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VOLUME:118 No.43, JANUARY 26, 2021

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

WOMAN: HELPING THOSE IN NEED TO DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Emergency rules to be extended until May 23

WE HAVE LET OUR GUARDS DOWN

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced yesterday the government’s intention to extend the COVID-19 state of emergency and associated emergency orders until May 23.

SEE PAGE THREE

ATLANTIS MOVES QUICKLY TO FURLOUGH WORKERS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

ATLANTIS will temporarily furlough some employees as COVID-19 cases continue to grow in North America and cancellations increase following US President Joe Biden’s announcement of a new quarantine requirement for travellers

entering the United States.

In a letter to staff, the resort said it will scale operations, noting that beginning February 4 guest reservations at The Royal will move to The Cove “and some colleagues will be placed on temporary furlough”.

“Our plan and hope are to invite team members back by the spring break

season, pending occupancy,” Atlantis President Audrey Oswell said in a letter to staff.

“As the new year progresses, the overall business outlook for Atlantis is hopeful. However, for the immediate future, we face similar challenges as we have in the last months.”

SEE PAGE FIVE

KAISER ASKS COURT TO RULE OVER $28M ‘FRAUD’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

SKY Bahamas’ former principal slammed as “garbage” yesterday’s bid by the airline’s main financier to obtain a default judgment against him over the alleged $28m “bogus loans conspiracy”.

Captain Randy Butler and his attorney pledged

they would move swiftly to have the default judgment thrown out after Fred Kaiser and his attorney, Michael Scott, moved for such an award on the basis the ex-Sky chief failed to file a defence in time.

Court documents reveal that Mr Kaiser and his companies, Alpha Aviation and Advanced Aviation, yesterday filed “a judgment in default of defence” against

Captain Butler, Sky Bahamas and Aviation Oversight Group (AOG).

“No defence having been entered by the first through third defendants herein or any of them, it is this day adjudged that these defendants do pay to the plaintiffs damages together with interest and costs thereon to be assessed,” said the filing.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

JOHNSON - I WAS THE VICTIM

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

SOUTH and Central Eleuthera MP Hank Johnson broke his silence yesterday to say he expects a man who allegedly attacked him last week to be charged in the Magistrate’s Court with causing harm.

Mr Johnson said he was attacked while leaving a

HANK JOHNSON MP private home in Coral Harbour on January 16. It was

his first public comment on the matter. He said in a statement yesterday that he reported the matter to the Airport Police Station and that officers subsequently arrested the man. He said he is the “victim” in the matter.

“Every member of the public has the right to walk about in a safe and nonthreatening environment,” he said.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE SEVEN

A LEAP OF FAITH ON ROAD TO SELF-DISCOVERY

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Tuesday, January 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

PICTURED above and below, images from video showing the funeral for Ted Sweeting.

Family: We did not organise Junkanoo rush for funeral

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net RELATIVES of the late funeral director Ted Sweeting insisted yesterday they were not responsible for organising a mini Junkanoo rush held in honour of their father on Saturday, saying family members were not even aware of Junkanooers’ plans until the day of the service.

Their comments came after videos made the rounds on social media over the weekend, showing a large group of people making their way down a street to a local graveyard in a mini-Junkanoo rushout, led by lodge members carrying Sweeting’s casket.

In one livestream capturing the event, the sizeable group can be seen playing their instruments as they enter the graveyard. And even when the cemetery ceremony begins, the overflow from the crowd could be observed lingering in the road.

The latest COVID-19 emergency order mandates that funeral services on New Providence, Abaco, Eleuthera and Exuma may only have a maximum of 20 people at the graveside only, not including the officiant and mortuary workers.

However, more than 20 people attended Saturday’s event. On Sunday, a representative at the Office of the Prime Minister said it did not give organisers

SOME of those attending the funeral. special permission to host a their requests for a funeral, large funeral service. church officials decided to When contacted by The hold a requiem mass.

Tribune on the matter “Ted Sweeting did not yesterday, Damian and have a church funeral serDominic Sweeting, sons vice. That’s number one. of the Sweeting, clari- He had a requiem mass fied that many of the which was attended by the attendees at their father’s church,” Mr Sweeting said. graveside service were mor- “The church followed all of tuary workers. the protocols from the comDamian Sweeting also petent authority and the described the event as a reason for that was because “requiem mass”, insisting we did request from the it was not a funeral proces- competent authority to sion or a funeral service. hold a funeral service.

He explained that after “But to this day, they the family was unable to get have not responded to us, permission from the com- so Archdeacon Cartwright, petent authority concerning he decided by himself to

have a requiem mass so, he did not have a funeral service because this day we’re still waiting on the competent authority to respond to us and they never responded to us…We (also) didn’t have a funeral procession.”

As it relates to the lodge’s role in the service, Mr Sweeting said the family had requested for his father’s lodge members to be the honorary pallbearers.

He told this newspaper: “(My father) was a past grandmaster in that fraternity. We requested for

them to be the pallbearers because the whole family at the funeral home was in mourning and according to the orders, you could have 20 people to the graveyard and they didn’t put no figure on what mortuary staff could be there and everybody you would’ve seen in the graveyard, they would’ve either owned a funeral home or they worked to a funeral home. That was a private service. There were no bystanders.”

However, he admitted that the family was caught off guard by a small rush out orchestrated by a local Junkanoo group – of which his father was a member.

“Now, he was a prominent member of the Valley Boys as you would’ve seen the Junkanoo part. The Junkanooers didn’t tell us (what they were doing).

They said they was going to pay tribute to him, and we didn’t know what the tribute was and that’s where the part came in,” he noted.

“None of that was planned and after Mr Cartwright said on the 23rd we were going to have a requiem mass, that’s what we did because it was time for him to be laid to rest.

He didn’t have no funeral service. It was a private graveside service.”

He added: “The members of the Valley Boys called my brother... and said they wanted to pay a tribute to him. We was waiting for them to put something in the papers but they didn’t

do that. They came out and did what they had to do.

We weren’t responsible for them doing whatever they did.”

A police spokesman confirmed to The Tribune yesterday that no one was cited at the event, saying when officers arrived at the service to investigate the matter – “everyone dispersed”.

Meanwhile, speaking in the House of Assembly yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis reminded Bahamians to continue following all of the COVID-19 health protocols.

He said while the country was doing well in keeping COVID-19 infections low, people were letting their guards down.

He pointed to a number of funerals with attendees exceeding the number of people allowed and Junkanoo groups engaging in rush outs as an example of people becoming too relaxed.

Yesterday, president of the Bahamas Funeral Directors Association Kirsch Ferguson maintained that the organisation has been doing its part and abiding by the COVID-19 protocols.

“As far as the association is concerned, we have been doing just that and our members have been very vigilant and compliant with the orders and also have been encouraging families and keeping them abreast of what is presently in place,” he said.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, January 26, 2021, PAGE 3

We have let our guards down from page one He added Bahamians have appeared to let their guards down, pointing to funerals and Junkanoo parades that have defied protocols.

As he read a new resolution to extend the order, Dr Minnis said local officials can now see a “light at the end of the tunnel,” but people should remain vigilant to ensure the country does not regress regarding the number of positive cases, or worse, end up in a similar position to that of the United States.

The current emergency order expires on January 31.

The country has been under a state of emergency since March 2020.

“I want to say briefly that I want to remind the Bahamian public that, yes we are doing well, however we are letting our guards down, which could have devastating effects on our country moving forward as we look around and see the number of funerals in violation of the order,” Dr Minnis said after he read a resolution into the record of Parliament to extend the Emergency Powers Order.

“There are a number of memorials in violation of the order and even Junkanoo groups engaging in rushouts in violation of the order. I want to remind the public that we should all be vigilant because it only takes one individual to become infected and the virus can have catastrophic and devastating effects on our society placing us in a similar position as seen in the north.

“I recognise how individuals feel especially about their loved ones and want to participate in funeral activities and I recognise that in many instances this may sadden families and hurt families, but I want to remind individuals that I myself experienced this when my brother had passed away during Hurricane Dorian and though both myself and my family were grieving and hurt, we kept that internally because we felt that the country came first.”

Dr Minnis’ brother Cecil Bosfield died in Florida in September 2019.

Another brother, Dwayne PrattMinnis, died in September 2020 in a

US hospital.

Yesterday, Dr Minnis said his family made the decision to delay the second brother’s funeral for a month out of respect for protocols in place.

He continued: “Not many may have known that but during that time I too was hurting, and I know what families feel having gone through that myself. I only want to remind them that people spread viruses and I only ask that they remain vigilant for at least another month because the vaccine may possibly be here soon and if we remain vigilant, we will be able to protect our future and our society.

“I want to remind the Bahamian public of this: I am not trying to be hard or difficult. I love them very much, but I love even more our country and the future survival of our country and our young people whom we reserve our country for and whom we pride it to ensure that they have a great future.”

The Killarney MP also made an appeal to the families of other wellknown people who have died in recent weeks to obey the standing COVID-19 rules when planning their funerals.

“I too would love to participate, but I ask them to put their country first. That one infection within a funeral or parade be it by Saxons, Valley or anyone else can set us back to where we came from and put us on the track where hotels opening can be jeopardised.”

He noted a recent announcement from officials at Sandals that resorts in New Providence and Exuma are expected to open soon.

“So, I beg individuals to just continue to follow orders for at least an additional month. I am very happy to see how they responded to mask wearing and ask that those who are not wearing masks to continue to wear them as we can see light at the end of the tunnel.

“The pain that many would have felt because of the lockdowns and curfews, they were not intentional.

They were only to save lives and save our country.”

The extension will be debated in Parliament tomorrow.

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis speaking yesterday.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

MITCHELL WARNS PM IS MANIPULATING PEOPLE’S LIVES

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Fred Mitchell yesterday said the government’s plans to extend the country’s state of emergency is a convenient way for Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis to “fight an election”.

Mr Mitchell’s comments came after Dr Minnis gave

notice in the House of Assembly of his administration’s intention to extend the country’s state of emergency until May 23.

Senator Mitchell said that nothing has emerged which indicates the emergency measures should continue and people are now treating the protocols as a “nuisance”.

“You are manipulating people’s lives and also being able to manipulate more

importantly the political process so that your opponents are bottled up,” he said.

“They can’t move around, but you have the right, the power and authority to move wherever you want in these circumstances because our view is it is clear the prime minister is preparing the country for an election.

“These orders are convenient for him to fight an election because you know he thinks that the

opposition has one hand tied behind its back with these orders.”

The PLP has previously said it believes Dr Minnis will call an early election.

Mr Mitchell has accused Dr Minnis of campaigning during the pandemic and believes a general election will be called before the next budget debate.

Recently Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Carl Culmer said Dr

Minnis will not call an early election unless his party is ready for one.

Meanwhile, the PLP chairman also questioned the rationale behind extending the state of emergency.

“The concern is at this point the vaccination programme should have started. Question is, where are the vaccines? The last position we took was that we did not vote for the

extension of the orders, so it doesn’t seem to us there’s any rationale for extending it. We’re convening a parliamentary meeting tomorrow to look at the details of what they are suggesting,” Mr Mitchell said.

“You know a lockdown and a curfew is not a plan.

For example, the third wave has affected countries across the world. What is The Bahamas doing to prepare for that?”

UNION CHIEF: TAKING VACCINE SHOULD BE A CHOICE FOR TEACHERS

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

TAKING the COVID19 vaccine should be a personal choice for teachers, Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson said yesterday.

The government has made a downpayment for a vaccine to administer to 20 percent of the population through an agreement with the Pan American Health Organisation. The vaccine should be available in the country by the first quarter of this year.

However, there is scepticism from some in the public sector with the chairman of the Police Staff Association, Sonny Miller, recently saying his members have not yet made a decision about taking the vaccine.

Recently, former Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands and Bahamas Nurses Union President Amancha Williams both expressed concern about possible long-term effects of the new vaccines and indicated the government should not be quick to administer doses without first doing a further study on whichever vaccine is chosen.

Yesterday, Mrs Wilson weighed in on the issue.

“I am cognizant of the fact teachers are on the frontline and we’re on the frontline alongside 48,000 students in the public school system,” she said.

“But the view is that the vaccine should be made available to all Bahamians, but not mandatory. It should be voluntary. Teachers as well as other workers must make the personal choice for themselves and their families as to whether

or not they will take the vaccine.”

Health officials have said the vaccine will not be mandatory.

“However, I am very concerned about the new UK strain of the virus.

Reportedly, it is already in approximately 60 countries and it has a transmissible rate as high as 70 percent,” Mrs Wilson added.

“Even more alarming is that it could mean that children are susceptible.

Very recently in the US, they recorded over 211,000 children of school age who were infected with COVID-19.”

Mrs Wilson said citizens of The Bahamas need to be entirely educated on every aspect of the vaccine before distribution and administering begins.

She continued: “So for us here in The Bahamas, I would say that we need education about the vaccine, its benefits and its effects.

And, we need education and information on the process and the procedure for the vaccination whenever that process begins.

“As president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers and personally, I am pleased and relieved that several vaccines are now available. Although they are in their early stages of roll out and trials are ongoing the efficacy of vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna at 95 percent and 91.5 percent, respectively, gives us hope. But. I would say, again, as for the teachers it is their personal choice.”

The Tribune reached out to Minister of Health Renward Wells for comment about the concerns expressed by public sector leaders about the vaccines,

however he did not respond up to press time.

Recently, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced the formation of the National COVID-19

Vaccine Consultative Committee, headed by Dr Mercelene Dahl-Regis. The committee will oversee all matters pertaining to the vaccines going forward.

Members of the public have also expressed concern with the membership of the committee.

Dr Sabriquet PinderButler, president of the

Consultant Physician Staff Association (CPSA), has expressed concern that there are not enough physicians represented on the committee.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, January 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Memo ‘just a reminder, not a way to silence staff’

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

THE president of Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute said a recent memo sent to staff was not meant to silence anyone, but to just remind them of an existing internal policy.

The memo sent to BTVI faculty and staff told workers to note the policy of an internal human resources manual which dictates that employees should use established policies and procedures to voice concerns and seek resolution to issues.

“Any employee who wilfully creates or distributes anonymous documents, letters and phone calls etc containing libellous, slanderous, defamatory, erroneous, scandalous or unfounded information and is disruptive to the mission, administration, students and educational environment of the Institute shall be subject to disciplinary action, inclusive of summary dismissal for extreme violation of the policy,” the memo said.

In response to the

DR ROBERT ROBERTSON, BTVI president. memo, president of the about eight, nine or ten Union of Tertiary Edu- years. From time to time cations of The Bahamas we send policies like that Daniel Thompson accused around to remind people BTVI’s president, Dr of what the existing policy Robert Robertson, of says. So it’s got nothing trying to “silence” staff to do with trying to keep members. UTEB is seeking people quiet at all. “Polito become the bargaining cies like that are sent out regularly by public relaagent for BTVI faculty.

“We don’t have a union tions. So a policy like that here at BTVI,” Dr Rob- is a pretty regular initiaertson said when contacted tive. Basically it is saying yesterday. “That is an exist- to go through your chain ing policy that predates of command if you have me. That’s been a part of any questions, or concerns BTVI, I understand, for or issues and we will try

to resolve them at the first instance. But again, that predates me, that’s been here a long time. So I had nothing to do with selecting that policy to send out.

They are sent out from HR and PR to faculty and staff across the entire organisation on a regular basis.”

Asked if the union overreacted, he said, “I don’t want to say that. We don’t even have a union, to start with, so if they are complaining about some issue that somebody has brought forward, then I can tell you with full certainty that there was nothing nefarious about sending out an existing policy.

“They are in the process of going through a statutory process to be a union in an organisation like this.

So they have filed, I believe, with the government a request to represent faculty members here. I don’t really know what the status of that is. I spoke to some members of that union, over a year ago before the COVID lockdown, so I don’t know where that sits at this time, to be honest with you.”

Dr Robertson said some of the complaints that come up frequently are about

structure organisation and pay issues.

He continued: “Again, this predates me. They keep talking about having a career path and more structured opportunities to advance their careers. I don’t disagree as that is a very important thing. They know the government, we have a loan with Caribbean Development Bank of almost $10m. A portion of that loan has a specific consultancy project called, ‘Compensation and Human Resources’.”

