TWO top attorneys have been hired by the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) to defend an anticipated $200m demand from the Government amid lastditch efforts to avoid a legal confrontation.
Tribune Business can reveal that Fred Smith KC, the Callenders & Co partner and former GBPA external counsel, and Robert Adams KC, the Delaney
Partners attorney, have been engaged by Freeport’s quasigovernmental regulator should the Davis administration initiate arbitration proceedings over its reimbursement claims.
This newspaper understands that the unpaid bills/invoices submitted to the GBPA, claiming sums allegedly due to the Government to cover the costs of providing public services in Freeport that exceed tax revenues generated by the city, now total over $150m - with the expectation of further imminent demands that
will take the final sum sought to over $200m.
Both Mr Smith and Mr Adams declined to comment when contacted by this newspaper yesterday. However, it is also understood that the Government has hired a London-based law firm, Simons Muirhead Burton, to represent it and help argue its case should it progress to actual arbitration.
Tribune Business sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said attorneys for both sides will likely meet soon - possibly
as early as next month April - to see if the dispute between the Government and GBPA can be resolved without resorting to arbitration and subsequent legal appeals that could drag the battle out for years and potentially harm Freeport’s attractiveness to Bahamian and foreign investment.
“The lawyers are discussing, identifying dates for a series of meetings to see if there’s a way to compromise and resolve the dispute,” one contact revealed.
Gas dealers: ‘Silence too great’ on margin increase
AN ex-deputy prime minister yesterday branded the Government’s handling of Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) reforms “an insult to the Bahamian people” as it emerged the utility’s “financing needs” exceed $500m.
Desmond Bannister, who held ministerial responsibility for the stateowned electricity provider under the Minnis administration, told Tribune Business that “we were not prepared to do any secret deals” involving The Bahamas’ energy and water assets after the Government’s plans to outsource management of key BPL functions was revealed.
The possible split, or break-up, of BPL into
three separate entities was disclosed as the Government’s mid-year Budget noted that it would have to provide a taxpayer guarantee of “at least” around $100m to underpin the more than half-a-billion dollars in new financing that the power provider still requires. “Financing needs exceeding $500m,” the mid-year Budget book
said of BPL on page 120. “Would need at least roughly $100m guaranteed.” This huge capital requirement, and a guarantee that would account for around half or 50 percent of the $198m-$218m in total such support required by all state-owned enterprises (SOEs), explains why the Government is so eager to find private sector partners for BPL.
However, the Davis administration was over the weekend forced into
damage control mode after the two trade unions representing BPL’s middle management and line staff voiced strong opposition proposed public-private partnership (PPP) agreements following meetings with their respective memberships.
Prime Minister Philip Davis KC denied the Government plans to privatise BPL by selling its assets and business operations
URCA rejects Cable’s Starlink ‘level playing field’ push back
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
REGULATORS yes-
terday rejected Cable Bahamas’ renewed concerns that it is competing on an “unlevel playing field” against Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite Internet service.
The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), in unveiling feedback to the
consultation on its draft annual plan for 2024, disclosed that the BISX-listed communications provider is “unconvinced” that it is receiving regulatory treatment comparable with that enjoyed by the Tesla and Twitter (X) magnate’s new market entrant.
“The Cable Bahamas group believes satellite regulation must be equitable and comparable to the telecommunications
SEE PAGE B3
Hotel workers gain ‘tens of millions’ via new deal
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
HOTEL workers will receive “tens of millions of dollars” in extra financial benefits following yesterday’s signing of the industry’s first industrial agreement for more than a decade.
Russell Miller, president of the Bahamas Hotel and Restaurant Employers
Association (BHREA), which represented Atlantis, the Ocean Club and the Lyford Cay Club in the negotiations with the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU), said the deal will impact the take home pay of 10,000 resort employees “substantially”. He added that the increased compensation was the “right thing to do”, even though it will cost the resort industry, as workers
had not received a raise in 12 years.
Mr Miller said: “Within the industry it benefits almost 10,000 team members comprising Atlantis, of course. The majority are Atlantis but also the other member hotels of Four Seasons Ocean Club, Lyford Cay Club and Town Hotel. It’s in the millions, in the tens of millions. I won’t give you the exact number, but over the course of the life of the
agreement, it’s in the tens of millions.
“Some of the changes in the agreement are things that, for the last 11-12 years have not been affected, have not been impacted. So that we’ve come to an agreement, we’ve reached the agreement, it impacts the overall take home performance of our team members substantially.
SEE PAGE B6
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
GAS station operators yesterday said “we cannot wait longer than a week” for the Prime Minister to respond to cries to address their plight, with one asserting: “The silence is too great.”
Raymond Jones, the Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association’s (BPRA) president, told Tribune Business to “stay tuned” when asked what action petroleum dealers may take if there was no reply to their request for an “urgent meeting” with Philip Davis KC to tackle the “dire straits” caused by fixed gasoline margins that have remained unchanged for 12 years. The Association, in its February 26, 2024, letter to the Prime Minister, added that increases to the 54 cents per gallon of gasoline, and 34 cents per gallon of diesel, margins are
“so desperately needed” because it is impossible for them to cover costs that have escalated significantly over the past decade-plus.
“Prime Minister, on behalf of our members, I wish to request an urgent meeting with you to discuss the dire straits that petroleum retailers find themselves. With your leadership, we must come to a final resolution on the margin adjustment,” Mr Jones wrote for the Association.
“Over the past two years, several proposals have been discussed and, in April 2023, a proposal from the Government was accepted by our association but to date not yet implemented by the Government. Prime Minister, while we all admire the great work that you and your government are doing, petroleum retailers need immediate change to the fuel margin.
“Many petroleum retailers are at the point of
business@tribunemedia.net TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2024
PAGE B4
SEE
BPL
$500m’ as Bannister
NEIL
Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
B4
NEIL
nhartnell@tribunemedia.net DESMOND
FRED SMITH KC ROBERT ADAMS KC JAMES CAREY CABLE BAHAMAS HEADQUARTERS $5.60 $5.61 $5.45 $5.38
‘requires over
blasts ‘insult’ By
HARTNELL
SEE PAGE
Top KCs hired amid bid to avoid $200m GBPA battle By
HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor
BANNISTER SEE PAGE B5
PORT AUTHORITY UNIT GAINS GLOBAL QUALITY STANDARDS
THE Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA)
yesterday said its building and development services (BDS) department has obtained international recognition for its management and product quality.
Freeport’s quasi-governmental regulator, in a statement, said the department has attained International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 9001:2015 certification.
That is a globally recognised standard that sets the criteria for a quality management system, ensuring companies consistently
provide high-quality products and services. The GBPA added that the decision to pursue ISO 9001:2015 certification was driven by a group-wide commitment to meeting best-in-class standards. The BDS Department was tested against the stringent ISO standards in November 2023 and succeeded on the first try.
“Achieving ISO 9001 certification is not only an extraordinary achievement for our BDS team, but also a pioneering accomplishment within the Grand Bahama Port Authority,”
Water Corp leak detection triples
THE annual number of leaks detected in the Water & Sewerage Corporation’s New Providence system has tripled to 3,000 through the utility’s long-standing partnership with a third-party contractor.
Miya Bahamas, in a statement, said the number of leaks detected from the state-owned water provider’s pipe infrastructure has increased by 200 percentfrom 1,000 to almost 3,000 per year. This, it added, has given the Water & Sewerage Corporation the ability to quickly fix leaks, reduce its non-revenue water and associated financial losses, and improve the customer experience by fixing leaks quickly.
As a result, leak repairs throughout New Providence were said to have increased by 40 percent per month - from 3,800 to 5,300 - in addition to the visible leaks communicated from the Water & Sewerage Call Centre.
Miya Bahamas said the increase has been aided by last year’s implementation
of 600 FIDO AI-technology leak detectors across New Providence. These are equipped with the ability to alert operators of potential leaks, improving the accuracy and response times of Water & Sewerage Corporation crews. It works by deploying small “bugs” at an average spacing distance of 200 feet that communicate with each other.
“After several years with active leakage control teams finding 1,000 leaks per year, we have created an incentive scheme for our 100 percent Bahamian leak inspectors and we have set an ambitious goal to boost the team morale and results,” said Miya country representative, Alvaro Ramalho.
“We are proud to verify that 2023 was extremely successful, finding now 3,000 leaks, allowing Miya and the Water & Sewerage Corporation to improve 300 per cent over last year’s results and reduce non-revenue water due to the successful repair of several non-visible leaks
said Ian Rolle, GBPA president.
“The Department has put into place effective processes that demonstrate our commitment to global standards of quality and continuous improvement, and enable us to provide the highest standard of service to our customers every day.”
The GBPA said ISO certification will provide several benefits to customers, and to the wider Grand Bahama community. It added that the customer experience will be enhanced through integration and streamlining of internal procedures,
along with a commitment to continuous improvement.
Attaining such internationally-recognised standards, the GBPA said, will enhance the image and reputation of its BDS Department, aligning it with best-in-class service and providing a level of attraction, comfort and security to potential investors.
“Prior to the certification process, the team undertook months of rigorous preparation involving a comprehensive review and testing of existing practices and the implementation of improvements to enhance
overall efficiency and effectiveness,” said Glendia Sweeting, the GBPA’s manager of quality assurance and special projects.
“The BDS department, in collaboration with the quality assurance team, worked tirelessly to align processes, establish robust quality control measures and document procedures to meet ISO 9001 exacting standards.
“Strong leadership played a pivotal role in guiding the team through the certification process, ensuring that everyone understood the significance of achieving ISO 9001
that had gone previously undetected.”
Mr Ramalho said the first two months of 2024 have produced a a similar trend with around 400 leaks detected per month. Average pressure in the water system has remained the same as in previous years. The FIDO detectors are deployed in service connections to listen to the network and correlate the leaks. They are subsequently moved and relocated every five days. An assessment of water systems across New Providence conducted by Miya in 2012 uncovered a loss of up to 6.87m gallons of non-revenue water daily. An $83m Inter-American
certification and was committed to the shared goal.”
“ISO 9001 sets a very high standard of operating practices that serve as an example to teams across GBPA,” said Mr Rolle.
“It highlights the positive outcomes that can be achieved through collaboration, dedication and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Other departments are encouraged to follow them, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation throughout the Grand Bahama Port Authority.”
