01252023 NEWS, SPORT AND BUSINESS

HAITI CRISIS ‘A RISK’ SAYS PM

Davis says instability poses a substantial threat to Bahamas

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the crisis in Haiti poses a substantial threat to The Bahamas due to an increase in irregular migration.

He told a summit in Argentina that with the support and leadership of Haiti, regional counterparts can help Haitians build a path out of the crisis.

Mr Davis made the remarks at the opening session of the heads of summit meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Bueno Aires, Argentina.

“The crisis in Haiti is getting worse,” Mr Davis said. “The tragic situation there continues to pose a substantial threat not only to Haitians, but also to The Bahamas and neighbouring countries, all of whom are experiencing a significant increase in irregular and often dangerous migration.

“With the support and leadership of Haiti, collectively, we can, through CELAC and other regional organisations, help Haitians build a path out of crisis.”

MEDICAL TEAM SENT TO TEST CAPTURED MIGRANTS

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A TEAM of nurses and doctors was sent to Inagua yesterday to start the necessary health screening of nearly 400 migrants captured in waters near Cay Sal over the weekend, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said yesterday.

Dr Darville told reporters health officials are working in tandem with various ministries for the operation and wanted to test and screen migrants to limit the possibility of imported infections.

“For us at the Ministry of Health, we’re concerned with the possibility of any infectious disease,” Dr Darville said before going to a Cabinet meeting.

NO ANSWER ON POLICE BODY CAMS

By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said yesterday he could not confirm if police officers had on body cams during a police-involved shooting on Saturday.

Mr Munroe’s comments came after an 18-yearold youth, who allegedly engaged police in the Kemp Road area on Saturday, was

GOVT TALKS WITH PORT AUTHORITY IN GB SHAKE-UP

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday said the government is in talks with the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) to place Freeport “on the right track” as it pushes for a major shakeup in the city’s governance.

Mr Davis’ comments, in a prepared statement issued through his spokesperson, came in response to Tribune Business inquiries concerning the government’s efforts to effect ownership and leadership changes at the GBPA - either via itself or a private investor(s) buying out the Hayward and St George families, or the hand back of regulatory and quasi-governmental powers to Nassau.

‘MORE

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

COMPANIES that supply food and drink are questioning the government’s plan to implement new legislation that will create a tax for sugar and excess salt as well as try to eliminate trans fats being imported into the country, with one

the police’s version of events and have asked to see CCTV from the area.

“I don’t know if they had on body cams. If they did we don’t release body cam footage until a trial or an inquest,” Mr Munroe told The Tribune

12.30am.

Police said officers were on routine patrol in the area of Kemp Road and Edwards Avenue when they saw a man with a gun.

killed by officers around

The family has disputed

PRIME

LEARNING THE ROPES TO TAKE UP MARITIME CAREER

A TEAM of maritime cadets have been training in Canada.

The five cadets completed the Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps in the Class of 2022.

Their training in Canada in bridge and engine room ratings will allow them to be hired aboard merchant vessels as they seek the sea time and extra training that would lead them to earn their certificates of competence as officers.

The three young men and two young women hailed from New Providence and Grand Bahama. The Grand Bahama cadets received instruction in engine room rating while the three from New Providence trained on the bridge.

Classes were held at the Maritime Training Centre of Holland College on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

The corps programme seeks to introduce high school students to the shipping industry with a view to a career at sea. It is open to all high school students in grades 10-12 and functions under the Ministry of Education, Technical & Vocational Training along with the Ministry of Transport & Housing. The Bahamas Maritime Authority has direct oversight of the cadet programme and there are two campuses in New Providence at the CR Walker High School in the north and a southern campus at the Anatol Rodgers High School.

The corps was introduced into Nassau high schools in 2004 and has since been extended to Abaco, Eleuthera, Inagua and Grand Bahama.

BRIDGE Watch Training cadets, dressed in full hazard gear, participate in the fire fighting training while at Holland College on Prince Edward Island in Canada. From left, Ciara Thompson, Paige Patton and Aaron Butler. The students are also pictured left in a relaxed moment during the training session.

Haiti crisis ‘a risk’ says Prime Minister

“We commend Haitian-led efforts to hold elections before the end of 2023, to arrest the threat to public security posed by violent gangs, to relieve hunger and malnutrition, and to alleviate the political crisis. Enhanced regional partnership can especially help to scale up capacity-building for the local police, and tackle trafficking, particularly in people, contraband and guns.”

At the summit, Mr Davis continued his push for developed nations to compensate smaller countries for their contribution to climate change. He said rising sea levels pose an existential threat to The Bahamas, noting the damage Hurricane Dorian brought to Grand Bahama and Abaco in 2019.

He called for action on climate change and lamented how

MEDICAL TEAM SENT TO TEST CAPTURED MIGRANTS

“We have en route, a field hospital for Inagua. It’s a 20-bed field hospital and this morning at 10 o’clock, I have a team of five nurses and three doctors who will be enroute to Inagua to begin the necessary screening processes.

“While that is happening, we will be looking at the current medical clinic in Inagua, because there is some need for some infrastructure upgrades. So, I have a group of engineers who will be enrolled as well.”

Dr Darville said setting up a field hospital on the island was “absolutely essential” to ensure that the island’s healthcare system does not become strained.

He could not speak to the costs of setting up the field hospital.

He said: “After speaking with the Minister of Immigration, we (are) really beginning to realise that

what we are experiencing now may be something that may explode, and we intend to ensure that we do not put an excessive burden on the healthcare system and Inagua.”

Dr Darville also gave an assurance that officials have a plan of action to respond to any potential outbreak like cholera cases, which have resurged in Haiti since last year.

“We have been planning. Our job at the ministry and our surveillance infectious disease unit is to make sure that we are prepared for any potential outbreak. We’re hoping and praying that that’s not the case and from my understanding, I believe those individuals that are coming to Inagua are on the US Cutter.

“They have the facilities there. So, I think in this particular case, we are okay, but we need to prepare because we don’t know what’s ahead of us and what is gonna happen and Inagua will be one of those areas that would be

utilised for screening.

“And we are working very closely with immigration and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to ensure that (the Ministry of) Health is able to function effectively and to be able to do all the necessary protocols to protect the residents and The Bahamas at large.”

In a statement released on Monday, the Department of Immigration said they were alerted by the US Coast Guard of a vessel carrying 396 migrants in the vicinity of Cay Sal.

The immigrants were handed over to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and sent to Inagua for processing.

Their illegal travel to The Bahamas comes as civil unrest and political turmoil continues to mount in Haiti.

Local government officials have already warned that more Haitian migrants could arrive in the country in the days and weeks ahead, saying they remain on high alert.

the phenomenon has affected economies of countries like The Bahamas..

“We are not and have never been the polluters, yet we suffer from the greatest vulnerabilities caused by carbon emissions. Our debt burden remains high, in significant part due to these climate risks, including the need to regularly rebuild homes, businesses and infrastructure after devasting hurricanes,” Mr Davis said.

“Our cost of borrowing also prices in the risk of future hurricanes; we are already paying a high price for the intensifying weather patterns of tomorrow. We urgently need the developed countries to honour their commitments to compensate for the loss and damage associated with climate change. And in order to build resiliency, we urgently need finance and access to technology. Each of our countries must keep the pledges we’ve made, in

this and other settings, to reduce our own emissions. We have seen glimpses of a future we cannot survive; we must change course, or perish. It is that simple.”

Mr Davis also spoke out against “the discriminatory practice of the blacklisting of countries”. He said The Bahamas will also continue to advocate against the unfair use of GDP per capita to determine how or if developing countries, in vulnerable developing regions, qualify for reasonable concessionary financing or grants.

“The use of the multi-vulnerability index in assessing eligibility for help, rather than the blunt, outdated measurement of GDP per capita is a fairer measurement. I invite you to join us in advocating for mutual agreement of alternative eligibility criteria for international financing and overseas development assistance,” he said.

MIGRANTS ON CAY SAL MAY BE REPATRIATED THIS WEEK

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Immigration Department hopes to repatriate nearly 400 irregular migrants being housed in Inagua as early as Friday, its assistant director said yesterday.

Rudolph Ferguson told reporters yesterday there are presently 395 irregular migrants in custody on the island.

Two of them are Cuban and the remaining are said to be Haitian. The Haitians were spotted in a vessel in waters near Cay Sal on Saturday and taken to Inagua for processing.

The government has established a temporary holding facility, able to hold some 800 migrants, on the island to allow for quicker repatriation exercises.

“The plan is to repatriate them from Inagua and we want them repatriated as quickly as possible,” Mr Ferguson said.

“You must appreciate the fact that we must go through Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ultimately the Haitian authorities. Once that has been completed,

they will be out of here.”

When asked if repatriation exercises will begin this month, he replied: “How about this week? We are working very, very hard on making this happen.”

He also said 12 immigration officers were sent to the island to “beef up” security there.

“We would’ve sent a detachment of some 12 immigration officers to join the complement of officers that are presently stationed there,” he added.

“We have eight immigration officers there so in conjunction with our partners, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the Royal Bahamas Police Force presently, we have adequate security personnel on the ground, and no doubt about it, we’ll be rotating if this matter persists, rotating immigration officers in and out of that area.”

With respect to the treatment of migrants, Mr Ferguson insisted that all are being treated humanely and with dignity.

“As I indicated initially, we affirm the humanity of every human being. It is their right to be treated

with dignity and respect and we expect no less from our officials on the ground,” he added.

Last year, the government repatriated over 4,000 migrants, which was said to be the highest number of repatriations in the country’s history.

Most of the people repatriated were Haitian.

Their illegal travel to The Bahamas comes as civil unrest and political turmoil continues to mount in Haiti.

There have been many reports of brutal killings, kidnapping and gang related violence in the Caribbean country.

United Nations Secretary General António Gutierrez on Monday called on governments to consider halting deportations as the situation there spirals out of control.

However, local authorities have given no indication that they plan to stop repatriations, with Immigration Minister Keith Bell last week warning anyone living in the country to leave immediately or face deportation.

“There is definitely no concern about manpower shortage,” Mr Ferguson

added.

“The full weight of The Bahamas government will be brought to bear in this instance.”

He also said that no citizen or non-Bahamian should allow themselves to be questioned and detained by someone unless that person is a law enforcement officer.

This comes after a video of political hopeful Lincoln Bain was circulated this week, showing him and others questioning a Haitian man about his status in the country and looking over his documents.

“We want the general public to understand that the Immigration Department (and) indeed immigration officers have the sole authority to interview and invite persons to be interviewed for any breaches we believe may occur,” Mr Ferguson continued.

“Immigration officials are the keepers of our borders so any other person that is out there, doing anything that is untoward we say to the general public right now to refer all those matters to the Immigration Department.”

MINISTER OPTIMISTIC OVER INCENTIVE TALKS WITH DOCTORS

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said he is optimistic that the agreements that officials are negotiating with the junior doctors as well as the consultant doctors are “fair”.

At an event earlier this week, Dr Darville was asked if the government planned to offer an increase in incentives to prevent local doctors from taking up better offers overseas.

Dr Darville said there is a shortage of medical staff within the region and globally. He said countries around the world are constantly recruiting, particularly in the English-speaking Caribbean.

“Neighbours to the north are constantly looking for additional

support, medical support staff. On a daily basis, they are in our country recruiting. I’m very concerned about it because in some developed countries to recruit about 200 people into a particular state or a particular area — it’s not a big thing. But to move 200 people from our public healthcare system can really put us in great jeopardy. So while the world is recruiting, the Bahamas government must also recruit,” he said.

“But I am very optimistic of the fact that the agreements that we are getting into with the junior doctors as well as the consultant doctors are fair - we are at the table negotiating, listening to their concerns, so that we can be competitive, and we can try to keep our physicians and healthcare workers in country.”

He said while the agreements may not match what is offered in the

developed world, the incentives are reflective of what The Bahamas can offer based on the economy.

He added that officials are trying to come up with an agreement that is satisfactory to both sides.

Dr Darville admitted that the healthcare system has been “challenged,” adding that workers have been going beyond the call of duty to try to provide quality services not only in New Providence and in Grand Bahama, but throughout the Family Islands.

He said the government is focused on training and recruiting staff from other countries.

He added that his ministry’s budget includes funding for 15 more doctors who will mostly be deployed to the Family Islands. He said his ministry is also trying to recruit more doctors and medical staff.

Viewing Notice For

CAY Sal where migrants were detained before being taken to Inagua.

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis speaking at the CELEAC Summit in Argentina yesterday

from

page one

Call for extension for paid maternity leave

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS lmunnings @ tribunemedia.net

ACTIVIST Alicia Wallace is calling for paid maternity leave to extend beyond the current 13-week period for mothers following the recent deaths of two infants in the past week.

In the most recent incident, police reported the death of a three-month-old boy who was found unresponsive at a local daycare centre on Monday. Police said while the baby had no visible signs of injury, an autopsy will be held to determine the exact cause of death.

Last week, another three-month-old died, however that incident took place when the infant girl was in the care of a family

friend while the mother was reportedly at work. Police said the baby was taken to hospital unresponsive and had injuries to her face.

A man has since been charged with manslaughter in connection with that incident.

Currently the national maternity leave is 13 weeks.

Ms Wallace believes an increase in paid maternity leave is critical and beneficial for the mother, baby and the entire family as childcare is inaccessible for many.

“The 12 weeks immediately postpartum are known as the fourth trimester as they can be incredibly challenging as mothers recover, while adjusting to the schedule dictated by their newborn

baby,” said the Equality Bahamas director.

