01252022 NEWS, FEATURES, SPORTS AND BUSINESS

WOMAN & HEALTH TUESDAY

Happy Meal HIGH 76ºF LOW 67ºF

i’m lovin’ it!

Monday,

February

CARS! CARS!

8, 2021

The Tribune Established

Being Bound To

Swear To The Dogmas

1903

Of No Master

The Tribune L A T E S T

Volume: 119 No.43, January 25, 2022

N E W S

tise Call

To Adver

-2351

601-0007 or 502

Starting at

$33.60

CLASSIFIEDS TRADER

ed

VAT includ

Established 1903

O N

T R I B U N E 2 4 2 . C O M

Biggest And Best!

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1

VICTIM’S TORMENT IN HER FINAL DAYS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

both the Monday and Tuesday before her death, she was the victim of hostility and confrontation from the PEOPLE who knew man.

Heavenly Terveus say the Days later on Sat21-year-old mother was ter- urday, the mother and rorised and lived in fear in photographer the last days was murdered of her life. in front of her Catathone-monthesia Newton, old son.

Terveus’ Ms Newton, long-time alongside neighbour, the victim’s claimed that sister Denise on the TuesTerveus, and day before Tania Pierre, her death, she another finally built neighbour, up the courall believe age to ask that not only HEAVENLY TERVEUS for help from didn’t police her alleged take the situabuser. Howation seriously, but that had ever, Ms Newton said by they intervened the young this time, it was too late.

SEE PAGE THREE It was claimed that on

CHURCHES DEMAND TIME TO GET TOUGH

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Christian Council says laws relating to acts of domestic violence must be amended and penalties stiffened for perpetrators.

In a statement issued yesterday, BCC said the country had turned a blind

eye to its social ills for too long and “the chicks have come home to roost” as the country is now in a state of crisis because of too many incidents of domestic violence.

As a result, the religious organisation said the nation is faced with a deterioration of the moral fabric of society.

SEE PAGE THREE

‘HOPE YOU FINISHED THAT HOMEWORK’ STUDENTS heading back to school at Sadie Curtis Primary School yesterday. See PAGE TWO for more on the return of face-to-face learning.

Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

FOULKES STANDING TWO MEN CHARGED FOR CHAIRMANSHIP IN PRAYERS MURDER

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Golden Gates MP Michael Foulkes nominated yesterday for the

chairmanship of the Free National Movement.

“It’s all about winning in 2026,” he declared.

Former ministers Dr SEE PAGE FIVE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A MAN and a teenager accused of murdering a woman while she was on

her way to a prayer meeting last week were remanded to prison yesterday.

James Knowles, 30, and 18-year-old Jarado Marshall SEE PAGE SEVEN

PRAISE THE LORD - AND FTX

By PAVEL BAILEY

FTX Digital Markets continued its push to give back to the community yesterday by donating over $500,000 to several local charities.

During a ceremony at the Rosewood Library at Baha Mar, Valdez K Russell, vice president of FTX Digital Markets, spoke about how his company wanted to create a better quality of life for Bahamians by donating

BISHOP Lawrence Rolle.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/ Tribune Staff to a variety of local social outreach programmes.

“At FTX we will have

a sustained focus on some of the following initiatives: health and wellness, the empowerment of women and children, hunger and food insecurity, climate change and environmental issues along with the engagement with selective community outreach programmes and partners to create a better quality of life for Bahamians and residents,” he said.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE FOUR

PETER YOUNG: STRONG WORDS - BUT ARE THE RIGHT PEOPLE LISTENING?

- SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Tuesday, January 25, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

STUDENTS heading back to school at Sadie Curtis Primary School yesterday.

Photos: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

Face-to-face learning returns for students

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net STUDENTS returned to public school campuses for face-to-face learning yesterday and while there were some reports of a few teachers not showing up for work, officials said the day went well.

There was speculation that the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) would lead educators on a peaceful protest against the resumption of face-to-face learning yesterday morning, however this did not happen.

Director of Education

Marcellus Taylor admitted there were a few teachers who didn’t report to work, but he said he heard the day was still going “quite well”.

“We’re still following to hear from the various district superintendents and principals, but so far it seems to have gone okay.

We have a number of students who have reported to school today to schools across the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” he told The Tribune.

“A few teachers who didn’t report to work and it may be a part of some industrial action — illegal industrial action — but we

don’t have the numbers yet to be able to speak definitively on that… The greater majority of people seem to have come to work. Students have come to school and we’re confident from what we’ve seen and hearing that the day is going quite well.”

There were some claims of schools being dismissed early due to a lack of teachers.

However, Mr Taylor said the first day back to school is usually not a full day of classes.

“In a lot of our schools, in a lot of our public schools, when they bring

STUDENTS returning to the classroom at Old Bight Primary school in Cat Island yesterday.

Photo: Yontalay Bowe/BIS

PIA GLOVER-ROLLE, the Golden Gates MP, greeting students at Sybil Strachan Primary School yesterday while distributing face masks and hand sanitisers. children on the first day, they do orientation type activities and because they do orientation type of activities they may not necessarily last the entire day and so they may dismiss students early.

“So, even if that were the case, that isn’t necessarily an unexpected thing.

I’m just letting you know. I don’t know that we had to send people home because there were no teachers.

That’s not what I’m hearing, but I’ll know better when I see the reports,” he said.

The Tribune tried to contact BUT president Belinda Wilson about the first day of school, however attempts to secure comment from her were unsuccessful up to press time.

Yesterday morning, several parents told The Tribune they were happy for their children to resume in-person classes.

“I didn’t really like the online classes because I feel like my child wasn’t learning as much. So I’m happy that school is open now because that’s where she will be more open with the teacher,” said Sheila Elusma after dropping her daughter off at Yellow Elder Primary School.

Asked if she felt her daughter missed out on some learning due to virtual classes, she said: “Yes, she did, The online classes is basically giving the kids more headaches because going on certain apps and it was more difficult, but I think that if the kids were more in class then they wouldn’t be more confused.”

At Sadie Curtis Primary School, father Pedreito Mejias said his first-grade son was happy to be back in school.

“It certainly is taking a

load off our shoulders as far as trying to (cope) with everyday situations. You know school is very vital,” the father explained.

He said his son was excited as he missed going to school in pre-school and seeing his friends.

Mr Mejias added: “He’s the only child, so basically he doesn’t have no one to really play with unless we allow him to play with the neighbours or anybody else like that. So, this is exciting for him. He’s anxious and he wants to make new friends and he wants to learn.

“It gives me a good feeling too as a father and even getting him ready this morning I feel a pang of joy and excitement seeing, hey, we going back to school and get back into the flow of things where he can learn and not waste time because he’s growing pretty fast too.”

BREAKAWAY UNION WELCOMES RETURN TO CLASSROOMS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

SANDRA Major, head of a fast growing, breakaway teachers’ union, welcomed the resumption of face-toface learning yesterday, saying she and her members have “no issues” with the shift.

“The only issue that teachers had,” she said, “was they thought they got the information about schools being reopened late because people had it on Facebook before teachers or the administration had it and I don’t know whose fault that is. The Minister of Education apologised. She

said she took responsibility for it because she said it should not go that way.”

Ms Major, a music teacher for 41 years, said the Bahamas Educators Counsellors and Allied Workers Union (BECAWU) was registered in October 2020 and began its membership drive in April 2021. The union’s executives are mostly based in Grand Bahama.

“The membership is really, really growing,” she said.

“All of our members attended school (Monday),” she added. “We have no reason to fight the government if they are willing to work with us. Since the event with the Minister

of Education, she has shown the effort to work and we know this is a partnership.

In order for education to work, we’re not an island to ourselves. We have to partner with parents, with the government and with the union and all other stakeholders in education. These are our children.”

Ms Major said protocols to deal with the COVID19 pandemic have been in place and are being followed as far as she can tell.

“Everything that health is asking for, seems to be in place,” she said. “I can’t speak to all of the schools because we don’t have members at all the schools, but all the ones that I know,

we have those in place.

We asked our shop stewards to make sure of that.

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health are saying if they’re not in place, then make sure you tell us. So we’re saying to our members, if the things that the Ministry of Education is asking for has not been done, let us know. We will then call in a respectful manner and say this should be here, we don’t see it so they need to be put in place.

If they’re willing to do that and work with us as a union to make this education system better, we’re willing to work with them.”

The BECAWU is sure to draw comparisons to the

Bahamas Union of Teachers which, until recently, was the only teachers’ union. For now, the new group appears intent on taking a less militant approach to addressing the concerns of its members. In the lead-up to yesterday’s resumption of face-to-face learning, there was widespread expectation that BUT would take industrial action of some sort. BUT President Belinda Wilson could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Ms Major said: “What we want to see is, we know education has issues. We know that. I’ve been teaching for 41 years. I’ve been here for a very long time.

But there is a way to do it.

Present your issues, but if people are willing to work with you to make it better, then give them an opportunity to. When they show you something different, that’s when you have to do what you have to do. Working together makes it better.

You don’t have to fight everybody all the time on everything. You fight when it’s necessary. We know that teachers are having issues with confirmations, allowances, increments. Teachers need those. But if you’re saying to me we’re going to work with you and you make the effort then this union is prepared to work with you.”

THE TRIBUNE

Victim’s torment in her final days from page one mother might have still been alive.

“From she was a little girl, I know her from she was about three, four and she never been a troublesome child,” Ms Newton said. “She always been quiet, humble, she lived her name. She was heavenly in all aspects. She wasn’t rude, she wasn’t arrogant and obnoxious, none of that.

“She was just humble and quiet. You wouldn’t even know she home and these last few weeks she was just different. She stayed locked in the house; she was afraid.

She wouldn’t come out.

“On Tuesday when she reached out for help it was too late.”

Asked whether enough was done by police to help, both Ms Newton and Denise Terveus replied: “No.” Ms Newton claimed the victim’s boyfriend - Fenron Ferguson - came to the house twice last week and caused a scene.

The victim’s boyfriend

was also accused of a number of criminal offences last year but had been released on bail.

Denise Terveus said she was not aware he was released on bail.

“They let him out on bail... I wasn’t even contacted that he was even out so this whole situation could have been avoided had they done their jobs properly,” she said.

Denise said Heavenly was also engaged to be married.

She said the system had failed Heavenly and their family.

Ms Pierre added that the young photographer was tormented.

“She was her mom’s only child. She was sheltered up until she got into a relationship with him and he became her life. She cut off everyone. She was isolated so I’m just sad that the ending part of her life she was tormented greatly. She wasn’t at peace.”

The women all say they tried to help Heavenly through her situation, but it was to no avail.

“We tried,” Ms Newton said, “By telling him he can’t come around here no more (allegedly) threatening her and stuff.”

Ms Pierre added: “We notice the police didn’t take it as seriously as we did.”

Moving forward, the women said they want to lift up Heavenly’s name against much of the negativity on social media in recent days.

They also made an appeal for people in the community to do more when they view domestic violence.

Heavenly was found lying on the floor next to her son and boyfriend by relatives inside her parents’ home on Miami Street.

The man, who is suspected of shooting her before attempting to kill himself, was her boyfriend and said to be the father of her infant son.

Superintendent of Police Audley Peters told reporters on the scene Saturday that officers received information about the shooting shortly before 6pm.

He said upon arrival, officers were directed to a single-storey home where

they discovered the bodies of a man and woman lying on the floor in one of the bedrooms.

EMS were called and

Tuesday, January 25, 2022, PAGE 3

HEAVENLY TERVEUS later pronounced the woman dead. However, the man was taken to hospital where he is listed in critical condition.

Their son, who was also in the room at the time of the incident, was taken to hospital, but has since been discharged.

MINISTER REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO LEGISLATION TO PROTECT WOMEN AND GIRLS

By PAVEL BAILEY

AFTER the shocking murder of a young mother over the weekend, Social Services and Urban Development Minister Lisa Rahming has reaffirmed her commitment to composing legislation to protect women and girls from violence.

In a statement issued yesterday, Mrs Rahming spoke about the tragic death

of 21-year-old Heavenly Terveus, saying it brought grief and heartache to the nation.

The young mother was reportedly shot by her boyfriend as she held her newborn son. Police said the boyfriend then tried to kill himself, but failed. He remains in hospital in critical condition.

“Learning of the account of what has happened, and as a woman and mother of

a young girl, I express my sincerest condolences to the family of the deceased and all those who would have lost their loved ones to domestic violence in The Bahamas,” Mrs Rahming said.

“As the State Minister for Social Services and Urban Development with responsibility for the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, we are committed in taking a proactive

approach in composing legislation to protect all people against violence, in particular women and young girls.

“Additionally, Urban Development is in the process of improving programmes geared toward addressing societal ills among them, counselling and anger management programmes for all people.

“Domestic violence is seemingly a frequent occurrence. No form of violence

is okay: it is now time that we come together as a country and be each other’s keeper, and not remain silent.”

Sharon Wilson, former chairwoman of The Links Incorporated Nassau Chapter, in an interview with The Tribune recommended that women who are the victims of domestic abuse find shelter at the Links Safe House.

She also cautioned victims of abuse to not suffer in

silence and to find someone they can trust to speak to.

“Break the silence. You must not fear speaking out, speaking to someone who can help,” Mrs Wilson said. “Obviously, you have to be tempered, you have to be careful even with who you are speaking with, but speak to someone who can help you. Don’t suffer silently.

Silence in this instance can be deadly.”

working in tandem with law enforcement to restore the country to law and order.

In remarks to The Tribune yesterday, Zonta’s president said there was help for victims available.

Ms Mason Smith said: “There is a need for more community-based programmes. I do believe that there is also a need for us to become more sensitised to each other and to get help when there is a need or we recognise that we cannot handle certain situations.

“We encourage that if you feel that you are in a hostile relationship to seek the necessary counselling

guidance and to go to the police. Make a formal complaint and to follow through because the police are here to protect its citizenry and so we are very concerned and encourage persons to pay attention to their levels of emotions and to understand that there is help for you.

“We need to get back to family values. We need to recognise that we are all humans and everybody is entitled to be protected and safe in our environment and that one murder is just too many.

“I want to encourage us that if there is a need to

get help go out and get the help that you need. Seek the right counselling, find out those persons that can help you. We know that when our relationships are being challenged that we need to understand that it’s not always going to end the way we expect it to end and so I want to say let us become more sensitive. I also encourage us to provide more programmes that would help young women with their self-esteem and self-worth. I encourage us all that we provide more national initiatives and conversations on building healthy relationships,

healthy homes.

“But there is help for you and we need to recognise that we need help and to do some introspection. Walk away, find ways to pray.

Go to a church and get to that point where you know whatever is going on it can be reconciled and it can be corrected, but sometimes you know when the relationships are over, but in essence we need to ensure that we respect each other in our various places and spaces.”

Zonta is an international organisation that seeks to empower and advance the status of women through advocacy and service.

CHURCHES DEMAND - TIME TO GET TOUGH from page one

The council called on all relevant stakeholders to join forces to eliminate and minimise domestic as well as all other acts of violence from society.

At the same time, it encouraged churches to sound the alarm from pulpits to open doors to those in need of counselling and to teach empathy, self-love, compassion and kindness.

Meanwhile, Zonta Club of New Providence president Marisa Mason Smith said her organisation was concerned by recent events, adding there was a need for more community-based programmes that deal with the issue.

Their statements came days after the death of 21-year-old Heavenly Terveus, who was allegedly shot and killed in front of her newborn son on Saturday evening by her boyfriend moments before he reportedly tried to kill himself.

“Recently, our country has witnessed too many incidences of domestic violence that resulted in the tragic loss of life,” a statement posted on the BCC’s Facebook page said. “We are in a state of crisis and the only way we can make a change is if we all take a stand, not just to verbally express our displeasure but to take definitive action that will result in meaningful change.

“We must amend laws dealing with domestic violence and stiffen the

MARISA MASON SMITH penalties for perpetrators of these heinous crimes.

“We hereby appeal to all relevant stakeholders to join forces to do what is necessary to ensure that these and all other acts of violence and crimes are minimised and eliminated from our society.”

The statement also said: “We have turned a blind eye to the social ills plaguing our country for too long and the ‘chicks have come home to roost’. The deterioration of the moral fabric of our society is haunting us and creating ‘hell on earth’.

“We must reclaim our sons and daughters, our families, our communities and our country. There are a select few that are wreaking havoc and being a menace to our society, causing us to live in fear and anxiety, uncertain if we will be the next victim of a crime due to their callous attitudes and actions. We need to hold individuals accountable for their actions and we must do everything in our power to protect the most vulnerable among us.”

The council said it stood ready to lead the charge in reclaiming the nation and

PAGE 4, Tuesday, January 25, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Praise the Lord and FTX from page one He also thanked FTX’s community partners for their hard work in improving the lives of the average citizen and hopes that their donations would help them continue their vital community outreach.

“The Bahamas Cancer Society with the Ride for Hope and also their golf tournament will receive $50,000, Hands for Hunger will receive $250,000, the Links Safe House will receive $100,000, the Nassau chapter of Links Incorporated will receive $20,000, the Occupy Mentorship programme will receive $25,000, the Singing Bishop will be allocated $50,000 and the Salvation Army will receive $50,000.

“This amount that

exceeds more than half a million is to support the causes and commitments that affect the lives of Bahamians and residents in a meaningful way. We are just getting started,” Mr Russell said.

Bishop Lawrence Rolle, known as the Singing Bishop, broke down in tears after hearing of the sizeable donation to his outreach programme. He said this money would go a long way in feeding the less fortunate.

“Let me tell you something, son and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, everybody know Rolle suffer, Rolle suffer,” he said. “That (the donation) will feed them people.

You can imagine in 2020 nearly 100,000 people (need food). This ain’t no game and I give God praise, I don’t even know how to

call the company name, FTX. Lord let me tell you something, this more than Emancipation Day, I feel like hollering you know? I done holler.”

While FTX plans to continue making donations to worthy causes, Mr Russell said the company hopes to invest in the country by creating new employment opportunities for residents in their food delivery, hospitality, real estate, financial and planning services.

He said the company plans to break ground on its $60m campus in the coming months, where about 1,000 people are expected to be employed.

“In the coming months we anticipate that we’re going to break ground on our $60m campus, we anticipate that 1,000 individuals will be employed there,” he said.

AN EMOTIONAL Bishop Lawrence Rolle yesterday.

Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

“We look forward to expanding our footprint for community centres throughout the country. We also believe that we have a responsibility to work with existing Bahamian businesses and entrepreneurs so that they can provide us with services that allow our team members, our employees, to be comfortable to be more effective and efficient by working with us to deliver services right to our office doorsteps.”

FTX Digital Markets, a digital asset exchange, opened its office in western New Providence late last year.

VALDEZ K RUSSELL

DONATIONS being made to Hands for Hunger, left, and the Bahamas Cancer Society.

DONATIONS being received by, from left, the Nassau Chapter of Links Inc, the Occupy Mentorship Programme, and the Salvation Army.

69 NEW CASES OF COVID CONFIRMED ON SUNDAY

Death Notice For Dr. Sidney T. Sweeting, DDS

THE Ministry of Health recorded 69 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the nation’s confirmed case toll to 32,137.

Sixty-nine new cases were also recorded on Saturday’s dashboard.

Hospital cases have increased slightly, rising

from 155 on Saturday to 158 on Sunday.

Since the start of the pandemic, 729 people have died from COVID-19.

Gemologist Wanted

A fine jewelry & watch company seeks to employ a mature individual as a Gemologist. The position offers an excellent salary and commissions.

The professional must be an expert in detecting defects, imperfections, concealed imperfection, rarity, and other features of a good stone and gem. Other functions include the following.

of Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas, died on Sunday, 23rd January, 2022 at Doctors Hospital, Collins Avenue, Nassau, Bahamas.