He said the project has started and the intent is to address those concerns. He said that he supports the fact that there should be a structured review.

Meanwhile, UTEB has taken issue with comments made by Education Minister Jeff Lloyd. When contacted by The Tribune on Sunday to respond to the union’s grievances, Mr Lloyd said if UTEB wanted to get his attention then “they know how to reach me.”

This comment infuriated Mr Thompson, who sent The Tribune a slew of letters and press releases showing that his union had a long-standing issue

OPPOSITION leader Phillip ‘Brave’ Davis, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and other politicians at the annual Parliamentary church service yesterday.

with BTVI in its bid to unionise faculty. One of the letters was addressed to the prime minister and copied to the minister of education.

Mr Thompson said: “In response to the quoted commentary of Minister of Education Jeffery Lloyd, I have enclosed the communication to the prime minister, which includes letters to the minister of labour. The minister of education was copied in all communications. It is therefore disingenuous of the honourable minister and by extension The Bahamas government to simulate ignorance to the plight of workers at BTVI. “Suffice it to say, we have received acknowledgement of these letters from none, except the leader of the opposition who was copied in the communication to the prime minister. We have no alternative than to rely on the fourth estate to promote the cause of the workers at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute. We simply invite the responsible ministers to engage the process and work on behalf of workers.

Those letters were emailed and hand delivered.”

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

DAVIS RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT FIRST-TIME VOTER REGISTRATION

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net OFFICIAL Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis has raised concern about the level of frustration people are experiencing during first time voter registration.

Mr Davis raised the issue in Parliament yesterday, telling members a letter expressing the concerns had gone unanswered to both Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and National Security Minister Marvin Dames, who has elections in his portfolio.

The Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP further questioned the Constituencies Commission’s

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status. Its chairman, House Speaker Halson Moultrie later confirmed the group had met on Monday, January 18.

“The Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the issue of registration of new voters who are not on the register, it’s becoming vexing,” Mr Davis said.

“People are going there.

I mean even members are talking about it, the registration exercise…Because the centres should be opened by now to allow persons to register and to transfer. That needs to be addressed.

“And also, I am wondering about what is happening with the constituency boundaries commission. I note you are the chairman, so I’m wondering whether you’re meeting, whether there are any expectations. We need to understand what is happening with the constituency boundaries commission because that too impacts and affects the register at the end of the day.”

Last month, the Senate

unanimously passed the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill allowing for a permanent voter register to be established for the first time in the country.

The creation of a continuous voters’ register was recommended by the parliamentary commissioner in response to the challenges presented by the COVID19 pandemic.

The amendment says: “A person registered as a voter entitled to vote at an election on the current register, shall remain registered as a voter entitled to vote at an election on the continuous register, unless his name is removed from the register by the parliamentary commissioner.”

Attorney General Carl Bethel has said the amendment couldn’t have come at a more convenient time for the country.

He added the bill, once enacted, would bring forth several advantages to the electoral process, including the elimination of long lines and large gatherings that fall in line with the current COVID-19 protocols.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, January 26, 2021, PAGE 5

Atlantis moves quickly to furlough workers from page one “The pandemic continues to spike in many of our key markets, new and increased travel restrictions and requirements are in effect, and limited airlift present roadblocks for travel.”

This is now the second time in a month Atlantis has announced plans to furlough some staff, dimming hopes for the Bahamian economy after the resort initially welcomed 2,500 employees back in December.

Atlantis representatives declined to discuss the furlough yesterday. It is not clear how many people will be affected by its action.

However, Darrin Woods, president of the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU), said Atlantis told union representatives it “got a lot of cancellations” after President Biden’s quarantine announcement last week.

“They said they had a huge fall off,” he said.

“They called us and we asked them to send us information by areas in the hotel so we know which will be open and which will be closed. That will help us know how many will be affected.”

Mr Woods suggested

the union is powerless to intervene on behalf of its members.

“If we push back they will still do what they got to do,” he said. “Whenever we think the industry is going in the right direction, something always comes up.

“The restrictions the US president announced probably should’ve been done a long time ago so we wouldn’t be at this point at this time, but the president has to do what he does to manage the crisis. We hope the US views us in a different light from countries where there are a lot of cases.”

Last Thursday, President Biden signed an executive order directing federal agencies to require international air travellers to quarantine upon arrival in the US. Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar reiterated his views yesterday about the harmful consequence of the US quarantine rule, the parameters of which have not yet been revealed.

“The possibility of introducing quarantining when Americans return home, that has had the effect of creating a lot of uncertainty in the market,” he told reporters outside the House of Assembly.

“While it’s debatable whether quarantine is

ANTIGEN testing being conducted previously for Atlantis employees. enforceable, I think at the end of the day most Americans want to abide by the dictates of their government. If their government suggests it, then that’s probably what they want to do.

So it is very concerning and we’re going to push as hard as we can, see what we can

do to mitigate that, but it is in the minds of the traveler, creating a concern.

“The silver lining in all of this obviously is the US government will get COVID under control, President Biden is pushing very hard and he’s very focused on trying to solve

Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

this problem, getting the cases down and hopefully this gets solved quicker than we anticipated.”

In an executive order signed last week, President Biden tasked several federal agencies with promptly submitting a plan to codify his quarantine

policy. Before his inauguration, American officials announced that beginning today, all travellers into the US must have a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of travel.

The United States surpassed 25 million confirmed COVID-19 cases this week.

FUSION UNCERTAIN OF REOPENING DATE FOR FACILITIES

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE being given the approval from environmental health officials, Fusion Superplex officials say they are still uncertain when the complex’s cinemas and entertainment facilities will reopen as they are still awaiting word from the competent authority.

Fusion’s cinema and entertainment facilities have been closed since March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some observers believe this is due to the fact the government fears the facility’s confined spaces - together with the large crowds it attracts - will lead to an uptick of new infections.

However, Fusion officials have previously said they plan to introduce new protocols at the facility

in keeping with the social distancing and COVID-19 health measures once the green light has been given.

Yesterday, Fusion’s chief marketing officer, Nikolette Elden told The Tribune the complex’s inability to fully reopen is something that continues to take a financial

toll on the company.

With some 300 of its staff members still furloughed, Ms Eldon said top executives continue to push for permission to fully reopen.

However, she also noted there are no plans to permanently lay off staff at this time.

She added the company has already received approval from the Department of Environmental Health Services but is still waiting to receive the nod from the competent authority.

“We are on the cusp of a one-year closure, our business has suffered significant financial loss,” Ms Elden said. “Our leaders are exploring solutions for recovery. The first step of recovery is to get our staff back to work.

“We have not been given the green light on when our cinemas will be allowed to reopen. We have, however, been given the approval from the Department of Environmental Health Services since December but no word yet from the competent authority in relation to resuming full operations,” she said.

“We have submitted several letters to

the competent authority regarding approval to resume to full operation, but we still wait patiently.

Meanwhile, we have 300 furloughed staff that are anxiously awaiting their return to work. We intend to keep our staff employed, but first we must open.”

Last month, Fusion’s Edge restaurant reopened with outdoor dining only, becoming the first of its business operations to resume services since the complex was shuttered in March.

Outdoor dining at restaurants has also since been permitted on Sundays.

Ms Elden said while the move is a “step in the right direction”, the reality is the restaurant only represents a small portion of the facility’s revenue sales.

“During the closure, our marketing team had a chance to properly survey the entertainment offerings

on the island to figure out exactly where we fit. Like other companies, adjustments were made across our operation to allow us to be positioned as we are today,” she said.

“We are in compliance with all established COVID-19 protocols.

While we’re not at 100 percent staffing, we hope that a return to full operation will create the opportunity to have our staff return to work. The reality is, Edge only represents 15 percent of our business so we patiently await approval to open the entire operation.”

She added: “On Sunday we resumed our Sunday operation at Edge with our popular ‘Super Brunch’ and ‘NFL Football Watch’.

It was very well received.

We are thankful for the opportunity but optimistic of what is to come once we are allowed to resume full operations.”

PAGE 6, Tuesday, January 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 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-

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Mixed messaging over virus fight TO say that there are mixed messages over the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic in The Bahamas would be an understatement.

In recent days, officials have expressed hope of finding a way of avoiding the pain of the quarantine to be introduced for all travellers to the United States.

We also reported recently on how The Bahamas is one of just 27 countries that have tamed the COVID-19 pandemic according to more than 4,000 scientists and community organisers worldwide.

In mid-January, it was reported that the Christmas holiday celebrations had not seen an uptick of cases of COVID19 as officials had initially expected.

And yet, yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said it appeared that Bahamians had let their guards down in the battle against COVID-19.

He said this as emergency orders were once again extended – and it seems contradictory to be appealing to the US over how safe it would be to allow arrivals from The Bahamas to bypass quarantine protocols while extending the emergency orders for months and having the Prime Minister warn that people are letting their guard down against the virus.

Which is it? Are we safer than we were or on a downward slide?

The Prime Minister took the opportunity to speak out against funerals and Junkanoo parades that have broken protocols – though there have been a number of cases of gatherings that broke the rules over the months, from weddings to funerals and other gatherings. After one wedding highlighted in this newspaper, the attendees were visited by the police and issued tickets. The solution is right there – break the rules, pay the price. If people know they won’t get away with hosting an event that breaks the rules, they’ll think twice. If they think all they’ll get is a tut tut and we must do better, then plenty will go right ahead, ignoring the real consequences of how many people will go home afterwards with an unwanted guest, the virus that has found a new host and will continue to spread.

In today’s Tribune, we report on Atlantis bringing back furloughs for staff in the face of the US quarantine order. Every person that attends one of these events and might prompt the spread of the virus further keeps those doors closed longer. A party for a day might mean someone else out of a job for life. Or worse, lose their life.

That said, the government needs to be clearer with its message. People need to know the path we are on. Those who break the rules need to be dealt with accordingly, certainly, but we also need to know the level of risk we are really

facing.

Dr Minnis might say that the extension of the emergency powers doesn’t mean that the powers will actually be used, just that it gives the government the ability to do so if needed – but they have been used every time they’ve been extended so far and while there’s talk of a “light at the end”, that end seems very distant right now.

It seems impossible to make an appeal to the US while telling our own citizens things are too dangerous to lift the restrictions right now – yet that’s where we are.

Where do we go from here? Well, it depends which story of how well we are doing we are to believe.

A vital jab

Talk continues to circulate about the COVID-19 vaccine being a personal choice – and while there absolutely is a discussion to be had about personal liberty, what we’re missing is the other half of the conversation.

The vaccine will only be effective if it has a high take-up rate. Back in December, Dr Anthony Fauci, one of the top experts in the world and an advisor to both Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden, talked of a need for around 70 to 75 percent to gain herd immunity. What’s herd immunity? That’s the number of people with immunity that ensures the virus can’t get a grip on a population. Think of it this way. If one person has the virus, and only half of those around them are vaccinated, the virus has a 50-50 chance of jumping to someone who can become infected. The higher the number who are vaccinated, the smaller the chance the virus has of jumping – and each time that number becomes smaller, it makes it more likely the virus peters out.

With polio, that threshold is about 80 percent. Those are the numbers – or even higher – of the population of The Bahamas that we need to be vaccinated to squash this virus. That includes everyone – Bahamians, legal migrants, illegal migrants. The virus doesn’t stop to check your passport.

So while there is talk of the vaccine being voluntary, we really need to talk about how essential it is for people to take a safe, tested vaccine.

Without a vaccine, it means... no travel, no tourism, businesses shutting down, no jobs, an economic crash, and a future that never gets better.

So take the jab, and don’t listen to the social media doubters. Listen to the scientists. They’re the experts, we should trust them.

Children’s home beatings shock EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE article about children being severely beaten and mocked by staff in an emergency care home is sickening.

How could such shocking abuse be meted out to helpless children by their caregivers and how long has this been going on? How many people were involved or knew about the mistreatment and silently stood by?

Are the caregivers vetted and trained and does anyone independently check on the wellbeing of the children?

While the Minister of Social Services is correct to pledge no stone will go unturned in a full, impartial investigation, who is looking after these children in the meantime?

Are they still in the same nightmarish place where

they were forced to endure such barbaric abuse? Have the people under investigation been removed pending the outcome?

Judging from the video report, these children will be traumatised and emotionally scarred. Are they receiving counselling?

The media houses must stay on this story until justice is done.

Unfortunately, this type of behaviour is not uncommon in wider society where “parents” see no wrong in abusing their children.

It goes hand in hand with the archaic treatment of women. In 2021, the Bahamas does not recognize that all citizens are created equally.

The government has failed to introduce legislation to outlaw marital rape and to provide for gender

equality on the citizenship issue.

Despite a commitment for gender equality, successive governments have instead used women as political pawns, spouting all sorts of empty platitudes at the United Nations, but doing absolutely nothing at home to end this gross form of discrimination following the failed politicised referendums.

The disrespect towards women who are no more than second class citizens in their own country along with cruel parenting fuels domestic abuse/murder and a growing subculture of hardened, violent young people who go on to abuse others in return.

Is it any wonder we are such a violent society?

ATHENA DAMIANOS January 20, 2021

Oil drilling in The Bahamas EDITOR, The Tribune.

OIL spills of huge proportions are causing major damage to the Bahamas’ fisheries and the environment.

In the midst of the massive protests and objections to drilling for oil in Bahamian waters by groups of Bahamians and residents and the objections from high profile sources in the United States, I wish to make a contribution of my experience living and working in an oil town in Trinidad. It was in the midforties, just after the second world war.

I had left elementary school in Cunupia Village and joined my mother in the small town of Point Fortin, in the heart of the oil industry. She was the housekeeper for the general manager of United British Oilfields (UBOT) the largest oil producer in the country. I was employed in the Material Accounts Office as an office boy/messenger and later filing clerk. Trinidad was still a British Colony. Point Fortin, with the largest oil refinery in the world and the centre of oil exploration in Trinidad, thrived and very soon became the third largest town in the country.

Certainly the wealthiest.

Unemployment and poverty did not exist in the oil belt of South Trinidad.

Communities compared favorably or even better than many in the City of Port of Spain and San-Fernando, eighty and 30 miles to the north respectively.

People in north Trinidad regarded the southerners as being wealthy. Excursions by hundreds of southerners accompanying sports teams to the City encountered increased prices for retail services. The huge pipes with oil flowing from the wells to the refinery and the smell of oil in the air were a part of the environment.

South Trinidad produced many of the country’s top sportsmen and women. The sand in the water at Point Fortin beaches contained

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net residue of crude oil, which covered your feet when you stood in the sand. Residents visiting the beaches took bottles containing kerosene or coconut oil to clean their feet after the beach visits.

The oil residue in the sand was caused by leakage from pipes and drilling overflows. We learned to live with it.

To the so south of Ram of Point Fortin, a distance of about 10 miles is the village of Cedros, It is Trinidad’s major fishing area.

Cedros could supply the entire country with its fish needs, undamaged by oil residue. A visit to Cedros when the fishing boats are arriving would disclose the massive size of the industry there, unaffected by the oil industry. Residents in the oil towns of south Trinidad have accepted the environment they have lived in for decades. The rewards from oil production have been massive; schools, health care, social services, sports and recreation and a good standard of living.

I have visited Trinidad annually for many years from the 1970s-carnival time. South Trinidad continues to boom. In addition to the oil industry, there are natural, gas exported to the world, new industries such as clothing manufacture, flour mills, stall steel mills and chemicals. Exports to Caribbean countries and parts of the world.

During my visits there I travel between Port of Spain/SanFernando and Tobago on the government’s ferry boats in the Gulf of Paria that separates Trinidad from Venezuela.

Drilling for oil and natural gas is now also at sea.

The rigs and wells can be seen. I have not seen any oil spills. Venezuela, a large oil producing country is just 7 miles across the Gulf of Paria from Cedros Village.

Trinidad is now experiencing major problems with

illegal immigrants from Venezuela. I am told, that it is likely Venezuelan oil will be refined in Trinidad very shortly as their refineries are closed.

Barbados, an island whose economy thrives on tourism is an oil-producer. Crude oil produced from wells in Barbados is shipped to refineries in Trinidad. The oil production there does not appear hazardous to their beaches and fisheries. Oil has been found in Guyana. I am told, that there are negotiations between Guyana and Trinidad for exploration and production. We have to be concerned about major oil spills and the ability of the investor to deal with them efficiently and effectively.

