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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021

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VISIONARIES

US defence giant Raytheon fully backing local venture which will raise $300m for cash-strapped govt

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GROUP of Bahamian entrepreneurs have the “green light” for a $427m investment in what Raytheon Technologies (a merger of Raytheon, Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace) has termed will be the “first-of-itskind aviation, climate, meteorological, navigation, 3D terrain, street and chart mapping and severe weather sensing network exceeding that of any other industrialised nation” — thereby enhancing the safety of The Bahamas, boosting key industries vital to the Bahamian economy’s post-COVID rebound and providing Dr Minnis’ Administration with the vital prerequisite components that are necessary to legally and lawfully collect what is projected to be more than $300m in “overflight fees” from the 594,000 flights from each and every commercial, cargo and private carrier using Bahamas’ sovereign airspace (archipelagic baselines, territorial seas, contiguous and exclusive economic zone.

In a wide ranging interview with Tribune’s Business section, Gene Welch, managing director for Raytheon Technologies Intelligence & Space’s Air Traffic Control Systems, described the $427m Bahamian-designed aviation, climate, marine, meteorological, navigation, 3D hyper local terrain, street, chart mapping and severe Wx sensing network (WxSenseNet) as an “extraordinary vision”.

He said that the $100bn a year aerospace, defence, intelligence, cyber security, aircraft engine and weather conglomerate was “eager” to conclude a strategic alliance with Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network (BACSWN) having validated BACSWN’s intellectual property rights.

As one of the largest contributors to the safety and efficient operation of the air transportation

industry – controlling some 60 percent of the world’s commercial airspace, including providing radar, air traffic control management, systems integration and weather services to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); National Hurricane Centre, NASA, US Department of Defence, US Air Force, Coast Guard and dozens of other governmental agencies – Raytheon Technologies (a merger of Raytheon, Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace) reiterated the fact that

“BACSWN’s proposed system will be the firstof-its-kind system in the world”.

Mr Welch shared that BACSWN’s vision will transform The Bahamas’ ability to “sense, track, predict and enable the creation 3D impact-based simulations of monster storms such as Hurricane Dorian”. Not to mention transforming the accuracy and timeliness of “eAlerts” or need for evacuation orders.

“On behalf of our entire team, I’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely

thank Prime Minister Minnis, DPM & Minister of Works, Desmond Bannister, the Minister of Transport & Local Government, the Cabinet and Raytheon Technologies for their unequivocal support of such an ambitious undertaking,” said Eileen Dupuch Carron, executive chairman of Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe

Minister ‘disappointed’ on false COVID tests Financier cautions on Family Isl airport ‘plans’

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said yesterday the proliferation of fake COVID-19 PCR tests are “disappointing” and warned the public – “it is not worth the risk”.

Mr D’Aguilar, speaking to reporters outside of cabinet, spoke after nine people appeared in court on Monday accused of trying to travel on fake COVID documents.

Mr D’Aguilar said the penalties for this offence are quite substantial.

“I think it’s two years in jail and a $4,000 fine,” he said. “To me, it is not worth the risk, and not only that it’s irresponsible, and, as

DIONISIO D’AGUILAR I said before, disappointing that you take those measures.”

Warning that COVID-19 prevention measures are in “place for a reason”, he said the government is trying its best to prevent community spread and urged people to “please abide by the rules and not try to deviate from them. That is why we are, probably to a certain

degree, having some uptick in our COVID numbers.”

A rapid-antigen test at the Sir Lynden Pindling International Airport upon departure costs $40, while at other airports they cost $50 and the RT-PCR test costs $150. A COVID-19 test is needed in addition to a $60 health visa that travellers must obtain from the government before travelling through The Bahamas or for those trying to gain entry into the country.

Agreeing this has made travel more expensive, Mr D’Aguilar said it is “very important,” that these protocols are followed. He added: “Neither you nor I are in a position to know or to opine on what is the best

SEE PAGE 3

Correction In an article headlined Water Corp gets ‘cheapest supply rates in Caribbean’, published on March 30, 2021, it was reported that Condolidated Water supplies the Water & Sewerage Corporation at an average cost of less than $6 per gallon based on the terms of their contract. This was not correct. While the average cost has indeed been less than $6, it is per US 1000 gallons, and not per gallon. Tribune Business apologises for the error.

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

ANDRE WRIGHT

AN international financier with experience in infrastructure projects in The Bahamas has cautioned the country’s airport expansion projects need “significant planning”.

Andre Wright, executive vice president of Standard International Group, told Tribune Business the government’s airport expansion initiative throughout the Family Islands needs a “significant amount of planning”, particularly taking into account the shift in customer tastes and demographics brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The various Family Island airport expansion projects are slated to cost over $150m, with $50m being earmarked for the Exuma International Airport alone.

Mr Wright said: “Not that we have a crystal ball, but

we advise our clients that when they’re doing their capital improvement planning that this needs to take into account not just what they’re seeing in their home country, but what they’re seeing throughout the region.

“I think The Bahamas has a unique opportunity, but it also has a lot of risks.

People tell you that in a low interest environment to build, build, build and that’s a good thing to do while rates are low, but the airport projects themselves are long-term capital projects that require a significant amount of planning and that planning needs to ensure that those customers and the needs of those customers as well as for their employees and unions and the community at large is going to be satisfied.”

Mr Wright has over 30 years of experience in

Weather Network (BACSWN).

“One of the ancillary benefits of the project,” added Mr Welch, will be to enable Government of The Bahamas - like 186 other nations - to avail itself of its sole, sovereign and exclusive rights to collect what both Raytheon and BACWN have projected to be $300m in “Overflight Fees” from the 594,000 flights, vessels and craft of each and every commercial, cargo and private carriers using Bahamas’ territory each year under the Chicago

SEE PAGE 2 advising on infrastructural projects throughout the Caribbean and has done work with the Bahamas Electricity Corporation, now Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) and its loan portfolio where the power company had a yen foreign currency loan that needed to be restructured.