Dr. Sweeting is survived by his wife, Mrs. Thiry M. Sweeting; his four children, Jennifer, Andrew, Karen and Diane; eleven grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren; a sister, Clio Sweeting and many other relatives and friends.

Further arrangements will be announced at a later date.

Covid-19 Protocols followed.

Arrangements by Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited.

- Assign preliminary conclusions to gemstone grading reports or give back-up to initial reports.

- Keep abreast of the latest gemological information within the industry.

- Examine and identify gemstone materials using standard, high-tech, and specialty gemstone testing equipment.

- Immerses stones in prescribed chemical solutions to determine specific gravities and fundamental properties of gemstones or substitutes, which show physical characteristics of stone for gem identification, quality determination, and appraisal.

- Must be able to grade stones for color, perfection, and quality of cut.

- Estimates wholesale and retail value of gems, following pricing guides, market fluctuations, and various economic changes that affect the distribution of precious stones.

- May also advise customers and others in the use of gems to create attractive jewelry items.

Experience - Must possess scientific knowledge on diamond grading; - Five (5) years experience in selling and buying gemstones in international markets. Must be a Manager for 5 years; - Must possess a certification from a leading gemology institute; - Must understand all aspects of Merchandising, including budget planning and sales forecasting. Must be able to relate and close sales with high-end clients Only serious inquiries. Please contact

Jobsplus2014@gmail.com Deadline: 31 January 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, January 25, 2022, PAGE 5

Foulkes standing for chairmanship from page one

Duane Sands and Elsworth Johnson are also expected to vie for the post, which will be contested at next month’s virtual convention along with other party positions.

“It is my full intention and my commitment to do all I can to assist our party in reorganising along with our leader Michael C Pintard and to unify our party along with his efforts,” Mr Foulkes said yesterday at the party’s headquarters.

“Unity is critically important in our organisation and I will do all that I can to assist our party to

MICHAEL FOULKES, former MP for Golden Gates.

unify. The leader has said on numerous occasions that unity of the party is very important and I wholeheartedly agree with that.”

Mr Foulkes said there is a lot of work to do to reorganise party associations, calling the groups the backbone of the party.

“You cannot win elections unless you are strong on the ground, that’s how you win elections,” he said. “It’s going to be critically important for us to strengthen our associations, and the organs of the party, the Women’s Branch and the Torchbearers (Youth) Association.”

Contrasting himself with

other expected contenders, Mr Foulkes highlighted his experience within the FNM, noting he was secretary general for eight years, deputy secretary general, a former torchbearer and a member of the party’s council.

“I think it’s the breadth of experience that I’ve had working in the party and I should also add that I also worked with five chairmen as secretary general for eight years so I’ve been able to see the job up close and personal, so to speak, and see how the different personalities handled the job and how they went about it, the good things and the other things.”

ROTARY SETS UP SATELLITE CLUB IN CAT ISLAND THE ROTARY Club of Nassau (RCN) has set up a satellite club on Cat Island.

A total of 15 Cat Islanders put the effort into forming the group and joining RCN as members of the satellite club.

The club was commissioned by RCN’s serving president, Mike Wilson, in July last year. Rotarian Herman Gilbert became the satellite club’s chairman.

Other Rotarians at the forming of the club were: Letitia Brown, treasurer; Melvin Seymour; Almeda Rosetta Wells; Maygleana Penn; Nikita Sheil-Rolle; Cedric Wilson; Shaquille Moss; Donna Keasler; and Sherrie Cleare.

This small group then encouraged another five people to join: Angelique Thompson, secretary; Antonese Anthon; Melissa McKenzie-Burrows; Tamara

Vieljeux; and Yvonne Rolle.

Since its inception, the satellite club has provided service to the vulnerable; and been involved in community interactions.

In a statement, the club said it “is grateful and take seriously the hands-on support of Rotarians Brian and Michelle Moodie, both past presidents of RC East Nassau, now residing on Cat Island”.

Last year, the club successfully launched or completed the following programmes: • commencement of a clean up of a designated area at Smith’s Bay dock as a park; • painted two homes of indigent persons; • partnered with local Health team during the observance of diabetes awareness week; • hosted a luncheon for a

senior, in observance of her 92nd birthday, • partnered with local clinics, and others, issuing masks to fully vaccinated Cat Island residents, • attended two Church services, • participated in a fun, run, walk, • chairman Herman, while in New Providence, supported RCN’s Christmas bell ringing for the Salvation Army’s annual gift giving, • celebrated RCN’s 60th Anniversary pot luck dinner.

Projects will continue this year with an emphasis on the youth, community and health matters, building relationships and partnerships with other local service organisations, among others.

For more information, contact RCN’s satellite club chairman at 4740130.

THE ROTARY Club has set up a new satellite club in Cat Island.

A Service Of Thanksgiving

Mr. Garland Wayde Sands

of Cloister Drive, Paradise Island, The Bahamas will be held at the Evangelistic Temple, Collins Avenue, Nassau on Friday, 28th January, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Reverend Bradley Smith will officiate. Interment will follow in the Ebenezer Methodist Cemetery, East Shirley Street, Nassau.

He is predeceased by his wife: Marguerite May Sands; son: Gregory Wayde Sands and his parents: William Hartley and Florrie Estelle Sands.

He is survived by his wife: Priscilla May Sands; 4 daughters: Debra Maureen Lamb, Denise Michelle Higgs, Deidre Margo Barr and Darlene Marla Smith; 4 sons-in-law: Steve Mohlenkamp, Luther Higgs, Andrew Barr and Bradley Smith; 2 stepchildren: Chris Cartwright and Candi Cartwright; 6 grandsons: Benjamin Albury (Danielle), Dustin Lamb, Damian Wells (Morgan), Hunter Smith, Maverick Smith, Matteo Smith; 7 granddaughters: Dawn Swan (Steve), Kristen Knowles (James), Candice Pinder (Micah), Ashley Barr, Taylor Collins (Casey), Destiny Albury (L.J.) and Madison Smith; 2 step grandsons: Christopher Barr and Jonathan Barr; 12 greatgrandchildren: Deija Albury, Axl Albury, Raelin Swan, Ryah Swan, James Knowles, Canaan Knowles, Brody Pinder, Bronx Pinder, Kaiser Collins, Riley Albury, Parker Albury and Peyton Albury; sisters: Vangie Carey, Faye Kemp and Enis Albury; brothers: Walter Sands, Rannie Sands, Donald Sands, William Sands and Robert Sands; sisters-in-law: Jeannie Sands and Rosie Higgs; other relatives and friends including: David Lamb, Douglas Wells, Danny Albury, Chris & Karen Carey, Dr. Kevin Moss, Dr. Duane Sands and Nurse Dawn Albury-Gaitor.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Teen Challenge Bahamas (RBC Palmdale Account # 05745-1642248), The Bahamas Crisis Centre (FirstCaribbean International Bank, Transit # 9766, Account # 29808019) and R.E.A.C.H. Bahamas (Scotiabank, Transit # 59105, Account # 4546160).

Funeral arrangements by Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited.

COVID 19 PROTOCOLS WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED

PAGE 6, Tuesday, January 25, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

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

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

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 News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax

(242) 322-1986 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348

WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com

@tribune242

tribune news network

We hear the outcry, now where is the action?

THERE has been an outcry following the death of Heavenly Terveus.

Voices from the church, voices from Parliament, voices on social media, even the voice of the wife of the Prime Minister.

Heavenly was found shot dead in her home, with her one-month-old son beside her. The man suspected of shooting her before trying to kill himself is her boyfriend.

It is a shocking incident – but perhaps it should not be a surprising one.

Domestic violence has been a problem that The Bahamas has shown little in trying to resolve.

So the voices we hear today are welcome – but we need more than voices.

When the Christian Council says the laws need to be amended and penalties need to be stiffened, that voice is welcome, but what is the council going to do to push for that?

When Lisa Rahming MP, the Social Services and Urban Development Minister, says her department is committed to composing legislation to protect all people against violence, in particular women and young girls, when can we expect to see that legislation brought forward?

When Ann Marie Davis, the wife of the Prime Minister, says the killing puts the issue of domestic abuse and gender-based violence back into the spotlight, what is she doing to encourage her husband to have the national conversation on marital rape he promised in November after initially shrugging the issue off saying he had too many other things on his agenda to be thinking about.

The words offering support and sympathy are welcome, particularly to the family of Heavenly Terveus as they grieve for their loved one. But we need more than words.

And for every person above we would ask what will they do beyond words, we also need to ask ourselves what will we do beyond words.

Heavenly was said to have lived in fear. In the last days before her death, she asked for help. Her family said police did not take the situation seriously, and that she spent the last few weeks locked in her house, and wouldn’t come out because she was afraid.

She is sadly far from the only woman to live in such fear. There may well be people in our own lives who are still in such situations, who need people they can talk to, who need to know there is a way out. That is down to us all, to be ready to listen, and to be ready to help.

What we must not do is tut and frown and say how terribly sad it is, and then do nothing.

Heavenly deserved better than to live in terror – and those still living in terror deserve better than for us to let this conversation stop now.

FTX welcome We would say a word of praise for a business that for many may be new on the scene but with a growing presence.

FTX Digital Markets yesterday donated more than $500,000 to local charities, with its vice president, Valdez K Russell, pledging: “We are just getting started.”

The company, a digital asset exchange, has plans for a $60m campus, which will employ about 1,000 people.

We look forward to following their progress – and we hope they might have plans for Grand Bahama too.

Grand Bahama’s assets are too often overlooked, but there is excellent infrastructure in place and both a need for investment and a desire to make that investment work. We hope FTX might find ways to satisfy their company’s goals by including Grand Bahama too.

Whatever their future brings, we are glad to see such a commitment to being a good corporate partner to The Bahamas, and helping those in the greatest need.

Save what?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

LET’S get one thing straight once and for all: Bahamians have substantial savings and investments.

In fact, money that could be stimulating the economy by circulating as domestic consumption is instead lounging in the personal accounts and investment portfolios of Bahamians.

I am speaking, of course, about that tiny segment of Bahamians who have any hope whatsoever of saving or investing anything at all – the same segment that, as traditional owners of the economy, actually benefit from a low minimum wage and an absence of corporate or income tax.

These Bahamians can afford to save and invest in ever more ownership of the economy. And they do.

For the vast majority of Bahamians, however, the question of saving simply does not arise. Struggling with unconscionable consumption taxes, land prices so high that middleclass professionals need state housing schemes and wages that are in no way proportionate to the general cost of living, the notion that they should or could be saving anything is both absurd and insulting.

That it so often comes from the mouths of politicians, the very people who have structured the economy so as to make living (let alone saving) a struggle

for the majority, is doubly angering.

A little over a year ago, amidst a pandemic that brought many Bahamians to the brink of poverty, I lost my cool on this very subject in a voice-note that was widely circulated by my late friend Kendle Colebrooke, known popularly as KCX. While I sincerely regret any offence taken by Central Bank Governor John Rolle (a good man) for my admittedly ill-tempered reaction to his repetition of the ‘blame-the-poorfor-not-saving’ mantra, the source of that anger is undiminished.

And it will remain undiminished among thinking Bahamians as long as politicians and public servants continue to tow this thoughtless, cruel line as a distraction from their own bad policies, which make saving a pipe dream for most Bahamians.

If you want average Bahamians to save more, then pay them more and tax them less. Simple.

This, in turn, means more taxes and less profits for the rich, who in The Bahamas are essentially welfare recipients at the expense of the poor. That welfare comes in the form of suppressed wages, reflecting greed for corporate profits, and of high taxes on consumption, which, by substitution, spare those profits from worldwide norms of progressive taxation.

When politicians, the proud guardians of this system, then have the sheer gall to blame “Bahamians” (by which they mean poor ones) for not saving, it is simply infuriating to those who know better.

The PLP (founded in majoritarianism) has five years to distinguish itself from its predecessor, a party that is pretty blatantly and unashamedly the party of concentrated wealth and special interests.

That should be easy.

But for some reason, politicians (even intelligent ones) seem to start observing the world from the viewpoint of these same short-sighted, greedy and not-very-bright special interests the moment they are elevated to office and begin mixing with them.

If he really wants to, Mr. Davis can break the cycle of one term governments and national decline that began in the 1990s.

To do so, he must drastically increase the minimum wage, control luxury property sales to foreigners and, above all else, tax the rich more and the poor less.

If he does these things, he will see not only increased savings among a broader spectrum of Bahamians, but a stronger and more sustainable economy overall. And he will also be re-elected.

ANDREW ALLEN Nassau, January 23, 2022

Calling on church to speak up EDITOR, The Tribune.

“NOT everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” ~ James Baldwin.

This pandemic has become a window into a disturbing reality in this country - gender-based violence and crime.

We are calling on our government, law enforcement, justice, clergies, and leaders within our communities to join in the fight.

We have much work to do to respond to the cries of justice for women and girls who suffer the most from violence in this country. We are at a breaking point in this country. We have to do more to end this violent culture and the impunity that allows these human rights violations to continue.

Silence is compliance! There is a common saying,”The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people.” Women face double jeopardy since they are not only targets of intimate partner violence, but they also face gender-based violence by non-partners. This is not only a social ill but health, economic, political, and human rights issues that need to be addressed from all perspectives. This issue has attracted numerous local and international calls for actions, including my organisation only to be put on the back burner. When will we take the lives of our women and girls seriously?

How many more women or girls must be killed?

According to the United Nations Populations Fund (UNPF 2002) reports that about 80% of women globally have experienced some form of violence at some point in their lives, but the majority of the cases occur in developing countries where 60% of women have been abused, some of them acquiring long-term disability or death.

Fact remains, violence against women and girls, inside or outside the home,

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net is never justified. Violence in any form— physical, sexual, psychological or verbal—is sinful; it is a crime against humanity. Most people think that domestic violence is a private, family matter and choose not to get involved. However, gender-based violence impacts every community whether poor or rich.

Our concern is that successive governments have made pledges, signed conventions and agreements for years. Only to fall by the way. Failing to fully implement the four P’s, protection of human rights, prosecution of offenders, prevention of violence and provision of services for survivors.

Irrespective of a person’s upbringing or socio-economic status, no man or woman has the right to take out his/her rage on anyone, physically or any otherwise. Another major concern expressed by many is the growing silence of church leaders in speaking out and acting on behalf of victims of gender-based violence. Where are they? Why are they silent? What does the bible say about the role of the church?

Silence from the pulpit on the topic of domestic abuse have indeed become a roadblock for victims and lend support to their victimisation.

Naturally, victims in abuse relationships turn to their churches and pastors for help. Some feel loved and accepted unconditionally; while others walk away more deeply wounded. The assumption that inside the church these issues are not as prevalent as outside, it actually belies a mistaken view of the church, that the church is separate from the world.

Victims of gender-based violence come in every ethnicity, race, religion, age or socio-economic status.

Some victims reported they were told they must not do things that anger their spouses so that the spouses do not respond with violence,

or pray about it. Or they are reminded of the permanence of marriage and the need to ʺbear their crossʺ for the good of their children and family.

Sadly, in many instances these biblical passages are oftentimes misinterpreted to validate the role of men and women in society.

While this is no attack on all church leaders, however it is important to know that it does matters greatly what church leaders say or donʹt say about those painful, personal and persistent experiences of abuse. Because, many church leaders are notably responsible for misguided advice that women often receive; which obviously reflects a lack of knowledge regarding the dynamics of violence or abuse.

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” Philippians 2:4.~The Bible is very clear about protecting others from harm.

Whenever we can and have the opportunity to do so, we should protect people from every harm. Like the government and police, the role of the church is equally important in elimination of domestic violence within the community.

Church leaders have the opportunity as clergies and lay leaders to provide helpful resources on domestic abuse through sermons, prayers, education and pastoral care.

We call you pastors, elders, and parishioners who have been silent to speak up and stand up for all who experience abuse. There is no institution with greater capacity to create protected spaces for healing and restoration for survivors, as well as confession, repentance and rehabilitation for perpetrators than the church.

We must educate our boys and men about respecting the rights of women and girls. We have to become a country where women and girls feel safe and protected.

Start now, start today!

SHERVONNE HOLLIS Advocate, Founder 242 Domestic Violence Support Network, Inc. January 23, 2022.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, January 25, 2022, PAGE 7

AML MEETS THE MINISTER MINISTER for Labour and Immigration the Honourable Keith Bell welcomed executives from AML Foods Limited at a courtesy call.

Gavin Watchorn, CEO and president, expressed AML’s commitment to the economic growth of the country and providing development opportunities and benefits to their team.

The company employs 850 people in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Exuma and has invested $750,000 in a learning and development centre in the capital. They recently implemented a policy that at least 75 percent of all vacant management positions be filled through internal promotions.

Over the past 3 years, AML has provided $1m in bonuses and benefits to help team members after hurricane Dorian as well as during COVID. Additionally, the company recently implemented an increase in entry level wage to $230 per week with a further increase in May 2023 to $250 per week.

The group also included Franklyn Butler, chairman of the board and Kimberly Bodie, VP of human resources.

Two men charged in prayers murder from page one were sent to prison after they were charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with a shooting incident that left a woman dead last Tuesday.

They are accused of murdering Claudette Capron and attempting to murder Antwan Adderley and Emilio Ramsey on January 18.

According to police, Ms Capron was on her way to a prayer meeting on the evening in question when she was shot by a stray bullet on Robinson Road.

Superintendent Audley Peters said the incident happened after the gunman started firing his weapon at another man.

However, while in pursuit, the gunman fatally shot

Ms Capron in her face and chest as she “was exiting a vehicle to attend a prayer meeting at a church here on the grounds,” according to initial reports from police.

During yesterday’s hearing before Magistrate Samuel McKinney, the two were further charged with armed robbery after officers alleged the accused, being concerned with others, robbed a woman at gunpoint to steal a Honda vehicle, belonging to Ashton Bain on January 18.

Knowles and Marshall were not required to enter a plea to the charges and the matter was adjourned to March 25.

They were told that their case would be fast-tracked to the Supreme Court for trial through a voluntary bill of indictment.

As a result, bail was denied and they were

remanded to prison. They have a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

Also appearing before court on similar offences was 19-year-old Shantino Rahming.

Rahming was charged with one count of murder before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt yesterday.

Police allege that sometime between December 25 and January 3, the teenager caused the death of Lamark Pierre.

During yesterday’s hearing, Rahming was not required to enter a plea to the charge and the matter was adjourned to June 8 for a Voluntary Bill of Indictment to be served.

Bail was also denied and he was subsequently remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

CLAUDETTE CAPRON, who was shot and killed last Tuesday.

IMMIGRATION OFFICER AND DJ IN COURT AFTER VIRAL VIDEO

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

AN immigration officer and a local DJ have been charged with causing grievous harm to a woman last week during an incident that was captured on video and later went viral.

Calvin Sergeant, 27, and Dillon McKinney, 23, an immigration officer, appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt yesterday faced with one count of grievous harm against Esther Daxton on January 20.

A video capturing the

incident made its rounds on social media last week.

In the one minute and fifty-three-second-long clip, a woman is seen lying on the sidewalk next to a car which is parked in the road with its doors open.

However, seconds later, a man who is being restrained by another woman later kicks the injured woman in her head.

During yesterday’s arraignment, both men pleaded not guilty to the charges and the matter was adjourned to February 24 for a mention hearing.

Magistrate FergusonPratt granted the two

men $9,000 bail with two sureties.

However, they were ordered to report to a police station in their respective communities on a weekly basis. McKinney was told to report to Elizabeth Estates Police Station twice a week, while Sergeant was ordered to report to East Street South Police Station four times a week.

An ankle monitoring bracelet was also ordered to be placed on Sergeant.

McKinney is represented by attorney Ian Cargill, while Sergeant is represented by attorney Domek Rolle.