We have to be concerned about the objections from our powerful neighbour and allie, the United States of America. They can force their objections, if we fail to negotiate and satisfy them, that the environment will be protected. The investor should be asked to guarantee such protection with a cash bond.

The benefits of a productive oil industry would benefit our country in many ways, eg lower fuel costs would reduce the cost of electricity and gasoline – fifty cents US at the pumps in Trinidad and it includes a vehicle license tax, and most importantly low fuel costs attract investors engaged in manufacturing, which would create employment. It would be beneficial if government could arrange visits to the oil towns in Trinidad for environmentalist groups and media representatives.

They would be able to provide factual comments on their discoveries.

Visits to Point Fortin, Point-a-Pierre, Point Lisas, Labrea and other small oil towns and villages would be enlightening: They must also visit the oil wells in the Gulf of Paria.

PAUL THOMPSON, SR, ACP-Ret. Nassau

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, January 26, 2021, PAGE 7

BREEF GIVES THANKS FOR ADOPTING CORAL THE Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation extends heartfelt thanks to all its local and international supporters who adopted coral for themselves or loved ones during BREEF's recent holiday Adopt a Coral promotion.

The abundance of coral adoptions combined with a generous matching donation made double the impact, BREEF said.

“The Bahamas is home to 35 percent of all coral reefs in the wider Caribbean,” BREEF said in a press release. “Coral reefs have the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem on the planet — even more than a tropical rainforest. Occupying less than one percent of the ocean floor, coral reefs are home to more than 25 percent of marine life. Coral reefs also provide protection from storms, and generate income for tourism and fisheries.

“Coral reefs are under serious threat from human impacts such as climate change, pollution, introduction of invasive species, coastal development, illegal fishing practices and overfishing. Globally, 80 percent of live corals have died in the last 50 years.”

BREEF said it works to protect coral

reefs through coral restoration, education and by encouraging good policy decisions for sustainable development.

Coral reefs are especially vulnerable to warming waters due to human-induced climate change, and BREEF’s staff closely monitor corals for signs of coral stress and bleaching, the organisation added.

“Climate change is the result of burning fossil fuels and warming the atmosphere and the ocean.

“Human actions have already caused 1C of this global warming which has resulted in impacts such as the climate-fueled

Hurricane Dorian. If global warming exceeds 1.5C, small island states, particularly low-lying archipelagic nations like The Bahamas, will be even more at risk,” BREEF added.

BREEF created the Sir Nicholas Nuttall Coral Reef Sculpture Garden and Coral Nursery in 2014 in the beautiful Bahamian waters off Clifton.

The group said it is an exceptional snorkeling and diving experience and is home to “Ocean Atlas” – the world’s largest underwater sculpture, and the location of one of BREEF’s coral nurseries.

$20k fine for $22k marijuana

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 42-YEAR-OLD woman who was found with $22,000 worth of marijuana was yesterday fined $20,000.

Police arrested Fantalar Lewis after they found 22 pounds of Indian hemp in her home on January 23.

She pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous drug possession with the intent to supply during a hearing before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt.

The court heard officers, acting on information, proceeded to Lewis’ Golden Isles Road home around 10am on the morning in question. When they arrived, officers knocked on the door, showed the defendant their warrant and informed her that she and her home would be searched in reference

to dangerous drugs and firearms.

During their investigation, officers found four brown taped packages containing a quantity of marijuana in a pink clothes basket in Lewis’ bedroom.

The prosecution said when a K-9 dog was deployed, he also made indications toward the closet in the room. When officers searched it, they found four clear plastic wraps with more marijuana lying on the floor. Lewis was subsequently arrested. When questioned by officers in custody, she said the drugs were hers and claimed she was the one who had brought them to her residence.

Yesterday, Lewis was represented by attorney Jomo Campbell. He told the magistrate his client pleaded guilty at her earliest opportunity because she did not want to waste the court’s time. He also insisted Lewis

was extremely remorseful for breaking the law.

In response, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt told Lewis she could not imagine what must have been going through her head leading up to January 23, when she was caught red-handed. She told the defendant since she chose to break the law, she must be willing to pay the consequences.

As a result, she fined Lewis $20,000 and told her half of the fine had to be paid before she was released from custody. She also told Lewis she had to pay the remaining balance within the next 60 days.

Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt said if she doesn’t, she would be sentenced to nine months in jail.

Yesterday, another man who was found with two grams of marijuana was ordered to attend drug counselling classes.

Reginald Johnson, 22, was arrested after officers

found two grams of marijuana on him on January 19.

The court was told that day, officers were conducting road checks in the Pineyard Road area when they observed a white Nissan Note driving at a high rate of speed. They then beckoned for the vehicle to stop and informed the lone male occupant that he would be searched.

During their investigation, officers found two silver foil wraps in one of Johnson’s pants pockets, they then arrested the defendant and transported him to the Elizabeth Estates police station. During an interview with officers there, Johnson admitted the offence and said he had bought the drugs to smoke.

After pleading guilty to one count of simple possession yesterday, Johnson was ordered to attend drug counselling classes for three months.

MAN DENIES ASSAULTING POLICE OFFICER

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 43-YEAR-OLD man who denied assaulting a police officer was yesterday granted $2,000 bail ahead of his trial.

Valencio Darling appeared before

Chief Magistrate Joyann FergusonPratt after he was accused of resisting arrest and assaulting an on-duty officer on January 19.

During the hearing, the accused, who appeared in court on crutches, denied both allegations. His attorney, Christina Galanos, also told the magistrate that her client had

“suffered injuries while being apprehended” by the officer accusing him of assault.

As a result, Magistrate FergusonPratt said she would make a note of the complaint and adjourned the matter to May 18 for trial.

Darling was granted $2,000 bail until that time.

JOHNSON - I WAS THE VICTIM from page one The altercation has been subject to considerable social media speculation in the last week. But Mr Johnson said he committed no criminal act and condemns violence, especially violence against women.

“Political mischief makers have suggested that I resign over this most unfortunate incident,” he said. “There is no reason for me to step down from my parliamentary duties as I am the victim in this matter.”

Asked about the matter yesterday, police press liaison officer Assistant Superintendent Audley Peters said: “I’m aware that Mr Hank Johnson is not being prosecuted.

However, I’ve not been able to confirm if and when a suspect is going to court.”

Police Commissioner Paul Rolle reportedly told the Nassau Guardian last week that Mr Johnson’s wife filed a counter complaint of assault against him. At the time, he said the wife’s complaint is under investigation.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

Death Notice For

Theologos Tsavoussis, 89 of Tuckaway Road died at his residence on Thursday, January 21st, 2021.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years: Kalliope Tsavoussis; children: Katherine Borovilos, Tina Lyons, Maria, Theordore and Alexia Tsavoussis; sons-in-law: George Borovilos and Dr. Allan Lyons; grandchildren: Gregory Borovilos, Zachary Lyons, Analia Lyons, Callie Borovilos, and Christa Lyons and a host of Other Relatives and Friends.

Graveside Funeral Service is scheduled for Wednesday, January 27, 2021, at 3:30p.m. at Ebenezer Cemetery, Shirley Street.

BREEF has an additional coral nursery located on the third largest barrier reef in the world, the Andros Barrier Reef. To date, hundreds of corals have been outplanted back onto the surrounding reefs to help restore and rebuild this critical ecosystem.

The “holiday special” promotion was so successful, BREEF will be offering the opportunity again in February for Valentine’s Day, and encourages everyone to join BREEF in restoring our coral reefs by adopting a coral. For more information, visit www.breef.org.

MAN IS ACCUSED OF KILLING TEENAGE GIRL

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 24-YEAR-OLD man was yesterday charged with murder in connection with the death of a teenage girl whose lifeless body was discovered with severe blunt force injuries last week.

Fred Lloyd appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt after he was accused of causing the death of 19-year-old Kendise Smith on January 18.

According to initial police reports, shortly before 4pm that day, Smith’s body was found unresponsive on a property situated on South Creek Close off Marshall Road West. When officers

arrived at the scene, they were directed to the northwestern corner of the property. There they found the body of the victim lying on the ground with severe blunt force trauma injuries to the head.

Due to the nature of the offence, Lloyd was not required to enter a plea during his arraignment.

As a result, the matter was adjourned to March 25 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

In the interim, the accused, who is represented by attorney Ian Cargill, was denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

He has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

WOMAN DENIES USING CAR AS WEAPON

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A 31-YEAR-OLD woman has been accused of trying to hit a man with her car earlier this month.

The prosecution said Branell Cartwright threatened to kill a man before trying to hit him with her vehicle on January 17.

She pleaded not guilty to one count each of threats of death and assault with a dangerous instrument when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt.

As a result, her case was adjourned to September 14 for trial.

In the meantime, Cartwright was granted $2,000 bail.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, January 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

A leap of faith put Ren on a path to self-discovery I N THE summer of 2018, my husband and I were attending the Bahamas Bridal Show.

We were engaged at the time and it was just weeks away from our wedding. The bridal show was an exciting event and one we won’t soon forget. Among the memorable moments of the day was meeting up with Renbert “Ren” Mortimer, also known as “Waynehead”. The caricature artist was busy scribbling works of art in record time, giving couples a wonderful keepsake of the occasion. When it was our time, I was amazed that in just a few moments, Ren had already made a connection to us and by having a brief conversation with a huge smile, he was able to capture our spirits in a lovely caricature.

He manages to exaggerate just the right facial features to encapsulate someone’s characteristics in such a way that the recipient can’t help but smile... even laugh at themselves.

This gives Ren life. He has found a purposeful

path by moving away from what was expected of him to take a leap of faith into the world of art.

“I decided I wanted to focus more on people and the art of communicating effectively... connecting with

people on their level,” he explained.

“I listened to my parents, I got my degree. I studied areas people thought I should. I have done what the system said to do, followed the status quo, and still I was not satisfied. I spent five years in the hotel; I have worked in managerial capacities. I have worked as a facilitator for young men looking for a better way.

After doing all this, I can tell you there was no greater joy than choosing to believe in my gifts. My God-given gifts - the ability to draw, to think, to influence people through my story (as a motivational speaker) - those gifts have propelled me more quickly

and more effectively than my resume ever did.”

Ren got a full Catholic education as a youngster, attending Our Lady’s Primary School followed by St Augustine’s College. He went on to attend the College of The Bahamas where

A FAMILY enjoying art at a Waynehead Productions event at Balmoral.

he obtained an Associate’s degree in Sociology and a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. He also spent time in Ontario, Canada at Brock University. Ren then found himself working in a major hotel, taking a path that could have resulted in a climb up the ranks of that institution for the rest of his career. But he started to see life differently years earlier.

In fact, when he was a COB student, he started to see the system as something that impeded him from greatness. He became COBUS president, but had the unfortunate experience of being arrested.

One of the main charges against him was verbal assault to a police officer: “I told him that he was a slave to the Government system.

That got me in trouble.

Even when I went to court I told him, ‘I’m not saying you are a slave, my brother. I am a Christian, I am a slave to Christ.

I am a student president, so I am also a slave to the institution. In the same way, you are a police officer and a slave to the system.

Slave isn’t a bad word, but it’s what we are’.

“I remember my lawyer telling me to shut up, and that I was too smart. I decided that day that I wanted a different path in life. I have learned to write stories and illustrate books all off of learning basic skills. I am the man in the Bible with the ten talents who changed them into 20. There’s a quote I love: ‘ A jack of all trades is a master of none’. That half statement has been used to hold down creatives. The full statement ends: ‘Oftentimes better than a master of one’.

So the people with many talents - the creatives - we are the ones who are always fed.

We have so much to offer.

We know photography, videography, graphic design, we are coming with so much more on our plate than they ask for. The business world is now crying for the creatves, the innovators. They can’t lock us down.”

Eight years ago, Ren started Waynehead productions. What started as a hilarious nickname in high school because of the size of his head became the mascot for his growing business.

Interestingly, Ren has been drawing exaggerated heads ever since! In 2017, I featured him in Tribune Weekend when he was deemed the “World’s Fastest Caricature Artist” by the International

RENBERT ‘Ren’ Mortimer, also known as ‘Waynehead’.

Society of Caricature Artists. He has travelled all over the world - throughout the United States, Mexico, China, Europe - and has done caricatures for thousands of people. He has proven that passion does drive and deliver a meaningful purpose. A simple love of drawing, coupled with a love for people and a desire to connect with them, has resulted in his business being a smashing success. But drawing is just a fraction of his focus. Ren has become a sought-after branding artist who has helped many of the major companies in this country launch and maintain successful advertising campaigns.

Even his old stomping ground called him back home. Ren is currently the Public Relations and Brand Coordinator for the University of the Bahamas. The popular Mingoes - the branding and concept, came from his creative lead and continues to develop successfully.

Knowing the rocky path that led to his realisation of self,

“I decided I wanted to focus more on people and the art of communicating effectively... connecting with people on their level.”

Renbert ‘Ren’ Mortimer he spends much time ensuring the students there have a smoother journey to self discovery.

He takes joy in investing his time and energy into the students.

Among his other efforts at the school, he hosts the university’s Daily podcast ‘MINGOES Express’, the UB Alumni Talk Series ‘Dr Alumni’, and the UB Athletics highlights. He also hosts several other podcasts including his personal one Creative Leadership - which also has a UB edition. His other podcasts include: Union of Students, From the Sideline, Off Season, For New Norm, and Show My Walk You Got”. It’s all in an effort to inspire people, he says, noting that “it’s not about the money” but about changing lives.

“I, too, went through trauma,” he shared.

“I am meeting with people, counselling with them, helping them deal with depression and suicidal thoughts. I have been through it, and I had to get counselling too. I want my life to be a testimony and inspire people to believe in themselves as I chose to believe in me.”

Ren has grown tremendously and continues to evolve not only as an artist and creative director, but as an innovative entrepreneur.

He has produced scores of books for others, serving as writer for some, illustrator and producer. He has produced his own book as well, entitled “How to Tame the Beast”.

Since the pandemic began, Ren says he saw more people depressed and disillusioned and he wanted to come up with a way to help people to still connect, have fun, and find some stress relief amid all of the uncertainty.

ONE of Ren’s most recent creative campaigns.

He came up with the “New Norm Experience” a component of his RGMII Waynehead Productions Marketing and Animation company. It has been hosting a series of unique events since they were allowed to launch through the pandemic, assuring that all proper protocols are adhered to. One event was ‘Beer Yoga’, or ‘Sip and Stretch’ combines the therapeutic properties of yoga with a refreshing beverage.

Another event, sing and paint, allows people to express their creativity through art while being entertained by singers and motivated by psychologists and counsellors.

“Toote and Scoop” is where a musician with an instrument, currently a trumpeteer, performs while families come out and enjoy ice cream. Two of those have already been held, with flavours like sour sop and cotton candy ice cream being amongst the favourites.

Waynehead teamed up with Siparoni for the popular ‘Sip and Paint’ events.

“Every event we have is not about emptying people’s pockets or making a profit,” he said.

“It’s about providing a safe and affordable experience for people who want to get out of the house. Costs start as low as $35 including everything. That has caused some people to think we don’t

exist, but I can say with great confidence, once people see what we are giving, it’s about giving people great experiences with art.”

Waynehead works closely with Balmoral Club, which has provided the beautiful backdrop for the events.

Ren now wants to make even more collaborations between music and art. Another event is “Bring Your Own Blanket” where families can come out to the beautiful lawn and stretch out on their blanket and enjoy the festivities.

Sawyer Boy Entertainment Comedy Show, Collage Entertainment Reunion with Glen Sherman, Tyrone Burrows, Das Quay and Ross for fun filled comedy events.

They are currently gearing up to host more Bahamiancentric events to help keep the culture alive, especially for young people.

There’s also a Dread Experience, Meet the Artist, and Gift - private workshop where talented Bahamians get to share their story.

“We want to be that positivity,” Wayne said.

“We want people to feel safe and also feel better holistically - not just in their body but in their mind and soul. We want to let them know they have the strength to make it through these challenging times.”

