02012023 NEWS, SPORT AND BUSINESS

HELPING HAND TO FIGHT CRIME

By LETRE SWEETING lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said new vehicles donated to the Royal Bahamas Police Force by the United States, as well as additional vehicles ordered

‘BRACE FOR A SHOCK’ OVER VAT EFFECT ON MEDICAL COSTS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN patients were yesterday warned to brace for “a shock even at the smallest levels” as the change in VAT’s treatment of medical insurance claims payouts will further fuel already-soaring medical costs.

Julian Rolle, BAF Financial’s managing director, told Tribune Business the financial fall-out “is certainly significant for the consumer” once Bahamian health insurers are no longer able to recover VAT on annual claims collectively worth over $200m with effect from April 1, 2023.

by the government, will boost law enforcement’s saturation patrols and help combat crime.

The US handed over 20 new Ford Police Interceptor Hybrid SUVs at a value of nearly $1.4m at a ceremony at RBPF headquarters yesterday.

SEE PAGE TWO

...EVEN AS ANOTHER VICTIM IS SHOT DEAD IN BROAD DAYLIGHT

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

POLICE officers shot and arrested two suspects shortly after the assailants killed a man on Joe Farrington Road yesterday.

A search is underway for a third suspect involved in the homicide. The incident occurred shortly after 11am at the Ivory Plaza on Joe Farrington Road.

Chief Superintendent Michael Johnson, officerin-charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, said police were on patrol in the area when they

saw three men chasing and firing shots at the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS.

As a result, police shot at the suspects, who attempted to flee the scene in a small Nissan vehicle. This is the third police involved shooting for the year, one of which was fatal.

Police captured the first suspect, who was on bail for murder. He was later taken to the hospital by ambulance, CSP Johnson said. A short while later, the second suspect was captured in bushes nearby thanks to public assistance.

SEE PAGE THREE

ISLAND FM RADIO STATION GOES SILENT

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

ISLAND FM 102.9 has announced that it will be closing its doors and taking a “hiatus” after more than two decades in service.

The radio station delivered the news in a statement released to the media. The move takes effect today, February 1.

When contacted for comment yesterday, Eddie

Carter, the station’s programme director, said there were several factors that led

to the company deciding to discontinue operations, which he said did not come easy.

“Since the pandemic, we were unable to rebound. The customers that came back, you know unfortunately, and I understand completely from their aspect couldn’t come back at the levels they came back out at prior to the pandemic,” he told The Tribune

SEE PAGE FOUR

Echoing concerns already voiced by industry body, the Bahamas Insurance Association, he added that healthcare will be “definitely more expensive, certainly less accessible” as a result of the treatment shift driven by the Department of Inland Revenue and Ministry of Finance.

FTX’s Bahamian liquidators are opposing the US Justice Department’s bid for an investigator to probe the crypto exchange’s collapse on the grounds it is overkill and will cost creditors “tens of millions of dollars” and could unnecessarily deplete recoveries for creditors and former clients of FTX Digital Markets, the Bahamian subsidiary.

ONE of the Ford Police Interceptors donated by the US to the government yesterday.

Photo: Moise Amisial

Helping hand to fight crime

Mr Davis said 100 more police vehicles have been ordered by his administration and should be in the country soon.

“This is what neighbours do for each other,” Mr Davis said yesterday referring to the US government at the handing over ceremony for the fleet of vehicles.

“These definitely will have some impact, because they’re in dire need. This is what neighbours do for each other and I am grateful for them for this gift of the 20 cars,” Mr Davis said.

“One of the necessary tools to fight the crime issue is the ability to ensure that your law enforcement officers are mobile and able to get to places quickly. They need to be able to move around, patrol and to respond quickly,” he said.

The 20 hybrid vehicles will be added to the 32 vehicles previously donated to the RBPF by the US government to help replace crucial infrastructure lost during Hurricane Dorian.

This most recent donation comes after a conversation between Prime Minister Davis and US Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House in January to discuss several security issues facing The Bahamas, including the fight against weapons trafficking, and illegal migration.

Mr Davis said the new vehicles would further assist with saturation patrols, which require many officers and vehicles being concentrated on patrolling in “high crime areas”.

“They are badly needed in order to add capacity. With these new vehicles, we will be able to mount additional saturation patrol operations in high crime

areas. We’ve ordered another 100, and hopefully with all those in place, we’ll see it being more effective,” Mr Davis said.

“The programme, the saturation patrol, has been in effect for quite some time, it has been proven very successful. I think today’s incident, which I will not speak of, demonstrates how effective saturation patrol could be in the fight against crime, preventing it and detecting it very quickly,” he said.

Earlier yesterday, police shot and arrested two suspects shortly after they allegedly killed a man in the Joe Farrington Road area. Police were on patrol at the time and responded to the sounds of gunshots. A third suspect was being sought up to press time.

“Now, residents will be able to see and feel an increased police presence and the police will have new capacity to respond quickly to any criminal activity. The vehicles will be outfitted with GPS, which will allow the command centre to make more efficient decisions about how to deploy resources in real time,” Mr Davis said.

Mr Davis also mentioned his administration’s efforts to recruit more law enforcement as well as expand more crime fighting and prevention programmes.

“As you know, we are recruiting hundreds of new police, defence force and immigration officers. This is especially important, because during the pandemic, recruitment was suspended for years, we are also focused on intervening as early as possible,” he said.

“We’re expanding programmes like Urban Renewal, and Second Chance that we have ongoing. We have new initiatives

to talk to target gangs and guns. Using a collaborative multi-agency approach we are zeroing in on where gangs recruit to by adding a police presence to our schools and beginning a new focus on prisoner rehabilitation granted a complex problem,” Mr Davis said.

Wayne Munroe, minister of national security, gave more information about recruitment efforts for the saturation patrols.

“In addition to these vehicles graciously donated, he has consented for the purchase of 100 patrol trucks, which will make thorough saturation patrol a reality.

“He (Prime Minister Philip Davis) has also consented to an aggressive programme of recruitment of manpower, because the vehicles on their own can’t move. And so currently, we have 105 recruits in training in the facility in New Providence, and 20 in Grand Bahama. And the commissioner will (ensure) they recruit 100 reservists, so that saturation patrol can be a reality,” Mr Munroe said.

US Chargé d’Affaires Usha Pitts said most of the 52 vehicles donated by the US emit very little greenhouse gases.

“Of the 52 total vehicles that were donated, almost all of them were our hybrid vehicles. And so as a result, they emit much less in the way of greenhouse gases going to traditional vehicle,” she said.

“We all know that The Bahamas had nothing to do with creating the problem of climate change, but it brings me a lot of pride that The Bahamas and that the Prime Minister speaks so eloquently about being part of the solution and setting the example for the rest of the world,” she said.

THE NEW police vehicles being blessed.

THE NEW police vehicles, above, and, below, US Chargé d’Affaires Usha Pitts talking to Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander. Photos: Moise Amisial

from page one

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and US Chargé d’Affairs Usha Pitts yesterday.

Another victim is shot dead in broad daylight

from page one

The third suspect had evaded capture up to press time.

Police were on patrol of the area when they heard gunshots, CSP Johnson said.

“The officers went to investigate and observed three males chasing an individual and firing shots at him. The officers engaged these gunmen shooting two of the suspects,” CSP Johnson told reporters at the scene yesterday.

“One of the suspects was able to make good his escape. The officers then observed the victim that was on the ground, who appeared lifeless. EMS was called and they came and checked the body and saw no signs of life.”

He continued: “Two of the suspects got into a small Nissan vehicle and attempted to flee, but was again stopped by these officers.

“They were able to arrest one of the males where a firearm was recovered. A short while ago, the second individual was arrested in bushes nearby; he is presently in custody.”

The deceased is believed to be a resident of the area in his early 20s.

CSP Johnson explained the importance of the

commissioner’s vision for saturation patrols, while thanking the officers of the Elizabeth Estates Police Station for their quick response. Additionally, he also expressed his confidence in the police response to tackling crime, despite the trend of repeat offenders committing offences.

“Again, this is what the commissioner speaks about when he speaks about saturation patrol. Even if we are not able to prevent these incidents, we would be in a position to catch these culprits and that’s just what occurred today,” CSP Johnson said.

He added: “Foot patrol, vehicle patrol, we would continue to do these patrols, as that is part of the commissioner’s policing plan. We expect that we will yield the same results that we yield today with this success in arresting these suspects.”

In January, Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander said that police will introduce a new and improved saturation patrol and system. The police chief has said there will be increased patrols, more targeted operations in hot spot areas and expanded resources, including a new fleet of police vehicles.

‘AREA FOOTAGE’ TO BE SHARED WITH POLICE SHOOTING VICTIM’S FAMILY

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said yesterday that he intended to share area footage of a man being fatally shot by police to the deceased’s family.

Mr Munroe had earlier told The Tribune that he could not confirm if police officers had on body cams during a police-involved shooting on January 21.

An 18-year-old youth allegedly engaged police

POLICE TO MAKE REPORTING SEXUAL ASSAULT CRIMES ‘EASIER’ FOR WOMEN

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security

Minister Wayne Munroe

said officials intend to continue to make it much easier for people to report sexual offences.

The minister said that in some countries, a woman may be slow to go into a police station to report a crime due to fear.

However, officials want everyone in The Bahamas to feel comfortable in reporting to the police that a crime has been committed against them, regardless of the nature of the crime.

His comments came after Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander revealed on Friday that there were 55 rape cases reported last year, adding it was a 15 percent increase over 2021.

Activists said the increase of sex crimes is “not surprising”, arguing that the government has continuously failed to prioritise laws that protect women.

Addressing the increase in sex crimes and activists’ outcry, Mr Munroe said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if the initiative that the commissioner of police is doing now, which should make people more comfortable in reporting sex crimes, causes people to report more.

“In some countries, a woman may be slow to go into a police station to report a crime because of the reception she thinks she’s gonna get. In this country, we want everyone to feel comfortable in reporting to the police that a crime has been committed against them,

regardless of the nature of the crime.

“So the commissioner has indicated that they’re opening a special unit that will focus on this and that this unit will have in the same place, organisations, NGOs, to provide support and care for the victims.

So we intend to continue to make it much easier for people to report sexual offences and we intend to provide them the support. We don’t intend to do anything to discourage that as happens in other countries.”

The minister said the people that commit such offences need to understand that it will not be tolerated.

“There was some uproar last year when I notified the public about a release of a dangerous sexual offender. People were all over me about why did I splash the man’s face out to the public because in my judgement he was dangerous and the public needed to know about him.

“If you don’t want to run the risk of being notified to the public as a dangerous sexual offender, then don’t commit sex crimes, simple. We will do what is necessary to protect our daughters, our sisters, our mothers, we will not tolerate any interference.”

The commissioner unveiled the latest crime statistics during a press conference that showed that crimes against the person increased by 23 percent last year when compared to the same period in 2021, including murders, armed robberies and sex crimes that also trended upwards.

Mr Munroe said the

in the Kemp Road area and was killed by officers around 12.30am that day.

The teen’s family has disputed the police’s version of events and have asked to see CCTV footage from the area.

Before the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday morning, Mr Munroe was again asked about footage from the incident.

“I have not seen any body cam footage,” he told reporters. “I have seen other camera footage that I intend to share with the family this evening at

public should be concerned about all violent crimes at any level as he commented on the commissioner’s statistics.

“They’ve categorised that down to when they happen, the age of people doing it, the number of people on bail, the percentage by motives, and the reason that you do that is to effectively attack it. So a clear example is the high number of people who are being victims on bail for homicide. So then if you want to address that, you have to address persons being released on bail and so we’re addressing that,” Mr Munroe said.

“When you now see, for instance, that there are people on bail committing offences, then you have to seek to target that, and that we’re doing as well together with the Office of the DPP. I continue to say from the day I came into this chair that one murder in The Bahamas is one murder too many.”

He also said people have a right to record police when they are overstepping their bounds, while stressing that anyone who confronts police with a weapon should expect to be neutralised.

“No human being confronted with a gun, trained and armed with a gun, to confront the threat of a gun is going to do anything other than seek to neutralise the other person with the gun. So young men and mothers, we urge you that (are) walking around with a gun, having a gun, puts you at risk of dying and so we’re

the Ministry of National Security.”

He added: “There is clear footage at the point that the young man is shot. I intend to have the family come in and they may view it.

“We do not release it but if a family wishes to and, in my judgement, it is safe for them to do so, I permit them to view it because it’s their loved one who is deceased. So I give them and we permit them that privilege, but there is coverage of it.”

It was previously reported that officers were

on routine patrol in the area of Kemp Road and Edwards Avenue when they saw a man with a gun. The suspect fled the area on foot after seeing the officers.

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

Emergency Medical Services attended the scene where he was pronounced dead. Police said a handgun with ammunition was recovered from the deceased.

encouraging you to stop doing it,” Mr Munroe said.

ANOTHER victim believed to be in his twenties and local to the Fox Hill area, is removed from the scene where he was chased and gunned down by three men yesterday afternoon. Police shot two of the suspects, however, a third is yet to be apprehended.

Photo: Moise Aimsial

THE DECEASED 18-year-old Kwondrick Lowe, who was shot by police in the Kemp Road area on January 21.

MINISTER of National Security, Wayne Munroe

Photo: Austin Fernander

Businesses dreading the summer as BPL bills bite

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

SOME local businesses are dreading the approach of summer due to increased electricity costs.

Craig Flowers, owner of the FML Group of Companies, said the hike in power bills will be an “ongoing struggle” for all businesses, especially those that operate in larger buildings.

Mr Flowers said as summer approaches it will be challenging in terms of managing energy.

“We know that there’s going to be a challenge coming this summer. The summer months are always going to be a challenge for us in how we manage our energy. And we are now looking at this period coming up whether or not we would be able to stay within the limits in which we gave ourselves to operate in light of the fact that the energy prices have increased.

“We have to do our best in managing what we have and that is the space in which we have to do business and the people that are going to be coming in and out of these places,” Mr Flowers said.

Danielle Sands, owner of Crave at Studio Deli, also shared similar sentiments as she expressed concern about the electricity bills getting even higher during the hotter months.

“I am concerned about the summer months when electricity bills seem to go a bit higher due to people consuming more electricity, everything like that.”

Although Mrs Sands said her business is energy efficient, she explained there are only so many things they can cut back on without affecting their overall food service.

“We have always been pretty efficient as far as

only using what is required. I can’t cut back on my refrigerators because we are dealing with a perishable product, so that’s not an option for me.

“And we’ve always used energy efficient light bulbs, lighting and stuff like that.

So we will probably look into it more, my team and I will probably see if there are any alternatives,” she said.

Asked if she has seen an increase in her electricity bill, Mrs Sands said she noticed her bill had gone up by 25-30 percent.

ISLAND FM RADIO STATION GOES SILENT

She noted as a small business owner any increase in electricity costs impacts the bottom line.

“(I have seen a) 25 to 30 percent increase here in the electricity bill. I actually made note of it. I checked and I looked at the year before and I said ‘wow, there is an increase in the electricity bill.’ Because I wanted to see how it would affect me as a small business owner,” she said.

Meanwhile, Graham Weatherford, a former business owner, said businesses

and residents should switch to solar energy. “I realised that energy costs would shut down businesses and would be more than mortgages. So you’d lose your home because you’d have to pay a bigger light bill than your mortgage or rent. And I said, maybe it’s better to take the money and put it into solar energy. And so along with energy efficiency appliances and certain things you can do in your home I lowered my cost by 99 percent.” Mr Weatherford said many others could also

benefit if they tried similar methods.

In October, Bahamas Power and Light announced an increase to its monthly fuel charge which was reflected in consumers’ electricity bills last November.

Customers that consume less than 800 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per month will see their fuel charge rise via a series of rolling two cent quarterly increases, while for those using more than that threshold it will be a 4.3 cents per kWh quarterly leap.

“We lost a lot of other customers who just could not again, and I understand completely, who just could not afford to spend money on advertising at this period

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Interested person mail their resume to P.O. Box F-40886 or email to careers@chancesgames.com

of time. So, it became, you know, an issue of the finances after a while as well.”

Less than a dozen staff members were still employed at the station, according to Mr Carter. Island FM said when it began broadcasting in August 2001, the marketplace was already competitive but noted that it had a “sound that was completely foreign”.

The station also noted that over its lifespan, it experienced many great moments, “including making history as the first private radio station to stage a live debate between two aspiring Prime Minister candidates”.

“It was the lifelong passion of Island FM founder Sir Edward Charles Carter to promote the very best of The Bahamas. So, there was no debate or second-guessing, Island FM was going to be a great promoter of Bahamian music, Bahamian culture and indeed Bahamian Life,” the radio station’s statement added.

“Twenty-two years later

and there are now over 25 private radio stations, ZNS and now a sound that is a bit more familiar. Island FM made a difference. It exposed us to our music, helped us to appreciate those rhythms that are uniquely ours. “It saluted our most celebrated musicians while uncovering talent previously unknown. It told our stories through music, creative programming and wonderfully recorded interviews that showed the Bahamian story.”

Island FM also spoke to its popular themed programmes that the company said they will never forget.

“There was no bigger themed show than ‘Sir Charles Carter’s Bahamians’. With his familiar chant of ‘These are Bahamians’, each of these over 750 shows educated and entertained listeners of all aspects of Bahamian life like no previous show ever had,” Island FM said.

“‘Island Classics’ brought the great music of yesterday back to life while ‘Great Hymns of the Church’ did the same for the nonsecular genre. Many of these shows focused on key aspects of Bahamian life like ‘Island Kids’, ‘Junkanoo Talks’, ‘Island sports talk’ and for the arts ‘Creative Nassau’.

“Let’s Talk Health’ for a healthier lifestyle while politics was the order of the day for ‘Parliament Street’ and even the one-of-a-kind show ‘Grumpy Old Men’ which featured music industry giants Ronnie Butler and King Eric Gibson.

“‘Rendezvous’ was successfully produced to help foster a better understanding of our neighbours to the south while our morning show ‘Da Mornin’ Boil’ became a flagship show and the wake-up call for many morning commuters.”

As for whether the station would ever make a comeback, Mr Carter told this newspaper it was definitely possible.

However, he hinted that if it did, there would be a new leader at the helm.

“We, the Carter family and myself – certainly believe in the power of Bahamian music and culture and we do believe that it could be a viable and financially stable and lucrative even business, but it needs some interjection of some young blood, I think, some young energy, fresh energy, probably for capital investment,” he added.

“I think it needs a different approach to maybe how today’s radio market is served best by a radio station and I think this is time that it’s somebody else and not me.”

The station also extended thanks to Michael Thompson for keeping them on the air, Streamco, the Catholic Diocese of The Bahamas and also, fellow broadcasters who the station said, “were always ready and willing to assist.”

