04032020 BUSINESS

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FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2020

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‘Govt cannot save everyone’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

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CABINET minister yesterday said he was “on his knees” hoping the cruise lines’ Grand Bahama projects pull through, as he warned: “Government cannot rescue everyone from this crisis.”

Dionisio D’Aguilar, pictured, minister of tourism and aviation, acknowledged that both Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) are likely to adopt a “wait and see” approach to those investments once the COVID-19 pandemic eases due to the major financial blow they have suffered.

Disclosing that the government “hasn’t heard anything yet” on either development, the minister said his “whole arms are crossed” in the hope both cruise lines will eventually proceed - albeit with some delay to construction and opening schedules - once the global health crisis has abated.

And, responding to

• Minister ‘on knees’ hoping cruise projects OK • Government ‘hard-pressed’ to ease pain for all • Borrowing ‘heap loads of money’ not an option suggestions that several Bahamian airlines may require a financial bail-out to resume operations once COVOID-19 is eliminated, Mr D’Aguilar said the government’s limited financial resources meant it would be “hard-pressed” to help all industries, businesses and persons likely to request such aid.

Pointing out that the government’s revenues have been “gutted” by both the tourism industry’s closure and wider national lockdown, he warned that while “everyone is going to come with their hand-out” once the pandemic ends it would be “very difficult to help everyone who wants to be helped”.

Calling on businesses and different sectors to “pool resources” to resuscitate themselves and the Bahamian economy, Mr

New auto sales facing ‘50% hit’ at a minimum

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

NEW car sales will take at least “a 50 percent hit” due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a major dealer is forecasting, having already slashed his orders for the next three months by some 60 percent.

Fred Albury, the Bahamas Motor Dealers Association’s (BMDA) president, told Tribune Business he was “just leaving the office revising my ordering forecast” with the industry among those businesses forced to close by the government’s nationwide lockdown.

Confirming that his Auto

Mall dealership had been closed from the start, Mr Albury argued that the “next 30 days” will tell whether the Bahamian economy is “deep up the creek without a paddle or sailing smoothly” as a result of this nation and the world bringing the pandemic under control.

Indicating that his forecasts were open to further revision, depending on how long COVID-19 and the associated economic shutdown last, and how deep they go, Mr Albury said he and one of his vehicle brands had started from the

SEE PAGE 4

‘We fell asleep’ over chance of tourism freeze

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas failed to plan for the possibility of a total tourism shutdown because it was lulled “to sleep” by years of record arrivals and earnings, a former finance minister said yesterday.

James Smith, also a former Central Bank governor, told Tribune Business that no planning was ever done to prepare for the reality The Bahamas faces now because no one foresaw that

JAMES SMITH it could happen.

Speaking after the prime minister warned Bahamians to prepare “for generational changes to the economic

SEE PAGE 5

D’Aguilar said The Bahamas simply lacked the ability and fiscal space to “borrow heap loads of money” and debt finance its way due to the likely onerous burden this will impose on current and future generations of taxpayers.

The minister conceded he was “scared” to inquire as to Carnival and Royal Caribbean’s plans for Grand Bahama after the global cruise industry was brought to its knees by a pandemic that has forced its total shutdown.

Carnival, a publicly-traded company that typically earns billions of dollars in annual profits, was forced to raise $4bn from an emergency bond issue as part of a $6bn package designed to stabilise its finances amid the COVID-19 turmoil.

Despite having investment grade status, the

bond issue was managed by so-called “junk syndicate desks” and priced at a previously unheard-of 11.5 percent interest rate. As for Royal Caribbean, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) yesterday cut its credit rating to ‘BB’ and placed a “negative” outlook on the company.

These developments, among the many blows inflicted by COVID-19, are especially ill-timed for Grand Bahama’s longmoribund economy given that the separate investments by both major cruise lines were being relied upon as the catalysts to revive the island after almost 16 years in the doldrums.

The Grand Lucayan’s purchase by Holistica, the joint venture between Royal Caribbean and its ITM Group partner, is especially

SEE PAGE 4

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‘No gouging’ on eggs as prices rise over 100%

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A LEADING food retailer yesterday reassured Bahamian consumers “there’s no price gouging on eggs” despite prices increasing by “more than 100 percent” over the past two weeks.

Philip Beneby, head of the Retail Grocers Association, told Tribune Business that demand in the US and other countries amid the COVID19 pandemic is “driving up the cost” of this food staple and prompting numerous complaints from local shoppers.

He revealed he had been in contact with Danny Sumner, the Price Control Commission’s chairman, who had investigated the concerns voiced to the regulator and found no evidence of the alleged “price gouging”.

Mr Sumner could not be contacted for comment

by Tribune Business yesterday, with Mr Beneby warning hard-pressed

Bahamian consumers - many of whom have lost jobs and/ or income amid the pandemic - that “there’s no relief in sight” on egg prices which may well further increase before they decline again.

“I’ve been listening to the chairman of the Price Commission with regard to customer complaints about the price of goods,” he told this newspaper. “Egg prices increase every year, as do lime prices, and the prices have been magnified by what’s going on around the world as shoppers flood to the stores.

“Now, with the sudden increase in prices, people are beginning to scream. The prices on eggs have gone up even more than 100 percent in some cases on a weekand-a-half to two weeks. The demand in the US is driving up the cost of eggs. Egg prices have increased across the US. “It’s just supply and demand. People are cleaning out the stores in the US

SEE PAGE 4

PAGE 2, Friday, April 3, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

GOVT: E-COMMERCE CRITICAL TO RECOVERY

A survival strategy for small business

T

HE downturn in business activity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to a long, and deep, global recession by most accounts. As a small business owner you will be forced to make drastic moves to survive.

This week and next, we shall explore a survival kit for SMEs in the fight to remain viable during these uncertain times. As companies go into survival mode, they should keep the following in mind: Reduce your monthly rent Call your landlord and negotiate a lower monthly rent. Sign a longer term lease in exchange for the lower rent if you have to.

Your landlord is running a business, too, and they would rather have you stay at a lower rent than to have the space be vacant for months. Point out that it is better for both of you if they lower your rent.

Seek discounts or reduce your utilities Consider all your utilities such as water, power, Internet and phones. Call

your vendors’ competitors and ask what kind of deal they can offer a small business looking to save money on their utilities. In cases where there is competition, let them know you are willing to switch vendors if they can give you a big discount.

Cut wasteful discretionary spending These are the perks during the high-revenue years, but which now nibble away at your bottom line. This does not mean cutting cheap but moraleboosting expenses, such as celebrating staff birthday celebrations. Right now, you need your employees to rally round the company’s survival, and a cake a month to keep morale up is well worth it. In the same vein, productivity-boosting expenses such as the coffee machine or a well-stocked soda fridge are relatively small expenses where the benefits in employee productivity far outweigh the costs.

Lease rather than buy (or buy used) Need a new computer or office furniture? Lease it instead of buying. You

will end up paying more in the long run, but in a down market it is all about cash flow. If your business runs out of cash in six months it will not matter that you paid less for that desk by paying the full amount up front.

When survival is the issue at hand, you unfortunately will not have the luxury of doing things the “optimal” way.

It might also be worth the effort to find more options for getting your equipment.

In this economy, there may be plenty of used gear from recently closed businesses.

Double-down on your best customers Most small businesses are seeing new business dry up.

This slowdown in new business alone is bad enough for any small business owner, but the loss of your best customers (your biggest accounts) will be nothing short of catastrophic. Call, e-mail or send a card to your best customers. Tell them you appreciate their loyalty and continued patronage.

Ask them to come to you if they have any concerns and are looking to jump ship. Let them know you are willing to work with them

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

IAN FERGUSON BY

to keep their business. Sign a long-term contract if the opportunity arises. Offer to buy them lunch or a cup of coffee to discuss your current and future relationship.

It is a lot harder to “fire” you when you have met face-to-face and they know you are also concerned about their needs.

NB: Ian R Ferguson is a talent management and organisational development consultant, having completed graduate studies with regional and international universities. He has served organsations, both locally and globally, providing relevant solutions to their business growth and development issues. He may be contacted at tcconsultants@ coralwave.com.

THE government yesterday said its draft e-commerce policy is now being shared with industry stakeholders as a critical element in “accelerating” the country’s post COVID19 recovery.

Kwasi Thompson, pictured, minister of state for Grand Bahama, told Tribune Business via e-mail that the policy was intended to encourage both private sector and government entities to conduct transactions online and ensure they have built-in digital capacity to recover from major disasters.

His message seemed to be a response to frustrations voiced in this newspaper yesterday by Brent Burrows, CBS Bahamas (Commonwealth Building Supplies) e-commerce manager, over the company’s inability to obtain an answer from the government as to whether it could launch an e-commerce platform it invested “tens of thousands of dollars” in developing amid the pandemic.

Mr Burrows had told this newspaper that COVID-19 had presented the company’s investment with an ideal time to shine, adding that the fully integrated, 35,000-product online shopping and payment platform could fulfill purchases and orders without staff and drivers having any contact with each other or customers.

Mr Thompson’s response, though, seemed to indicate that “no” will be the answer despite acknowledging the restraints that the nationwide lockdown had imposed on e-commerce providers.

“We are very mindful of the limitations of the Emergency Order - even on businesses that may already have e-commerce platforms,” the minister wrote.

“However, at this time, protecting our health from the virus is the government’s first priority. We believe this policy on e-commerce and the digital economy will be necessary for the rebuilding and recovery of our economy.

“The government has prepared a draft national policy encouraging public

and private entities to establish and maintain a digital presence that would allow them to be able to transact commercial activities via electronic commerce (e-commerce), as well as maintain broadband data and communication linkages to support the ability to allow employees to work remotely if and when possible.

“It is intended that the implementation of a national policy on e-commerce and digitisation will assist in mitigating losses, and accelerating the rate of recovery of the economy, post a natural disaster or national catastrophe, particularly post COVID-19.”

Mr Thompson said the draft policy deals with the digitisation of government agencies; critical economic business entities and services; and non-critical business entities and services.

He added: “The policy will seek to encourage the use of the Sand Dollar digital currency administered by the Central Bank of the Bahamas and other digital wallet systems as part of normal commercial transactions.

“Also, businesses will be encouraged or mandated to establish and maintain effective and efficient electronic communications systems to allow for efficient communication with their staff, employees, agents and customers.

“Businesses will also be encouraged to implement electronic commerce systems that will allow customers to purchase goods and services online using debit or credit cards, and digital wallets. Included in the proposed National Digitisation Policy, the government could also provide various incentives to businesses and enterprises to encourage the use of digital online systems.”

BTC ENJOYS ‘UPTICK’ IN INTERNET DEMAND

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday confirmed it has seen an increase in broadband Internet subscriptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Garfield “Garry” Sinclair, BTC’s chief executive, told Tribune Business in an e-mail: “The demand for services has been steady.

In anticipation of our customers needing more broadband capacity, we installed a new 10GB (gigabyte) data link to boost capacity for all customers in our fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) footprint at no additional cost.”

He added that this “makes it easier for students to have access to educational content, and attend classes, and for parents to work from home”. The BTC chief continued: “We have seen an uptick in broadband subscriptions over the last two weeks, and our technicians continue to perform installs as well as assist

GARFIELD SINCLAIR with self-installs.

“Additionally, BTC provided double data for all post-paid and B2B (business-to-business) customers.

Pre-paid customers are also enjoying double data on the seven-day Always On plan, the ten and 30-day combination plans. We are monitoring network utilisation closely, and have more than adequate capacity to satisfy the demand we’re seeing.”