Find Ren by email: waynehead242@gmail.com or on most major social media platforms.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, January 26, 2021, PAGE 9

SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP REMAINS WHETHER OR NOT CHURCHILL’S BUST STAYS IN THE OVAL OFFICE The Peter Young column

AFTER looking briefly last week at world prospects in the coming months under a new US government, two occurrences encourage me to consider what a Biden presidency might mean for Britain. These are the removal of the bust of Winston Churchill from the Oval Office and last weekend’s telephone call between President Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

I commented earlier that Biden would be less isolationist than his predecessor. In tackling global issues in co-operation with America’s traditional friends, he will rebuild overseas alliances and is

already rejoining international agreements and organisations like the Paris Climate Accord and the WHO. He will also want to revive the Iran nuclear deal and will be tough on Russia while bringing pressure on China in relation to human rights, including in Hong Kong.

To many, removal of Churchill’s bust looks to be a somewhat trivial matter.

But political commentators love to attribute significance to such actions and to ponder which world leaders will receive a call from the incoming US President.

This has almost become a spectator sport and is seen as a crude measure of

A DIPLOMATIC SPAT – MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING? A DIPLOMATIC row has broken out between the UK and the European Union about the status of the latter’s ambassador in London. On the grounds that the EU is an international body and not a nation-state, the UK government is insisting that its ambassador and staff should not be accorded the immunities, rights and privileges under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 that are enjoyed by diplomats from sovereign states. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is quoted as saying the EU’s ambassador in London should be seen as representing an international organisation rather than being treated as a national envoy.

The EU maintains that normal diplomatic status is accorded to its representatives in 142 other countries in the same way as to diplomats from nation-states.

It argues that the EU is not a typical international organisation because it has the trappings of a state with its own currency, judicial system and its own anthem as well as the power to make laws.

I believe it is also argued that EU member states have agreed by treaty to share sovereignty through the institutions of the EU in

some aspects of government.

Thus, in the view of many, it is reasonable to contend that the EU is a de facto independent state. What is more, the EU goes on to argue that the UK is well aware of the bloc’s status in external relations - with its own External Action Service founded in 2010 - and was supportive of this status while still an EU member.

While viewing this from afar and with no inside knowledge since I retired some years ago, the diplomatic status under question, as far as I can see, relates to immunity from arrest or prosecution for any criminal offence, exemption from local taxes and the inviolability of diplomatic premises. So, I wonder whether in practice there will be much difference as far as everyday life is concerned. But, of course, it is the principle that is at stake.

Since Britain is customarily a stickler for adherence to the letter of the law, I am sure this decision to withhold full diplomatic status will have been carefully considered and will be in accord with the Vienna Convention while at the same time taking account of issues like precedent and reciprocity. But many will wonder whether such a strict interpretation of the rules is justified - or even

wise - in the circumstances of Britain’s recent departure from the bloc.

In some ways the issue goes right to the heart of the Brexit debate. While the drive towards evercloser union continues, the EU is not yet the ‘United States of Europe’ with a federal government and political power centralised in Brussels, which many believe is necessary to consolidate democracy and guarantee continued peace and prosperity in Europe.

But others maintain that such concentration and centralisation of power is in itself undemocratic and they prefer a European Union of independent sovereign states. Either way, Britain voted in its 2016 referendum not to be part of it and has duly left the bloc.

So, is the status of the EU’s representative in London just a silly spat and a storm in a teacup or is it something more serious?

Should the UK stick to the letter of the law or should there be some sort of compromise? However this is viewed, it is one more distraction to sour relations between the UK and the EU that could surely have been avoided by, yes, none other than quiet diplomacy which - after all - those concerned are supposed to be good at!

OUT with Churchill, in with Chavez. There’s no room for the bust of Winston Churchill in the Oval Office under President Joe Biden, but there’s a pace for union leader Cesar Chavez. the importance Washing- opportune time to rekindle ton attaches to its future the relationship for mutual relationships with other benefit. countries.

In order, presumably, The Churchill bust was to press home this posipresented to George W tive message, Biden’s Bush by former Prime 35-minute phone call to Minister Tony Blair. It Johnson - the first to a was removed by Obama leader in Europe - was in 2009 which prompted reported to have been at the time the incautious ‘warm, friendly and wideremark by Johnson - when ranging’ and covered such he was Mayor of London issues as climate change, - that it was a sign of an ‘green’ policy concerns, ‘ancestral dislike of the co-operation on secuBritish Empire’; and this rity and defence and a was seen as an obvious post-Brexit trade deal. dig at Obama’s Kenyan One major change in the roots.

But bilateral relamany Ameri- The Churchill bust tionship is the cans regard for the was presented to need Churchill, US to adapt whose mother George W Bush to dealing was originally by former Prime with a newlyfrom Brookindependent lyn, as the Minister Tony Blair. Britain now best friend the It was removed by outside the nation ever Obama in 2009...

EU and, therehad - and not fore, no longer just because of Now, Biden has a bridge to his leadership removed it again Brussels. during the and introduced There will Second World also be new War. So the the busts of demands on bust was then charismatic but the US to restored in controversial tackle issues 2017 by Trump in Europe who said it Mexican-American itself and was an honour union leader, Cesar rebuild trust; to have it back Chavez, and civil for example, as a symbol of among many the US’ special rights activist and other issues, relationship in relation to heroine, Rosa with Britain. Parks, to join that NATO. Now, Biden Many in has removed of Martin Luther Britain believe it again and King which was it is imporintroduced the tant to draw already there. busts of charup, without ismatic but delay, a bilatcontroversial Mexican- eral trade agreement with American union leader, the US. But the signs are Cesar Chavez, and civil that, initially, America will rights activist and heroine, focus on its domestic priRosa Parks, to join that of orities like the economy Martin Luther King which and COVID-19, so this was already there. will probably not happen It is interesting that soon quickly. A complicating after the publicity about factor may be Biden, who removal of the Churchill traces his roots back to Irebust, the US Embassy in land and takes pride in his London uploaded a video heritage, and his colleagues defining the special rela- think that Brexit was an histionship, saying that it toric mistake, and he and concerns trust between like- Nancy Pelosi are on record minded people together as saying a future UK/US with shared values and pri- trade deal is contingent on orities and co-operation no unravelling of the Good across-the-board while the Friday Agreement that US and Britain are also the brought peace to Northern largest investors in each Ireland. other’s countries. Moreover, Leaving that aside, everyone knows the UK is where there is likely to the US’s strongest ally glob- be early co-operation ally. So, many believe that is in relation to climate with a new administration change which is high on in Washington this is an the Biden policy agenda

as a global crisis that needs to be tackled immediately. Working together in practical ways on climate change will surely be important in putting the spark back in the special relationship. An important part of this will be the UN Climate Change Conference (known as COP26) which the UK is hosting in Scotland in November. It will be a major event with world leaders present - together with thousands of other attendees - to discuss such subjects as climate technology, capacity-building, education and sustainable development and to agree a coordinated action plan.

Mr Biden is expected to attend this as well as the G7 meeting in June which the UK is hosting in Cornwall in the west of England.

People see the new President as a known pragmatist with long experience of how Washington works who has a reputation for reaching out to others and is bound to restore a more systematic approach to governance. They regard this as a marked contrast to his predecessor who also, for example, placed too great a value on personal relations with foreign leaders – such as Mr Trump’s supposed relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Yongun, and the so-called ‘love letters’ he bizarrely claims to have exchanged with him.

In international relations, leaders surely have to set the overall strategy, tone and attitude for the interdependence and cordial relations between governments that are at the core of international endeavour. But those concerned with foreign affairs are more often than not guided by the famous dictum of Lord Palmerston, the British statesman who served twice as Prime Minister in the mid-19th century, that in international relations there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, only permanent interests – and who in Britain would disagree that it is in the nation’s interest to maintain that special relationship with the US?

VACCINATIONS OFFER AN ANSWER TO US TIGHTENING ITS BORDERS IN THIS smaller third segment of my weekly column, I had intended to write about the recent action taken by Britain in response to concerns about lack of good governance and allegations of corruption in one of its overseas territories, the British Virgin Islands.

However, I want to offer instead some brief comment in the aftermath of the disturbing news at the end of last week that President Biden had signed an executive order requiring

incoming travellers to go into quarantine on arrival in the US in addition to providing proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test.

The Minister of Tourism is quoted as describing this as a devastating blow to the Bahamian economy because it brings instability and uncertainty to the international travel market and will deter people from visiting this country.

While confirmation of the details is awaited, it is encouraging to learn our government will be

asking the US to exempt The Bahamas from these impending requirements on the grounds of its dependency on tourism from the US and that the risks of infection here are low.

However, I imagine the likelihood of securing an exemption is not high, given that Biden will want to stick to his new tough stance in contrast to his predecessor’s reluctance to admit the seriousness of the virus crisis. So we surely need to muster all the arguments we can.

The relatively small number of COVID-19 cases here and the high recovery rate speak for themselves so we can justifiably claim to have almost beaten the virus. It will also be important to work together with other countries in the region and elsewhere who can make the same claim.

But a strong argument to deploy would be the existence of mass vaccination.

From what I am hearing, people are wondering about the delay in starting a vaccination programme.

The public is obviously not privy to what is going on officially behind the scenes, so there may be good reasons why a firm timing has not yet been announced.

But, with finance available from international sources, some find it hard to understand why we are still debating the composition of a committee to consider the whole matter when other countries are already well down the track with vaccinations on a large scale; for example, the UK, which started its own

programme in December, has now reached nearly six million vaccinations with three-quarters of the over80s having already received doses.

So, if there is any possibility of bringing forward an earlier vaccination programme in this country, surely the time has now come to give the matter the highest priority – not least to strengthen the case for an exemption from America’s damaging new virus quarantine and testing rules.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, January 26, 2021, PAGE 11

TO SIR SIDNEY WITH LOVE

OFFICERS of the German Federal Police check passengers arriving by plane from Prague at the Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt, Germany.

Photo: Boris Roessler/AP

European Union seeks more travel restrictions BRUSSELS Associated Press THE European Union’s executive body proposed yesterday that the bloc’s 27 nations impose more travel restrictions to counter the worrying spread of new coronavirus variants but make sure to keep goods and workers moving across EU borders.

Amid concerns related to the production and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, the European Commission urged EU nations to reinforce testing and quarantine measures for travelers as virus mutations that are more transmissible threaten to overwhelm European hospitals with new cases.

More than 400,000 EU citizens have already died from the virus since the pandemic first hit Europe last year.

“The start of the EU vaccination campaign kicked off the beginning of the end of the pandemic,” EU Justice commissioner Didier Reynders said. “At the same time, new, more transmissible variants of the virus have surfaced.

There is currently a very high number of new infections across many member states. And there is an urgent need to reduce the risk of travel-related infections to lessen the burden on overstretched healthcare systems.”

Among the new measures, which need to be

approved by EU nations before taking effect, is the addition of a new “dark red” color to the EU’s weekly map of infections.

Reynders said this new color highlights areas where the rate of new confirmed infections in the last 14 days is 500 or more per 100,000 inhabitants. He said between 10 and 20 EU countries would already see that color on all or part of their territory if it was in effect now.

“We also think it is necessary for essential travelers arriving from dark red areas to get tested before traveling and to undergo quarantine, unless these measures would have a disproportionate impact on the exercise of

PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY CRITICISED OVER DELIVERIES BRUSSELS Associated Press THE European Union lashed out yesterday at pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, accusing it of failing to guarantee delivery of coronavirus vaccines without valid explanation, and threatened to impose tight export controls within days on COVID-19 vaccines made in the bloc.

Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said the EU, already facing heavy criticism for a slow vaccine rollout around its 27 nations, “will take any action required to protect its citizens and its rights”.

The EU, which has 450 million citizens and the economic and political clout of the world’s biggest trading bloc, is lagging badly behind countries like Israel and Britain in rolling out coronavirus vaccine shots for its health care workers and most vulnerable people.

That’s despite having over 400,000 confirmed virus deaths since the pandemic began.

The shortfall of planned deliveries of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is expected to get medical approval in the bloc on Friday, combined with hiccups in the distribution of Pfizer-BioNTech shots is putting EU nations under pressure.

“EU member states are united: vaccine developers have societal and contractual responsibilities they need to uphold,” Kyriakides said after two tense negotiating sessions with AstraZeneca that ended late yesterday. Both sides will reconvene Wednesday.

The backlog is all the more galling since Kyriakides said the EU had paid 2.7 billion euros ($3.28 billion) to several pharma companies to back the rapid

their essential function,” Reynders said.

Since the discovery of the new virus variants, several EU countries have already reinforced their lockdown measures. Belgium has introduced a ban on all nonessential travels for its residents until March, while France could soon start a third lockdown if a stringent 12-hour daily curfew already in place can’t slow down the spread of new infections.

“We are suggesting stricter measures for dark red areas, because we must recognize the high level of cases,” Reynders said.

Insisting that all nonessential travel is “strongly discouraged,” the commission repeated the need

to keep the single market functioning so workers and goods can continue to cross borders smoothly, “Border closures will not help, common measures will,” Reynders said.

The commission also proposed that travelers from outside the EU should face mandatory coronavirus testing before they depart, tests once they arrive, mandatory quarantines for up to 14 days and hand over data for contact tracing.

It suggested EU citizens and residents take a coronavirus test upon arrival and could face further restrictions if they coming in from a country where a variant has been detected.

IN 1963, Sidney Poitier made a film in Arizona, “Lilies of the Field”. The performance led to a huge milestone: He became the first Black winner of a leadacting Oscar.

Now, Arizona is the site of another career milestone for the legendary actor and filmmaker — Arizona State University has named its new film school after him.

The Sidney Poitier New American Film School was unveiled at a virtual ceremony on Monday.

The decision to name the school after Poitier, 93, is about much more than his achievements and legacy, but because he “embodies in his very person that which we strive to be — the matching of excellence and drive and passion with social purpose and social outcomes, all things that his career has really stood for,” said Michael M Crow, president of the university.

“You’re looking for an icon, a person that embodies everything you stand for,” Crow said in an earlier interview. “With Sidney Poitier, it’s his creative energy, his dynamism, his drive, his ambition, the kinds of projects he worked on, the ways in which he advanced his life.”

BIDEN REVERSES TRANSGENDER BAN PRESIDENT Joe Biden signed an order yesterday reversing a Trump-era Pentagon policy that largely barred transgender individuals from serving in the military.

The new order, which Biden signed in the Oval Office during a meeting with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, overturns a ban ordered by President Donald Trump in a tweet during his first year in office.

It any service member from being forced out of the military on the basis of gender identity.

The decision comes as Biden plans to turn his attention to equity issues he believes continue to shadow nearly all aspects of American life.

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EUROPEAN Commissioner in charge of Health Stella Kyriakides removes her face mask as she gives a statement at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels yesterday.

Photo: John Thys/Pool Photo via AP development and ramp up the production potential of several vaccines.

She said yesterday’s talks ended “in dissatisfaction with the lack of clarity and insufficient explanations.”

The open lack of trust contrasted sharply with the exultant tone only a few months ago when the leading pharma giants made quick and massive strides toward a vaccine against a pandemic the likes of which had not been seen in over a century.

“With our Member States, we have requested from (AstraZeneca) a detailed planning of vaccine deliveries and when distribution will take place,” she said in a Twitter message.

Kyriakides immediately got the support from the bloc’s largest member on the vaccine export controls plan.

“We, as the EU, must be able to know whether and what vaccines are being exported from the EU,” German Health Minister Jens Spahn said. “Only that way can we und erstand whether our EU contracts with the producers are

being served fairly. An obligation to get approval for vaccine exports on the EU level makes sense.”

Humanitarian deliveries would be exempt.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held urgent talks with AstraZeneca chief Pascal Soriot, and EU nations also met with AstraZeneca to encourage the British-Swedish company to ramp up its vaccine production and meet its contractual targets.

The EU has committed to buying 300 million AstraZeneca doses with option on 100 million extra shots.

Late last week, the company said it was planning to reduce a first contingent of 80 million to 31 million.

The European Medicines Agency is scheduled to review the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine Friday and its approval is hotly anticipated. The AstraZeneca vaccine is already being used in Britain and has been approved for emergency use by half a dozen countries, including India, Pakistan, Argentina and Mexico.