When Nassau airport was redeveloped SIG had put forward proposals that the project be a public-private partnership, but this was not taken up by the government.

“Our idea was to at least reduce the interest rate to the government portion, but we did not get a good reception to do that because the other investors were looking for a return,” he said.

“So our experience is in knowing the direction of the market, currently.

The structure of the tourism, aviation market has changed dramatically.

“So while most airport capital plans that were put in place prior to COVID-19 they will need to be modified. You can’t have the same forecast. It’s not the same expectations. It’s not going to be the same protocols... the same customer.

There’s been somewhat of

SEE PAGE 3

PAGE 2, Wednesday, March 31, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

US defence giant Raytheon fully backing local venture which will raise $300m for cash-strapped government FROM PAGE ONE Convention on International Civil Aviation.

“It would be remiss if I did not also convey our gratitude to the members of the Cabinet Select Committee tasked with responsibility for the time and efforts they devoted to negotiating BACSWN’s Heads of Agreement that resulted in such an overwhelming endorsement of the project’s goals, unparalleled capabilities and myriad of ancillary benefits,” continued Mrs Carron.

Disclosing that considerable time, efforts and resources have been spent in discussion with various potential partners and the Department of Meteorology, BACSWN’s financial consultant told The Tribune that while BACSWN owns the Intellectual Property Designs of “WxSenseNet” and had selected US Aerospace & Defence Contractor, Raytheon’s revolutionary Phased Array Skyler Radars - connected to a myriad of other highly advanced sensors, hydromet buoys and 3D Street, Terrain Chart and Mapping Drones at 109 sites across the Bahamian archipelago.

That data will be fed into BACSWN’s patent pending Convergence Centre and Raytheon’s global Advanced Weather Information Processing System (AWIPS) so as to assist the Government of The Bahamas, NHC and NOAA in minimising the increasing risks of life-threatening events impacting upon our nation, its people, visitors, guests, as well as the aviation, insurance, maritime and tourism sectors.

“Clearly, one needs an interconnected array of reliable, accurate real time weather data if BACSWN is to address the FAA, NHC & US Coast Guard’s longstanding safety concerns let alone, have any hope of providing live situational awareness, 3D Impact based simulations, bespoke Apps, eAlerts or hyperlocal weather forecasts across the entire Bahamas,” added Nicolas Rees.

In thanking the Prime Minister, Council of Ministers, Cabinet Select Committee and Department of Meteorology for their support of the project and for the faith they have bestowed in Bahamas Aviation, Climate & Severe Weather Network having been recently designated as the Meteorological Weather Authority, on behalf of the Contracting state, in accordance with the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, BACSWN’s founder shared that “in the very near future BACSWN aims to transform the delivery of aviation, climate, meteorological and realtime weather data to the Office of the Prime Minister, NEMA, FAA, NHC, NOAA, marine, cruise and tourism sectors by providing real-time situational awareness on any potential threats facing any communities across the length and breadth of our nation’s archipelago; near live, 3D Impact Based Simulations, Hyper-Local forecasts and other specialized bespoke weather Apps,” “It has been a privilege to work with Director Basden, Assistant Director Simmons and other members of the Department of Meteorology over the last couple of months to stand up the first Meteorological Watch Office in our nation’s history utilizing Raytheon’s global resources and Advanced Weather Information Processing System (AWIPS).””

Describing a “Watch Office” as a facility providing crafts of vessels using Bahamian air space with real-time data and other charts products/services to avoid potentially dangerous weather systems that may be developing along their flight plan, Mr Welch told The Tribune that “realtime aviation tracking and meteorological weather are the key drivers to not only collect overflight fees; but mitigate the ever-increasing threats from tropical storms and hurricanes.”

Mr Welch said Raytheon has been collaborating with the principals of BACSWN alongside meeting with members of the Department of Meteorology for a yearand-a-half to help bring this concept to fruition.

“BACSWN really had quite a vision for this, and it’s nice to see it starting to come to fruition,” said Mr Welch. “It will provide, especially for The Bahamas’ Out Islands, advance warning that they don’t have right now to better predict the timing of these catastrophic hurricanes and get people to safety.”

“There would be little doubt that the aviation industry will look forward to the possibility of flight plans being able to be adjusted; and, if needed, moved. In addition, I have to imagine

as executive chairman.

Adam Darville is the vicepresident of infrastructure; Montino Roberts, vicepresident of information technology; Nicholas Rees, Financial Consultant, Glen Ward, vice-president of business development; Burton Rodgers, vice-president of government affairs and David Gates, Consultant/ RF Engineer.

Portia Nicholson of Higgs & Johnson serves as the group’s legal advisor.

The project that will likely create 450 jobs during the construction phase with an estimated 300 full-time positions once BACSWN’s Convergence Centre reaches “full operating capacity”.

Describing the real-time situational awareness and other ultra-long range

through fuel savings, wind assisted trajectories, direct routings, reductions in spacing, delays, weather deviations and other maintenance related expenses; not to mention, providing bespoke services to the aviation, boating, cruise industry, hospitality, insurance, marine, media, navigation, ports and wedding sectors.

Mr Rees says BACSWN has completed its negotiations with the Cabinet Select-Committee and is “awaiting a final review of its Heads of Agreement” by the Office of the Attorney General. Thereafter, the group hopes to conclude its Heads of Agreement with Cabinet and NYC based Island Global Capital.

Suggesting the group will be at the forefront of creat-

that the tourism industry and other sectors will benefit from hyper localised weather forecasts,” he said.

“Your strategic location is a blessing and a curse really.

Being able to detect these things far in advance goes a long way for the safety of Bahamians.”

“So long as we face no more unconscionable delays from the Office of the Attorney General with respect to a review of our BACSWN’s Heads of Agreement for the buildout, construction, start-up, testing, operation, service maintenance and protection of said ‘WxSenseNet’; or, a repeat of the tortuous inference we’ve endured to date, we should be in a position to execute a strategic alliance with Raytheon in the very near future,” said Mrs Carron.