Mr Sinclair said of BTC’s virtual store launch on March 23: “The public quickly embraced our virtual store concept, and we’ve received a number of e-mails from customers thanking us for developing this solution.”

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THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 3, 2020, PAGE 3

CONSUMER ADVOCATE URGES BREADBASKET LIST EXPANSION

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

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CONSUMER advocate yesterday urged the government to expand the price-controlled “breadbasket item” list in a bid to counter cost increases of up to 75 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Herbert Styles, the Consumer Protection THE Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) carried out an early analysis of COVID-19’s projected impact.

It based its assessment mainly on the tourism sector. The scenarios it used were assuming shock magnitudes of 25 percent, 50 percent and 75 percent.

This was then matched over three time horizons - to June, September and December 2020. This model does not take into account shocks to other sectors of the economy, as it ignored merchandise and the commodities trade. The assumption is that the further out we go, the more pronounced the impact would be.

This is important because it parallels closely the modelling done by the Ministry of Finance for The Bahamas. The analysis considered the impact to both the direct and total contribution tourism makes to gross domestic product (GDP).

The IDB conclusion was that in a “best-case” scenario (25 percent reduction in tourism lasting until June), The Bahamas would see a 3.1 percent hit to GDP while, at the extreme 75 percent end and duration to December, the loss could be as much as 26.2 percent of GDP. Jamaica, on the other hand, would see 1.9 percent and 17.3 percent contractions, respectively.

When K Peter Turnquest, deputy prime minister, warned that the pandemic might last beyond June, he was effectively saying that rather than a maximum projected ten percent GDP loss over three months, The Bahamas stands to lose 17 percent if it is extended to September, or 26 percent in the case of December.

Note that all these are “worst-case” scenarios.

Jamaica’s position would be significant but less with a 10.7 percent GDP loss to September, and the aforementioned 17 percent to December, as opposed to its best-case scenario of 1.9 percent.

It is important to put all this in proper context. These outputs were determined prior to some very important developments. First, The Bahamas government’s decision to impose a 24-hour curfew, which significantly curtailed economic activities.

Up to this point, a night to morning curfew was in play.

Association of The Bahamas (CPAB) former president, told Tribune Business: “One of the things I have noticed since the virus outbreak is that a whole lot of stores are charging exorbitant prices for items like cheese and sausage, and the rest of that sort of thing.

“The government doesn’t seem to have a very effective Price Commission, because I feel like during

this time the number of breadbasket items should be expanded to include some of the more popular consumer items due to the state of the economy.”

Danny Sumner, the Price Commission’s chairman, did not respond to messages and calls yesterday seeking comment.

However, Mr Styles said he saw “prices like cheese and bologna sausage” have increased the most.

Paying the price in battling COVID-19

BY HUBERT EDWARDS

In part two of a three-part series, Hubert Edwards warns the pandemic's impact will likely be greater than first predicted.

Second, despite hotels being exempted, all the major resorts in the country subsequently closed with a general re-opening timeline of May 2020. This means the “worst-case” December scenario is now in play. There is no question as to whether the tourism industry has taken a 75 percent hit. What is now to be determined is how close it actually is to 100 percent. To combat the virus, all airports were closed to inbound passengers, while the cruise port is already shut. The initial analysis simply did not consider a deep enough loss.

Consider cash flow difficulties that will come to bear on businesses and households. A number of companies may be forced to lay-off employees. As the linchpin of the economy, the dramatic loss of the tourism sector will adversely affect local investor and consumer confidence.

The results from the IDB study contrast with those from the Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean (ECLAC), which is projecting a GDP contraction of 1.8 percent for the wider region. This number becomes challenging to accept on the basis that it projected a 25 percent tourism demand loss over three months. The actual GDP loss is likely to be deeper, again with the benefit of additional developments. It anticipated

a ten percent growth in unemployment. On current trends, at least for The Bahamas, this could be surpassed.

An historical perspective may provide a better feel for the extent of the impact on The Bahamas, Jamaica and rest of the region. In the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis, the Caribbean saw a decline of three percent.

Statistics for three select countries show that The Bahamas, Jamaica and Barbados saw contractions of 1.5 percent, 4.5 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively.

The proper interpretation of these numbers must take into account the nature of the impact on tourism. While other countries were hard hit, The Bahamas, especially in its high-end market, enjoyed reasonable buoyancy. The situation is significantly different today due to the health risks posed by this crisis.

It is fair to conclude that, with recent developments, including the US becoming the global epicentre for COVID-19 and seemingly struggling to come to grips with it; the closure of major hotels; Europe struggling; and soonerthan-anticipated changes in employment arrangements, the economic impact projections were very weak. Governments must be looking at a totally different set of outcomes.

While we are closer to the

Mortgage RISK CONSULTANT TO HOST BUSINESS CONTINUITY SUMMIT Corp: Most borrowers being paid A BAHAMIAN actuarial and risk consulting firm will host an April 7 business continuity planning webinar targeted at small and medium-sized businesses.

The webinar will be facilitated by Rayon Brown, a consulting actuary with Nichol & Co, and a director of Nassau Captive Management Services. He is a fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, and a chartered enterprise risk actuary with 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry including in the UK. Nichol & Co had planned to host its first annual risk symposium in May 2020, but those plans were set aside due to the COVID19 pandemic and need for social distancing.

““The down time caused by the current coronavirus pandemic can allow some time for managers to review and revise their business continuity plans.

The planning process can also provide a sense of comfort for both managers and employees as it aims to keep the operations going while helping to set expectations during times of crisis,” said Mr Brown.

The upcoming webinar will focus on aspects of business continuity insurance and other alternative risk transfer solutions for financing the cost of business continuity risks.

Emphasis will be placed on the need to keep hurricane preparedness in mind as the 2020 season approaches.

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By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Mortgage Corporation yesterday indicated it did not expect to be inundated with loan deferral applications as most borrowers are government workers who are still being paid.

Philip Haven, the government-owned home lender’s managing director, told Tribune Business that a significant number of borrowers had told it they still intended to meet their obligations as they come due despite the threemonth mortgage repayment deferral announced earlier this week.

“Quite a few of them said they want to make the payment because most of them are employees of government,” he said. “They said it is nice to know. It [the deferral] is just a matter of

He added: “There was one store where I saw they had three slices of bologna sausage packaged for $5.75.

This was not a result of mispricing, because I went to another store that had four slices for $3.39. I think the normal price would be more in the keeping of the $3 range, or could go to $3.75 or $3.95.

“Also, I noticed the same with some portions of block cheese. As an example, I went to a store and I purchased a piece of block cheese that was about $7-plus. I took the same package in the car and stopped to Super Value, and got a block of the similar size for $3.98, which is like a difference of $3.

“Things like the Seabest tuna that Super Value has for 92 cents; there are places selling it for $1.50plus on Carmichael Road, and there are some places that are selling corned beef for $4.95 - the low- end corned beef that Super Value has for $1.99.”

Mr Styles challenged the government, the Prices Commission and the Consumer Protection Commission. He said: “I don’t know how effective this Price Commission is.

One of the things that I am noticing is that when I was the president of the CPAB back in the 1980s, I was able to go to Washington DC seminars and meet persons from the Food

and Drug Adminstration (FDA).

“There were things like consumer education leaflets. You can go into some food stores that sell a five-pound bag of potatoes, put that on a scale, and I can guarantee you that the weight on that is something like 4.45 pounds and it is never five pounds.”

Mr Styles added: My thing is they need to expand the list of breadbasket items due to this virus, and expand it to add cheese and sausage and things like that, which is not on the list presently. I think they have hot dogs or something like that, but they need to expand it.”

Bahamian situation, all developments in Jamaica and sister countries of the region suggest that the issues are generally the same, with the main difference being the extent of the impact. Countries with a more diversified local economy are likely to fare better in the long-run, but in the near term the need for any prolonged lockdown will bring all countries to their knees. In our view, given the nature of the COVID -19 crisis, the time horizon has redefined itself. An event which attracts early fiscal and monetary treatment north of $7tn cannot be a near-term event. This demands a repeat of our question in our previous piece. Should the governments of the region keep their powder dry? With important aspects of the economic engine taken away, will fiscal stimulus becomes a waste of resources?

EXPERIENCE AS A GUIDE There may be no coincidence in the fact that the countries that have responded best to COVID19 are those with experience from the SARs (severe acute respiratory) syndrome crisis. China, South Korea (which never closed its economy), Hong Kong, Vietnam and Taiwan responded with greater certainty due to the strength of their experience in dealing with the 2003 event.

Similarly, we may wish to look to the past to fully appreciate what we may be faced with, and allow the results of our actions then to guide us. In 2008, The Bahamas saw its GDP contract by 2.3 percent followed by a further 4.2 percent fall in 2009, with the debt-to-GDP ratio climbing progressively every year from 39 percent in 2008 to 74 percent in 2014. Jamaica realised a collective decline of 3.5 percent over the three years from 2008 to 2013, with debt-to-GDP rising to a high of 133 percent over the same period. Unemployment in both countries rose significantly to peak above 15 percent.

What was the outcome of the stimulus back then? How was it funded and what, on analysis, could have been done better?

These are reasonable questions to contemplate. How effective were the programmes, and were there any glaring weaknesses in

the response? Even if this holds no interest for policymakers, one important take away is the level of contraction the 2008 event caused. This could be much bigger. In 2008, there was no health event. While the markets were in turmoil, supply chains were intact and China was not as significant a player in global GDP. Importantly, there was no need to lock down any aspect of the economy.

According to ECLAC, the COVID-19 impact is expected to be wider and deeper that the 2008 global financial crisis. The Caribbean is expected to be impacted by numerous channels including a decline in economic activity in trading partners and lower demand for tourism. There will also be an impact from the interruption of value chains. This may have greater bearing for manufacturing countries, but there is a general impact for all imports as we are seeing a high level of concentration of supply chain in countries being significantly impacted. There will also be a drop in the price of exports, primarily as a result of a demand-side shock. Finally, there will be greater risk aversion on the part of investors.

With economies highly dependent on foreign direct investment (FDI), this is critical and one of the unfortunate exclusion from the modelling discussed earlier. The immediate preCOVID-19 performance of The Bahamas, for example, is in a large way the result of the completion of the Baha Mar project.

Jamaica has unveiled a number of fiscal initiatives, well beyond what has been the case for The Bahamas to-date. Again, we believe timing plays a big role in the reality. This could provide us with interesting feedback. We note, however, that the structural fundamentals of the Jamaican economy may cause this to work to its benefit. In fact, the structure of the Jamaican economy may dictate a much earlier move than The Bahamas with a liberalised forex (foreign exchange) regime and floating exchange rate; a pronounced and active monetary policy regime, managed by the central bank; an active capital market; and a more developed and diversified export oriented indigenous productive

sector. Therefore, having unveiled its ‘phase one’ response, with contrasting fundamentals, is it time to wait and intentionally plan for the mid to long-term that will require short term adjustments as the crisis develops and changes?

Alternatively, should The Bahamas move speedily forward given the gravity of the situation?

There is more analysis to be done, but we are of the view that firing too early could be sub-optimal.

TAKE A LONG POSITION There has been sufficient information to help policymakers refine the initial positions and projections. A paper by Hugo Erken, of RoboResearch Global Economics and Market, defines some issues that we think should be informing the thinking of policymakers in The Bahamas, Jamaica and the rest of Caribbean at this point.