BAIL DENIED IN FIREARM CASE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 20-YEAR-OLD man who appeared in court yesterday on gun-related charges was denied bail ahead of his trial.

Valentino McKenzie stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt charged with one count of possession of an unlicensed firearm and one of possession of ammunition.

McKenzie pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After accepting the accused’s not guilty plea, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt sought the prosecutor’s assistance on the issue of bail.

However, the prosecutor objected to bail, noting the accused had several pending criminal matters.

The prosecutor also said the 20-year-old had failed to appear in court for the pending criminal proceedings.

In response, McKenzie’s attorney explained his client’s failure to show up to court was due to his imprisonment, but this was denied by the prosecutor yesterday.

The defence attorney also asked the magistrate to impose reporting conditions for his client as opposed to remanding him to prison.

However, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt noted that McKenzie had already been given reporting conditions, but despite this, he still found himself before the court.

As a result, bail was denied and the case was adjourned to May 24 and 26

for trial.

In a separate matter, David Moss, 39, and Kimberly Berrick, 30, of Jamaica, were also charged with firearm and ammunition offences yesterday after they were allegedly found with a black .38 Taurus pistol and nine live rounds of ammunition on January 21.

The two denied the allegations and the matter was adjourned to June 23 for trial.

Moss was granted bail at $8,500 with one or two sureties and also ordered to report to the Elizabeth Estates Police Station once a week.

However, Berrick was remanded to prison after the court found that she had overstayed her time in the country.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, January 25, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Building the foundation for a better life for us all R

EV Dr AJ Varmah is on a mission of love for the next few weeks. He is seeking to help men and women have better, closer, more meaningful relationships. He wants to see more healthy, happy bonds that will lay the foundation for loving families for children; in turn, creating a more loving society and a better world for all.

He is starting with his own people. Born in Africa and raised in New York, Dr Varmah knows all too well that many people in the African Diaspora are yearning for a connection to their mother continent and are in need of a love injection. He is bringing the knowledge of the ancestors and the elders about love, passion and lasting relationships in a one-month world tour called “Africantic” – a play on the word ‘romantic’.

The Africantic tour starts from Feb 3-8, 2022.

He is bringing African family principles just in time to share poignant wisdom to a nation that too often sees the degradation of the family through violent acts. Most recently, the country was rocked this weekend by the murder of a young mother.

These heinous acts that leave this nation reeling must be tackled from a myriad of angles. One way is by helping couples understand how to communicate effectively and how to respect one another.

Dr Varmah’s first topic is: “Let’s Talk Reality: Do you want a situationship, relationship, or family?”

In this series – Love, Lies and Liberation from an African Perspective – he will guide participants on how to become more loving and have more fulfilling relationships. He will address the psychology of intimate relations and he will ask: “Are you building a partnership or increasing individuality?” He will touch other Caribbean countries, London and the Unites States before wrapping up the tour at the end of February. But followers won’t have to miss a beat as the entire series will be online.

Audiences will learn to be aware of the energy they create in their relationships, especially the energy that is created within the bedroom.

Learning exactly what these energies are and how they should be utilized is a critical component to development that has been lost overtime and must be restored in order to create successful relationships, families, businesses, and generational wealth.

Dr Varmah is no stranger to this country: “I’ve been to the Bahamas over 10 times in the last 17 years.

I’ve come to see and learn that the people of the Bahamas are not that different from the peoples of any other ‘me laninite’ lands in your desire to improve your life conditions, educate the next generation and gain an advantage both at home and on the world stage.”

“As such I’ve always strived, when travelling to The Bahamas, to communicate in as clear and concise a manner, the importance of the Bahamian people fully aligning themselves with the rest of the Diaspora and those of the African continent in order to bring about some sort of global, unified success of African and Afro-Caribbean people.

“This includes the conversation and purpose for which I will be in The Bahamas during the first

weekend of February - discussing conscious black relationships; for where there is no black love between a man and a woman, there is no black power or energy… and where there is no black power/ energy, there is no black child… and where there is no black child, there is no black future.”

He has spent over 40 years studying and teaching all over the world with the aim of “re-awakening the awareness of self and the empowering of African descendants, so they can attain their rightful place in the world”. He has written over 80 books and has delivered hundreds of lectures in person and on-line, as well as countless interviews and radio presentations.

His purpose is to awaken all people of African descent to join in the liberation of his people globally “on all fronts including religion, economics, labour, sex, education, law, war, entertainment and politics”.

While in The Bahamas, Dr Varmah will connect with Kahun Anku Sa Ra, (Pastor Cleveland Eneas III) Pastor of the Qubtic Church of the Black Messiah. The church in The Bahamas is anchored in the Bain Town community and has more than 50 members strong. Members are a part of the global congregation of the Holy Qubtic Church with branches in Liberia, London, South Carolina, New England, Texas, California, Georgia, Trinidad and Tobago, and other parts of the world.

Dr Varmah is the BaSesh: Haru-Hotep Tar - the head scribe and “Pope” of the Holy Qubtic Church.

He is a Master Teacher in African history, African spirituality, world religious systems, world mythology, and scripture, namely: the Torah, the Holy Bible, the Holy Quran and others.

Dr Varmah, Ba-Sesh: Haru-Hotep Tar, speaks five languages, including Hebrew, Arabic and the ancient Tama-Rean language.

Born in Liberia, West Africa in the early 1970s, Dr Varmah is from the lineage of a Basa mother and Mandingo father. At the time, Libera and many other African nations were going through the process of removing colonialism.

At the age of 3, he was taken by his mother to New York City, where he was raised with his two siblings.

In his elementary school years, he attended St Raymond’s Elementary School.

He went on to Brooklyn Technical High School.

“My mother always made my siblings and I do book reports about various Pan African, historical and civil rights leaders, which we had to type on her old typewriter,” he recalls.

“She, though struggling, did all in her power to provide us with a private school education in order that our basic foundation in the subjects of reading,

ABOVE AND FAR LEFT: Rev Dr AJ Varmah.

LEFT: Ka-Hun: Anku Sa Ra; High Priest Ba Sesh: Haru Hotep-Tar (Rev Dr A.J Varmah) and Emissary: Mesu Ti Tamer. writing, mathematics, history and science would be refined.

My mother also stressed the importance of Pan Africanism to us.”

In addition to scholastics, the young AJ played baseball, basketball, American football and judo, which kept him disciplined and engaged.

It helped him to avoid getting caught up with the wrong company on the streets of New York.

From the age of 12, he would go to a Nubian Hebrew community in New York City, where he was taught Arabic and Hebrew for nearly 20 years.

Eventually, he successfully pursued undergraduate and graduate studies in biology and pre-med at the SUNY Binghamton with a minor in music. Later, he earned a PhD in Theology and Religion from University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

Each step of the way, he sees that his path was preparing him to lead thousands of people in raising their spirituality and consciousness.

His path, now, is to educate and inspire others so that the torch can be lit all around the world – one that empowers people with an Atonist view (‘at one’ with the Divine Creator).

“My black consciousness and perpetual interest in it is directly due to my mother, who spent many a Saturday taking us to the Museum of Natural History as well as the Schomburg library in Harlem,” Dr Varmah told me.

“I was introduced to the speeches, works and writings of the likes of Frantz Fanon, Marcus Garvey, Elijah Muhammad, the Mandelas, Castro, and countless others.”

“As it pertains to the Divine, I was taught from young that we black people… better yet African people, have always had our own understanding and relationship to the Divine - not as pagans but instead, as the progenitors of all spirituality inclusive of so-called monotheistic teachings.”

He is encouraged by the increase in Diasporans who want to learn and understand their spiritual, cultural and even biological connections to Africa. In

BELOW: The Rite of EuKarast (Eucharist).

BOTTOM LEFT: Atonist Feast of Gratitude.

BOTTOM RIGHT: AJ as a boy with his father, Liberia Chief Counselor Eddington Varmah.

this Love, Lies and Liberation series, he will touch on a critical aspect of love that connects to so many other areas of being African. The event will take place for four weekends within February during the period of love, namely “Valentines day”.

February is said to be a time of love and romance, however so many unhappy couples and singles are not being fulfilled within their present and past relationships, and are subjected to many heart aches and disappointment.

“This event aims to shift the dynamics of Africanktic (Romantic) relationships, by approaching it from a conscious perspective.

We feel the dire need to address this topic not only to harmonize individual relationships and households but to liberate all Nubians globally. With a liberated mind set, we can join forces with one another and change the various circumstances we find ourselves in today.”

For more information, visit www. journeyhomegroup.com;

email journeyhomegroup@ gmail.com, or contact Kahun Anku Sa Ra at 426-1148.

“I fully recognize and believe that though there has been a shift toward greater consciousness and spiritual awakening,” Dr Varmah said.

“There are those who are working both covertly and overtly to prevent this from reaching its fullest. And it is with this in mind that I dedicate my works and efforts to reach as many conscientious and conscious people as possible.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, January 25, 2022, PAGE 9 IN this image taken from video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, a pair of Tu-95 strategic bombers of the Russian air force are parked at an air base in Engels near the Volga River in Russia, on Monday.

Strong words - but are the right people listening?

THE current international hysteria over the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine has been dominating the news to such an extent recently that various other significant international events have been largely ignored in the media. One example was last week’s visit to Australia of the British Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss.

Reportedly, this was to follow up last year’s AUKUS deal on nuclear co-operation and the historic UK-Australia free trade agreement which removed all tariffs on goods, in both directions.

But there was a wider political purpose as well. As she said publicly, with the current threats to global peace and stability, “it is vital for close allies like the UK and Australia to show robust vigilance in defence of freedom and democracy” – and, as a spokesperson commented on her behalf, “she’s getting on with the job of leading EU talks and making the vision of Global Britain a reality”.

Ms Truss took advantage of her visit to deliver a major speech about foreign policy. Tory MPs have been impressed by her negotiating skills in her former role as International Trade Secretary in securing a number of free trade deals postBrexit. But they also now admire her strong approach to Russia and China in the belief that Britain is still a major force to be reckoned with as the world’s fifth-largest economy, a nuclear power and one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council while also exercising influence through the

her toughness as a political leader.

The new Foreign Secretary certainly pulled no punches in warning Vladimir Putin about his aggressive actions and the serious consequences of destabilising other countries and threatening to invade Ukraine. She cautioned him to heed the lessons of history, accusing him of trying to glue back together the collapsed Soviet Union and stated that an invasion - including, most recently, suggestions of setting up a puppet government - would be a “massive strategic mistake”. Freedom, democracy and the rule of law needed to be protected everywhere, Commonwealth. Thus, fol- she said, so that what haplowing the failure of last pened in Eastern Europe week’s US-Russian talks in mattered for the rest of the Geneva to make any real world; and an attack on progress in easing escalat- Ukraine would be met with ing tensions over Ukraine, a vigorous response and harsh sanctions by the UK an announceand its allies ment that the in the G7 and ‘The new Russians have agreed to a Foreign Secretary NATO. She likewise visit by her certainly pulled had strong to Moscow words for no punches in in February may be highly warning Vladimir China - both for its threat significant.

Putin about his to Taiwan For some, and what aggressive actions this foreign she called its policy speech and the serious coercive ecoharked back consequences nomic policies to former - stressing the of destabilising Prime Minisneed to “call ter Margaret other countries it out” when, Thatcher’s hard and threatening for example, line rhetoit blocked ric which had to invade products from earlier earned Ukraine.’

Lithuania or her the nickplaced puniname of “the Iron Lady” tive tariffs on Australian – the term intended by the Soviet media at the barley and wine. There time as a criticism became was an alignment, she said, a famous nickname from of authoritarian regimes which she later took much around the world, with pleasure as recognition of countries such as Belarus,

The Peter Young column

A SUNDAY OF SHAME

THE end of this month marks the 50th anniversary of what came to be regarded as one of the most significant and terrible single events of the “Troubles” - the name given to the sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland from the late 1960s to 1998 between the mostly Protestant unionists, known as loyalists who wanted the Province to remain part of the UK, and the mainly Roman Catholic nationalists, known as republicans who wanted it to become part of the Republic of Ireland.

The horrific incident known as “Bloody Sunday” began as a peaceful demonstration in Londonderry on January 30, 1972 by Roman Catholic civil rights supporters protesting against the British government’s policy of internment for suspected members of the Irish Republican Army.

But the demonstration later turned violent. British soldiers of the Parachute

Regiment opened fire killing 13 marchers and wounding 15 others, one of whom later died from his injuries. The Army claimed its men had been fired on during the march though there were conflicting accounts of what happened. But, inevitably, Bloody Sunday fuelled Catholic and nationalist hostility and precipitated an upsurge in support for the IRA which advocated violence against Britain to force it to withdraw from the Province.

A formal inquiry later the same year criticised the firing by the Army as “bordering on the reckless” but put the main blame for the deaths on the organisers of the march for creating a dangerous situation. This was criticised as a whitewash. Following another inquiry years later, the Saville Report of 2010 concluded that none of the victims had posed any threat to the soldiers

and that their shooting was without justification and the then British Prime Minister, David Cameron, formally apologised in Parliament.

This was a dark chapter in the history of Northern Ireland. But many maintain it should never be forgotten, not least because acknowledgement of the past has always been a key element in bringing the two communities together. This was ultimately achieved by the historic Good Friday Agreement of 1998 which helped to bring the Troubles to an end. It provided for a power-sharing executive and created the Northern Ireland Assembly, commonly known as Stormont. Although this collapsed in 2017 due to policy disagreements between its power-sharing leadership, a deal to restore the Province’s government was published in January, 2020 and the Assembly was reopened.

North Korea and Myanmar looking towards Moscow and Beijing as their closest allies and trading partners.

She condemned aggressors who wanted to destabilise the rules-based international order. But it was still necessary to work with nations such as Russia and China on trade and issues like climate change and in bringing Iran to the negotiating table over developing nuclear weapons.

All in all, this was an important speech setting out the West’s views and priorities and it deserved greater publicity. In the lead-up to the Foreign Secretary’s proposed

February visit to Moscow, British diplomacy will be exercised to the full and it will be interesting to see how a more sophisticated approach might work - for example, while not deviating from the West’s tough stance on aggression by the Russians, perhaps recognising more readily that they harbour genuine fears about having a democratic country and a potential member of NATO on their borders; though seeking to alter those borders through invasion remains unacceptable.

While Liz Truss is working to reassert Britain’s position in the world, she is

also seen at home as a rising political star – and, as such, is increasingly regarded as a potential successor to Prime Minister Boris Johnson if he were to be forced out of office. She enjoys a high favourability rating among Tory MPs. But she has been careful so far to distance herself from any idea of being a contender to replace him, saying he should continue as PM for “as long as possible”. So she is backing him to the hilt during the current political storm at Westminster – with some saying that is the wisest thing to do if she does indeed have aspirations to succeed him!

SERBIA’S NOVAK DJOKOVIC, who was kicked out of Australia after travelling to the tennis tournament without being vaccinated.

Photo: Mark Baker/AP

IS DJOKOVIC SAGA HAVING REPERCUSSIONS? CONSPIRACY theorists are having a field day after an announcement last week by the Serbian government of the withdrawal of exploration licences granted to the Anglo-Australian giant mining company Rio Tinto for development of a lithium mine.

This followed weeks of local protests by green groups who have opposed the development of the project on environmental grounds. Lithium is used to make batteries for electric vehicles and the mine was expected to become the largest in Europe.

With a general election due in April, the ruling party in Serbia is said to be losing popularity and therefore felt compelled to listen to the environmental activists.

However, people have been quick to point out that Serbia’s relations with the Australian government have soured following the high-profile detention and then deportation earlier this month of tennis star Novak Djokovic after a dispute over his vaccination status. He is, of course, a Serbian national and the world’s leading men’s tennis player as a 20-time Grand Slam winner. He was thus prevented from competing in the Australian Open which he has won no fewer than nine times.

Some people wonder whether his alleged bad treatment and humiliation

at the hands of the Australian authorities might have influenced the Serbian government’s decision in relation to the lithium contract that had been awarded to Rio Tinto.

The saga of Djokovic’s vaccination status and his deportation hit the headlines earlier this month and this is not the place to go over the familiar ground of the dispute again. But many Serbians were reported to have been outraged by what they regarded as unpleasant and unfair treatment of Djokovic, given that he had arrived in Melbourne believing he had been given a medical exemption from a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

As always, there are two sides to the story and it is difficult to disagree with the reported comments attributed to certain of his fellow tennis stars that, irrespective of the merits of this particular case, if one is a professional tennis player intent on competing in tournaments around the world, in the current circumstances of the pandemic there is really little option to getting vaccinated.

All that said, this controversy revives schoolboy memories in England of the story of the “War of Jenkins’ Ear”. Sniggering youngsters found it almost humorous to learn that a war had been started over a comparatively

minor incident involving someone’s ear, though in this case it was obviously a matter of some importance to Jenkins himself.

War between Britain and Spain broke out in 1739 and its name was coined by British historian Thomas Carlyle. It started after sailors of the Spanish Coastguard cut off the ear of a captain of a British merchant ship called Robert Jenkins.

Parliament in London took severe umbrage at this maiming of a British sea captain by the Spanish and was evidently prepared to go to war over the incident, though it also appears the situation may have been a bit more complicated than that.

Fast forward to the present day and, from the available evidence, an outsider might find it hard to believe the decision-makers concerned in Serbia would have made a different judgment about the lithium mine if the incident affecting their countryman in Australia had not happened. But might they have been influenced - at least in part - by the way Australia handled the Djokovic case and did this tip the balance? Who knows? What is certain, however, from history and experience is that all too often larger or more important events are set off by smaller ones and the law of unintended consequences is all too real.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, January 25, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Chauvin ‘called all of the shots’ when George Floyd killed ST PAUL, Minnesota Associated Press PROSECUTORS in the trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights accused the men yesterday of standing by as fellow Officer Derek Chauvin “slowly killed George Floyd right in front of them”.

But one defence attorney countered that Chauvin called “all of the shots” as the senior officer at the scene and criticised the Minneapolis Police Department for doing too little to train officers to intervene when a colleague should be stopped. Another officer’s attorney focused on Floyd’s struggle with police before they restrained him. And an attorney for the third officer said his client raised concerns about the restraint of Floyd, but was rebuffed.

Former Officers J Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao are broadly charged with depriving Floyd of his civil rights while acting under government authority. Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin pressed him to the ground with his knee on Floyd’s neck for 9 1/2 minutes while the 46-year-old Black man was facedown, handcuffed and gasping for air. Kueng knelt on Floyd’s back, Lane held his legs and Thao kept bystanders from intervening.

Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter last year in state court in the videotaped killing that triggered worldwide protests and a reexamination of racism and policing.

“For second after second, minute after minute, these three CPR-trained defendants stood or knelt next to Officer Chauvin as he slowly killed George Floyd right in front of them,” prosecutor Samantha Trepel, who works for the Justice Department’s civil rights division, told the jury during opening statements.

“They chose not to protect

George Floyd, the man they had handcuffed and placed in their custody.”

Tom Plunkett, Kueng’s attorney, highlighted the rookie status of his client and Lane, and said both men deferred to Chauvin and called him “sir”.

“You’ll see and hear officer Chauvin call all of the shots,” said Plunkett, who also hammered at what he called the Minneapolis Police Department’s lack of training, including on intervention against the unreasonable use of force.

Plunkett noted that Chauvin was Kueng’s field training officer, and as such had “considerable sway” over his future. He also said that Kueng and Lane were not trained in the department’s policy on neck restraint.

He also said that under department policy, Lane actually should have been in charge, because he was the most senior officer in the first car to arrive. Lane and Kueng were responding to a 911 call accusing Floyd of using a counterfeit $20 bill for a pack of cigarettes at a corner market. Thao and Chauvin responded as backup.