Development Bank (IDB) loan secured a partnership between the Water & Sewerage Corporation and Miya Bahamas with the aim of improving efficiency and quality of service provision of potable water to address critical needs across the island.
Since signing in 2012, the partnership between the Water & Sewerage Corporation and Miya Bahamas has produced a significant reduction in the amount of non-revenue water loss, improved water pressure and improved water quality. The average water loss in 2023 was below four million imperial gallons per day and, in 2024, is trending three million imperial gallons.
PAGE 2, Tuesday, March 5, 2024 THE TRIBUNE
MIYA staff detecting leaks.
MIYA country representative Alvaro Ramalho.
A PICTURE of the Miya team at a press conference with Robert Deal, general manager of the Water & Sewerage Corporation.
AVIATION DEDICATED TO ADDRESS FAA CONCERN
but our stakeholders are totally committed, again, to addressing any concerns that may arise and proactively addressing any concerns.
THE Government’s aviation director yesterday said the industry is “totally committed” to addressing deficiencies that may arise from an inspection by US regulators as they await the final findings.
Dr Kenneth Romer, referring to last year’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) audit, said: “We met last week with Civil Aviation and I will say that the final findings from the FAA, we have not seen them yet,
“The director-general from the Civil Aviation Department and his team are on top of it, and we’re very comfortable again with the work they’ve been doing to ensure that we are audit compliant”
Dr Romer said Family Island airport inspections are currently underway, adding that the department is charged with managing 28 Family Island airports and infrastructure can become “challenged”.
Aviation chief hails sector’s positive ‘industrial climate’
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE Government’s aviation director yesterday hailed the positive “industrial climate” with trade unions in the sector.
Dr Kenneth Romer said Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and aviation, has had “productive” conversations with union leaders.
He added: “I will say that the industrial climate in aviation has been very positive. Deputy prime minister has personally met again with the president and members of the Bahamas pilots union. I think the thoughts on the conversations were very productive, and he has given them assurance.
“I’m very satisfied sitting in that meeting that some of the matters that might have been contenders in nature have been given the appropriate attention. So we’re going to see some progress when it comes to enter negotiations with our unions.”
Mr Romer said there are plans to expand the Lynden Pindling International Airport(LPIA), and its operator, Nassau Airport Development Company, (NAD) is preparing to undergo an expansion of terminals, runways and aprons.
He added: “That is a part of the plan. So you would hear the chairman and president of NAD speaking about expansion, and not just expansion for the physical and the terminal sides, but a lot of it is going to speak about how we address the expansion of the air side - the aprons and the runway - so great things are in store again for LPIA.”
On managing airport traffic, Mr Romer said NAD has a traffic management plan and is working with Customs and the Airport Authority to stagger flight schedules and address capacity constraints. He added that last year was the best LPIA has enjoyed with
DR KENNETH ROMER
managing traffic during peak times. He said: “When we speak to capacity and traffic management during peak times, the airport again is at capacity, so a lot of how we address capacity constraints has to do with how we kind of stagger the flight schedules.
“Most of our airlines, of course, are coming in during peak times. So peak times for arrival and departure are contributing towards that congestion that we are sometimes experiencing, and NAD again as the operator of LPIA, specifically, has a plan that speaks to traffic management.
“They’re working again with the [US] Customs and Border Protection, Airport Authority, but beyond that are doing some innovations when it comes to managing traffic from the air side. So we spoke about our air traffic control. We spoke about the FBOs (fixed base operators). Perhaps sometimes you’ll have the smaller carriers depart outside of the time for our legacy carriers,” Dr Romer said.
“So there were innovations and there was just a collaboration of working together between the person and the airside on the land side components for the airports, not just at LPIA that really has the lion’s share of these congestion issues, but they are working together as teams and collaborating. And I said this year past is probably the best you would have had in not a long period of time when it comes to managing traffic during the peak times.”
He added: “The audit of our Family Island airports, and we call them inspections, they are actually ongoing. As we speak right now we have boots on the ground in our Family Islands.
“The Airport Authority is charged with providing management oversight for some 28 Family Island airports. We know that being an archipelago that, at times, our infrastructure can become challenged. So we’ve asked the Airport Authority in a very systematic way to go to all of our airports.
“They’ve already begun that work. So, you see last
week they were actually in Marsh Harbour looking again at things such as letting in Marsh Harbour. They returned a few weeks ago from Rock Sound. We are looking at all of our Family Islands, going up to all of the 28 Family Island airports and actually putting in place an audit document and inspection document,” Dr Romer continued.
“The Deputy Prime Minister [Chester Cooper] has committed to finding funding to address the low hanging fruit of one airport at a time. We are really, throughout the course of 2024, addressing them in addition to a long-term
solution of giving new airports to some of our Family Islands.”
Mr Romer said increasing the inspection and registration regime for small aircraft in light of recent accidents is “an ongoing process”. He maintained that both Civil Aviation and the Air Accident Investigation Authority investigate all accidents and have a plan in place to support safety and compliance among operators. He added: “It is an ongoing process. Whenever there is an incident or an accident, I can assure the public that it always gets the highest attention of
Bahamas and BTC - in 2024 as “a balanced approach to financial management” amid concerns that it was failing to take into account their financial challenges.
our Civil Aviation Authority of the Bahamas and our Accident Investigation Authority.
“We meet with them, we’re comfortable there’s a plan in place. We are looking at ways to improve those plans. We are working again with our charter operators, domestic carriers to really reinforce the message of safety and compliance. But we are pleased again that our relevant and power authority is working to show that the air ways are safe for not just our users, but for those of us who actually work in the aviation ecosystem.”
regulatory regime. The Cable Bahamas group added that it is unconvinced that the playing field is level for the Cable Bahamas group,” URCA revealed of the company’s stance.
Cable Bahamas based this on how much Starlink is paying to URCA for its annual class licence, and queried how much the satellite Internet provider is contributing to the regulator’s budget in percentage terms. It also challenged if “an initial licence award fee was charged and paid for the granting of a licence”, and added that a spectrum-based service was equivalent to introducing a new cellular mobile operator.
URCA, in reply, said Starlink’s licence restricts it to providing broadband Internet services and it is not permitted to offer mobile services in conformity with a policy that restricts the sector to just two operators - Aliv (Cable Bahamas) and the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC).
“Regarding satellite regulation and the specific inquiries raised, URCA clarifies that Starlink currently provides broadband Internet services at fixed locations in The Bahamas but is not licensed for voice telephony or traditional mobile services,” URCA added.
“The licence conditions imposed on Starlink align with the Government’s policy to refrain from introducing additional competition in the cellularmobile market. To address concerns regarding transparency, URCA has made the Starlink licence conditions available on our website for public access.... “Starlink is subject to the applicable fees as set out in its licences. On a related note, URCA does not discuss a company’s individual revenue numbers and licence fee payments.” URCA added that, unlike Cable Bahamas and BTC, Starlink does not have a dominant market
position - known as significant market power (SMP) - in any of the segments in which it operates.
“URCA reminds the industry that the SMP conditions/obligations currently imposed on the Cable Bahamas group and BTC are disproportionate for a new entrant that is not found to hold SMP in The Bahamas,” the regulator added.
“Starlink began offering LEO-based broadband Internet service in The Bahamas in 2023. Currently, Starlink does not hold a dominant position in a relevant market. As set out in Section 5.2 of the consultation document for the retail fixed market review, Starlink is not a SMP operator of retail fixed broadband services. As such, the new SMP conditions proposed for dominant operators are not applicable to Starlink.” URCA, meanwhile, defended its plans to recover some $5.315m in operating costs from its electronic communications licensees - chiefly Cable
“There is a notable decreasing trend in the total operating budget recovered from 2017 to 2022. In 2017, the recovered amount was the highest at $8.199m due to purchasing Frederick House on Frederick Street, which serves as URCA’s main office. The following two years, 2018 and 2019, show a slight decrease in the recovered budget to $6.979m and $6.654m, respectively,” URCA added.
“The year 2020 shows a more significant drop to $6.518m. The downward trend continued with a sharper decrease in 2021 to $6.218m and then a substantial drop in 2022 to $4.147m, reflecting URCA’s decision to cut budget acknowledging the financial challenges faced by licensees because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “However, in 2023 there was a minor increase to
$4.844m as URCA gradually transitioned to its pre-COVID operating budget. The trend continued in 2024 with a recovery of $5.315m, which is still significantly lower than the 2017 peak,” the regulator continued.
“URCA stresses that the 2024 budget is below the pre-pandemic levels and remains below the average of $5.911m for the 15 years of URCA’s life......URCA reminds licensees that URCA is an independent regulator and URCA fees are a significant source of URCA’s operating budget.
“The respondents should appreciate that the substantial drop in 2022 to $4.147m in response to financial realities during the pandemic is not sustainable and, if not addressed, could adversely impact the organisation’s financial health and regulatory effectiveness. We advised that increases in 2023 and 2024 reflect the necessary recovery to preCOVID operational costs.”
THE TRIBUNE Tuesday, March 5, 2024, PAGE 3
By
jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter
URCA REJECTS CABLE’S STARLINK ‘LEVEL PLAYING FIELD’ PUSH BACK FROM PAGE B1 CALL 502-2394 TO ADVERTISE TODAY!
Top KCs hired amid bid to avoid $200m GBPA battle
“The goal is to avoid a collision. It’s going to be bad for Freeport’s investment climate for the Government and Port Authority to be fighting over this reimbursement claim.
“Freeport is finally seeing green shoots, so to speak, with the Shipyard, Carnival and other projects coming on. It seems that the momentum is finally starting to build.” James Carey, the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president, yesterday voiced similar fears that launching arbitration proceedings could “slow down or stop” Freeport’s potential economic rebirth.
While any battle between the Government and GBPA is unlikely to stall the cruise line investments or Grand Bahama Shipyard’s, as these are all underway or in process, Mr Carey added that any fight between entities charged with the city’s governance and regulation threatens to create uncertainty and undermine investor confidence.
“I don’t think that process is healthy for business
in Freeport because obviously it will come into the public domain and it will raise questions about the viability of doing business in Freeport,” he told this newspaper. “Persons with money don’t like putting it into an area with some danger to its viability.