“As Island FM steps back and pauses operations we thank it for reminding us of how great we can be, have been and should be. Forward, upward and onward together,” the station said in closing.

THE BAHAMAS Power and Light head office.

CRAIG FLOWERS

BAHAMIAN DIPLOMATS SAFELY RETURNED HOME FROM HAITI

THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the safe return of its diplomatic officers stationed at the Embassy of The Bahamas in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Monday.

The seven diplomatic officers

were received by the DirectorGeneral of Foreign Affairs Rhoda Jackson.

Last Thursday, Prime Minister Philip Davis ordered an immediate involuntary departure from Haiti of all Bahamian diplomatic

personnel out of caution.

“The measure is temporary in light of recent developments which require a corporate security and intelligence assessment and restaging,” the government has said.

It comes after violent protests

British Colonial Hilton may be fully opened by end of year

by residents and some Haitian police over gang killings of police officers in Haiti.

Pictured from left: Weston Saunders, vice-consul; chief petty officer Sherwin Scavella, security attache; Theodore Russell,

vice-consul; Captain Godfrey G Rolle, charge d’ Affaires; Danielle Smith, vice-consul; Rhoda Mae Jackson, director-general Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Rochelle Rolle, diplomatic attache; Torrey Forbes, security attache.

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM, Aviation and Investments Minister Chester Cooper said officials anticipate that parts of the Hilton hotel will be open during the summer months based on the most recent information from the owners of the property.

However, he said yesterday that they had to get an update from the developers.

“Work is actively going on at the British Colonial Hilton,” he said. “We need to get an update from the developers but we are anticipating that parts of the hotel will be open during the summer months based on the most recent information received from the owners of the resort and they are pushing to have the hotel fully opened by the end of the year by the winter season.”

The minister addressed

complaints about the Nassau Cruise Port.

“This problem is decades old as you would well know - it’s not a new complaint,” Mr Cooper explained. “Firstly, I would say that I (toured) the Nassau Cruise Port itself yesterday, with a view to assessing readiness for an opening at the end of May. This is going to happen. It’s going to be phenomenal.

“For those who may not have seen it, you may perhaps imagine a larger version of Marina Village. So this is going to have a significant draw in and of itself. This will be also a driver I hope for the rest of Bay Street to redevelop. We’ve spent a lot of time already speaking with the stakeholders. We have issued demolition orders for nine of the buildings east of East Street.

“We are talking with the art community to see how we might be able to do

some beautification works.

We’re spending significant sums for remedial work like cleaning and beautification, but we need everybody to play their part. We call on the building owners to make efforts to improve the exteriors of their buildings.”

He also said: “We are going further. We’re currently looking at draft legislation for (the) management of the city centre of Bay Street. The Attorney General has been working on that diligently. We have drafted that legislation out for consultation at the moment and we hope to be able to present that to the public soon.

“So there are also issues of vagrancy. We believe we will be able to address some of this with the help of the police with the help of social services and under the auspices of the new mental health bill that we passed recently.”

The Tribune Limited

Family to view footage of shooting - but what are the rules?

THE Minister of National Security, Wayne Munroe, was to allow the family of the young man shot dead by police officers to view camera footage of the incident last night.

After the shooting last week, this column pointed out the curious double standard of who gets to see footage after a police shooting.

The guidance described previously is that when footage can be considered evidence, it becomes property of the coroner.

However, Mr Munroe has previously spoken of having viewed video footage in a police-involved shooting.

In January of last year, when a marine was shot dead by police, Mr Munroe said that video footage was consistent with accounts of officers in the shooting.

Given that this footage should apparently have been in the hands of the coroner, it is questionable how Mr Munroe found himself in the position to give an opinion on the matter.

In this latest shooting, 18-year-old Kwondrick Lowe was shot dead after police said he engaged them in the Kemp Road area on January 21 and was shot dead. His family dispute the events and asked to see CCTV footage from the area.

Quite what the footage that the family will be shown has not been announced, but Mr Munroe said yesterday that he had not seen any footage from police bodycams.

Instead, this is “other camera footage”. He said: “There is clear footage at the point that the young man is shot. I intend to have the family come in and they may view it.

“We do not release it but if a family wishes to and, in my judgement, it is safe for them to do so, I permit them to view it because it’s their loved one who is deceased. So I give them and we permit them that privilege but there is coverage of it.”

We hope in this particular instance that the footage brings resolution to the family’s concerns – although a coroner will still need to hold an inquest as and when the near three-year halt in such cases begins to move again.

But the case does highlight that the whole process could do with a lot more transparency, and a lot less of an arbitrary approach.

Mr Munroe has not confirmed the existence of any bodycam footage – and there is really no reason not to reveal

whether or not that was recorded on the night. It might not be shown – but there is no reason not to note the facts, even if such recordings are in the hands of the coroner. Then Mr Munroe says he will “give them and we permit them that privilege” with regard to showing other video footage to the family. What the rules are surrounding the release of non-bodycam footage are not clear, but Mr Munroe seems to be assuming that it’s simply up to him. Does that change on a case-bycase basis, or are all families entitled to view such footage if they wish for such incidents.

There is of course great value in such footage. It can clear the name of officers as much as it can condemn them. Where a shooting is justified, as much as it might be regretted, such footage can make clear that an officer acted properly. Where a shooting is not justified, it is key to getting justice.

Clearly spelling out the process by which bodycam footage can be viewed by parties in such incidents would be helpful. If one is entitled to see it, then so should another. Consistency shows that rules are being followed rather than being made up on the spot.

Beyond the initial police statement and the family’s response, there is much we do not know with regard to this shooting. Officers may well have feared for their lives and responded accordingly. The family may be right in saying Mr Lowe would have run rather than fight.

Mr Munroe moves it a step forward, even though we still do not know if there is bodycam footage as well.

Making this step forward a standard move and detailing the process for viewing footage in such cases may just remove doubts for family members when a police shooting takes place.

Sadly, we have a high rate of policeinvolved killings in our country – and too often we see video footage of police in other countries carrying out inappropriate actions.

Even here, a recent video showed police officers manhandling a suspect, lifting him up and throwing him to the floor then kicking him in the head.

Every part of the process in revealing what happened during a police-involved shooting should be crystal clear – from revealing what evidence exists to ensuring an opportunity for both sides to view such footage appropriately.

That would be progress indeed.

No shortage of support

EDITOR, The Tribune.

ALLOW me to respond to your recent article in The Tribune in the Tuesday, January 31, edition, concerning the “Lack of Support” by the Anglican Clergy towards the State Recognised Funeral of the Hon. Justice Roger Keith Gomez, Sr (Ret). I do not believe there was a “lack of support”.

First of all, as a faithful Anglican and family of the late Justice Roger Gomez, Sr, I too attended the State Recognised Funeral. I must say, the funeral was very well

Hospital has been in crisis

EDITOR,

I AM glad to see that some people have realised that the hospital is in crisis, but the reality is the hospital has always been in a crisis. We have seen governments come and go, allocate funds for renovations and yet here we are after millions of dollars being invested, it seems to have worsened.

It is evident that there has been no proactiveness to really fix the hospital. All it has been is placing a band-aid on the problem, to say that something is being done, but years later we are almost like a third world country as it relates to healthcare. Majority of Bahamians are afraid of going to the hospital for service because there is now a stigma. “You go in, you don’t always come out and if you come out, you don’t always come out the same.”

The Bahamian people are frustrated. And what is even worse, the average Bahamian cannot afford healthcare so having to tolerate, wait and be treated like a third-class citizen is something that they must endure.

It is a crying shame when people who are ill have to be turned away because there are not enough beds to accommodate them

on the ward or those that need immediate attention having to sit for more than 12 hours in a waiting room because there is not sufficient equipment to assist them.

While some deaths are not at the fault of the doctors and nurses, there are a few that have happened because of negligence and insufficient care. Some families are owed restitution for how the healthcare system gambles with their loved one’s life. But sole blame cannot be put on the professionals, I must put blame on the governments that have come and gone and seen the problem, but played a blind eye to its reality. And now we are here in the worst condition the healthcare system has ever been in, holding our heads and using the words “crisis.” When many in parliament contributed to the crisis because their focus was on their pockets, and everything else except the dire needs of the Bahamian people.

The doctors and nurses themselves are tired. They are outnumbered to the sick. Many are leaving the profession, and some are just outright tired that they

come and give the bare minimum. The morale is low, they are frustrated, tired, and even they have had enough. Because they first hand see the problems and the environment, they work in.

I commend those nurses and doctors despite the conditions that go above and beyond service. But for those who just come to get a pay cheque with no care for the lives of those they serve, God be with you.

It is time to stop playing games and playing on the emotions of the Bahamian people. We are tired. We deserve better. The renovations are played out, we cannot take another “infrastructure” as it relates to the Princess Margaret Hospital. That place has seen enough “renovations” yet still broken. Wake up!

The talks about allocating funds or location for building a new hospital do not need to be another political stunt. We need action. We need a new hospital! Too long we have invested money into things of no great importance and increased budgets to items that really did not need it. Our resources need to be placed and focused on a new hospital. It is needed now!

DR MATHEO SMITH Nassau, January 31, 2023.

attended - not only by the clergy but fellow colleagues, family, friends and the public alike. In fact, St Agnes’ Parish was so filled that most people attending had to overflow into the Parish Hall.

Furthermore, the sanctuary was also filled with clergy, lay ministers and alter servers. As it stands for the hierarchy of the Anglican Communion, an announcement was made at the funeral pertaining to the absence of our Bishop, the Rt Rev Laish Z Boyd and the Rector of St Agnes’ Parish, the Venerable Keith Cartwright who were both

out of town attending to matters at one of the Family Island parishes in the Southern Archdeaconry. Moreover, a public apology as well as condolences were given at the service by their representatives, the Venerable Hugh Bartlett and the Rev Fr Ruel Strachan, assistant curate, who represented them very well.

On that note, I along with many others did not view this as a “lack of support” for the Gomez family, speaking as a proud relative. I am sure that the family appreciate clergy of St Agnes’ Parish and the Anglican Diocese in efforts made in funeralising such a great legend and pillarnot only in our Diocese but throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. There is no issue!

Basketball as national sport

EDITOR, The Tribune.

INFORMATION from reliable sources indicates that our government intends introducing Sailing to be the National Sport of The Bahamas, replacing Cricket, that held the position for decades. It is evident, that the supporters are referring to “Sloop Sailing”. Other forms of sailing are no longer prevalent and were never forms of sport in which the majority of our population participated as sailors or spectators. The other forms of sailing were dominated by a small portion of our population. We excelled in the Olympic Games and other World competitions. Sloop Sailing in The Bahamas is very popular. It is competitive and generates inter-island competition.

It encourages socialising among the residents of our islands and during the many regattas it enhances the economies of those islands. The regattas are great for our country and should never be discontinued.

Our sporting history and records places Basketball to be the sport to replace Cricket. It is played by our youth and not so young, males and females in competitions on courts. It is played on roadsides, parks and in backyards where players can be seen practising their shooting skills. We have provided the world with professionals over the decades, who continue to excel in the NBA, Europe and Asians countries. We have excelled in Track and Field, but by comparison the numbers involved in Basketball are greater, than

those involved in Track and Field.

The regular publicity generated by our basketball players in the NBA for our country must be an asset to our tourism promotion. It is disappointing to me, that our basketball association, its executives, prominent players, professionals and sportswriters have not seen fit to challenge the naming of Sailing as our national sport.

It is not too late to begin canvassing for Basketball to be named the National Sport of The Bahamas. Basketball competitions in our schools (boys and girls) are very competitive and of a high standard. We have performed at a high standard in regional competitions.

PAUL THOMPSON Sr Nassau, January, 2023.

A MAN walks a dog at Lake Cliff Park in Dallas yesterday. Dallas and other parts of North Texas are under a winter storm warning that has been extended through Thursday.

Photo: Smiley N Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP

Eleuthera water issues improve while new tanks install under way

By DENISE MAYCOCK

AGRICULTURE, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting confirmed that two one million-gallon tanks are on the ground in Eleuthera.

In early December, the minister had expressed deep frustration and disappointment to his colleagues over the seven-day disruption in water supply on the island at the time. He had also noted that the supply on the island had been inconsistent for several months.

While in Grand Bahama this week, Minister Sweeting, who is the MP for Central and South Eleuthera, was asked for an update on the water situation in Eleuthera.

He reported that while the situation has been much better since, there is still room for improvement.

“The tanks are on the ground,” he said. “And, they have started to construct them now. I know they have cleared the area for where the tanks will now sit.”

The MP said that they also have access to another well that will help to

provide more water.

“They also put another temporary facility there to make more water so the other one could have down time to make renovations and whatever is necessary to keep it up and running,” he said.

“We have outages at times, but it has been much better,” he explained. “At the time I had released the statement we had been seven days without water. But currently it is better. It can be improved, but currently residents do have water.

“I think we had some challenges in the north as of late, but for the most part it was in the Central Eleuthera area.

“So, the North Eleuthera station as well as central, Water and Sewerage secured large tanks. The one in Central Eleuthera will be one million imperial gallons, which will help.”

Mr Sweeting said the initial tanks produce only enough water for consumption for one day, which is 250,000 gallons.

“So, in one day we used that in the constituency because of the development of homes that are being built. So, this should give you another four days,” he

explained.

The Water and Sewerage Corporation had announced that it executed a contract for a new 1,000,000 imperial gallon storage tank at its naval base pumping station and another 1,000,000 imperial gallon storage tank at its Bogue pumping station. The total contract value for those tanks is $2,756,000, and a further $525,000 in related support works will be executed.

When asked his thoughts as minister of agriculture about the new tax Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville is looking to put tax on sugar and excess salt coming into the country to encourage healthy eating, Mr Sweeting said they all as ministers have a mandate.

“I think all of us have a mandate as ministers to ensure our mandate is carried out. The minister of health and wellness’ mandate is to ensure that this country becomes healthy and has a healthy lifestyle.

“I know the former administration had looked at a soda and sugar tax as well. I have seen the minister’s interview and he also said himself in consultation

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in Grand Bahama Central and South Eleuthera MP Clay Sweeting gives an

ongoing water issues

constituants are facing.

PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis greeted, and presented a gift to Cindy McCain, US Representative to the United Nations Agencies in Rome, while touring the island of Grand Bahama. She noted the devastation of Dorian and promised she would advocate for assistance to alleviate the effects of climate change.

Photo: Austin Fernander

PICTURED: centre, Prime Minister Philip Davis, and to his right, Ambassador Cindy McCain, along with Attorney General Ryan Pinder, Health Minister Michael Darville, Minister for GB Ginger Moxey, Foriegn Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin, Minister of Agriculture Clay Sweeting.

Photo: Austin Fernander

Funeral Home) between

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Misconceptions of what anger is

THERE was a time that I was afraid of anger. It appeared to be more than an emotion, bordering on a disease that temporarily transformed some people into monsters and inhabited others indefinitely, making their presence dark and unwelcoming.

Anger, to me, was synonymous with violence because the two seemed to be in all of the same places at the same time.

It seemed safer to stick with sadness. That would be a good enough response and a safe enough state when upset by a person or a situation. Sadness, however, did not get the kinds of reactions that anger drew, making it a lonely place.

Anger, I noticed, got people’s attention, though it was not usually positive attention.

I started to divide the people around me into two distinct groups — the sad and the angry.

The sad were good people and the angry were bad people, and there was no middle ground. I have since learned better.

Though I had learned to distinguish sadness and anger from one another, and I had learned to choose one over the other, it took a long time to understand the relationship between sadness and anger, and the usefulness of each one.

Sadness is often perceived as passive, and it can be conflated with selfpity. Anger, on the other hand, is seen as active, and though the actions most often associated with anger are violent, this does not have to be the case. Sadness and anger can result in the same actions; it simply depends on the individual.

A few days ago, I was engaged in a public conversation when some people who were listening - and likely had their minds made up about the topic - made the determination that I was angry.

Not only was I not angry, but it had been a long time since someone had called me angry, so it was surprising.

For a moment, I was offended. It was not because anger is bad. I, long ago, determined that anger has its uses, and it needs to be used in productive, nonviolent ways. I was briefly

By Alicia Wallace

offended because those people wanted to dismiss me for what they perceived to be an emotional response to what was, quite frankly, utter nonsense. It is much easier to mischaracterise a person and draw attention to anything but the message in order to discount or muddy the message. While I am not a fan of this tendency in public discourse, it is an unfortunate norm that I know well and can still be disappointing.

The topic was a difficult one. It is debated every day, and most people are decidedly on one side of it with no interest in moving.

The conversation did not draw anger from me, partly because there were no new arguments. I had heard them all before, and in various ways. I have worked in human rights for several years, and I can often predict the points people will use based on the values they espouse. This has become so ordinary that it does not generally draw anger from me.

I do, however, have a relationship with rage. My experiences in this world, partially determined by

somewhere, and it has to do something. It could be a protest. It could be a petition. It could be a letter to a person in a position of power. It could be a donation to an organization working on a related issue. Sometimes, when there is no obvious place to put it, anger could fuel a run or a full house cleaning.

We all have the ability to choose, if only we pause to identify the anger, the trigger, and the best course of action.

No matter how much selfwork any of us do, there will always be the opinions of others. There will always be detractors. People will blame, complain, and deflect.

When people do not like your position, they will either try to disprove your points or try to discredit you to prevent people from listening to you. If the former fails, many resort to the latter.

One of the easiest ways to shift attention from the message to the person delivering it is to present them as unreasonable, and anger is often considered an unreasonable, unacceptable emotion.

discriminatory systems that respond to my identities with hostility, make it impossible to avoid anger altogether.

I can feel anger without letting everyone around me know it and, more importantly, I can turn it into something else.

If I become angry, I give myself the task of determining what I am going to do about it.

This is how my activism started. I was angry and it did nothing to change the state of affairs until I gave it that role.

Anger has to go

“Angry” has become a handy synonym for many states of being, responses, and behaviours. It is a label that is hastily applied - especially to particular groups of people, including black women - who dare to oppose, to dissent, to refuse, to challenge.

“Angry” is used as a descriptor for people who are correct, particularly when they are deliberate in making their correctness clear.

People do not like being wrong. We have been taught that mistakes are both bad and personal failures. They are not presented as opportunities to learn. There is little acknowledgement that identifying a wrong answer is often part of a path to the correct answer.

Very early in life, we experience punishment

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THE NUANCES of the differences between sadness and anger are not always so easy to discern. Sadness is not always passive and anger is not always violent. nor is anger always a bad or violent, but rather, in some instances, it can be useful. Today’s article explores the nuances and misconceptions some have regarding anger.

for giving the wrong answer, and we experience shame when it is brought to the attention of others.