Earlier, Thao’s attorney, Robert Paule, said Floyd’s death was a tragedy, “however, a tragedy is not a crime”. He also said a widely watched bystander video of the arrest does not show everything, including Floyd struggling with officers who were trying to put him in a police vehicle.

Kueng, who is Black; Lane, who is white; and Thao, who is Hmong American, are all charged for failing to provide Floyd with medical care. Thao and Kueng face an additional count for failing to stop Chauvin, who is white.

Both counts allege the officers’ actions resulted in Floyd’s death.

“We will ask you to hold these men accountable for choosing to do nothing and watch a man die,” Trepel said.

THIS image from video shows Minneapolis police officers Thomas Lane, left and J Alexander Kueng, right, escorting George Floyd, centre, to a police vehicle on May 25, 2020.

JUNTA ‘NOW CONTROLS’ BURKINA FASO OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso Associated Press

MORE than a dozen mutinous soldiers declared Monday on state television that a military junta had seized control of Burkina Faso after detaining the democratically elected president following a day of gunbattles in the capital of the West African country.

The military coup in a nation that was once a bastion of stability was the third of its kind in the region in the last 18 months, creating upheaval in some of the countries hardest hit by Islamic extremist attacks.

Capt Sidsore Kaber Ouedraogo said the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration “has decided to assume its responsibilities before history.” The soldiers put an end to Kabore’s presidency because of the deteriorating security situation and the president’s inability to manage the crisis, he said.

It was not immediately known where President Roch Marc Christian Kabore was, and the junta spokesman said only that the coup had taken place “without any physical violence against those arrested, who are being held in a safe place, with respect for their dignity.”

US PUTS 8,500 TROOPS ON ALERT AMID TENSION WASHINGTON Associated Press

AT PRESIDENT Joe Biden’s direction, the Pentagon is putting about 8,500 US-based troops on heightened alert for potential deployment to Europe to reassure allies amid rising fears of a possible Russian military move on Ukraine.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said yesterday no final decisions had

been made on deployments, which he said would happen only if the NATO alliance decides to activate a rapid-response force “or if other situations develop” in connection with tensions over Russia’s military buildup along Ukraine’s borders.

“What this is about is reassurance to our NATO allies,” Kirby said, adding that no troops are intended for deployment to Ukraine itself.

PAGE 11

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

10-year-old girl on a mission to

‘Stamp Out Hunger’

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

SIXTH grader and Xavier’s Lower School Student of the Year nominee Priya Beneby is on a mission to “Stamp Out Hunger” with an initiative geared towards feeding the less fortunate.

The ten-year-old has always been encouraged by her parents Delric and Sonia Beneby to find a way to give back even if it’s just in small ways.

However, her latest venture is nothing if not ambitious. And it is a very necessary one that requires a collective effort. Therefore, Pryia is inviting members of the public to join her in this.

For the month of January, the students of Xavier’s Lower School, led by Pryia, will collect stamp dollars, twelve “Big 50” stamps redeemable for $1 at all Super Value Food stores, and donate to the Great Commission Ministries during Catholic weekm which is scheduled for January 30 – February 5.

Great Commission Ministries has been providing services such as feeding and sheltering the poor and homeless since 1987. Currently, this organisation feeds over 400 individuals per day and is totally dependent on the generosity of donors and volunteers.

Members of the general public interested in participating, can donate completed stamp sheets that can be dropped off at Xavier’s security booth up until Friday.

Pryia told Tribune Woman she is hoping her effort will have a great impact.

“From I was little, my parents have always encouraged me to give back. This usually happened through church events and when I went with my father to his Rotary community service projects. I was saddened by how many people were hurting and in need. This sparked a burning desire in me to help others,” she said.

However, the pandemic and social distancing requirements limited what she was able to do physically.

“It did not stop me from lending a hand. Last year, I initiated the ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ food drive to do more.

SIXTH grader Priya Beneby And so far, the response has been encouraging,” she said.

“My family and neighbours have been dropping their stamps off to my house, my school mates have been depositing their stamps in the stamp box at school.

As a result of the initiative there are several competitions going on at school to keep the momentum (going). One such competition involves using the social media app TikTok to create videos.”

Pryia said this effort could not come at a better, when the food prices are high and many people are jobless and even homeless.

“Every three months, with the assistance of my parents, I will identify a charitable organisation to help based on its needs. I will then partner with my ‘village’, which includes family, friends, neighbours, school and church to assist the identified organisation,” she said.

Given that the ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ initiative is already shaping up to be a success, Pryia said hosting more ‘give-back’ activities is certainly her plan for the future.

“I would like to see this initiative remain at Xavier’s after I have left and I plan to introduce

it to my new school. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank all those who have supported me in my endeavours, especially my parents, grandparents, godparents, extended family, friends, teachers and administrators,” she said.

When Pryia is not busy with school work or community, she spends time with her twin brothers Ian and Uri. Her time is also split between her hobbies of reading, doing

puzzles and gymnastics, among other activities.

“I have been a member of the 76th Nassau Girl Guide Company first as a Sunflower, then a Brownie and now a Guide. I am also a member of the St Ambrose Anglian Church Band where I am learning to play the clarinet.

I am also a member of the youth choir at the Church of God of Prophecy East Street Tabernacle.

I currently attend Church of God of Prophecy Carmichael Road: God’s Lighthouse,” she said.

Local beauty entrepreneur secures vending machine in Florida mall

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

When you think about using a vending machine, you probably think about the snacks and drinks you can purchase.

But vending machines, especially in the US, have evolved over the years to offer everything from new Apple AirPods to hair extensions, pizza to champagne.

Bahamian beauty entrepreneur Latrell King decided to take advantage of this evolution and now offers her Kellure Beaute products, primarily lipsticks, through her very own vending

machine located at the Pembroke Lakes Mall in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Latrell said she made this move after failing to secure a spot in Nassau.

“I purchased my vending machine in March of 2020, the start of the pandemic. I landed my machine in Nassau in July of that same year due to shipment delays. At this time, the world was closed. After many failed attempts to secure a vending location in Nassau, I decided to explore the international stage. I called and emailed over 20 malls across Miami and Fort Lauderdale before I got a ‘yes’. It was only

God that gave me access,” said Latrell.

“I have faced so much rejection locally with my brand that I was in awe that the businesses based in the United States were so inviting.”

She told Tribune Woman the idea to start Kellure Beaute, formerly known as the BeVogue Cosmetics lipstick brand, came to her about five years ago when she found she had the same problem with almost very popular brand of lipstick she tried. It particularly concerned the super trendy liquid matte lipsticks.

The problem was that they all cracked and peeled after about

an hour of wear, making the lips appear unattractive.

“I thought, ‘What if I create a brand that solved this issue by adding more moisturising properties to my brand lipstick?’,” she said.

Latrell went to work, and today her Kellure Beaute brand offers 52 shades of matte lipsticks and six shades of opaque glosses.

“Our home base is in New Providence and we also have a warehouse based in Miami, Florida,” she said.

“My most memorable client experience thus far was a Bahamian lady that works in Tampa who called me and expressed interest in purchasing six of my

lipsticks to be shipped to her. She encouraged me to keep pushing my business internationally and continue to put God first.”

Kellure Beaute products, she said, can also be uses to recreate some of the hottest makeup trends of the season, including over-lined lips with gloss on top, or a more natural look with bold lips.

“My plans for Kellure Beaute for the remainder of 2022 are to expand my brand in more international markets. We are currently operating at Pembroke Lakes Mall in Fort Lauderdale and Flying Solo Beauty in New York,” she said.

PAGE 12, Tuesday, January 25, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

SHIRLEY V Babbs

SHAVANTAE Bullard

BRANDON Maynard

Temple Christian alum creates special scholarship in honour of her mother

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

Raising and educating children is always a challenge, one that Shirley V Babbs was able to

achieve successfully as a single mother.

She paid for her daughter Mrya M McPhee to attend Temple Christian School from 1984 to 1997.

And now her daughter has created a special scholarship in

her mother’s honour to help two deserving students at her alma mater get a financial headstart on their tertiary education.

“My mother turned 72 on December 1, 2021, and I gifted two scholarships to two students at Temple Christian School as

a Christmas present to her and the students,” she told Tribune Woman.

“She was a very active parent in the TCS community. Establishing this scholarship is a gift to her to recognise and appreciate all of her hard work and sacrifices as

a mother of a TCS alum,” Mrya said.

Shavantae Bullard and Brandon Maynard were both selected as the winners and will have their final high school term tuition paid in full by Myra.

The students have already started the college application process.

“My mother and I were both very impressed with their applications and the effort they made,” said Myra.

To be eligible for the award, both students wrote an essay on the topic ‘How do you define success for yourself? What does it mean to be internally motivated?

How can you make yourself and your family proud?’

Planning, stress and worry put the mental load on mothers – will 2022 be the year they share the burden?

By LEAH RUPPANNER Associate Professor in Sociology and Co-Director of The Policy Lab, The University of Melbourne and Brendan Churchill ARC Research Fellow and Lecturer in Sociology, The University of Melbourne and Liz DeanLecturer in Sociology Programme The University of Melbourne The COVID pandemic has made the very private issue of the domestic division of labour – the way housework and childcare are divided – a very public issue.

During lockdowns, the burden of housework and childcare grew significantly for men and women in opposite-sex and same-sex couples both in Australia and elsewhere.

Overnight, homes became offices, childcare centres and makeshift schools and it was mothers who largely stepped into these teaching and caring roles at the expense of their anxiety levels and sleep.

While the pandemic exacerbated the physical demands of care – housework and childcare – it also exacerbated another part of the work that keeps households and families running: the mental load.

What is the mental load?

A lot has been written about the mental load over the past two years, with many confusing the mental load with household labour – cleaning and cooking or caring after children – or planning tasks involved with childcare. But the mental load is so much more.

In our recently published research, we define the mental load as the combination of two types of work or labour: cognitive labour and emotional labour.

The cognitive aspect of the mental load involves the scheduling, planning, and organising required to support the smooth operating of families. This type of work ranges from organising a play date to planning dinner.

We argue this cognitive work becomes a load or the mental load when it has an emotional element, for example, when there is worry or stress attached to these tasks.

Some have described listmaking as the mental load, but list-making isn’t always stressful or emotional and, importantly, list-making has a finite beginning and end.

But, once cognitive tasks like list-making take on an emotional element – like worry about whether Nana will like her present, anxiety about how relatives will get along at holiday dinners and stress about filling stockings while finishing work – then it becomes the mental load.

How does the mental load operate?

We argue the mental load operates in families and societies in three ways.

The mental load can be performed anywhere, anytime.

First it’s invisible – it’s the type of work that is done internally.

Unlike housework or childcare, it’s unseen and therefore hard to recognise.

Second, the mental load is boundary-less. Because it’s invisible, it can be performed anywhere or at anytime.

American sociologist Arlie Hochschild termed women’s domestic labour done after work as the “second shift” but the mental load has no shifts – it can be done before, during and after work or even during time that should be spent sleeping.

And lastly, the mental load is enduring, meaning it never ends.

Unlike housework such as like cooking or cleaning, thinking and caring about family members never ends, which is why the mental load can be so burdensome and Nana still reminds you to take a jacket.

How can we lessen mental loads in 2022 and beyond?

Individuals and society can do a number of things to decrease the mental load.

it

1

) Make the mental load more visible by quantifying

We have no robust, standardised and nationally representative measure of the mental load. This means, unlike housework and childcare, we have no idea the volume and consequences of the mental load for Australians.

Recent reports on housework show women do 21 more hours of unpaid work than men. They may also spend the bulk of the day thinking about, planning and worrying about their families.

Yet, we have no measure of this labour and, importantly, we don’t know how men carry the mental load either.

Quantifying and capturing how much time we spend on the mental load and how this is shared between couples will help lay the groundwork for change.

2

) Acknowledge the toll on women The pandemic has left workers burnt out, stressed and overwhelmed by the intensity of balancing work, homeschooling and full-time care demands while isolated at home.

It’s no wonder the pandemic has knocked mothers out of employment.

Mothers are exhausted not only from the physical demands of work and family but also the cognitive labour of holding it all together at work while worrying about torpedoing children’s educational futures from keeping them home, alone and glued to screens.

The mental load, as the unrelenting internal nag, is a drain on well-being with serious consequences for economic productivity and fatigue.

The mental load is a national health emergency and should be treated seriously by workplaces and governments alike.

3

) Help families better reconcile work and family demands Both organisations and governments need to be better at helping families combine their work and care responsibilities. The mental load overloads women (and some men) particularly at work when they are thinking and worrying about their children’s needs.

Workplaces need to improve support for families to lessen the mental load. This may mean more

working remotely or concrete programs to support workers’ mental loads. This is also likely to improve workers’ productivity.

At the same time, governments need to provide better care infrastructure to support families, for example more universal affordable childcare, supports for transitioning children to and from school, and better aged care. This will lessen workers’ worries about the experiences of loved ones while they’re engaged in paid work.

Ultimately, the mental load is a mental health issue and companies and governments should treat it as such. This will unburden families, and particularly mothers, from managing the mental load alone.

• This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com

Review: ‘Yinka, Where is Your Huzband’ funny and big-hearted

By ALICIA RANCILIO Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — “Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband” by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn (Pamela Dorman Books) Yinka Oladeji is a 30-year-old, Oxford educated, British Nigerian woman with a good job, living in London who happens to be single.

Her accomplishments should carry weight within her family but unfortunately, the fact that she’s not married is a big source of worry and tension for her elders.

The novel opens with Yinka attending her sister’s baby shower when both her mother and aunt lead a group prayer to find Yinka a “huzband” — slang for “a nonexistent man in a non-existent

marriage whose whereabouts is often asked.”

When at the same party Yinka’s cousin announces her engagement, it’s all too much.

Yinka begins to formulate a plan called Operation Wedding Date to ensure she does not attend that wedding solo. There will be no more public prayers for Yinka. She compiles a spreadsheet with tasks and, of course, a deadline (which routinely gets thrown out and revised.)

As time ticks by, Yinka gets more desperate and self-critical.

There are dizzying subtasks to her tasks to improve her hair, figure, cooking and knowledge of the Yoruba language. Yinka spends money she doesn’t have and even begins to question the color of FIRSTher skin. To make matters worse, time her friends are noticing a change author in her, and it’s not a good thing.

Lizzie Damilola Yinka is so caught up in conformBlackburn ing to how and what she thinks she needs to be, she’s not being a good friend and dismissive of real, potential suitors.

“Yinka, Where is Your Huzband” is more than a book about a woman looking for a man. It addresses themes such as female friendships, Black beauty standards and religion. This is not a romance novel, unless the journey to self-love qualifies.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, January 25, 2022, PAGE 13

BODY AND MIND

New treatments for cervical cancer – the third most common cancer in Bahamian women

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

As January is observed as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, team members at the Miami Cancer Institute –part of Baptist Health South Florida – aim to educate Bahamians on cervical cancer prevention and speak on the latest developments when it comes to treatment.

Dr John Diaz, Deputy Chief of Gynaecologic Oncology at the Miami Cancer Institute, told Tribune Health that cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women in the Bahamas. It is the second most common cancer for women between the ages of 15 to 44. He said most cases of cervical cancer are preventable with routine health screenings such as pap smears.

“We continue to routinely offer educational events both virtually and in-person to help educate our local community as well as our international neighbours on how to prevent this disease,” he said.

“The most important step women can take is to visit their gynaecologist annually and perform routine pap smear screening.

Additionally, the HPV vaccine, which is offered to both girls and boys starting at the age of nine, can help prevent them from developing HPV related cancers, like cervical cancer, later in life,” said Dr Diaz.

As the Chief of Gynaecologic Oncology at Miami Cancer Institute, Dr Diaz has been in practice in South Florida for over 12 years. He completed a fellowship in gynaecologic oncology

DR JOHN DIAZ, Deputy Chief of Gynaecologic Oncology at the Miami Cancer Institute at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York.

At the Institute he said, the team is honoured to be the

only Sloan Kettering Alliance members outside of the northeast. His practice is focused on innovative robotic surgical techniques for the management of gynaecologic malignancies.

Dr Diaz also leads the clinical research trials for gynaecologic oncology at Miami Cancer Institute to provide women in our area access to the novel therapies for the treatment of gynaecologic cancers.

“I am the principal investigator for a novel clinical trial at the Miami Cancer Institute for women who have a recurrence of their cervical cancer,” he said.

Dr Diaz is leading a new study which considers the use of immunotherapy in combination with systemic chemotherapy to treat cervical cancer, utilising an approach that has shown promising outcomes in patients with other cancers.

“Immunotherapy has demonstrated great efficacy in select cervical cancer populations.

Additionally, a new class of medications, PARP inhibitors, have demonstrated value in the treatment of several cancers as well as increase immune response.

Our trial is evaluating the combination of these two classes

of drugs: immunotherapy and PARP inhibitors to improve outcomes in women. We have also collaborated with scientists at Florida International University to develop a new biomarker which may predict which patients will respond best to this therapy,” he said.

When it comes symptoms all women should be aware of, Dr Diaz said routine cervical cancer screening with pap smears and HPV testing can help detect a precancerous or early-stage cancer when treatment is most effective.

Additionally, he said, the HPV vaccine should be offered to all girls and boys between the ages of 9-12 to prevent HPV related cancers.

“The Bahamas introduced its HPV vaccine program in 2015, yet a recent study demonstrated that only 46 percent of Bahamians have heard of HPV and only 35 percent are aware a vaccine against HPV is available. We need to do a better job of educating the community in the Bahamas about this preventable disease,” he said, Dr Diaz emphasised the benefits of women seeking treatment at a cancer institute that specialises in gynaecologic oncology.

He said it is well-documented that women treated in a specialised cancer centre that offers clinical trials and a multidisciplinary approach have improved outcomes. At the Miami Cancer Institute, he said, the organisation has the largest division of gynaecologic oncology in the state of Florida.

“Our experts are dedicated physicians who work in collaboration with specialists throughout our institution to ensure our patients have access to the cutting-edge treatment to defeat cancer. Our personalised high tech, high touch approach provides patients with compassionate care utilising the latest breakthroughs in cancer treatment,” Dr Diaz.

The COVID-19 pandemic has inspired new health habits for these 4 scholars – here’s what they put into practice and why (THE CONVERSATION) - For some people, the COVID19 pandemic has brought about change – some welcome and some not so welcome – to their routines or to what they prioritise.

We asked four scholars to reflect on a health habit that they have adopted during the tumultuous months and years since COVID19 turned people’s lives upside down.

Walking as a source of solitude and connection Libby Richards, Associate Professor of Nursing, Purdue University

As a busy working mom of two active boys, I embrace solitude whenever I can; I even take solace in grocery shopping. But when the pandemic hit, my errands became risky activities. Instead, with schools closed and the family at home, I embraced my time with them and got creative entertaining the kids.

But it was harder to find time for myself. “Alone time” went out the window. If I wanted to keep my sanity, I knew I needed to find some space. That’s when I put on my walking shoes and went outside.

At first, the walk was simply an escape. But as my routine became more consistent, I began to recognize and experience its benefits.

As a nurse and physical activity researcher, I already understood the importance of an active lifestyle. But before the pandemic, I focused only on the physical aspects, like keeping my muscles toned and weight stable.

I discovered that I had overlooked a crucial benefit of physical activity: mental health.

Instead of focusing my walks on physical fitness, I started walking for stress and tension relief. And it worked. My sleep improved, I had fewer headaches and I could concentrate better.

Although my family is easing back into a new routine, I continue to walk, even during phone meetings and when it’s cold out.

Sometimes I walk to do errands instead of driving. I feel more connected with nature, and I have a greater appreciation for fresh

air. I’ve been able to disconnect from daily stressors, my mood and outlook are better and my overall sense of well-being has improved.