“I don’t think it’s ideal, certainly not for us at this time, given what we’ve been through. I don’t think it bodes well. There’s no saying how long that [arbitration] process will take. It could go on for ever. The Port Authority continues to talk about now up to $2bn in confirmed investments.... Freeport seems to be moving and we don’t want to slow it down or stop it.”
Mr Carey said the Government also has yet to publicly state what its ultimate goals and ambitions are for both the GBPA and Freeport, while asserting his belief that “there’s still room to sit down and have a conversation” in a bid to resolve the two sides’ differences.
“It would be good if we can understand and appreciate what the overall
objective is,” the GB Chamber chief added. “Is it to seize control of the Port? Is it to cause the families [the Haywards and St Georges] to abandon and pass it on to someone else? It’s not clear what the Government’s objective is and it would be good to know that.”
The Government is seeking reimbursement under section one, sub-clause five, of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, Freeport’s founding treaty, which stipulates that it can seek payment from the GBPA for providing “certain activities and services” if the costs involved exceed certain tax revenue streams generated in the city.
“It’s important to note there’s a provision in the Hawksbill Creek Agreement that specifies that the cost borne by the Government for certain activities and services provided are to be reimbursed by the Grand Bahama Port Authority for amounts in excess of Customs duties and emergency taxes collected,” Prime Minister Philip Davis KC said last June.
“My government has begun to invoice the Port Authority for these reimbursable expenses, as calculated by an independent accounting firm. To date, the Port Authority has not provided reimbursement in connection with any of these invoices.” The accounting firm involved is PriceewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
However, several sources yesterday questioned why the Government has waited until now - some 60 years or six decades - to try and enforce a Hawksbill Creek Agreement clause dating from the 1960s. They argued that it smacked of the Davis administration using this as leverage to force the Haywards and St Georges to sell and exit after they declined to accept the Government’s purchase offer.
“They’ve never taken any steps to enforce that clause in 60 years,” one source said, adding that it smacked of government overreach that could “damage the whole image and reputation of the country” if the administration was
GAS DEALERS: ‘SILENCE TOO GREAT’ ON MARGIN INCREASE
Gas stations are among the high volume/low margin businesses that are disproportionately impacted by such impositions, with the audit further adding to costs that fixed, price-controlled gasoline margins simply cannot absorb, thus potentially adding to dealers’ losses.
“Just this past December 202, the new requirement by [the Department of] Inland Revenue for an external audit of businesses with sales over $5m will impact nearly all stations and is simply more added cost which stations cannot afford.”
“We are Bahamian entrepreneurs and need immediate relief via a margin adjustment which is established by the Government. It has been more than a decade since a margin adjustment was made, clearly not keeping pace with the rising costs,” Mr
Jones added in his letter to Mr Davis. “Prime Minister, we were told over and repeatedly ‘wait for the price to go down, then the Government will take action’. Last year, 2023, and in 2022, between July and September, a significant price decrease [in global oil costs] was realised, yet despite our appeals for a mere $25 cents per gallon [increase] no action was taken. We are respectfully calling on you to take decisive action with this matter.”
Mr Jones yesterday told Tribune Business that reduced operating hours, with dealers no longer staying open 24/7 in a bid
perceived to be seeking to force out private owners. Tribune Business previously reported that these alleged costs, and the Government’s demands that they be repaid, are one tactic at the Davis administration’s disposal should it seek to financially squeeze the the Hayward and St George families in a bid to pressure them to sell their ownership interests. It may be hoping that the families will struggle to repay if it succeeds at arbitration.
However, the Hawksbill Creek Agreement clause referred to by the Prime Minister may not be all it seems. It was last amended in 1960, when Freeport was five years-old, the city’s development very much in its infancy, and the only revenues earned by the Public Treasury at the time from the Port area were Customs duties. While it indeed stipulates that the Government should not spend any more in the Port area than it earns in revenues, and that any excess costs over and above the latter should be reimbursed by the GBPA,
to cut costs, was one possible response if a margin increase - either fixed or a percentage-based mechanism - was not forthcoming.
Speaking after dealers yesterday held an “emergency meeting” with the Government yet to respond to their letter, Mr Jones said the Association and its members need to understand what help the Government plans to provide and when so they can budget accordingly for their businesses.
“At the end of the day, the silence is too great. Stay tuned,” Mr Jones told this newspaper. “It’s likely that at some point you will see dealers reduce their hours or do something else. We don’t want to inconvenience the motoring public, but for us to stay in business these are the things we have to do. It’s a double-edged sword because it impacts the public and impacts us.
“After doing what we can to minimise operating costs we need margins that give us cash flow to stay in business.” Asked how long the Association can wait for a reply from the Prime Minister and the Government, Mr Jones added that rising global oil prices and the impending summer months meant retailers needed quick resolution to negotiations that have dragged on for almost two years.
“I don’t think we can wait longer than a week,” he told Tribune Business. “We’re already in March. It’s taken too long. It’s been 12 years since the last increase. We’ve given some suggestions. They made a proposal to us, which we accepted, and then we thought the deal was done. Nothing happened.
“Subsequent to that, the minister [Michael Halkitis] said there would be no increase, which was a shocker because they’d proposed a new mechanism which we’d accepted. It can be done as a percentage of the landed cost.
NOTICE is hereby given that MIKERLANGE PIERRE Pitt Street, off Colebrook Street, Harbour Island, Eleuthera, The Bahamas 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 27th day of February 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
that clause has not been amended to account for either the Freeport of today or multiple taxes that have been added since then.
Thus VAT, departure taxes and a host of other revenue streams are not factored into the calculation of whether the Government is spending more than it is earning in Freeport. PwC is thought to have been given a remit to include all the Government’s costs in its billings, even though the clause in question only refers to covering expenses associated with police, Customs and Immigration.
Thus, while all the Government’s tax and revenue streams are not covered by the Hawksbill Creek Agreement clause, the invoices are also seeking to recover expenses for public services it fails to mention such as education, social services and health. Millions of dollars are involved, but the GBPA will almost certainly contest the Government’s figures given the lack of a detailed accounting or breakdown of the numbers.
“We just want a margin that’s reasonable for us to survive to be put in place. The current one is not tenable, won’t work and we won’t survive with it. Whatever means they’re comfortable with, we can agree with that and move on. Too much time has been spent on this.”
Mr Halkitis did not respond to Tribune Business calls and messages seeking comment before press time last night. Global oil prices declined slightly yesterday with the West Texas Intermediate and Brent Crude per barrel prices standing at $78.50 and $82.67 last night.
However, the Association yesterday broke down the present $5.48 per gallon cost of gasoline to show that $1.32 or 24.04 percent - almost one-quarter - of this figure goes to the Government via its ad valorem tax. Dealers and wholesalers, respectively, receive 9.86 percent and 6.21 percent with their 54 cents and 34 cent margins, with VAT adding another 50 cents once the $2.78 landed cost is factored in.
“We can expect to see $6 or more at some point I venture to say,” Mr Jones predicted of Bahamian gas prices this summer. “We are struggling and need some relief. We need to be able to pass a few pennies on to the public, which they won’t mind.
“The majority of dealers are struggling and feeling the pinch. Some of them are considering closing down. A lot of them want to throw the keys back in and forget it, but they have committed their lives to this industry. That’s the situation.”
PAGE 4, Tuesday, March 5, 2024 THE TRIBUNE
FROM PAGE B1 closing their doors as costs continue to mount against the current margin. These businesses affect the livelihoods of countless Bahamian entrepreneurs and their employees, and a closure of any of these sites has a ripple effect in our economy,” he
continued.
FROM PAGE B1
NOTICE
BPL ‘requires over $500m’ as Bannister blasts ‘insult’
Government plans to privatise BPL by selling its assets and business operations off to private investors and utilities or other such purchasers. Instead, he signalled that it is seeking private sector “partners” to take over specific aspects of the utility’s operations via management or operating agreements, while the Government retains ownership of the assets.
Mr Davis also pledged that the energy sector revamp would nor result in any BPL lay-offs, while all existing union contracts - including their members’ benefits and salaries - will be honoured and maintained intact. This, though, has not appeared to pacify the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU) or Bahamas Electrical Managerial Union (BEMU).
The Government has disclosed little to no details of what it is proposing for BPL, which makes it impossible to judge whether the planned reforms will have the presumably desired effect of reducing energy costs, thereby lowering the economic burden on Bahamian households and making businesses and the economy more competitive, while making supply more reliable and transitioning to cleaner fuels.
Tribune Business has thus far been able to confirm that the Government is mulling whether to split BPL into three separate entities. Two new companies would be created under this structure - one responsible for power generation, the other for transmission and distribution (T&D), which covers all the utility’s poles, wires and substations.
Kyle Wilson, the BEWU’s president, confirmed that Pike Corporation and its subsidiary, Pike Electric, headquartered in the Carolinas are the frontrunners to take over BPL’s T&D business based on his meeting with Jobeth Coleby-Davis, minister of energy and transport, and her adviser, former BPL
chief operating officer, Christina Alstom.
Meanwhile, several sources have suggested that Shell, which under the Minnis administration won the bidding process for outsourcing New Providence’s baseload generation via the development of a new 225 Mega Watt (MW) power plant at Clifton Pier, may be a contender to take over generation again. BPL, as Bahamians now know it, would be left responsible for the back office - customer service, billing, collection.
One source, speaking on condition of anonymity, backed the Government’s intentions by saying: “The truth is that change that was 50 years in the making is now taking place at BPL.
At the end of the day, BPL is going to be a dramatically better company with less cost for consumers. The quantum of money being spent on this is huge. The stakes are very high.”
However, Mr Bannister yesterday questioned whether the selection of Pike and BPL’s purported generation partner had complied with both the utility’s own internal procurement guidelines and the two Public Procurement Acts passed into law since 2021 given the absence of a public tendering process.
And he also queried how BPL’s cost structure will accommodate the new management/operating partners given that they will require a return on any investment they make to upgrade the utility on the Government’s behalf. This would likely require BPL’s base tariff to increase, which the Government will probably seek to offset by converting to cheaper fuel, thereby reducing the fuel charge.