The risk factors on which any analysis is built must be widened by these assumptions. The world is in the midst of a real global financial crisis. Consideration must be given to potential bankruptcies or business failures, the reluctance of firms to use capital, and dramatic changes on the flow through of money within the economy. In the case of the latter, this is where the focus on tourism has its greatest meaning. It is responsible for the lion’s share of foreign exchange into both economies, more so for The Bahamas.

Jamaica, though, still has a point of bother as remittances, which contribute significantly to its economy, are likely to see marked contractions.

The shutdowns across the world could be prolonged. This could be many, many weeks. China is rumbling back to life but, for many in the region, the US is the intermediary in our supply chains and the main source of demand for the region’s tourism product and export market.

Therefore, while the initial point of supply in many supply chains maybe ramping up, the most important point in that chain could be facing its own shutdown.

Despite efforts to the contrary, the evidence on the ground suggests that the US has some ways to go before normality can be entertained.

To be continued.......

them filling out a form, but there are some conditions attached to that as you have to be in good standing.

“We have a number of customers who have made the request on Wednesday and yesterday in office. We are also encouraging them to do so online via the e-mail address provided in our earlier press release. We also want to remind our customers that only those in good standing will be approved for the waiver. If customers are delinquent they do not qualify.”

Mr Haven said the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation will also see if it can work with borrowers who are only slightly behind on their

mortgage payments. “I have delegated the authority to the responsible people to say that if you have people that are only a couple of payments behind, let’s see if we can consolidate the payments and then give them the waiver,” he added.

“This is a good way for us to bring people in who may be what we consider to be minor delinquents and restructure the account. So we are telling customers that we are there for them, and we understand what it is they are going through, and we also want them to be mindful that we have a relationship with them and the relationship is not only for the good time but

also for the bad.”

The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation announced on Wednesday it had agreed to provide a three-month loan payment deferral plan for mortgagors who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Forbearance of monthly payments will be provided for mortgagors who maintained their accounts in good standing before the onset of the pandemic. Payments will resume, with accrued interest, being applied to the principal balance at the end of this period, although the lender indicated this could be extended depending on how long the crisis lasts.

PAGE 4, Friday, April 3, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

‘Govt cannot save everyone’ FROM PAGE ONE vulnerable to the COVID-19 crisis as the agreement was signed right before the US and other major world economies began shutting down.

The $300m deal is in the middle of a 90-day closing and transition period, and Heads of Agreement between the government and major investors typically contain a “force majeure” clause that allows either party to cite unforeseen circumstances - such as a global pandemic - as the reason for their failure to perform, and walk away from the deal.

Royal Caribbean has to-date issued a vague statement affirming its commitment to The Bahamas, while adding that it was reevaluating all projects in light of COVID-19’s economic fall-out. Carnival, too, was thought to be poised to start construction on its $200m Grand Port project that is also earmarked for Grand Bahama.

Mr D’Aguilar described the pandemic’s effects on the cruise industry as “heartbreaking”, but said the

government had received no communication from either cruise line on their Grand Bahama plans.

Asked whether he was “crossing his fingers” over the cruise lines’ investments, he replied: “My whole arms are crossed. I’m on my knees hoping they come through.

I’m scared to call them. It’s very, very unfortunate.

“We haven’t heard anything on the projects in Grand Bahama, but what I predict - and what I presume - is they’ll probably want to wait and see how their business comes back before they undertake any major international capital projects.

“The best case scenario is no delay and they go forward, but we don’t know how long COVID-19 is going to last in its current form. We’re in the middle of the surge and there’s no cure, so we don’t know how that will change travel patterns for every mode of transportation. We’re in uncharted territory. It’s a huge uphill battle.”

Mr D’Aguilar said the cruise lines’ situation was no different from that faced by every corporate boardroom across the globe, where

once-mighty companies are assessing “what do we need to do to survive” amid the economic freeze produced

by COVID-19.

Acknowledging that firms in virtually all industries will be assessing which projects should be delayed, deferred or cancelled, the minister argued that The Bahamas’ proximity to the major Florida cruise ports especially Grand Bahama’s - meant this destination was likely best-placed to rebound quickest when cruise tourism starts up again.

With health concerns likely to dominate passenger psyche, he predicted that the three- and four-night cruises that The Bahamas thrives on - with multiple city and private island destinations - will be the first voyages to start as the ships remain close to home.

“What is happening to the cruise industry is heartbreaking,” Mr D’Aguilar told Tribune Business.

“Overnight their business has evaporated, but they have proven themselves to be extremely resilient and profitable.

“I’m sure they’ve got

some resources to run-off, and are probably getting their cash reserves together to prepare for the other side of the storm. Their image has probably been tarnished somewhat, and it’s going to take some rehabilitation to ensure those that cruise decide to take another cruise.

“I think The Bahamas is wonderfully positioned for that. I think at the outset people will want to stay close to home and go on short cruises, from Fort Lauderdale and Miami to The Bahamas and back, and we have plenty of options. We’ll be wonderfully positioned to take advantage.”

Mr D’Aguilar, though, warned domestic industries and businesses that the Government simply lacks the financial means to save all players from the COVID19 fall-out despite the more than $100m offered to-date in the form of tax credits/deferrals, small business loans, employee benefits and other forms of social assistance.

Responding to suggestions

by Anthony K Hamilton, president of the Bahamas Association of Air Transport Operators, that some players

would require financial assistance to survive, he added: “The government has been gutted. Revenue has been completely gutted by the total evaporation in the tourism industry.

“Unfortunately this is the hurricane, and in a typical hurricane there’s a reduction in revenue and increase in demand for government services.” Acknowledging that many Bahamians were likely watching the US government’s $2tn stimulus package on TV, Mr D’Aguilar said The Bahamas’ size and fiscal constraints prevented a similar proportionate response.

“We are limited in our ability to respond to all the people that need help,” he told Tribune Business.

“People need to come together on their own to pool resources to resuscitate industries that are going to be significantly damaged by this event.

“The government is going to be hard-pressed to help everyone who wants to be helped. I’m sure as we come out of this everyone is going to come with their hand out, asking for something.

It’s going to be very difficult for the government of The

Bahamas, with very limited capacity, to help everyone who wants to be helped.

“I’m certainly not in a position to commit scarce government resources to bailing out an industry. They have to go forward on the premise that they will not be bailed out. They can lobby for it, and if their case is seen to be compelling - and I’m sure there will lots of compelling cases - the government will be guided by its policies and amount of cash in the drawer.”

Pointing out that the government earned $2.5bn worth of revenues “in a good year”, Mr D’Aguilar said the sheer size of the US economy meant it would always attract willing lenders whereas the same capital will be far more cautious in how it views The Bahamas.

“If we go out and borrow heap loads of money, they’re going to want to know what our plan is to repay it,” he added, “and the Bahamian people are not going to like the terms and conditions they may offer. These are unprecedented times and we’d be kidding ourselves if we knew what all the answers were to anything.”

‘No gouging’ on eggs as prices rise over 100% New auto sales facing ‘50% hit’ at a minimum

FROM PAGE ONE

of eggs and other necessities, and that’s what’s driving up the price. We don’t produce it here. We’re importers. We used to be an egg producing country, but that has long been out the window,” Mr Beneby lamented.

“I can assure you there’s no price gouging going on. And another thing I can assure you of is that there’s no relief in sight as it relates to egg prices. People are going to see it go up some more before it’s going to fall.”

Mr Beneby said Bahamian retailers are currently paying as much as $142 for a case of eggs. Translating that into consumer prices, he added that they were now as high as $5.91 for a dozen eggs even though the product is on the “breadbasket” list of items that are price-controlled by the government.

The association chief, who is also the principal at Carmichael Road-based Courtesy

Supermarket, confirmed that retailer are still only permitted a ten percent mark-up on a case of eggs, meaning that the margin they make on a $142 case is just $14.20.

Tribune Business reported last year that food retailers were seeking “at least” a three-fold increase in that mark-up to around 35-40 percent, arguing that eggs represented a significant ‘loss leader’ for them especially given their fragile nature that resulted in a lot of stock being damaged or spoiled before it reached store shelves.

“There’s no price gouging on eggs,” Mr Beneby reiterated.” There’s complaining about eggs, and in a few short weeks they’ll be complaining about limes. It’s an annual thing, and just a fact of the business.

“The Price Commission only reacted based on the complaints they were getting.

I’m sure they investigated them. I spoke to Mr Sumner because he was concerned

about the complaints on the eggs. He’s checked, and not found where there’s any price gouging, because he contacted the wholesalers and saw where the prices are.

“There’s no price gouging on eggs. It’s just market prices right now, supply and demand. That’s what it is.

We’re just hoping it comes down sooner rather than later, but we have no control over that. We want the prices reduced as well, and can only price the product based on what we pay,” he continued.

“We’re only allowed a ten percent mark-up on eggs.

However, it is what it is. It’s all for the benefit of the customer. We are just sort of subsidising the price of eggs to the public. The public needs it, so it’s a necessity item in the stores. That’s the way it goes. The price of eggs goes with the territory.”

Mr Beneby warned Bahamian consumers that the prices of other foods and grocery items are likely to increase “over the next

couple of months” due to demand in producing countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He disclosed that his own store, Courtesy Supermarket, had “seen a jump in sales” of between ten to 15 percent due to the virus, adding that it had also increased inventory levels to cope with the increased demand.

Mr Beneby added that consumers had “calmed a bit” from the previous panic-buying frenzy, and revealed that wholesalers were starting to replenish stocks of items that had run out such as hand sanitisers and disinfectant sprays.

“All of our orders have been fulfilled anywhere from 90-100 percent,” he told Tribune Business. “We place the orders we get just about everything. Ninety-five to 100 percent of the products are shipped from the wholesalers, especially the major wholesalers. They’re keeping up.”

FROM PAGE ONE

basis that the impact will be at least as bad as the 20082009 financial crisis.

“They expect to take us back to 2007-2008, when the financial crisis hit,” he told this newspaper, “so we’re working along those lines when we saw the auto industry drop 57 percent; the new car industry. That’s the original benchmark we’re working with. Falling on the side of caution, I’ve altered my orders considerably for a number of reasons.

“Orders placed now will normally arrive in June, July and August, which are the slow months, and I already have a fair amount of inventory. I’m just being cautious in the next 30 days until we know more about what’s happening out there. The immediate impact on the economy and tourism will be tremendous. We’ve got to prepare ourselves for some future belt tightening.”

With the number of identified COVID-19 cases in The Bahamas on the rise, there is every indication that the nationwide lockdown will be extended beyond the current April 8 expiry and through Easter. And the US and other major world economies may not pass the infection peak until the end of the second quarter,

which is mid-summer, further dampening the outlook for auto sales and other industries.

“Our ordering has probably dropped a bit lower, more like 60 percent below what our original forecast was at the end of last year,” Mr Albury told Tribune Business. “There’s nothing we can do. We can’t eat the inventory. I have enough inventory in the pipeline if things suddenly turn around. It will take a couple of months to clear out existing inventory and start the 2021 model year fresh once this thing dies down.

“I think the next 30 days is definitely when we’re going to know more, and the amount of cases will manifest itself. In the next 30 days we’ll know whether we’re deep up the creek without a paddle or sailing smoothly that’s my prediction.

“For the rest of this year it’s going to hit the economy pretty hard. I think we’re going to see at least a 50 percent hit to new car sales.

When you look at vehicles used for taxis, jitneys, commercial vehicles, business will be down.

“It is what it is. I’m going to hunker down, lock myself down, and take it easy. I’m going to be popping into the office to do certain things, but will do a lot of work remotely.”