“Sleep deprivation is, of course common, but there are many other issues that are not generally discussed publicly, from pelvic floor issues to postpartum depression. Paid maternity leave is essential for the health and wellbeing of mothers and children.

The increase in maternity leave is critical for mothers themselves, but we can certainly see the benefits for babies and entire families as childcare is inaccessible for many,” she added.

The local activist criticised both the government and employers for failing to adjust the laws and policies of the country to reflect the socio-economic reality of society and developments of the world.

She said: “The

prioritisation of businesses and their interests, which are generally limited to profit, over people is leading to tragedy after tragedy.

“The government needs to increase its budget for social assistance and businesses need to value their employees at least to the extent that they expect employees to contribute to their bottom line, and that means investing in their health and wellbeing.”

The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life, however many mothers are unable to do this because of limitations when they return to work.

Last year, the Bahamas National Breastfeeding Association advocated for the government to change the national maternity

leave from 13 weeks to 20 weeks. In December, the National Tripartite Council said it was looking into the recommendations.

Ms Wallace said that “simply increasing maternity leave” is insufficient, as she noted that paid paternity leave for fathers will provide postpartum support for mothers and extend the time parents are able to care for children themselves.

She also suggested that the government should provide “fixed grants” for families who would like to have relatives care for their children.

However, she also advocated for safe childcare facilities that are staffed by people who are properly trained to perform their daily functions, in addition to identifying

signs of abuse.

Sharing similar views, Prodesta Moore, of Women United, said that along with an extension of paid maternity leave, there should also be paid child care assistance.

She is urging the government to do more to provide assistance to single parents.

“A lot of mothers, single in particular, and single fathers need assistance with child care,” she told this newspaper yesterday.

“And there’s a lot of opportunities that the government can provide for these mothers to be able to get free supplemental child care assistance.”

She suggested that the government partner with daycare centres and child care services to provide services to parents who lack the resources.

NO ANSWER ON POLICE BODY CAMS

from page one

The suspect fled the area on foot after seeing the officers.

Police pursued the suspect onto Hillbrook Close, where the man “engaged the police and was fatally wounded,” the Royal Bahamas Police Force said.

EMS attended the scene where he was pronounced dead. Police said a weapon was recovered from the scene.

The family of the 18-yearold, identified as Kwondrick Lowe, claimed he was wrongfully killed by police, dismissing reports that the 4ft 2in male engaged officers.

When asked about the family’s claims, Mr Munroe said that if they did not witness the shooting first hand then they would not be able to fully say what happened.

“It’s being asserted that there’s something wrongful. I didn’t witness it, so I don’t know. If the family witnessed it they can speak of firsthand accounts. If they didn’t witness it, then they would be in the exact same position as I am, not to know,” he said.

He noted that if the police’s account of the fatal incident was revealed to be untrue then action would be taken.

However, Mr Munroe said if the account from police is accurate it shows

that young men in the country need to put guns down.

“If it is true, then this is

yet another lesson that the young men really have to put down these guns. If it is not true, then the police,

as they have shown with the charging of the officer in Exuma and the officers in New Providence, will apply the law to everyone whether it’s a civilian or police.”

In terms of the

investigation, Mr Munroe said he still is awaiting a full briefing.

Meanwhile, he explained how the investigation would usually work.

“When something happens, the police will have

to take statements from the officers involved.

“Statements from anyone who is on the scene who purports to be a witness.

“They will look for available camera footage, inclusive of any cell phone footage that members of the public may have and any camera footage members of the public might have.”

He continued: “So after all of that is collected, the investigators will evaluate it and make a determination.

“If members of the public claim to have, for instance, cell phone footage. If they claim to have footage from any of their cameras, they’re free to provide that to the police.”

Inquests into police involved shootings were initially delayed because of COVID-19 in 2020.

Later, former Coroner Jeanine Weech-Gomez was sworn in as a Supreme Court justice, causing further delays as officials waited to replace her.

Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux was named acting coroner in September 2021.

However, while inquests into other matters are already being carried out, they have not yet resumed into police-involved killings because the director of public prosecutions has yet to appoint a lawyer to marshal the cases.

TOP left Kwondrick Lowe who was shot dead by police on Saturday in the Kemp Road area.

GB residents divided on Moxey’s performance

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

STRAW vendors and taxi drivers in Grand Bahama have mixed views on calls from Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard for Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey to be removed.

Philippa Pratt Burrows disagrees with Mr Pintard’s assessment of Ms Moxey’s performance.

“She is doing an excellent job dealing with Grand Bahama,” Ms Burrows said. “Grand Bahama is a large place and she from east to west doing an excellent job for a woman. I don’t feel the Prime Minister should shuffle her; leave her right where she is.”

Antoinette Smith feels that Ms Moxey should be removed, however.

“I agree with Mr Pintard because Ms Ginger Moxey is not doing anything for Grand Bahama,” she said.

The Port Lucaya vendor said things have been tough for those in the area. She said Ms Moxey has yet to live up to her promise concerning a grant for the vendors.

“Ms Moxey had us fill out an application online for a grant from last year June and July, and we have yet to hear anything. We keep asking and nothing has come out of it,” she said.

Ms Smith said they were told that the grant was guaranteed.

“We could use a little boost because our shops were closed for two years, but we have not heard anything further about the grant,” she said.

“When you call her office, there is always a block, and you are unable to see her. She is the minister for Grand Bahama, but you are unable to see her,” she claimed.

She admits that while the Davis administration had given vendors $500 and had held a meeting with them, it came off as a campaign opportunity.

“We thought she would talk with us one on one to find out what was going on, but she did not do that. She had the meeting simply to boost her campaign for herself. She did not talk to one vendor,” the woman claimed.

Mr Pintard called on Prime Minister

Philip “Brave” Davis to consider shuffling his Cabinet because there are several ministers he thinks are unsuitable for their portfolios and should be reassigned to roles better suited to their skills or replaced entirely.

Among those he listed were Works and Utilities Minister Alfred Sears, Housing and Transport Minister Jobeth ColebyDavis, and Ms Moxey. He believes that “while she has some promise, Grand Bahama is a very complex island, and it requires a stature of leadership that presently is not there.”

Daphne Nixon does not agree.

“I don’t concur with Mr Pintard,” she said. “I believe that Ms Moxey is doing an excellent job here in Grand Bahama.”

“If you recall, Grand Bahama has been in a slump for a very long time. We have been through a lot of challenges with the hurricane and so forth, and I believe that coming new into politics, Ms Moxey with the help of God, is doing an excellent job and should not be moved, not at this point in time. God bless

her as she continues.”

Another straw vendor, who identified herself as a PLP supporter, believes Ms Moxey would be better in another ministry.

“I don’t feel she is suitable for that position she in,” she said. “I agree with him (Mr Pintard) 100 percent to shuffle them, and I is a diehard PLP.

“I feel he (the Prime Minister) should put her in an area that she could handle. I don’t feel she could handle that area. They need to put somebody else that is more experienced in that area. It is what it is and I is

a die-hard PLP.”

However, another straw vendor who identified herself as an FNM, said Ms Moxey should be given more time.

“We need to give her a little bit more time. It (the economic situation) has been going on for some years. The FNM had their time, so we want to give her a little bit more time,” the vendor said.

A taxi driver said: “She (Ms Moxey) likes the camera. They pick these people and put them in the position, so we just got to live with it.”

However, a cab driver who gave his name as Mr Grant, said he does agree with Mr Pintard. “She is doing a wonderful job and I do not think she should not be moved.”

When asked why he said: “I like how she is dealing with her constituents. I like how she is trying to assist people who can’t prepare for themselves. And I like the way she is involved in trying to get the economy back in shape so everyone will be able to survive. I think she is doing a good job.”

‘MORE DETAIL’ NEEDED ON TAX PROPOSAL

food insecurity.

from page one

“I need them to define excess salt. I like the idea, but there are too many variables, you know, to just go in and act as if we have a checkers board or chessboard type of thing. The government, first they did price control, like everything, just as in a chessboard, where they could move pieces up and down,” he told The Tribune yesterday.

The general manager expressed fears for the impact on restaurants and those already experiencing

“My full answer, hardly knowing anything, is there’s always going to be negative consequences anytime they move any piece on the chessboard —it’s not going to work. To me, it’s always going to fall on restaurants, who like the business owners who you know have to cook the food and then sell it.

“I don’t think they should do anything at all in terms of taxing imports. It’s only going to raise the cost of food. I believe at least access to food on the whole could be the primary concern rather than trying to make people healthy because (some) people aren’t eating at all. I’d rather them eat unhealthy rather than not

eat at all.”

The managing director at Lightbourn Trading Company does not have much hope about using taxes to improve people’s behaviour.

The company distributes food, beverages, ice cream, candy, frozen vegetables and paper towels.

“It doesn’t work,” John Lightbourn argued. “Well the Bahamian diet first of all — the government has listed a bunch of things which it says we’re going to make artificially cheap for you and they will eventually kill you. They will make you fat, diabetic, diseased and it will eventually kill you and the other stuff we’re gonna do the opposite.

“We’re (the government) going to put full duty on

it and full markups and all this kind of stuff and make it (healthier items) so expensive that you have no choice. So price control eliminated all choice and it just gave the average man stuff to eat. It was cheap and so that’s what they’re eating. So that’s what’s killing people now at a young age.”

As for how the proposed tax on these foods with sugar and excess will impact the industry, Mr Lightbourn stated “any tax is a negative thing” and all it does is “it goes into the government’s coffers”.

“It doesn’t change behaviour —taxes don’t change behaviour realistically. People still smoke, people still drink, it’s just it’s just a money maker.

It’s more things to take care of and follow up and this and that. Is our customs department now meant to be experts in reading the contents of everything and finding out - it’s ridiculous.”

Super Value’s president and CFO Debra Symonette questioned if the tax was for the customers or stores and admitted the plan would impact their bottom line if the tax was levied on those selling the items.

“Now, if it’s us paying the tax, then, of course, it would affect the bottom line. We’d have a little more to pay out and that could result in a little higher price. If it’s like an additional tax for customers to pay, then well, that

wouldn’t affect our bottom line,” she said.

However, she stated the company supports healthy living.

“It’s all in the best interest of the people and their health. So if it’s really an item that’s to the detriment of the people, well, we would go along with that programme. We try to follow the rules, so if that’s the rule they make, that’s the rule , we’ll have to keep.

“We also encourage, we try to encourage healthy living as well because of course, that’s the way to go if we want our people to live longer. You will notice that we have a lot of healthy items in the store to give customers a choice as to what they can buy.”

THE MINISTER for Grand Bahama, Ginger Moxey, speaking in parliament last year.

Matthew Kemp, of J-CO Trading Company, which sells items such as drinks and tobacco products, said more details are needed.

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

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

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

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Action on Haiti needed - but what?

THE issue of immigration is once more in the headlines, whether it is in Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis’ speech in Argentina, in the renewed talk of action on shanty towns - or in the inflamed rhetoric of some who would choose to drum up support for their political posturing through hate.

The latter cannot be said for Mr Davis’ speech - which correctly identifies the instability in Haiti as a driving force behind the latest waves of migrants heading to our shores.

The latest group, a party of almost 400 migrants, has been detained off Cay Sal and taken to Inagua, where a medical team has been dispatched to check for any infections. At a time when there have been cases of cholera in Haiti, and with the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, this is simply to ensure any cases among such a large number can be isolated.

Doubtless, the people detained will be processed and sent back to Haiti, to return to the turmoil the country presently faces.

Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, there has been little sense of any kind of political stability in Haiti.

The Tribune has regularly published updates as the world watches a nation almost strangled by the control of gangs. Last year, fuel was cut off for large portions of the country after gangs blocked off the ports.

Estimates say that about 60 percent of the country is under gang control - with three police officers shot dead in a battle with gang members last week.

Those estimates do vary - some doomladen voices have even said 100 percent of the country is under gang control.

Senators have found their terms expiring and there has been no sign of a new election as promised.

Make no mistake, though, the boats that carry migrants from Haiti are no missions of mercy. Passengers are crammed on tight and expected to pay thousands of dollars for the privilege of passage - with many aiming to reach the United States. For many migrants,

Downtown revitalisation being unfair?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

WHERE is the fairness? Please permit me to offer a few comments relative to remarks reportedly made by Mr Michael Maura at the recent Bahamas Business Outlook regarding the state of waterfront properties to the east of East Street north connecting Bay and the expectation that the movement of shipping operations away from Bay Street along with the attendant tax breaks and concessions, would encourage the owners of these properties to undertake improvements.

in question.

No public policy or Pulic Private Partnership (PPP) should support or facilitate such a construct.

arriving in The Bahamas is a way station on the route to Florida.

To pay those thousands of dollars off, the travellers are often expected to keep sending money once they reach their destination, or face the consequences of wronging the human smugglers who run these criminal operations.

It’s a big money game, and there is no mercy or compassion from the smugglers for those who get caught, or worse, whose vessels sink.

The people on board those vessels are fleeing from the worst of circumstances, but those operating the ships are criminals profiting off a nation in disarray.

As for those migrants who live here, when the question is raised why a shanty town springs up, the answer is relatively simple - the demand for cheap labour. If people weren’t paying, there would be no reason to stay. But as a nation, we do.

So how does the current Haitian crisis get solved?

Mr Davis talks of a need for action - but there are no real proposals for specific actions being put forward.