Making weightlifting a strong habit

Alison Phillips, Associate Professor of Psychology, Iowa State University I decided to lift weights during the pandemic to build strength and to reduce stress. As a health psychologist who studies how to build health-related habits, I already knew what I needed to do: repeat the behavior in the same time or place and make sure a reward was tied to the behavior.

No problem, I thought.

When it comes to cardio activity, I already had a solid habit, starting years before the pandemic. Every day, before dinner, I would do something that counts as cardio. During the pandemic, this has included getting on the home elliptical, jogging outside or doing a step video. I knew that one way to form a new habit is to piggyback on an existing habit, so I planned to lift weights after my cardio sessions. Four times a week, I would alternate resistance training of arms and legs.

But lifting weights wasn’t fun, it didn’t feel good at first, and I couldn’t tell if I was improving. I kept track of my weights workout on a calendar, and for most of 2020, that was the only reward I felt – a sense of accomplishment and a check mark on a piece of paper. I still had to persuade myself to do it, and only guilt or anticipated regret would drive me.

That didn’t work so well. Three days or more would pass with no weightlifting, until I would finally force myself to do it. Eventually, after months and months of semiregular lifting, I came to see it as something I valued.

What was my reward? I became more toned and fit, sure. And that was part of my identity and something I could be proud of during the mess of the pandemic. But what finally turned weightlifting into a habit was the good physical sensations I came to appreciate during and after a muscle-building

exercise. If I didn’t lift weights after doing cardio, my body felt unused.

All habits, good or bad, require a similar process to become habitual. Typically, this involves repetition in a familiar context, paired with a reward for the behavior. The “context” for the habit might be a consistent location, timing and/or a sequence of activities.

It took me a full year to develop what I would call a habit of lifting weights. Now, even when my context changes – like returning to the gym after getting vaccinated or traveling for work or holidays – my body expects and needs the muscle work, and I find a way to do some kind of resistance training.

Small indulgences, in moderation

Katherine Basbaum, Clinical Dietitian, University of Virginia As a registered dietitian, I’ve always promoted and followed the “all foods fit” mentality. This means that, as long as the majority of your meals and snacks are prepared with nutritious foods, then small indulgences are fine.

For as long as I can remember, chocolate has been one of the tiny indulgences I allowed myself.

Pre-pandemic, my chocolate habit consisted of one small piece in the morning with coffee, none during the day since I was running around a hospital from 9 to 5, and then another after dinner.

But when the pandemic began and I began working at home a

few days per week, my routines changed in a big way, including what and when I ate. I still had three mostly balanced meals on the days I worked from home.

But a new habit emerged too. My chocolate consumption, once a morning and evening indulgence, sometimes tripled. That’s because the chocolate was always right there, easily accessible all day long.

When I realized my once-harmless habit was out of control, I stopped buying the large bags of chocolate. Instead, I downsized to a single-serving package once per week. Because I wasn’t going to stores much, I was forced to stretch it out.

Ultimately I got back to my two-a-day routine. And even though I’m back to working in person at the hospital, I haven’t gone back to the big bags of chocolate. Those single-serving packages still suit me just fine.

Clearing the mind through meditation

Jessica Bane Robert, Writing and Mindfulness Instructor, Clark University I’ve taught a course called Mindful Choices at Clark University for eight years, so one might think I would have had a consistent meditation practice before now.

Yet not until the pandemic did I find the time and mental space to commit to daily meditation.

Since March 2020, at least once daily, I have reserved 10 minutes to calm my mind by focusing on

the breath or by using guided visualisations to picture beautiful supportive places or positive future outcomes. Depending on the day, I performed my “sits,” as they are called by meditation practitioners, by the pond in front of my home, upon waking or at bedtime.

Since then, my blood pressure has dropped – but even more importantly, I have experienced greater peace. I have less attachment to negative thoughts and emotions while being able to really dwell and linger on the positive. Further, meditation has improved my focus and “working memory.” Research suggests that benefits can be achieved with as little as 10 minutes a day spent meditating.

Taking time to meditate may feel selfish to some, but research shows it can reduce prejudice and bias toward others as well as lessen one’s own tendency to find the negative in situations, called negativity bias. To foster gentleness toward oneself and compassion for others, my students and I practice loving kindness – a type of meditation practice popularised by author Sharon Salzberg.

Many apps are available to guide you while cuing you to meditate and provide community – two things that make a new habit stick. Insight Timer – my favourite – has a free version, but you may want to try Headspace, Waking Up, Ten Percent Happier and Calm, all apps that offer free trials. If you learn a new practice better by reading, dive into Salzberg’s “Real Happiness” or Jon Kabat-Zinn’s classic “Wherever You Go, There You Are.” What I love about my new habit is that meditation can be done anytime, anywhere. All you need is your breath and, with it, you can change the quality of your thoughts and your day.

• This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com

PAGE 14, Tuesday, January 25, 2022

The horror of bloody semen Haematospermia or haemospermia describes blood seen in ejaculate/sperm. The presence of blood in sperm can be terrifying for both men and their partners, with significant associated anxiety.

Haemtospermia may be associated with visible blood in urine, haematuria, particularly after ejaculation. Noting blood in ejaculate or urine should never be ignored. The vast majority of cases of haematospermia have benign causes but for patients over the age of 40 years old in particular, who have recurrent or persistent haematospermia, there is a small concern for a potentially serious condition.

Incidence

The exact incidence of blood seen in ejaculate is not known as many men do not take note of the colour of their ejaculate and a large percentage of men never report haematospermia out of fear of the unknown. Several studies report the incidence of haematospermia to be 1 in 5,000 men presenting to urological clinics and offices. The most common age group is 30 to 40 years old.

Colour of sperm

Sperm and ejaculate normally has a cloudy, white colour and a slightly viscous, egg white-like consistency. One time, self-resolving haematuria is usually nothing to worry about but repeated episodes of haematospermia necessitates a visit to a urologist.

Certain health conditions, foods, health supplements and medications as well as the frequency of ejaculating can affect

the consistency, volume and colour of semen.

Supplements such as vitamin B and pyridium and the tuberculosis medication rifampin can turn your semen yellow/orange.

Laxatives such as senna can cause reddish appearing sperm. The antibiotic Metronizadole/Flagyl can lead to brownish sperm. The colour changes are secondary to the breakdown byproducts of the supplements or medication.

Anticoagulants are blood thinners that may lead to bloody sperm.

Causes of haematospermia

The vast majority of haematospermia cases are benign, not cancerous. Infective or inflammatory causes are the most common culprit.

• Sexually transmitted diseases

Blood in sperm can be a terrifying ordeal for both partners.

STDs like chlamydia, herpes and gonorrhea can rarely present with haematospermia and therefore STDs must be ruled out during investigations, but it would be wrong to self diagnosis a STD and create turmoil in a relationship with accusations of infidelity.

Bacterial and viral infections can cause bloody ejaculates.

Infections can cause irritation of the urinary tract, testicles or prostate which could create blood in semen.

• Jaundice

Jaundice is caused by excess bilirubin, which is a chemical that

builds up in the body when the liver cannot process red blood cells properly. This could lead to yellowing of the whites of the eyes, skin and sperm. Common causes of jaundice include gallstones, pancreatitis, hepatitis and sickle cell disease.

THE UROLOGY DOCTOR IS IN...

• Other common causes of haematospermia

Urinary stones/calculi including seminal vesicle or ejaculatory duct calculi.

Urethritis - infection of the urethra. The urethra is the pee tube that connects the bladder to the outside world. Dilated blood vessels along the ejaculatory route,

from complete. Admittedly, this long list of potential causes will do little to provide peace of mind to men experiencing blood with their ejaculate or their concerned partners.

Treatment of haematospermia

• Prostate issues

A hypervascular prostate or seminal vesicles with a very prominent blood supply could lead to bloody ejaculate with the rupture of small blood vessels or capillaries. Prostatitis, infection and inflammation of the prostate is a well recognized cause of haematospermia; a condition termed prostatitis associated haematospermia (PAH ).

Prostate cancer can very rarely present with blood in ejaculate.

Do not wrongly automatically jump to the feared conclusion that blood seen in sperm means prostate cancer and have that fear prevent you seeing a urologist.

Prostate cancer was the cause of haematospermia in 5.7 percent of cases in a large prospective investigation involving 300 men. Risk factors for prostate cancer include advancing age with average age of diagnosis being 66 years old.

THE TRIBUNE

Dr Greggory Pinto

which includes the urethra, could lead to haematospermia.

Traumatic sexual encounter

Blood in semen linked to high uric acid Llevels: Hyperuricemia as seen with gout is a possible cause of haematospermia, particularly in men aged 30 to 40 years old.

Bilharziasis: Also known as the parasitic infection schistosomiasis.

Prostate gland biopsies: usually resolves itself after one to three weeks after the prostate biopsies.

Uncontrolled blood pressure Blood disorders Idiopathic - Approximately 15 percent of cases of haematospermia have no determined cause.

This list of causes of haematospermia is comprehensive but far

The treatment of haematospermia depends on the cause.

The cause is determined by a thorough, confidential history taking and appropriate non-invasive or minimally invasive investigations as applicable.

Haematospermia can certainly be a terrifying event for both partners. Blood in semen can lead to tremendous worry of the unknown and fear to engage in future sexual activity. The cause of the haematospermia should be determined by a quick visit or referral to a urologist. Most cases of bloody semen are not of concern but such incidences should never be ignored; as relatively rare haematospermia cases exist that there is a serious cause that must be addressed. Benign causes should also be treated to stop the horrific bloodly semen events from happening again.

• Dr Greggory Pinto is a boardcertified Bahamian urologist and laparoscopic surgeon. He can be contacted at OakTree Medical Center, #2 Fifth Terrace & Mount Royal Avenue, Nassau, Telephone (242) 322-1145-7; email: welcome@urologycarebahamas. com, or visit the website:www. urologycarebahamas.com

Physiotherapy can help Most of us are familiar with the word “physiotherapy” and are probably aware that physiotherapy is frequently prescribed after certain surgeries or injuries. But how many know all of the other ways in which a good therapist can make an enormous difference following a serious illness for instance or invasive treatments such as chemotherapy?

Physiotherapy is a safe, healthy and non-invasive way to restore your body to health and keep the machine which keeps you alive, ticking over nicely.

As I have stated several times in this column, it is essential to move around a lot every day. Not only does it prevent joint stiffness or damage through doing the same thing repeatedly, but it will alleviate pain and energise you and restore mobility in many cases..

There are specific treatments for every kind of health problem and a knowledgeable physiotherapist can teach you which exercises are the ones you need to regain and maintain optimum health.

This column started with asking a question - do you know the many ways in which physiotherapy can help beyond post-op surgery or injury?

The reason for that is because I suspect the answer will generally be ‘no and because I want to share, with his permission, a patient’s story and the message he recently sent to me. I will refer to him by his initial “A”.

I was requested to go and see him at his home as he was bedridden, having been returned from Doctors Hospital following chemotherapy for lymphoma. (lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s germ-fighting network.

The lymphatic system includes

Hannah FosterMiddleton BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, MCSP, SRP morning I feel it. As a result, I can now make it to the third floor of my house, drive myself to office downtown, Nassau and hope to start playing golf again soon, thanks to the efforts of Hannah. the lymph nodes (lymph glands), spleen, thymus gland and bone marrow.

Lymphoma can affect all those areas as well as other organs throughout the body.) this was his message to me: “A testament to a physical therapist who helped bring me back from being bedridden.

After being taken home from Doctors Hospital by ambulance on a stretcher and plonked in our matrimonial bed on the second floor of our house, it only took a day or so for my wife to realise I had to be on the ground floor and needed a hospital bed. I was lying in bed, having been an active sporting man, wondering if I ever

would have a normal life again.

Then along came Hannah Foster-Middleton a physiotherapist, and an ex-nurse, recommended by my good friend (an important member of my recovery team) Dr Richard Van Tooren. This very strong lady was able to pick me out of bed and put me in a wheel chair. She came to our house, which she does not usually do for clients and continued to, as I believe she thought I was worth the effort, and she could see I was really trying. She seemed to know exactly when I had reached my limit. She changed my mental attitude to positive – ‘You can do it.’

Over just a couple months, she got me to stand on my own, go the

bathroom by myself, use a walker, graduate to crutches, climb the stairs in our house to the third floor (originally I was scared of stairs as my legs were still very weak), then a walking stick which I really do not use and carry it for safety. One day she said, ‘I am not coming to your house anymore, you have to come my office (called Genesis in Grosvenor Court off Shirley Street).’ So I had to learn to get into the car. So now I am driving myself there and have been for about six weeks and am still attending. She has an excellent assistant called Seanea who finds a new exercise for me to do using muscles I never knew I had. You can be sure the next

– A.” The reason for telling “A’s” story is, firstly, I am sure physiotherapy would not have been your first thought for this illness or following chemotherapy and secondly what can be achieved in seemingly impossible situations.

Working together, patient and practitioner can achieve amazing things. Never give up - it’s always worth the effort.

• For questions and comments, call Hannah Foster-Middleton at 356 4806, e-mail genesisphysiotherapy@gmail.com, or visit www.physiotherapybahamas. com.

Hope on the horizon once omicron wave increases global immunity

By CARLA K JOHNSON AP Medical Writer World health officials are offering hope that the ebbing of the omicron wave could give way to a new, more manageable phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as they warn of difficult weeks ahead and the possibility of another, more dangerous variant arising.

In the US, cases have crested and are dropping rapidly, following a pattern seen in Britain and South Africa, with researchers projecting a period of low spread in many countries by the end of March. Though US deaths — now at 2,000 each day — are still rising, new hospital admissions have started to fall, and a drop in deaths is expected to follow.

The encouraging trends after two years of coronavirus misery have brought a noticeably hopeful tone from health experts. Rosy predictions have crumbled before, but this time they are backed by what could be called omicron’s

silver lining: The highly contagious variant will leave behind extremely high levels of immunity.

On Sunday, Dr Anthony Fauci talked on ABC “This Week” about a “best-case scenario” where COVID-19 would fall to manageable levels so the United States could get “back to a degree of normality.”

And on Monday, the World Health Organisation issued a statement anticipating an end to the “emergency phase” of the pandemic this year and saying that the omicron variant “offers plausible hope for stabilisation and normalisation.”

Both Fauci and the WHO’s Europe regional director, Dr Hans Kluge, cautioned that new variants are likely to emerge, but with vaccination, new drug therapies and — during surges — testing and masks, the world could reach a less disruptive level of disease in which the virus is, as Fauci put it, “essentially integrated into the

general respiratory infections that we have learned to live with.”

In the US, new cases are averaging a still extraordinarily high 680,000 a day, down from an alltime peak of over 800,000 a little more than a week ago.

One influential model projects that nearly all nations will be past the omicron wave by mid-March, including China and other countries with “zero COVID” policies.

The wave will leave behind high levels of immunity — both from infection and vaccination — that could lead to low levels of transmission for many weeks or months.

“What do we end up with at the end of this?” said Dr Christopher Murray of the University of Washington, who developed the closely watched Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation model. “We end up with the highest levels of global immunity that we’ve seen in the pandemic.”

The model estimates that 57 percent of the world’s population

already has been infected with the virus at least once.

Another research group, which combines several models and shares the projections with the White House, predicts a strong decline in US infections

by April, unless a new variant emerges that can sidestep the growing levels of immunity.

“It would be dangerous to forget that possibility, as it has caught us before,” said Katriona Shea of Pennsylvania State University, a leader of the team that pulls together the models.

She noted, too, that the projections show 16,000 to 98,000 more Americans dying before the omicron wave is through. The US death toll stands at close to 870,000.

“Even if we project a more optimistic future, right now we still

have a lot of COVID spreading, a lot of strain in our hospital systems, and our deaths have not yet peaked,” said Lauren Ancel Meyers, director of the University of Texas COVID-19 Modeling Consortium.

“There’s still a lot of pain before omicron has run its course,” she said, but added: “It’s very plausible that omicron will be a turning point in terms of our relationship with this virus.”

SPORTS PAGE 15

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

‘Coach Yo’ leads Ole Miss Rebels to No.24 ranking

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Y

olett McPheeMcCuin and her Ole Miss Rebels women’s basketball programme continue their climb toward national recognition and are off to their best start in over a decade.

The Rebels are ranked No.24 in the latest edition in the Associated Press Poll. It is the programme’s first top 25 ranking since 2007.

Ole Miss improved to 17-2 record Sunday afternoon with a 63-54 win on the road over the previously No.23 ranked Kentucky Wildcats.

“It means a lot for the programme.

Personally, not for me so much, just because there’s so much more basketball we have to go. But for the programme, it means a lot. For these players it means a lot,” said McPhee-McCuin.

“You know why? Because this is why they came here to just change…be legendary.”

Ole Miss is also 5-1 in the Southeastern conference, its best five-game start since 2007. The SEC is host to five teams ranked in the

Enters AP women’s poll for 1st time in 15 years top 25 of the Associated Press poll, including No. 1 South Carolina, No. 4 Tennessee, No. 12 LSU, No. 15 Georgia, and Ole Miss.

The Rebels led nearly wire to wire in Sunday’s win over Kentucky. Defensively, they held Kentucky without a made threepoint field goal and scored 20 points off 18 Kentucky turnovers. It marked their second win over a ranked opponent this season after a December win over No.18 South Florida.

“There are moments where I have to give my team a chance to figure things out on their own. So that is what I did in the first half, and still we were able to defend at a high level.

That just goes to show that this is who we want to be.

Because offensively, the shot may not go in all the time, but that is how we

YOLETT McPhee-McCuin and her Ole Miss Rebels women’s basketball programme are ranked No.24 in the latest edition in the Associated Press Poll. It is the programme’s first top 25 ranking since 2007. (AP) were able to continue to stay consistent,” McPheeMcCuin said. “We talked at halftime about the things that we were seeing and how we needed to handle that pressure better, and I thought our team responded well.”

The Rebels’ season thus far has been highlighted by a 13-game win streak.

It was the third longest win streak in programme history. After a loss to Tennessee, they have also won four consecutive SEC games.

“Five wins is not going to get us in the NCAA Tournament and we have so much more work to do, but I thought this was a character check for us. And I am

really glad we succeeded,” she said.

“I think it’s important to note that a lot of success has been happening very quickly in this season.

For our team and the way these young ladies have handled it and have been mature about it, you know just makes me just be even more proud as a coach.”

Ole Miss finished 9-22, 3-13 in the SEC in McPheeMcCuin’s first season at the helm. She followed with a 7-23 record in year two, winless in the SEC at 0-16.

Last season, the Rebels finished 15-12, 4-10 in the SEC. Ole Miss will head to South Carolina Thursday for its first test as a ranked opponent against the No. 1

Gamecocks. The tip time and broadcast information will be announced later this week.

The Rebels were originally scheduled to face the Gamecocks in its SEC home opener on January 2 but the game was postponed due to COVID health and safety protocols.

The Gamecocks were expected to play No.10 UConn, but South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said the conference matchup with the Rebels took precedent.

“I know our fans always enjoy the UConn game, and our team enjoys the rivalry. But I have always said that our conference season and especially our goal of another SEC championship is more central to our programme,” Staley stated in a school release.

“As we approach the second half of league play next month, it has become more important to complete our SEC schedule to keep ourselves in the running for a conference title.

“This Thursday is one of the few dates Ole Miss has open, so, with my team’s best interest at heart, I started the conversations that led us to this point,” he added.

NBA, Page 18

DEADLY STAMPEDE OVERSHADOWS CAMEROON’S AFRICAN CUP PROGRESS YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — Cameroon’s progress at the African Cup of Nations was overshadowed by a stampede outside the stadium that killed at least six people during the host nation’s victory over Comoros yesterday.

