03122024 BUSINESS AND FEATURES

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DR DANIEL JOHNSON, FootCare RX’s principal, and team treating a patient during Foot Fest 2024.

A BAHAMIAN footcare provider plans to tap its investors for further equity this summer as it pushes forward with further expansion following an initial roll-out that “surpassed expectations”.

Dr Daniel Johnson, the former Cabinet minister who is now FootCare RX’s principal, told Tribune Business it is targeting a September opening for its Prince

ArawakX full wind-up sealed without a fight By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas’ firstever crowd funding platform’s fate was yesterday sealed without a fight after its former principals effectively consented to its liquidation amid claims of a near-$4m insolvency.

Footcare provider targets new investor capital raise By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net MICHAEL SCOTT KC D’ARCY RAHMING SNR D’ARCY RAHMING JNR

Michael Scott KC, who spearheaded the Securities Commission’s legal bid to have ArawakX and its parent, MDollaz Ltd, wound-up under the Supreme Court’s supervision confirmed to Tribune Business that full liquidation will proceed after no resistance was offered by D’Arcy Rahming and his son, D’Arcy Jnr, at a relatively short morning hearing before Sir Ian Winder, the Chief Justice.

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public interest this thing be wound-up.” To support his position, he not only cited ArawakX’s insolvency but also the alleged commingling and use of “over $1m the company’s expenses and purported “criminal violation” as a result of its unauthorised public offering.

Charles Drive clinic and payment of a first dividend to shareholders next year.

The venture, one of four to successfully hit their minimum crowd-funding capital raise via the ArawakX platform, was described as “in the black” and “ahead” of projections as Dr Johnson reaffirmed ambitions to open another five clinics over the next five years.

Speaking after last week’s Foot Fest 2024, staged by the Ministry of Health and Wellness in conjunction with Barry

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CHRISTINA ROLLE SIR IAN WINDER SEE PAGE B4

back-pedal ‘no way to run country’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Government’s back-pedalling over the phased strategy to increase the National Insurance Board’s (NIB) all-in contribution rate to 26.3 percent is “not a way to run a country”, it was asserted yesterday.

Peter Goudie, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation’s (BCCEC) labour division chief, told Tribune Business that the statement by the Prime Minister’s Office contradicting what the minister responsible for NIB had said just hours earlier has left businesses and workers “totally confused” over how to prepare for

the increases that may be coming.

“How can you plan anything when nobody knows who’s talking for who?” Mr Goudie, a private sector representative on the National Tripartite Council, asked. “The Prime Minister is saying his minister didn’t know what he was talking about, and that he didn’t know

what the acting director of NIB was talking about.

“The best word I can use is confused. They either approved it or they didn’t, but for the Prime Minister to come out and confuse everybody over an announcement by two people is beyond me. The minister with responsibility for NIB and the head

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Cable ‘takes exception’ with URCA over Freeport blame

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

CABLE Bahamas “takes exception” with its regulator blaming it for “an increase in bad debt” due to challenging its ability to licence and regulate the company’s Freeport operations.

The BISX-listed communications provider, in

its response to the consultation on the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) 2024 draft annual plan, said it was justified in withholding fee payments to the supervisor until the Supreme Court provides “clarity” on whether its lawful jurisdiction extends to the Hawksbill Creek Agreement area.

URCA, in its annual plan, had blamed a 71 percent increase in general and administrative expenses to $1.64m on “increased bad debt due to continued non-payment of major licensees”. It added: “In the prior year, bad debt was under budget, thereby requiring recovery of the deficit in the current year.” However, Cable Bahamas immediately hit back,

arguing: “In the interest of transparency, and with reference to URCA’s explanation under general and administrative expenses that the increase in bad debt budgeted is due to a “..major licensee that has not paid the assessed fee due to litigation’, it is likely that the major licensee is a member

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Resort to Gov’t: ‘Pursue’ horse riding venture like shanty towns

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A MAJOR Harbour Island resort yesterday urged the Government to “aggressively pursue” a local horse riding entrepreneur’s “unauthorised construction” with the same vigour as its shanty town crackdown.

Pink Sands, in a statement issued to Tribune Business, warned that the location and “unpleasant odor” created by Byron Bullard’s B&B Horseback Riding venture is undermining the five-star, $1,000-plus per night visitor experience that its guests are accustomed to.

Responding to this newspaper’s revelations of Mr Bullard’s dispute with both itself and the Government, the resort - which described itself as “the largest employer on Harbour Island” - argued that rather than seeking to stifle his entrepreneurial ambitions it had both promoted the horse back riding to its

guests and offered to help him find a new, cleaner location.

Asserting that these offers had all been rejected, Pink Sands said Mr Bullard’s decision to shift his stables and paddock on to adjacent Crown Land “flies in the face” of his claim that he should gain ownership title to the portion of the resort’s land that he previously occupied via adverse/ vacant possession.

Setting out its position on a dispute that now embroils both itself and the Government, with different actions understood to be before the Supreme Court and Magistrate’s Court, Pink Sands noted how Mr Bullard relaunched his business in 2015 just four years after a Bahamas Humane Society (BHS) intervention on the grounds that the horses were not being properly looked after.

B&B Horseback Riding was initially relaunched on the south-eastern corner of Pink Sands’ property, the resort added, before

AGRI EXPO TO CONNECT FARMERS WITH MARKETS

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

AN Agri-business Expo will be held next month to connect farmers and other entrepreneurs, Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Jomo Campbell has announced.

The event, which will display local products and crafts, will be held on April 12–13 and will also include workshops on areas such as soil maintenance and backyard farming.

He said: “Through this expo, we aim to connect farmers with markets, promote value added products, artisans, and foster agribusiness entrepreneurship in The Bahamas. At the expo, you can expect to see what Bahamians can achieve, such as latest practices, local produce from key Family Islands, ornamental plants, sustainable packaging, handicrafts, local body products and a culinary division with fierce competitions.

“Animal husbandry demonstrations will also be taking place, of course, educational and information workshops on soil management strategies, and backyard farming.

“This is a chance for us all to come together as a community to share experiences and collaborate on building a more resilient and thriving agrifood system in The Bahamas to meet our regional goal of reducing our food import bill by 25 percent by the year 2025.”

When questioned by reporters on if the ministry is doing with the

Real estate company hires veteran adviser

A BAHAMIAN real estate firm has hired veteran broker and financial services consultant, Suzanne Black, to act as an adviser and work on property sales.

“As we build MAISON Bahamas with a very carefully curated small group of individuals, each of whom brings a special skill, we are very pleased to welcome Suzanne Black, a woman who has broken barriers and achieved success in a broad range of endeavours

over a lifetime of hard work, strong ethics and high standards,” said Ryan Knowles, who founded the firm two years ago.

Ms Black, who was honoured by the Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) during its 25th anniversary celebrations last year with an award named after her, has enjoyed career that spans diverse fields including hospitality, banking, insurance and property along with

extensive animal rights volunteer work. She was the first woman and Bahamian to head an international bank branch; the first to head an international private members’ club in The Bahamas; and the first to chair international financial conferences, a responsibility she carried out on behalf of the Association of International Banks and Trust Companies in The Bahamas (AIBT) and the Central Bank of The Bahamas.

Golden Yolk programme and if they are giving subsidies to egg farmers or growing the eggs themselves Mr Campbell said the programme has recently completed its last “legal hurdle” and further details will be announced in the “very near future”.

He said: “We are now at a very critical and exciting point in the launch of the Golden Yolk programme, where we have just completed our last final legal hurdle and we will be coming to the public in the very near future with what is expected to unfold with that programme.

“You will see the results of what we have been working towards in the very near future, I can assure you that. Its just a matter of days away.”

He said the programme was a “massive undertaking” and the government had to ensure all stakeholders were secure.

He said: “The issue with the Golden Yolk, was that this was a very massive undertaking. The first time ever in the history of this country and we had to make sure that we got it legally correct, not just from our standpoint, but from the standpoint of the producers, partners in the United States, BTS Poultry Training Services.

“And so now that we have crossed all of that out, we are absolutely sure that what we are bringing to the Bahamian public is indeed the most efficient and economical egg yolk programme that can possibly be provided.”

In 2023, the BFSB honoured Ms Black’s contributions through an award to honour an exceptional graduating student from the School of Business at the University of The Bahamas, creating the Suzanne Black Award. “I look forward to this latest challenge and to working with Ryan Knowles, who is considered one of the leading luxury and new development specialists in The Bahamas,” said Ms Black. “I’m excited

for the opportunity to be a part of Forbes Global Properties, the world’s leading consortium of luxury real estate brokerages.” Ms. Black said her first focus will include Windsor Lakes, the development in south-west New Providence, which aims to create an upscale mixed-use residential and leisure community featuring amenities and an environment that includes three lakes and easy access to Adelaide Beach.

JOMO CAMPBELL

SUZANNE BLACK

SOME 92 workers at the Harbourside Resort at Atlantis will enjoy an 11 percent pay rise spread over the five-year term of a newly-signed industrial agreement, it was revealed yesterday.

Darrin Woods, the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) president, said all workers will see the same increase due to the labour deal with the timeshare resort. Tipped workers will gain 3 percent in the first and third year, and 5 percent in the final year, while non-tipped staff will enjoy an 8 percent increase in the first year and 3 percent in the fifth.

Although the last industrial agreement between

DARRIN WOODS

the BHCAWU and Harbourside expired in 2011, some 13 years ago, employees have been able to retain all their benefits under the terms of the new agreement.

Mr Woods said: “These negotiations have been unorthodox like all the rest, but we are able to reach the point where we are able to sign and also offer them

some improved benefits and payment. They pretty much mirror the industry, where they will receive a lump sum payment. Once we sign in the next few days, they will receive those payments. Their increases will take effect once the agreement signs.

“For the tipped category, it’s 11 percent, with 3 percent in the first year, 3 percent in the third and 5 percent in the fifth. And for the non-tiped it’s an 8 percent increase in the first year and 3 percent in the fifth year. And so, all of the benefits have been maintained.

“With this industrial agreement, we didn’t lose any benefits that they had. We were able to maintain everything. Moving forward, of course, with the improved payments, we say to our members, again,

that we expect for the service level to go to another level.”

Mr Woods said negotiations were not “acrimonious” and provisions have been made to incorporate the industrial agreement into the Harbourside employees’ contracts of employment so they will not have to again endure such long intervals between agreements.

He added: “We didn’t have an acrimonious time going through it. Situations happen that cause us not to be able to conclude the agreement in time, and we’re passed that now. We made sure that mechanisms are in place for any time the contract expires to give us time to renegotiate.

“One of the things that is significant with all of the contracts that we would have signed recently is the fact that there was a provision for the agreements,

once they’re registered, to be incorporated into the employees’ individual contracts of employment. This is huge and significant, and that will mitigate the chance that anything like this will happen again for a long time.”