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THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 3, 2020, PAGE 5

‘We fell asleep’ over chance of tourism freeze

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in landslideCHRIw STIE AS HE HUMILIATION FORAFTER 4O YEARS LOSES HIS SEAT

seats: Encaptured four Island and ; Cat were spent under to ers’ dollars administration. glerston r; South An1,900 votes San Salvadoas Exuma and Christie the win with is evidence 2017 the as well DORSETT Mr Christie’s 1,875.

By SANCHESKA He said if there the new dros VIRGIL ELECTION Islands.

DORSETT

By SANCHESKAReporter to the unofality�, Tribune Staff Reporter

By KHRISNA Reporter the same route as According the the Ragged e Staff of “crimin Parnal seat, Fox planned� even E SPEAK 4 government will allow An additio being re- Tribun t@tribunemedia.net ficial results from the sdorsett@tribunemedia Deputy Chief edia.net without the governmen ganiser THE PEOPL still .net sdorset PAGE t’s permis- that Ranard Henfield revealed nounced Registration kvirgil@ tribunem sion. to take its course. his Hill, wasup to press time. “after several weeks liamentary Mr Chipman law after ng and of back planned last month that the PLP ment, counted DESPITE being In an interview and forth� the Cabinet his par- DNA ‘TO GO ON’ worst deMoments a march to mark IN a surprisi at the Depart with The Tribdenied the as the naof 12 pollPAGE 5 marked the Office on anniversar AFTER leading the use of Rawson ng defeat Min- won seven outin the former g landslide maiden speech Dr Min- This a governing party in and Parliament une, Mr Bostwick II said “there Wednesday rejected the group’s y of Majority Rule.50th LOSE humbli stunnin S a s for leader, to Prime Squares NAME ty g feat will be no compromis next application to protest This Mr for a protest dealing a para- PLP BIG polls, outgoinChristie lost ing division old, while PAGE 7 tion’spromised that under recent history. e� and the and in Rawson another latest development is yet Rule Day in January,on Majority group will “not victory and to the ProgresParliaments Squares PLP strongh Perry victory came set back for the MPS nis ians will because The FNM’s five years ister Centreville Christie won five. Bahamas organiser We March attempt towardbe deterred by this the “event organilysing blow Party last night, YOUR PROJECTED the watch, Bahamfear from in his 9 conflicts with another sation that planned to protest fascist coercion his seat John Bosta rocky PAGE to Mr Christie r wick sive Liberal last night by on event� already challengIn 2012, have nothingent, pointing to despite con-II said yesterday the demon- and the abuse of our rights Prime Ministed illestration constituency booked for that Monday, January 9 - the original nting FAR included two and date. incoming constitutional freedoms�. observance date “will go on as planned, won the Centrev RESULTS SO PAGE 14 the governm which he said thatto Dr Minnis’ leadership, 25 votes after represe eighth Minnis declare 40 the than Hubert on y for Dr more In a post on Facebook, Progressive Liberal Majority Rule Day.announced for of a frachave abused victimisation, nal� “im- es the area for ng to unof- stituenc tive time with lead or- Chairman Party that those who trust “have MORE COVER AGE continued reports d ultimately However, earlier consecu is “unconstitutio Bradley Roberts of party and the post years, accordi He defeate this month it PAGES 2-18 moral� and “wrong�. positions tured anvotes. was ial announced in Parliament 2,950 results. te Ella to fear�. to unoffic removal from Op- ficial Christie has held the FNM’s candida at the something to thousands of that According able his Mr of the Official FNM was 1977 and Lewis by 1,349 votes all Speaking ers at the Q ment House today. results, the stunning defeat of leader in the House of seat since won that the the support pledged jubilant Mr Christie leader of pull off a last night, mas- position ly.

Dr Minnis has been Liberal Party time. polling division in will give to securing a E Sports Centre l Movebut one administrationl Terrance of the PLP, constituencies. Assemb was a long fought Nationa Progressive 39 “This not the Free also announced his of is Genera r it sive 34 released a entary Reg- battle, but the victoryyours,� since 1997.

Prime 2012. ment leader be sworn in as Audito the resources AVA is Although he Bythe The Parliam TURNQUEST did loss, The former seat to the islands of Bimini that he will fourth prime Bastianto probe how taxpay- istration Department re- mine - the victory Tribune thousands r lost his Chief Reporter statement about as’ and not speak didaturnquest@ full election last Dr Minnis told on the car- Ministe - needs l Movement The Baham not release tribunemedia.net Eleuthera, bringing the to5pm at Govern Free Nationa te and po- Mr Christie packed with the tal to 25 confirmed minister at SEE PAGE SIX candida sults last night, in from the of FNMs s. cases By SANCHESKA DORSETT nationwide. nival ground people’s time (FNM) newcomer Reece HEALTH officials numbers coming Tribune Staff Reporter agency around “This is the servant and I litical n, who secured “This is like terday urged residentsyesgovernment r from the Chipma to period,� Dr a lull, quiet sdorsett@tribunemedia.net I am your remain vigilant McMillan 11pm. Howeve s, it ap- and against SEE PAGE THREE vironmental factors en- “We continue to get said. unofficial number samFORT that ples as they the PLP only conbreed mosquitoe send them in for Dr Andre Charlotte MP peared that e of the s despite outcom Rollins “The the “lull� intrust ng to local transmis- testing but we have no fur- night that “there said last not inspire ther cases, which vention did sion theBahawill be no Humes accordi Zika virus. is good. disciplinary action� af- Mark al results, said last or confidence inofthe We’re coming that’s Director still taken s� but defeat monitoring unoffici of Public Health te sweeping doing our surveillanc and against the seven Free Nate residents night that it is “obviou mian electora Dr Pearl think D ROLLE tional Movement now and IMcMillan have stood yesterthey us day ter Fort Charlot “I think we havee.

By RASHA Reporter MPs who confirmed wonderfulthat there a dly told him lead- the party wouldwinning the behind ousted has been Staff repeate e party progressing well and Tribun the party have stand the any a better chance been no edia.net as it relates Hubert Minnis Leader Dr new con- to nity to rebuild could not he been victorias leader rrolle@tribunem getting the message he said. hip opportu firmed election had of the country since the deitself,�cases out the Official Opposition of there for- ership despite their per- ous in the PLP’s leadersthat reengineer partment’s and for , bepersons heeding cause there pressSIX release on it. , adding him. is no legal basis THE REBEL SEVEN AS HE called r Perry longer, This Zika thing December SEE PAGE RASPBERRY race in January mistake�

5, which affection for Ministe of, for such a move. mer Prime ard Lightbourn, Lorettafrom left, Hubert Chipman, Edison Key, the number of cases raised down in July, which came leader sonal Sears, who was pro- “the party made a ICED TEA as . resign is RichMr when He added that Butler-Turner, Neko Mr Christie Free NaChristie to Andre Rollins.

Providence from in New we usually get our first a Grant, Theo Neilly, sive Liberal jected to lose to the (FNM) in choosing 22 to and case objection has been formal Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribu Alof the Progres There is one case 23.

Movement’s last night, ne Staff SEE PAGE SIX against “the bogus lodged solidify widespread support each on the tional Party (PLP) FNM’s Executive said he saw levelled against himcharges� around a new leader.� fred Sears tee would not haveCommitHis remarks came six other members and the a case ment who took of Parlia- e-mail in response to in an because the group’s actions part action of removing in the tions from The Tribune.ques- “were consistent with the constitutionally Dr Rollins echoed nis from the post. Dr Minprotected Dr Rollins sentiments the said a growing of Long Island right of parliamentarians to number of MP recall a parliament FNMs are admitting Loretta Butler-Tur ary leadner “that er when they no longer and St Anne’s MP the best course of have Hubert confidence the party to take action for Chipman, who last under the said week to lead.� in his/her ability present circumstan the ces is to to be if the matter were taken to court, SEE PAGE THREE the

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By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia .net

FOREIGN BAHA MAR STAFF

CRUNCH DAY OVER WHO

Covering The Bahamas for be abandoned.

ted it must as Hurri40 years is so devasta d on the island home has .

Ragged Island “Every those who remaine Nobody Minnis warns The last week.

Does ed. discussion with it Better! their homes has been destroy NEW PROVIDENCE Minister Dr Hubert tricken RagGRAND BAHAMA Irma battered facilityABACO residence has been 242.394.55 ns on storm-s Prime Min- cane s’ ed. The55 health 242.350.35 rate, is no water.

242.367.42 ELEUTHERA been destroy ed. The00teacher and safety conditio 242.332.3211 EXUMA HEALTH only continue to deterioas he urged the 18 school has been destroy There is no light.04There the can smell242.336.2304 will destroyed. yesterday about, you in the afterged Island s. The Minnis said to evacuate “As we walkcarcasses, dead animal deister Dr Hubert ts on the island reduced will dead uals of residen has RT stench(BAHAMAS of the individ we get them remaining ) ns ne Irma, whichof rubble and SPECIAL REPO INSURANC l that health conditioLIMITED. Russell, E BROKERS piles math of Hurrica it’s essentia said. & AGENTS e andManage Words: Khrisna W Carey www.In res there to surance teriorat Minnis Terrel : most structu island unlivable.

Dr mentBahamas.c the only leaveom Dr Minnis Pictures off this island,� reluctant to for rendered the stay here,� saw for the andably ing concern ion “They cannot were underst as home, express delegat a A1MAIN Many days and and ever known said after he damage left by Irma ne ripped through place they’ve ngs. residences, safety of their first time the ry Five monster hurrica personal belongi ed about the left behind. We will havee by the smell after the Catego n island. “They are concern they may have and the Defenc n, exacerbatedtion of all esthe small souther same er materials dispatch a vessel here physical conditio and at the the destruc still whatev The island’s carcasses andto strongly urge those can the Defence Forcecommence the cleanup said. nity Dr Minnis try to of rotting animal Force will that there is security,�Established s, led Dr Minnis SEE PAGE the small commu 1903THREE sential service to leave until time ensure Island been on Ragged Island has and ts; Ragged be restored. to the residenfollowing a walk through said i’m lovin’ it! “I’ve spoken Dr Minnis devastated,�

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By AVA TURNQ Tribune Chief UEST aturnquest@tribu Reporter nemedia.net WATER and Corporation Sewerage Adrian Gibson Chairman yesterday confirmed the of a “do not existence list populat disconnect� ed of elites at by scores the government owned utility provider as he pledged initiate a crackdo to wn on delinquent accounts.

Mr Gibson told The Tribune the list� held “confidential 221accounts, with a combin $175,000 for ed total of ending June the period 2017.

He said that he plans to direct the tion to notify corporaowing excessivall persons e arrears to resolve debts disconnection. or face “There is dential list,� a list confiIsland MP said.the Long “In fact, I that all the would think over the last corporations and more year or two, particularly May of this in has been year, there tion paid toclose attenthe manage that list by a view to ment with changing the way those lists usually operate. “As it stands, this confidential list of persons has a number on it, and really and truly used to notify it’s being courtesy call persons by I can say too or letters. chairman of that as the the corpora tion I am going that all personsto direct excessive arrears owing who are SEE PAGE EIGHT

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FIGHTIN G DEPRES SION: AUTHOR

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UNVEILS SELF-HE LP BOOK -

certain neighbourhoo and the suggestion to ds� do is “emotional and makes so no DESPITE the country sense�.