The Tribune has learned that in keeping with its Cabinet Conclusion and in accordance with instructions from the Minister of Tourism and Aviation (MOTA) BACSWN has filed notice with ICAO, FAA and IATA of its intention to stand up a Meteorological Watch Office within the next 30-45 days to assist the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation commence charging “Overflight Fees”.

As previously reported, Julian Rolle has accepted the post of BACSWN Chairman of The Board and Mrs Carron will serve

weather products/services as “lifesaving”, Mr Rees explained that BACSWN has identified Island Global Capital as its choice for an exclusive financial advisor. “I’m confident that the once the Heads of Agreement is signed the necessary capital will be in place to bring BACSWN’s “unique, unparalleled, ingenious vision” to fruition added Mr. Rees “Not only do we intend to transform our nation’s capacity to detect track and respond to severe weather events at no cost to taxpayers,” stated Mr. Adam Darville, VP Infrastructure, but build a facility capable of coordinating search and rescue operations, providing remote air traffic control services for any BCAA owned family island aerodrome.”

The group’s research, he said, has shown that by increasing the safety, capacity and efficiency of the flights using Bahamassovereign airspace; commercial, cargo and private carrier could save as much as $1,000 per flight

ing “a new dynamic” when it comes to aviation tracking, climate and real-time severe weather sensing, Mr Rees said: “I’m proud to have been invited to play a part in bringing such an impressive, ingenious designed vision to fruition — sprung from a napkin in Crooked Island.” Mr. Rees promises that the Bahamian people will enjoy “real value over time” from this initiative and that BACSWN is considering offering shares to the public in due course “The ingenuity of the system we are bringing to the table, not only brings in life-saving technology as it relates to aviation tracking and real-time weather; but empowers the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation to execute its mandate from the Office of the

Prime Minister.”

Mr Rees said BACSWN will create a “unique synergy” with the Government’s aviation sector ambitions, especially the levying of overflight fees on aircraft so that they can pass safely and efficiently through The Bahamas’ sovereign air space on their flights to the US, Gulf of Mexico and Cuba from EU, UK, North, Central and South America and Caribbean.

Hopefully, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), US Coast Guard and air carriers will no longer voice concerns about the “safety hazard” for flights operating in Bahamian air space, given the lack of real-time weather data in areas prone to sudden -– and significant – changes in atmospheric conditions.

Mr Rees said that BACSWN’s system is uniquely positioned to resolve these issues as well as weather deviations and the need for increased separations that have plagued our overcrowded airspace for some time.

“Currently, this is virtually no real time aviation tracking, reliable weather data or inflight information being provided to flight crews in Bahamian air space, despite our nation straddle the key air/ sea routes between South Florida, Gulf of Mexico to Europe, Latin and Central American and Caribbean,” said Glen Ward, VP Business Development.

BACSWN will charge users a fee for providing real-time aviation tracking and meteorological weather services, although the information will be supplied to the Government & FAA for free. Under a public-private partnership model, Mr Rees said there would be a revenue sharing arrangement with the Government.

“While there’s a lot of moving parts, we’ve got the talent, expertise, sources of funding, strategic partners and the technology lined up to meet an aggressive 24-month timeline in order to reach our initial operating capacity.

At the moment, we are in the process of standing up a Meteorological Watch

Office while waiting on the Office of the Attorney General,” he said.

In the interim BACSWN has already received backing from Director of the Department of Meteorology, who has called the project the answer to the Department of Meteorology’s prayers.

“The design of this network is so advanced that we’ll be able to create nearlive Street Level 3D Impact Based simulations in order to give citizens the most accurate and up-to-theminute hyper local warnings of any potential weather,” stated Director Basden.

“Right now, we cannot do that because Doppler weather radars are not designed to do that,” he added “If you have a tropical cyclone moving and based on how the models and the information are given, it can tell the various degrees and stages of damage, flood and water infiltration at various points and we could describe it more accurately. “Right now, we just say ‘flooding’, but we will be able to graphically show where the water levels will be on the houses and infiltration in areas. My Doppler weather radars, mainly (allow) for me to see what is approaching The Bahamas at a distance.

“Frankly, I can’t wait to see what Director Basden, Mr. Simmons and the rest of the Met team can do with a system that’s the best in the world!” said Adam Darville.

“What will set us apart is not only being able to ingest data from a variety of sources, but the unique manner in which we intend to visualize such, using an augmented reality gaming engine,” said Mr. Rees. “Anyone can check whether it’s going to rain on Saturday! We’re going to provide the most accurate, immersive, 3D interactive experience possible!”

“We have a number of Bahamians who are assisting in various ways behind the scenes until our Heads of Agreement is signed and plan on inviting other Bahamian entrepreneurs to collaborate with us on the design of other products/ services for the hospitality and event planning industry,” added Mr Rees.

“In the very near future we hope to hire a number of staff in order to send them off for specialized training!” he said.

THE TRIBUNE

Minister ‘disappointed’ on false COVID tests FROM PAGE ONE test or not, and they have decided that travel from New Providence and Grand Bahama, we need a PCR test.

“It is absolutely critical that we prevent as best as we can any growth in COVID cases in the family islands because the health facilities just do not exist to provide adequate care, and so the government is taking the advice that they’re provided in order to prevent it.

“I know it’s costly. I know it’s annoying, I know that everybody is fatigued, but we cannot allow for an uptick to happen.”

Mr D’Aguilar also spoke about a perceived lack of information being presented to incoming travellers about the PCR testing requirements and said that up to 50,000 people apply for a health visa every month.

“Yes, there are going to be some people who show up, but we have a very robust approval system in place,” he said.

“We sort our applications by date of travel, so if you get up and go to the airport this morning and say you’re travelling this afternoon or late morning that will pop up at the front of the queue and you can be approved very quickly in order to facilitate your travel.”