The crush happened as crowds struggled to get access to Olembe Stadium in the capital of Yaounde as Cameroon beat Comoros 2-1 to reach the quarterfinals.

Strikers Karl Toko Ekambi and Vincent Aboubakar gave Cameroon what appeared an insurmountable lead by the 70th minute against the tournament newcomers, who are ranked 132nd in the world and played with a defender in goal due to a coronavirus outbreak in the squad.

Comoros also had to cope with playing most of the match with 10 men after Jimmy Abdou was sent off in the seventh minute for stepping on the back of Moumi Ngamaleu’s ankle.

But Comoros, which reached the round of 16 by ousting four-time African champion Ghana, managed to produce one of the goals of the tournament so far to provide a flicker of hope of

SEE PAGE 17

TRACK & FIELD ATHLETES GET A TASTE OF PARADISE

ATLANTIS VISIT: After completing their training session at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, Bahamian “Golden Girl” Shaunae Miller-Uibo and her Pure Athletics Track Club teammates took some time to relax and enjoy the sights of New Providence. One of the places they visited was the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island where they were greeted by Russell Miller, executive vice president of hotel operations. Miller-Uibo and her husband Maicel Uibo were joined by British long jumper Jazmin Sawyers, American sprinter Lynna Irby and Trinidad & Tobago sprinter Khalifa St Fort, along with Pure Athletics’ founder and head coach Lance Brauman.

Lathaniel Bastian posts his second double double in three games

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net LATHANIEL Bastian recorded his second double double in three games and his sixth of the season for the Angelo State Rams men’s basketball programme.

Bastian finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench of the Rams’ 89-83 win over the Cameron Aggies Saturday afternoon in Lawton, Oklahoma. He shot just 3-5 from the field but was 7-10 from the free throw line.

The Rams trailed 81-80 with just under two minutes left to play before Dante Moss hit a go ahead jumper to take the lead for good.

Bastian followed with a conventional three-point play to give the Rams a fivepoint lead with one minute left to play. He also had a late block on the defensive end.

The junior forward is averaging 11.5 points, a team-leading 7.9 rebounds per game, and a team-leading 1.6 blocks per game in 17 appearances with 12 starts.

The Rams began the weekend with an 82-79 win over No.8 West Texas A and M. At 13-4, and 2-2 in the Lone Star Conference, the Rams are sixth in the conference standings.

Prior to his transfer to Angelo State, Bastian spent the last two seasons with the Trinity Valley Community

LATHANIEL BASTIAN College Cardinals at the JuCo level. As a sophomore with the Cardinals last season, Bastian averaged 5.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He also finished with 19 blocks, 11 steals,

and 14 assists on 53 percent shooting from the field.

He is a member of the Rams’ highly touted incoming recruiting class that has already improved on last year’s 8-10 record.

“If I have said it once, I have said it at least 20 times that [Tanny’s] motor on the glass reminds me of Dennis Rodman,” said Rams head coach Cinco Boone on the school’s athletic website.

“He really pursues the basketball on both ends of the floor from a rebounding standpoint. He also has a good frame to him and has good skill straight-line driving the basketball and finishing around the basket.

He is strong and athletic and really has a charismatic personality.”

PAGE 16, Tuesday, January 25, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Diamond Basketball with Coach ‘Red Eye’ DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ROCKS THE HOPE CENTRE COACH Terrance “Red-Eye” McSweeney is flanked by competitors in his Diamond Basketball Development Programme.

The programme staged its second weekend of action on Saturday at the Hope Centre.

According to McSweeney, the programme will

continue every Saturday starting at 9am until noon.

He noted that once school reopens this week, the players will be invited to come out at 4pm on Fridays to participate in scrimmage games.

A full report on the programme will be published at a later date.

Photos by Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

COACH Terrance “Red-Eye” McSweeney teaches basketball fundamentals on Saturday during his Diamond Basketball Development Programme, which staged its second weekend of action at the Hope Centre. McSweeney noted that once school reopens this week, the players will be invited to come out at 4pm on Fridays to participate in scrimmage games.

To Publish your Financials and

Legal Notices Call: 502-2394

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, January 25, 2022, PAGE 17

Fitness guru makes plea for all sporting bodies to unite

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net DURING his contribution at the Bahamas Events & Sports’ Meet and Greet for Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, fitness guru Leonardo ‘Nardo’ Dean made a passionate plea for all sporting bodies to come together and work towards a common goal for the betterment of sports in the country.

As one of the guest speakers at the event on Saturday at Fusion Superplex, Dean said having spent more than 40 years in seven different federations as an athlete, coach and administrator, he felt obligated to share his hopes for the future of sports in the country, some of which may have been tried or in the process, but not to bash or bring down anything or anyone, but to uplift our hopes, motivate our leaders and bring dreams back to life.

• Although they represent different sporting disciplines, no man is an island in the pursuit of their various goals.

• Let’s support the Bahamas Olympic Association and the North American, Central America and the Caribbean (NACAC) Athletic Association.

“They seek to open doors of opportunity and lend support to all federations and associations representing The Islands of The Bahamas on the global stage,” Dean said.

• Always have a succession plan.

“We need to teach, share and continue to groom new people interested in the sport,” he said.

“We should not just be people just trying to get the spotlight or in it for selfish gain, but people who sincerely have a heart for the sport and for the athletes. “ • Select a representative from each federation or association to form a Sports Advisory Council or Board.

“When we are faced with situations or challenges that affect sports in the country, we can all have a voice and seat at the table to assist our leaders with ideas or information that can assist in resolving the issues at hand,” he stated.

• Find the best leaders for the job.

“Leadership should not always depend on who has the highest qualifications, most popular, been here the longest or any other similar factors, but simply persons with integrity who are knowledgeable, unbiased, experienced, accountable, respected but more importantly, can simply get the job done,” he said.

• All associations and federations should act as professional entities in conduct as well as business.

“I’m sure it’s been a struggle for many and not for a lack of effort, but we should seek to have offices, websites, uniforms, business cards, business plans etc,” he said.

“There are sponsors and companies who want to work with us but we all need to represent ourselves well and be accountable to their investments in us.

• Forget about past glory and update your certifications, mentorship or training programmes.

“As it pertains to our athletes and coaches, development programmes, sporting expos and seminars, ongoing classes and training should be the order of the day, to keep everyone on the cutting edge of their sporting discipline. E.g. watching some trainers in the gym or on the fields,” he said.

• Show appreciation where appreciation is needed.

“No dream or idea should be ignored, but at least listened to, to show our appreciation for the

contribution and it should be star in space, in real time, has burnt assessed for value,” he pointed out. out a long time ago,” Dean said.

“I have submitted many ideas “Everyone has value, yet for a over the years and every now and time and season. As leaders we then something ‘so called new must sometimes learn to lead from comes up’ and I say wow someone behind and allow the ones who finally got the memo. However, it’s may have the answers but with never too late to try new things.” that quiet strength sit silently in a • Introduce, teach and develop corner, let them rise to the occasion more core sports in the schools, or as good examples of our mentorpartner with after school sporting ship or coaching.” clubs, as long as they can facilitate • Opportunities should be equal what is needed to execute the sport across the board. correctly and safely.

“Yes, the grants or “We have so much budgets may differ for talent but because of different associations the lack of opportunity or federations, but let’s in some cases, potential not neglect some of the world-class athletes will so-called less popular or never get an opportunity smaller sports (yes we to excel because they know who they are),” he never got the chance to said. experience the specific “Yet in their quiet way, sport for which their the parents and fans suppotential greatness is port those same athletes held…..waiting just for and some have even them,” he said. achieved great things.

DEAN • Work on bringing the When I was coaching and various gyms, fields, courts, pools participating in gymnastics, we had or any other sporting venues up to gymnasts up to pre-Olympic level, world-class standards.

Trevor and I had to carry the vault “We have lost many opportu- and mats outside to do our training nities to host various world class because the roof was too low. But and regional sporting events, but no one was into gymnastics.” we just do not have the sporting Dean recalled how the Chivenues,” he said. “But if we build nese ambassador came to one of it, the world will come.” the gymnastics events and he was • Federations/associations amazed to see the talent. He noted need to be accountable for their that while he used to pick up boys stewardship. from the Ranfurly Home in his car “We are always asking for change every Saturday, who were talented and for more but people and even and fearless, but they were not God is looking to see what we have pushed enough. done with the little we first were “Jamaica beat us to the Olymgiven,” Dean said. pics in gymnastics when we had the “It’s like trying to put new wine talent here all along,” he said. “If in old wine skins, like the bible says someone way back then, had only they will burst. We must be open, believed.” flexible, accepting of new ideas, • Show genuine interest in our people and concepts but most athletes, not only for the gold importantly, we must be ready.” medals they may bring, but for • Associations and federations their personal development. need to network more and support “Great athletes need balance each other. body, mind and soul,” said Dean “At a baseball cook out, why as he made reference to his book should there only be baseball play- Bodyonix - The Trilogy of Fitness. ers there, or at a swimming event, “Over the years we have lost great why only swimmers,” he asked. athletes, not because of physical “Whereas, we all have our personal challenges but because of mental sporting interest, we should still and spiritual breakdowns. support each other, when possible, “After the stadium has gone as we are all Bahamian sportsmen silent, the cameras and crowds and we are building a sporting are gone, they cry alone. We have legacy, together. former great athletes we once cele“We are many different sporting brated, now walking the streets and disciplines but still one body, only hurting, who will cheer and support as strong as the weakest one in this them now?” collective chain. Being thoughtful • No former athletes should be enough to check a general sports left behind and forgotten, especalendar, so we all don’t plan an cially the ones who paved the way. event on the same day, dividing “These persons may not have our fans and supporters. When one received cash, property or the celcelebrates, we all celebrate, so clap ebrations of today’s champions, but for someone else until it’s their turn they would still appreciate some to clap for you.” recognition or acknowledgement,” • Assist and support athletes in he said. all types of sports.

“This is not only for them but “Some are doing great things goes a long way in sharing the hisbut struggling on their own. Then tory of each sport and teaching our when they win a big championship youth the “who is who” in their or title somewhere, we want to put sport.” them on the front page and have Dean reiterated his plea for a motorcade, when we don’t even the creation of a Sports Museum know they had to eat tuna, work where those athletes who won’t two jobs, had to have a cookout, make the Wall of Fame at the school and train and maybe even Lynden Pindling International had to walk to the airport to go Airport will still be recognised for represent their sport or our coun- their accomplishments. try,” Dean said.

“We all will not get on the air• Each sport can benefit from port wall, but we can have a each other’s sport through training central place where the people of or partnering with another camp. our country and indeed the world, “You need flexibility,” said Dean come and taste the excitement, about the strength that discipline read the history, see the pictures of brings to the table. all the champions of each sport and “If you really want to know if maybe even be able to view a video your players are in overall good library of some of our events and conditioning, try another camp as review our constitutions, rules or a fun or developmental exercise,” regulations” he pointed out. he said.

He noted that a Sports Academy • Value and support each person where all the sporting associations in our association and federations, and federations are represented whether on the board or just a and athletes both local and intermember. national can come to live, train and “Sadly, there are some people study specifically sport related sublike dead stars in the night sky, jects and earn certification courses who’s light still we see because it’s or degrees will do wonders for the still travelling here, but the actual country.

Deadly stampede overshadows Cameroon’s African Cup progress FROM PAGE 15 a comeback. Youssouf M’Changama scored from a free kick from 30 yards (metres) in the 81st but Comoros couldn’t produce an equaliser.

Details of the tragedy outside the stadium were only confirmed after the game.

Officials at the nearby Messassi hospital said they had received at least 40 injured people from the stampede. “Some of the injured are in desperate

condition,” said Olinga Prudence, a nurse. “We will have to evacuate them to a specialised hospital.”

Cameroon is hosting Africa’s flagship football tournament for the first time in 50 years.

Cameroon is scheduled to play another tournament debutant on Saturday in the quarterfinals in Douala after Guinea beat Gambia 1-0 in the day’s other game after a goal from Musa Barrow in the 71st.

Gambia had Yusupha Njie sent off in the 87th for

elbowing an opponent as they went up for a header.

But Egyptian referee Amin Omar also gave Guinea’s Ibrahima Conté a second yellow in injury time.

Guinea was playing without regular captain Naby Keita, who was suspended after picking up two yellow cards in the group stage.

Guinea did have a clear chance to equalise late on when it hit the post, then the crossbar and had a goal-bound shot blocked in quick succession.

“National health & fitness initiative programmes like the one I did years ago ‘Get Fit Bahamas’ or other similar ones that followed, would span nationwide throughout all our islands, each federation playing their part, because like a spice rack,” he said.

“Believe it or not, each of our islands have a special unique flavour, something special to offer, that another island may not have, such as coved harbours, hills, lakes, long roads, open fields, running paths or available land, waiting to be molded for champions.”

Dean also stated that a National Elite Gym should be intricately designed and designated for only elite, pro or national team athletes, where they can get the sports specific equipment, therapies and trainers they need to excel.

“Our athletes should not have to wait to go abroad to experience this, when the knowledge, experience and talent is already represented among you, right here, in this room,” he said.

“Each association and federation should encourage their pro athletes or athletes that have in some way graced the global stage and have networking opportunities to come back home at some time and contribute in some way to the development of their sport.”

He further noted that whether financially, bringing scouts, influencing scholarship opportunities or maybe just even motivating the kids in a local neighbourhood to live positive lifestyles and never give up on their dreams, for impossibility is only what is possible waiting for you to make it happen.

“Why have foreign athletic personalities on our local Bahamian products, when we have such a rich history of Bahamian sporting heroes right here, yet whose faces or achievements still are not well known by our own people,” he said.

Dean said while we continue to build the greatest sporting body of associations and federations in the Caribbean, there are enough people who are applauded and respected by the athletes we represent, with visions, open minded proactive plans, skills, talent and the passion to make it happen, are right here….. right now ….watching and represented in this room.

I want to applaud those who have had the passion, fortitude and determination to go the distance.

“We all have our stories, have shed some tears, enjoyed our laughter and triumphs, yes,” he said.

“Yet in spite of the challenges, idle talk and disappointments we have held on for this season, the era of a new beginning, should we choose to seize this day.

“Like a glass when broken, that light passing through that shattered prism, is refracted and what once seemed like white light, now is seen as a spectrum of colours.

Those colours are each and every one of you, every association and federation having its own colour, yet when we come together, we shine as one light, one vision, one passion, one goal.”

Dean commended Bowleg and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investment and Aviation, I Chester Cooper, whom he said have already proven their proactive interest in the change and development of local sports, sports tourism, our athletes, coaches, associations and federations here in the islands of The Bahamas.

And he lauded BES, headed by the husband and wife team of Tommy and Makeva WallaceStubbs for hosting the Meet and Greet and having the foresight and proactive open minded approach to working with the sporting bodies in any way needed to help contribute towards the success of our collective organisation.

MISSED PENALTY, INJURY AND BURGLARY ON SAME DAY FOR BENZEMA

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer

MADRID (AP) — A missed penalty kick. An injury. A burglary.

It wasn’t the type of day Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema had hoped for.

Benzema had a tough day on the field Sunday then came back home to realise his house had been burglarised while he was away.

Police told Spanish media yesterday they were investigating the incident that took place at Benzema’s house while he was playing a Spanish league game with Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Police said no one was at the player’s home when it was burglarised. They did not give any detail about what was taken.

Benzema had already had his house burglarised during a game in 2019.

Similar incidents happened involving other players in Spain and other European countries in the past.

Benzema has been one of Madrid’s top players this season, leading the team with 24 goals. He is the Spanish league’s top scorer with 17 goals, five more than any other player. His partnership with Vinícius Júnior has worked well in attack, and the duo has been red-hot from the start.

But Benzema endured an unusually tough day Sunday as Madrid was held

by Elche to a 2-2 home draw, missing a chance to increase its lead over Sevilla at the top of the standings. It is four points ahead after 22 matches.

His struggles began with a bad miss with only the goalkeeper to beat inside the area, a position from where he rarely fails to score. Then moments later he couldn’t capitalise on a penalty kick, sending his shot from the spot way over the crossbar for his first penalty miss with the Spanish club.

The injury came early in the second half, when he apparently pulled a muscle.

He asked to be substituted after feeling some discomfort, and grabbed the back of his left leg as he walked into the changing room to be evaluated more closely.

Benzema was expected to undergo further tests yesterday so team doctors could determine the extent of the injury. He will have extra time to recover during the international break, as Madrid’s next match isn’t until February.

The 34-year-old Benzema had been rested during a Copa del Rey match against Elche last week, when Madrid won in extra time to advance to the quarterfinals.

Last year, Benzema was given a one-year suspended jail sentence and a fine of 75,000 euros (then $84,000) after he was found guilty of being involved in a 2015 attempt to blackmail France teammate Mathieu Valbuena in a sex-tape case.

PAGE 18, Tuesday, January 25, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

At least 6 reported dead in crush at African Cup

By EDWIN KINDZEKA MOKI and ISIFU WIRFENGLA Associated Press YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — At least six people died in a crush outside a stadium hosting a game at Africa’s top soccer tournament in Cameroon yesterday, a local government official said, realising fears over the capacity of the country to stage the continent’s biggest sports event.

Naseri Paul Biya, the governor of the central region of Cameroon, said there could be more deaths.

“We are not in position to give you the total number of casualties,” he said.

The crush happened as crowds struggled to get access to Olembe Stadium in the capital city of

Yaounde to watch the host country play Comoros in a last 16 knockout game in the African Cup of Nations.

Officials at the nearby Messassi hospital said they received at least 40 injured people, who were rushed to the hospital by police and civilians.

The officials said the hospital wasn’t capable of treating all of them.

“Some of the injured are in desperate condition,” said Olinga Prudence, a nurse. “We will have to evacuate them to a specialised hospital.”

People were seen lying motionless on their backs near an entrance to the stadium in the aftermath of the crush.

A man knelt next to one of the victims and appeared to be trying

to resuscitate the victim. Shoes, caps and colourful wigs — part of some of the fans’ game costumes — were strewn on the ground.

Witnesses said children were among those caught up in the crush.

The witnesses said it happened when stadium stewards closed the gates and stopped allowing people in.

It was not immediately clear if the crush happened before or during the game.

Soccer officials said around 50,000 people had tried to attend the match. The stadium has a capacity of 60,000 but it was not meant to be more than 80 percent full for the game due to restrictions on the size of the crowd because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Paul leads NBA-best Suns’ rally past Jazz

PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 33 points, Chris Paul had 15 of his a season-high 27 points in the fourth quarter, and the Phoenix Suns rallied for a 115-109 win over the shorthanded Utah Jazz on Monday night.

Paul just missed a triple-double with 14 assists and nine rebounds.

The Suns improved their NBAbest record to 37-9, matching the 2006-07 team for the best start in franchise history.

Utah led 95-91 early in the fourth but the Suns responded with a 14-2 run to take control.

Paul made his first five shots of the period, including two 3-pointers. Utah was missing All-Stars Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley.

The Jazz lost for the eight times in 11 games. Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz with 22 points.

CAVALIERS 95, KNICKS 93 CLEVELAND (AP) — Kevin Love scored 20 points — nine straight in a 3-point barrage in just over a minute — and Darius Garland had 12 assists as Cleveland survived a late rally by New York.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN: MADISON KEYS ADVANCES TO SEMIS MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Madison Keys continued her resurgent 2022 season by advancing to the Australian Open semifinals.

And resurgent might be a major understatement.

Her 6-3, 6-2 quarterfinal win over French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova today was her 10th match win in a row and 11th of the new year. That includes five wins so far at Melbourne Park, five in winning the Adelaide International title 10 days ago and one at a Melbourne tournament in the first week of the season.