His comments came recording 13 homicides 13 days, Commissioner in hours after the country reof corded its 27th homicide Police Ellison Greenslade the year. Seven people for said the Bahamas is not have in D ROLLE a state of “crisis� and the been killed since Friday.

RASHA By er On Monday afternoon, Reportaverage Tribune Staff edia.nettinue Bahamian can con- police also reported to “go about their day that a rrolle@tribunem man was stabbed as normal outside day� without the an ’s establishment on Nassau d Nottage fear be of being attacked.

DR Bernar forever will Atiana press conference Street while two men were “footprints the Baham shot while at police pe� headquarters on Ross Corner.in the area of etched on landsca Monday for- after a weekend of were said These victims developmental work as a Commissioner condition to be in stable through his nt of the“carnage�, Bahain hospital. mer preside tion of Greenslade Athletic said the only soCommissioner lution toasthe country’s crime mas Associa the Baham Greenslade said it is problem simtheis to “keep prolific ply not Associations, tion, enough for people offenders as a behind bars�. He to “point Medical Associa and the finger at the saiderthe af- Royal Bahamas MinDoctors’ Union consum FORMER Prime Police and Force (RBPF) is not police in times of crisis� the reminister for on, health yet refuse to “manage was to accept when I ister Perry Christiey. their fairs, educati considering Opposi- implementing , into a defeat, as I did pictured yesterda W. a, curfew was in arrears sponsibility for it in response to or � “locking down SEE PAGE THREE COMMISSIONER national security tenant who Photo: Terrel of Police Ellison Greenslade said Philip “Brave recent Staff speaking at a press ions airport described ent as resigned,� he criticism levelled tion Leader conference yesterday. sday.

Carey/Tribune from accusat Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Mr Christie ns on the Davis said Wedne Staff administration spending, misfea- moves made by the governm ing questio administration in recent , 71, died Dr Nottage the Clevea party pander at his by p� of irresponsible m.

WELLS at DO t a “misste

By RICAR Reporter Wednesday He will receive sance and cronyis that weeks. was never any though

By RICARDO he was “disap- to its base.

WELLS acceptmaintained Tribune Staff edia.net “There land Clinic. the three most recent He also said allegations being in arrangethat I was degree Tribune relating Mr Christie inci- a double shooting � by the the new govrwells@ tribunem ced, Reporter a state funeral announStaff documents on my part any dents, which have left on Ross By LAMECH berwells@tribune r Per- pointed by a review of controversies would ing responsibility for lity, irreone ments to the press sec- media.net man dead and three others Corner yesterday, lamented Tribune StaffJOHNSON Prime Ministe ned tossed around ing matters that two any FORM ER ng to Reporter ever of crimina the “too bold� nature notion as to these his administration of t concern the ay condem accordi the whatso of term in and hospital yesterd ernmen g last Office of ljohnson@tribunemedia.net in serious condi- crimes spendin that much the country absolve ry Christie Minnis administraduring his y and po- tion. occurring in the capretary for the AS bare’ is just and prove as noth- sponsible transpired r. licer, Anthon cupboard is is wrongdoing efforts by the his government in ital recently, as he insisted Prime Ministe continue to grapple Officer-in-charge of prime ministe at accusations from of the FNM’s rhetorical slogans.� that ‘thel slogans.�

A with MAN the ld. latest the appeared tion to portray as he challenged spate of vio- Central that a “handful of prolific in Newbo “politic politica Hitting back Minnis adminislight, Detective Unit, offenders�

Magistrate’s PAGE SIXlaw lentSEEcrimes, ing more than challenges I have the SEE PAGE THREE a negative leader to carry out a enforceremain hell-bent day accused Court yestermembers of ing the controverment officials are seeking Chief Superintendent Clay- on terrorising “One of the led the governof sexually asthe nation’s examination of the who $8m to the public. ton Fernander, speaking tration concern saulting a woman during the public’s assistance of more thanclean up as the person led the government to “dispassionate in the media on the sial pay out ne and who SEE PAGE THREE the Christmas holidays. scene of record�. interview at one vendor for hurrica an ment She is alleged to be a victim of $1.2m to During a lengthy home on Thurs- and the write off his Cable Beach defended his day, Mr Christie

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By SANCHESKA During a edia.net DORSETT address fromlive national Tribune Staff Report homicides WITH as his office sdorset t@tribu er the guarding the well as safefore- last night, Dr cast for Hurrica nemedia.net residents of Fox Hill. projecting the ne Maria said: “Hurricane Minnis ACTING Maria is Commissioner storm to pass another During a near the Southe of Police Anthon potenti ast Baha- astating hurrica ally dev- son y Fergu- Fox Hill on walkabout in mas Friday announ Tuesday, Acting ne that we morning, Prime must carefull Minister Dr the establis ced yesterday Commissioner y hment of Hubert Minnis Ferguson He added: monitor.� is urging residen separat two said the ts of those of the Baham Though most Police e Royal Bahamas Firearms Anti-Gang and islands to Tracing and as was spared Force anti-cri be vigilant units aimed and me tigation Unit will Invesoperate SEE PAGE TWO gang activity at eliminating out of the Central in the tive country, reducin Unit (CDU) Detecg the number while the of SEE PAGE 11

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By AVA TURNQ Tribune Chief UEST officials could aturnquest@trib Reporter not be unemedia.net reached up to press time.

According FOUR former to sources Progres close to the sive Liberal Party Cabine - Monday Mr matter, as of ministers owed t Wells has since $20,000 each more than paid $9,000 on his accoun at Bahamas with an outstan ts Power and ding Light, former ministe with one ance of some $8,600. balThe source for some $60,000r in arrears also said as ARNOLD of Monda as of July, according to y FORBES a list obtaine in talks withMr Forbes was

by The Tribune d $62,023 to settle the the company The Credit . balance tions Depart and Collec- a three-month period. over Mr MPs, senatorment listing of Forbes, former PLP Mount s Moriah and board MP, was appoint members for ending July the period to Cabinet in January ed that former 31, revealed and previously served 2015, State Ministe chairman as in the Ministr of the Bahamthe r Arnold Forbes y of Works Agricultural and Industr as owed BPL Corporation. ial $62,023.14.

Others on The list obtaine the “do not Tribune contain d by The disconnect� list are: quent accoun s delin- Minister of Healthformer former PLP ts of six Perry Gomez, former Dr Cabinet minis- Pines MP Tall ters, two former Leslie Miller, PLP MPs, former Ministe two private r of Youth entities Dr Danny , and one sitting Johnson, ister: BamboCabinet min- Nassau Village MPformer o Town MP Smith, former Dion Renward Wells.

Tourism Minister Obie Mr Wells, Wilchco DR DANIEL $9,277.07 and who owed former South Beach mbe, MP JOHNSON two separat $3,703.96 at Cleola Hamilton $24,413 $12,981.03 e locations - former Minister of and in total – did State want to comme not for Legal Affairs Damian nt yester- Gomez. day, and the other former SEE PAGE EIGHT

WELLS

By RICARDO Reporter Tribune Staff edia.net rwells@ tribunem concern ADMITTING Bernard Notover what Dr battled in have tage may his last isolation during Prime Minisdays, former yesterday ter Perry Christie tion for admira expressed forth by the the effort put l security p to former nationa build-u the minister in election. the May general from his Breaking away since being public silence office in hisof a voted out last month, toric fashion d Mr Chrishis visibly trouble portions of his detailed tie ation with last convers longfriend and childhood l colleague on time politica Thursday.

Centreville former as The Dr Nottage teMP saw “fought his someone who throughout naciously� he loved and life for thosetrait he said he a supported, up to their saw on display ation. last convers

By SANCHESKA DORSETT SEE PAGE SIX Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

SEE PAGE SIX

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the holiday would on the actual date be observed of the historic event, Tuesday, January The change in the 10. public holiday calendar has been perceived by many as an attempt by the government to strike success of a seconda blow to the March Bahamas. event by We

CHIEF Superinten Clayton Fernander, dent in-charge of the officerDetective Unit, Central drivers yesterday warned to tra cautious� after be “exmen forced a couple armed to stop their vehicle in the of the road before middle shooting and killing the driver.

Chief Supt Fernander said police believe armed robbery may be the for the killing. He motive incident could havesaid the “happened to anyone�.

The murder took place shorty after 9pm day in the area on Tuesof nium Gardens, off MillenWilliams Darling Tonique and brought the Highway, murder count to country’s 109 year, according to for the The Tribune’s records.

By RASHAD ROLLE Chief Supt Fernander tee next month, Tribune Staff Reporter said the victim, committee mians, identiChairman James rrolle@tribunemedia.ne Smith said former most of the foreign fied by police as Kendrick t yesterday. employees Simms, was driving ceive all that is duewon’t reSince the money FOREIGN former his wife, when anotherwith to was givem- en on Mr Smith said theythem. pulled car ployees of Baha will, ahead Mar will the an ex-gratia basis by however, be paid by the governmen China Export-Im receive a “high ing them to of them forcport figure�. stop. t Bank appointed Claims “The man was Commit- tended(EXIM) and was indrivprimarily for BahaSEE PAGE FIVE ing through Millennium SEE PAGE FIVE

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Multiple Tribune CLEOLA as key to determining Business sources whether HAMILTON OBIE yesterday two sides will “kiss and the confirmed $6,118 make up� or WILCHCOMBE that the DAMIAN US FULL separate. $4,911 STORY - SEE GOMEZ BUSINESS NINE individu $3,413 July. The sumsals named on the BPL “do HURRICAN not disconnect� do not include E INSU RANC any payments list made or furtherand the amount they owed E: at debt incurred since that date.the end of Are you Cove

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Marsh Harbour Healthcare Centre has a tortured history, one of missed deadlines and claims of shoddy all without GOVERNMENT of- workmanship, clear accountability. ficials commissioned the any The facility’s original Marsh Harbour Healthwent bankrupt. care Centre in Abaco yes- contractor of the Construction THURSDA Y, DECEMBE terday, touting it as a longbegan centreR 29, 2016 awaited boost to the island healthcare the former Ingraham TheTribune PRICE – $1 (Family and the Christie adminis- under Islands $1.50) administration. tration’s National Health When the Christie adInsurance plans. came to power, Like the Child and Ado- ministration renovating the $" ) (0-% Ś $1m the new health centre in lescent and Robert Smith it spent PRIME Minister Perry Christie tours W. Carey/Tribune Staff SEE PAGE SIX Abaco yesterday.

Photo: Terrel (CARS) Complex that was commissioned last year, the

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

MILLER BLASTS UNIONS RASPBERRY ICED TEA

pages 4&5

WOM EN OF SUB

FIREFIGHTERS TACKLE MAJOR NEW BLAZE AT LANDFILL

The Tribune

Volume: 113 No.27

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Living the dre to the boardr am oom

FIREFIGHTERS yesterday battled a large blaze at the New Providence Landfill, nearly three weeks after tackling a massive fire at the city dump that burned for nearly a month.

Officer in Charge of Fire Services, Chief Superintendent Walter Evans said the current fire is “not connected� in any way to the previous blaze and at this time officials do not know PRIME Minister what caused the fire. HowDr Hubert Minnis meeting ever Environment Minister Kendera Woodsid the mother of e, Kenred Dorsett told reWoodside. murdered Eugene he RASHA porters at the siteBythat D TribuneinStaff ROLLE suspected “sabotage�

Three Report rrolle@t He said Photo: Yontala ribunemedia.net er relation to the fire. murder that days after the y Bowe team he “instructed� the struggle withpushed the country’s composure.