Finally, Mr Bannister raised the fate of BPL’s legacy liabilities, which included more than $320m in debt (a portion of which has been temporarily transferred to the Government’s balance sheet), a $100mplus deficit in the employee pension plan, and a host of environmental and clean-up
costs relating to legacy oil spills and other pollution.
These were supposed to be refinanced by the proposed $535m rate reduction bond (RRB), which has been shelved - at least for the moment - after global markets and interest rates moved against The Bahamas post-COVID. Given that any new management partner will not want to be burdened with such liabilities, Mr Bannister voiced fears they will continue to burden BPL consumers and Bahamian taxpayers.
“We took the position that BPL was the Bahamian people’s patrimony and that meant, as much as possible, BPL ought to be run by Bahamians and that’s why we did not change the structure of the company,” Mr Bannister said, apart from the proposed outsourcing of New Providence’s baseload generation to Shell North America.
“There were many, many offers from persons that wanted to purchase the generation and the whole. We felt that ought not to happen. We took a strong position on that. Anything that ought to happen with BPL, it was important for us to take it to the Bahamian people.
“There are several reasons for that. Aside from it being our patrimony, it is absolutely critical that anything that affects the day-to-day lives of Bahamians - access to power when at home and at work - that is something that is critical to the every day lives of Bahamians like water,” Mr Bannister continued.
“Putting it in the hands of someone other than the Government and not consulting the Bahamian people is, quite frankly, an insult to the Bahamian people and something that ought not to have been done. We were not prepared to do any secret deals on anything.”
The Prime Minister at the weekend admitted what has been known for a long time, namely that BPL is in “dire straits” and the Government lacks the capital to meet its financing
requirements, hence the search for private sector partners with the capital and expertise to step into the breach and do what is required.
Many Bahamians, especially in the business community as well as many households, would likely welcome a privatised BPL if it results in significantly lower energy costs and a more reliable supply. However, there are questions as to how the process reached this point without an open tendering/bidding process as all work to-date has seemingly been done behind closed doors via the Prime Ministers Office.
One source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “If you don’t do the ‘beauty contest’ how can you ensure you are getting the best deal? How can you ensure you are getting the best value for money?” They added that the Government will also have to regain control of the public narrative from that which has been set by union opposition to the deal.
Asserting that the Davis administration should have known the unions would make the briefing they received public, given the obligation to their members, the source said: “It was comically badly done, and they are going to have to do a massive cleanup exercise. They cannot answer the question: Where is the beauty contest? Where is the RFP (request for proposal) to ensure the country is getting the best deal?”
Asked whether he thought the process had complied with the Public Procurement Act’s requirements, Mr Bannister replied: “Even more so than that, BPL has its own procurement provisions. No legislatively, but in order to stop this type of thing they adopted their own procurement provisions. This doesn’t seem to comply with any of them.
“I’ve not run into any Bahamian who was aware
this was happening. This is actually very frightening. I believe any government owes it to the Bahamian people to consult them and to hear their views, their opinions, before coming to any type of conclusion on issues that impact their lives.
“I haven’t heard anything about it, and as a Bahamian consumer I’d like to know about this before any action is taken. Most Bahamians would say the same thing.”
Other contacts familiar with BPL and the energy sector also suggested it was unusual to split transmission and distribution from a legacy utility, as the Government seems to be mulling with BPL, as usually only generation is divested.
Doing this, and outsourcing management to an entity such as Pike, will add a new layer of cost to BPL’s present structure. Pike would need to make a return on its investment, typically via some kind of management fee and/or a percentage of revenue, and to accommodate this BPL’s
base tariff will likely have to rise.
Mr Bannister yesterday agreed this was a likely scenario, although the Government will likely hope that the all-in or total tariff paid by consumers falls due to switching to cheaper fuel sources such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) so that generation costs decline.
And the former deputy prime minister said there is also a danger that BPL’s restructuring will “socialise the losses”, and leave its hundreds of millions of dollars in legacy liabilities to be dealt with by its customers and the taxpayers.
“If there’s going to be that type of division in BPL, nobody is going to come in and take on debt they did not incur,” Mr Bannister told Tribune Business
“Whatever the Bahamian people are left with, it’s going to be hundreds of millions of dollars in debt and it appears the profitable part of the utility is going to be taken away from them. The only way for the Bahamian people to pay that debt is for them to be taxed on it.”
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL
The public is hereby advised that I, DONNELL MARIE SWEETING of Gaudeloupe Street, Martinique Road, Golden Gates #2, Nassau, The Bahamas, intend to change my son’s name from DAKOTA DARRELL
SWEETING to DAKOTA DARRELL GIBSON. If there are any objections to this change of name by deed poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Offcer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the publication of this notice.
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL
The Public is hereby advised that I, JOCELYN ALOUIDOR a.k.a. JOCELYN HONORAT of Fox Hill Road, Nassau, The Bahamas, intend to change my name to JASON DIEUDONNE ALOUIDOR
If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Offcer, P O o , assau, The Bahamas no later than Thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.
THE TRIBUNE Tuesday, March 5, 2024, PAGE 5
FROM PAGE B1
Hotel workers gain ‘tens of millions’ via new deal
“And this was, you know, not easy decisions, because we knew it was going to impact the association, particularly, but it was the right thing to do because of the fact that folks had not received increases or not gotten the benefit of an industrial agreement over the last 12 years.”
Mr Miller explained that the industrial agreement was delayed for over a decade due to administration changes and then the COVID pandemic. He added: “There are a number of reasons and, you know, typically at the conclusion of the existing agreement, both sides are to exchange agreements.
“So the union would present their agreement, we would go through it and review it, and then we would come with our counter-proposal. So those just did not happen. So no one’s at fault. It’s just one of those things that just did not materialise. There were changes in administrations and it just didn’t happen. “I think once the current administration came into office, they were committed and dedicated that they would come up and present a new agreement, which they did, and we countered that and then the negotiations began and went back and forth,” Mr Miller continued.
“It was a delay because of COVID, as you all know, so that was about a year, year-and-a-half delay with no negotiations which prolonged this, and so now we’re at this point where we have an agreement and we’re very pleased. I’m very happy that we have come to this position.”
Darrin Woods, the hotel union president, said the agreement includes an 11 percent increase for all workers as well as a lump sum payout. Tipped workers will receive the increase on top of the minimum wage rise, while non-tipped workers will receive an 11 percent increase on the last negotiated rate.
Wall Street edges lower at the start of a busy week
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer
U.S. STOCKS edged down from their record heights in a quiet Monday on Wall Street.
The S&P 500 slipped 6.13 points, or 0.1%, to 5,130.95, coming off its latest alltime high and its 16th winning week in the last 18. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 97.55, or 0.2%, to 38,989.83, and the Nasdaq composite lost 67.43, or 0.4%, to 16,207.51.
Momentum slowed for U.S. stocks following their roar higher on excitement that inflation appears to be cooling, cuts to interest rates may be coming and the U.S. economy has so far shrugged off predictions for a recession. At the same time, a frenzy around artificial-intelligence technology has catapulted some stocks to stratospheric heights.
Super Micro Computer, which sells server and storage systems used in AI and other computing, jumped another 18.6% Monday. It has surged nearly 1,000% in the last 12 months.
It was the first trading for the stock since an
announcement that it will join the S&P 500 index of the biggest U.S. stocks in two weeks. Such a move could drive even more investment in the company.
Super Micro Computer will replace Whirlpool, which is on track for a third straight losing year and will fall back to the S&P 400 index of mid-sized stocks. At the same time, Deckers Outdoor will replace Zion Bancorp. in the S&P 500.
The poster child of AI mania is Nvidia, whose chips are powering much of the move into AI. It rose another 3.6% Monday to bring its gain for the year so far to 72.1% after more than tripling in 2023. It was by far the strongest force pushing upward on the S&P 500.
Such spurts are bolstered by a surge in profits and expectations for tremendous growth to continue. But they are also raising worries about another potential bubble as prices whiz at breathtaking speeds.
The market is “euphoric on AI,” according to Savita Subramanian, equity strategist at Bank of America.
That can be a concerning signal because too much excitement can push prices too high, leading to disappointment later. “Bull markets end with euphoria,” Subramanian said in a BofA Global Research report. But the euphoria so far appears to be concentrated in just AI and other select areas, and she raised her target for where the S&P 500 could end this year to 5,400 from 5,000. Several events scheduled for this week could upset the market.
On Wednesday, the chair of the Federal Reserve will offer testimony before a House of Representatives committee about monetary policy. Wall Street’s hope has been that inflation is cooling enough for the Fed to cut its main interest rate from its highest level since 2001, which would relieve pressure on the economy and financial markets.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell has already said its next move will likely be a cut, but he’s also said the Fed needs additional confirmation that inflation is decisively moving down toward its 2% target. That
He said: “We believe that we were able to settle on something that would advance them in terms of their living standards, their base wage movement, certainly emoluments we were able to accomplish.
“Some of the things we were able to get for the membership across the board would have been an 11 percent increase. For the tip category it will be 11 percent on top of the minimum wage, for the non-tip it will be 11 percent on the last negotiated rate. We were able to get lump sum payments for them which are historic.”
Mr Woods said the industrial agreement will be incorporated into
employee contracts, avoiding the industry having long delays between deals going forward, and that the transportation provided to members was lost during the negotiations. He said: “One of the signature improvements that would have been made in this particular agreement is that once the agreement is signed and registered, it then forms part of their individual contracts of employment, and therefore that is historic.
“No longer will the industrial agreements be outstanding for so long that we will begin the negotiation process pretty much early… the industrial agreement actually
is incorporated into their individual contracts of employment. And what it does for the industry as a whole, it brings a sense of stability, because for too long we’ve been without an industrial agreement and so we didn’t have anywhere that we could legally go to take our fight.
“One of the things we lost during this negotiation, sadly, is the transportation, what has been a staple in our industry for many, many years. And, of course, with the blessing of the members, they told us to go forward with what was being offered. And the next time around is of course it’s up for further negotiations at this time.”
A TRADER looks over his cell phone outside the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in the financial district of Manhattan in New York. Photo:Mary Altaffer/AP
was before reports recently showed inflation at both the consumer and wholesale levels were higher than expected.