Wednesday, March 31, 2021, PAGE 3

ACCOUNTING WOES FOR INVESTMENT FUNDS

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net INVESTMENT Funds should have a qualified accountant confirm their records are up to international standards, says Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) executive director.

Christina Rolle, speaking during a webinar yesterday said that under the Investment Funds Act, 2019 “Every three years a qualified accountant must confirm that the record books are being kept in accordance with IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) or US GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles).”

Ms Rolle was responding to how the SCB will monitor the process for audited financial statements to ensure it is in accordance with the Act. Within the Act, Investment Funds must maintain accounting records for up to six years in addition the SCB may require funds to have the auditor of a fund to submit the necessary information as the SCB deems necessary. In addition, an investment fund shall submit its audited financial statements within six months of the end of that financial year or within such extension of the period as the commission may reasonably allow.

Having had conversations

CHRISTINA ROLLE with the board of the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA) on the matter, Ms Rolle said: “The commission will likely require a filing to be made with the commission - that’s how we will monitor it.”

Explaining how licencees will be able to make these filings in a cost effective way was the main point that the SCB had with BICA. “There is a debate within BICA as to whether this requirement amounts to a full audit or not. There are some members of BICA who believe that it does amount to a full audit, other members believe that it doesn’t amount to a full audit, however certain procedures will have to be established as to how this confirmation takes place,” Ms Rolle said.

Ms Rolle said the last she had discussions with BICA, they had put it to an internal committee spearheaded by one of their members – Philip Galanis of HLB Galanis & Company – on how best they can establish protocols on how to achieve this confirmation.

Mr Galanis said yesterday

The Bahamas should follow Cayman Islands example and that it should ensure that all Investment Funds are audited. He said: “That’s not a requirement here, I have always maintained as a few others have done that all Investment Funds really ought to be audited in The Bahamas by Bahamian accounting firms.

“While there are some firms who believe that it ought not be done, but I believe that if you want to get a very good indication of what the scope and depth of the industry is, one way of doing that is by referring to financial statements.

“We do the same thing with banks and trust companies as well as insurance companies, “Mr Galanis said.

“The regulators want to ensure that they have information that they can rely on that’s independently audited and that is verified so that when they say that the total value of the particular sector in the financial services industry is this, they can say that

with authority because they refer to their audited financial statement.”

In the absence of any requirement to present audited financial statements the SCB would not be able to assess the health of the financial sector or any subsector, like Investment Funds.

“There is always the interest of looking after the shareholders of companies and the shareholders have the right to know whether or not the financial statements are being presented reasonably,” he added.

Dismissing concerns over the additional costs preparing audited financial statements may mean to Investment Funds, Mr Galanis said this has been a requirement in the Cayman Islands for some time and it “has not changed their industry” to any significant degree and further argued it has created “greater accountability” and has “strengthened the integrity of the jurisdiction”.

Financier cautions on Family Isl airport ‘plans’ FROM PAGE ONE

a shift for more demand on the fixed base operator for general aviation versus commercial.”

He also raised concerns on whether or not the larger commercial airlines have gotten their bailout money “resolved” in the US and whether or not some of them will return to the international market. Something that he feels must be factored into the decision in securing financing for these airport infrastructural upgrades.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

PAGE 6, Wednesday, March 31, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Tour operators: ‘There are SUCCESSION PLANNING - A CRITICAL no incentives’ to scale up FAILURE WHICH CAN DESTROY A BUSINESS

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net TOUR and excursion operators say they need more incentives and tourists in order to scale up operations.

Adoni Lisgaris, the Bahamas Excursion Operators Association’s president, told Tribune Business yesterday the industry needs this boost in order to take up the challenge laid down by Tourism Minister Dionsio D’Aguilar to improve the onshore attractions for visitors Mr Lisgaris said: “There are no incentives for most Bahamians in tourism outside of if you’re a hotel. I believe for hotels in New Providence they have to be more than ten rooms to get concessions under the Hotel Encouragement Act. To my knowledge, none of the other sectors get any concessions from the government.

“As a Bahamian operator, there’s no tax concessions at all. There are firms that want to enhance their offerings but they have been denied because often times their projects are on vacant land and the government finds it difficult to give concessions to Bahamian entrepreneurs on vacant land.

“They need to have a conversation with operators

to see what taxes could be waived or things like that.

Or ensure that our marketing materials can be brought in duty free, or vessels, or parts for vessels – the same thing for people who have actual structures.”

Narine Ramotar, owner/ operator of Nassau Snorkelling said he doesn’t even feel the government should be pushing the idea of tourism anymore because it seems to be a “dying business now”.

Having closed his company down for the time being, Mr Ramotar is feeling the brunt of the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 restrictions and industry shutdown.

He said: “I have a charter company, I take tours for sports fishing and right now I’m dealing with the SBDC (Small Business Development Centre) and trying to get loans, but they aren’t giving anything out for companies in the tourism business because it is so fragile right now.”

Peter Rebmann, Pearl Island’s managing partner, said while he would like to scale up his operations this year, he “does not know” when cruise ships will be coming back to the Bahamas aside from Royal Caribbean and Crystal Cruise Line that are slated to make their return in June.

Mr Rebmann said: “The strategy of the cruise lines

seems to be that they tried to get their ships outside of the United States. That is maybe an opportunity for them to overrun the CDC (Centres for Disease Control) with all their decisions and whatever they claim the cruise lines need to fulfil before they get the green light.”

Mr Rebmann warned, however, that there can be no proper scaling up of Pearl Island until regular sailings from the cruise ships resume and is depending on cruise ship passengers to fund this expansion. In his estimation, The Bahamas needs more than just two ships and may need upwards of 15 regular cruises to confirm their itinerary includes The Bahamas.

He added: “You talk about 5,000 people a month coming to The Bahamas, usually ten to 20 percent maybe are doing excursions, so we’re talking about 1,000 people. Maybe Blue Lagoon can take 1,000 people, but I can’t see how that will, in any way, help Nassau and the wider Bahamas.”