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SPORTS PAGE 15

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021

Izaak Bastian and Seminoles defeat Tigers for first time

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

I

zaak Bastian had a trio of first place finishes to help his No.16 ranked Floria State Seminoles defeat the No. 22 Auburn Tigers.

The 180-120 win was the first win for the Seminoles over Auburn in programme history and ended an 18 meet losing streak against the SEC powerhouse.

Individually, Bastian won the 100 yard Breaststroke in 54.56 seconds.

He also took first in the 200 breast with a time of 2:00.13.

In the 200 yard medley relay, Bastian teamed with Mason Herbet, Max McCusker and Jakub Ksiazek to finish first in 1:28.08.

FSU improved to 5-0 on the season.

“It was of course amazing to get the men’s first win over Auburn,” FSU head coach Neal Studd said on the school’s athletic website. “We had so many of our top guys out, so this win was even more special

Floria State ends 18-meet losing streak against SEC powerhouse Auburn

IZAAK BASTIAN

because it was a real team effort.”

It was the Seminoles’ second consecutive win over an SEC opponent this month following a 170.50 - 91.50 over LSU. His 200yard medley relay team set a new site record in the event. He teamed with Mason Herbet, Domen

Demsar and Peter Varjasi started to finish in 1:26.85 which surpassed the mark of 1:27.30 set by the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2018.

Individually, Bastian finished third in the 100 yard Breast in 55.32 and third in the 200 yard Breast in 2:00.26.

IT was a busy weekend on the collegiate track and field scene for a number of Bahamian athletes, led by Olympic qualifier Samson Colebrooke and jumpers Jyles Etienne and Grand Bahamian Shyrone Kemp.

Despite the increase in the coronavirus pandemic, track and field is one of the sports that continues to proceed, but without fans’ participation in the stands.

Colebrooke gearing up for Tokyo Having already qualified for the men’s 100 metres at the postponed 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Colebrooke, a senior at Purdue University, showed his versatility, competing in the longer sprints.

At the Gladstein Invitational at the Gladstein Fieldhouse at Indiana University, Colebrooke won the 200m in a time of 21.90 seconds, ahead of three competitors from Michigan, led by Noah Stallworth, who did 22.21 for second. Colebrooke, a native from Exuma who

JYLES SAMSON graduated from Queen’s College, also participated in the 400m where he clocked 50.59 to win his heat, but placed fifth overall. The winning time was 48.37 by Dubem Amene from Michigan.

Etienne soared to win Etienne, also in his senior year at Indiana State University, won the men’s high jump in Bloomington, Indiana, with a leap of 2.06 metres or 6-feet, 9-inches, the same height as Cassidy Henshaw of Michigan, who had to settle for second on fewer knockdowns.

Kemp record-breaking feat At the Marauders Track and Field Invite in Bismarck, Minnesota, Shyrone Kemp, a sophomore at Minnesota State University at Moorhead, matched his own school men’s triple

LJ Rose inks deal with new European club

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net NATIONAL team guard LJ Rose inked a deal with a new European club.

Rose signed with Galitos - Barreriro of Portugal’s Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB).

He becomes the third Bahamian national team player in the league following Travis Munnings and Shaquille Cleare who are members of UD Oliveirense.

Rose most recently played with BK Olomoucko Prostejov of The Czech Republic’s NBL. In four ROSE games last season he averaged 9.5 points, three rebounds and five assists per game. He also played with Finnish club, Pyrinto

SEE PAGE 18

Fritz has three blocks, eight rebounds in win

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net IN Spain, Shaquillo Fritz has a new opportunity with a new club in Spain’s Liga Espanola de Baloncesto (LEB Silver).

Fritz finished with four points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots in his debut for Agricola Villarrobledo CBV in their 90-62 win over Tarragona.

Villarrobledo moved into eighth place in the East standings with the win at 5-7. They will face Fritz’

former team, Hero Jairis, in the next round.

He opened his rookie season with a double double - 14 points, 11 FRITZ rebounds, but eventually fell out of the rotation and played sparingly as the season continued.

Fritz contributed 4.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in

SEE PAGE 18

SHYRONE DEVINE jump record with a leap of 15.17m (49-9 1/4) that he established last year.

In the process, Kemp’s performance was listed as the third best in the nation at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II (DII) level as he also surpassed the NCAA DII provisional qualifying standard.

Kemp, coached by Bahamian Olympic high jumper Trevor Barry, added a second place finish in the long jump with his leap of 6.86m (22-6 1/4).

The Bahamas was also presented by Robynn Rolle-Curry at the meet.

The freshman came through in the women’s sprints, taking the 200m in 26.14 and the 400m in 1:00.69.

Their sophomore teammate Kendrick Major came

ROBYNN SHAQUIEL through with a second place finish in the men’s 400m in 52.11. Major was fourth in the 200m with a time of 22.96. Not to be left out was Shaquiel Higgs, who was eighth overall in the 60m in 7.29 and seventh in the 200m 23.50.

Parker rounding into form Devine Parker, now in her sophomore year with the Ohio State University Buckeyes, was at the Horace Ashenfelter Indoor Track at the Penn State Invite in University Park, Pennsylvania where she finished third in the 60m in 7.62. She had the second fastest qualifying time of 7.53.

In the 200, Parker had to settle for second place in 24.41.

Adrian Curry, also competing for Ohio State, was

FIBA AMERICUP QUALIFIERS: BBF NEEDS $70,000 FOR TEAM TRAVEL

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

seventh in 7.26 after he posted the sixth fastest qualifying time of 7.06.

Curry was also tenth in the 200m in 22.49.

MEGAN Moss settling in This weekend at the Woo Pig Classic at the Arkansas-Randall Tyson Track in Fayetteville, Arkansas, University of Kentucky Wildcats’ sophomore Megan Moss placed eighth in the women’s 400m in 53.52. She also ran on the opening leg of the Wildcats’ 4x400m relay team that included Abby Steiner, Masai Russell and Dajour Miles that finished third in 3:33.48.

Cartwright in action in Mankato Minnesota State University at Mankato’s sophomore Denisha Cartwright got second in the women’s 60m hurdles in 8.84 seconds at the Chuck Peterson Dual at Myers Fieldhouse.

WITH the third and final leg of the FIBA AmeriCup 2020 Qualifiers set for February 19-20, Bahamas Basketball Federation president Mario Bowleg said they will need about $70,000 for the team to travel to compete.

The federation was hoping to host this round after they couldn’t get a commitment from the Bahamas Government to stage the second round in November. The first round was played earlier last year.

The second round of games were eventually staged at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Playing out of Group D, the Bahamas lost 99-59 to the USA and 91-85 to Puerto Rico.

Now, the federation is back on the road when the team will play the USA in the opener on February 19 and host Puerto Rico in the finale on February 20.

The Bahamas will have to beat Puerto Rico in order to advance out of the AmeriCup Qualifier.

But Bowleg said they are more concerned about finding the funding to travel, rather than taking on their counterparts. He’s confident that, with the pool of players to select from, the Bahamas can advance to the next level.

“We could have had an opportunity to host these games, but we now have to travel and we have to find the funding to travel,” Bowleg said. “We are appealing to corporate Bahamas, so whatever we can get, it should help us to get to Puerto Rico. We need about $70,000. We are

SEE PAGE 18

SEE PAGE 18

Athletes in collegiate track and field spotlight

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SEE PAGE 18

SPORTS

PAGE 18, Tuesday, January 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Spurs-Pelicans game called off, as NBA’s virus woes continue

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer SAN Antonio’s game in New Orleans was called off last night in the latest virusrelated postponement for the NBA, one that came when the league determined that neither team would have enough players available.

As has been the case with most of the other games that have been postponed, contact tracing was cited as the cause. But instead of it involving just one team — as has been the case with each of the season’s previous 21 postponements prior to yesterday — this one involved both clubs.

“Because of ongoing contact tracing within both the Spurs and Pelicans, neither team has the league-required eight available players to proceed with the scheduled game,” the NBA said, sending that announcement less than two hours before the planned tip-off time.

San Antonio became the 24th team to have at least one game postponed so far this season because of the virus. The Spurs played Washington — a team that went 13 days between games because of six players testing positive for COVID-19 and three others missing time because contact tracing suggested they may have been exposed to the virus — on Sunday night.

Of the 22 postponements this season, 21 have been made since January 10.

The Spurs-Pelicans game being called off wasn’t the only bad news for the NBA yesterday on the virus front.

The Los Angeles Clippers ruled out Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for today’s game in Atlanta in accordance with the league’s health and safety protocols.

A person with knowledge of the situation said Leonard and George may be able to return at some point during the Clippers’ fourgame road trip, depending

SAN Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, centre, talks to his players during a time out in the first half against the Washington Wizards on Sunday in San Antonio. San Antonio won 121-101.

(AP Photo/Darren Abate) on what the NBA decides with regard to their situations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity

because neither the team nor the league spoke about those cases publicly.

Also yesterday, the Boston Celtics said Jayson

Tatum would play for the first time since January 8 in their game at Chicago.

The Celtics are scheduled to visit San Antonio

FRITZ from PAGE 15

TRAVIS MUNNINGS in action for Team Bahamas.

BASKETBALL FEDERATION from PAGE 15

reaching out to our corporate sponsors, but we understand that everything is tight because of the coronavirus pandemic. But by February 6, if there’s no way that we can secure the funding, we will probably have to pull out.”

Bowleg said the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture assisted them along with the Bahamas Olympic Committee to make the last trip to Indiana.

But he said they will be relying on both entities to assist again.

“This is our chance to get our first team sport qualified for the 2024 Olympics,” Bowleg said.

“We feel we have the right mix

SHAQUILLE CLEARE in action for Team Bahamas.

of players who can get it done, so we are appealing to the public to assist us in this venture.”

He said he quite understands that all of the monies should not be spent on basketball, but because they are on the threshold of advancing, they should get the support to get the team to Puerto Rico.

Bowleg said they have players returning from the first leg and others, who were disappointed in the losses, who have made a commitment to try and get the team qualified for the next level.

• The team will be selected from the list of the following players: Elyiah Clark, Lynden Rose Jr, Dominic Bridgewater, D’Shon Taylor, Michael Carey Jr, Travis Munnings, Kentwan Smith,

Mychal Thompson Jr, brothers Kadeem and Dwight Coleby, Willis Mackey, Nashad Mackey, Tavario Miller, David Nesbitt, Jaron Cornish, Godfrey Rolle III, Zane Knowles Shaquille ‘Shaq’ Cleare, Ahmad Pratt, Ronnie ‘JR’ Cadot, Corey Sands, Adam Johnson and Kemsey Sylvestre.

While head coach DeMarco will not be available because of his commitment to the Golden State Warriors where he is an assistant coach, Bowleg said they are expected to take Grand Bahamian Norris Bain to coach the team.

Should the men’s national team qualify for the Olympics, Bowleg said it would be another feather in the Bahamas’ cap at the international level.

Traditionally, the Bahamas has been represented in track

an average of 15 minutes per game. The LEB Silver is the second division in the country.

Travis Munnings, Shaquille Cleare and UD Oliveirense are on a three game winning streak in Portugal’s Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB).

Munnings came off the bench and finished with nine points in an 87-59 win over Maia Basket. He also added three steals and

and field, sailing, boxing, swimming and tennis at the four-yearly games, but the country is still waiting for the first team sports to break the barrier.

The XXXIII Olympic Games is scheduled for July 26 to August 11, 2024 in Paris, France, but the International Olympic Committee is still trying to get to the postponed XXXII Olympics in 2020, which has been rescheduled for July 23 to August 8, 2021 because of the pandemic.

Although there are reports that the games have been cancelled, the IOC and the Japan Organising Committee refuted those allegations, indicating that everything is still on for July.

The pandemic, which put the sporting world on a hold in March, 2020, continues to disrupt sports on the global scene with

three rebounds in just 16 minutes. They improved to 11-5 and are ranked No.6 in the standings.

The current streak began on January 15 with a 97-77 win over Ovarense. Munnings finished with a season high 16 rebounds, seven points, seven assists and three steals. Cleare finished with eight points, three rebounds and three assists.

They followed with a 73-62 win over Galitos-Barrerio.

Munnings finished with seven points and nine rebounds while Cleare finished with 10 points and five rebounds.

very few competitions staged and those that are still on are doing so basically without any fanfare.

Here at home, very limited competition has been staged with just track and field, swimming, tennis and golf in the spotlight.

There is no basketball being played at the competitive level.

But Bowleg is hoping that with some of the players listed in the pool at home, they are hoping that the Competent Authority and the Ministry of Health will grant the team permission to use the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium to train over the next few weeks.

Should they secure the necessary funding, Bowleg said the team will head to Puerto Rico in advance of the games played so that they can bring everybody together for a few practice sessions.

LJ ROSE from PAGE 15 Tampere of the Korisliiga - the top level of basketball in Finland. In 10 games he averaged 7.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.

The veteran point guard also played professionally in Australia for the Gold Coast Rollers of Queenland’s Basketball League, for BC Valga-Valka in the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League and in National Basketball Association’s G-League with the Salt Lake City Stars, the G-League affiliate of the Utah Jazz.

At the national team level, he participated in the first series of the FIBA World Cup 2019 Qualifiers for the Americas region.

Despite the Bahamas’ 0-2 finish, Rose was a bright spot for the team with the numbers he posted, averaging 8.5 points, nine assists and six rebounds per game.

He was also a member of the 2014 Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championships gold medal team.

Mark St Fort is on the move once again in a

ATHLETES OVERSEAS from PAGE 15

on Wednesday. The uncertainty surrounding the Spurs now obviously puts that game in some jeopardy.

“My thought would be we should not fly there until we know,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said.

“That’s the bottom line.

That’s my only thought going through my mind with all the travel we have coming up.”

Memphis’ home game against Sacramento, scheduled for last night, was postponed last week, and the Grizzlies’ Wednesday game in Chicago was called off as well. The Grizzlies are up to six postponements, matching Washington for the most in the NBA. Depending on the Spurs’ situation, Memphis’ layoff may get longer. The Grizzlies are supposed to play in San Antonio on Saturday.

The Pelicans have upcoming home games against Washington on Wednesday, Milwaukee on Friday and Houston on Saturday.

In the preliminaries, Cartwright produced the second fastest time of 8.84.

Her Minnesota State freshman Lyric Brennen

division of the Japanese B-League and signed with his fifth team this season.

St Fort signed with the Fukushima Firebonds of the Japanese B2 League.

St Fort has played with three different B1 franchises this season. He began the year with SeaHorses Mikawa but was released after just two games with the club. He went on to sign with the Niigata Albirex where he had his most productive stretch of the season where he was the team’s leading scorer in four games.

Through 12 games he averaged 10.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game on 70 percent shooting from the field and 43 percent shooting from three point range. He then went on to join the Aishin Sea Horses for a brief two-game stint and was released after two games. Most recently, he played with the Hiroshima Dragonflies for a seven game stretch.

He spent last season in Japan’s third division, the B3-League with the Saitama Broncos where he averaged 17.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. had the fifth fastest time of 9.34, but she didn’t contest the final.

Cartwright, now in her junior year, also contested the 60m where she was third in 7.79. She had the second fastest qualifying time of 7.76.

PAGE 20, Tuesday, January 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

US quarantine move comes as no surprise FROM PAGE 22 • Representatives of government and industry should have designed ahead of the presidential elections a communications plan that took into account both outcomes - Joe Biden as the new US president or Donald Trump winning a second term. Representatives of government and industry voices are critical to general public understanding, comfort, confidence in leadership and level of anxiety.

• In reference to stay at home (self-quarantine), the CDC recommendations on November 22, 2020 versus January 12, 2020, are almost identical. Both ‘recommend that international air travellers get tested with a viral test one to three days before their flight to reduce spread during travel. Travelers should get tested three to five days after travel and stay home for seven days.

This implies that strategies could have been discussed and developed ahead of

the January 2020 executive orders. Therefore, the risk/potential fallout could have been mitigated.

Obstacles versus Opportunities • It appears based on local news reports that The Bahamas is in a positive position, as opposed to a surprised or reactive position, to administer viral tests which are aligned with the recently-signed executive orders requirements.

Two of our major hotels have integrated viral testing into their operational framework. International messaging can be crafted to promote our agility in times of crisis instead of appearing to be always being responsive.

