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ROLLE - STRONG ARM TACTIC MUST CHANGE BPL HEDGING DEAL HITS NEW LAYER OF CONFUSION

Commissioner says he’s working to end ‘us v them’ culture which blights force

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net POLICE Commissioner Paul Rolle said yesterday he was in the process of writing material for the force’s manual that focuses on training officers in sensitisation and de-escalation methods.

He said it was his observation that the Royal Bahamas Police Force was headed down a trajectory of officers against civilians, adding he had to do a lot to “neutralise” the issue.

The addition of material

in the manual is in response to concern from members of the public and complaints against police officers that increased 46 percent in 2021.

The Commissioner said there was a need to “fix” how some officers related to the public.

He was speaking on the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s show Cop Talk, where he told the show’s host that simply locking up officers and prosecuting them for wrong doing was not good enough.

TRANSPORT and Housing Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis says the government is considering allowing taxi and jitney drivers to increase fares in response to rising fuel prices.

The Cabinet is expected to make a decision in the summer after assessing the country’s economic situation.

BAHAMAS Power & Light yesterday rejected accusations the Davis administration had cancelled its fuel hedging initiative.

The supplier said the hedging structure was “not producing the results expected” because “the optimal fuel mix” was not being used.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

SEE PAGE FIVE

FARES INCREASE ‘ON HOLD’ UNTIL SUMMER

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

This comes after Tribune Business reported earlier this week that the sector planned to lobby the government to consider a hike in taxi and bus prices if high gasoline costs continued to rise.

The taxicab union is considering asking for up to a 25 percent increase on their price-controlled fares, while the busing sector may seek a 60 percent rise in adult fares, which will push the SEE PAGE FOUR

‘WHAT EXACTLY IS OUR POLICY ON UKRAINE?’

ALL SMILES FOR TRACK HERO DAVIS

By RASHAD ROLLE and LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporters

TWO-time Olympic champion Pauline Davis with former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham at a book signing yesterday for her new memoir, Running Sideways. The event was held on International Women’s Day - and Ms Davis has also been chosen as the face of the campaign for equality in sports for the next year. See PAGE TWO for the full story.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

WHAT MESSAGE ARE WE SENDING TO POACHERS?

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

FISHERMEN have been taken aback by the sentences given to four Dominican poachers with some saying the lawbreakers deserved a harsher penalty.

On Tuesday, Tribune Business reported the Supreme Court verdict, which effectively imposed a one-month sentence on four Dominicans. National

A LOCAL fisherman at Potter’s Cay Dock yesterday.

Photo: Donavan McIntosh/ Tribune Staff Fisheries Association’s (NFA) secretary Paul Maillis said the verdict was

“unconscionable” and “disheartening” for both Bahamian fishermen and the authorities given that the poachers - who rammed a Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) vessel in their desperation to escape - will only have spent a total six months in prison. The sentences also imposed no fines.

Yesterday, The Tribune canvassed Potter’s Cay and the Montagu fish ramp for views from local fishermen.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

FREE National Movement Leader Michael Pintard said he is concerned that Russian vessels that have been denied permission to land in the United States and Canada have gained entry into The Bahamas.

His comment came after the Cabinet Office urged local institutions yesterday to deal cautiously with transactions involving Russian people and entities SEE PAGE THREE

ALICIA WALLACE: WHEN WILL WE FACE FACTS AND ACCEPT THE SIMPLE TRUTH?

- SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Wednesday, March 9, 2022

PAULINE Davis with Ann Marie Davis, wife of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis at the event.

Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

PAULINE Davis greets Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg.

THE TRIBUNE

Track hero Davis tells her tale TWO-TIME Olympic champion Pauline Davis held a book signing at Goodman’s Bay yesterday for her anticipated memoir, Running Sideways.

“Goodman’s Bay was where it all started, not just for me, but a whole generation of Bahamian coaches and athletes,” Ms Davis said. “These humble origins are important. It is a reminder of how far we have come. I want March 8 to be a celebration for our entire country and the incredible accomplishments we continue to produce on the world stage.”

T R Todd, Ms Davis’ ghost writer and former business editor of The Nassau Guardian, was also at the event.

“I also want to thank my sponsor, Kiya.ai, because without them this event would not have been possible,” Ms Davis also said.

A special message from Sebastian Coe, a former Olympic champion and President of World Athletics, the governing body of international track and field, was given at yesterday’s signing.

Yesterday marked not only Ms Davis’ first official book signing, but also International Women’s Day, where the golden girl took centre stage at World Athletics’ ongoing campaign to fight for equality in sport.

World Athletics, which represents 214 countries in the world of track and field, has launched a #BreakTheBias campaign to advocate for true equality for women in sport.

“Gender equality should no longer be a theoretical discussion in any organisation,” said Mr Coe in a press release.

“We should all be taking action by identifying barriers, reviewing our policies and practice and creating clear pathways for women to rise, contribute and participate at all levels.”

While Ms Davis is perhaps best known for her exploits on the track - winning two golds at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in both the 200m, and then alongside the other golden girls in the 4x100m relay - she also distinguished herself in sports administration.

Years later, she was

PAULINE Davis signing copies of her book.

PAULINE Davis greets Leader of the Opposition Michael Pintard. elected as the first black woman to the prestigious World Athletics Council.

Ms Davis’ time on the council would be defined by her fight for gender equality, along with advocating fair play and assisting in new legislation to fight doping in sport.

At the end of her second term, she was enshrined as a lifetime member of the council, becoming only the second woman at the time to receive this appointment.

Copies of “Running Sideways: The Olympic Champion Who Made Track and Field History” are available at local shops in The Bahamas, or can be ordered through Amazon.

MISS Bahamas Universe Chantel O’Brian at the event.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 9, 2022, PAGE 3

‘What exactly is our policy on Ukraine?’ from page one who have been sanctioned by the United States, the European Union, Canada and the United Kingdom.

“The matter of sanctions was discussed extensively by the government today, and we are in consultations with all our partners and stakeholders, both domestic and international. This remains an evolving matter,” the Cabinet Office statement said.

“We continue to deplore the attack on Ukraine by the Russian Federation.”

Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine has drawn widespread condemnation around the world. The United States has urged The Bahamas to restrict access that sanctioned people and institutions could have to this country’s financial system.

According to reports, some two million Ukrainians have already fled the country since the start of the war, with hundreds said to be dead.

Earlier yesterday, Transport and Housing Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis was unable to confirm reports that several Russian owned tankers were recently rerouted to The Bahamas due

to war sanctions imposed against the country.

On Monday, Reuters reported that three tankers owned by Sovcomflot, a Russian shipping company, were diverted to this country.

According to reports, the information was gleaned from vessel tracking data.

When asked about the issue yesterday, Mrs Coleby-Davis told reporters officials were still investigating to see whether any of the Russian tankers had called on one of the local ports.

She said: “I did follow up with my office port controller Wright and we have been checking up to this morning to determine whether there is actually a call in to our port, for them to come into our port but we haven’t had an update yet from the Freeport port so I am not certain if they have actually called in as yet. For them to re-route and lodge here... we would have to determine what the policy position of the government.”

Last week, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said CARICOM is awaiting a decision from the United Nations Security Council before taking a position

on whether member states should impose sanctions on Russia.

Mr Davis’ comments came after the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada began issuing sanctions against Russian oligarchs, freezing and seizing their assets.

US President Joe Biden announced yesterday that America will ban the import of Russian oil, liquified natural gas and coal.

Yesterday, Mrs ColebyDavis said she believed the government will soon decide on a “policy position” in response to the Russia-Ukraine war.

The US Embassy in Nassau has urged The Bahamas to limit Russia’s access to the Bahamian financial system and to restrict this country’s airspace to Russian aircraft.

Yesterday, Mr Pintard said reports that Russian tankers have been allowed to enter The Bahamas are troubling.

“This story is especially troubling due to its assertion that the Russian state-owned Sovcomflot vessels were not permitted to land in the United States or Canada, two of our most influential strategic western

allies along with the United Kingdom, but were allowed to do so in The Bahamas,” he said in a statement.

“As responsible members of the international community, The Bahamas must act in concert with its strategic allies and multilateral partners toward rejecting Russia’s illegal and inhumane invasion of the sovereign state of Ukraine.

As I indicated recently, we need to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine whose territory has been violated and millions of its citizens displaced, and many others dying daily because of Russia’s hostility.

“We call upon the Bahamian government to act more decisively in the interest of sovereignty, humanity and the maintenance of international laws and norms. Despite the associated risks — as a people — we must be found to be standing on the side of principle and legality, and in the interests of humanity.

“As such, the opposition calls upon the government of The Bahamas to elucidate its policy relative to Russia so that the Bahamian people and the international community might know where we stand.”

THE RUSSIAN vessels reportedly headed for The Bahamas.

SOME of the migrants who were detained yesterday.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

123 HAITIAN MIGRANTS DETAINED AT CAY SAL BANK

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ONE hundred and twenty-three Haitian migrants, including children, who were picked up at sea were brought to Grand Bahama yesterday morning.

It is the single largest group of migrants brought to Grand Bahama so far this year.

The group of 50 men, 34 women and 39 minors were turned over to Bahamian authorities by the US Coast

Guard offshore near Freeport Harbour.

When The Tribune and other press arrived at the port, a USCG Cutter was spotted several miles offshore sometime after 9am.

Police vessels, with Bahamian law enforcement officials, were dispatched to the location to receive the migrants.

According to an official press statement issued by Bahamas immigration officials, the migrants were interdicted by the US Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane

at Cay Sal Bank on Friday, March 4.

It stated that at 9am the migrants were handed over to a joint law enforcement team consisting of local immigration and customs officers, as well as Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and officers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force at the Lucayan Harbour.

The migrants were bused to the Grand Bahama Taxi Union Hall at the Old Airport Road, shortly after noon for

processing. Four buses arrived: one with only women, a second with women and their children, a third with men and their children, and the fourth with only men.

RBDF officers, along with the K-9 unit, and immigration officers were on standby as the migrants were directed inside the hall. One woman appeared to have suffered a leg injury and was using a crutch. Her right ankle was bandaged, and she was being assisted by an officer.

EDWARD TURNER, HUSBAND OF FORMER MP DIES EDWARD Turner, the husband of Loretta Butler-Turner, died yesterday.

Details of his death were not available up to press time last night.

Mr Turner was a lawyer. He is survived by two children, Dr Elizabeth Turner, and Edward Turner, III. Mr Turner was the husband of Mrs Butler-Turner — the former Cabinet minister, member of Parliament

for Montagu and Long Island and current consultant to the Small Business Development Centre.

The couple recently celebrated 31 years of marriage.

Last night, FNM leader Michael Pintard said: “Edward was a community-minded man, generous with his time and resources, and described by his close friends as “affable” and

“sweet”. He was a Rotarian, a Lodge man and committed to his family.

“Those who knew him will remember his genial spirit and ready smile.

He was a quiet but steady bulwark of support.”

Mr Pintard added: “We celebrate his life, and pray his family is comforted by God’s peace and healing during this difficult time.”

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According to the press statement, all migrants appeared to be in good health.

“However, out of abundance of caution, and in keeping with the COVID19 protocols set forth by the department’s health and safety committee, the group is presently being examined by the Disease and Surveillance Unit,” according to the statement.

The department said normal processing of migrants in accordance with statute laws and its policies

will follow completion of the required health checks.

Haitians continue to leave their homeland by risking their lives to get to The Bahamas and the United States.

A group of about 200 Haitian migrants were seen swimming to shore at Ocean Reef Club in North Key Largo, Florida, on Sunday after their vessel ran aground.

A final tally by American officials said more than 300 Haitians were on that boat.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, March 9, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Pintard urges caution over COVID

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard has urged caution from the Davis administration as it rolls back COVID-19 restrictions, noting the country does not have the same widespread vaccination coverage as larger nations that are also easing measures.

Both Mr Pintard and newly elected FNM chairman Dr Duane Sands said the government has not engaged the official opposition as it seeks to return The Bahamas to normal.

Their comments follow Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis’ recent announcement that the Cat Island Rake and Scrape Festival and Regatta would resume this year.

Yesterday, Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Clay Sweeting said he expects several Family Island regattas and festivals will be held this summer once COVID-19 cases remain low.

Prior to that announcement, Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper said a decision had been made to end the day five antigen test requirement for visitors to this country. Instead, a departure rapid antigen test will be offered upon exit from The Bahamas.

Currently, more than 161,000 people in the

FNM leader Michael Pintard.

country are fully vaccinated.

“The government has been rolling back restrictions and citing a reduction in the number of cases and hospitalisations,” Mr Pintard said in a brief statement to The Tribune.

“We support steps to ensure that our economy continues to open and grow safely in the midst of this pandemic. We urge caution in the manner in which we reverse the public health measures since we do not enjoy the level of vaccination that exists in other countries that have fast-tracked their roll back.

“Despite our consistent request and the government’s promise, the opposition is not included in briefings by health officials. We are unaware of the granular data being used to drive the decision-making by the Ministry of Health, especially as the demand for elimination of masks increases.

“WHO and PAHO continue to urge regional responsibility. While we all hope that the end of the pandemic is near, we do not

know if or when another wave will come. We encourage Bahamians to be careful in their daily interactions.”

When he spoke to The Tribune, Dr Sands said the FNM stood ready to engage the government if officials allow it. Dr Sands said: “The government has chosen not to incorporate the views of the official opposition into their COVID decisions, deliberations, etc, and so they are not interested in knowing how we feel and you know it’s really a matter of them rolling the dice as it were and we have not been formally engaged.

“Our leader has said this repeatedly that as we move forward, we should make decisions as a country and they’re not keen on doing that. They have decided to proceed so I think that they should continue to do as they see fit.

“Then (the) official opposition is prepared to engage the government if asked, but there is no point in us simply shouting like a voice in the wilderness,” he continued.

“There has been no consideration of our views so our position is you engage us, we are happy to participate in the discussion.”

For his part, former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said while current conditions look favourable, Bahamians should not let their guards down.

He said low numbers of new infections did not mean the pandemic was over.

“Bahamians should still remember that the pandemic is still not over and though our results are looking good and we are relaxing, we should still be cautious,” Dr Minnis said.

“Ukraine had a low vaccination rate and an outbreak before the war. Therefore, it is always possible for the development of new variants. This means we must not let our guards down,” the Killarney MP said.

The Ministry of Health recorded only nine new cases in the past three days: four each on March 7 and 6 and just one new case on March 5.

FORMER ROTARY PRESIDENT GREETED BY FLORIDA LEADERS

REGATTAS MAY RETURN THIS SUMMER

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

MARINE Resources and Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting says he expects several Family Island regattas and festivals will be held this summer once COVID-19 cases remain low in the country.

“My ministry (has) been advocating for us to get the regattas up and going because we understand that for Family Islands it’s a big economic driver so we’re starting to plan from June moving forward for regattas, homecomings and festivals,” Mr Sweeting told reporters before yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

“I’m sure the whole country is excited. Family Islanders are excited so we’re starting to put everything in place to ensure that we’re successful in doing so.

“Starting June and moving forward, we can

expect to have regattas and festivals in line with health protocols. We also work along with the Ministry of Health, but we do understand that cases are dropping and so starting June, we will start working towards that.”

Mr Sweeting spoke after Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis reportedly told Cat Islanders over the weekend that the island’s Rake n’ Scrape Festival and Regatta would resume this year.

His comments also come weeks after representatives from the National Regatta Committee announced the cancellation of the National Family Island Regatta for the third consecutive year in response to the COVID19 pandemic.

Asked yesterday how officials plan to police the festive events given current social distancing protocols, the Central and South Eleuthera MP said

his ministry is hoping most restrictive measures will be relaxed before the festivals’ start dates.

“As we see, COVID protocols and restrictions have been slackened over time.

We’re here in March so that would be in June so we’re hoping not to foreshadow the Ministry of Health,” the minister said.

“But we’re hoping that a lot of these restrictions will be to the point that (they won’t) be as stringent as what we see today so the protocols what you would see encapsulated now would hopefully not be in June, so that’s why we’ve set the date in June.

“The Ministry of Health has done a wonderful job in ensuring that the protocols​ were in place and that the cases have been reduced so hopefully in June we will be to a different place where we might not be having this conversation.”

FORMER Rotary president Barry Rassin was recognised by the Florida Senate and House of Representatives during a recent visit to the state.

The Florida State Legislature recognised Rotary for its 117th anniversary and also recognised Mr Rassin for being Rotary International president for 2018-19 and chairman of

the Rotary Foundation for 2023-24.

Mr Rassin is pictured, right, with his wife, Esther, and the Mayor of Tallahassee, John E Dailey, left.

FARES INCREASE ‘ON HOLD’ UNTIL SUMMER from page one

current price of jitney rides from $1.25 to $2.

Yesterday, Mrs ColebyDavis told reporters she was made aware of the unions’ concerns even before gas prices started to soar in the country.

The minister also said she reported the matter to Cabinet.

“Actually, prior to that piece in the paper, I had

a meeting with both the taxi and bus drivers’ union and they raised those (concerns) before the increase or potential increase in gas prices simply because during COVID, they were shut down and their business flourishes off the economy being open and movement of people,” she said before going to a Cabinet meeting.

“And so, they have taken a big hit to their businesses, and they have spoken

about potential increases or the allowance of them increasing the fees simply because the last time it was done was probably ten or 12 years ago and it’s kind of hurting their business because of inflation and we have still seen the same prices for years.

“So, I have spoken to my Cabinet colleagues probably maybe two or three months ago when I had that initial meeting with them as I promised, but we decided

that I would come back at it in summer because we were just opening up the economy and we wanted to see how the revenue flows back into the economy getting persons back to work and then potentially having a thought on whether we would increase or allow the increase of their fares.”

However, the minister was unable to say how much the government may increase prices.

“They did give us some

rates but I don’t think that discussion was surrounding whether they would agree on what they presented,” Mrs Coleby-Davis said.

“It was just simply because Cabinet understood their concerns and what they were saying but we simply have to balance it with the state of the country and economy now so that’s why they said let’s go back (to) the discussion in the summer months once we have gotten through this period.”

Calls for higher bus and taxi fares comes as the sector continues its rebound from restrictions imposed to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Yesterday, the Elizabeth MP was asked if the government was considering relaxing protocols on jitneys which are still limited to a 50 percent seating capacity.

“I think that they (the Ministry of Health) are planning to provide further information — the end of this week is what I’m hearing, so I’m hoping that comes through the end of this week,” she said. “So, there’s a lot of discussion that takes place, obviously.

The Minister of Health wants to make sure that he speaks to his counterparts and colleagues and gets an agreed position before he makes announcements.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 9, 2022, PAGE 5

FNM: Amend the law on marital rape

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE Free National Movement has called on the Davis administration to amend the law to criminalise marital rape.