He argued that capturing more cruise ship passengers for other operators may become problematic because the cruise lines are asking that “high level of safety protocols” are put in place for their guests, including little to no contact with locals.”

YOU see examples of it every day – the sign turned from “open” to “closed for business”. Store windows once filled with goods for sale now empty or covered with brown paper, another business gone.

It’s tempting to think poor management or marketing, says a successful businessman, but all too often it’s something else entirely - the lack of succession planning, developing a strategy for identifying and developing future leaders for the company to ensure a business can continue when its founders are no longer there.

Real estate legend Mario Carey, pictured, a man who has handled nearly $3bn in transactions over a 35-year career and heads three companies, says lack of planning ahead for the time when a current owner gets too old to manage effectively, wants to retire or passes away all too often is “the nail of the coffin of a successful business”.

Carey has seen the impact firsthand on properties that become vacant or are suddenly listed for sale at below market value.

“It’s heartbreaking,” he said. “It’s especially apparent in smaller economies like The Bahamas where the first generation of a family works really hard,

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that PACO ESTIME, of 18th Bougainvillea Boulevard, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 24th day of March 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that JENNIFER SANDS, of Solider Road, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 31st day of March 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com

TUESDAY, 30 MARCH 2021

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX:

CLOSE

CHANGE

1956.86

22.05

%CHANGE

YTD

YTD%

1.14 -135.60

-6.48

(242) 323-2330 (242) 323-2320

BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 4.95 33.05 2.00 2.90 2.10 6.00 6.90 3.60 6.01 4.07 6.16 12.00 2.75 6.85 10.50 9.00 14.60 4.25 8.97 16.00

52WK LOW 3.13 22.65 0.67 1.62 1.50 5.00 6.00 2.70 4.27 2.75 5.00 9.75 2.10 4.90 9.50 8.00 13.00 3.42 8.15 14.00

PREFERENCE SHARES 1.00

1.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 10.00 0.90

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

SYMBOL AML APD BBL BFH BOB BPF BWL CAB CBB CBL CHL CIB CWCB DHS EMAB FAM FBB FCL FIN JSJ

LAST CLOSE 4.75 32.12 1.62 2.90 1.59 6.00 6.40 3.56 4.40 2.95 5.67 9.75 2.70 6.84 10.93 8.40 14.00 3.50 8.35 15.50

CLOSE 4.95 32.12 1.62 2.90 1.59 6.00 6.40 3.56 4.40 2.99 5.67 9.75 2.70 6.84 10.81 9.00 14.00 3.80 8.35 15.50

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

SYMBOL FBB22 BFHB

LAST SALE 100.00 100.00

CLOSE 100.00 100.00

CHANGE 0.00 0.00

BAH29 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0307 BG0330 BG0407 BSBGR1200371 BSBGRS710237 BSBGR1322498

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 97.04 102.00 100.00

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 97.04 102.00 100.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

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

BFHP CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB

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

52WK LOW 100.00 100.00

115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.00 97.72 104.00 100.00

104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 93.92 100.25 100.00

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

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing) Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) BGS: 2014-12-7Y BGS: 2015-1-7Y BGS: 2014-12-30Y BGS: 2015-1-30Y BGS: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y BSBGR FX BSBGR1200371 BGRS FL BSBGRS710237 BGRS FX BSBGR1322498

CHANGE 0.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 (0.12) 0.60 0.00 0.30 0.00 0.00

VOLUME 1,000

3,370

2,000 3,000 1,400 16,000

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

EPS$ 0.239 0.932 0.000 0.110 0.070 1.760 0.369 -0.438 0.140 0.184 0.449 0.722 0.102 0.467 0.646 0.728 0.816 0.203 0.939 0.631 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

VOLUME

DIV$ 0.170 1.260 0.020 0.030 0.000 0.000 0.260 0.000 0.000 0.120 0.220 0.720 0.434 0.060 0.328 0.240 0.540 0.120 0.200 0.610 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

P/E 20.7 34.5 N/M N/M N/M N/M 17.3 -8.1 31.4 16.3 12.6 13.5 26.5 14.6 16.7 12.4 17.2 18.7 8.9 24.6

YIELD 3.43% 3.92% 1.23% 1.03% 0.00% 0.00% 4.06% 0.00% 0.00% 4.01% 3.88% 7.38% 16.07% 0.88% 3.03% 2.67% 3.86% 3.16% 2.40% 3.94%

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.25% 7.00% 6.50%

INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25%

19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025

6.95% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.50% 6.25% 4.25% 5.22% 4.53% 5.65%

20-Nov-2029 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2022 15-Dec-2037 22-Oct-2023 15-Oct-2049

MATURITY

MUTUAL FUNDS 52WK HI 2.40 4.44 2.15 201.90 184.85 1.69 1.83 1.78 1.24 8.49 10.26 7.28 13.91 12.84 10.81 10.00 10.20 13.79

52WK LOW 2.11 3.30 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.67 1.73 1.75 1.03 6.41 7.62 5.66 8.65 10.54 9.57 9.88 8.45 11.20

FUND CFAL Bond Fund CFAL Balanced Fund CFAL Money Market Fund CFAL Global Bond Fund CFAL Global Equity Fund Leno Financial Conservative Fund Leno Financial Aggressive Fund Leno Financial Balanced Fund Leno Financial Global Bond Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Secured Balanced Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Targeted Equity Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Prime Income Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Equities Sub Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - High Yield Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Alternative Strategies Fund Colonial Bahamas Fund Class D Colonial Bahamas Fund Class E Colonial Bahamas Fund Class F

NAV 2.40 4.44 2.15 201.90 184.85 1.68 1.73 1.75 1.03 8.49 10.03 7.28 13.91 12.84 10.05 N/A 10.20 13.79

YTD% 12 MTH% 0.38% 4.56% 0.04% 1.37% 0.20% 2.56% 3.47% 3.47% 10.86% 10.86% 0.36% 0.77% -3.49% -4.68% -0.85% -0.65% -1.79% -16.80% 1.76% 1.76% -1.97% -1.97% 4.91% 4.91% 5.28% 15.75% 0.05% 3.96% -0.35% -6.34% N/A N/A 8.60% 8.60% 11.90% 11.90%