Mr Woods said negotiations will now begin for an industrial agreement for Poop Deck employees, while the BHCAWU will continue talks with the newly-reopened Club Med property in San Salvador and Orange Hill.

He added that the union is about 70 percent complete with its negotiations and is now about to begin the “‘money section” of the Club Med industrial agreement.

Mr Woods said: “We are just elated to be able to now, once we will assign this agreement, to begin focusing on improving our membership in terms of

RBC acts to reverse ‘double payments’

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

advancing and empowering them.

“Once we would have done this, we will then turn our attention to the Poop Deck, which is outstanding. We have the Orange Hill, which is about to expire, and we are presently in negotiations for the Club Med San Salvador, which just reopened and we are pretty much, I’d say, about 70 percent completed, getting ready to go into the money section of that agreement.

“We hope to have all of those agreements wrapped up in the shortest possible time with Orange Hill not expiring until April. So we already proactive as it relates to that, showing that we are prepared to start the negotiations early and also have them concluded at the end of the day.”

Andrew Knowles, RBC’s

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corporate communications, told Tribune Business that it experienced a ‘“technical issue” which caused some clients to incur duplicate transactions where the same payment was made twice. The commercial bank is now working to reverse these transactions as soon as possible. He said: “We experienced a technical issue on March 7, 2024, which resulted in some client transactions

manager for

back-pedal ‘no way to run country’

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of NIB, and then he says they’re both wrong.

“That’s the whole point. You can’t plan, and you don’t know what’s coming. Who knows? That’s not a way to run a country. It’s confusing. Totally confusing.” For businesses, the increase in NIB contributions represents an added cost they they will seek to recover or offset, while for workers it means a reduction in take home pay although that has to be set against NIB’s rescue/survival and continued benefit provision.

For companies, higher NIB contributions represents an increase in labour and employment costs, and the marginal cost of hiring more staff. Strategies to cope could involve increasing the prices of their products and services to end consumers, and/or a combination of expense and cost reductions that could involve staff terminations or a cutback on hew hirings.

Alfred Sears KC, the minister with Cabinet responsibility for NIB, on Thursday unveiled plans to raise the total contribution rate by 1.5 percentage points every two years over the next two decades through to 2044 but the Prime Minister’s Office stated just hours later that this series of phased-in hikes had not been approved or agreed by Cabinet.

Tribune Business reported on Friday that the strategy unveiled by Mr Sears, if fully implemented, would mean the all-in NIB contribution rate as a percentage of insurable wages will increase to 26.3 percent by 2044 - a rate equivalent to a developed country’s income tax.

Mr Sears and senior NIB officials gave every impression that the contribution rate increase strategy had been approved. Heather Maynard, NIB’s acting director, confirmed to Tribune Business that the series of 11 increases unveiled by Mr Sears in his midyear Budget presentation would ultimately more than double NIB’s total contribution rate from the present 9.8 percent to 26.3 percent after July 1, 2044.

That would represent a 168.4 percent increase in the contribution rate - spread over a 20-year period - in a bid to ease the

burden and strain

this may impose on both businesses and working Bahamians. Ms Maynard also confirmed that, under this strategy, the contribution rate paid by workers will more than triple - rising from the current 3.9 percent of insurable wages to 12.15 percent.

Bahamian businesses, who presently face a 5.9 percent contribution rate, would see this jump to 14.15 percent by 2044 based on the series of 1.5 percentage point increases all being split evenly between employer and employeemeaning their respective shares will rise by 0.75 percentage points every two years. The increases set to take effect on July 1, 2024, will increase the employer and employee contributions by 0.75 percentage points each. The employer contribution will rise to 6.65 percent from the existing 5.9 percent, while that for employees will grow from 3.9 percent to 4.65 percent.

The contribution rates for self-employed and voluntarily insured persons will jump from the present 8.8 percent and 5 percent, respectively, to 10.3 percent and 6.5 percent as part of a strategy to ensure The Bahamas’ national social security system survives for the long-term to meet its benefit obligations to all citizens and legitimate persons who qualify for assistance.

However, the July increase will only take the all-in NIB contribution rate for working Bahamians to 11.3 percent - a level that financial studies, known as actuarial reports, state is still too low to ensure the scheme’s medium and longterm survival and prevent the $1.5bn reserve fund from being depleted in 2028 as predicted. “An increase of the contribution rate by 2 percent (over the existing 9.8 percent) every two years starting on July 1, 2022, and ending on July 1, 2036, could restore the short and medium-term financial sustainability of the scheme,” the last NIB actuarial report said.

“Starting in 2029, the required annual contribution rate to pay for all expenditures becomes the pay-as-you-go (PAYG) rate. As an illustration, the contribution rate will have to increase from 9.8 per cent to 16.9 per cent in 2029, and will reach 32.3 per cent in 2078.”

being duplicated. Our teams are continuing to work diligently to reverse any duplicate transactions and reflect accurate account balances as quickly as possible. “We apologise for the inconvenience and thank clients for their patience while we resolve this issue. We encourage our clients to contact us directly with any questions or concerns.”

Multiple RBC consumers went on social media to voice their concerns and warn other consumers about the double charges. One user said that all of their recently-cleared charges were debited again and advised other consumers to check their accounts and contact the bank if they see duplicate charges.

“If you bank with RBC, please check your accounts and contact them. (For

me) all recent charges that were cleared (debited) this week were debited again last night...so double debits. This is not the matter of holds not falling off and need to be manually released, and involves multiple local and international vendors,” one social media user said. “The funds were actually debited. The system seemed to have had a glitch last night as it took quite

Cable ‘takes exception’ with URCA over Freeport blame

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of the Cable Bahamas group....”

It added that the BISXlisted provider initiated legal action in 2019 over “specific concessions provided to telecommunications operators in the Freeport, Grand Bahama area by the Hawksbill Creek Agreement Act (as amended) and is similar in its content to the litigation being conducted by the Grand Bahama Power Company”.

Cable Bahamas reiterated: “We take issue with URCA on the explanation for increased bad debt due to ‘continued non-payment of major licensees’. URCA is all too aware of the issues surrounding its ability to fully regulate aspects of telecommunications in the Port area due to the existing provisions of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement Act.

“Port licensees are entitled by law to exercise their legal rights in this regard until a court of law decides otherwise and the Cable Bahamas group takes exception to this rather inartful statement. This is a mater that has been litigated through the courts without resolution for many years and we trust that recent litigation which also includes the Grand Bahama Power Company will bring some clarity shortly.

“In the meantime we are of the view that there is justification for the withholding of specified revenues. Otherwise the

group has challenged specified categories of definitions on what constitutes relevant turnover as a part of the licence fees’ calculation.”

This Hawksbill Creek Agreement, as Freeport’s founding treaty, stipulates that the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) is responsible for utilities regulation in Freeport, including electricity, communications and water, rather than a national supervisor such as URCA. This has already created issues for URCA’s regulation of the communications industry.

For the Supreme Court ruled in 2011 that it had no jurisdiction to levy fees on Cable Bahamas’ Internet earnings in Freeport because the BISX-listed provider operated in the city via its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cable Freeport. The latter entity is licensed by the GBPA, not the Government.

Cable Bahamas (and Cable Freeport) won their 2011 case on the basis that the former Telecommunications Act permitted URCA’s predecessor, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), to levy fees only on its licensees. Cable Freeport, of course, did not fall into that category because it was a GBPA licensee, and the PUC’s demand for $78,747 was thus quashed. Then-Justice Hartman Longley, though, declined to rule on the wider issues - whether the PUC, and by extension URCA, had jurisdiction in Freeport,

and whether Cable Freeport should be licensed by URCA. These questions go to the heart of the issue over who should regulate utilities in the 230 square mile Port area - the GBPA or a nationwide regulator such as URCA. The issue also strikes at the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, the Port and its supporters likely fearing that giving up regulatory responsibility in Freeport would undermine the Act/agreement that is the very basis for the city’s existence. The former Telecommunications Act has since been repealed by the Communications Act 2009, and in his ruling Justice Longley suggested this opened the door to further legal challenges by URCA - an observation that appears extremely accurate.

And, subsequent to that, Grand Bahama Power Company in 2016 sought a Supreme Court injunction

long to log on also. From lingering holds...to certain merchants being blocked on cards (that you have to call in for a 12-hour temporary block released when doing the transaction...to double debits...heads should be rolling in IT, process change management, client services and the like!!!” Other users said their funds were refunded throughout yesterday, while others said that they were assured their accounts would be credited over the coming days.

to prevent URCA “from regulating, or seeking to exercise licensing and regulatory authority” over it. This, matter, as indicated by Cable Bahamas, remains live before the courts.

GB Power’s action is founded on the basis that, as a GBPA licensee, it is licensed and regulated by the latter via the Hawksbill Creek Agreement - and not by URCA and the Electricity Act 2015.

It is arguing that the Electricity Act’s sections 44-46, which give URCA the legal right to licence and oversee energy providers, “are inconsistent, and conflict with, the rights and privileges vested in [GB Power] and the Port Authority” by the Hawksbill Creek Agreement.

GB Power’s statement of claim argues that itself and the GBPA “have been vested with the sole authority to operate utilities”, including electricity generation and transmission and distribution, within the Port area until the Hawksbill Creek’s expiration in 2054.

CABLE BAHAMAS HEADQUARTERS

ArawakX full wind-up sealed without a fight

“In my respectful conclusion and opinion, this Order was inevitable on at least four grounds,” Mr Scott said of the winding-up outcome. “One, the obvious insolvency. Two, the criminal infraction. Three, the regulatory infractions and, four - and you can throw this in with the criminal infraction - the commingling of funds and misuse of fiduciary funds for operating purposes.

“In my view, I think the result was inevitable, and all they [ArawakX’s principals] saved themselves was a two-day contested hearing. Similarly, I think the result with MDollaz technology will be inevitable and forthcoming, as it’s clear from the evidence and the joint provisional liquidators’ report that MDollaz Technology was operating as a clone.... of MDollaz Ltd.

“MDollaz Technology had no corporate or business purpose outside of the [crowd-funding] platform and their operation of it. It’s as simple as that.”

Ed Rahming, the Intelisys (Bahamas) principal, and Cheryl Simms, the Kikivarakis and Company accountant, in their capacities as ArawakX’s joint provisional liquidators have

described MDollaz Technology as an affiliate not regulated by the Securities Commission.

“The joint provisional liquidators found that an affiliated company, Mdollaz Technology Ltd, was used in the operation of the company (MDollazLtd/ ArawakX) for over two years,” they alleged in their February 22, 2024, report to the Supreme Court.

“We were informed that due to delays experienced in opening the bank accounts at Bank of The Bahamas in the name of MDollaz Ltd, the company decided to have MDollaz Technology Ltd open bank accounts at Bank of The Bahamas and use those bank accounts to conduct the business of the company.

“We understand that MDollazLtd was awaiting an operating licence from the Securities Commission in order to open the bank account and MDollaz Technology Ltd, which is not regulated by the Securities Commission, did not have this requirement.”