He talks of a need for a partnership - but with whom? The leadership structure in Haiti is fragile at best.

He talks of Haiti-led solutions, but again who are these leaders? The senators whose terms are up or the gang leaders who control the roads?

Migration from Haiti is nothing new - numerous administrations have struggled to get to grips with the situation. But the current political situation in Haiti is more precarious than in a long time. That exacerbates the problem we, and the wider region, face as a result.

Ultimately, what will help the most is Haiti thriving as a nation. A stable country where fleeing is not the only way to survive.

We are a long way from that, and while talk of action is encouraging, actual action is what is needed.

What that is, there has been no sign of so far.

But migration is a symptom of the problem at home. Solving that is a conundrum that will take great wisdom - and a huge effort.

In the main, Mr Maura’s comments and observations are very valid, particularly as they relate or speak to the deplorable state of the tourist product and the eyesore these undeveloped waterfront properties have become.

Let me say at the outset that, I do not know who are the owners of these derelict waterfront properties sitting east of East Street and Bay and even if I did, my views and comments here remain unchanged.

My commentary is about public policy. These individual owners, whoever they may be, have not done anything unlawful and are within their rights to take advantage of any commercial opportunities made available to them.

However, I do not end there.

To the extent that any of the owners of these properties include the owners of those shipping companies now operating from the Arawak Shipping Port, which sits on public

property, it begs the question in this instance, how is it that a private property owner can be given an opportunity to operate his private enterprise, utilising public property (Arawak Cay), while the same individual private property is allowed to become a hindrance to the development of the island main tourist and commercial centre (Bay Street) with no benefit to general public?

I do not see the fairness in any individual being allowed to use public property and concessions for his or her benefit and enrichment and the public does not in return, receive any benefit from the use of the individual property for its benefit, or the owner/individual is not made to put his property into development for the public benefit generally.

This becomes more undesirable, especially if the property in question has the potential to provide immense public benefit and it was the expectation, that in return for benefits and concession given to the individual, that he or she would put the land in question into development for the general improvement of the area.

Insult would be added to injury, if the private land owner, is also the beneficiary of a very generous monopoly and profit guarantee from the government through his use and occupation of the public property

This in my view cannot be good public policy.

It would be even more egregious if the owners of these unimproved properties are currently receiving property tax breaks and other concessions as a means of incentivising them to develop their property, when it is obvious that they are not inclined to do.

While this neglect and decay has for the most part has been confined to properties east of East Street, what the government must be careful of is that this neglect and decay does not move to the west of East Street and Bay, due to businesses on this side being financially starved or cut off from the cruise passenger spend when the new port is brought into operation.

This can and is likely to happen if Global Port is allowed to or does not resist the temptation to retain the lion share of the cruise passenger spend within the cruise port by cherry picking the retail opportunities and attractions that are likely to be demanded by or of interest to the cruise passenger.

Perhaps, one day the time will come when the government, in the public interest, will be inclined to use the legal remedies available to them to spur some activity among these landowners.

CLAUDE B HANNA Nassau,

January 22, 2023.

Modernisation of healthcare needed

EDITOR, The Tribune.

PLEASE allow me space in your daily to express a concern.

It is said that the Health of a Nation is the Wealth of the Nation. If this is to be taken literally, then we are not amongst the wealthy.

In another few months, we will celebrate 50 years of Independence. Fifty years in which we should be further along than we are as it relates to the Nation’s Health Care.

Fifty years since that historic date and we are still behind the eight ball in many aspects of self-governance and conservation.

While we have made strides in certain areas, there are areas that lag behind.

There is no reason why, in 2023, our Public Hospital and Clinics are not fully automated. There is no reason why persons attending Accident and Emergency should still have handwritten notes that are placed in a tray to be filed whenever by whomever while some of these patients are subsequently admitted to wards where the medical team are at times clueless to the patient’s needs.

My fellow Bahamians, the number of deaths in recent times at Princess Margaret Hospital as a result of alleged negligence is simply deplorable and unacceptable.

The Public Hospital should have been fully digitised by now. Every patient should have a patient number and any physician treating the patient should be able to access any prior complaints, course of treatment/medications, diagnosis and recommendations for wellness.

It should never have to be a guessing game and a patient should not have to always remember the date he/she last visited the hospital. It should be in the system. Healthcare should be our number one priority. While we know that it takes

money to run a really efficient and effective Health Care system, persons would not mind paying basic costs if the service is readily provided.

Over the years, we have seen and heard various initiatives on the drawing board to improve our Health Care system and sometimes these improvements are in the initial stages and then the country has General Elections and governance change and these initiatives are scrapped because of party politics.

Until we, as a Nation, realise that there is only one government and that is the government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, we will never grow properly. The administration of the government may change from time to time but governance of the country should be continuous so that initiatives that are beneficial to the growth, development and advancement of the nation are carried out.

Patient care advancement through proper digitisation of records should and must become a priority. Patience and empathy should be a characteristic of caregivers. Building a new hospital without a new change in attitude of some caregivers would be fruitless.

The unfortunate death of a young mother recently at PMH due to alleged negligence is another sad case added to the many others of young women, who due to their circumstances, had to engage the care of PMH. We must hear their cries. We must hear their pleas and we must speak with one voice, one purpose.

I call upon this administration to complete projects left on the drawing board and in the pipelines by the former administration for the improvement of general health care at our public health facilities. I recommend that a government operated clinic, equipped with an up to date asthma

bay, be available 24 hours to alleviate the flow of non-critical patients at the PMH. I also suggest that perhaps the purchase and remodeling of the Taylor Industries building across from the main hospital to serve as a Birthing Centre with an operating theatre, NICU and maternity ward would be an option to free up beds at the main hospital. While it is good to want to spend millions to build a new facility in some yet unidentified location, let us please look at the immediate crisis and seek some relief in the shortest timeline.

Our blood bank should also remain open at least until 10pm daily to allow persons the flexibility of donating blood on their way home from work. Perhaps even obtaining a mobile van that can be strategically placed on weekends can be looked at. The proper registration of patients would allow their blood type to be on record in the system so that when and if a plea is made for blood for a patient, the patient’s blood type is listed. This would perhaps prompt persons with the same type to come forth and donate.

How many more lives must be lost laying in overcrowded hallways? How many more children must become motherless and fatherless because we as a Nation fail in our Public Health Care? How many more tears must be shed before we say enough is enough and do something about it?

We must do better to ensure that as we move forward, it must be upward mobility that will take us onward to a brighter and better tomorrow together as a people united in love and service.

The health of a nation is the wealth of the nation.

VANESSA A. SCOTT,

PEOPLE walk past an arch at the Yeni Cami or New Mosque in Eminonu district in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday.

Photo: Francisco Seco/AP

MAN JAILED FOR ROLE IN SEX ATTACK

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN charged in connection with a recent home invasion and abetting the sexual assault of a woman was sentenced to 24 months prison in court for a separate stealing charge.

Dennis Ingraham, 26, faced Magistrate Algernon Allen, Jr, this week on a charge of stealing.

This comes a week after Ingraham was charged before Magistrate Samuel McKinney of abetment to rape, abetment to burglary and two counts of abetment to armed robbery.

According to police reports, it is alleged that around 5am on January 10, three men armed with handguns broke into a

married couple’s residence on Marshall Road. While there it is said that the suspects tied up the couple as well as their visiting relatives and stole a variety of items.

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

For this offence, the accused was informed that he will return to court on March 13 for service of his voluntary bill of indictment which will transfer this matter to the Supreme Court.

Regarding his separate stealing charge, Ingraham was sentenced to 24 months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services by Magistrate Allen.

TWO YEARS IN JAIL OVER LOADED GUN

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sentenced to two years in prison yesterday for the seizure of a loaded firearm last November.

Dean Smith, 20, and four other men all stood before Senior Magistrate Derence A Rolle Davis on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition.

On November 13, 2022, the men were arrested by authorities after they were found with a black Austria Glock .40 pistol with the serial number erased.

Labour Minister Bell: Unemployment statistics have not been forthcoming

At the time of their arrest, they were also found with 11 unfired rounds of .40 ammunition.

During an earier court appearance, Dean pleaded guilty to the charge while his co-accused all pleaded not guilty.

In his latest appearance before the magistrate Dean was sentenced to two years in prison for the firearm and ammunition charges to be served concurrently. He was further informed that time served would be taken into consideration from his remand in November.

The remaining accused had the charges against them withdrawn.

BAIL WARNING FOR SUSPECT

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was warned and released from custody yesterday after admitting to having a faulty electronic monitoring device (EMD) while on bail on two murder charges.

Derico “Sparky” Bowe, 28, faced Senior Magistrate Derence A Rolle Davis on a charge of violation of bail conditions.

This is in connection with charges before the Supreme Court on two counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

Bowe is accused of murdering Andrew Mackey and attempting to murder Dentry Williams on May 4, 2022.

He is also accused of killing Arison Pratt on April 30

of that same year.

While on bail, Bowe was fined $2,000 on October 31, 2022 by Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans. He admitted to failing to comply with his residential curfew on four occasions last September.

Regarding his most recent charge on January 7, it is said that the accused failed to charge his electronic monitoring device.

In court, he pleaded guilty to his latest charge. However he successfully explained to the magistrate that he was only found in breach of bail because his EMD’s power system is faulty.

As a result, Magistrate Davis only warned the defendant on the charge before releasing him.

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

LABOUR Minister

Keith Bell admitted yesterday that statistics on the country’s unemployment rate have not been as “forthcoming” as he would like.

Mr Bell said he has asked the Labour Department to provide him with the latest data on the country’s employment numbers.

“I’ve tasked the Department of Labour to provide me with accurate statistics in respect to the employment numbers. You’d have seen that we would have had a number of employment initiatives with the private sector and the government,” he said.

“But again, I know the media has been asking me

for that a number of times and even though it comes within another department, I have asked the Labour Department to specifically tell me the specific numbers of hires and I think that that is what we all want.

“Unfortunately, it isn’t as forthcoming as I would want it, but you will get it as soon as I get it.”

While no official unemployment survey has been conducted since the pandemic, at the peak of lockdowns, border closures and other COVID restrictions it was thought that more than half the Bahamian workforce had been laid-off or furloughed.

Last June, Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis said the country’s unemployment rate stood below 20 percent.

The country’s labour force survey was scheduled to begin late last year.

However, it is not clear how much progress officials have made to gather statistics on the nation’s unemployment rate to date or if the process has even begun.

In the meantime, Mr Bell said officials are seeking to create more work opportunities for jobless Bahamians and also, prepare the next generation for the workplace.

“It’s important that they acquire the skills. It is important that they know what is available, and that they begin to create the mindset to ensure that they get those jobs and we are offering the training through not just the Labour Department, but also all of the agencies through

government and the private sector,” he added.

This comes as some businesses are struggling to sustain operations due to the high cost of living, among other factors.

Yesterday, Mr Bell was asked for an update on discussions with gas retailers concerning their requested margin increase.

According to the Bahamas Petroleum Dealers Association’s vice president, while most retailers have not laid off any staff yet, they have had to reduce employee hours to keep business afloat.

“(As long as) they operat within the confines of the law, I cannot regulate and I cannot deal with what it is that they have to face every day but (once) they operate within the confines of the law, I cannot interfere,” Mr Bell said of the issue.

MINISTER of Labour Keith Bell yesterday at the Office of The Prime Minister.

Photo: Moisie Amisial

Anti-Haitian sentiment rooted in white supremacy

LAST week, in response to questions about shantytowns in Abaco, Member of Parliament for Central and South Abaco John Pinder said: “We’re gonna lose our father’s place. Our ancestors settled there[…]”

This is very odd phrasing for anyone, but especially bothersome coming from a white man, talking about an island in a majority black country with a history of slavery.

Which “fathers” was he talking about? Which ancestors actually made the decision to “settle” in The Bahamas? Who actually did the growing? Was he speaking out of ignorance, or was he sending a message to people, encouraging them to do something before “the boiling point” is reached?

The immigration issue never seems to be out of the news. There is always a story about immigration, and too many of them dehumanise the people involved, specifically because they are – or are assumed to be – Haitian people.

People complain about irregular immigration with sweeping generalisations. They are loud and consistent in their vague, poorly articulated arguments.

From there being too many to there being too many gaining entry at a time. From migrant people taking all of the jobs to their supposed contributions to rises in crime. From alleged disinterest in assimilating here to being too much competition, especially with an additional language.

Haitian migrants are an easy target, always there for the convenience of a

By Alicia Wallace

mediocre person who needs to assign blame for their latest failure.

The question, especially for those who quickly jump onto bandwagons like the anti-Haitian one, is who will be the new scapegoat when Haitian migrants are no longer available for the role and the problems are not solved? Who will the angry mob turn to next?

Will they double down on women?

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people? People with disabilities? Children? Who will they decide has taken too much and contributed too little?

This kind of hunt, this kind of hatred, this kind of exclusion never ends with one group of people. There will always be another group to turn on.

speaking only of Haitian migrants, another set calls it “xenophobia”. This is a term for the hatred of people from other countries or of anything foreign. This is not the best way to describe the specific hostility toward Haitian people. A more precise term is “anti-Haitian.”

‘The Bahamian people who complain about the immigration of Haitian people do not generally dislike people who are not Bahamian. They are fine with European immigrants. They are fine with American immigrants. They are fine with Canadian immigrants. Those people are called “expats”.’