Outside of learning institutions and without an answer key, people can deny being wrong. When a person is very clear that they are correct, repeats their point, and provides evidence, it is difficult to argue the point.

In many cases, the actual angry person, who is wrong and likely ashamed, then calls the correct person angry for firmly holding their position.

“Angry” is used to describe people who are resolute. They speak with certainty. They do not back down or change their position when an inferior one is presented. They are consistent and confident. They repeat themselves, because what they said the first time was enough.

“Angry” is used to describe people who dare to respond when challenged. They do not sit quietly while someone else mischaracterizes them, misrepresents their positions, or disrespects them.

They may interrupt a falsehood. They may simply call a statement a lie or assert that a statement is misleading. They give a direct response. They may ignore attempts to derail the conversation, intentionally returning to the purpose and point.

They do not laugh at inappropriate jokes. Even when even-toned, this person is seen as angry for refusing to be silent, and refusing to wait their turn at the expense of observers who may be subject to disinformation.

“Angry” is used to describe people who demand action. In many

cases, the written form, from one person or group to another person or group that has the power to take action, does not get the job done.

The demand for action frequently has to be amplified. The people who want action may have to find more people. They may have to get louder. They may have to make their demands often.

It should not be surprising that, by this point, people who were not angry before are angry at this point because it is so exhausting to be consistent and visible, and insulting that it is what it takes to be heard and acknowledged, all before they can finally see action.

Some of us are set up, by discriminatory systems, stereotypes, platforms, media, to be seen through the lens of other people’s anger. People are angry that they are wrong. That they cannot back their positions with evidence. That they are irresolute, or that their resoluteness does not matter when their bigotry is recognised. That their challenges are met, and their tactics are named. That their failure to take action is sure to be a source of shame and cause future failures they wish they could avoid. It is not just stones and glass houses. It is people making themselves into

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.

A woman forming a relationship with an octopus may not seem like an interesting story at all. It is easy to assume the woman is, in some way, deficient and incapable of making real friends, or that the animal is indifferent and oblivious to her. Tova’s encounters with Marcellus, however, are not one-sided, and not accidental. This story is told from multiple perspectives, and the pieces come together to connect the characters at just the right time. This is a strong debut novel, set in a small town, peppered with the kind of preoccupations with the past, tempered longing, and questions about the future that make the characters believable and their desires relatable.

2. Only Murders in the Building.

The true crime genre seems to have taken over the entertainment industry. From The First 48 on A&E to the shocking number of podcasts dedicated to recounting terrible stories of the past and digging into mysterious, criminal events, it is everywhere. While far too much of it is graphic and can glorify crime and criminals for viewing and listening audiences, some manage to centre humanity. Only Murders in the Building is interesting because of the characters who would be completely indifferent to one another if not for their shared love of a particular true crime podcast and interest in solving what they believe to be murder. Each member of the trio is rather odd and they each have their own issues to face, so it is unsurprising that they would rather get lost in a murder mystery.

Sadness is often perceived as passive, and it can be conflated with self-pity. Anger, on the other hand, is seen as active, and though the actions most often associated with anger are violent

EDMUNDS: THE PROS AND CONS OF SOFTWARE RUNNING YOUR CAR

By KRISTIN V. SHAW

Edmunds

SOFTWARE was a big theme for automakers attending CES 2023 in January. BMW, Stellantis, Volkswagen and a joint venture between Honda and Sony showed off upcoming or concept vehicles that are significantly reliant on computers and code. The takeaway was clear: More and more vehicles will be run top to bottom by software, not hardware. In some cases, the future is already here.

What will it be like for shoppers when vehicles are dominated by bits and bytes instead of gears and gaskets?

Edmunds’ experts break down what’s in store.

SOFTWARE DEFINED

VEHICLES

The phrase “softwaredefined vehicle” is an industry term used to clarify the difference between a traditional car that is enhanced by technology and one that is run by technology.

While cars of the past 20 years have gained touchscreens and have plenty of engine- and safety-related computing power, those software features are largely stuck in time once the car rolls off the assembly line. The future holds that nearly every vehicle feature will be controlled by software, which offer the potential to improve features over time.

Another key difference is updatability. Consider the smartphone. Their manufacturers seamlessly update their software on a regular basis to fix bugs and breaches and add functionality.

Software-defined vehicles work similarly. They have high-speed Wi-Fi and cellular connections that automakers use to send out software updates via the cloud to its vehicles.

There’s no need for owners to bring their vehicles to a dealership or service centre.

A NEW DAY AND A NEW FEATURE FOR YOUR CAR

Tesla is a pioneer of adding software-based features to its vehicles.

Over the years it has introduced improvements to the touchscreen interfaces and added new features such as video games. It’s even issued updates that enhance vehicle performance. Startup EV brands Lucid and Rivian are following suit by employing over-the-air updates to give their vehicles new features and functions and issue bug fixes. Software also allows for the introduction of features that wouldn’t have been possible in the past. Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury arm, is using facial recognition and fingerprint scanning with its new allelectric GV60 crossover. The physical key is required to set up both functions, but after that the owner can basically

operate the car as easily as a smartphone. Established companies are jumping in as well. Last summer, Ford used software to enable its BlueCruise hands-free driving system in tens of thousands of F-150s and Mustang Mach-Es. The vehicles had the hardware for the system already installed; the over-the-air update made it complete. It applied to the cars wirelessly, without the need for a dealer visit. Maintenance is another potential advantage. These highly digital vehicles can monitor preventive and predictive maintenance and even diagnose problems from afar. It takes the guesswork out of what could go wrong and what needs to be adjusted without a visit to a mechanic shop or dealership.

THE DOWNSIDE OF THIS NEW TECH Software allows new

features that wouldn’t have been possible in the past. But sometimes these features aren’t so great in practice. Tesla and Rivian, for example, use touchscreenbased controls to direct the flow of the cabin’s air vents.

It seems neat in theory but turns out to be a finicky and distracting process in realworld driving. Old-school air vents that you adjust by hand just work better. Software crashes and glitches are also problematic. Issues that PC users are all too familiar with can crop up in cars.

It might be a touchscreen that goes blank and is inoperable while driving, glitchy operation of certain controls, or advanced driver assist features that aren’t as fully vetted as they should be before being added to vehicles.

The risks of software crashes and privacy breaches

AI WILDFIRE DETECTION BILL GETS INITIAL APPROVAL IN COLORADO

DENVER (AP) — A year after the most destructive wildfire in the state’s history scorched nearly 1,100 homes, Colorado lawmakers are considering joining other Western states by adopting artificial intelligence in the hopes of detecting blazes before they burn out of control.

A Colorado Senate committee on Thursday unanimously voted to move forward a bill to create a $2 million pilot programme that would station cameras on mountaintops, and use artificial intelligence to monitor the footage and help detect early signs of a wildfire. The bill will move to the state Senate Appropriations Committee next.

“It can detect just a wisp of smoke and it’s that type of situation in remote areas that could save forests and homes and properties and lives,” Democratic state Sen. Joann Ginal, one of the bill’s sponsors, said in the hearing.

are real issues. It’s not outside the realm of possibility for someone with malicious intentions to take over the operation of a car and cause damage.

Also, some experts are both applauding the technology and advising caution as it relates to personal data privacy: the more data collected from drivers, the more potential for hacking.

EDMUNDS SAYS:

Software will continue to evolve to change the vehicle ownership experience. Test-driving different new vehicles offers a sense of how much digital functionality you prefer. You might enjoy the opportunity for a quick fix or update via Wi-Fi.

But technology-averse shoppers will likely prefer a vehicle with a more traditional design, which might include buying used.

CHEATERS BEWARE: CHATGPT MAKER RELEASES AI DETECTION TOOL

By MATT O’BRIEN and JOCELYN GECKER

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The maker of ChatGPT is trying to curb its reputation as a freewheeling cheating machine with a new tool that can help teachers detect if a student or artificial intelligence wrote that homework.

The new AI Text Classifier launched Tuesday by OpenAI follows a weeks-long discussion at schools and colleges over fears that ChatGPT’s ability to write just about anything on command could fuel academic dishonesty and hinder learning.

OpenAI cautions that its new tool – like others already available – is not foolproof.

The method for detecting AI-written text “is imperfect and it will be wrong sometimes,” said Jan Leike, head of OpenAI’s alignment team tasked to make its systems safer.

“Because of that, it shouldn’t be solely relied upon when making decisions,” Leike said.

Teenagers and college students were among the millions of people who began experimenting with ChatGPT after it launched Nov. 30 as a free application on OpenAI’s website. And while many found ways to use

it creatively and harmlessly, the ease with which it could answer take-home test questions and assist with other assignments sparked a panic among some educators.

By the time schools opened for the new year, New York City, Los Angeles and other big public school districts began to block its use in classrooms and on school devices.

The Seattle Public Schools

district initially blocked ChatGPT on all school devices in December but then opened access to educators who want to use it as a teaching tool, said Tim Robinson, the district spokesman.

“We can’t afford to ignore it,” Robinson said.

The district is also discussing possibly expanding the use of ChatGPT into classrooms to let teachers use it to train students to be better critical thinkers and to let students use the application as a “personal tutor” or to help generate new ideas when working on an assignment, Robinson said. School districts around the country say they are seeing the conversation around ChatGPT evolve quickly.

“The initial reaction was ‘OMG, how are we going to stem the tide of all the cheating that will happen with ChatGPT,’” said Devin Page, a technology specialist with the Calvert County Public School District in Maryland.

Now there is a growing realisation that “this is the future” and blocking it is not the solution, he said.

“I think we would be naïve if we were not aware of the dangers this tool poses, but we also would fail to serve our students if we ban them and us from using it for all its potential

power,” said Page, who thinks districts like his own will eventually unblock ChatGPT, especially once the company’s detection service is in place.

OpenAI emphasised the limitations of its detection tool in a blog post Tuesday, but said that in addition to deterring plagiarism, it could help to detect automated disinformation campaigns and other misuse of AI to mimic humans.

The longer a passage of text, the better the tool is at detecting if an AI or human wrote something. Type in any text -- a college admissions essay, or a literary analysis of Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man” --- and the tool will label it as either “very unlikely, unlikely, unclear if it is, possibly, or likely” AI-generated.

But much like ChatGPT itself, which was trained on a huge trove of digitised books, newspapers and online writings but often confidently spits out falsehoods or nonsense, it’s not easy to interpret how it came up with a result.

“We don’t fundamentally know what kind of pattern it pays attention to, or how it works internally,” Leike said. “There’s really not much we could say at this point about how the classifier actually works.”

The deployment of AI is part of an ongoing effort by firefighters to use new technology to become smarter about how they prepare and better position their resources. Fire lookout towers once staffed by humans have largely been replaced by cameras in remote areas, many of them in high-definition and armed with artificial intelligence to discern a smoke plume from morning fog.

SELF-DRIVING SEMIS FOCUS OF CALIFORNIA RULES, LEGISLATION

By ADAM BEAM Associated Press SACRAMENTO,

Calif.

(AP) — As California regulators explore new rules to put self-driving semitrucks on the road, labour unions are rushing to the state Legislature to ask for a new law they say will protect their jobs — the start of a debate that could shape the future of the nation’s nearly $900 billion trucking industry.

California already has rules governing self-driving cars and delivery trucks that weigh less than 10,001 pounds (4,536 kilogrammes). Now, the California Department of Motor Vehicles is gathering information for potential new rules that would let self-driving semitrucks on the road that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds (36,287 kilogrammes).

The rulemaking process takes a long time, and is mostly crafted by officials in Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration. Labour unions aren’t waiting around for that to happen. Instead, they’ve asked the state Legislature — where they have considerably more influence given their prolific campaign contributions — to intervene.

On Monday, more than 100 of members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters joined Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, a Democrat from Winters, as she announced new legislation to require all self-driving semitrucks have a human driver present to oversee them.

THIS photo provided by Edmunds shows the interior of the 2022 Lucid Air, an electric vehicle whose software allows it to add features via over-the-air updates. (Rex Tokeshi-Torres/Courtesy of Edmunds via AP)

THE LOGO for OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, appears on a mobile phone, in New York, Tuesday. OpenAI is launching a new tool in an effort to curb its reputation as a freewheeling cheating machine with a new tool Tuesday that can help teachers detect if a student or artificial intelligence wrote that homework.

(AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Valentine Cox wins 2023 Bahamas Chess national championship

THE Bahamas Chess Federation recently held its 2023 Bahamas Chess National Championship at Colina’s J Whitney Pinder building on Collins Avenue.

“Supporting the event was a no-brainer,” said Maxine V Seymour, director of corporate communications at Colina.

“Colina is dedicated to youth development and we are pleased that The Bahamas Chess Federation is likeminded as demonstrated in their commitment to exposing young persons to the sport.

“Playing chess has many benefits, it improves memory, increases planning skills, deepens focus, teaches critical thinking and encourages camaraderie,” said Ms Seymour.

“This year, many of the

RIGHT

players who competed in the 2023 Bahamas National Championship are juniors,” said Kendrick Knowles, president of the Bahamas Chess Federation. “Chess opens up a world of opportunities for young people and these young players represent the

future of Bahamian chess.”

“Your sponsorship is assisting with the growth of chess in The Bahamas and by extension, youth development,” said Mr Knowles.

The Bahamas Chess National Championship concluded on Sunday, January

PUBLIC NOTICE

COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS New Providence

City of Nassau

22. National Master Valentine Cox claimed The Bahamas Chess National Championship by winning eight out of nine games. If you are interested in joining The Bahamas Chess Federation, visit www.bahamaschessfederation.org.

FROM left, BTC deputy chairman Valentine Grimes; Saadiya Bhatti; Thelma Grimes; BTC board member Daphne Simmons; Kevin Simmons, consultant and special advisor to the Prime Minister; Ann Marie Davis; Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis; Dr Tricia Bhatti and BTC’s CEO, Sameer Bhatti.

BTC SHOWS SUPPORT FOR RED CROSS AT BALL

THE 49th annual Red Cross Ball, the first to kick off the 2023 Ball season, was held on Saturday under the theme, “We Ballin’, Lights Camera, Action,”. Hundreds of people showed up at the Grand Ballroom of the

Atlantis Resort to show their support. BTC was a $20,000 platinum title sponsor, and several members of the BTC team were in attendance, including CEO Sameer Bhatti, and deputy chairman Valentine Grimes.

IN THE MATTER OF THE PLANNING AND SUBDIVISION ACT. 2010 AND IN THE MATTER OF SUBDIVISION & DEVELOPMENT APPEAL BOARD RULES, 2011

The below listed APPELLANTS and interested members of the PUBLIC are hereby notified of a Sitting of the Subdivision and Development Appeals Board on Thursday the 2nd day of February, 2023 commencing at 9:30 a.m. at the Hearing Room/ Main Meeting Room, located in the Aventura Plaza on Bethel Avenue and John F. Kennedy Drive, New Providence.

The Intended Sitting will be subject to there then being no prohibition against the said hearing taking place under any Emergency Powers (Covid-19 Pandemic) Order then in force Subject also to postponement in the event of the issue of any Bahamas Government Hurricane Alert for the Island of New Providence.

The following APPEAL will be heard in the sequence stated below:-

1. APPEAL No. 1 of 2021 – being an Appeal by CHANTECLEARE

LIMITED/HIGGS & JOHNSON by Notice of Appeal dated 4th day of January A.D., 2021

APPEALING: the decision of the Town Planning Committee made on the 10th day of November A.D., 2020 under the Town Planning Application Number PSA/126/2019granting Preliminary Support of Application Approval regarding a proposed multi-family residential development for Mrs. Sibilla Tomacelli Filomarino situate on Lots 14 & 15, Block 44 Lyford Cay Subdivision No 3, Bougainvillea Drive East, Lyford Cay, Western New Providence

CURRENT HEALTH PROTOCOLS INCLUDING SOCIAL DISTANCING SHALL BE ENFORCED.

PARTIES MAY CONTACT Ms Carol E. Martinborough, Secretary to the Board, for a schedule of proposed hearing times for the respective appeals and to collect Appeal Records or for other information at the Subdivision & Development Appeal Board Office located at Aventura Plaza, Bethel Avenue & John F. Kennedy Drive, Nassau, Bahamas. Telephone : 242 422 3427 or e-mail: carolmartinborough@bahamas.gov.bs.

Dated the 25th day of January, A.D., 2023

SUBDIVISION AND DEVELOPMENT

SUBDIVISION AND DEVELOPMENT APPEAL BOARD

Aventura Plaza

Corner of Bethel Avenue & John. F. Kennedy Drive Nassau, Bahamas

LEFT - The Bahamas Chess Championship took place at Colina’s J Whitney Pinder Building on Collins Avenue in January.

- Kendrick Knowles, president of the Bahamas Chess Federation, presents National Master Valentine Cox with the 1st place trophy.

BAHAMAS Telecommunications Company’s CEO, Sameer Bhatti.

FROM left: Paul Andy Gomez, former ambassador to China; Sameer Bhatti, BTC’s CEO, and Valentine Grimes, BTC’s deputy chairman.

BTC’s CEO Sameer Bhatti and BTC’s director of people, K Darron Turnquest.

BTC’s director of finance, Samuel Lovett and Mrs Lovett

MR. R. DAWSON MALONE CHAIRMAN

APPEAL BOARD

MOTHER CLAIMS SON INNOCENT OF MURDER ACCUSATION

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sent to prison yesterday in connection with the fatal shooting of a former gang member last month.

Billy Martin, 30, is accused of killing Dominique Berry as he drove to work. He was charged with murder before Magistrate Shaka Serville.

Around 7am on January 17, Berry was driving his silver coloured Nissan Note when someone cut him off on Infant View Road.

After blocking Berry’s escape, it is said the suspect got out of his vehicle and opened fire on the 33-yearold victim before fleeing in his own car. Berry, who was known to have previous gang affiliations, was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Martin was not required to enter a plea in court and was informed that his

matter would be transferred to the Supreme Court by a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

The accused was told that while the magistrate lacked the jurisdiction to grant him bail, he had the right to apply for it in the Supreme Court.

It was at this time that Martin’s mother told the magistrate that her son was innocent. She further claimed that while Martin had recently been released from prison he was allegedly at home at the time of the murder.

In response to this Magistrate Serville advised the defendant’s mother to seek an attorney to assist in this matter going forward.

Before being taken into remand at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services the accused was allowed a brief moment with his mother in court.

Martin’s VBI is slated for service on April 28.

AMERICAN MAN GRANTED BAIL ON GUN CHARGES

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

AN American man was granted $12,500 bail in court yesterday after he was accused of bringing a firearm and ammunition into the county last month.