A report on Friday will show how the U.S. job market is doing, with economists forecasting a slowdown from January’s strong growth. Resiliency there has kept the U.S. economy out of recession, which in turn should drive profits for companies and support stock prices.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that PING WANG of P. O. Box N-4137, Yamacraw Road, 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 5th day of March, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that TYRIQ BRANDON LYNCH of Freeport, Grand Bahama, 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 5th day of March, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that ALVENS ETIENNE Ida Street, Robinson Road, Nassau, The Bahamas 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 5th day of March 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
PAGE 6, Tuesday, March 5, 2024 THE TRIBUNE
FROM PAGE B1
A pampering and luxurious experience
By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
LOCAL health and beauty professional Archarne Tucker believes a lot of Bahamians consider massages to be a luxury activity. And while it can be a pampering and luxurious experience, it can also been seen as another important aspect of selfcare which can yield significant benefits.
“Just like you would schedule your hair, nails and lashes each month, I would urge you to schedule your massages and facials as well. It’s important to keep up with massages because it has so many benefits for the human body,” said Archarne, owner of Hands On Restorative Therapy. She believes massages can help with blood circulation, aches, pains, muscle tension, and improve sleep patterns, boost immunity and reduce stress.
“With so many persons facing mental issues, a massage can be a good way to clear your mind and relieve anxiety,” she told Tribune Health.
According to the Mayo Clinic, regular massages can also help depression, digestive disorders, fibromyalgia, headaches,
ARCHARNE Tucker at work
postoperative care, scar tissue, sports injuries and temporomandibular (TMJ) disorders. Archarne’s mobile spa offers a few different types of massages,
including Shiatsu, aromatherapy, prenatal, Swedish and deep tissue. She has been a spa specialist for seven years now and loves her job.
“Nothing beats the feeling you get by seeing the satisfaction that your clients have on their faces at the end of any service, it’s like you’re improving someone’s
quality of life one facial, massage or pedicure at a time,” she said,
In addition to being a massage therapist, she is also an aesthetician and nail technician. Archarne said the idea to establish Hands on Restorative Therapy came to her while she was attending beauty school.
“I fell in love with the name and it stuck with me since then. I like to think that I’m bringing restoration to my clients in which ever service they’re getting,” she said.
Archarne has had mobile business for five years now, but into it full-time last December.
“I’ve always been very passionate about all things beauty related, and that was one of my main reasons for going into this career field,” she said.
Archarne feels her her chosen profession is a very fulfilling one.
“I get to help others. I’ve always wanted to open my own spa, and I definitely will in the near future, so my mobile business is a stepping stone to that. I am also a very dedicated and hands-on mother; working a nine-to-five didn’t allow me much time with my kids, so being my own boss gives me that freedom. I’m still able to do what I love and be present for my family,” she said.
Baha Mar donates blood to local healthcare institutions
The Baha Mar Resort Foundation has hosted its first blood drive of 2024.
Last month, the foundation demonstrated its unwavering commitment to the Nassau community with its tri-annual blood drive, benefiting Princess Margaret Hospital and Doctors Hospital, two vital healthcare institutions in the Bahamas.
On Friday, February 16, Baha Mar associates joined forces with nurses from both hospitals to participate in this life-saving initiative, generously donating blood to make a profound impact on the lives of countless patients. By donating, Baha Mar associates are ensuring that the local hospital receives a vital blood supply,
Yoghurts can make limited claim that the food reduces risk of type 2 diabetes, FDA says
By JONEL ALECCIA AP Health Writer
Yoghurt sold in the US can make claims that the food may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, based on limited evidence, the US Food and Drug Administration said last Friday.
The agency agreed that there is some evidence, but not significant scientific agreement, that eating at least two cups of yoghurt per week may reduce the chance of developing the disease that affects about 36 million Americans.
FDA has allowed qualified health claims — a claim that lacks full scientific support but is allowed as long as there are disclaimers to keep from misleading consumers — for dietary supplements since 2000 and foods since 2002. The agency had faced lawsuits that challenged the standard of requiring scientific agreement based on claims that it violated free speech guarantees.
Among the allowed qualified health claims: consuming some types of cocoa may reduce heart disease and cranberry juice might reduce the risk of recurrent urinary tract infections in women.
For yoghurt, Danone North America, the US branch of the French firm whose brands include Dannon, Activia and Horizon Organics yogurts, requested a qualified health claim in 2018. It submitted information from studies that observed participants over time and found a link between eating yogurt and lower markers of diabetes. The FDA agreed that there “is some credible evidence” of benefit from eating yogurt as a whole food, but not because of any particular nutrient in it.
Critics said the label change is not based on gold-standard randomised controlled trials that could have proven whether yogurt reduces diabetes risk.
No single food can reduce the risk of a disease that is tied to overall diet, the advocacy group Centre for Science in the Public Interest said. It also said the label change might raise the risk of diabetes by encouraging consumption of yoghurt, including types that include added sugars, and mix-ins such as cookies and pretzels.
Marion Nestle, a food policy expert, said qualified health claims based on limited evidence are “ridiculous on their face.”
“Translation: If you want to believe this, go ahead, but it’s not on the basis of evidence,” she said.
exactly when they need it most – a single pint of blood has the potential to save up to three lives. The blood drive saw an impressive turnout, with 36 successful donors from the resort’s dedicated staff, including the president of Baha Mar, Graeme Davis, leading by example.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, March 5, 2024 THE TRIBUNE BODY AND MIND
(l-r): Baha Mar President Graeme Davis donates blood; Baha Mar associates donate blood for Princess Margaret Hospital and Doctors Hospital; Photo Credit: Baha Mar
SCOT Pollard had grown so accustomed to his weak and failing heart that he didn’t realise how close he was to dying.
“Oh, boy. That thing was a wreck,” the former NBA player and “Survivor” contestant told The Associated Press on Friday, a day after he was released from the hospital and two weeks after he received a heart transplant.
“The doctors immediately knew I was much closer to death once they pulled my heart out,” Pollard said. “I don’t think I would have made it another couple of weeks.”
An 11-year NBA veteran who was a member of the 2008 champion Boston Celtics, Pollard inherited a condition from his father, who died at 54, when Scot was 16. Scot Pollard’s heart deteriorated quickly after he contracted a virus in 2021; attempts to fix the problem with medication or less radical procedures were unsuccessful, leaving a transplant as the only option.
But finding a heart big enough to pump blood throughout the body of the 6-foot-11, 260-pound former NBA centre was a challenge. Pollard was advised to list himself at as many transplant centers as possible (though they needed to be nearby, so he could be available within four hours if a donor heart became available.)
Pollard, 49, underwent pretransplant testing near his home in Carmel, Indiana, and Chicago, but when he arrived at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center last month he was admitted to intensive care and bumped up to the second-highest priority for organ transplants, because of his condition.
Nine days later, his wife, Dawn, posted on X: “It’s go time!”
“The fact that it came so quick probably saved my life. I don’t know how much longer I would have lasted,” Scot Pollard said. “I was just declining so fast.”
Privacy rules don’t allow Pollard to know the identity of his donor, though doctors told him it was “a big man.” What is allowed: A recipient can write a letter that will be delivered to the donor’s family if they want. (They can also write the recipient, though Pollard had not received such a letter yet.)
Speaking from temporary housing in Nashville, Tennessee, where he needs to stay for the next six to eight weeks so he can have the proper follow-up care, Pollard
After heart transplant, ex-NBA player Scot Pollard plans to campaign for organ donations
By JIMMY GOLEN AP Sports Writer
said he has written a draft of his letter. In it, he thanks the donor –whom he calls a hero – and offers to connect.
“I would like to show them how their big man’s heart is living on and helping people,” he said. “I would love to show them this heart isn’t going to waste.”
Pollard has been warned that many donors’ families don’t want contact with the recipient, because it makes them relive their loved ones’ death. Heart donors, in particular, are often accident victims who were otherwise healthy.
“If it’s a healthy heart, that’s because something else killed them,” Pollard said. “I hope they reach out, because I would like to include them in the rest of my life.”
That life has already improved.
Even after he retired from the NBA, Pollard liked to keep busy – with broadcasting, a few acting roles and as a reality show contestant. But over the last few months, he needed to stop to rest even just walking around the house.
It was only when he woke up after the five-hour surgery that he realized how bad things had gotten.
“I was laying around all the time. That just became my new normal,” he said. “As an athlete,
you just sort of put things out of your mind. You push through it. But I couldn’t push that heart. I can already tell I can push this heart.” After the transplant, which was performed by Dr Ashish Shah, Pollard was walking around the hospital ward within a day. He is now up to “easy squats,” and working on his balance.
“I’m a mover. I don’t sit around well,” Pollard said. On Thursday, Pollard danced and shadow-boxed his way down the hospital corridor in a tank top that said “BUT DID YOU DIE?” His care-givers applauded as he yelled “I’m getting out!” and mugged for a camera as he rang the discharge bell.
Zyn nicotine pouches are all over TikTok, sparking debate among politicians and health experts
By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — There’s nothing complicated about the latest tobacco product trending online: Zyn is a tiny pouch filled with nicotine and flavouring.
But it has stoked a debate among politicians, parents and pundits that reflects an increasingly complex landscape in which Big Tobacco companies aggressively push alternative products while experts wrestle with their potential benefits and risks.
Zyn comes in flavours like mint, coffee and citrus, and Philip Morris International markets it to adult tobacco users. But videos of young people popping the pouches have racked up millions of views on TikTok and other social media platforms.
That trend has advocates worried that Zyn could become the latest nicotine product to attract underage teens, similar to the way Juul triggered a years-long spike in vaping. Other experts say that risk is outweighed by the potential to steer adults away from cigarettes and other traditional tobacco products, which account for 480,000 US deaths annually.
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result,” said Dr Jasjit Ahluwalia, an addiction specialist at Brown University. “That is what we’ve done with tobacco for decades. We’ve been all about abstinence, instead of embracing products that can reduce harm.”
Ahluwalia sees nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes as a way to help smokers cut back or quit cigarettes.
That approach is standard practice in the UK, but it’s outside the medical mainstream in the US, where only pharmaceutical-grade medications like nicotine gum and lozenges are formally approved to help smokers quit.
Ahluwalia points out that Zyn works the same way as those products: releasing low levels of nicotine that are absorbed into the gums, reducing cravings. The chief difference, he notes, is that Zyn is sold by Philip Morris, the
global cigarette giant and a longtime foe of anti-smoking groups.