In many cases, when one set of people rages about immigration issues,

The Bahamian people who complain about the immigration of Haitian people do not generally dislike people who are not Bahamian. They are fine with European immigrants. They are fine with American immigrants. They are fine with Canadian immigrants. Those people are called “expats”. Haitians? They are referred to as “immigrants”. They are called “illegals”, completely stripping them of their humanity by making them synonymous with the way they may have entered the

country.

Haitian people, in particular, are treated with this disdain. No one else.

This is beyond xenophobia. This is anti-Haitian. It is hostility toward this group of people because of their place of origin. This is inextricably linked to race and class.

Take any argument that is used against Haitian migrants, and explore the way it is discussed or ignored in relation to other migrants.

A popular complaint is that Haitian people will take all of the jobs. Can this be true? What kind of work do the Haitian migrants who enter the country through irregular channels do? Do they become executives at large resorts? Do they become managing directors of utility companies? Do they get jobs that Bahamians are interested and qualified to do? The white migrants from North America certainly do.

When they run out of economic nonsense, the handwringing about loss of culture begins. How would immigrants rob The Bahamas of its culture? How could they take Bahamian people’s culture. We have done very little to rid ourselves and this place of bad culture that was forced upon us, and that many of us now actively and willing participate in every day.

Look at the political culture. Look at corporate culture. Look at the fundamentalist culture of many Christians and their churches. Look at the culture of every institution in this country, from schools and banks to media. Where did the rules and regulations originate? Who makes the decisions? Who does the work, and who gets the credit?

What if we expanded our thinking about culture? What if we were less of afraid of losing it, and more committed to preserving it, not by putting expressions of it in glass cases in museums, but participating in it every day, and being open to the ways it could grow, transform, replicate itself, and fuse with others?

Anti-Haitian ideology and behaviors are functions of white supremacy which is the belief that white people are superior and should dominate all other people.

It is entirely possible to be Black and an active participant in white supremacy.

Racism is so poisonous that it encourages us – the people it oppress – to accept stereotypes about each other.

A consequence of not talking about racism or admitting that it exists everywhere, including this majority black country, is that we fail to recognise the ways we internalise the idea that we are subordinate in the system that racism produces.

In order to gain favor or access opportunities, we learn to differentiate ourselves from one another.

Lighter skin, straightened hair or looser curls, “proper” English, crossing the line from politeness to deference, and anything else that would suggest or allow proximity to whiteness. Respectability politics becomes a practice that is second nature as black people attempt to be – or at least appear – less black.

This – respectability and aspiring to whiteness – is one of the ways many Bahamians have made a distinction between themselves and Haitian people. How many have been scolded, as children, told to stay out of the sun, lest they get “too black?” How many are punished for speaking Bahamian Creole, the first language for most of us?

Internalised racism is a disaster. It is the continuation of violence endured by our ancestors – who did not “settle” here so much as they were kidnapped and nearly killed in the transatlantic trip after which they were forced to work – that we have the power to end.

We, frankly, cannot afford to wield it as a weapon against the people whose ancestors led the revolution that brought our ancestors freedom. What are we doing with our freedom now?

It is foolish to resent the will to survive. That is all most Haitian migrants bring with them to The Bahamas. Not plans to outnumber Bahamians, not a manifesto to take all of the jobs, and not a blueprint to erasing Bahamian culture.

We do not need protection from people who are seeking safety and security. The threat against us is not people who need our help.

It is scarcity thinking. The threat is the idea that we must hoard our resources. It is the encouragement from absolute idiots with large followings to refuse to protect and stand in solidarity with the people who still believe in freedom and are unafraid to seek the tools to create it.

What if France were held responsible for its tyranny, and paid reparations to Haiti? What if Britain finally paid reparations as set out in the CARICOM ten-point plan? Would we still be scrapping for resources? What if we turned our rage toward colonisers and people upholding racist systems? What if we worked together, across the region, to demand and to succeed in getting reparations? What if we created a culture of solidarity and resource-sharing? What if we could see ourselves in one another?

When we separate ourselves from Haitian people, regarding ourselves as deserving of everything and referring to them as subhuman and worthless, we embolden people like the MP for Central and South Abaco to talk about “[their] fathers place” as though black Bahamians do not exist.

Do not miss the way people speak past us. Do not ignore the order of events. It matters who speaks first, who shows up later, and how they make their comments. Always place yourself in the trajectory of events. Again, the group people target today will expand or change entirely, and it could include you. This is a terrible reason to care, but it is a reason, nonetheless.

We are not so different from Haitian migrants. Black, robbed, lied to, regarded as means of production, scapegoated when it is convenient. We would benefit greatly from the recognition that we are black. That our shared history is relevant. That our collective voice is powerful. That we do not need to attack each other. That we have been duped into thinking we have to be in a competition with another. That we cannot divide and conquer each other to win.

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created on your phone. The application you sent five minutes before the deadline, the best comeback you have ever landed, and the most appetizing dinner you have ever plated can be noted in your planner or tucked into a folder in your phone.

Looking at these things at the end of the week or on a particularly hard day can bring some joy into your life.

Many of us had a hard time learning that we are not and will never be great at everything, and still struggle to understand that it is okay to try new things for fun, and not have to win or be especially good at them all. You can be a slow runner and celebrate your fastest run. You can be terrible at drawing and like the self portrait you

2. Create a system for regular tasks.

If you have to do it often, there is probably a way to do it faster or more efficiently. Out of office auto-replies, email templates, recurring alarms and notifications, and timers can all be helpful tools. Make them work for you.

CAPTURED immigrants awaiting a Bahamas Air flight in Inagua to transport them back to their home country in 2019.

FARM shanty town near Treasure Cay, Abaco, in 2021.

1. Record your small wins. Everyone needs a confidence boost from time to time. Many of us were trained to ignore our success, regarding every good grade, award, or other achievement as what we ought to earn, our singular purpose being to produce in ways that are gratifying and bring pride to our parents and guardians.

Back-to-back shootings in Northern California; third in eight days

CALIFORNIA

Associated Press

AN agricultural worker killed seven people in backto-back shooting sprees at two mushroom farms that had employed him in Northern California and the massacre is believed to be a “workplace violence incident,” officials said Tuesday as the state mourned its third mass killing in eight days.

Officers arrested a suspect in Monday’s shootings, 66-year-old Chunli Zhao, after they found him in his car in the parking lot of a sheriff’s substation, San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus said.

Seven people were found dead, and an eighth wounded, at the farms on the outskirts of the coastal community of Half Moon Bay, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The sheriff’s office said seven of the victims were men and one was a woman. Some were Asian and others were Hispanic, and some were migrant workers.

“All of the evidence we have right now points to a workplace violence incident,” said Eamonn Allen,

a spokesman with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. He said that Zhao used a semi-automatic handgun that was legally purchased and owned.

Allen said that Zhao he went in shooting at Mountain Mushroom Farm, where he worked, killed four people and then went to a farm where he used to work and killed another three.

Aerial television images Monday showed police officers collecting evidence from a farm with dozens of greenhouses, which appeared to be the location where police found four dead. On Tuesday morning, police continued to block off the location.

California was still reeling Tuesday from an attack on a Lunar New Year celebration in Monterey Park, just outside Los Angeles, that killed 11 and cast a shadow over an important holiday for many AsianAmerican communities.

Authorities are still seeking a motive for the Saturday shooting.

“For the second time in recent days, California communities are mourning the loss of loved ones in a senseless act of gun

violence,” President Joe Biden said Tuesday morning. “Even as we await further details on these shootings, we know the scourge of gun violence across America requires stronger action.”

The new year has brought six mass killings in the US in fewer than three weeks, accounting for 39 deaths. Three have occurred in California since Jan 16, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. The database tracks every mass killing — defined as four dead not including the offender — committed in the US since 2006.

On Jan 16, a teenage mother and her baby were among six people killed in a shooting at a home in California’s Central Valley. Officials discussing the investigation mentioned a possible gang link to the killings.

Half Moon Bay Vice Mayor Joaquin Jimenez said the victims of Monday’s attack included Chinese and Latino farmworkers. Some workers lived at one of the facilities and children

US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES GOOGLE OVER DIGITAL ADVERTISING DOMINACE

THE Justice Department and eight states filed an antitrust suit against Google on Tuesday, seeking to shatter its alleged monopoly on the entire ecosystem of online advertising as a hurtful burden to advertisers, consumers and even the US government.

The government alleges that Google’s plan to assert dominance has been to

The antitrust suit was filed in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a press conference yesterday that “for 15 years, Google has pursued a course of anti-competitive conduct” that has halted the rise of rival technologies and

manipulated the mechanics of online ad auctions to force advertisers and publishers to use its tools.

In so doing, he added, “Google has engaged in exclusionary conduct” that has “severely weakened,” if not destroyed, competition in the ad tech industry.

“First, Google controls the technology used by nearly every major website publisher to offer advertising space for sale. Second, Google controls the leading

may have witnessed the shooting, she said.

The Sheriff’s Office first received reports of a shooting Monday afternoon and found four people dead and a fifth wounded at the first scene. Officers then found three more people fatally shot at a second farm nearby, Allen said.

About two hours later, a sheriff’s deputy spotted Zhao’s car parked outside a sheriff’s substation in a strip mall and arrested him.

tool used by advertisers to buy that advertising space. And third, Google controls the largest ad exchange that matches publishers and advertisers together each time that ad space is sold,” Garland said.

As a result, he added, “website creators earn less and advertisers pay more.” And this means fewer publishers can offer their content without subscriptions, paywalls and other fees to make up for revenue.

The department’s suit accuses Google of unlawfully monopolizing the way ads are served online by excluding competitors.

“He did not actively surrender to us,” Allen told a news conference Tuesday, declining to answer a question on why Zhao had driven to the sheriff substation.

A video of the arrest showed three officers approaching a parked car with drawn weapons. Zhao got out of the car, and the officers pulled him to the ground, put him in handcuffs, and led him away. A weapon was found in his vehicle,

This includes its 2008 acquisition of DoubleClick, a dominant ad server, and subsequent rollout of technology that locks in the split-second bidding process for ads that get served on web pages.

Google’s ad manager lets large publishers who have significant direct sales manage their advertisements. The ad exchange, meanwhile, is a real-time marketplace to buy and sell online display ads.

The lawsuit demands that Google break off three different businesses from its core business of

officials said. The video was captured by Kati McHugh, a Half Moon Bay resident who witnessed the arrest.

The sheriff’s department believes Zhao acted alone.

“We’re still trying to understand exactly what happened and why, but it’s just incredibly, incredibly tragic,” said state Senator Josh Becker, who represents the area and called it “a very close-knit” agricultural community.

search, YouTube and other products such as Gmail: the buying and selling of ads and ownership of the exchange where that business is transacted.

Alphabet Inc, Google’s parent company, said in a statement that the suit “doubles down on a flawed argument that would slow innovation, raise advertising fees, and make it harder for thousands of small businesses and publishers to grow.”

An internet services trade group that includes Google as a member described the lawsuit and its “radical structural remedies” as unjustified.

SHERIFF’s deputies talk with people at the scene of a deadly shooting where several fatalities occurred off state Highway 92 in Half Moon Bay, California, on Monday.

Photo: Gabrielle Lurie/AP

GIANTS AND EAGLES WIN THE NPBA’S DOUBLE HEADER

THE Commonwealth Bank Giants and the RC Liquors Eagles won the New Providence Basketball Association’s double header played on Monday night at the AF Adderley Gymnasium.

In the men’s division one opener, the Giants knocked off the Leno Regulators 85-75, while in the division II opener, the Eagles pulled off a 77-60 decision over BIBT Great Whites.

Giants 85, Regulators 75: Dylan Musgrove pumped in a game high 19 points with eight rebounds, three block shots and two steals to pace Commonwealth Bank to victory.

Jackson Jacob scored 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals; Jordan Wilson had 15 points, five rebounds and four assists; Michael Bain Jr had 12 points, 12 rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks; Christoff McKenzie had 10 points and two assists and Adam Johnson added nine points with 10 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals.

In a losing effort, Kemsey Syvestre scored 18 points with 10 rebounds, two assists and a block; Cruz Simon had 16 points and two steals; Alexander Rolle had 10 points, 12 rebounds, four steals and two assists; Chico Francis had nine points, nine rebounds and two assists; Darius Adam had eight points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals and Kenneth Pratt had seven points and five rebounds.

Eagles 77, Whites 60: Lorenzo Riley led a balanced scoring attack 14 points with nine rebounds and five assists to secure the win.

Alexio Francis had 10 points, 17 rebounds and two blocks; Sherman Marshall also had 10 points with 11 rebounds and six assists; Cornelius Rigby had eight points and 10 rebounds; Vaushaun Bullard also had eight points with three rebounds and three steals; Devon Seymour had seven points and both Dominic Wallace (five rebounds) and Traveno Miller added six points apiece.

BIBT Great Whites were led by Lamont McPhee with a game high 19 points, nine rebounds and a pair of steals and blocks.

Decarlo Gray had 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals; Jordan Gibson had eight points, four steals, three rebounds and two assists and Lorenzo Hart chipped in with seven points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.

• Tonight’s schedule

7 pm Mekaddish Millionaires vs Discount Distributors Rockets (DII).

8 pm Zula Media Marketing vs Leon Regulators (D1).

• Friday’s schedule

7 pm Rebels vs BIBT Great Whites (DII).

8 pm Caro Contractors Shockers vs Tucker Boys (D1).

• Saturday’s schedule

7 pm RC Liquors Eagles vs Produce Express (DII).