• It appears that the cost for a rapid antigen test, which is a viral test that meets CDC recommendations, is included in our Bahamas Health Travel Visa. There may be no additional cost to tourists to travel to The Bahamas.

• With the current local testing capacity well over 30,000, based on news reports that Baha Mar

(one of two major hotels) administered more than 15,000 COVID tests since reopening, The Bahamas is in a position to service tourists.

Risk management needs to move from being a buzz word to an action. The employers and employees of The Bahamas require prudent assessment, management and communication surrounding risks. Aligned of risk management with country strategies is essential to our navigating the current and post COVID-19 environment.

NB: Derek Smith Jr is the compliance officer and money laundering reporting Officer (MLRO) at Higgs & Johnson, and a former assistant vicepresident of compliance at an international private bank. His professional career started at a ‘Big Four’ accounting firm, and he is also a certified anti-money laundering specialist (CAMS) and certified risk and compliance management professional (CRCMP).

ATLANTIS PARADISE ISLAND

New Atlantis furloughs branded ‘a major blow’ FROM PAGE 24

Sources suggested that Atlantis had been hoping to recall its entire workforce

by June if all went according to plan, but those hopes have likely been dashed due to skyrocketing COVID-19 infection rates and deaths in the US, UK and other major source markets; the slower-than-anticipated vaccine roll-out; and more stringent border controls and travel restrictions.

With other major resorts likely to experience similar fall-out, and follow Atlantis’ lead by again furloughing recalled staff, both Mr Woods and Obie Ferguson, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) president, yesterday renewed calls for the Paradise Island mega resort to pay full termination packages to any worker who wanted to move on.

With the prime minister yesterday unveiling plans to extend the COVID-19 emergency orders until May 23, the suspension of the Employment Act provision requiring employers to pay full separation to workers who have been temporarily laid off for 90 days or more will now likely be extended until late June 2021.

This means that workers who have been furloughed since the pandemic started in late March 2020 could potentially go 15 months without being paid a

MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com

MONDAY, 25 JANUARY 2021

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX:

CLOSE

CHANGE

%CHANGE

YTD

YTD%

2073.20

-9.61

-0.46

-19.26

-0.92

(242) 323-2330 (242) 323-2320

BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 4.15 33.05 2.00 2.02 2.10 6.00 6.75 3.80 6.49 4.40 6.16 12.77 3.64 6.85 10.88 8.44 15.08 4.25 9.26 15.21

52WK LOW 3.13 22.65 0.67 1.62 1.66 5.00 6.00 2.70 4.50 3.50 5.90 11.06 2.10 4.75 9.60 7.50 13.00 3.25 8.15 14.00

PREFERENCE SHARES 1.00

1.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 10.00 0.90

SECURITY AML Foods Limited APD Limited Benchmark Bahamas First Holdings Limited Bank of Bahamas Bahamas Property Fund Bahamas Waste Cable Bahamas Commonwealth Brewery Commonwealth Bank Colina Holdings CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank Consolidated Water BDRs Doctor's Hospital Emera Incorporated Famguard Fidelity Bank Bahamas Limited Focol Finco J. S. Johnson

SYMBOL AML APD BBL BFH BOB BPF BWL CAB CBB CBL CHL CIB CWCB DHS EMAB FAM FBB FCL FIN JSJ

LAST CLOSE 4.15 32.12 1.62 2.02 1.67 6.00 6.61 2.98 4.74 3.59 5.90 11.24 2.56 6.85 10.23 8.40 13.50 3.75 8.50 15.20

CLOSE 4.15 32.12 1.62 2.02 1.67 6.00 6.61 2.98 4.74 3.50 5.90 11.24 2.52 6.85 10.19 8.40 13.50 3.80 8.50 15.20

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

SYMBOL FBB22 BFHB

LAST SALE 100.00 100.00

CLOSE 100.00 100.00

CHANGE 0.00 0.00

BAH29 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0307 BG0330 BG0407 BSBGRS810359 BSBGR120371 BSBGRS790262

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 97.04 100.72

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 97.04 100.72

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Bahamas First Holdings Preference Cable Bahamas Series 6 Cable Bahamas Series 8 Cable Bahamas Series 9 Cable Bahamas Series 10 Colina Holdings Class A Fidelity Bank Bahamas Class A Focol Class B

BFHP CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB

CORPORATE DEBT - (percentage pricing) 52WK HI 100.00 100.00

52WK LOW 100.00 100.00

115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.00 100.00 97.72 100.70

104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 94.40 100.70

SECURITY Fidelity Bank (Note 22 Series B+) Bahamas First Holdings Limited

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing) Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) BGS: 2014-12-7Y BGS: 2015-1-7Y BGS: 2014-12-30Y BGS: 2015-1-30Y BGS: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y BGRS FL BSBGRS810359 BGRS FX BSBGR120371 BGRS FL BSBGRS790262

CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 (0.09) 0.00 0.00 (0.04) 0.00 (0.04) 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.00

VOLUME

1,234

40,000

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

EPS$ 0.239 0.932 0.000 0.110 0.070 1.760 0.369 -0.438 0.140 0.184 0.449 0.722 0.102 0.467 0.646 0.728 0.816 0.203 0.939 0.631 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

VOLUME

DIV$ 0.170 1.260 0.020 0.030 0.000 0.000 0.260 0.000 0.000 0.120 0.220 0.720 0.434 0.060 0.328 0.240 0.540 0.120 0.200 0.610 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

P/E 17.4 34.5 N/M N/M N/M N/M 17.9 -6.8 33.9 19.0 13.1 15.6 24.7 14.7 15.8 11.5 16.5 18.7 9.1 24.1

YIELD 4.10% 3.92% 1.23% 1.49% 0.00% 0.00% 3.93% 0.00% 0.00% 3.43% 3.73% 6.41% 17.22% 0.88% 3.22% 2.86% 4.00% 3.16% 2.35% 4.01%

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.25% 7.00% 6.50%

INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25%

19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025

MATURITY

6.95% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.50% 6.25% 4.25% 4.81% 5.22% 4.53%

20-Nov-2029 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2022 26-Jul-2035 15-Dec-2037 28-Mar-2026

MUTUAL FUNDS 52WK HI 2.38 4.43 2.14 198.39 176.73 1.69 1.85 1.77 1.24 8.49 10.26 7.28 13.91 12.84 10.81 10.00 8.98 11.79

52WK LOW 2.11 3.30 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.65 1.79 1.75 1.05 6.41 7.62 5.66 8.65 10.54 9.57 9.88 8.45 11.20

FUND CFAL Bond Fund CFAL Balanced Fund CFAL Money Market Fund CFAL Global Bond Fund CFAL Global Equity Fund Leno Preferred Income Fund Leno Growth Fund Leno Diversified Fund Leno Global USD Bond Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Secured Balanced Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Targeted Equity Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Prime Income Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Equities Sub Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - High Yield Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Alternative Strategies Fund Colonial Bahamas Fund Class D Colonial Bahamas Fund Class E Colonial Bahamas Fund Class F

NAV 2.38 4.43 2.14 198.36 173.98 1.69 1.79 1.77 1.05 8.49 10.03 7.28 13.91 12.84 10.05 N/A 9.28 11.86

YTD% 12 MTH% 4.14% 4.49% 1.47% 2.97% 2.33% 2.57% 1.65% 2.39% 4.34% 9.82% 1.65% 1.95% -3.06% -2.22% 0.80% 1.17% -12.30% -11.81% 1.76% 1.76% -1.97% -1.97% 4.91% 4.91% 5.28% 15.75% 0.05% 3.96% -0.35% -6.34% N/A N/A -0.50% 3.70% -3.80% 4.10%

NAV Date

30-Nov-2020 30-Nov-2020 27-Nov-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 31-Oct-2020 31-Oct-2020 31-Oct-2020 31-Oct-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020

MARKET TERMS

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX - 19 Dec 02 = 1,000.00

YIELD - last 12 month dividends divided by closing price

52wk-Hi - Highest closing price in last 52 weeks

Bid $ - Buying price of Colina and Fidelity

52wk-Low - Lowest closing price in last 52 weeks

Ask $ - Selling price of Colina and fidelity

Previous Close - Previous day's weighted price for daily volume

Last Price - Last traded over-the-counter price

Today's Close - Current day's weighted price for daily volume

Weekly Vol. - Trading volume of the prior week

Change - Change in closing price from day to day

EPS $ - A company's reported earnings per share for the last 12 mths

Daily Vol. - Number of total shares traded today

NAV - Net Asset Value

DIV $ - Dividends per share paid in the last 12 months

N/M - Not Meaningful

P/E - Closing price divided by the last 12 month earnings

TO TRADE CALL: CFAL 242-502-7010 | ROYALFIDELITY 242-356-7764 | CAROLISLE 242-502-7525 | LENO 242-396-3225 | BENCHMARK 242-326-7333

full separation package, instead having to survive on National Insurance Board (NIB) and government unemployment benefit and whatever else they can earn.

But COVID-hit businesses may lack the necessary funds to finance a full payout.

Ms Oswell, in her letter to Atlantis staff, suggested business prospects were more optimistic once the resort and Bahamian tourism get over the next few months. “As the New Year progresses, the overall business outlook for Atlantis is hopeful,” she wrote. “However, for the immediate future we face similar challenges as we have in the last few months.

“The pandemic continues to spike in many of our key markets, new and increased travel restrictions and requirements are in effect, and limited airlift presents roadblocks for travel. As we continue to navigate operating in an ever-changing COVID-19 environment, we will make decisions at times that are very difficult yet critical to preserving our business.

“For this reason, starting on February 4, we are scaling operations, and guest reservations at the Royal will move to The Cove and some colleagues will be placed on temporary furlough. Our plan and hope are to invite team members back by the Spring Break season, pending occupancy.”

Ms Oswell pledged that furloughed staff will receive due vacation payments for February, while health insurance coverage will stay in place “until further advised”. “We know there remain many hard weeks ahead of us, but we also know there is a bright light on the horizon with the recent advances in vaccines and treatments,” she added.

“Atlantis remains positive and patient that the travel industry and tourism in The Bahamas will recover and, with that, the return of all team members at Atlantis.” The resort had been due to re-open The Cove on February 11 and, based on Ms Oswell’s letter, appears to be bringing this forward a week.

No figure was provided for the number of workers furloughed in this “second wave” of temporary layoffs this January. The hotel union’s Mr Woods said the resort had yet to inform it of the numbers and departments impacted, but told Tribune Business: “It’s a major blow that another group of people are going back home. The morale, of course, is going to go down.

“Based on what they [Atlantis] said to us, and we asked them to put it in writing, the new US travel policy is a big factor.

They’ve indicated they’ve got a lot of persons who have cancelled. We know that there’s been indications

that things have fallen off, but they didn’t give us an exact percentage. We’d heard a lot of bookings have been cancelled.”

The Atlantis move is the first tangible sign of the chilling effect the Biden administration’s “quarantine” policy is having on Bahamian tourism’s revival even before the details have been fleshed out and implemented.

Mr Woods acknowledged that the resulting uncertainty was already making “people think twice about jumping on a plane to travel” to The Bahamas and other destinations, even though the ultimate fall-out may not be as bad as feared, as he added: “I don’t know how much more we can take. We’ve done all we need to do to keep our numbers down, but are being affected by external factors.

“There’s no confidence by the travelling public to travel based on the protocols that are in place. We’re going to be in this for as long as the markets we cater to, the numbers don’t come down. We’ll probably be in this for a while. We were hoping that by the second quarter of this year things would begin to pick up, but now we don’t know.”

A stunted tourism recovery will result in increased job losses, both temporary and full-time; reduced foreign exchange earnings through the private sector; depressed economic activity; and a recovery that is further prolonged and even more gradual.

This will also likely mean that the government may have to extend its COVID19 support initiatives, which are currently due to cease by this month’s end, with the Ministry of Finance aiming to halt all assistance

by March 2021, beyond these deadlines.

Meanwhile Mr Ferguson, also an attorney specialising in labour law, yesterday argued that Atlantis and other employers should start offering full severance packages to workers who want them. “If the workers are desirous of having their redundancy payouts then they ought to do so,” he told Tribune Business.

“It appears that this will go on for an indefinite period of time.... I have been asked to do a number of cases against Atlantis.

I have filed a few matters with the Labour Board.

The individuals came to my office and I’m representing them.

“One of the major mistakes these companies are making is that they should try to meet with representatives of the workers and try to reach agreement with them so things go smoothly and in order. Companies are terminating workers without their representatives being part of the discussion.”

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, January 26, 2021, PAGE 21

Butler slams $28m loans judgment bid as ‘garbage’ FROM PAGE 24 action involving allegations of fraud and conspiracy such as this.

Arguing that Sky Bahamas’ former financier failed to get the court’s go-ahead, Mr Horton said he and Captain Butler would move swiftly to have the default filing thrown out. He added that his client had not been given a proper opportunity to file a defence, as the allegations by Mr Kaiser had not been properly specified, and will also seek to address this through the Supreme Court.

“Captain Butler will be proceeding to ask the court to discharge this judgment,” Mr Horton told this newspaper. “He needs an opportunity to put in a defence, and we’re seeking better particulars of their allegations.

“We’re working for further and better particulars.

You make bold allegations and expect someone to just come along and defend them? Give us the particulars to defend. That’s the

Oil explorer blasts ‘half-baked’ claims FROM PAGE 24 questions about the limits of the coverage they have, specifically what is included and what is excluded.

“BPC has stated that they have tourism and fisheries ‘covered’. What does this really mean for tourism and fisheries in The Bahamas and neighbouring countries?”

Her comments came in response to the blistering rebuke issued by Mr Potter after the Supreme Court ruled that BPC should be added as a party to the Judicial Review, paving the way for it to demand that Waterkeepers Bahamas and Save the Bays lodge a performance bond - known as “security for costs” - to cover the company’s legal costs should their action fail.

“International and local environmentalist groups had argued that BPC should not be a party to the Judicial Review action they have brought, a nonsensical position given that virtually all communications and documents issued by these groups refer directly and extensively to BPC,” Mr Potter said.

“We’re therefore pleased that the court has ruled in favour of BPC by being added as a primary respondent.

“As a consequence of this ruling BPC is now legally enabled to request that the applicants provide security for costs, and a hearing for this has been scheduled for 17 February, 2021. Obviously BPC would want the environmentalist groups to be held financially accountable if their application turns out to have been without merit.”

The oil explorer’s opponents are arguing that this is merely a tactic to deny them justice, and a hearing on the Judicial Review action’s merits, with BPC using its financial muscle to prevent the case progressing. However, Mr Potter countered by accusing the activists of seeking to damage the oil explorer’s name via a series of public allegations.

“Despite numerous opportunities and requests over many, many years from BPC to the environmentalist groups to input constructively into a wide range of detailed

application that Captain Butler is going to be making; an opportunity to file a defence, and supply the particulars we have asked for.”

Captain Butler, meanwhile, said the default judgment filing was just another effort to damage his reputation and tempt him into speaking publicly about a case that was before the Supreme Court.

“That’s all garbage. That’s just garbage,” he blasted to Tribune Business of Mr Kaiser’s latest move. “We did respond to them; I don’t know what they’re doing.

They’re trying to get me to respond to things I don’t know anything about.

“My attorneys did respond already, and they’re planning on doing something about it. If it’s because we didn’t respond, that’s definitely an issue. We did respond.

Whatever procedural documentation was supposed to be done, my attorneys did it.

“I’m not paying attention to it,” he added. “Their goal is to try and damage my reputation. That’s all it is.

Life goes on. I’m not worried about any of this stuff. processes and documents, they have opted instead to do nothing, and then belatedly and at the last minute try to derail a project more than a decade in the planning and which, in the event of success, would be for the betterment of The Bahamas,” Mr Potter added.

“Their attempts to date have not been successful and drilling of Perseverance One continues. By April we will know if the Bahamas is an oil rich nation.” Mr Potter did not identify the consultation opportunities presented to the activists as he turned his attention to the issue of BPC’s insurance.

“BPC has repeatedly advised that it had placed an extensive suite of insurance policies to cover drilling operations for Perseverance One,” he added.

“Insurance was arranged by leading global insurance agent, Aon UK, and placed with a panel of insurers comprising of Lloyd’s of London and international company markets (with all meeting local Bahamian insurance regulations), all of which have a financial rating of ‘A’or higher from Standard & Poor’s.