The issue grabbed headlines again after National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said on Sunday marital rape should be referred to as something other than rape if convictions were being sought.

His comment came at a Progressive Liberal Party men’s branch event where others attending expressed their views on the matter.

The FNM said in the Westminster tradition followed in The Bahamas, ministers are bound by the collective decisions of Cabinet adding that public announcements made by ministers are not personal opinions, but the view of the government.

The party added that Mr Munroe “gave troubling insight into the policy position of the Davis administration and the lack of a progressive legislative agenda”.

The FNM said Mr Munroe’s comments have “further clouded” the government’s position on marital rape. The party asked a series of questions about the issue.

“What exactly is the Prime Minister’s view?

Does he and his Cabinet feel that addressing this matter is a priority? Did the Minister of National Security speak with the approval of Cabinet and is his position the current position of the Cabinet and shared by his colleagues - including

the Attorney General?

“Is the government no longer prepared to acknowledge that marital rape - even by any other name - is still rape?

“Bahamians have heard (Mr Munroe) state that criminalisation of marital rape in The Bahamas requires an assault on the sanctity of marriage since (in his/their opinion) refusal of spousal demand for sex is grounds for adultery.

“We in the FNM stand with Bahamians in defending a woman’s right to protection against sexual violence, abuse, or exploitation — in or out of marriage. Our leaders have reaffirmed this commitment repeatedly.

“Let us move deliberately to address the serious issues of gender-based violence of all forms. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we call on this administration to amend the Bahamas Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act (1991) to criminalise marital rape,” the FNM said.

Meanwhile, the recent spate of murders in the country has sparked calls from the FNM for the government to make public its comprehensive plan to fight crime.

The party, in a separate statement yesterday, added that it could not turn a blind eye to this issue, which required efforts to be intensified to ensure a peaceful society.

There were three murders in less than 24 hours this week - one man was killed in Grand Bahama and two men in New Providence. Two of the killings took place on Sunday and

one on Monday.

Two New Providence men were also shot dead in separate incidents on Saturday.

These incidents brought the homicide count to 21 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

“The recent increase in murders in the country, most notable reports of three killings in less than 24 hours, one on Grand Bahama and two in New Providence is alarming,” the opposition party said.

“This is particularly concerning considering that The Bahamas had started to witness a downturn in murders in recent time under the Free National Movement administration.

“These noted statistics were more than likely the results of a detailed and impactful approach to addressing overall crime matters throughout our archipelago. Our hearts are with the families of the various murdered victims and we especially call for justice to be served in these cases.

“The official opposition remains with a mindset of working with the government of the day in these matters, realising that the increase in crime in our society will not bode well for the safety, security of the Bahamian people and our overall standing as a country. Amidst the current economic challenges and a global pandemic, we have experienced more than our share of challenges, which we can’t afford to have compounded with rapid cases of murders in the country.”

The statement called for a comprehensive plan to fight crime from the government.

ROLLE - STRONG ARM TACTIC MUST CHANGE from page one

He said it was necessary to fix the internal issues within the force, before seeking compliance from the general public.

“We have criticisms and I want to encourage all of my officers to listen to the criticism,” Commissioner Rolle said.

“Listen to what our customers and our employers are saying to us because we were hired by the public to work for them (and) keep them safe and I would ask the question, how many of you would hire me to beat you up every day? I don’t believe no police officer would say ‘yes you could take me’ and it’s the same attitude I am saying.

“We were hired to provide safety and if the public do not feel comfortable with their police officers you become irrelevant and we were heading down a trajectory where it was this us and them over the last – I think, 2020 when I came into office – and moving on and you saw this... I had to do a lot of things to neutralise that and to try and change the commentary, but you do it incrementally.

“So, I said that we would start here and then as we move on, I am saying now that, yes, there is this philosophy of hard cop, soft cop. I am not saying that if you are challenged by the bad guy that you don’t take action. My position is that if you are challenged, yes, I expect the police officers to address that and deal with it, but when you work towards partnership, I believe you have less confrontation and so there is this other train of thought. You heard other criticism about the training in de-escalation

and, yeah, we have to do more training in that and teaching our officers and sensitising our officers how to de-escalate.”

He continued: “I am writing material right now which is going to be incorporated into the training manual.

“You look at Robert Peel’s policing principles and we have been doing a lot of it.

But one of those principles is (that) the police are there to build relationships and the more you have to use force to get compliance the less cooperation you get.

“If you look at the complaints, I gave my stats. I didn’t hide it,” Commissioner Rolle said.

“Complaints against police in 2021 jumped 46 percent and any police officer who doesn’t understand what I am trying to say needs to come and have a conversation and let’s talk because there is a problem.

“I am saying we have to start somewhere to fix that problem. Just simply locking up police officers and prosecuting police officers that’s not good enough. We have to try to prevent that.

“So, I am saying before we try to fix the public, let’s fix ourselves.”

Last month, the police chief said he was committed to removing the “warrior mentality” from officers as they interact with people.

That mentality, he said at the time, breeds confrontation.

His comment came after several highprofile incidents of police using deadly force, including January’s police shooting of a decorated Royal Bahamas Defence Force officer who allegedly tried to disarm a police officer, among other incidents.

KIDNEY GROUP RAISES FUNDS THE Bahamas Kidney Association is celebrating kidney awareness month by launching its first major fundraising campaign.

Alreadym the initiative has brought in over $20,000.

The association said it is grateful to major donors such as The Kidney Clinic ($10,000), Colina Insurance Limited ($5,000) and Family Guardian Insurance Company ($2,500), as well

as Transformation Landscape Development, Hanna Kellman & Associates, Mitre Court, McDonald's, Walk-in Medical Clinic, Customs Computers and dozens of individual donors who, collectively, donated more than $4,000 to the cause.

President Tamika Roberts said: “While we are certainly proud of what we’ve accomplished in our

short existence, we hope it will inspire other organisations and individuals to partner with us to ensure that kidney health remains top of mind for every Bahamian.”

For more information, visit www.bahamaskidneyassociation.org, email: info@bahamaskidneyassociation.org or follow the association on Facebook and/or Instagram.

HONOURING WOMEN THE Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister held a wreath laying ceremony for the “Bahamian Madonna” statue at Prince George Dock yesterday.

The event was held in collaboration with the

Oscar and Sylvia Johnson Foundation in honour of International Women’s Day. The event also saw a performance from the Urban Renewal Marching Band.

Pictured at the event are

Miss Bahamas Universe Chantel O’Brian and Ann Marie Davis, wife of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/ Tribune Staff

PAGE 6, Wednesday, March 9, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

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Changing the way we handle policing IT almost feels like it should go without saying that excessive force should not be something police officers resort to – and yet Commissioner Paul Rolle has set his sights on exactly that problem.

The commissioner is absolutely correct that this is a problem that needs to be dealt with. Too many times over the years have defendants come to court and complained that they were beaten by police or their confessions were extracted under duress. Some of those will be false claims, of course, but too many times it seemed to be true, giving even the false claims more credence.

We have heard it many times here at The Tribune too, both on and off the record.

In these pages, we have recounted many cases of alleged brutality. There were the claims in 2019, for example, of three people who said they were tortured by police in Eleuthera, including being bound and beaten, a fish bag being put over their heads and hot sauce poured into an eye.

There were two women in August of that year who accused a police officer of punching them in the face in Exuma.

In March of that year, attorney Christina Galanos released a video clip showing a client being helped into an ambulance after he was allegedly beaten to force a confession.

Many defence lawyers and even some top legal officials in previous administrations have told The Tribune that torture for confessions is a genuine problem in The Bahamas.

Just yesterday, it was reported an investigation is under way into claims that a Cat Island local government official was beaten by officers in Long Island and denied medical attention.

So it is in this environment that Commissioner Rolle says that he is writing material for the force’s manual that seeks to train officers in sensitisation and de-escalation.

That also runs hand in hand with the number of incidents involving

police-involved shootings, where officers with the appropriate training might be able to stop the situation from escalating to the point where bullets fly rather than words.

As Commissioner Rolle said: “I am saying we have to start somewhere to fix that problem. Just simply locking up police officers and prosecuting police officers, that’s not good enough. We have to try to prevent that.”

Harking back to the early days of policing, he said: “You look at Robert Peel’s policing principles and we have been doing a lot of it. But one of those principles is (that) the police are there to build relationships and the more you have to use force to get compliance the less cooperation you get.”

This is not a new topic for Commissioner Rolle – he has spoken before of the need to reduce incidents of brutality, saying just last month that he wanted to remove the “warrior mentality” from officers. We applaud him for such a move.

He is also taking the right approach in trying to rewrite the manual. He won’t be the man in charge forever, but if he can change the way in which officers are trained to find a better way, it can make an impact for a generation or more.

At its heart, however, is a simple belief that it should not be us and them when it comes to the police and the community, but officers as part of the community, working together with citizens.

Some of that can also come from improved accountability, making sure that complaint mechanisms work and issues are handled in a timely manner rather than being left to run out of time for a complaint to be dealt with.

But if we can take some of the antagonism out of the policing system, and find better ways to resolve conflicts, it will be a step forward for our nation.

To that end, we wish Commissioner Rolle well in his goal, to improve the force, and to improve our society.

Plan for new homes EDITOR, The Tribune.

WHILE I admire the ambitious goal of the newly appointed Minister responsible for housing, to build 1,600 homes, the most by any Minister. I wish to offer some unsolicited advice. The Department of Housing Act I believe was created to help the poor man (woman) to own a home. Known as low cost homes, the purchase price was within the lower income individual’s to finance a mortgage.

I believe the government has a solemn responsibility to provide avenues so that the lower income individual is able to afford a roof over their head. This can be done through a number of initiatives. Interest rates at Bahamas Mortgage Corp ought to be reduced to 1-2 percent; down payments should be 0-2 percent. And the length of time for the loan can be increased to a 50 year term. Don’t tell me it can’t be done because in other countries it is being done. It is incumbent upon the lawmakers to have the testicular fortitude to make the change. Some mortgages go up to 75 years. It is passed onto the children who would have now been

an adult and are employed.

The point is, more unconventional thought needs to go into formulating policies to enable persons to own a home. The challenge is, I am not hearing of any big new idea. The question is, will it be business as usual and the same status quo.

Somewhere along the way, greed became the order of the day. Bahamas Mortgage Corporation began competing with the commercial banks. Getting back to the ambitious goal by the Minister. According to published reports, 48 homes will be constructed in Pine Crest Subdivision. My suggestion to the government would be to select 12 small contractors and award each four homes. Or even better still to sweeten the pot, select 24 contractors and give each two homes. Obviously the monies would spread much further. I would be tormented to know that a single developer is selected to build all 48 homes. That would be a grave injustice to the small contractor.

They would be forced to go on bended knee with cap in hand seeking employment.

And if in fact the government does construct 1,600 homes, it would be a serious

tragedy if a single developer is given the entire contract.

There was a policy place in at the housing department that vacant lots were reduced by 70% from the appraised value. This enabled persons with lower income to afford lots. That is a good policy. That is in line with the vision of Dept. of Housing. I would hope that is still in place. To add to the greed factor I recall an individual seeking to purchase a large block of vacant lots in a government subdivision. The purpose was to construct homes to his specifications. This is totally going against the Housing Act. These homes would be constructed for a certain segment of the market and eliminate the people whom the act had intended for.

The government is indebted to ensure that the small man and woman is given an equal opportunity to own a piece of the pie, so to speak. Prime Minister Davis’ legacy is on the line.

It is commonly said, he is for the small man. Well now is the time to put the proof in the pudding!

PATRICK STRACHAN Nassau, March 7, 2022.

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

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

The Earth will abide EDITOR, The Tribune.

TO PRIME Minister Philip Brave Davis, climate change and global warming are both massive issues worth addressing. True to his word to the Bahamian people, Davis addressed this issue at the recent CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Belize, although I cannot recall climate change being front and centre in the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) campaign platform in 2021. In fact, I cannot say if the subject was addressed at all on the campaign trail.

I stand to be corrected.

However, I am not too certain how important climate change is to the average Bahamian, who is mainly concerned about skyrocketing food, medicine and gas prices, in addition to the high cost of utilities, rent and mortgage. Moreover, how many Bahamians that voted in 2021 did so with climate change as a motivating factor? The ongoing subject of climate change is for wealthy and famous people like Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeff Bezos, Prince Charles, Katy Perry and former US Vice President Al Gore. The wealth of these people affords them the luxury of addressing mundane issues that is of little relevance to John Q Public.

Gore, who has a net worth of $300 million, claims to live a carbon-free lifestyle. His 2006 documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, is mainly responsible for the hysteria over global warming among celebrities and other wealthy elitists.

According to Gore, human activity is mainly responsible for the huge amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which has led to global warming. Gore and other climate change activists are arguing that there is strong scientific consensus (among evolutionary scientists) for this theory, which says that, left unchecked, global warming will lead to a catastrophic deluge similar to Noah’s Flood in Genesis chapters 6-9, with ice caps and glaciers melting away in the North and South Poles; rising sea level; the expansion of deserts; more killer cyclones; species extinction and the threat of pestilence. Gore and the global warming camp want to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and to reduce tree harvesting. They argue that rain forests are the largest reservoir for storing carbon dioxide and generating oxygen, according to evangelical science writer Rod Martin. In an ideal world for these people, the oil and lumber industries would come to an abrupt end. According to a 2010 Answers Research Journal article titled A Proposed Bible-Science Perspective on Global Warming by the aforementioned Rod Martin: “Global warming advocates are concerned that certain “greenhouse gases” (GHG), principally CO2, are being generated by mankind in quantities sufficient to adversely affect the long-term climate of the earth. They claim that since the start of the industrial revolution, the burning of fossil fuels has unnaturally increased the atmospheric

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net content of CO2. This in turn is retarding the earth’s emission of long-wave radiation and artificially increasing the earth’s surface temperature.

This is called the GHG.” According to a study done

by Oxfam, the richest one percent of the world’s population will account for twice as much carbon pollution as 3.1 billion poor people. The goal of global warming elites is to cut emissions by 97 percent among the wealthy, in order to keep global temperature rise below two degrees Celsius-- a goal that was promised in the 2015 Paris Agreement. And according to the Institute for European Environmental Policy and the Stockholm Environment Institute, wealthy Chinese are causing the most carbon dioxide pollution with wealthy Americans coming in second. On the other hand, the poorest emit less than one ton of carbon annually, which would include many Bahamians, if this data is indeed accurate.

According to Worldometer, The Bahamas ranks 134 out of 209 countries regarding carbon emissions, with just over 4.4 million tons.

Its CARICOM ally, Trinidad and Tobago, is ranked 72 with 34.974 million tons.

Trinidad and Tobago has a lucrative oil industry.

Jamaica is 107 with 8.9 million tons. Anguilla is ranked 205 with just over 30,000 tons.

China emits over 10.4 billion tons while the US emits a little more than five billion tons of carbon. In the grand scheme of things, Davis is prioritising a matter that should really only concern the industrialized nations, such as the aforementioned nations, along with India, Russia, Japan, Germany, Canada, Iran, South Korea and Indonesia, to list a few.

Granted, The Bahamas has had to contend with the major Hurricanes Francis, Jeanne, Matthew, Irma and Dorian in recent years.

But in light of this country’s carbon dioxide emissions as compared to the US and China, Davis’ perceived preoccupation with climate change seems to be disproportionate at best. There are far more important issues in The Bahamas that must be tackled. Maybe the PLP is feeling subtle pressure from the Biden administration and the United Nations’ 1997 Kyoto Protocol to act. President Joe Biden participated in the COP26 Climate Change Summit in Glasgow in late 2021. Also in attendance at COP26 were British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Al Gore; former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Bill Gates, French President Emmanuel Macron, Prince Charles, Jeff Bezos and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Along with Bezos’ $65 million Gulf Stream jet, some 400 private planes flew into Glasgow and Edinburgh airports ahead of the summit, which raised the ire of global warming deniers and environmentalists alike.

Contrary to global warming

doomsday prophets, the Earth will not be destroyed by a global flood. Genesis 8:21-22 and 9:11-15 says that “the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.”

Furthermore, climate change proponents seem to be ignorant of biblical eschatology, which states in 2 Peter 3:10 that the Earth shall be burned up. Ecclesiastes 1:4 says that the Earth will abide forever, which would then mean that the fiery judgment Peter alluded to will serve as a purification process that will not completely incinerate the planet (Romans 8:20-22 and Revelation 21:1). This can explain why God promised that the meek shall inherit the Earth, while the wicked will be permanently expelled on Judgment Day (Psalm 37:9-11). It is indeed ironic that Davis is concerned about the Earth that will forever outlast his PLP and the opposition Free National Movement (FNM). Both parties will be done away with in God’s own timing.

Consequently, Davis need not worry about the Earth.

It is in good hands. I can understand the paranoia of American and British atheistic evolutionists. But not a Bahamian theist such as Mr. Davis or the American Baptist Gore, who is, oddly enough, an evolutionist. For the atheistic evolutionist, however, the here and now is all he has.

And finally, God mandated that man should have dominion over the Earth and its resources and other inhabitants (Genesis 1:28). What I gather from global warming advocates is that the Earth comes before man, while animal rights activists place animals ahead of man. Both are wrong. Modern science was birth in the Medieval church in Europe. Yet the secular scientific community has all but monopolised it; dictating the narrative in the process. As an evangelical, I must confess that I am a Young Earth Creationist. If the Earth is 4.5 billion years-old, according to the secular scientific community, that wouldn’t rattle my faith in God and the Bible. In fact, I tend to agree with Francis Schaeffer that Yahweh may have created the Earth in an advanced state. Moreover, the apparent age and decay of Earth is largely due to the catastrophic Fall of Genesis 3.

In any event, I mentioned the Earth’s age because none of us was here hundreds of years ago when the planet may have experienced climate change.

After all, science is based on observation. My point is this: the current global warming situation could very well be cyclical. To Davis, there is no consensus among scientists concerning global warming, as confidently asserted by Gore. I believe Gore and Co are simply over exaggerating the situation.

In closing, I wish to reiterate to our Bahamian leader that both the PLP and FNM will pass away; but planet Earth -- the planet that he and other global warming activists are so concerned about -- will abide forevermore.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama March 7, 2022.

THE TRIBUNE

WHAT MESSAGE ARE WE SENDING TO POACHERS? from page one

Cortell Culmer told The Tribune he felt the poachers should have spent at least a few years behind bars.

“The law is the law, but how it is, it’s like a lot of people in high places own the boats, but Dominicans working on them ... they said The Bahamians (fishing industry) was just for Bahamians, but they still have Dominicans, so it is what it is,” he said.

“If they are saying for Bahamians, it’s just supposed to be for Bahamians not only because it’s who you know and what you willing to spend - that’s the problem right there. A lot of people in high places is the problem.”