Due to its role in the ArawakX structure, Tribune Business understands that MDollaz Technology is also likely to be placed into court-supervised liquidation under Mr Rahming and Ms Simms’ care,

although this has yet to be determined.

And the Supreme Court order, which will upgrade the liquidators from provisional to official, now has to be drawn-up and perfected following consultations between all relevant parties prior to it being signed by the Chief Justice. Khalil Parker KC, the Bahamas Bar Association’s president, represented ArawakX’s principals who are understood to have been absent from yesterday’s hearing.

D’Arcy Rahming senior, who headed ArawakX and is a former Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX) chief operating officer, did no respond to Tribune Business calls and messages seeking comment before press time last night.

However, the Rahmings had previously vehemently denied, and rejected, all concerns and allegations of wrongdoing in relation to how MDollaz and ArawakX were operated and managed. D’Arcy senior, in a September 27, 2023, affidavit filed with the Supreme Court, asserted: “For the avoidance of doubt, the respondent rejects that it is insolvent in the sum of at least $2.4m.

“The respondent is not the subject of any financial claims or demands as at the

date hereof. The respondent also denies that it has committed breaches under the ‘Securities Industries Act that warrant criminal penalties’.” Christina Rolle, the Securities Commission’s executive director, also declined to comment on the outcome when contacted by Tribune Business

Mr Rahming and Ms Simms, in their February 22, 2024, report to the Supreme Court revealed that ArawakX’s insolvency had almost doubled from the Securities Commission’s initial $2m estimate after they wrote-off more than $1m in assets listed on its balance sheet.

This left the platform and its parent, MDollaz Ltd, with just $508,665 in assets to cover $4.474m in total liabilities, thereby producing a $3.965m deficit with the provisional liquidator duo warning this gap is only likely to increase since “significant sums [are] owed to third parties”.

They said it was also impossible to cure MDollaz/ ArawakX’s “criminal violation” of the Securities Industry Act as a result of the unauthorised public offering that persuaded 134 investors to inject capital into the crowd-funding platform, while alleging there was “substantial commingling” of funds belonging to

Resort to Gov’t: ‘Pursue’ horse riding venture like shanty towns

subsequently moving on to the adjacent Crown Land.

“The resort, sensitive to Mr Bullard’s business and in an effort to support his apparent entrepreneurial acumen, assisted him by promoting his horse stable operation to the resort’s guests,” Pink Sands said. “This is despite the fact that Mr Bullard was not paying rent to the resort.

Aside from this, the resort offered to relocate Mr Bullard’s horse stable at its own expense. Mr Bullard rejected the resort’s offer.

“At present, Mr Bullard’s operation directly impacts the resort’s ocean view and emits an unpleasant odor which directly affects the resort’s guests, especially those of the resort’s brand new two-bedroom condos built almost 50 feet away from Mr Bullard’s unauthorised horse stable operation.” The “odor” likely refers to the smell created by horse droppings, manure and the animal feed needed to maintain them.”

Mr Bullard, in his failed bid to launch Judicial Review proceedings against the Government over its demand that he cease “unregulated development” on the Crown Land his business now occupies, is alleging that the horse riding business, which he has owned and operated since the late 1980s, has occupied its present site “for more than 60 years” dating back to the 1950s when it was under other ownership.

As a result, the Bahamian entrepreneur is arguing that - through more than 36 years of “undisturbed possession” - he has met the 30-year legal minimum to be declared owner of the property and obtain a documentary certificate of title.

However, Pink Sands yesterday dismissed this assertion. “Mr Bullard moved his horse stable operation on to the adjacent Crown Land just two years ago. This flies in the face of any claims for adverse possession by Mr Bullard, whether it is against the Crown or the resort,” it argued.

The resort also revealed that the Government has issued proceedings against Mr Bullard and his business in the Magistrate’s Court, arguing that he has build a horse stable on Crown Land despite not possessing a valid lease or the necessary construction-related permits and approvals.

Tribune Business understands that this dispute is due to be heard on Thursday in the Eleuthera magistrate’s court before Magistrate Cara Turnquest-Deveaux, with Pink Sands yesterday hinting at frustration that the matter has been prevented from moving faster through the legal system via a series of adjournments.

“The resort rests solely on the rule of law, which applies to all persons in the confines of The Bahamas – Bahamians and non-Bahamians alike,” Pink Sands said. “In the same way that the Government

moved throughout various shanty towns in The Bahamas, it should similarly aggressively pursue Mr Bullard for his unauthorised construction of a horse stable on Crown Land.

“Materially, they are the same – unregulated development.” Mr Bullard yesterday confirmed he and B&B Horseback Riding were due to appear again before the courts this month over the dispute, but hinted he may not be able to attend as he is presently in the US with his daughter dealing with a medical emergency.

“Pink Sands offered me other property,” Mr Bullard confirmed. “I’m a Bahamian. They shouldn’t be able to tell me where to go and dictate to me. We’re in the courts. The lawyers are trying to fight me. They’re saying it’s wrong, and not our property. That’s the Government.” Tribune Business understands that many Briland natives are sympathetic to Mr Bullard’s plight and cause.

However, Pink Sands set out its concerns over the brewing dispute to the Government on November 15, 2022. Andreas Ioannou, the resort’s president and who co-heads its owner, Orchestra Hotels and Resorts, requested that the Government help resolve a situation he described as “a big concern” in a letter sent to David Davis, permanent secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Asserting that Pink Sands has been seeking to resolve the matter “for years”, Mr Ioannou wrote: “Our property is about 20 acres of land with approximately 800 feet of Atlantic Ocean frontage. Our group has invested millions of dollars to acquire the property in 2014, and has continued to invest millions in

renovations, enhancements, building new villas and other aspects.

“We are the largest employer on Harbour Island with approximately 70 Bahamian team members and tens of construction workers. The demographics of our guests are very affluent, multi-generational spending well over $1,000 per night just for accommodations. Our group is fully vested in Harbour Island, and we will continue to reinvest in Pink Sands as well as looking to acquire other properties.”

Detailing the Bahamas Humane Society’s 2011 intervention, which resulted in the horses being taken to Nassau for care in an outcome that shut down Mr Bullard’s operation for four years, Mr Ioannou confirmed that B&B Horseback Riding restarted in 2015 on a small portion of land owned by the resort.

“Our leadership team has tried for years to professionally discuss a way to vacate our portion of the property and find a new location for his operation. I personally got involved around 2018 and had different in-person meetings with Mr Bullard to discuss this concerning aspect to no avail,” he wrote.

“I must stress an important point here that, as business owners on Harbour Island, we did not pursue the fact that the sanitation conditions in the staging area were deplorable, there was no running, clean water for the horses, and nobody is cleaning the manure that the horses leave behind on the beautiful beach that visitors and locals enjoy.

“We, Pink Sands resort, instead have been encouraging Mr Bullard to find a new location and suggested ways to improve

ArawakX itself and those entrusted to it by investors in the share issues it facilitated.

The latter should have been held separately by the crowd-fund platform, which would have been acting in a trustee or fiduciary capacity, but Mr Rahming and Ms Simms are alleging that “over $1m of fiduciary cash was used on company expenses”.

Their first Supreme Court report identified no fewer than 16 purported breaches of the Securities Industry Act, its accompanying regulations and rules by ArawakX. The alleged violations, according to the provisional liquidators, ranged from failing to safeguard, segregate and maintain proper controls to secure client funds; not obtaining Securities Commission approval for Board and corporate governance changes; and not paying distributions to investors on time or returning investor monies from failed crowdfund issues.

However, the most serious allegation concerns MDollaz/ArawakX’s “public offering” which was held even though the company’s own Memorandum of Association stipulated that “the company shall be a private company and, accordingly, no shares nor

the conditions, but again to no avail.” Such a description has been vigorously rejected and disputed by both Mr Bullard and others, who have argued that the horses are healthy, wellmaintained with overseas vets checking on them regularly, and all horse droppings cleaned up.

However, Mr Ioannou added: “In 2020, we proposed a plan for Mr Bullard to obtain government approval to build a horse stable on Crown Land in close proximity to his existing location. The proposed location is about 25 feet south-east from his current location.

“Again, in a professional manner and goodwill to help Mr Bullard, we offered to build the new horse stable with running water at our expense with zero investment on his behalf. Mr Bullard did not agree again.” Now, the horseback riding venture’s staging area and 75-foot extended fence are said to be blocking the ocean view of, and interfering with, Pink Sands’ newly-constructed oceanfront cottages and pools.

Mr Ioannou said meetings and talks with Harbour Island’s administrators, police officials and councillors, as well as Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and aviation; John Pinder, the Ministry of Tourism’s parliamentary secretary; and North Eleuthera MP, Sylvanus Petty, have yet to produce a resolution.

“We are all very surprised that none of the officials involved have been able to assist in resolving what we think should be a logical and common-sense issue,” he wrote. “Our new oceanfront cottages are about to be completed and already booked for the Christmas holidays. We cannot place guests in them with the existing unsightly conditions in front of them.

“I emphasise once again that Mr Bullard’s operation was for a few years

Europe is not prepared for the growing climate extremes it faces, its first risk assessment finds

By CARLOS MUREITHI and DANA BELTAJI Associated Press

EUROPE is facing growing climate risks and is unprepared for them, the European Environment Agency said in its first-ever risk assessment for the bloc Monday.

The agency said Europe is prone to more frequent and more punishing weather extremes — including increasing wildfires, drought, more unusual rainfall patterns and flooding — and it needs

to immediately address them in order to protect its energy, food security, water and health. These climate risks "are growing faster than our societal preparedness," Leena Ylä-Mononen, the EEA's executive director, said in a statement.

The report identified 36 major climate risks for the continent, such as threats to ecosystems, economies, health and food systems, and found that more than half demand greater action now. It classified eight as needing

any class of shares of the company shall be offered to the public for subscription”.

“The joint provisional liquidators have found that the company is insolvent, having a net deficit of $3.965m with significant sums owed to third parties,” Mr Rahming and Ms Simms told the Supreme Court. “This amount is likely to increase after further investigation by the joint provisional liquidators and a creditor adjudication process.

“It is our view that the company has no viable prospects of continuing as a going concern.” Describing the findings from their investigation as “very serious”, the duo said they had chosen to “highlight two”, and added: “We found the commingling of company cash with fiduciary cash as a matter of course at the company. We found that over $1m of fiduciary cash was expended on company operational expenses.

“The Company conducted a ‘public offering’ without seeking the approval of the Securities Commission of The Bahamas. This finding is irremediable and consists of multiple criminal infractions which will be reported to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.”

staged on our property without approval and no rent payment, and recently constructed a horse stable on Crown Land without approval. Furthermore, on March 21, 2022, current administrator, Gilbert Kemp, issued an official letter to Mr Bullard to cease construction of the stable but it was not enforced.

“We are requesting for the Office of the Prime Minister to assist in resolving this big concern and protect our investment in The Bahamas. I will also request a meeting in person, either on Harbour Island or Nassau, at your convenience.”