“The policy utilises internationally recognised wordings and complies with BPC’s contractual obligations, including cover levels considerably in excess of those stipulated as being required by the Government of The Bahamas.”

No details were provided, but Mr Potter accused BPC’s opponents of using a Lloyd’s of London statement to make “half-baked allegations” that he hinted could be subject to a defamation action. “It would appear that those opposed to BPC’s activities consider distorting facts and spreading untruths as ‘fair game’ - evidence, once again, of the extraordinary lengths those opposed to BPC’s activities are willing to stoop in order to progress their agenda,” he added.

“Furthermore, deliberate spreading of mistruths constitutes libel, and BPC considers that those responsible – including the individuals making these statements – should be held to account.”

All I have seen is trash and garbage. I don’t know why they’re doing this stuff.

“I don’t really understand the things that are being claimed. It’s just crazy. I’ve seen some e-mails [from the other side] saying Randy must die by 1,000 cuts. Why? Because I’m standing up for what’s right. I have a lot to say and a lot to show, but there’s a time and a place for that. I’m depending on the court system to do what it’s called to do. When they do come and go to court, I will take care of it.”

Claims by Mr Kaiser that he was defrauded of $28m via sham loans triggered the resignation of former deputy prime minister and minister of finance, K Peter Turnquest, even though he was not named ad a defendant in the original writ.

Mr Turnquest, who like Captain Butler is vehemently denying the allegations in that document, was described as “a director and manager” of both Mr Kaiser’s plaintiff companies, as well as “owning and/or controlling and/or managing” Sky Bahamas. The

former deputy prime minister, however, is not named in yesterday’s default judgment filing.

Mr Kaiser, whose main business interest, Alpha Technologies, agreed in 2004 to pay some $36m to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) after pleading guilty to tax fraud, is alleging that Captain Butler and Mr Turnquest engineered a decade-long conspiracy that lasted until 2017 “to enrich themselves” by defrauding his companies while concealing their activities.

The statement of claim, which has been seen by Tribune Business, claimed that the duo “dishonestly caused” Alpha Aviation and Advanced Aviation to “pay away” $20.68m and $5.917m, respectively, to Sky Bahamas via “some kind of bogus loans”.

No particulars were given to describe how the scheme worked, although Mr Kaiser’s companies alleged that Mr Turnquest and Captain Butler then used “some 39 fraudulent invoices and/ or book entries, and for no adequate consideration”, to

FROM PAGE 24 also much-reduced because BTC stopped making payments when these workers took early retirement.

It was revealed in late 2019 that the original plan has a near-$160m hole or deficit, meaning its assets are dwarfed by present and future obligations to BTC retirees. This now has to be plugged by Bahamian taxpayers, and Mr Evans expressed concerns that the latest early retirement initiative will simply worsen the plan’s condition.

“The more you put people out to pasture, the more you push them to draw from an already-troubled pension fund,” he told Tribune Business. “It’s putting the burden on the existing pension fund.

It was designed for people getting to 60, but what happened is that the people impacted by these voluntary separations and early retirements are the ones feeding from the fund.

“And the more you push people off, the less contributions are made to the fund.

It’s a Catch-22. I just spoke to the president of the retirees’ association, and they’re very concerned.” Mr Evans said all those targeted by BTC’s latest separation package, as older workers, are members of the original, now-closed pension fund and not the new defined contribution plan started under CWC’s ownership.

He added that while BTC pre-privatisation had been contributing sums equivalent to 19 percent of annual salaries to that pension fund for workers aged over 50, postsale these payments had been

cut to ten percent.

“Our concern is that pretty much ever since the sale of BTC we’ve been forced to give up an average of ten years of employment that would take us up to the age of 60,” Mr Evans said. “More and more persons are being pushed out and are feeding from the same pension fund that’s already under-funded to the tune of $160m.

“We really have to be concerned. We have to be concerned about the burden on the pension fund. This is a very scary thing that we continue to watch. They keep going after employees who were there prior to the sale and have access to the old fund.

“All that burden is shifted to a pension fund that is haemorrhaging, and something needs to be done to shore up and guarantee that fund. There are more retirees feeding from the fund than active employees at BTC. There are triple the amount,” Mr Evans added.

“We’ve been clamouring to have a meeting with the trustee, Ansbacher (Bahamas), and to have studies done to ensure the health of the pension fund is good for five years, ten years... whatever needs to be injected. We need to know the condition of the plan.”

Inaction by the former Ingraham and Christie administrations has forced the present government to commit Bahamian taxpayers to paying $20m per year for the next eight fiscal periods, starting in 2020-2021, to close the $160m shortfall created after its two immediate predecessors failed to live up to legally-binding obligations made when BTC was privatised in 2011.

PUBLIC NOTICE

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

NOTICE AMAROC CORP. Formerly ARIANE CORP. (In Voluntary Liquidation)

Request For Bids

GALNOM LTD. Liquidator

or cheque or wire transfer reconciliations and failed to put in place any or any adequate financial controls or systems,” the statement of claim by Mr Kaiser’s company alleged.

Further claiming that “none of the payments were documented properly, or at all”, the statement of claim alleged: “At all material times, Butler knew or must have known that the receipt by Sky Bahamas and Aviation Oversight from Alpha and Advanced were paid away by Turnquest in breach of his fiduciary duties and dishonestly, and were received by Sky Bahamas and Aviation Oversight... on behalf of Alpha and Advanced and held by them on resulting trust for the plaintiff.”

Mr Kaiser and his companies, making it clear that they have come for the monies they believe are due and owing, are seeking a Supreme Court Order that an accounting be done to determine what is outstanding and that this money subsequently be paid to them.

BTC’s ‘great pains’ to protect pension fund

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000, the above-named Company is in dissolution, which commenced on the 20th day of January, A.D., 2021. The Liquidator is Galnom Ltd., CUB Financial Center, Western Road, Nassau, Bahamas.

drain away some $3.8m paid

by Alpha Aviation to Aviation Oversight Group via 39 separate cheque payments between February 2008 and July 2016.

A further $3.026m was also alleged to have been siphoned off by the duo “as at December 31, 2017, to AOG Maintenance Ltd, a company that owned Sky Bahamas’ maintenance hangar at Lynden Pindling International Airport.

“In breach of their duties of honesty and fidelity as directors and/or managers of both the plaintiffs (Alpha Aviation and Advanced Aviation) and of the second and third defendants (Sky Bahamas and Aviation Oversight Group), and their duties to act in the best interests of the companies, Turnquest and Butler failed to keep or to ensure that the companies kept any, or any adequate, financial books of account or financial records recording and/or documenting the companies’ financial transactions, failed to maintain or keep any proper or any proper management accounts or bank

A cement company is requesting bids for trucking services for its two locations in New Providence.

Interested parties are invited to send an email to (truckbids242@gmail.com).

Bids will be received until February 9th, 2021

As part of selling the majority stake in the government-owned operator to CWC, the then-Ingraham administration agreed to both close-off the defined benefit plan to new BTC employees and cover the deficit by injecting $39m into a so-called Feeder Trust.

The agreement also required the government to make annual “top-ups” to the plan as required to cover any future payments, but neither these injections nor the original $39m payment were ever made.

Former prime minister, Perry Christie, complained several times while in office about the liability the Ingraham administration had left him, at one point revealing that the deficit had reached $99m. Yet he, too, appears to have done nothing about it, and Bahamian taxpayers are now being asked to pick up another inflated bill caused by prior governments kicking the can down the road.

“As disclosed in the 20192020 budget communication, pursuant to the April 2011 shareholders’ agreement (SA) between the government and C&W, when the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) was sold to Cable & Wireless Communications (C&W) for $210m, the government was required to inject an initial $39m into a Feeder Trust and annual top-ups, as required, to fund future pension obligations relating to BTC’s defined benefit plan,” the

2019 Fiscal Strategy Report said.

“According to the recent actuarial assessment, the deficit in the plan is pegged at nearly $160m. To satisfy this legal obligation, the government is proposing to do so over eight years, making annual contributions of $20m commencing in fiscal year 2020-2021.”

Marlon Johnson, the Ministry of Finance’s acting financial secretary, last week confirmed to Tribune Business that $20m had been allocated for this year’s payment in the 2020-2021 budget and the government aimed to make good on its commitments notwithstanding the fiscal fall-out from COVID-19.

“It’s in the Ministry of Finance’s budget head, and the plan is to make good on it and to start paying it down,” Mr Johnson said of the BTC pension deficit. “That’s the intent to continue to budget for it and meet the obligation.”

He added that the extent of COVID-19’s impact “may mean the government has to revisit” the timing of such payments, but it would not forget obligations it has promised to meet and will ultimately pay them.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that CHINER SAINT-NATUS, of #11 Bailou Hill Heights, P.O.Box SS6360 Nassau, 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 19th day of January 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

PAGE 22, Tuesday, January 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

TAXI PRESIDENT MORE OPTIMISTIC THAN US QUARANTINE ‘NAYSAYERS’

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Taxi Cab Union’s president yesterday said he was less pessimistic that many tourism “naysayers” over the potential fall-out from the Biden administration’s planned traveller quarantine.

Wesley Ferguson told Tribune Business that a quarantine of anywhere between seven to 14 days would be difficult to enforce in the US as “Americans like their freedom”, given the country’s focus on safeguarding constitutional rights and civil liberties.

He said: “I tend to differ from the amount of naysayers because I will tell you that the average American is ready to travel. Who is to say how much control the US government will have over these people in order to quarantine them when

they get back, because there is nothing in place in the United States to ensure that this is done effectively.”

Mr Ferguson said quarantine at home was the only way to enforce the Biden administration’s goal, and suggested the measure can only remain in place for a short period of time because the US economy needs to “bounce back quickly”.

The Bahamas’ fragile tourism revival was dealt a potential crippling blow last Thursday after Mr Biden, on just his second day as president, signed an executive order that many interpreted as imposing a mandatory quarantine on all incoming travellers to the US - citizens and foreigners - even if they could produce a negative COVID-19 test.

“In light of the new COVID variants that you’re learning about, we’re instituting now a new measure for individuals flying into

the United States from other countries,” President Biden said during a press conference the day after his inauguration.

“In addition to wearing masks, everyone flying to the United States from another country will need to test before they get on that plane, before they depart, and quarantine when they arrive in America.”

The costs and time associated with such a quarantine period, which could last anywhere from seven to 14 days, are being viewed as a major deterrent and turn-off to Americans travelling to The Bahamas and elsewhere.

The relevant US government agencies now have 14 days to complete their assessment of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) January 12, 2021, order requiring all incoming travellers to the US to produce

Entertainment destinations ‘hold firm’ on opening wait

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net ENTERTAINMENT destinations yesterday said they are “holding firm” as they negotiate COVID-19 protocols with the Ministry of Health in a bid to re-open ten months after the COVID-19 pandemic started.

Leslia Miller-Brice, manager of Mario’s Bowling and Family Entertainment Centre, told Tribune Business she was awaiting a detailed response from the Ministry of Health to the revised COVID-19 health and safety measures that the Tonique Williams Highwaybased facility has submitted.

She said: “I would have sent them a long list of all the things that we would have done; a very long list of all of the rules that we will follow through with, and all of the protocols that we will put in place to make

sure the customers follow the proper guidelines. The Ministry of Health still came back and told me that I have to wait.”

Mrs Brice said the Ministry of Health had pledged to forward additional recommendations to her by yesterday, adding that she was just “holding firm” and being patient until the information was received.

“I’m just trying my best to encourage my staff and help my staff as best as I can, because they still have their families that they have to take care of. They still have their bills that they have to pay,” she added.

Mrs Brice said she had been referred to the Ministry of Health by the Prime Minister’s Office, which acts as the so-called competent authority and normally has the final decision on all COVID-19 related protocols and measures.

She added: “All of my letters initially went to the

Office of the Prime Minister, and then they told me that I need to contact the Ministry of Health which will say say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Then they’ll send it back to their office so their office would agree.

So it’s really up to up to the Ministry of Health.

“But if the Ministry of Health says ‘no’, then it’s ‘no’.” Mrs Brice said she has concerns over the Ministry of Health taking responsibility because it does not have the final say on indoor dining, while any recommendations it makes can still be rejected by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Arguing that Mario’s elevated ceilings and overall building space matched the likes of the Mall at Marathon, she added: “We have to understand lives and businesses are at stake. My thing is we just have to put the necessary precautions in place because COVID-19 isn’t going anywhere.”

Ivan Francis, owner/

a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of their trip.

Mr Biden’s executive order says this assessment will examine “the feasibility of implementing alternative and sufficiently protective public health measures, such as testing, self-quarantine and self-isolation on arrival, for travellers entering the US from countries where COVID-19 tests are inaccessible”.....

Several tourism operators have suggested to Tribune Business that the US quarantine plan may not apply to travellers returning from The Bahamas at all based on this language, arguing that it will only be used for persons coming from countries that lack the testing infrastructure this nation and its tourism industry have put in place.

Mr Ferguson, meanwhile, added: “The vaccine is also a help. It’s a big a shot in

the arm for America to get back to some normalcy. So I don’t see this quarantining for when Americans return home to be something that they are going to hold on to for a long time.”

Nicholas Pinder, general manager of Born Free Fishing Charters, said of the US quarantine plans: “I don’t know what we can really do about the US quarantine.

They have got to look out for the best interests of their country. We did the same thing.”

Suggesting The Bahamas is highly unlikely to secure an exemption from this policy, even as part of as Caribbean bloc, Mr Pinder added: “You can’t just exempt one place. I don’t see any difference in exempting us from any place else.”

Mr Pinder said he is trying to hold on for as long as he can, but ultimately will have to close down if tourism

does not rebound. Alfredo Bridgewater, owner/operator of Coco Nutz, said of the US move: “I think it’s going to further reduce the tourism industry. I just I know it’s going to further reduce tourism or cripple it. It’s going to affect the US market as well.”

Describing it as a “real blow”, Mr Bridgewater said he is looking into the possibility of alternative work in the meantime. His business offers an electric bicycle tour of parts of Grand Bahama and, while he relied primarily on cruise ship passengers, he did get a sizeable amount of business from Freeport’s hotels.

Jaime Lewis, owner/operator of Islandz Tours, said the Biden administration has to “hash out” the details on the quarantine and did not want to speculate on the fall-out for the Bahamian tourism industry.

operator of Skate City 242, told Tribune Business: “The Government is telling us that they don’t want us to open, yet they are giving us all kinds of different stories.

“My thing is if they really want to help us, they can help us. They could allow us to open up and tell us that if my capacity is 200 people, then come back to me and say that the maximum I would be able to accommodate is 30 or 40 people. At least I can keep bread on the table for my family with that, but they aren’t doing anything for us.”

Mr Francis added that he is just waiting on the Prime Minister’s Office to give the go-ahead on when restrictions will ease, even though he is not currently in dialogue with any officials.

Neither has he been in contact with anybody from the Ministry of Health.

Mr Roxbury, owner/operator of Rack City Bar & Pool Lounge, said: “Business is a little slow right now and I just left it alone because I was not getting anywhere. I just have to wait for what the government has to say and take it from there.”

Super Value principal no COVID powers believer

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net SUPER Value’s principal yesterday said he does not believe in “emergency powers”, while decisions relating to them should be taken by the Cabinet and not just one man.

Rupert Roberts, pictured, speaking to Tribune Business after the Prime Minister unveiled plans to extend the COVID-19 restrictions into May 2021, said: “I don’t believe in emergency powers. I think we elected our representatives, and representatives were selected for Cabinet, and I think they should decide these matters in Cabinet.

“I believe in counsel. I don’t believe in giving it to the one or the few. I think it would be best if emergency powers were left up to the Cabinet. If it is extended to Cabinet, I don’t have a problem with it.”

Arguing that collective Cabinet discretion would be best in these “perilous times,” Mr Roberts said: “If something were to go wrong we want someone in authority to fix it.”

Given that mutated variants of COVID-19, said to more transmissible and deadly, have emerged in the UK, South Africa and Brazil, Super Value’s chief argued that there should be a “bigger body” to deal with the situation rather than

just relying on one man.

Mr Roberts said: “I would think that one person would seek counsel from the business community, medical professionals and from the political arena.