During the Minnis administration, then Marine Resources Minister Michael Pintard promised stiffer penalties for poachers caught in Bahamian waters after years of warnings to abide by local laws.

“They were talking about it for years and I thought the last previous government did it and did it for no Dominicans at all, but if you still check boats you still got a lot of Dominicans still here.”

The Minnis administration passed a law that prevents foreigners from engaging in commercial fishing in The Bahamas on Bahamian owned vessels. Some said it was discriminatory.

Fisherman Gregory Brown said it’s up to the courts to impose a sentence, but noted that stiffer penalties have been given out for poaching.

“If the courts decide to give time, two, three years, six months, it’s up to the court to decide exactly how long you must go to prison or pay a fine. You know sometimes if you get catch in The Bahamas illegally fishing like those Dominican boats, lots of them get like two,

three years and a fine of $150,000 for the crew and captain actually gets a different fine also.

“I don’t think the one month is sufficient to give someone if you come into The Bahamas poaching and then get our undersize lobsters. I don’t think one month is good … a year or more to let them know that they can’t enter The Bahamas, illegally fishing in Bahamians’ waters. Our waters are for Bahamians.

Unless you have a licence from the government to intervene then it’s no problem.”

Mr Brown says tough penalties send a strong message to would-be poachers and he said he hadn’t seen many poachers on the water in a while.

“They’ve been serious about giving them high fees and time in prison.

We haven’t had them in a while. You know that sends a strong message to all poachers.”

Fisherman Gamal Levarty had a slightly different view. He said even though what the individuals did was wrong, he feels a month in prison is a “long time”.

“Everybody gotta eat you know - that’s my point of view. I feel sympathy towards all fishermen, no matter the nationality or the race.”

The poachers were apprehended after their vessel, Amanda, sought to evade capture by ramming HMBS Bahamas in waters near Diamond Point, Southern Great Bahama Bank last October.

Some 5,420 pounds of hogfish; 2,213 pounds of Nassau grouper; 11,267 pounds of whole lobster; 276 pounds of lobster tails; and 1,685 pounds of other assorted fish — all illegally harvested from Bahamian waters — were found aboard.

The poachers were also operating using a compressor and spearguns.

Wednesday, March 9, 2022, PAGE 7

Officer testifies in drug trial

By PAVEL BAILEY AN officer gave testimony yesterday in the ongoing drug trial of two men in the Magistrate’s Court.

Shaquell Moss, 20, and Triven Butler, 34, appeared before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney on charges of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply as well as conspiracy to possess and export drugs charges.

This is in relation to their arrest on December 11, 2017, when officers arrested the accused for being in possession of 3.6lbs of cocaine.

In court, Detective Sergeant Paul Adderley, of Crime Scene Investigations, gave testimony on his involvement in the case.

He said that on December 14, 2017, after receiving information from officers of the Drug Enforcement Unit, he received a dark blue suitcase with

suspected drugs inside that had Moss’s name tagged on it. Inside the suitcase he found articles of clothing as well as two packages wrapped in clear saran wrap.

He told the court that a portion of the clear wrapping was removed from both packages in the presence of other officers where a powdery white substance, later identified as cocaine, was uncovered. The wrapping was then processed for fingerprint impressions of which 25 in total were pulled and information gathered placed in the latent fingerprint log.

These fingerprint impressions were labelled A – Y and then photographed with labels of the name and police numbers of officers involved in the case.

These photographs, along with photos of the suitcase, wrappings and the drugs were presented to the court.

The suitcase was also shown in court.

During her cross-examination of

Det Sgt Adderley, Moss’s attorney Wendawn Miller-Frazer argued that the bag shown in the photograph was not the same one as shown in court despite the officer’s claims. She based her allegation on a green mark seen on the photo that she said was not present on the bag in court.

Officer Adderley denied this claim and while he acknowledged that he couldn’t find the mark in question, it was still the same bag he was handed during his investigation.

Magistrate McKinney adjourned the trial to March 28.

The magistrate, however, advised Butler to find a new attorney as his current legal counsel once again failed to appear on his behalf. He further cautioned Butler that the trial would proceed with or without his current attorney’s presence and it would be in his best interest to find alternative counsel more respectful of his and the court’s time.

MAN FINED FOR TAKING DRUGS INTO PRISON

By PAVEL BAILEY

A MAN was fined yesterday for drug charges and taking contraband into a correctional facility.

Deangelo Neeley, 34, of Poplar Street, stood before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney for sentencing a day after he pleaded guilty to taking the items into the female dorms of the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

The items were found at BDCS on February 5 in a black plastic bag. These prohibited items were later identified as one pound

and eight ounces of Indian hemp along with six cell phones, three cigarette cartons and a pack of cigars.

In court, Neeley’s attorney Troy Kellman asked for leniency for his client.

He submitted there was as a scale of severity to offences of this nature and that Neeley met the middle of this. Kellman said his client was arrested for a relatively small amount of drugs and the other contraband items were not as dangerous as other prohibited items at a correctional facility.

Kellman informed the court that Neeley was married with a dependent. He

also said Neeley had dutifully obeyed the law in the six years since his last drug conviction up until this incident and that he was truly remorseful for his actions.

Magistrate McKinney then sentenced Neeley to a fine of $5,000 or one year in prison for the charge of taking prohibited articles into a correctional facility.

The magistrate also fined the accused $2,500 for the drug charges or in default of payment of the fine, six months in prison.

He has a right to appeal within seven days of his sentencing.

MAN CLEARED OF MURDER

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net A JURY unanimously acquitted a 27-year-old man of murder on Monday.

Alpheaus Smith was accused of killing Kareem Hepburn in Carmichael on July 27, 2018. He was also accused of attempting to murder Raggin McKenzie and David Adderley the same day and of having a firearm intending to endanger their lives. He was found not guilty on all charges.

The case was heard before Supreme Court Justice Guillimina Archer.

Calvin Seymour represented Mr Smith. Danard Brown represented the Office of the Attorney General.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, March 9, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

When will we just face the facts and accept this simple truth?

BY ALICIA WALLACE YESTERDAY was International Women’s Day and there were thousands of events held all over the world to raise awareness of issues women face, celebrate the progress that has been made, recognize women whose contributions have helped us to move closer to gender equality and kickstart new initiatives and programmes.

This year, we are embroiled in multiple disjointed conversations about women’s rights, gender, the law and the role of the government. These conversations are, far too often, had in ways that suggest these topics are separate, not only from each other, but also from our daily lives. Too many people seem to be unable to see beyond their own experiences and refuse to trust the people whose lives are evidence of a different reality.

International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month ought to be a time for us to honour women, listen to the voices of women and use the knowledge we gain to build a better world for women, understanding it would benefit everyone.

This week, marital rape is a hot topic. Yes, again.

We may find the topic exhausting, especially in conversations with people who refuse to listen and learn, but it continues to be an issue that affects people’s lives. Marital rape is rape.

Even having the term “marital rape” seems to suggest it is something other than rape, but the presence of the word “marital” does not change the meaning of the word “rape”. It is possible, it is vile, and it is inexcusable for a person to rape their spouse.

People who are married are still people. They are still human beings. They have human rights. They have the right to decide whether or not they will have sex, who they will have sex with, when they will have sex and the conditions under which that will happen. They have the right to give or withhold consent to sexual activity because they are human beings and marriage does not turn them into objects or property, nor does it subjugate them to anyone.

Without consent, there is no sex. Sexual intercourse without consent is rape.

There are no exceptions.

It is important to state all of this plainly for a number of reasons. One that is

YESTERDAY was International Women’s Day, with women being celebrated around the world - along with issues being highlighted that still face women in today’s society. Here in The Bahamas, those issues include the need to criminalise marital rape.

particularly important, here remove and now, is that rape is not condoms. sex. Without consent, it is They need rape. It is not “non-consen- to know sual sex” or “unlawful sex” that removas police classify and news ing a condom outlets report it. It is rape. without telling A major failure of the their partner is a vioeducation system is the lack lation. They need to know of comprehensive sexuality how to talk about contraeducation. The remedy for ceptives and the available this is not only to imme- options. diately include it in all They need to know what schools, but consent does to provide it ‘We do not need and does not to everyone. look like.

There are a new name for They need far too many rape. We need to to know people walk- stop rape. We need that they ing around are not entiwith misin- to change the way tled to sex, we think and talk formation, and no one engaging about sex. We need else is entiwith other tled to sex. to change the way people, In addition entering to knowwe think and talk relationships about rape. We need ing consent and raisis clear and ing children. to change the way specific, They are we think and talk given of a violating person’s free about marriage.

A people, being will and not part of that change coerced, violated by people, is changing the law.’ it must be avoiding common important conversations knowledge that consent and contributing to a sex can be withdrawn at any negative environment and time. They need to know pervasive rape culture. that sex is not one partPeople need to under- ner’s burden or duty and stand consent in all aspects the other partner’s pleasof their lives, including ure. We need to talk about sex. People need to know sex in positive ways and how to open, put on, and acknowledge it is supposed

to be enjoyable.

People of all genders give and receive pleasure during sex. We must not limit our conversations about sex to consent, but acknowledge pleasure. No one should have the impression that sex is to be endured, or that it is a responsibility to participate, regardless of what they want. People need to know they can say “no”, and they need to accept “no” from others.

Another important reason to state these facts about sex and personhood is to make it clear married people do not own each other. They are two people, in a relationship that is recognised by some entity or entities outside of them which include(s) the government and may include a religious institution. It must be stated that many religions have, facilitated and endorsed marriage, and these religions have different texts, interpretations and sets of beliefs. These are separate from the government (especially in secular States) and the law which must protect people’s human rights. At no point should a religious text be a determining factor in the writing or application of law meant for all of the people in a country with religious freedom. No matter the interpretation of religious text, the law must protect people.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a good starting point for understanding the rights of the individual. Let’s look at just five Articles.

Article 3: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.”

Article 4: “No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.”

Article 5: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

Article 6: “Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.”

Article 7: “All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law[…].”

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights says all people are people.

Yes, even women! Yes, even married women! This applies whether or not the two become one or wives are admonished to submit to their husbands by a particular (interpretation of) religious text. All people are entitled to freedom.

No one is to be enslaved in any way. Yes, including sex,

and yes, that includes married people! No one is to be treated cruelly, even as punishment.

Think of this alongside the arguments of so many who say it is the wife’s duty to have sex with her husband whenever he wants to have sex, and if she does not comply, he can “just take it”. It is rape, it is a violation of human rights, and if it is not criminalised, married women are not being recognised as people before the law and married women are certainly not equally protected by the law.

We depend on the law.

It tells us what to do or not do. Stop at red traffic lights.

Do not exceed 15 miles per hour in school zones. Laws not only help us to keep order, but they tell us what to value. Why is the speed limit lower in school zones?

Children are walking to and from school. These children are not always accompanied by adults, and some are too young to fully understand the rules of the road and the risk involved in certain actions. Children may run into the road. They may fall in the road. They may miscalculate the speed of an oncoming car and try to cross the road. No matter how we feel about children and parents’ responsibility for them, we must slow down in school zones in order to protect them. As we drive slower, we may get to observe them more.

We may see the seven-yearold holding the hand of a four-year-old as they walk home together. We may see teenagers walking with young siblings. We observe relationships and behaviours, and we may even learn more about people in situations that differ from our own. Not only does the law force us to slow down and draw our attention to the children and the value of their lives, but it has the indirect effect of sensitising us to their experiences and making us more aware of what is happening around us.

We need the law to protect us, to moderate our behaviour, and to shape culture. Our laws have always done this, and the evidence is in the conversations we are already having about discrimination, women’s rights, and, more specifically, marital rape. The Sexual Offences Act, as it is, has helped to convince people that women are not full human beings. It suggests that, when women get married, they lose their personhood and are no longer entitled to self-determination. It is blatant. The definition of rape excludes people who are being raped in marriage. It says, “Rape is the act of any person not under fourteen years of age having sexual intercourse

with another person who is not his spouse[…]” Why are the last five words there? Married people are people. They are human beings. They are entitled to human rights. They must be protected recognised as people before the law, and they must have equal protection under the law. Married people do not have equal protection under the law. It was decided that they would have no recourse in cases where they are raped. This must change. The Sexual Offences Act must be amended. Rape is rape.

It has been suggested that marital rape be called “something other than rape”. No. That is not acceptable. Rape is rape. It does not change based on the relationship between the people. To call marital rape anything other than rape would validate the wrongheaded idea that married people, specifically married women, are not full human beings entitled to human rights. It would validate the idea that a person cannot rape their spouse. It would validate the idea that marriage is perpetual consent and married people are obligated, regardless of their thoughts, feelings, experiences, or needs, to have sex at each other’s demands and that it is appropriate to punish each other with rape. It would validate the idea that rape is sex, and that it is motivated by sexual desire.

This is not the case. Rape is not sex. It is about power and control, and has nothing to do with love or sexual desire.

Calling it anything but rape is a lie, is lazy, is a refusal to do the work we elected Members of Parliament to do.

We do not need a new name for rape. We need to stop rape. We need to change the way we think and talk about sex. We need to change the way we think and talk about rape. We need to change the way we think and talk about marriage. A part of that change is changing the law. Rape is wrong, under any and all circumstances. Women are human beings with human rights, unmarried or married. The law must reflect that. The law must teach that. The law must make us aware of that. The most recent proposed amendment bill does not do what we need done. It must be called rape. There need not be any legal gymnastics related to this issue.

Remove the words “who is not his spouse” from the definition of rape. All rape is wrong, dehumanising, and violent. All rape must be criminalised. It will contribute to a shift in our views of rape, sex, marriage and women in The Bahamas.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 9, 2022, PAGE 9

TECHTALK

APPLE’S NEW BUDGET iPHONE WILL BE FASTER AND MORE EXPENSIVE

JAPAN’S HONDA, SONY JOINING FORCES ON NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLE

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer

THE LATEST iPhone SE marks the first upgrade to the bare-bones version of Apple’s most popular product in nearly two years.

(Photo: Business Wire)

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer SAN RAMON, Calif.

(AP) — Apple on Tuesday unveiled a new version of its budget-priced iPhone that’s capable of connecting to ultrafast 5G wireless networks, an upgrade that’s already been available on the company’s upscale models for more than a year.

The latest iPhone SE marks the first upgrade to the bare-bones version of Apple’s most popular product in nearly two years. In the latest sign of the inflationary pressures that have been roiling the economy, the new iPhone SE will sell for $429 — an 8% increase from $399 price tag for the last version that rolled out it nearly two years ago during the early stages of the pandemic.

The new iPhone SE will be available in stores March 18.

In a pandemic precaution, Apple still refrained from inviting the media and other guests to the in-person events that it has traditionally staged to introduce its latest products.

Instead, Apple streamed the event from the theatre named after co-founder Steve Jobs at its Cupertino, California, headquarters.

Although the latest iPhone SE will feature a faster processer, more durable 4.7-inch screen and longer-lasting battery than the last model, its biggest selling points will likely be its compatibility with still-emerging 5G wireless networks and its relatively low price.

It’s a sharp discount from the fancier iPhone 13 lineup released last autumn.

Consisting of four different models, the iPhone 13’s prices range from $700 to $1,100.

All of them, like the iPhone 12s released during autumn 2020, can connect to 5G phones.

Even though 5G networks still aren’t widely available, the allure of faster connections turned

APPLE also announced a new desktop version of its personal computer called the Mac Studio. out to be a major draw that helped spur more iPhone fans to upgrade from older models.

The iPhone 13 proved to be such a hot commodity that it helped Apple to vault past longtime rival Samsung and assume the mantle of the world’s top seller of smartphones during the final three months of last year, according to the research group International Data Corp.

During Tuesday’s presentation, Apple CEO Tim Cook boasted the company has been attracting more new iPhone users than ever before since last autumn, without providing specific numbers.

“We are excited for the new iPhone SE to build on this momentum,” Cook said.

Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives expects Apple to sell about 30 million of the new iPhone SE models during the next year, filling a need among less affluent consumers who own one of the estimated 225 million iPhones that are at least three-and-half years old.

Even though Apple doesn’t make as much money from selling iPhone SEs as it does the pricier models, it will still give the company more opportunities to sell subscriptions to music streaming, video streaming, games, and other services that have become huge money

makers, said Tuong Nguyen, a smartphone analyst for Gartner.

“It’s all about widening the ecosystem,” Nguyen said.

“It’s always nice when Apple can get you to buy a new phone. But it’s even better when they can get you subscribing to everything they can because that turns into recurring revenue.”

Apple services division

APPLE also rolled out the latest version of its lightweight tablet, the iPad Air, for $600.

has mushroomed into a booming business that generated $68 billion in revenue during its last fiscal year, up from $24 billion in 2016 — the first year after its music streaming service came out.

The company’s success in services also has turned into a regulatory mine field, sparking antitrust lawsuits and proposed legislations seeking to loosen Apple’s exclusive control on its iPhone app store, which collects lucrative commissions from digital transactions processed on the device.

The iPhone itself remains Apple’s biggest gold mine, with sales of $192 billion in its last fiscal year, despite supply shortages that have curtailed production.

Apple in January said those problems were easing as the pandemic let up and suppliers began to catch up with backlogs.

Besides the new iPhone SE, Apple also used Tuesday’s showcase to announce its has struck a deal with Major League Baseball to begin showing two Friday night games each week on

its video subscription after the sport resolves a labour dispute that has already delayed the start of its season.

The deal marks latest foray by a major tech company into a sports programming niche that traditionally has been dominated by long-established television networks.

Although the addition of baseball games could help Apple sign up from subscribers to its two-year-old video service, the company initially plans to make them available for free to all viewers.

Apple also announced a new desktop version of its personal computer called the Mac Studio that will cost $2,000 to $4,000 for the processing unit.

A high-resolution 27-inch display screen designed for the Mac Studio will cost another $1,600.

The company also rolled out the latest version of its lightweight tablet, the iPad Air, for $600.

All those computing devices will be powered

by Apple’s own in-house chips.

TOKYO (AP) — Two big names in Japanese electronics and autos are joining forces to produce an electric vehicle together.

Sony Group Corp. and Honda Motor Co. agreed to set up a joint venture this year to start selling an electric vehicle by 2025, both sides said Friday.

The plan is to bring together Honda’s expertise in mobility development, technology and sales with Sony’s imaging, telecommunication, network and entertainment expertise.

A union of traditionally different manufacturing businesses is uncommon for Japan.

But it makes sense in the age of electric vehicles, which lack gasoline-powered engines and have complicated electronics.

All the world’s automakers have been developing zeroemissions electric vehicles, as concerns grow about pollution and climate change. But they face tough competition from relative newcomers like Tesla.

The joint venture will develop and design the product, but will use Honda’s plant for manufacturing. Sony, which makes the PlayStation videogame console and owns movie and music businesses, will develop the mobility services platform.