Kaz Morgan Jones, 29, appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney. There he faced charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition, importation of a firearm into the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and importation of ammunition

into the country. On January 27 it is alleged that Jones imported a firearm and ammunition into New Providence. It is further alleged that on January 30 police found Jones with a black .40 M&P Smith & Wesson pistol with the serial number HUM5584. At the time of his arrest, it is further said that Jones had eight unfired .40 rounds of ammunition. In court the accused pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was granted $12,500 bail. His trial is set for February 27.

MAN PLEADS ‘NOT GUILTY’ FOR THEFT AND ARMED ROBBERY

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday in connection with a series of armed robberies and a housebreaking in the nation’s capital over the last two months.

Stephen Greene Jr, 30, stood before Magistrate Algernon Allen, Jr, on 17 theft-related charges. He faced six counts of armed robbery, six counts of receiving and one count of attempted robbery, housebreaking and stealing each. Greene is also accused of two counts of garroting.

Another man, Harold Brown, 40, represented by attorney Alphonso Lewis, also faced Magistrate Allen Jr on two charges of receiving in connection with these robberies.

On December 24, 2022, being concerned with another it is alleged that Greene tried to steal Rebecca Walker’s black backpack valued at $100. On the same day Greene is further accused of spraying mace on Christine Barochin and Dan Walker to make them incapable of resistance.

Then on January 14 on Bayview Drive, Greene is accused of breaking into Neil Dames’s home. There it is said he stole 65-inch and 50-inch Samsung TVs

as well as a wifi box and Firestick, with these items altogether being valued at $1,413.94.

On January 17, 21 and 22, Greene, while armed with a handgun, is said to have robbed Shari Gluckman, Michael Gluckman, Nicholas Maris, Janis Maris, Ross Salmon and Taresa Salmon at various times. During these armed muggings it is said that Greene stole a variety of luxury items, including iPhones, MacBooks, various jewellery, wallets and purses as well as over $1000.

Finally on January 22 and 25 both defendants were accused of being in possession of some of these stolen goods.

While both defendants pleaded not guilty to the lesser charges, the indictable armed robbery charges will proceed to the Supreme Court by way of Voluntary Bill of Indictment.

Although Greene was denied bail at this time and remanded to prison, Brown thanks to the intervention of his attorney was granted bail at $5,000. Under the conditions of his bail Brown is expected to sign in at Carmichael Police Station every Wednesday by 6pm.

Both defendants are expected to return to court for their VBIs and continuation of their matters on March 31.

In Haiti, gangs take control as democracy withers

HAITI ASSOCIATED PRESS

JIMMY Cherizier zips through Haiti’s capital on the back of a motorcycle, flanked by young men wielding black and leopard print masks and automatic weapons.

As the pack of bikes flies by graffiti reading “Mafia boss” in Creole, street vendors selling vegetables, meats and old clothes on the curb cast their eyes to the ground or peer curiously.

Cherizier, best known by his childhood nickname Barbecue, has become the most recognised name in Haiti.

And here in his territory, enveloped by the tin-roofed homes and bustling streets of the informal settlement La Saline, he is the law.

Internationally, he’s known as Haiti’s most powerful and feared gang leader, sanctioned by the United Nations for “serious human rights abuses”, and the man behind a fuel blockade that brought the Caribbean nation to its knees late last year.

But if you ask the former police officer with gun tattoos running up his arm, he’s a “revolutionary”, advocating against a corrupt government that has left a nation of 12 million people in the dust.

“I’m not a thief. I’m not involved in kidnapping. I’m not a rapist. I’m just carrying out a social fight,” Cherizier, leader of “G9 Family and Allies,” told The Associated Press while sitting in a chair in the middle of an empty road in the shadow of a home with windows shattered by bullets. “I’m a threat to the system.”

At a time when democracy has withered in Haiti and gang violence has spiraled out of control, it’s armed men like Cherizier that are filling the power vacuum left by a crumbling government. In December, the UN estimated that gangs controlled 60 percent of Haiti’s capital, but nowadays most on the streets of Port-au-Prince say that number is closer to 100 percent.

“There is, democratically speaking, little-to-no legitimacy” for Haiti’s government, said Jeremy McDermott, a head of InSight Crime, a research center focused on organised crime. “This gives the gangs a stronger political voice and more justification to their claims to be the true representatives of the communities.”

It’s something that conflict victims, politicians, analysts, aid organisations, security forces and international observers fear will only get worse. Civilians, they worry, will face the brunt of the consequences.

Haiti’s history has long been tragic. Home of the largest slave uprising in the Western Hemisphere, the country achieved independence from France in 1804, ahead of other countries in the region.

But it’s long been the poorest country in the hemisphere, and Haiti in the 20th century endured a bloody dictatorship that lasted until 1986 and brought about the mass execution of tens of thousands of Haitians.

The country has been plagued by political turmoil since, while suffering waves of devastating earthquakes, hurricanes and cholera outbreaks.

The latest crisis entered full throttle following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. In his absence, current Prime Minister Ariel Henry emerged in a power struggle as the country’s leader.

Haiti’s nearly 200 gangs have taken advantage of the chaos, warring for control.

Tension hums in Port-auPrince. Police checkpoints dot busy intersections, and graffiti tags reading “down with Henry” can be spotted in every part of the city.

Haitians walk through the streets with a restlessness that comes from knowing that anything could happen at any moment.

An ambulance driver returning from carrying a patient told the AP he was kidnapped, held for days and asked to pay $1m to be set free.

Such ransoms are now commonplace, used by gangs to fund their warfare.

An average of four people are kidnapped a day in Haiti, according to UN estimates.

The UN registered nearly 2,200 murders in 2022, double the year before.

Women in the country describe brutal gang rapes in areas controlled by gangs. Patients in trauma units are caught in the crossfire, ravaged by gunshots from either gangs or police.

“No one is safe,” said Peterson Pean, a man with a bullet lodged in his face from being shot by police after failing to stop at a police checkpoint on his way home from work.

Meanwhile, a wave of grisly killings of police officers by gangs has spurred outrage and protests by Haitians.

Following the slaying of six officers, video circulating on social media - likely filmed by gangs - showed six naked bodies stretched out on the dirt with guns on their chests. Another shows two masked men using officers’ dismembered limbs to hold their cigarettes while they smoke.

“Gang-related violence has reached levels not seen in years… touching near all segments of society,” said Helen La Lime, UN special envoy for Haiti, in a late January Security Council meeting.

Henry, the prime minister, has asked the UN to lead a military intervention, but many Haitians insist that’s not the solution, citing past consequences of foreign intervention in Haiti. So far, no country has been willing to put boots on the ground.

The warfare has extended past historically violencetorn areas, now consuming mansion-lined streets previously considered relatively safe.

La Lime highlighted turf wars between Cherizier’s group, G9, and another, G-Pep, as one of the key drivers.

In October, the UN slammed Cherizier with sanctions, including an arms embargo, an asset freeze and a travel ban.

The body accused him of carrying out a bloody massacre in La Saline, economically paralyzing the country, and using armed violence and rape to threaten “the peace, security, and stability of Haiti”.

At the same time, despite not being elected into power and his mandate timing out, Henry, whose administration declined a request for comment, has continued at the helm of a skeleton government. He has pledged for a year and a half to hold general elections, but has failed to do so.

In early January, the country lost its final

democratically elected institution when the terms of ten senators symbolically holding office ended their term.

It has turned Haiti into a de-facto “dictatorship”, said Patrice Dumont, one of the senators.

He said even if the current government was willing to hold elections, he doesn’t know if it would be possible due to gangs’ firm grip on the city.

“Citizens are losing trust in their country. (Haiti) is facing social degradation,” Dumont said. “We were already a poor country, and we became poorer because of this political crisis.”

At the same time, gang leaders like Cherizier have increasingly invoked political language, using the end of the senators’ terms to call into question Henry’s power.

“The government of Ariel Henry is a de-facto government. It’s a government that has no legitimacy,” Cherizier said.

Cherizier, a handgun tucked into the back of his jeans, took the AP around his territory in La Saline, explaining the harsh conditions communities live in. He denies allegations against him, saying the sanctions imposed on him are based on lies.

Cherizier, who would not tell the AP where his money came from, claims he’s just trying to provide security and improve conditions in the zones he controls.

Cherizier walked through piles of trash and past malnourished children touting an iPhone with a photo of his face on the back. A drone belonging to his team monitoring his security follows him as he weaves through rows of packed

homes made of metal sheets and wooden planks.

Tailed by a cluster of heavily armed men in masks, he would not allow the AP to film or take photos of his guards and their weapons.

“We’re the bad guys, but we’re not the bad-bad guys,” one of the men told an AP video journalist as he led her through a packed market.

While some have speculated that Cherizier would run for office if elections were held, Cherizier insists that he wouldn’t.

What is clear, said McDermott, of InSight Crime, is that gangs are reaping rewards from the political chaos.

InSight Crime estimates that before the killing of the president, Cherizier’s federation of gangs, G9, got half of its money from the government, 30 percent from kidnappings and 20 percent from extortions.

After the killing, government funding dipped

significantly, according to the organization.

Yet his gangs have significantly grown in power after the group blocked the distribution of fuel from Port-au-Prince’s key fuel terminal for two months late last year.

The blockade paralysed the country in the midst of a cholera outbreak and gave other gangs footholds to expand. Cherizier claimed the blockade was in protest of rising inflation, government corruption and deepening inequality in Haiti.

Today, G9 controls much of the center of Port-auPrince and fights for power elsewhere.

“The political Frankenstein long ago lost control of the gang monster,” McDermott said. “They are now rampaging across the country with no restraint, earning money any way they can, kidnapping foremost.”

US WEAPONS SUPPLY INCREASE TO COUNTER NORTH KOREA

SOUTH KOREA

Associated Press

US DEFENSE Secretary

Lloyd Austin on Tuesday said the United States will increase its deployment of advanced weapons such as fighter jets and bombers to the Korean Peninsula as it strengthens joint training and operational planning with South Korea in response to a growing North Korean nuclear threat.

Austin made the comments in Seoul after he and South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-Sup agreed to further expand their combined military exercises, including a resumption of live-fire demonstrations, and continue a “timely and coordinated” deployment of US strategic assets to the region, according to their offices.

Austin and Lee also discussed preparations for a simulated exercise between the allies in February aimed at sharpening their response if North Korea uses nuclear weapons.

Austin’s trip comes as South Korea seeks stronger assurances that the United

States will swiftly and decisively use its nuclear capabilities to protect its ally in face of a North Korean nuclear attack.

South Korea’s security jitters have risen since North Korea test-fired dozens of missiles in 2022, including potentially nuclear-capable ones designed to strike targets in South Korea and the US mainland.

South Korea and the United States have also been strengthening their security cooperation with Japan, which has included

trilateral missile defense and anti-submarine warfare exercises in past months amid the provocative run in North Korean weapons tests.

In a joint news conference following their meeting, Austin and Lee said they agreed that their countries’ resumption of large-scale military drills last year, including an aerial exercise involving US strategic bombers in November, effectively demonstrated their combined capabilities to deter North Korean aggression. The allies had downsized

their training in recent years to create room for diplomacy with North Korea during the Trump administration and because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We deployed fifth-generation aircraft, F-22s and F-35s, we deployed a carrier strike group to visit the peninsula, you can look for more of that kind of activity going forward,” Austin said.

He said the US commitment to protecting its allies with its full range of military capabilities, including nuclear ones, remains

“ironclad”.

North Korea’s rampedup missile tests have been punctuated by threats to preemptively use its nuclear weapons in a broad range of scenarios in which it perceives its leadership to be under threat, including conventional clashes or non-war situations.

Tensions could further rise in coming months with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un doubling down on his nuclear ambitions.

During a political conference in December, Kim called for an “exponential increase” in nuclear warheads, mass production of battlefield tactical nuclear weapons targeting South Korea, and development of more powerful long-range missiles designed to reach the US mainland.

Experts say Kim’s nuclear push is aimed at forcing the United States to accept the idea of North Korea as a nuclear power and negotiating badly needed economic concessions from a position of strength.

Nuclear negotiations between the US and North Korea have been derailed

since 2019 because of disagreements over a relaxation of US-led economic sanctions against the North in exchange for steps by North Korea to wind down its nuclear weapons and missiles programmes.

North Korea’s growing nuclear arsenal and provocations have raised the urgency for South Korea and Japan to strengthen their defense postures in line with their alliances with the United States.

In an interview with The Associated Press this month, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said his government was discussing with the Biden administration joint military planning potentially involving US nuclear assets.

In December, Japan made a major break from its strictly self-defenseonly post-World War II principle, adopting a new national security strategy that includes the goals of acquiring preemptive strike capabilities and cruise missiles to counter growing threats from North Korea, China and Russia.

BULLET holes cover the windshield of a police car in Petion-ville, Haiti, January 25. At a time when democracy has withered in Haiti and gang violence has spiraled out of control, armed men are filling in the power vacuum left by a crumbling government.

Photo: Odelyn Joseph/AP

JIMMY CHERIZIER, the leader of the “G9 et Famille” gang, talks with members of his gang while taking a ride on the back of a motorcycle in his district of Delmas 6 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, yesterday. Cherizier, best known by his childhood nickname Barbecue, has become the most recognized name in Haiti.

Photo: Odelyn Joseph/AP

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, left, shakes hands with South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup after a joint press conference after their meeting at the Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday.

Photo: Jeon Heon-kyun/AP

SPORTS

Is Carlos Brown Jr the real deal?

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Over the past few years, Swift Athletics’ coach Andrew Tynes has been grooming sprinter Carlos Brown Jr for his major breakthrough. He’s hoping that this will be the year for him to shine.

Brown Jr opened his season on Saturday with an impressive 10.19 seconds wind-aided win at the Red-Line Athletics’ 2023 Oaktree Medical Center

Sonja Knowles Track Classic at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

The 17-year-old Brown Jr said he’s pleased with his performance, which indicates that he’s right on track to surpassing the qualifying standard of 10.60.

“I felt really good going into the race, but I felt my hamstring going into the latter part of the race so I just wanted to finish strong,” Brown Jr said. “I felt good about the time. I

felt I could have gone even faster if I didn’t tweak my hamstring.”

With a little bit of therapy, Brown Jr said he hopes to be ready for the CARIFTA Games, scheduled for April 7-11 at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. He said he has something in store for the track world. “I want to get to the level where I suppose to be,” he charged. “I want to run a really fast time and shock the world.”

In preparation for the road ahead of him, Brown Jr said he has devoted himself to the training from coach Tynes. “In order to stay on top, you have to work hard at it,” Brown said. “The competition is there for me, so I have to stay competitive to be on top. I’m not looking forward to any specific time, but I just want to run as fast as I could and with the competition, I know I can do it.”

Brown is looking forward to his first individual medal at CARIFTA, although he picked up a silver in the 4 x 100m

relay at last year’s games in Kingston, Jamaica. With the games coming back to the Bahamas, he would like nothing better than to accomplish the feat in front of the home crowd.

“Coach has been preparing me with a lot of speed work and strength,” Brown Jr said. “So I really want to thank him for all that he’s been pouring into me.”

Tynes, a former CARIFTA standout who went

on to become an Olympic sprinter, said he’s been carefully preparing Brown Jr for the journey to his path of greatness, starting like he did at the CARIFTA Games.

“With him being so young, I decided that I would not push him too quickly,” Tynes said. “He had a few injuries here and there, so I didn’t want to burn him out. I rested him a little bit in 2022 because

LOC SET AND READY TO HOST CARIFTA GAMES APRIL 8-10

I know this year will be a phenomenal year for him.

“So after last season, I knew he will do very well this year. I expect for him to run under 10 seconds once he gets healthy again.”

Tynes said the goal for Brown, a 12th grade student at CR Walker Secondary High, is to medal here at CARIFTA before he heads off to the Junior Pan American Championships, scheduled for April 10-18, with hopes for another medal.

If he qualifies for the World Championships, it would be gravy on his plate. “He’s the best sprinter in my camp right now, so he knows that there is a lot of expectations for him,” Mackey said. “But we have some other sprinters right behind him like Ishmael Rolle, who is also expected to be on this year’s CARIFTA team, and hopefully win a medal.”

At present, Tynes feels he is the “sprint capital” of the Bahamas and Brown Jr will lead the way for the rest of his team-mates.

‘HOOPS FOR HOMES’ CHAMPIONS EMERGE

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BLYTHE Rolle and Kyle Rolle, of no direct relation, emerged as the upper and lower champions of the Hoops for Homes initiative that was hosted by Xavier’s Lower School Student of the Year Adrian Dean.

The pair were crowned after a series of shooting competitions yesterday at the school’s basketball court where Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture

Mario Bowleg joined Dean in shooting a few basketballs for the faculty, staff, students and parents in attendance.

Bowleg commended Dean for having the vision to assist those in need through their home affairs.

“I’m just proud to see that a young man is willing to go out there and

assist the needy,” he said.

“And the fact that he has the entire staff and Xavier’s School behind him, we decided to come on board and help him in this endeavour.

“We understand that sporting disciplines is used to help people to develop lifelong characters, but we can also use it as a vehicle to help those that are in need in our community.”

In presenting a cheque to Dean to assist in his venture, Bowleg said he’s encouraging his political collegiates and others in the community to assist in events such as this or to form their own initiatives.

“I am very proud of him, and I will continue to monitor this programme and I will assist him as much as I can possibly do so,” Bowleg stated.

Dean, a 10-year-old sixth grader, said although he only swims, he wanted to

do something different. “I love basketball. Even though I may not play it, I enjoy it,” he said.

“I just want to help those people who can’t help themselves.

“I just think that we need to help those who we can. I am trying to help an 80-year-old in our community, so if there are persons who want to help, they can contact our school and get on board.”

His mother, Antonya Toote, said when her son decided to start this initiative, she supported him wholeheartedly. “I think it’s very good that he wants to give back to the community. It’s always important when a youth can get involved in lending a helping hand to those who are unable to help themselves, especially the elderly in our community,” she stressed. So, I’m very proud of him.” Toote said while they are trying to raise funds to secure the building materials for the home, they will stretch the donations received as far as they can in getting more homes completed, if possible.

Paolo Banchero headlines field for All-Star Rising Stars event

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

PAOLO Banchero’s rookie season will include a trip to NBA All-Star weekend.

The Orlando Magic forward and No. 1 pick in last year’s draft was announced yesterday as a participant in this year’s Rising Stars Game, to be held in Salt Lake City on February 17, two nights before the AllStar Game.

Banchero — who leads all rookies with a 20.7 points-per-game average — may still be selected as an All-Star reserve. Those players will be revealed Thursday.