But in dealing with the medical professionals they have always been forthcoming with us, and with whatever we asked for. We would just like to see this thing come to an end.”

Dwayne Higgs, WHIM Automotive’s general manager, said of the emergency powers extension: “We have been doing OK thus far with the easing of the restrictions, and I think the country has been handling this pandemic fairly well.

I wish we could go back to normal but I don’t see that happening right now.”

Mr Higgs added that the curfew does not really affect his business as it closes at 5pm, but he wants the freedom to go to family functions and move about as he sees fit. He added: “We will try to operate the best we can in the market for the time being, but May is a bit long down the road.”

US quarantine move comes as no surprise

BY DEREK SMITH THERE is no doubt that over the last nine-plus months that countries, industries and individuals have been navigating unchartered waters. It is paramount for stakeholders at government, industry and community levels to plan for various future scenarios while appreciating the current landscape.

Fact Pattern • The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has throughout the COVID-19 pandemic distributed press releases, media advisories, transcripts and statements clearly stating the recommendations for managing the virus in multiple areas, one of which was travel.

I wish to note these three occasions: • November 22, 2020 COVID-19 Travel Health Notice Levels and Testing for International Travellers • December 24, 2020 CDC to require negative COVID-19 test for air travellers from the UK to the US • January 12, 2021 - CDC expands negative COVID19 test requirement to all air passengers entering the US

• President Joe Biden has stated and reiterated throughout his presidential campaign that he would “rely on science experts to defeat COVID-19”.

Observations on responses • The actions of Mr Biden should not be a surprise – period. The US president always discussed four key points – Control of the COVID-19 pandemic; providing economic relief; promoting racial equality; and climate change.

• Enhanced risk management should have been deployed at country and industry levels. I am not referring to measures to slow the spread of COVID19, but to potential changes in supply chains whose drivers/impact points could include transportation, information and pricing.

SEE PAGE 20

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, January 26, 2021, PAGE 23

Royal Caribbean sponsoring Bahamas leadership summit THE Global Leadership Summit Bahamas yesterday announced that Royal Caribbean will be a silver sponsor of its annual event for a third year.

The conference, which will be held from March 5-6, will be held virtually for the first time as it brings prominent business and leadership figures to audiences in The Bahamas.

“In the past, we held blended summits,” said GLS local chairman, Gadville McDonald. “Some speakers would appear in person while others participated via Summit-cast with engaging presentations that benefited

a means outside of standing on a stage and interacting with people directly in front of you.”

Mr McDonald said the virtual appearances gave participants an opportunity to link-in and experience the full impact of the Summit’s parent event, which is held in Chicago.

“Local facilitators also play a vital role as they contextualise each presentation, which results in more meaningful takeaways. The Summit is known for its intellectually rigorous and world class contents,” he added.

Past presenters have included Patrick Lencioni,

RUSSELL BENFORD our local audience.

“Over the years The Global Leadership Summit has proven that virtual presentations are as impactful and engaging as the inperson ones so, ironically, we got an unintended head start on holding events via

Melinda Gates, the president of GE (General Electric), thought leaders, influencers and directors of boards with thousands of shareholders.

“Royal Caribbean has been a great partner for the past two years and we welcome them, especially now with deep appreciation, given the economic challenges cruise lines in particular are facing,” said Mr McDonald. “I think the sponsorship is a further demonstration of Royal Caribbean’s continuing commitment to The Bahamas.”

He added that the Summit, now in its

seventh year, brings together 405,000 leaders globally. In The Bahamas, the Leadership Summit will be open to 600 students and 800 attendees. Students will be admitted on a scholarship basis.

“At Royal Caribbean Group we are always looking for ways to support youth development, and the Global Leadership Summit is a powerful tool with lessons that students can take away and remember throughout their lives,” said Royal Caribbean Group’s vice-president of government relations for the Americas, Russell Benford.

“This is a

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 62° F/17° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Mostly sunny and nice

A moonlit sky

Partly sunny and pleasant

Rather windy with a shower

Mostly cloudy and breezy

Low clouds

High: 79°

Low: 69°

High: 79° Low: 67°

High: 78° Low: 60°

High: 71° Low: 60°

High: 73° Low: 63°

AccuWeather RealFeel

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AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

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85° F

72° F

84°-70° F

80°-55° F

69°-58° F

72°-61° F

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 66° F/19° C

N

almanac

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ABACO

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High: 79° F/26° C Low: 69° F/21° C

8-16 knots

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WEST PALM BEACH High: 83° F/28° C Low: 67° F/19° C

7-14 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

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High: 82° F/28° C Low: 70° F/21° C

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MIAMI

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 71° F/22° C

6-12 knots

KEY WEST

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 71° F/22° C

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 79° F/26° C Low .................................................... 64° F/18° C Normal high ....................................... 77° F/25° C Normal low ........................................ 65° F/18° C Last year’s high ................................. 81° F/27° C Last year’s low ................................... 66° F/19° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 1.23” Normal year to date ..................................... 1.05”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 69° F/21° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 69° F/21° C

N

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 70° F/21° C

N

S

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6-12 knots

S

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ANDROS

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

tiDes For nassau High Today

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

5:57 a.m.

6:10 p.m.

2.7 2.0

12:28 p.m. 0.1 ---------

Wednesday 6:41 a.m.

6:55 p.m.

2.8 2.2

12:13 a.m. -0.2 1:10 p.m. 0.0

Thursday

7:23 a.m.

7:39 p.m.

3.0 2.3

12:58 a.m. -0.4 1:51 p.m. -0.2

Friday

8:04 a.m.

8:23 p.m.

3.1 2.4

1:42 a.m. -0.4 2:32 p.m. -0.3

Saturday

8:46 a.m.

9:08 p.m.

3.1 2.5

2:27 a.m. -0.5 3:13 p.m. -0.4

Sunday

9:29 a.m.

9:55 p.m.

3.0 2.6

3:14 a.m. -0.4 3:54 p.m. -0.5

Monday

10:14 a.m.

10:44 p.m.

2.9 2.7

4:03 a.m. -0.4 4:38 p.m. -0.5

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:55 a.m.

5:50 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

3:56 p.m.

5:11 a.m.

Full

Last

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Jan. 28

Feb. 4

Feb. 11

Feb. 19

CAT ISLAND

E

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uV inDex toDay

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

W

once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for hundreds of Bahamian students to listen to, and learn from, a select group of people who have made it to the very pinnacle of their industry or cause.”

Global Leadership Summit 2021 includes speakers such as Life Church senior pastor, book author and podcast leader, Craig Groeshel; motivational speaker, British author of First, Break all the Rules and other publications, Marcus Buckingham; New York Times best-selling author, Rory Vadon, and behavioral investigator and author, Vanessa Van Edwards.

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 70° F/21° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

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High: 81° F/27° C Low: 71° F/22° C

E

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LONG ISLAND

tracking map

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 71° F/22° C

7-14 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 81° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

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CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 81° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 83° F/28° C Low: 73° F/23° C

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High: 81° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

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marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:

WINDS S at 7-14 Knots S at 8-16 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots SSE at 6-12 Knots S at 7-14 Knots S at 8-16 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots E at 10-20 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots SSE at 6-12 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots SSE at 6-12 Knots

WAVES 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-6 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-6 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 4-8 Feet 4-7 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 76° F 76° F 75° F 75° F 80° F 79° F 80° F 79° F 77° F 77° F 76° F 79° F 77° F 77° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 79° F 76° F 76° F 79° F 79° F 77° F 77° F

business@tribunemedia.net

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021

$3.90

SIMON POTTER

Oil explorer blasts ‘half-baked’ claims

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE verbal battle between the Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) and its opponents intensified yesterday as the oil explorer blasted “halfbaked allegations” over its well’s insurance coverage.

Simon Potter, BPC’s chief executive, mounted a no-holds-barred assault against environmental activists on several fronts, including what he branded as “nonsensical” efforts to stop the oil explorer from being added as a party to the Judicial Review action challenging the Perseverance One well’s permits and approvals.

Accusing BPC’s opponents of failing to participate in consultation on the exploratory well, which is presently being drilled in waters 90 miles west of Andros, Mr Potter argued that they had waited “until the last minute to try to derail a project more than a decade in the planning and which, in the event of success, would be for the betterment of The Bahamas”.

Whether The Bahamas possesses commercial quantities of extractable oil will largely be determined by Perseverance One’s results, but Mr Potter also made a thinly-disguised threat to issue defamation proceedings against the activists for suggestions that BPC did not have the necessary insurance coverage for its well.

Both the Lloyd’s of London insurance market and its broker, Aon, confirmed that coverage was in place, although no details were provided. And, as a result, BPC’s opponents yesterday continued to demand that the amount and extent of insurance coverage be disclosed to give The Bahamas and its tourism/fisheries industries confidence everything is in place to deal with a potential oil spill.

Casuarina McKinneyLambert, the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) executive director, told Tribune Business: “BPC has still not answered the very basic

SEE PAGE 21

$3.91

New Atlantis furloughs branded ‘a major blow’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A

TLANTIS’ move to place more workers back on furlough was yesterday branded “a major blow” to tourism’s recovery and revived calls for full termination packages to be paid to staff who want them.

Audrey Oswell, the Paradise Island mega resort’s managing director, did not disclose how many employees will be impacted by the decision to temporarily lay-off some of the 2,500 workers recalled preChristmas as the property scales back operations in response to reduced booking demand.

In a letter to Atlantis staff, Ms Oswell said shifting guest reservations from the Royal Towers to the Cove with effect from February 4 was “critical to preserving our business” as surging COVID-19 infections and associated travel restrictions - most notably the proposed US quarantine for returning international travellers - continue to ravage The Bahamas’ main visitor source markets.

• Resort: Move ‘critical to preserving business’ • US quarantine plan causes ‘many cancellations’ • Renewed calls to give staff full severance pay

DARRIN WOODS

OBIE FERGUSON

Indicating that those impacted by the latest furloughs will likely remain home until end-February at least, Ms Oswell said Atlantis hoped to start recalling staff “by the Spring Break season”, which begins at the end of next month with the peak in early to mid-March.

She warned, though, that these plans depended on the resort’s occupancy and booking levels, which are said to already be taking a hit from the uncertainty surrounding the “quarantine” plan announced last week by newly-elected US

president, Joe Biden, for all returning US citizens.

Full details on this proposal, and how it will be implemented, will not be known for another two weeks as the relevant US government agencies assess the best practical means to give it effect. However, Darrin Woods, the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union’s (BHCAWU) president, said Atlantis had informed him this has already cause “a lot of bookings to be cancelled”.

Atlantis declined to respond to e-mailed

THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) chief executive has pledged it “went to great pains” to ensure its latest voluntary retirement offer does not further strain an alreadytroubled pension fund.

Garfield “Garry” Sinclair told Tribune Business the carrier had consulted with actuaries prior to unveiling its Enhanced Early Retirement Programme (EERP) to older staff members in a bid to prevent a further widening of the estimated $160m deficit in its original staff pension plan.

“We went to great pains to consult actuaries and ensure anything we were doing and offering, particularly to workers in the 51-plus and 30 years of service category..... we went to great pains with actuaries to ensure that we

questions submitted by Tribune Business yesterday, but informed sources - speaking on condition of anonymity - said the Bahamian tourism flagship was running at just five percent occupancy levels as recently as last week.

Occupancies were said to have remained below ten percent since the New Year, leaving Atlantis unable to “break even” and resulting in a loss, but the resort had been optimistic - prior to Mr Biden’s quarantine move - that better days were not too far away.

This newspaper was told that Atlantis had planned to recall more workers starting from the Super Bowl weekend in early February, with advance March bookings looking particularly strong at between 70-80 percent as The Bahamas headed into the traditional peak winter season and run-up to Easter.

SEE PAGE 20

Butler slams $28m loans judgment bid as ‘garbage’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

SKY Bahamas’ former principal slammed as “garbage” yesterday’s bid by the airline’s main financier to obtain a default judgment against him over the alleged $28m “bogus loans conspiracy”.

Captain Randy Butler and his attorney, Michael Horton, pledged they would move swiftly to have the default judgment thrown out after Fred Kaiser and his attorney, Michael Scott QC, moved for such an award on the basis that the ex-Sky chief failed to file a defence within the required time.

Court documents seen

by Tribune Business reveal that Mr Kaiser and his companies, Alpha Aviation and Advanced Aviation, yesterday filed “a judgment in default of defence” against Captain Butler, Sky Bahamas and Aviation Oversight Group (AOG).

“No defence having been

• Ex-Sky chief to seek default ‘discharge’ • Wants ‘better particulars’ from Kaiser • Blasts move as effort to hurt reputation

CAPT RANDY BUTLER

MICHAEL SCOTT QC

FRED KAISER

entered by the first through third defendants herein or any of them, it is this day adjudged that these defendants do pay to the plaintiffs damages together with interest and costs thereon to be assessed,” said the filing

by Scott & Co Chambers, Mr Scott’s law firm.

No damages sum was specified, and the Supreme

Court filing was accompanied by the briefest of affidavits by Sharon Kelly, Mr Scott’s legal assistant, who testified that her search of the Cause List books in the Supreme Court registry turned up no evidence that Captain Butler or the airline had filed a defence to Mr Kaiser’s claims.

Mr Horton, though, said

he and his client planned a three-pronged counter to the default judgment filing. He told this newspaper last night that Mr Kaiser’s bid was procedurally flawed because the Supreme Court’s permission first has to be obtained to file a default judgment in an

BTC’s ‘great pains’ to protect pension fund

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

$4.02

• Confident no extra strain from latest retiree offer • But unions voice fears for already-troubled fund • Govt to pay first installment on $160m deficit

GARFIELD SINCLAIR

BERNARD EVANS

weren’t creating or widening the deficit that might exist,” he revealed.

Mr Sinclair sought to reassure as BTC union representatives voiced fears that the latest retirement exercise, which is targeting some 63 older employees and was supposed to close yesterday,

could impose further strain on the company’s alreadyweak defined benefit pension plan that was closed to new staff when the communications carrier was privatised in 2011.

Bernard Evans, the National Congress of Trade Unions (NCTU) president,

and former head of BTC’s line staff, told this newspaper that the frequent voluntary separation and early retirement packages offered by BTC since it was acquired by Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) represented a “double whammy” for that pension fund.

He explained that those workers taking early retirement began drawing on the fund from the age of 50, some ten years earlier than the originally projected retirement age of 60, which meant there was a greater depletion of plan assets.

And, on the other end, contributions to the fund were

SEE PAGE 21

SEE PAGE 21

$4.01 COVID powers extension boost for labour market

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Chamber of Commerce’s labour specialist yesterday hailed the Government’s move to extend the COVID emergency powers to May 23 as easing uncertainty for thousands of workers and employers.

Peter Goudie told Tribune Business that still-furloughed workers will gain assurance that their jobs are safe for another five months, while businesses that have been devastated by the pandemic gain that time to potentially recover without being hit by a termination package they are unable to afford.

The government’s emergency orders suspend Employment Act provisions, which mandate that companies must pay full severance to workers who have been sent home for 90 days, until a month after these powers expire. The latest extension thus takes the suspension through to June 23, 2021, and Mr Goudie said: “When I saw that today I couldn’t have been more happy.

“That takes us until the end of June. Hopefully by then we will have a vaccine in and start turning things around. I was sure happy to see the extension all the way into May. That caught me off-guard, but I was glad to see it.”

Explaining the benefits for both Bahamian employer and worker, Mr Goudie added of the former: “It relieves them of having to lay people off and make people redundant, so it saves businesses a lot of money, while people don’t lose their jobs.

“There’s two sides to this thing. People aren’t losing their jobs and employers don’t have to pay redundancy pay. It’s good news. I’m so happy to see that today. Taking it to May, it takes away that month-tomonth worry about what is going to happen next month, what is going to happen next month.”

Not everyone, though, will see it like Mr Goudie. Darrin Woods, the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union’s (BHCAWU) president, yesterday argued that the suspension favours employers by enabling them not to pay full severance to staff who may want to receive their packages and move on.

Mr Goudie, though, said many companies can simply not afford to pay workers the full termination they are owed due to the substantial loss of revenue and income caused by COVID-19 lockdowns and other restrictions over the past ten months.