TEAM OF SIBLINGS WINS ROBOTICS CHAMPIONSHIP

By JEMMA STEPHENSON, Montgomery Advertiser

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Building robots for team competition takes time for trial and error. So Abraham Yang, a seventh grader at Baldwin Arts & Academics Magnet School, was glad he didn’t have to juggle schedules with the other students on his team.

The three are siblings, and they all live under the same roof.

“When you’re home, you always get to practice,” Abraham said about competing with his siblings in a robotics competition. “You don’t need to schedule a time. But then, of course, we’re siblings, so sometimes we bicker a little bit, but usually it settles out in the end.”

Abraham created Team Penguin Robotics last fall with his sister, Johanna Yang, a fourth grader at Forest Avenue Academic Magnet School, and their brother, Elijah Yang, a second grader at Forest Avenue.

It was their first season as a team.

And all of their impromptu practices seem to have paid off: Team Penguin won the 2022 VEX IQ Robotics Alabama State Championship at Auburn University’s Beard-EavesMemorial Coliseum on Feb. 19.

The trio won the state championship’s top three awards: Robot Skills Champion Award, Teamwork Challenge Champion Award and the Excellence Award.

The Excellence Award is the highest award in the VEX Robotics programme.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, March 9, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Suffering in Mariupol as evacuation bid fails MARIUPOL, Ukraine Associated Press

A UKRAINIAN serviceman walks past the vertical tail fin of a Russian Su-34 bomber lying in a damaged building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, yesterday.

Photo: Andrew Marienko/AP

CORPSES lie in the streets of Mariupol. Hungry people break into stores in search of food and melt snow for water. Thousands huddle in basements, trembling at the sound of Russian shells pounding this strategic port city.

“Why shouldn’t I cry?”

Goma Janna demanded as she wept by the light of an oil lamp below ground, surrounded by women and children. “I want my home, I want my job. I’m so sad about people and about the city, the children.”

A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in this encircled city of 430,000, and yesterday brought no relief: An attempt to evacuate civilians and deliver badly needed food, water and medicine through a designated safe corridor failed, with Ukrainian officials saying Russian forces had fired on the convoy before it reached the city.

Nearly two weeks into the invasion, the Russians have advanced deep along Ukraine’s coastline in what could establish a land bridge to Crimea, which Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014. Mariupol, which sits on the Azov Sea, has been surrounded by Russian soldiers for days.

Mariupol, said Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, is in a “catastrophic situation”.

In other developments in the Russian invasion: • Poland said it will give all of its MiG-29 fighter jets to the US, apparently agreeing to an arrangement that would allow them to be used by Ukraine’s military.

That could further inflame tensions between Washington and Moscow.

• UN officials said that two million people have now fled Ukraine.

• Russia’s economic isolation deepened as US President Joe Biden announced a ban on Russian oil imports and Shell said it will no longer buy oil and natural gas from the country. Also, Adidas and McDonald’s said they are

suspending their operations in Russia.

For days, as Moscow’s forces have laid siege to Ukrainian cities, attempts to create corridors to safely evacuate civilians have stumbled amid continuing fighting and objections to the proposed routes.

Ukraine has rejected Moscow’s offers of corridors that lead civilians to Russia or its ally Belarus.

The Russian military has denied firing on convoys and charged that the Ukrainian side is blocking evacuation efforts.

One evacuation did appear successful yesterday, with Vereshchuk saying that 5,000 civilians, including 1,700 foreign students, had been brought out via a safe corridor from Sumy, an embattled northeastern city of a quarter-million people where overnight strikes killed 21, including two children.

In Mariupol, authorities planned to start digging mass graves for all the dead, though the number is unclear. The shelling has shattered buildings, and the city has no water, heat, working sewage systems or phone service.

Theft has become widespread for food, clothes, even furniture, with locals referring to the practice as “getting a discount”.

Some residents are reduced to scooping water from streams.

With the electricity out, many people are relying on their car radios for information, picking up news from stations broadcast from areas controlled by Russian forces or Russian-backed separatists.

Ludmila Amelkina, who was walking along an alley strewn with rubble and walls pocked by gunfire, said the destruction had been devastating.

“We don’t have electricity, we don’t have anything to eat, we don’t have medicine. We’ve got nothing,” she said, looking skyward.

Across the country, thousands are thought to have been killed, both civilians and soldiers, in nearly two weeks of fighting.

SEX ABUSE LAWSUIT AGAINST PRINCE ANDREW DISMISSED NEW YORK Associated Press

A JUDGE dismissed the sex abuse lawsuit against Britain’s Prince Andrew on Tuesday, three weeks after lawyers for the American woman who filed it reached a deal calling for the prince to make a substantial donation to his accuser’s charity and declare he never meant to malign her character.

US District Judge Lewis A Kaplan signed court papers dismissing the August lawsuit after lawyers on both sides asked him to do so earlier in the day. The judge had given them until March 17 to complete the deal or he would set a trial date.

The lawyers revealed three weeks ago that they had tentatively agreed to a settlement in which the prince would donate to Virginia Guiffre’s charity and make the declaration about her character.

Andrew strenuously denied Giuffre’s allegations after she sued him, accusing the British royal of sexually abusing her while she traveled with financier Jeffrey Epstein in 2001 when she was 17.

Giuffre, 38, reached the settlement with Andrew after the judge rejected the prince’s bid to win early dismissal of the lawsuit earlier this year.

In a letter to the judge last month from Giuffre attorney David Boies, a statement was included that said, in part: “Prince Andrew intends to make a substantial donation to Ms

Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights. Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms Giuffre’s character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks.”

According to the statement, Prince Andrew acknowledged that Epstein trafficked “countless young girls” over many years and said the prince “regrets his association with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others”.

He also pledged to support the victims of sex trafficking as part of demonstrating his regret.

In a statement yesterday, Boies said the settlement was “an important step, but it should not be the last step in holding Jeffrey Epstein’s enablers and participants to account”.

A lawyer for the Prince did not return a request for comment.

The settlement stopped the lawsuit before the start of evidence gathering, including depositions that would have forced Andrew to answer questions posed by attorneys.

Andrew — who had already stepped back from royal duties — was recently stripped of his honorary military titles and roles and leadership of various charities, known as royal patronages. He also can no longer use the title “his royal highness” in official settings.

SPORTS PAGE 11

Champs League, Page 14

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

Pauline Davis launches new book

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

A

s they celebrated International Women’s Day, Pauline Davis thought it would be fitting to use the opportunity to launch the official release of her book “Running Sideways” yesterday at the site where she got her long and illustrious track and field career started at Goodman’s Bay. As the event got started, Jeff Todd, the award winning author of the book that went on sale at $35, read a message from World Athletics’ president Lord Sebastian Coe, who endorsed the book.

“I’m fascinated that you receive

so much comfort from the Bahamian people, but it also occurs to me that you’re carrying the baton in the relay, not just for your teammates, but also for the population of the islands,” wrote Coe, a four-time Olympic middle distance champion for Great Britain.

“You are also carrying the baton for the dreams of the young men and women who wanted to come through your footsteps and become Olympic champions.

You have created a magnificent legacy.”

With the global theme “Breaking the Bias” and the symbol of striking a pose used, Coe said they are sharing it across social media and on March 8 as they shine the light on global women,

AP SOURCES: SEAHAWKS AGREE TO TRADE RUSSELL WILSON TO DENVER

he called Davis his role model for her achievement.

Emotionally at times, Davis thanked everybody, including Coe, for the role they played in her life from the Williams family that got her first job at McDonald’s to former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, whom she stated resurrected her career.

But there was no more touching a moment than when she took to the stage and joined one of her former athletes Daniella Dean as she sang “You’re My Hero.”

And Davis embraced her former coach Neville Wisdom as she paid tribute to his contribution from her infancy in the sport as a barefoot girl out of Fleming Street, running barefoot as a

member of the Bain Town Flyers.

“She’s been somebody who has been instrumental in my life, so I was more than happy to do this for her and for her to sing along with me for her coach, who has been instrumental to her all of her life,” Dean said.

“So it was just a beautiful moment all together.”

As a former student of William Gordan Primary School, Davis went to DW Davis Junior High where she was coached by Dawn Knowles. She then moved on to LW Young, but quickly was recruited by Wisdom to attend Government High School where she began to flourish.

SEE PAGE 14

AYTON SCORES 21 POINTS, GRABS 19 REBOUNDS IN WIN OVER MAGIC

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have finally landed a worthy successor to Peyton Manning.

Six years and a day after Manning retired, Broncos general manager George Paton agreed to send a massive haul of players and draft picks to the Seattle Seahawks for nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson, two people familiar with the negotiations confirmed to The Associated Press yesterday.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the blockbuster trade, which is pending Wilson passing a physical, can’t become official until the start of the new league year on March 16.

The teams cannot comment on the deal until then, but the Broncos cleverly tweeted a clip of Tom Hanks’ character in “Cast Away” drawing a face on the volleyball he named “Wilson.”

About an hour later, the Seahawks tweeted another clip from that movie in which Hanks’ scraggly, skinny character loses the volleyball at sea and hollers, “ Wilson, where are you? Wilson!

Wilson! “ Denver was seen as the frontrunner for Aaron Rodgers before

SEE PAGE 12

SUNS’ DEANDRE AYTON, left, makes a shot over Orlando Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the first half last night in Orlando, Florida. Ayton scored 21 points to help the Suns hold off the Magic 102-99. SEE STORY ON PAGE 13 (AP Photo/John Raoux)

JUNIOR DAVIS CUP: TENNIS RESUMES IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AFTER heavy rains disrupted the tournament in Santo Domingo for two days there was clear skies today and matches resumed.

The Bahamas Jr Davis Cup team completed the match that was in progress against Dominican Republic.

Jackson Mactaggart lost yesterday and Michael Major Jr would play the next matchup where he won in three sets 2-6,6-3 6-3.

The boys split sets and it will come down to doubles.

The boys will also complete the match with Honduras from Monday today.

The Bahamas Jr BJK faced St Lucia. The team lost 1-2. Jalisa Clarke was up first losing 0-4, 1-4. Sierra Rodgers was up next, she won 4-1, 4-0.

In the doubles, BreAnn Ferguson teamed up with Rodgers in a hard fought 3 setter, losing 4-2, 0-4, 3-10.

Due to weather delays the short set format will continue for the rest of the tournament.

The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association wishes the team all the best.

Although there were reports coming out of Santo Domingo that the team had encountered some problems in team protocol, the BLTA said they got everything worked out and the team was able to continue play in the tournament.

MLB, union bargain Column: On course into night to salvage and in Hall of Fame, 162-game season Tiger overshadows all

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Negotiators for locked-out players and Major League Baseball bargained into the night for the second time in a week ahead of Commissioner Rob Manfred’s Tuesday deadline to reach a deal preserving a 162-game season.

Union chief negotiator Bruce Meyer and general counsel Ian Penny headed a bargaining team that met in the morning at MLB’s office across the street from Radio City Music Hall.

About three hours later, Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem, Executive Vice President Morgan Sword and Senior Vice President Pat Houlihan made the three-block walk for a 20-minute visit to the union’s office overlooking Rockefeller Center.

The sides continued

speaking later in the day by telephone. On the 97th day of baseball’s second-longest work stoppage, the sides appeared to be trading numbers on the key economic issues of the luxury tax, the amount of a new bonus pool for pre-arbitration-eligible players and minimum salaries. It remained unclear whether this more intensive phase of talks could lead to an agreement or yet another breakdown in oft-strained talks that have dragged on for nearly a year.

About 16 1/2 hours of bargaining in Jupiter, Florida, that began February 28 produced progress but led only to an angry breakdown in talks the following day, when Manfred announced the first two series for each team during the season had been cancelled. While it appears there is no chance opening day could take place as scheduled March 31, MLB told the union that

Tuesday is the last possible day to reach an agreement that would allow a modified 162-game schedule, along with full salary and service time needed to reach free agency for players.

MLB offered Monday to lift the luxury tax threshold for this year from its previous proposal of $220 million to $228 million, with certain tradeoffs, a person familiar with the negotiations said, confirming a move first reported by The Athletic.

The union began the week at $238 million. The union entered Monday asking for an $80 million bonus pool for this year and MLB was at $30 million. MLB offered a $700,000 minimum salary and the union asked for $725,000. There were greater differences in the final four seasons of the proposed five-year deal.

The union’s proposed figure for 2026 was $263 million at the start of the week.

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (AP) — Tiger Woods is going into the World Golf Hall of Fame with three others who no doubt will be overshadowed in the presence of a player who transcended the sport like no other.

Perhaps that’s only fitting.

It was like that every time Woods teed it up, from his “Hello, world” debut in Milwaukee in 1996 through his 15 majors and 82 titles on the PGA Tour.

Win or not, Woods was playing and it seemed everyone else was along for the ride.

Ernie Els might have summed it up as well as anyone in early 2000. They matched eagles on the 72nd hole at Kapalua and birdies in the playoff.

Woods beat him on the second extra hole with a 40-foot putt for his 18th win worldwide and fifth in a row on the PGA Tour.

Except for his age — 24 — Woods already had met current Hall of Fame requirements by then. “He’s probably going to be bigger than Elvis when he

gets into his 40s,” Els said that day.

Now he is 46, and Woods certainly will be the star attraction when he is inducted tonight, even if it takes place in front of his smallest galTIGER Woods lery — no more than 500 are expected for the ceremony at the PGA Tour’s new headquarters.

Making the night even more special is his 14-year-old daughter, Sam, will be introducing him.

Along for the ride are three-time US Women’s Open champion Susie Maxwell Berning, former PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem and the late Marion Hollins, a U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and the first woman to develop golf courses.

Finchem led the tour to unprecedented growth. If he was behind the wheel, then Woods was the engine.

SEE PAGE 12

PAGE 12, Wednesday, March 9, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Run for Fun Cruise Tour livens up Pompey Square RUNNERS’ WORLD: The Run for Fun Cruise Tour began at Pompey Square and headed west past the Hilton, The Pointe and Margaritaville resorts, onto Junkanoo Beach and the Arawak Cay Fish Fry area last week Saturday. It continued west to the Saunders Beach strip at the round-a-bout, which served as the turnaround point as the runners returned to the finish line at Pompey Square.

Photos by Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

TIGER

Woods to have teen daughter introduce him at Hall of Fame PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods introduced his son to the spotlight at the PNC Championship the last two years.

Now it’s his daughter’s turn.

Woods has chosen 14-year-old Sam to introduce him tonight when he and three others are inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

She is the older of his two children, born the day after his runner-up finish in the 2007 US Open at Oakmont.

Charlie Woods, who turned 13 last month, has played with his father in the PNC Championship.

They finished runner-up in December, drawing enormous publicity because it was the first time Woods played since serious injuries to his right leg in a car crash.

Hall of Fame member Davis Love III will be introducing retired PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem.

Another Hall of Fame member, Judy Rankin, will introduce threetime US Women’s Open champion Susie Maxwell Berning.

Also recognised posthumously is Marion Hollins, a US Women’s

WILSON FROM PAGE 11

the two-time reigning MVP agreed yesterday to stay in Green Bay, presumably as the highestpaid player in NFL history. Not long afterward, Paton landed a Super Bowl-winning quarterback anyway, and one who’s five years younger than the 38-year-old Packers star.

The NFL Network reported the Seahawks agreed to send Wilson and a fourth-round pick to Denver in exchange for two firstround picks, two second-round

FROM PAGE 11

SAM ALEXIS WOODS, right, daughter of Tiger Woods.

(AP Photo/Scott Audette) Amateur champion, Curtis Cup captain and the first woman to develop golf courses. This is the first time since 2013 the induction ceremony is in Florida during The Players Championship.

picks, and a fifth-rounder, along with quarterback Drew Lock, defensive end Shelby Harris and tight end Noah Fant, the Broncos’ first-round draft pick in 2019.

Since Manning retired a month after winning Super Bowl 50, the Broncos have churned through 10 starting quarterbacks, including a different starter in each of the last five season openers: Trevor Siemian, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, Lock and Teddy Bridgewater, who beat out Lock last summer.

The Broncos haven’t been back to the playoffs since Manning retired, but they appear to

In an interview after he was elected, Finchem laughed when asked how his 22 years as commissioner would have been if Woods had played tennis instead. “It would have been a much more difficult job,” he said. “Tiger coming on the scene ... took our sport to another level. It continues on today. As a sport, we were blessed he didn’t like tennis.”

All of them earned their place. All will be honoured.

The living members will have a night to remember, even if the attention is squarely on one person. Just like always.

“With no disrespect to anyone else, he should almost go in on his own,” Rickie Fowler said. “It should be his induction. It takes away, potentially, from the other three. Not a knock on Tiger being in the same class, but he is so much bigger. There’s a lot of ways to look at it.”

Padraig Harrington found one of those ways.

He recalls the time he received an honorary doctorate from St Andrews University before the 2010 British Open, an emotional night with 1,000 in attendance in Younger Hall. Even with two claret jugs among his three majors, not many were there to see Harrington.

have a playoff-worthy roster.

New coach Nathaniel Hackett, Rodgers’ former offensive coordinator, is building an offense around dynamic wide receivers Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick and K.J. Hamler, tight end Albert Okwuegbunam and running back Javonte Williams.

And now he has the quarterback to make it all work, one who can stack up with the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Derek Carr in the tough AFC West.

Jeudy tweeted a frowning emoji upon word of Rodgers staying

Also receiving honorary doctorates that year were Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, along with South African billionaire Johann Rupert, a hugely influential figure in international golf.

“It was a big deal to get an honorary doctorate, but it actually added to mine that they were there with me,” Harrington said. “Arnold did not take away from it. Johann Rupert added 100% to that occasion. The people getting in (the Hall of Fame), they’ll have a better day and a better story to tell. “Maybe they won’t get the same media — or they could get more media because there will be more people covering it.”

Interest, no doubt, will be high for an induction that was bound to happen.

“I don’t know the criteria, but the man could have been in the Hall of Fame 15-plus years ago,” Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson said. “It’s going to be a nice celebration for a guy who has taken the game to heights that most people didn’t know could happen.”

Based on the criteria when Woods turned pro in 1996 — the PGA Tour ballot required 10 victories and two majors (that included The Players Championship) — he would have met the performance standards at the 1999 PGA Championship after just three years on tour.

put, then he tweeted a smiling emoji when word broke that Wilson was headed to Denver.

The Seahawks had made it clear they weren’t interested in moving Wilson unless a transformational offer came along.

Seattle’s offseason had mostly been focused on adjustments on defence with coaching and scheme changes, and the belief that with Wilson still at quarterback the Seahawks would remain contenders in the stacked NFC West.

Last week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, coach Pete Carroll said that general

In his next 18 starts on tour after that, he had 10 wins and two majors. Woods compiled ridiculous numbers while going through four swing coaches and twice as many surgeries.

