change funding

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

AS HE addressed regional leaders at the 44th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday pledged to offer $44m in funding to aid Caribbean countries in the fight against climate change, while also unveiling his nation’s plans to help bring stability to Haiti. He said Canada will deploy navy vessels to conduct surveillance, gather intelligence and maintain a maritime presence off the Haitian coast in the coming weeks.

In a 13-minute long speech to government heads yesterday, Mr Trudeau, who is among dozens of leaders in The Bahamas attending the three-day CARICOM meeting, also spoke on the vexing issues of gun smuggling and human trafficking. He committed his nation to

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Lighthouse Land Lease Lacked Signature

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN entrepreneur battling to restore Paradise Island’s lighthouse yesterday suffered a setback in his fight with the Government and Royal Caribbean after the Supreme Court found he does not possess a valid Crown Land lease.

Sir Ian Winder, the chief justice, ruled that “regrettably” there was no binding lease agreement between Toby Smith’s Paradise Island Lighthouse and Beach Club and the minister then-responsible for Crown Lands (exprime minister, Dr Hubert Minnis) because the latter did not execute the necessary paperwork by applying his signature.

INSURER: NEW VAT POLICY WILL INCREASE COSTS

By LETRE SWEETING lsweeting@tribunemedia.ne

BAHAMIAN consumers will “undoubtedly” see increased cost of services at pharmacies and other places due to the new interpretation of the VAT Act regarding remittance on medical insurance and healthcare services.

This is according to Julian Rolle, BAF Financial’s managing director and a member of the Bahamas Insurance Association.

He spoke yesterday at a Rotary Club of West Nassau meeting.

The changes in the treatment of VAT, imposed by the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) and the Ministry of Finance starting

DOG ATTACKS 12FT SHARK - AND LIVES!

A REMARKABLE video circulating on social media shows a dog chasing off a 12-foot hammerhead shark.

The video, which was filmed on Wednesday at Stocking Island, Exuma, shows a tour party spotting the hammerhead shark as it swims through the area. Moments later, as it swims near shore, a dog jumps down off a dock before seemingly falling into the water, and seeming to chase it away through the water. Some witnesses suggested the dog was trying to bite the shark.

Both dog and shark seemed to separate to swim another day. The dog’s owner reported their pet was uninjured and perfectly fine.

Rebecca Lightbourn, of Exuma Watersports, said that the dog was a frequent sighting during their tours and they often fed the dog treats. She said: “The