Mr Kemp, in his letter to Mr Bullard, said complaints had been made over the fence located south of Pink Sands’ land being constructed without approval. He demanded that Mr Bullard “cease construction immediately” until he could produce a valid Crown Land lease agreement for the site.

Mr Bullard has also filed a writ and summons to initiate legal action against Mr Ioannou and Orchestra Hotels & Resorts, although this newspaper understands that the legal papers have not been served on the resort and the matter has thus not progressed to the hearing or listing stage.

The horseback riding entrepreneur, in his writ, is seeking damages for alleged “trespass” and a declaration that he is “absolutely entitled to shelter his animals” at a stable on Pink Sands beach under the terms of a permit granted by Harbour Island’s Town Planning Committee. Mr Bullard is also seeking a variety of injunctions to prevent the resort from demolishing or interfering with his business structures.

However, it is understood that no ‘statement of claim’ has yet been filed, which makes it impossible for Pink Sands and its parent to respond as they do not know the basis for the action.

urgent attention – like conserving ecosystems, protecting people against heat, protecting people and infrastructure from floods and wildfires, and securing relief funds for disasters.

The report said Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent and has been heating up twice as fast as other regions since the 1980s. The heat has been linked to more intense rains and floods, and the report predicts rainfall decline and more severe droughts in southern Europe.

Without urgent and decisive action, it warns, many of the climate risks it identified could become catastrophic. To reduce climate risks and improve adaptation to warming, it recommends that the EU and its member states collaborate with regional and local bodies.

The report is "a huge wake-up call" for the continent, said Manon Dufour, Brussels director for climate think tank E3G, and could have implications for climate policy at both the European and national levels. At the European level, Dufour said the report could "open the eyes" of European leaders who are currently most focused on security issues, as climate can affect economic and energy security.

University, and in which Foot Rx and others participated, he told this newspaper that providers have “not come anywhere close to fulfilling the need” for foot treatments, surgeries and diabetes-related care as the “waiting list” remains 3,000-strong.

Confirming that the business has suffered no illeffects from the ArawakX controversy, as its crowdfund raise was completed well in advance of the platform’s insolvency-related collapse, Dr Johnson said: “Everything is going well. FootCare RX is a small, compact group and everything is in order. People call and ask how everything’s going. It’s [ArawakX] nothing to do with us.

“We’re up and running according to plan. Everybody who bought got their shares and their capital is safe in our group. We’ll just keeping pushing on.”

Referring to Foot Fest 2024, and the volume of patients requiring a variety of foot

and ankle treatments, Dr Johnson added: “We had an interesting week. We did an outreach this week. “The need is overwhelming. We have not come anywhere close to fulfilling the need that exists. There’s a lot more work to do. We did 1,000 people this [last] week in terms of outreach, and we have a waiting list of 3,000 people. It’s just foot care and diabetes, and that’s just Nassau. The Family Islands, we didn’t get to them yet, but we will.”

Dr Johnson, explaining the evidence shows there is more than sufficient demand for FootCare Rx’s services, said: “It works. We’re in the black. We’re ahead [of target] and will probably pay our first dividend next year. I think we’re on schedule. We have surpassed expectations.

“At the end of this the patients will own their clinics. The idea behind it was for people to own their community clinics and stop this reliance on government. Communities can do

this. It works. Our proof of concept was right.” The FootCare Rx declined to provide any dollar figures and percentages on the company’s performance, joking that he will have “people running behind me” if he does, but voiced optimism that the company will continue expanding and is not relying on any new equity capital raise for this.

“I think we’ll grow to another.... I would see another five clinics in the next five years,” Dr Johnson told Tribune Business “We have Carmichael, we have the model and, in the summer, we’ll open Prince Charles Drive. Prince Charles, I give August. We’ll open for September. “We’ll have a shareholder meeting in the summer. With the shareholders’ consent will raise money, but we have enough to go ahead.” Asked about the price, terms and conditions for any new capital raise, Dr Johnson indicated they would be little different from those presented

Wall Street stays stuck in neutral ahead of a looming inflation report

By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer

U.S. stock indexes held roughly in place Monday ahead of an inflation report that could show how realistic Wall Street's hopes for easier interest rates are.

The S&P 500 slipped 5.75 points, or 0.1%, to 5,117.94, coming off just its third losing week in the last 19. It's still near its all-time high set Thursday, buoyed by expectations that cuts to interest rates are coming this year and by signals that the economy remains remarkably resilient.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 46.97, or 0.1%, to 38,769.66, and the Nasdaq composite fell 65.84 or 0.4%, to 16,019.27.

Tuesday's report on prices at the consumer level could show inflation remained at 3.1% in February, if economists' forecasts are correct. A month ago, a hotterthan-expected report on inflation at the consumer level sent financial markets spinning after scrambling

bets for when the Federal Reserve will start cutting rates. Stocks have already run higher and Treasury yields have already eased in the bond market on expectations that such cuts are coming. But the trend for inflation has been mostly downward, cooling toward the Fed's 2% target from its peak above 9%. Fed Chair Jerome Powell Jerome Powell said last week the Fed is "not far" from getting enough confidence about inflation to begin cutting rates. Cuts to the Fed's main interest rate, which is at its highest level since 2001, would relax pressure on the economy and financial system, while goosing investment prices.

The general expectation among traders is that the Fed will begin cutting rates in June.

It's such expectations that have helped drive the U.S. stock market's big run since late October, according to Michael Wilson and other strategists at Morgan Stanley. From here, though,

"the burden is now likely on earnings/fundamentals to show more material improvement" for the rally to continue.

This most recent earnings reporting season has mostly wrapped up, but Archer Daniels Midland and Ulta Beauty are among the S&P 500 companies reporting later this week.

Expectations for easier interest rates have helped the price of gold rally to a record. When bonds pay less in interest, investors lose out on less income by owning gold instead. Gold for delivery in April ticked up by $3.10 to settle at $2,188.60 per ounce. Gold prices are up about 17% over the last 12 months.

Bitcoin, which proponents sometimes pitch as "digital gold," also rallied to another record. It rose above $72,000 after sitting below $17,000 at the start of last year. It's more than bounced back from its prior prior peak of nearly $69,000.

On Wall Street, Oracle rose 1.5% before it released

to investors in the initial crowd-fund offering.

“It’ll be the same,” he said. “We’ll come back with a similar offering, similar share price. We won’t change anything. We’ll keep it the same. If it’s working I don’t think we’ll change it.” Investors spent some $190,346 on 24,064 FootCare Rx shares during the initial crowd-fund offering, ArawakX’s provisional liquidators have informed the Supreme Court.

However, it is among three of the four issuers who have yet to receive their share registers, according to Ed Rahming, the Intelisys (Bahamas) principal, and Cheryl Simms, the Kikivarakis and Company accountant, in their February 22, 2024, report .

“There are discrepancies with the share registers - investors are missing on the registers, etc,” the provisional liquidators alleged. “We found irregularities with the four completed issuer raises.

“Investors have not received their share

certificates, and the issuers were assessed additional fees by the company [ArawakX] not shown in their listing agreement. We have started a verification/reconciliation process for one issuer to ensure completeness of its share register and will undertake a similar exercise for the remaining issuers.

“Upon completion of this exercise, we will provide the updated share registers to the Bahamas Central Securities Depository to act as the registrar and transfer agent for the issuers.”

FootCare Rx, in its initial crowd-fund pitch to investors, said it planned to offer affordable treatments for “foot disorders” that typically go unattended due to high healthcare costs. Its model was designed to give patients a way to access preventative care via examinations and maintaining good foot health. Its products were intended to reduce diabetic food surgeries and amputations in The Bahamas, and wider Caribbean, by

up to 50 percent. “Many diabetic foot amputations could easily be avoidable if patients simply have regular checks by a health practitioner before complications occur,” it added. “High risk individuals with chronic disorders such as arthritis, and vascular problems are also an underserved market.”

FootCare Rx believes there are 600,000 diabetic patients in the Englishspeaking Caribbean, and it is aiming to service 65,000 or 11 percent of that market. It planned to expand via a franchise model, where it will receive a 20 percent royalty from clinic franchisees on two revenue streams - the examination fee and sale of FootCare Rx branded medical supplies. Given that both were estimated to cost and average $50, FootCare Rx was to earn $20 from each patient visit.

its latest earnings report after trading finished for the day. Its profit topped analysts' expectations, and its stock rose more in afterhours trading.

On the losing end was natural-gas producer EQT, which sank 7.8% for the biggest drop in the S&P 500. It said it will buy Equitrans Midstream and its gas transmission and storage systems in an all-stock deal that values the combined company at $35 billion. Equitrans Midstream rose 1.5%.

Nvidia swung through a shaky day after coming off a 5.5% drop on Friday, which was its worst day since May. Nvidia is still up more than 70% this year after more than tripling last year amid a frenzy on Wall Street around artificialintelligence technology.

The rally has caused Nvidia to swell in size, and it's become the third-largest stock on Wall Street. That gives its stock movements outsized sway on the S&P 500, and it's been getting criticism that its stock ran too high, too fast. After flipping earlier between losses and gains, Nvidia's stock dropped 2% to act as one of the heaviest weights on the S&P 500.

Reddit said it may raise up to $748 million through the sale of stock to investors on an exchange for the first time. The social media company expects its stock to trade under the "RDDT" ticker symbol. In the bond market, yields edged higher. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.09% from 4.08% late Friday. In stock markets abroad, indexes were mostly lower

across much of Europe and Asia.

Japan's Nikkei 225 tumbled 2.2%. The government there said its economy may have actually grown slightly in the last three months of 2023, better than the contraction it had earlier said. That would mean its economy is not in a recession.

The Nikkei 225 has been setting records recently after surpassing its peak from 1989, boosted in part by extremely easy interest rates and other policies meant to support Japan's economy.

Chinese stocks rose, with indexes climbing 0.7% in Shanghai and 1.4% in Hong Kong. China's National People's Congress concluded with a near unanimous show of support for the decisions set by top leaders of the ruling Communist Party.

By TOM KRISHER AP

charging stations and experiencing growth that should rise as interest rates fall. His comments are edited for length and clarity.

Q: Electric vehicle sales growth is slowing, and some automakers are putting the brakes on manufacturing investments. So how realistic is the transition from internal combustion to EVs?

A: I think EVs are a foregone conclusion. If you listen to senior executives

from the automakers, even though there may be a nonlinear path to a future of all EVs, it's pretty clear that most are beyond the tipping point. But I think these headwinds like the lack of enough chargers or charger reliability create the nonlinearity as we move toward a fully electrified future. Economic conditions, especially last year, also inhibited things. The concerns about charging in general maybe caused drivers to wait to convert to EVs. EVs are generally today more expensive than an internal combustion vehicle. And with high interest rates, car loans became a lot less affordable for people. I think they moved away maybe from an EV choice to a internal combustion choice just for cost reasons.