“Anytime you can get a chance to be a part of AllStar weekend, you can’t say no,” Banchero said. “Especially me, being a rookie,

first year, never experienced it before, it’s always been the dream to just be a part of that whether it was Rising Stars or as a reserve. I’m definitely excited to get there and just see what it’s like.”

Banchero is on pace to be the first rookie to average 20 points per game since Luka Doncic in 2018-19. He also is fourth among rookies in rebounds per game entering yesterday and third among them in steals per game.

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said the All-Star experience — whether just for Rising Stars or not — will have an impact on Banchero.

“Just being around other young players that have found themselves in that position, it does so much because it’s your peers,”

Mosley said. “You’re around a group of young men who are the elite of the league in that class. I think it says something to

the work that you’ve put in, the work that he’s put in. It’s going to do wonders for

THE Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the CARIFTA Games Bahamas 2023 is set and ready to host an exciting championship April 8-10.

The event is expected to be highly viewed globally. The LOC is inviting local and international media partners onboard to lend coverage.

Although the CARIFTA track and field championships is a junior level competition, media covering this event will be treated to similar facilities and services as accustomed to at professional competitions like the World Athletics Relays.

Tonique Williams, director of event media services, has indicated that four of

SEE PAGE 16

‘OSSIE THE SPORTS INSIDER’ TOP 10 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL RANKINGS

Jacintha Goffe, the school’s principal, said they are proud of Dean and his parents, who are assisting him because while they are very proud of his initiative, he has always been an exemplary student at Xavier’s Lower School.

“When Adrian put his portfolio forth to us, along with other students of grade six, we just thought that his portfolio was an excellent one,” she stated.

“Yes, he made the grades, which is very important, but when we looked at what he did in community service, working with his father to earn funds to help others in need, we just thought it was an awesome initiative for such a young child.

“So, we agreed with his mom that we will partner with him and make this event even greater so that

SEE PAGE 16

OSWALD Simmons, better known as “Ossie the Sports Insider,” released his latest standings for the senior boys and girls High School Basketball Top 10 Rankings.

The list is as follows:

Boys Top 10 Ranking

1. Sunland Baptist Academy

2. CI Gibson

3. Tabernacle Baptist

4. St Augustine’s College

5. Doris Johnson

6. Anatol

7. Jordan Prince Williams

8. St Georgie’s

9. CW Saunders

10. Agape (Abaco)

Girls Top 10 Ranking

1. St. Augustine’s College

2. CV Bethel

3. CR Walker

4. Bishop Michael Eldon

5. CI Gibson

6. Tabernacle Baptist

7. St John’s

8. RM Bailey

9. Kingsway Academy

10. St George’s

Boxer Klitschko joins fight against Olympic path for Russia

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer

GENEVA (AP) —

Olympic gold medallist

Wladimir Klitschko has joined Ukraine’s fight against IOC plans to let some Russians compete at the 2024 Paris Summer Games.

The former heavyweight champion suggested in a video message published Monday that sports leaders will be accomplices to the war if athletes from Russia and its military ally Belarus can compete at the next Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee set out its preferred path last week for Russians and

Belarusians who have not openly supported the war to qualify for Paris and compete in 18 months’ time as neutral athletes with no flag or anthem. Qualifying events would likely be in Asia.

That softening of the IOC advice given last February — that sports bodies should exclude Russia and Belarus from international events — provoked anger in Ukraine, which warned it could boycott Paris. Klitschko’s one-minute statement filmed beside bomb-damaged buildings started “Dear Thomas Bach” in a direct challenge to the IOC

ORLANDO Magic’s Paolo Banchero plays during an NBA basketball game on Monday in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

SWIFT Athletics’ coach Andrew Tynes, left, with sprinter Carlos Brown Jr.

ADRIAN Dean shoots as Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg looks on.

Photo: Austin Fernander/ Tribune Staff

OVERALL WINNERS OF MACEDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH MEN’S ANNIVERSARY FAMILY FUN RUN/WALK RACE AWARDED

ANTHONY Saunders, Holly Ferguson, Earl Bethel and Alicia Williams emerged as the overall winners of the men and women run and walk races in the Macedonia Baptist Church Men’s Anniversary 2023 Family Fun Run/Walk Race held on Saturday.

While Saunders and Ferguson were the respective male and female winners of the run, Bethel and Williams took the titles for the men and women in the walk.

The runners left Macedonia Baptist Church on Bernard Road and headed west on Bernard Road to Village Road. They

traversed south on Soldier Road to Prince Charles Drive. They then turned left on Prince Charles Drive and travelled east to Fox Hill Road. After turning onto Fox Hill Road, they headed north to Bernard Road and west back to the church grounds.

“This was an awesome race, an awesome event.

I was glad to see more churches getting involved in feeding the spiritual man as well as the body,” Saunders said. “We feed the spiritual man a lot in church, but we also have to develop the body and so I look forward to doing many more with

Red-Line Athletics

Track Classic top performers

The third annual Red-Line Athletics Oaktree Sonja Knowles Track Classic over the weekend at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium was termed a tremendous success with quite a number of athletes attaining the qualifying standards for the CARIFTA Games. • Here’s a look at the top performers in the age group divisions:

Girls’ under-7 150m - Erin Strachan of Kids Athletics won in 30.16 with her team-mate Kaiyah Romer was the runner-up in 30.34.

Girls’ under-7 300mRomer won in 1:15.94 with Riley Munroe of Xtreme Athletics as the runner-up in 1:18.31.

Boys’ under-7 150mLeslie Munnings Jr of Kids Athletics won in 29.10 with Valdez Godet of Hurry Murray as the runner-up in 30.21.

Boys’ under-7 300mGodet won in 1:11.36 with Khyrie Taylor of Kids Athletics as the runner-up in 1:22.15.

Girls’ under-9 75mJazmyn Demeritte of Red-Line Athletics won in 12.02 with Jehlani Major of Beginners Track as the runners-up in 13.33.

Girls’ under-9 150mJazmyn Demeritte won in 23.65 with Monae Miller of Unique Athletics as the runner-up in 23.92.

Girls’ under-9 300mMonae Miller won in 58.25 with Jehlani Miller as the runner-up in 1:03.16.

Boys’ under-9 75mDaython Ingraham of Swift Athletics won in 11.56 with Nathan Smith of 3PA Stallions as the runner-up in 11.64.

Boys’ under-9 150mDaython Ingraham won in 23.76 with Nathan Smith as the runners-up with 24.14.

Boys’ under-9 300mCaiden Bain of Hurray Murray as the winner in 56.79 with Edvardo Burrows of Beginners Track Club as the runner-up in1:00.54.

Girls’ under-11 100m

- Tanaz Davis of Unique Athletics won in 14.56 with

Macedonia Baptist and any other churches.”

As the lone female competitor in the run, Ferguson said she enjoyed herself.

“It was really good, nice and cool. The route was very nice,” she said.

“The prize was good, so I enjoyed it. If it’s put on again, I would certainly like to come back and compete in it.”

The walkers left Macedonia and headed west on Bernard Road to Village Road, turned around and headed east back to the church grounds.

“I want to give God thanks for a wonderful day. The race was an awesome

one,” Bethel said. “It was nice and easy, so I would like to continue to participate in it once you guys continue to host it. I really enjoyed myself.”

Williams, the female winner and the 31-40 divisional champion, was just as thrilled by her performance. “It was a wonderful race. I really enjoyed it and the prizes were nice. It’s probably one of the best I’ve seen, so I hope it’s definitely on again next year because I would like to come back and compete again.”

Among the divisional winners in the run were Lucas Miller in the

under-20 boys division, Simeon Farquharson in the men’s 21-30 and Gary Brathwaite in the men’s 61-and-over division.

For the walk, Brittany Stubbs won the women’s 21-30 category, Yvonne Andrews won the women’s 51-60 and Joycelyn Duncombe took the women’s 61-and-over category.

Labron Minnis won the under-20 men’s title and Rev Albert Porter emerged as the champion of the men’s 61-and-over division.

BTC provided phone cards for all of the winners and a cell phone that was won by Lucas Miller.

CARLTON E FRANCIS, CW SAWYER UNDEFEATED IN MINI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

CARLTON E Francis and CW Sawyer finished undefeated in their five games played as the two days of the round robin segment of the New Providence Public Primary School Sports Association’s Mini Basketball Tournament closed out yesterday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

As they move on to the playoffs on Friday, Carlton E Francis, playing in recognition of this year’s honorary, the late coach Sherman Smith, who passed away in 2022, Carlton E Francis will take the top spot and will be joined by Albury Sayles, who finished at 4-1, for second spot. CW Sawyer will come out of pool B with Palmdale Primary, who advanced with a 3-2 record, the same as Centreville.

However, Palmdale got the second spot by virtue of beating Centreville in their head-to-head match-up.

The top two teams will meet in their pool championships to determine their spots in the semi-finals, followed by the consolation third place and championship games.

- Here’s the scores posted yesterday to determine the final positions:

Pool A - TG Glover def.

Sadie Curtis 1-0; Carlton E Francis def. Garvin Tynes 25-6; Albury Sayles def. Sadie Curtis 2-1; Garvin Tynes def. Thelma Gibson 2-1; Carlton E. Francis def. TG Glover 22-5; Thelma Gibson def. TG Glover 9-5 and Carlton E. Francis def. Sadie Curtis 19-2.

Jaelyn Munroe of DTSP Wolfpack as the runner-up in 14.79.

Girls’ under-11 200m - Tanaz Davis of Unique Athletics won in 30.96 with Rayven Munroe of Xtreme Athletics as the runner-up in 31.00.

Girls’ under-11 400mElexia Strachan of Kids Athletics as the winner in 1:17.98 with Rayven Munroe as the runner-up in 1:20.49.

Boys’ under-11 100m - George Brown of Swift Athletics won in 14.58 with Ethan Miller of Sun Blazers as the runner-up in 14.88.

Boys’ under-11 200mStafford Sweeting of Hurry Murray as the winner in 29.62v with George Brown of Swift Athletics as the runner-up in 29.69.

Boys’ under-11 400mStafford Sweeting of Hurry Murray in 1:14.14 with Ronald Simon of Beginners Track as the runner-up in 1:14.93.

Girls’ under-13 100m - Rocelis Moxey of Swift Athletics won in 12.91 with Taree Forbes of Boost Athletics as the runner-up in 13.46.

Girls’ under-13 200m

- Brianna Bootle of 3PA Stallions as the winner in 26.31 with Symiah Strachan of Boost Athletics as the runner-up in 27.40.

Girls’ under-13 400mSymiah Strachan of Boost Athletics won in 1:06.11 and Chyanne Hepburn of Road Runners was the runner-up in 1:07.30.

Girls’ under-13 800m

- Cierra Delancy of RedLine Athletics won in 2:40-06 with Victoria Aguilar of Unique Athletics was runner-up with 2:41.40.

Boys’ under-13 100mJustin Shepherd of Swift Athletics as the winner in 12.95 with Tyrone Johnson of Spirit of Excellence as the runner-up in 12.99.

Boys’ under-13 200mJustin Shepherd of Swift Athletics won in 27.03 with Ayden Russell of Unique Athletics second in 27.09.

Boys’ under-13 400m

- Ayden Russell of Unique Athletics won in 17:23.42.89 and Isaiah Wright of Kenyan Knights

was the runner-up in 17:23:47.07.

Boys’ under-13 800mIsaiah Wright of Kenyan Knights won in 2:38.92 with Patreclo Sherman of Red-Line Athletics was the runner-up in 2:40.21.

Girls’ under-15 100m

- Sarsha Wright of Velocity Athletics won in 12.54 with Vanessa Mackey of Alliance Athletics as the runner-up in 12.65.

Girls’ under-15 200m

- Sarsha Wright of Velocity Athletics won in 25.96 with Brion Ward of DTSP Wolfpack as the runner-up in 26.77.

Girls’ under-15 400m

- Jasmine Thompson of Road Runners won in 1:01.48 and Jade Knowles of DTSP Wolfpack was the runner-up in 1:02.86.

Girls’ under-15 75m hurdles - Kaiya Benneth of Red-Line Athletics won in 12.92 with Dallas Strachan of Fast Forward as the runner-up in 13.01.

Girls’ under-15 300m hurdles - Taylor Moss of Red-Line Athletics won in 51.75 with Kaiya Bennett of Red-Line Athletics as the runner-up in 59.34.

Girls’ under-15 long jump - Keely Deveaux of T-Bird Flyers won with 4.83m with Levontanique Levarity of Xtreme Athletics as the runner-up with 4.67m.

Girls’ under-15 shot putParis Leonce of Quick Step won with 7.74m.

Girls’ under-15 discus

- Keila McPhee of Quick Step won with 21.35m with Leonce Paris of Quick Step was the runner-up with 17.25.

Boys’ under-15 100mTerrin Beckles of Quick Step as the winner in 11.70 with Pohman Rolle of Fast Forward as the runner-up in 11.96.

Boys’ under-15 200mEagan Neely of Red-Line Athletics won in 22.65 with Shevano Nixon of

Red-Line Athletics as the runner-up in 23.23.

Boys’ under-15 400mEagan Neely of Red-Line Athletics won in 53.03 with Shevano Nixon of Red-Line Athletics as the runner-up in 55.08.

Boys’ under-15 80m hurdles - Simon Sands of Sun Blazers won in 13.34 with Aaiden Storr of Quick Step as the runner-up in 15.31.

Boys’ under-15 300m hurdles - Simon Sands of Sun Blazers won in 46.30 with Ashley Demeritte od Road Runners as the runner-up in 52.32.

Boys’ under-15 long jump - Terrin Beckles of Quick Step won with 5.52m with Simon Sands of Sun Blazers as the runner-up with 4.82m.

Boys’ under-15 shot put

- Dayaje Brown of Triple Threat won with 6.00m.

Boys’ under-15 discus

- Dayaje Brown of Triple Threat won with a throw of 14.80m.

Pool B – Uriah McPhee def. Eva Hilton 6-4; Centreville def. EP Roberts 6-1; CW Sawyer def. Palmdale 17-3; CW Sawyer def. Eva Hilton 8-2; Palmdale def. EP Roberts 13-5; Centreville def. Uriah McPhee 5-4; CW Sawyer def. EP Roberts 13-4 and Centreville def. Eva Hilton 5-0.

• Here’s the final standings at the end of the two days of regulation:

Pool A

Carlton E Francis 5-0

Albury Sayles 4-1

Garvin Tynes 3-2

Thelma Gibson 2-3

TG Glover 1-4

Sadie Curtis 0-5

Pool B

CW Sawyer 5-0

Palmdale 3-2

Centreville 3-2

Eva Hilton 2-3

EP Roberts 1-4

Uriah McPhee 1-4

Starting today at 9am, the boys competition will begin and wrap up on Thursday to determine the top teams to move on to the playoffs on Friday.

RONO BANNED FOUR YEARS

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenyan runner Georgina Rono, who was third at the Boston Marathon in 2012, was banned for four years yesterday for evading a doping test.

Rono, who also has podium finishes at the Eindhoven and Frankfurt Marathons, was banned until January 25, 2027. She had all her results since May 27 stripped from her record in a ruling by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya.

Kenyan authorities are battling a doping crisis, with more than 50 athletes from the East African country currently suspended.

The extensive problems raised fears of an all-out ban for the Kenyan athletics federation late last year but the governing body of track stopped short of that strict sanction after the Kenyan government gave guarantees to devote more funding to its anti-doping effort. Kenya has won the second-most Olympic medals behind the United States since 2000 but has had serious problems policing its athletes.

PATRON Sonja Knowles is flanked by Mike Sands and Rev Arnold Josey.

Photos: Kermit Taylor/Bahamas Athletics

PATRON Sonja Knowles receives a bouquet of flowers from NACAC president Mike Sands as RedLine Athletics head coach Tito Moss looks on.

NACAC president Mike Sands presents an appreciation award to Red-Line Athletics’ assistant coach Mike Armbrister as they are flanked by coaches.

MCKAY PLEASED WITH SAINTS’ PROGRESS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter

AFTER winning their last two games, Gregory McKay feels like his Limestone University Saints men’s basketball team is starting to turn things around heading into the playoffs.

The Saints pulled off a 102-78 victory over Carolina on Wednesday, January 25 at home in the Timken Center and they followed that with a 69-59 decision over Tusculum on Saturday on the road in Greeneville, Tennessee to improve their win-loss record to 9-11.

In their win against Carolina, McKay posted a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds. He also had seven assists and a pair of steals and blocked shot.

On Saturday, the 6-foot, 6-inch, 195-pound forward had 11 points with four rebounds and a block.

“In both of those games, I felt I contributed very well. I did what my coaches told me to do,” McKay said.

“But I think we all, as a team, did our part to come out with the win.”

The Saints, coached by Kyle Perry, will be back in action tonight when they take on Lenoir-Rhyne at 7:30pm in Hickory, South Carolina before they face Coker on Saturday at home in Timken Center.

“So far, it’s been an up and down season, but I’m just trying to control what I can control and I am allowing God to take care of the rest,” he pointed out. “But I’m in the gym every day trying to get better. “We only have a couple

of games left, so hopefully we can figure it all out and make a final run to get into the playoffs. We definitely should have had more wins. We let a couple of games slip away from us, but hopefully we can turn things around and get us into the playoffs.”

In addition to the pair of games on tap this week, the Saints have six more games to conclude the regular season that will climax with their senior boys on February 25 when they host Wingate at home.

“Obviously from here on in, we just need to take care of the wins,” McKay said. “We just need to come up with some big wins on the road and take care of home and we should be good.” The Saints, hopefully, will get a shot at the South Atlantic

HOPE CENTRE BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Conference Tournament (SAC) at the culmination of the season.

The 21-year-old McKay, majoring in business administration/general business, wished his mother Aniskha Taylor a happy birthday on Tuesday.

He said he was delighted that she came to watch him play a couple of games.

McKay said he would like nothing better than to give her a present with two more victories this week.

“I just want to thank my family for the continuous support,” said McKay, who previously attended HO Nash before he left for the United States to attend Piper High School. There, he was named to the All-Star Broward County during his senior campaign.

ALL-STAR

FROM PAGE 13

how he continues to believe in himself, what we’re doing as a team and his continued growth.”

Also picked for the game from this year’s rookie class: Detroit’s Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey, Atlanta’s A.J. Griffin, Utah’s Walker Kessler, Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard, Sacramento’s Keegan Murray, Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr, San Antonio’s Jeremy Sochan and

OLYMPIC

FROM PAGE 13

president. “The world is watching you, history will judge you. Good luck with your decision,” Klitschko said in the latest riposte from Ukraine trying to tie Bach closely to Olympic policy for Russia.