NAV Date

31-Jan-2021 31-Jan-2021 29-Jan-2021 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 28-Feb-2021 28-Feb-2021 28-Feb-2021 28-Feb-2021 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020

MARKET TERMS

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX - 19 Dec 02 = 1,000.00

YIELD - last 12 month dividends divided by closing price

52wk-Hi - Highest closing price in last 52 weeks

Bid $ - Buying price of Colina and Fidelity

52wk-Low - Lowest closing price in last 52 weeks

Ask $ - Selling price of Colina and fidelity

Previous Close - Previous day's weighted price for daily volume

Last Price - Last traded over-the-counter price

Today's Close - Current day's weighted price for daily volume

Weekly Vol. - Trading volume of the prior week

Change - Change in closing price from day to day

EPS $ - A company's reported earnings per share for the last 12 mths

Daily Vol. - Number of total shares traded today

NAV - Net Asset Value

DIV $ - Dividends per share paid in the last 12 months

N/M - Not Meaningful

P/E - Closing price divided by the last 12 month earnings

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

builds a business, establishes other branches or locations, and perhaps the second generation takes over but with slightly less ambition than the original owner. By the third generation, family members have moved on. They are no longer interested.

But the last owners did not plan effectively for what would happen if they wanted to retire or if they were suddenly unable to continue working. So all those years of hard work and long hours and reinvesting in a business are just left out there, with no future unless someone comes along miraculously to save it.”

Carey believes the search for a CEO should start five years before the current CEO expects to resign by choice or contractually.

Yet, a recent survey by the Canadian Financial Executives Research Foundation found that in Canada, more than half of all companies “were unable to name a successor to their CEO should the need arise”.

Studies have repeatedly shown that lack of succession planning is second only to insufficient capital in causing small businesses to fail.

“While the problem is nearly universal throughout Western civilisation,” Carey said, “it is particularly bad in The Bahamas. We are inevitably poor planners just as we are poor savers.

We still lack a national development plan and, in business, we tend to have a more laid-back approach to the future. Too many are absorbed by meeting daily deadlines, logging billable hours or satisfying immediate demands instead of taking the time to

plan for continuity.”

Carey, founder of Better Homes and Gardens MCR Group, the first international franchisee of the household brand, and more recently, Mario Carey Ventures (MCV), advising on, structuring and partnering in a broad range of innovative businesses, compared the refusal to plan to the reluctance to create a will.

“Denying is not defying,” said Carey. “Preparing a will does not invite an early death. It just means less fighting among siblings or other interested parties when you do pass away.

Having a succession plan does not make you irrelevant. It means you can be at ease knowing that the business you built will continue as you enjoy the next phase of your life.”

Carey followed his own advice. In the past two years, he has taken on two younger partners, both of whom met the standards he believed would take the Better Homes and Gardens flag to new levels through intensive social media marketing and personal client relationships.

“There is no need to hang on to something because it was once your baby. Businesses grow up, just like children. They take on a life of their own which can continue to be success stories so long as the right management is in place,” he said.

All it takes is planning and execution, expertise he now provides to others through MCV. “It’s overcoming your fear of letting go and adopting an excitement about what exploring the next chapter of life while enjoying the knowledge that the sign on the door will continue to say ‘Open for Business,” he said.

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, ROSEMOND MOTIMET, of Valentine Subdivision, Johnson Terist, Nassau, Bahamas intend to change my name to EVANDER ROSEMOND MORTIMER. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Deputy Chief Passport Officer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that NOEL SIBI MARK, of Apt 20/3, Little Blair, Buccaneer Road, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 31st day of March 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that ADIA BENITA ROBERTS, of East North, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 24th day of March 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that SANDRA LAGUERRE, of Venice Bay #5, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 24th day of March 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 31, 2021, PAGE 7

US stocks slip in mixed trading as rate pressure ratchets up Associated Press RISING Treasury yields put pressure once more on big technology companies yesterday, pulling US stock indexes further below their recent all-time highs.

The S&P 500 lost 0.3%.

Health care stocks also dragged down the market, outweighing gains by banks, industrial stocks and companies that rely on consumer spending. Smaller companies bucked the downward trend, powering the Russell 2000 index to a 1.7% gain.

Treasury yields perked higher after a report showed that consumers are feeling even more confident than economists expected, a big deal for an economy that’s primarily made up of consumer spending. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden was set to unveil details today about plans to spend what could be more than $3tn on infrastructure and other measures to help the economy and environment.

The consumer confidence report, and the prospect of more massive government spending, fueled a sell-off in US bonds, driving their yields higher.

“This is spooking debt investors,” said Megan Horneman, director of portfolio strategy at Verdence Capital Advisors.

The S&P 500 slid 12.54 to 3,958.55, its second decline in a row. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 104.41 from the all-time high it set a day before, or 0.3%, to 33,066.96. The Nasdaq composite fell 14.25, or 0.1%, to 13,045.39. The Russell 2000 rose 37.11 to 2,195.80.

The spotlight was again on the bond market, where the yield on the ten-year Treasury rose to 1.73% from 1.72% late on Monday. It has jumped from roughly 0.90% at the start of the year with rising expectations for coming economic growth and possibly inflation.

When bonds pay more in interest, they can make investors less willing to pay high prices for stocks, particularly those seen as the most expensive. Companies that ask their investors to wait years for big profit growth to come to fruition are also hard hit, which has many big technology stocks feeling the most pain from rising rates.

Broadcom fell 3.5% and Cisco Systems dropped 1.4%. Tech giants also fell, including a 1.2% slide by Apple and a 1.4% drop

by Microsoft. They were some of the biggest winners earlier in the pandemic, rallying on expectations that they can grow in the future, regardless of whether the economy is locked down by a virus.