THE the hugs and violent have Dr Minnis of firefighters towords crime comforting the national Each citizen said he felt of Prime spotlight yet into ily’s pain. “What “before the famblaze extinguished Minister Dr her pain remain and whatev has a responsibility again, even Hubert Minnis and er informa our countri today and ed acute. worse is thatmakes me feel has we nomination day�Patricia “He tion es. his Yes ain’t even one most wife must I feel we see in Minnis couldn’ Baha Mar’s live a life, certainly beforethe the yard, of those These criminabring that forward. mother more than I can for this t answer God,� Mrs Woodsi my questions say.� ls Dr Minnis opening on Friday. that de cried. my years as a medicaI, during “He’s Mrs Minnis, live among us.� said he will Kender a Woodside consumed breath a baby. I could shortly l doctor, ensure The blaze started give my to the family who emphasised medical attention is yesterday as she grieved right now andfor provided to after 3am Wednesday just for her baby ance before that her appear- Mrs Woodside, who is year-old said officpregnan Eugene, whoson, eight- my to be right here. They my “You can see Chief Supt Evans political move,them was not a heart out my take was killed four theago. the grieving t. fire body. ers expect to battledays to wear black called on women pain she’s going through and “This my “Whydaythese but ,� he for at least another people ain’t almost shoot only son. They in mourning one day this week said. “I assured her ing a “huge� tellthat for my daughte time today they he said the wind isme “As a mother murder victims. r too (Friday) we someright now?� bringing my son and they inside (the factor. house) with she cried betwee me. What they all mother , I’m calling upon medical personnel comewill have scream s because do to my family? s as SIX n What after to SEE PAGE Dr Minnis look her because believe mother I really they do to console the tried to would’ve delivere she’s pregnant. s family at their “Why they us? d most of them said Mrs Minnis, can stop this,� her I have to make bud Road sure that who was tearful home where Rose- live 29 years, ain’ carry me? I so they are closer to and at her times. unborn me knowin was shot by “We have our Eugene they are my He’s infant are both well g former Tonio Woodsi a baby.�

Monday as a stray bullet on Minnis, a gynaeco patients,� Dr we cradle from birth sons who arrange and we will also make he did his homew and as they father, console de, Eugene’s become men ments to make logist by fession, d ork. as sure the he struggle his wife even must said. “The messag pro- them. We havewe are still with necessary medical d to maintai e we them. personnel send to speak with look after her n is the policeto the entire Baham I as wear think all women should regular basis and see her on a can’t fight this alone. and black one day this of her and herto ensure the safety week mourn what’s unborn infant.� happening in SEE PAGE TWO PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts lashed out at his former party colleague Vincent Peet last night, accusBy NEIL HARTN ing the former North AnELL Tribun e Busine so alarmed dros and Berry Islands MP by the nhartnell@tribu ss Editor bean Financial ActionCarib- By RASHA nemedia.net of being a “political enemy�

D ROLLE Force’s Task independTribun THE Attorne who mounted an (CFATF) reIn June, ONE of the leaked emails showing a draft rrolle@te Staff Reporter y Gen- report on he told eral yesterd ent campaign because he SciThe ribunemedia.net liament quest from Minister of Education, the cost Pardeficiencies ay slammed that he instructed Bahamas was denied a nomination Bahamians to ence and Technology Jerome Fitzgerald.

BRENSIL anti-money in the nation’s to begin work on his staff of from the governing party.

Rolle, min- increases laundering the flaws from addressing ister of public was $10,149 such regime as Speaking to PLP supfor Limolink in The ,738.

The revision “entire services and clientele with which his agent Mr Bethel early June. ceptable�, warning ly unacYou are encour- porters at a rally in North blasted the said National Insurance, he include comes after limousine company was fa- Bahamas. d more betwee put The Baham they had former Christie aged to get a reference from Andros last night, Mr Robthan adminis- 2016 and n December 1,700 workers that as “in great tration for miliar. if erts said “this is war� as danger�.

May 2017, were not failing regard the the president of Viacom “Also withA1MAIN known weakne to tackle public purse the in his original count.

Carl Bethel wish. Please feel free he urged the crowd to vote balloon sses with the $16,532 Amid told Trib- necessary urgency limousine business we you ,738 because ed by Liberal the Progressive une Busines me personally for incumbent Dr Perry contact to with . meet s to of he Christie the are ready had been FULL Party’s criticism adminis have your agents contact Gomez, adding that a vote STORY - SEE your people anytime,� he or the BUSINESS hiring of new publictration’s of the Minnis adminis Mr Porter our Managing for Mr Peet is a vote for traservice tion because of worker writes. s Movement. during its firings Free National directly.� that period. “As indicated we really Director SEE PAGE SIX SEE PAGE SIX only cater to highend cusSEE PAGES TWO & THREE tomers and are the official

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THE coronavirus outbreak has thrown ten million Americans out of work in just two weeks in the swiftest, most stunning collapse the US job market has ever witnessed, and the public health crisis deepened in New York City, where a funeral home in a hard-hit neighbourhood had 185 bodies stacked up yesterday — more than triple normal capacity.

The dire news of a recordshattering 6.6 million new unemployment claims, on top of last week’s unprecedented 3.3 million, came as economists warned unemployment could reach levels not seen since the Depression.

Competition for scarce ventilators, masks and other protective gear seemed to grow more desperate and deaths mounted with alarming speed in Italy, Spain and New York, the most lethal hot spot in the United States, with nearly 2,400 lives lost.

Worldwide the number of confirmed infections hit another gloomy milestone — one million, with more than 50,000 deaths, according to the tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. But the true numbers are believed to be much higher because of testing shortages, many mild cases that have gone unreported and suspicions that some countries are covering up the extent of their outbreaks.

The mounting economic fallout almost certainly signals the onset of a global

recession, with job losses that are likely to dwarf those of the Great Recession more than a decade ago. “My anxiety is through the roof right now, not knowing what’s going to happen,� said Laura Wieder, laid off from her job managing a now-closed sports bar in Bellefontaine, Ohio.

About half of all working Americans report some kind of income loss affecting them or a member of their household because of the epidemic, and poor people and those without college degrees are especially likely to have lost a job, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

With over 240,000 people infected in the US and the death toll topping 5,800, sobering preparations were under way. The Federal Emergency Management Agency asked the Pentagon for 100,000 body bags because of the possibility funeral homes will be overwhelmed, the military said.

Corpses in white plastic were already overwhelming the Daniel J Schaefer Funeral Home in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, yesterday.

Usually equipped to handle 40-60 bodies at a time, it was taking care of 185. Masked workers fielded phone calls and handled file folders labeled “COVID-19� in yellow highlighter.

Owner Pat Marmo said he’s been begging families to insist hospitals hold their dead loved ones as long as possible: “This is a state of emergency,� he said. “We need help.�

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FRIDAY

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structure of our Commonwealth�, which seemed to imply a diversification strategy to reduce this nation’s reliance on tourism, Mr Smith said the past several weeks had brought home just how “fragile� the country is in terms of its exposure to external shocks such as COVID-19.

He warned, though, that it would be “a tall order� to accomplish what Dr Hubert Minnis seemingly wants to achieve overnight, although he backed the prime minister’s desire to convene a group of economists and others to develop “a masterplan to rebuild our economy� for the long-term. “It’s critical,� Mr Smith added of the prime minister’s call for ideas. “We’re now seeing how fragile the economy is, and we will see more of it over the next few weeks and months.�

Acknowledging that The Bahamas had experienced a tourism shutdown before in the aftermath of the September 11 terror attacks, albeit only for one to two weeks, he added that no one ever believed there could be a repeat for potentially much longer. “Once it was over it was back to normal,� Mr Smith recalled of the September 11 aftermath. “I don’t think anybody contemplated it happening again. We didn’t do any planning for what if it happens again. “Looking back in retrospect, we should have been looking at strategies focused on what happens if we were shutdown for three to six months. It might have called for the stockpiling of food to feed ourselves, which would have needed resources in the budget. “It’s easy to fall asleep.

Year after year we’ve been getting record amounts of visitors. Even after the recession we were getting record amounts of visitors.

It puts you to sleep, and now we’re going to pay for that. That’s where we are now. Now it’s here, and here in full force.�

Mr Smith said the Ppime minister’s comments indicate the government is also looking beyond the immediate COVID-19 crisis to the Bahamian economy’s jump-start once the pandemic is over, and what can be done to make it more resilient against future external shocks. “The question is what happens at the end of the period: Do you go back to business as usual, and simply reboot the economy from where we left off, meaning which means shuttered production units are to be restarted? Whatever we want to do, we have to do that first in The Bahamas,� he added.

Mr Smith said The Bahamas first needed to look at generating more local production/manufacturing, and developing alternative access to goods and services. He expressed particular concern that Florida, a major source market for tourists and imports, appeared to be late in responding to COVID-19.

He also argued that The Bahamas had yet to maximise the benefits from tourism, pointing to Dr Minnis’s recent House of Assembly speech in which the prime minister suggested unemployment pre-COVID could be substantially reduced if vacant rooms in existing hotels were filled.

And Mr Smith said linkages between the tourism/ hotel industry and sectors such as agriculture stood to be better developed.

HOU

FROM PAGE ONE

ONE DEAD, THREE HURT IN LATEST

RIES OVER BPL BANNISTER WOR THE LIGHTS ON ABILITY TO KEEP

e energy. solar, to produc of agreeof Works The heads the governMINISTER s ter said challenges, ment require nd Bannis “address pressed certain ed delayed Desmo “serious concerns� ment and BPL to consistent and he has he suggest today marks of docu- with Bahamas Power the reliable and ity on the WHILE for both sit- which submission e of electric to “keep the deadlin former parlia- the Light’s abilitysummer,� tell- supply of New Providence, are chalisland ting and to file financial ments. abilion this Among these ng finan- lights Tribune the lack of which will include thements mentarians Public Disclothe require with obtaini spouses, ing The the prevent res, lenges ty to meet .� disclosu reliability may ssion Chairrecords from fulfilling sure Commi Laroda told cial larly in situations government from require- of the project s the instalinvolve This ing man Myles yesterday that particuthey may have oper- all the necessary Mar all support to lation “of The Tribunestill some that wherebank accounts prior ments in the Baha necessary ated there were He said there heads of agreement.he is al- infrastructure nding�. ngto marriage. that SEE PAGE FIVE are “outsta some unwilli He added g at new, alw yesterday, nsion In an intervie in his dis- was also ready “lookin and apprehe said including ways,� e Mr Laroda some persons ness SEE PAGE THREE ternativ cussions with d to make who are require they exres, the disclosu

INS IGH T:

DLE S WH CHR IST IE FID

ATTORNEY General Allyson Maynard-Gibs yesterday defended the on Interception of Communications Bill as an important anti-crime tool that would enhance the privacy of lawabiding citizens rather than encroach upon it, as detractors claim.

The bill will allow commissioner of police, the or person acting on his behalf,a to obtain a warrant from a Supreme Court judge to tercept and examine a inperson’s communications from telecommunications operators, internet providers and postal services.

In a statement yesterday, Mrs Maynard-Gibson plained that this move exwas unprecedented in Bahami-

BUR NS - PAG

E SEV EN

By NICO SCAVELLA do much more to “fully Tribune Staff Reporter derstand this senseless unnscavella@tribunemedia.net of killings,� and have set law PRIME Minister Perry enforcement respond “as Christie yesterday likened quickly as possible� and in a “very meaningful way� the Bahamas’ crime in situation to the “Wild West,� their crime fighting efforts.