8 pm Discount Distributors Liquors Rockets vs TMT Giants (D1).

Charlton and Cartwright star at Larry Wieczorek Invitational

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ALTHOUGH she doesn’t have a major indoor championship to compete in this year, national record holder Devynne Charlton said she’s pleased with her progress so far in the women’s 60 metres hurdles.

While she used her appearance at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational at the University of Iowa to gauge where she’s at right now, she even thrilled to see how well collegian Denish Cartwright, who was named the Female Athlete of the Meet, performed against the world-class field in the Hawkeye Pro competition.

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

LONG time close friend Wellington Miller is calling for an honour for the late Everette ‘Elisha Obed’ Ferguson, the first and only Bahamian to win a world boxing title, during the 50th celebrations of the Independence of the Bahamas.

Ever since he won the World Boxing Council’s light-middleweight title in 1975, Miller, the immediate past president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, has been advocating for some recognition for Elisha Obed, who has been placed in the initial Bahamas Hall of Fame in 1989. Elisha Obed died on June 28, 2018.

“I was in El Salvador

Charlton, competing for Puma, finished second in the final of the event in 7.89 seconds behind American Alaysha Johnson, who did 7.84. Cartwright, a junior at Minnesota State, was fifth in 8.16.

In the preliminaries, however, Charlton had the fastest qualifying time of 7.97 ahead of Johnson, who did 8.00. Cartwright got the third spot with an impressive time of 8.07, which was a new Minnesota State school record.

“I felt pretty good about my performance, considering that last year was World Indoors and this year, there’s none, but I’m pretty much ahead of where I was then,” said Charlton, who

went on to win the silver medal at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

“It all bodes well for outdoors.”

Charlton said what she likes about Cartwright is that they are both pretty short for the event, so they tend to run the same type of style and so having her side-by-side, they were able to push each other along.

Charlton, 27, also got a bronze in 100m hurdles and a silver on the women’s 4 x 100m relay team at the NACAC Championships in Grand Bahama, after placing seventh at the World Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

She said she’s looking

was surprised by so many people who have indicated to me that they remember Elisha Obed,” said Miller, a former amateur heavyweight boxer, who, in November, was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“I have agitated before and I’m pleading again to the Bahamas Government to honour Elisha Obed for his accomplishment. We have nothing for people to come and say that we had a world boxing champion.

forward to competing against the rest of the Bahamian hurdlers and hopefully team-up in a shuttle relay.

With her performance, Cartwright is now fourth on the all-time Bahamian list behind Charlton, Pedrya Seymour and collegian Charisma Taylor.

She admitted that she was shocked that she ran 8.07.

“My team-mates were hyping me after I ran the race.

“I just executed the race. I was shocked and I was

has two stadiums named after Thomas A. Robinson, baseball has a new stadium named after Andre Rodgers, Tonique Williams has a highway named after her and now Frank Rutherford has a subdivision named in his honour.

“What about Elisha Obed?” Miller questioned.

surprised,” she said.

“I knew I had it in me to run that fast, but one of my coaches told me that I was still dragging my trail leg, so I know once I correct it, I can go even faster.”

Cartwright, who competed at the Commonwealth Games last year in Birmingham, England, said it worked in her favour to run next to Charlton in the race.

“I knew she was going to push me,” Charlton said. “So, I just decided to chase

they can recall the history of Elisha Obed. It could inspire and give some young man some hope to do something great for our country.”

for the technical meetings for the Central American and Caribbean Games that will be held in June, and I

“We don’t have anything tangible for our kids to remember their history. Are we ashamed of our history? Elisha Obed is our very own Bahamian, who won a world title and, today, there is nothing substantial that is named after him.”

Miller said track and field

“I’m asking our Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, our Minister of Sports Mario Bowleg and our Minister of Works Alfred Sears to consider naming the East-West Highway in honour of Elisha Obed.

“In this 50th anniversary of our Independence, let’s do something more tangible to keep the memory of Elisha Obed alive.

“With the schools using the highway as a crossing,

Elisha Obed captured the WBC’s light middleweight title in 1975, defeating Miguel de Oliveira. He went on to defend his title twice, relinquishing it in 1976 top Germany’s Eckhard Dagge after he claimed he was thumbed in his eye and had to quit.

After moving up to the middleweight division, Elisha Obed fought Australian Rocky Mattioli for the world title, but was knocked out in the seventh round.

He continued fighting locally before he eventually retired in 1988.

DENISHA Cartwright with her Female Athlete of the Meet award.

DEVYNNE Charlton in action in the women’s 60m hurdles.

EVERETTE ‘Elisha Obed’ Ferguson

In addition to the hurdles, Cartwright also clocked 7.37 for sixth place in the 60-metre dash against a field that included two other Division I athletes, two post-collegians, and two professionals.

Cartwright, 23, also picked up a second-place finish in the 200m in 23.87 behind Iowa’s junior Lasarah Hargrove, who won in 23.79.

While that meet was going on, Charlton’s younger sister Anthaya Charlton, a sophomore at the University of Kentucky, led a small field of competitors at the Red Raider Open at the Sports Performance Center in Lubbock, Texas with a triple appearance.

Her best performance came in the women’s long jump where she soared 19-feet, 9-inches or 6.02 metres for fourth place on her first attempt. She also did 19-2 3/4 (5.86m), 19-1 1/2 (5.83m), 19-4 3/4 (5.91m), 19-6 (5.94m) and 19-8 1/4 (6.00m) on her next five jumps.

The winning leap was 20-9 (6.32m) by Texas A&M junior G’Auna Edwards.

Charlton was also third in her heat of the 200m in 24.62 for tenth place overall.

In the preliminaries of the women’s 60m, Camille Rutherford, a sophomore at Texas A&M, was second in her heat to finish ninth in 7.44 and Charlton was also second in her heat for 10th in 7.45, but they both missed qualifying for the final.

On the men’s side, Wanya McCoy, a sophomore at Clemson, was fifth in the final of the 60m in 6.69. The winning time was 6.55 by Jordan Anthony, a freshman at Kentucky. In the preliminaries, McCoy was sixth after he placed second in his heat.

McCoy, with a split of 46.86 on the first leg, helped Clemson’s team of Tares Rhoden, Cameron Rose and Daniel Kidd do 3:07.78 for fourth place in the men’s 4 x 400m relay. Texas Tech took the victory in 3:04.52.

METS SIGN OUTFIELDER TOMMY PHAM TO $6 MILLION, 1-YEAR DEAL

BASEBALL

NEW YORK (AP) —

The New York Mets signed veteran outfielder Tommy Pham to a one-year contract for $6 million Tuesday, adding to their busy offseason.

Pham can earn another $2 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances.

He provides depth and a dangerous bat, giving New York a proven fourth outfielder and a right-handed option at designated hitter to complement lefty Daniel Vogelbach.

The 34-year-old Pham spent last season with Cincinnati and Boston, batting .236 overall with 17 home runs, 63 RBIs and a .686 OPS. He scored 89 runs in 144 games.

“Tommy adds another versatile right-handed bat to our lineup,” general manager Billy Eppler said in a statement. “His ability to grind through at bats, stay within the strike zone, impact the baseball, and run the bases is a valuable addition to our ballclub.”

Pham is a .259 career hitter with 114 homers, 97 stolen bases and a .787 OPS in nine major league seasons with the Cardinals, Rays, Padres, Reds and Red Sox.

THE University of The Bahamas Mingoes picked up two wins to go along with other strong finishes at DTSP Wolfpack’s Neville Wisdom Classic at The Thomas A Robinson National Stadium Saturday.

Kenold Jean won the open men’s 3000m event and Lhevinne Joseph won the open men’s 800m event. Jaidyn Brown had a top three finish in the open men’s high jump as well.

Head coach Ednal Rolle said he was pleased with the team’s performance in only the second meet of the year.

“It was a great performance from the team,” he said.

“I had four Mingoes with season’s best performances, so I’m excited as this is only the second meet of the season. We are steadily improving as I expected and I’m looking for a great season going forward.”

Kenold Jean started The Mingoes off with a solid win the open men’s 3000m event. Jean won the event in 10 minutes 40.74 seconds.

Nathan Johnson of Hurry Murray took second in 10:46.09.

Middle-distance specialist Lhevinne Joseph won the open men’s 800m event in 1:56.16—a second and a half ahead of his nearest competitor. Kenzie Knowles of Swift Athletics took second in 1:57.66.

Jackson Ozias took fourth spot for The Mingoes

in 2:05.61. Joseph never trailed after the 100 metre break in the race.

“I felt really good out there for the first 800metre event of the season,” Joseph said.

“The whole goal of the race was to take the first 400 comfortably and then make the whole race as comfortable as possible.

“I wanted to get there in 57 seconds and then bring it back. This was my third best time of all time and that’s a good time to have in only my second meet of the season. I’m hoping to get to a 1:52 by the end of the season.”

Jaidyn Brown took the third in open high jump clearing 1.8m (5-10 ¾). Brown easily cleared 1.75m (5-9 ½) but had two knockdowns at 1.8m and cleared on his third attempt. He had three knockdowns at 1.85m (6-1).

Brianique Strachan finished fourth in the open women’s 100m event in a time of 12.53 seconds. Tamara Myers of Leap of Faith won the event in 12.16 seconds.

In the open women’s 800m event, Lakeicia Lewis finished fourth in 2:35.21 and Fridline Augustin finished sixth in 2:40.69.

Dennis Williamson took fifth spot in the open men’s 200m in 22.84 seconds.

Jeremiah Adderley from DTSP Wolfpack won the event in 21.89 seconds.

her and go for it because I knew she was going to be one of the favourites to win it.”

UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas long-distance specialist Kenold Jean leads the pack in the open men’s 3000m. (UB ATHLETICS)

UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas middle-distance specialist Lhevinne Joseph leads the pack in the open men’s 800m. (UB ATHLETICS)

UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas middle-distance specialist Lakeicia Lewis runs the open women’s 800m. (UB ATHLETICS)

UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas middledistance specialist Jackson Ozias runs the open men’s 800m. (UB ATHLETICS)

UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas middle-distance specialist Fridline Augustin runs the open women’s 800m. (UB ATHLETICS)

BENGALS O-LINE SUBS STAY READY AHEAD OF AFC TITLE GAME

By MITCH STACY AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP)

— Coach Zac Taylor says he never doubted the toughness of the Bengals offensive line, no matter how many backups had to be pushed into service to replace the injured starters.

“We’ve had confidence throughout,” Taylor insisted Monday, a day after Cincinnati dominated Buffalo to advance to the AFC championship game. “I think it’s everybody else who wants to create a narrative of no confidence.”

Nobody would have blamed Taylor if he had been a little uneasy about the situation. The Bengals were going into snowy Buffalo with three replacements on an offensive line that had been such an important part of Cincinnati’s winning streak in November and December.

Jackson Carman, 23, started an NFL game at tackle for the first time, slotting in for Jonah Williams, who was out after dislocating a kneecap last week. Hakeem Adeniji started his third game this season in place of La’el Collins (knee) at right tackle, and Max Scharping started a second at right guard for Alex Cappa (ankle).

The result was a 27-10 win and one of the most complete games of the season for the Bengals offence.

The line benefited from Joe Burrow’s ability to speed through his progressions and get the ball out fast.

The third-year quarterback picked apart the Bills, completing his first nine passes and giving the Bengals a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Running back Joe Mixon picked up yards in chunks, finishing with 105 yards and a touchdown. Burrow was sacked just once and took only three hits.

“They were mauling guys,” Mixon said of the O-line.

Mixon had his first 100yard game since putting up 153 yards and four touchdowns in the Week 9 win over Carolina that started the Bengals on their current 10-game win streak.

Center Ted Karras was credited with keeping the linemen together and making sure they were communicating. Karras got banged up himself, getting his right knee taped in the second quarter and visibly limping, but he played through it.

“We knew we had a big task on our shoulders against a great defensive front with three (new) guys coming in, and the biggest moment in our football lives up until this point, so unbelievable performance,” said Karras, a seven-year veteran who spent the first part of his career blocking for Tom Brady in New England. “I’m so proud of the guys.”

Adeniji, who started nine games last season and sometimes struggled with pass protection, has held his own at right tackle since Collins tore an ACL against the Patriots on Christmas Eve.

“You got three new guys that haven’t played together a whole lot. It’s a loud environment, which already makes it difficult with guys who are on the same page,” Adeniji said.

“Obviously, there’s other things, but that was the biggest thing. I feel like we were able to nail that, and we were in unison on a lot of the stuff that we were doing, and it pays dividends.”

Cappa, who has an ankle injury, and Williams are considered week to week so their status for Sunday’s AFC championship game at Kansas City is uncertain.

MINGOES LOSE ON PENALTIES AFTER 5-5 THRILLER

THE University of the Bahamas Mingoes Men’s Soccer side was knocked out of the Bahamas Football Association Hummel Cup competition, losing to Dynamos 5-4 in penalty kicks after the match ended with a 5-5 tie.

The match was important match for The Mingoes as Dynamos handed the team its last loss of 2022.

The Dynamos started the match off fast and scored early in the 10th and `18th minutes.

Mingoes midfielder Ronaldo Green responded with a brilliant goal in the 26th minute and then scored another in the 33rd minute to tie the match at 2-2.

In the 42nd minute, midfielder Nathan Well scored with a spectacular bending corner to put The Mingoes up 3-2.

Three minutes later and just before the break, Collins Ngigi scored his first goal of the season and put The Mingoes up 4-2 to end the half.