Q: The U.S. has roughly 61,000 charging stations with about 164,000 plugs. President Biden has said we need a half million plugs. Will we ever see enough chargers?

A: I think we will get there. In EV charging infrastructure, especially where the capital is being spent, I think a lot of lot of CFOs out there were cautious, waiting to see what (Federal Reserve) Chairman Powell was going to do, if

we were going to actually have a soft landing versus some sort of recession. They were conservative. It seems like with each passing day the news gets more encouraging regarding a soft landing and the potential to start reducing interest rates, which I think will loosen things up.

Despite all those headwinds, the EVs are still

showing up. Net-net across all different markets and use cases, we're seeing the amount of utilization of the charging ports significantly exceed the rate of port growth, which tells me that these institutions that are putting charging in, for whatever reason, are going to get more and more pressure from their drivers to act, or those people won't

come to their places anymore because they don't have enough charging capacity. Exactly when that breaks loose and does it break loose as a dam breaking or does it just gradually start to accelerate, I think that's (to be determined). But I think overall the signs are encouraging that we're going to see a pickup in growth.

Q: ChargePoint has disproportionately more slower 240-volt alternating current chargers than it does direct current fast chargers. People seem to

want the fast chargers if they're traveling so they don't have a long wait.

How do you see that balancing out?

A: I think that there always will be a lot more AC ports than DC ports. It's generally driven by the dynamic that you charge where you park. The vast majority of the time, you're not making a trip that's so long that you need to charge part way. But those do happen. If you only have one vehicle, even if you only do long trips twice a year, you're going to have to find a place to charge.

A TRADER looks over his cell phone outside the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in the financial district of Manhattan in New York. Photo:Mary Altaffer/AP

Kentucky House approves bill to reduce emergencytrained workers in small coal mines

By BRUCE SCHREINER and DYLAN LOVAN

Associated Press

THE Kentucky House voted Monday to allow the state's smallest coal mining operations to reduce the number of miners with emergency medical training assigned for each underground shift.

In a state once known as a coal producing powerhouse, supporters said the measure is needed to help keep the smallest mining operations in business amid the industry's downturn.

The bill's critics warned it would roll back an important safeguard enacted years ago following a Kentucky mining fatality.

"It truly troubles me to think that we could potentially be trading the safety of our coal mining families for what appears to be a nominal financial benefit, if anything at all," said Democratic state Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty, who represents a coal-producing region in eastern Kentucky.

The measure — House Bill 85 — passed the House on a 75-18 vote and goes to the Senate next. Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers.

The bill would cut in half the number of mine emergency technicians required to work when a shift has 15 or fewer miners. Two METs are currently required per shift, but the bill would reduce it to one.

Republican state Rep. Bill Wesley said his bill is motivated by instances when entire shifts were shut down and miners sent home

because not enough METs showed up for work.

"Nobody got paid," Wesley said during the House debate. "Everyone was sent home. And I think that this is a needed bill to help all the coal miners."

Tackett Laferty said she spoke to a miner with more than 20 years of experience who recalled just one instance when a mine was shut down due to a lack of METs. He told her the entire shift was rescheduled a few days later to make up for the lost production, she said.

Tony Oppegard, a mine safety attorney in Kentucky, has said the proposal would weaken safety standards.

"I think it's shortsighted and there's an easy solution," he said in a recent phone interview. "The easy solution is mine operators can require more of their miners to be METs as a condition of employment."

It would be an inexpensive option for coal operators, since METs generally are paid an extra $1 per hour, Oppegard said. With two METs per shift, the cost would be an extra $16 per shift, he said.

"That's pennies for a coal company," he said.

METs are miners trained to provide emergency medical care and to stabilize an injured miner's condition. Oppegard said the requirement for two METs per shift was part of a larger safety measure passed by Kentucky lawmakers in 2007, and it stemmed from the 2005 death of an eastern Kentucky miner.

A federal inspection report said the miner was

hit by a coal hauler at a Harlan County mine. He suffered "near-amputating injuries." The report said his injuries were made worse because he was not given first aid before he was taken above ground to an ambulance. The report said workers in the mine had not been trained in first aid.

Tackett Laferty said the safeguard of having multiple METs on site isn't what's causing mines to close.

The bill's supporters include Republican Rep. Jim Gooch Jr., who represents a coal region in western Kentucky. Gooch comes from a coal mining family and previously worked in mines himself. He said the bill is a recognition of the realities for some operators with as few as 10 employees working a shift.

"I don't think it's any threat to the safety of our miners," he said.

Under the bill, two METs would still be required for shifts with more than 15 but fewer than 51 miners.

Coal employment numbers in Kentucky have fallen sharply over the last decade as demand for coal has declined.

Kentucky employed about 4,700 mine workers at the end of 2023, including about 2,700 in underground mines, compared to nearly 12,000 total miners in 2013, according to numbers provided by the state.

Cheaper natural gas prices and tougher environmental regulations have prompted electric providers to move away from buying coal.

NORTH CAROLINA LAUNCHES STATEWIDE SPORTS WAGERING

By GARY D. ROBERTSON and ERIK VERDUZCO

Associated Press

MOBILE and online sports wagering across North Carolina took off on Monday, as several licensed gambling operators started taking bets nine months

after legislation to authorize such activity statewide became law.

Some of the interactive sports wagering operators, which include big names in the growing field of legalized gambling, and their affiliates held special events to highlight the new gambling options in the nation's ninth-largest state. North Carolina is now the 30th state, along with the District of Columbia, to offer mobile sports betting, according to the American Gaming Association.

Registered customers within the state's borders can bet on professional, college or Olympic-style sports.

"North Carolina is a state that we've been really dying to get into for a couple of years now," DraftKings Chief Commercial Officer Jeremy Elbaum said at a public event at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, where retired Carolina Panthers player Greg Olsen placed a ceremonial first online bet.

"The way the sports calendar works here, the love for college, the love for NASCAR specifically and obviously the other major sports, has made this a key state for us."

The North Carolina State Lottery Commission, directed in the June 2023 law authorizing the games to license operators and set rules, announced several weeks ago that wagering on mobile devices and computers would begin at noon Monday. The start date — on the eve of the popular Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball tournament — was not lost on sports enthusiasts.

Gov. Roy Cooper, who signed the sports betting bill approved by the General Assembly into law and an ardent fan of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, said he placed a bet on the team to win the Stanley Cup later this year. He said any monetary winnings would go to the team's charitable foundation.

"The legalization of sports betting will provide a significant boost to North Carolina's economy and will allow our thriving sports industry to continue to grow," Cooper said while releasing a video, pre-filmed before the noon start, of him walking onto the ice at the team's PNC Arena in Raleigh.

The commission announced the eight initial licensees on Feb. 29. The day after, these operators

began setting up accounts for players age 21 and over and receiving monetary deposits. That's prompted an array of television and social media advertising by gambling operators trying to attract customers with financial incentives.

In addition to DraftKings, the initial sport wagering licenses went to BETMGM and Underdog Sports Wagering; companies doing business as FanDuel Sportsbook, Fanatics Sportsbook, bet365 and ESPN BET; and an entity associated with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which with Caesars Sportsbook already operates in-person sports gambling at the tribe's two western North Carolina casinos and now offers mobile wagering. All eight operators were running Monday, the lottery commission said.

A late adjustment to the 2023 law said that most interactive wagering company applicants had to enter an agreement with an in-state professional team, or certain pro golf or automobile racing venues or governing bodies, to obtain a license. For example, DraftKings has an agreement with NASCAR, while Fanatics Sportsbook is associated with the Hurricanes.

The law also authorizes in-person betting at future sportsbooks that would have to be located at or near certain large sports or automobile racing venues. The commission has said those will open on a caseby-case basis as operators meet requirements. Provisions in the law for the commission to regulate statewide betting on horse races and to set rules for live horse racing also will be implemented in the future.

The legislation will tax sports wagering at a rate equal to 18% of gross betting revenue minus distributed winnings. The revenues could exceed $100 million annually within five years, according to a legislative branch analysis.

The government's share will go in part to athletic departments at 13 University of North Carolina system schools, amateur and youth sporting events and gambling addiction education and treatment programs. Some licensees have talked up the "responsible gaming" features on their betting apps.

THE KENTUCKY Capitol is seen, Jan. 14, 2020, in Frankfort, Ky. The Kentucky House voted Monday, March 11, 2024, to allow the state’s smallest coal mining operations to reduce the number of miners with emergency medical training to be assigned for each underground shift.

Photo:Timothy D. Easley/AP

THE DRAFTKINGS’s Bubba Wallace NASCAR car is displayed outside the NASCAR Hall of Fame during an event celebrating the launch of mobile and online sports wagering across North Carolina, Monday, March 11, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C.

Photo:Erik Verduzco/AP

Government called on to take immediate action and implement policies to battle rising challenges of kidney disease in the Bahamas

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

PRIME MINISTER Philip Brave Davis’ recent proclamation declaring March as Kidney Month is “an important acknowledgment of the seriousness of kidneyrelated health issues.”

Tamika Roberts, president of the Bahamas Kidney Association (BKA), said this proclamation demonstrates the support for its mission to raise continued awareness and save lives.

“The government’s proclamation of Kidney Month is an important acknowledgment of the seriousness of kidney-related health issues. It brings attention to the critical need for awareness and prevention. However, it is important to note that while the BKA appreciates the recognition, we are actively seeking more substantial support, participation and collaboration from the government to address the challenges posed by chronic kidney disease,” she told Tribune Health.

The primary focus for the BKA this month is building awareness through various initiatives.

It has organised a series of events throughout March as part of Kidney Month, aimed at educating the public about chronic kidney disease and preventive measures.

The next event for the BKA is the Kidney Alert, scheduled for March 16 at Lowe’s Harbour Bay, where they will provide free blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol testing. Then on March 17, there will be a ‘Kidney Session’, which is cooking demonstration for kidney health in collaboration with Doctors Hospital.

This session is designed to provide valuable information to kidney patients, helping them lead healthier lives through proper nutrition. Additionally, the upcoming “Fun Run/Walk and Health Expo” on March 23 will serve as a fundraiser that supports the BKA’s work while also raising awareness about kidney disease. The expo will feature health

companies providing information and services related to kidney health.

While the BKA continues its efforts, Tamika said it is, however, disheartening to note the absence of comprehensive statistics on the number of chronic kidney disease patients and the lack of governmental initiatives to combat this growing health concern.

“The Ministry of Health and Wellness has yet to commit to

TAMIKA ROBERTS, president of the Bahamas Kidney Association

supporting the work of the BKA or any activities in March to raise awareness about kidney disease,” she said. “The BKA urgently calls upon the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Michael Darville, to take immediate action by conducting research and implementing policies to address the rising challenges of kidney health in our nation. Specifically, the BKA calls for the establishment of a holistic system that includes a physician, a dietician and a social worker to better support chronic kidney disease patients. A proactive approach from the government is crucial in ensuring a healthier future for all Bahamians including for those affected by kidney diseases.”