Ukrainian president Volodomyr Zelenskyy directly invited Bach last week to visit Bakhmut, a wrecked city on the war’s current frontline, and his adviser Mykhaïlo Podolyak ended a stinging criticism of the IOC on Twitter with the words “Right, Mr Bach?”

“You are the representative of the universal values of tolerance and peace,” Klitschko said on camera to Bach, who also won Olympic gold, in team fencing. “I tell you; the Russians are Olympic champions in crimes against civilians.”

“You cannot put your Olympic emblem on these crimes because you will be an accomplice with this abominable war,” said Klitschko, who won the superheavyweight title at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams.

The second-year players selected were New Orleans’ Jose Alvarado and Trey Murphy III, Toronto’s Scottie Barnes, Oklahoma City’s Josh Giddey, Houston’s Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, New York’s Quentin Grimes, Denver’s Bones Hyland, Cleveland’s Evan Mobley and Orlando’s Franz Wagner. There also will be a team of G League players in the Rising Stars event, composed of Sidy Cissoko, Mojave King,

Scoot Henderson, Kenneth Lofton Jr, Mac McClung, Leonard Miller and Scotty Pippen Jr.

The 21 NBA players will be drafted into three sevenplayer teams. Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah and Deron Williams will serve as coaches for those teams, while Jason Terry will coach the G League team.

All four teams will play a semifinal game with a target score of 40, and the two winners will then play the championship game with a target score of 25.

discrimination based solely on their passport.

Klitschko’s elder brother, Vitali, is the mayor of Kviv and also a former heavyweight champion. They trained and fought for much of their professional careers in Germany, Bach’s home country.

Responding to criticism on Monday, the IOC said it “rejects in the strongest possible terms this and other defamatory statements.”

“They cannot serve as a basis for any constructive discussion,” said the Olympic body, which has cited a “unifying mission” to have all 206 national teams compete together peacefully. The IOC also has pointed to human rights concerns at the United Nations that athletes must not face

The updated guidance must be weighed by governing bodies overseeing most of the 32 sports on the Paris programme. Russian teams already cannot qualify for the Olympic soccer tournaments due to an international ban by FIFA, which cited security concerns and the probability some opponents would refuse to play.

While key Olympic sports like track and field and swimming excluded Russians and Belarusians soon after the war started, tennis and cycling have allowed the athletes to compete as neutrals.

Leaders of the umbrella group of Summer Games governing bodies will meet March 3 for talks on the Russian issues presented to them by the IOC. The group, known by the acronym ASOIF, noted their members independence late Monday, stating “the importance of respecting the specificity of each federation and their particular qualification process” for the Paris Olympics.

FORMER heavyweight boxing world champion Wladimir Klitschko.

GREGORY McKay poses with his cousin Alancha Thompdon (left) and his mother Anishka Taylor (right), who celebrated her birthday on Tuesday.

LEBRON JAMES HAS TRIPLE-DOUBLE, LEADS LAKERS PAST KNICKS IN OT

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) —

LeBron James moved within 89 points of breaking the NBA’s career scoring record and climbed into fourth place on the assists list, finishing with a triple-double in his return to Madison Square Garden as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks 129-123 last night.

James had 28 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, with the points giving him 38,299 for his career.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the leader with 38,387.

But James’ game has always been about more than scoring, as he proved again yesterday. He fed Dennis Schroder for a 3-pointer that snapped a 118-all tie with 3:13 remaining, grabbed his 10th rebound later in the extra period and then powered to the basket for a 127-121 lead with 19 seconds to go. He had earlier moved ahead of Mark Jackson and then Steve Nash into fourth place on the assists list during his first game at Madison Square Garden in three years.

Anthony Davis added 27 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who had dropped two straight to open their trip. Both James and Davis had sat out their loss Monday in Brooklyn.

CARIFTA

FROM PAGE 13

the seven media areas offered during the World Athletics Relays will be at the media’s disposal during the three days of activity.

These areas include:

The Media Press Center, which will be a co-shared space with the Copy Centre.

This space will be available for the media to work their news stories and receive results.

The Center will be equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi, concierge check-in service and timely results.

The media tribune or press boxes located in the spectator’s stands, with direct view of the finish

BROTHER VS. BROTHER: KELCES PREPARE FOR SUPER BOWL SHOWDOWN

Jalen Brunson scored 37 points and Julius Randle had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks.

James’ 3-pointer with 1:41 remaining in regulation gave the Lakers a 114-108 lead, but he then missed two long jumpers that could’ve put away the game.

The Knicks rallied to tie it at 114 on a basket by Brunson, who then stepped in to draw an offensive foul after James fed Davis near the basket.

But Randle couldn’t get a shot off in time in the Knicks’ last possession, sending the Lakers to overtime for the second time in three games.

James sat out Monday with what coach Darvin Ham said was left foot soreness, though the Lakers had listed the injury as an ankle. They listed him as questionable to play in the morning, then upgraded James to available after he moved well during a pregame workout.

He certainly didn’t want to miss this one after being hurt two years ago and suspended last season for striking Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart in the face. His last game here was January 22, 2000, when he was days away from passing Kobe Bryant into third place on the career scoring list.

Now the only one left to catch is Abdul-Jabbar,

line, offers the best seats in the house for journalists.

Trackside, just near the finish line, the mixed zone allows journalists first contact with athletes at the end of their competition and the press conference room allows journalists to conduct interviews of the top finishers and performers.

“We are preparing to host well over 100 journalists, photographers and broadcasters. “There is a lot of interest from the regional CARIFTA community because these 2023 championships are the second CARIFTA championship since the opening of many Caribbean countries post pandemic.

Additionally, this is the 50th anniversary of

which could happen in the next 10 days.

The game was tied at 90 before James fed Troy Brown Jr for a 3-pointer with his eighth assist, then set up Thomas Bryant for a dunk that moved him ahead of Jackson and then Nash into fourth place for assists. He has 10,338 assists.

James has already called MSG one of his favourite places to play and this visit draw a sellout crowd that included celebrities such as Michael J Fox, Michael B Jordan, Emma Stone and Chris Rock. Fans filled seats in the lower sections of the arena just to watch James warm up, but he struggled to give them one of his vintage performances once the game began. He threw up an airball in the second quarter as part of his 2-for-8 start, but made his final two shots of

the half, then threw a pass that Schroder heaved in from halfcourt to beat the buzzer and cut it to 53-52 at halftime.

HEAT 100, CAVALIERS 97 CLEVELAND (AP)

— Jimmy Butler scored 23 points, Bam Adebayo added 18 points and 11 rebounds and Miami beat Cleveland.

Caleb Martin scored 18 points and matched his career high with 10 rebounds, and Tyler Herro also had 18 points for the Heat. They moved within 1 1/2 games of the fifth-place Cavs in the Eastern Conference standings.

Evan Mobley scored 19 points for Cleveland.

CLIPPERS 108, BULLS 103 CHICAGO (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points, Norman Powell added 27 and Los Angeles

delivering a high-quality experience for the media.

beat Chicago for its sixth victory in seven games.

Paul George added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers. Nikola Vucevic had 23 points and 14 rebounds for Chicago.

BUCKS 124,

HORNETS 115

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points and 18 rebounds and Milwaukee beat Charlotte to win its fifth straight and avenge one of its most embarrassing losses of the season.

The Bucks withstood a triple-double from Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball, who had 27 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.

Charlotte (16-36) entered the night with the fourth-worst record in the NBA, but the Hornets won 138-109 at Milwaukee on January 6 to hand the Bucks their second-most lopsided loss of the season.

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

(AP) — Donna Kelce is going to have to pull out that now-familiar custom jersey — the one with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s front stitched to Philadelphia Eagles centre Jason Kelce’s back — one more time this season.

At least this time, she’ll get to see her boys in person. For the first time in Super Bowl history, a pair of siblings will play each other on the NFL’s grandest stage. Kelce helped the Chiefs return to their third championship game in four seasons on Sunday night when they beat the Bengals for the AFC title, while Jason has the Eagles back for the second time in six years after their NFC title win over the 49ers.

“Cool scenario to be in, you know?” Travis Kelce said. “My mom can’t lose.” Or maybe can’t win. Indeed, there have been plenty of famous NFL siblings over the years, and many had some memorable matchups: Peyton vs. Eli Manning, Tiki vs. Ronde Barber. But they never reached the same Super Bowl, or had to put their dear old mom in such a predicament, where one will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the other one’s expense.

CARIFTA Games and the Bahamas – it is important that the significance of this very important time in history is captured in all its splendor and colour.” Williams and her team are well capable of

Williams has served as the senior director of event media services for the World Athletics Relays 2014, 2015, 2017 and CARIFTA 2018. Her assistant Rudina Miller, who has gained experience from serving in this area for the Relays 2015, 2017 and CARIFTA 2018 joins her. Media wishing to cover this event are asked to complete the registration process as soon as possible.

To make an application, the online media application form located at https:// www.carifta50.com/ mediaapplication on the media page of the CARIFTA website, must be

completed. All applications must be submitted with an official letter of employment from the media outlet stamped by the national track and field federation where the media outlet is domiciled.

Completion of the application process does not automatically guarantee accreditation.

Once the application has been reviewed and approved by the LOC, the applicant will receive a link to apply for media accreditation.

The online accreditation process opens February 6, 2023.

The deadline to make application for media accreditation is Tuesday March 30, 2023.

“It’s going to be an amazing feeling playing against him,” added Travis, whose team has gotten the better of big brother’s Eagles the last three matchups. “I respect everyone over there in the Eagles organisation. You won’t see me talk too much trash because of how much I love my brother. But it’s going to be an emotional game, for sure.”

Jason Kelce was even ever-so-briefly a Chiefs fan Sunday night, pulling on a Kansas City sweatshirt for about the three hours between the end of the Eagles’ 31-7 rout of San Francisco and the finish of his little brother’s 23-20 win over Cincinnati.

“That’s it for the rest of the year,” Jason said with a smile. “I am done being a Chiefs fan.”

ANALYSIS: NBA ALL-STAR RESERVE VOTING TO LEAD TO SOME SNUBS

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

BRACE yourself.

There’s going to be some angry people in the NBA on Thursday night.

With good reason.

The votes from the coaches are now in, and on Thursday, the NBA will reveal the 14 players — seven from the Eastern Conference, seven more from the Western Conference — who got picked to be reserves for the All-Star Game.

They’ll join the pool of 10 starters: the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dallas’ Luka Doncic, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Brooklyn teammates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, Denver’s Nikola Jokic and New Orleans’ Zion Williamson.

And then the cries of snubbing will begin.

Let’s start dissecting this mess with the East.

FROM PAGE 13

we can help more persons in the community. So, this is just the beginning of what we are hoping that persons who view this and see his TikTok video would also help those who are less fortunate in their communities

Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid is going to be an All-Star reserve, based on both common sense and the fact that NBA coaches wouldn’t dare anger one of the league’s most hardto-guard players by not voting for him. Boston’s Jaylen Brown, New York’s Julius Randle and Miami’s Bam Adebayo all should be All-Stars. That’s nine from the East. That leaves no more than three slots left for this group — Atlanta’s Trae Young, Chicago’s DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, New York’s Jalen Brunson, Miami’s Jimmy Butler, Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and Cleveland’s Darius Garland. And all eight of those guys, plus some others, are all worthy candidates.

“Tyrese Haliburton is an artist,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said earlier this season. “And you know, some people that have unconventional ways to be successful in this game,

and let’s make this Bahamas an even greater one as we are on our way to our 50th anniversary.”

Also on hand to give her support was Claudette Rolle, the director of education in the Catholic Board of Education.

“It really means a lot and it makes me very proud

you have to just leave them alone and allow them to do what they do. His artistry is the way he gets the ball in the basket, the way he sees the game, the way he connects teammates and the special person that he is.”

Sounds like an All-Star. A lot of coaches can make similar arguments for their guys, and not be lying when they make them.

You can see how messy this is going to get.

It might be even worse out West. Sacramento’s Domantas

when we can encourage our children to give back,” Rolle said. “We are supposed to take care of those who are less fortunate, so to see him come up with this initiative that is so fundamental, which is a home.

“All of us need a roof over our heads to be protected, so I am very proud

Sabonis, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Utah’s Lauri Markkanen, Memphis’ Ja Morant and Portland’s Damian Lillard should be locks for reserve nods. The only question on the Lakers’ Anthony Davis is if missing a bunch of games with injury will weigh on the minds of coaches; his numbers are more than good enough, except for that pesky “games played” column.

If Davis and those five other players make it, that

of him for doing this. We have to start developing this spirit of giving back while they are young, so I am very proud of him.”

Kyle Rolle, an eight-yearold second grader, said he was waiting for this day to come. “I was practicing home and I prepared myself for

leaves one spot on the West roster. ONE.

Phoenix’s Devin Booker is averaging about 27 points a game. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards is averaging about 25 points a game.

Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox is averaging about 24. Odds are, at least one of those guys will miss out on being picked Thursday night.

Maybe two. Maybe even all three.

Denver leads the Western Conference and should have more than one AllStar, so that suggests Aaron Gordon — who has been fantastic this season — will get a long look. An All-Star Game without Los Angeles Clippers teammates Paul George and Kawhi Leonard would make no sense, given how they’re playing this season. But that could happen. New Orleans’ CJ McCollum has averaged nearly 20 points per game in his career, is averaging a tick above that this season, and still hasn’t been an All-Star.

this day and I just won,” Rolle said. “I just feel good.”

Fourth grader Blythe Rolle said he was happy to be a winner as well.

“I feel very good about winning the award. I am happy with my performance,” said the nine-year-old.

Coaches had to have considered Phoenix’s Chris Paul for their ballots as well. All we know for certain is there will be some very good players who didn’t make the cut.

There were 56 players who entered this week averaging at least 20 points per game; not all were officially qualified for the NBA scoring-leader list because they hadn’t played enough games to be eligible.

Simple math tells us this much: 56 players averaging 20 per game, and 24 spots on the All-Star rosters, means at least 32 of those guys are going to be on the outside looking in when the rest of the teams are revealed.

Put it this way: There will be enough “snubbed” guys out there that, if they were so inclined, they could all get together and play their own All-Star Game. And even then there would be a few players who wouldn’t make a squad.

It’ll be an interesting ballot reveal, for certain.

“I think what Adrian is doing is good. I am happy I won it to support him,” he added.

Persons wishing to donate to the cause are urged to visit the office of Xavier’s Lower School or call 322-3077 and state their desire to support Adrian in “Hoops for Homes.”

LOS Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (6) shoots over New York Knicks’ RJ Barrett (9) as Jalen Brunson (11) watches during the first half last night in New York. (AP Photo/ Frank Franklin II)

76ERS’ Joel Embiid reacts after a play in the second half against the Nuggets on Saturday in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

TONIQUE Williams

Bahamian liquidators say ‘no’ to DOJ FTX examiner

there is an automatic stay in place, the seizures were permissible because they would be governed by the criminal and/or police or regulatory

power exceptions to the automatic stay.”

The Bahamian liquidators are still in the process of applying for Chapter 15 recognition from the Delaware Bankruptcy Court - a

move made easier by their co-operation agreement with Mr Ray. It is understood they will first seek to negotiate with the US Justice Department to regain control of the $143m before

taking any other steps that could involve legal action in the US court system.

Tribune Business previously reported that FTX Digital Markets had more than $93m on deposit with

Silvergate Bank, an institution well-known for providing services to the crypto and digital assets industries, with the remaining near-$50m balance held at the 26th smallest bank in the US, Moonstone Bank.

The latter is headed by Jean Chalopin, also chairman of Lyford Cay-based Deltec Bank & Trust. The Bahamian bank has repeatedly denied any ties to Moonstone, asserting that the only connection is the common shareholdings of Mr Chalopin.

Meanwhile, the Bahamian liquidators argued that even if the Delaware bankruptcy court approves the Justice Departmentappointed trustee’s bid for an FTX examiner, their remit should be narrowed to restrict costs and prevent duplication of work with the multiple other ongoing investigations.

“While the joint provisional liquidators share the US trustee’s specific concerns articulated in the motion regarding the Chapter 11 debtors’ pre-petition conversions of customer funds, the US trustee has instead proposed an examiner with nearly unlimited investigatory powers that could cost the Chapter 11 debtors’ estates tens of millions of dollars for little or no benefit to the estates and their parties-in-interest,” the Bahamian trio asserted.

“Even were the motion more narrowly tailored to specific issues concerning admitted conversions of customer funds by the Chapter 11 debtors’ management, it is unclear whether the appointment of an examiner is even needed at this time. Numerous governmental entities and criminal prosecutors, Mr Ray and his team, and the official committee of unsecured creditors are all already investigating the very same conduct and will all, in one way or another, make their conclusions known.”

The Bahamian liquidators, seeking to protect FTX Digital Markets and its estate from unnecessary expense, added that if an examiner was appointed their probe should be limited to several months with a set budget, and the focus be restricted to identifying persons who knew of the crypto exchange’s misuse of customer funds.

They asserted it was “implausible” that only Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX’s principal, and his close circle of Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang and Nishad Singh, knew what was happening.

With the US Justice Department, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) all having brought separate lawsuits and charges against Mr Bankman-Fried, the trio added: “Mr Ray and his team, the [creditors] committee, the DOJ, the SEC and the CFTC should be given the opportunity to conduct their investigations and report to the court, as they have been doing without the presence of an examiner..

“Second, any benefit that the appointment of an examiner might yield will be far outweighed by the incurrence of disproportionately high costs and expenses that could be imposed on the Chapter 11 debtors’ estates. Indeed, the very cases the US trustee seeks to draw a parallel to (for example, Lehman Brothers) illustrate why adding another team of professionals to be paid by the estate – particularly at such an early point in the Chapter 11 cases – could be imprudent.

“For example, the total examiner costs in the Lehman Brothers and Caesar’s Entertainment bankruptcies exceeded $59m and $34m, respectively. Given that the Chapter 11 debtors’ liquidity profile here remains uncertain by their own admission, it seems inappropriate to impose increased costs on the estates by appointing an examiner with unlimited scope and duration.”

The Bahamian liquidators, warning that the examiner’s appointment could “stall” progress in the Chapter 11 cases, added: “The joint provisional liquidators submit that the most prudent approach would be to allow the Chapter 11 debtors’ new management, the committee, the DOJ, the SEC, the CFTC and all other parties in interest to coordinate and conduct their own investigations of the Chapter 11 debtors’ prepetition conduct before any examination is commenced.”