Coming out of half time, Dynamos responded fast with goals in the 47th, 54th and 58th minutes to give Dynamos the 5-4 lead.

In the 65th minute, Green was tackled in the box for a successful penalty kick to tie the match at 5-5 where it would end and go to penalty kicks.

Green was sent out first for The Mingoes and surprisingly missed – the only miss for not only for The

Mingoes but the entire penalty shootout.

Dynamos took the match 5-4 in penalties and advanced to the next round of The Hummel Cup.

Head coach Dion Godet said the team had several opportunities to put the match away and win it in regulation.

“We allowed the game to go into penalty kicks and I say allowed because we had a lot of opportunities on offence tonight,” he said. “Dynamos had a lot of opportunities as well and it was a very entertaining game and congrats to Dynamos who move on. Tonight we simply didn’t finish all of our opportunities and we had a couple of defensive breakdowns.

Godet said the match does set the tone for the rest of the regular season.

“It was our first game back after the break and I saw some positive stuff from the guys and hopefully we get better and build on that and get back on a winning streak in very short order.”

The Hummel Cup is a tournament that starts in the middle of the season and seedings are based on standings at the Christmas break. The tournament then runs at the same time as the regular season and has its own trophy.

The Mingoes next play Renegades in regular season action on Sunday, February 5 at The Roscow A.L. Davies Field.

CHARLOTTE,

The

The

Decision

Carolina has completed its first round of interviews and will conduct a second round of interviews before making a final decision.

The Cowboys were eliminated from the playoffs following a 19-12 loss to the San Francisco on Sunday.

NFL Network analyst and former Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith Sr., for one, would like to see owner David Tepper go in a different direction than hiring Moore after watching the Cowboys’ playoff loss.

“We the panthers interviewed Kellen Moore for the HC job! Based on the last play for the cowboys, Ain’t no way ... Moore is coaching us with that trash last play!!!!” Smith tweeted after the game.

UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas

midfielder Ronaldo Green (white 11) dribbles the ball up the field. Green scored three goals as The Mingoes lost 5-4 on penalty kicks.

(UB ATHLETICS)

UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas midfielder Collins Ngigi (white 20) celebrates his first goal of the season.

(UB ATHLETICS)

UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas midfielder Ronaldo Green (white 11) calls for the ball. (UB ATHLETICS)

N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers interviewed Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore on Tuesday for their vacant head coaching position.

Panthers have also interviewed former NFL head coaches Sean Payton, Jim Caldwell and Frank Reich, along with offensive coordinators Shane Steichen of the Eagles, Ken Dorsey of the Bills and Mike Kafka of the Giants.

team has also interviewed Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and Steve Wilks, who went 6-6 as Carolina’s interim head coach this season.

BAM ADEBAYO HAS 30 PTS, AS HEAT RALLIES PAST CELTICS 98-95

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

MIAMI (AP) — Bam

Adebayo had 30 points and 15 rebounds, including the jump shot that put Miami ahead to stay with 20.4 seconds remaining, and the Heat rallied from 14 down to beat the Boston Celtics 98-95 on Tuesday night.

Haywood Highsmith had 15 points and 10 rebounds, Max Strus scored 13 points and Victor Oladipo had 12 for the Heat.

A 15-0 run in the fourth quarter lifted the Heat, who split the regular-season series with the Celtics 2-2.

Jayson Tatum finished with 31 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists for the Celtics.

Derrick White scored 23 points, and Robert Williams III had 11.

Tyler Herro stole a cross-court pass thrown by Jayson Tatum with just over a second remaining, denying Boston a chance to tie or take the lead.

Highsmith’s free throw with 0.6 seconds left put Miami up by three. Boston called time, and Payton Pritchard’s straightaway 30-footer fell short as time expired.

Boston led 87-77 when Williams got an alleyoop dunk with 8:47 left. The Heat scored the next 15 points while the Celtics missed 10 consecutive shots — but Tatum’s three-point play with 2:19 left stopped both of those runs and got Boston within 92-90.

Boston was without three would-be starters in Jaylen Brown (right adductor), Al Horford (lower back stiffness) and Marcus Smart (right ankle) — as well as Malcolm Brogdon, out for personal reasons.

Miami played without Jimmy Butler, who sat out with lower back tightness.

Tatum had 21 of his points by intermission, and the Celtics closed the half on an 11-0 run to take a 58-50 lead. Gabe Vincent’s 3-pointer with 6:57 left in the second put Miami up 44-39, but the Heat missed 14 of their next 16 shots to end the half — the only two makes coming on layups.

Boston’s lead would get to 13 in the second half, but Miami rallied.

TIP-INS Celtics: Tatum is averaging 15.3 points in first halves this season, thirdbest in the NBA behind only Luka Doncic and Joel Embiid. ... Boston fell to 7-1 on the second night of back-to-backs this season. The Celtics were the only NBA team entering Tuesday with an unbeaten record in those situations.

Heat: Butler had played in 11 consecutive games, a season-long streak. ... Miami (2722) is a season-high five games over .500. ... Kyle Lowry had eight assists and five rebounds for the Heat. ... Miami turned the ball over only eight times, and Boston turned those into six points. The Heat turned 17 Celtics turnovers into 17 points.

RARE WIN

Including last season’s Eastern Conference finals, the Celtics had won four straight games at Miami — and 13 of their last 16 true road games against the Heat, excluding Miami’s designated home games from the bubble during the 2020 restart.

UP NEXT Celtics: Host New York on Thursday night.

Heat: Host Orlando on Friday night.

Turner, Mathurin spur Pacers’ rally to beat Bulls 116-110

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)

— Myles Turner and Bennedict Mathurin each scored 26 points and Mathurin’s short, go-ahead basket with 29.1 seconds left helped the Indiana Pacers close out a rally from 21 points down to beat the Chicago Bulls 116-110 on Tuesday night.

Indiana snapped a season-worst seven-game losing streak to stay ahead of 10th-place Chicago in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers played again without injured point guard Tyrese Haliburton and this time without his replacement, Andrew Nembhard, who was sick.

T.J. McConnell had 20 points and 10 assists for the Pacers, who have won 11 games this season in which they’ve trailed by double digits.

DeMar DeRozan scored 33 points to lead the Bulls and Nikola Vucevic added 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Chicago’s three-game winning streak came to an end and Vucevic’s streak of 11 consecutive double-doubles also ended.

It was a physical and sometimes ugly game, one Chicago dominated early as it built a 20-5 lead in the first six minutes and extended the margin to 62-41 late in the first half.

But the Bulls, playing on the second night of a backto-back, wore down in the

second half as the Pacers became the aggressors.

Indiana cut the deficit to 87-80 after three quarters and continued charging through the fourth, finally taking their first lead of the game, 102-100, on McConnell’s reverse layup with 4:27 to go.

The teams traded leads or were tied six times afterward — until Mathurin’s 3-footer broke a 110-110 tie. Indiana forced turnovers on

each of the Bulls’ next two possessions and made four straight free throws to close it out.

TIP-INS Bulls: Zach LaVine had 14 points and Derrick Jones Jr. had 10. ... DeRozan finished with five rebounds and three assists. ... Chicago had 16 turnovers, compared with six for Indiana. ...

The Bulls had won the previous four games in this

series.

Pacers: Buddy Hield had 19 points, five rebounds, four assists, four steals and four 3-pointers. ... Turner had eight rebounds while McConnell had three steals.

Indiana was 10 of 37 on 3s. ... Haliburton could return as early as Friday from the sprained left knee and sprained left elbow that contributed to the Pacers’ skid.

MR. 3,000

Following a four-game trip, the Pacers honoured longtime radio play-by-play announcer Mark Boyle for calling his 3,000th game Saturday at Phoenix.

UP NEXT Bulls: Make their second stop on a three-game trip Thursday at Charlotte.

Pacers: At Orlando on Wednesday night to complete a back-to-back.

RANDLE HAS 36, 8 3S AS KNICKS STOP MITCHELL, CAVS 105-103

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) —

Julius Randle had 36 points and 13 rebounds, and his eighth 3-pointer snapped a tie with 2:07 left as the New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 105103 on Tuesday night.

Donovan Mitchell had 24 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in his return from a three-game absence with a left groin strain. But he had his last three shots blocked and was slow to get up after falling to the ground in an effort to save the Cavaliers’ final possession.

RJ Barrett added 16 points and Jalen Brunson had 14 for the Knicks, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

Jarrett Allen had 24 points and 12 rebounds for Cleveland, while Darius Garland added 22 points and six assists.

The Knicks were ahead by 11 with under eight minutes remaining before

Mitchell made a 3-pointer, stole the ball from Randle and fed Isaac Okoro for a three-point play, and then made another 3 for nine straight Cleveland points in barely a minute to trim it to

93-91.

Evan Mobley’s basket tied it with 2 1/2 minutes to play before Randle answered with his 3 on the other end. Cleveland had two chances to tie or cut it to one, but Mitchell was blocked first by Barrett and

then by Isaiah Hartenstein on the next possession.

Brunson then made two free throws for a fivepoint lead but Garland had a three-point play that trimmed it to 105-103. The Cavs got the ball back after a shot-clock violation and

Mitchell drove into the lane but was stopped again by Hartenstein. Mitchell went to the ground and the Cavs batted the ball back out to Evan Mobley, whose jumper missed.

Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff motioned to two

referees afterward that he was trying to get a timeout during that possession that they missed.

Randle had five 3-pointers and 17 points in the first 9 1/2 minutes and the Knicks led 34-27 after one quarter. But he took just one shot in the second, when Allen went 5 for 5 for 10 points as Cleveland cut it to 53-51 at the half.

TIP-INS

Cavaliers: Mobley had 12 points after scoring a career-high 38 against Milwaukee on Saturday. ... The Cavs dropped both games at Madison Square Garden this season, where they have won 12 of their last 16.

Knicks: It was the ninth anniversary of Carmelo Anthony’s 62-point performance against Charlotte that set the Knicks’ and current Madison Square Garden single-game records. ... Brunson will have his No. 1 jersey retired at Villanova, where he won two NCAA titles, at halftime of its Feb. 8 game against DePaul.

UP NEXT Cavaliers: At Houston on Thursday.

Knicks: At Boston on Thursday.

INDIANA Pacers guard Buddy Hield (24) reacts as the Pacers took the lead against the Chicago Bulls during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

INDIANA Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) celebrates his three-point basket as Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso (6) reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday. The Pacers defeated the Bulls 116-110. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

CLEVELAND Cavaliers’ Jarrett Allen, centre, drives past New York Knicks’ Julius Randle, left, and Jalen Brunson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

AID ‘most concerned’ over BPL rate hikes

copes with its COVID surge will play a key role in determining whether product orders, manufacturing and the supply chain are able to hold up and moderate prices.

“This year should be more of a downhill year in terms of all the obstacles we are facing,” Mr Watson said. “The major issues are the cost of living here in Nassau, especially with the BPL rate increase, and

what happens in China. For the most part, this year we should be able to see prices come down. Most increases are from suppliers passing on freight costs, and I think prices should come down based on that.

“Right now, I expect it to be as good if not better than 2022. I expect it to be marginally better than 2022, not a huge increase. That’s how it looks. It depends on how tourism does as well as China. I’m hoping that tourism will remain strong,

and that will override and the net effect will still be better even with the higher cost of living and BPL.”

Citing the positives, Mr Watson said shipping costs from China have “dropped drastically. The rate is lower, much lower that it was pre-COVID. I think it’s around $4,500 on MSC. It’s something like 60 percent of the pre-COVID rate. It’s much lower than before COVID. During COVID the rates increased by 300 percent at one point.

“Rate were up really high midway through last year, but then they dropped drastically,” Mr Watson added. He suggested that interest rate increases, in the US and other developed countries, were helping to dampen consumer demand and shipping costs, with manufacturers also able to catch up with production cycles and fulfilling orders.

“The turnaround time is half the time it used to be,” the AID chief said. “We’re receiving goods much more

quickly than expected, but now they have this large surge [in China’s COVID cases] I’m not sure how much that will affect them. We’re waiting to see if the orders we have in place now are shipped on time. There are still some issues with the supply chain, but for the most part we are able to source the goods we need.”

However, with around 50 percent of AID’s product inventory auto-related, and thus under price control, Mr Watson said the retailer was faced with having to absorb much of BPL’s fuel

BTC contractors seek better working terms

BTC, in a statement responding to its contractors’ concerns, did not address them directly other than to say it is “a law-abiding corporate entity”. The communications carrier, which is 49 percent directly owned by the Government, added: “The company has entered into agreements

with numerous contractors and vendors to provide services.

“These individuals are independent contractors of BTC and not full-time employees, and as such are not covered under the bargaining agreement. As the first telecoms company to provide fibre-to-the-home, BTC is heavily focused and invested in completely

upgrading its network to fibre, which will eventually see the complete turndown of the copper network.

“A number of contracted technicians have embraced the new fibre technology and upskilled themselves, and have either formed companies or have offered their services as independent contractors. BTC invites, and continues to

encourage, all technicians to also upskill with fibre certifications. BTC’s chief executive has met with the technicians and has reached out to arrange a subsequent meeting.”

BTC outsourced the technicians’ jobs some years ago, resulting in them becoming independent contractors rather than full-time employees.

Outsourcing is a common practice employed by companies worldwide, although trade unions and others view it as simply a move to cut costs as firms no longer have to pay benefits and other compensation to those affected.