Kidney disease is growing more and more prevalent in the Bahamas, impacting hundreds of Bahamian families who struggle with the illness. In 2020, a local nephrologist concluded that 10 to 13 percent of the adult population battle chronic kidney disease and there are possibly hundreds more who are undiagnosed and at risk.

This makes the work of BKA, a non-profit organisation, not only essential, but critical in the prevention and management of kidney disease in the country, said Tamika.

Kidney disease means that there is lasting damage to the kidneys, and they are not working as they should. If the kidney function slowly gets worse with time, kidney disease is called “chronic”. There is no cure for chronic kidney disease, but there are steps that can be taken to preserve function for as long as possible. Late-stage kidney disease requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.

With their efforts, the association hopes to reduce the number of the instances of kidney failure in the Bahamas and improve the lives of those affected by kidney disease.

“The BKA recommends the distribution of educational information at the Princess Margaret Hospital and an aggressive educational campaign launched by the Ministry of Health and Wellness on preventative measures, particularly during Kidney Month this March. Additionally, the BKA advocates for the inclusion of Mircera (used for the treatment of anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease) in the National Drug Prescription Plan to ensure that patients have access to the necessary medications for their treatment,” said Tamika. In the first quarter of the year, the focus of the BKA has been on its medication assistance programme. This programme provides essential medications such as nephro-vite, alfacalcidol and calcium carbonate, depending on individual needs.

“Our aim is to ensure that individuals with kidney-related health concerns have access to the necessary medications to manage their life-long condition effectively,” said Tamika.

Nassau’s female-only gym transforms lives

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

Grief-stricken by her father’s death and faced with potentially losing her mother as well a few years ago, Christal Mackey turned to fitness as a refuge and exercise became an escape.

“My mom was placed in a medically induced coma due to complications with high blood pressure and diabetes. As a result, she was advised by professionals that if she did not become active, she could lose her life,” the 32-year-old told Tribune Health.

Faced with that sobering reality, and wanting to be positive example for her ailing mother, Christal said adding some gym time to her regular schedule became a must.

“I went to the gym daily because that’s the only way (my mom) would go. She became consistent as a result of tagging along with me and is now the healthiest she has been in years; not taking any medications,” she said.

But Christal went way beyond just becoming a gym enthusiast; she took it to the next level and became a profes sional in the field.

Now, she has opened a one-ofa-kind private, female-only gym: the PeachFit Studios on Carmi chael Road.

“My aim is to help women reach their fitness goals and become the healthiest and happiest versions of themselves. We aim to create a community where women can motivate and encourage each other. At PeachFit Studios, our goal is not just to (help people) improve physically, but mentally and even spiritually through consistent and authentic support from the community of strong women that we are fostering,” said the former banker. Prior to opening PeachFit Studio, Christal was a personal trainer operating under the brand “Peach on Da Beach”. She and her team would meet on weekends to host group workouts on Goodman’s Bay Beach. However, the venue ultimately came with too many constraints for her, so she decided to open her own gym space.

“Bahamians have been supportive since we have opened our doors. A women-only facility is new, and it’s obvious that it’s something the country was missing as the women are flooding through our doors; all ages, all fitness levels and with many different goals,” she said.

“I’ve had so many success stories with women who consider themselves blessed since joining the studio. Whether it be meeting a friend, improving their health, reaching their fitness goals, becoming confident again, and even beating depression, the list goes on.”

Christal believes while many women are chasing an hourglass figure in the gym, fitness is not limited to achieving benefits for the physique.

“Many women across the Bahamas suffer from noncommunicable diseases and other ailments. Mental stability is also something that is becoming more prominent

in our country. Health and wellness are amongst the most critical issues we face. Our schools, our homes and culture are lead by an unhealthy diet and there are more fast food restaurants than healthy restaurants,” she said.

“Access to good healthcare is beyond the reach of many Bahamians and so we are accustomed to visiting the doctor’s office when there is already an emergency at hand. As a result, it is critical as a nation to focus on more preventive measures such as fitness.”

Christal said she has found her calling; and this calling is now also making her look at expanding her studio and services.

“Needless to say, I genuinely find satisfaction in changing these women’s lives and creating a family within this community. This is just confirmation that I am walking in the will of God, and nothing could be more rewarding,” she said.

“We are quickly outgrowing our current facility and are having to turn customers away due to space and time constraints. Expanding the studio allows me to offer employment to similar purposedriven individuals. Within this year, we are seeking government and private assistance with financial aid to assist with expanding the studio.”

Christal wants to encourage readers to become active in an effort to improve their quality of life. Her Spring and Summer tips are to: drink lots of water; find a gym/accountability partner that can help keep you on track for your goals; reduce fast food intake, go for a swim and enjoy the Bahamian beautiful waters, and consume more locally produced fruits, vegetables and meat.

CHRISTAL Mackey started out wanting to be a positive example for her mother by joining a gym. Today, she runs her own private gym for women only.

Better sleep is a protective factor against dementia

By ANDRÉE-ANN BARIL Professeure-chercheure adjointe au Département de médecine, Université de Montréal

Matthew Pase Associate Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology, Monash University

(THE CONVERSATION)

Dementia is a progressive loss of cognitive abilities, such as memory, that is significant enough to have an impact on a person’s daily activities.

It can be caused by a number of different diseases, including Alzheimer’s, which is the most common form. Dementia is caused by a loss of neurons over a long period of time. Since, by the time symptoms appear, many changes in the brain have already occurred, many scientists are focusing on studying the risk and protective factors for dementia.

A risk factor, or conversely, a protective factor, is a condition or behaviour that increases or reduces the risk of developing a disease, but does not guarantee either outcome. Some risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, such as age or genetics, are not modifiable, but there are several other factors we can influence, specifically lifestyle habits and their impact on our overall health.

These risk factors include depression, lack of physical activity, social isolation, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking, as well as poor sleep.

We have been focusing our research on the question of sleep for over 10 years, particularly in the context of the Framingham Heart Study. In this large community-based cohort study, ongoing since the 1940s, the health of surviving participants has been monitored to the present

day. As researchers in sleep medicine and epidemiology, we have expertise in researching the role of sleep and sleep disorders in cognitive and psychiatric brain aging.

As part of our research, we monitored and analysed the sleep of people aged 60 and over to see who did — or did not — develop dementia.

Sleep as a risk or protective factor against dementia

Sleep appears to play an essential role in a number of brain

functions, such as memory. Good quality sleep could therefore play a vital role in preventing dementia.

Sleep is important for maintaining good connections in the brain. Recently, research has revealed that sleep seems to have a function similar to that of a garbage truck for the brain: deep sleep could be crucial for eliminating metabolic waste from the brain, including clearing certain proteins, such as those known to accumulate in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

However, the links between deep sleep and dementia still have to be clarified.

What is deep sleep?

During a night’s sleep, we go through several sleep stages that succeed one another and are repeated.

NREM sleep (non-rapid eye movement sleep) is divided into light NREM sleep (NREM1 stage), NREM sleep (NREM2 stage) and deep NREM sleep, also called slow-wave sleep (NREM3 stage). The latter is associated with several restorative functions. Next, REM sleep (rapid eye movement sleep) is the stage generally associated with the most vivid dreams. An adult generally spends around 15 to 20 per cent of each night in deep sleep, if we add up all the periods of NREM3 sleep. Several sleep changes are common in adults, such as going to bed and waking up earlier, sleeping for shorter periods of time and less deeply, and waking up more frequently during the night.

Loss of deep sleep linked to dementia

Home chef Ella Mills offers some plant-based recipes for anyone tempted by a healthier way to eat

By MARK KENNEDY AP ENTERTAINMENT WRITHER

Ella Mills knows we all want to eat healthier. But the English food writer and businesswoman also knows we’re busy and we want everything to taste good. And she understands many of us are nervous about the idea of committing to no meat.

“I know I used to think eating this way would be just like nibbling on sad and soggy carrots and rabbit food all day long,” she says. “But you suddenly start cooking and you realize it’s actually superflavoursome and textured and interesting and just not what you thought it was.”

Mills is ready to guide us as through this with a line of healthy products and her latest cookbook, “Healthy Made Simple,” featuring over 75 plant-based recipes, from Lemony Pea and Broccoli Pasta to a Creamy Leek, Spinach and Butter Bean Bowl.

“It’s about taking these familiar ingredients that are often seen as a little bit bland, a little bit boring, and trying to give them gentle twists, to make them feel really

exciting and rejuvenated,” she says.

“Healthy Made Simple” contain dishes Mills eats at home with her husband and two young children. She aims to have the recipes take less than 30 minutes to make, use no more than five simple steps, and need 10 ingredients or less.

“I just found that was essentially the sweet spot where action and reality merged closer together,” she says. “We know we need to eat less ultra-processed food. So this is a hand-holding resource to help you do that.” Mills took a hard look at some of her favourite dishes and tried to create a better balance between flavor, practicality, nutrition and speed. “What I found was that oftentimes there was an extra step or an extra pan in there, or like two or three extra ingredients. And

it probably made it 5 percent nicer or 10 percent nicer,” she says. “But I’d end up not making the recipes anymore because it was just that little bit more effort.”

“Healthy Made Simple” celebrates whole foods and uses proteins from things like nuts, tofu, lentils, beans and chickpeas. The flavours are global, with ingredients including harissa, udon, satay, miso, pesto, tagine and curry.

“As you start to look around the world, there’s so many places where not necessarily the whole society is vegetarian, but vegetables are the hero and they’re treated with a lot of TLC,” she says. Take her One-Pan Peanut and Cauliflower Stew, which combines peanut butter, ginger, coconut

milk, garlic, rice and curry powder with simmering cauliflower florets. It’s got heat, crunch and tastes indulgent.

Lauren Whelan, the publisher for Yellow Kite, the lifestyle and cooking imprint of Hodder & Stoughton, says Mills’ creativity shows the versatility and simplicity of plants. Mills’ sweet potato brownies revolutionised the way that vegetable is used in the UK, Whelan says. If Mills is an evangelist for vegetarianism, she says she’s proof of its benefits. At 21, she was diagnosed with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, which affected her nervous system, and was put on a variety of medications.

She chose to overhaul her diet and started documenting her experience in a blog. Able to wean herself off medicines, Mills has since built up her Deliciously Ella business into seven cookbooks and a food brand.

Mills isn’t preachy and knows her readers may not be ready to go full-on vegetarian. For her, it’s about small steps that can make meaningful changes, like making one or two plant-based dishes a week or highlighting a vegetable

Obesity drug Wegovy is approved to cut heart attack and stroke risk in overweight patients

By JONEL ALECCIA AP HEALTH WRITER

The popular weight-loss drug Wegovy, which has helped millions of people shed pounds, can now be used to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attacks and other serious cardiovascular problems in patients who are overweight or who have obesity, federal regulators said last Friday.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved a label change requested by drugmaker Novo Nordisk that expands the use of semaglutide.