Despite the pressure on big tech stocks, most professional investors remain optimistic that the broader market can keep rising. A stronger economy thanks to COVID-19 vaccinations and massive spending by the US government should help boost profits for many companies this year, particularly those like banks, energy producers and industrial companies.

Much of the market’s choppiness is reflecting that expectation. Investors have been shifting money away from companies like Amazon and Netflix, which benefited from a world on lockdown, to airlines, automakers and others that are poised to benefit from a broader reopening.

“Big picture-wise, we’re moving in the direction of a rebalance trade,” said Greg Bassuk, chairman and CEO of AXS Investments. “In the next immediate period we’re going to continue to see significant volatility.”

Financial stocks rallied, in part because higher longerterm interest rates mean bigger profits from making loans.

Big financial stocks also climbed as investors see losses for the industry due to soured trades for a big US hedge fund last week staying isolated to a few players, rather than cascading through the financial system. Japanese bank Nomura and Swiss bank Credit Suisse said Monday that they’re facing potentially significant losses because of their dealings with a major client. Nomura estimated the claim against its client could be about $2bn. JPMorgan banking analyst Kian Abouhossein

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE Pursuant to the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, (as amended) NOTICE is hereby given that Orange Tree Grove, Ltd. is in dissolution and the date of commencement of the dissolution is 29th March 2021.

Lorna Kemp and Magdaline Carey LIQUIDATORS c/o Clairmont Trust Company Limited Pineapple Grove #5 Lyford Cay P.O. Box SP-64284 Nassau, Bahamas

said in a research note yesterday that the total overall losses could range between $5bn to $10bn.

Comerica gained 5.1%.

Goldman Sachs rose 1.9%, and

Morgan Stanley gained 1.6%.

Reports said the two financial giants were able to limit their losses by quickly selling stocks held by the hedge fund, which amassed big ownership stakes

in companies using borrowed money. The banks have not named the fund, but reports have identified it as Archegos Capital Management.

ViacomCBS and Discovery

rose 3.6% and 5.4%, respectively, snapping a multiday slump. The stocks had been in a skid, reportedly as part of heavy selling related to the Archegos saga.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 31, 2021, PAGE 9

World’s last Blockbuster more popular after Netflix show BEND Associated Press THE Blockbuster video rental store in Bend, Oregon, soared to international fame when it became the last such franchise on Earth two years ago.

Now, a new Netflix documentary called “The Last Blockbuster” brought even more interest in the form of visitors, mail and online orders to the unassuming location in a central Oregon strip mall 170 miles east of Portland.

Since the documentary aired March 15, people from all over the world have sent flowers and called the store just to say “thank you” for staying open. In the backroom, staff members have been busy packaging thousands of online orders for Blockbuster T-shirts, hats and face masks, which are all made by Bend businesses.

The movie focuses on the manager’s day-to-day work running the store, which became the last in the world when the Blockbuster in Perth, Australia, closed two years ago. It was made by two local filmmakers who saw history and nostalgia in the store’s perseverance.

“It’s a little bit crazy, but it’s a very good thing,” store manager Sandi Harding told The Bulletin in Bend. “We’ll take a little crazy if it means keeping the store open.”

Harding is the star of the movie, which peaked as high as the No 4 movie in the United States since it appeared on Netflix March 15.

The Blockbuster video rental store in Bend was already popular when it became the last location on Earth. It drew visitors from across the United States and as far as Taiwan and London.

“It’s good for the store. It’s

left locally owned franchises like the one in Bend to fend for themselves, and one by one, they closed.

When stores in Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska, shut down in 2018 — barely outlasting a Redmond, Oregon, store — Bend’s Blockbuster was the only US location left. Then, in 2019, the only other Blockbuster in Perth, Australia, shut its doors, leaving Bend as the last store.

The movie also reveals that Blockbuster had an option to buy Netflix years ago, when the company was still a mail-order DVD service and hadn’t transformed into the dominant streaming service it is now. The video empire’s leadership, however, saw Netflix as a

DEBBY SALTZMAN, of Bend, Ore, poses for a photo, in front of the last Blockbuster store with her twin brother, Michael, visiting from Melbourne, Australia, in Bend, Ore. Taking the photo is Saltzman’s husband, Jeremy Saltzman. The new Netflix movie called The Last Blockbuster that began airing March 15, 2021 is generating interest in the store, which became the last Blockbuster location on Earth when a location in Perth, Australia shut its doors in 2019.

Photo: Gillian Flaccus/AP good for the community,” said Harding, who has been stopped in the grocery store by fans who want to take her picture. “And I can learn to live with my newfound fame as long as it doesn’t mess with what we are doing every day.”

The two Bend filmmakers behind the documentary, Taylor Morden and Zeke Kamm, had no idea if the store would stay open when they started filming in 2017.

Morden said he has heard from people who call Harding a national treasure and say the store must remain open at all costs. He is pleased to know the film’s attention on Netflix may be what keeps the store open.

“For us to have some small part in helping the store stay open is amazing,” Morden said. “Not a lot

of documentaries actually accomplish the goal of their story.”

The Bend Blockbuster has no plans to close. It has a steady lease agreement, and the local owners, Ken and Debbie Tisher, have leased the property since 1992, when it was a Pacific Video store. The store was franchised in 2000 and became a Blockbuster.

In its heyday, Blockbuster Video had 9,000 stores around the world. But instore video rental stores began struggling with the rise in on-demand streaming services such as Netflix — the very streaming service now offering the Blockbuster documentary.

In 2010, Blockbuster declared bankruptcy, and by 2014, all corporate-owned stores had shuttered. That

niche market with limited potential and declined to buy it, according to the documentary and previous news reports.

But beyond the business details, the movie taps into the nostalgia felt by people of a certain age as the world speeds up and personal interactions become less frequent, the filmmakers said. Many watching it recall working in Blockbuster stores themselves or renting from them often in their younger years.

