quite pleased with our results. I think it’s the first time any real estate company made $1bn in sales or more in one year. I think it’s a good indicator to show what’s happening in The Bahamas.

“I think other companies did well, too, but I’d be very surprised if any others came anywhere near that. It was kind of an overspill from 2021, which a lot of people said was their best year. It was pent-up demand, people wanting to come offshore and make investments. We had a lot of developer sales, people acquiring land to develop property commercially. It will be interesting to see how it pans out, who builds and gets things done.”

The Sotheby’s International publication said its Bahamian affiliate, headed by Mr Damianos, had exceeded the $1bn property transactions mark by the end of 2022’s third quarter on September 30. The company specialises in high-end real estate sales that involve values that are typically in the millions of dollars.

Mr Damianos, though, dampened expectations that

FROM PAGE A24 Reinforces

• Supervises,

“There’s no real reason for our market not to keep going,” he said. “The wealthy still want to invest, they still want to enjoy pleasures in the sun and they still want to enjoy the warm weather.

“But I think we’ll probably not have that type of year [we had in 2022]. There’s two reasons. One, in particular, is definitely inventory. The problem is having enough inventory to sell. The only thing that is going to penalise us is the amount of inventory we have to sell to these people. That’s our big thing. We have a small handful of developers. The question is whether they catch up with demand before it falls off again.”

Asked how much available for-sale inventory at the market’s high end is down compared to historical levels, Mr Damianos replied: “I’m going to make an educated guess. I’m going to say our inventory is down at least 50 percent in the high-end space.

“When I first started in Lyford Cay in the early 2000s, I’d say between 7 percent to 10 percent of the properties here would have been on the market. We’re probably down to 2-3 percent. That’s from 2021-2022.

Over the years it’s dwindled, but now it’s probably the lowest it has ever been.

If you don’t have a product you can’t sell it.... But it’s not anything I would call doom and gloom.”

Mr Damianos said the real estate market typically

went through cycles, and the present low inventory issue will be rectified as it “comes alive” again. He acknowledged, though, that the absence of competition could encourage sellers to hold out for high or above market prices, while potential purchasers may decide to hold-off if they found nothing that met their requirements.

He was backed by Mr Christie, who agreed that the restricted supply of available for-sale properties will help keep prices “consistent”. He told Tribune Business: “The year has started off very, very well. We’re on the tail end of the hottest market we’ve had in 40 years. The change we have seen is that the feeding frenzy COVID sparked, that has slowed down.

“Our market, though, remains extremely hot from last year and, within that, we had many properties selling at asking price and above asking price. That has cooled off, but the market remains very, very strong. I believe that, in 2023, that will continue, especially in the luxury market. People will always say the market is dropping, but it has corrected itself back to where it should be.

“What we saw during COVID was an abnormal amount of transactions, and numbers being up 10 percent, 15 percent, 20 percent. The market is correcting itself but remains strong. There’s extremely low inventory which helps our prices remain consistent.”

As for the next 12 months, Mr Christie predicted: “Our

projection for 2023 is it will still be a very good year due to the lack of inventory helping to keep our prices consistent. All of our projections for 2023 are still a very strong market in the luxury space.

“Last year was a very good year. Our numbers were up, I think, about 22 percent year-over-year in sales volumes coming off an abnormal year in 2021. I think this year has the potential to do just as good as last year. We don’t have a crystal ball to predict, but as long as as don’t have any significant changes I think we’ll be just as good as last year.”

While the cost of mortgage financing has risen for international buyers, due to the increases in US and other interest rates, Mr Christie argued that this was

offset by strong demand for The Bahamas as a “soughtafter destination”. He added: “Whatever market we’re visiting, there always seems to be strong demand for The Bahamas.”

Mr Carey, too, said the Bahamian real estate market appeared “to have settled a bit” following the post-COVID sales surge. Yet he added that the main economic indicators impacting it “seem to be healthy” despite the threats posed by inflation and rising global interest rates.

The Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate MCR Group chief said The Bahamas appeared to have reverted back to its preCOVID seasonal trend, with most activity taking place between the endDecember and May period.

“I would think 2022 was an exceptional year,” he said.

“You almost get to a peak of a market. It was an exceptional year. Can we match that? Who knows?