The controversy around Zyn recently spilled over into politics, pitting Democrats and Republicans in Washington against each other and spiralling into another skirmish in the nation’s culture war.
In late January, Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer, of New York, called on regulators to investigate Zyn, citing its appeal to teens. Several House Republicans then warned constituents that “Big Brother” intended to “ban nicotine.”
Conservative pundit Tucker Carlson, a Zyn user, jumped into the fray, declaring: “Zyn is not a sin,” and touting its unproven benefits, like “enhancing male vitality and mental acuity.”
Zyn users have quickly developed their own online vocabulary, including “zynnies,” “zynner” and “zynsky.” “There’s this online subculture around Zyn that’s been spearheaded by younger males, but a
lot of that’s not coming from the brand itself,” said Ollie Ganz, a Rutgers University tobacco and nicotine researcher.
Online videos show young people documenting their first experiences trying Zyn, reviewing different flavour combinations and displaying heaping piles of used canisters.
“It’s concerning to see the countless Zyn-related memes and hashtags that are being amplified and normalized across social media,” said Kathy Crosby, CEO of the Truth Initiative, an antitobacco advocacy group.
Truth and other groups point to research suggesting nicotine can interfere with brain development in adolescents.
It’s the Food and Drug Administration’s job to weigh Zyn’s risks to youngsters against its potential to help adults. In a statement, an FDA spokesman said the agency is monitoring underage use, noting that 1.5 percent of high school and middle schoolers reported using pouches
last year. That’s well below the 10 percent who used e-cigarettes. FDA officials have allowed Zyn to stay on the market while they review Philip Morris’ marketing application, which has been pending since 2020. If teen use remains low, the company could win FDA authorization for at least some of its offerings, which come in multiple strengths and flavours. In 2019, the FDA awarded its first-ever reduced risk designation to a similar product: snus, a tobacco pouch popular in Sweden that contains lower levels of carcinogens than cigarettes. The FDA said smokers who switch to snus reduce their risk of lung cancer, bronchitis and other diseases.
Zyn excludes the tobacco leaves found in snus, leaving only nicotine, which Philip Morris says increases its appeal.
“People can be reluctant to move into an oral tobacco product if they view it as similar to traditional chewing tobacco,” company spokesman Corey
Pollard said he is going to campaign for organ donation.
“I’m going to annoy people with becoming a donor. That’s going to be a project for the rest of my life,” he said.
He’s already helped convince one person to sign up.
“I had never considered being an organ donor, because I wasn’t really educated about it and there were some fears when I thought about the process,” Dawn Pollard said. “It became our reality that Scot needed a heart, so I immediately got registered. I am proud to be an organ donor now. It makes me feel good knowing I could be helping someone live.”
Henry said. “Consumer acceptability is a big part of Zyn.”
Philip Morris doesn’t use online influencers or endorsements to promote Zyn, Henry said. Its website is restricted to adults 21 and older. And flavours like cinnamon and peppermint are “familiar to adults,” Henry said.
Zyn launched in the US in 2014, but sales have exploded in the past year, generating $1.8 billion as shipments accelerated yearover-year by over 60 percent. On a November call with retailers, one company executive called the growth “gonzo” and “lights out.”
“I didn’t see this coming. I don’t know anyone who did,” said Joseph Teller, a director for oral tobacco products.
Zyn promotions emphasise the pouches’ discreet, convenient nature as a “smoke-free,” “spitfree” alternative for smokers “at work” or “on the move.”
But to fulfill the company’s stated goal of a “smoke-free future,” Zyn will need to help users fully switch from cigarettes, rather than alternating between the two.
There’s little data on switching, and preliminary research suggests pouches may not be a great substitute.
Ohio State University researchers recently found it took smokers 30 minutes to an hour to get enough nicotine from Zyn to relieve their cravings. With cigarettes, smokers achieved the same nicotine levels — and relief — in five minutes.
“The pouches we studied, especially the lower nicotine concentrations, did not appear to meet the needs of smokers,” said Brittney Keller-Hamilton, who led the study. “That being said, they didn’t totally flop either.”
For now, smokers who have had success with Zyn say they hope it stays available.
Justin Wafer, 39, was smoking a pack a day last spring while working as a bartender in Portland, Oregon. On busy days, he would also vape if he didn’t have time to step away for a smoke break.
But after his reloadable electronic cigarette broke in May, he decided to try Zyn. These days, he usually pops a pouch every three to four hours and says he hasn’t smoked in more than nine months.
“I don’t see how it’s any different from pharmaceutical solutions like lozenges or gum,” he says. “Except it’s easier to get and tastes better.”
THE TRIBUNE Tuesday, March 5, 2024, PAGE 9
FORMER Indiana Pacers centre Scot Pollard (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
A history of patriarchy on International Women’s Day
MARCH 8 is designated as International Women’s Day. The campaign theme for 2024 is ‘Inspire Inclusion’. The aim is to inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion so that together we can forge a better world for everyone.
The colours associated with International Women’s Day are purple, green and white, which have a symbolic significance.
Purple represents justice and dignity, while green symbolises hope. Looking up these references, and having been a young woman in the 1960s when this idea gained traction (although pejoratively called ‘Women’s Lib’ by those who felt threatened at the thought of equal rights for women), I find myself wondering how much meaning this day has, if any, to the average woman.
However, history has had its way with us. Centuries of it. Coincidental to writing this column, I came across an article today in an online journal called the Literary Hub.
Its newsletter, ‘Lit Hub’, described how and when the disenfranchisement of women began, at least in England.
It features an excerpt which was adapted from “Normal Women: Nine Hundred Years of Making History” by Phillipa Gregory, CBE, one of the world’s foremost historical novelists, The article is titled “How the Norman Invasion brought Patriarchy to England”.
This was in 1066 - and until fairly recent times it was an accepted and acceptable social norm. A lot of “tradition” to unpick!
I was fascinated by the information and am quoting or paraphrasing some of her words here.
“The invasion of the Norman army in 1066 - Duke William of
Normandy (France) against King Harold of England - would be far more than a regime change for the women of England. It was the hardening of a tyranny by men who captured the kingdom and its fortune, passed it father to excluding women, created laws enslaving women, composed religion and philosophy to denigrate women;
men whose violence was directed at women and whose need for cash and greed for profit would underpay and overwork women for centuries. The account book compiled to establish the value of lands for royal taxation could be challenged no more than Judgment Day itself, and was named in the twelfth century as the
WOW
WORLD OF WOMEN
By VICTORIA SARNE Author, biographer, poet
Domesday Book. For the women of England, the Norman invasion was indeed a day of doom.”
The article is quite extensive and some of the points not necessarily well-known unless you are a history buff.
“The Domesday Book had been commissioned to show the invader the state of the land that he claimed as all his own,” writes Ms Gregory.
“All the lands belonged to the king by right of conquest, and he favoured his chiefs of staff with grants of land. Female ownership all but died out. In 1066, there were 25 women landholders recorded in Essex but only 9 recorded in 1086. Yorkshire listed 19 women in 1066 and 4 in 1086. Suffolk listed more than 50 women owners in 1066 but 43 of them vanished in only 20 years. The great landowners were now all Normans, all male. William did not grant any land to women except kinswomen and a few nunneries.”
Not only does the above record show the loss of land ownership, wealth and independence for women, it seems it also set a precedent for the right of ownership of women’s bodies.
“Anglo-Saxon women who refused to accept Norman rule found themselves landless. Gunnhildr, King Harold’s own daughter, lost all her lands and hid
Mothers’ dieting habits and self-talk have profound impact on daughters
Two psychologists explain how to cultivate healthy behaviors and body image
By JANET J BOSEOVSKI Professor of Psychology, University of North Carolina – Greensboro
Ashleigh Gallagher Senior Lecturer, University of North Carolina – Greensboro
(THE CONVERSATION)
Weight loss is one of the most common health and appearancerelated goals.
Women and teen girls are especially likely to pursue dieting to achieve weight loss goals even though a great deal of research shows that dieting doesn’t work over the long term.
We are a developmental psychologist and a social psychologist who together wrote a forthcoming book, “Beyond Body Positive: A Mother’s Evidence-Based Guide for Helping Girls Build a Healthy Body Image.”
In the book, we address topics such as the effects of maternal dieting behaviours on daughters’ health and well-being. We provide information on how to build a foundation for healthy body image beginning in girlhood.
Given the strong influence of social media and other cultural influences on body ideals, it’s understandable that so many people pursue diets aimed at weight loss. TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and celebrity websites feature slim influencers and “how-tos” for achieving those same results in no time.
For example, women and teens are engaging in rigid and extreme forms of exercise such as 54D, a
program to achieve body transformation in 54 days, or the 75 Hard Challenge, which is to follow five strict rules for 75 days.
For teens, these pursuits are likely fuelled by trendy body preoccupations such as the desire for “legging legs.”
Women and teens have also been been inundated with recent messaging around quick-fix weight loss drugs, which come with a lot of caveats.
Dieting and weight loss goals are highly individual, and when people are intensely self-focused, it is possible to lose sight of the bigger picture. Although women might wonder what the harm is in trying the latest diet, science shows that dieting behaviour doesn’t just affect the dieter. In particular, for women who are mothers or who have other girls in their lives, these behaviours affect girls’ emerging body image and their health and well-being.
Research shows that mothers and maternal figures have a profound influence on their daughters’ body image.
The opportunity to influence girls’ body image comes far earlier than adolescence. In fact, research shows that these influences on body image begin very
early in life – during the preschool years.
Mothers may feel that they are being discreet about their dieting behaviour, but little girls are watching and listening, and they are far more observant of us than many might think.
For example, one study revealed that compared with daughters of nondieting women, five-year-old girls whose mothers dieted were aware of the connection between dieting and thinness.
Mothers’ eating behaviour does not just affect girls’ ideas about dieting, but also their daughters’ eating behaviour. The amount of food that mothers eat predicts how much their daughters will eat. In addition, daughters whose mothers are dieters are more likely to become dieters themselves and are also more likely to have a negative body image.
Negative body image is not a trivial matter. It affects girls’ and women’s mental and physical well-being in a host of ways and can predict the emergence of eating disorders.
What can moms do, then, to serve their daughters’ and their own health?