NOTICE is hereby given that MARK STANLEY GODIN of East Street, New Providence, 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 1st day of February, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that

PIERRE-MARIE ALMONOR of Minnie Street, New Providence, 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 1st day of February, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that

EDINA THARISSA LOUIS of Treasure Cay, Abaco, 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 1st day of February, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

TARGETS 8M VISITORS FOR 2023

added. “We’re continuing them and, over the course of the next several months, you’ll hear more about this. But these are going to happen between March and November.

“So we are continuing the things that worked in 2022. Were adding to those things that worked in 2022, and we anticipate that overall stopover visitors will be at least 20 percent ahead. We anticipate that we’re going to hit the eight million tourism arrival mark in 2023.”

To help accommodate the anticipated surge in tourism arrivals, Mr Cooper said he expects the British Colonial will undergo a phased re-opening beginning this summer. He added that he is awaiting an update from the resort’s owner, China Construction America (CCA), on their intentions and plans.

“We are anticipating that parts of the hotel will be open during the summer months based on the most recent information received from the owners of the resort, and they are pushing to have the hotel fully opened by the end of the year - by the winter season,” he said.

Returning to the 2022 tourism statistics, Mr Cooper added: “It was a phenomenal year in terms of our overall arrivals. More than seven million, and the only time we’ve done this before was in 2019, which was a record-setting year.

This is significant for tourism, it’s significant for the economy, significant for the people of The Bahamas.

“We don’t celebrate numbers for the celebration of numbers themselves. But we believe tourism is really the catalyst for national development. It is really the driver for Bahamian empowerment. This is how Bahamians continue to be well-off. This is how we will continue to create businesses.

“We’ve been talking about linkages with tourism now for decades. The Tourism Development Corporation now will do something about it. Seven million [visitors] is really a marketplace for the expansion of the economy, and for the empowerment of Bahamians, and that’s how we hope to look at it.”

Many of 2022’s visitors were “first time” arrivals, and multiple Family Islands are seeing increased numbers except for Abaco, which is still “trailing slightly around 80 percent of preDorian and pre pandemic levels”.

John Rolle, the Central Bank’s governor, in his 2022 year-end and fourth quarter economic briefing on Monday, said that while tourism’s full recovery from COVID’s ravages is “incomplete” it is “considerably advanced”. He added that November’s stopover, or air, arrivals exceeded the pre-pandemic record of the same month in 2018, which the Central Bank is using for comparative purposes because it excludes Hurricane Dorian’s impact.

“In the overall trends, the gains from recovered stopover volumes were amplified by rising average nightly room rates for both resort properties and vacation rental units,” Mr Rolle said. “In the stopover segment, by November, the seasonal rebound in air arrivals had

broken even the pre-pandemic high for the same month, which is a comparison against November 2018 that also preceded Hurricane Dorian. “On a monthly basis, the cruise sector’s seasonal rebound had already significantly eclipsed the prepandemic base. However, both cruise and stopover visitors still have calendar year shortfalls to recoup. For the 11 months through November, total air arrivals had converged to just 82 percent of the pre-pandemic high, and sea arrivals were at about 95 percent of the same comparisons.

“This remaining calendar year performance gap in both markets underscores the further healthy boost in the annual visitor volumes that is expected to occur

NOTICE is hereby given that WILBENET PETIT-FRERE of Marathon, New Providence, 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 1st day of February, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

during 2023.... The Bahamas is still in recovery mode, benefiting from significant pent-up demand for travel and capacity that is still being restored in the airline and hotel sectors. This will allow the economy to experience above average growth again in 2023.”

Mr Rolle said the various “headwinds”, or downside risks for The Bahamas, which he identified as inflation, COVID-19, global energy (oil) costs, the war in Ukraine and rising global interest rates, were “not likely to contract the economy in the near-term”.

BRITISH COLONIAL RESORT

Patients are warned: Brace for VAT ‘shock’

impact medical bills of varying sizes. The first involved a patient requiring $2,000 worth of treatment, with their ‘out-of-pocket’ costs pegged at $250. Under the present tax treatment, they only have to pay VAT worth $25 (10 percent) on that $250 share, leaving their share of the medical care expense at $275.

Yet, when insurers are unable to reclaim that VAT, the patient will now also be liable for paying the 10 percent levy on the $1,750 claims payout. This will add a further $175 to their bill, taking the total amount they must fund to $450 - a 63.6 percent increase in their financial burden.

The sums and percentage increases become greater the higher the cost of care.

The final example involves a patient who requires a fivenight hospital stay that incurs $12,500 in medical bills. The ‘out-of-pocket’ expense is $500 and, under the current structure, the patient will only pay 10 percent VAT on that latter sum, incurring $50 in tax and taking the total payment to $550.

However, from April 1, the patient will also have to pay the VAT levied on the insurer’s $12,000 claims payout.

That will amount to $1,200, taking the patient’s own payment to $1,750 - a more than three-fold increase from what his/her financial exposure would be currently.

Mr Rolle said it was impossible to presently determine how businesses (group health insurance) and individuals will react to the prospect of increased

medical bills and premiums, but warned that this will only worsen healthcare industry inflation that is typically running at 7-10 percent annually. And, with patients/consumers already paying VAT on their premiums, he added that mandating they also pay the tax on claims payouts was “clear double taxation” with the industry unable to grasp why the Government had decided to alter the tax treatment. The Ministry of Finance, though, says the change is necessary because allowing insurers to reclaim VAT on claims payouts breaches the law and is depriving the Public Treasury of millions in vital revenues. “Medical inflation across the board is already, give or take, 7-10 percent,” Mr Rolle told Tribune Business. “The [insurance] industry has really tried to hold down costs over the last three years as we were going through the pandemic, but at no point did medical inflation stop during that period.

“It will be very difficult to offer coverage at similar levels without raising the premium and, in addition to that, as we look at the impact on cost, it’s not just related to medical services such as seeing a doctor but recurring services such as medicines and therapy. The VAT related to those will now be borne by the person receiving the service or medicine. Definitely more expensive, certainly less accessible.”

The Insurance Commission of The Bahamas’ annual report for 2021, containing the last set of available data, shows that almost $206m

worth of health claims were paid by Bahamian insurers that year. That was split into $175.202m on behalf of group clients, usually businesses providing coverage for their employees, and $30.716m for individual policyholders.

Most of that $206m would have been spent at home due to the COVID restrictions that were in place at the time. This sum is thought to include VAT. Using the 12 percent rate prevailing at the time gives a figure of $24.72m, which is an admittedly crude estimation of the collective VAT burden that would have been reclaimed by reinsurers then. Under the current VAT rate, this would equate to $20.6m.

Both figures, though, give an indication of the total taxation/financial burden being transferred from insurers to patients/consumers due to the VAT treatment change. Mr Rolle said it was impossible to estimate how many employers and individuals may elect to drop private health coverage as a result, with much depending on how companies - already facing multiple other cost increases - react.

“We’re not able to assess that until the final changes are made to premiums,” the BAF chief said. “As it’s happening in all areas, consumers can certainly expect increases. It’s the cost of care that will increase as well as the premium. The cost of care increase, based on the cost of charges for services in addition to the VAT, will be borne directly by consumers. They will be expected to pay VAT on all the services they

PUSH REFORMS TO MAKE ‘REAL DENT’ IN CORRUPTION

N

OLIVE THREE INVESTMNETS LIMITED

N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

(a) OLIVE THREE INVESTMENTS LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

(b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 25th January, 2023 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

(c) The Liquidator of the said company is Bukit Merah Limited, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, P.O. Box N-3023, Nassau, Bahamas

Dated this 1st day of February, 2023

Bukit Merah Limited Liquidator

FROM PAGE A24

opportunity” for The Bahamas to improve both its standing in the Transparency International rankings and reduce perceptions of corruption that may exist internationally. He added that reforms had been enacted, but the country was receiving little credit for them.

“There are many things we are doing now that involve changes. We have greater reliance on technology, the digitisation of government services,” he added. “We have a Procurement Act that was passed and, had we followed it, it would have introduced a different level of transparency and integrity into government procurement.... If we bring these things to fruition, there should be a return on that,”

receive. It’s certainly significant for the consumer.”

Suggesting that tertiarylevel patients may seek to escape higher medical bills by accessing treatment overseas “where the option does exist”, Mr Rolle said the Bahamian insurance industry has yet to decide whether to challenge the Ministry of Finance and Department of Inland Revenue’s new interpretation before the Tax Appeals Commission.

“I don’t know if there will be a formal appeal. Those discussions are still ongoing,” he added. “We will continue to dialogue with the Government. We will work with the [medical] providers such that we are ready for the transition as indicated.”

Tribune Business understands that doctors and other medical practitioners, as well as pharmacists, dentists and optometrists, are now scrambling to adjust their computer systems and business models in the two months remaining before the revised VAT treatment of insurance claims payouts takes effect.

From April 1 onwards they will be responsible for collecting and remitting this VAT to the Government, but were not involved in the talks with the insurance industry and are only now just being informed of the change. One medical source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “It’s going to put our administration to task because we have to follow it through and work it.

“It’s going to shift the burden to doctor’s offices, pharmacists and dentists’ offices to collect the VAT. The stakeholders are not all

The ORG chief said The Bahamas was thus far failing to link such reforms together, with the Transparency International index showing it had “not really moved forward the way we could” and “moved us away from an environment where corruption flourishes”.

He added that there were real benefits to be gained from being “seen as a place where corruption does not flourish”, including individuals and companies more willing to follow the rule of and pay due taxes. The Bahamian business environment will also become more competitive, with the best qualified bidders winning government contracts so that tax dollars are put to their best and most efficient use.

High-quality investors, as opposed to rogue operators, will also be attracted to do business in and with The Bahamas, Mr Aubry said. “What we gain from this has economic benefits as well as social ones,” he explained.

N O T I C E YASRAB LIMITED

N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

(a) YASRAB LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

(b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 24th January, 2023 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

(c) The Liquidator of the said company is Leeward Nominees Limited, Vistra Corporate Services Centre, Wickhams Cay II, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

Dated this 1st day of February, 2023

Leeward Nominees Limited Liquidator

privy to this information. We found at late. We are learning about it and having discussions on it.”

Mr Rolle, meanwhile, refuted the Ministry of Finance’s suggestion that insurers and the BIA are seeking to spread unnecessary fear and alarm among consumers about the financial impact of the changed VAT treatment. “My onthe-record response to that is the industry is not seeking to cause fear or alarm,” he said. “The industry is simply seeking to provide clear information to our consumers.

“The Department of Inland Revenue and Ministry of Finance indicated to the industry what their expectations were, and in anticipation of the transition the industry is looking to inform its customers of the changes. There’s impact even at the smallest levels as it relates to changes in the interpretation of the Act. We want to make sure our consumers know they must pay the VAT.

“The industry is not politicising anything related to VAT or the treatment of VAT. We believe the public needs to be aware the change is coming in the near future, and the impact this will have on each of the consumers of medical services as well as each of the insurers in the industry. Based on the discussions with members of the BIA, all the insurers are expected to treat the changes in VAT in the same way.”

The Ministry of Finance, though, is arguing that it is “clearly against the VAT Act” for insurers to claim back the 10 percent levy on

“It requires us to think about what we do in pushing forward legislative reform.”

Pointing to the longpromised implementation of the Freedom of Information Act as an example, he added that The Bahamas needs “to make sure that advances; we haven’t moved it forward”.

Mr Aubry continued: “Let’s look at how we empower our citizens by understanding the damage and cost of encouraging low-level corruption to move things along.

“It further disenfranchises those that have less when we encourage a ‘pay to play’ environment, and now with costs rising people have less to pay if they’re required to give lunch money and tip money to access government services.” Besides reforms to the Public Procurement Act and Public Disclosures Act, Mr Aubry again urged the Government to move ahead with the Integrity Commission and Ombudsman Bills that did not proceed under its predecessor.

medical claims payouts - a practice allegedly costing the Public Treasury millions of dollars. It added that one audit of an unnamed health insurance provider in 2021 showed it had “received over $20m illegally” through this mechanism.

Its, and the Department of Inland Revenue’s position, is that VAT is payable on medical insurance claims payouts because these are being made on behalf of the enduser - the consuming patient - and thus should attract the tax. Health insurers are currently claiming this as ‘input’ VAT, offsetting it against their ‘output’ tax on premiums and effectively allowing the likes of Colina, Family Guardian and CG Atlantic to claim it back from the Government.

However, the BIA is arguing that the Ministry of Finance is wrong to treat the payment of clients’ medical expenses and the care received from providers as two separate services. Its case is that since health insurance and medical services are both VAT-able, health insurance claims should continue to be tax-deductible for health underwriters, otherwise the Government would be knowingly applying two layers of VAT.

One insurance source, though, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “The Department of Inland Revenue has changed its interpretation of what the law is. It hasn’t changed the law. What they’re saying is the insurance companies are not the beneficiaries of the service and, as such, the insurance companies are not to claim back the VAT related to any payout. If the insurers are not the ones receiving the service, then the one doing so has to pay the VAT.”

Noting that both were campaign pledges in the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) so-called Blueprint for Change, he argued: “If we put that forward as a priority in the next year we will have four significant pieces of legislation that advance and make a real dent in corruption perceptions of The Bahamas, make us a benchmark for the region, and create tangible opportunities for people in small business and elsewhere to have greater trust that the taxes they pay will advance multiple effects they see in their day-to-day lives.”

Mr Aubry said ORG will be hosting an AntiCorruption Symposium on March 3 that aims to bring government, civil society, non-profits and the private sector together to identify “the gaps we have to fill” and advance the cause of greater transparency and accountability throughout Bahamian society.

N O T I C E HHW COMPANY LTD.

N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

(a) HHW COMPANY LTD. is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

(b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 25th January, 2023 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

(c) The Liquidator of the said company is Bukit Merah Limited, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, P.O. Box N-3023, Nassau, Bahamas

Dated this 1st day of February, 2023

Bukit Merah Limited Liquidator

N O T I C E INFINITY JOY LIMITED

N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

(a) INFINITY JOY LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

(b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 23rd January, 2023 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

(c) The Liquidator of the said company is Bukit Merah Limited, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, P.O. Box N-3023, Nassau, Bahamas

Dated this 1st day of February, 2023

Bukit Merah Limited Liquidator

Abaco Club opponents in partial Privy Council win

main piers, and will extend 270 feet into Little Harbour, with the intent for it to accommodate boats up to 60 feet.

However, RDA argued that the project will completely change the environment and character of Little Harbour, a 50-home community that runs entirely off solar power. Besides its environmental concerns, RDA claimed that the relevant government agencies did not hold proper consultation with the Little Harbour community before issuing the grants, permits and approvals required by the Abaco Club for the project’s construction.

The group is also alleging that the Government agencies have withheld information, thereby depriving it of its statutory rights and/ or legitimate expectations to contribute to any consultation process. This was contested by the Government, and RDA was ordered by Supreme Court Justice, Petra HannaWeekes, to pay the Abaco Club’s developer $150,000, and the Government a further $100,000, as “security for costs” in a November 2017 ruling.

This was upheld by the Court of Appeal. The Privy Council, in its verdict yesterday, confirmed the case had attracted international attention as it allowed the Open Society Justice Initiative and the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide to intervene through written submissions.

“They are both US-based, international, non-profit

organisations advocating on various issues including human rights and environmental justice,” the Privy Council added. “Those submissions were put forward ‘to offer broader insight into the right to access justice and the need to remove financial barriers to public interest litigants’.

“Various decisions from Caribbean and Commonwealth countries were cited which were said to show ‘a growing trend towards reducing financial barriers for public interest litigants’.” RDA, which was incorporated in 2009 as a non-profit group, was said to have three directors - Clint Kemp, its president; David Pitcairn, vice-president; and Matthew McCoy as secretary. While its shares were said to be held on trust for 75 landowners and residents of The Bahamas, the Privy Council said no evidence was provided by RDA as to who they were, their financial means and whether they might be willing to fund the action over the Little Harbour project. It also noted that the Abaco Club’s developer applied late to be “joined” as a respondent to the Judicial Review action, which allowed it to apply for “security for costs” separate from the Government.

In response to the Government and developer applications, Crispin Hall, an attorney with Callenders & Co, RDA’s Bahamian law firm, denied in legal filings that “RDA would be unable to satisfy a costs order made against it at the end of proceedings, and positively asserted that it would be able to do so. In

support of this he pointed out that by the date of filing its application for Judicial Review, RDA had already raised $35,000 to assist with costs”.

“In the Board’s view, on the available evidence, the Court of Appeal was both entitled and correct to find that RDA’s claim would not be stifled,” the Privy Council ruled. “First, as set out above, Mr Hall’s evidence on behalf of RDA positively asserted that it could obtain the funds necessary to meet any costs order made against it.

“It is difficult to reconcile this with the contention that RDA’s claim would be stifled if an order for security for costs was made. Indeed, RDA did not assert in its evidence that its claim would be stifled, only that the Government respondents and the developers hoped that it would be.”

The judgment continued: “Secondly, and in any event, if RDA wished to avoid an order for security for costs being made against it, then as explained above the burden was on it to show on the balance of probabilities, and with full candour, that it had no realistic prospect of raising funds from its supporters to proceed and that its claim would therefore be stifled.

“Although it appeared that RDA’s supporters included local residents and others who had an interest to oppose the development, and who might be able to put RDA in funds to provide security for costs so as to enable it to proceed with the claim, RDA provided no information about them, their interest in the proceedings and their means,

such as could support a conclusion that the claim would be stifled.

“Therefore, RDA failed to discharge the burden on it of showing that its claim would be stifled.” The Privy Council also dealt with assertions by RDA and its lead Bahamian attorney, Fred Smith KC, that the previous Court of Appeal decision “reflects a troubling trend of Bahamian case law whereby important public interest environmental cases have been stifled through public bodies and developers (often in tandem) obtaining orders for security for costs so as to prevent the ultimate trial of such cases”.

Rejecting this, the Bahamian legal system’s highest court retorted: “The Board is satisfied that the authorities do not bear out RDA’s complaint. In each case, the local courts properly sought to apply the relevant principles on the stifling of claims in the light of the evidence adduced before them.

“The mere fact that, in some cases, after an order for security for costs was made, a claim was not pursued does not show that the courts failed to apply the proper approach. A party might have various reasons for deciding not to proceed

with a claim, including simply that it does not wish to run the risk of an adverse costs order even though it could afford to pay it.”

The Privy Council, though, did find in RDA’s favour over the $150,000 “security of costs” award to the Abaco Club’s developer. It ruled that imposing a second set of costs “risks deterring the claimant from proceeding with its claim, and hence is an impediment to gaining access to court”, while also finding that there was no issue relevant to the developer that would not be covered by the Government.