“With inflation, a lot of buyers are holding back. Some buyers are feeling they’re going to wait it out and see what happens. Last year we didn’t have that conversation. Before inflation picked up we didn’t have that type of conversation, but now we’re having it. I’m in contact with a lot of very smart business people, and they bring this stuff up. Inflation gives them a level of concern. We might see more of a wait and see posture in 2023.

Acknowledging that wealthy buyers were among those most immune from inflation’s impact, Mr Carey nevertheless pointed to the slowing US real estate market as an example of trends that could ultimately impact The Bahamas. Yet he added: “We’re enthusiastic about this year. We’re paying attention to some of the conversations, but so far everybody says the market is still good.”

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• proper performance of duties.

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CIBC FirstCaribbean will soon add its 11th ‘Bank of the Year’ award to its showcase reflecting previous wins over the past 16 years.

Jarol Investments Limited is seeking to fll

following position: Assistant Security Manager (Nassau)

M PROJECT MUST STOP E UMA’S SOUTH ‘DYING OUT’

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

EXUMA’S private sector says the $175m Torch Cay project is urgently needed to prevent the island’s southern end from “dying out”.

O’Brian Strachan, owner/ operator of Strachan’s Service Station, told Tribune Business the development - for which a Heads of Agreement was signed by the Government last Thursday - should increase traffic through Georgetown because everything has to travel south-east from the island’s capital.

“It’s going to bring a whole lot of development,” he added, voicing optimism that with homes potentially valued between $1m to $10m it will attract

numerous high net worth individuals who will spend their money on Exuma.

“That south-eastern part of the island is dying out. They had more people in Williams Town than they do now, so it’s going to bring some sort of life back into that part of the island,” Mr Strachan added.

Ramon Darville, Darville Lumber’s general manager, said that while developer, PMR Bahamas and its principal, Jay Penske, have bought several items from him nothing “big scale” has started yet on Torch Cay.

He said: “They can’t possibly bring in every single item they need, so they will most likely be back to us. The people in Williams Town need this boost. It would be really good for them

“I met with the developer, Jake Penske, and he always seems to be in a big

rush. That’s just how people like him are, but he needs to realise that he is on small island now and he needs to plan way ahead. You have to learn to relax and just wait on things to happen.

“Logistics will be a big challenge for getting materials to Torch Cay from the mainland, so you have to order things way in advance and know all of the distribution channels to ensure that the development goes smoothly.”

Tribune Business reported last August that PMR Bahamas’ $170m investment, which is targeted at Exuma’s southern tip, is pledging to create up to 300 full-time jobs - plus several hundred construction posts - via the phased build-out of a mixed-use resort and residential project. It plans to develop an 81-slip marina, 161 residential lots, boutique resort

with 40 keys, and an 18-hole golf course on 707-acre Torch Cay, also known as Hog Cay.

The project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) said the developer will seek to upgrade the privately-owned island’s existing runway to a facility able to win International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) designation. It said: “Torch Cay is a privately owned 707-acre island situated to the east of Little Exuma at the southernmost point of the Exuma Island chain.

“The $170m proposed development by PMR Bahamas is a mixed-use luxury resort and residential development complete with an 18-hole golf course, 81-slip marina and channel, 161 residential lots, 40 hotel keys resort, marina village and runway with an International Civil Aviation

Organisation (ICAO) designation.

“Amenities include the creation of new beaches and expansion/improvement of existing beaches; overwater bungalows; agricultural and husbandry area (farms); equestrian facilities; golf clubhouse; spa and sports pavilion; and natural areas. Back-of-house (BOH) operations will provide solid waste management, electricity, potable water, and sewerage facilities. Guests and visitors will arrive at designated and secure locations.”

Detailing the project’s likely economic and social impact on Exuma, especially the Williams Town community, the document adds: “The project is anticipated to be developed over two phases.... Full build-out will take between eight and 12 years, creating between 375 to 425 jobs during

BAIC deal’s pay terms will not be retroactive

By FAY SIMMONS jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation’s (BAIC) newly-signed industrial agreement with the union representing its line staff will not be made retroactive to cover the five-year negotiating period, officials said yesterday.

Leslie Dean, BAIC’s labour consultant, said the improved financial terms for members of the General Workers Union will take effect as soon as the agreement is implemented. “We could not go retroactively for back pay, but the benefits will be commensurate upon the implementation of this agreement,” he explained.