Her total number of wins in all of 2021? That same number, 11.

“I did everything I could to rest this offseason and focus on starting fresh and new . . . starting from zero and not focusing on last year,” Keys said in her oncourt interview. “I think it’s going well so far!”

Last week, Keys gave more details on how terrible 2021 was for her.

“I was just at a very high anxiety level all of the time,” Keys said. “I wasn’t sleeping as well.

It felt like there was literally a weight on my chest just because I became so focused and obsessed with it that I wasn’t enjoying really anything because it’s all that I was thinking about.”

Krejcikova took a medical timeout while trailing 5-2 in the first set from what might have been heat stress, and appeared to

be lethargic at times during the 35-minute second set.

Keys will play either topranked Ash Barty or Jessica Pegula in the semifinals. Barty and Pegula were playing a night match on Rod Laver Arena.

Rafael Nadal’s quest for a men’s record 21st Grand Slam singles title continues when he takes on Denis Shapovalov in the late afternoon on Rod Laver. The other men’s quarterfinal on Day 9 between Gael Monfils and Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini closes the night programme.

Temperatures were expected to reach 32 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit) under partly cloudy skies.

serious concerns with Cameroon’s preparations, particularly the readiness of its stadiums.

Olembe Stadium was one of the venues that was under scrutiny. It is the main stadium for the monthlong tournament and will stage three more games, including the final on February 6.

Monday’s incident was the second serious blow to the country in the space of a day, after at least 17 people died when a fire set off a series of explosions at a nightclub in Yaounde on Sunday.

Following that incident, Cameroon President Paul Biya urged the country to be on guard while it hosts its biggest national sports event in a half century.

Cameroon won yesterday’s game 2-1 to move on to the quarterfinals.

PHOENIX Suns guard Chris Paul (3) looks to pass as Utah Jazz guard Trent Forrest (3) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game last night in Phoenix.

(AP Photo/Matt York)

Down by 15 in the fourth quarter, the Knicks made it close, but Julius Randle’s 38-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer was way short.

Garland hit a late 3-pointer, rookie Evan Mobley had 15 points and 12 rebounds. Isaac Okoro scored 14 points for the Cavs, who have won seven of eight. RJ Barrett scored 24 points and Randle 18 for the Knicks.

BULLS 111, THUNDER 110 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Nicola Vucevic had 26 points and 15 rebounds, and Chicago withstood a fierce rally by Oklahoma

City. The Bulls led by 28 points in the third quarter, but the Thunder had a chance to tie it in the closing seconds. Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed a 3-pointer that would have evened the score with 2.3 seconds to play.

Rookie Ayo Dosunmu scored a season-high 24 points and Zach LaVine added 23 for the Bulls.

Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points and 10 assists and Lu Dort added 16 points for the Thunder.

PELICANS 117, PACERS 113 NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Devonte Graham scored 25

points, Josh Hart had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and New Orleans beat Indiana.

Graham went 5 of 9 from 3-point range on a night when the rest of his team missed 20 of 21 from deep.

Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for New Orleans.

Indiana rookie Duane Washington Jr hit a career-best seven shots (on 12 attempts) from deep for a career-high 21 points.

Caris LeVert scored 19 and Chris Duarte contributed 14 for the Pacers.

Tsitsipas edges Fritz, ends US men’s hopes in Australia

BY JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer

MADISON Keys celebrates after defeating Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic in their quarterfinal at the Australian Open tennis championships yesterday.

(AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)

The Confederation of African Football, which runs the African Cup, said in a statement it was aware of the incident.

“CAF is currently investigating the situation and trying to get more details on what transpired,” it said. “We are in constant communication with Cameroon government and the Local Organising Committee.”

One of the federation’s top officials, general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba, went to visit injured fans in the hospital, the statement said.

Cameroon is hosting the African Cup for the first time in 50 years. The Central African nation was meant to host the tournament in 2019 but the event was taken away from it that year and awarded to Egypt because of

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — For Taylor Fritz, the difference between reaching the Grand Slam quarterfinals for the first time and missing out again came down to three points in an 3 1/2-hour, five-set loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Australian Open.

The 24-year-old Fritz was aiming to put an American man back into the quarterfinals of a major tournament. Tennys Sandgren in 2020 was the last one to do it, reaching the last eight in Australia.

Last year, for the first time since 2015, no American men reached the quarterfinals of a major.

And after Maxime Cressy lost in four sets to US Open champion Daniil Medvedev in the heat of yesterday afternoon, it was all up to Fritz.

The No. 20 seed took the first set off Tsitsipas — last year’s French Open runner-up — and, after dropping the second, again took the lead by clinching the third set with a curling crosscourt forehand winner at 10:42 p.m.

That’s where experience made a difference on Rod Laver Arena, the main show court at Melbourne Park. Fritz was playing in the fourth round for the

first time in his 22nd Grand Slam event and was 0-5 against top 5 players in the majors.

Tsitsipas had been there before, and had a lot of support in the stands from Melbourne’s large Greek community.

Tsitsipas had rallied from two sets down to beat Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals last year before losing in the semifinals to Medvedev. He went one round deeper at Roland Garros.

So when Fritz gave him a break-point chance in the ninth game of the fifth set, only his second look in the set, Tsitsipas stepped up.

Fritz netted a volley to give Tsitsipas the break, and the fourth-seeded Greek finished off a 4-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory two minutes after midnight to conclude Day 8.

“In the end, I struggled a little bit at finishing off some points I needed to finish off,” Fritz said.

“He served very well under pressure, but I can’t give him those breaks that I did.

“The three times I got broken were more just donations from me, and not so much anything he did other than make me play.”

Still, Fritz said he would take a lot of positives out of a tough loss.

“I felt like I played well enough,” he said. “Definitely could have won that match.”

It wasn’t just a feeling, either.

The statistics were genuinely close. Tsitsipas hit 53 winners and had 44 unforced errors; Fritz had 52 winners against 37 unforced errors. And the serve and return percentages were comparable. The big difference was on break-point conversions: Tsitsipas converted three of his five chances, while Fritz was 2 of 15.

On Wednesday, Tsitsipas will play No. 11 Jannik Sinner, who ended Australia’s hopes in the men’s draw with a 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-4 win over Alex de Minaur.

Medvedev will continue his bid to become the first man in the Open era to win his second Grand Slam title at the very next major when he takes on No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime, who rallied to beat 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2, 7-6 (4).

Tsitsipas said it took him a while to work out how to deal with the way Fritz was taking the match to him.

“I knew it was going to get physical. I kept reminding myself, get in there, do the work.

Don’t give up. A little bit more patience,” he said. “It was important to have the crowd with me. I feel like they were backing me up when things got tough.

“It was important to have that kind of ambience today, and it paid off at the end.”

PAGE 20, Tuesday, January 25, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

LEGAL QUERIES RAISED ON PROPERTY TAX REVALUATION FROM PAGE 24

services for properties has to be licensed under the Act. And only Bahamians or permanent residents with the right to work can be engaged to provide appraisal services for properties.

“I brought it to the attention of Carl Bethel, then the attorney general, and he turned a blind eye.” Mr Morley said his opinion had been strengthened by a past Supreme Court case, in which he had been asked to provide evidence as a “professional witness”, that was held before former justice John Lyons.

The case involved an appraisal performed on a piece of Bahamian real estate by a Florida-based appraiser who was not licensed to work in this nation. Mr Morley recalled how former justice Lyons

determined that neither the appraiser nor his work could take the witness stand or be included in evidence because he had been operating in The Bahamas in breach of the Act. Similar reasoning, he argued, could be employed over the role played by Tyler Technologies in appraising property values.

Speaking amid growing complaints from some residential and commercial property owners over tax hikes that have seen their 2022 real property tax bills double or triple, Mr Morley suggested the Government look at other potential reforms.

In particular, he backed calls by his fellow realtor, Christopher Armaly, who previously said the newly-elected Davis administration should seek to raise a $60,000 annual real property tax cap that results

in middle class Bahamians effectively paying a higher tax rate than persons with homes valued $10m and above.

“The one thing I agree on with my friend, Christopher Armaly, is they have to raise the real property tax cap of $60,000 or get rid of it altogether,” Mr Morley told Tribune Business. “I heard some properties sold out west, including one in Old Fort Bay, which sold for $45m.

“He told me that, at $60,000 a year, that equates to home worth about $10m.

Some $35m worth of property went untaxed. They should be paying something on that. We have to look at that very closely.”

All owner-occupied homes, meaning those residences used exclusively as dwellings by their owners, enjoy a tax break on the first $250,000 of their

property’s valuation. A rate of 0.625 percent is applied to the next $250,000, and this increases to 1 percent for the remaining portion of the valuation above $500,000.

However, Mr Armaly previously told this newspaper that the $60,000 maximum limit on annual real property tax payments effectively leaves a $40m property owner’s tax rate at just 0.15 percent. This is four times’ below the rate applied to the $250,000$500,000 portion of a property’s worth.

Applying the cap to properties valued at $30m, $20m and $10m results in effective tax rates of 0.2 percent; 0.3 percent; and 0.6 percent respectively, all below the property tax rate that middle class Bahamians - who have less income and ability to pay - face on owner-occupied residences

between $250,000 and $500,000.

Highlighting this as a regressive aspect of The Bahamas’ real property tax regime, Mr Armaly has urged the Davis administration to increase the real property tax cap to at least the low five-figure/high sixfigure range to ensure that wealthy citizens and residents pay their fair share in taxes.

Mr Morley, meanwhile, said another potential reform involves the blanket real property tax exemption afforded to all Bahamians who own Family Island real estate. He argued that this was a policy, rather than statute law, that was designed to stimulate Family Island economies by encouraging Nassau residents to build second homes there.

“I have no problem with that encouragement,” Mr

FARMING INVESTORS: ‘YOU CAN TASTE THE DIFFERENCE’ FROM PAGE24 Understanding (MoU).

That support, Mr Deal said, has continued under Prime Minister Philip Davis and his agriculture minister, Clay Sweeting.

“When we brought 80 Acres’ team down last June, we had some high level meetings with Baha Mar, Atlantis and the local restaurants,” he added.

“Over the past couple of months we’ve been doing a lot of market research, and talked to a lot of the hotels, restaurants, the cruise lines and Ministry of Agriculture to get an idea of what they’re looking for in amount, and where they are getting it from and the price points they’re getting it at.

“We have spent a great deal of time talking to these groups, and a lot of them - if not all committed to us - are in support once we get started to definitely purchase from us once we supply consistently, which we are confident we will be able to do.”

Mr Deal pointed out that Eeden Farms is “in

the market already; we just need to give them more” by supplying the likes of the Four Seasons Ocean Club, Baha Mar’s Rosewood and restaurants such as Chives.

Hence the 80 Acres joint venture, to be known as Eeden Acres, which aims to grow more than 1.4m pounds of herbs and greens per year.

“The list goes on,” the Eeden Farms co-founder said. “We have a $1bn food import bill, and a lot of produce coming to The Bahamas is travelling thousands of miles to get here.

The chefs and vendors are asking for consistent, quality produce, not stuff 20-30 days old.

“It makes us much more attractive, and we are competitively priced. You can taste the difference between a lettuce from Eeden Farms versus some ‘iceberg’ from California.”

Besides the demand for fresh produce, the demand for food security postCOVID and increased calls for The Bahamas to feed itself more have created a

ripe atmosphere for agriculture investments.

Mr Deal added that government policy, requiring all public sector agencies to source 75 percent of their food needs locally, and the 40 percent threshold for hotels and restaurants to do the same, will also aid Bahamas-based producers such as Eeden Farms as long as they can consistently provide the quality and price required.

With Sysco (Bahamas), the former Bahamas Food Services, also having committed to purchase from Eeden Acres once it becomes operational in 2023, Mr Deal said: “This is a start. It’s just the beginning. We need a lot of farmers throughout The Bahamas to do their part and tackle the issues.....

“They [customers] have us completely busy. We weren’t sure how much of the market we would be able to penetrate and would switch over to purchasing from us, but once we were able to show quality, and our ability to provide food consistently and at a great price, and provide produce 365 days a year, it built confidence and we were able to build relationships with the clients.”

Morley added, disclosing he had built a second home in Abaco post-Dorian that had aided the economy and helped to create construction employment.

Yet he added: “What is written in law is that all properties in The Bahamas are to be valued..... And the constitution of The Bahamas makes all people equal. This policy doesn’t.

For those people in the Family Islands who have a $250,000 or more first home, they clearly have the wherewithal to pay real property tax.

“Real property tax goes towards paying the cost of schools and infrastructure.

What are Bahamians [in the Family Islands] contributing to that cost because they are not paying tax?

I’m not trying to be unreasonable. I’m trying to be fair and reasonable to all Bahamians.”

While Eeden Acres also provides export possibilities, Mr Deal said the joint venture planned to “take it step by step, focusing on The Bahamas” first and cutting into its food import bill while also better supplying the Family Islands with fresh produce from Nassau.

“I think it’s a start but we still have some ways to go,” he added of Eeden Acres. “There is still lots of opportunity for traditional agriculture, poultry farmers and farmers producing native fruits that we’re not able to grow in our facility.

“It’s a start, and we hope more Eeden Farms and Eeden Acres are coming from our fellow Bahamians.

We want to keep the agriculture sector bursting with opportunity, and hopefully we have a model others can follow to solve that issue.”

Acknowledging that many agriculture-related projects have failed in the past, Mr Deal voiced confidence that 80 Acres’ technology and expertise would help make the difference for Eeden Acres.

“We are passionate about what we do,” he said. “This is not a side project. We are determined to see this project take off. We’re full speed ahead and I’m very confident this project will take-off.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

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

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, Vernon Patrick Jones of Farrington Road, New Providence, Bahamas, parent of BREANNA ASIA MYRTLE PETUNIA MOTT LOUIS XVI a minor, intends to change my child’s name to BREANNA ASIA MYRTLE PETUNIA MOTT JONES. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas, no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

PUBLIC NOTICE

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

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that WALTER JIMIOR JOACHIM of P.O Box CR-56227 Carmichael Road, Nassau, Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 18th day of January, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, January 25, 2022, PAGE 21

$60M FARM PROJECT AIMING TO ‘MAKE AGRICULTURE SEXY’ FROM PAGE 24

Besides cutting into The Bahamas’ annual $1bn food import bill with their herbs and greens, and providing a model for other farmers to emulate, the Eeden Farms duo said the project - to be known as Eeden Acres aims to also inspire young Bahamians to enter the industry through its marriage of agriculture and technology via the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in growing techniques.

The concept paper for Eeden Acres pledged to “dedicate a portion of its shareholdings” to diversified Bahamian ownership via an investment fund, and Mr Deal yesterday promised that more specifics on this will be released shortly.

“That is another part we’re excited by,” he said.

“There will be opportunities

for Bahamians to invest and have some level of ownership. We’re talking at a high level. We’ll be rolling out specifics very shortly. We’re still discussing it, but it’s definitely going to happen.

“Our chief financial officer is working extremely had to put all that together, and it’s going to be beautiful. We’re hoping that by late February or early March, within the next month or so, those details will be released to the public.

“We hope to do it quicker, we hope to do it faster, but that’s an ideal timeline as it aligns with the permitting process coupled with other things that we’re going to roll out.”

Based on the description contained in the Eeden Acres concept paper, it appears likely that

Bahamians will be given the opportunity - as presently structured - to buy shares in an investment fund that will, in turn, acquire and hold an equity stake in the Gladstone Road venture.

Asked how much of the project will be majorityheld by Bahamians, Mr Deal did not give any percentages or figures but promised that local equity ownership will be “significantly higher” than the stake held by its US partner.

“It is predominantly Bahamian,” he added. “80 Acres will have a minority ownership share in the company.” To finance construction and build-out, Mr Deal confirmed Eeden Farms is speaking to both FTX Digital Markets and RBC. Ryan Salame, the former’s chief executive, and Jerry Butler, RBC’s

BPL’S ‘WILD PRICE SWINGS’ PREVENTER SET FOR EXTENSION FROM PAGE 24 hedged. We can say that with some certainty.

“We will seek advice, and depending on where we think fuel prices are going or what might be happening, we will continue to ensure stability and not have wild fuel price swings that impact customers,” Mr Rolle continued.

“That’s a decision that has already been made fundamentally.

We’re working out the details as to what extent we hedge and whether we change it. Those things are being looked at and we’ll make a final decision on it shortly.”

BPL’s fuel hedging strategy was billed as saving hard-pressed consumers and the wider economy some $150m over 18 months when it was introduced in July 2020 at the height of the COVID19 pandemic, with the deal subsequently extended to end-June.

The move was seen as a triple win for BPL’s household and business customers; the Government and its fiscal position; and the overall economy and the foreign exchange reserves given that it eliminated volatility in the fuel price component which makes up between 50-60 percent of customer bills - caused by fluctuations in global oil prices.

The hedge initially locked-in the fuel charge component of customer bills at 10.5 cents per kilowatt hour (KWh), providing businesses and households with electricity rate certainty at a time when their finances were under huge strain due to the economic crisis created by COVID-19.

BPL’s move, in theory, put control of the monthly electricity bill back in consumers’ hands. With rates fixed, and no longer vulnerable to global oil price fluctuations, Bahamian energy costs have since mid-2020 been determined by each business and households’ management of their consumption.

While consumers have been the direct beneficiaries, BPL’s reduced fuel costs have also helped ease the drain on the currently $2.4bn external reserves at a time when The Bahamas needs to preserve every cent of foreign currency it can get.

BPL’s annual fuel bill is one of the most significant drains on the foreign reserves, which are vital to maintaining the Bahamian dollar’s one:one parity with the US dollar. The hedge thus eased some of the anticipated pressure on the external reserves.

Mr Rolle, meanwhile, said BPL’s challenges “are well-known” and “there’s nothing here that’s shocking” to the new Board as it undertakes a rapid “learning process” to get to grips

ADVERTISE TODAY! CALL THE TRIBUNE TODAY @ 502-2394

with the utility’s financial, operational and human resource challenges. “There is nothing what I consider to be out of the ordinary,” he added.

Examining the integration of renewables into BPL’s fuel mix, and reducing dependency on fossil fuels, is among the Board’s priority agenda items as it awaits the Deloitte & Touche accounting firm’s report that will assist

the decision on whether to proceed with the utility’s mammoth $535m rate reduction bond (RRB) financing.

“I’m as anxious as you are,” Mr Rolle said of the wait for the report. “We are hopeful we can get some indication, certainly by the end of January. It may not be the final report; it may be an interim report.

“As soon as they are done we will take a look

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that KRISTINE CARRINGTON of Apt. 14 , Fox Hill Road, Nassau, Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 25th day of January, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

February Point Resort Estates in picturesque Great Exuma is seeking applications for the following positions: - Property Manager - Food & Beverage Manager - Landscaping Irrigation Technician Qualified persons are asked to send their resumes to the following email address:

klightbourne@februarypoint.com

PUBLIC NOTICE To the valued customers of JuJu’s Tailoring; it is permanently closed. Please collect all garments or material from “the shop” during the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 31, 2022 – Saturday, February 4, 2022.

Management will not be responsible for uncollected items after this time and the items may be sold or discarded. No further action may be taken against the management of JuJu’s Tailoring if items are not collected during this period.

Thank you for your business and we appreciate your during the years. There will never by another JuJu. Thank you for your understanding

corporate and investment banking vice-president, were both on the Friday visit to 80 Acres.

“We’re all having discussions, and we hope to continue those discussions, but they are supportive and we will know in a very short time how that is progressing,” he told Tribune Business of the talks.

“We have the land already. We have already acquired the land on Gladstone Road. That is in hand.