“Tiger changed people’s perception of golf from a game to a sport,” Harrington said.

The shame is that more people can’t attend the induction ceremony, a product of limited space at PGA Tour headquarters (and $1,000 a ticket for a Hall of Fame fundraiser).

The future of the World Golf Village, about 25 miles away in St. Augustine, is in doubt with so little traffic.

Johnny Miller and Nick Faldo shared the stage when the World Golf Village first hosted the induction ceremony in 1998.

Over the years, no one else captured Tiger’s share of attention. Bernhard Langer and Ben Crenshaw went in together in 2002, Nick Price and Annika Sorenstam a year later, Curtis Strange and Se Ri Pak in 2007.

Even the year Phil Mickelson was inducted, no one entertained that night like the late Peter Alliss.

And when one player clearly stood out over the other inductees — Karrie Webb in 2005, Els in 2011 — that gap wasn’t as large as it will be with Woods.

He’s had the stage to himself for as long as he has played. The Hall of Fame is no different. manager John Schneider was receiving calls about Wilson’s availability but the Seahawks weren’t shopping him.

The trade, though, was the culmination of more than a year’s worth of buildup. Wilson first expressed his discontent with the franchise last offseason after Seattle won the division but lost in the first round of the playoffs.

The acrimony got to the point that his agent publicly expressed the teams Wilson would be willing to accept a trade to, but the quarterback and the Seahawks moved forward together for one more season.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 9, 2022, PAGE 13

Irving hot from 3, now has rare stat of 5 50-point games CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kyrie Irving hit nine 3-pointers and scored a season-high 50 points, and the Brooklyn Nets snapped a four-game skid with a 132-121 win over the Charlotte Hornets last night.

Irving became one of 22 players in NBA history with five 50-point games, according to Basketball Reference. His career high is 57 points on March, 12, 2015, while with the Cleveland Cavaliers in an overtime win against San Antonio.

Andre Drummond dominated inside, finishing with 20 points and 14 rebounds for Brooklyn, which got back to .500 on the season and moved into sole possession of eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings, breaking a tie with the Hornets.

Miles Bridges and Terry Rozier each finished with 30 points for Charlotte, which had its two-game win streak snapped. LaMelo Ball added 24 points and seven assists. Kevin Durant had a quiet 14-point night.

CAVALIERS 127, PACERS 124 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Darius Garland had 41 points and 13 assists and hit a decisive pair of free throws with 14 seconds left to lead Cleveland past Indiana.

The Pacers went ahead 124-122 with 40 seconds remaining when Malcolm Brogdon was credited with a basket after Evan Mobley was called for goaltending.

Mobley then tied the game on a putback before Garland put the Cavs ahead with his free throws.

Dean Wade intercepted a pass by Brogdon on

the Pacers’ next possession. Lamar Stevens hit a free throw, and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton missed a desperation heave at the buzzer.

Mobley finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds and Lauri Markkanen added 21 points for Cleveland.

Haliburton led the Pacers with 25 points, and Duane Washington Jr., Jalen Smith and Gogh Bitadze each scored 15.

BUCKS 142, THUNDER 115 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 39 points and Milwaukee defeated Oklahoma City for its fifth straight win.

Antetokounmpo made 13 of 19 shots and had seven rebounds and seven assists.

Khris Middleton had 25 points and nine assists,

NETS guard Kyrie Irving scores over Hornets forward P.J. Washington last night (AP)

and Bobby Portis added 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Bucks, who scored a season-high point total and shot 53% (53 for 100) from the field.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 33 points, a career-high 14 assists and eight rebounds for the Thunder. It was the sixth time in seven games since the All-Star break that Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 30 points.

GRIZZLIES 132, PELICANS 111 MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Ja Morant had 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and Jaren Jackson Jr and Desmond Bane

added 22 points apiece as Memphis built an early lead and routed New Orleans.

The win solidified Memphis’ hold on second place in the Western Conference as the Grizzlies won for the second time in three games.

Ziaire Williams finished with 16 points for Memphis.

CJ McCollum led the Pelicans with 32 points, going 13 of 21 from the field, including 5 of 10 from beyond the arc. McCollum also handed out 11 assists.

Willy Hernangomez scored 17 points and Naji Marshall 16.

BRIDGES’ BLOCKED SHOT SAVES SUNS IN 102-99 WIN OVER MAGIC

By DICK SCANLON Associated Press ORLANDO, Florida (AP) — DeAndre Ayton and Landry Shamet scored 21 points each and Mikal Bridges blocked a potential tying 3-pointer in the final seconds to help the Phoenix Suns hold off the Orlando Magic 102-99 last night.

After Cameron Payne’s two free throws put the Suns up by three with 6.9 seconds left, Orlando’s Moritz Wagner put up a 3-pointer that Bridges deflected.

Ayton had 19 rebounds and

scored the Suns’ final two baskets, including a putback with 1:31 left after Orlando had taken a 98-97 lead.

Payne finished with 18 points and 12 assists.

Wendell Carter Jr led Orlando with 20 points and had 12 rebounds. Mo Bamba had nine points and 15 boards.

Carter scored nine points on a 15-0 run that lifted the Magic to a 17-14 lead, but the Suns responded with 11 straight points.

A 3-pointer by Wagner brought Orlando within 38-37 late in the first half, but Payne scored

10 straight points, then set up Ayton’s layup that made it 60-45.

Markelle Fultz, playing in only his fourth game after missing 14 months with a torn ACL, helped the Magic stay in it with eight points and two assists in the third quarter. He finished with 11 points and four assists.

Cole Anthony’s layup with 3:25 left pulled Orlando even, and Carter’s two free throws with 1:51 remaining gave the Magic their only lead of the second half.

TIP-INS Suns: G Devin Booker missed a fourth game due to the health

and safety protocols. F Cameron Johnson missed a second game with a bruised right quad.

Neither player has been ruled out for Wednesday’s game at Miami.

Magic: Anthony left the game in the third quarter after taking Bamba’s elbow to the face, but he returned in the fourth.

G Jalen Suggs missed a second straight game with a sprained right ankle.

UP NEXT Suns: Play at Miami tonight.

Magic: Play at New Orleans tonight.

COACHES ASSIST STUDENT ATHLETES IN ANDROS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WHAT was supposed to be a visit to the island to help in their celebrations turned out to be a rewarding experience for both sprint coach Andrew Tynes and jumps coach James Rolle as they imparted their knowledge to a number of student-athletes from Andros over the weekend.

Tynes, a former Olympic sprinter turned coach of the Swift Athletics Track Club and Rolle, the coach of Leap of Faith, went to Central Andros to celebrate with the Furious Athletics Track Club for their performances in the meet the week before in Miramar, Florida.

Patricia Rolle, the head coach for the club, said the two different segments conducted by Tynes and Rolle were very informative.

“I know they caught on very quickly with the different strategies that they didn’t know,” Rolle said.

“I thought it would have been difficult for them, but to my surprise, they were doing it. We had some problems with the jumping pit, but we got to clean it up and got it ready for coach Rolle to use. It went very well.”

Tynes said he noticed during the meet that some of the athletes were unaware of how to set up their starting blocks and utilise them during the start of their races. So once he got on the island, the opportunity presented itself and he took advantage of it.

“When we got started, it just caught a fire. I was surprised to see all of the kids who came out to participate,” Tynes said. “Then I heard that James Rolle was coming over to do

something in the north, so I decided to do the blocks in Central Andros and go over to North Andros and do the same thing.”

What impressed Tynes the most was how eager the athletes were to learning more about track and field, or just sports in general.

So he was happy to step in and to help them out.

“There are a lot of raw talent on the islands,” Tynes said.

“In just one session, these kids learned how to use the blocks. It was just so amazing.”

Rolle said he went over there to give his best because he knows there is a lot of talent there as evident by what he saw.

“The Family Islands are very talented, they work hard and they are very focused on what they have to do,” Rolle said.

“I think they should have events set up like this where the coaches can go to the Family Islands and assist in the programmes there. “I got to work with the kids from early in the morning until after 3pm.

There wasn’t that much talking. They meant business. They came out to learn what was being taught.”

Felicia Cartwright said the clinic highlighted a lot of the technical things that they take for granted when they teach their students.

“They really brought into light the basic fundamental skills to enhance the overall performances of the athletes,” said Cartwright, who has been a physical education teacher in Central Andros for the past five years, working between Fresh Creek Primary, Bowen Sound Primary and Behring Point Primary.

During the clinic, Cartwright said Tynes went

CUPERTINO, California (AP) — Apple will enter the live sports coverage arena with “Friday Night Baseball.”

Apple and Major League Baseball announced yesterday that Apple TV+ will carry a weekly doubleheader on Friday nights in eight countries when the regular season begins. Games will initially be available without the need for an Apple TV+ subscription.

The games will be exclusively on Apple TV+ and will not be available on team’s regional sports networks.

MLB has been under a work stoppage since owners locked out players at the end of the collective bargaining agreement. At 97 days, it is the secondlongest work stoppage in baseball history.

The broadcasts on Apple TV+ will include pregame and postgame shows and will not be subject to local broadcast blackout restrictions. They will be produced

by MLB Network.

Besides being shown in the United States, Canada and Mexico, games will also initially be available in Australia, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

The agreement also includes the “MLB Big Inning” weekday show for fans in the US as well as a livestream channel for those watching in the US and Canada.

MLB has been exploring selling a weeknight package of games with ESPN reducing its coverage of the regular season to 30 games, mostly on Sunday nights.

Turner Sports will have games on Tuesday nights under a new rights deal that begins this season.

ZVEREV PUT ON 1-YEAR PROBATION FOR OUTBURST IN ACAPULCO

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

COACH Andrew Tynes gives some instructions to athletes in Andros. through a full warm up with the basic exercises and stretches before he introduced them to the starting blocks and learning how to sprint on the first day on Friday. On Saturday, they got in a session from jumping coach James Rolle.

“There’s a lot of pure talent here and the kids are willing to put in the work,” said Cartwright, one of the top former women’s national team basketball players.

“Coach James didn’t get to do anything with the high jump because we didn’t have any bed. “But he really broke down the long jump. He broke down the full nine years. The kids thoroughly enjoyed it.”

A number of athletes expressed their delight in being a part of the sessions.

“It was very interesting,” said Renard McPhee, a 17-year-old 11th grader. “I learned a lot.”

The sprinter said he hopes to put into practice some of the things he was taught when he comes to Nassau for the final CARIFTA trials April 1-2 for the exposure. But he hopes to make the team going to Jamaica over the Easter holiday weekend. “I just want to be able to improve my times,” he said.

Rayanna Bain, a 16-yearold sprinter as well, was just as thrilled about the experience. “The clinic was good. I learned how to use the starting blocks,” she said. “So it was good for me to get the experience with the blocks here before I come to the CARIFTA trials.”

Bain said her goal is to qualify for the team and make her parents, her coach Felicia Cartwright and the island proud of her achievement.

“I just want to go and do my best,” she stated.

And Angell Darville, a 15-year-old 11th grader, said the clinic was good.

“It was exciting. I learned about using the starting block.

“I was really happy to do that because in track and field, you have to learn certain stuff to be better,” she said.

Also expected to be here for the CARIFTA trials, Darville said her goal is to make everyone who has faith in her very proud of her accomplishment.

Next weekend, Tynes said he is working on taking a larger delegation to Inagua.

They intend to put on a series of clinics for the student-athletes over there in an effort to help rejuvenate their interest in the sport.

Rolle said he’s eager to pack his bag and head off again to lend his support.

Russian soccer federation appeals against FIFA, UEFA bans LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The Russian soccer federation appealed yesterday to have FIFA and UEFA bans on its teams frozen in a fast-track legal process and eventually overturned.

Russian national and club teams were expelled from international competitions on Feb. 28 “until further notice” following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. FIFA and UEFA did not specify their legal reasons.

APPLE, MLB ANNOUNCE ‘FRIDAY NIGHT BASEBALL’ PACKAGE

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said it hoped to give urgent interim verdicts on the appeals within days.

Russia’s men’s national team was scheduled to play Poland on March 24 in a World Cup qualifying playoff. Poland has refused to play Russia in the match which was originally to be in Moscow.

The winner of that match would have played the winner of the game between Sweden and the

Czech Republic on March 29 with a place at the World Cup in Qatar at stake. Those two federations also have refused to play against the Russians.

CAS said the Russian appeals against FIFA and UEFA also involve the Polish, Swedish and Czech soccer federations, plus several other national federations in Europe.

The soccer federation of Belarus, Russia’s political and military

ally, is listed as a party on UEFA’s side of the case.

The Russian legal strategy of filing separate appeals against soccer’s world and European governing bodies could require the broadly similar cases to be heard by two different panels of three CAS judges. In appeals at CAS, each party chooses one arbitrator from an approved list and the court appoints a lead judge. The choices can be challenged.

TOKYO Olympics gold medallist Alexander Zverev was put on probation for one year by the ATP on Monday for violently hitting the chair umpire’s stand repeatedly with his racket following a loss in doubles at the Mexico Open.

If Zverev receives a code violation that results in a fine for unsportsmanlike conduct or for “verbal or physical abuse of an official, opponent, spectator or any other person while on-court or on-site,” he will be suspended from ATP events for eight weeks and fined an additional $25,000, the men’s tennis tour announced.

Zverev, who is currently ranked No. 3 and was the runner-up at the 2020 US Open, has until Friday to appeal the ruling of Miro Bratoev, the ATP senior vice president of rules and competition.

Bratoev conducted a review of what happened last month in Acapulco, Mexico, and determined that Zverev committed what is termed aggravated behaviour under the major offence section of the ATP rulebook.

The ATP characterised the decision as issuing Zverev a fine and suspension that are being “withheld,” unless his behaviour warrants the punishments.

The probation ends February 22, 2023 — one year after the episode in Acapulco.

The 24-year-old German, who was the Mexico Open defending champion in singles, was kicked out of the tournament for yelling and cursing at official Alessandro Germani and violently striking the umpire’s chair no fewer than four times.

PAGE 14, Wednesday, March 9, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

LIVERPOOL REACHES CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS DESPITE 1-0 LOSS TO INTER MILAN LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool could cope with its first Anfield loss in a year to still overcome Inter Milan and reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

Leading 2-0 from the last16 first leg in Italy, Lautaro Martinez’s swerving shot that reduced the deficit in the 61st minute gave the Italian champions a hope of a comeback.

But within two minutes, Inter’s task was made more difficult when Alexis Sanchez was sent off after his follow-through

on Fabinho earned him a second booking.

Liverpool held on to lose 1-0 and advance 2-1 on aggregate.

The 2019 Champions League winners are in the quarterfinals for the fourth time in five years despite its first loss in the competition this season.

Liverpool had chances to level. Mohamed Salah volleyed against the post and Luis Diaz’s close-range shot was deflected over by Arturo Vidal.

“We struggled in the beginning,” Salah said. “We

PAULINE FROM PAGE 11

In her tribute to Wisdom and his family, who opened the door to their home and accepted her as their adopted child, Davis said she remembers the 4:30am sessions that she had to endure on Goodman’s Bay. As she thanked the countless numbers of persons who assisted in her rise from CARIFTA champion, including the impressive come-from-behind victory in the under-20 girls’ 4 x 400m relay at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, to becoming the first woman of colour to be elected as a Councilwoman of the governing body of track and field, the International Amateur Athletic Federation, now known as World Athletics, Davis said she owes a debt of gratitude to Wisdom.

“Coach Wisdom coached the Bahamas first (Olympic track and field) medallist (Frank Rutherford), he coached the Bahamas first world champion (high jumper Troy Kemp), he coached the Bahamas first Olympic (track) gold medallist (Davis) and he coached four of the five Golden Girls,” Davis said.

“On top of that, he coached many other athletes. He also coached Desmond Bannister, a former deputy prime minister.

“Coach Wisdom, I hope that one day you be knighted for all of your hard work and your

managed to hold the ball up more in the second half.

The most important thing is we qualified. Hopefully we’ll be better in the next game.”

Inter went out with only the consolation of being the first team to win at Anfield since Fulham 366 days earlier.

“The difficulties we had were pretty close to what I expected,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told broadcaster BT Sport.

“Inter are a really good side and set up for these kind of games. They are

LIVERPOOL’S MOHAMED SALAH, left, fights for the ball with Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar during the Champions League, round of 16, second leg soccer match at Anfield stadium yesterday.

(AP Photo/Jon Super) really fighters and I’m happy we don’t play this type of team every week.”

Liverpool is still in contention for a quadruple after winning the League Cup last month, then reaching the quarterfinals of the

dedication. We all came out of won the first Olympic gold medal the belly of the ghetto, but coach in track and field and the susWisdom believed in us and he pended coach (Wisdom) became made us believe in ourselves.” the Minister of Sports and the In response, Wisdom brought official who stood in your lane a bag that showed a that day was one of my photo of Davis running employees. as a barefoot athlete, “The message is that when she competed in the stone that the buildthe Bain Town Flyers ing rejected became Track Club to demonthe cornerstone. As I strate that it does not said to you all then, I matter how one starts, say to Bahamians all but how they finish. over this country, rightShe went back down eousness is what exalts memory lane about a nation. Simply put, the controversial story you became a compoin Puerto Rico at the nent of good and right.

Central American I am so proud of you. I and Caribbean Games salute you and I know when a Bahamian my mom, Andre, and PAULINE Davis official denied her the Gerry, are smiling down opportunity to compete from heaven as you are in the women’s 400m because she celebrated.” was suspended from the team for Noting that there is no Cominsubordination. monwealth personality in athletics As her coach at the meet where who has achieved what Davis has triple jumper Frank Rutherford achieved, he said she deserves also got suspended, Wisdom said to be honoured as such and they she was poised to win the race, are pulling for her to receive that but because of that incident when recognition. the officials at the meet told the Minister of Sports Mario Bahamian official to deal with the Bowleg presented a gift to Davis, matter when the team returned calling her one of the greatest home. Yet still she was not women ever in the history of the allowed to compete.

Bahamas on behalf of all of the “I don’t want it to happen former Ministers of Youth, Sports to another Bahamian child,” and Culture, including Daniel Wisdom said. “The suspended Johnson, Wisdom and Desmond Frank Rutherford became the Bannister, who made a brief first Bahamian to win an Olympic appearance. medal in track and field, the susMarjorie Davis, accepting a pended Pauline Davis went and copy of the book on behalf of her

FA Cup and closing Manchester City’s lead at the top of the Premier League to six points with a game in hand.

Inter’s focus now returns to trying to catch AC Milan in Serie A, with two points

husband, Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, said she was honoured to recognise Davis as the epitome of what a true woman is all about. “That is what we’re celebrating today, International Women’s Day,” the prime minister’s wife said. “She is one that fought all of her battles and despite her problems, she moved forward and overachieved and that is what we’re here celebrating today and so I’m happy to be here celebrating one of our own.”