“They will be getting the monetary benefits as agreed by the Government at this time because, basically, as we all know, the economic transition we are just coming from, the challenges from the pandemic.... And so the different categories of workers will be paid a double increment or single increment, and that is what

they will get. That is for 2022 through 2025.”

Mr Dean said the agreement’s terms include two fifteen-minute coffee breaks for workers daily; an extended sick leave period; a two-day extension on compassionate leave; leave for employees on Family Islands who may encounter transportation issues; paternity leave every three years; casual leave; study leave; and the formation of a health and safety committee.

Educational benefits for workers include the opportunity to use the facilities at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) to enhance skills, and the chance to apply for scholarships or paid leave.

can enhance productivity within the corporation.

“We have to look out for the welfare of our employees. That is the thrust behind the conclusions in the industrial agreement.

Management wants to provide a safe work environment for employees, and put in a framework where you have good interactions between supervisors, managers and employees, each knowing their respective responsibilities to each other.”

Surveillance Offcers (Nassau)

Mr Dean said: “BAIC takes very seriously the need for employees toalthough they might come at a certain level - to provide opportunity to use facilities at the nearby BTVI to enhance their skills, which will in the long run be brought back into the workplace where they

Mr Dean voiced optimism that the agreement will help increase productivity among workers, raise staff incomes and make future labour negotiations easier. He said “With increased productivity generating increased income, it will be up to the employees in the long run. When unions make a request for increases in wages, the management can consider it positively because we will have a very productive workforce which can be measured in output and income.”

construction and 250 to 300 jobs during operation.

“While the population of Exuma and its cays nearly doubled between the 2000 and 2010 census to just below 7,000, Little Exuma does not exhibit this growth and will benefit directly from its proximity to Torch Cay. Employees who live on Exuma will be able to travel to the cay for daily operations via provided busing and transportation along Queens Highway.

“The community of Little Exuma will benefit directly from community outreach programmes, which may include adoption of the Williams Town school; a cultural village at Forbes Hill; and additional educational support and training to the residents of Exuma.”

Leroy Major, BAIC’s executive chairman, acknowledged that “we will be back to the drawing board in short order” as the industrial agreement signed yesterday is due to expire in June 2023. This will require fresh negotiations on a new labour deal.

Obie Ferguson KC, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), said he expects other outstanding industrial agreement talks to be concluded soon. He said: “All of the agreements that’s outstanding will be negotiated and we will move along. We have Bahamas Waste, which we should be signing in a couple of days. BTVI, we should be signing in short order, and very shortly we will be signing with the doctors.”

His reference to the doctors includes both the Bahamas Doctors Union, which represents the junior physicians in the public health sector, and the Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA). The latter represents the more senior doctors.

Gladstone Road paving close to 50% completed

THE Gladstone Road paving project will soon be 50 percent complete now that it is into its third

week of work, officials said yesterday.

Bahamix’s general manager, Ryan Rahming said the phased road paving is progressing more smoothly than anticipated and will soon reach the half-way mark just beyond Fire Trail Road. The work begins at Gladstone Road’s Rubis gas station, located at the northern end, and extends south all the way to Carmichael Road.

“The work entails using a milling machine to remove a specific depth of old asphalt surface [which] we cut down to an inch-and a-half. We truck that away and lay an inch-and-half of fresh asphalt. We [then] compact and roll it to the existing line and level,” said Mr Rahming.

Traffic management is operating as planned, and he added: ““There are some hiccups in the process, and it’s usually during the paving aspects of the job. During the milling the traffic is allowed to move where we allow them to move, and not in the path of the milling machine.

“We allow them to flow when the milling machine

process is taking place. When there is paving and the hot asphalt is very soft and impressionable, we want to stop traffic and not allow [it] to move through while the asphalt is being placed on the road. The traffic component of the project is probably the most difficult aspect - trying to allow business owners and their employees to have access to their places of business.”

Mr Rahming said the public was informed of the road paving project through a notice, continuous dialogue and door-to-door distribution of flyers. “We’ve had very little complaints from residents and we’ve been allowing them access to their properties,” he said.

Bahamix has scheduled paving works from 9.30 pm to 3.30am for the duration of the project. Established in 1981, Bahamix manufactures and supplies asphalt for private and government sectors, including the Ministry of Public Works’ pothole patching crews.

(BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)

Bahamian distillery eyes ‘robust’

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN rum producer yesterday said business is “definitely up” compared to pre-COVID levels and is predicting a “robust” 2023 performance.

Pepin Argamasilla, John Watling’s Distillery’s managing partner, told Tribune Business that commerce has never been better with the company shrugging off any lingering effects from the COVID-19

pandemic. The distillery, located at the 1789 Buena Vista Estate in downtown Nassau, has returned to profitability through a customer base that features a “mix of tourists and locals”.

“I think there’s definitely a push in The Bahamas to begin to support local companies and to source local products,” Mr Argamasilla. “I think the big learning during COVID was that The Bahamas needed to be a little bit more self-reliant and be able to support local businesses. I think we’re experiencing that. I think a lot of other companies

like us are experiencing the same thing, so it’s nice to see that people are actively buying Bahamian.

“We’re getting a lot of tourism coming up from the tour companies. We’re free to the public and also to the tour companies. They’re doing a great job bringing people up, and so are the taxi cabs and all the different exciting tours that have popped up after the pandemic.”

COVID-19 forced John Watling’s to diversify into producing hand sanitizer, which it still does - albeit on a smaller scale because it is

Pharmacies waiting on price control impact

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN pharmacies yesterday said it was too early to determine the financial impact after threemonth, lower-margin price control regime came to an end.

Clinton McCartney, head pharmacist at McCartney’s Pharmacy, told Tribune Business that business was too “slow at the moment” to properly assess the effects on industry and customers after the regime implemented in early November ceased in accordance with the Government’s Order.

“Things haven’t really changed since last week,” he said. “We are getting our prices adjusted now, but it just came into effect today so we will see how the rest of the week goes. But we haven’t heard any complaints yet.”

Another pharmacist, speaking under condition of anonymity, addded: “Everything is fine right now.

We need to change a few more things but I have to wait and see what the BPA (Bahamas Pharmaceutical Association) has to say because I can only speak for myself and not for the rest of the industry.

“It’s going to take us a while to get all of those prices changed in the store. It will take least two to three days because we have to change everything over again. That is stressful.”

The Association reminded its members last week that the price control regime implemented in November was due to expire yesterday, and the Government has stuck to the agreed January 17, 2023, expiration. Pharmacies are now adjusting shelf, product and system pricing as they revert to the price control margins that existed prior to last November.

Another pharmacist, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “We were looking for the end of those price controls and that will definitely be a big difference in the store for us. I guess the Government tried to do something and it didn’t work

out too well in the end, but let’s see how things will look later on. I hope they don’t have to come back and do this again in another few months.

“The old or new price control measures didn’t matter much to me because we have to follow the Government’s mandate and go along with the changes they ask for. There is nothing we can really do about it so we just have to go with the flow.”

The present price controls were agreed by the Government and pharmaceutical industry in early November 2022 as a means to settle the dispute that erupted after the former, without any consultation, introduced changes the prior month that slashed both retail and wholesale margins in a bid to combat the cost of living crisis.

The sector and the Davis administration ultimately traded-off higher markups with an expanded list of price controlled items that increased by ten medications. As a result, for just over two months now, pharmaceutical wholesalers

not part of their core business model. The wedding market, which the company also caters to, has picked back up since The Bahamas re-opened to tourists and COVID-19 protocols were removed for all gatherings.

Mr Argamasilla added: “That’s still probably on par with what we were doing prior to COVID. It’s a big part of the business but, again, it’s not our major focus because at the end of the day it’s about John Watling’s rum to the local market and to the tourists that visit the island.”

and retailers have enjoyed one set mark-up across the board, at 20 percent and 40 percent respectively, for all price-controlled items in a move that simplified the structure.

It placed the price control mark-ups for wholesalers at a slightly higher level than the Government was initially proposing, between 15-18 percent, but some five percentage points less than the 25 percent they have enjoyed for the past 40 years.

As for retail pharmacies, the agreed 40 percent was at the top end of the range initially proposed by the Government. The Davis administration had sought a cut to between 35 percent to 40 percent, but the markup was ultimately some ten percentage points less (a 20 percent reduction in percentage terms) than the 50 percent that pharmacies have enjoyed for the past decade.

In return for the Government keeping the margins at the upper end of its target range, the pharmacy industry also agreed to expand the price-controlled medications by ten items to include cancer and kidney treatment drugs.