It’s near the Ministry of Agriculture’s agro-village property. It’s near where the farmer’s market used to be. We’re going through the process of getting the permits done and the drawings in. That’s going very rapidly and efficiently, and we hope to break ground in a very short time.”

at it and make our decision. The information they provide will inform us in terms of where we go. It’s an important job, and the Board takes it seriously. It impacts our entire economy, which is why it is so important we make decisions based on the facts more than anything else.”

Mr Palacious added: “We’re in the process of preparing design drawings and issuing environmental documents. We are in the process of preparing those now. We’ll continue to go through the process as needed to get all those permits in place.

“We’re in the process of value engineering, and are in the planning stage - the technical planning stage. We definitely plan to break ground this year between the second quarter and the third quarter this year, probably more the third quarter.” It was too early, Mr Palacious said, to provide figures on how many construction jobs will be generated by the development.

With 80 Acres set to provide much of the technology

and operational expertise, Mr Deal said the harnessing of robotics and artificial intelligence in the growing process would be especially appealing to young Bahamians who could be enticed into a career in agriculture.

“We want to make agriculture sexy again,” he told Tribune Business. “This is developing a tool. It’s merging agriculture and technology, which interests young people, using robotics and AI to grow food. It’s social impacting at its highest level.”

Eeden Farms, at its current containerised farming facility in western New Providence, employs a workforce comprised of “exclusively women” with degrees in areas such as biodiversity, chemistry and sustainability.

NOTICE SUNRISE VALLEY LTD. Notice is given hereby in accordance with Section 138(8) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000, the dissolution of SUNRISE VALLEY LTD. has been completed, a Certificate of Dissolution has been issued and the Company has therefore been struck off the Registrar.

Aegis Corporate Services Limited Building 6, Caves Village West Bay Street P.O. Box SP-63771 Nassau, Bahamas Liquidator

PAGE 22, Tuesday, January 25, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

‘NOT PUNITIVE’: JUST 3% OF HOMES SEE TAX HIKE FROM PAGE 24

Disclosing that the recent New Providence-wide valuation exercise had added 10,000 commercial properties, which had previously been paying zero, to the real property tax roll, Mr Wilson said the struggles of many households and businesses to recover from COVID-19’s economic devastation had been “a major consideration” for the Government when calculating this year’s billing.

Although the Real Property Tax Act enables the Government to levy retroactive taxes going back ten years on properties that were never declared by their owners, and thus escaped being billed, the financial secretary added that the Ministry of Finance had chosen not to collect back taxes - even from high-end homeowners and businesses - who fell into this category.

Responding to a Tribune Business article, which revealed that homeowners and commercial property owners/landlords were “absolutely livid” over receiving real property tax bills that had doubled or tripled in size year-overyear, Mr Wilson said: “We have approximately 80,000 homes in New Providence.

TO ADVERTISE TODAY IN THE TRIBUNE CALL @ 502-2394

Of that 80,000, only 2,700 saw an increase in their bill.

“And 2,400 saw a decrease in their bill. If you look at those numbers overall, you would realise that most persons will not see an increase in their bills.

Some will see an increase, and if they see an increase it will be those persons whose homes were substantially under-valued in the real property tax system.”

Based on the financial secretary’s figures, just 3.4 percent of taxable New Providence residential properties will suffer an increased real property tax burden in 2022. This is an even lower percentage than that cited by Senator Michael Halkitis, minister of economic affairs, in a newspaper article yesterday where he said only 30 percent of owner-occupied homes will see a rise.

However, David Morley, Morley Realty’s principal, told this newspaper yesterday he would “challenge” the minister’s assertion that 70 percent of owner-occupied properties will see no tax increase based on the nature and volume of complaints he was receiving regarding 2022 billings.

Christine WallaceWhitfield, the Bahamas Real Estate Association’s (BREA) president, told Tribune Business the industry group and its members have already received multiple complaints over 2022 real property tax billings that commercial landlords allege have increased by anywhere from 184 percent to 330 percent.

In particular, she questioned whether the New Providence-wide assessment conducted by Tyler

Technologies on the Government’s behalf had checked the valuations produced with BREA member realtors to see if they matched and were accurate.

“We’ve absolutely had a lot of complaints and a lot of e-mails expressing concern over the increases,” Mrs Wallace-Whitfield said.

“It is concerning and it was a little bit of a surprise to a lot of people. Anything like this starts to cause people to rethink investments and purchases....

“I’ve seen anywhere from 50-70 percent increases, and I think that’s been mild. I’d like to ask more questions and find out more as to why there’s been an increase and find out what the Government’s plan is moving forward.

“Everything has to do with appraisal value, market value. The main thing I’d like to know is did they cross-reference and check with Bahamian-licensed, trained appraisers? That’s very important. We are the ones that know the land, know the market.”

Mrs Wallace-Whitfield said the real property tax increase was coming when many persons were “trying to recuperate and get up on their feet” after COVID19. She added that the issue will be discussed by BREA’s Board later this week.

Andrew O’Brien, attorney and partner at the Glinton, Sweeting & O’Brien law firm, told Tribune Business that its lawyers were “definitely” fielding complaints about real property tax hikes from clients.

“This is becoming an issue now,” he added. “I would think that as people see their bills and payment time

approaching, the volume of complaints is going to increase.

“From people who have already seen an increase they are asking: What can I do? I think a lot of people want to object, and I suspect some people are weighing their options.”

Mr O’Brien encouraged the DIR to be flexible on the time given to taxpayers to file objections to their billings and valuations as a result of COVID. The Act requires such challenges to be filed “within 30 days” of when the notice requiring payment “is deemed to be served”.

However, Mr Wilson said the Bahamian economy’s current post-COVID weakness was a major influence on 2022 real property tax billings - particularly the potential disruption that a massive “one-shot” increase would cause to alreadystruggling homes and businesses.

“That was a major consideration,” he told Tribune Business. “We were very careful in our determination of making these adjustments. We went back to those numbers many times, and we did a number of scenarios.

“We were very sensitive to homeowners. We didn’t go back and do back taxes.

The Act allows us to go back up to ten years in levying taxes. In many cases, people with high value homes on the register that were not there before, we didn’t go back and tax them.

There were no retroactive adjustments. It was all on a go forward basis.”

As for New Providence-based commercial properties, Mr Wilson added: “We took the same approach again, nothing retroactive. In some cases with commercial properties, we were disappointed to discover in this exercise that close to 10,000 commercial properties were not on the tax roll before.

“That was a disappointment, but we chose not to be punitive in our approach.

There was no retroactive adjustments in tax. In many

cases our valuations tend to be on the lower, conservative side. We tried to be consistent in our approach and process, and it’s on a going forward basis.”

Mr Wilson said the New Providence-wide mapping exercise conducted by Tyler Technologies, which photographed every residential and commercial property on the island, will provide the DIR with a “complete database” of all real property tax-eligible properties.

This, he added, will enable the tax collection agency to deal with queries, valuation challenges and other disputes “more efficiently” and quickly than in the past, while also providing a tool through which to implement tougher compliance and enforcement measures.

And the revaluation assessment which accompanied the mapping has provided the Government with a mechanism for “doing adjustments in the future” based on one, standard methodology that can be employed for all properties, the financial secretary added.

Mr Wilson hailed Tyler Technologies’ work, and the benefits flowing from it, as “obviously a big first step” towards modernising Bahamian real property tax and making its administration more efficient, while also establishing a more just and equitable system where all pay their fair share.

“Obviously more has to be done in the Family Islands,” he told this newspaper, “and we anticipate doing reassessments on a sustained basis. We are more prepared to do that than ever, but this is a big first step.”

Mr Wilson described the $450m revenue increase over five years, outlined by Mr Halkitis, as “the potential run rate”. He added: “It takes work. We have a compliance rate that is very low.

The reassessment was the first step.

“The work has to be done to improve the ease of payment, compliance and enforcement, and educating

the taxpayer so that they understand paying property taxes pays for government services. The next step will be education and awareness, and hopefully that will encourage more people to pay.”

Mr Wilson reaffirmed that increasing real property tax collections was “very, very important” to the Government’s efforts to avert a fiscal crisis by, in particular, raising the recurrent revenue-to-GDP ratio to 25 percent from the present 18.2 percent by the time the Davis administration’s fiveyear term in office ends.

“The target we have for real property tax is 3.5 percent of GDP,” he added.

That compares to the present 1 percent of GDP, meaning that real property tax will account for close to one-seventh of the 25 percent revenue-to-GDP target.

The 3.5 percent, or near-$400m, goal would near-triple the $158.814m that the Government anticipates collecting in real property taxes during the current 2021-2022 fiscal year. Increases to $181.142m and $218.3m are forecast for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, respectively, but the latter is still almost 50 percent below the level targeted.

Mr Wilson, meanwhile, urged residential and commercial property owners to contact the DIR with any concerns over their tax billing or valuation. “This is an exercise,” he added. “Nothing is perfect, although we believe this is largely correct.

“The same applies to ability to pay. The Act has a mechanism to assist persons who may have a genuine challenge with making payment. It’s not meant to be punitive. We want to collect taxes owed, but if persons cannot pay and have a bona fide reason, they should come into the Department and have a discussion.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, January 25, 2022, PAGE 23

FAMILY DUO TAKE CHAIR AT MILO BUTLER ENTITIES TWO entities in the Milo Butler group of companies have appointed new chairmen who each grew up in the family-owned business.

Milo Butler Corporation and Milo Butler & Sons have named Allan Butler and Jevon Butler, respectively, to head their Boards after both rose through the ranks by holding various leadership roles within the group.

The duo represent the family’s third generation of leadership.

Allan Butler will chair Milo Butler Corporation, the brand’s parent company. He will focus on developing new

opportunities to grow the group’s existing portfolio and train future family generations. In a statement he stressed the importance of successful family-owned businesses to any economy, and especially the Bahamian economy.

“If you look at economics in general, it’s typically best whenever the monies in your country can turnover at least seven times before you have to spend out of the country,” said Allan Butler.

“As The Bahamas is a nation that’s not producing manufactured goods on a large scale at this point, it behooves us to develop

ALLAN BUTLER

JEVON BUTLER

new opportunities that the local workforce can benefit from and encourage others to do likewise. So this appointment is both scary and exciting because I know I will have to make some tough decisions, but I’m definitely up for the challenge.”

Jevon Butler said he was humbled to have been chosen as Milo Butler & Son’s chairman, adding that he planned to embrace innovation and technology during his time in office.

“We have a footprint in the wholesale and retail food

sectors, and the liquor distribution sector,” he said. “I’m excited to sit in this chair as many new, innovative ideas are in the marketplace that can help to enhance and advance our business even further. We’re also looking to embrace the digital transformation in The Bahamas right now.

“We believe that by doing so, logistics and the movement of funds will become easier for us and cause our operations to run even smoother. We look to work with many of the new, upcoming companies in the country and engage in discussions with the

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 58° F/14° C Low: 51° F/11° C

TAMPA

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Mostly sunny and beautiful

Overcast

Mostly cloudy with a shower or two

Sunshine and some clouds

Partly sunny and beautiful

Strong winds subsiding; not as warm

High: 76°

Low: 67°

High: 80° Low: 68°

High: 77° Low: 66°

High: 79° Low: 64°

High: 71° Low: 59°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

81° F

66° F

82°-64° F

81°-66° F

83°-58° F

69°-53° F

ABACO

S

N

High: 73° F/23° C Low: 68° F/20° C

4-8 knots

S

High: 72° F/22° C Low: 65° F/18° C

4-8 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 73° F/23° C Low: 67° F/19° C

S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

E

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

tiDes For nassau High

High: 72° F/22° C Low: 66° F/19° C

MIAMI

High: 73° F/23° C Low: 67° F/19° C

7-14 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 70° F/21° C Low .................................................... 68° F/20° C Normal high ....................................... 77° F/25° C Normal low ........................................ 65° F/18° C Last year’s high ................................. 81° F/27° C Last year’s low ................................... 59° F/15° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.12” Year to date ................................................. 3.50” Normal year to date ..................................... 1.04”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 67° F/19° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2022

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 69° F/21° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 74° F/23° C Low: 71° F/22° C

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

12:45 a.m.

12:56 p.m.

2.5 2.2

7:04 a.m. 0.2 7:17 p.m. -0.2

Wednesday 1:46 a.m.

1:58 p.m.

2.6 2.1

8:11 a.m. 0.2 8:15 p.m. -0.3

Thursday

2:49 a.m.

3:04 p.m.

2.8 2.1

9:20 a.m. 0.1 9:17 p.m. -0.4

Friday

3:54 a.m.

4:11 p.m.

2.9 2.1

10:27 a.m. 0.0 10:21 p.m. -0.5

Saturday

4:56 a.m.

5:14 p.m.

3.1 2.2

11:29 a.m. -0.2 11:23 p.m. -0.7

Sunday

5:55 a.m.

6:14 p.m.

3.2 2.4

12:26 p.m. -0.4 ---------

Monday

6:49 a.m.

7:10 p.m.

3.3 2.5

12:21 a.m. -0.8 1:19 p.m. -0.6

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:55 a.m. Moonrise 5:49 p.m. Moonset

12:08 a.m.

11:49 a.m.

Last

New

First

Full

Jan. 25

Feb. 1

Feb. 8

Feb. 16

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 70° F/21° C

N

S

E

W

4-8 knots

S

4-8 knots

ANDROS

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Today

almanac

E

W

W

uV inDex toDay

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

N

N

| Go to AccuWeather.com

TONIGHT

High: 58° F/14° C Low: 53° F/12° C

Government on possible opportunities to improve the average Bahamian’s way of life.

“I firmly believe that family businesses like ours are the backbone of the Bahamian economy, so we must continue to grow family businesses in our country.” Jevon thanked his cousin Franklyn Butler II, who sat as chairman of both entities, for developing the family business through strong corporate governance and inclusion of all family members.

Both men were elected to their posts in December 2021.

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 69° F/21° C

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 71° F/22° C

N

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 67° F/19° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

tracking map

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 70° F/21° C

4-8 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 79° F/26° C Low: 71° F/22° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 77° F/25° C Low: 72° F/22° C

L

GREAT INAGUA High: 81° F/27° C Low: 71° F/22° C

N

N E

W

E

W

L

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 71° F/22° C

S

S

3-6 knots

3-6 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:

WINDS NE at 4-8 Knots SSW at 6-12 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots S at 6-12 Knots W at 4-8 Knots SSE at 4-8 Knots WSW at 3-6 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots S at 4-8 Knots SSE at 4-8 Knots SW at 7-14 Knots W at 4-8 Knots S at 4-8 Knots NW at 3-6 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots W at 3-6 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots WSW at 3-6 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots E at 4-8 Knots S at 4-8 Knots NW at 3-6 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots E at 4-8 Knots S at 4-8 Knots

WAVES 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 0-1 Feet 0-1 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 0-1 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 0-1 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 9 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 9 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 9 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 76° F 76° F 75° F 74° F 78° F 79° F 79° F 80° F 76° F 77° F 75° F 74° F 77° F 77° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 79° F 77° F 77° F 79° F 79° F 77° F 78° F

business@tribunemedia.net

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

$5.05

$5.09

$5.05

‘Not punitive’: Just 3% of homes see tax hike • Top official: Those 2,700 ‘substantially under-valued’ • 10,000 commercial properties had evaded tax roll • Real estate chief says receiving ‘lot of complaints’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Finance’s top official yesterday asserted that just 3 percent of New Providence homeowners will suffer a real property tax hike this year, adding: “We chose not to be punitive.”

Simon Wilson, the financial secretary, told Tribune Business that increased real property tax billings are not as “widespread” as feared with only 2,700 out of

BAHAMIAN investors will get details on how they can invest in a $60m hydroponic farming project by early March, its principals saying yesterday: “We want to make agriculture sexy again.”

Lincoln Deal, Eeden Farms’ co-founder, told Tribune Business that Bahamians would get a chance to participate in a “high level” of ownership in the proposed Gladstone Road facility that will be 100 percent privately financed.

He confirmed that himself and his fellow co-founder, Carlos Palacious, are currently talking to both Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and FTX Digital Markets,

the Bahamian subsidiary of the world’s third largest cryptocurrency exchange which recently switched its headquarters to this nation from Hong Kong, about providing financing for the planned 71,000 square foot facility.

The necessary land “is in hand”, Mr Deal said, with the project set to be located at the Ministry of Agriculture’s former agro village “near where the farmer’s market used to be”. Mr Palacious added that the duo and their US partner, 80 Acres Farms, were aiming to “break ground” on construction in the 2022 second or third quarter depending on how quickly the required approvals are obtained.

SEE PAGE 21

SIMON WILSON

80,000 taxable residences having to brace for higher payments because their real estate assets were previously “substantially under-valued”.

And some 2,400 homeowners will see a reduction in their real property tax bills for 2022, he added, with “most persons” encountering no change in the amount due to the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) and Public Treasury.

SEE PAGE 22

$60m farm project aiming to ‘make agriculture sexy’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

$4.99

• ‘Merging’ technology with food to attract young Bahamians • ‘High level’ of local ownership targeted; details

by March • Talks with FTX crypto exchange over possible financing

EEDEN FARMS CONCEPT DESIGN

Legal queries raised on property tax revaluation

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A REALTOR is questioning whether the recent New Providence-wide real property tax revaluation violated Bahamian law because it used an overseas contractor to perform appraisals.

David Morley, Morley Realty’s principal, told Tribune Business that engaging US-based Tyler Technologies to conduct valuations seemingly violated the Real Estate (Brokers and Salesmen) Act 1995 which mandates that only appraisers licensed under this law can perform such work in this nation.

To obtain such a licence, appraisers must either be Bahamian or a permanent resident with the right to work - a description that does not apply to Tyler

Technologies.

Mr Morley said he had raised the issue with the former Minnis administration but his concerns never received a response from Carl Bethel QC, the DAVID MORLEY then-attorney general.

“In all fairness, in my opinion, it was illegal,” he said. “The Real Estate (Brokers and Salesmen) Act 1995 stipulates that anyone providing third party real estate

BAHAMAS Power & Light’s (BPL) chairman yesterday said the utility’s fuel hedging strategy will almost certainly be continued beyond end-June 2022 to protect customers from “wild price swings”.

Pedro Rolle told Tribune Business that while the details surrounding hedging’s continuation were still being worked out, with a final determination set to be made within the next two weeks, it was effectively a decision “already made”.

“We have as a Board taken a look at it, and it is currently being reviewed,”

Farming investors: ‘You can taste the difference’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

he said of the BPL fuel hedging strategy initiated under the Minnis administration-appointed Board.

“There is an appetite for hedging. The Board is reviewing it, and where we are now, a final decision will be made in two weeks.

“We are still hedged at the moment.

The way it works, the hedging is an ongoing thing. There is a hedging committee and each month they compute the hedge. We are going to have a hedging policy. There may be changes to it, but we are going to continue to be

THE Bahamian principals behind a $60m hydroponic farm project yesterday voiced hope it will inspire “our fellow Bahamians” to invest in the sector, adding: “We’re full speed ahead.”

Lincoln Deal, Eeden Farms’ co-founder, told Tribune Business the need for a larger facility to meet market demand prompted it to seek out US-based 80 Acres Farms as a joint venture partner for its proposed 71,000 square foot Gladstone Road property within months of it launching in February 2021.

Efforts “to pursue a larger indoor farming model” led to multiple trips between Nassau and 80 Acres Farms’ Ohio headquarters, with the US producer travelling to Nassau last June to meet with then-prime minister, Dr Hubert Minnis, and former agriculture minister, Michael Pintard.

Both were supportive, and planning for the Gladstone Road facility began that month with Eeden Farms and 80 Acres agreeing a Memorandum of

SEE PAGE 21

SEE PAGE 20

SEE PAGE 20

BPL’s ‘wild price swings’ preventer set for extension

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

CHRISTINE WALLACE-WHITFIELD