And Miss Bahamas Universe Chantel O’Brien, who made history of her own in December in Eilat, Italy where she became the first Bahamian to crack the top 10 in the Miss Universe pageant, said it’s important to watch as the Bahamian ambassadors make their own mark in all facets of life.

“Pauline Davis has done that time and time again and to be able to see her transcend into different chapters is important because she’s leaving opportunities for other young people to be thoroughly impacted,” O’Brien said. “She has ran her race time and time again and now she has put her heart into this memoir so I feel inspired and impacted to be able to be here to share this moment with her.”

Another woman in attendance who made history was Lanisha Rolle, who served as the first female to be elected as a minister of youth, sports and culture.

Also, there was Dr Pattie Symonette, one of the country’s most

outstanding versatile athletes and medical experts.

The ceremony was chaired by veteran historian Kendal ‘Getting It Right” Wright, who introduced a number of the guests in attendance, including former sprinter and Sports Talk show host Rudy Laverity and veteran historian Stanley Mitchell, who has filmed more of the accomplishments of Bahamian track and field athletes than anyone else in the country.

Todd, the award winning author who once served as the business editor for the Nassau Guardian, talked about the genesis of the book and how he was inspired by the accomplishments of Davis.

He along with long-time media personality Diane Phillips, president of Diane Phillips & Associates, made some remarks as they reminisced on the accomplishments of Davis that led to the making of the two-time Olympic gold medallist in 2000, including running as a member of the Golden Girls relay team of Sevatheda Fynes, Chandra Sturrup, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie and Eldece Clarke, who together also collected an Olympic silver medal in 1996 and a World Championship gold medal in 1999.

Some of the other dignitaries on hand were Rev Dr CB Moss, who was lauded for his contribution to Davis’ success, Michael Pintard, the newly elected leader of the Free National Movement and Shanendon Cartwright, the new deputy leader.

SEC loaded with quality teams hoping to bolster NCAA résumés

By FRED GOODALL AP Sports Writer TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Auburn spent a good portion of this season ranked No. 1. Kentucky is an eight-time national champion with expectations of contending for another title, and Tennessee and Arkansas may be capable of making deep runs in the NCAA Tournament, too.

With those teams perched among the best in the nation, plus three or four others needing a victory or two in the Southeastern Conference Tournament bolster their resumes, the SEC arguably has never been stronger from top to bottom.

No. 4 Auburn (27-4), No. 5 Kentucky (25-6) and No. 9 Tennessee (23-7) are ranked in the top 10 after beating up on each other during the regular season. No. 15 Arkansas (24-7) has been as hot as anyone lately, winning 16 of its past 18 entering this week’s tournament that tips off Wednesday at Amalie Arena.

“Our league is at an all-time high. It’s just incredible the level of competitiveness, the home-court advantages, the facilities, the exposure,” said Florida coach Mike White, whose Gators own a last-season upset of Auburn and need a good showing here to strengthen their case for a spot in the NCAA field.

“It’s a big-time league, arguably the best league in the country. There’s a bunch of pros in this league, a bunch of really good coaches, a bunch of proud fan bases,” White added.

“It is incredibly competitive, and I think that will be showcased in this

tournament and again in the NCAA Tournament.”

The action begins with 12th-seeded Missouri (11-20) facing 13th seed Mississippi (13-18) and No. 11 seed Vanderbilt (15-15) playing 14th seed Georgia (6-25).

The Missouri-Ole Miss winner advances to play fifth-seeded LSU (21-10) on Thursday, while the Vandy-Georgia survivor continues against sixthseeded Alabama (19-12).

The second night of the five-day tourney also features matchups between eighth and ninth-seeded Texas A&M (20-11) and Florida (19-12), as well as seventh-seeded South Carolina (18-12) and 10th seed Mississippi State (17-14).

Auburn, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas begin play in Friday’s quarterfinals, needing three wins in three days to claim the league’s automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

“There’s not another 8-9 game in college basketball anywhere near the caliber the 8-9 game between A&M and Florida. Not even close,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said.

“Both of these teams are probably a win or two away from being in the tournament, particularly a win against us. So, they’ll both be playing with their hair on fire, whichever one gets there,” Pearl added. “Both really well coached. We played very well at home against both teams and struggled at Florida. So regardless of who comes out of this one, it’ll be a really challenging contest.”

Auburn last won the league tourney in 2019, ending a four-year reign by Kentucky. Tennessee hasn’t won the SEC Tournament since 1979, and Arkansas last did it in 2000.

to make up and a game in hand.

“We did our best at Anfield,” Inter coach Simone Inzaghi said. “And we come out of these two games as a better side, strengthened.”

AUBURN players celebrate winning the Southeastern Conference regular season championship after an NCAA college basketball game against South Carolina on Saturday in Auburn.

(AP Photo/Butch Dill) “We’re trying to win it, NCAA WORTHY in Florida for only the third obviously, but we’re also Auburn coach Bruce time. Orlando hosted the trying to make sure we Pearl believes more than event in 1990 and Tampa know what we’re doing to half the 14-teams in the was the site in 2009. get ready for the NCAA SEC will get strong conFour of the past six SEC Tournament,” Kentucky sideration for an NCAA Tournaments were played guard Sahvir Wheeler said. tourney bid. in Nashville, Tennessee, “You know, playing for “I think a lot is going to where it is scheduled to seeding, making sure we depend on how the tourna- return for at least the next can be the highest seed that ment plays out, and then several years. we can. Making sure we’re of course how many upsets Amalie Arena is about starting to get better as a there are around college two hours south of Floriteam. basketball,” the Auburn da’s campus in Gainesville.

Kentucky forward and coach. “I think there are six “Obviously it’s in Florida SEC player of the year locks and there are poten- so it’s easier for us to get Oscar Tshiebwe said he is tial for seven or eight teams over there pretty quick taking a nothing is going to to be able to get in.” and get ready. For these be easy mentality into the KEY INJURY other teams, being out of tournament.

Arkansas played with- state or maybe if they’re “If you think you’re out guard Au’Diese Toney in a colder state, coming going to go there and during last weekend’s to Florida is probably awejust beat people like this, regular season-ending loss some for them,” Gators they’re going to send us at Tennessee. Coach Eric forward Colin Castleton home,” Tshiebwe said. Musselman has said Toney said. “It’s definitely a great “Whoever we play, we’ve likely won’t play again until experience. ... At the end got to be ready for them the NCAA Tournament. of the day you’ve got to because they’re coming BACK IN THE enjoy it but also really lock to play too, they’re not SUNSHINE STATE in and focus on what the coming just because they’re The men’s conference goal is, and that’s to win the playing Kentucky.” tournament is being played games.”

AUSTRALIA TOPS PAKISTAN BY 7 WICKETS AT WOMEN’S WORLD CUP WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Six-time world champion Australia swept aside Pakistan by seven wickets yesterday to remain unbeaten after two group-stage matches at the Women’s Cricket World Cup. Pakistan scored 190-6 after being sent in to bat at Mount Maunganui and Australia surpassed that total in just under 35 overs.

Australia’s run chase was set up by opener Alyssa Healy who made 72 from 79 balls.

Ellyse Perry (26 not out) and Beth Mooney (23 not out) were at the crease when the winning runs were struck.

For Pakistan, captain Bismah Maroof finished 78 not out, falling one run short of the highest score by a Pakistan player in a Women’s World Cup match.

Maroof shared a 99-run partnership with Aliya Riaz, a fifth-wicket record for Pakistan in one-day internationals. Riaz made 57.

That simple synopsis of the match at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui doesn’t come close to encapsulating its significance on International Women’s Day. Australia has competed in every women’s World Cup since the first in 1973, winning in 1978, ‘82, ‘88, ‘97, 2005 and ‘13. It has produced some of the greatest players in the history of women’s cricket and entered the tournament as the favorite to win again.

Cricket Australia recently announced measures to boost the base salary for women players to $65,000 Australian dollars ($48,000) and women’s cricket moves steadily toward pay parity with the men’s game.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 9, 2022, PAGE 15

KLAY THOMPSON LIFTS WARRIORS OVER CLIPPERS

By JANIE MCCAULEY AP Sports Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Klay Thompson scored 20 points on a night actor Will Ferrell surprised him and teammates before the game by participating in warmups with the Warriors, and Golden State snapped a five-game skid by beating the Los Angeles Clippers 112-97 last night.

Jordan Poole also scored 20 points off the bench while Andrew Wiggins had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Warriors, who won for just the second time in their last nine games to complete a road-home back-to-back.

Nicolas Batum scored 17 points to lead the Clippers in a second straight defeat following a five-game winning streak.

Ferrell warmed up with Golden State donning a vintage-style headband and dressed in his Jackie Moon jersey from the 2008 hoops film “Semi-Pro.” It was a moment that was meant especially for Thompson — who dressed as Moon for Halloween three years ago and loves the movie.

Golden State rested many regulars for Monday’s makeup game at Denver, with Stephen Curry, Thompson and Wiggins all sitting out. The Warriors held it together late this

time after losing big leads in each of their previous two home games, against Denver and Dallas.

Curry contributed 15 points, five assists and five rebounds, making just 1 of 6 3s, and Splash Brother Thompson began 2 for 9 and missed his initial four 3-point tries before connecting from deep early in the second.

Warriors rookie Jonathan Kuminga had 21 points, six rebounds and six of Golden State’s 33 assists.

Fellow rookie Moses Moody earned his eighth start after scoring a careerbest 30 points in the makeup game at Denver on Monday.

The teams combined to shoot 15 for 50 in the first quarter and were tied at 21.

TIP-INS Clippers: LA has lost the last three on the Warriors’ home floor since a 108-101 victory on January 6, 2021.

Los Angeles was 12 for 45 in the first half, including 4 of 20 on 3s to fall behind 54-36 at the break.

Warriors: Curry became the Warriors’ all-time steals leader with 1,361. F Otto Porter Jr sat out a second consecutive game ill, while G Gary Payton II was sidelined for a third straight by left knee soreness.

An MRI exam on the knee was clean, coach Steve Kerr said.

ACTOR WILL FERRELL, left, takes a shot as Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson warms up for the team’s NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers last night.

(AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 9, 2022, PAGE 17

BANKS URGED: DON’T LEAVE BUYERS ‘HOLDING THE BAG’ FROM PAGE 22 “These banks and other entities often sell repossessed land to customers in an outright sale, using the land as collateral and extending a mortgage on the property. The customer then realises there is a lack of subdivision approval after the sale, usually when they attempt to sell the land to another party or through other activity.

“In other words, and in my non-legal opinion, the title is blemished and one can say the customer has no title to the land at all as it was not conveyed within the law.” Financial institutions, though, are likely to cite the “caveat emptor” or ‘buyer beware’ legal principle, and argue that Mr Christie should have hired an attorney to satisfy himself of subdivision approval and good title.

However, David Morley, a former Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA) president, recently said not all attorneys ask for proof of subdivision approval before giving title opinions on property purchases - something that could expose them to potential lawsuits for professional negligence.

And Mr Christie argued that there is “a high degree of responsibility on banks” given that they should have “strong knowledge” of whether their inventory of repossessed properties

- and those that they are selling under “power of sale” - are situated in subdivisions that have the necessary approvals.

Pointing out that they often extended mortgage financing to persons acquiring their distressed properties, he added: “The banks being the one selling the property, and knowing about it, has the duty to ensure subdivision approval was done and that the title is proper.”

While asserting that he was not seeing “to attack the banks”, Mr Christie added that too often purchasers were left “holding the bag” in such situations as they lacked the necessary financing to resolve the subdivision/title issues or seek potential legal recourse in a court system where cases were likely to be tied up for years.

Instead, he urged financial institutions to be “good corporate citizens” in resolving the plight of purchasers of repossessed properties who - thanks to the Privy Council ruling may have been alerted to their predicament concerning good title.

“I am calling on banks and institutions to accept this landmark ruling by the Privy Council, and to actively reach out as good corporate citizens to reimburse all mortgage payments, real property tax, damages and legal fees to these Bahamian

consumers who were sold a blemished piece of property,” Mr Christie told Tribune Business.

“They are also encouraged to offer the consumer an opportunity at the bank’s and developer’s own expense to have the property approvals done as per the Planning and Subdivisions Act 2010, and land properly conveyed. I will be monitoring to see if the banks and other lenders do the right thing under the law, and call on the regulators and Parliament to do the same.”

Bahamian attorneys have been divided about the ramifications of the Privy Council ruling, and how widespread these potentially are. Some view the impact as limited, given that the verdict confirms that all conveyances executed for land in unapproved subdivisions after the Act took effect are “null and void”.

And, while conveyances made before the Act became law are affirmed as valid, the only question relates to sales agreements that existed prior to the Planning and Subdivisions Act where the parties went through with the transaction post implementation despite there being no subdivision approval.

This, some have suggested, mean any fall-out from the Privy Council ruling will be limited to a small group of purchasers who had valid sales

NOTICE

agreements prior to the Act and went ahead with concluding conveyances for land in unapproved subdivisions post-Act. Andy O’Brien, the Glinton, Sweeting & O’Brien partner, told Tribune Business: “I’ve been looking at everything, and talking to some of my colleagues at other firms. There is a genuine issue of concern that likely requires legislative action, and that is the circumstances where a conveyance was done pre-Act so is valid and the person goes out and sells it post-Act. “That could be major issue both for banks and owners of property without some legislation. The 2010 Act says all conveyances post-Act are null and void in unapproved subdivisions. That interpretation is how the Act reads, and is supported by the decision in the Privy Council case, but it sets the groundwork for this to be an issue and we have to come up with a solution for those folks.”

The Planning and Subdivisions Act was passed to ensure developers are either supposed to finance the infrastructure works themselves or secure a performance bond that guarantees the necessary work will be completed and there is sufficient funding available.

The Privy Council case, which revolved around the interpretation of the

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that ROBERTHO KARLOS MONESTIME of March Harbour, Abaco, The Bahamas Mais 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 2nd day of March, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that OIMER GLINTON of Sea Grape, Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama, 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 2nd day of March, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com

TUESDAY, 8 MARCH 2022

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX: BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 6.70 40.15 2.05 2.90 2.60 6.05 10.05 3.60 9.02 3.10 7.15 13.00 2.71 10.10 11.06 10.75 15.00 4.00 10.00 16.50

52WK LOW 4.55 32.12 1.46 2.20 1.30 5.50 6.00 2.82 4.25 2.27 5.00 9.75 1.99 6.50 9.50 8.40 13.10 3.42 8.00 15.50

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

PREFERENCE SHARES 1.00

1.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 10.00 1.00

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

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

52WK LOW 100.00 100.00

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

CLOSE

CHANGE

%CHANGE

YTD

YTD%

2249.53

-0.09

0.00

21.29

0.96

SYMBOL AML APD BBL BFH BOB BPF BWL CAB CBB CBL CHL CIB CWCB DHS EMAB FAM FBB FCL FIN JSJ BFHP CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB SYMBOL FBB22 BFHB

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing) 115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.98 100.00

104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 96.71 93.97 94.12 91.00 90.95 89.02 89.62 89.00 90.24 90.73

MUTUAL FUNDS 52WK HI 2.50 4.67 2.20 207.86 207.68 1.72 1.83 1.81 1.05 9.37 11.83 7.54 16.64 12.84 10.77 10.00 10.43 14.89

52WK LOW 2.11 3.30 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.68 1.73 1.75 1.01 6.41 7.62 5.66 8.65 10.54 9.57 9.88 8.45 11.20

Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) BGS: 2014-12-7Y BGS: 2015-1-7Y BGS: 2014-12-30Y BGS: 2015-1-30Y BGS: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y BGRS FX BGR106036 BGRS FX BGR117037 BGRS FX BGR118037 BGRS FX BGR125238 BGRS FX BGR127139 BGRS FX BGR127149 BGRS FX BGR129249 BGRS FX BGR131249 BGRS FX BGR132249 BGRS FX BGR136150

BAH29 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0307 BG0330 BG0407 BSBGR1060361 BSBGR1170376 BSBGR1180375 BSBGR1252380 BSBGR1271398 BSBGR1271497 BSBGR1292493 BSBGR1312499 BSBGR1322498 BSBGR1361504

LAST CLOSE 5.30 39.95 2.04 2.31 2.49 6.05 9.50 3.30 7.99 2.82 7.15 13.00 2.18 10.06 11.84 10.75 15.00 3.99 9.85 15.50 1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00 LAST SALE 100.00 100.00 107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 89.62 100.00 100.00 100.00

CLOSE 5.30 39.95 2.04 2.31 2.49 6.05 9.50 3.30 7.99 2.82 7.15 13.00 2.20 10.06 11.71 10.75 15.00 3.99 9.85 15.50 1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX - 19 Dec 02 = 1,000.00 52wk-Hi - Highest closing price in last 52 weeks 52wk-Low - Lowest closing price in last 52 weeks Previous Close - Previous day's weighted price for daily volume Today's Close - Current day's weighted price for daily volume Change - Change in closing price from day to day Daily Vol. - Number of total shares traded today DIV $ - Dividends per share paid in the last 12 months P/E - Closing price divided by the last 12 month earnings

VOLUME 115

225

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

CLOSE 100.00 100.00

CHANGE 0.00 0.00

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 89.62 100.00 100.00 100.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

FUND CFAL Bond Fund CFAL Balanced Fund CFAL Money Market Fund CFAL Global Bond Fund CFAL Global Equity Fund Leno Financial Conservative Fund Leno Financial Aggressive Fund Leno Financial Balanced Fund Leno Financial Global Bond Fund RF Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Secured Balanced Fund RF Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Targeted Equity Fund RF Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Prime Income Fund RF Bahamas International Investment Fund Limited - Equities Sub Fund RF Bahamas International Investment Fund Limited - High Yield Income Fund RF Bahamas International Investment Fund Limited - Alternative Strategies Fund Colonial Bahamas Fund Class D Colonial Bahamas Fund Class E Colonial Bahamas Fund Class F

MARKET TERMS

CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 (0.13) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

(242) 323‐2330 (242) 323‐2320 EPS$ 0.239 0.932 0.000 0.140 0.070 1.760 0.369 -0.438 0.140 0.184 0.449 0.722 0.102 0.467 0.646 0.728 0.816 0.203 0.939 0.631 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

VOLUME

DIV$ 0.170 1.260 0.020 0.080 0.000 0.000 0.260 0.000 0.000 0.120 0.220 0.720 0.434 0.060 0.328 0.240 0.540 0.120 0.200 0.610 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25% 6.95% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.50% 6.25% 4.25% 5.40% 5.20% 5.22% 5.00% 5.00% 5.50% 5.55% 5.60% 5.65% 5.69%

NAV 2.50 4.67 2.20 204.67 199.97 1.72 1.83 1.81 1.01 9.37 11.79 7.54 15.94 12.47 10.74 N/A 10.43 14.89

YTD% 12 MTH% 0.34% 4.30% -0.06% 5.21% 0.21% 2.72% 1.37% 3.18% 8.18% 14.94% 0.26% 2.76% 0.36% 2.37% 0.28% 2.51% -1.31% -3.43% -0.02% 10.36% -0.33% 18.23% 0.22% 3.05% -3.89% 14.76% -1.04% -2.57% 0.81% 4.20% N/A N/A 3.00% 25.60% 7.90% 48.70%

P/E 22.2 42.9 N/M 16.5 N/M N/M 25.7 -7.5 57.1 15.3 15.9 18.0 21.6 21.5 18.1 14.8 18.4 19.7 10.5 24.6 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

YIELD 3.21% 3.15% 0.98% 3.46% 0.00% 0.00% 2.74% 0.00% 0.00% 4.26% 3.08% 5.54% 19.73% 0.60% 2.80% 2.23% 3.60% 3.01% 2.03% 3.94% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.25% 7.00% 6.50%

MATURITY 19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025 20-Nov-2029 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2022 4-Aug-2036 14-Jul-2037 13-Oct-2037 15-Oct-2038 15-Jan-2039 15-Jan-2049 15-Apr-2049 15-Jul-2049 15-Oct-2049 21-Apr-2050

NAV Date 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 28-Jan-2022 30-Sep-2021 30-Sep-2021 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021

YIELD - last 12 month dividends divided by closing price Bid $ - Buying price of Colina and Fidelity Ask $ - Selling price of Colina and fidelity Last Price - Last traded over-the-counter price Weekly Vol. - Trading volume of the prior week EPS $ - A company's reported earnings per share for the last 12 mths NAV - Net Asset Value N/M - Not Meaningful

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

Planning and Subdivisions Act and the transition provisions for when it became law in 2011, was sparked when Malik Momin, a US citizen, agreed to acquire lot 36 in Exuma’s Elizabeth Harbour Estates for $895,000 via a sales agreement that was executed on February 18, 2008.