Mr Clarke yesterday said the rate for a BTC technician on call is $21 per hour. He argued that if they receive two calls per day during a five-day work week they would still make less than the current minimum wage of $260 per week.

“These are skilled technicians who have been in the field for the past 25 years-plus. We are all technicians who used to work for BTC and BTC decided to outsource all the technicians, so they placed us on the contract,” Mr Clarke added.

“First they said they were going to offer the technicians a contract to operate the outside plants, and they were going to give us first

charge hike rather than pass this on to consumers. He added that Christmas sales across its seven outlets, five in Nassau plus Freeport and Exuma, had gone well. The company’s $8m-$8.5m investment in its Blue Hill Road store, inclusive of inventory and construction costs, has also paid off with sales performing “better than expected”. However, Mr Watson said staff turnover among the retailer’s 200-strong workforce “is still very high”. He added: “It’s a major task to keep staff levels where we need them.”

right of refusal. But the Government sold the company. We responded to the Request for Proposals, we got an attorney, and a year later they changed their mind. They are not doing it any more. So they are just keeping us on as contractors and taking advantage of us.”

Mr Clarke said the contractors reached an agreement four years ago with BTC’s then-chief executive that they would be placed on two-year contracts, and want this arrangement to be reinstated moving forward. He added that many contractors were struggling to obtain credit from banks and other lenders due to the risks associated with the short-term nature of their six-month agreements.

And the contractors also want to unionise, which Mr Clarke said they are currently prevented from doing under the threat of termination. The Government, though, in a minority, is represented on BTC’s Board by several directors led by vice-chairman, Valentine Grimes.

NOTICE DUCAL INVESTMENTS LTD.

Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Registration Number 201049 B (In Voluntary Liquidation)

Notice is hereby given that the above-named Company is in dissolution, commencing on the 19th day of January, A.D. 2023. Articles of Dissolution have been duly registered by the Registrar. The Liquidator is Guilherme Pacheco de Britto, Av Visconde de Alburqueque, 5821301 Leblon Rj, Brazil. Persons having a Claim against the above-named Company are required on or before the day 17th day of February, A.D. 2023 to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator of the Company, or in default thereof they may be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such claim is proved.

Dated this 24th day of January, A.D. 2023.

Guilherme Pacheco de Britto Liquidator

-0.4380.000-9.7 0.00%

0.1400.00073.20.00% 3.652.54Commonwealth

0.1840.12018.33.56%

0.4490.22019.02.58%

0.4670.06022.50.57%

0.8160.54022.22.98%

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

Construction chief challenges minority foreign owner block

foreign investors or investments. The law requires that companies are at least 51 percent owned by Bahamians and, at maximum, 49 percent by the foreign partner.

“That would be something that the NEC, which happens to be the Cabinet of The Bahamas, will have to explain. That’s a Cabinet decision. Nothing prevents any person, once they’ve satisfied the requirements to be in The Bahamas, from having an investment in any company. You couldn’t be the majority shareholder if investing in that manner.”

Mr Sands said majority control was reserved for Bahamians in sectors such as construction to preserve the industry for local ownership.

However, he argued that the outright bar on Mr Harari having any construction industry ownership involvement was open to legal challenge.

Citing other foreign developers that have set-up their own construction companies, the BCA chief added: “They can’t enforce that. The Cabinet must understand they can say that on paper but it’s open to legal challenge. Until they amend the law, any investor in The Bahamas is able to invest up to 49 percent. They can’t stop them from that. The Cabinet can’t stop that. That’s impossible to stop. That’s just strong arming.

“As it stands, they are free to make an investment and free to partner with someone. What they are not free to do is create their own

construction company with majority ownership. They are certainly free to partner and invest in existing ones. There’s nothing to stop that. I hope they have a good attorney. They’d win that off the bat. We have to follow the law.”

Mr Sands, though, said the real construction industry discussion point around foreign investors joint venturing with Bahamians was the “unfair playing field” this sometimes created when compared to local rivals who lacked outside partners. This was especially the case if foreign partners were “able to leverage” their access to foreign financing, equipment and contacts overseas to gain a competitive advantage over others who lacked such access.

And the BCA chief added that further problems occurred, especially in the Family Islands, when foreign contractors provided little to no opportunity for local Bahamians to get involved with projects. “These guys bring in foreign labour and no one is stopping them,” Mr Sands said. “We have to put a stop to that. It’s unfair. I’m going to keep my ears to the ground and see what happens with that.”

Meanwhile, the documents lodged with the Department of Physical Planning reveal that Mr Harari and Bel Air Bahamas received their Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) on July 21, 2022. The Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) made approval conditional on the project generating 30 percent

SBF: Bahamas attacks motivated by prejudice

be considered deeply offensive if directed at American minorities.

“It is no less offensive when directed at the citizens of other countries, let alone their regulators. Meanwhile, seizing assets overseen by other governments is a practice most recently considered appropriate centuries ago.”

Many observers will likely argue that Mr BankmanFried is hardly the most credible defender of The Bahamas’ reputation given FTX’s implosion, which has left the crypto exchange’s clients and investors facing multi-billion dollar losses, coupled with the multiple fraud, money laundering and campaign finance violation charges he now faces in the New York courts.

However, Mr Ray and his team did subsequently back

down from their “collusion” allegations, with the FTX US chief quoted in a statement where it was affirmed that the Bahamian Securities Commission acted properly in transferring $450m worth of digital assets to a secure electronic wallet under its control to protect them from being lost or stolen by hackers.

Mr Bankman-Fried backed the Bahamian regulator’s actions in the testimony he planned to give before the US House of Representatives Financial Services Committee. “The Bahamas stepped in to safeguard customer assets, acting in their duty as the primary regulator of FTX International,” he wrote.

“Meanwhile, John Ray’s team - run out of the USinitiated an asset seizure of FTX International, a company run from The Bahamas,

NOTICE SCORPX LTD.

Notice is given hereby in accordance with Section 138(8) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000, the dissolution of SCORPX 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

regulated in The Bahamas and servicing non-US clients.” Peace, at least for the moment, is holding between Mr Ray’s team and the Bahamian provisional liquidators for the local subsidiary, FTX Digital Markets, after they reached a co-operation and information sharing deal that must be ratified by their respective courts.

However, Mr BankmanFried’s testimony backed the Bahamian provisional liquidators in their assertion that FTX’s management and controlling persons were all based in and operating from The Bahamas - something that was heavily disputed by Mr Ray.

Supporting arguments by Brian Simms KC, the Lennox Paton senior partner, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) accounting duo, Kevin Cambridge and Peter Greaves, the FTX chief

had planned to tell the US Congress: “The Bahamas is where FTX International is headquartered. The Securities Commission is the primary regulator of FTX International. The mind and management of FTX International has been in The Bahamas.

“FTX International’s headquarters and primary office are in The Bahamas. FTX International had nearly 100 employees in The Bahamas and did not, to my knowledge, maintain any employees primarily based in the US outside of US counsel.... The majority of the mind and management of FTX International worked for FTX Digital Markets in The Bahamas.”

This was challenged by Mr Ray and his team as they sought to keep Delaware as the main venue for FTX’s winding-up. They alleged

of its energy from renewable sources, payment of an unspecified environmental bond and 75 feet setbacks from the creek and dunes.

Mr Harari, in a previous interview with Tribune Business, said he plans to create “a Bali in beautiful Bahamas” through a mixed-use project forecast to generate up to 200 full-time jobs via a $50m investment in the resort component alone.

He added that he was seeking to “create something very special and unique” by combining the environment and culture that The Bahamas offers with the quality service typically found at Aman Resorts and other high-end Asian inspired boutique hotels.

Speaking last August, Mr Harari disclosed that site clearance had already begun

in legal filings: “FTX Digital Markets was never the centre of the FTX group. It was nothing more than a short-lived provider of limited ‘match-making’ services for customer-to-customer transactions on the crypto currency exchange built, owned, and operated by FTX Trading, its immediate corporate parent.

“FTX Digital Markets operated for just under six months, from May 13, 2022, to November 10, 2022.

Over 90 percent of customers who used the FTX.com exchange were customers before FTX Digital Markets even became operational. Once operational, FTX Digital Markets never earned a dollar of third-party revenue.

FTX Digital Markets was a virtual nullity within the FTX group.” The Bahamian subsidiary, Mr Ray alleged, had been in existence for just 16 months.

Edgar Mosley, managing director of Alvarez &

at the 50.73-acre parcel located some 300 yards from The Cove resort. A Miamibased real estate developer who has delivered projects in Canada as well as three upscale villas on Harbour Island, told said the project’s build-out will see 50-100 construction workers on-site “at all times” with this number potentially increasing to between 150-200 once work on the 44 residential home sites begins.

Pledging that the development will seek to employ as many Bahamians, and especially Eleuthera natives, as possible, he revealed the first phase will involve a $15m investment on construction of the club house, associated amenities and 15 cottages that will be the first units in a hotel pool intended to ultimately be 70-strong.

Marshal, one of Mr Ray’s financial advisors, alleged in an accompanying affidavit: “The debtors’ records reflect that in the time from FTX Digital Markets’ formation, including the less than six months it operated, FTX Digital Markets generated no revenue from customers or other third parties.

“The debtors’ records reflect that FTX Digital Markets generated only inter-company or related party revenue, which was paid primarily by FTX Trading as well as other related parties, and FTX Digital Markets did not have third party borrowings.

“The debtors’ records reflect that FTX Digital Markets earned approximately $604,000 net income during calendar year 2021, and approximately $5.17m net income through the first three quarters of 2022 from inter-company and related party revenue.”

‘Right track’: Gov’t push for big GBPA shake-up

Darren Cooper, the Freeport businessman who led last year’s protest march to the GBPA’s headquarters, told this newspaper yesterday that he had requested a meeting with the Port Authority and its president, Ian Rolle, specifically to address suggestions that the Government is seeking to acquire, or find a buyer, for Freeport’s quasi-governmental authority.

“Yes, I’ve been hearing that,” he said. “That’s the conversation I had with the president of the Port Authority a couple of days ago. The rumour on the streets needs to be addressed. That is the Government is looking very strongly at removing the Port Authority families and looking at taking over.”

Rev Frederick McAlpine, the former Pineridge MP who was also prominent in last year’s march, confirmed to this newspaper he was aware of the discussions surrounding the Port’s ownership and Freeport’s governance. However, both himself and Mr Cooper were less enthusiastic about the prospect of the Government taking over Freeport’s management, with the ex-MP firmly against and the businessman split over “a touchy situation”.

“I’ve never agreed with that,” Mr McAlpine said. “I don’t believe the Government should take the Port Authority. Not the

Government that cannot collect garbage in Nassau. One thing I can say of the Port Authority currently is that they collect garbage on time.

“I’m not interested in the Government of The Bahamas. Do you see the streets in Nassau? Do you see the Family Islands? I’m not looking for the Government or the Government’s cronies to acquire it. It will be just like them acquiring it.”

Mr Cooper, speaking to the possibility of the GBPA’s acquisition by the Government, said: “I’m 50/50 on it. I like the management of the city and the zone management of the Port, but some areas of the Port I’m not in favour of. It’s a touchy situation. Let’s get rid of the Port and bring in the Government. We’ve had so much petty politics in the past, so the Government taking control over the Port will be rather touchy because of politics.”

Multiple Tribune Business sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the Prime Minister and his administration last year effectively gave the Hayward and St George families an ultimatum to either find a private buyer for their GBPA ownership interests (split 50 percent each) or the Government would find one for them.

Mr Davis and his advisers are understood to have become convinced that

drastic change is needed to break the status quo and revive Freeport after a near two-decade decline, given that it is potentially the best source of higher economic growth due to its available land, location and tax-free zone status.

However, this newspaper understands that, while moderating its stance somewhat since the ultimatum, the Government has not given upon on its Freeport ambitions. There is talk that the Government itself may now seek to acquire the GBPA or, more likely due to the Public Treasury’s cash-strapped state, seek to gain control of Freeport’s regulatory and quasi-governmental functions.

“Brave put an ultimatum on them to find a buyer, and my understanding is that the Port principals were quite concerned about that,” one Freeport source said yesterday. However, another contact said the Government appeared to have backed down from any attempt at “strong arming” while the Hayward and St George families explored their options.

“There was clearly pressure on the two families to do some transaction,” another source said, “but the Government has rolled back a bit and stepped back from doing it itself.” They added that there was “active interest” from the two Port Authority families in securing outside investors and partners, especially when it came to their real estate interests such as Grand Bahama Development Company (DevCO) and Freeport Commercial & Industrial.

And there was also said to be a feeling that, with multiple investments such as Carnival’s cruise port, Royal Caribbean’s Freeport Harbour plans and Weller Development’s Six Senses resort either progressing or on the drawing Board, the GBPA and its owners would be given time to let these come to fruition rather than be subject to government pressure.

“Freeport was most successful when the Government was not involved,” one contact added. “It makes no sense.” Another prominent Freeport contact, though, said any deal could simply involve the GBPA handing back its regulatory and quasigovernmental powers to Nassau while allowing the families to retain ownership of the key economic assets.

“The Port believes it’s not going to be a buy-out. The Port believes it’s going to be a hand over of executive control, but they keep the assets. I know the Prime Minister wants to announce it to coincide with the 50th independence celebrations; they want to announce the Bahamianisation of Freeport,” the source said.

The GBPA, while described by some as a ‘regulatory shell’, still possesses considerable powers that include business licensing, building code and environmental enforcement, city management, and the power to levy fees and service charges together with the operation of a free trade zone that offers multiple forms of tax relief.