They can focus on small steps. And although it is best to begin these efforts early in life – in girlhood – it is never too late to do so.
in a nunnery to escape a forced marriage to a Norman lord. Lower-class Anglo-Saxon women were robbed, assaulted and raped by the invading soldiers. Although William commanded the nobles to ‘restrain themselves’, the ‘Penitential Ordinance’ ruled that rapists and fornicators should pay nothing more than a fine, and William’s vice-regents - Odo of Bayeux and William FitzOsbern - protected their men when they were accused of plunder or rape. English women were abducted and sold into slavery. The AngloSaxons had an elective monarchy - their king was chosen by a parliament of lords - but William won the throne in battle and then left it to his sons. His lords copied him: lands were inherited by male heirs, however distant, however incompetent, overlooking all daughters. The Normans brought patriarchy to England, formalised it in law and kept women from the throne for five centuries.”
History is relevant to everyone’s life and to progress if we learn from it; and I mean those men and women, who are seriously interested in a balanced and just society for the benefit of all. The reality is as fallible human beings it seems we often leave challenges or change to “someone else” to fix. But we are the “someone else”. And the time is always now to do something, big or small, with generous intention, to achieve a balanced and equitable society because every action counts and is actually necessary to create the bigger tapestry of change.
Phillipa Gregory’s article can be found on lithub.com.
For example, mothers can consider how they think about and talk about themselves around their daughters. Engaging in “fat talk” may inadvertently send their daughters the message that larger bodies are bad, contributing to weight bias and negative self-image. Mothers’ fat talk also predicts later body dissatisfaction in daughters. And negative self-talk isn’t good for mothers, either; it is associated with lower motivation and unhealthful eating. Mothers can instead practice and model self-compassion, which involves treating oneself the way a loving friend might treat you.
In discussions about food and eating behaviour, it is important to avoid moralizing certain kinds of food by labelling them as “good” or “bad,” as girls may extend these labels to their personal worth. For example, a young girl may feel that she is being “bad” if she eats dessert, if that is what she has learned from observing the women around her. In contrast, she may feel that she has to eat a salad to be “good.”
Moms and other female role models can make sure that the dinner plate sends a healthy message to their daughters by showing instead that all foods can fit into a balanced diet when the time is right. Intuitive eating, which emphasises paying attention to hunger and satiety and allows flexibility in eating behaviour, is associated with better physical and mental health in adolescence.
Another way that women and especially moms can buffer girls’ body image is by helping their daughters to develop media literacy and to think critically about the nature and purpose of media. For example, moms can discuss the misrepresentation and distortion of bodies, such as the use of filters to enhance physical appearance, on social media.
One way to begin to focus on health behaviours rather than dieting behaviours is to develop respect for the body and to consider body neutrality. In other words, prize body function rather than appearance and spend less time thinking about your body’s appearance. Accept that there are times when you may not feel great about your body, and that this is OK.
To feel and look their best, mothers can aim to stick to a healthy sleep schedule, manage
their stress levels, eat a varied diet that includes all of the foods that they enjoy, and move and exercise their bodies regularly as lifelong practices, rather than engaging in quick-fix trends.
Although many of these tips sound familiar, and perhaps even simple, they become effective when we recognize their importance and begin acting on them. Mothers can work toward modelling these behaviours and tailor each of them to their daughter’s developmental level. It’s never too early to start.
Science shows that several personal characteristics are associated with body image concerns among women.
For example, research shows that women who are higher in neuroticism and perfectionism, lower in self-compassion or lower in self-efficacy are all more likely to struggle with negative body image.
Personality is frequently defined as a person’s characteristic pattern of thoughts, feelings and behaviours. But if they wish, mothers can change personality characteristics that they feel aren’t serving them well.
For example, perfectionist tendencies – such as setting unrealistic, inflexible goals – can be examined, challenged and replaced with more rational thoughts and behaviours. A woman who believes she must work out every day can practice being more flexible in her thinking. One who thinks of dessert as “cheating” can practice resisting moral judgments about food.
Changing habitual ways of thinking, feeling and behaving certainly takes effort and time, but it is far more likely than diet trends to bring about sustainable, long-term change. And taking the first steps to modify even a few of these habits can positively affect daughters.
In spite of all the noise from media and other cultural influences, mothers can feel empowered knowing that they have a significant influence on their daughters’ feelings about, and treatment of, their bodies.
In this way, mothers’ modelling of healthier attitudes and behaviours is a sound investment – for both their own body image and that of the girls they love.
PAGE 10, Tuesday, March 5, 2024 THE TRIBUNE
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Lara Love Hardin’s memoir ‘The Many Lives of Mama Love’ is Oprah Winfrey’s new book club pick
By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Oprah Winfrey’s latest book club selection is an author and ghost writer’s life story, chronicling her journey from prison and drug addiction to collaborating with the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and others.
Lara Love Hardin’s “The Many Lives of Mama Love: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing” was published last summer.
“Once you start reading, be prepared, because you won’t want to stop as Lara chronicles how she went from surviving behind bars to becoming a best-selling ghostwriter and author, sharing her harrowing, sometimes hilarious, and often heartbreaking journey from her arrest and conviction to
her release and ultimate reinvention,” Winfrey said in a statement Tuesday. As she has done with previous club picks, Winfrey popped up during a video conference call between Hardin and her publisher, Simon & Schuster, and broke the news.
“I had to ask myself if this was real life or my overactive imagination,” Hardin said in a statement. “Her spotlight is humbling and validating and I know it will also shine a light on the shared story of all incarcerated women. Words are inadequate to convey what an incredible, fantastical, dream-fulfilling honor this is as an author, nor how much it means to me that this new plot twist to my story will become a part of the story my children someday tell to their children.”
Hardin has been cited by Winfrey before. She co-wrote, and
was fully credited for the prison memoir “The Sun Does Shine,” by Anthony Ray Hinton, who spent nearly 30 years on death row in Alabama on a wrongful murder conviction. “The Sun Does Shine” was a Winfrey selection in 2018. “The Many Lives of Mama Love” is Winfrey’s 104th book choice since she started the club in 1996, her previous selections ranging from Michelle Obama’s “Becoming” to Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road.” Tuesday’s announcement comes at a time of growing prominence for ghost writers, among them JR Moehringer, widely praised for his work on Prince Harry’s “Spare.”
In January, the Gotham Ghostwriters and the American Society of Journalists and Authors copresented the first-ever national conference of ghost writers, “Gathering of the Ghosts,” in New York City.
THE TRIBUNE Tuesday, March 5, 2024, PAGE 11
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. ORLANDO Low: 68° F/20° C High: 81° F/27° C TAMPA Low: 69° F/21° C High: 81° F/27° C WEST PALM BEACH Low: 73° F/23° C High: 81° F/27° C FT. LAUDERDALE Low: 74° F/23° C High: 81° F/27° C KEY WEST Low: 75° F/24° C High: 82° F/28° C Low: 71° F/22° C High: 81° F/27° C ABACO Low: 73° F/23° C High: 78° F/26° C ELEUTHERA Low: 73° F/23° C High: 78° F/26° C RAGGED ISLAND Low: 75° F/24° C High: 80° F/27° C GREAT EXUMA Low: 74° F/23° C High: 79° F/26° C CAT ISLAND Low: 72° F/22° C High: 79° F/26° C SAN SALVADOR Low: 72° F/22° C High: 80° F/27° C CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS Low: 75° F/24° C High: 80° F/27° C LONG ISLAND Low: 74° F/23° C High: 80° F/27° C MAYAGUANA Low: 72° F/22° C High: 82° F/28° C GREAT INAGUA Low: 75° F/24° C High: 83° F/28° C ANDROS Low: 73° F/23° C High: 80° F/27° C Low: 71° F/22° C High: 79° F/26° C FREEPORT NASSAU Low: 73° F/23° C High: 81° F/27° C MIAMI THE WEATHER REPORT 5-DAY FORECAST A couple of showers in the morning High: 81° AccuWeather RealFeel 87° F The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day. Partly cloudy Low: 71° AccuWeather RealFeel 73° F A couple of showers and a t-storm High: 82° AccuWeather RealFeel Low: 71° 88°-73° F Partly sunny with a few showers High: 82° AccuWeather RealFeel Low: 70° 91°-74° F Comfortable with partial sunshine High: 80° AccuWeather RealFeel Low: 72° 87°-74° F Nice with clouds and sun High: 81° AccuWeather RealFeel 86°-76° F Low: 74° TODAY TONIGHT WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY ALMANAC High 81° F/27° C Low 68° F/20° C Normal high 78° F/26° C Normal low 65° F/18° C Last year’s high 87° F/30° C Last year’s low 72° F/22° C As of 1 p.m. yesterday 0.04” Year to date 2.75” Normal year to date 3.15” Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature Precipitation SUN AND MOON TIDES FOR NASSAU New Mar. 10 First Mar. 16 Full Mar. 25 Last Apr. 1 Sunrise 6:29 a.m. Sunset 6:14 p.m. Moonrise 2:42 a.m. Moonset 1:10 p.m. Today Wednesday Thursday Friday High Ht.(ft.) Low Ht.(ft.) 2:49 a.m. 2.6 9:25 a.m. 0.5 3:07 p.m. 1.9 9:16 p.m. 0.0 3:53 a.m. 2.8 10:27 a.m. 0.3 4:14 p.m. 2.2 10:23 p.m. 0.1 4:53 a.m. 3.0 11:23 a.m. 0.0 5:14 p.m. 2.4 11:25 p.m. -0.4 5:48 a.m. 3.2 12:13 p.m. -0.3 6:10 p.m. 2.7 ----- ----Saturday Sunday Monday 6:39 a.m. 3.3 12:22 a.m. -0.6 7:03 p.m. 3.0 1:01 p.m. -0.6 8:28 a.m. 3.3 1:17 a.m. 0.8 8:54 p.m. 3.2 2:48 p.m. 0.8 9:17 a.m. 3.2 3:11 a.m. -0.9 9:44 p.m. 3.3 3:34 p.m. -0.9 MARINE FORECAST WINDS WAVES VISIBILITY WATER TEMPS. ABACO Today: SE at 8-16 Knots 4-8 Feet 6 Miles 75° F Wednesday: SSE at 10-20 Knots 4-8 Feet 10 Miles 75° F ANDROS Today: SE at 7-14 Knots 1-2 Feet 10 Miles 76° F Wednesday: SE at 8-16 Knots 1-2 Feet 10 Miles 76° F CAT ISLAND Today: E at 8-16 Knots 4-7 Feet 10 Miles 76° F Wednesday: SE at 8-16 Knots 4-7 Feet 10 Miles 76° F CROOKED ISLAND Today: E at 10-20 Knots 3-6 Feet 10 Miles 78° F Wednesday: E at 8-16 Knots 3-6 Feet 10 Miles 78° F ELEUTHERA Today: ESE at 8-16 Knots 4-7 Feet 6 Miles 76° F Wednesday: SE at 8-16 Knots 4-7 Feet 10 Miles 76° F FREEPORT Today: SE at 6-12 Knots 1-3 Feet 10 Miles 75° F Wednesday: SSE at 8-16 Knots 2-4 Feet 10 Miles 76° F GREAT EXUMA Today: SE at 8-16 Knots 1-2 Feet 10 Miles 77° F Wednesday: SE at 8-16 Knots 1-2 Feet 10 Miles 77° F GREAT INAGUA Today: E at 10-20 Knots 3-5 Feet 10 Miles 79° F Wednesday: E at 8-16 Knots 2-4 Feet 10 Miles 78° F LONG ISLAND Today: E at 10-20 Knots 3-6 Feet 10 Miles 78° F Wednesday: ESE at 8-16 Knots 3-5 Feet 10 Miles 78° F MAYAGUANA Today: E at 10-20 Knots 5-9 Feet 10 Miles 76° F Wednesday: E at 8-16 Knots 5-9 Feet 10 Miles 76° F NASSAU Today: ESE at 7-14 Knots 1-3 Feet 10 Miles 77° F Wednesday: SE at 8-16 Knots 1-3 Feet 10 Miles 77° F RAGGED ISLAND Today: E at 10-20 Knots 3-5 Feet 10 Miles 75° F Wednesday: ESE at 8-16 Knots 2-4 Feet 10 Miles 75° F SAN SALVADOR Today: SE at 8-16 Knots 1-3 Feet 10 Miles 77° F Wednesday: SE at 8-16 Knots 1-3 Feet 10 Miles 77° F UV INDEX TODAY The higher the AccuWeather UV Index number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2024
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. N S E W 7-14 knots N S E W 8-16 knots N S E W 7-14 knots N S E W 8-16 knots N S E W 8-16 knots N S W E 10-20 knots N S W E 10-20 knots N S E W 7-14 knots
(Photo, Oprah.com)
TRACKING MAP
An unsung heroine of the community celebrates International Women’s Day
By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
THIS week, women all around the world are being celebrated for their advancements, achievements and the strides they’ve made over the decades. International Women’s Day, which will officially be observed on March 8, is a global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political accomplishments of women around the world.