The transaction involving Mr Momin was caught in the transition to the Planning and Subdivisions Act. While the sales agreement had been executed prior to the Act coming into force, the conveyance - the legal instrument recording the transfer of title - did not occur until after the Act came into law.

The Planning and Subdivisions Act’s section 62(1) treats all conveyances made after the Act came into effect as “null and void” if they involve lots in subdivisions where the latter

have not been approved by the relevant government authorities.

Given that the Act took effect for Exuma on December 1, 2011, Mr Malik argued that this provision meant February Point could not convey good title to lot 36 as the Elizabeth Harbour Estates subdivision had not been approved. Therefore he demanded his purchase price be returned.

However, February Point argued that section 62(2) created a ‘carve out’. This, it asserted, said the failure to obtain subdivision approval did not make the conveyance to Mr Malik “null and void” because it upheld the validity of conveyances or sales agreements made before the Act came into effect - just as had occurred here. The Privy Council found for Mr Malik.

CALL 502-2394 TO ADVERTISE TODAY! PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, SHENIKA JOANNA NEELY of Idris Court, Kennedy Subdivision P.O. Box NP4940, Nassau, Bahamas, intend to change my name to SHENIKA JOANNA NEILLY. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that ELOY FRANCISCO MONTERO ROJAS of P.O. Box SS-5979, Eastwood Estates #47, Tulip Blvd., 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 2nd day of March, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that EDUARDO MARCELINO CALDEROW CASTELLON of Millenium Gardens, Nassau, The Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 2nd day of March, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that JERMAINE ROLLE JR of Martin Town, Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama, 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 2nd day of March, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that OSCHEA LEMAN CLARKE of P.O. Box CB-13363, South Beach, 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 twentyeight days from the 2nd day of March, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

PAGE 18, Wednesday, March 9, 2022

MORE QUESTIONS RAISED OVER BPL FUEL HEDGING FROM PAGE 22

Mr Rolle, in a statement that raised more questions than answers, said: “Contrary to statements made in the press by the Leader of the Opposition, the Government of The Bahamas has not cancelled the BPL fuel hedge arrangement which it has met in place.

“The current agreement remains in action but is not producing the results expected, as the effectiveness of the current hedge arrangement is directly related to the mix of fuel, which existed before the current administration took office.

“However, because of issues with power generation, the optimal fuel mix has not been adhered to and the effectiveness of the hedge arrangement has diminished.” No details, figures or other evidence was issued to back-up such assertions.

Mr Rolle’s statement then went on to argue that the projected savings from the fuel hedge over the next two years had been “greatly exaggerated” by the media.

“It was clear from before the change in the political administration last that the savings the company expected would not follow,”

it said, seeking to blame the Minnis administration.

“The net effect of this is when the Government assumed office in September 2021, BPL was near insolvency. Clearly this position had nothing to do with any decision of this administration, but it better reflects the stewardship of the previous government.

“Transitioning to a lower cost fuel for generation, and increasing renewable energy in the generation mix, would lead to a lower cost of energy in a climate-friendly manner.

The Government is working actively on providing real solutions in these two areas.”

However, the solutions identified in the latter paragraph are long-term cures that will do little to save BPL customers from higher energy prices that have been further fuelled

by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude, the two main oil indices, were trading at $126.3 and $131.3 per barrel, respectively, as this newspaper went to press last night.

And well-placed Tribune Business sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, described BPL’s statement as “technical

mumbo jumbo” that was designed to deflect attention from what they described as the real issues surrounding the utility’s hedging initiative.

Rather than focus on whether the hedging initiative had been cancelled or not, they argued that the key question was whether BPL and the Government executed the necessary trades to secure the hedge in September and December 2021 as the structure had to be maintained on a quarterly basis.

Amid suggestions that this answer was negative, Tribune Business was informed that BPL, had it executed the necessary transactions in September, could have obtained oil at $50 per barrel and hedged market prices that were around $70-$75 per barrel.

This newspaper reported last week how BPL’s hedging strategy had to be reviewed on a quarterly basis, and signed-off by the Ministry of Finance, IDB and the Cabinet. Failing to renew and execute the hedge on time created a cascading effect, or chain reaction, that threatened to unravel the entire structure.

“BPL had these layered contracts,” one contact added. “Some of

ABACO SUFFERS THREE-YEAR, $60M DORIAN RENTAL BLOW FROM PAGE 22 9,000 homes and in excess of 11m square feet of structures have sustained some damage on the two islands.”

Most of the economic losses were concentrated in Abaco. Just $4.064m in rental income, split between 1,917 dwellings, was said to have been lost in Grand Bahama as compared to the $60.95m spread over 5,422 residences that has been foregone in Abaco over

the past two years and four months.

The IDB report estimated that debris cleanup and demolition costs on Abaco amounted to $45.8nm, split into $33m for the former and $12.8m for the latter. Similar activities in Grand Bahama cost just $10.919m in comparison, split $7.855m/$3.063m between debris clean-up and demolitions.

The Bahamas’ transportation infrastructure was found to have sustained

some $94.5m worth of damages, with airports incurring some $36.926m alone.

Grand Bahama International Airport was said by the IDB to have suffered $25.071m worth of damage, while the figures for Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay were pegged at $9.83m and $2.025m, respectively.

“Transportation infrastructure is crucial for The Bahamas’ economy since it provides connectivity and mobility between and within islands, and in the context of disasters, it provides an essential role for the reconstruction of other infrastructures and provides access to other critical services such as medical services, power

those started to expire, and because nothing happened in September and December, there was no way to backstop it. Once those contracts expire, there is nothing to backstop them with.”

As a result, the prospect of BPL customers enjoying 10.5 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) fuel charges on their electricity bills through to June 2022 is now looking somewhat bleak. BPL’s aborted release last week had sought to raise the fuel charge by 30 percent or 3.5 cents per kWh to 13.5 cents.

One source questioned why the concerns surrounding the hedge’s failure to “produce the expected savings” were only being raised now, and were not included in the aborted BPL statement of Monday last.

“I was told that the new Board were definitely on board, and signed off on the hedge,” they added.

“But they didn’t make the deal in September and December; they did not strike the hedged price when they were advised to.

They delayed taking action.

That’s the part they have got to sit down and answer.”

Ministry of Finance concerns were again said to have played a key role in missing the September and

December deadlines. It is understood that the ministry wanted to segment the hedge such that businesses paid more, and residential customers less, viewing the current structure as a subsidy to the wealthy even though all benefit from lower fuel charges. As as a consumption-based charge it is also impossible to discriminate between consumer classes.

Further questions surround whether a draft Cabinet paper on the BPL fuel hedge, said to have been crafted in late September or early October, ever made its way before the Government’s highest decision-making body.

“The fuel cost is a pass through, and it doesn’t take you six months to realise the hedge is not working,” one source said of yesterday’s BPL statement. “The new Board has been in for some time. Why it is only sounding the alarm now?

It’s very odd they are now just coming out and saying this when they should have had sight of it from a while back.”

As for the “optimal fuel mix”, BPL’s hedging strategy set a target price that was based on the costs and quantities of the various fuels it expected to

generation facilities, and shelters, among others,” the IDB said.

“The estimated transportation infrastructure impact was approximately $94.5m for the whole country.” Some $37.208m of that figure represents losses suffered by airports and ports on Abaco and Grand Bahama over the past three years due to Hurricane Dorian’s impact.

Abaco’s ports and airports suffered losses of $6.578m and $10.47m, respectively, while those for Grand Bahama’s airports and ports were equivalent to $7.631m and $6.253m.

The IDB, in its initial November 2019 assessment of Hurricane Dorian’s economic impact, found that the Category Five storm had inflicted a combined $3.4bn in losses and damages - a sum that was greater than 25 percent of the country’s economic output.

“Abaco suffered 87 percent of the damage and Grand Bahama 13 percent,” the IDB’s initial report said.

“Losses are estimated at $717.3m and were sustained primarily in the private sector, which accounted for 84 percent of the total. Seventy percent of the losses took place on Abaco, 15 percent on Grand Bahama, and nine percent on the other islands.

“Additional costs add up to $220.9m; 46.4 percent of those costs were in the environment sector and are associated with the cleaning of the oil spill. A major part of the remainder of the additional costs is related to debris removal and demolition.”

The IDB estimated that 29,472 people were affected by the hurricane because of some sort of damage to their homes and assets.

It also said damage to the tourism infrastructure was $530m.

THE TRIBUNE use. If it ran its more efficient engines for longer than anticipated, and burnt lower volumes of cheaper fuel, then the utility enjoyed savings that “accumulated” as reserves in what was known as an “over and under account”.

The failure to execute the September and December hedges, one source suggested, had forced BPL to buy more of its fuel on the ‘spot’ market at higher prices than if it had hedged.

As a result, it had been forced to use the reserves in its “over and under account” to cover the difference, and these monies were likely depleted.

It was this situation, they added, that was likely to have forced BPL into its sudden announcement of a 30 percent hike in the fuel charge on electricity bills from March 1. That, though, was blocked by Mr Sears and his Cabinet colleagues, fearful about the impact increased energy costs will have on businesses and households still struggling to recover from COVID-19.

Mr Rolle could not be reached for comment last night, and both himself and Alfred Sears, minister of works and utilities, who has Cabinet responsibility for BPL, have not responded to TTribune Business phone calls and messages seeking comment over the past few days.

“On this occasion, the forecasted losses are less than the damage and amount to $325m,” the multilateral lender said.

“They are related to the disruption in the flow of tourists as a result of the storm, and a changed public perception due to the damaged structures. Most of the losses will be accrued in the high season of 2019 and 2020, tapering off as the recovery is expected to gain momentum.

“In the upcoming years, the country will face difficult questions of whether to relocate coastal populations and how to smartly invest in more resilient infrastructure. It is, therefore, imperative for The Bahamas, as a country, to establish a comprehensive approach to meeting these challenges and to incorporate considerations for disaster risk management into all features of national development.”

In the health sector, the IDB estimated damage to infrastructure, medical equipment, furniture, supplies and others at $37.7m.

Health services operations disruption was pegged at $21.4m. With respect to educational facilities, damage amounted to $72m, with public sector institutions expected to incur costs of $74m.

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JOB OPPORTUNITY NOTICE

Baygrove Limited Busy Optometry office in New Providence looking for full time Optometrist. Must have Doctorate of Optometry degree from an accredited college of Optometry or trained at a college of Optometry from the UK. Must be licensed to practice in country of training. Must be proficient in OCT and Humphrey’s Visual Field.

opticalopportunity36@gmail.com

Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Registration Number 105,446 B (In Voluntary Liquidation) Articles of Dissolution have been duly registered by the Registrar. The Liquidator is Richard L. Broughton, No 6 Bosham Close, Camperdown Heights, P.O. Box SP 63801, NP, The Bahamas. Persons having a Claim against the above-named Company are required on or before the 9th day of May, 2022 to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator of the Company, or in default thereof they may be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such claim is proved.

Richard L. Broughton Liquidator

MASON HOLDING FINANCE S.A. Company No. 1933500 (In Voluntary Liquidation)

NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to Section 204 (1)(b) of the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 that MASON HOLDING FINANCE S.A. is in voluntary liquidation. The voluntary liquidation commenced on 25th February 2022 and Martin Signer of Binzallee 19, 8055 Zurich, Switzerland has been appointed as the Sole Liquidator.

Dated this 28th day of February 2022 Sgd. Martin Signer Voluntary Liquidator

THE TRIBUNE

CHAMBER CHIEF URGES VAT GASOLINE ‘CAP’ FROM PAGE 22

Island Chambers are also in favour.” Mr Hutton identified those Chambers as the ones from Exuma and Eleuthera, in particular, although he “hadn’t heard anything” from the parent Chamber in Nassau yet.

“I don’t think that is unreasonable with the way VAT is,” he added of the “cap” proposal. “It’s based on a percentage, and the higher the gas price goes, the higher the VAT amount becomes. I don’t think it’s an unreasonable thing right now, certainly in terms of fuel. We’re proposing a ceiling of 45 cents per gallon.

It’s at least worth a shot.

“Who pays for it [rising gas prices]? It’s the economy. Consumers are the ones that can least afford it in terms of fuel. It’s one of the greatest direct costs for households apart from food. I took a picture on Saturday when I got some gas and it was $5.93 a gallon. And this is just at the start of this, this global crisis.”

Tribune Business reported previously that

one of the few beneficiaries from the surge in global oil prices and, indeed, all current inflationary pressures, is the Public Treasury.

Given that VAT and import/Excise duties are levied as a percentage on the landed cost of imports, the across-the-board increase in prices could spark a revenue windfall for the Government unless consumers cut-back.

Vasco Bastian, the Bahamas Petroleum Dealers Association’s (BPDA) vice-president, yesterday confirmed to this newspaper that the Government is currently earning $1.54 per gallon of gasoline when it is sold to end-users. That means, based on current retail prices, that between 25 percent and 30 percent of each gallon of gasoline sold goes to the Public Treasury.

Petroleum products are thought to be the largest VAT-generator for the Government. Sir Franklyn Wilson, chairman of FOCOL Holdings, the Shell distributor, told Tribune Business that the industry’s

tax contribution was “very substantial”, although he declined to provide a figure, and added: “That’s the way it is. That’s the reality of the tax system.”

Thus while reducing, or capping, the Government’s fuel tax take remains the only short-term option for The Bahamas to mitigate the impact of volatile global oil prices, the Davis administration will have to balance any such action with its need for revenue given the ongoing fiscal crisis that the country faces.

However, Mr Hutton argued that, given “so much is out of our control, a “cap” would be best for striking the balance between mitigating the increase in global oil prices - which have risen 30 percent in less than 20 days - “without adversely affecting the Government’s fiscal status”.

“We’re not asking for it to be waived; we’re asking for it to be capped,” the Abaco Chamber president said. “We have zero say on the price of oil, but I think we can help people here mitigate the fall-out from

the price going up. Everyone is concerned as is everyone else in the world.”

Asked whether he feared rising gasoline and energy costs, stemming from Russia’s Ukraine invasion, will derail Abaco’s post-Dorian rebuild and COVID recovery, Mr Hutton added: “None of it is helpful, put it that way. It’s not helpful at all.”

He said he decided to make the “cap” proposal public, after obtaining support from other island Chambers, because “we’ve not been getting a response from government on any issues recently”.

Mr Hutton explained: “In Abaco, we’re waiting for clarity on the Special Economic Recovery Zone issue. We thought that had been extended from January, but then were told that there are changes to it that are coming at the end of March. No one can give us any clarification. We have reached out to numerous government officials and nobody is responding to us.”

Wednesday, March 9, 2022, PAGE 19

Thomas Sands, the Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce’s president, yesterday described soaring oil prices and the Ukraine conflict as “a bump in the road we do not need” with his island and the rest of The Bahamas still struggling to rebound from COVID’s ravages.

“The rising costs across the board have everybody concerned, and the reality is that we’re trying to recover from a really bad time in the economy,” he told this newspaper of Mr Hutton’s “cap” proposal. “Whatever can be done to alleviate the pain or keep it in line is worth exploring; it’s definitely worth exploring.

“I think the economy was beginning to improve, and there’s a lot of promise for Eleuthera and a lot of things are going to happen.

The reality of increased costs at any level makes that journey even harder at this particular point in time. People are just trying to recover, just trying to catch themselves with hope for the future and

BAHAMAS TO ‘FEEL BRUNT’ OF RUSSIAN SANCTIONS SHOCK FROM PAGE 22 significant turn”, he suggested that the $139 per barrel price achieved by oil markets when news of the US move first leaked was a potential foretaste of how high gasoline and energy prices may go in The Bahamas.

“I think we can expect significant upward pressure on inflation,” Mr Edwards warned. “Some analysts have predicted $150 a barrel, and I’ve seen numbers as high as $200 a barrel, which effectively represents an almost doubling or more of where oil prices were for the last two years.

“Based on the financial allocations at this point, we can expect the Government will have to revisit its projections for the actual cost of oil for Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) and other entities that use these types of input.

“It definitely translates into higher prices. The cost of moving goods from the wharf to the warehouse will rise, and it means a potential increase in shipping costs which have been very high in recent times.

It means potential disruption in the supply chain and longer lead times for the delivery of goods and for imports to clear,” he continued.

“With all the circumstances at play, and the actions taken not just by the

US but the international community across-theboard with sanctions on Russia, it is clear we are going to feel the brunt of some of these effects. Sanctions creating supply side shocks must drive the prices up because the demand is still there.”

Agreeing that the oil price shock, combined with pre-existing inflation imported from the US and the general uncertainty caused by Russia’s Ukraine invasion, will “dampen” The Bahamas’

post-COVID recovery, Mr Edwards said much depends on how long the conflict in eastern Europe lasts and how widespread it becomes.