The five law lords added that the Abaco Club and its owner were in effect “seeking a pre-emptive insurance policy” against having to defend their interests at a later date, should RDA’s challenge make progress. They wrote: “Clearly it would be premature to do so now, but the developers are essentially seeking security from RDA for the costs of protecting their position should it prove necessary to do so.” As a result, the previous $150,000 order was overturned.

Turning to the Government’s $304,600 costs bill, the Privy Council said:

“The Board wishes to

comment on another feature of the case which is striking, albeit in the event it was not the subject of any ground of appeal at this level. The draft bill of costs adduced by the Government respondents appeared formulaic.

“For example, it did not explain what costs had already been incurred and what costs were projected to be incurred. The figures for the individual items of work and the overall figure appeared very high for what was a very simple Judicial Review claim with minimal evidence.”

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CRUISE PORT TO BE ‘LARGER VERSION’ OF MARINA VILLAGE

moment, and we hope to be able to present that to the public soon,” he added.

THE Deputy Prime Minister yesterday said Nassau Cruise Port wants to be “a larger version of Marina Village” on Paradise Island as he confirmed legislation for downtown’s management has been drafted.

Chester Cooper, also minister of tourism, aviation and investments, speaking ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting said Ryan Pinder KC, the attorney general, had been “working on this diligently” to develop a legal framework for downtown Nassau’s management and the hiring of a city manager. “We have a draft of that legislation out for consultation at the

“There are also issues of vagrancy we believe we will be able to address, some of this with the help of the police, with the help of social services and under the auspices of the new Mental Health Bill that we passed recently. We’ll be able to take some action.

“It is important that Bay Street, our main downtown city centre, is cleaned up for the benefit of residents so that we can be proud to show that pride, but also for the tourism experience, and we believe we’re making significant inroads in this regard.”

It is envisioned that the legislation’s passage will result in the hiring of a city manager who will work closely with the Downtown

Nassau Partnership (DNP) and relevant government agencies to oversee Bay Street’s maintenance. Mr Cooper said “this is not local government” but simply a post where the occupant will have some responsibility for Bay Street’s upkeep.

Turning to the cruise port’s $300m redevelopment, Mr Cooper said: “This is going to have a significant draw in and of itself. This will be also a driver, I hope, for the rest of Bay Street to redevelop. We spent a lot of time already speaking with the stakeholders.

“We have issued demolition orders for nine of the buildings east of East Street. We are talking with the art community to see how we might be able to do some beautification works. We’re spending significant sums for remedial work, like cleaning and beautification, but we need everybody to play their part.”

The demolition of decaying, rundown downtown Nassau buildings that are both a safety hazard and

eyesore began in 2022.

“We call on the building owners to make efforts to improve the exteriors of the buildings. We call on shop owners to make their front, their storefront edge, more attractive,” Mr Cooper said.

“We call on entrepreneurs to offer authentically Bahamian goods and services. We call on Bahamians everywhere to leverage this large number of tourists who are coming to The Bahamas; get them off the ship, sell them a tour, sell them something unique, and the Tourism Development Corporation is prepared and equipped to assist with this.”

The Ministry of Tourism and the Tourism Development Corporation are both progressing the creation of a downtown Nassau “incubation centre” that will

foster Bahamian entrepreneurs who sell authentic local products and services.

“The other thing we’re doing through the Tourism Development Corporation is creation of an incubation centre, which would be a marketplace for authentically Bahamian goods and services,” Mr Cooper said.

“We expect that this will open generally in line with the opening of the Nassau Cruise Port [on May 27]. Every step we make will be positive for the overall experience. But, again, the Ministry of Tourism can’t do this alone. It takes all of the agencies of government: The police, the port, the Ministry Works, who also happen to oversee the straw market. But they have been working on and on with us.”

CG Atlantic chief steps down after four decades

A BAHAMIAN life and health insurance executive was yesterday hailed as “a leader” in the industry following her year-end 2022 retirement after 41 years in the sector.

Lynda Gibson, CG Atlantic Medical & Life Insurance’s executive vice-resident and general manager, stepped down from the Coralisle Group subsidiary after 27 years with the enterprise. She will be succeeded by Annastasia Francis, the current head of the company’s medical unit.

Dr Grant Gibbons, The Coralisle Group’s chairman, said: “Lynda has been a leader in the health insurance industry in The Bahamas for over 40 years, a remarkable testament to her professionalism and dedication, for which she has received recognition and numerous awards.

“CG and the Board of Directors acknowledge Lynda’s many contributions to the growth of our group of companies

in The Bahamas and to the development of the health insurance industry. We are delighted that she will remain with us as a director on the Board, thus allowing CG Atlantic to continue to benefit from her vast experience and knowledge. We wish Lynda every success in her new role.”

Mrs Gibson said: “CG has always exemplified the group’s views on equality and creating opportunities for their staff to succeed. I was able to experience this from an early point, working with Sir David Gibbons, the former chairman, and Alan Peacock, CG’s former president and, more recently, with the current CEO, Naz Farrow.

“I’m very proud of Annastasia. She came into the organisation, she was willing to learn, and she is quite capable. Clients can be confident knowing they are in good hands. I look forward to seeing CG Atlantic Medical & Life continue to grow and develop under her

leadership and to continue my relationship with CG in my new capacity.”

Mrs Gibson’s professional awards include Travelers Barons of Business Award 1987 and 1988, and manager of The Travelers Office of Region 1992. She is also a four-time winner

of The Travelers Annual National Sales Award/Winner’s Circle Award. Her most recent honour came with GAMA International’s bestowal of its 2021 GAMA Bahamas Leadership Award. She has been the recipient of the Delta Sigma Theta

Sorority Incorporated 2000 Outstanding Businesswoman Award for insurance and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority 2004 Outstanding Woman Award. She has also received the Parkinson’s Association Award for Business.

Mrs Gibson has served institutions and boards that include the Central Bank of The Bahamas, Bahamas Hospital Authority, Bahamas Electricity Corporation, the Nassau Bahamas Chapter of The Links Incorporated, the Hotel Corporation of The Bahamas, and the Bahamas Financial Services Board as well as the advisory committee of the Insurance Commission of The Bahamas. As a past president of the Bahamas Association of Life and Health Insurers (now the Bahamas Insurance Association), Mrs Gibson was the first and, to-date, only woman to hold this position.

Mr Farrow said: “Lynda Gibson always educated employers on the importance of having health insurance for their employees. It is not mandatory for employers in The Bahamas, and with Lynda’s guidance, many businesses have taken employee benefits seriously. “In addition to her educational efforts, various awards and achievements, we are grateful to Lynda Gibson for her many years of service to the organisation, community and industry. We are pleased that she will continue to be affiliated with CG for years to come.”

LYNDA GIBSON

CHESTER COOPER

POLICE: REPORTED FINANCIAL CRIMES STRIKE FIVE-YEAR

TOTAL financial crimes reported to the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) fell to their lowest level for five years in 2022 with a near-30 percent decline compared to 2021.

Data unveiled on Friday by Clayton Fernander, the police commissioner, as part of his annual crime briefing showed some 538 commercial-related crimes were investigated last year compared to 759 in 2021. This represented

the sharpest year-over-year drop in reported financial crimes since 2018.

The commissioner did not speak to financial/commercial crimes during his media briefing. However, the data showed the steepest fall was in reported incidents of “fraud by false pretences”, which dropped by 109 or almost 35 percent year-over-year, from 313 to 204 in 2022.

Other areas where reported offences fell were “possession of forged documents”, which dropped more than five-fold to 18 in 2022 from 97 the year

before; “stealing by reason of employment”, which declined by 30 percent to 56 from 80; and “stealing by reason of service”, which narrowed from 148 incidents in 2021 to 130 last year. Areas of increase were “possession of forged currency”, which rose from 64 to 82 in 2022, and “proceeds of crime” complaints, which grew from eight to 14. No explanation was provided for the increase/decrease in the various categories of reported crimes, although it could simply be that fewer such episodes were

brought to the police force’s attention. Some 800 financial/ commercial crimes were reported to the police in 2019, representing the highest figure in the past five years, with 2022’s 538 some one-third or 33 percent below that peak. No incidents of alleged bribery were reported last year, compared to just two in 2021, and forgery allegations dropped from 25 to 15 - a fall of some 40 per cent. However, extortion incidents reported to the police increased from eight in 2021 to ten last year.

Radio station blames COVID for closure

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN radio station yesterday confirmed it will close today after COVID-19’s financial fall-out for advertisers eroded its main income source.

Island FM, in a statement, confirmed that the station founded by Sir

Charles Carter almost 22 years ago will be “taking a hiatus effective Wednesday, February 1” and closing its Dowdeswell Street office. It did not mention how many employees will be impacted, but it is understood less than a dozen are affected.

The release also indicated that an over-saturated radio market, with too many stations chasing too few viewers, was also a factor. It said: “As with

many businesses, Island FM was severely affected by the pandemic, and its effects certainly impacted our ability to stay on the air.

“When it began broadcasting back on August 2001, Island FM entered a marketplace that featured ZNS, three private radio stations and a sound that was unmistakably foreign,” the company said.

“It was the lifelong passion of Island FM founder, Sir Edward Charles Carter, to

promote the very best of The Bahamas. So there was no debate or second-guessing; Island FM was going to be a great promoter of Bahamian music, Bahamian culture and, indeed, Bahamian life.

“Twenty-two years later and there are now over 25 private radio stations, ZNS and now a sound that is a bit more familiar. Island FM made a difference. It exposed us to our music, helped us to appreciate

those rhythms that are uniquely ours. It saluted our most celebrated musicians while uncovering talent previously unknown. It told our stories through music, creative programming and wonderfully recorded interviews that showed the Bahamian story,” Island FM continued.

“Over the past two decades there have been many great moments at Island FM, including making history as the first private radio

THE WEATHER REPORT

station to stage a live debate between two aspiring Prime Ministerial candidates, developing weekly and yearly Bahamian music charts, covering festivals in the Family Islands, staging a successful medical fund raiser for a performing legend, and having our morning show talent host an important segment of the Miss Universe competition in 2009.”

$5.25 $5.29 $5.46 $5.16

Patients are warned: Brace for VAT ‘shock’

• Insurer:

‘Significant’ cost rise even at ‘smallest level’

• Consumer medical bills could jump up to three-fold

• No decision on appeal yet by $200m claims sector

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN patients were yesterday warned to brace for “a shock even at the smallest levels” as the change in VAT’s treatment of medical insurance claims payouts will further fuel already-soaring medical costs.

Julian Rolle, BAF Financial’s managing director, told Tribune Business the financial fall-out “is certainly significant for the consumer” once Bahamian health insurers are no longer able to recover VAT on annual claims collectively worth over $200m with effect from April 1, 2023.

Echoing concerns already voiced by industry body, the

Abaco Club opponents in partial Privy Council win

• Activists succeed in slashing costs award by 60%

• Gov’ts $100k upheld despite ‘strikingly high’ costs

• ‘Stifled’: Court says no merit to ‘troubling trend’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

ACTIVISTS yesterday won a partial Privy Council victory in their battle to prevent public interest legal challenges from being priced out of the Bahamian justice system.

Responsible Development for Abaco (RDA) succeeded in persuading the highest court in the Bahamian judicial system to overturn previous orders that it must pay $150,000 to cover the legal costs likely to be incurred by the Abaco Club’s developer, Southworth Development, in opposing their Judicial Review challenge to its Little Harbour expansion plans.

However, the Privy Council upheld previous Supreme Court and Court of Appeal rulings that RDA must come up with a $100,000 “security” to cover the Government’s legal costs in defending the action. It found the nonprofit had failed to provide sufficient evidence of its inability to raise the necessary funds, and therefore was unable to prove “its claim would be stifled”.

And, perhaps more significantly, the five UK law lords ruled there was no merit to RDA’s claim that the Government and developers are increasingly exploiting the Bahamian legal system to price environmental activists and other public

FRED SMITH KC

interest litigants out of bringing claims by obtaining so-called “security for costs” orders. Yet they also described the Government’s $304,600 costs estimate as “striking”, adding that the figure seemed “very high for what was a very simple Judicial Review claim with minimal evidence”. The verdict, in effect, allows both sides to claim their respective victories, with RDA’s total “security for costs” burden having been slashed by 60 percent - from $250,000 to $100,000.

The Judicial Review challenge has its roots in the Abaco Club’s plan to construct a 44-slip marina, along with a supplies shop, private restaurant, 6,000 square foot covered car park, generator, desalination plant and waste treatment facility. The proposed development was to measure 320 feet across the outside piers, 210 feet between the two parallel

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Bahamas Insurance Association (BIA), he added that healthcare will be “definitely more expensive, certainly less accessible” as a result of the treatment shift driven by the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) and Ministry of Finance.

With insurers soon unable to recover the 10 percent levied on claims payouts, Mr Rolle told this newspaper that the increased VAT burden will inevitably be passed on to the end-consumer - patients - with premiums also set to rise and further hike “the cost of care” due to inflationary pressures.

Examples of the financial consequences, provided yesterday to Tribune Business, show that in some cases a patient’s medical

bill could more than triple compared to present expenses if hospital treatment is required.

And Mr Rolle said the cost increase is “not insignificant” for those using private health insurance to purchase medications vital for treating diseases such as diabetes, hypertension/ high blood pressure and heart disease.

In the case of a patient purchasing $100 worth of medicines, and where private insurance covers 80 percent of the cost, that individual would be responsible for the $20 co-pay/ deductible balance. The latter would attract 10 percent VAT, adding an additional $2 to the patient’s share, resulting in their total bill coming to $22.

Bahamian liquidators say ‘no’ to DOJ FTX examiner

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

FTX’s Bahamian liquidators are opposing the US Justice Department’s bid for an investigator to probe the crypto exchange’s collapse on the grounds it is overkill and will cost creditors “tens of millions of dollars”.

Brian Simms KC, the Lennox Paton senior partner, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) accountants, Kevin Cambridge and Peter Greaves, in a little-noticed court filing last week voiced concern that the appointment of a so-called “examiner” could unnecessarily deplete recoveries for creditors and former clients of

FTX Digital Markets, the Bahamian subsidiary. Given that multiple US government entities, criminal prosecutors and FTX’s US chief, John Ray, as well as themselves are investigating FTX’s collapse, the Bahamian trio argued that sufficient probes were already underway such that another one is not warranted. They cited the Lehman Brothers and Caesar’s Entertainment cases, where the appointment of such an examiner cost creditors $59m and $34m, respectively, as examples of what they wish to avoid.

Meanwhile, Tribune Business understands that the Bahamian liquidators may be poised for another potential clash with the US Justice Department - this

But, from April 1, with insurers unable to recover the VAT payable on their $80 share, the client will now be responsible for paying the additional $8 in tax as well. This will take the sum due from the patient from $22 to $30, an $8 or more than 36 percent increase. Given that medications have to be refilled regularly, this represents a recurring and increased financial burden at a time when Bahamians are already struggling to make ends meet due to the cost of living crisis.

When it comes to hospital care, Tribune Business was shown two examples of how the changed VAT treatment will

time over the $143m seized by the latter from bank accounts in FTX Digital Markets’ name. The trio are thought to be asserting that these assets belong to the Bahamian subsidiary and its creditors/clients, and thus should be under their custody and control given the mandate handed to them by the Supreme Court.

However, the US Justice Department, in legal filings seen by this newspaper is arguing that it was entitled to seize the monies because they - and FTX Digital Markets - were not covered by any freeze or stay as they were outside the Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection proceedings.

“The United States has seized..... approximately

$56m in US currency and 87 million euros from accounts at Moonstone Bank and Silvergate pursuant to judicially authorised seizure warrants issued in the southern district of New York,” the Justice Department said.

“The debtor [FTX Digital Markets] has asserted an interest in some or all of the seized assets. The automatic stay does not apply to the US actions, however, because the seized assets are not property of any bankruptcy estate as this is a Chapter 15 case. Even if

Push reforms to make ‘real dent’ in corruption

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas can make “a real dent” in its anticorruption standing if it passes four critical laws this year, a governance reformer argued yesterday, having “missed the opportunity” in 2022.

Matt Aubry, the Organisation for Responsible Governance’s (ORG) executive director, told Tribune Business that enacting reforms to the Public Procurement Act and Public Disclosures Act, as well as passing legislation to create an Integrity Commission and Ombudsman, will send observers a message that The Bahamas is serious about combating corruption.

He spoke out after The Bahamas held its position in Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions

DPM targets 8m visitors for 2023

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

THE Deputy Prime Minister yesterday forecast that 2023 tourist arrivals will hit the eight million mark with downtown Nassau’s British Colonial Hilton set to fully re-open by year-end.

Chester Cooper, also minister for tourism, aviation and investments, predicted ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting

that “stopover visitors will be at least 20 percent ahead” of 2022’s seven million, seven hundred and six visitors as last year’s momentum carries over into the next 11 months.

Last year’s arrivals numbers fell just short of the 7.2m pre-COVID record set in 2019. “We are up in every metric. However you measure it, we’ve had a banner year in terms of occupancy, in terms of average daily rates, in terms of overall tourism spend, in

terms of arrivals, in terms of new airlift seating capacity, so all measurements are up,” Mr Cooper said.

“We’ve had a phenomenal year. We’re excited about it. But what’s better is that 2023 is already looking very strong, and we’re going to have a better year in 2023 than we did in 2022.

All of the forward bookings suggest that, and all of our intelligence in the market suggests that our brand is very strong. People are talking about our country

Index, ranking as the world’s 30th least corrupt nation in 2022 and maintaining the same ‘64 out of 100’ score it achieved in the prior year. This nation rated better than the likes of Spain, Italy and Portugal, all nations that form part of the European Union (EU) which has blacklisted The Bahamas for being ‘uncooperative’ on tax matters.

But Mr Aubry, while agreeing it was positive The Bahamas had maintained its perception as the second least corruption nation in the Caribbean behind only Barbados, added that the Transparency International index also indicated it was doing too little to improve the status quo in the world’s eyes.

“Indexes are important in several instances and, at the same time, they are not fully reflective,” the ORG chief told this newspaper. “It’s important to recognise we haven’t dropped.

MATT AUBRY

But we were at the International Anti-Corruption Conference in Washington D. C. last December and we were participating with hundreds of organisations from around the world.

“What we’re learning is that corruption has so many destructive impacts at all levels on countries. There’s wastage from government procurement contracts not coming to fruition, citizens have to “pay to play” to access services, and there’s a lack of efficiency and effectiveness in government spending and decisionmaking. Those things are clearly present in our circumstance.”

Mr Aubry said, when viewed from another angle, 2022 was thus “a missed

and wanting to come and experience the various islands in the Bahamas.

“We’re going to ten cities this year with our [promotional] missions,” he

BRIAN SIMMS KC

CHESTER COOPER