This year, the call to action is summed up in the hashtag #InspireInclusion; a call to rid the world of biases, stereotypes and discrimination.
The collective vision is for a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive; a world where differences are valued and celebrated.
All around the globe women are breaking glass ceilings, choosing non-traditional career paths, becoming their own bosses through entrepreneurship, and ascending to leadership roles in various companies.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Tribune Woman puts a spotlight on some of unsung heroines in the community who are doing their share to help women as much as they can.
Deidre Bastian, author and international “Literary Titan Book” award winner for “Unplug Take Back Your Power”, is one such individual. She is a mother of two and grandmother of one. With a genuine desire to serve humanity, she is also the founder and president of a registered outreach ministry known as “Women of Purpose and Power 242”.
In this Q&A with Tribune Woman, Deidre shares what she believes is the significance of International Women‘s Day is. She also speaks about the women who inspired her along the way and that one song she plays when she wants to activate her inner girl power.
Q: Today, women all around the world are celebrated for the strides they have made. What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
A: International Women’s Day is a day the energy and optimism should be enough to make any woman feel her absolute best, especially those who have bravely stood at the forefront to fight against inequality and for human rights.
Personally, it represents an opportunity to amplify women’s voices in contexts they aren’t usually heard. Whilst this is still improving, the development has provided a much-needed space to ensure women cannot only build further through opportunities, but at all levels. Similarly, it is a special opportunity to shout about the achievements of other great women, as a reminder that success doesn’t just happen by accident.”
one character mould to become a great leader. Quite frankly, the importance of being an authentic leader isn’t about a job, a role or a status; it’s about having something you believe in and using it to inspire others to be the best they can, individually, but more importantly, together. We must be true to ourselves; be present and remain active in our personal and professional development by embracing strengths, weaknesses, hopes and failures.
Subsequently, it is important to use wisdom and observe situations from different perspectives as this can assist in intercepting unexpected obstacles and overcoming them. Set goals, measure them, and always have an execution plan.
One of your goals has to involve wanting your company, employees or members to grow. Overall, you are only as successful as the team you lead.”
Q: What advice would you give to other women who are currently leaders or hope to one day become a leader?
Q: Why do you think it is important for women to be celebrated on such a day?
A: “International Women’s Day is a day of recognition for women globally; celebrating the big victories and also the small ones. It is an opportunity to reinforce the message that each woman is valued without regard to division; whether national, ethnic, linguistic, economic or political.
Ultimately, there is still more work that needs to be done and we can achieve even more by working together and supporting each other.”
A: “The journey up the leadership ladder has a different view from the bottom. Also, the climb to the top is never easy. However, as I am extremely passionate about inspiring the future generations, I still believe in the ‘sending the elevator down’ principle to help someone else. Just as we all need support to achieve progression, we all learn by helping others as well.
Nonetheless, the advice I would offer to other women who one day hope to become a leader is to always have a clear purpose and vision of ‘why’ they wish to lead. Because every leadership path is different; always pursue spiritual guidance in every initiative. Be optimistic and always open to positive opportunity; seek mentors and surround yourself with people who genuinely wish to see you win.”
Q: Which woman leader, locally or globally, has inspired you and why?
A: “As a child I was initially introduced to the meaning of leadership through the character of my mother, who was kindhearted but strong and epitomised resilience. Nonetheless, it’s a proud
feeling not to look too far globally beyond my backyard for inspiration, as there exist so many strong women leaders in the Bahamas. In particular, our present Governor General, Her Excellency ‘Mother’ Cynthia Pratt’s life story is one that has inspired me to look at possibilities. Why? As outlined in her book ‘From the Pitt to the Palace’, her captivating life story as a young girl who grew up in Nassau, Bahamas, is quite intriguing. She evolved from a life of extreme poverty and ascended
to Deputy Prime Minister, and is currently the Governor General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. What an inspiration! She earned many firsts, and her humble beginning is truly an inspiration.”
Q: What lessons have you learned as a woman in leadership?
A: “As a woman in leadership, I’ve learned that there is not only
International Women’s Day brunch aims to ‘inspire inclusion’
By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIAN women will be celebrated, uplifted and hopefully, left feeling empowered by the upcoming third annual BAF Women’s Brunch.
The event will be held this Friday, which also marks International Women’s Day, at the Margaritaville Resort from 10am-2pm.
March 8 is being observed around the world as day to celebrate women’s achievements; to highlight the social, economic, cultural and political strides women have made. The day also marks a call to action to create a gender equal world; a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
BAF Global Group is inviting women to join them as they bring together a wide array of individuals from all walks of life.
This year, the Women’s Day Brunch is being held under the theme “Inspire Inclusion”.
“Let’s inspire inclusion to help forge a better, more inclusive world for women,” organisers said.
The event will feature speakers who will share their personal stories of inspiration and empowerment. They will include:
Qingli, a career diplomat and the first woman ambassador of China to the Bahamas.
Major, who is a 10x MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table) member. She will be speaking about making her mark in a maledominated industry.
tionally respected thought leader in future health and regenerative medicine who will offer her wisdom and expertise as well as share her personal trials and triumphs.
There will also be a presentation by the CEO of Influential Voice, motivational speaker Kim Welcome.
Organisers hope the brunch will be thought-provoking, inspirational and insightful - a perfect springboard to inspire change and progress.
“At this brunch we will celebrate and support all of the amazing women and highlight their social, economic, cultural and political achievements,” said Cecilia Cooper, creative director.
Each year, BAF creates an event for women to come together and celebrate one another.
“It is a time of fun and laughter as attendees enjoy great food, music, prizes and uplifting presentations. Women will be a part of an environment that will foster learning, admiration, education, entrepreneurial insights
and growth. Guests can expect to leave with something of extreme value and to know that by purchasing a ticket they will also make a donation to two important and impactful Bahamian Women organizations,” she told Tribune Woman. What is different between this year’s event and last year is that organisers have added an entrepreneurial section to the brunch.
Female business owners were invited to be a part of the brunch and showcase their goods and services.
Q: What is the one song you play when you want to activate your inner girl power?
A: “Music can shape our emotions and influence our state of mind, causing us to harness the transformative power of either a positive or negative emotion. The song ‘When You Believe ” by Whitney Houston (and Mariah Carey) has always been one of my positive and uplifting songs.”
“We have created the opportunity for not only women to be empowered, but for business owners to expand and gain exposure for their business. We have created the perfect opportunity to network, brunch, shop and have a great time,” said Cecilia.
“The BAF marketing team hopes that this event will give rise to collaborations, new movements and changed lives. We will ask each attendee to affirm the willingness to help another woman. It is our hope that women will leave there inspired, empowered and fuelled up to go out and take the year by storm, leaving their mark everywhere they go.”
According to Alliyah Austin, marketing coordinator, all proceeds from the brunch will be donated to the Sister Sister Support Group and the Bahamas Crisis Centre.
“We are happy to have representatives for each organisation who will be there to accept the donation,” she said.
Alliyah said she hopes women leave the event feeling invigorated and even more inspired.
“Women are expected to be everything for everyone. Women are expected to pour into everyone around them. Women are seen as these invincible beings who can go, achieve, help, do, all without stopping. And so BAF has created a day for women to pause, take a breath and to be recharged. We will be pouring into all of the amazing women on that day, because women deserve it,” she said.
DEIDRE M. Bastian
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DR Desiree Cox
SECTION B TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2024
CHINESE Ambassador Dai Qingli PATRICE Major of BAF