John Watling’s also started a small export business during the pandemic but that, too, has been “scaled back” as it explores a different model to reach overseas markets.

Mr Argamasilla conceded that the post-COVID supply chain bottlenecks had proved challenging initially. He said: “We went through an initial hiccup at the beginning right after everything started opening up, where there was definitely some major delays, and that was more on the manufacturer side but, right

now, everything seems to begin to normalise again.

“Our outlook for 2023 is, I think, that we’re heading into high season now, and I think it’s going to be a robust high season. I’m interested to see what the new port does to tourism. But fingers are crossed. I think, after COVID, I think I’m a little skittish in making any projections just because you never know what’s going to happen in this world.”

DPM INTRODUCES INVESTMENT PROJECTS TO EXUMA RESIDENTS

THE deputy prime minister last Thursday hosted three Town Hall meetings to update Exuma residents on investment projects due to begin shortly on the island.

Chester Cooper, also Exuma’s MP and minister of tourism, investments and aviation, led meetings at St Andrew’s School in Georgetown on January 12, at Black Point’s All-Age School on January 13; and with residents of Staniel

Cay. Black Point and Staniel Cay residents were introduced to the investors.

Mr Cooper was accompanied by Senator Randy Rolle, his ministry’s global relations consultant; Dr Kenneth Romer, the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation’s deputy director-general and acting director of aviation; Phylicia Hanna-Woods, director of investments; and other government officials.

DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation the Hon. Chester Cooper hosted a town hall meeting, January 12, 2023 in Georgetown, Exuma, at St Andrew’s School; and on Friday, January 13, at Black Point, Exuma, at the All-Age School.

Photo:Kemuel Stubbs/ BIS

Realtor hails $1bn property sales ‘first’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A REALTOR yesterday hailed the $1bn in property sales his firm handled in 2022 as a “first” in The Bahamas, and asserted he would “be very surprised” if any rivals were close to matching this performance.

George Damianos, Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty’s president, told Tribune Business the company’s record result had been driven by pent-up demand that “spilled over” from the postCOVID era as wealthy buyers continuing to target overseas real estate purchases.

Praising his staff for an outcome that was featured in Sotheby’s International’s Luxury Outlook publication, he nevertheless forecast that 2023 was unlikely to match last year because the inventory of high-end properties still

available for sale had shrunk by 50 percent compared to normal levels in communities such as Lyford Cay.

Mr Damianos’ prediction of a slight ease was yesterday backed by other realtors. Gavin Christie, Corcoran CA Christie’s managing partner, told this newspaper that the industry is now “on the tail end” of the post-pandemic boom although the volume of sales

Bahamas saves 25% of FTX assets from ‘dumpster fire’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

FTX’s implosion was yesterday branded a “dumpster fire” as it was revealed that 25 percent of recovered international digital assets are in the Bahamian Securities Commission’s safekeeping.

John Ray, the crypto exchange’s US chief, outlined what he described as “a Herculean investigative effort” to trace and recover assets during a presentation given to FTX’s unsecured creditors committee on his team’s progress.

Providing an insight into the task also facing the Bahamian joint provisional liquidators, who have control of its local subsidiary, FTX Digital Markets, Mr Ray and his team disclosed that the Securities Commission presently has custody of $426m out of $1.612bn in total digital/ crypto assets secured todate for creditors of its international arm.

The sum held by the Bahamian regulator represents the assets it transferred to its control, in a secure digital wallet, in early November just days after FTX Digital Markets was placed into provisional liquidation by

Bran: Price control switch ends pharmacy ‘beating’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) former leader yesterday gave “thanks to God” that the pharmaceutical industry’s lower-margin price control regime has ended, adding: “We took a little bit of a beating on that.”

Branville McCartney, whose family owns Wilmac’s Pharmacy on Poinciana Drive, told Tribune Business he was “very appreciative” that the Davis administration had fulfilled its promise by allowing the temporary price control structure it imposed on the sector to expire as planned on Tuesday, January 17.

“The Government has lived up to the agreement we had. Thank God,” he said. “We’re very appreciative of that. We’ve gone back to the prices from the period prior to those new price controls three months ago. I am most pleased to say that a deal is a deal, and the Government lived up to it as well as the pharmacies adhering to what was negotiated. Both parties lived up to the deal.