“It’s affected people emotionally,” Kamm said. “I think it reminded people that we had this thing that was such an important part of our lives. Hopefully it reminds people to appreciate the things they have now.”

PAGE 10, Wednesday, March 31, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

WORLD LEADERS CALL FOR PANDEMIC TREATY, BUT SHORT ON DETAILS LONDON Associated Press MORE than 20 heads of government and global agencies called in a commentary published yesterday for an international treaty for pandemic preparedness that they say will protect future generations in the wake of COVID-19.

But there were few details to explain how such an agreement might actually compel countries to act more cooperatively.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and leaders including Prime Minister Boris Johnson

of Britain, Premier Mario Draghi of Italy and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda proposed “a renewed collective commitment” to reinforce preparedness and response systems by leveraging the UN health agency’s constitution.

“The world cannot afford to wait until the pandemic is over to start planning for the next one,” Tedros said during a news conference. He said the treaty would provide “a framework for international cooperation and solidarity” and address issues like surveillance systems and responding to outbreaks.

International regulations governing health and

implemented by WHO already exist — and can be disregarded by countries with few consequences. Despite an obligation for nations to share critical epidemic data and materials quickly with WHO, for example, China declined to do so when the coronavirus first broke out.

And with no enforcement powers, WHO officials had little means of compelling them to share details, an AP investigation last year found.

Steven Solomon, WHO’s principal legal officer, said the proposed pandemic treaty would need to be ratified by lawmakers in the participating countries.

“Specifics about

enforcement will be up to member states to decide on,” Solomon said.

European Council President Charles Michel first laid out the idea of a pandemic treaty at the UN General Assembly in December.

Joining Tedros at yesterday’s briefing, Michel said the global community needs to “build a pandemic defense for future generations that extends far beyond today’s crisis. For this, we must translate the political will into concrete actions”.

Gian Luca Burci, a former WHO legal counsel who is now a professor at the Graduate Institute of international affairs in Geneva, described

the proposal as an attempted “big fix” involving information sharing, preparedness and response, saying the concept is “like a Christmas tree, frankly”.

“But to me, the risk is that it diverts attention from the tool that we have” — WHO’s existing International Health Regulations, Burci said recently. He said his fear was those regulations would get short shrift and receive “cosmetic improvements, but fundamentally remain a weak instrument”.

Although the 25 signatories of the commentary called for “solidarity”, and greater “societal commitment”, there was no indication any country would soon change

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 68° F/20° C

TAMPA

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Mostly sunny, breezy and pleasant

Partly cloudy

Periods of sun with a shower

A.m. shower, clouds and windy

Mostly cloudy and windy

Cloudy with winds subsiding

High: 84°

Low: 71°

High: 83° Low: 67°

High: 78° Low: 64°

High: 76° Low: 65°

High: 78° Low: 66°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

88° F

74° F

92°-66° F

75°-59° F

74°-61° F

76°-63° F

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

N

almanac

E

ABACO

S

N

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

8-16 knots

S

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 71° F/22° C

8-16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 73° F/23° C

E S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

W

uV inDex toDay

THURSDAY

W

N

| Go to AccuWeather.com

TONIGHT

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 71° F/22° C

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 71° F/22° C

MIAMI

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 72° F/22° C

7-14 knots

KEY WEST

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 71° F/22° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

N

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

10:34 a.m.

11:05 p.m.

2.8 3.3

4:37 a.m. -0.7 4:45 p.m. -0.8

Thursday

11:25 a.m.

-----

2.7 -----

5:31 a.m. -0.5 5:36 p.m. -0.6

Friday

12:00 a.m.

12:21 p.m.

3.2 2.4

6:29 a.m. -0.2 6:31 p.m. -0.4

Saturday

12:59 a.m.

1:23 p.m.

3.1 2.3

7:32 a.m. 0.0 7:32 p.m. -0.1

Sunday

2:03 a.m.

2:32 p.m.

2.9 2.2

8:39 a.m.

8:40 p.m.

0.1 0.1

Monday

3:11 a.m.

3:43 p.m.

2.8 2.2

9:48 a.m.

9:51 p.m.

0.2 0.2

Tuesday

4:18 a.m.

4:50 p.m.

2.7 2.2

10:52 a.m. 0.2 10:59 p.m. 0.2

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

7:02 a.m.

7:26 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

10:54 p.m.

9:15 a.m.

Last

New

First

Full

Apr. 4

Apr. 11

Apr. 20

Apr. 26

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

N

S

E

W

8-16 knots

S

8-16 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 84° F/29° C Low .................................................... 68° F/20° C Normal high ....................................... 80° F/27° C Normal low ........................................ 67° F/19° C Last year’s high ................................. 86° F/30° C Last year’s low ................................... 68° F/20° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 2.02” Normal year to date ..................................... 4.45”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

its own approach to responding to the pandemic. China, Russia and the United States didn’t join in signing the statement.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the US has concerns about the current push for a new pandemic treaty.

“We do have some concerns, primarily about the timing and launching into negotiations for a new treaty right now, and we believe that could divert attention away from substantive issues regarding the response, preparedness for future pandemic threats,” Psaki said yesterday. “That should be our focus currently.”

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

S

LONG ISLAND

tracking map H

E

W

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

8-16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 82° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 85° F/29° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N

N E

W

E

W

H

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

S

S

10-20 knots

12-25 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday:

WINDS SE at 8-16 Knots SW at 7-14 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots E at 8-16 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots E at 10-20 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots SSE at 6-12 Knots SSE at 7-14 Knots W at 7-14 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots E at 12-25 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 10-20 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots E at 10-20 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots SSE at 4-8 Knots E at 10-20 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots

WAVES 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-6 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-6 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-6 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 3-6 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet 5-9 Feet 4-8 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 77° F 78° F 80° F 80° F 78° F 78° F 79° F 79° F 78° F 78° F 77° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 79° F