However, its incomeearning assets have been transferred to Port Group Ltd. These include the 50

percent equity stakes in DevCO and the Freeport Harbour Company, likely to be the two families’ most valuable assets, together with interests in multiple other companies.

Should the Government seek to take over the GBPA’s regulatory powers, one source said it would amount to an “abrogation” of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and raise multiple legal issues that would have to be addressed. Among these, they added, would be the provision that requires four-fifths (80 percent) of licensees to approve the devolution of quasi-governmental authority to a local government-type entity.

Mr McAlpine, meanwhile, said the problems and challenges that sparked last March’s protest still “persist”. He blasted: “Grand Bahama is still in the same quagmire, still in the same rut, and the economy is still in the doldrums. What they [the GBPA] have done is a good job of a public relations exercise. They’ve made themselves more visible in terms of PR.

“Other than that, I think a lot of people are disappointed in the way Grand Bahama is being run, either by the Port or the Government. Period. The reality is things are still the same. I’ve always said there needs to be a change at the Port Authority and it still lacks the vision we need for investors and investment. The fact that the city has become so dilapidated, you can’t put that on the hurricanes. It’s a lack of vision.

“I doubt much is going to be done this year. This government is going to be partying all the way to July 10. You can almost write this year off. If it’s not happening in Nassau, it’s unlikely that it’s going to happen in Grand Bahama or anywhere.”

There is sufficient blame to go around over Freeport’s present plight. The Government has always been reluctant to let Freeport go, fearing it gave too much away via the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, while the GBPA is seen as not having lived up to its governance and development obligations.

Until now, little has been done to move forward with the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed between the Government, GBPA and Hutchison Whampoa, which committed the Hayward and St George families to seek out a purchaser of their Port shares.

It also committed the Grand Bahama Development Company (DEVCO) and Freeport Commercial and Industrial, Freeport’s two largest private landowners, to produce a 20-year ‘master plan’ for their holdings by April 26, 2017. And the GBPA agreed to permit two government-appointed directors to its Board “to achieve a more effective working relationship” between Nassau and Freeport, and “vibrant and sustained economic growth” for the latter city.

JOB SUMMARY

Assists

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Trutore Corp Inc. (IN VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION)

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D Thompson Sole Liquidator

Address: Equity Trust House Caves Village West Bay Street P O Box N-10697 Nassau, Bahamas

“There’s been a lack of vision coming from the Port Authority for well over 12 years. We’re still in the same quagmire. For me, if it’s not working why continue doing the same thing if we’re going to get the same results? The Government continues to talk the talk but has not been walking the walk. A large number of people are in wait and see mode but time is running out. It’s almost been a year,” he added.

The Haywards and St Georges also agreed to far-reaching governance reforms, and the potential devolution of some of their quasi-governmental powers/regulatory authority, via their MoU commitments. The agreement committed them to working with the Government to create “a mechanism to ensure the exercise of the regulatory powers and functions vested in the GBPA are consistent with the national policy, regulations and laws of the Bahamas”.

Kim

GAS STATIONS EXPLORE GOING CASHLESS MOVE

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

GAS stations may become cashless in the near future as they seek to drive greater efficiencies beyond long-running negotiations with the Government over a margin increase, it was revealed yesterday.

Vasco Bastian, the Bahamas Petroleum Dealers Association’s (BPDA) vice-president, told Tribune Business the industry is moving forward with

other initiatives as talks over members’ price-controlled fixed margins have “dragged on” for more than 12 months.

“We might be cashless,” he said. “This is the time. We have the Sand Dollar now, and gas stations should become a cashless operation where there is no cash.” Cashless gas stations would follow the growing trend to eliminate, or at least minimise, the amount of cash transactions, which is seen as improving business security and efficiency as well as clamping down

on the opportunity for employee theft.

Mr Bastian said: “I will not be a part of an industry where we only focus on a margin increase. We want to promote safety.” Gas stations may not be cashless by year-end 2023, but the Association is “talking” about moving the industry in that direction. “Increasing the fuel margin is just one aspect, and we didn’t want to be labelled as an industry solely focused on money. We have other actionable things we are

concerned about,” he added.

Turning to the margin negotiations, Mr Bastian added: “This process has taken longer than we had anticipated, but we are hopeful and we continue to be optimistic with the Government. I’ve always said that this government policy with regard to dealing with us has been so encouraging. This government has been the most accommodating set of men I have ever met in politics in the last 30 years.”

While the Davis administration may have been accommodating, it has not budged on increasing the margins for gas retailers. The last time the sector was granted a rise was in 2011 under the last Ingraham administration, but the current government is reluctant to agree to any rise for fear it will further worsen the cost of living crisis that continues to batter many middle and low income Bahamian families.

The Association has been seeking a 50 percent per gallon margin increase,

which if granted would take raise it from the present 54 cents to 81 cents for gasoline. In similar fashion, retail margins per gallon of diesel would rise from 34 cents to 51 cents.

Mr Bastian said: “We continue to dialogue with the Government, and we have been making some inroads, so I continue to be optimistic. Oil prices are coming down, so this might be a good time to do it where the consumers don’t feel any additional pressure.”

Minister wants to speed up unemployment data

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A CABINET minister yesterday said he wants accurate unemployment data, and details on new hirings, to be obtained much faster, following recent government-sponsored job fairs.

Keith Bell, minister for labour and immigration, speaking ahead of

the weekly Cabinet meeting, acknowledged that the desired unemployment data “isn’t as forthcoming” as he would wish.

“I’ve tasked the Department of Labour to provide me with accurate statistics in respect to the employment numbers,” he added.

“You would have seen that we would have had a number of employment initiatives with the private sector and the Government. I have asked the

Department of Labour to specifically tell me the specific numbers of hires. Unfortunately, it isn’t as forthcoming as I would have wanted, but you will get it as soon as I get it.”

The Department of Labour’s most recent job fair occurred last Saturday when the Bahamian IHOP franchise started the process of recruiting up to 200 persons for its first outlet at Mall at Marathon. Several ‘Labour on the Blocks’

events have also been held in recent months in both New Providence and Grand Bahama.

The Department of Labour plans to roll-out a ‘Labour in the Schools’ initiative this coming Friday where officials will visit all New Providence schools to prepare upcoming graduates for entry to the workforce upon leaving high school. “What we are seeking now to ensure is that our high school

students, those in grades 10, 11 and 12, that we begin to prepare them for the workplace,” Mr Bell said.

“It’s important that they acquire the skills. It is important that they know what is available, and that they begin to create the mindset to ensure that they get those jobs and we offer them training through not just the Department of Labour but also all the agencies of government and the private sector, the

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EXUMA Today: SE at 10-20 Knots 1-2 Feet 10

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National Training Agency and all of the agencies of government. We are going to go into every school.”

‘Right track’: Gov’t push for big GBPA shake-up

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE PRIME Minister yesterday said the Government is in talks with the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) to place Freeport “on the right track” as it pushes for a major shake-up in the city’s governance.

Philip Davis KC’s comments, in a prepared statement issued through his spokesperson, came in response to Tribune Business inquiries concerning the Government’s efforts to effect ownership and leadership changes

at the GBPA - either via itself or a private investor(s) buying out the Hayward and St George families, or the hand back of regulatory and quasigovernmental powers to Nassau.

The full statement attributed to the Prime Minister neither confirmed nor denied this, merely saying: “Grand Bahama over the many years has failed to live up to its true promise and potential. And we are are in discussions with the Port Authority for the purposes of identifying a path towards putting Grand Bahama on the right track to enable it to fulfill its full potential and promise.”

Rupert Hayward, a member of one of the GBPA’s ownership families, could not be reached for comment.

However, multiple sources have confirmed to this newspaper that the Davis administration is driving for what some may argue is the biggest transformation in the running of Freeport since its founding treaty, the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, was signed in 1955 with ambitions of creating a city and free trade zone in the northern Bahamas.

Construction chief challenges minority foreign owner block

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE BAHAMIAN Contractors Association’s (BCA) president has challenged whether the Government can lawfully bar a foreign investor from becoming a minority partner in a local construction company.

Leonard Sands, in a recent interview with Tribune Business, suggested that the rejection of an Eleuthera investor’s application to become a part-owner in an existing Bahamian construction company amounted to “strong arming” and could be subject to legal challenge provided it did not involve a majority interest.

He spoke out after this newspaper obtained a Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA) letter informing Eric Harari, principal for the Gregory Town-based Bel Air Resort development, that his applications to set up a

construction company on the island or take an equity stake in an existing one had both been declined by the National Economic Council (NEC).

The July 8, 2021, letter, which would have been issued when the Minnis administration was in office, informed Mr Harari’s attorney, Merrit Storr, that his client’s bid for permission “to own and operate a construction company on the island of Eleuthera” or “take an equity stake in an existing Bahamian construction

company” had each been “refused”.

The letter was included in a batch of documents disclosed by the Department of Physical Planning related to the application by Mr Harari and Bel Air Resort for site plan approval for their $50m project. Mr Sands, though, argued that the issue of barring the investor from taking a minority stake in an existing construction company, and joint venturing with Bahamian partners, could be challenged in court.

AID ‘most concerned’ over BPL rate hikes

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

• PM confirms Port talks over ‘path to fulfill potential’ • Amid push for buyer or regulatory power devolution • Gov’t taking control of city branded ‘touchy situation’ • Queries if NEC bar on Eleuthera investor lawful • Bel Air principal can’t start firm, invest in sector

• $50m project gains environmental approvals

“Let’s look at the legal position,” he told Tribune Business. “The law does not have a challenge with any foreign investor having minority status in any company, including construction companies. Right now, as it stands, there are many construction companies that have

BTC contractors seek better working terms

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Telecommunications Company (BTC) contractors yesterday asserted they have been without valid employment contracts since June 2022 as they demanded improved working terms and conditions.

The carrier’s independent technicians yesterday called for a 65 percent pay increase, and twoyear contracts rather than the rolling six-month short-term agreements previously offered, while branding discussions with BTC’s management over the issue as difficult.

Martin Clarke, a spokesperson for the contractors,

told Tribune Business he and others have been outof-contract now for more than six months. “We have an issue with BTC regarding our standard contract.

We are contractors, so we have to maintain our own vehicles, we have to service them and license them,

inspect and insure them, and we are working for BTC as contractors,” he added.

Mr Clarke said BTC was renewing the contractors’ employment contracts every six months prior to June 2022, which he asserted was to avoid the

technicians being classified as permanent employees if hired for a full calendar year. “They just keep renewing our contractors for six months at a time. They have done this to us three times in a row,” Mr Clarks said.

“We have reached that point where we are tired of that. We want them to come and sit down and negotiate for us a reasonable contract that would benefit both sides. They know the labour laws say if you work 12 months, you will be entitled as a worker. So to avoid that, they make you take leave every six months without pay and there’s still no contract in place.”

SBF: Bahamas attacks motivated by prejudice

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

SAM Bankman-Fried planned to mount an impassioned defence of The Bahamas before the US Congress by implying that attacks on it over FTX’s implosion were motivated by racism and prejudice.

The FTX co-founder’s written statement, which was included among legal filings in the Delaware Bankruptcy Court, was never voiced publicly as he was arrested the previous night by Bahamian police acting on the request of US federal authorities in the southern New York district court.

Hitting back at assertions by John Ray, FTX’s

Chapter 11-appointed US chief, that the Bahamian government, Securities Commission and local provisional liquidators had all colluded with himself, Mr Bankman-Fried’s written testimony stated: “Their assumption, without evidence, of malign intent and incompetence on the part of other races, cultures and governments would

A MAJOR Bahamian retailer yesterday voiced optimism that 2023 will be “marginally better” than last year while revealing it is “most concerned” about Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) rate hikes depressing consumer spending.

Jason Watson, Automotive Industrial Distributors (AID) president, told Tribune Business he was hopeful tourism’s continued strong performance and a “drastic” decline in shipping rates to 60 percent of pre-COVID prices will help offset the impact from soaring utility costs.

Predicting that the price of retail goods may start to “come down”, as suppliers pass on savings from lower shipping and freight costs, he nevertheless expressed fears that increases of up to 163 percent in BPL’s fuel charge during peak summer 2023 consumption will further worsen the cost of living crisis facing many households.

With AID’s own energy bill having increased by 30 percent towards yearend 2022, as the increased fuel charges start to bite, Mr Watson told this newspaper: “I’m actually more concerned about the BPL rate increase we saw at the end of the year. I’m more concerned about that than anything else.

“It’s very concerning because consumers may adjust their spending habits. I expect to see a reduction pretty soon based on that. But, if tourism remains strong, maybe that will offset the effects of BPL’s rates. My bill has seen a major impact. I guess it’s going to hurt some time. We have to hope gas prices remain stable or go down and, hopefully, that also offsets it to some degree but it’s a major issue.”

With AID’s light bill having already increased by around 30 percent, Mr Watson added: “It’s really going to be difficult to make up for that with sales. That’s [BPL] what I’m most concerned about. Households will start adjusting their spending habits and not have as much discretionary spending. I’m not watching it that closely right now, but over the next few months I will start to watch it.

“I’m just hoping that tourism remains really strong and that allows us to have more spending. Definitely when tourism is doing well, the economy does well.” Mr Watson said the BPL fuel charge hikes are among multiple competing forces likely to impact Bahamian retail performance in 2023.

While the cost of living is the main negative likely to impact consumer demand, he added that how China

PHILIP DAVIS KC FRED MCALPINE