The decision was based on the results of a study that found that Wegovy cut the risk of serious heart problems — including heart attack, stroke and heart-related deaths. Higher-weight patients with heart disease but not diabetes were 20 percent less likely to experience those problems compared with patients who took placebo, or dummy shots, the study found.

Wegovy is the first medication approved to help prevent the potentially life-threatening events in this population, the agency said.

“Providing a treatment option that is proven to lower this cardiovascular risk is a major advance for public health,” said Dr John Sharretts, who directs FDA’s division of diabetes, lipid disorders and obesity.

The move will change the way many heart patients are treated, said Dr. Martha Gulati, a cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. It confirms that the new class of obesity medications are useful for improving health, not just losing weight.

“The hope is that insurers will start understanding that this is not a vanity drug,” said Gulati, who estimated that nearly 70 percent of her heart patients could be eligible for treatment.

Wegovy is a higher-dose version of Ozempic, the diabetes treatment that was previously approved to cut the risk of serious heart problems in people

with that disease. The weight-loss drug typically costs about $1,300 a month.

Novo Nordisk has also asked European Union regulators to expand the use of the drug for heart problems. EU regulators have not weighed in on the request.

The FDA cautioned that Wegovy carries the risk of serious side effects, including thyroid tumors and certain cancers. Other possible side effects can include low blood sugar; pancreas, gallbladder, kidney or eye problems; and suicidal behaviour or thinking. About a third of the more than 17,600 participants in the clinical trial reported serious side effects.

About 17 percent in the group that took Wegovy and about 8 percent of those who received placebo left the study because of those effects.

The new indication could increase coverage of the drug by Medicare, experts said. The federal health insurance programme for older Americans is currently

Participants in the Framingham Heart Study were assessed using a sleep recording — known as polysomnography — on two occasions, approximately five years apart, in 1995-1998 and again in 2001-2003.

Many people showed a reduction in their deep slow-wave sleep over the years, as is to be expected with aging. Conversely, the amount of deep sleep in some people remained stable or even increased.

Our team of researchers from the Framingham Heart Study followed 346 participants aged 60 and over for a further 17 years to observe who developed dementia and who did not. Progressive loss of deep sleep over time was associated with an increased risk of dementia, whatever the cause, and particularly Alzheimer’s type dementia. These results were independent of many other risk factors for dementia.

Although our results do not prove that loss of deep sleep causes dementia, they do suggest that it could be a risk factor in the elderly. Other aspects of sleep may also be important, such as its duration and quality.

Strategies to improve deep sleep

Knowing the impact of a lack of deep sleep on cognitive health, what strategies can be used to improve it?

First and foremost, if you’re experiencing sleep problems, it’s worth talking to your doctor. Many sleep disorders are underdiagnosed and treatable, particularly through behavioural (i.e. non-medicinal) approaches.

Adopting good sleep habits can help, such as going to bed and getting up at consistent times or avoiding bright or blue light in bed, like that of screens.

You can also avoid caffeine, limit your alcohol intake, maintain a healthy weight, be physically active during the day, and sleep in a comfortable, dark and quiet environment.

The role of deep sleep in preventing dementia remains to be explored and studied. Encouraging sleep with good lifestyle habits could have the potential to help us age in a healthier way.

one night with the meat as the side dish. “This is not all or nothing. This is not ‘Everyone should go plant-based tomorrow’ or ‘Everyone should only cook from this book,’” she says. “But it’s like on a Sunday night when you’re at home, could you do one of these recipes and then you’d have some leftovers for lunch?”

One of her new dishes — Spicy Sun-Dried Tomato and Eggplant Ragu — is perfect for skeptics. It adds some heat from harissa and chili to a pasta with eggplant and parsley, finished with walnuts.

“It has this kind of chunky, bolognese ragu-esque texture. That’s the kind of thing that I would make a lot for friends or family who are not sure they’re going to love plant-based stuff, but when you’re tossing that through some nice spaghetti you can always serve it with parmesan on the side,” she says. Mills knows the world of health and wellness often chases trends, but she believes in the ultimate power of a well-dressed carrot.

“We so often see health and looking after ourselves as a trend, as a fad, as a six-week plan. Ultimately, that’s not health. Health is looking after yourself for decades,” she says. And to do that, “It can’t be deprivation. It has to be something you want to do on a regular basis.”

barred by law from covering drugs for weight loss alone. The agency spent nearly $3 billion in 2021 covering Ozempic to treat diabetes, according to latest available figures.

“I’m not sure it opens the floodgates, but it would open the door to allow more people on Medicare to gain access to Wegovy,” said Tricia Neuman, a Medicare policy specialist at KFF, a nonprofit that researches health policy.

Private insurers will evaluate the new indication for Wegovy before making coverage decisions, said a spokesperson for AHIP, America’s Health Insurance Plans, an industry trade group.

Drugmakers and obesity advocates have been pushing for expanded coverage, including legislation that would require Medicare to pay for the obesity drugs.

At issue has been whether the cost of the expensive medications will be offset by the savings of reduced spending on medical care related to obesity — and, now, heart disease.

One lingering obstacle to broader use is limited supply of the drug, which has been in shortage for more than a year, according to the FDA. Novo Nordisk officials say they’re working to increase production.

Wider access can’t come soon enough, said Gulati.

“Everybody’s waiting to get this medication,” she said. “Lower the cost, don’t be greedy and make sure the drug is available for use.”

Photo credit: (Novo Nordisk via AP)

The ‘trad wife’ movement –A setback or the dream life?

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

ALL this month is Women’s History Month, and while women around the world are celebrating their advancements and achievements and looking towards the future, there is a group of women – the so-called “trad wives” - who are looking to the past with just as much excitement.

Trad wives is short for traditional wives; those who believe that a woman’s place is in the kitchen and her primary job should be to take care of her family.

They feel that making a conscious choice of going back to more traditional gender roles is the ultimate in female empowerment rather than a burden to be endured.

Over the past few years, the trad wife movement has become increasingly popular due to all the YouTube moms out there who are setting up homesteads, making sourdough bread and decorating

their Pinterest-perfect homes for every season, all while homeschooling their perfectly behaved kids. It may seem like an unrealistic fantasy life and a setback for feminism, but there are some Bahamian women who admit they see the appeal. Tribune Woman reader Laurie said her dream is to marry well, so she has the luxury of staying home and taking care of her family.

Vicky, a mother of three, is of the same view: “That’s why things so messed up; all these kids left to their own devices, raising themselves, because mommy and daddy at work all the time and then monny and daddy too tired to have time for each other at the end of the day. But with defined roles, he focuses on work, I focus on home; we can make things a lot easier.”

“I watch some of these YouTubers and I have to admit, it seems so pleasant to just stay at home and focus on my family. I wouldn’t have the stress of getting ready and putting up with all the drama and stress of work. I could get the

Marathon’s women get empowered to improve their lives

WOMEN in the Marathon constituency spent International Women’s Day last Friday, March 8, enjoying an economic empowerment seminar that aimed to set the stage for a series of classes designed to improve their lives.

The event, hosted by Marathon Member of Parliament Lisa Rahming and Team Marathon, brought 70 women together under the theme “Create the Life You Want”.

“At this event, we hosted unemployed women, mothers

who struggle to make ends meet, and all interested females,” Ms Rahming said.

“We hosted this event to inspire them, empower them, and give them a sense of hope in navigating through the financial struggles that life can bring at times.”

“This opened a door for the females in Marathon who registered to have the ability to take part in a trade with the objective of completing and operating their own small businesses from home.”

Over the next several months, these women will engage in classes that will give them a lucrative trade. Trades include nail technicians, makeup artists, print shop operators, and hair stylists.

The courses are free to the participant and each woman or young lady will be given an individual kit for the program to jump start their soon-to-be businesses.

“This brings them from a level of dependency to independence,” Ms Rahming added.

kids out the door and have time to upkeep my house, take the meat out of the freezer to cook, do laundry throughout the day. I am sure that my family would run more smoothly without me working.”

Kristina has never watched any trad wives content on social media, but said she loves the idea of it.

“I think that sounds great. I know women are supposed to want to have it all: the killer career, the money and the home life, but honestly, it’s all so exhausting trying to do it. I get home around six and then its dinner and homework and doing some housework, get in bed by twelve or one am, up by six am and do it all again. You just are so tired every single day. You have to wonder if it’s worth being a rat in the rat race,” she said.

However, Michelle feels the trad wife movement is unsustainable and detrimental to women.

“They are showcasing this life, but they are making a ton of money posting on YouTube, and a lot of times their husbands make a ton of money anyway so they can afford to be home making bread and stuff. Because, unfortunately, the reason we all here running ourselves ragged is that we have to work to make ends meet. We can’t afford to have the pretty house without two salaries to make the mortgage,” she said.

“Once you show a person the way that they can succeed, you are not only developing a family, but empowering a nation. Economic independence is paramount.”

Class instructors will include: Chantique Brown, Jarret Mckenzie, Joyce Bowleg, and Rayangelo Seymour.

Chair of the National Congress of Trade Unions Sharon Martine gave a motivational presentation at the event, as did Marisa MasonSmith, Pastor Ann Higgins, and

Willie Mae Pratt’s daughter continues legacy of inspiring women and youth

C Gabrielle Pratt, daughter of trailblazing educator Willie Mae Pratt, has spent decades mentoring the youth based on biblical principles through various ministries such as Sunday School, Summer Camp, Vacation Bible School, and singing at her local assembly in New Providence. She is an active member of East Street Gospel Chapel and has been so for over four decades.

“Through the years, I have seen too many young people get into trouble because of bad choices and lack of proper guidance,” said Ms Pratt.

“Positive activities had a profound impact on my life during my formative years.”

With this in her heart, she uses writing and public speaking to help young people with managing their time, treasure (including money) and talent. Her ministry has grown to motivate women to become the best version of

themselves. It’s work that was near and dear to her mother’s heart.

The Willie Mae Pratt Centre for Girls houses young girls deemed delinquent, providing them with professional assistance to help them overcome personal and social issues. The Centre aims to turn the young girls’ lives around from one destined for crime, teen pregnancy and other ills, converting them into productive women in society.

With a Master’s Degree in Adult Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, Ms Pratt leans on her experience to help others bloom and grow into a version of themselves that they can be proud of.

She retired from the Royal Bahamas Police Force as a chief superintendent after 31 years of service. At one point in her career she was the commandant of the

Police Training College in Oakes Field. She is also an author of several books: “I Can Help; Smart Value –The Packers Story” about money management; “Making Money Count: How to Save, Spend and Secure What You Have”, and “I’m Really One of a Kind”, an activity colouring book based on Psalm 139: 7-18.

Most recently, Ms Pratt released a book along with six other Bahamian women called “Golden Key: An Anthology Featuring the Power & Wisdom of Bahamian Women”. It was released on International Women’s Day, March 8. It hit the Amazon bestseller list in two categories: Leadership and Personal Testimonies in the United States and Canada.