“I can only speak to my pharmacy but we took a little beating on that. There were so many other factors that had to be taken into consideration, not only the lower price control margins but the circumstances that existed prior to that and what pharmacies did.”

Mr McCartney said there was a misconception that Bahamian pharmacies earned significant revenues and profits during COVID-19’s peak. He explained that this was not the case, certainly at his family’s pharmacy and likely with many others, because they ended up providing cut-price or free medications to persons

the Supreme Court. The Securities Commission obtained an emergency court Order approving the transfer amid fears that the collapsed crypto exchange was being hacked, and the assets lost or stolen.

The regulator’s action came under fire from Mr Ray, who initially alleged it was evidence of alleged “collusion” between the Bahamian authorities and FTX’s disgraced and indicted co-founder, Sam Bankman-Fried. However, after striking a co-operation deal with the Bahamian joint provisional liquidators, Mr Ray was quoted in a statement confirming that the Securities

handled by his firm in 2022 rose by 22 percent year-over-year.

Acknowledging that The Bahamas was coming off “the hottest market in 40 years”, he agreed that the market is “cooling off” from the “feeding frenzy” sparked by COVID-19. However, rather than plunging, Mr Christie said it was undergoing an orderly “correction” back towards more normal activity levels, while the

Commission had acted properly in safeguarding assets for the benefit of creditors.

And his presentation yesterday confirmed that the Securities Commission’s concerns were justified as it suggested that up to $415m worth of digital assets represented “hacked crypto”. Mr Ray said some $323m of his sum was removed from FTX’s international platform, which was purportedly managed and controlled by the Bahamian subsidiary, FTX Digital Markets.

Confirming a “substantial shortfall” in digital assets at both FTX’s international and US exchanges, Mr Ray provided no estimates for how much needs to be recovered to make all creditors whole, although this is likely to run into the billions of dollars.

Roadworks-hit businesses seek Gov’t ‘follow through’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

VILLAGE Road businesses were last night said to be awaiting “follow through” by the Government after the two sides met on Monday to discuss their proposal for roadworks relief and compensation.

Noelle Nicolls, vice-president of Four Walls Squash and Social Club, and spokesperson for the group, told Tribune Business that the businesses were “encouraged” following the meeting with Michael Halkitis, minister of economic affairs, to talk about their plight.

However, she described the encounter as “a first step” and said Village Road’s businesses and residents were still seeking “a definitive timeline” for when the ongoing roadworks - which have lasted for just over a year - will be completed.

“We are encouraged by the discussion, but it was just a first step and we are looking forward to the follow through from the Government,” Ms Nicolls told this newspaper. “Most importantly, the businesses continue to look for a definitive timeline on the road completion. We were encouraged by the conversation, and the Government’s openness to consider our proposal. Considering that it was a first step, there needs to be a follow-up.”

Some 15 companies had signed their names to a letter authored by Michael Fields, the squash club president, where it was suggested the Government provide “refurbishment grants” for residents and business owners to repair damaged premises, vehicles and other facilities impacted by the project. It also called for Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) bill discounts, and “full sponsorship” of a collaborative marketing campaign

lack of available for-sale inventory will create upward pressure that maintains existing high-end property prices.

Mario Carey, the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate MCR Group Bahamas principal, also branded 2022 an “exceptional year” for real estate sales and said his firm was “enthusiastic” about 2023 prospects. However,

Union leader targets liveable wage talks within two years

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A TRADE union leader’s call for livable wage talks to begin by 2025 was yesterday met with scepticism by private sector representatives who argued that such a move will “only put businesses further under”.

Obie Ferguson KC, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) president, told Tribune Business that waiting one-and-a-half to two years to begin such negotiations would enable the economy to “stabilise” and allow employment to further recover from the devastation inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Describing a livable wage for all Bahamian workers as “a must”, he added that the issue was “the number

one item on our agenda” following the 24 percent increase in the minimum wage that took effect from New Year’s Day 2023.

However, Peter Goudie, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation’s (BCCEC) labour division head, voiced doubts as to whether there

GEORGE DAMIANOS

MARIO CAREY

GAVIN CHRISTIE

OBIE FERGUSON KC PETER GOUDIE

ROADWORKS on Village Road.

Photo:Moise Amisial/File