These efforts, Mr Chrisas he said the recent wave of murders in the capital tie suggested, would likely include dedicating must solicit a “major� and stantial� number a “sub“continuous� effort by Manof offichis ers l Emergency) actito patrol the streets of administration to “flood The Nationa New Providence after they agement Agency (NEMA ment the streets� with officers the police manage in multaneously givingand sications with from entering the vated its emergency evacuation a bid to do “all that is necesthem TT ay and an the Kenwere blocked sary to bring this madness “the capacity to interdict SANCHESKA DORSE at plan yesterd er the movements of peopleBy area. were also shelter was established sium at the to a halt�. e Staff Report Several persons l with respira- dal G L Isaacs Gymna Centre Mr Christie, speaking on the streets,� incorporat- Tribun t@tribunemedia.net to the hospita th Sports with reporters yesterday, ing more reserve police of- sdorset Gar- rushed Queen Elizabe a shelter during ints. said the “madness� occur- ficers, and “if necessary� RESIDENTS in Jubileee their tory compla Tribune arrived on which was used as - for displaced ts were When The hurricane ring is due to gang activity incorporating Royal Bahaforced to evacuat massive several residen as the the last mas Defence Force marines dens were d ay after a the scene, roofs, ts. and retaliation. homes yesterd Providence landfill pouring water on theirtheir homes. residenfire at the dump is believe He said the past bloody in policing efforts. a smaller The fire at the Newcommunity in thick, blaze grew closer to ent for Tall started by Mr Christie also said weekend is a “shocking the have been Trail Road. r of Parliam would be speaking he blanketed assist- to development� that will with black hazardous smoke. Bahamas MembeLeslie Miller was also their bush fire off Fire down the Royal Pines quire the government reTWO AND THREE SEE PAGE THREE entrance ts in hosing transportaMembers of to SEE PAGES ing residen blocked the ng Police Force sion as visibility homes and providi needed help. residents to the subdivi for those who zero. Angry alter- tion dropped to verbal in d became involve of human trafficking. fire off Fire Suppression Act, Chapter James Coakley, 53, a smaller bush to the city of 106. spread have ed by Cargill Creek, Andros l Movement fre- Trail Road that blanketed Jubilee The former boxer was was brought before fire the smoke in the Free Nationa Chief to prevent dump. The ding areas TT flees from the tha Magistrate Joyann Fergu- also charged with three done enough the New Providence Gardens and surroun threatened A YOUNGSTER ESKA DORSE ce landfill counts of rape filed under at and

By SANCH Reporter son-Pratt to answer to the New Providen evacu quent fires have caused some of thick, black smoke two Section 6(a) of ing officials fire at residents were asked to Tribune Staff nemedia.net counts of trafficking in the Sexual Landfill that respiratory issues. several homes, prompt Many persdorset t@tribu to develop a massons contrary to Section Offences Act, Chapter 99. It SEE PAGE THREE Jubi- them comments came as 3(1)(a) of the Trafficking is alleged that he engaged in owners in ed landfill, Their the home at Y raging ANGR express in Persons Prevention was startsive fire was s yesterday SEE PAGE SIX and lee Garden concern that neither which officials believe nor Party disgust and sive Liberal the Progres

e rced to leav Residents fo xic fumes to escape to

CHARGES

TO ANGER AT FAILURE

an law as it placed authority solely in the hands of the independent judiciary,

adding that the ICB met international standards and also addressed recent criticisms of the Listening Devices Act by the Privy Council.

She said any suggestion that the legislation was “spying bill� was false. a SEE PAGE FIVE

SO GOOD FOR YOU...

GRILLED CHICKEN TOASTED TWISTER

LL BLAZES PREVENT LANDFI

‘BAHAMAS D ‘INTIMIDATE’ GOV T EFFORTS TOMED IN REPORT BAHA MAR O ACTIVISTS SLAM

ATTORNEY GENERAL: INTERCEPTION BOY, WILL ENHANCE PRIVACY, NOT HARM BILL DEAD3,INFOUND CAR IT

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

ILE NAS SAU

Christie: It’s like the Wild West

ATTACKS EX-BOXER ON RAPE, TRAFFIC KING

(242) 323-2330

er

SEE WOMAN

WEL

By RICARDO cases of im- Tribune Staff Repo enced alleged tribunemedia officials solicitmigration from migrants rwells@ l d ing bribes beatings of THE origina Ma and alleged prisoners in of the Baha the migrants and States has yesterday said .

THE United Bahamas custody ay, the Ministry continued comple the Yesterd the highlighted missed open Affairs said “intimidarate� lays, “now suppo government’s vernmental of Foreign had “inaccu - and tion of non-goand efforts report some cases “incom gered opening� o in y into organisations� ent and au- and information. tire propert th t plete� governm inciden the an by shows inhibit “freel Referring to ion Min- year n’s offer thorities to crimina Educat Izmirlia Fitzgerald or� to the curren s for in which speech through as problem ister Jerome libel laws�

However, desp SEE PAGE 12 as in its latest the Baham report. human rights also referThe report

D ROLLE

By RASHA Reporter Tribune Staff edia.net rrolle@tribunem

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

POLICE are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of three-year-old boy who a was found unresponsive in a in front of his daycare car yesterday afternoon.

The body of the toddler was discovered shortly ter 2pm on Monday afby a SEE PAGE SIX

(242) 323-2320

GRILLED CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD

ALL SHARE INDEX: CLOSE: 2,152.73 | CHG: 0.10 | %CHG: 0.00 | YTD: -78.87 | YTD%: -3.53 ÂŽ

S SHOPPING & PRINCE CHARLE assau.com SAUNDERS BEACH | www.pizzahutn TEL: 603-3333

BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 4.45 22.65 7.00 6.70 2.60 2.00 5.47 12.77 6.17 4.50 10.60 3.64 5.10 10.88 8.15 16.99 9.40 4.24 15.21

52WK LOW 3.35 20.91 5.50 5.38 1.96 0.67 2.00 10.21 5.60 3.75 6.01 2.53 1.80 8.00 6.60 13.60 6.98 3.14 13.85

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

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

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

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

CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB

PREFERENCE SHARES

1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 10.00 1.00

CORPORATE DEBT - (percentage pricing) 52WK HI 100.00

52WK LOW 100.00

115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

SECURITY Fidelity Bank Note 22 (Series B) +

SYMBOL FBB22

Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) BGS: 2015-1-3Y BGS: 2014-12-5Y BGS: 2015-1-5Y BGS: 2014-12-7Y BGS: 2015-1-7Y BGS: 2014-12-30Y BGS: 2015-1-30Y BGS: 2015-6-3Y BGS: 2015-6-5Y BGS: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-3Y BGS: 2015-10-5Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y

BAH29 BG0203 BG0105 BG0205 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0303 BG0305 BG0307 BG0330 BG0403 BG0405 BG0407

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing)

CENTRE

g Newspaper a Islands’ Leadin

Nassau & Bahama Islands’

Nassau & Baham

LAST CLOSE 3.55 17.43 6.00 6.68 2.10 1.62 3.00 11.26 6.00 4.07 6.01 2.89 4.90 8.98 8.15 14.15 8.97 4.23 15.21

CLOSE 3.55 17.43 6.00 6.68 2.10 1.62 3.00 11.26 6.00 4.07 6.01 2.89 4.90 9.11 8.15 14.15 8.97 4.23 15.21

CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.13 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

CLOSE 100.00

CHANGE 0.00

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

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

LAST SALE 100.00 107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

g Newspaper a Islands’ Leadin

Nassau & Baham

Leading Newspaper

VOLUME

1,000 1,000

VOLUME

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

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

P/E 14.9 18.7 N/M 18.1 N/M N/M -6.8 15.6 13.4 22.1 42.9 28.3 10.5 14.1 11.2 17.3 9.6 20.8 24.1

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

YIELD 4.79% 7.23% 0.00% 3.89% 0.00% 1.23% 0.00% 6.39% 3.67% 2.95% 0.00% 15.02% 1.22% 3.60% 2.94% 3.82% 2.23% 2.84% 4.01% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.25% 7.00% 6.50%

INTEREST Prime + 1.75%

MATURITY 19-Oct-2022

6.95% 4.00% 4.25% 4.25% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.00% 4.25% 4.50% 6.25% 3.50% 3.88% 4.25%

20-Nov-2029 30-Jul-2018 16-Dec-2019 30-Jul-2020 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2018 26-Jun-2020 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2018 15-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2022

YTD% 12 MTH% 0.37% 3.81% 0.24% 4.38% 0.23% 2.75% 5.76% 5.76% 12.81% 12.81% 0.58% 4.04% -1.09% 5.26% 0.22% 4.45% 2.29% 9.61% -0.32% 10.20% -1.58% 15.37% 0.88% 5.22% -4.91% 10.77% 1.89% 6.75% -1.95% 0.38% N/A N/A 10.80% 2.60% 10.40% -4.00%

NAV Date 31-Jan-2020 31-Jan-2020 31-Jan-2020 31-Dec-2019 31-Dec-2019 31-Jan-2020 31-Jan-2020 31-Jan-2020 31-Jan-2020 29-Feb-2020 29-Feb-2020 29-Feb-2020 29-Feb-2020 29-Feb-2020 29-Feb-2020

MUTUAL FUNDS 52WK HI 2.30 4.38 2.09 195.13 166.73 1.67 1.83 1.76 1.23 8.34 10.26 7.00 12.15 12.58 10.81 10.00 8.98 11.79

52WK LOW 1.67 3.30 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.67 1.83 1.76 1.23 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 Preferred Income Fund Leno Growth Fund Leno Diversified Fund Leno Global USD 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 2.30 4.38 2.09 195.13 166.73 1.67 1.83 1.76 1.23 8.31 10.07 7.00 11.42 12.58 10.52 N/A 8.98 11.40

MARKET TERMS

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

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

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

30-Sep-2019 30-Sep-2019 30-Sep-2019

Sol THE TRIBUNE

PAGE 6, Friday, April 3, 2020

wordSEarch

JUDGE PARKER

H C R A M L M L P P K Y E L Z

CARPE DIEM

4

Daily Express Friday, January 10, 2020

Puzzles

MARVIN BLONDIE

T U R T S A L M K A Y T K U R

L T K E M O A Q T R R J Z G Q

B S J B R S U L Z A Z W A L K

R U L T H I K E V D M P P U R

M E S N M C P E E E E F E E T

A E P A C E R P Y D S U T T U

H D O V N S Y R I O O N R S S

P R I I E M T R E V U V A H B

W A R L R J L L L T S S T R F A E S A D V A J W DX1ST I P U F I J

Find all the walking words listed belo Solution tomorrow

CRUSADER PRIZE CROSSWORD acrOss 1 Skill of a landscape gardener (10) 6 No final twitch of the ears (4) 10 Sportsman disguised as Roman (7) 11 Same college document (7) 12 Criticise the heart being transplanted with old complaint (9) 13 Currency racket by a Republican (5) 14 Copper bird to suffice (3,2) 15 Offence, ruining suit, is causing inflammation (9) 17 Transport one bishop with pulse by sea (9) 20 Spaces unknown to opponent (5) 21 Mopes about meeting (5) 23 Livestock thief and burglar (3-6) 25 Surrounding a doctor with current hospital department (7) 26 Communist trade, reportedly, is in the blood (3,4) 27 Part of the elephant’s foot (4) 28 Representative takes me back – blame chaotic time in charge (10)

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE

TIGER

CALVIN & HOBBES

TARGET

AMBLE ● GALLIVANT ● HIKE

1 4 DOWN MEANDER ● 2PACE 3● PARADE 1 Fool with last of outlandish material (5) SAUNTER ● SHUFFLE ● STEP 2 Chap going round mire’s STROLL ● STRUT ● TRAIPSE ● meandering edge (9) 10 3 Doubly bountiful, accepting TREK ● TRUDGE ● WALK ● W endless summit is very close (6-2-6) 4 Lust treatment incorporated 12 in medicine (7) 5 Bullish person finds Greek character near collapse (7) 7 Moving north – that’s 14 15 sharp (5) 8 Chase army away, not wanting to get shot (6-3) 9 Zero speed change also 17 18 Quick wordSEarch strange outside, but don’t give up (3,11)croSSword H S I M P S O N S L 14 Series on picking first hat out – way toacross: go (5,4) V R E T D B M23O K U 21 22 16 Most fashionable diner 1 Consequence; 9 Mad; O E D W T L U N Y C used during10 trial (9) Premature; 11 Lager; F E A Q I T E U G D 18 Queen joins13 traitor with14 Chance; Evident; F H D L H L G F N T hesitation – 16 mistake Infirm;(7) 18 Tragedy; 25 19 Figure new united realm is I C S P R Y L E N S 19 Skein; 20 Outfitter; breaking up (7) C T A N L I I A Y I 21 Spa; 22 Sentimental.