Ms Pratt, alongside Aisha “Wonderfull” Jackson, alongside Ava LL Williams, Indira Godet, Kimberlene Roberts, Michaella Forbes, and Dr Shamel

Pastor Darren Woods, who were amongst a panel of presenters.

The inaugural event, held at Goodwill Church of God, had a mission to “provide a pathway to economic independence and empowerment for women”. Participants who correctly answered trivia questions won gift certificates. The women expressed excitement about participating in the classes and learning a new trade. Classes start in April, 2024.

Rolle-Sands, have woven together narratives that not only reflect their personal journeys, but also act as a source of inspiration and empowerment for both Bahamian and international audiences. It is available as an ebook and can be found on Amazon.

In addition to writing books, Ms Pratt recently released the song “Never an Afterthought” with the group Rejoice 242. This song was nominated in the Bahamas Gospel Music Awards in the Traditional Gospel category in 2023.

C Gabrielle Pratt

SOME 70 women participated in an economic empowerment seminar in the Marathon constituency on International Women’s Day

MARATHON MP Lisa Rahming, (standing, back) introduces the panel of presenters during International Women’s Day

MYRTLE Andrews of Marathon Urban Renewal presented a John Bull gift certificate to a seminar participant

SHARON Martin rallied more than 70 women with her motivational speech on economic empowerment in the Marathon constituency

Insights and analytics expert Megan Ashley Virgill, a millennial tech leader working and residing in Canada, was a recent panellist at an Amazon summit in Toronto, Canada.

Megan joined two other industry leaders to discuss the critical intersection of innovation, artificial intelligence, and diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Canadian corporate landscape.

The Bahamian tech leader is a champion for leveraging data and analytics to drive informed decision-making to create strategies for growth within organisations.

“I was honoured to be invited to speak at this summit. Being a woman in tech, it was immensely gratifying to contribute to this crucial dialogue surrounding innovation, AI and diversity in Canada,” she said.

Millennial Bahamian leader in tech speaks at Amazon summit in Toronto

Megan encourages Bahamians to embrace AI and leverage technology for enhanced efficiency, productivity and sustainable development. The panel discussion occurred at the Amazon Toronto headquarters on February 29. Attendees had the opportunity to hear insights from Megan Ashley Virgill and other industry experts on strategies for fostering innovation, diversity, and audience-centric approaches in the corporate world.

FAR left: Luce Ngami - Customer Solutions Manager at AWS; middle left: Jevaughn Marshall, director of Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board; middle right: Aisha Bello, summit host and Senior Solutions Architect at AWS; far right:

Marriage club founders get candid about love

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

THEIR goal is help to restore marriages in the Bahamas while also creating a community where married folks can support one another with their individual experiences. And now, the founders of the newest social community called Pillow Talk Marriage Club are getting candid about love and relationships.

Pastor Marvin and Dr Tamalia Gibson will be celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary in June. The couple, who share two children, see their own marriage as a ministry, and are therefore on a mission to build a community where married couples can be educated, socialise with one another and engage in fun activities.

The husband and wife duo designed the Pillow Talk club to be an interactive, educational and fun group dedicated to nurturing healthy marriages free of charge.

Marvin and Tamalia said they realised that there are many people in the Bahamas who do not have happy married couples in their social circle who they can glean wisdom from, which can be a missing piece of the puzzle for couples embarking on marriage maintenance.

They hope through sharing their own experiences and their

perspectives on matters of the heart they are able to help other couples in a big way,

Today, the couple enjoy what they describe as a beautiful marriage and the challenges that once plagued them are “few and far between.”

In their Q&A with Tribune Woman they were asked what they think the ingredients for a successful marriage are; how to best overcome challenges; the importance of vision planning, as well as their views on social media and privacy. Here’s how they responded:

Falling in love

Q: When did you know you were in love?

Tamalia: “I believe that I gradually fell more in love with Marvin as I got to know him better. The first incident that occurred that let me know my heart would be safe with him was actually after a shared trauma. We were robbed at gunpoint together and he was so calm, reassuring and supportive following this scary experience, which helped me to lower my walls. As we dated, I got to see his genuine nature, respect, and most importantly, his heart for God. I can truly say that I love him way more now than I ever have.

Marvin: “I knew I was in love with Tamalia the moment I realised that if a day went by where I didn’t speak with her, it seemed unfathomable.”

Q: How important is vision casting in a marriage?

Marvin: “Vision casting is crucial in a marriage, particularly for men to have a vision and explain that it to his partner, because they are the ones that fuel that vision. Women also have vision and a true partner also helps bring her vision to pass.”

The importance of compatibility

Q: How do you relate to each other? What types of activities do you do together?

Marvin: “We relate to each other in several different ways.

1. We have an open line of communication, checking in with each other throughout the day. 2. We also like to hang out. We go to concerts, listen to live music, go to church, and we enjoy our worship experience together.”

The future of food is female

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

ALONG with his female-led culinary team, celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson flew in to New Providence for a special event last Saturday on the heels of International Women’s Day and during Women’s History Month.

Held in the Marcus Gardens at Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chop House, the “Foodie Thoughts & Talks” event featured the restaurant’s Executive Chef Garrette Bowe, as well as Sous Chefs Delarise Simms and Wendy Saunders. The three women showcased their expertise and love of Bahamian cuisine. Also featured at the event was Chef Jay Tucker, a female sous chef at Marcus Samuelsson’s Hav & Mar New York City Seafood House.

The event highlighted the fierce women thriving in a male-dominated industry.

The four women shared some of their wisdom and gave advice on how to succeed in the culinary world during an interactive demonstration and sit-down three-course lunch with a signature cocktail, all created by the inspirational female chefs and mixologists at Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chop House.

In a one-on-one interview with Tribune Woman, Chef Garrette Bowe said it was exciting to be highlighted in such a way. She was

Q: What is the single most important thing for a relationship to be successful in your view?

Tamalia: “I think that effective and open communication is very important for a relationship to be successful. Both persons should be honest, respectful and loving in the way that they speak to their spouse.”

Problem-solving and goal-setting

Q

: What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in marriage? What did you learn from it?

Marvin: “Well, during the pandemic, being self-employed, business shut down completely, we had a brand new baby and two months later my wife fell ill. We had to go the States, stay with family and live basically off of the support of others. It was a very tough time. I learned the importance I placed on being self-sufficient. I also learned more about myself and how my emotions impact my relationship.”

Tamalia: “We have faced a number of challenges in our marriage. However, I would like to highlight the first major difficulty that we encountered. During our first year of marriage we had three miscarriages. It was extremely painful to go through these losses. Marvin and I learned

that we react to issues differently although our feelings may be similar. For instance, I was very vocal about my thoughts and feelings, whereas he tended to be more silent and turn inward. Ultimately, our challenges have brought us closer to God and closer to each other.”

Q: What are your goals as a couple for 2024?

Tamalia: “We have a number of goals as a couple, however, at the forefront right now is definitely our desire to encourage strong marriages. This prompted us to start a free marriage club called Pillow Talk. We had our first virtual meeting in February and it was truly amazing! Our vision statement for Pillow Talk Marriage Club is ‘to build healthy marriages around the world, one marriage at a time.’ With God’s help, I believe that this community will do so, People have registered from around the world and we have some exciting events and experiences planned for this year. We also plan on releasing a book about marriage this year.”

Privacy and social media

Q: How comfortable are you with sharing your relationship on social media?

Marvin: “I am rarely on social media and when I do post, it is usually about my wife and my love for her.”

Tamalia: “I am pretty transparent on social media about my relationship. I post about how much I appreciate Marvin and my journey of challenging relationships before meeting him. We also have Pillow Talk Facebook and TikTok pages where we share regular things in our lives, fun stuff, and marriage tips.”

Q: What are your social media boundaries and what is considered off limits to share?

Tamalia: “Well, our regular boundaries apply to social media such as we would never share anything hurtful about each other. Marvin rarely posts on social media and when I post about our marriage it is to show appreciation to Marvin and also to provide helpful marriage tips and encouragement to persons who are single and waiting.”

Couples interested in joining the Pillow Talk Marriage Club can register at http://www.pillowtalkmarriageclub.com.

Local chefs in the spotlight for “Foodie Thoughts & Talks” event

line cook to sous chef. I feel like he sees all the hard work I put in. Being a woman in this industry, I feel like it’s 10 times harder because it’s a male -dominated industry,” she said.

“We have to be more perfect. So for him to see me in the kitchen amongst all the other chefs, it’s great to be honoured, and especially on this beautiful island with all these beautiful people. Y ‘all are the most hospitable people ever.”

grateful for the opportunity and hopes that younger female chefs in the industry can see that hard work pays off.

“I think it’s important to see that representation matters. I would say that when I was coming up, I didn’t have much women chefs to look up to or to even see women being highlighted in any

way, especially in this industry. So I’m grateful for it and I’m excited to do it for the next generation,” said Garrette. Chef Jay Tucker expressed how happy she was to be in the Bahamas showcasing her talents for a local audience.

“I’ve been working with Marcus for the last seven years. I started working with him at Red Rooster in 2017. From there I grew from a

She said she and Chef Garrette, who both participated in the live cooking demonstration - which produced a corn succotash and lamb saddle dish with black garlic sauce - fed well off of one another.

“Me and Garrette, we actually just met. So it was just more of a conversation, talking about our backgrounds, what we like, and we just came up with the dish naturally,” she said.

Chef Marcus Samuelsson was happy to state that the majority of the chefs at the Marcus Fish + Chop House, like those at his New York restaurant, are local, “extraordinary” women who are absolutely extraordinary.

“At Hav & Mar restaurant in New York, all leadership positions are held by women of colour. Everything has to be intentional as a person of colour in leadership. Nothing’s going to

just come; you have to be strategic. So we have many restaurants and I said why don’t we do this one for women and we put it in the middle of Manhattan, so it’s very intentional and it’s one of our highest performing restaurants.

So it shows, now we have not just my idea, we also have data behind it that the quality is high, volume is high, population is high, and ran by women of colour,” said Marcus.

Among the guests in attendance for last Saturday’s event was Ann Marie Davis, spouse of the prime minister. The guest were able to engage with the female chefs and mixologists. Bahamian musician Bodine Victoria, who hosted of the afternoon event, was happy she was to see the women in the spotlight.

“Whenever international corporations show our Bahamian women support, it says to me that there’s more of an investment in promoting them, not only in words, but in actual actions and visibility. For a lot of us, visibility is the big thing, because when we are hidden behind the scenes, a lot of times, people don’t know the work that women do,” said Bodine.

“And so seeing them pushed to the forefront gives people the opportunity to really appreciate the contributions that they make and how important they are to the running of any organisation, especially this one.”

PASTOR Marvin and Dr Tamalia Gibson, founders of the Pillow Talk Marriage Club

CHEF Marcus Samuelsson with his fierce female culinary team