Besides increased oil costs proving a drain on The Bahamas’ foreign currency earnings and external reserves, he added that growing inflationary pressures may force the US Federal Reserve and other central banks to raise interest rates to combat rising prices.

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, ANDREA SHENIKA NEELY of Idris Court, Kennedy Subdivision P.O. Box NP4940, Nassau, Bahamas, intend to change my name to ANDREA SHENIKA NEILLY. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, DONNA ELIZABETH PRATT of Dumping Ground Corner, Bain and Grants Town, Nassau, Bahamas, mother of CIDOINE CHARLES JR intend to change my child’s name to CIDOINE SMITH. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

While this may occur slowly, Mr Edwards warned that “it will happen”. He added: “For The Bahamas, that will mean that the cost of its foreign currency borrowing will increase and the cost of future foreign currency borrowing will increase. Bahamian foreign currency bonds are already trading at 11 percent.

“If the economic situation worsens, our finances will be affected, and that could spur a crisis anywhere - not just for The Bahamas but countries around the Caribbean. You’re looking at kind of a hyperinflation environment that could lead to a recession.

“Ultimately, if this drags on at this rate, and the

here’s another one [Russia/ Ukraine].”

Still, Mr Sands said Eleuthera’s economy and society were awaiting the go-ahead for Disney’s Lighthouse Point cruise port. “We’re really hopeful for that. There’s a lot of promise and a lot of hope,” he added. “We’re almost there..... Nobody knows what the end result will be, but everybody is projecting that the recovery will be strong and that we will get through this.”

Acknowledging that inflation’s impact will be greater in the Family Islands than Nassau, the Eleuthera Chamber chief added: “The cost of imports, the cost of moving product what have you, it’s going to be more severe in the Family Islands and, in turn, we would have less economic activity.

“We have a combination of higher costs and less activity, but hopefully our saving grace is we will have some activity and start to grow. Besides Disney, the Government has recently signed revised Heads of Agreement with Sir Franklyn Wilson’s Jack’s Bay project and the nearby development headed by Colombian billionaire, Luis Carlos Sarmiento. pace it is going, the world could slide into a depression and that would be bad news for us on this side of the world,” Mr Edwards continued.

“Tourism is our largest market, largely based on discretionary income, and a recession/depression affects people in these markets.

The decision to travel for leisure will be adversely affected. This one is not looking good for us at all.”

PAGE 20, Wednesday, March 9, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

PETROLEUM DEALERS WARN ON FUEL, SELF-SERVICE, CUTBACKS

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

PETROLEUM dealers yesterday warned they may have to cut back on the amount of fuel they order, and move to self-service on some days, to ease the impact from soaring global oil prices.

Vasco Bastian, the Bahamas Petroleum Dealers Association’s (BPDA) vice-president, told Tribune Business that if the cost of 10,000 gallons goes above $60,000, or $6 per gallon, gas stations will have to consider reducing how

much they buy from wholesalers - Esso, Rubis and FOCOL Holdings (Shell) as well as go to self-service several days per week.

Presently, a 10,000-gallon tanker of gasoline costs Bahamian petroleum dealers just over $50,000, Mr Bastian said. With these prices likely to rise further after the US moved to cut-off all Russian energy supplies in response to the Ukraine invasion, Mr Bastian warned it will become increasingly for dealers to operate at these higher costs with margins fixed at $0.54 per gallon.

“If you see the price of gas go up to $7, then it

makes no sense for dealers to operate as they have been,” he argued. “It just makes no sense. Because, right now, if you buy 10,000 gallons of fuel from a wholesaler, right now it’s costing you $50,000.

“And, if you multiply that 10,000 gallons of gas by 0.54, then dealers only make $5,400 profit on fuel they have just spent $50,000 on. If a 10,000-gallon tanker goes up to $60,000, then you can’t buy a 10,000 gallon load any more; you would have to buy a 5,000 gallon load or something like that.

“But you can’t afford to buy a 10,000 gallon load at $60,000. You won’t be able

to afford that. You would then have to decrease your purchase quantity and, once you decrease your quantity, your demand will increase.

So you are going to feel it in the economy,” Mr Bastian continued.

“At the end of the day, this is not making any sense. So we might have to look at self-service to get us through this crisis.

We want to preserve the jobs for Bahamians, but we might have to go to selfservice now for a couple of days out of the week, or we have to ask the Government to reduce their VAT on gasoline.

BISX LISTED SECURITIES BREAK $9BN THRESHOLD THE total value of all securities listed on the Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX) increased by 5.9 percent year-over-year to hit $9.282bn at year-end 2021.

The stock exchange, unveiling the performance of listed equity and debt securities for the 12 months to end-December 2021, revealed that its total market capitalisation had jumped by more than $500m compared to the $8.764bn at which it closed 2020.

BISX said the increase was due to the listing of new Bahamas Registered

Stock (BRS), or government bond, issues on the exchange in 2021. These developments occurred as the BISX All-Share Index, which measures movements in the price of listed equity stocks, regained almost all the ground it lost during 2020 over the past year.

“For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2021, the BISX All-Share Index closed at 2,228.24. This represents a year-to-date increase of 135.92 or 6.5 percent. By comparison, for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2020, the BISX All-Share Index closed at 2,092.46. That was

a decrease of 139.14 or 6.23 percent,” BISX said.

The All-Share Index does not capture dividend payments, or capital returns, to investors. “As at December 31, 2021, the market was comprised of 20 ordinary shares with a market capitalisation of $4.84bn,” BISX said.

“In addition, there were eight preference shares with a market capitalisation of $249m, nine BGS and corporate bonds with a face value of $462m, and 231 BRS with a face value of $3.7bn.”

The BISX All-Share Index’s 6.5 percent

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improvement lagged that of major market indices such as the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, which were up by 29.13 percent and 12.37 percent for the year to end-December 2021.

For the year, some 12.045m securities worth a collective $108.438m were traded across BISX. This included 11.012m ordinary shares, worth a combined $42.507m, plus 622,939 government bonds totalling $61.362m.

“Trading volume for the 12-month period January 2, 2021, to December 31, 2021, was 12.045m shares for a value of $108.438m.

Trading volume for the twelve-month period January 2, 2020, to December 31, 2020, was 5.558m shares for a value of $27.886m,” BISX said.

“Trading volume for the three-month period

“Right now the Government gets two sets of VAT from the petroleum business; they collect VAT from the wholesalers, and then they collect VAT from the dealers and retailers. So it’s a double tax for the same set of fuel.”

He added that the Government currently collects $1.54 for every gallon of gasoline sold in The Bahamas. “It’s the Government that makes the most money in the petroleum business, not us dealers,” Mr Bastian asserted.

When asked if fuel shortages will result, he said: “The Bahamas will never run out of gasoline. The

people that run the wholesale operations here from Esso, to Shell and Rubis, they have competent people leading those companies. The Bahamas will never be at risk of running out of gasoline.”

While the Association has been lobbying vigorously for an increase in dealer/retailer margins, no administration seemingly has the appetite to grant this request.

Mr Bastian said: “We need the Prime Minister, along with his minister for economic affairs, to sit and talk with the dealers, not the wholesalers, but speak with the dealers.”

October 1 to December 31, 2021, was 1.971m shares for a value of $45,433m.

By comparison, for the three-month period from October 1 to December 31, 2019, trading volume was 1.85m shares for a value of $10.689m.”

Turning to average daily volume and value, BISX added: “For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2021, the average daily trading volume was 46,091 securities which resulted in an average daily trading value of $423.020. By comparison, for the 12-month period December 31, 2020, the average daily trading volume was 22,068 securities for an average value of $110,229.

“During the three-month period from October 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021, the average volume per trading day was 30,540 securities for a value of $713,472.

By comparison, for the three- month period from October 1,

2020, to December 31, 2020, the average volume per trading day was 29,368 securities for an average value of $169,665.”

Commonwealth Bank was the most widely-traded security listed on BISX, accounting for 42.2 percent of all volumes as 4.837m shares changed hands.

AML Foods generated 24.8 percent of total volumes, with 2.828m shares traded. FOCOL Holdings, Bahamas First and Cable Bahamas rounded out the top five.

Commonwealth Bank was also the value leader, accounting for 32.1 percent of all activity with $13.786m worth of shares changing hands. AML Foods, though, was in hot pursuit with a 31.9 percent share, as $13.681m worth of its securities changed hands.

FOCOL, Doctors Hospital and Cable Bahamas completed the top five.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 9, 2022, PAGE 21

GOV’T TARGETS 25% SLASH TO $1BN FOOD IMPORT BILL

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A CABINET minister yesterday said the Government is aiming to slash The Bahamas’ annual $1bn food import bill by 25 percent come 2025.

Clay Sweeting, minister of agriculture, marine resources and Family Island affairs, told reporters ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting that the Davis administration is working with CARICOM on food security issues as it seeks

to achieve what would be around a $250m reduction in food imports.

“We have an aggressive agenda and we’re definitely working towards that,” Mr Sweeting said of the 25 percent cut. “We also understand the price of food is increasing. So we’re looking at ways to decrease that as well by working along with farmers and stakeholders. We had a meeting on Monday with some stakeholders to see how they can best invest in the agricultural sector as well.”

Referring to The Bahamas’ recent attendance at an international food conference, the minister added that the Government will be partnering with its Dubai counterpart to bring some of the Middle Eastern state’s technology to bear on agriculture in this country.

“The most important thing I would say would be the amount of technology that we don’t have access to currently,” Mr Sweeting said. “They are able to grow things in places such as the desert, which is amazing.

“So we’re hoping to bring some of that technology back and increase our domestic production, like places such as Israel, which is doing a wonderful job in the agricultural sector. We have some persons travelling from Israel in April that would assist with some training and initiatives here.

So we’re just excited about it and continue to work towards food security.”

The previous Free National Movement (FNM) administration implemented a policy where foreign investors, resorts, restaurants and

supermarkets were to source 40 percent of their food supply needs from Bahamian producers.

Mr Sweeting, though, said that while this policy remained in place under the Davis administration, it had not truly been activated under the former government, “The issue is supply, so our policy is Bahamian farmer driven,” he added.

“We just have to ensure that the policies that we put in place as a government, we’re able to achieve. So it’s easy to put anything on paper if you can’t achieve

Gov’t considers taxi, jitney fare increase

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A CABINET minister yesterday said the Government is mulling whether to increase taxi and jitney fares to enable these industries to offset increased costs from rising gasoline prices.

Jobeth Coleby-Davis, minister for housing and transport, told reporters ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting that the

Government was sympathetic to calls for fare increases because these rates have not changed in ten-plus years and are now “hurting” these industries because of growing cost pressures. Any raise, though, may not happen until this summer.

“I had meetings with both the taxi and the bus drivers union, and they raised those issues [fare increases] before the potential increase in gas prices simply because, during COVID, they were shut down and their business

MINISTER MEETS STATISTICAL WORKERS AHEAD OF CENSUS A CABINET minister and Board members met with Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI) staff to show government’s support as they prepare for the 2022 Census.

Senator Michael Halkitis, minister of economic affairs, and Wayde Watson, the ministry’s parliamentary secretary, together with BNSI chairman, Gabrielle Fraser, and Board director, Dr

Anthony Hamilton, called on the former Department of Statistics last Friday.

The BNSI is preparing to conduct the 2022 Census in April. The first phase Census virtual training for area managers and supervisors took place from February 7-18 for New Providence and Grand Bahama. Second phase training for both islands began last week.

flourishes off the economy being open and the movement of people,” Mrs Coleby-Davis said.

“So they’ve taken a big hit to their businesses, and they spoke about a potential increase, or [allowing] them to increase the fees, simply because I think the last time it was done was probably ten or 12 years ago. It’s kind of hurting their business, because inflation goes up and we still have seen the same prices for years.

“So I spoke to my Cabinet colleagues, probably

maybe two, three months ago, when I had that initial meeting with them, as I promised, and we decided that I would come back at it this summer because we were just opening up the economy and wanted to see how the revenue flows back into the economy, getting persons back to work, and then potentially having a thought on whether we would increase or allow the increase of their fares.”

Jitney drivers had previously told Tribune Business they would adult

fares to increase from $1.25 to $2, while leaving those for children untouched. “I don’t think that discussion was surrounding whether we would agree on what they presented; it was just simply because the Cabinet understood their concerns and what they were saying.

But we still have to balance it with the state of the country and the economy now,” Mrs Coleby-Davis said.

The minister said the 50 percent maximum passenger capacity limit imposed on jitney drivers could be

those goals. So we’re getting to the point, hopefully, that we can achieve those goals as soon as possible.”

Mr Sweeting said there are no immediate plans to reform fisheries legislation or alter policy regarding the use of compressors on board vessels.

That’s something that has to go to consultation and be analysed with stakeholders,” he said of the use of compressors. “You know, being a fisherman, I understand their plight. So we are looking at it and we get numerous calls every day concerning that.” relaxed as early as this week.

She had spoken to Michael Darville, minister for health and wellness, who said he would address the sector’s concerns imminently.

Mrs Coleby-Davis said: “There is a lot of discussion that takes place. Obviously, the minister of health wants to make sure that he speaks to his counterparts, his colleagues and get an agreed position before he makes announcements. So I think that discussion is happening right now. So, hopefully, they stick to the end of the week that they advised.”

FROM left: Dr Hamilton; Johanne Rolle, BNSI human resources manager; Ms Fraser; Mr Watson; Mr Halkitis; Nerissa Gibson, BNSI deputy director; Clarice Turnquest, BNSI assistant director; Kim Saunders, chief Census officer; and Subrenna Higgs, Census IT manager.

business@tribunemedia.net

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

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Banks urged: Don’t leave buyers ‘holding the bag’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A PROMINENT accountant has urged Bahamian financial institutions not to leave clients “holding the bag” by selling them repossessed properties in unapproved subdivisions.

Kendrick Christie, president of the Association of Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Bahamas chapter, told Tribune Business had had personally “suffered damage” when he was unable to sell land previously acquired from a bank because the area it was located in lacked the necessary approvals under the Planning and Subdivisions Act. Speaking out after the recent Privy Council ruling, which affirmed that all land and property sales in unapproved

• Accountant recalls subdivision approval nightmare • ‘Suffered damage’ on lost deal for land bank sold him • Says banks ‘have duty’ to ensure subdivision straight subdivisions are “null and void” after the Act’s 2011 implementation, he said he has also encountered cases in his role as an accountant/auditor where persons had purchased properties from financial institutions to which they no longer have good title due to this law.

HUBERT EDWARDS

“I have been personally affected by this,” Mr Christie revealed to this newspaper, while not naming the bank involved. “I can speak from experience. The reason I know about this is that I attempted to sell a piece of land that I bought from the bank, and could not sell it.

Abaco suffers three-year, $60m Dorian rental blow

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Bahamas to ‘feel brunt’ of Russian sanctions shock

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE BAHAMAS will “feel the brunt” of the fall-out from Russia’s Ukraine invasion, a governance reformer warned yesterday, with hyper-inflation threatening to plunge the world into a depression.

Hubert Edwards, the Organisation for Responsible Governance’s (ORG) economic development committee head, told Tribune Business that “this one’s not looking good for us at all” given the extent to which the imposition of sanctions on Russia’s economy is causing worldwide shocks.

Describing the Biden administration’s ban on Russian oil and gas imports as “a

SEE PAGE 19

“I suffered damage. I thought I had the contract in the bag, the sale in my hands, but the buyer’s attorney said: ‘This has no subdivision approval’ and I lost the sale... I can also speak to this as an accountant and auditor who has liaised with attorneys on some land matters like this. I know of one or two instances where there have been conveyancing issues that had to do with subdivision approval.”

Expanding further, Mr Christie argued: “Some Bahamian banks have been disclaiming liability to customers for a long time now as a result of selling land parcels to customers which did not have the proper subdivision approval.

ABACO lost more than $60m in rental income during the 28 months immediately after Hurricane Dorian due to the devastation inflicted on

its housing stock, it was revealed yesterday.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in its latest assessment of the catastrophic storm’s impact, said economic losses are continuing to be incurred and will only likely cease by the 2022 third quarter - some three

BAHAMAS Power & Light (BPL) yesterday rejected accusations that the Davis administration had cancelled its fuel hedging initiative even though it was not producing the desired financial savings.

The state-owned energy supplier, in a statement breaking its and the Government’s five-day silence on the controversy,

asserted that the hedging structure the new government met in place was “not producing the results expected” because BPL’s generation woes meant “the optimal fuel mix” was not being used.

The statement, issued in the name of Pedro Rolle, BPL’s chairman, then sought to blame the former Board and Minnis administration by suggesting these issues were known before the September 2021 general election.

Chamber chief urges VAT gasoline ‘cap’ • Calls for 45 cents per gallon ceiling to ‘ease the pain’ • Abaco proposal supported by other island Chambers • Treasury ‘won’t lose; it’s just not getting any windfall’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

And it also attempted to blame the “diminished” hedging results for BPL being “near insolvency” when the Davis administration came to office. It is unclear, though, how any fuel hedging woes can be responsible for the utility’s perilous financial position when fuel costs are a 100 percent “pass through” and paid entirely by BPL’s business and residential customers.

ABACO’S Chamber of Commerce president yesterday urged the Government to “cap” the VAT it earns from taxing gasoline at 45 cents per gallon and “alleviate the pain” KEN HUTTON of soaring fuel costs.

Ken Hutton told Tribune Business his proposal, which had received backing from other Family Island Chambers, was likely the only short-term measure The Bahamas could take to ease the impact of near-record oil prices which could yet surge higher after the Biden administration banned all Russian energy imports from the US in response to the Ukraine invasion.

While the “cap”, if implemented, would deprive the Public Treasury of a potential revenue “windfall” from higher gas prices, he argued that the Government would not “lose any money” while helping to mitigate some of the negative impact on hard-pressed Bahamian households and businesses still struggling to recover from COVID-19’s economic devastation.

“With the ever-increasing cost of inflation, the Abaco Chamber would like to recommend to government a cap be placed on VAT for gasoline and diesel,” Mr Hutton told this newspaper. “As fuel prices go up, so does VAT, so we would like to recommend a cap of 45 cents per gallon.

“This would apply to import VAT as well. Government is not losing any money; they are just not getting a windfall on top of inflationary pressures. Family

SEE PAGE 18

SEE PAGE 19

SEE PAGE 17 years after it struck Abaco and Grand Bahama.

“Full recovery is assumed to occur by September 2022,” the IDB’s ‘at a glance’ assessment asserted. “Housing was the sector most severely affected by Hurricane Dorian.

“Houses and residences suffered significant damage to the structural elements, roofs, flood damage and other components of the buildings. Approximately

SEE PAGE 18

More questions raised over BPL fuel hedging

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

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