22 Transaction includes down: E R R I S R G P N Q brown, initially, then K V M Y F 28 H M W T D black (5) 2 Odd; 3 Super; 27 4 Queued; 5 Elation; 24 Procure licence, including L A Y V C K D Z E V souvenir (5)6 Cauterise; 7 Implication; F I N B E T W E E N 8 Testimonial; M O D E R N F A M I 12 Guarantee; 15 Chemist; D I T F C S C L R Q 17 System; 19 Siren; 21 Sea. D U J A Y S C R U B

YEST

THE ALPHABEATER

I J W I D A M A R U

ErA o f t i Vu

● The Target uses words in the main body of Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1999 edition)

HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? in making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. no plurals or verb forms ending in “s”.

DENNIS THE MENACE Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

TODAY’S TARGET Good 17; very good 25; excellent 34 (or more). Solution on Monday

call 0907 181 2585 for today’s target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

BATTLESHIPS FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off.

Solution on Monday

cAntargEt you crack the Alphabeater? Each thE grid Extra le alphap number represents a letter – or black square.

0907 1 across: Yonder, Zithe As inwithdrawN Alphapuzzle, every letter of the alphabet (Deduct thr Arrow, Vexed, dawnBut draw inward thaw the grid extraBo cl is used. youdrawn have to complete too!Foul, each Conquer, Enlist, twin letters wadi wain use twain the given and wait blackwand squaresDroll, below full s want ward warn wart what whin down: Mystify, Adder the grid to start. the grid is ‘rotationally Could, Metal,0907 Jobless,1 whir whit width wind with symmetrical’ in other words, it looks the *CallsCharm cost 80p Citadel, Snoop, withdraw –WITHDRAWN wraith your telepho samewrath if youwrit turn the page upside down.Grown, Herring (clue). network a Solution on Monday

A 29 8 3 15 31 32 30 29 11 24 22 B C 21 4 11 25 4 39 11 19 2 17 37 D E 8 26 18 10 6 22 34 37 27 26 31 F G 38 1 11 17 23 20 37 30 20 35 5 H I 15 28 8 36 1 5 23 9 21 31 40 J K 14 10 7 35 31 4 32 17 4 20 31 L M 8 36 3 23 32 20 3 39 11 5 40 N OBest 30described 25 32as a7 number 16 crossword, 30 8 the 16 task 40in Kakuro 7 19 Pis to fill all of the empty squares, using numbers 1 to 9, so the sum of each horizontal block equals the number to its Q 13 22 8 40 32 31 5 5 11 8 21 Rleft, and the sum of each vertical block equals the number on its top.

No number may be used in the same block more S 22 19 37 28 17 16 3 4 23 25 8 once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Kakuro Tthan increases from Monday to Sunday.

U 11 35 31 10 2 31 21 22 34 28 32 V W 21 39 33 14 8 20 27 28 19 7 2 Yesterday’s Yesterday’s X Y 3Sudoku 15 31 29 3 38 26 40 31 29 8 Answer Kakuro Answer Z 1

2

3

21

22

23

4

5

6

24

25

26

■

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

27

28

29

30 31

32

33

34 35

36

37

■

F

■

H

C

● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues to your mob text DXBEAT to 84901. Texts cost £1 plus your usual oper

KEIJO 4 2 1

CRYPTIC PUZZLE 1 Points gained from scratch (5)

1 Did its contents enable the orator to come clean? (7)

4 Essentially where the old may be young (2,5)

2 It’s a cello playing swing (9)

8 Piece of linear curvature (3)

3 Eastern lake found in the West? Strange (5)

9 A blow just as it enters the eye (5,4)

4 He drops a line hoping for some response (6)

10 Give credit? (7)

5 It is buried peacefully (7)

11 Balaclavas designed for gangsters? (5)

6 A tailless dog causes a commotion (3)

13 Examined in depth a cause of complaint (1-5)

7 Studies Keats in translation (5)

15 Conditions in America (6) 18 It’s expensive and going up all the time (5)

21 Not a home match (9)

17 Rush through a life’s work (6)

25 Valued trade, perhaps (5)

8

5

9

10

11

13

14

6

18

1 x Battleship

3 x Destroyer

2 x cruiser

4 x submarine

12

15

21

19

16

20

22

18 The going rate (5) 20 It moves the helicopter up or down (5) 22 Poem said to be outstanding (3)

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution

Yesterday’s Easy Solution

Across: 1 Family firm, 8 Tired, 9 Origami, 10 Adulate, 11 Anita, 12 Fiddle, 14 Lessee, 17 Craft, 19 Offbeat, 21 Aconite, 22 Units, 23 Break a fall.

Across: 1 Down at heel, 8 Flair,

Down: 2 Aground, 3 India, 4 Yeomen, 5 Imitate, 6 Miami, 7 Cigarettes, 8 Traffic jam, 13 Lattice, 15 Special, 16 Copeck, 18 A-bomb, 20 Fluff.

Down: 2 Ovation, 3 Norse,

24

23

9 Macabre, 10 Evident, 11 Adapt, 12 Ornate, 14 Immune, 17 Cider, 19 Limpopo, 21 Appoint, 22 Drift, 23 Toe the line.

4 Tomato, 5 Exclaim, 6 Libya, 7 Get the boot, 8 Feet of clay, 13 Turbine, 15 Utopian, 16 Clutch, 18 Depot, 20 Medal.

25

Across 1 Intersect (5) 4 Shining (7) 8 Useful hint (3) 9 Wrongly aligned (3,2,4) 10 Spouse (7) 11 Absolutely impossible! (2,3) 13 Lacking animation (6) 15 Repressed (4-2) 18 Exorbitant (5) 19 Outdoor (4-3) 21 Available if needed (2,7) 23 A written promise to pay (3) 24 Foot-operated lever (7) 25 Correspond (5)

2

7

17

14 Say it goes fast (7) 16 Taken from cover and shot (7)

24 Theatre employee qualified in first aid? (7)

4

12 Definitely not in duplicate (3,3,3)

19 Put some notes in order? (7) 23 Naturally it lacks refinement (3)

3

Down

EASY PUZZLE

Across

2

Down 1 Person used by another (4-3) 2 Intentionally (2,7) 3 Bound by oath (5) 4 Delay progress of (6) 5 Vindication (7) 6 An assumed manner (3) 7 Very small (5) 12 Resolutely (4,1,4) 14 Vulnerable (7) 16 Violation of an oath (7) 17 Compel by force (6) 18 Quick (5) 20 Occurrence (5) 22 Fish eggs (3)

2

1

4

4

1

3

3

1

1

3

2

3

4

Place the fou numb diffe appea an

So M

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 3, 2020, PAGE 7

PAGE 8, Friday, April 3, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

TONIGHT

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Mostly sunny

Clear

Mostly sunny

Plenty of sunshine

Sunny

Sunny

High: 79°

Low: 69°

High: 80° Low: 70°

High: 81° Low: 69°

High: 81° Low: 69°

High: 81° Low: 70°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

87° F

70° F

89°-70° F

90°-68° F

86°-68° F

87°-69° F

ORLANDO

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 59° F/15° C

TAMPA

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 63° F/17° C

N

almanac

E

ABACO

S

N

High: 73° F/23° C Low: 70° F/21° C

6-12 knots

S

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 65° F/18° C

6-12 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 67° F/19° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

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

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.

W

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 67° F/19° C

MIAMI

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 67° F/19° C

4-8 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 79° F/26° C Low .................................................... 69° F/21° C Normal high ....................................... 80° F/27° C Normal low ........................................ 67° F/20° C Last year’s high ................................. 87° F/30° C Last year’s low ................................... 64° F/18° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.02” Year to date ................................................. 1.73” Normal year to date ..................................... 4.71”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 69° F/21° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 70° F/21° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 72° F/22° C

High

S

E

W S

6-12 knots

Low

Ht.(ft.)

4:08 a.m.

4:36 p.m.

2.7 2.3

10:40 a.m. 0.3 10:46 p.m. 0.0

Saturday

5:09 a.m.

5:37 p.m.

2.9 2.6

11:37 a.m. 0.0 11:49 p.m. -0.2

Sunday

6:06 a.m.

6:33 p.m.

3.0 2.9

12:30 p.m. -0.3 ---------

Monday

6:59 a.m.

7:27 p.m.

3.2 3.2

12:48 a.m. -0.5 1:19 p.m. -0.6

Tuesday

7:51 a.m.

8:18 p.m.

3.2 3.4

1:44 a.m. -0.7 2:08 p.m. -0.8

Wednesday 8:41 a.m.

9:09 p.m.

3.2 3.5

2:38 a.m. -0.9 2:55 p.m. -1.0

Thursday

3.1 3.5

3:31 a.m. -0.9 3:43 p.m. -1.0

9:31 a.m.

9:59 p.m.

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:59 a.m.

7:27 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

2:53 p.m.

3:46 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Apr. 7

Apr. 14

Apr. 22

Apr. 30

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 69° F/21° C

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 70° F/21° C

N

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 69° F/21° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

tracking map

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 70° F/21° C

4-8 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 79° F/26° C Low: 70° F/21° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

H

Ht.(ft.)

Today

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 70° F/21° C

N

6-12 knots

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

tiDes For nassau

CAT ISLAND

E

W

uV inDex toDay

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 77° F/25° C Low: 71° F/22° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 80° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

N

N E

W

E

W

H

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 71° F/22° C

S

S

7-14 knots

7-14 knots

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

Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday:

WINDS NW at 6-12 Knots NNW at 6-12 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots NNW at 6-12 Knots NNW at 6-12 Knots N at 7-14 Knots N at 6-12 Knots NNW at 6-12 Knots NNW at 6-12 Knots N at 6-12 Knots NNE at 6-12 Knots N at 6-12 Knots N at 6-12 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots NNE at 6-12 Knots N at 6-12 Knots NNE at 6-12 Knots NNW at 6-12 Knots NNW at 6-12 Knots NNE at 4-8 Knots N at 4-8 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots NW at 4-8 Knots NNW at 6-12 Knots

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

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502-2394

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 77° F 79° F 80° F 73° F 73° F 79° F 79° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 79° F 79° F 80° F 79° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 75° F 75° F